#this world is not sleepyhead friendly

[strandedcrow]

sleepyhead

and i suffer every day for it 😔

[lisired]

little do you know

pairing: taeyong x (f) reader

genre/warnings: smut, angst, bffs to fwb to lovers, cheating, unprotected sex (don’t be silly, wrap your willy!)

summary: After three years away from Miami, Taeyong is finally ready to return to the city. He left a world behind here, but most importantly, he left you. And being invited on a friendly get-together trip to a beach resort gives him a little too much time to resume unfinished business between you both.

word count: 14.9k

a/n: loosely inspired by don’t make it harder on me by chloe x halle. as always, feedback is appreciated!

Your heart beat for Jung Jaehyun. 

That was what you told yourself, over and over again. You wanted to convince yourself that at some point, you would believe it. After all, how could you not? He was everything any woman could have dreamed of in a man. Handsome, sensual, humorous and vulnerable. 

But he wasn’t Taeyong. 

Darn Taeyong. He left you. For good reason, but that was no excuse for you to linger around. Especially not when you were in a commited relationship with his friend. 

The moment you made it to your room after checking into the seaside resort, you immediately flopped onto the bed. A very large chunk of you wanted to draw away and hide, but you knew better. And an even larger chunk of you wanted to see Taeyong. 

Three years. That was how long you’d waited. If you were being honest, your heart couldn’t take anymore. You missed your best friend. 

Jaehyun came out of the bathroom, half-naked, one might add, and had a good laugh at the sight of you sulking on the bed. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead. We have a long day ahead of us.”

You made a noise of protest and wrapped your arms around one of the pillows tightly. You had little to no problem sharing a bed with Jaehyun. As expected, given you were a couple, though you slept in your own more often than not. 

Even though you had been together for nearly three years, Jaehyun hadn’t moved in with you or vice versa. It would seem that you and Jaehyun were very compatible. For one, both of you made your preference to take things slow very clear. Neither of you had been in a rush to move in with each other. Regardless, you’d slept in the same bed before, because you were comfortable. But you knew you weren’t ready for the next step, and Jaehyun never pushed you, because frankly, neither was he. 

Deep in your heart, you knew Jaehyun was more like a good friend to you than a lover. 

You heaved out a breath. “Do I have to?”

“Yes. Everyone will be expecting you. This is one of those rare moments where everyone will be together in one place. Do you know how hard it is to get Ten to stop moving?” Jaehyun joked, moving over to the bed to separate you from the pillow, much to your discontent. 

But you didn’t argue, because he was right and you knew it. You gave a wistful smile. Aging came with a vicious price, and for your friends, time was the luxury you couldn’t afford. Each of you had lives of your own, but no matter where you were, your friendship still stood strong. 

“Fine,” you grumbled, rolling out of bed and fishing through your suitcase. It contained a week’s worth of clothes - including swimsuits. 

Jaehyun snickered and slithered back into the bathroom to give you some privacy. In spite of the many, many times you'd seen each other naked. 

You threw on a bikini and styled yourself a little. Definitely not to impress anyone. Then, you heaved a sigh and let Jaehyun know that you were ready. Maybe even he could tell that you were far from. 

The entire elevator ride downstairs, you could feel your heart pound faster as you watched the numbers drop, indicating what floor you were on. It dinged and opened once you arrived at your destination, and Jaehyun held your hand in his, leading you outside. 

The sweet gesture made it a little easier to breathe, but you were still uneasy. What the hell were you even so scared of? It wasn’t like Taeyong had completely ghosted the hell out of you. The distance made it harder to keep in contact, but he made every effort to talk to you. You were still best friends and no amount of miles between you would change that. 

You just couldn’t get him out of your mind, no matter how hard you tried. No matter how much time had passed, you couldn’t forget the way it felt to be by his side, and you longed to feel that way again. 

No, you hissed to yourself. Taeyong is just your friend. Jaehyun is your boyfriend. You love him. 

And you truly did. But not the way you loved Taeyong. A love like that was irreplicable. 

The moon was on display in the evening sky, bright and full. It mirrored in the water. Strings of neon lights irradiated the beach for miles. There was a large pool squarely between the ocean and the resort and an array of chairs stretched across the sand underneath your feet. 

You were walking towards the group of people surrounding a bonfire at the beach, until you heard someone scream from behind you, “Boo!” 

Jaehyun jumped, your hand still in his, but you screamed as if you wanted your cries to be heard from the opposite end of the ocean. Behind you, the culprit was no other than Rosé. 

Rosé pointed her finger and laughed. “Works like a charm every time.”

You rolled your eyes and pulled her in for a hug. “What happened to saying ‘hi,’ or ‘hello,’” you complained, patting her back. 

She pouted. “I’m sorry, guys.” Then, released you promptly once she’d had her fill to give Jaehyun a turn. 

“What are your plans for the week?” Jaehyun asked, smiling sheepishly.

“Just checking in with my friends and family. As you would expect,” Rosé replied in her familiar aussie accent. Then, she turned to you. “Speaking of which, Taeyong is looking for you.”

You blinked. “Really?”

“Absolutely. He’s over there, all sullen and morose. You should go talk to him.”

Turning to take a peek, you spotted Taeyong by his lonesome at the water. He stood there, simply staring into the distance. Very much sullen and morose. 

Because of me. You bade the thought away with a tiny shake of your head. 

“Will you be okay?” you asked, shifting your glance to Jaehyun. 

Jaehyun didn’t tie you down. “Go. He’s your best friend and it’s been three years. Besides, Rosé and I have a lot to catch up on anyways.”

Rosé gave you an encouraging nod. You gave her one final hug and your boyfriend a brief kiss to cheek before they sent you off. And you blew out a heavy breath as you marched his way. 

It was no secret that when Taeyong left, your relationship - or lack thereof - was on shaky ground. Neither of you ever explained what was happening between you, but even a blind man could tell you were sleeping with each other.

You had wanted more, but Taeyong loathed labels and despised commitment. Frankly, you couldn’t blame him. He watched his parents' marriage crumble before his eyes. He gave his heart to someone and they shattered it into pieces. That was why you never bothered to try to make him yours. You feared rejection like it haunted you every night in your nightmares. 

Foolishly, you had believed the feelings would eventually fade in his absence. But they only grew. No matter who tried to take his place in your heart. 

You slipped beside Taeyong with heavy breath. The air was fresh, but it hardly touched your lungs. He could see your reflection in the water, and turned around to face you before you could get a word in. “Hey.”

“Hi,” you croaked, chiding your heart to calm herself down. 

Taeyong smiled. You saw his eyes twinkle in the moonlight. “Long time no see.”

“Relax. I’ve seen you perfectly fine over FaceTime,” you joked. 

Taeyong rolled his eyes, but smiled and said, “You know it’s not the same. Come here.” 

You immediately crashed into his arms like you couldn’t bear the wait any longer. He was right - it wasn’t the same. You missed the way his embrace warmed you to the core. Taeyong's arms were always where you felt safest. As if no harm could reach you as long as he was there. 

Peering up against his chest, you finally got a good look at him. Was it possible that he looked even better than the last time you saw him three years ago? 

Moonlight nuzzled his skin, making him look even more breathtaking. Its beam lit his sharp features and blond hair. The last time you'd seen it in person, it was black with blue streaks. Keeping Taeyong away from his dye was a Sisyphean task.  

Taeyong - arms in a loop around your waist - asked, “You know what else is different?” 

“What?” 

“I couldn't do this.” 

He offered little to no preparation before you were being tickled mercilessly, sent into a fit of involuntary giggling. Given most of your body was exposed, you were ultimately rendered helpless against his nimble fingers. 

Fighting your way out of his clasp was mission impossible. Taeyong always had ample strength over you, biceps taut with muscle. You could only arduously plead for him to stop, but to no avail, nearly on the verge of tears of laughter. 

Taeyong heaved a pleased sigh and smirked. Needlessly to say, he missed this. “What’s the magic word?”

“Please,” you rasped, fighting for breath. And freedom.

“What’s that?” Taeyong mocked, molding his features as if he sincerely misheard you. “I can’t hear you. You’re laughing too hard.”

Louder, you begged, “Please!”

Taeyong dithered, but ultimately released you from his clutches. You heaved for breath, laughter fading into a smile on your lips as your ribs tensed with every inhale. Playfulness had always been an element of Taeyong’s nature, under the layer of his sober demeanor. Old habits die hard, you thought, melancholy. 

“Too much?” Taeyong asked. 

You shook your head, beaming. “I’m fine. Just out of breath.” 

Taeyong snickered. Of course, you were. Leave it to him to milk your lungs - and stamina - for all that they were worth. 

Taeyong gave you a once-over. With your body so close to his, he couldn’t ignore the way your warmth felt against his bare flesh. And promptly, his eyes fell on your figure. You were still beautiful. Some people deteriorated with age, but never you. It was like you could only become more gorgeous as the days passed. 

You looked the same, but still so different all at once. Perhaps most notably was your eyes. They gleamed, a little sadder than before. He couldn’t help but think that that was because of him. 

Then his eyes fell lower. The bikini you wore complemented your frame a little too goddamn well. Once upon a time, he owned your body. He recalled all those times he made you scream his name for the world to hear. 

Taeyong swiftly swept those memories away. Like hell he would catch a boner at the beach, which would definitely happen the longer he thought about the way you felt around him. Besides, your body didn’t belong to him anymore. And neither did your heart. 

Your heart beat for Jaehyun. 

You cleared your throat. “So, uh - how have you been?”

“I can’t complain,” Taeyong replied, nodding his head. “My grandmother is doing a whole lot better than she was three years ago. The meds have been a great help. As you can see, she’s well enough to go without me again.”

“That’s wonderful news.” You always adored Mrs. Lee. The moment you discovered the ailing condition she was in, your heart hurt for her. 

Taeyong smiled thinly. “It is. It hurt seeing her like that everyday. I was so scared of losing her.”

You nodded in understanding. Above all, you knew that was Taeyong’s greatest fear in general - losing someone he treasured. He had a heart too big for his body. When he received the call from the hospital about his grandmother, Taeyong didn’t hesitate to travel across the globe to take care of her. Even on such short notice. 

The entire trajectory of his life changed with one phone call. He had to drop everything to be there for her. The life he had made for himself here. Even if she didn’t make it, Taeyong knew he had to be there for her in her final moments. 

You both respected and understood the rationale behind his abrupt withdrawal - which Taeyong was endlessly grateful for - but watching him leave wounded you like nothing else. 

You endeavored to fill the void in his absence. That was where Jaehyun came in. You started seeing each other only a few months after Taeyong left for Seoul and began dating not too long after. You liked Jaehyun, but it wasn’t the same. And it wasn’t him; it was you. Regardless of how good a man was to you, none of that mattered if he wasn’t Taeyong. 

Desperately did you want to forget about Taeyong and the way he made you feel. It would have been no use waiting around for him in the first place. He would never let you in. He never did. 

None of that ever happened. When Jaehyun made love to you, you thought of Taeyong. The way his calloused hands felt on your body. How he strung you to orgasm time after time without fail. When Jaehyun took you out on dates, you imagined it was Taeyong spoiling you. You couldn’t shake the thought of him; couldn’t shake the feelings you had for your best friend. 

They said time was the best healer, but you were still head over heels in love with a boy that was too scared to love you back. 

“I missed you, Taeyong,” you admitted in a soft voice. 

Taeyong avoided your eyes, facing the ocean. You did, too. “I missed you, too. It wasn’t easy, you know. Leaving. I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t you dare apologize for doing what you needed to do,” you chastised. “I understand. We would have all done the same thing if we were you. Don’t sweat it.”

“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

You nudged his side a little. “What are best friends for?” 

That stung like hell. What if he told you that he wanted more than that? 

The two of you talked for a little on the shore, feet dug in the wet sand. You watched the moon wallow in the glistening waters. It served as a rough reminder to you. The way it felt when your body was in one place with one man, but your heart was across the pacific ocean with another. 

Above all, you wished he would have never stolen it from you. 

It became too much after a while and Taeyong made an excuse about neglecting the rest of friends to avoid spending further one-on-one time with you. No one interrupted. Unsurprisingly. The two of you had been closer than ever. They knew better. 

You were a bit hurt, but more so relieved. You felt like you couldn’t breathe next to Taeyong. Joining the rest of your friends felt like a breath of fresh air. 

The ten of you gathered around the bonfire, chatting and catching up. Taeyong wasn't the only one that had come from abroad. Lisa was visiting from Thailand, Rosé had returned from New Zealand, and Ten was… everywhere. A successful career in modeling would do that to you. 

Miami was the heart of your friendship. It was where you had met and where you would always meet again. Most of you were from different places, but it would always be a special spot for your group of friends. And no matter where you were, as long as you were together, you were home. 

After a while, you slipped away to grab a drink from the bar hut. From the distance, you could see Taeyong laughing.

You had gotten so used to loving him from afar. Even when he wasn’t across the ocean, he was still a world away. 

Rosé stole a seat at the barstool beside you, following your gaze. “You missed him, huh?”

For a brief second, your head snapped in her direction. You would never forget what a great friend she was. Easy to confide in, capable of garnering all your secrets in her palm. But this was different. “Of course. I missed you all,” you replied, deliberately straying away from the narrow path she was leading you down. 

Rosé gave you an unconvinced look. “Uh huh. And it has nothing to do with the two of you sleeping with each other?” 

You were borderline affronted she would even ask you that. You glanced away. “That didn’t mean anything. We were just a pair of horny fucks. Taeyong didn’t want anything serious anyways.”

“But did you?” 

You bristled. Curse her. Even in high school, she could always see dead through you. “No,” you lied through your teeth. “Besides, it wouldn’t matter if I did. That was three years ago. I have Jaehyun now.” 

“Love has no expiration date,” Rosé told you, unsparing. You sensed no foul intentions from her, but something about it made you dangerously uneasy. “Some people spend their whole lives hopelessly in love with the same person.”

Your brows furrowed. That’s odd, you thought to yourself. Why was she hell-bent on trying to convince you to admit you had feelings for Taeyong? 

Maybe it was nothing. You and Rosé went way back, as did the rest of the group. There wasn’t a mean bone in her body. 

You’re just overthinking it, you reasoned. Taeyong coming back has you overwhelmed with emotions. 

“I guess,” you said half-heartedly, downing another shot. You’d be damned if you somehow managed to get through the night sober. 

Rosé discerned that you wouldn’t give an inch and stood to her feet, smiling and patting your back gently before she left to regroup with the others. You followed suit. 

For the rest of the evening, you tried your best to stick close to your boyfriend. And away from Taeyong. More than anything, you needed a distraction. The closer you were to him, the more thoughts of your best friend ran rampant in your mind. 

You wanted to forgo every thought of him, but it was significantly easier said than done. It was like everything stopped then suddenly hit you all at once now that he had returned, and you didn’t know how to cope. 

Alcohol had the opposite of the intended effect. You were hyper focused on every tiny detail, noticing even the most mundane things about him. You could have paid your bills with your raw love for Taeyong, but under the influence, it was worth its weight in gold. 

“I’m tired,” you whispered to Jaehyun, patting his arm. “I’m going back to the room. Come back when you’re ready.”

Jaehyun nodded and gave you a swift kiss to the cheek. “Don’t wait up.”

You smiled, bid mostly everyone goodnight, and went on your way. Strangely enough, Taeyong had disappeared in the millisecond that you’d glanced away. 

You wrapped a towel around your body. When you were finally inside of the resort, you were relieved by the warm indoor air. It wasn’t exactly true that you were tired, but you needed a breather. Another second and it was guaranteed that you would lose whatever bit of mind you still had. 

Ironically, when the elevator opened, Taeyong glanced up from his phone and faced you. He cocked a brow. “And where do you think you’re sneaking off to?” 

“Upstairs,” you stammered, and promptly scolding yourself for doing so. “I’m spent and decided to call it a night.”

Taeyong bobbed his head and wondered if he had anything to do with it. You weren’t subtle in the slightest earlier, sneaking glances at him. Sneaking wasn’t an apt term. 

“Would it be weird if I walked you to your room?” 

You swallowed thickly. You had made so many memories with Taeyong in a single lifetime that every tiny thing reminded you of him. You remembered those days when he would walk you home, especially at night. Like hell he would let you walk home by yourself after dark. 

Every now and then in high school, he would walk you to and from class, and to your front doorstep after school. You would chat incessantly in the meantime, squeezing as much conversation between classes as possible. 

Everyone knew you were best friends. To see you two in the halls together, it was merely just another day. On more than one occasion, your teachers would ask you where he was on the days that you came to class alone. 

You heard your name being called and reeled out of your musing. 

“Sorry. I spaced out,” you said, flushing. “What did you say?” 

“I said - would it be weird if I walked you to your room?” 

“Of course not,” you replied, swallowing once more. You wanted to chide yourself for your lack of self-control. When it came to Taeyong, you just couldn’t say no. 

Taeyong smiled. He let you inside the elevator and moved his hand out of the way so that it would finally close. You punched in your floor number and let the elevator lift you there.

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “How’s Neon?” 

Neon was your pet cat. She was an adorable fat gray cat with vibrantly orange eyes. And the love of your life. After Taeyong, of course. “She’s living the life. Eating a lot, as usual. Ten’s friend Yangyang is cat-sitting her as well as Leon and Louis.”

Taeyong snickered. “Oh boy. He’s in for one hell of a ride.” 

“You bet,” you chortled. “I’m expecting a call demanding we pick them up early any moment now. You know how those three get when they’re together.” 

The elevator chimed and opened and Taeyong let you out. “Ladies first,” he said with a smile, all gentleman-like. “And I’m assuming they’re chaotic as ever.”

“You assume correctly,” you replied, wishing you had your phone. “Yangyang’s totally chill, though. He takes their tomfoolery in stride and even sends us pictures. They toppled over a Cheerios box and somehow Neon wore it on her head.”

“I just got a mental picture of that and it’s absolutely hilarious.” 

You laughed. 

Now you were thinking about who Taeyong saw when he came home. You already knew the answer, but you still asked, “I know you’ve been taking care of your grandmother, but have you not been seeing anyone since you left?” 

“Nope. I never had the time or energy to invest.” 

“But you have it now.” 

“I guess I do,” Taeyong replied with a shrug. “But it won’t change much. It’s too late.” 

Your brows furrowed. “What do you mean, it’s too late?”

Rosé had told you that love had no expiration date. Now Taeyong had said he was too late. Did Taeyong love someone? 

Your heart was shedding tears of blood. 

Taeyong offered you a harmless smile but didn’t elaborate very much. You had already arrived at your hotel room. “I’ll tell you someday. I promise,” he swore. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Taeyong.” 

Taeyong did a one-eighty and began to walk in the direction he had come. Your eyes followed him, stinging. It always hurt to watch him leave. 

It hurt him to walk away. Little did you know, he had spent every day thinking about you. What could have been. When the news broke out about your relationship with Jaehyun shortly after his departure, Taeyong wanted to be happy for you, but nothing but pain and regret and longing plagued his chest. 

The worst part was that he had nobody to blame but himself. He dithered too long and let another man take his place. It was unfair for him to expect you to sit around and stay. Even when he was by your side, you were still waiting for him to decide when he would be ready to let somebody inside his heart again. 

Coward, Taeyong scolded himself. He wanted to love you, but he was too scared and too selfish. Every time, he chose himself over you. And now that you had chosen someone else over him too, he would have to live with that. 

You both would. 

You took a shower and crawled into bed. Jaehyun was beside you when you woke in the afternoon, sleeping like a rock. You took a picture for the group chat and had a good laugh while you still could, knowing he would inevitably seek vengeance. At least somebody was going to milk the absolute hell out of this vacation. 

you: good morning

haechan: it’s 2pm

you: not for this guy

you: [one attachment]

ten: oh you are so, so wrong 

jennie: sleeping beauty? 

johnny: that’s the beast 

mark: lmfaoooo 

lisa laughed at “that’s the beast”

rosé: wipe the corners of his mouth plz 

taeyong: he’s gonna be so mad when he sees this 

you: teehee

you: beach day?

“Sleep with one eye open,” Jaehyun warned lightheartedly when you both arrived back at the beach. 

You giggled. No matter what age, you and your friends would always love a great prank. The war was officially on. 

Looking around for the others, your eyes fell on Taeyong. And Lord have mercy, he was mouthwatering. Had he found the time to work out? Light sheened his sun-kissed skin, dancing on his abs and shoulders. It was no wonder why you started sleeping with this man. 

You saw another woman approach him and immediately frowned. As expected, it was no other than Jennie. Let there be no misunderstanding, neither of you had any bad blood or ill feeling. You simply had a lot of common interests.

And the greatest common denominator was Taeyong. 

Your heart sprained in your chest viciously, taut with envy. A girl as beautiful as Jennie got everything and everyone she ever wanted. She always did. Except for Taeyong. But maybe now he would fall for her charms. 

His words rang in your head. It’s too late. You didn’t know what he meant by that and it was killing you. 

Taeyong glanced in your direction and your gaze instantly shifted elsewhere. You could not do this for another six days. 

Time passed in a blur. You had fun and pushed him into the back of your head. Mark, Haechan and Johnny decided it would be fun to spray you and Jaehyun with water guns, which culminated in one huge water gun battle. 

By the end of it, you were drenched. You draped yourself in a towel whilst the gang slowly disintegrated until only you and Taeyong remained. 

Dammit, you hissed when you noticed him approaching you. Where the hell did everybody go? 

From the staid look on his face, you had a feeling you would not be fond of whatever he was preparing to say. “We need to talk,” Taeyong said, humorless and stony-faced. 

Your eyes flickered. “Now?”

“How much longer do you want to pretend that everything is peachy between us?” Taeyong asked you unsparingly. Which made you flinch. You weren’t used to him being so stern. “I keep seeing you look at me, and I know you see me looking at you. Why are we holding back?”

Because all I know how to do is pretend, you thought somberly. But even you got tired of playing make-believe. 

Taeyong softened and asked, “Walk the shore with me?”

Finding no protest, you agreed. There was a chance this would abate your misery. Or intensify it. There was no in between. 

You abandoned your towel at one of the beach chairs and began to walk side by side with Taeyong. For a while, it was quiet. The silence only pervaded your chest with dread. 

Little did you know, Taeyong was at war with himself. His heart was on one side, but his mind was on the other, and he teetered between them both with every passing second. He opened his mouth to ask, “Do you remember what happened before I left?” 

It was impossible to forget. Before he left, before he got the call. You broke things off, explaining that you didn’t want to sleep with him anymore. Taeyong panicked. He wondered what he had done wrong. But it wasn’t his fault - it was yours.

You winced your eyes shut. Everything had been too deep, too intimate, and you hadn’t known how to handle yourself. Every time you were with him, you were on the verge of doing or saying something you would regret. 

Things became a little strained, and for the first time, awkward. You had no time to fix it before he was taking the next flight to Seoul. 

You eventually got over it by simply never addressing what went wrong. But there was a sneaking question still gnawing at his heart. 

You heaved a sigh. “We already resolved this, Taeyong.”

“No, we didn’t. We ignored the problem. As usual,” Taeyong corrected. You bit your lip, but didn’t argue. No argument could be made. “You never told me why.” 

“It wasn’t your fault.” 

“I know that,” Taeyong replied, brusque. “But that’s not an answer.”

You fought a nervous laugh. How were you supposed to explain that the reason you stopped sleeping with him was because it made you fall for him even more? 

Taeyong pressed, “Was it because you had feelings for Jaehyun?”

You blinked. He was so hot but so cold all at once.

It would have been the easier answer. You could have lied and easily gave him all the closure he needed then and there. “No,” you said instead, honest. “I had no romantic interest in him at the time.” 

That allowed Taeyong to breathe easier, but he was still adamant. “Then, why?” 

Your pulse quickened. You felt like you were being put on the spot. Every gear in your brain grinded against asphalt to a complete halt. 

You contemplated straying from the truth, but you had lived a lie long enough. Taeyong would surely be able to sense you were bluffing. “Because I wanted more,” you whispered, your voice barely above the rushing shore. “And I knew that you didn’t.”

Taeyong stopped dead in his tracks, footsteps coming to an end as he riveted in place. He spluttered, “What?” 

“I can’t do this,” you said, shaking your head. It was your turn to be a coward and run. 

Taeyong called after you and began to pursue you, but you had an advantage. You were barefooted. It was not easy to run in the sand while wearing flip-flops. 

You hid somewhere along the shore, sinking your feet into the water. Tears stung your eyes, the only reason you noticed they were trickling warmly down your cheeks. How could you love someone that didn’t love you so intensely? 

It wasn’t fair. Your heart was ripped to tatters and yet he had no idea of your pain. Three years and the wound was still fresh, dampened by your salty tears. It stung like nothing else. 

You remembered how it felt to be underneath Taeyong. How hard it was to look into his eyes. Nevertheless, he would demand you made eye contact with him. And you would obey, because when you were aroused, Taeyong owned every piece of you.

You feared how much control he had over you in that state. Not only your body, but your mind. You knew that whatever you said or did under his spell and in his trance went beyond conscious control but couldn’t be taken back. And whenever Taeyong strung you to climax, you wanted to profess your love for him at the very top of your lungs. 

A noise sounded from behind you, and you whirled around to be met face to face with Taeyong. “I followed your footsteps,” he explained. You nodded with a sigh and turned back around. Taeyong slipped beside you and asked, “Why are you crying?” 

“I’m not.”

Taeyong fought a roll of his eyes and wiped your cheeks with his thumb. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he whispered, tender. “So I can make it better.”

“You can’t make it better,” you whimpered, shutting your eyes. It’s too late. You almost said those words, but you caught yourself when you remembered where you’d heard them before. 

Taeyong studied you. His eyes were warm, gentle. Why was he looking at you like that? Like you had spawned the earth with your bare hands. 

“Do you…,” Taeyong hesitated, turning melancholy. “Do you still want me?” 

“Taeyong…” 

He coaxed, “Tell me the truth.” 

“What if I do?” you snapped. “What if it’s my boyfriend’s friend that I’ve wanted this entire time? Then what?” 

Taeyong enveloped your lips in a kiss and your fears promptly vanished. For a moment, you were stunned, but you kissed him back because your body had already been so accustomed to the way his lips felt on yours. 

You melted into his touch. It was definitely wrong, but it felt right. Every rational thought subsided with your fear and you subconsciously strung your fingers through his hair, running on instinct. Memories worked against you. You recalled all those times you made out with your best friend, under the sun or in the moonlight or in the comfort of his bedroom. 

Tasting him on your tongue, you remember exactly how much you liked kissing Taeyong. He always kissed you like there was no tomorrow, holding you tight and sucking harshly on your tongue. 

Taeyong pulled away, rasping, and said, “I just kissed my friend’s girlfriend. I guess we’re both in hot water.”

Your heart exploded with a million emotions. For the love of Christ, he had just kissed you in public. Fortunately, there was nobody around when you looked. He was so stupid, but you loved his stupid little face. 

“You’re crazy,” you replied, stepping away to put some distance between you both. 

Taeyong snickered. “I owe it all to you.”

Fuck. What were you doing? You were a taken woman. As much as you wanted to, you didn’t feel very guilty. 

You felt aroused. 

It was impossible to kiss Taeyong and not become aroused all at once. For him, it was like second nature to turn you on. A nibble here and a growl there and you were sold.

Frightened by your own lack of self-restraint, you ran again. You didn’t know what all would happen if you stayed and you didn’t want to find out, either. 

Instead of chasing you again, Taeyong watched you and chuckled because he knew why you were running this time, and you were a mess. What was he thinking - kissing you? He was out of his goddamn mind, but he was out of his goddamn mind in love with you. 

You rushed into your hotel room and didn’t breathe until your back was squarely against the door. It was safe to say that you were positively doomed. 

Traces of Jaehyun remained scattered around the room, but he was nowhere to be found. You remembered that he mentioned he would be having lunch with Johnny and Rosé. 

That only allowed for more time for you to think about Taeyong. Your body burned with arousal. You were content to feel him simply because it was him, but it helped that he was good at what he did. His touch lingered on your body and you savored the taste of his tongue on yours, craving it all over again. 

But you snapped out of your trance and halted. You had been so caught up in the pleasure of Taeyong kissing you that you hardly realized the weight of that action. Did that mean Taeyong wanted you, too? 

And for your heart, or for your body?

Meanwhile Taeyong was still standing by the ocean, thoughts of you plaguing his mind. He wanted to kiss you again so badly. He wished you would break up with Jaehyun and realize you were meant for him. 

He wasn’t scared anymore. He wasn’t the boy that ran away. It took him some time, but he knew now that he wanted you more than anything. And he was ready to risk it all to get you. 

You spent the rest of the day crammed in your room, afraid you would run into Taeyong and do something stupid. Jaehyun came back eventually and fell asleep beside you. You had officially survived two of seven days, though barely. Tomorrow might have been your breaking point. 

A little after two in the morning, you woke to use the bathroom. When you came back, you noticed your phone screen lit with a text message. 

From Taeyong. It read, You up? 

You hesitated, but ultimately typed back a response. Barely. What’s up? 

The typing bubble popped up at the bottom of the screen and you watched and waited for him to type a response. Meet me in the lobby in 10?

That was dangerous. You glanced up from your phone, looking at your boyfriend. Jaehyun was dead asleep. For certain he could sleep through a natural disaster.

Give me 5, you replied. Temptation got the best of you. 

Bet. 

You washed your face, slipped on your shoes, then crept out the door, careful not to wake Jaehyun. You made a beeline for the elevator. 

Waiting for you in the lobby stood no other than the love of your life. Literally. For as long as you could remember, you loved Taeyong. 

You saw his face before you even saw his face. Those images had been bouncing around in your brain for the entire day, asserting dominance and assuring you that they were there to stay. You were perpetually doomed. 

You raised your brow when you saw him, a ball of energy. Much unlike you, but seeing him gave you your second wind. “You do realize that it’s two in the morning, right?” 

“Jet lag,” Taeyong explained, amused. “Miami is fourteen hours behind Seoul.”

Like you weren’t convinced, you added, “Mm-hm. And running around in the sun didn’t exhaust you for a day?”

Taeyong lifted his arms in surrender. “You caught me,” he said, before briefly changing the subject. He couldn’t sleep because every time he closed his eyes, he saw you. Thoughts of you kept him up at night more often than not. “Wanna go somewhere special?” 

“Like what?” you asked curiously. Come to think of it, you had hardly left the hotel since you arrived. 

Taeyong said nothing, merely smirking with mischief and leading you to the parking lot with your fingers between his. 

Oh, god. Taeyong was nothing if not trouble. 

A brief car ride consisting of both of you singing horribly and off-key to whatever song blared on the radio brought you to a very familiar place. One you hadn’t been to since the beginning of college. 

Taeyong opened the door for you and led you to a chained fence. Obviously, you could not go through it. Meaning you would have to climb over it.

“Ladies first,” Taeyong insisted, wanting to be on this side in case you needed help climbing over. 

“This is literally trespassing.”

Taeyong countered smartly, “It’s not trespassing unless you get caught.”

“If I go to jail…,” you hissed. 

Taeyong didn’t flinch. “Relax. Don’t you see this pretty face? I’ve talked a lady out of giving me a speeding ticket before.”

“Aren’t you Prince Charming,” you sneered, but moved towards the fence to clamber above. You had done it a million times before. Granted, you were a reckless teenager at the time, but memory was all the skill you needed. 

“Watch your step!” Taeyong called out. 

You called back, “I know what I’m doing, Taeyong.” 

Taeyong snickered. It took everything for you to concentrate on anything that wasn’t the sound of his laughter so that you wouldn’t trip and get a concussion. 

The moment you were safely on the other end, Taeyong followed after you, skillfully climbing over the fence like he had done a number of times in the distant past. 

“I still got it,” he said unabashedly once he was beside you again. 

“You’re a grown adult man.”

Taeyong argued, “I’m a boy wonder.”

You shook your head. Sometimes you couldn’t believe that this was the man you loved with your whole mind, heart and soul. 

Soon enough, you were at the edge of a building, sitting comfortably on the rooftop and watching the city buzz with life even at the late hour. Miami never slept. Many things changed, but that fact wasn’t one of them. 

A shroud of darkness swept over the town, combated by glimmering lights in sky-scraping structures. Cars honked faintly in the distance, a sign of life. You smiled at the familiarity. Once upon a time, you and Taeyong would sneak off to this exact place, a safe haven from your crazy lives. 

Though you found that any place you were together was a refuge. As long as you had each other, you were safe. 

“Taeyong,” you called, cutting through the silence. 

“Hm?” 

“Why did you kiss me?” 

Your voice dripped with emotion. He met your eyes, and they were sad. You had been asking yourself that question the entire day, but to no avail. 

“Because…” Taeyong hesitated. “Because I’ve been waiting to kiss you again for the past three years.” 

Your eyes flickered. You had no idea he felt that way, and you were in a bit of denial. How could he go from being scared shitless of the thought of love to being in love with you? 

There was a tug at your heart, but you tried your best to ignore it. You decided to put him to the test. “Do you want back what we had?” 

“No,” Taeyong replied, honest. His eyes were big and doe-like. “You were wrong earlier. I did want more. I still do.” 

You swallowed harshly. He wanted more this whole time, but had been running away from you. Like you were armed and dangerous. Little did he know, his warmth and tenderness disarmed you completely. You were weak and defenseless. “I don’t want to be just sex to you,” you said, voice barely above a whisper. 

But Taeyong heard you, lurching and asking, “Is that what you thought you were?”

“What else was I supposed to think?” you asked, shrugging and blinking away tears. You weren’t strong enough for this. That was why you had derailed this conversation for so long. You knew full well it would break you. 

Taeyong was full of regret. “Would you believe me if I said I’ve wanted you my whole life?” 

You blinked. Your heart felt so heavy in your chest. All these years of longing for Taeyong’s heart, only to find that you already had it. It was too much. 

“I was just too scared. The wound was still fresh. I was in a dark place and somehow convinced myself that the whole world was against me. If I let you in, you had my heart at your disposal, and that was too much for me. The last time I let someone that close, they broke me.” 

“I would never do that to you, Taeyong,” you whispered sincerely, reaching for his hand. “You have to trust me. Your heart is precious to me.” 

“I just wish I would have known that before,” Taeyong blew out a sigh, wistful. “It took me almost losing my grandmother to realize that before anything else, I’m afraid of lost. I didn’t want to lose you. But then you got with Jaehyun…”

You finished, “And you felt like you’d already lost me.”

Taeyong nodded. “I was too late. That was what I meant the other day. I thought your heart already belonged to somebody else and I started to think that maybe I never really had a chance.”

The past three years had been hard on Taeyong. He tried to make sense of his life, to pull together any explanation so that he could better rationalize it, even if it wasn’t true. 

He was overwhelmed. All of these emotions were resurfacing, banding together against him and slapping him across the face. It felt like being jolted awake by a bucket of cold water. Nostalgia ran its course with him, but so did regret. And the pining and love for you that made his chest swell hotly. He was angry with himself. For being such a big baby, for not noticing that you had wanted him, too. 

“Taeyong…” you called out.

Taeyong shook his head and stood to his feet, pacing around the rooftop. “This is all my fault. If I would have never been such a coward, if I would have just told you how I felt from the beginning, none of this would have happened. You wouldn’t have tried to fill the void with Jaehyun.”

“You can’t keep blaming yourself for this,” you said gently, following him. “I made that decision. I didn’t know how to cope without you and so I did something really, really stupid.”

“But you wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for me,” Taeyong said, too out of it and too in his head. He was crumbling before your eyes. Torn asunder and ruptured beyond reclaim.

Frustrated, you ran a hand through your hair and called his name again. “You don’t know that. I ended our friends with benefits relationship, remember? I would have done anything to distract myself from my feelings for you.” 

To no avail. Taeyong wanted to crawl back inside his shell and hide. This world was too big and he felt as if he had no place in it. Not for any good reason, at least. 

What good was he? He broke your heart, because he was too scared of you breaking his. 

And you wound up breaking each other. 

As a last resort, you leaned on your toes and pressed your lips to his. Just like that, he was at ease again. You yelped when Taeyong hauled you into his arms and pressed you against the nearest wall, kissing you fiercely as if you’d stirred up a monster inside him. It was wide awake and ready to raise hell. 

For a moment, you both forgot about the rest of the world. You forgot about Jaehyun. He forgot that you weren’t his. It was just the two of you, two true lovers making out beneath the moonlight, making up for the time you’d lost when you could have been together. 

Nothing else mattered. You were content to simply be in each other’s arms. 

Taeyong dug you into the wall harder, resting all of his weight on you. It felt like the wind was knocked out of you, but you could hardly breathe before then. Taeyong took your breath away and left you begging for more. 

You moaned into his mouth, pleased as you threaded your fingers through his hair. Taeyong was bent on making a mess of you, reducing you to nothing but love and lust. Warmth coursed through your bodies, scorching hot flares of heat and energy. 

You pulled away first this time, eager to catch your breath. And Taeyong simply stared at you like he had never seen anything or anyone more beautiful, sated. 

“None of this is your fault, Taeyong,” you reassured him, your voice breathy for obvious reasons. “We’ll figure something out.” 

Now, Taeyong was convinced. As long as you had him and he had you, everything would work out. Love would always find a way. 

Taeyong already knew the answer, but he needed to hear you say it. Like it would quell all his worries once and for all. “Do you love him?” 

“I love Jay,” you replied solemnly. “But I’m in love with you.”

That was all Taeyong needed to hear before he was sweeping you into his arms again, smashing his lips to yours. 

You continued to make noises, little groans and growls on his end and a plethora of tiny smothered moans on yours. And god, were they hot as hell. They brought back memories of when you two would fuck until you had depleted every last bit of your stamina. 

It got to the point where Taeyong had to pull away from you, half-hard and afraid of getting too turned on. When you two were together - and alone - it was very, very dangerous. 

“Mm, we can’t,” Taeyong hummed, calling time-out. “I’m definitely a piece of shit, but I’m not that much of a piece of shit.”

You sighed. He was right. This was going too far too fast. You needed to breathe and slow down. 

Easier said than done. You obviously couldn’t control yourselves around each other. 

“Let’s regroup tomorrow,” you suggested. “Today technically, but you know what I mean.” 

Taeyong snickered. “Yeah. I know what you mean.” 

The two of you ditched the rooftop and climbed back over the fence, though in no particular rush to get back to his car. You wanted to stay. You wanted to spend every moment of your life with Taeyong, but things were, needless to say, complicated. Life simply didn’t work in your favor. 

Much to your dismay, Jaehyun was wide awake when you came back to your joint room. You felt like a deer caught in headlights when you met his perturbed eyes. 

“Where have you been?” Jaehyun asked. There was no hostility in his voice; only consternation. 

You felt no need to lie. Jaehyun may have been your boyfriend, but he was also your friend. No matter what it came down to, you would never betray his trust by lying to his face. “I was with Taeyong.” 

Jaehyun cocked a brow. “At four in the morning?” 

You blinked. You hadn’t realized that it had been that long. 

Jaehyun added, “You didn’t pick up your phone. I was worried.”

“I haven't checked it. I’m sorry for worrying you,” you said, approaching him and wrapping your arms around his neck. He was sitting at the edge of the bed. “I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.”

“It’s okay,” Jaehyun murmured, voice half-muffled into the crook of your neck. “Just don’t do it again.”

You chuckled, but for the first time, you felt ashamed. Jaehyun didn’t deserve you. He deserved better. A tear nearly slipped down your cheek, but you fought it back with everything you had. You had no right to cry. 

Never did you want to love Taeyong. Love was not a choice. If you could have taken your heart back from his clutches, you would have. But your heart was under tyranny. Love was too powerful. Every beat was for him and him alone. 

Anger presented itself as spasms of heat in your chest, completely directed at yourself. Why couldn’t you love Jaehyun? That would have made everything a hell of a lot easier. He had never wronged you as your friend or as your boyfriend. He took you on romantic dates and he sang to you to cheer you up after a long day and he was always there to show you love. 

Jaehyun is a great guy, you thought. But he’s not the guy for me. 

You knew what you needed to do. Jaehyun might have resented you for ruining what was seemingly a perfectly healthy and happy relationship, especially with no warning, but you couldn’t keep his heart chained away any longer. Somewhere in this world, you knew there was a girl for him that could love him in all the ways you couldn’t. 

As you drifted back to sleep that night, there was a weight on your chest. Before this trip was over, you needed to find the strength to break Jaehyun’s heart. 

Little did you know, Jaehyun sat thoughtfully awake as you slept beside him, already aware that this relationship was bound to end for some time. 

The third day was eventful and a breath of fresh air. You had girl time with the ladies and left the guys to fend for themselves. 

You pressed a kiss to the corner of Jaehyun’s lips then looked amongst the string of guys beside him and said, “Be good. Don’t blow anything up.” 

The guys laughed. Most of them. 

Ten winked and said, “No promises.” He, Mark, Haechan, and Johnny looked full of mischief. 

When your eyes met Taeyong’s, he was watching you. You stepped away from Jaehyun and cleared your throat. 

“Have a good time,” Jaehyun told you.

You forced a smile. “You, too.”

It was a relief when you managed to escape. For the entire day, you were for once able to shake the thoughts of Taeyong and the rack and ruin of your relationship with Jaehyun. 

A spa day with the girls was exactly what you needed to palliate your sadness. And a fun couple of hours of spending way too much money at the shopping center. You wore a constant smile on your face. It reminded you of old times. It would be a while before all of you could gather together like this again, and you wanted to make every minute count. 

No boy business. Although, you were very intrigued about their love lives. Grown women had crushes, too. 

Eventually, you all went for dinner and drinks at a nice pub, laughing over a meal and reminiscing fondly. 

“I need to slow down,” you said, shaking your head once you caught notice of how many drinks you’d chugged. 

Lisa snickered. “Yeah, you do. Just in case you accidentally trip into a chocolate fountain again.”

Rosé and Jennie laughed. 

You rolled your eyes. “I was nineteen and blackout drunk. Give me some credit.” 

You were the laughing stock of the group, but only for a couple of days, because everyone moved on when Mark did something three times more funny and embarrassing. That was how the cycle went in your group. 

That night wasn’t all that bad. Taeyong had a laugh at your expense for sure, but he helped you clean yourself up. And when he thought nobody was looking, kissed some of the chocolate off of the corner of your lips. 

Don’t you dare go there. You aren’t supposed to be thinking about Taeyong, you scolded yourself. 

“Remember that time we caught you and Taeyong practically fucking in the pool?” Rosé asked, heavily amused by the memory. 

You flushed. And wanted to sink into the ground. Ever since you started hooking up, it had been hard for you and Taeyong to keep it in your pants around each other. Especially when alcohol was involved. 

Lisa grimaced in disgust. “Ugh. I wanted to gouge my eyes out.”

“And they had the audacity to think nobody knew they were hooking up,” Jennie said, shaking your head. “Speaking of which - how was it?” 

“I have a boyfriend. I am not going to think about another man’s penis,” you retorted, but it was too late for you. You were thinking about another man’s penis. And god, Taeyong always felt nice and snug inside you. 

Not to mention, he was skilled with more than just his dick. The amount of times he had made you cum with his mouth or on his fingers was ungodly. 

Jennie begged, “Please? I’ve wanted to jump his bones my whole life.”

Lisa laughed in surprise. “Jesus.”

“Fine,” you grumbled, displeased. “He’s good. To say the least.”

Jennie was unimpressed. “Well, duh. You kept coming back to him for some reason.” 

The girls chortled.

She continued, “How big is it? Does it have a little curve? Does it lean or does it hang? Is it trimmed?” 

You waved your hand for a waiter. “Check, please!” 

Way too drunk, the four of you called an Uber. On the way home, Lisa started talking about a girl she’d met at the beach that was totally trying to get in her pants. Lisa, ever a tease, was delaying the inevitable. 

You all laughed and prayed for that poor girl. She was in for a ride. Though Lisa definitely wanted her back, that much was clear. Otherwise she would have never spared her a second of time.

Jaehyun was in the room when you got there, evidently no less drunk than you. And when Jaehyun was drunk, he got touchy. He pulled you into his lap, and you wondered exactly what all those six had done. Jaehyun very rarely made moves on you. 

To be frank, you never minded having sex with Jaehyun. It was unforced. You saw him as everything Taeyong should have been to you, but wasn’t. For some reason, things never worked that way. Your feelings and sex were too completely different aspects, but this and your relationship with Taeyong could never have that in common. 

Exhausted, you decided not to have sex with him and he didn’t push, but you instead foolishly opened a bottle of wine he’d brought along and chatted incessantly, recounting the days events. 

Your heart was sad. When you broke up with him - and you would - you hoped it wouldn’t tarnish the beautiful friendship you had. 

It was late when you both finally decided to call it a night. A couple of unread messages sat untouched on your phone screen, but you noticed Taeyong’s first. From two hours ago. 

I miss you. 

Your heart fluttered. Taeyong was thinking about you. 

Guilt made its way into your chest. You felt bad for responding so late. Aside from your little rooftop encounter, you had barely spoken to Taeyong at all today. 

Sorry. I’m with Jay. He wants to spend the night with me, you replied. That was very true. Jaehyun had no intention of leaving this room until tomorrow and he didn’t want to be alone. It was a bonus that he enjoyed your company.

The ‘delivered’ noticon changed to ‘read’ almost instantly, like Taeyong had been waiting by his phone. It’s fine. See you tomorrow. 

You frowned. You could feel his pain through the phone. It wasn’t your intention to blow him off, but your hands were tied. And every time you were with Taeyong, you felt more and more ashamed of yourself. 

Not to mention, you were drunk out of your mind. You didn’t trust yourself to be around Taeyong, but you especially didn’t trust your intoxicated self. 

Goodnight, Taeyong. 

Taeyong flopped backwards on his bed and sighed. All he wanted was you, but you weren’t his. And a part of him feared that you never would be. 

Jaehyun hadn’t been subtle earlier this evening. He left with every intention of getting some, a testament to his insobriety. Taeyong wondered if he was touching you in all the places he once did, if you’d given Jaehyun your body like you had given it to him. 

He couldn’t stomach it. The thought of you below another man, calling Jaehyun’s name. Fuck, could he even please you the way Taeyong could? Did he know your body the way Taeyong did? 

Maybe he truly was replaceable. You made him doubt whether he had ever been good enough for you. What if you decided last-minute that you didn’t want him - that you didn’t love him? 

I’m in love with you. That was what you said, but did you mean it? Did you really love him?

A girl had lied to him in the past. He was backstabbed and betrayed. But you weren’t her and she wasn’t you. Taeyong had faith that something more could blossom between the two of you, beyond the skin of friendship. 

Taeyong tossed and turned and struggled to fall asleep, staving off his demons. Meanwhile, you were in Jaehyun’s arms, safe and sound. 

Taeyong saw you the next day and the day after that, but you barely spoke. A word was exchanged here and there, but you made no move to engage in conversation with him and he found it difficult to steal you away. 

His fear was unabating. Had he said something wrong? A day or two ago, you had been seemingly fine. And now it felt more like you were avoiding him. 

To make matters worse, he was forced to watch you smile and laugh with Jaehyun. The two of you obviously hadn’t broken up yet. He thought you would have before the trip was over, and there were merely two days left. 

A bitter feeling scorched in Taeyong’s chest. 

Meanwhile, beneath the facade of a radiant girl in a happy relationship, you were shattering. Time was running out. It felt like the walls were slowly but steadily closing in on you. 

You knew you needed to do something, but you had no strength. You were terrified of how Jaehyun would respond. Would he be understanding? Would he resent you for breaking his heart on such short notice and getting with Taeyong even sooner? 

Guilt was crippling. You hadn’t felt it before, but it was merciless to you now. Everything was so heat of the moment with Taeyong and a test of your self-control. 

A knock from the door made both you and Jaehyun pause your conversation. No one announced themselves, thus you figured it wasn’t the hotel staff. And it was well past midnight. 

Jaehyun went to open the door and you followed suit. And your heart promptly sank when you realized who was there. 

“Hey,” Taeyong said stiffly, hands in his pockets. He nodded his head in your direction. “I know it’s late, but can I talk to you?” 

“Yeah. Sure,” you replied, sliding on your shoes. You were not eager, but you needed to get him away from Jaehyun. Your heart was being rapidly in your chest, twisting with fear. 

Taeyong knew it was a foolish idea to show up unannounced, in the middle of the night no less, but his restraint had depleted. He was worn and battered. And he needed his best friend. 

You gave Jaehyun a reassuring smile and said, “I’ll  be back, babe. Don’t wait up.”

Jaehyun was unperturbed and gave you a little nod, smiling back. “Keep her safe,” he told Taeyong. 

Your fragile heart broke. Why did love have to be so complicated? 

As soon as Jaehyun was out of earshot, you whispered to Taeyong, “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” 

“Yes,” was Taeyong’s wry response.

His lack of somberness made you bristle. “We have to be subtle. You looked mighty suspicious popping up after midnight. Jaehyun is…” 

Taeyong interjected bleakly, all of the humor in his tone absent, “You haven’t told him yet.”

You stepped inside his hotel room and blinked. “No. I haven’t.” 

Taeyong shut the door behind himself then flopped on his bed with a sigh, patting the spot next to him. You were reluctant, but ultimately took a seat. A storm of emotion raised hell inside your chest. How could he have been so close to you, but so far away?

You looked into his eyes and knew something - if not everything - was wrong. Taeyong wore his heart on his sleeve. He was sensitive and tender. His vulnerability was a blessing and a curse, something he'd come to hate and you'd come to adore. 

“Tell me what’s wrong,” you sang, rubbing his arm. “I can’t read your mind, Taeyong. You have to let me in.” 

Taeyong decided to be frank. “Have you been avoiding me?”

Your eyes flickered, and you responded by instinct, “I was trying to balance my time. I didn’t want him to become suspicious.”

“That called for a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’” 

You heaved a breath. “Yes, I have been avoiding you.”

Taeyong said nothing. As much as it pained him, he understood. He knew what it was like to be in a relationship with someone, but long for somebody else. 

Though that never eased the sting of betrayal. It wounded him like nothing else. It was a scar he would carry for the rest of his life. 

“I want you,” Taeyong whispered. Even in the dark room, you could see how his eyes glimmered with sadness. “Every moment I’m away from you, I only want you even more.”

You exhaled, “Taeyong…”

“I’m not finished,” Taeyong said brusquely. “Even when I was with her, I was thinking about you. I was thinking, ‘is this really how love is supposed to be?’ And I wondered if it would be different with you.”

You just listened to the sound of your heart swelling with every passing word. 

“I think part of me knew it would be. Because you had already loved me better without being in a relationship with me.”

“I…,” you searched tirelessly for words, but came short of them. “I don’t know what to say.”

Taeyong was swift. “Say you love me.”

“I love you,” you told him sincerely. You lied next to him and made him look you in the eyes. “You know, I tried to move on. That’s why I got with Jaehyun. I thought that with you on the other side of the world, and another man on my hands, I would forget how it felt to love you. But I never did.”

Taeyong leaned in to kiss you, and as much as you wanted to, you couldn’t let him. You jerked away and stood to your feet. 

You shook your head, tears threatening to break through the dam. “I can’t do this.”

Taeyong rose after you. “Why can’t you?”

“Because I’m not yours!” you whisper-yelled, trying to be mindful of his most likely resting neighbors. “And you’re not mine!”

“Just let him down gently,” Taeyong sighed. 

You bristled. “Do you really think it’s that easy?” 

“If you love me, then yes.”

That shredded your heart and filled you with ire altogether, but because you didn’t want to fight, you turned around and chose flight. 

Taeyong - hot on your heels - chose to fight. He wanted to fight for you and everything you had together. He incredulously trailed behind you, wanting to put the pieces together again instead of leaving them damaged and broken. 

“Where are you going?” he called from behind you, speeding up his pace to match yours. 

You continued to stomp away lividly, not turning sparing him a glance. “Away from you,” you replied coldly. 

“No, you're not,” Taeyong growled, grabbing your arm and forcing you to look at him. He was fuming, eyes narrowed and his aura the most vicious you'd ever seen. “You can’t run away. You can’t hide from me.”

That was rich. You chuckled sourly. “Oh, but you can?” 

“No,” Taeyong snapped harshly. His grip on your arm was firm, but cautious. “Neither of us. If this is going to work, if we’re going to be together, then we need to learn how to face confrontation.”

Breaking loose from his grasp, you shouted, “I wish I didn’t love you!”

Taeyong riveted in place. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do,” you said ruthlessly, trying to prevent your voice from cracking. “Do you think I’ve been miserable for the past three years out of choice? If I could stop loving you, I fucking would!” 

“Baby, calm down,” Taeyong whispered, trying to placate you. His eyes scanned the area for onlookers, and though there weren’t many at this hour, there were quite a few. 

You didn’t listen, taking steps further away with every step he took closer to you. This was mentally - and emotionally - wearing you down. “Don’t you feel anything? Even a goddamn ounce of guilt?” 

“So then, break up!”

Shaking your head, you bitterly accepted that he would never understand. And you made a beeline for one of the doors on his floor, well aware of who was on the other side. 

You pounded on the door relentlessly. “Come on, come on,” you chanted to yourself. Any second now, Taeyong would catch up to you. You wished he would leave you alone. You wanted him to get out of your head. You hated that you needed him even though you didn’t want to. 

Rosé opened the door with a bemused expression on her face. 

You begged her, “Please, let me in and lock the door.” 

Rosé didn’t hesitate to sweep you inside, locking the door behind you. She glimpsed outside the blinds, trying to find what in the hell had you so distressed. “What the hell happened?” 

“You were right,” you said, collapsing in a mess on the floor. You were giving away, coming apart at the seams. “I loved Taeyong. I still do.”

Rosé was tempted to make a snarky remark about how she already knew, but she understood that wasn’t what you needed. She held her arms wide open for you to crawl into. 

You sobbed on her shoulder. You cried until you had no more tears left. Surprisingly, she never judged you. Your friend simply held you in her embrace and gave you a reassuring pat on the back, singing her consoles softly. 

You were so overwhelmed. You had no strength against your emotions. They got the best of and vanquished you. 

I hate Taeyong, you thought bitterly. No you don’t. You hate the way he makes you feel. You hate that you can’t undo everything you’ve said and done to each other. You hate that no matter what happens, you’ll always love him. 

It seemed so simple. If you broke up with Jaehyun, you could finally have the man of your dreams, but at what cost? Being the object of Jaehyun’s acrimony? Your peace of mind? 

No matter what option you choose, your heart was at stake. 

A little refreshed, you eventually pulled away from Rosé. Though she had no issue with being there for you, she was still curious. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

You explained everything. How you fell in love with Taeyong a long, long time ago. How you gave away your heart in exchange for sex with him. How you tried to get over him by getting under Jaehyun. How none of it worked, and you came to discover Taeyong had feelings for you, too. 

These were secrets you'd kept buried under the surface for years now, and to your surprise, you felt relieved of the burden once they were all out there. 

“I’ve spent an eternity pretending. I’m exhausted, Rosie,” you confessed. 

Rosé bobbed her head understandingly. “What’s stopping you from breaking up with Jaehyun?” 

“It’s not that I want to keep his heart locked away. He deserves someone better than me,” you began, staring at the floor. “I just don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want to get with Taeyong and make Jaehyun feel like he never meant anything to me. But I guess I’m just delaying the inevitable.”

Rosé chuckled lightly. “You are. It’s selfish to wait when he could already be trying to move on and find the girl meant for him. And who knows - maybe he already knows this moment is coming sooner or later.” 

You blinked. “I guess that’s true.”

“You already told me yourself that you’re tired of pretending. Why pretend, then? What if he’s pretending as well? As long as you’re living a lie, you’ll never move on or know peace.”

You frowned. 

“Look. I understand why you’re doing this,” Rosé started, reaching for your hand. “But that doesn’t make it right or healthy. You have to set Jaehyun free.” 

Your eyes burned with tears again. “What if he hates me?”

“He won’t,” Rosé told you sternly, as if she knew it for a fact. “Jaehyun is your friend before anything. I think you’d have to slap his mother for him to hate you.”

You chuckled. Jaehyun was a Mama’s boy. 

“Do the right thing,” she told you. 

“I will,” you sighed. “But can I stay here for the night?”

Rosé nudged you. “Of course. But don’t avoid Taeyong for too long. You need to apologize for what you said.”

You nodded. Tomorrow you would make everything right. You owed it to everyone around you. 

Literally. You and Taeyong made quite the commotion earlier. It seemed that raising hell was one of your strengths. 

In the morning, you arranged a spot for you and Jaehyun to meet and gave him a call. Last night you texted him last-minute to notify him that you’d be spending the night with Rosé. 

It didn’t take a genius to put together what you had in mind, and you didn’t know whether that was a negative or positive thing. 

Waiting for Jaehyun made you dangerously antsy. You silently hoped the ocean would sweep you under and swallow you whole, never to be seen again. Last night had given you the final push to do what was necessary, but that made it no simpler a task. You were a bundle of nerves, sweat beading at your forehead. 

Thank God, you thought when you saw Jaehyun finally turning the corner. Any longer and you would faint. 

“Good morning,” Jaehyun greeted, casting you a curious look. 

“Good morning. Your favorite,” you said, handing him a cup of coffee made exactly the way he liked it. 

Jaehyun grabbed the cup graciously. “Thank you. You said there’s something you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Um, yeah,” you said, rubbing your neck. “You might want to sit down.”

Jaehyun looked and sounded completely indifferent when he said, “You’re breaking up with me.”

Your eyes flickered with surprise, but you stammered, “Yeah, I… I am. Listen, Jaehyun. You’re a great guy, but I’d be lying if I said my heart wasn’t in a different place.”

“I know.” 

“And I know this is sudden, but…,” you trailed off, processing what he had said. “You know?” 

It alarmed you that Jaehyun was completely chill. You half expected him to snap at any given moment. “You have always felt more like a friend to me than a girlfriend. I have known for some time that there was something missing in our relationship. It’s not hard to tell that we’re both thinking about different people when we make love to each other.”

Now you were completely confused. “Both?” 

Perfectly on cue, no other than Rosé waltzed up to you, smiling innocently. Your jaw nearly hit the floor as you put the pieces together. 

All of the signs had been there. In hindsight, given the amount of time the pair spent together, neither of them were exactly subtle. But you were too engrossed in your Taeyong fiasco to notice what was happening squarely under your nose. 

You scrambled for words. “You…”

Rosé smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, hon. Don’t be too mad. We did nothing you and Taeyong already haven’t.”

It ended up being you that needed to sit down. You shook your head, in disbelief. You weren’t hurt, but you were in shock. “How?” 

“Well, like I said, I already knew something was missing in our relationship. A couple years ago, I started talking to Rosé. We agreed not to let things get too serious until you and I broke up,” Jaehyun explained. 

No wonder Rosé had been trying to pry you off of Jaehyun and into Taeyong’s arms. She wanted him for herself. Everything she told you last night was because she already knew that Jaehyun had found another girl and was expecting your relationship to fall apart any moment now.

Love has no expiration date. Some people spend their whole lives hopelessly in love with the same person. Had she been talking about herself?

Figuring you had nothing to add, Jaehyun diplomatically added, “I don’t want this to put a dent in either of our friendships.”

You peered up at him, brow cocked. “Are you kidding? I shouldn’t be this happy that my boyfriend has been talking to my friend behind my back but I am. I was afraid you were going to despise me indefinitely.” 

“You aren’t exactly a saint either,” Rosé said lightheartedly. 

“I know,” you sighed, then turned back to Jaehyun. “I’m sorry.”

Jaehyun was unbothered and gave you a playful nudge. “Let’s call it even.” 

You smiled. With that burden out of the way, you could breathe a little easier. But your eyes grew wide as you remembered you had one more person you needed to talk to. 

“Do either of you know where Taeyong is?” 

“He’s where you would find any other crabby Cancer,” Rosé replied, totally amused. 

You bid Rosé and Jaehyun goodbye and made a beeline for the beach. 

Spotting Taeyong took no time at all. He stood at the shore with his feet smothered in the sand. His body faced the ocean, but you could recognize that back anywhere. Your fingernails had become very familiar with it as well. 

Abandoning your shoes by a beach chair, you began to chase after him, bare feet roaming hot sand. “Taeyong!” 

Taeyong knew the sound of your voice and warmth spread through his chest when he heard it. He turned around, met with the sight of you looking ready to pounce on him. 

“Walk the shore with me?” you asked, chest heaving for breath. 

His voice was small. “Sure.”

The two of you walked in deafening silence. You nervously wracked your brain, searching for the right words to say. They never came. Your mouth had so much to say last night and now you were running on empty. 

Deciding to go with the flow, you inhaled and exhaled. “I broke up with Jaehyun.”

Taeyong stiffened. “How did it go?” 

“Very amicably,” you replied, recalling the unbelievable scenario that had taken place merely moments ago. “Apparently, he and Rosé have been talking.”

Seeing as Taeyong had no comment, silence fell over you both again. 

“I owe you an apology,” you added a couple moments later. 

Taeyong folded his arms over his chest. “I’m waiting.”

Your breath got shaky. “I’m sorry for what I said last night. It was cruel and you didn’t deserve any of that. I love you, Taeyong. That’s all I want to do. And if there’s anything I can do to make it better, let me know.”

“Be mine.”

You slipped your finger through his. “I am yours. Every part of me. My heart beats for you, Taeyong.”

Taeyong couldn’t control himself for another second and leaned over to kiss you. You didn’t hesitate to kiss him back, in front of the whole world, where almost anyone and everyone could see you. Not that either of you seemed to care. You wanted the entire universe to know that you belonged to each other. 

Noting that you weren't trying to shy away, Taeyong kissed you even harder. You moaned into his mouth, a noise that drove him positively insane. 

Your now-boyfriend was high on the realization that he could now kiss you whenever he wanted, wherever he wanted. You were his, and he would make sure no one ever forgot. It caught you completely off guard when Taeyong attached his lips to your neck, and you sucked in a gasp, numb as his tongue warmed your weak spot. 

Taeyong smirked. He still remembered where it was. You used to go through hell and back to cover the marks he left on your neck and collarbone, though now you had nothing to hide. 

Before it got too far, you pulled away and said, “Mm, let’s not get banned from the resort. Can I come to your room tonight?”

Taeyong knew what that meant. “You know the way.”

For the rest of the day, you had an indestructible smile on your face. You had made out with Taeyong for all to see before noon, no less - and it was incredible. 

And when night fell, surely enough, you were at his door. 

Taeyong wasted no time in sweeping you inside, shutting the door and pressing your back into the surface. You gasped, and had a split second to react before he smashed his lips against yours. You combed your fingers through his hair, closing your eyes and letting love and lust aid you. 

Your body burned with want. Never had you needed anything so desperately. You wanted Taeyong and you wanted him now. 

“Fuck,” you moaned when Taeyong raked his teeth over your neck. “Fuck me.”

You both raced to the bed, shredding each other of your clothes messily. They were a mess in his room when you were finished, not even in a heap on the floor, but carelessly tossed and scattered across his room to never be seen again. The air was chill, but it was a perfect contrast to your bodies, scorching with arousal. 

Wanting to see your face while he was inside you, Taeyong made you lay on your back before he fucked you. 

Taeyong cursed himself when he realized he had no condoms. Needless to say, he wasn’t expecting at all to fuck his best friend turned girlfriend. 

“You don’t need a condom, baby. Just fuck me,” you purred, spreading your legs as if to entice him further. 

Your boyfriend was half a second away from becoming a ferocious animal. The mere thought of fucking you full of his cum again was enough to deplete his sanity. “Did you let Jay fuck you raw?” he growled, needing to know. 

You shook your head. “Never. Only you.”

Satisfied, Taeyong inched between your parted legs, mouth watering at how eager you were for him and the sight of your wet cunt on display for his eyes alone. He wanted to destroy you, but that was if you didn’t leave him in ruins first. 

Taeyong glided his cock to and fro on your folds, coating himself in your arousal. Your teeth clamped onto your bottom lip every time he brushed your clit, sensitive and tender, and at one point you determined the teasing had to be deliberate. 

You sucked in a gasp when he finally began to push inside, teeth clamping harder. Any moment now, they would be damp with blood. Your eyes rolled to the back of your skull as soon as you were filled to the core, every inch of him swallowed by your non-loosening cunt. The grip was deathly, as if you refused to let him go. It tore a mean growl out of him that only made you clamp around him even tighter. 

Taeyong set a hurried rhythm that made the bed tremble with his movements. He wanted to be slow, wanted to draw it out, but the way you gripped him so warmly and tight said otherwise. His body was on autopilot, driven by impulse and desire. 

Every time he thrusted in, you whimpered. You had been counting down the hours until you could finally have him, scrambling for distraction after distraction, and it was so worth it. 

“God,” you whimpered, standing at the threshold of insanity. 

Taeyong was right behind you. Wherever you went, he was hot on your heels. Under your spell, he would follow you into a ring of fire. 

Metaphorically speaking, he was already balls deep inside one. 

Heat split you right down the middle. Nothing less than earth-shattering. It was a prominent fact that Taeyong had enjoyed both inflicting and watching you come apart under his heel. You were stranded at the very eye of a pleasure-induced vortex, with no top and no bottom. No start and no finish.

Just never-ending pleasure.

“I missed this,” Taeyong growled, making your breath crawl in your throat. “I missed you.”

You searched tirelessly for the strength to speak. “Me, too,” you croaked. 

A sigh of pleasure parted your lips as Taeyong continued to rock inside you. You were in disbelief that you could have ever given this up - given him up. Surely, you had to have been out of your mind. 

Taeyong knew your body like nobody else. Every scar, every strength, every weakness - the knowledge lay awake in the palms of his hands. You had been ignorant of how intimate it was until you fell for him, and now it was unignorable. The depths of the power he had over you. 

Little did you know, you had the same power over him. His fate lied in your hands. He was vulnerable to you in ways the rest of the world would never see. 

In the same way that he owned you, you owned him. 

“God, you’re amazing,” Taeyong moaned, every piece of his self-control floating in the ocean somewhere. As was yours. 

Tears of pleasure welled in your eyes. You were being reduced to tears. To be under Taeyong again, it felt natural and whole. Like this was how it was meant to be. 

Your noises were spiraling out of control. Taeyong made it all too easy to forget that other people existed in this great, huge world. In your mind, it was only you and him. 

Taeyong clamped a palm over your mouth and shushed you. “Quiet, baby. You’ll make somebody mad.”

He was making you mad. 

You clenched the sheets in your fists to anchor yourself, but even the bed was giving way to his lack of mercy. Your sounds were smothered by his palm, but you were crying out his name and he could tell. 

Taeyong proudly watched the sight of you convulsing beneath him, breasts bouncing and your skin beading with glimmering sweat. In the same vein, sweat gathered at his forehead and his chest heaved. You were making a mess of the sheets - making a mess of each other. 

“I’m gonna cum,” you warned, pulse speeding as you neared release. 

However close you were, Taeyong was likely even closer, and he stuffed a hand between your warm legs, toying with your clit. Your response was instant, legs instinctively trying to close, but Taeyong moved his hand that was clamped over your mouth and gripped your thighs tightly. You watched his biceps seal your movement, taut with muscle. 

You could merely squirm, unable to remain still. Taeyong knew exactly which buttons to mash. You were going to fall apart in record time. 

“Let go with me,” Taeyong pleaded, endeavoring to coax you into an orgasm. “Please, baby.” 

You were so lost, so tangled in his web. Like a fly to a spider. You knew you were doomed then, but you had no room to desire actual release; only the kind that set your soul free.

And a billion emotions with it.

Your bodies moved in league with one another, you arching into him. You were nothing short of restless. Orgasm was calling your name in a chant, sweet and honey-like. It was impossible to ignore what your entire body yearned for. 

You surrendered, shuddering with climax. Taeyong had to lock his palm over your mouth again, smothering the scream you made as orgasm reduced you to only ecstasy. Your eyes closed as your lips tore open, your heart thumping mightily in your chest. You were scorching all over, skin on fire. 

Taeyong came not a moment later, cock twitching with climax. His teeth clamped into his bottom lip, and the growl that slipped between made you feel as if you could cum again on command. He anchored himself with his hands on your waist as his orgasm tore something absolutely inhuman out of him. 

The feeling of his cum stuffing you full made you moan. It made you feel whole and complete. You were limp against the mattress, lips parted in shallow breaths as you tried desperately to catch your breath. Taeyong slackened, collapsing at your side once sated. Meanwhile, you fought a smile as you felt his release trickling warmly down your legs and thighs. 

Taeyong’s first instinct was to check up on you, eyes big and starry as he asked, “Are you okay?“

You sighed, “Dunno. I think you broke me.”

His face tensed with concern and you busted into laughter. 

“I’m kidding,” you said, pressing a brief but reassuring kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I’m all good, baby.”

Taeyong smiled softly. A moment of silence passed, but it was pleasant. You listened to the sounds of each other’s breath, comforted because it was proof that you were there. Neither of you wanted to move or leave, content to merely be in the presence of one another.

Taeyong had you and you had Taeyong. That was all you needed. 

“Tell me you’ll stay,” Taeyong said, breaking the silence first. 

“I’ll stay.” 

Like he was unsatisfied, Taeyong added, “Tell me you’ll never leave.”

“I’ll never, ever leave you. You have my word on that,” you promised solemnly. “I don’t want to pretend anymore, Taeyong. I love you.” 

Taeyong’s heart pounded with both awe and ache. His fingers laced through yours and squeezed comfortably. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I promise.”

You both lay comfortably in each other’s embrace, your head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat spelling your name. 

The morning you all had to check out of the hotel, you leaned your back against your car, facing the resort fondly. It had been one hell of a week here, but you were appreciative. 

As always, Taeyong was right at your side. 

“What have we both learned from this trip?” 

“We both run from our issues like cowards,” Taeyong drawled, a wry smile on his face. 

“Mm. How compatible are we,” you deadpanned. 

Taeyong stole a quick kiss and snickered. “Very.” 

Yesterday you announced to your mutual group of friends that you were dating, as well as the fact that Rosé and Jaehyun were dating now. Which - as expected - garnered a handful of mixed responses. It would definitely take some time to get used to. 

Not like you cared. For once you were contentedly in love. No more dwelling on the days of the past, wondering what could have and should have been if you would have done this or that. 

Taeyong seemed to have the same idea. His heartache finally subsided after years. It was him that had left, but you were the one that got away. 

“I love you,” you whispered, wrapping your arms around his body and resting your head on his chest. “I need you to know that.”

Taeyong was beaming. Never had he been more in love. You were his first, his last, and his everything in between. 

“I know,” Taeyong replied. His heart was at ease at last. “I will never forget it, baby.”

[sodoshame]

Are You Warm Enough?

Nameless Ghouls x Fem!Reader

Warnings: None! Just fluff.

Summary: You fall asleep in the library, waking up in a ghouls arms. You then end up in a ghoul pile.

A/N: This is quite short, I’m sorry! Hope you enjoy though!

Trying to keep my eyes open, I groan as I sit up in my chair, stretching my arms out. I’m so, so incredibly tired; but Sister Imperator is insisting that I get this task done before the end of the day. Looking around the library, I realise there’s no-one else here. Surely a little nap won’t hurt? I set an alarm on my phone for twenty minutes, and I rest my head on the desk, allowing my eyes to close.

~20 minutes later~

I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket. Confused, my eyes flicker open. Suddenly I realise I’m being carried. Looking up, I see a familiar, friendly face.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” Aether smiles at me, still walking whilst carrying me.

“Aeth? I- What?” I mumble, still sleepy and confused.

“You’re gonna come back to the ghoul den, okay? You’ve been working too much, and we miss you.” He said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“But- Sister Imperator-” I start, looking around in slight confusion.

“Don’t worry about her. We’ll take care of it.” He smiles at me again, entering the common room. Putting me back on my feet, Aether shouts out to the others, alerting them of my presence.

Before I can do anything about it, I feel a strong pair of arms lift me up again, carrying me to the couch. I look up, being met with a toothy grin.

“Hi there, baby girl.” Swiss grins, sitting on the sofa and positioning me so my head is on his lap. Still sleepy, I look around, not really knowing what’s going on. I feel Swiss start to scratch my head gently with his claws, making me relax a bit.

“Mhm, that’s nice…” I mumble sleepily, letting my eyes close again.

I feel my legs be lifted up, then put back down. Opening my eyes again, I glance over to see Aether, who’s gently massaging my calves. Before I know it, Dew jumps on top of me, promptly snuggling his head into my neck, wrapping his arms around my waist, immediately purring.

“Oh, hey Dewy.” I chuckle sleepily. He responds by giving me a little squeeze and nuzzling into my neck.

Mountain walks in, ruffling my hair, as he sits down by Swiss’ legs, leaning against him. I smile at him, just accepting what I now knew was happening. A ghoul cuddle pile.

I hear excited chattering, I look up to see Cirrus and Cumulus walk in. They both grin at me and Cumulus settles down next to Swiss, leaning against him, and Cirrus plants herself on top of her. Then comes Rain and Phantom; they sit either side of Mountain, snuggling into him. Rain holds his hand up, clutching mine and giving it a little squeeze. I feel Dew raise his head slightly.

“Are you warm enough?” He asks, sounding tired himself.

“Yeah, but guys-” I start talking but am immediately interrupted by Dew snuggling his face back into my neck.

“Then sleep.” He mumbles simply.

I chuckle, finally giving into my tiredness. There’s no place I’d rather be than surrounded by my ghouls.

[lvnleah]

Rough Flights | AWFC x reader

Summary: whilst on a flight to Australia, you become travel sick and experience the worst flight you’ve ever been on.

Pairings: Leah Williamson x reader, Steph Catley x reader, Caitlin Foord x reader. (Let’s pretend Leah went to Aus)

Word count: 1K

based on a request @wosoamazing gave me for her birthday! 💗

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Leah nudged you gently. "Hey, sleepyhead," she said, her voice soft. "Boarding's about to start."

You blinked, disoriented. How had you dozed off? You’d had a headache since the moment you’d woken up and it had now blurred your senses. you’d slumped against the hard plastic chair and fallen asleep. You mumbled a thanks before standing up.

You were currently on your way to Australia with your Arsenal teammates. An end of season friendly had been arranged and you were one of the few youngsters they were taking with. You weren’t sure if you were even going to go until yesterday morning.

Travel anxiety was always something you’d struggled with and you were anxious about getting sick on the plane. You expressed your feelings to Leah, she was like a sister to you, and she offered to travel with you. Her original plans were to stay in England, to be fit for the England camp, but after hearing how anxious you were she knew she couldn’t let you travel alone.

Boarding the plane was chaos, at one point Kyra thought she’d forgotten her passport. It turned out that Kim had it along with yours. All of the girls were taking photos with the conti cup, something you’d declined not to due to your headache. Steph walked around the plane, getting an update from everyone as she video them for the media team. Your update was boring and about how you were just going to sleep the flight away.

As you settled into your seat next to Leah, exhaustion washed over you. The hum of the engines lulled you into a deep sleep and the world around you was soon forgotten.

Three hours into the twenty-two-hour flight, you woke abruptly, your stomach churning. Nausea twisted your insides, and you clutched your stomach. You groaned into your pillow.

Leah noticed immediately. "You okay, kiddo?" she asked, her hand on your back. "Jet lag hitting you hard?"

You nodded, “I feel so sick…” you murmured, breathing out a deep breath.

"It's okay," Leah whispered. "Breathe. I’m here.”

Your nausea intensified, “I’m gonna be sick!” You exclaimed, sitting up.

Leah grabbed a sickness bag and quickly handed it to you. She climbed through the middle part and leaned down beside your seat in the aisle. Her hand comfortingly rubbed up and down your back.

“You okay, kiddo?” Steph asked, joining Leah by her side, “Travel sickness?”

Leah nodded, “She’s not used to flying, I think it could be. We’re here, y/n.”

You emptied the contents of your stomach and wiped your mouth with a tissue, feeling slightly better after emptying your stomach into the sickness bag.

“I’m so sorry…” You murmured, “You shouldn’t have to deal with this.”

“Hey, hey don’t apologise,” Steph smiles, “it’s okay, we want to be here for you.”

“Can I get you anything, kid?” Caitlin asked.

You managed a weak nod, “Some water, please,” you croaked, your throat raw from the sudden sickness. Caitlin gave a thumbs up and headed towards the cabin crew to fetch you a bottle of water.

Leah continued to rub your back, her presence a comforting constant in the chaos of your discomfort. “Just focus on breathing, in and out,” she instructed gently. You followed her advice, taking slow, deep breaths which helped settle the queasiness slightly.

The plane hummed steadily, a reminder that you were still hours away from your destination. You leaned back in your seat, closing your eyes and trying to focus on anything but the nausea. Leah stayed by your side, her hand never leaving your back.

After a few minutes, Caitlin returned with a bottle of water and a sympathetic smile. “Here you go,” she said as she handed it to you. “Small sips.”

You took the bottle with a grateful smile and sipped the cool water, feeling it soothe your throat. The rest of the flight passed in a blur of sleep and occasional bouts of nausea, but with Leah and your teammates’ support, you managed to make it through.

The rest of the flight felt like a test. You spent most of your time trying to sleep, with Leah's jacket wrapped around you due to your shivers. Every now and then, you'd wake up, either due to turbulence or another wave of nausea, but Leah was always there, ready with a comforting word or a glass of water.

In between bouts of sleep, you managed to watch your favourite movie, Notting hill but even once that was over there were still a good few hours to go.

Leah suggested listening to some music or watching another movie to distract yourself. You tried both, finding that focusing on something else helped keep the nausea at bay. You even managed to laugh at some stupid jokes Kyra was telling.

As the hours ticked by, you started to feel a bit better. The headache that had been plaguing you since morning began to fade, and with it, the nausea seemed less intense. You were even able to join in when some of your teammates started a card game.

By the time the captain announced that you were preparing for landing, you were feeling almost normal. The flight had been tough, but you'd made it through with the help of your friends and teammates. Now, you were just looking forward to getting off the plane and stretching your legs on solid ground.

The Australian sun was warm on your skin. You followed Leah like a little duckling through the airport, feeling a mix of relief and excitement to finally be on solid ground.

Customs and baggage claim went by in a blur, and before you knew it, you were on the team bus heading towards the hotel. The cityscape of Sydney passed by the windows, you tried to take in as much as you could but a dull headache stopped you from doing so.

Once at the hotel, you checked in and headed straight for your room. You were sharing with Leah. As soon as you entered your room, you headed straight for the bathroom. You took a long shower and refreshed yourself, trying to make yourself feel normal after the sickness spell you’d suffered.

In your room, Leah fussed over hou. She fluffed pillows, adjusted blankets, and tucked you in. "Rest," she said. "You need it."

You closed your eyes, the room spinning a little, before finally dozing off to sleep and forgetting the world around you.

[heartfullofleeches]

how about v with a very chill and sleepyhead reader? like they come back from work tired and just cuddle with v, they don't care how weird and scary v is, he doesn’t even have to threaten them about leaving the house because the first second they put their head on his chest they’re already asleep- And when they wake up they just want to keep their hands around him (like imagining a panda riding on your back and never wants to get down, they’re just like that)

I miss him and want something sweet with him 👉👈

(Feel these too could work together - ngl I'd love to see reader trying to wrangle v into having a somewhat regular sleeping schedule. dude needs it tbh.)

8:34

Four minutes later than estimated, but given traffic delays he's willing to let it slide - this time. V shuts off the tracker, and tosses his phone towards the bed as he stands. Your keys hit the coffee table and your shoes fly with a soft thud as you kick them off. He crawls into bed and under the blankets as you enter the room - snapping the bands that keep his pigtails in place and ruffling his hair as the light turns on. He hides his face in the pillow.

"I'm back..... oh, crap - were you sleeping?"

V rubs his fist against his eye. "Just resting my eyes... How was your day?"

"Really? Hope you don't mind if I join you then."

As if he'd ever. You climb over V to your side of the bed. He liked it when you slept in the corner as his body in the way made it more difficult for you to get away. You shrug your jacket off your shoulders, aided by V who throws it on the floor behind him as he yanks you down with him. His arms wrap defensively around your torso which you respond to by placing your head on his chest. He stills - heartbeat ten miles a minute on your ear. So demanding - but so sensitive to affection at the same time.

"To answer your question - my day was alright - the usual. Thanks you sending me lunch by the way. I know you mostly did it so I wouldn't go with Dave again, but it was sweet."

"First it's getting lunch, then it's the deep, "friendly" conversation while you're getting your meals, then he's bragging about how you have "so much in common" and next thing you know he's trying to get in your pants.... Is that manager of yours still messing with you?"

You stifle a laugh at his mocking pitch in voice. "Nah, they backed off after I said I was seeing someone - and got fired the next day, strangely. Honestly, V you worry too much. I come back home to you everyday, don't I? Besides if I bailed on you - I'd lose your comfy bed too."

Gaze soft - V squeezes your side at the implications you're only with him for his bed. You bark out a laugh. "It was a joke! Only reason I like it so much is cause you're here with me too. Promise you won't leave when I fall asleep to get back on the computer?"

"....no." He lies through his teeth, but his eyes grow as heavy as yours as you lazily trace your fingers along his collar. Like you, V couldn't fight the element of serenity when cuddle with you, and fell asleep almost as soon as you - kept awake by your body laying next to his. Comforted and secure around someone like him - he never understood why he was deserving of such an honor, but it was the one unfair treatment in his life he wouldn't complain about.

He was the whole reason you switched to the night shift in the first place. V stayed up for hours between gaming and watching you get ready for work at the crack of dawn - and later monitoring your whereabouts when the sleep deprivation and anxiety about letting you out in the world got the better of him. This way, you both got a sustainable amount of needed sleep and a partner to hold in that time. Your plan was already showing spectacular results as V found himself yawning at seven in the eve and resisting the urge to dive in bed until you came home.

"Hm, well as long as you're here now, I guess I'll let it slide." You lift your head, scooting up to kiss his jaw. "Goodnight, V."

His lips rest against your forehead, fingers raked through your hair as he pulls you closer - slinging a leg over yours. Staring at the wall behind you, V laments the loss of precious hours in his games - but relishes everything he gains by remaining at your side. The scent of your body wash, your soft breath fanning his neck. It feels so stupid to depend on the little things, but he couldn't rest or even think without you anymore. It's ridiculous to think.... how lucky he is to have you.

"Night, Y/n.....i love you."

"Hear that. Love you too, V"

"Damn it."

[bunnysnuff]

Respectfully no.

Pairing: poly!nick Nelson x m!reader x Charlie spring.

Trigger warning: none.

Reader is a boxer.

Request.

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Charlie Spring stumbled into the gym, bleary-eyed but excited. Nick Nelson was already there, clad in his workout gear, his face flushed from an intense warm-up. He spotted Charlie and waved him over, his smile brightening the dimly lit space.

“Hey, sleepyhead!” Nick called out, his enthusiasm infectious. “You’re just in time to watch a bit of training.”

Charlie, still half-asleep, rubbed the back of his neck and took a seat on the bench. “You sure you want me to see you get your face punched in?”

Nick laughed, shaking his head. “It’s not like that! It’s all about technique and discipline. Plus, our boyfriend’s a champion—he knows what he’s doing.”

At that moment, you stepped into the gym, exuding energy and confidence. Your toned physique was a testament to the hours you put into training, and you wore a playful grin that could light up the room. “Morning, you two! Ready for some action?”

Charlie felt a spark of competitive spirit at your challenge. “I could totally do this,” he thought, glancing between you and Nick. “If Nick can handle rugby, how hard could boxing be?”

As the training session began, you demonstrated a few basic punches and footwork, your movements fluid and precise. Nick watched, wide-eyed, admiring your skills, and turned to Charlie with a grin. “You should give it a go! It’ll be fun!”

Charlie hesitated for a moment but nodded enthusiastically. “Alright, why not? Let’s see what I’ve got!”

You raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and encouragement in your expression. “Okay, Charlie! Just remember to keep your guard up and don’t be afraid to throw a punch!”

With that, you led Charlie through the basics. He mimicked the footwork, his heart racing with excitement. But as soon as he attempted to throw a punch, everything started to feel overwhelming.

After a few rounds of practice, Charlie was panting, struggling to keep his guard up. His muscles ached, and he began to realize just how physically demanding boxing was.

“Okay, that’s enough for now,” you said, stepping back and wiping your brow. “How are you feeling?”

Charlie leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. “Honestly? I thought this would be easier. My arms feel like jelly!”

Nick chuckled, walking over to him. “You were doing great! But it’s definitely a workout.”

You nodded in agreement, a teasing smile on your lips. “It takes time to build up your strength and endurance. Want to try a few more drills?”

Charlie shook his head, a look of mock seriousness crossing his face. “Respectfully, no. I think I’ll stick to watching you two fight it out instead. Boxing isn’t for me!”

You and Nick burst into laughter, the sound echoing around the gym. “Fair enough,” you replied, crossing your arms and chuckling. “We need a cheerleader anyway!”

Charlie grinned, clearly relieved to step back from the ring. “I’ll take that role any day! Just make sure you both don’t knock each other out while I’m cheering.”

As the two of you resumed training, Charlie found a spot on the sidelines, cheering you on with enthusiasm. He realized that while he may not be cut out for boxing, he was more than happy to support you and Nick from the sidelines. Watching you both in your element was more than enough to fill him with pride.

“Go get ‘em!” Charlie shouted, his heart swelling with affection for both of you.

And in that moment, surrounded by laughter and the thrill of friendly competition, Charlie knew he wouldn’t trade this chaotic, loving relationship for anything in the world.

[overallrry]

harry styles “best friends” fics

✩ all credit to the authors ✩

series

teach me (freedomfireflies)

series masterlist

Harry needs a little practice in the art of Eating Pussy, and who better to ask for help than his best friend? You.

flame (jarofstyles)

series masterlist

Y/N and Harry have been friends for a while. What’s a drunken make out or two? The feelings have been brewing, the touches have increased, but will will push them over the edge to light the kindling that’s been waiting for the flame?

Y/N and Harry are best friends, and best friends don’t keep secrets, right? (jawllines)

1 2

As she concentrates into the world around her, she finally begins to recognize voices.  Low and barely distinct at first, until the deep drawl of Harry plucks at her ears, “She’s fine,” he murmurs, “Lovely thing gets blackout drunk all the time, she won’t think a thing of it. ‘sides, if I tol’ her anythin’ like it she’d think I was takin’ the piss.”

“She’s not an idiot,” Isobel says quietly, and Y/N realizes the tense feeling in the back of her neck, “She’ll realize something.”

“Realize what?” Y/N clears her throat, cranking one eye open against the sunlight pouring in to the car, and through blurry vision making out Harry behind the wheel twisting some in his seat to face her. 

Harry shoots her a blaring smile, “G'morning Sleepyhead,” he cheers, and though she couldn’t see his eyes passed his sunglasses she can feel that he dropped one in a wink,  “Are you hungry? We’re g'na pull through a McDonalds.“

oh baby, baby! (jarofstyles)

series masterlist

Harry and Y/N are best friends and Y/N really wants a baby. He can fix that.

far from sober (eveningepiphany)

1 2

you’re incredibly drunk, and when you are it comes with you having an obscene lack of a filter. harry being the sweetheart he is, is trying to get you back into your hotel room in one piece. he was not ready for you to be so touchy.

faded away (harrysgraceland)

series masterlist

In where Harry gives up his best friend when she needed him the most, and now they both have to navigate themselves without each other. After Harry experiences a second heartbreak will he  work his way back into Y/N’s life? Will she let him back into his life that easily?

one shots

eveningepiphany

Innocent

be-with-me-so-happily

friendly favor

harryistheonlyoneforme

taste so sweet

jawllines

Harry and Y/N are best friends and Y/N isn’t his “type” (or so she’s heard)

Harry wants to try sex with a girl, and Y/N is a very good friend

shawnxstyles

personal

[yashahimewasamistake]

My interpretation of the Links canonical standings (game-based).

Hyrule. He is the Hero of Hyrule™. People request his help. People give him important info. Wisemen teach him spells and knights; sword techniques.

Legend. He is well known in Kakariko Village. Grannies adore him, the men give him advice or even gift him magic empty bottles, and also, Link is recognized by the priest of the Sanctuary at sight. This Link might be one of the most religious Links.

Time. He is a member of the community. Also, an outsider. He is a man of contrasts.

Four. Friend of the princess. Friendly and helpful, he knows many people but he is still seen as a kid.

Wind. A good big brother going to the ends of the world to save his sister and his village and the Rito respect his courage.

Twilight. A hardworking man and trustworthy enough to carry Ordon's tribute to Hyrule Castle. He gains even more prestige after helping the Gorons, the Zora, Kakariko's people....he also has a fanclub thanks to his athletic feats. This Link is popular.

Sky. Sleepyhead who gets bullied routinely by his classmates. Even so, people know he is helpful and kind. He also sleeps on other people's beds and they never get mad about it.

Warriors. He goes from random soldier number 135 to "Hero of Hyrule". He is pretty respected and admired, with crows fawning over him.

Wild. As a Champion, he was pretty admired. As Link, he is a friendly fellow that helps people out. As the Princess' Swordman...he exists.

[adamruz]

Together

Summary: Post 1022 fic or the hospital scene that we didn't get.

Words: 951

AO3 link

"Hey, any news yet?" Kim asked Trudy on the phone while Hailey drove her back to the hospital.

"Nothing yet. Did you find Callum?"

Just hearing his name caused so much pain as he was the reason she was a nervous wreck right now, waiting on news to see if Adam was even going to make it through surgery. "Yeah and as much as it hurt me, I kept him and Samantha safe just like I promised. Voight is taking them back to the district right now and Richard is dead. Hailey and I are on our way over."

Hailey dropped Kim off at the hospital’s main entrance and she ran towards the waiting room. Trudy was standing in the exact same place that she left her in. The woman had a hard exterior, but deep down she cared about her officers and she was never going to abandon one of her own at a time like this.

"Anything?” Kim anxiously asked as she tried to catch her breath.

"Still nothing. I know you know how stubborn Adam is and with how much he loves you and Makayla, he’s going to fight like hell.”

"I know, I know." Kim answered quietly as tears started to fall from her face.

It had been a few more hours and after Voight and Kevin both arrived to join the crowd in the waiting room before Adam’s doctor emerged from the blank doors Kim had been staring at nonstop. It was almost as if she couldn’t believe her eyes, but Kevin softly nudged her, solidifying that it was actually real.

"Kev, he's going to make it right? I can’t…"

Kevin cut her off before she could finish, "Burgess don’t even finish that sentence. That boy has been in love with you almost since the first day you met so there ain't no way his stubborn ass is going to go out that easily." She gave him a friendly jab with her elbow, but she had to admit that he was right.

“His partner, right?” the doctor pointed towards Kim.

She wanted to answer with the truth that they were so much more than that, but now was not the time for her to confess everything about her and Adam’s relationship and how they were back together. She stood up and muttered “yes,” and everyone in the room could hear how nervous she was. “How is he?”

“Officer Ruzek is out of surgery and I believe he’ll make a full recovery. He lost a lot of blood, but he made it here quickly and no major organs were hit. He does have a few bruised ribs and that will honestly probably be causing most of his pain.”

Kim let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding ever since the doctor appeared. "Oh thank goodness. Can I see him?"

“Yes, but he’s not fully awake right now and once he is, he still might go in and out of sleep for a few hours.” Kim nodded and the doctor had a nurse lead her up to his room.

She peered through the window outside of his room, trying to grasp what was going on. She walked in and moved the chair over quietly to his bed and thought to herself - how in the world did he do this so many times while she was on the other end. Adam woke up a few times throughout the night and she got to see his big brown eyes, but nothing longer than a minute or two.

Not really sure at how much time had passed since she fell asleep with her head on his bed, she felt Adam stirring and looked up to see him opening his eyes. He immediately reached for the breathing tube and Kim put her hand up to stop him.

"Hey sleepyhead."

Adam attempted to smile, but then realized that caused too much pain and just grumbled out a “hi” instead.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like shit. I’ve been better. How's Mack?"

"She's good, I haven't told her anything about you yet though. Trudy's with her now."

"Oh those two will get into a lot of trouble. And you?” He reached out to place his hand on top of hers.

"Adam," she responded, shaking her head at him asking her this while he was just shot and lying in a hospital bed.

"Kim. I'm fine, I’m alive. How are you doing?"

"I'm better now, but I was scared out of my mind. I don't know how you've been able to be on this side of things so many times before and kept it together." He attempted to reach out to her cheek to wipe the tears away that started rolling down her face, but the stretching aggravated his ribs too much.

"Well I don't know if anyone would say I kept it together,” Adam answered while Kim let out a small giggle after a very tough day. "But I did it because I love you," he finished.

Without any hesitation, Kim responded, "I love you too. But we really need to stop meeting each other in the hospital." She reached up and kissed his forehead.

“Deal.” A few moments of silence had passed before Adam tightened his grip on Kim’s hand. “Hey, I'm sorry.”

“What, why are you sorry? You were just doing your job, Adam, and something unfortunate happened that was completely not your fault.”

“I know, but I never should have put you through that while you're still processing your own trauma.”

She placed her other hand on top of his. “We got through that and we'll get through this too…together.”

Adam forced a smile through the pain and repeated “together.”

[idv-fifis-toybox]

Ian’s Wonderland

Hi besties I am # back with another essence! This one is a bit more interactive in that there’s a story that will change based on the choices you guys make for the characters! There’s also multiple endings, and you can always go… again, and again and again :)

The skins each have a character based on Ian, Lance and Mephisto’s actual lore, so note that some of the roles will be gendered, and one role has a recommended age. Please take this into account when selecting!

S-Tier: Little Wanderer (The Scion, Ian Varon)

“They say that little lambs shouldn’t wander too far away from the herd, lest the big bad wolf comes to claim your soul.”

— A young traveller who often ends up wandering in the most mysterious places. Even for his age, he is always able to return home safe and sound.

S-Tier: Mister Sleepyhead (The Nurse, “Lazarus”)

“Close your eyes, and escape the nightmare. Perhaps you may find yourself lost in your own dreams.”

— A man who one day woke up in this strange world, unsure of what he’s supposed to be doing. Affectionately, he was named Mister Sleepyhead by the little boy who found him.

A-Tier: Mx Hopp (The Designer, Rayssa, @askthesurvivors)

“No matter how fast the hare hops, it can’t hop forever.”

— An energetic, sprightly resident with odd features of a rabbit who is excited to help others. A friendly and optimistic individual.

A-Tier: Raggy (Volt, @ask-the-chief-heads)

“Putting things together and taking them apart is what they do best.”

— A resident who seems to have a more doll-like appearance, though a bit worn. A warm and humble individual.

A-Tier: Moonshine (Matilda, @yaboimitzu)

“The intoxication of greed never fails to leave you hungover.”

— A trader who often comes to town, selling strange goods to anyone who will buy them… for the price they are deemed worthy, at least.

A-Tier: Air Walker (The Baker, Beth, @ask-idv-baker)

“Fly to the sky, and pray your wings don’t falter, for the higher you fly, the further you will crash.”

— A resident who has a strange ability to fly. They watch over the village and make sure that no one with ill intent walks in.

A-Tier: Voracious Serpent (The Surgeon, Pietro Cortesi, @theheavenshospital)

“No feast can ever satiate a greedy being.”

— A monstrous serpent that resides in a cave. Rumours say that the serpent is a greedy, violent being that enjoys consuming, and most of all, enjoys feasting on others’ happiness.

A-Tier: Lights Out (Blindspot, Aesop, @ask-blindspot-aesop)

“Walk carefully with what little light you may grasp, or the darkness will welcome you.”

— A young resident who has very limited sight. As a result, Air Walker is often seen accompanying him when he wishes to walk outside of the town.

A-Tier: Silent Lamb (The Chimney Sweeper, Thomas Relish, @sleepyfour)

“Silence is a virtue, until there is the need to scream.”

— A young, quiet resident who is best friends with Little Wanderer. They both do not speak much, but they get along regardless.

A-Tier: Whiteout (The Novelist, Immorphy @immortalpheus )

“The dull. The silent. The hollow. The infinity. Careful, lest you lose yourself into the dream never meant to be awoken from.”

— A mysterious man encountered in a mysterious dimension. The silence is deafening.

S-Tier: King of the Ivory Tower (The Hypnosurgeon, Mephisto Braid)

“Pride is said to be the greatest sin as one views themselves as god. But the true sin is how one views others as ladder rungs.”

— A legendary tyrant who is said to have gone mad and locked himself within the confines of the tower. It is said uninvited guests are turned into statues and added to his collection.

A-Tier: Iron Maiden (Female) (Eros, @navxry)

“Within the hollow chamber, no one can hear you scream as a thousand needles beg for your repentance.”

— A lady made completely of metal, yet moves swiftly like clockwork. She is one of the King’s guards.

A-Tier: Watch Me! (The Prankster, Logan Edwards @askthemanorresidents)

“The greatest cruelty is one who learns to be helpless from young. Take great care around the ones who have nothing to lose.”

— A young boy who has somehow wandered into the castle, yet remains alive. He is unable to see, and has covered his eyes out of fear.

A-Tier: Picture Panic (The Surgeon, Matthias Neumann @askthemanorresidents)

“When you must see all, know all, be all… it must really get to your head. I hope you enjoy your grand spectacle.”

— A sprightly man who resides within paintings. Arrogant, and a bit of a control freak, he is also a guard of the King.

A-Tier: Weeping Saint (Cupid, @navxry )

“Lamenting for the fallen can freeze you in the past, unable to escape what could’ve been. Yet no amount of tears can change the future, and that is a fact that must be faced.”

— A miserable, lonely, yet undoubtedly alive statue that waits in silence for any morsel of love it may ever feel.

A-Tier: Shadow Stepper (The Opera Singer, Sean Pichon @yaboimitzu)

“After the grand performance will inevitably come an encore. However, this encore will be straight to the point with you, unlike the grandiose exhibition.”

— Wherever flames are cast, there is always the shadow of the past.

S-Tier: Miss Timekeeper (Miss Jade, @my-fortified-wager)

“You must love your dreams, don’t you? You can always reminisce and revisit them however you’d like… Until you forget how to wake up. Wake. Up.”

— You’ve made it so far, haven’t you? It’s a shame, though. A shame that you’re still trapped.

[stiricidewrites]

All the Things We’ll Leave Behind: ch 30, pt 10

Previously

~

wwx’s smiled up at them from the screen of jzxuan’s phone, which had apparently not just called him, but video called him. “Hello, little sleepyheads~” he cooed. “I wonder, when was the last time a Lan slept in this late?”

lwj glanced at the time, which he hadn’t willingly acknowledged until now, realizing it was almost noon. “Do not tell shushu,” he said sternly, smiling when his mate laughed, his eyes crinkling into little slits, the light wrinkles and smile lines on his face showing even through the phone. He really was the most beautiful, happy man lwj had ever met.

“I promise not to inform the great and terrible lqr of his nephew’s day of sleeping in, after running around gathering up bunnies all night.”

lwj blushed at the reminder, even as jzxuan disappeared beside him. “What are you doing?” he asked, turning to find his friend’s ass flashing him as he peeked over the edge of the bed.

“I’m looking for that little bunny bastard. Dude, there is nothing under there! What’s with the obsession with being under the bed!?”

“Perhaps he has figured out that under the bed means food to get him out,” lwj said, settling against the headboard to talk to his mate.

jzxuan’s legs kicked against the bed for a moment, before he popped back up. “Maybe,” he admitted, wiggling around until he was pressed into lwj’s side. “Just means we’ll have to leave him under there until he comes out on his own. We shouldn’t reinforce bad habits. My cousins did that with our dogs and—”

“Please, don’t talk about your dogs,” wwx said through the phone, his smile growing shockingly tight and strained.

“Not a fan?” jzxuan asked, pressing himself in closer to lwj.

lwj gave him a look of exasperation, then turned it onto wwx, when the older man cooed.

“You two are too cute,” he sighed, before breaking into a yawn.

“You are tired,” lwj noted, ignoring the way his friend snorted and muttered, “Obviously.”

“Yeah,” wwx tried to say, before he yawned again. “Fuck. Yeah, didn’t sleep much. Just like, three hours? Yesterday evening? Which was… not a good sleep. Uh…”

“Did you sleep before that?” lwj asked severely, pushing half-heartedly on jzxuan’s head when he said, “Ooh~ ZhanZhan’s mad now~ Xian-gege’s in trouble now.”

“Uh… maybe?”

That was a no.

“Enough about me, though! What about you two? And all the bunnies?”

lwj glared at his mate, before admitting that they had only briefly checked on them. “Is there a pet store in Yunmeng? Or somewhere else we can get supplies?”

“There is,” wwx said nonchalantly, as though he knew nothing more than that it existed, even as his lips twitched and his gaze averted.

lwj did not trust something in that smile.

“Xian-gege—”

“A-Zhan~” the older man cooed back, “or, should I call you ZhanZhan.”

“No way, ZhanZhan is mine.”

“Doesn’t that make Xian-gege his?” wwx asked, smiling sharply and a bit… oddly at the Jin heir.

lwj frowned, looking between them. What in the world had gone on between the two of them last night? As far as he knew, they had barely—if ever—interacted before this summer, and even that had been minor. Yet, now they seemed friendly—almost more than friendly.

It was concerning.

[ashish2345]

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A testament to its quality and craftsmanship, the Sleepyhead King-Size Mattress comes with a generous warranty that provides peace of mind. Rest assured knowing that your investment is protected against manufacturing defects and premature wear, ensuring that you can enjoy years of restful sleep without worry.

Conclusion

In conclusion, upgrading to a Sleepyhead King-Size Mattress offers a multitude of benefits that enhance your sleep quality, comfort, and overall well-being. From superior support and spaciousness to advanced temperature regulation and eco-friendly design, Sleepyhead prioritizes quality and innovation to deliver a mattress that exceeds expectations. Whether you're looking to improve your sleep health or simply indulge in luxurious comfort, the Sleepyhead King-Size Mattress is a worthy investment that promises years of restful nights and rejuvenated mornings.

Experience the difference with a Sleepyhead King-Size Mattress and discover why it's the ultimate choice for discerning sleepers who prioritize comfort, support, and quality.

[iphone15prokkk]

Budget-Friendly Sleepyhead Single Size Mattresses: Affordable Options for Quality Sleep

Finding the perfect mattress that balances comfort, support, and affordability can be a challenging task. However, Sleepyhead single size mattresses offer a solution that meets all these criteria. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of Sleepyhead single size mattresses, why they are a great budget-friendly option, and how they provide quality sleep without breaking the bank.

Why Choose a Single Size Mattress?

Single size mattresses are a versatile and practical choice for many situations. Whether you are furnishing a small bedroom, a guest room, or a dormitory, a single size mattress can fit comfortably in limited spaces while still providing ample sleeping surface for one person. They are also ideal for children, teenagers, and single adults who prefer a more compact sleeping area.

The Advantages of Sleepyhead Single Size Mattresses

Sleepyhead single size mattresses stand out in the market due to their exceptional quality, innovative design, and affordability. Here are some of the key advantages that make Sleepyhead single size mattresses a top choice for budget-conscious buyers:

High-Quality Materials: Sleepyhead single size mattresses are made with high-quality materials that ensure durability and comfort. From premium foam to advanced spring systems, every component is designed to provide a restful and supportive sleep experience.

Advanced Support: One of the standout features of Sleepyhead single size mattresses is their advanced support system. Whether it's a memory foam mattress that contours to your body or a pocket spring mattress that offers individual support, Sleepyhead ensures that your spine remains aligned and pressure points are relieved.

Comfort Layers: Sleepyhead single size mattresses often include multiple comfort layers that enhance the sleeping experience. These layers may include memory foam, latex, or gel-infused foam, which provide additional cushioning and help regulate temperature.

Affordability: Despite their high-quality construction and advanced features, Sleepyhead single size mattresses are priced competitively. This makes them an excellent choice for those who want a premium sleeping experience without spending a fortune.

Breathability: Sleepyhead single size mattresses are designed with breathability in mind. The materials used in their construction allow for better air circulation, keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the night.

Motion Isolation: If you are a light sleeper, motion isolation is a crucial factor. Sleepyhead single size mattresses, especially those with pocket springs or memory foam, excel at minimizing motion transfer, ensuring that you can sleep undisturbed even if you share your bed with a pet.

Types of Sleepyhead Single Size Mattresses

Sleepyhead offers a variety of single size mattresses to cater to different preferences and needs. Here are some of the popular types:

Memory Foam Sleepyhead Single Size Mattress: This mattress type is known for its ability to contour to the body's shape, providing personalized support and comfort. It's ideal for those who suffer from back pain or prefer a mattress that adapts to their sleeping position.

Pocket Spring Sleepyhead Single Size Mattress: Featuring individually wrapped springs, this mattress type offers excellent support and motion isolation. Each spring operates independently, allowing the mattress to adapt to the body's contours and minimize motion transfer.

Hybrid Sleepyhead Single Size Mattress: Combining the benefits of memory foam and pocket springs, hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds. They provide the contouring comfort of foam with the support and breathability of springs.

Latex Sleepyhead Single Size Mattress: Latex mattresses are known for their resilience and natural cooling properties. They provide a bouncy yet supportive feel, making them ideal for those who prefer a more responsive mattress.

How to Choose the Right Sleepyhead Single Size Mattress

Selecting the perfect Sleepyhead single size mattress involves considering various factors such as your sleeping position, comfort preferences, and budget. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Determine Your Sleeping Position: Your preferred sleeping position plays a significant role in choosing the right mattress. Side sleepers typically benefit from softer mattresses that cushion the shoulders and hips, while back and stomach sleepers may prefer firmer mattresses that provide adequate support to the spine.

Consider Your Comfort Preferences: Do you prefer a mattress that feels plush and enveloping, or one that is firm and supportive? Understanding your comfort preferences will help you narrow down the options.

Evaluate Support Needs: If you have specific support needs, such as relief from back pain, look for a Sleepyhead single size mattress with features that address those needs. Memory foam and hybrid mattresses are excellent choices for targeted support and pressure relief.

Set a Budget: While Sleepyhead single size mattresses are budget-friendly, it's important to set a budget and stick to it. Consider the long-term value of the mattress, as investing in a high-quality mattress can save you money in the long run by reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Check for Additional Features: Some Sleepyhead single size mattresses come with additional features such as hypoallergenic covers, moisture-wicking properties, or reinforced edges. These features can enhance your overall sleep experience and add value to your purchase.

Testimonials from Happy Sleepyhead Customers

Many users of Sleepyhead single size mattresses have shared their positive experiences, highlighting the comfort, support, and affordability of these mattresses. Here are a few testimonials:

Sarah T.: "I bought a Sleepyhead single size mattress for my son's room, and he absolutely loves it. It's incredibly comfortable and provides great support. Plus, the price was unbeatable!"

James L.: "After sleeping on my Sleepyhead single size mattress for a few months, I can confidently say it's the best mattress I've ever owned. It keeps me cool at night and has significantly reduced my back pain."

Emily R.: "As a college student on a tight budget, finding an affordable yet comfortable mattress was challenging. The Sleepyhead single size mattress exceeded my expectations. It's perfect for my small apartment, and I get a great night's sleep every night."

Conclusion

Sleepyhead single size mattresses offer an exceptional combination of comfort, support, and affordability, making them an ideal choice for budget-conscious buyers. Whether you're furnishing a child's room, a guest room, or a small apartment, Sleepyhead single size mattresses provide a high-quality sleep experience without breaking the bank.

Investing in a Sleepyhead single size mattress means investing in better sleep and overall well-being. By understanding the various types and features of these mattresses, you can make an informed decision that suits your needs and preferences. With positive customer testimonials and a reputation for quality, Sleepyhead single size mattresses are a reliable and budget-friendly option for anyone seeking a restful and rejuvenating night's sleep.

In conclusion, Sleepyhead single size mattresses stand out in the crowded mattress market due to their innovative design, high-quality materials, and competitive pricing. For those looking to enhance their sleep quality without spending a fortune, a Sleepyhead single size mattress is a wise and worthwhile investment. Experience the difference a Sleepyhead single size mattress can make and enjoy the benefits of quality sleep on a budget.

[mattressdreamer]

Sleep Solutions: Comparing the Best Mattresses Available in India

Finding the best mattress in India is a crucial part of achieving a good night's sleep. A comfortable and supportive mattress can make all the difference in ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed and energized. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore some of the top-rated mattresses available in India, helping you make an informed decision to improve your sleep quality.

Best Mattress in India: Memory Foam Marvels

Memory foam mattresses have gained immense popularity in recent years, and for a good reason. These mattresses conform to your body shape, providing excellent support and pressure relief. Leading brands like Wakefit, SleepyCat, and Sleepyhead offer some of the best memory foam mattresses in India. They are known for their durability and superior comfort, ensuring a restful night's sleep.

The Innerspring Innovators

Innerspring mattresses have been a traditional favorite in India, and they continue to offer a range of options for those seeking a more bouncy and responsive sleep surface. Brands like Springtek and King Koil have brought innovation to innerspring designs, providing better support and motion isolation. With various firmness options, these mattresses cater to a wide range of sleep preferences.

The Latex Luxe: Best Mattress in India for Allergies

Latex mattresses are an excellent choice for individuals with allergies, thanks to their hypoallergenic properties. The most popular latex mattress brands in India include SleepX and Flo Mattress. These mattresses are not only comfortable but also highly breathable, ensuring a cool and allergen-free sleep environment.

The Hybrid Heroes

Hybrid mattresses have been gaining momentum in the Indian market, offering the best of both worlds - the support of innerspring and the comfort of memory foam. Leading the pack in this category are brands like Emma and Sunday. With a combination of pocket springs and memory foam, these mattresses provide excellent support, relieve pressure points, and offer superior durability.

Natural and Organic Choices

For those who prioritize eco-friendliness and sustainable materials, natural and organic mattresses are the way to go. Brands like Wakefit and Coirfit have introduced mattresses made from natural materials such as coir, latex, and cotton. These mattresses are not only comfortable but also environmentally conscious, making them the best mattress in India for the eco-conscious sleeper.

Adjustable Airbeds: The Customized Comfort Solution

Airbeds have come a long way from being just temporary sleeping solutions. Brands like Sleep Number have introduced advanced airbeds that allow you to adjust the firmness to your liking, making them one of the most customizable options in the Indian market. If you and your partner have different firmness preferences, this may be the best mattress in India for you.

Best Mattress in India for Back Pain: Orthopedic Options

If you suffer from back pain, finding the right mattress is essential for alleviating discomfort and promoting spinal alignment. Brands like Sleepwell and Kurl-on offer orthopedic mattresses specially designed for individuals with back pain. These mattresses provide the necessary support to ensure a pain-free and restful sleep.

Finding the Right Firmness Level

The best mattress in India for you depends on your individual sleep preferences. When selecting a mattress, consider the firmness level that suits you best. If you prefer a soft and plush feel, memory foam and latex mattresses are excellent choices. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses offer a range of firmness options, while airbeds can be customized to your exact preferences.

The Importance of Warranty and Trial Periods

When investing in the best mattress in India, it's essential to consider the warranty and trial period offered by the manufacturer. Reputable brands typically offer extended warranties, ensuring your investment is protected. Additionally, many brands provide a trial period, allowing you to test the mattress at home and return it if it doesn't meet your expectations.

Conclusion: Your Path to Quality Sleep

In the quest for the best mattress in India, it's crucial to assess your individual sleep needs and preferences. Whether you opt for memory foam, innerspring, latex, hybrid, or airbed, make sure it aligns with your comfort requirements and addresses any specific issues like allergies or back pain. By considering factors such as firmness, warranty, and trial periods, you can make an informed decision that paves the way to a good night's sleep and a healthier, more energized you. Must Read: Finding Your Perfect Online Mattress: A Comfortable Journey

[royalfamilyhk]

What Mattress Should I Buy to Make Every Night a Dream?

Hey there, sleepyhead! If you've been tossing and turning at night, wondering, "What mattress should I buy?" you're not alone. Buying a mattress can be as confusing as trying to count sheep when you're wide awake—it's not a one-size-fits-all scenario. It's more like buying a pair of shoes; what might be comfortable for one person could be a literal pain in the back for another. But don't worry, The Royal Family Furniture has got your back (and your sides and your stomach) covered.

The Great Mattress Quest: What To Consider

When it comes to bedroom furniture, no piece is more crucial than your mattress. It's the silent partner that supports you through every night and lets you wake up refreshed and ready for the day. The question, "What mattress should I buy?" is a loaded one, and here are some key factors to consider:

Your Sleep Position: Whether you're a side sleeper, back sleeper, or stomach sleeper impacts the type of mattress you should choose.

Your Body Type: The right mattress should properly support your weight and body shape without causing discomfort.

Your Budget: Mattresses range from the budget-friendly to the bank-breaking. Figure out your budget first to narrow down your choices.

Lifestyle: Do you frequently move? You might want a box drop mattress. Got a partner who tosses and turns? Consider a mattress with good motion isolation.

A Sleeper's Guide to Types of Mattresses

There's a whole world of mattresses out there, each promising the sleep of your dreams. Let's explore some popular types and mattress guides:

Memory Foam Mattress

Ah, the memory foam mattress, the cloud-like wonder that hugs you as you sleep. These mattresses are a hit among side sleepers and those with joint pain, as they contour to your body's shape, distributing weight evenly and providing excellent pressure relief. They can be a touch warmer than other types, though, so if you're a hot sleeper, you might want to opt for a gel-infused version.

Innerspring Mattress

The classic choice from the mattress factory, innerspring mattresses, uses a system of metal springs for support. They offer a good bounce and excellent cooling properties. If you're a combination sleeper who moves around a lot or prefers a firmer surface, this might be your match.

Hybrid Mattress

Can't decide between memory foam and innerspring? A hybrid mattress combines the best of both worlds—pressure relief from the foam and support from the spring coils. It's a win-win!

Box Drop Mattress

A box drop mattress is essentially a bed-in-a-box. These mattresses are compressed, rolled, and shipped in a box, making them easy to transport and set up. They come in various materials, including memory foam and latex, and are a great choice for the modern mobile lifestyle.

FAQs: Answering Your Burning Mattress Questions

Q: How often should I replace my mattress?

A: Generally, a good-quality mattress should last about 7-10 years. However, if you frequently wake up with aches and pains, it might be time to bid your old mattress goodbye.

Q: What's the best mattress for back pain?

A: Memory foam or hybrid mattresses with targeted support are often recommended for those with back pain. They contour to your body, providing adequate support to pressure points.

Q: Are expensive mattresses worth it?

A: Not always! While higher-priced mattresses often offer more features and longer warranties, plenty of affordable options provide comfort and support. It's all about finding what works best for your body and budget.

Conclusion: Your Dream Mattress Awaits

So, what mattress should you buy? The answer, my friend, is as unique as your dreams. Whether you're a fan of the plush comfort of a memory foam mattress, the sturdy support of an innerspring model, or the convenience of a box drop mattress, there's a perfect match for you at the mattress factory. Remember, the best bedroom furniture helps you rest easy and wake up refreshed. Here's to sweet dreams and even sweeter awakenings!

Remember, buying a mattress is a personal decision. Take your time, research, and don't be afraid to test as many mattresses as you need to find your perfect fit. After all, you'll be spending a lot of time together. So sleep on it, dream on it, and decide when you're good and ready. Happy mattress hunting!

[elysianstars]

Throwing my own Alear propaganda in, because even if I don't much care about polls like this, it's an excuse to talk about my babygirl (gender neutral).

So, the context of Alear's thousand-year sleep, is they were mortally wounded in a fight to protect their adoptive mother (and the entire world) from their monstrously abusive father. Who'd raised them to be a killing machine, caused the deaths of all but one of their other siblings, and forced them to commit war crimes - for years, decades, who knows, can't tell their real age since they're a dragon - until they were an emotionally broken shell. They finally stood up to him, took him down, and in one last act of spite he struck them a mortal blow in return (when their back was turned). They tearfully accepted their fate, because they were part of an evil bloodline which 'had to die in the end'.

Their adoptive mother, however, refused to let this happen, and spent the next thousand years channeling her own life force to heal them, while they were in a magical coma. She built them a beautiful temple to rest in, on a holy floating island, and commissioned a special order of stewards to watch over them. She passed down the story that Alear was her true child and heir, a figure she wanted everybody to see as heroic and beloved, and waited eagerly for the day they'd wake so she could have a family again.

Alear woke up with no memories of anything that happened before. They didn't understand why anyone was worshipping them. They did, however, retain enough that upon seeing a group of their father's minions, they had an instant trauma response and wanted to run.

Except they didn't run, because the minions started attacking other people, and needed help. Even with no clue what was happening, their strongest instinct was to do something kind and brave. They woke up, jumped straight back into protecting people from their father's cruelty, and never stopped.

They do continue being a sleepyhead and asking their allies to wake them each morning, but there's hints of dialogue which suggest they can actually wake up independently, at least some of the time. My personal theory is they just get lonely, and don't want the routine to stop once it's started, because they like seeing friendly faces and having a little chat at the beginning of the day.

Anyway yeah, Alear sweep ♡

ROUND 1A, MATCH 16 OUT OF 16!

Propaganda Under the Cut:

Byleth:

swag

Bro went to sleep for five years and before that big eepy they made a promise with their students to all meet up five years from then and sure enough. They wake up the day of the reunion and are informed of what day it is and immediately rush to the appointed place. And for some reason although there's a war and shit all of their students come to the reunion anyway (despite it being extremely difficult for some of them with them having to literally sneak out of their territories in some routes) because they were just that cool and good of a teacher. Their sleeping also is the catalyst for the timeskip and I absolutely love timeskips. The FE3H timeskip in particular is very moving to me because of the tertiary theme of the game being growing up/the unstoppable march of time. I played the game right before entering high school and then another time before graduating high school (and I plan to play it again, as I graduate college) and let me just say it hit extremely hard. We view the change in the world through Byleth's eyes and then later come to see it through the eyes of the students in their monastery quotes and in the story. Their sleeping is the perfect way to do a timeskip and it makes the reunion with the students hit so much harder because it conveys how both so much and so little time has passed. So little time for Byleth, but enough time for the students for them to grow and mature and change in many ways (it got me thinking about how different I am as a person now than on my first playthrough) Also play FE3H during a transitional period in your life it WILL hit hard.

Alear:

People are mean to this game. Yes it's not the best but come on. It's not that bad. I love Alear's popsicle ass design too <3