#this project will be passed down to tellers hopefully for as long as the story exists. so i need a good preface

[wulfies-kpop-fanfics]

One Photo → Mark Lee [9] [END]

↳  Pairing: Mark Lee/Reader

↳  AU: Soulmate!AU - The first touch of two soulmates permanently scars their bodies.

↳  Warning: angst if you squint

↳  Word count: 2,857

↳  Chapters: Prelude | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | You Are Here!

⁙ Summary: For an end of the year photography project, you’re tasked with taking a photograph for your favourite group, NCT127, and coincidentally, discover your soulmate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TUESDAY - 9

Day by day, things got steadily worse. Your body was constantly giving out, you had trouble breathing, and whenever you ate something, you always managed to throw it back up. The weight loss and iron deficiency you had developed after the last periods you’ve had led to four clinic visits and one hospital scare. You tried to play it off to your boss, but enough was enough and you knew you were going to be let go.

It took a lot of thinking, but you had finally decided to do what you had to. So, there you stood, taping the last box closed. You had sold your final possession besides your bed and your oldest camera, handing the sealed box to the buyer who had been standing in your kitchen. “Thank you,” he said, smiling gently at you. “This is gonna make my daughter really happy. I…” he cleared his throat awkwardly; “I hope that you get better soon.” 

You nodded, holding your breath for a moment to avoid coughing in his direction. “Of course. I hope she uses that camera well, it helped me a lot when I started college.” 

After he left, you looked over the bare-boned atmosphere of your apartment. Your coffee table was gone, your bookshelf, your easel. Your little television, table and chair, and nearly all of your glassware and cutlery had been sold as well. Walking into your room, the only things that were left were your tote of movies with all of Mark’s cards and letters tucked inside, and a backpack with a second outfit, toiletries and your camera stuffed in it. Even your bed was stripped just to the bottom sheet, the summer hot enough and your fever high enough that you didn’t need blankets anyway. Today was finally the day you had finally procured enough money for a plane ticket, a one-way trip that hopefully would relieve the pain in your heart and the crushing pressure in your head. 

While you lay in your bed, waiting for the night to pass, your phone, one of the last things you had to keep with you, buzzed. Rhiannon: How are you doing

You: I can never tell anymore

Rhiannon: Johnny, Hyuckie and I are going to meet you at the airport tomorrow. Mark’s getting pretty bad

Worry filled your chest, and you frowned at your screen.

You: Is he going to be okay? Rhiannon: we don’t know. He’s completely bedridden, I just hope that you don’t end up that way before your flight. I’m worried that they might not even let you on. 

You: I have to try

Rhiannon: I know…  

Rhiannon: I’ll see you soon, okay? I miss you

You: I miss you too. 

At this point, getting onto your flight was the least of your worries. After putting down your phone, you mad managed to get about ten minutes of rest before you had to run to your bathroom to throw up the measly dinner you had put together with the small food budget you had set for yourself. Once you were sure your stomach had settled, you went back into your backpack and pulled out your toothbrush, returning to the bathroom to clean out your mouth.

Looking into the mirror above your sink, you noticed how bad you had really gotten. Your cheeks were hollow, your skin pale and underneath your sunken eyes were the works dark circles you’ve ever had. You brushed as slowly as you could, hoping that you wouldn’t start to feel nauseous again. After spitting and rinsing out the sink, you decided that maybe it would be better to just get up and go to the airport now. 

You left your house key for the landlord on your kitchen counter with a note about where the spare was, stepping outside and locking the house with the spare, hiding it under your doormat before heading toward the elevator and beginning your journey. 

Occasionally you’d lose your footing, your balance off and your legs weak. You would grab onto the wall to steady yourself, hoping that you wouldn’t pass out. About an hour of subway and streetcar riding, you finally made it to the airport. It was chilling to see so many eyes on you. You knew that coming in this condition would get you multiple looks and passing disgusted faces, but you felt like you were passed feeling embarrassed. The teller looked at you sympathetically when you asked for the Delta non-stop flight to Incheon.

“Soulmate?” She asked, tilting her head curiously when you slid her your ID and your debit card, all of the money you had from selling your things on it. Just enough to pay for your ticket. 

“Yeah. Almost two years since I’ve seen him.” “My God,” she gasped, typing away on her keyboard. “It’s good you’re going now, I could never survive being away from my soulmate for that long. I was away from mine for a month when he was on a business trip and I was hospitalized!” 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” you rasp, watching her smile sadly in your direction. “I hope things go well for you. Have a safe flight to South Korea.” She slid your ticket, debit card, ID and itinerary over her desk, watching you slowly reach out to grab it. “Get lots of rest when you land.” “Thank you, I’ll try.” Feeling a little more pleasant after being wished well, you continued on your way. Through customs, the security check and the passport check, you did your best to keep back any coughing and the creeping feeling of nausea that was beginning to overwhelm you. Finally, you arrived in the boarding area, taking a seat with your bag on the floor, in between your knees. It was still a while before your plane would even arrive, so you plugged in your phone and decided to watch a movie. 

Night crept over the lounge, the windows displaying a slowly setting sun. After your movie ended you kept yourself occupied by watching the planes come and go until the tarmac was lit up with guiding lights that looked like stars. 

‘Flight from Toronto to Incheon nonstop now boarding.’

Finally.

You stumbled along and waited in your line, looking at your seat number. It was near the back of the plane, which would be loud, but at least it was close to the bathroom. The boarding attendant gave you a look with squinted eyes, but he still scanned your ticket, looked at your passport and let you go through.

Down the hallway, your legs gave out and your body clattered to the floor. “Hey, are you alright!?” Someone behind you came running up, gently taking your arm and helping you off the floor. “Jeez, you just toppled over!” She observed you, holding you steady. “You’re nothing but skin and bones…” “Sorry,” you apologize, hoping that you’d stay upright when she let your arm go. “I haven’t been doing the best lately.” “That’s okay,” she assured you. “Don’t you worry one bit.” Cautiously, she began walking with you, holding out her hands as if she was expecting you to fall again. “Why are you here and not at home, resting?” 

“I, well... this is soulmate sickness,” you explain cautiously. “My soulmate is doing worse than I am, and I decided to sell everything I own to buy a one-way ticket. I’m going to see him.” 

“Man,” she breathed, “I can’t imagine what that’s like.”

You let out a small, hollow laugh. “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.” “What seat are you?” “39-A.” 

“Oh,” she smiled at you, just as the plane entrance was coming into view. “I’m 39-B! I’ll help you put your backpack up, okay?”

“Thank you,” 

She smiled at you. “My pleasure.”

The hostess greeted you both when your new friend helped you board, watching with stunned eyes as you passed her. You both made your way to the back of the plane. You slipped off your backpack and she put both hers and your carry on into the compartment above you. “Do you want the window seat, or will that make you nauseous?” She asked, tilting her head to the side with an empathetic smile. “Would you be okay with switching? I’m supposed to have the window, but..” 

“Yeah, I’m totally fine with it! Here, sit down with me.” Once you both were seated, she held your hand. “So, what’s your name?” 

“It’s (Y/N),” you answer slowly, giving her a smile when you feel her hand take yours. It had been so long since someone had given you any physical affection. “I’m Nia,” she grinned. “It’s nice to meet you!” 

“Nice to meet you, too.”

After the plane took off, Nia did everything she could for you. She made sure you had a blanket, water, and she even had wipes in her purse that she kept on your forehead to make sure your fever stayed down. Nia talked with you about her boyfriend, showing you part of her scar that was on the back of her neck. She told the story about the last time she was in Korea, lost and out of her depth. Wonseo, her soulmate, had bumped into her, not paying enough attention to avoid her when she stopped to try and read a street sign. She, in turn, had a scar on her back and on her scalp, while his, funnily enough, was on the top part of his chest and his nose.

When you told her about meeting Mark and your own scar, her happy grin only seemed to grow wider. “I’m a fan,” she admitted, “and I’m guessing you haven’t been keeping up with media because before he stopped his activities, he started wearing that Star Wars sweater everywhere. Everyone knew it was from you since the first time he ever had it with him was in Pearson two years ago. I knew I recognized you, but dang, girl. You look terrible compared to then.” 

You smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I tend to stay away from it all now, it just stresses me out.” She nodded understandingly. “Have you thought about the Gold Ceremony? Wonseo and I are actually in the process of planning ours, and I’m on my way home from meeting a bridesmaid that still lives in Canada.” 

“I haven’t really thought about that yet,” you answer honestly. “It’s all so nerve-wracking, don’t you think?” 

Nia shrugged. “I suppose your situation is a little different from everyone else’s, so I understand the aversion. I love the romance of it all, you know? Gold coating your scars so that everyone can see it as a sign of your commitment? Ah, it’s so exciting!”

“Maybe one day I’ll have the courage to ask him,” you say quietly, smiling at Nia. 

“Only if you’re comfortable, girl. Having your entire chest exposed to everyone around you may be a little weird even if you are getting married, y’know?” 

You chuckle. “Yeah, that’s true.” 

You kept little conversations going, occasionally stopping to take small naps. The two of you also exchanged numbers, and you felt happy that you had made a new friend. Eventually, daylight began to peek through the windows of the plane, signalling the time change and that you would soon arrive in Korea. 

Truthfully, no matter what Nia did for you, you only felt worse. You smiled and held back your nausea, but you could feel that as every moment passed, you declined further and further into your sickness. When the flight landed, you were happy that the sense of vertigo was gone, but you weren’t sure how long you would last without passing out. “Want me to help you through customs?” Nia asked once the seatbelt sign was turned off. She helped you stand, taking down your backpack for you and securing it on your shoulders. “I don’t want to be a burden on you,” you said quickly, grasping the seats as you made your way up to exit the plane.

“You’re far from that,” Nia reassured. “I won’t be able to stay with you the whole time, I just want to make sure that you make it to the people waiting for you okay. You said three of your friends were coming to meet you?” “Yeah,” you nod, thanking the hostess quietly as you pass her. “Thank you, Nia.” “Anything for a friend.” Slowly but surely, Nia helped you through the check-in and declaration stations, leading you through each step. Once you both got your passports checked, she turned and smiled at you. “I have to go get my suitcase now. Be safe and keep in touch, okay?” Nia hugged you ever so gently, before waving and taking her lead in the opposite direction you were to go, making her way to grab her suitcase off the conveyer. 

“See you,” you called behind her, steeling your nerve. You could make it. While you could barely read the directions with your now blurring vision, you managed to make it to the meeting area. Just barely in your line of sight were Rhiannon, Donghyuck and Johnny, holding up a rainbow sign with your name on it. You felt your chest flare-up, and if it was due to your sickness or your happiness you couldn’t tell, but you still began making your way toward them, smiling and waving.

That was until your body finally gave in. ~ “(Y/N)!” Rhiannon immediately dropped the sign and made a beeline for you as you toppled to the ground, Johnny and Donghyuck not far behind. She grit her teeth, doing her best to turn you over and hold you.

Donghyuck reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, ready to call an emergency number if Rhiannon couldn’t determine that you were breathing. He sighed with relief, luckily the airport was mostly empty and nobody would crowd you. “Is she okay?” Johnny knelt down beside her, looking on with worry. Rhiannon quickly checked your pulse and held her hand above your mouth. “Seems like she just passed out, she’s still breathing.” She breathed a sigh of relief, placing a hand over her chest. 

Johnny breathed a sigh of relief. “We should get her home, then. I’ll carry her, you grab her backpack.” 

Rhiannon nodded and slowly took your backpack off while Johnny picked you up. “Let’s go.” 

~

Everyone was waiting in the living room for Johnny and Rhiannon to return with you, after hearing them explain what happened when Taeyong called to check-in. They knew they couldn’t tell Mark about what happened since his condition was not much better. He was in his room, nearly unaware of everyone sitting and waiting with bated breath. Yuta and Jungwoo stood up quickly when the door handle turned and opened, revealing Rhiannon and Donghuck. Johnny followed in close behind, you in his arms, barely conscious.

“Hi, everyone,” you rasped, smiling as best you could, with lidded eyes. 

“(Y/N),” Doyoung stood. “We’ve all missed you.” 

“Yeah,” Jungwoo agreed. “We’re glad you’re home.” 

“Thank you,” your words were soft, laboured. “Where’s Mark?” You looked up at Johnny tiredly. Johnny smiled gently, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I’ll take you to him. Let’s go.” 

You did your best to stay awake, suddenly beginning to feel a little better. Soon you both came across a door, the door slightly ajar. Johnny pushed it open gently with his foot.

“Guess who’s here?” He called into the room, and as soon as you lay eyes on Mark, you felt both simultaneously happy and guilty. Mark was skin and bones like you were, hollow cheeks and dark circles under his eyes. He was shivering as he struggled to sit up, large and thick blankets slowly shifting as he moved. “(Y/N),” he said, his lips forming the most endearing smile. “(Y/N), you’re here,” 

“Yeah, I’m here.” Johnny carried you to Mark’s bed, gently placing you down next to him in the spot where he had just barely pulled back the blankets. You had your head laying on Mark’s chest as soon as Johnny put you down, Mark’s arm immediately wrapping around you. You both breathed in a deep sigh of relief, and you felt your nose beginning to clear up. “You could probably use some water. I’ll be back.” Johnny quietly left the room, and as soon as the door shut, you couldn’t think of anything to say. 

You felt life coming back to you, but the long flight and the months of hardship still weighed heavy on you. You knew that this was your condition because you were struggling, and you had just sacrificed everything to be here. Now, on top of being sick, you were dirt poor. But, at least you were with your soulmate, and at least you were with all of your friends. At least you finally felt like you weren’t dying. “You can sleep,” you hear Mark whisper as he moved his other arm to touch your face. “I can tell you’re tired.” 

You smiled weakly. “Okay, as long as you sleep too.” Mark laughed softly. “Agreed.”

Not long after, the door creaked open once again. Johnny had come back with a glass of water, followed by Rhiannon. Johnny placed the glass of water on the nightstand next to your bed, while Rhiannon watched you and Mark sleep for a moment, holding the small framed photo in her hands, the one that started it all. She placed it next to the glass of water, adjusting it so you would see it when you woke up.

“Sleep well.”

[blankdblank]

Tick Tock

Tale Teller Prompt Wk 1 - The answer was written in her eyes.

Warning – Um, mention of stalking ex.

Modern Thorin x my OC - Teacher x Clock Maker/Seamstress Au

…

Among the top five most enviable traits about Hobbits listed for centuries now, one thing most certainly not on it would be spontaneous pregnancies. For as hard as you had worked to do things the right way ‘boom, baby’ dropped you to your knees. What you had was a lovely job, cozy little flat and a man head over heels for you able to make women foam at the mouth. Though one problem, you had only been on two dates, and when his sister had spotted you eyeing baby clothes and changing tables for the best deal all hell broke loose when he finally returned from his business trip he made sure to let you know exactly how ‘done’ he was with you.

Only, he wasn’t, for a year you carried your little girl and it was the most stressful time of your life. Moving three times and still he would be there, having transferred himself to make certain that everyone in your life knew just what supposed treachery you had enacted upon him. At your whit’s end you found an old number and made a desperate call.

Two weeks aboard a lavish cross ocean ship with a ticket and packed truck of your belongings all sent under your Dwarven name gifted to you at birth by your grandfather, to whom you were fleeing, and an hour long drive from the docks in a hired car you eyed the lush green of Erebor around you. From Helcrax to here it was quite a terrifying shift, though since a few trips from when you were a child you wondered why your mother had fled these lands for something supposedly finer.

.

Just a few months shy of two years old your little girl Kiore slept soundly in her carrier with her black curls matching yours pushed into her face with her lilac eyes matching yours clamped shut through the drool bubbles escaping the crease of her mouth you kept wiping away. Dropping lower your eyes fell to her fox coated blanket over her you fixed to cover her at the chill from the ac countering the rising heat outside in the early spring day. The full drive you tried to remember all you could for this isolated haven. All you could remember to fault it was the surplus of clocks. True you came from a long line of clock makers but it was the full town just riddled with ticking.

Small towns, true they had their quirks, but what you hoped to be true was the amount of support and protection you had been promised. Through the bustling main street packed with shops and curious Dwarves all watching the car drive by wondering who had come to town. Thanks to the tinted windows they were unable to however, at least until the car stopped outside a tall shop with stained class windows and winding clock arms on a gorgeous clock face above the door surrounded by tall arched windows on the thick stone building in a bright peach color under the sunlight. A trio of parking spots outside, one with a familiar truck and a powder blue coupe, the third spot was filled and you could feel the whole street come to a stop watching as your Grandfather exited his shop with a wide grin.

Carefully you unstrapped yourself, the carrier and slid your way out of the back seat through the door you eased open. Warmly in a one armed hug you were folded into the burly Dwarf’s arms at his low rumble of, “There you are little bear.”

Weakly grinning up at him you asked, “I’m not interrupting anything?”

He shook his head grinning as he eased his hand over his mustache and trimmed beard in deep black with flashes of silver mixed throughout, “Never!” Chuckling to himself he led you to the open trunk where he shouldered your bags while you shouldered the diaper bag still on the seat and quietly closed the door as your grandfather did the same with the trunk. His grin doubling as he neared you peering in at Kiore, “Still sleeping?”

You nodded, “Ya, thankfully. She actually did enjoy the ship, even though I kept having nightmares of her falling off it.”

Leading you towards the shop he passed a tip to the driver who thanked him and hurried to his car as you were wrapped in a long arm through your body relaxing in the warmth of the sun to the hushed whispers filling the streets. “Your Amad had the same dreams about you when she moved out to Gondolin. It is common.”

Through the door he opened you eyed the incredible first floor to the shop packed with clocks, display cases for watches and work stations behind a row of counters with a pair of staircases on either side of them helping to divide the shop from the workshop half of the first floor. “Wow,” you whispered to yourself eyeing the array of colors coating the room from the tall windows.

His grin doubled guiding you to the counter where he raised the divider showing you to the back half of the shop where he set your bags down and turned to claim the carrier from you. “Here, I will take the little one. Now, for the tour. This is the workshop for our clocks, I know you mainly worked in costume design and you were wanting a job pertaining that, so I asked around and we are in need of a designer for the local school and theater club, they looked at your resume and accepted you on the spot.”

“Wow, that-,”

He chuckled, “And for the summer and lulls between costume jobs you could pass the time here if you like.” Looking you over hopefully he asked, “Did your Amad teach you about clocks?”

You nodded, “Ya, she used to sell them on the side, carved them in the garage. I used to make a few for random projects in school, helped with that robotics course she signed me up for.” Looking around you said, “This shop is incredible. Why’d she leave?”

In a deep sigh his eyes met yours and he replied, “Some people dream of something bigger than our sleepy little town. Big city always called her, just like her Amad. Though I am glad you are here. Kiore too.”

“Thank you again, for helping me.”

He shook his head, “Won’t hear a word of that now. Any sign of that ex of yours and we will tear his head off. No one hurts my little bear.” His eyes darted to the windows crowding with far from subtle passers by trying to peek in at you before saying, “And for your place-..” His hand fixed in yours and he guided you back to the main shop and up to the second floor where your mouth fell open at the rolls of fabric on one half with racks of decorations, buttons, zippers and other fasteners. The other half had body molds and tables to work at lit by groups of circular windows randomly across the walls and the glowing crystal chandeliers from rafters in the ceiling twenty feet up. “Miss Beatrice sold up shop a year back and I had the space, hoped you would come out so I set it all up.”

“This is incredible.”

He chuckled, “Plus, with the both of us here I can help out with Kiore, we can alternate house calls if you like.”

“You, do house calls?”

He chuckled and at Kiore’s fussing for a change he led you back down again into the main shop and through to the back room where he showed you to the changing station he had fully stocked up there in the small nursery in the sitting room. Once changed he raised the again snoozing toddler to his chest with a wide grin, “Of course we do house calls. Mainly for grandfather clocks.”

Nodding your head you couldn’t help but grin at Kiore’s content coo and your having a helping hand finally, “I have to ask, what’s the fascination with clocks? Each shop we passed-,”

He chuckled again, “Bit of a long winded story. Mainly, it’s fabled the founder of our town had a deal with a demon for immortality and invulnerability on the battle field, the catch he was tasked to never let his watch he so prized stop. Obviously it did, and that watch was smashed and buried with him by his widow. Well, grave robbers arrived hearing the tale wanting it for themselves. One by one they were all killed for it until the final one came back to return it to the founder’s family. Well, others no doubt would come so it was hidden, since then our lands have been safe, and of course in retaliation for that we started sending out watches and clocks each year to neighboring lands and clans stemming from the thieving clans.” A set of giggles left you and he laughed rubbing his hand across Kiore’s back, “Then we decorated the town with clocks so no one would ever know if they found the original watch or not.”

“Classic. Sheer pettiness, love it.”

Making him chuckle again and say, “Speaking of house calls, I do have one, if you would like to get out for a bit I can watch here and you get your feet wet.”

“Sure, that, would be nice.”

Nodding at the sound of the bell above the door sounding at the first ‘browsing’ townsfolk entering the shop he slipped his hand into his pocket and smiled as he said, “Then you will be needing this.” A keychain with a clock inside a goat’s body dangled at the end of the car fob parting your lips, “And before you say it’s too much it was your Amad’s. Been sitting around, usually used to loan it for date nights for our neighbor so they wouldn’t have to go out with their car seat and toy riddled van. Polished it up for you, plus, great safety car for our little pebble.”

Moving closer you hugged him again stirring another chuckle from him in folding around your tiny frame barely to his pecs, and kissing the top of your head, “Thank you, for everything.”

“Anytime little bear.” Guiding you out he passed you the waiting kit and the clipboard with papers attached he showed you what to fill in along with an easy to follow map he drew you for where you were going.

…

Three greetings for the towns people introduced you to the Bur Brothers, who all eagerly trotted over to peer over at Kiore in her sleep as you stepped out of the shop. Instantly you felt a pull to head back again to your sleeping child who you had rarely left behind before outside of jobs yet you kept going to the waiting coupe feeling eyes watching as you climbed in and started it up off for the house not far away.

Wetting your lips you recited the directions in your head until you parked in front of the large brick home in the sea of picturesque mansions you could never picture yourself entering let alone living near. Against that mental struggle you walked up to the door and rang the bell. Instantly the sound of children racing by in a fit of giggles was followed by thunderously loud steps halting at the door that easily swung open revealing the tall soapy water stained Dwarf with dark hair brushed back and bubble coated beard stemming to his chest, “Boys-!”

Giggles followed and his head turned, “You know where the clock is, Jo-,” at that his lips pursed lowering his gaze seeing your hand rise to wave at him, “Um,”

Under furrowed brows his bright blue eyes looked you over in your skinny jeans and loose green flannel shirt, “I’m Jo’s granddaughter.” A thud turned his head again and you smirked saying, “In the back room, right? He wrote out the locations for me.”

The Dwarf nodded gripping the towel in his hand tighter at the next thud, “If you’ll excuse me a moment, come on in.” He hurried off calling out, “Boys!”

Again you chuckled to yourself closing the door behind you, stepping carefully across the expensive looking runner carpet towards the back room to check on your first clock chuckling at the sounds of the two boys eluding the large man trying to wrangle the sudsy pair into their clothes. In awe you eyed the antique clock you carefully inspected and made minor adjustments to before moving onto the next one a few lavish yet cozy rooms over. With three faces this one was more tricky yet cross legged on the floor you managed to find the proper position to adjust the swinging arm inside tipped with a tiny ship setting the time off early.

Nearly to the end of the task you eyed the timid man leaning into the doorway flashing you a momentary grin before saying, “I, um, that is, we heard you were moving to town.”

You nodded, “How much of the story did he share?”

The man shrugged, “Not much. You were moving in, gonna take up the costuming jobs and help in the shop. Little girl of your own, bout it.”

“Nothing else?”

Wetting his lips he said, “Did mention telling him if any strangers come to town.”

You nodded and lowered your eyes to the boys leaning around his lower legs with waves of their own you returned. The blonde of the two said, “Jo’s a lady now!”

The man chuckled crouching down to say, “No, this is his granddaughter-,”

His eyes rose to you and you grinned saying, “Jaqi.” Waving again at the pair.

Tapping their heads he introduced them to you, “This is Fili, and Kili, my nephews.”

Kili, “Amad is buying beans!”

Fili gasped and whispered something to Kili then they both turned to take off again making him roll his eyes and say, “I’m Thorin, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Another thud sounded and he sighed rising again to turn saying, “A wonder we still have a roof and furniture at all. I will leave you to it and fix some snacks.”

“Oh-,” before you could argue he was gone again and you shook your head trying to ignore the even tighter shirt he had changed into over his thigh and ass hugging jeans. Two more clocks later and you found him in the kitchen guiding the boys through making sandwiches, which were looking less like that by the minute. Looking up at you he grinned again stealing another chance to look you over as you passed him the clipboard. “Top section, please.”

Thorin chuckled pulling out the attached pen, “Yes,”

“Not that you probably need me to tell you that.”

The front door opened and through it passed a tall woman on the phone with arms full in the middle of a debate with the blonde Dwarf on her right. Silently in their luring Thorin into the mix you left the receipt and slipped out waving at the boys in return for theirs and made your way back to the car.

That simple stop grew into two, in equally as distracted households all stealing brief moments with you until your inevitable slip away. In the shop again you felt the weight drop off you seeing Kiore awake and bouncing on her feet in the start of her teeter towards you once she was freed from her dangling bouncer distracting her while your grandfather finished up a customer’s watch repair. A series of random repairs filled the rest of your day. The end of your day found you back in your car following your grandfather’s truck to a mansion of your own with a suite fully set up for you already, complete with nursery. For all you had lost now you surely had an incredible place to start over in.

.

The following day after you handled the shop while he took the home visits, a decision easing the stop in for your customers the day prior to check in on you. Only for them to all but melt seeing Kiore in her playpen at your feet or in her bouncer as you started to work on the mold for your first original watch to be set aside for a simple repair job brought in for you to be fawned over once again. Each time easing her worries about the massive people, first terrifying her near to tears unless in your arms to openly giggling in greeting them all. Though for all the friendly faces your attention kept being led back to that same sudsy customer from your first day by some far more subtle than others.

The middle school teacher who had been thrilled to find out you were tasked for the final play of the year, bringing you into the school for a matter of weeks granted him, his cousins and his siblings the chance to steal more and more of your time. Day five, on the same day as the town fair opening, however seemed to be a tipping point as you nearly ripped a hem on a zoot suit jacket at Dis’ plain question of, “The fair opens today. Thorin seems to mope about tagging along with Vili and I, what about you two going together?”

Without an answer she walked off grinning to herself as she made her way to Thorin’s class. Straight to his desk she walked stirring an anxiously raised brow on her brother’s face as he wiped down his dry erase board, “Dis, what did you do? You’re smirking.”

“When were you going to ask her to the fair?”

Turning to face her fully he repeated, “What did you do?”

Rolling her eyes she said, “I only asked our dear Jaqi what she thought of you two going together.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What was her answer?”

“She wants you to ask her.”

“That’s what she said? Specifically?”

Dis shook her head, “No, I didn’t wait for her answer,” Thorin groaned and turned to the board again rolling his eyes, “But I didn’t need to. The answer was written in her eyes.”

Thorin glanced back at her and she nodded reassuringly, “And what answer was that?”

“Just ask her.”

Thorin sighed and focused on setting up for his next class that would be after his lunch. Bag in hand he strolled through the halls until he found himself in the theater strolling across the stage to sit beside you. Steadily your head turned to look at him when you tied off the final touch to the suit jacket hem. In a low unsteady tone he asked with eyes fixed on the needle and scissor filled hands resting on your lap, “I was wondering-,” Together your fingertips wove and he dared to dart his eyes higher, a single glance up to your face stirred a grin on his face seeing the hopeful flash of a smile in your eyes silently pleading for him to finish his request. That was all it took, a quick inhale later and his lips parted to complete his offer.

…

All – @himoverflowers, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator, @sweeticedtea, @ggbbhehe4455, @thegreyberet, @patanghill17, @jesgisborne, @curvestrology, @alishlieb, @jogregor, @armitageadoration, @fizzyxcustard, @here2have-fun, @lilith15000, @marvels-ghost, @catthefearless, @imjusthereforthereads, @c-s-stars 

  x Thorin – @evyiione, @deepestfirefun, @queenoferebor

@sdavid09

[satorisa]

Lift the Veil - Chapter 2

Lift the Veil - Chapter 2: Ocean Eyes

Rating: PG

Summary: After living in Tokyo for the past six years, she decides to head back to Azumano to escape the big city. However, she now has to face everything that she tried to flee from all those years ago. How exactly will she fare when the pages of a long forgotten book start turning once more?

Read On: FanFiction.Net, Archive of Our Own

I’m about more than a month late in updating this. I’m terrible at writing and keeping track of things. Please enjoy this extremely late update. 

Chapter 2 – Ocean Eyes

I’m scared; you really know how to make me cry.

My first day back in Azumano, as eventful as it was, couldn’t soften the blow of having to go back to work so soon. After leaving the NHK less than a week ago, I found myself at the Azumano news station the morning after my return home, watching the seniors lackadaisically droop in their respective offices and cubicles.

“Not much of a welcome, huh?” Saehara asked as we passed by a neat table of documents. “Pretty sure you had more fun working in Tokyo. After all, not much happens here anymore, so we’ve resorted to reporting on all these lame stories.” He sighed. “Oh, how I wish Dark Mousy was still around. Pretty sure you do too, deep down inside.”

He winked at me, and I couldn’t help but cringe. Sure, my adolescent self had fallen head over heels for him and yes, somewhere in my head he still fit the image of my ideal man, but bringing him up in that context after ten years?

Saehara, you damage whatever shred of dignity I had left after crawling back here.

We stopped in front of a neat workspace wedged in the middle of messily occupied ones. “This is your cubicle. Make yourself at home and settle in, but don’t sit until your butt leaves an imprint in your chair. We’re headed over to Chief’s to get the deets on anything and everything.”

He winked again, leaving me to my relatively private space. Putting down my box of office supplies, I examined my cubicle once more and smiled. On the shelf, I placed a fake potted flower and a couple of parting gifts from friends back in Tokyo. I hung a couple of photos of me, Riku, Daisuke, and Ritsuko on the wall before arranging the rest of my office supplies. I stood back when I finished, pleased at my personalized touches.

“Oh! That’s nice Harada-imouto,” Saehara complimented, slightly shocking me from his unannounced return. “More plain that I expected it to be, though.”

“Thanks…” I mumbled, grabbing my leather tote and following Saehara out of the dismal news station.

“The police station’s not too far, unless, of course, you’re wearing heels.” He glanced down at my shoes, and I reveled in his expression when he saw the tennis shoes I donned. “Huh. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Saehara, it would be nice if you didn’t project your condescending opinions about me; it’s childish. And everyone knows working at the police station is fieldwork no matter how far it is from the news station.”

I rendered him speechless from my criticism probably because he expected me to run my infamous tantrums until I ran out of energy. Somehow, I had gotten away with them back in high school but, after being displaced in Tokyo, I quickly learned that they wouldn’t fly in the adult world I had, unfortunately, grown into.

He coughed. “So, you’ve done fieldwork before?”

“It was brutal. Try training in Tokyo and get back to me.” It was my turn to wink, and I couldn’t help but chuckle when Saehara’s face blanched.

“Harada-imouto, I think Tokyo’s made you a force to be reckoned with.”

With my signature hair flip, I shot him the smile that once charmed the entire male population at Azumano High. “Well, I had to toughen up for the big leagues, after all.”

Saehara starting barking and hooting, either trying to pump me up or compliment my change from the delicate flower I was in high school. I kept him going, entertained by his energy, until we walked into the police station and was greeted by a blank-faced Hiwatari holding a cup of coffee.

“So, who let the dogs out so damn early in the morning?” he grumbled, taking a sip of his coffee as his cold eyes bore into Saehara.

“Sorry, Chief. I got caught up in the…spirit?”

“Of annoying me? This station was peaceful until I let you camp out here. Let me remind you that I can kick you out as easily as I let you in.”

“Chief, please, humble my presence for I am a lowly plebian that was allowed to beg for stories by your divine grace.” Saehara bowed and then stood up with a giant smile. Hiwatari returned it as best as he could, and the two of them laughed.

“Anyways, good morning, Harada-san. If you need anything, feel free to ask anyone for assistance.” He waved goodbye before disappearing behind empty cubicles into an office wedged in the far corner of the room. After he slammed his door shut, silence filled the air as I attempted to comprehend what I had just witnessed.

“You two get along?” I asked, awestruck at how Saehara managed to get on Hiwatari’s good side.

“Yeah. We’ve been ever since I started working here. I didn’t realize he was such a swell guy until we went out to drink after work. Even since then, we’ve gotten along.” He smirked. “What? Are you jealous?”

“Of that? Please. Get over yourself.”

While Saehara guffawed, I sat down and opened my laptop, starting to review a couple of stories prepared for today’s broadcast. In the middle of a piece about the health benefits of an Okinawan diet, Saehara slinked away only to come back with two cups of hot drinks, yogurt container, and a bowl of fruit.

“Here.” He handed me one of the drinks. “Chai latté, freshly brewed from your premade, neighborhood coffee machine. And some yogurt and fruit á la fridge de la breakroom. I already had my fair share of donuts during my visit there, so don’t worry about me.”

I blinked. “How did you—”

“I bumped into Chief refilling his mug of coffee. He told me you liked chai lattés and couldn’t eat anything heavy in the morning.” He shifted his seating positing, resting his elbows on his knees while cradling his drink in his hands. “Seems like nothing has changed from high school; even now, he’s still looking after you.”

A frown settled on my face as I mixed my yogurt and fruit together. “He’s just being courteous to the newcomer; that’s all,”

“Huh.” He didn’t say anymore, downing his drink before I could express concern over whether his mouth and throat were okay from chugging something that hot that quickly, and hopped up from his seat with his trusty steno pad and pen in his hands. Walking away, he talked to himself about plans to pester the squad until he squeezed every last story, interesting or not, out of them.

I shook my head, astonished that Saehara was still his busy-body self that dotted my high school experience. Taking a spoonful of yogurt, I returned to proofread the files piling up inside my inbox.

“Here.”

On the coffee table in front of me, Saehara placed a paper bag that smelled oddly like Italian. He took out a small container, handing it to me along with a plastic utensil set.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked, removing the container’s lid and seeing a huge serving of carbonara nestled in its plastic abode. As much as I loved this dish, anything smothered in cream-based sauces was too heavy for me. Funny, since I loved them as a high schooler, but living by myself and becoming gravely conscious of my health (and my already slowing metabolism, much to my dismay) changed my preferences in food.

“Your first day on the job. It’s about as good as a welcome as you’re going to get.” He slurped his spaghetti as if he hasn’t eaten in a week, and I felt my face instinctively distort in disgust.

“Thanks, but I feel less welcome after watching you eat like that.” I swirled some of the pasta before enjoying this nostalgic taste. “You’re not going to get a woman with those table manners.”

He smirked, continuing to scarf down his food probably to spite me. “Just because you don’t like the way I eat doesn’t mean my honey agrees with you.”

Too preoccupied with my food, I didn’t pay much attention to his gloating tone and the words that accompanied it. They finally hit me after I polished off my carbonara. Astonished that Saehara, of all people, managed to find and keep a girlfriend, I returned to my laptop and edited the day away, keeping an eye out for the man so that I could grill him for more information. (Hopefully, that conversation doesn’t last long enough for Saehara to pry into my dry well of a love life.)

He returned maybe an hour or two later, tearing a piece of paper from his steno pad, placing it next to my laptop plopping onto the couch and sighing.

“Missing your honey?”

“I’m always missing her.” He sighed again. “Chief’s only got petty crimes to report. They’re not much of a story unless you want to cover bullying in our local schools.”

“Maybe we could do a small story about rampant bullying in our education system? It’s not much of a report, but it’s at least some type of filler.”

Saehara groaned. “Maybe. But I don’t want to be in charge of something as lame as that! I need something with more pizzazz!”

“You could always sensationalize it.”

“And ruin my credibility? Harada-imouto, I’ve told the truth and nothing but the truth ever since I started down this path.”

I stopped typing, raising my eyebrow at him. He shot me a displeased expression and, wholly amused, I returned to my work with a smile on my face. To think that I would not only work with Saehara but also enjoy his company was something my younger self could never bring herself to imagine.

“So, ‘truth-teller,’ tell me about this girlfriend of yours.”

He shook his head at the sarcasm dripping from my tone, but I saw his expression lighten and his eyes glimmer once he got over my sass. God, the poor boy was smitten.

“Akane Himawari: the happy sunflower of my life. I met her at a café I frequented back in college, and she always had her nose in a book. We became friends when I grew the balls to actually talk to her. Didn’t have the guts to move any further than that, so we graduated, and I was no closer to her than I was when I first chatted her up…”

To think that the obnoxious Saehara would actually give a girl he was courting her space was unbelievable. He paused his story and shot me a puzzled expression.

“What are you judging me for now?”

“You did get closer to her, you idiot. You two became friends.”

He rolled his eyes. “If you had waited for me to finish like any respectable human being would’ve, I was going to tack ‘romantically’ after that. Anyways, once I became friends with Chief, we met up at that same café once, and I saw her furiously typing at her computer.

“According to Chief, I wouldn’t shut up about her, so he gave me that look—you know, the one where he’s fed up with your idiocy—before telling me that I was in love with this girl, and that I needed to carpe diem, or I may never get the chance to ever ask her out again. Needless to say, we’ve been dating ever since.”

“Cute,” I grumbled, trying to hide my disdain at Hiwatari’s mention.

“What? Jealous you don’t have a boyfriend?”

“Sure. Let’s go with that.”

Howling with laughter, he got up with gumption, bouncing away in search of some hidden gem. I shook my head, both entertained and disgusted at the sight of such a love-sick person before returning back to my laptop and escaping from my reality.

“I’ll be heading off now!”

“See you tomorrow.”

He waved goodbye, walking out with his messenger bag slung over his slouched shoulders. Outside, the sun started setting, hiding behind the trees and buildings in my line of sight. Knowing how still Azumano became once darkness settled in, the sunset would turn the police station into a ghost town. I still had some stories I had to skim through before the broadcast, so I decided to stay put until Captain said they were ready. I also needed to type up Saehara’s list and see what we could squeeze from it but, after glancing at it earlier, it was terribly dry. At least the station was quiet enough to let me focus.

I didn’t notice that night had fallen until Hiwatari snapped me away from my laptop. “You’re still here?”

Looking up, I saw him, with this trademark poker face, holding a suitcase. My eyes quickly darted from Hiwatari to the night-shift behind him, silently cooped up in their tiny cubicles with their eyes void of energy or happiness. I couldn’t blame them; if I were in their position, I’d probably die a little each time I had to stay up all night watching the clock flit by as I did nothing.

“Work.”

He nodded, and I expected him to leave with a simple farewell. But he sat next to me on the couch, pulling out a novel (Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami: the book that kept me afloat during my first two years at college) and casually reading. If I had to deal with his conspicuous presence any longer than I had to, it would drive me insane. Pulling out my headphones, I turned on my music to distract myself from his slender fingers gingerly flipping through pages that held words dear to me.

When I finally finished, I started packing my stuff quickly, trying to flee before Hiwatari said something or tried to stop me.

“Done?” he asked, looking up from the book.

I silently nodded, hating how courteous I was towards him. He closed the novel, placing it in his bag before standing up, his face as empty as ever.

“Are you hungry, Harada-san?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

I was about to head for the door when I felt a warm hand gently touch my arm. Whipping my head around, I saw Hiwatari’s face. His concern screamed with the slant of his eyebrows, the shine in his eyes and the outline of his lips—

“Risa, please, I insist.”

Taking a deep breath, I brushed his hand off me. “Hiwatari-san, please call me Harada-san.”

I rushed out the door, hoping that the cool night air would calm me down. But I spent the walk home hearing the heavy pounding of my heart, trying not to let my swirling emotions prevent me from enjoying my evening.