#there's no prize for “winning.” there's just tomorrow. and the next day. and the next.

[hockeyboistrash]

not a couples costume | n.h

summary: a mistaken couples costume turns into something more

a/n: so I may have gotten a bit carried away with this 🫣 I didn't mean for it to get this far. sorry it's late coming out I've had technical difficulties and work. can we also appreciate how hot nico looks in this gif

“Oh, we’re not a couple.” You said for what felt like the thousandth time tonight. It was truly a coincidence that you and Nico came to this bar dressed up for Halloween in a couples costume. You didn’t even know he would be here tonight let alone wear something that paired well with your costume. The two of you worked in the Devil’s organisation and have only spoken in passing. Whenever you did though, any train of thought would be gone. You wouldn’t be able to focus on your work for the rest of the day, his smile imprinted in your head. God you love his smile. Nico was the same. He always hoped to see you when he was walking into the arena, feeling a little deflated when he didn’t. 

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” You playfully glared at him. To be honest, you could’ve walked away from him by now and gone back to your friends, you probably should’ve, but you didn’t. You let your eyes roam his body from head to toe, from the tight shirt that hugged his muscles in the right places to his hand holding the neck of his beer bottle firmly as he took a swig of his drink. You were unabashedly checking him out. Nico wasn’t complaining though because he was doing the same thing. He loved the way your ass curved perfectly in your costume. 

“I don’t know what you’re on about.” Nico shrugged, smirking as he took a sip of his drink. 

“No one is going to want to hook up with me tonight if the entire bar thinks we’re a couple.” You pointed out. Nico’s grip tightened and his smirk fell. He hated thinking about a pair of hands roaming your body that weren’t his.

“Is that such a bad thing?” He asked. You hadn't realised how close the two of you were sitting until you felt his warm breath against your ear. “I did save you from some sleazy guy earlier.” How could you forget? That’s how you ended up in this position in the first place. Some guy wouldn’t take no for an answer and Nico swooped in, saving you from the interaction. You still remembered how his fingers felt against the bare skin of your hip, the cold making you shiver slightly. You didn’t mind though. In fact you wish it was still there.

You were brought out of this bubble you and Nico were in by a waitress sliding a jug of some colourful cocktail onto your table. “Oh we didn’t order this.” You told her and she just smiled at you.

“It’s the prize for winning the best couple’s costume.” Was all she said before walking away, picking up empty glasses from tables.

“I should really get going.” You groaned, thinking about how bad of a combination the cocktail jug is with work tomorrow.

“We can’t let this go to waste.” Nico said, pushing the drink between you, a straw facing you both. “Besides, are you going to tell coach that you left me to drink this all by myself and that's why I'm severely hungover.” 

Nico pouted slightly, his warm chocolate brown eyes giving you puppy dog eyes. He didn’t want tonight to end. Not yet anyway, afraid that this will be the last time you speak. You weren’t particularly close before tonight. “Fine.” You agreed, feigning annoyance. You weren’t annoyed that much. Sure you wanted to go home so you didn’t feel rough the next day at work but Nico wanting you to stay with him made your stomach do flips. “But this is the last drink.” You said and his pout quickly turned into a grin. It was infectious making your lips twist into a grin.

Nico’s tongue caught the stray straw, having a sip of the colourful concoction in front of you, the image giving you impure thoughts making you clench your thighs. You wondered what else his tongue could do. 

The conversation flowed between you as the jug slowly emptied. Nico talked about his summer in Switzerland, coming second in the world championships. You listened intently as  he spoke about things he loves, his lips tugged into a smile the whole time. You could sit here all night and just listen to him talk. It felt like you were making up for lost time from all those missed conversations you had before tonight. 

“Come on.” Nico said, holding his hand out for you once he stood up. You gave him a questioning look as you put your hand into his, wondering where he was taking you. It wasn’t until you stopped at the dancefloor that it clicked in your head making you giggle.

“If you wanted to dance you could’ve just asked.” You shouted into his ear, the halloween playlist filling the bar making it difficult to be heard. 

“Didn’t know if you would have said yes.” Nico admitted, blush creeping onto his cheeks not that you could tell in the dim light. 

The two of you danced, getting lost in the music. Your bodies were pressed against each other, your ass flush against Nico’s crotch, his hands gripping your hips not wanting to lose you in the crowd or to keep you against him. You welcomed it though. It felt like it was just the two of you in here. Nico pressed soft kisses along your collarbone up to your neck and along your jaw before reaching your lips. You turned around, your hands moving to caress the stubble on his jaw as you deepened the kiss. You could feel Nico’s grip loosen, his fingers lightly sliding down to the curve of your ass. It was then that the fog lifted bringing you back to the reality that you were currently in the middle of the bar making out with Nico. Nico who you work with. 

You moved your head to the side, breaking out of the spell that was cast on you. “We can’t do this.” You sighed, gently pushing Nico away making him frown slightly. “We work together.”

“Technically we work for the same organisation, not together. Besides, no one has to find out. This could be our little secret.” He said, his fingers gently tilting your chin so you were looking back at him. “If you can honestly say you don’t want this we can stop now but I think you want this as much as me.”

You bit your lip, looking at him through your eyelashes. You wish you could say that but you couldn’t because you did want this. You wanted Nico’s big hands caressing your thighs as his lips found your sweet spot. “I want this.” You told him. “I want you.”

That was enough for Nico to grab your hand and drag you out of the bar into the cold New Jersey night. The worries from earlier slipping to the back of your mind as you climbed into the Uber, Nico’s hand resting dangerously high on your thigh.

[pupyuj]

Ena!! Imagine this! Yujin is reader's rival (sort of) and one day Yuj suddenly calls reader in the middle of the night and she tells the reader to talk and she's all hasty about it too! And so you do just that but suddenly you hear whimpering and moaning on the other line?!? She's whipped enough to get off to your voice...

-🐝

rivals mentioned and ofc i have to make it academic rivals bcs that’s… yeah that rlly scratches the right parts of my brain 😍😍

you and yujin have created some sort of not-so-playful competition when it comes to your studies! listen, the two of you were college students in an irritatingly-difficult field, and if your entire time in that university was going to be hell, you might as well make it fun! and what better way to do that than a lovely little challenge with the only other smartass in the class every now and again? 🥰 so the two of you do just that? every quiz, tests, recitations, presentations, and assessments were your battlefield and your respective grades were your prize… it was simple; whoever has the higher grade wins and it was usually always a close battle between the two of you… but lately you’ve been winning a lot and that really pushed the wrong buttons in yujin 🫢

see, she knew that at the end of day, she can’t beat you in everything! you were quite possibly the smartest girl she has ever met—your grades were fucking insurmountable, yujin was never going to beat you ever 😭 but this upcoming test… she has to get a higher score than you 😤 yujin has been lacking way too much in her academics and no amount of studying was enough for her to snap out of this streak of less-than-ideal test results… so she had to find a way to shake your confidence 🤓☝️

and she’s sooo fucking lucky you have a massive crush on her annoying ass. otherwise you wouldn’t have answered her stupid ass call at 12:38 am in the middle of cramming for that test both of you were dreading to take the next morning 🤭

“if you’re here to try and brag about how you can already see that you’ll beat me tomorrow, please pack it up. i have no time to deal with your delusions.” oh, you were so cute when you tried to be mean 🥺 yujin figured that you must’ve been studying all day what with the stress on your voice and how you were mumbling profanities as you read through the material… god that really turned her on.

“good evening to you too, my dear rival!” yujin was delighted to practically ‘hear’ you roll your eyes on the other end.

“yujin… i really don’t have time to play around tonight, okay? i wanna get this over with and then get the best sleep of my life knowing i’ll have another victory over you in the bag.”

“oh come on, you need the company, (y/n). i know you and you’ve probably been swamped with textbooks and modules all day. you need a life!”

“aha, no thanks. you know what ‘getting a life’ would do to me? losing to ‘my dear rival’ after every exam because i was too busy partying and making out with and fucking three girls at a time to sit down and study.”

yujin bites her lip, holding back a seriously slutty whimper. “okay, i’ll give you that one, (y/n). i love it when you’re feisty.” and the fun ends there for you… but not for yujin! 🤭 while you’re busy going off on her for being so goddamn annoying so late in the day, she had her hand shoved inside her panties rubbing her sensitive cunt to the sound of your voice 😳 you were just too adorable trying to lecture her and her falling grades… and she could imagine your pretty little face all flared up in anger whilst scolding her and it’s such a turn on for her 😵‍💫😵‍💫

and it was on your third time repeating that yujin should party less and get serious more than she lets a moan slip out… and that literally made you freeze 🫨 see, yujin should be terrified that she got herself found out… but she was actually hoping that you’d catch her… it adds to the pleasure 🫠

“a-are you… what are you doing..?”

“mmhn… no, no, continue, (y/n).. unless y-you want to come over and finish what you started yourself, hm…?”

“me…? b-but…” a pause. “it’s late…”

“ha… you’re so cute… just keep going.”

she found it sooo endearing how you clumsily guided her 🥺 telling her how many fingers she can put inside her cunt, how fast she can fuck herself, how loud she can be, and when she gets to cum… demanding to let her see you so she opens up her camera and shows you just how well she’s fucking herself under your guidance 😵‍💫 yujin wasn’t all too fond of edging when she just wants to get off quickly but with your sweet voice telling her that it’s not time yet, she just had to obey! and ofc she loved it when you did praise her for following your words… 🥰

yujin making you admit just how much you want to touch her yourself… having to tell her about all the times you’ve wanted to kiss her and hide away to some empty classroom and fuck with her, then ofc your fantasies of getting fucked by her which rlly takes the cake and only pushes yujin closer to her climax 🤭

“ahh… f-fuck, don’t worry, (y/n)… once classes are over tomorrow, i’m taking y-you here and i’m giving you the best fuck of your life.. you fucking need it… god..!”

“really…? you’d do that, mommy?”

it was a real fucking shame that you weren’t there to really see how hard yujin came after hearing you call her that 😵‍💫 needless to say that after that test, you and yujin were more than happy to skip all of your other classes that day and just release all of your pent-up sexual frustrations to each other for the remainder of the day 🤭

[mylackoffaith]

Dragon's Dreamer - Part I

Summary: Winning races is child's play compared to waking up naked, and tangled in the sheets with none other than Daemon Targaryen himself. Not only that, but you're also the daughter of Otto Hightower?

pairing: Daemon Targaryen x modern!reader word count: 3009 words

next

“Cunt!”

You shift your gear, and manage to slow the car a little as your opponent, Blaze moves in front of you as a means to block your path. You swerve to the right, in a way to overtake Blaze. 

This race was not going your way, clearly. Actually, not just the race, but your whole day was just horrible. What with your landlord not fixing the water problem in your apartment and then to top it off, he had the audacity to increase the rent. Dick face. 

You mentally curse the person whose face you first saw this morning, blaming them for the mess your day has become. Then you remember it was your black cat, Storm. Instantly, you retract all your curses because, well, Storm's your baby, and he can never bring bad luck.

Teeth gritted, hands firmly on the wheel, you refuse to let Blaze have the upper hand. Today is not the day you lose a race, especially when there's money on the line. Your engine roars as you slam the gas pedal, and send your car surging forward. 

You can tell Blaze has noticed you trying to overtake him, as he tries to block you again, but you're not letting that piece of shit take your cash home. As he moves to the right, you swerve left this time, and slip past his car and zoom past the finishing mark.

You drift to a stop, a bright smile on your face as you savour the victory. Your chest is heaving, your blood is pumping, and your adrenaline is still running high. Blaze screeches to a halt behind you, his face a mix of surprise and frustration. You can hear the roar of the engines and the cheers of the crowd. 

The cool breeze feels amazing on your hot and flushed face as you step out of your car, heart still pounding. Before you can fully get out of the car, a screech escapes you as you are lifted off the ground and spun around.

It's Emma, your best friend, grinning from ear to ear, and cheering your name. "You crazy bitch, you did it! I could kiss you right now!" they exclaim, as you wrap your arms around their neck to keep yourself from falling.

Emma sets you down, both of you laughing and catching your breath. The high from your victory is buzzing through your veins. You can feel the eyes of the crowd on you, and Blaze begrudgingly walks over, a forced smirk on his face.

"Lucky win. No need to get too cocky," Blaze mutters, trying to save face but you can see the annoyance in his eyes. 

"Cut the bullshit, and face it, she smoked you fair and square. You're just a sore loser." Emma retorts, their tone sharp and unapologetic. They stand next to you, with their hand around your waist.

You can't help the smile that spreads you, and raise a brow at Blaze, "No, no. You're right, Blaze. Maybe it was a lucky win, but when I wake up tomorrow, I'd still be a winner, and you'd still be stuck  to the same old loser routine. Tough break." 

Blaze scowls at your words but doesn't say much, clearly irritated. Laughter erupts between you and Emma as Blaze retreats, the cool breeze carrying away the tension of the race. 

Emma turns to you, placing a kiss on your cheeks. "You, my girl, deserve a few drinks. How about after you collect your prize, we hit The Hop House? First round's on me," Emma suggests, a mischievous glint in their eyes.

You grin at Emma's suggestion, feeling the thrill of the victory still coursing through your veins. "Hell yeah, when have I ever turned down free drinks?" you reply, feeling the rush of excitement and accomplishment.

The two of you head off, with Emma's arm around your shoulder, ready to drink the night away. Your pool of cash awaits, and calls your name. our pool of cash is calling your name, and you've got plans for that moolah – rent's getting paid, the fridge will finally be full, Storm will get a new toy, and that PlayStation plus subscription is getting renewed. Because let's be honest, Joel Miller and Arthur Morgan are calling your name.

Nothing can ruin your night, or the following day. 

A groan escapes you, and son of a bitch does your head hurts, as you lift it from the pillow. You squint your eyes at the blinding sunlight stabbing through the curtains, regretting every decision made last night. Your head's pounding like a drummer in a metal band, and you're pretty sure a family of woodpeckers set up shop in your brain overnight.

Sitting upright, you realise that the room's a blur, and you rub your temples like that's gonna magically fix the hangover. A pathetic whine escapes you because going to work with a hangover is the last thing you want to do. Dealing with Rhys and his relentless flirting on top of this pain? No, thank you.

"Oh good, you're awake."

You flinch so hard, you might've set a record for the fastest, most ungraceful wakeup in the history of hangovers. The screech that escaped your throat is a sound you vow to never repeat. Like, ever. You whip your head around, and regret it immediately. The room spins, and you grab onto the edge of the bed for dear life.

You blink a few times, trying to focus on your surroundings. The blurred room starts to come into view, revealing a place that's definitely not your messy apartment. Because no way in hell is your room this big, nor does it look straight out of period drama.

You're stuck in some fancy-ass room with curtains that look like they belong in a royal castle. And speaking of fancy, there's a guy sitting across from you, looking like he just walked out of that show that your sister watches and sends you edits and facts about.

The guy is broad, like, shoulders-for-days kind of broad, and tall enough that you gotta tilt your head back a bit to meet his eyes. He's wearing a black coat, the ones that Lords wear in a historical drama, complete with shiny buttons and intricate embroidery

He's got long, silver hair, and violet eyes? What the fuck? You squint at him, convinced you must be seeing things. Violet eyes aren't a real thing, right? Because if they are, you need to meet God immediately and demand why you weren't given a pair.

"Easy there, little girl," he says with a smirk, cutting off your eye-colour investigation. You're still trying to process the silver hair and violet eyes when he leans back in his chair, all casual-like.

You're sitting there, staring at this dude with silver hair and violet eyes, feeling like you just stumbled into a weird dream. But, nope, this is real, and he's calling you "little girl." Rude much? 

"Motherfucker, don't call me little girl. The last guy who tried that got a black eye," you retort, because, seriously, who does he think he is? You might be in an unknown place, but you're not about to let this silver-haired dude talk down to you. 

"Oh, the daughter of Otto Hightower has a bit of fire in her," he chuckles, raising an eyebrow like he's enjoying this little exchange. That smirk on his face? It's practically begging for a fist.

"First of all, who the heck is Otto Hightower, and secondly, who are you?" you demand, your arms, crossed defiantly, suddenly feel a lot heavier, and when you glance down, it hits you.

You're naked. Covered only by these flimsy silk sheets, you're clutching onto them for dear life. You pull the sheets away to look down, to see that you're naked from head to toe. Your face snaps up at the man sitting in front of you, only to see his amused expression morph into a wide grin. Great, just great.

"Oh, don't worry, little Hightower, I've seen it all before," he says with a teasing glint in his violet eyes. You're not sure whether to be annoyed or embarrassed, but you quickly decide on a mix of both.

"Alright, first of all, stop with the 'little Hightower' crap. Call me by my name or don't call me at all," you declare, mustering all the confidence you can while wrapped in those flimsy sheets. He leans forward in his chair, still grinning like he finds this whole situation amusing.

"Fair enough, little Hightower," he says, emphasising the last two words just to irk you.

You shoot him a death glare, but he just laughs. "Alright, Silver Fox, let's cut the crap. Where am I, and how the heck did I end up here?" you demand, deciding to take charge of this weird conversation.

The silver fox tilts his head to the side, a confused glint in those violet eyes, while his head rests on his fist. "Did I fuck you too hard to make you lose your memory?" he smirks, clearly enjoying the banter.

You roll your eyes, unamused. "Trust me, if that were the case, I'd remember it vividly. Now, are you going to answer my question or keep making terrible innuendos?"

"Oh, good one, little Hightower. After the passionate night we spent, I reckon your father would have no choice but to wed us. Could you imagine, the pious and eldest daughter of Otto Hightower, and Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue prince?" he teases, his tone laced with amusement.

Daemon Targaryen.

You can't help but let out a chuckle, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. The laughter bubbles up within you, gradually turning into a full-blown, almost maniacal eruption. It's almost too surreal, and you find it hard to believe that this isn't some elaborate prank your sister pulled.

You remember all the times you had scoffed at the complicated family tree, and the absurdity of season 8. Your sister had insisted you give it a chance, and now it seems like she's turned the tables on you, dropping you into the very world you dismissed.

The daughter of Otto Hightower. The guy that pushed his daughter into the bed of the walking dead and practically handed her a one-way ticket to the chaos express. Seriously, why couldn't you be the daughter of someone sensible, like Ned Stark? The guy was practically the gold standard of fathers in the messed-up Game of Thrones world.

House of the Dragon, you loved it because it was much better than Game of Thrones. You also loved Rhaenyra, your bisexual baby, she could do no wrong in your eyes. Aegon was relatable, what with your mommy issues, I mean sure the guy was… Well, you pause, realising you might be here a while if you list out all his issues.

Viserys, if he weren't a king, you would bash his head in. First the guy pressures his wife for an heir, then he kills her. The only good thing the man did was make Rhaenyra the heir. Then the guy is a dick to all his other children. If Viserys had no haters, you were dead.

Rhaenys, and Corlys. The DILF and MILF of the Seven Kingdoms, and possibly even Essos. Well, followed closely by Oberyn, and Ellaria. . Rhaenys, your queen, held a pedestal in your heart so high you'd gladly sacrifice yourself just for the privilege of sharing the same air. And, oh, when they say black don't crack, Corlys was living proof. 

Laenor, now there's an underrated gem. Honestly, the best guy in the whole series. He accepted the Strong children as his own, raised them as his own, all while hiding who he truly was. Then there was Laena, sweet and fiercest Laena, who you'd willingly walk into fire to protect.

Helaena and Luke. Your precious little babies whom you'd preserve and hold forever if you could. They're the kind of innocence you'd fight the Mountain for. Your little dragons, the only ones who you would kill anyone for.

Jace, your sweet gentleman, the kind of guy who'd rescue kittens from trees. The type that makes you believe chivalry isn't dead. Truly, Ser Harwin's son, and you loved both the father and son, for being the way they were.

Aemond was…well, Aemond. Complicated, pitiful, and a source of both frustration and fascination. You loved Luke, but you also loved Aemond. So you were honestly conflicted when he had lost his eye but gained Vhagar.

But the Daemon gave… a whole new meaning to the term "complicated." It's like he took a crash course in creating chaos and then decided to make it his life'

"You find something amusing, little Hightower?" He's still grinning, but now it's more like he's enjoying a private joke.

You roll your eyes, shaking your head slightly. "Please, just call me by my name. I've had enough of your 'little Hightower' nonsense already. And I'm not finding anything about this situation amusing, trust me," you reply, your tone a mix of irritation and disbelief.

Daemon's grin widens, clearly revelling in your exasperation. He checks his nails, before crossing his arms casually, silver hair cascading down his shoulders. "Alright, name it is, little Hightower."

You shoot him a glare, but he pays no mind, seemingly unfazed by your annoyance. "So, care to explain how I ended up here in this…room?" you ask, your sarcasm dripping like honey.

Daemon chortles, the sound echoing in the room. "Well, my little Hightower, it was quite the surprise, I must say, having the pious daughter of Otto Hightower, bursting into my room, begging me to take her maidenhood. I suppose I should commend you for your bravery. Not everyone dares to enter the lair of the dragon."

You arch an eyebrow, your irritation growing. "You do realise that storming into someone's room and begging for deflowering isn't exactly a standard move, right? I'm not some damsel in distress, and I certainly didn't come here to beg for anything."

Daemon's violet eyes gleam with amusement as he tilts his head, considering you. "Ah, a damsel with a bite. I like that. It's not every day a woman challenges me, especially in such… unconventional circumstances."

"I didn't burst into your room, and I certainly didn't beg for anything. I have no idea how I got here, and I'd appreciate it if you could provide some actual answers."

His grin fades slightly, replaced by a more contemplative expression. "Well, that's a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a more scandalous tale to spread across the Seven Kingdoms."

"Sorry to disappoint your highness, but my life isn't a series of scandalous escapades. Now, can we focus on the matter at hand?"

"Fine. Last night, upon my return from Flea Bottom, what greets me? You, sprawled in my bed, slumbering in all your naked glory, like a celestial offering. It was quite the unexpected revelation," Daemon remarks with a grin, his eyes dancing with mischief.

You glower at him, the reality of the situation sinking in. "Look, I've already told you, I have no idea how I got here. I didn't plan this little rendezvous, and I certainly didn't intend to become some sort of surprise package in your bed."

Daemon's amusement persists as he hands you his white tunic. "Oh, don't sell yourself short, my dear visitor. Not everyone gets the privilege of waking up beside Daemon Targaryen. Consider it an experience worth cherishing."

As you reluctantly take the tunic from Daemon, still wrapped in those flimsy silk sheets, you shoot him a look that could melt steel. "You know, waking up beside you is not on my list of life goals," you mutter under your breath, more to yourself than to him.

Daemon seems unfazed by your displeasure. "Life has a funny way of surprising us, doesn't it?"

You scoff at Daemon's casual attitude, shooting him a pointed look as you begin to struggle into his oversized tunic. It's a struggle not to trip over the lengthy fabric, but you manage to maintain at least a modicum of dignity.

The tunic hangs loosely on you, and you shuffle towards a massive mirror, still holding onto the silk sheets as if they're your last shred of dignity. The room spins a little less now, allowing you to navigate the unfamiliar terrain with some semblance of grace.

As you catch sight of your reflection, you scream. No, it's not because you suddenly transformed into a Targaryen dragon or something equally absurd. It's the realisation that your once normal, probably slightly neglected, hair is now ginger.

Ginger hair.

The ginger hair revelation hits you like a ton of bricks. You stare wide-eyed at the reflection in the mirror, desperately hoping this is just some bizarre dream. You reach up, running your fingers through the vibrant strands as if expecting them to revert to their usual colour with a simple touch.

You take a deep breath, trying to accept the bizarre turn your life has taken. As you gather your courage, the room starts to spin again, and a wave of dizziness washes over you. Before you can protest or question Daemon further, darkness creeps in at the edges of your vision.

The last thing you hear is Daemon's voice, distant and muffled, as you succumb to unconsciousness. The world blurs and fades away, leaving you in a disorienting abyss. The sensation is akin to tumbling down a rabbit hole, but there's no Wonderland waiting for you at the bottom.

[runningfrom2am]

cold nights // part three

summary: all the stars aligned, and it was you.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.8k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: tribute!reader and mentor!coriolanus, r is very sweet (too kind for this world. literally.), sunshine x grumpy trope kinda, he falls first, violence typical for the source material, r is very smart (as she should), district twelve!reader.

a/n: this is where it starts to get different (i hope!)

series masterlist // playlist

You saw two deaths in one day, and the games had not even started.

The local girl, who you didn't have the pleasure of learning the name of, had taken her final breaths in the arms of your mentor before he was dragged away. You hoped he was doing okay. And the girl from District Ten, Brandy. She had guts, you had to admire that about her- but killing an innocent was something you struggled to understand.

Coriolanus's classmate was only guilty of a cruel joke, and to you, that didn't warrant violence. However, the misdirected anger from your fellow tributes was valid. You just got lucky with Coryo as your mentor.

You spent your night reaching through the bars to pick weeds and flowers to place with Brandy while she slept. "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause: there's the respect that makes calamity of so long life," repeating in your mind.

"It's my fault... It was my idea to get closer to the tributes but I didn't know this would happen." Coryo says, sat at the dining room table with his cousin and Grandma'am. He was sent home as soon as he was dragged out of the zoo, and he's not sure he had a coherent walk the entire walk home.

"You're just lucky your poet didn't do the same to you. Stay away. District people are a different breed, Coriolanus."

Tigris chews on her lip next to him, her cousin's arm wrapped around her back. "She's not a rebel, grandma'am. She's just a girl."

"No, I can see it in her eyes and the way she carries herself. That one hasn't been a girl in a long time." She shakes her head disapprovingly.

"You haven't met her, she won't hurt me." Coryo insists. "She's far too... gentle, unfortunately. At least Arachne's tribute would have done well in the games."

"It doesn't matter, Coryo." Tigris states. "If that's not who she is we can't force her. What do you think a change like that would do to someone?"

"I just want her to win."

"Dean Highbottom said that she doesn't have to win for you to get the prize."

"I know that." He mutters, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead with his free hand. "It's not about..." He stands up, pushing his hair back out of his face. "I have homework to do. Goodnight." And just like that, he's gone.

Come the morning, you were awoken from your slumber next to her no longer bleeding body by peacekeepers barging in with guns- one pointed at every last one of you. You backed away as they grabbed her, careless of her arms which you had delicately crossed, or the flowers you placed in her hair.

You were shackled alongside each other, and then forced back into the truck that delivered you to the zoo so recently.

"Don't be scared..." You whisper to the young girl on the bench next to you, watching as she cried, her pleas for answers going ignored by the others. "The world will be a better place tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Wovey sniffles, looking up at you as you reach up with tethered hands to brush her dark hair back from her face.

"Tomorrow." You nod, smiling at her sadly. You didn't know where you were going, but you doubted it meant anything good. You were supposed to have some more time before the games, but it's not impossible they would be moved in the fallout of the murders. Tomorrow, given your deaths today, would be a safer place for you both.

It wasn't a long ride before the doors were opened and you were all pulled out, and tied to a vehicle while Brandy's body was being hung above you. A parade? This was new, you were sure, you had never heard of such a thing before in the games as they were, although, no one from Twelve had ever returned to tell the story.

You were forced to walk alongside the vehicle as it moved, down an empty street and onto a much more populated one. You wondered if Coriolanus was there, until you reached your destination, and you heard his voice.

You didn't take Coriolanus Snow for a singer, but people shock you every day. There's a screen set up, and you can see him there. He looks uncomfortable, you can see in his eyes that he doesn't want to be there, but by now you've gathered that this is a funeral for his classmate; he likely wasn't given a choice.

You couldn't look at anything else happening around you. If you look at the casket in front of you, or god forbid the body hung above your head, you would burst into tears. This is what the Capitol deemed as justice for the loss of one of their young people- how did they think District people felt every year when their children were torn from them to face an eerily similar fate? The lack of empathy could make you ill. So your eyes remained locked on the blonde boy on the screen until the very end.

Coriolanus couldn't look at you. He knew you were there, all the tributes were. He took one look at you shivering under the metal that encased your wrists on bare skin, and he couldn't look back. You didn't do this to Arachne, you couldn't. Unfortunately, he's certain you wouldn't hurt a fly. To him, it felt unjust to drag you into this.

As soon as he was done and returned to his seat as chief mourner for a girl he didn't even like, he couldn't help but let his gaze track you again. You had tears in your eyes. He could see it even from a distance. You were scared, or you were saddened even by the funeral of a stranger. Your emotions were a mystery to him. You clutched your hands to your chest as you followed the car you were tied to, eyes glued to the ground at your feet as people simultaneously booed at you and cheered at the tribute hanging over your head- and he thought he was humiliated by having to sing. To be a spectacle in the Capitol was to be hated, and it was his job to make sure those same people would know you.

As soon as he was free from his duties at Arachne's funeral, he was headed back to the zoo. It took him all day, and the sun was set by the time he made it. "Y/N." He whispered, unable to see you in the dark as he approached the bars of the monkey cage. "Y/N?"

You had awoken to the footsteps, hearing your name being called in hushed tones as you sat up from where you were lying on the cold ground. You had just managed to fall asleep, Jessup had given you his sweater to use as some form of blanket as you laid your head on his stomach. You missed your bed, but body heat was helpful. You didn't think summer nights were truly this cold.

You got up, following your friend's voice over to the bars that separated you. "Coriolanus." You whisper, trying to smile. "It's late."

"Are you okay?" He asks, grabbing one of the bars in his hand and ignoring the cold burning into his palm.

"I'm just fine." You assure him. "I'm sorry about your friend."

"She wasn't my friend." He whispers back.

"Still. It was hard to watch, anyone with a heart would be hurt by what happened."

He remembers seeing you cry at the funeral, taking a sharp breath in. "Are you cold?" He asks, changing the subject.

"Only slightly." You answer. "Jessup gave me his sweater, and body heat helps."

Coriolanus squints as he looks past you, seeing the form of the boy lying on the ground, rolling onto his side now that you weren't using him as a pillow. "I brought you this." He whispers, holding up an old, torn-up afghan that he slung over the top of his book bag.

"I figured in that... dress thing you must be freezing out here. I couldn't sleep knowing you'd be out here shivering." He explains as you take it, unfolding the knitted material.

"Thank you, that's very considerate." You smile, quick to drape the small blanket over your shoulders. "Did someone make this for you? It's beautiful."

Coriolanus watches you pull it tightly around yourself, already trying to pull any warmth you can from the material. "I... I'm not sure." He says quietly. "It was a gift for my mother, it was meant for my sister."

"Well, tell your sister I say thank you. I'll get it back to you before the games."

"Oh... well, she doesn't need it." He chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck to quell the goosebumps forming there. "My mother died in childbirth. Neither of them made it. So now, we've just got this blanket..."

You frown, instinctively loosening your grip on the suddenly delicate material. "I'm so sorry, Coryo. That's awful."

Coryo? The nickname falling from your lips sounds like the spoon that stirs sugar into tea- abrasive for the breakfast table, but still very sweet.

When he doesn't respond, you continue. "The distance that the dead have gone does not at first appear- their coming back seems possible for many an ardent year."

"Why do you talk like that?" He asks suddenly, eager to discuss anything other than the death of his mother.

You smile. "It's from a poem. An ancient one." You explain. "I like to read, it's all I've ever really done. My ma taught me how, gave me all these old, old books with reprints of popular stories from way back when. They just... speak to me. People back then seem to have known it all."

"I've never read anything like that." He replies.

"That surprises me." You answer honestly. "Did you know you're named after a play?" You ask, sitting down now, careful not to let the blanket touch the dirty ground.

"Am I?" He asks, sitting down across from you without thinking much of it.

"Yes." You nod. "I quoted it in my goodbye to the District. I thought that was why you came to see me."

"I had no idea." Coryo says, smile tugging at his lips. "What a coincidence."

"Pray you, who does the wolf love?" You giggle, leaning closer so he can hear you better. "The lamb."

"From?" He asks, unable to resist the urge to smile any longer.

"The Tragedy of Coriolanus."

"Why is it a tragedy?" He asks, brow furrowed.

"Well, it's about this man named Coriolanus, who gets thrust into a position of power he isn't quite suited for. It's all he can think about, he's obsessed with it. He does well, he rescues the city, but his power and pride become his downfall, and he's banished by his own people." You explain.

"Oh. He doesn't regain their favour?"

"He dies at the end, 'cause he's betrayed too many. It's sort of sad."

"Sort of?" Coryo chuckles quietly. "He did so much for his people, is his death not a great loss?"

"His death is meant to be a justice for his actions, but I disagree." You whisper. "I think he was too far gone to be changed, yes, but I think if things had gone differently for him he would have made some better choices."

"Maybe." Coryo agrees. "But with a tragedy, doesn't that mean it was always meant to end that way?"

"People say that." You reply. "But I think the aspect of human nature has been lost in it. I think people can always change. Usually, it's circumstance that changes people into villains, so I think it could change them into heroes too. How do you know so much about tragedies if you've never heard of Shakespeare?"

"There's others, more modern stuff that they teach us here. No one likes to talk about history before Panem." Coryo answers. "But I agree. I think the idea of destiny is embellished, in some ways."

You hum in agreement, looking up at the sky. "There's not as many stars here."

"No?" He asks, taking a break from looking at you to look up as well. He's never known anything different than the very few stars they get, even on a clear night.

"No." You shake your head. "Back home, if you look up at night you couldn't count the stars if you were given a month to do it and a pencil to track it all down. There are thousands."

"Sounds nice." He whispers.

"It is." You agree, voice catching. You'll never go home and see the stars again, this is the best you would get for the rest of your life. You didn't realize the last time you saw the stars light up the sky that you never would again. You wish you had appreciated it more. You let out a shaky breath, deciding to look instead at your lap. There was no use in hurting your feelings anymore.

At the sound of your unsteady exhale, Coryo snaps his eyes back to you. He realizes at just about the same time you did what you were thinking about. "I'm sorry." He says after a few moments of silence, unsure what else he could say.

You just nod, reaching up to wipe your eyes. "I'll just miss it. I didn't realize until now that I won't get to see it again."

"You might." He tries to be encouraging, but the odds of you surviving are slim and he knows that. "I'll do everything I can to help you. I want you to get home."

"You would love it." You say, ignoring his sentiment because you know if you acknowledge it you'll start bawling. "There's a big open field by my house, when I was younger my ma would take us out there with a blanket in the middle of the night and we would lay down and look at the stars."

Coryo is quiet, just nodding as he listens to your story. "Sometimes my cousin and I sit on the roof of our apartment at night. We'll just sit out there and talk for hours, it's the best part of my day when we both get the chance." He tries to relate to you, he really does, but he knows that he could leave whenever he wanted and go sit with Tigris on the roof tonight. You don't have that privilege.

"You live together?" You ask, sniffling.

"Yeah. It's just us and our Grandma'am."

"That sounds nice." You smile sadly. "What's her name?"

"My cousin? Tigris."

"Tigris." You roll the name around in your mouth. "Will you tell me about her?"

"Well, she graduated a couple of years ago. She wants to be a designer, but there's not much of a market for that these days, so she works under someone else. Her boss is just awful to her, but Tigris gives it all she's got. She's got a real talent for it."

You lean forward against the bars as he speaks, resting your forehead on the cold metal and letting your eyes close. "I'm sure she's amazing."

"She is. She took this old shirt of my father's, completely remade it for me to wear to the reaping like nothing had ever been wrong with it in the first place. She even used the tiles in our bathroom to make these tiny buttons for it. It's really impressive. I think one day when I'm president, I'll get her a better job. If she even wants to work. She's been working for as long as I can remember to take care of me, I hope to return the favour one day."

"That's very kind of you." You yawn. "She sounds lovely. I wish I could have the pleasure of meeting her one day."

"If she's free, I'll bring her to say hello." He smiles, noticing you're already half asleep. The urge to reach forward, just a little, and push your hair away from where it has fallen in your face is near impossible to resist. Instead, he keeps talking. "She would love to meet you too, I know it. You are pretty much all we talk about these days."

"Me? Why's that?"

"You're just... unlike anyone I've ever met. Better, I suppose." He whispers. "And you're really important to me. I hope you understand that."

"I don't have to win for you to get your prize, right?" You ask quietly.

"No." He replies. "But I really hope you do. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'd like to see you when you're not a monkey in a cage. As yourself."

You smile, cheeks flushing under the mask of the darkness that surrounds you. "Come, gentle night, come, loving black-browed night, give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars." You whisper, so quietly to yourself he's not even sure he heard every last word, but god, did he long to. Only so many quotes and poems and words of your own would have the gift of leaving your lips. Your words were numbered- and as he could, he would cherish every one.

"What's that from?" He asks, leaning closer.

"Romeo and Juliet." You yawn. "That's my favourite. One day, you should read it."

"I will." He promises. And he'll think the whole time of you.

taglist: @soulessjourney, @keziahcore, @that-veela-girl, @motorsport, @dreamyysouls, @rockstarbfs, @Lanadelrey3, @rawrmameh, @3zae-zae3, @babyspice6, @pastel0rchid, @maysileeewrites, @articxari, @Urfavpouge, @Multivitaminfy, @baybieruth, @kitscutie, @annaelise, @serrendiipty, @fratboyharrysgf0201, @totallynotkaibiased, @stelleduarte, @klplynn, @secretsicanthideanymore, @bejeweledreverie, @fals3-g0d, @drewsandsebastianswife, @niicole-87, @queenofshinigamis, @innercreationflower, @nallasstuff, @spring-goddess1, @baybieruth, @lovelyxtom, @throughgoeshxmilton, @enwonie, @scorpiolystoned, @iovemoonyy, @kodzuvk, @soupasoup, @eedwardss, @thatmarvelchick19, @wearemadeofstardust0

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[dancinglikebutterflywings]

Plans Changed | Jung Wooyoung

-> Pairing: Jung Wooyoung x Wife!Reader ft Kyungmin

-> Request: No

-> Synopsis: Wooyoung's brother's weekend with him is disrupted when Wooyoung gets a last minute call into the studio. To take his mind off it, Y/N takes the younger Jung out for ice cream and to the arcade.

-> Warnings: Pregnancy thing near the end. Fluffy and Cuteness overload.

-> Word Count: 1,087

-> Requests: Open.

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©️ 2024 dancinglikebutterflywings - do not copy, modify and/or repost anywhere.

"Can we take a photo and send it to Wooyoung hyung?" Kyungmin asks Y/N before stuffing his face with another spoonful of ice cream. “Show him what he’s missing.”  

“Sure thing," She laughs, grabbing her phone. Kyungmin scoots over, holding his ice cream up. She snaps a few photos - one with them smiling, one with them pulling a silly face, and one with them pretending to be sad.  

After sending the pictures to Wooyoung, she sets her phone down and resumes enjoying her ice cream. "How about going to the arcade next and then grabbing some snacks for our movie night?"  

Kyungmin eagerly agrees, "Can I still choose the movie this time?"  

Before she can respond, her phone rings. It's Wooyoung video calling her. Kyungmin quickly moves closer to be in the frame, almost sitting on her lap. 

 "You guys seem to be having a blast," Wooyoung smiles after she answers the call, watching them through the screen. "I wish I could've been there with you." 

It was supposed to be free weekend for Y/N and Wooyoung. His little brother has been pleading for months to spend the weekend with them. When they found out they were both supposed to have this weekend free, Wooyoung contacted his parents and arranged for Kyungmin to stay with them. 

Unfortunately, the night before, Hongjoong called and asked if Wooyoung could come to the studio so they could rework one of the songs they’ve been working on. Kyungmin was obviously disappointed that his big brother wasn’t about to go through with what they originally planned.  

However, when Y/N offered to take him out for ice cream and to the nearby arcade, he became excited again. In fact, he seemed even more thrilled about that than what Wooyoung had initially planned. He even teased Wooyoung, bragging about ice cream and saying that Y/N likes him more than him, her own husband.  

Naturally, this made Wooyoung pouty until she reassured him that he is, without a doubt, her favourite Jung Brother.  

Kyungmin exclaims with a huge grin, "We’re having so much fun! After ice cream, we're heading to the arcade. I'm going to win all the prizes!"  

Wooyoung jokingly asks, "Hey, can you win something for me?"  

His brother replies with a straight face, "Nope, I'm going to win something for Y/N but not you because you’re not here." The mischievous twinkle in his eyes gives away his playful intentions. 

“Yah! I’d be there if I could,” he starts rambling. “Blame Hongjoong hyung. It’s his fault that I can’t be with you. I’ll take you to the arcade tomorrow before I drop you off home. You can win me something then. Okay? Okay.” 

"I'm sure we can win something for you," Y/N says as her and Kyungmin giggle at his rambles. "You won't miss out, Jagi. I promise." 

He's about to say something when San calling him could be heard in the background. "I have to go but I'll see you both later. Enjoy the rest of your day out. I love you both," he says blowing them kisses through the screen. 

"I love you too," Y/N & Kyungmin say at the same time. The call ends and Y/N places her phone in her handbag. 

As they finish their ice cream and make their way to the arcade, Kyungmin's excitement grows. He rambles just as fast as his brother does about all the games he wants to play and the prizes he hopes to win. Y/N can't help but smile at his enthusiasm, grateful that she could still salvage the weekend for him despite the change in plans.  

At the arcade, Kyungmin's eyes light up as he ran from game to game, trying his hand at everything. Y/N watches fondly as he concentrates intently, his determination evident in the way he furrowed his brow and stuck out his tongue in concentration, just the same way his brother does. She joins in when he asks for her help or when he needs a second player. He also has Wooyoung's competitive spirit. 

After a few hours of gaming, Kyungmin began to grow bored. With a bag full of prizes, he asks Y/N if they could go get the snacks for movie night and then head home. She agreed and they made their way to the convenience store. 

Later that evening, when Wooyoung returned home, he found the lights dimmed and the faint sound of the TV playing in the background. Kicking off his shoes, he enters the living room seeing Y/N and Kyungmin on the couch. Kyungmin is laying down, his head on Y/N's lap, sound asleep as she absentmindedly runs her fingers through the boy's hair, watching the ending of the second movie they put on. 

"Sorry, I'm home late," he says leaning down to press a kiss to her lips before placing a kiss on his brother's head.  

"It's okay," she tells him, smiling reassuringly. "We saved you dinner and some snacks. Kyungmin wanted to wait up for you and show you all his prizes he won." 

"How long has he been asleep for?" he asks, looking down at his sleeping brother. 

"About 20 minutes," she replies.  

"I'll go put him in bed," he says, picking him up carefully to not wake him. He carries him into the guest bedroom and puts him to bed.  

He leaves the room, finding Y/N in the kitchen heating up his dinner. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he places his hands on her stomach and kisses her shoulder. "You're going to be an amazing eomma." 

"And you're going to be an amazing, Appa," She smiles, turning around, handing him his food.  

"Even though our original plans completely blew up in our faces?" he asks, still feeling some guilt over how things went.  

"That has nothing to do with whether you'll be a good father or not. There will always be plans that will need to be changed and that's okay. We just make new plans instead," she assures him.  

"I love you," he smiles, taking his food and kissing her once more.  

"I love you too," she replies, kissing him back. "Now go eat and look at the table." 

Wooyoung walks over to the table and takes a seat. In front of him are all the prizes Kyungmin won at the arcade but what catches his eyes is the black cat stuffed to with a note written in Kyungmin's handwriting. 

"To Wooyoung Hyung, thank you for being the best big brother. I love you." 

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[jhkfan123]

don't forget me (like the others) | coriolanus snow

pairing: mentor!coryosnow x mentor!reader

warnings: mc death, violence, graphic, soft!snow, hysterical reader

in which: the arena tour turned rebel bombing hit you hard. snow, your boyfriend of a few years, came out barely harmed. you however? that was a different story.

wc: 2.8k

a/n: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 100 FOLLOWERS!!! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND IN RETURN.... 😏....you guys get an absolutely soul crushing fic that almost made me cry while i was writing it. enjoy!!! 🥰 (i'm so sorry)

you were looking forward to your anniversary. three years. you and coryo had agreed to celebrate after your mentor work was done. that included touring the arena and preparing your tributes for the interviews.

you needed this plinth prize. your family wouldn't make it without the prize money in your possession. coryo offered to help you out, but you knew he couldn't contribute much. which meant you had to win the hunger games, or your tribute at least.

if your tribute, jessup diggs, didn't win, you had no shot at affording university. and without university, a well paying job wasn't in the question. so you were going to attempt to make the most out of the two events planned for the day. your boyfriend offered up some valuable advice to you in the days prior. his adjustments to the rules opened up some advantages. with the opportunity of sponsors, you just had to make jessup likable.

after your sit down meeting with jessup, you weren't as confident in his ability to win. his bat bite was getting bad. infection was going to consume him, or even worse some other disease bats could transmit. ebola, rabies, even. either way, it was going to be much harder for him to win. unless the others wiped the other tributes out, and he just waited it out. coryo had suggested that strategy to you. the two of you had talked for hours last night.

either way, it was now time to make your way to the arena. coriolanus, along with clemensia dovecote, had been pulled away, to dr. gaul's office. you hadn't seen him since the tribute meetings. but now, here, outside the gates of the arena, you waited for him.

they claimed they wouldn't start the tour until all mentors were there. that meant coryo. it was good to know he would be here for this. you saw his tribute, lucy gray baird, at the front of the line. she was amazing. a singer, from what you had heard on reaping day. coriolanus had told you that he was planning to get her to sing again. she was fidgeting, waiting for her mentor to arrive. you were too. you looked to your tribute, jessup besides you. he was fairly tall and strong, but he looked weak now. the bite got worse just in the period of time between your meeting and now.

"remember to take in every part of the arena. you need to familiarize yourself." you suggested. he didn't say anything, but nodded. he hadn't spoken much in the time you'd known him. you truly felt bad for him. you weren't supposed to get attached to your tributes. but jessup needed help. from a doctor. anyone. the minute the bell rings this time tomorrow morning, he would have little to no chance of winning. he was just a boy. he was a little younger than you. no one deserves to die that young.

while looking at him, you felt someone place a hand on your shoulder. you looked to your left and found your boyfriend, coryo, his hand resting on you. you de-tensed at his touch. you were glad he was here.

"hi." he was smiling now. he placed a quick kiss on your cheek and grabbed your hand in his.

"hey, coryo." you admired his features as he looked at you. the moment was interrupted when a peacekeeper shoved him forward. probably to align him with lucy gray. you hands were pulled apart. it was sudden. the peacekeepers had no time for pleasantries. when you could see he was next to lucy gray, the line began to move.

after numerous "enjoy the show!'s" you finally made your way in. it was very dark, you could barely see the person in front of you. there was a dim glow from capitol cameras gearing towards the front of the line. suddenly, a loud click allowed for all the windows to open in the arena, sunlight shining in. you gestured for jessup to follow you, and you made your way to coriolanus. he was with his tribute, in the center of the arena.

"do you know how long this is going to take?" you asked, regaining his hand in yours. he glanced over at you, his tribute too.

"they won't let us have much time." he said. he was probably right. it wasn't until a peacekeeper came on the PA system and claimed that you had 15 minutes to "tour the arena and discuss strategy." you nodded at the announcement. "stay by me, please. i wan't you safe. none of these tributes are cuffed." he said. you looked around. none of them seemed like immediate threats. they saw and were aware of the multiple peacekeepers assigned to each one. but you still, felt safer near coriolanus.

you turned to jessup, who was already looking around the arena. you surveyed it too. there was no where to go. it was a colosseum. a big circle with no escape. no where to go besides the main circle. you knew the games would be over quickly tomorrow. but you didn't want to tell jessup that. you assumed he already knew. but you had to say something. make use of this time.

as you opened your mouth, you were cut off by a loud boom. then another, then another, and another. you had no idea what was going on. you fell to the floor from the wind pushing you around. dust was everywhere. getting into your eyes and mouth and nose. suffocating. the loud noises kept on going. then you heard crumbling. the roof must have been falling. concrete was beginning to land everywhere around you. you heard shouting. then, you could identify a more specific voice. that of coriolanus's. he was shouting incoherently. you couldn't see him through the dust that hadn't yet settled. the loud booms stop, but the sound of the arena actively crumbling continued. you then felt sharp pains. in your legs, your arms, everywhere.

glass. it was getting everywhere.

you couldn't move. you were in a state of shock. and you were flat on the floor. every time you tried to crawl your body wouldn't budge. your boyfriend was still shouting things you couldn't make out. the ringing in your ears was too loud.

then he got closer. you could hear him better now. he was repeating the same word.

"MOVE!" you heard. he kept repeating himself. you understood him, but your brain wasn't working quite right. you still couldn't move. suddenly, you heard a screeching sound. metal. you managed to turn yourself onto your back. it was a bad idea. it wasn't until it was too late when you realized that the metal beam was falling in your direction. when you saw it become increasingly near, your body attempted to trigger fight or flight. you tried to move out of the way but it was too late. the beam slammed into you and everything went dark.

the first thing you heard was your heartbeat. then you heard some sort of beeping. then your sight came in. blurry at first, but your eyes eventually focused on a blank ceiling. you took a deep breath and attempted to move your head. looking around, you identified the room around you as some sort of hospital room.

the next thing you became conscious of was the fact that something hurt like hell. you pinpointed it to somewhere on your leg, but you couldn't see. you wondered if you were alone. that was soon proven wrong when you noticed a certain blonde standing in the far corner of the room. he was talking to a doctor. the words were incoherent. then you noticed something unsettling. there were streaks of tears down his face.

that couldn't be good.

soon he noticed you were awake, and immediately rushed to your side.

"oh my god, are you up?" you could tell by his shaky voice that he had been crying. hard. you nodded and he broke out into a smile. he brushed your hair from your forehead and replaced it with a kiss. you smiled back at him.

"what happened?" you asked. his smile faded at your question.

"there was a rebel bombing. seven died." the number hurt your heard.

"seven? seven..mentors? tributes?" you asked. you weren't sure how that was going to help you.

"a mix of both. mostly tributes." he answered. you knew you had been unfit for this mentor position. you were far too empathetic for this. you shouldn't have started crying at the tribute's deaths. but you did. coriolanus immediately noticed. he shushed you and wiped your tears with his handkerchief.

"hey. remember. it would have been worse to die in the games tomorrow, right?" his attempt at making you feel better did nothing much. his answer also confused you. it would be cruel to continue with the games tommorow.

"the games are still happening?" you asked. he nodded with a melancholy feeling. "that's- awful." you couldn't believe the acts of the capitol. "which mentors are...gone?" you hesitated to even say it.

"diana and apollo. felix ravinstill is in critical condition." you had known the siblings well. and felix, well, his dad was president. this would not go unnoticed.

"oh no." you sighed. he grabbed your hand and intertwined it with his.

"it's going to be ok. you're going to be ok." there was something strange about the statement. it was like he was reassuring himself and not you. you nodded, almost hesitantly. "i should have helped you. i just stood there and shouted like an idiot-"

"don't start with that. please. don't kick yourself for it." you re-assured him. then you felt a sharp pain in your leg. you winced. you hissed through your teeth and the unexpected feeling.

"what? what? what it is?" he was immediately shot into a state of panic.

"my leg!" you shouted. it felt like it was on fire. you immediately reached down to grab where it hurt out of instinct, and when you released it, you found blood on your hands, and lots of it. "my hands!" you shouted, tears running down your face. coryo was now standing up.

"we need a doctor! please!" he pleaded. you began to sob as it was the only thing you could think of to do. you watched as coriolanus looked down at your leg. he looked back up almost immediately, which was not a good sign. through thick, hot tears you saw a figure walk into the room with a team of men behind him. you saw as they ushered him out into the hallway. that only made you increasingly nervous.

you panicked as the lights began to fade again.

you were in a new room now. this one felt more, eerie. your boyfriend was sat beside you, his head in his hands. the only thing you could do was reach your arm out to his. he immediately jolted at your touch.

"coryo what happened?" it was all you could think about.

"um.." he stuttered. his breath was very shaky. "look. you lost-" he paused. "a lot of blood. in your leg. too much." he continued. you immediately got concerned.

"too much? what do you mean too much?" you mind began to race to every possible bad outcome.

"you're in critical condition." he finally blurted out what he had been meaning to say all along. your heart began to beat much faster.

"no. no. no. no. no. no. no-"

"hey, hey hey it's ok-"

"no." you began to cry again. in panem, you didn't know of very many people who made it out of critical condition. "coryo, i-" you paused. you considered lying to yourself. you considered thinking that everything was going to be ok. "i'm scared." you shuddered. instead, you went with the truth. "i-" the words you wanted to say made you want to throw up.

"what? please. tell me." he asked.

"i don't want to die." the phrase broke the wall between tears and sobs. admitting that death was a possibility in this situation made everything worse. no matter what comfort he would attempt to give you.

"you're not going to die. you're not going to die." he repeated. he once again seemed to be finding comfort in his own words.

"how do you know that?" you cried.

"i don't." he admitted. "but i don't want to think of anything like that until it becomes the most likely possibility. if it ever does." you saw a tear roll down his face.

you knew your body. you knew the condition you were in better than any of those doctors. so with a heavy heart, you did anything but ease your boyfriend's mind.

"coryo." there was now multiple tears scattered on his cheeks. "coryo." you picked his head up with your head. "it is the most likely possibility." you could immediately tell that he had already known that. his head fell again and you heard quiet cries. you rolled onto your back, the position you had started in. you looked up at the ceiling.

you had never been fond of death. it had always scared you, since you were a little girl. you had always hated the idea of the hunger games. you had watched one year and never again. mentoring in the hunger games was hard. you hated the games. the deaths were unnecessary. and each time the buzzer ruled them out, you just thought of their family.

and now that was happening to you. you knew that the buzzer would soon rule you out. you didn't know when. you knew how. and you knew that, it was going to be sooner rather than later.

you were terrified.

"i'm scared." you repeated. you tried to move your mind to something else. you found one thing, and it didn't help. "coryo. today's our anniversary." three years. you had almost forgot in the chaos of today. "i'm sorry we couldn't enjoy it." you continued to stare at the ceiling.

"it's not your fault." his voice was stern. "besides. we are spending time together. look at us. like our own private date." his joke somehow made you laugh.

"thank you for being here. i haven't even seen my parents." you admitted.

"they are outside. they just said they couldn't bear to see you like this." you admired coriolanus's bravery. you knew that your leg was not a pretty sight. the huge gash slicing it open. it was at this moment you began to feel lightheaded. you knew the blood loss was getting to you. you knew death was getting to you.

"coryo?" you asked for him. you turned over to face him again. he looked up at you. "can i have a kiss?" now usually he was rough, aggressive with his affections. but at this command, he was soft. he gave you a soft kiss on the lips and nothing more. you appreciated that this may be the last kiss you would share. "coryo?" you called for him again.

"yes?" he answered.

"do you promise you won't forget me when i'm gone?" your voice shook immensely. he didn't even try to counteract your statement. he knew.

"i could never forget you if i tried." you heard his voice quiver. "you're my love. my one and only love. i'll never love again." he declared.

"no, no don't do that. please. enjoy your life, ok? promise me you'll find somebody else to love." you closed your eyes. you couldn't bear the thought. it pained you to say it but it was necessary.

"i'll never love somebody as much as i love you." he grabbed your hand and pressed a kiss to it. a doctor came into the room. one wo had probably been monitoring your vitals from outside. all he did was give coriolanus a nod. you immediately saw tears fall from his face, though no sound was heard.

you focused on your heartbeat. you knew that time was ticking, and the doctor had just silently confirmed it. listening to your heartbeat, you noticed every once in a while, the beats would get farther apart.

"look, i-"

"i know what's happening." you couldn't bare to hear him say it. his tears became more rapid. you had stopped crying, however. you just wanted to be here with him.

"i'm going to stay, ok? i don't care how long it takes. i'm not leaving you." he stated. he tried to be loud even though his tears were silencing his words.

"just hold my hand." it was all you asked of him. "i love you." you said.

"i love you more." he replied, almost immediately. it had been a tradition the two of you had come up with. if one said "i love you," the other had to try to say it back as quick as possible. bonus points if you overlapped. the small gesture made you smile. you finally decided to close your eyes, and relax your body.

you heard the beeping turn into one long sound as you took a deep breath in. the last thing you heard was the boy next to you finally break down in a loud cry.

[ythankucaptainmccoy]

The Cowgirl and The Aviator Ch10

Alright peeps I will no longer blue ball y'all. Here is the smut! Enjoy you filthy animals jk, but seriously enjoy! WARNINGS: Fluff, Smut and Stalker Behavior

Jake watched you as you ate your pancakes and helped the girls with cutting theirs. He had meant it when you had a family here if you wanted it. The girls obviously loved you and he was happy to have them call you Aunt (Y/N). He had no idea that you never got to see your brother's family. The rest of the day was filled with scattered thunderstorms as you all took care of the horses and other animals. By the end of the day you were happy and even helped him give Georgia a bath as she splashed you both.

The next morning you heard that Evelynn and the baby were home and that they were ready for the girls. You went with Jake and the girls, but took Rebel out to the arena to practice as you didn’t want to overwhelm Evelynn or the baby. Jake respected your decision and soon came out to watch you practice. You did light runs with him as the Rodeo barrel races were tomorrow. “I think you will win some money tomorrow”, Jake said. “It’s not about the money. It’s about the connection you have with your horse”, you explain.

“The family is going to come watch tomorrow, even little Jake”, he said. “They named him after you? Oh Lord help ‘em”, you laughed. Jake just smiled as you both walked Rebel into the barn to brush him. That night you sat with Jake on the porch swing watching the cattle in the distance. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”, he questions. “A little but it’s a good type of nervousness. Like the adrenaline you get before going into the air I imagine”, you reply. 

When you started yawning Jake led you to bed where you curled up and fell asleep. The next day was a whirlwind of getting the horse ready and getting him loaded into the trailer. Colton had told you they would be getting there a little later in the day, but they would be there to watch you compete. When you arrived Jake was visibly getting nervous. “Jake sweetheart I’m gonna’ be fine. Rebel will take care of me won’t ya’ boy”, you patted Rebel’s neck. 

Rebel snorted and you couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you with Jake’s look of worry. “You know this worry you’re feeling is the same one I had when you went on your mission so we’re even”, you admit. That seems to shake him out of his worry as he looks at you. “You worried about me?”, he asked. “Of course I worried I had already fallen in love with you by then”, you said. Jake wasted no time in pulling you to him and kissing you until you had to pull away to breathe.

He took you to watch some of the events before you had to go warm up. When they announced the Barrel Racing you got on and started riding towards the arena. Jake stood by the gate waiting to see you before you competed. “Everyone is here watching”, he told you, pointing at Colton, Annabelle, Georgia and Evelynn holding a little bundle. You smiled wide because you never thought you would compete again or have people who cared about you watching.

Your turn was coming up as Jake walked back to be with his family. They cheered when you approached the gate. Rebel danced knowing what to do and you let him go when you were ready. It was a flawless run and when you saw your time you gasped. You were tied for first place where you stayed until they announced they needed a tie breaker. The woman that went in front of you did amazingly well and you knew it would be a longshot if you won. 

The run was great, but a second too slow. You didn’t care as you were proud of Rebel and the way he took care of you. Jake was ecstatic as he ran to you after receiving your prize. He picked you up and spun you around as you laughed. You loaded Rebel after grooming him and gave him some hay to keep him occupied. When you made it to the others they congratulated you. “Here since you didn’t get to hold him yet. Meet little Jake”, Evelynn said. You gently cradled him as you sat down on the bleachers. 

Jake watched as you held him and smiled when he grabbed your finger with his little hand. “He is a beautiful baby”, you tell Evelynn. Evelynn lets you hold him until he is ready to eat and that's when they decide to call it a night. You and Jake continued to watch the rest of the rodeo until well into the night. Sunday evening is when you both would be flying back to San Diego and you still had to put Rebel in the barn when you got back.

Once in the barn you turned on the small radio when Jake grabbed you by the hand to dance with you as George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” played through the speaker. Jake mouthing the words as you both danced and you reached up to take his hat. You put it on your head and smiled up at him. “Darlin’ you know what that means don’t you”, he says. “I know exactly what it means. Take me to bed cowboy”, you reply. Jake shuts off the radio as the song ends and takes you back to the guest house. 

You don’t even make it inside as you both start kissing as your teeth clack against each other in your haste. Jake opens the door as you both start shedding clothes on your way to the bedroom. Jake lifts you up into his arms as you wrap your legs around him. He kisses your neck and down to your chest where he leaves several hickeys as you moan out his name. You tug on his hair to bring his lips back to your own. When he places you on the bed he takes your ankle into his hand and kisses slowly down your calf to the inside of your thigh.

He pulls back to pull your panties off as he makes his way over you to kiss you again. “Jake I want you to fuck me”, you hum. “Darlin’ are you sure?”, he asks. “I’m sure”, you whisper. He kisses you slowly as he reaches behind you to take off your bra. He tosses it somewhere in the room and kisses his way down to your breast taking a nipple into his mouth flicking his tongue over the pebbled peak. You moan as he does so and gasp when he lightly bites down. He switches to the other nipple giving it the same treatment.

He made his way down your stomach nipping and kissing as he went. When he reached your pussy he licked up your slit and nipped your clit which had you whimpering. He slipped his fingers into you and started to curl them. You were climbing that ladder to orgasm as he continued. “Come on darlin’ let go for me”, he hummed. He sucked your clit back in his mouth as you came hard. 

Jake continued until you started getting too sensitive and started to cry out. “Jake too much itstoomuch”, you cried. He didn’t stop, he continued until you were falling over the edge again with his name on your lips. He stopped to let you come back down as he crawled back up to kiss you. You pushed him onto his back as you kissed down his chest, raking your nails over his nipples as he groaned. You could see him twitch in his boxers as you nipped and licked down his abs. He lifted his hips as you took his boxers off and tossed them. You took him into your mouth and had him groaning and moaning as you sucked hard and worked what you couldn’t fit in your mouth with your hand.

He was getting close as he started twitching more often. “Darlin’ stop”, he told you. He pulled you off of him and back up so he could kiss you. He rolled you onto your back again and continued kissing you long and slow. You wrapped your legs around him and he ground against you with a moan. He reached over to the drawer and opened it, reaching all around it letting out a curse. “Darlin’ I haven’t restocked the condoms”, Jake tells you.

“It’s alright I’ve been on the pill. Please I need you Jake”, you plead. “You’re sure darlin’? I don’t want to make you feel like you have to do this”, he whispers. “It’s alright Jake. Please fuck me”, you plead. You grind into his erection and he shudders with a whisper of your name on his lips. He kisses you as he gathers your juices on his cock then notches himself at your entrance. He watches you as he slowly slides in. You gasp and he stills until you beg him to keep going. He kisses you as he slides all the way in and you nip his bottom lip as he stills there for a moment.

“You okay?”, he asks. “Yeah, just not used to someone as big as you are. Please move Jake”, you say. You dig your heels into his ass to get the message through as he starts at a slow pace. Jake was kissing and sucking at your neck as you moaned. “You feel so good, fuck you’re so tight”, he groans. “Faster please Jake please”, you moan. He listens to your pleas and starts a quicker pace which has the bed squeaking slightly. 

Jake takes a moment to slow, but punctuate his thrust which has you arching under him. “Holy shit”, you gasp out. Jake chuckles as he does it a few more times making you cry out. He resumes his previous pace as he places his hand low and places his thumb on your clit. He starts to rub your clit as you start towards another orgasm. “That’s it darlin’ that’s it”, Jake praises. You start to spasm around him as he keeps his pace.

You cry out and arch as your pussy spasms and Jake feels the wetness all over his cock. “Fuck Darlin’ “, he hisses. After a moment he starts his pace again this time bringing your legs over his shoulders. He hits deeper at this angle and it’s like heaven. “Jake feels…good”, you mewl. Jake grins but leans down to steal some kisses from you. He brings you to another orgasm and this time your vision goes dark. You feel Jake’s lips on yours as your vision comes back. 

He has put your legs back at his waist and you take that moment to roll him onto his back. He looks up at you as you smirk at his confused look. “I’m going for that eight second ride baby”, you say. Jake smiles as you start to grind and bounce a little on him. Jake is taking in your body as you ride him and he leans up to take a pert nipple into his mouth and sucks hard. You cry out as your fingers make their way into his hair. His arms wrap around you as he helps you move on him. 

He lets go of your nipple to lay back, but takes you with him as he rolls to be back over you. He goes slow and sensual this time. Taking his time and you can tell he is holding off as his head lowers to rest in the crook of where your neck and shoulder meet. “Where (Y/N) where?”, he pants. “Inside please”, you beg. He groans as he thrusts a couple more times and shudders above you as he cums. You can feel him twitching and the warmth of his cum and that sends you into your last orgasm of the night.

“I love you darlin’ “, he whispers. “I love you too babe”, you respond. You share a couple more kisses before he pulls out and you groan at the loss of him inside you. He disappears to get a warm washcloth to clean you up then comes back to bed. He pulls you over him and that’s how you both fall asleep. That night you both sleep soundly until the next morning. Jake wakes up first and reaches up to push your hair behind your ear. 

You wake when he does as he apologizes for waking you. You tell him it’s no big deal as you kiss him long and slow. “If you keep this up we might have a repeat of last night”, Jake jokes. You laugh but decide to get up to make breakfast so you head to the kitchen. Jake joins you and wraps his arms around you from behind kissing your neck. You smile as you push your ass against him feeling that he is already hard. “Darlin’ “, he growls as a warning. You ignore as you repeat the motion.

You're only wearing one of his shirts, but he doesn’t know that yet until he turns off the burners and pushes you against the counter. He has you bent at the perfect angle as he pulls up his shirt you're wearing. “No panties. Naughty girl”, he hums. You smirk to yourself as he gives you no warning before sliding his middle and ring finger into your pussy. You squeal out as he begins his onslaught, not slowing down as your pussy makes the most obscene sounds. You come hard on his fingers and you know you have made a mess when you hear it hit the floor. 

Jake doesn’t miss a beat as he throws down a small hand towel then takes up position behind you. “I think you need to be punished (Y/N)”, he says. You shudder as he kicks your legs slightly apart and pushes himself into you in one thrust. You gasp as he sets an unrelenting pace making you moan and your breath to be knocked from your lungs. He has your hips in his hands as he grips just a tad harder. You know you're going to have bruises in the shape of his hands and fingers. 

“Oh Jake right there!”, you cry as he hits a particular spot. Jake knows your loving it by the way your pussy is gripping down on him. You just need a little more and you're falling over the edge crying out Jake’s name as he pushes in as deep as he can go as he cums with you. He glues himself to your back as he bites down on your shoulder enough to bruise. It adds to your pleasure as your hand finds the back of his neck. You both come down from your high as you both clean yourselves up. 

You both look fucked out as you eat breakfast that is a little cold, but neither of you complain. “We need a shower before we go to spend the day with your family”, you tell him. You both shower which turns into another session of you pressed up against the wall as Jake plows you from behind before you both cum again. You both clean up and finally get ready for the day with his family before you both have to head back to San Diego. You had packed the day of the rodeo so all you had to do was load up and head to the airport when needed. You sat with Evelynn and little Jake while the kids played with their uncle. 

“I can tell you both love each other”, she smiles. “I do love him, but I’m a little worried about going back to San Diego”, you confess. “Why’s that?”, she asks. “Well my ex boyfriend found out I have been staying between Bradley and Jake’s apartments. I ran him off, but I don’t know if I should tell Jake. I mean he already has enough going on being a naval aviator”, you sigh. “That’s one hundred percent up to you. If it were me I would tell him, but I don’t know enough to stick my nose into your business”, Evelynn replied.

You sat for a few more minutes in silence before Evelynn spoke up again, “If you ever need to talk I’m here. No matter if Jake and you split up you can call”. “Thank you”, you say. You sniffle a little at how much this part of Jake’s family cares about you. The day goes by as you both have to say goodbye. The girls cry as they hug Jake then you and you can’t help but cry too. “Don’t worry girls I’m sure we will be back in time for Christmas”, Jake reassures them. They seem happy with that answer as you head back to the guest house.

Colton drives you back to the airport and Colton asks to speak with Jake alone. You walked away as Colton and Jake had their conversation. You waited for Jake and soon enough he was walking with you to get the baggage checked in and through security. The plane ride back was the same as flying down as Jake kept your attention. When you touch down it’s late and as you wait for the luggage a text comes through your phone.

‘YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET LEAVING ME’ the text read. “Who’s that?”, Jake asks. “Oh it’s nothing”, you dismiss. As you make your way back to the apartments Jake decides to stop to get some take out. While you wait on the food Jake turns to you and asks, “Move in with me?”. You blink at him slowly trying to process the question he asked. He seems nervous as he shifts his weight from foot to foot as he waits for your answer. “Yeah”, you reply. 

His smile crinkles the corners of his eyes and you can’t help but smile as well. He pulls you into his side as he kisses the top of your head. Once back at the apartments you notice Bradley is gone, but you decide to stay at Jake’s. Once dinner was eaten you both head to bed knowing that Jake had training in the morning. You both sleep well and you wake before Jake to make him breakfast. He kisses you slowly as he takes handsfull of your ass and massages it. “Sweetheart you’re going to be late”, you say.

“No I won’t”, he hums. He lays you down on the table and pushes his shirt you're wearing half way up your stomach. He pulls your panties to the side and can already see how wet you are. He pushes his sweats halfway down his thighs and rubs his cock against you. You sigh as he pushes in all the way and leans down to kiss you. “Sorry darlin’ but I have to make this quick”, he says. With that he sets a pace that has you seeing stars and the table to hit the wall in rapid succession. 

You reach down to rub your clit as he continues his pace. It takes a couple swipes and you’re coming undone around him. He spills into you with a loud moan and then again when you move and clench on purpose around him. “Too much”, you taunt. “Darlin’ if I didn’t have somewhere to be you wouldn’t be able to walk afterwards”, he responds. He pulls out of you and you tell him you’ll clean up and that he should get ready. You put some baggy shorts on and walk out with him to his truck. 

Jake turns to say he’ll be back later when you push him against his truck. His eyes widen as you run your pointer finger down his chest. “I really like this uniform maybe you can fuck me while you wear it one day”, you whisper. Jake has to take a deep breath and will his cock not to jump at the thoughts running through his head. You laugh as you know exactly what he is thinking then lean up to kiss him. A throat clears and you see Bradley standing there.

“Hey Bradley”, you say. “Hey. So are you coming back to my apartment tonight or?”. Bradley asks. “Well I…um..Jake asked me to move in with him and I said yes”, you explain. Bradley’s face goes from being shocked to being red and furious. “Are you serious? (Y/N) don’t you think it’s a little too soon. I swear you have only been dating a month and a couple weeks”, Bradley seethes. “She’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions”, Jake says. 

“I didn’t ask you Hangman so piss off”, Bradley growls. “Hey, both of you calm down. Yes I am serious Bradley and it doesn’t mean I can’t come over and hang out”, you reply. Bradley huffs but grumbles something that sounds like “fine”. Jake kisses you again before leaving to go for training. You decide to move all of your stuff from Bradleys apartment to Jake’s while they are both gone. Then you have to get ready for your shift at the hard deck later that day. 

You get a text from Jake that the dagger squad still has some stuff to finish up at the base, and that he will meet you at the Hard Deck. You smile and head to work where Penny welcomes you back with a hug. “So how was the trip?”, Penny asked. “It went really well. His sister, brother in law, two nieces and brand new nephew are the perfect family. Jake took me out to go line dancing and we slept out under the stars”, you explain. “Well the real question is did you sleep with him?”, Penny asks. 

“Yeah and it was amazing”, you laugh. “You slept with Hangman?!” Bradleys voice booms. You spin around to see Bradley sitting at the bar, but it looks like he just came in to hear your confession. “Please tell me he used a condom”, Bradley cried. “Well the guest house really wasn’t stocked, but he’s clean”, you reply. “(Y/N) that’s not what I’m worried about”, Bradley sighs. “I’m on the pill you dipshit and don’t you dare give any shit to Jake about it. It was my decision”, You tell him. 

Jake comes in a little later and you both share a small kiss before you get back to work. “I moved all my stuff in”, you tell him. Bradley doesn’t seem happy with what you just said, but he drinks his beer and heads over to the pool table to wait for the rest of the dagger squad. When the rest of the squad comes in they all hug you and welcome you back home. After your shift you make your way to the squad and watch as they all joke and have fun. By the time you decide to leave Jake tells you he will be home a little later. Coyote and him catching up since he had been gone. When you got home you showered and curled up in bed with your book. A few hours later you must have fallen asleep because the shower is running. 

“I thought you would be asleep already”, Jake says. “I was but I woke up while you were in the shower”, you explain. Jake took his spot on the bed as you curled into his side. “How did training go today?”, you asked. Jake knew it was more than that. You were asking if his head was in the right place, and it had been today. The time away helped him and you had a big part to play in that. “It went fine darlin’ no need to worry”, he replied. You both share a couple of kisses until you settle in to sleep.

[zuhaism]

⊹ ｡˚ 𓂃 ♡ MMTG ?! ┊ lesserafim ⁺

[ navigation | corso ]

you and the members were in hybe’s lobby. you were sitting between chaewon and jaejae for the interview. many laughs were exchanged here and there as jaejae interviewed each members.

“when do you use it?” asked jae jae when the topic came to slangs. “for example ‘what are we going to eat for dinner?’ IDC. with a shoulder tilt” everyone did it together. then yunjin spoke up. “y/n is the only one who never uses slangs.”

“why why why” jae jae was bewildered. “arent you american too?” she had a shocked look on her face. “what ! no i am!” you paused because you were laughing too hard “it’s just that my mom said i shouldn’t talk like that. she says it sounds rude.” you answered with a sheepish smile.

the members nodded in agreement. “y/n’s actually very polite and has great manners, she just doesn’t talk.“ chaewon intervened and gave a thumbs up to the camera. jaejae continued interviewing yunjin.

“y/n! the other american. an all star basketball player! our nations little math nerd” and it showed a picture of 16 year old you about to do a three pointer and you after winning the mathematical olympiad. the interview finally got to you. you closed your eyes in embarrassment. everyone laughed in unison. “wah our y/n looks so cute.” eunchae spoke up.

“i heard you got recruited when you were playing basketball?” jaejae looked at you for confirmation. you chuckled before answering. “yeah actually i got scouted when i was on a school trip…” everyone was silent expecting you to continue but instead you stopped there. “ah” jaejae spoke amongst the silence “ah i guess thats all okay! its alright if you dont want to continue!” everyone bursts out laughing “no no no i can explain! sorry, sorry i thought you wanted to add something.” you tried explaining yourself. after the laughter died down and them teasing you, you started talking again.

you went all the way back to when you were 17. you and your other matheletes teammates won first place in a competition and got to go to Seoul as the winning prize. one night during the trip u got bored and sneaked out the hotel to a basketball court you saw nearby.

while you were shooting three pointers by yourself you noticed someone from the corner of your eye watching you. you got scared and ignored it hoping it wasn’t an entity from another dimension. the person stayed there for far too long and you started getting creeped out even though you were a whole feet taller than them.

you started packing your things up. putting everything in faster when you heard footsteps close behind. you were ready to book it when someone tapped your shoulder. you turned around and was met with a card in your face. the person said nothing as you took it and walked away.

it was a business card. as you examined it you noticed ‘you’re perfect for us. please come and audition tomorrow’

“and then i had a free day the next day so i went.” you ended your story with a small smile as everyone stared at you in awe. “you rapped to corso by tyler the creator am i right.” jaejae spoke up. you looked at her in shock “how’d you know.” she looked to the camera with a smug face and shrugged.

“y/n ! you once went live and answered all the fans math questions.” jaejae suddenly changed the subject as you sat up straighter. the members burst out laughing while you turned red from embarrassment. “wah y/n you’re really good at math aren’t you!” jaejae praised you.

“what. no no” you declined. “no! you’re really good. you just lack confidence.” jaejae ended her sentence and signalled for you all to look at the screen. it was showing a clip of one of your lives where you answered fearnot’s math questions.

“i think the x is 4 but i dont know” you said with your eyebrows furrowed moving closer to the camera to read the comments. “i dont know guys dont listen to me i might be wrong.” you said looking back at your paper, checking your answer again while scratching your head.

“you’re really cute.” said jaejae.

“stop flattering me”

the topic moved on to you being heartless but caring. you never knew you had this title. you never even knew you were caring you just did what you felt right. now that the topic changed everyone was giving examples on how you speak louder through your actions rather than words.

“one time, after coming home from a schedule. i went to my room and slept in the mess i made in the morning because i was too exhausted. the next morning i woke up to a clean room.” sakura started she said after that, she asked who cleaned her room and y/n only shrugged while zuha confirmed it wasn’t her. “it really warmed my heart because we had the same schedule.” sakura ended.

“no unnie it’s because you’re getting older.” eunchae teased the oldest. sakura gave eunchae the stink eye.

“oh! when we arrived at japan it was pouring and y/n unnie was beside me. she took off her jacket and wrapped me in it, holding an umbrella and then we walked together to the car.” eunchae expressed. “and in the car i noticed her shirt was half wet and i was like ‘so this is love’” eunchae announced softly with a dreamy look on her face as she looked at your red face.

“wow y/n you seem like you’d be a good boyfriend” said jaejae while you protested. “you’re right. you’re right sometimes even i want to date her.” chaewon voiced. chaewon started telling about the time after a schedule, when she got out the car her feet was hurting so bad. she was at the back struggling to walk through the pain. she saw you stopping and waiting for her at the parking lot entrance.

when you noticed she was hurting you immediately crouched infront of her. “what?” chaewon asked. you signalled her to piggyback you. “i am not doing that. we’re wearing the same shoes! you’re going to-“ she got cut off when you moved back and carried her anyways. she held onto you tight when you lifted her and she stayed that way until you guys went up to the dorm.

“wah y/n noticing the small things. we need more people like that.” jaejae added. yunjin and kazuha started talking about their loving experiences with you. yunjin stated that she’d only watch a horror movie only if you’re there. yunjin said when you’re with her, she feels safe. probably because whenever there’s a gory scene you’d mutter ‘that’s so fake’ under your breathe. but that’s besides the point. you’d rub circles on her hand and make her feel reassured.

for kazuha, you’re her debate mate. you talk the most when you’re with her. you don’t know how her mind works but you sure know how to handle it. like the other day, she asked which is the strongest : rock, paper, or scissors. you had to explain to her how its neither and rock, paper scissors is just a game of luck.

she also mentioned how you’re always helping her in korean and you’d go for convenience store runs whenever she gets a question right. you treat her so well.

“in conclusion! y/n is a great person to date.” jaejae ended

“not the dating part” chaewon muttered.

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

Yes, we are gathering everyone together for competition day - what the hey, Mister?

Orrr should I say "what the hay," because guess what we're doing to see who goes on a date with Lilac? Yup, barrel racing.

The sim who clears the most (and remains saddled) will emerge victorious.

While Araminta pours some buffalo wing tea to help settle nerves, Tiago entertains with memes - but it's also Season Premiere, and Cassie has her priorities straight.

A high strung and untrained horse would be more fun, but as Araminta is a professional rider and has some experience with them, it's just straining credibility too much. Thus this group gets to saddle up Duchess, her prize winning (and maxed out TEMPERAMENT) mare. Blazing saddles, maybe, but no blazing behinds from being bucked.

Mister is first up but while he certainly looks the part (🔥), he and Duchess only make it past two barrels before things go wobbly.

HORSE LOVER Struan is very much in his element for this (and possibly in love with this new lady), and sets the record for a grand total of six barrels before steering a little westward for the seventh.

Third is Jayla - and oof.

The saddles may not be blazing but the sun is, and this HIGH MAINTENANCE pixel's temper has heated up accordingly. Short of cheats, we've given her every opportunity to calm down - from the CALM EMOTIONS interaction from Araminta to self talks and even asking Duchess for anger management tips.

Sadly it's no surprise when she doesn't clear a single barrel (but did you even try the hay?).

And at some point, Jayla even invents a whole new mode of horse riding.

I hate this game

Once we've restarted and brought Jayla safely down to earth, it's jokester Tiago's turn.

(Jayla, please. Sit in the shade, which I've been trying to get you to do for the last few hours, and have a drink.)

After assuring Duchess that he won't try sky riding, Tiago likewise looks at home in the saddle, but only manages one barrel.

Last but not least is Cassie, who manages a respectable three barrels (and to make a new friend), though with his six being double the next closest sim's, the victor is Struan. Everyone began today with zilch in the way of equestrian skill, but perhaps his HORSE LOVER trait gave him an edge?

In spite of interference from Duchess, everyone manages to catch the Game of Llamas premiere.

Yes, Araminta can cook. No, she does not like it. However she manages an EXCELLENT quality meal, with even FOODIES Cassie and Jayla finding favour.

While Mister gives his compliments to the chef, Struan makes an unsurprising self discovery.

And there we have it! We'll see everyone (including how Struan's date with Lilac went) tomorrow.

@bakersimmer @tipsy-clouds @igglemouse @lindyloosims @simsfvr

[alwritey-aphrodite]

Tarnished But So Grand

Pairing: young!Coriolanus Snow x reader

Warnings: death, violence, planting the seeds of Snow’s toxicity

Word Count: 2.7k

Author’s Note: there are some moments where Snow definitely is ooc and others where he is indeed still very much toxic - don’t date toxic boys irl

Before this year, you could have counted the amount of times you’ve snuck out of your house on one hand. Now, though, most nights of the week find you shimmying out of your window and scaling the side of your house, dropping into the waiting arms of Coriolanus Snow. You’re sure that you could have just asked your parents to spend time with the boy, but you liked having something all to yourself, and you liked breaking the rules for once in your life.

There’s something about being with Coryo that just makes you come alive, makes your heart race and your breath come faster. It might just be the thrill of sneaking out of your bedroom window while your parents are fast asleep, but you’re starting to think it’s just Coryo, the way he looks at you and talks to you and holds you. Now, he grabs your hand, and the two of you rush off to the little park you’d decided was your safe haven, a place where only the two of you exist.

“My parents are having dinner with the Creeds tomorrow night,” you mutter, whispering your death sentence. Your parents have grand plans for you, plans that involve marrying rich and having lots of children. You’d been trying to convince them to wait until you’d attended university, until you believed Coryo could make a name for himself, because you simply couldn’t imagine your life without him by your side.

“It’s a big day for everyone then,” he responds, grabbing your hand and trying his best not to look disgusted at himself. He might be able to fool his classmates, but the parents could see the truth, the dark, penniless truth.

“Don’t act so nervous, we all know you’re going to win the Plinth prize, I can’t even think of anybody we know who’d even come close,” you try and lighten the mood, but even under the dark lamplights you see the disbelieving look he sends your way.

It’s no secret that you’re intelligent, and it would be a crime if your parents refused to let you attend university, but you didn’t need the Plinth prize, not the way Coryo did. He tried to hide it, all his struggles, and he’d been successful until you stopped by the penthouse to bring over an assignment he’d left at the academy. You didn’t mind, not even a little bit, but Coryo never fully believed you.

“Maybe we should just run away,” you change topics, leaning into his side and resting your head on his shoulder. He leans his own on top of yours with no hesitation, wrapping an arm around you and drawing you closer. You close your eyes, savoring the moments you know are fleeting because as much as you fantasize about it, neither you or Coryo would ever have the guts to run away.

Trying your best to commit every second you spend together to memory, you listen to the rise and fall of Coryo’s breath as he sits next to you, a shiver running through you as he lightly strokes the exposed skin of your arms. You stay like that for what feels like hours, and even though you’d be more than happy to spend eternity here with him, Coryo stands and kisses you goodbye, needing sleep before the ceremony tomorrow.

Watching him go, you can’t help but mourn what’s right in front of you, can’t help the despair that twists in your chest when you realize that life won’t always be this way. In a few months, there’ll be no more sneaking out, no more secret meetings, no more gentle kisses hello and goodbye. You’re living on borrowed time, and you can’t help the tears that well up as you watch Coryo’s retreating form.

——

Even the mere sight of Festus Creed standing in the academy’s entrance hall is enough to make bile rise in your throat. You almost want to turn and run, but you see Coryo across the room and a smile works its way onto your face and he sends one back, over the heads of all of your classmates. You’re so distracted, so enamored, that you don’t notice that Festus is now standing right in front of you.

“Coming to dinner tonight?” He asks, trying his best to appear charming but all you want to do is scratch his eyes out.

“No, just my parents, I have plans of my own,” you tell the boy, feeling much less cornered when you catch the sight of your savior coming towards you. As easy as breathing, Coryo slips his hand into yours, squeezing once without breaking eye contact with Festus.

It’s a display of ownership and power, that much you can tell, as if Festus wouldn’t possibly respect your own wishes for him to scram and you needed Coriolanus to step in for you because he’d be respected. Even though an act of peacocking like that would typically make your skin crawl, you’re just grateful that Festus has slunk off to bother someone else. Squeezing his hand once before letting go, you turn to talk with Coryo for the first time since you watched him leave last night.

“You look very nice,” you tell him, brushing imaginary lint off his shoulders just for an excuse to touch him. He smiles at you, the soft sort of smile that he only shows to you, but it crumples when Arachne and Clemmensia approach. Your own hands fall from his shoulders, as if you’re not allowed to touch him in a friendly manner, and you turn to face the group and listen to their discussions of the Plinth prize.

The rest of the day passes by in a blur of confusion and despair; not only is there no Plinth prize, but you’re being forced to become a mentor for one of the 24 tributes in the Hunger Games. You’re assigned to Bobbin, a little boy from District Eight, and as evil as it seems, there’s a part of you that hopes that he passes away in his sleep before the games begin, to spare him from the horrible end you know he’ll meet otherwise.

Curled up on top of your bed, all you want is to have Coryo wrap you in his arms and stay there for the rest of eternity. When the time comes, and you shimmy out of your window and down the side of your house, you all but fall into Coryo, his arms the only thing keeping you upright. He doesn’t say a word, just pulls you closer and holds you tighter, knowing exactly what you need.

The two of you stay like that for a while, until you feel sufficiently human again and the worry of your parents seeing you starts crawling forward in your mind, so you grab his hand and start the familiar walk to your park bench.

“Why are we doing this?” You ask, still feeling despondent and your thoughts running a million miles a minute.

“Doing what?” He asks, confusion clouding his voice, and you can tell his brows are all furrowed even though you’re staring at your intertwined hands, “this?” He gives your hands a gentle shake, and he sighs when you nod.

This is a conversation you’ve had many times before, and no matter how many times he reassures you, you know you’ll just ask again in a few weeks. If Coryo knows the two of you will never end up together, not if your parents have a say, why would he spend all this time with you? What’s the point in a midnight rendezvous if he knows nothing real can come of it?

“Because I love you,” he answers the way he always does, letting go of your hand to wrap his arm around your shoulder and pull you impossibly closer, “and because I know that your parents will change their minds.” That part is new, a testament to Coryo’s need to be the best, to his determination to win. To him, having you marry Festus would be the same as losing to Festus, and he’d never let that happen. He loves you, you know he does, but you wonder how much of his desire to marry you is love and how much is pride?

Before you can spiral, the conversation turns to Lucy Gray: her chances of winning, how likely she is to trust Coryo, how Coryo can increase her odds in the Games. There aren’t any discussions of Bobbin, even though you’ve been tasked with keeping him alive as well, and it’s as if Lucy Gray is all that matters at the moment. And, in the lead up to the Games, she really is all that matters to the majority of the Capital, everyone is so enamored with her it’s as if none of the other tributes should even try because while they might be more skilled, none of them have captured the hearts of the Capital the way Lucy Gray has.

Walking into the academy on the first morning of the Games, you’re full of a sick sense of apprehension, something deep inside you that wants to turn and flee and never look back. You don’t, instead taking a seat next to Coryo and craning your neck as you look for Sejanus. Dean Highbottom had said something cryptic about the boy when you and Coryo entered the room, and you can’t help but think he’s been hurt in some way.

When he enters, he looks well enough as he can be given the circumstances, but that all changes the moment the cameras turn on. Bloody and beaten, Marcus is strung up in the center of the arena and it’s unclear whether he’s alive or dead. It doesn’t matter to Sejanus, who stands and screams at everyone before storming out. The rest of your peers snicker, but you’d do the same if you were in his shoes. Even now, the sight of Marcus and the knowledge of what’s to come makes you want to throw up, but you manage to control yourself.

Bobbin and Lucy Gray both manage to survive the bloodbath, sneaking off in opposite directions as Coral and her gang begin to terrorize anyone they can catch. Even though the Games have just started, you’re already praying for them to end. You’d rather sit through a ten minute bloodbath and have it all be over than have to sit and watch for hours and days on end as the number of tributes dwindles down to one.

That night, you leave with the rest of the remaining mentors, with the exception of Coryo, who’s determined to watch out for Lucy Gray as long as he possibly can. Your parents have the Games playing on their television when you return home, but you ignore it in favor of curling up in your bed and wishing for an end to the violent spectacle. For the first time in months, you don’t bother to sneak out, knowing Coryo won’t be there to break your fall.

At some point during the night, the feeds are cut and when they come back on, Bobbin has been slaughtered. This information isn’t shared with you until you return to the academy with the rest of the mentors, and you’re beyond devastated.

“No one knows what happened to him,” you explain to Coryo in a frantic whisper before Lucky Flickerman kicks you out for having a dead tribute.

“It could have been any of them,” Coryo gestures towards the screen showing Coral and her gang, and you know he’s right. No matter what you do, you won’t bring him back, and you’ll never find out who slaughtered that poor boy. You give Coryo’s shoulder a squeeze before you hurry away, devastated at the loss of such a young life but glad you won’t be forced to watch the Games anymore.

When the dust settles, Lucy Gray is the last tribute standing, even as Coryo has to forcefully ask, again and again, to get her out of the arena. The last thing he needed was everyone knowing he cheated, twice, and taking away everything he had worked so hard for.

They did anyway.

Despite Dean Highbottom’s explicit instructions for Coryo to go straight to the station after gathering his few meager belongings, he knew he needed to make a quick pit stop before he left forever. It felt strange to be knocking at your front door instead of waiting underneath your window, and anxiety coiled around in his belly as he waited for someone to answer. Luckily, it was you who swung open the door, and just seeing your face sent a pang of longing through him.

“What are you doing here?” You ask, not unkindly, as you step outside and shut the door behind you. With the Games, you hadn’t seen Coryo in days, and it’s been the longest stretch in months that you slept a full night in your bed.

“They’re sending me to twelve, to be a peacekeeper,” he explains as quickly as he can, leaving out the fact that he’s deciding he’s going to twelve, not anyone else.

“Twenty years apart,” you place your hands on the side of his face, trying to study it and keep it in your memory forever.

“Twenty years,” he confirms, much less urgent than before. He can be a little late, he’s already being sent to hell, but he needs to just look at you a little while longer.

“I’ll be married to Festus by then,” you know that even if your parents let you attend university, there’s no way they’ll wait twenty years before selling you off.

“And then when I get back, I’ll steal you away for good,” you let out a watery laugh at that, the tears unsurprising but unexpected, as you hadn’t even realized they were falling.

“You could steal me away now,” you whisper, pulling his head closer to yours and resting your foreheads together, “we could run away, and then they’ll never find us.”

Coryo entertains the thought for a second, imagines what it would be like to live in some hovel in the woods with you, before pulling back.

“I have to go, if I don’t show up, Highbottom will hunt me down,” he says, in that soft voice he keeps just for you, before leaving you with one final kiss.

The next time you see Coryo isn’t in twenty years, but less than one. Your parents are throwing a party, trying to come up with as many social gatherings as possible to get you and Festus together, but even as you speak with your supposed betrothed, you see a familiar face out of the corner of your eye. His hair is different, and his clothes are nicer, but there’s no mistaking Coriolanus Snow.

You’re not listening to a word Festus is saying, instead hoping that Coryo will find you through the crowd. Across the room, you lock eyes, and it takes every fiber of your being to restrain yourself from running to him. He smiles at you, a charming smile that can fool government agents and parents alike, and you go weak in the knees.

While you don’t run, you do give a mumbled apology to Festus before turning and making your way through the crowd, all but pushing people out of the way until you can wrap Coryo in your arms. He responds immediately, pulling you impossibly closer and holding you tightly against his chest. You can hear the pounding of his heart, and you wonder if yours is any less erratic.

“Well, look at you, Officer Snow,” you say with a grin, settling your hands on either side of his face because it seems impossible that he’s standing in front of you. He laughs, and pulls you closer for a quick kiss, barely a graze of his lips against yours but he just couldn’t help himself. Compared to the twenty years you were supposed to be apart, one year is nothing, but it still felt like a lifetime to the both of you.

“Come on, I want to hear about everything,” you grab his hand and lead him away from the party, up the stairs and towards the room you’d sneak out of just to meet him. Those nights seem like a decade ago, but you’re so unbelievably happy to see Coryo again, it doesn’t matter how long you had to wait.

Tags: @andr0medafallen @hopefulromances @chmpgneprblem

[masivechaos]

vigilante shit!

── ☆ regulus black x fem! reader

── ☆ Request: yes / no

── ☆ Synopsis: it's the first time you meet James after he cheated on you, but Regulus is by your side and you're not against making your ex a little mad.

── ☆ Warning/content: celebrity au, mention of cheating (reader been cheated on in the past), swearing, idk anything about how award shows are organized so bear with me please, idk if i like this or no but err, my English

── ☆ a.n.: 1.8k words-

masterlist/ marauders masterlist / navigation / taglist 

Your eyes travelled the room, mouth in a thin line with the most neutral expression on your face, Regulus’ arm around your waist, flashes of cameras illuminating your make-up-covered skin. It was your first apparition in public with Regulus as your new boyfriend. Well- people knew about it, thank the paparazzi for this, but for the first time, it was official, it was your choice.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this news broke the internet. You were known to be James Potter’s wife, the lead singer of the Marauders, and your break up was sudden, nobody saw it coming.

James Potter was famous for being adorable and so so respectful. Hence your surprise when you found out he cheated. You couldn’t describe how disappointed and betrayed you felt. You genuinely thought he was a good man, but maybe celebrities were celebrities. You hope it was false because you didn’t want Regulus to fool you as James did.

But you didn’t have to worry for the moment, today was a prize award show and you were nominated in the “single of the year” category and Regulus in the “album of the year” category. You wanted both of you to win, and eventually for the Marauders not to win the album of the year prize. First, for yourself and second to prove to James what he had just lost. It was all ego and pride but you didn’t care.

── ☆ 

Finally sat at your table, you looked around and without meaning to, your eyes fell on the Marauders’ table, so on James obviously. You couldn’t help but notice no one was seated by his side, guess his secret girlfriend wasn’t that good. You rolled your eyes before turning your body to face Regulus sat next to you “You good?” he whispered as he let his thumb slide over your knuckles before pressing a soft kiss to the back of your hand.

“Yeah,” you murmured. You weren’t going to let your stupid ex ruin your night.

Soon the night hosts were on stage and you could escape your thoughts by listening to them but it turned out you were zoning out the entire time, your brain only focusing on what you were going to read in the news tomorrow about how it was the first time you and James were reunited after your sudden break up.

Regulus nudged your shoulder, tearing you out of your thoughts “You need to go, it's soon your performance,” he said as he tried to read your eyes. He knew it was hard for you to face James again, but his band mates too.

The world of celebrity is like a playground for adults. Everybody knows each other, some people whisper and others eavesdrop. The kindest ones weren’t always the most popular and you could have a hard time finding real and honest friends.

And for a long time you thought you did. You had what people would call a “perfect life” and you couldn’t be happier. You had an amazing husband, who was the lead singer of a very famous band and you were friends with the other members. What could possibly go wrong?

Journalists and friends were talking about you like your life was complete, that it was going to stay the same until the end. You believed them. You thought you knew James by heart, that you were going to live a perfect marriage.

But maybe you were blind by love, or maybe you were just oblivious but you never saw his furtive glances at his phone at night or the way he would be less present for you, always finding an excuse to go out without you.

One day you got suspicious and asked his bandmates about it but they said they didn’t know anything so you let it go, forgetting about everything. That was until one of your shows was cancelled and you got home a day earlier only to find James in bed with another. When you thought about it, all you can remember is how you cried and screamed and wanted him to disappear from your life.

With tears running down your face, you left the house to find comfort next to your best friend, Remus. He welcomed you, comforted you. You thought that you hadn’t lost everything, your friends were still here. If only it was true.

── ☆ 

“How could he do this to me?” you sobbed, letting your cries staining Remus’ sweater as he brushed away the strands of hair stuck to your cheeks. Remus didn’t answer anything, hugging you closer. His best friend messed up but so did he.

“Since when was this going on? When did he start to lie?” you asked, anger taking over sadness. You felt Remus tense at this. You detached yourself from him, your eyebrows furrowed “You knew about this?” you whispered, your heart clenching inside your chest.

Remus avoided your gaze, staring down at the ground, the hardwood floor being suddenly the most interesting thing of his life.

“Did you know about this, Remus?” you said through gritted teeth and he shyly nodded, ashamed of himself. You jumped out of his sofa, throwing at him the blanket he offered you for extra comfort. “Get fucked, Remus,” you spat as you left his living room.

── ☆ 

You got off of stage after your performance under the loud applause of the public, taking a deep breath in. You had done your best and you were satisfied with the outcome. Walking back to your table, you passed by the Marauders. After realising, you tried to increase your pace and when you thought they didn’t notice you, you felt a hand grabbing your elbow, turning around.

You closed your eyes, hoping this wasn’t happening “Y/n. Please, can we talk?” You winced as you recognized James’ voice.

With a sigh, you opened your eyes “No, we can’t. Bye,” you said as you tried to leave but he held onto your arm a little harder.

“Please,” he begged and the urge to punch him in the face became even stronger. “I- I messed up, okay?”

“Woah, took you a year and half to realise? You’re a bit slow.”

James took a deep breath, combing a nervous hand through his hair “I regret what I did, okay? I fucked up and I…,” he looked at you in the eyes, getting closer to you and your whole body tensed. “I miss you.”

You raised your eyebrows, there was something so satisfying about seeing him miserable like this. Before you could answer anything, an arm slid around your waist and you lifted your eyes to find Regulus by your side.

“Everything’s fine?” he asked as he kissed your temple before letting his lips linger on your skin.

“Yeah,” you whispered, leaning into him, seeking for the comfort of his smell and touch. James’s eyes travelled between you and Regulus as a frown appeared on his face.

“So you guys are dating, now?” You nodded, taking Regulus’s hand and giving it a light squeeze. “This is your revenge? Going out with my rival? You want to know all the awards he stole from us?”

“You know everything is not about you, James? My only revenge is that I’m finally happy and apparently you are not! Like what, Karma knows how to do her work!” You turned to leave before adding “And maybe he didn’t steal any award, maybe his music is just better than yours.”

“What now? You’re saying my music sucks?”

“No. I was maybe stupid enough to believe your sweet words, I wasn’t stupid enough to marry a guy who’s music sucks. All I’m saying is that maybe he’s not the problem, maybe you are. I also happen to appreciate more a music when it’s not made by a bunch of guys who spent months lying into my face because they are fucking cowards.”

You finally walked away, leaving behind you a very much shocked and confused James. He was being honest, he truly wanted you back. And the fact that you were dating his rival wasn’t helping make him feel better.

── ☆ 

When the marauders started to be known, they were immediately successful. All of them being pretty, nice and talented, the success was almost given to them. Until Regulus Black arrived. He was the marauders’ guitarist’s brother and just as handsome, if not more for you. And from there started years of rivalry, The marauders and Regulus often fighting for awards and being the number one hit of the year.

Therefore, since you were married to James, you were used to see Regulus as a rival and bad guy. But when you broke up, you reached out to him. Out of revenge first, you definitely wanted to make James jealous. But as you talked to Regulus more and more, you discovered how much of a sweetheart he was. He made you realise how much James wasn’t treating you right, because Regulus loved you and always made sure you knew it. He made you understand that the sentence “If he wanted to, he would” was definitely true. By his side you felt loved, whole and happy.

── ☆ 

Sat down at your table, your drink in hand. You were waiting for Regulus’s performance, you were sure he was going to be great, he always was. He appeared on stage and started to sing, you carefully watched him, proud of him. It was his new song, the first time he ever performed it live.

From the corner of your eyes, you looked at the marauders, they were watching Regulus and seemed pretty annoyed. You let out a chuckle. You were waiting for one particular lyric and you quickly realised it was the next sentence and watched even more carefully the band’s reaction.“

The words finally crossed Regulus’s mouth “Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife and she looks so pretty. Driving in your Benz. Lately she's been dressing for revenge.”

You couldn’t help but let a wide grin appear on your lips as you saw James’ clench his jaw as he briefly glanced at you before realising you were looking at him.

When Regulus sat down by your side again, you kissed him, the smile still present. “I can’t kiss you if you smile so much,” he said as he cupped your face between his hands.

“His reaction was priceless.”

“That’s what I wrote this for, darling,” he smirked.

You leaned into his side, your head resting on his shoulder. “It’s maybe childish of me, but I don’t care, he deserves it.”

The night ended and the grins never left both of your faces. And while the Marauders were going back home with their heads down and hands empty, you were sleeping peacefully next to the man of your life, with both of your awards installed proudly on your fireplace.

James lost you but you won everything. You won awards but you won the game of love too. Because you’re the best thing that happened to Regulus and he’s the best thing that happened to you.

⋆ ★ regulus black taglist: @ell0ra-br3kk3r @maroon-winestain @cauliflowertree @madison-rebel @rhydianissuperior  @loveeharrington @meredarling @jackys-stuff-blog @elenatries2write @juneberrie @f4iry-blush  @gilmore-angel @heartfucks @songs4themoon @moondemon123 @mystic-writings @siriusblackstwin @natashxromanovf @unadulterated-syd @garfieldsladybird @starconfettii @percy-the-hufflepuff @fairydxll @spookydarkwitch @duxpuella @innerloverpainter @kieracassette @nyxxxxxxxx @venussflytraps @oncasette @goodoldfashionedluvergirl @widowbf @starlit-epiphany @rosalyn-s @etanordiesbullsh!t @daltopia @jsjcue @mellozhi @lovings4turn

[nevernonline]

✧.* he's all that; lsm mini series

✧.*synopsis: every year the kappa sorority hosted a 'hot or not' greek life pageant show. you've luckily escaped having to bring your own "nottie" to give a makeover to and train in hopes of winning a big prize for the rest of your crew. but, just when you thought your lucky streak was going strong your name get's chosen as a representative and your sisters had just the guy for you to make over.

part of my seventeen movie series. 

paring: seokmin x reader (y/n uses she/her pronouns.) 

genre/s: fluff, strangers2lvrs, neighbors2lvrs or whatever.  

warning/s: alcohol mentions, swearing, cigarette mentions, swearing, some pg-13 jokes. no funny business iykyk. lots of mean girls (rip)

word count: 4.2k

note: im notorious atp for not editing, pls. this edition of nmm is inspired by a true classic she's all that (w/ a bit of greek the tv show/sydney white energy if any of u have ever seen ALSO classics, this was supposed to be one part, BUT! I feel myself getting so carried away so … three parts.) i was going to post my gwag update today but im gonna wait till either tomorrow or Tuesday <3.

beginning ▸ middle ▸ end.

Y/n was dreading the meeting she walked through the front doors of the sorority for this afternoon, the pageant. Kappa and all the other sororities on Greek row participated in what they call ‘Hot or Not’ every year since supposedly the 1980’s something her now head sister Heather claims was started by the legacy that was her mother. Which maybe was true, but y/n could never figure out why it mattered? And while it was fun it was a little bit old school.

“Hey, girls. Everyone settled in? We have a very exciting tradition here at Kappa as you may know.”

The cheers rang through the sitting room, with its white walls, pale pink carpets, and sherpa couches, the cheers and claps of girls hoping Heather draws their name from the glass bowl with her perfectly manicured finger tips.

“Yes. It’s so exciting, we have a few new faces so since you haven’t been a part of this week in past years we left you out of the bowl, but we will have many things for you to participate in this week. Like dine and dash, our famous Good as Gold party, and of course judging the competition at the end of the week. Before we get to the drawing, I wanted to congratulate our last year's winner, Suni. Give it up for her.”

Smiling, y/n clapped along with the other girls, giving Suni her flowers. About to step out behind the two french doors to grab a water or something to drink, when you hear Heather call your name loudly. All of your other sisters and friends spinning around watching her looking like she was attempting to escape the reality of her name being the one chosen after three years of getting out of it.

“y/n! Finally, Come back here, girly.”

Walking through the clapping crown y/n took her place next to the blonde and pretended to smile with excitement as her gut was telling her it was absolutely the worst day of her life.

The only reason y/n was in this sorority was to get extra college credits, that and Heather and her mother met here and have been friends since that very day. Heather was obsessed with being a legacy and clawing her way to the top of the food chain at the university. Y/n was just there for the ride.

“Everyone, you all obviously know my very good friend and our smartest sister, y/n. I personally have been waiting for the day she got chosen out of this bowl. It’s something our moms, co-vp’s of their 1980’s class of Kappas have been talking about for years. So I’m just as excited as I’m sure y/n is to be our guiding light to another victory this year. Anything to say, y/n?”

“Uh, not really, you said it all.”

Another big fake smile appeared on her face. Laughing and giggling at all the congratulations coming her way.

“Girls, before we enjoy our lunch. Don’t forget tonight is dine and dash, please find your dates and bring them to Carol’s Diner at 8pm. See you there.”

Checking the time on your phone you had roughly 45 minutes before your lecture and enough time to take off the gaudy Kappa logo’d sweater you had to put on for what Heather calls “official business.”

“Y/n what are you checking the time for? We have a lot to do today.”

“I have a class in 40 minutes, I have to go back and change.”

“I don’t get why you won't just move back in here with us?”

“I told you, Heather. I can't. I have to focus on getting into Med School and no offense to you or the other girls, but this isn’t exactly the best place for me to focus when I have to study.”

“Med School can wait just one day right? We have to set up the table at Carol’s and set up for the party later. Would you mind going with the new girl Sam to grab the alcohol? And then you can meet me back here and we will go to the diner together. I’m going to have the girls go out and look for some Nottie’s for you today before that whale from Delta picks them all up. “

“No, but-”

“Thank you! Love you!”

“Also her name is not Sam, It’s Soyeon.”

“Okay got it, toodleoo.”

Searching the house for the person and so called new girl, Sam you stumbled upon her sitting out on the back patio writing in her journal.

“Soyeon?”

“Oh, hey y/n.

“Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, you didn’t. I’m just so used to everyone calling me Sam I forget people know that it’s actually not.”

“Yeah, it took Heather a whole year to not call Suni, Sunny and everyone just kind of follows her suit.”

“I thought you had class? I didn’t know you were still here.”

“I do. It’s just a lecture on the importance of mammograms and breast cancer research so, I guess it’s okay. I can just find it somewhere online.”

“Ready to head out?”

“Would you hate me if we stopped at my dorm? I cannot wear this fucking sweater for more than an hour or I may spontaneously combust.”

“Yeah, I don’t want to be seen with you in public while you’re wearing that.”

“I appreciate your honesty.”

“You should.”

Y/n and Soyeon escaped the general excitement of the rest of the girls by escaping out the outdoor gate and walked viciously together to change the heinous sweater on y/n’s back.

Turning the corner to finally reach the hall her single dorm room lived at the end of, she ran into a tall boy who’s books scattered all across the floor, a boy she had never once run into literally and physically.

“I'm so sorry.”

“No, no I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“You’re y/n right?”

“Yes? Why?”

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I live across the hall from you. I see your name tag on your door all the time and all the photos of you from all your friends. Which now that I’m talking makes me sound like even more of a weirdo? I’m sorry. I’m Seokmin, my friends call me DK or Dokyeom , whatever. And now I’m rambling, please stop me.”

“No, you’re okay. Can we at least just get off the floor now?”

“Yes.”

Seokmin or Dokyeom whatever his real name actually is, crawled off the floor and stuck his hand out to you for assistance pulling your pink colored body off the floor.

“This is my friend, Soyeon.”

“Sorority sisters?”

“Wait. How’d you know? Oh, fuck the sweater. Don’t tell anyone you saw me wearing this, I know where you live.”

“Don’t worry, I never will. But, sorry to uh, cut this meeting short I have to get to class. I’ll see you again, I’m sure. Bye, nice meeting you y/n. And you too, Soyeon.”

“Bye.”

In unison you and Soyeon watched the tall boy walk towards the elevators. Both of you have differing expressions of looks on your face, one of pure enjoyment watching the awkward interaction and one of pure dumbfoundedness.

“He’s cute.”

Soyeon brought you out of staring at the boy walking away and stepping into the elevator, throwing his fingers up waving goodbye while clutching his mounds of books in his hands.

“What?”

“I said he’s cute and he’s your neighbor. Lucky girl.”

“Oh. Yeah, I can’t believe I’ve never met him before.”

“Why don’t you ask him out?”

“We just met. Plus, I’m busy with school and now this stupid pageant. I don’t have time for cute boys.”

“I’m sure you can make it work.”

Unlocking your door and letting Soyeon in before you so you can sneak a peek at his front door in front of yours. Plain, just a few funny messages and cute stickers of tangerines and tigers pasted on his whiteboard. Maybe he already has a girlfriend? But a boy like that with that many books is probably much like you and had no time for dating.

“Wait. Y/N your room is so nice? Maybe I should move out of the house. It’s loud as fuck anyway.”

“Why are you in the sorority? I’m not judging because I was basically dragged into it too. I’m just curious?”

“My mom always wanted me to join. She said it’s a good way to find friends, I always had a hard time making them. So I figured why not?”

“Got it. Makes sense.”

“What about you? You also don’t serve sorority girl to me.”

“Because my mom also got me to join, that’s actually how I know Heather. Our moms were co-captains of the sorority at some point in the 80’s.”

“Oh, so you’ve known her your whole life?”

“Mhm.”

“No offense or anything, but she’s… kind of a bitch.”

“Kind of? It’s only gotten worse since she’s been in charge. She was okay when we were younger, but you know.”

Slipping out of your jeans and sweater, you threw on a black pair of pleated pants and a loose white button down.

“Also you have tattoos and a sick body, stop dressing like an old woman.”

“I could never pull off what you wear? You’re so cool and confident.”

“Promise me. One party this year you’ll let me pick out something to wear?”

“Okay.”

“You’re very trusting.”

“What? You’re going to make me wear a hot pink dress and try to dye my hair blonde too?”

“Hell no.”

“Exactly.”

Hours passed on as you were getting to know Soyeon more, a part of you realized what you had been missing meeting girls outside of your own circle at school.

People who share your interests and enjoy talking about things other than clothes, shoes, and boys.

It was actually the least stressed you’ve been around someone at the sorority in a long time. Almost like a breath of fresh air.

Getting out of the Uber you took filled to the brim with alcohol and snacks, you were back at the big White House at the end of the street. Not a flaw in sight. Almost like it wasn’t a real reality.

“Should we ditch the diner? We could always go see my friend play at the bar across campus instead?”

“I would love nothing more, but Heather will have my head shaved or something.”

“Okay, well when we ditch later we can head there.”

“It’s a date.”

“Ew, you’re so corny. Save it for your new lover boy across the hall.”

“Shut up.”

Soyeon and you laughed, dragging the last box up the stairs into the foyer of the house. Met with the blonde at the bottom of the stairs.

“There you guys are! I was going to send a search and rescue team to come for you if you didn’t show up soon.”

“We got a little distracted. Sorry.”

“No problem. You’re here now, Sam go up and get ready, I’ll help y/n from here.”

“Okay.”

Soyeon or Sam, picked her poison and shoved down Heather still calling her by the wrong name and walked up to her room to change and get ready for the rest of her night. While you were stuck unpacking the boxes.

“Y/n. Don’t forget to look out for the boys everyone brings tonight. We can pick one from the litter for your Nottie.”

“Look, Heather-“

“I know what you’re going to say and don’t even think about asking me if you can drop out of the pageant, okay?”

“I just don’t think it’s worth it or fair anymore, why don’t we just get the other frat guys to do it? Like Mingyu or Wonwoo, Johnny? I don’t know. I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.”

“You raise a good point. And it gives me an idea.”

“Which is?”

“We have the other frats competing too, we’ll get more payout and the three uglies will be more profitable than ever for us. You’re so smart.”

“That’s not wha-“

“Ah! I’m so lucky to have you. I’ll let everyone know.”

Heather bounced off into the other room, texting rapidly with her manicured hands on her cell phone, making the fire bigger.

With your head spinning around and around you don’t even remember walking your way to the diner waiting for the freshman girls to bring their guys along to the large table set for someone’s embarrassment.

Taking a seat near the end of the table next to Soyeon and Heather on your other side, you sat and sipped at the Diet Coke in front of you, feeling your mix of anxiety and angel swirling in your stomach and begging for something a little stronger.

“Are you feeling okay?”

Soyeon leaned over and whispered into your ear, seeing the look on your face and noticing your obvious quietness.

“I’ll tell you after.”

“Okay, if you want to go early, let me know.”

“I will”

Heather had her vulture eyes on, waiting to see which she would inevitably have embarrassed by the groups around you with no remorse.

She looked into your eyes and signaled to a cute shy boy across the table, sitting and picking at his nails, making it clear she had made her mark.

“Let me use the bathroom first okay?”

“Yeah, of course. You wouldn’t want to miss it.”

“Right.”

Walking briskly into the old blue stalls in the bathroom, which you didn't even really have to use, but just needed an excuse to go somewhere and release your anxiety.

“Y/n? Hey. Y/n?”

Seeing Soyeon’s platform heels under the bottom of the stall door you jumped up and swung your head out of the blue metal.

“What?”

“Remember that guy you met today?”

“Yes, of course why?”

“He’s here.”

“Someone brought him?”

“No. He’s here with his two friends and Heather invited them to the table. One of them is that dude that’s friends with Mingyu with the that acts like a tiger, the hot nerdy one, and the other one is just some hot short buff guy, never seen him before. Anyway, We either have to get out of here right now or stay and hide in here until they're gone.” L

“Why don’t we just go-“

“No. I don’t want him to think you’re a bitch? Are you crazy? You can’t go dunking on nerds in front of three hot dudes?”

“Okay let’s go.”

As the two of you tried to make your exit from the ladies room you heard commotion outside in the dining room, so you both slipped back quickly into the bathroom, locking the door for some reason as you head the chairs scooting and the bell ringing meaning people were slipping out on one of the boys at the table.

“You think they're gone?”

“Yeah. I hear the sink running in the men’s room, come on.”

As you walked out of the bathroom in front of you Seokmin was sitting at the table covered in a turkey club sandwich looking at the long tab Heather left for him.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Your ‘sisters’ dumped a sandwich on me and left the tab? Do you guys do this a lot?”

“It’s just some stupid shit Heather came up with when she became president. Me and y/n were hiding in the bathroom so we could come and pay the tab. But, you got to it first.”

“Right.”

Not saying anything and standing in your tracks cold, you watched as Soyeon took the check from his hands and waved you on to help him as she went up to pay.

“She dumped her food on you?”

“Yeah, my friends and I were just coming for takeout. I saw Soyeon so I went to say hi and she wanted to come get you. But the blonde girl,”

“Heather.”

“Yeah, Heather. She told me to sit down for a second and my friends went back to their dorm so they could keep studying and deliver food to some other guys. She was okay at first, but once Soyeon left she dumped her soda and sandwich on me and when I came back they were all gone.”

“I’m so sorry? Let me get you dry cleaning money or something.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I can handle it. I’m glad you two were here though, I don’t have my wallet on me. Are you okay though? Have you been crying?”

“I’m fine, just had a moment.”

The small black haired girl popped back over, tucking her card back into her wallet and smiling at the two of you sitting and talking with Seokmin covered in an orange beverage, a little bit of lettuce stuck in his hair.

“Want to come to a party?”

“If it’s at the sorority then sorry, no thanks.”

“No. It’s just some of my friends from the music department. They’re playing a show at O’Malley’s.”

“I don’t think orange soda is really a good look for a party.”

“That’s okay, y/n has to go change too. You guys just meet me there? I’m going to head out and get us a table.”

“Well I do owe you guys both a drink. So, sure.”

“Oh, and Seokmin?”

“Yeah?”

“Make sure y/n actually comes back out, she’s hard to get her hands on.”

“Of course.”

Walking back to your somewhat shared dorm, you and Seokmin walked in silence past greek row, watching all the girls running around to get ready for a greeting ceremony to the frat houses as escorts to their party.

The boy looked at you up and down, imagining you inside one of those grand houses gossiping and dishing on sister life just trying to figure out why you joined in the first place, your friend included.

Reaching your destination with only smiles and small giggles shared between the two of you on the walk over, you both slid into your dorm rooms and found clothes that were far more suitable for a night out.

You noticed the black tank top Soyeon had pointed out before and slid it on, matching it with a pair of dark ripped jeans and your go-to loafers, sliding back into the hallway, finding Seokmin on the other side of the door waiting for you.

He was somehow on your wavelength wearing an oversized black t-shirt and jeans.

“I figured I should try to match Soyeon's aesthetic somehow.”

“Me too. You look nice, I like your shoes.”

���Thank you.”

“Shall we?”

“Yes. I definitely need a drink.”

“So, y/n what is your drink of choice.”

“Anything strong and not sweet.”

“Oh, so not me then.”

“Shut up.”

Seokmin made you laugh, there was no way a boy like him was not taken or at least could be interested in you.

“Have you and Soyeon been friends for long? You guys seem close.”

“Actually, not really. We hung out for the first time today. I mean, I’ve seen her at parties and stuff, but she’s sort of been like a breath of fresh air for me.”

“Really? I’m surprised by that. Why are you in the sorority anyway? You don’t exactly have the same.. Vibe? Or whatever as the other girls. Especially the ones I met today.”

“My mom. The girl. Heather. Soda spiller, her mom and mine were friends when we were kids, they're legacy members. So I just thought it would be fun, but now.. I don’t feel that way.”

“Can’t you just quit?”

“I guess.”

“Why don’t you want to?”

“I guess I just want to be someone who sees things through. I also can’t offer Heather the satisfaction of knowing I left.”

“She really is that bad huh?”

“Worse. It’s a long story. Can we table it?”

“Of course.”

Reaching the door of the bar, you caught a glimpse of Soyeon’s shoulder tattoo near the stage, through the large crowd of people mingling.

“Go. I’ll order us drinks and meet you there?”

“You sure?”

“You said you needed it right?”

“What about your wallet?”

“Apple pay, y/n. Duh.”

“Your ID?”

“My friend is the bartender, just go.”

“So sassy.”

Walking your way through the crowd by pushing yourself through other bodies you finally reach the girl on the other side and wrap your arm around her waist as a hello.

“What the- Oh my god, you actually came? You look so hot. I’m proud.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s fine. Where’s the puppy?”

“At the bar grabbing drinks.”

“On the leash already? You’re good.”

“No. He’s just nice.”

“True. But, he also likes you.”

“I don’t think it’s like that, but maybe someday you’ll tell me I told you so.”

“I look forward to it. I saved you guys a table.”

“My girl.”

Soyeon gestured her long manicured fingers behind you, noticing the boy making his way with two glasses in his hands and another tall figure following behind him holding a tray with various things on top.

“Hi, Soyeon.”

“Hi, Keom. Thank you for joining us. Who’s the glasses?”

“My friend Wonwoo, he works here, well he just got off. Is it cool if he joins us?”

“Of course.”

“Nice to meet you, Wonwoo. I’m y/n.”

“Hey.”

“So. Since I didn’t get to ask Soyeon what she wanted and I wasn’t entirely sure what you liked. We brought over options. But, we have to finish them all because Wonwoo was nice enough to gift them to us and it’s unfair to not accept gifts.”

“Very charming.”

You made your second flirty comment of the night to Seokmin, even though your sober self normally isn’t entirely as bold as you find yourself being with him now. But, in all fairness you were just trying to catch his vibe. He didn’t respond verbally, but just scrunched his nose in your direction almost as if he was letting you know that he’s interested.

“First, a simple vodka soda, little lemon, then just a couple of beer options, this is a sour, this is just a simple light beer, and an ipa, which ew, but I think Wonwoo likes, some tequila shots and some lemon drop shots, also a whiskey soda and a jack and coke, and then a uh, gin and tonic i think? Right, Woo?”

“Yeah, maybe you should be the bartender, Seokmin.”

“I have other talents.”

All eight of your hands reach every which way around the table and end up with different drinks sat in front of them, you beelined for the vodka and the sour beer, Soyeon went for the whiskey soda and the tequila, Seokmin for the gin and tonic and light beer, and Wonwoo for the jack and coke and the ipa.

“Who wants what shot?”

Soyeon dipped her arm back to the middle of the table covering her eyes with her opposite hand, grabbing a hold of the small glasses very carefully and placing them around the small group.

“There. Decided for you, me and Wonwoo get tequila and you and Seokmin get lemon.”

Smiling widely at your friend next to you, you grabbed a hold of the shot glass and held it up signaling everyone to cheers. Which they all happily obliged.

Soon after the alcohol was going through your bloodstream the band started playing their music that hit you right in the chest, songs about living your life to the fullest and choosing your own path, much to your surprise Soyeon was the one who wrote the music that spoke to your soul.

After the set ended, Wonwoo and Soyeon wanted to stay back and have a few more drinks to congratulate their friends, and enjoy their night, but you were beat thinking about all the work you still had to do over the weekend and dreading the choice of man Heather would embarrass. So you decided to leave with Seokmin walking you back safely to your dorm.

“What are you studying again?”

“Me? Oh, I’m studying to be a veterinarian.”

“Wow really? That’s cool, I didn’t know. You must be busy as hell.”

“I’m sure you’re just as busy, being a doctor for actual humans is way more complicated considering a lot of them are assholes.”

“That’s unfortunately true. But, I love it to be honest. I can understand why people are afraid of the hospital and surgery I guess.”

“That’s good, maybe we should study together sometime? I know it’s not the same exact thing or whatever, but it’s nice to have company?”

“I would love that, tomorrow? I mean if you’re free. We can go to the coffee shop or library or anything really?”

“Yeah, just knock around 10?”

“Okay. Cool. I’ll see you tomorrow??”

“Yes, absolutely. Have a good night, y/n”

“You too, Seok.”

Trying to get comfortable in your bed, some pesky person kept lighting up your phone screen, reaching over to turn on do not disturb you and realized it was Heather. She was asking a bunch of interrogating questions about your new friend Seokmin, begging you to bring him over tomorrow.

Unfortunately for you, you knew her interest in him was about to make your new relationship a very complicated one.

[severelystrangewriter]

Fireworks (Flufftober 2023 Day 4)

Pairing: keisuke baji x female reader

WC: 1258

Warnings: like, two curse words and baji may be a little ooc but idc

Summary: baji wants to go to the festival with you to see the fireworks

Note: i thought i would write something short and sweet for baji because he deserves it <3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The summer festival?” You questioned when a poster was shoved in your face.

You were currently sitting on a park bench with your friends when Baji ran up with the advertisement in his hand.

“Yep!” Baji lowered the paper to show his grinning face, “It’s tomorrow.”

“And?” You raised a brow.

“And we should go!” Baji exclaimed like it were obvious.

“That sounds fun,” Mikey commented.

“Yeah well, you guys tell me how it goes,” You hummed, “Because I can’t come.”

“What? Why? You always go with us to festivals,” Baji furrowed his brows, giving you a pout.

You shrugged nonchalantly and simply replied, “I’ve got a date tomorrow.”

“With what?” Baji sounded appalled. You rolled your eyes and scoffed, but answered him anyway.

“His name is Yuta, and he asked me to go out to dinner with him. He’s pretty cute so I accepted.”

“Why don’t you bring him along?” Mikey questioned, “You can always meet up after, right?”

“No, you guys will just scare him off,” You immediately declined.

Baji genuinely looked bummed that you already had plans, and your heart squeezed uncomfortably at the thought of upsetting him. He was right, you two would always go to festivals together; your favorite part was watching the fireworks. You briefly considered canceling your date, but you quickly shot down the thought, thinking that your crush on Baji was exactly why you needed to go on this date. You had to get over it.

Even as the subject changed, you tried to ignore your growing guilt every time you made eye contact with him. He definitely wasn’t hiding the fact he was upset by the news of your date, and the thought alone made your heart flutter.

~~~

Stood up. You couldn’t believe your rotten luck. It was the next evening and you were at the restaurant you were supposed to meet your date. You were all dressed up and looking nice and then got stood up by the stupid guy. After several voicemails and unanswered text messages that were getting increasingly more aggravated, you decided to cut your losses and go home.

It was on your way home that you passed by the park where they were holding the summer festival Baji was so excited about. Deciding to take a quick detour, you wandered among the booths.

Your eyes scanned the crowd, but you didn’t see anyone you recognized to rescue you from this lousy night. Figures.

“You there! You look like you could use a pick-me-up! Why not try your hand at winning a prize?” A vendor at the ring toss booth called for your attention. You opened your mouth to politely turn him down, but then you stopped, thinking why the hell not, one game couldn’t hurt.

You paid for one game and the vendor gave you three rings while explaining the rules. The game was a lot harder than it looked as you missed your first two shots right off the bat.

You looked at the last ring in your hand and thought that if you didn’t make this then it was a sign for you to go home.

Readying your stance, you took a deep breath, concentrating all of your energy into this one ring to land on a stupid milk bottle.

“Don’t miss!” An obnoxious voice shouted right as you tossed the last ring at the bottle. You scowled as it bounced off the milk bottle with a light ‘tink!’ and you turned to see Baji doubled over in laughter as Mikey giggled next to him.

After the boys were through with their chuckle fest, Baji straightened up and smirked, “Stand back (Y/n/n), lemme show you how a pro does it.”

“It was literally your fault that I missed,” You crossed your arms but stepped aside as Baji paid for three rings.

“So what’re you doing here? I thought you had a date?” Mikey asked as he looked around like he was expecting your mysterious date to show up.

You scoffed, “Yeah so did I.”

“Ah,” Mikey nodded in understanding, then he frowned, “Well that sucks.”

“Yeah well,” You clicked your tongue and shook your head in annoyance, “Things happen.”

“Want me to kick his ass?” Baji questioned, having tossed all three rings and won a decently sized colorful stuffed rabbit that he now held in his arms.

You sighed and shook your head again, “Nah, it’s really not worth it. He obviously didn’t think so.”

Baji began animating the rabbit and brought it closer to your face as he spoke in his best squeaky voice, “Well who needs that loser anyways when you got me~”

You couldn’t contain your laughter as he pretended to make the plushie kiss your cheek repeatedly. You only stopped when Baji rested it on top of your head, seeming satisfied now. With a curious glance, you took hold of it and held it in your arms.

“Keep it,” Baji grinned before you could ask, “He likes you better anyway.”

“Oh,” You hugged the rabbit to your chest, feeling heat bloom over your cheeks, “Thanks, Keisuke.”

“Let’s get something to eat,” Mikey said suddenly, “I’m starving.”

“Good idea,” You agreed.

And so the three of you enjoyed the rest of the festival, trying different foods and games. Around the halfway mark you and Baji lost Mikey who wandered off with Smiley and Angry who had joined you for a brief moment.

“I’ve had a lot of fun tonight,” You hummed as you two walked to find a spot to watch the fireworks that would be happening soon.

“Well I’d say being with me is a lot better than being on some lousy date playing twenty-one questions with a guy you barely know,” Baji pointed out.

“Careful Baji, someone might think you’re jealous,” You replied somewhat jokingly.

A silence fell over you both as you found a picnic table to sit at. Then Baji spoke up in an unusually quiet voice, “What if I am?”

Your eyes widened at this admission, “I- you… What?”

Baji shrugged, “So what if I was jealous? What would you do?”

“I…” You hesitated slightly before settling on the truth, “I would probably kiss you.”

“Probably?” He raised a brow, but you could see the playful smirk make its way back onto his face.

“Yeah maybe,” You felt your cheeks heat up again and looked away, offering a halfhearted shrug.

Baji took his two fingers and brought them under your chin to encourage you to look at him. Your breath caught in your throat at how close his face was to yours now and you were certain he could hear your heart pounding, threatening to beat out of your chest.

“I think I’d like that,” He whispered. Your eyes fluttered shut as he leaned in, finally closing the distance and pressing his lips gently against yours.

It was everything you imagined and more as he moved his lips slowly, pouring every ounce of passion into the kiss like it would be the only one you would ever share. But with the sparks you were feeling, you knew it wouldn’t be the last.

He only pulled away when you heard a big distant ‘boom!’ and both of you looked up at the night sky to see bright fireworks exploding, painting the darkness with a variety of colors.

Baji grinned and wrapped an arm around your shoulder to bring you closer to him, and you got comfortable by leaning into his touch. Watching the fireworks together was the perfect way to end the night.

[wh0re4women]

Gift giving. (Larissa Weems x Reader.) SFW

Summary: With the school year ending and Reader being a teacher at Nevermore, she is swarmed with gifts. Larissa is most definitely not jealous! And Marilyn most definitely is.

Warnings: Teacher x Principal, Marilyn bickering with everybody. Mostly fluff / silly fic.

The school year was finally coming to an end as summer began approaching, warming the halls of Nevermore Academy.

You spent your afternoon scurrying around your classroom, tidying after the day's lessons as you tuned out the sound of children chatting, squealing and laughing outside — the noises creeping in through your open windows. There was absolutely no way to contain your excitement as you threw the last piece of trash in the garbage before hurriedly swooping up your belongings, practically prancing towards the teachers lounge.

The heavy door was unlocked and swung open with ease, bright eyes scanning between Marilyn and your girlfriend.

"Guess what!"

Larissa put her salad spiked fork back into her bowl as she diverted her attention onto you — a warm, welcoming smile pulling at her lips. "Hi, darling. What's gotten you so merry?"

"Is it the handsome Janitor again?" Marilyn dazedly looked up at you from her sandwich and you shot her a warning look, observing as the realisation set into her features. "Just- Just kidding—"

"What handsome Janitor?" Larissa's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance and she quickly began interrogating Marilyn as you felt your face pale at once.

Your hands remained twisted behind your back as you watched the two women bicker suddenly, a dull ache beginning to set into your muscles. You gave them a second, two, three, then cleared your throat sharply.

"There's more important matters at hand, all right? Larissa, honey, pick a hand." You gave the blonde your best puppy eyes, even fluttering your lashes and offering her an award winning smile, yet Larissa remained unimpressed. “Please?”

The Principal rolled her eyes, sighed, then spoke, "Left hand."

Your grin took up half of your face as you brought a yellow gift bag out from behind your back, cradling it like your most prized possession. The two older women were not mimicking your excitement at all — pure confusion woven into their features as you bounced in joy.

"Well, are you going to tell us what it is, or are you going to stand there like a circus clown? I'm on the edge of my seat,” Marilyn joked. (Larissa swore she wouldn't laugh. She didn't give so much as a hint of a smile.)

It was your turn to roll your eyes as you plunged a hand into the paper bag before retrieving the precious item.

"A mug?" The two women spoke in sync.

"It's not just any mug!" Your voice rose in exasperation. "It's from Enid! Look, you guys, it says 'Best Teacher Ever'. Are you kidding me? This is, like, the cutest thing ever."

Larissa couldn't hold up her apathetic facade any longer as she broke into a heartwarming chuckle. It was truly endearing how much you appreciated the little things, especially when it came to your students.

"Hey! That's not fair. I had Enid in my class this morning — where's my mug?" Marilyn argued in faux offence.

"Sorry, but there can only be one ‘best teacher’," you playfully noted and Marilyn made it a point to tell you that she had gotten a similar mug a year earlier, which led to you jokingly squabbling over the unfairness of the comment considering you hadn't been working at Nevermore back then.

"Don't worry, Marilyn," Larissa, kind as ever, gently interrupted as she rested a soft hand on the red-heads shoulder. "I'm sure Enid just forgot to bring your gift to class. You'll have a mug by tomorrow afternoon, I'm sure."

And it seems Larissa was right.

The next time you stepped into the teachers lounge, Marilyn was sipping chamomile tea out of her 'No.1 Teacher' mug (a new one, at that). You didn't mean to be a show-off, but pulling out three cards, two boxes of chocolates and a pair of 'Coolest Teacher' slippers felt really, really good (though seeing the shock on Marilyn's face felt even better).

Once again, the two of you bickered endlessly as Marilyn fought to get the names of the students who had ‘betrayed’ her from your lips. This swiftly became routine — you would burst into the teachers lounge at lunch daily and compare the gifts you’d received that day with Marilyn. Eventually a few other teachers joined in too. All the while Larissa would remain mute, focusing on her lunch with no gifts to show.

When Friday came along, you once again found yourself rushing to find Marilyn, four gift bags swinging beside you as you gripped them proudly. This time, when you entered the familiar room, something was off. You had your usual spat with Marilyn — this one being more intense than the ones before. And as you left the room with a roll to your eyes, you wondered whether something felt off because she happened to have six whole gifts to her name, or because Larissa hadn’t been there to stop your fighting. You wandered to the Principals office full of curiosity and slight frustration, yet when you found Larissa simply eating her lunch at her desk as she scrolled on her computer, you brushed your curiosity away, reckoning that the blonde just probably had plenty of work to do, hence why she decided to refrain from going to the teachers lounge for lunch.

“I cant believe it!” You forcefully huffed, strolling towards Larissa’s desk. “She beat me today — two extra gifts. Can you imagine? When I find the little culprits, it’s over for them.”

With a sigh, you rested against Larissa’s comfy seat across from the blonde. Though her fireplace was warm and comforting, there seemed to be a cloud of tension in the air. You gazed at Larissa who seemed to be just staring off at the pixels on her computer screen. Only then did you notice the thread that had her eyebrows knit together in annoyance and you immediately sat upright.

“What’s wrong, ‘Rissa?” You flew out of your seat and behind her, resting both of your hands on her strong shoulders before gently beginning to massage the muscles. “Is it work? Is there anything I can help with? I can finish up with emails while you lay—“

“Why don’t I get gifts? I run the school! No one likes the Principal…” Larissa suddenly sulked, shoving her fork into her lunch container and pushing it away before crossing her arms at once.

It’s not to say that the blonde was jealous (no, of course not, why would she be?), it’s just that Larissa wanted to feel appreciated too. Seeing you receive all these gifts and cards and chocolates was heartwarming and more than Larissa could ever wish for, but she felt left out. Everything suddenly clicked into place for you and you were hit with realisation of how inconsiderate you had been of her feelings, just because you wanted to prove you were more beloved in the school than Marilyn. How silly your problems seemed now.

You carefully spun Larissa around in her office chair so that she was facing you before crouching down, taking her soft hands into yours.

“‘Rissa, I’m so, so sorry. I’ve been so… selfish and thoughtless—“

“No, darling. I’m sorry,” the red-lipped woman cut you off, tightening her hold on your hands, “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about this at all. You’re allowed to show-off and have fun. I’m— I’ve just been overthinking, that’s all.”

You felt genuine pity for Larissa in that moment. She, of all people, worked hardest to keep Nevermore Academy in place, therefore she deserved to be celebrated the most. So as soon as lunchtime ended and you were once again teaching Literature to your students, you began multitasking as you wrapped up a box of chocolates in spare Christmas wrapping paper (it wasn’t ideal, but it was all you had and it worked).

You were explaining the clever use of onomatopoeia in the novel you were currently studying with the class, when Enid’s hand shot up.

“Yes, Enid?”

“What does the box of chocolates have to do with the book, Ms [y/l/n]?”

“Nothing at all,” you smiled, picking up a pen before scribbling ‘Principal Weems’ between the scatter of silver stars on the gift wrap. “You see, you’ve all been so kind in giving the teachers cards and gifts — I thought it was only fair that the Principal gets a show of appreciation too.”

The class remained silent after that and you simply continued on with the lesson, forgetting all about Enid’s question and the box of chocolates you’d packaged up.

The weekend flew by, and as Monday came along, you were mentally prepared for the last week of school. Though the school day seemed to be going smoothly, you were surprised to have only received a single gift, yet you reminded yourself to remain humble and not take Marilyn’s comments to heart today. After all, you had a much more important task ahead — sneaking Larissa her gift and hoping she doesn’t assume that it was from you but rather a student.

You took a deep breath as you gripped the door handle, shoving the wood away from the door frame. When Larissa came into view, you were taken aback by the sight of gift bags littered around the room, completely surrounding the blonde. On the table in front of her, there were multiple mugs containing slogans with a variation of ‘Best Principal Ever’. Marilyn stood over her with wide eyes while the two held a hushed conversation between them. As the shock wore off, your heart began feeling whole and you slowly entered the room, guiding Larissa’s attention onto you.

“[y/n], I know I seemed upset on Friday but- but this? This is a little much, darling.”

“What are you talking about?” You asked, eyebrows furrowed as you placed your items down on an empty chair.

“I mean, you didn’t have to do all of this,” Larissa almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation, taking in the gift-ridden room.

It was then that everything clicked for you — Larissa assumed that you had faked all of the gifts in order to make her feel better.

“I-I didn’t do this, I swear,” you promised, blank faced. You thought for a moment before an idea popped into your head and you drove a hand into your handbag before resurfacing with the gift-wrapped box of chocolates. “I was going to give this to you and- and pretend it was from a student, which I know isn’t right but you were so— I promise I didn’t do all of this. I told—” you paused, realising. “…Enid.”

“What?”

“Enid asked about the chocolates in front of the class,” you rounded the table, kneeling down to look at the gift tags, reading all of the different names — all of them being students in your literature class. “They heard me say I was wrapping a gift for you, but that’s all I said. They must’ve planned this on their own.” A fond smile bloomed on your face. You were incredibly proud of your students in that moment for being so observant, so generous and compassionate and kind.

You looked up at Larissa from your spot on the floor and her expression reflected yours. There was an air of relief that left her lungs and a warm well of tears that built up in the pockets of her eyes.

“They really think… that I’m a good Principal,” the blonde softly spoke, running her finger over the mug in her hands.

“Not just a good Principal,” you stood back up, lifting a teddy bear that was placed on the edge of the table and flipping it over so that Larissa could see the writing on its stomach, “the BEST Principal.”

You both broke out into soft laughter, Marilyn beginning to complain that Larissa had received more gifts in one afternoon than you both had combined over the last week, yet you didn’t pay mind, rushing into the blondes open arms as she held back tears.

[runningfrom2am]

requiem // part one

summary: according to coriolanus snow, his best friend had the most beautiful voice in all of panem. she had been training her whole life constantly to get where she was; being up for a residency at the most elite opera house in all of panem. singing was her passion. her true love; and when that got stripped from her in a second, his world became a whole lot quieter. he loathed every minute of it.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.5k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: opera singer!mentor!reader (blink and you'll miss it), she's kind of a prodigy!! p cool imo, mute!reader, bestfriend!coryo, friends to lovers trope ooo, mentions of graphic violence early on (particularly the prologue) but after that it's pretty safe, depictions of ptsd/trauma, mental illness and minor suicidal ideation but at least she's not entirely alone, descriptions of minor medical treatments and use of medication.

a/n: hi again! obligatory note to say sorry i didn't update a couple days ago i meant to but i got hit by a car and then i was working lmao (i'm fine but the ao3 curse did in fact find me)

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // playlist // pinterest board

"Mister Snow." Coriolanus's head jerks up at his name from where it was resting against his palm, nearly having fallen asleep by the side of your bed. You were out cold and had been for close to a week now, but part of him hoped he would be there when you eventually stirred.

"We have to ask you to leave now, but you can come back tomorrow after seven," The nurse tells him, a sympathetic smile on her face. This was the sixth night in a row they'd had this exact conversation.

"Of course, thank you," he grumbles as he stands up, rubbing his eyes.

"How is your mentorship going?" she asks, just for the sake of making conversation. "It is very exciting. Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks..." he hums, hand sliding over his jaw in slight discomfort. He had little to no interest in his tribute. It was clear Lucy Gray had no shot at winning, and he had an even smaller shot at the Plinth Prize thanks to her. Now, he could hardly even stomach looking at her. "The Songbird," as everyone called her. 

In reality, his best friend had been forgotten the moment Lucy Gray Baird set foot on that stage in District Twelve and began to sing, and he loathed her for it. The way that all eyes turned to you next to him during the reaping as soon as his tribute's lips parted and began to sing made his stomach turn even now.

Coriolanus's eyes parted from the screen to look over at you, a small teasing smile on his face as he reached out to nudge you with his elbow when instead he was met with an expression of horror on your face. He could see the way your neck tensed as you swallowed hard, and he looks around to see almost everyone else's eyes on you as well for just a moment at a time, stealing glances in your direction.

Your jaw tightens while you grind your teeth together. She was good. But you were better at masking your discomfort with the whole situation, looking down to smooth out your black skirt where it lay across your lap and ignoring all the eyes that had fallen on you.

"It's going well," he lies in response.

"I'm glad to hear that. She's got a real talent, that girl," She smiles, and Coriolanus knows she's not trying to take a jab at the girl lying unconscious a few feet away, but he couldn't see it any other way. "Well, best of luck to her. And you, of course."

"Thanks. Have a good night," Coriolanus replies almost under his breath, taking a final glance at you fast asleep in the cold-looking hospital bed, neck bandaged down to your bruised shoulders before he leaves for the night.

It's sunny out when Coriolanus makes his daily trek to the Capitol Zoo to feed his tribute, and his academy uniform feels heavier on his shoulders than what he's used to.

His tribute smiles as she gets up and brushes off the front of her rainbow dress, making her way over to the bars to greet him. "Good afternoon, Coriolanus. Doin' well today?" she asks as he gets closer, already digging into his bag for the food he brought her.

"Fine," he mumbles in response, holding the folded napkin out to her that contains a cookie he took from the academy lunchroom.

"Thank you," Lucy Gray says as she takes it, unfolding the small cloth from around it and taking a bite. Chewing on it, she looks up at him again, taking note of the bags forming under his blue eyes. "I'm sorry about your friend."

His eyes flick from the cookie she was eating back up to hers, a slight glare behind them as he swallows stiffly. "Yes, well, she's alive," he tells her, looking back down as she breaks the cookie in half and holds it out to him.

"No, thank you," he shakes his head, pushing her hand away with his own.

"You should eat. You look like you need the energy," she says sympathetically.

He sighs because she's probably right. He takes it from her hand carefully, already breaking off a piece. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Lucy Gray knew their little routine by now. It was obvious when he brought her food the first time that he was going hungry. She had seen the signs enough back home to recognize it even here, hidden within what was supposed to be the endless opulence of the Capitol.

"Would you like to talk about it?" she asks as he begins to chew the tiny piece of the cookie, mindful of chewing and swallowing it slowly. He looks up at her again, confusion in his eyes. "Your friend, I mean." she explains.

"No." he answers quickly, shaking his head.

His semi-hostile response only leads Lucy Gray to believe that this girl she had seen get attacked meant something to him. Though, she already knew that when they walked into the zoo arm-in-arm like birds of a feather minutes before the girl was attacked, and her mentor had to be dragged away from her by Peacekeepers when a medical team finally arrived.

"Will you tell me about her?"

"About Y/N?" he asks, eyes softening just a bit.

Lucy Gray nods in confirmation, a small smile on her lips as she urges him on.

"She, uh..." Suddenly he doesn't know where to start with you. Your parents' names are what would traditionally come first in the Capitol, but he knew that would mean nothing to the girl in front of him. That you were his best and only real friend? That you were a singer, too, just like her, but you would likely never sing another note again? "She's a singer in training for the Opera House on Presidential Way. She is... she was very good."

Lucy Gray's eyes light up as he speaks. "She was a singer?"

Coriolanus nods, putting his focus back into eating.

"She must have been amazing," Lucy Gray says, trying to make comforting conversation.

"She is," he corrects her quickly, disguising it as agreement, despite having been the one to refer to your singing abilities in the past tense.

"Of course." She agrees, a sympathetic smile on her face. "I didn't mean..."

"They are making some changes to the Games." He cuts her off, wanting to move on to avoid having to think about the current state of his best friend. It makes his heart sink and the accompanying dread causes that awful burning sensation behind his eyes that makes him want to cry. "So... you need to sing again. Get people to like you. Then I'll be able to send you things in the arena to keep you alive."

Lucy Gray seems hesitant, letting out a huff with the slight shake of her head, looking around before locking her eyes back on him. "I don't sing when I'm told. I sing when I have something to say."

Coriolanus is jarred by her statement, tilting his head a bit and clenching his jaw at the notion and her ferocity behind it. He can't help it when the sudden, stark difference between Lucy Gray and his best friend hits him like a thunderstorm coming in quick on a sunny day. 

She sang when she had something to say, you sang because you had to. This fact would keep him up at night for weeks.

The games had come and gone, and there had been no winner this year. Your tribute was shot dead the day she attacked you, and Dr. Gaul saw it as some kind of justice that after your assault, the bombing, and the deaths of your other classmates, the death of all those District kids would keep their home districts from rebelling. From seeing the Capitol as vulnerable, or something like that. You really couldn't care less. At least Felix and the twins were lucky enough to have succumbed to their injuries.

The hospital was cold and dark at almost all hours of the day. You couldn't do a thing besides sit there and wait. For what, you weren't even sure.

"She's not having a good day today," The nurse informs Coryo as he checks in to visit you. He comes by every day, sometimes multiple times a day to see you, and you have your good and bad days. He's well used to that by now.

"Has she eaten?" he asks, and the nurse shakes her head.

"Refused to touch anything we brought her," She sighs, but she's fighting back a smile, which makes him raise an eyebrow at her. Why would she be smiling at that?

"She will be able to go home tomorrow," She smiles, hearing the question he never verbalized. "I thought you might like to tell her."

"Oh... I see," Coryo hums, looking down the hall toward the staircase he would soon take to get to you.

"You don't seem pleased," She states quizzically, her grin fading.

"Why is she going home?" He asks. "She still can't even speak."

The nurse looks down, pursing her lips. "As the doctor mentioned, there's no guarantee that she will ever get her voice back. I'm sorry, truly, but there's nothing more we can do for her here. It's better that she's home with her family recovering somewhere more comfortable."

"Right," He swallows, nodding curtly at her. "Thank you," He replies simply, brushing past the nurse's station to go down to your room. 

He can always hear it before he sees it, the echo of opera music cycling through your favorite records time and time again, filling the quiet hall with something pleasant as soon as he opens the door from the stairwell.

"Y/N," You look up from where you're sitting in the corner, tilting your head at him. Coryo smiles as he walks in, and you wish you were in a better mood, to be a better host; as good of one as you could be when you were in the hospital and couldn't speak a single word to him. "How are you feeling?" He asks, already knowing the answer.

You shake your head, a pout forming on your lips. The flowers people had brought you in your first couple of weeks were wilting, and then they stopped bringing them. Your whole life you had been praised for your voice; since you were six years old, the Capitol had seemingly been buzzing with hope for your future. You would be the most beautiful, accomplished singer Panem had ever seen - no one doubted it, but within weeks you had been completely forgotten. Replaced by the image of the girl who had sung at the reaping and once in an interview. Your room was quite a sad reflection of this, and you spent every minute of every day forced to wallow in it.

"Bad day?" Coryo asks anyway, but you just shrug, looking out the window at your sad view of the city that had abandoned you.

"Well, I've got some good news," He says, which draws your attention. You tilt your head at him, gesturing in a circular motion with your hand for him to go on.

He laughs, putting his bag down on your empty and perfectly made bed. "One second, here. In case you have questions." He pulls the small chalkboard out from the drawer next to your bed, holding it out to you with a piece of white chalk. You scrunch up your nose and wave rapidly for him to put it back. He knew it would bug you, that's why he did it, recalling the day he brought it for you and you almost threw it at him.

"I HATE writing with chalk," You scribbled quickly on a napkin with a pen you stole from his pocket, throwing the napkin at him and crossing your arms.

"What? Why?" Coryo laughed, dropping the crumpled piece of soft paper on the table next to your bed.

You shook your head, pursed your lips, and looked up, trying to find a way to explain the awful sensation without saying it. He watched you patiently as you thought, until you pretended to hold a piece of the white substance in between your thumb and forefinger, dragging it down the air slowly and pretending to gag. You shook your head again in disgust, waving your hand at him.

"Oh, I didn't know you felt so passionately about this," He drags the chalk down over the board, and you cringe, covering your ears. Coryo couldn't help but think that was just about the cutest thing he had ever seen.

That had been one of your good days, even though at the time your scar was still so fresh it was bandaged, and you were littered with bruises down to your ribs. The room was littered with fallen flower petals by now, yes, but also with what must be hundreds of notes you had shown to Coryo to express yourself in the only way you still could.

That memory still makes you smile, even if you do absolutely hate chalkboards. You walk past him and grab your notebook off the same table, picking it and the pen up as dramatically as you possibly can before sitting down on the bed and looking up at him.

"What?" He asks, just to tease you, and you roll your eyes.

'Get on with it. Also, you're not funny, and I hate you,' You write, turning the page to face him so he could read it.

"Oh, do you?" He chuckles, sitting down next to you.

You smack his arm with the book, motioning again that he should just spit it out.

"Okay! Okay, fine," He sighs emphatically, placing his hands on his thighs and looking down at the floor, just for a few moments to drive you more up the wall before turning his gaze to you. "They told me that you're going home tomorrow."

You open your mouth to speak, suddenly forgetting that you can't. You quickly shut your jaw, furrowing your brow and shaking your head. 'Why?' You mouth to him, neglecting the pad of paper in your lap.

He reads your lips, frowning at your lack of excitement. He was hoping you would be looking forward to it, but he knew you wouldn't be. Not really. "They said there isn't anything more they can do for you here, that you need to heal at home."

You stand up abruptly, throwing the paper down on the ground and clutching the pen so tight that Coryo fears it might shatter.

What do they mean "nothing they can do"? They could fix you, they could operate again, they could pump you so full of drugs that you could finally forget the hell that you're living in, that's what they could do. You couldn't even say that - or scream out your frustrations.

You turn back to Coryo, and the hurt look on your face crushes him. You want to speak to him so badly. Your lips fall open, and you try anyway. 'They're going to leave me like this?' You ask, but not a sound comes out. Not even so much as a whisper. Your throat burns regardless.

"I'm sorry," he says honestly, standing up and reaching out for you. You shake your head, forcing yourself to look anywhere but at him. "Come here..." he says softly, already wrapping his arms around you as the tears brimming in your eyes begin to fall. You can't even hug him back, hands clutched to your chest as you shake under his hold.

"If I could take this from you, I would," He mumbles, shaking his head and resting his chin on your head as he rubs your back. "I'm sorry, Y/N/N."

What he wouldn't give to be able to hear your voice again.

no taglist this time around!! my fics usually get over a hundred requests to be added to the taglist so instead i made a library! follow me over on @runningfrom2am-library and turn on notifs to get updates when i post new parts!!

[i4longhairchris]

I HATE BOSTON - Chris sturniolo×Reader

Hey everyone!! This was the first time I wrote a story in English (which btw is not my first language) so I apologize for any mistakes and pls lemme know if you find any!! This is just a silly angst, don't be rude pls

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The music drowned out the conversation, but I knew exactly what was going on. Chris was talking to a girl, smiling the same way he did when we first met.

As much as I try to forget, the memories are etched in my memory like fucking tattoos. The way he showed Boston with a smile on his face, so proud of his city, told stories from his childhood and showed off his strong accent.

We were just friends. I mean, we kiss sometimes, especially when the drink or neediness talks louder, but we never went beyond… friends. And Chris seemed happy with our situation. He kissed as many mouths as he wanted and there was always this idiot waiting for him when the party ended. On the other hand, I couldn't hide the way my heart broke every time I was forced to see him with other girls.

As I feel tears forming in my eyes, I decide that I'm just too tired of this shit. I walk towards the door as if my life depended on it, when I hear Chris calling my name, but I don't stop walking until I finally leave that party that seemed to take all the breath from my lungs.

I was staying at the Sturniolo house during my stay in Boston. I tiptoed until I reached the guest room, which, conveniently, was next to Chris's.

When the crying finally wears me out, sleep wins and I feel my eyes getting heavy, but a loud noise wakes me up. I hear a curse, and I know it's Chris even before he opens the door to my room.

"What's up? You seemed weird earlier at the party, you didn't even talk to me." Chris says, sitting down next to me in bed. His slightly messy hair, slurred speech and the smell of beer gave away his state.

"I'm just tired, Chris. You should go back to one of your girlfriends, I'm sure they're in a better mood than I am." I sigh, pulling the covers up to hide my face.

"Lucky for you, I want to stay right here, even with your bad mood." Chris laughs, pulling the covers up and grabbing my chin so I look at him. When I push his hand away and get up from the bed, the boy's eyebrows furrow. "What's your problem? You've been acting like an asshole all day!"

"My problem? You're my problem! I'm tired of being your consolation prize when the party's over, the beer's no longer fun and the pretty girls are gone." My voice comes out shaky. I was startled when I heard the words coming out of my lips. It was almost as if my conscience had lost the battle with my emotional side. Sure, I had planned that fight several times in my head, but I never thought I would have the courage. Having a little bit of Chris was better than having nothing.

"What the fuck, y/n! What is this all about? Are you mad at me because I didn't spend all fucking night with you or...?”

"I’m mad cause I don't want to be your fucking friend! I don't... I don't want to be just your friend, Chris. I've been in love with you since day one. When you showed me the most hidden places in Boston, I was so, so sure that we could work. And I still am! We could work if you just tried."

"You know damn well that I don't want to be in a relationship, y/n. I never gave you any expectations about it. I showed you Boston because you were like a tourist or some shit like that... If you imagined things, that's not my problem." Chris answers. My words seem to have affected him, but he doesn't allow any reaction to be shown for too long, soon returning to his neutral expression. I laugh, too tired of that shit. “You’re probably drunk… I should leave. Tomorrow we can try to talk if you're not acting all this crazy.”

"Actually, I should leave. I'll get a ticket back to New York and we don't have to have any fucking conversation in the morning. You should be happy, I mean, since you're so afraid of feeling any shit!”

Chris shakes his head in denial and stands up, holding my hand and murmuring "baby" in the tone that used to make me forget my own name.

“But if I can give you a advice before you leave this fucking town… When your friends get tired, the girls get sick of your games, and you're all alone, don't say I didn't try. Cause i tried so hard, Chris..."

"No! Please, y/n. I'll get better, I..." I could have sworn I saw tears in his blue eyes. He just hugs me.

"Chris, let me go.” I leave his arms wipe away the tears that ran down my cheeks. “And just so you know… I hate Boston! As far as I'm concerned, they should just burn this whole city down"