#tried to see who it was but it was so packed there was no way of knowing who it was

[mimiiiiiiiiisstuff]

"Older"

ok yall! i couldn't stop thinking of neglected Reader falling for Clark Kent, so instead of writing a new chapter of "I bet on losing dogs" I wrote an AU!!! Batfam's neglect stays till reader is 18, Tiffany isn't exposed till later. I got kinda carried away tbh! Remember, THIS IS AN AU!!!! Ya'll aren't ready for this plot actually. Or who really steals readers heart. Thank you to the wonderful anon who sent me down the rabit hole of this man. Reader is 18 when the romance actually starts.

When you were younger, you had always idolized Superman. Clark Kent, the unassuming, nerdy reporter with glasses, was a far cry from the intimidating presence he became when he donned the cape. You first saw him when you were 9, during a charity event your father had taken you to. At first, you thought he was just another well-dressed man who smiled too much. But then, when he lifted a car to save someone from an accident, you felt something shift in your chest.

That’s it, you thought. That’s what I want. I want him.

From that day on, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way he saved people with a smile, how gentle his voice was. You’d daydream about being near him, holding his hand, his deep blue eyes looking down at you with affection. But Clark never saw you that way. To him, you were always just Bruce Wayne’s little girl—the kid he barely knew.

Maybe it was a result of being neglected by every man in your life that made you so feral for Clark Kent. Maybe it was the fact that he was the only person you knew who didn't prefer Tiffany to you. Whatever it was, it didn't matter, he'd never feel the same.

So, you pushed your feelings aside.

Or at least you tried to.

You’d flirted with boys before. You’d flirted with grown men. With your powers, you needed an outlet, a way to let go of your frustrations, to feel good. You lost your virginity only days after gaining your powers. It felt amazing, during those moments you were in control of your body, the pain went away, the neglect went away and you were loved.

But nothing had ever been like the times you found yourself in Clark’s presence. At 16, you’d started testing the waters, teasing him with subtle remarks. You’d gotten a little bolder in your attempts over the years, but he always brushed them off as playful jokes.

"Don’t you think you’re a little young for me, kiddo?" he’d chuckle every time you got close.

You hated that. He saw you as a kid. That was it.

But you didn’t stop. Because you were determined.

And by the time you turned 18, the world around you had shifted. You had grown into someone new, more mature, more confident. Your body had changed. Your personality had changed. But Clark... he still looked at you like you were that little girl from all those years ago.

It hurt. But you told yourself, Just be patient. It’ll come around. I just need more time.

You soon realized time was too long. Clark would never see you as anything more than a kid, he literally had children your age. He was old enough to be your father. His youngest son had a crush on you and Clark is a good man. He would never consider you romantically.

You couldn't keep chasing after another unrequited love. Not after years of chasing your family's. Not after years of being pushed aside for an imposter who always outsmarted your attempts to expose her.

You wanted to move on. To leave everyone behind.

And that's what you did. There was no dramatic breaking point, no emotional stand-off. You were looking out your window one day and you realized you've done nothing. You've never been happy, never once truly happy, you lived for everyone but yourself. Not anymore. One random sunny Tuesday, the summer after you graduated highschool, you packed up and left everything behind, no goodbyes. Not even a note for Alfred. None of them deserved it.

You were tired, tired of chasing people.

You wanted to be chased and that's what you got. Every week it was someone new, your professor, your friends, your boss, anyone who was attracted to you, you slept with. It was so freeing. It was euphoric, making them fall in love, leading them into your bed, then kicking them out as soon as the next one came along.

The only thing that you truly loved now was music, it was all that got you through years and years of mistreatment. No matter what happened in the manor, you could turn your headphones on and forget. You could grab your guitar and strum your worries away.

College sucked. Long ago, you would've pushed yourself to go, even though you hated it, just to make your family proud. To chase approval you would never get. Not anymore, you knew you needed a degree to make a living, but a gap year never hurt anyone.

You began working as a singer in different bars. It let you write songs and make money. There was nothing more addicting than feeling eyes on you, enchanted by you. Your voice was magnetic, drawing people in, and like any good predator, you feasted on their hearts and left as soon as they stopped inspiring you. Yet, no matter how good-looking or good in bed they were, they would never be Clark.

One night, after a few months of your reckless, self-destructive pattern, you found yourself in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of Gotham, a place where nobody would recognize you. You weren't gonna sing, not tonight.

You weren’t here to find love, you weren’t here to talk or connect. You were here to forget.

The clink of glasses and low murmur of conversation surrounded you, but it was the figure in the corner that caught your attention.

A man with a commanding presence sat alone at the bar, his back straight, eyes locked on the dim-lit television above the counter. His hair was peppered with gray, but there was something ageless about the way he carried himself; tough, confident, dangerous. The eyepatch over his right eye only enhanced the mystery, adding a cruel allure to his already intimidating presence.

You couldn’t quite place why you were drawn to him, but the moment you saw him, a spark ignited. Slade Wilson. He worked with Bruce somehow one time, everyone hated him, even Clark. You remembered him because he was the only man, other than Clark, not to fall for Tiffany's charm and that was a win in your book.

You’d heard of him in passing, mostly in rumors—whispers of a deadly mercenary, a ghost in the shadows of Gotham, a man you wouldn’t want to cross. But here he was, sitting like a predator in a place filled with prey.

You weren’t afraid. You never were. You’d been raised in the shadows of Gotham, after all, with men who didn’t even know how to love you. You’d seen dangerous men before. You knew how to handle yourself.

You sauntered over, taking a seat next to him, your movements casual but purposeful. He glanced at you briefly, his lips twitching into the slightest of smirks before his eyes returned to the screen.

"Mind if I join you?" you asked, leaning into the counter, placing your drink beside his.

His gaze flicked toward you again, this time a little longer. There was something predatory in the way he sized you up, assessing your every move. "Not at all."

You smirked, tilting your head slightly. "I’ve been told I’m a good time."

A quiet chuckle rumbled in his chest, but it was cold, calculated. "That so?"

You didn’t miss the way his eyes dropped briefly to your lips, but he didn’t let his attention linger for long. He took a long sip of his drink and leaned back, unbothered, as though you were nothing more than another fleeting distraction.

You were used to this, the indifferent types. But you weren’t going to let him slip away that easily.

“You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who spends his nights in places like this,” you said, turning towards him with a sly grin. “I imagine you’ve got better places to be.”

Slade didn’t look at you when he responded, his voice low and smooth, like gravel being ground underfoot. “I’m where I want to be.”

You laughed, the sound rich and teasing. "So, what does someone like you do for fun, then?"

For a moment, the silence stretched between you, and then he finally turned to meet your eyes, the weight of his gaze making your stomach flutter for reasons you couldn’t explain. "Fun... isn’t what I’m here for."

You let out a slow breath, leaning in a little closer, just enough for the scent of his cologne to hit you, something spicy, with a touch of danger.

"Then what are you here for?" you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper. You could see the muscles in his jaw tense slightly, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he met your gaze head-on, his lips curling up ever so slightly at the corners.

"Business."

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Business, huh? I love business."

“I'm sure you do” he said cryptically, but his voice was thick with unspoken meaning.

The tension between you was palpable, electric. You couldn’t deny the pull you felt toward him. It wasn’t just his looks, though they were undeniably attractive in their own gritty, dangerous way. No, it was the way he carried himself, like he was someone who could destroy everything in his path if he wanted.

You weren’t intimidated, though. If anything, it intrigued you more.

You leaned closer, the warmth of your body pressing against his, your breath hot against his ear. “So, what do you do when business is done?”

For a moment, he didn’t answer. He just stared at you, his eyes hard and calculating. And then, before you could react, his lips brushed against your ear, his voice low and dangerous. "You don’t want to know."

You shivered at his words, at the heat of his breath, but you were beyond caring. You were tired of being the one who was always desired but never loved, the one who always chased but was never caught. Tonight, you wanted to be wanted, and you wanted him to want you more than anything.

"Maybe I wanna find out" you breathed, your hand sliding down his arm.

His hand shot out like lightning, grabbing your wrist before you could make contact. His grip was firm, but not painful—just a reminder of his control, of how easily he could break you if he wanted.

“Not tonight,” he murmured, voice rough. "Not the way you think."

You stared at him, uncertainty flickering in your gaze for the briefest of moments. You had gotten used to men not wanting you the way you wanted them, it was all you knew growing up. But now things were different with your abilities. This wasn’t the first time someone had pulled away, but with him, it felt different, like he was holding back, just as much as you were.

You smirked. "What makes you think you can stop me?"

His lips curled again, this time with something darker in his eyes. "Because I’m the one who calls the shots."

A challenge. A warning. And for some reason, that only made you want him more.

Before you could react, he stood up, his hand lingering on your wrist for just a beat longer. "If you’re serious about this, I’ll be at the back exit in thirty minutes."

Then, without waiting for a response, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows of the bar.

You sat there for a moment, staring after him, the heat of the moment hanging in the air between you.

You weren’t sure whether to follow or not, but you knew one thing for certain: tonight was going to be a night you wouldn’t forget.

And so, you found yourself standing outside in the cool night air, your heart racing. You hadn't planned for this, but somehow it felt inevitable.

When you saw him again, waiting by the dark alley, it was clear this was a man who didn’t let anything slip through his fingers. And tonight, you weren’t going to let him slip away either. You approached him, your steps measured and confident.

He didn't speak immediately, just gave you a slow, knowing smile as you came closer.

This wasn’t the start of a love story. This wasn’t about feelings or connections. This was something darker, something more primal.

This was a game. And you weren’t sure if you were the predator... or the prey.

But you were ready to find out.

The cool Gotham air settled in your lungs as you closed the distance between yourself and Slade, your heels clicking softly on the pavement.

He stood by the alley entrance, leaning casually against the brick wall, his figure lit only by the faint streetlight behind him. The shadows clung to him like a second skin, making his presence feel like an almost dangerous secret—something you weren’t sure you were ready to unravel, but damn, you were more than willing to try.

Slade didn’t say a word as you approached, his one visible eye catching yours with that piercing, unreadable stare of his. You knew that look. It was the same kind of look your father gave you when he had to make tough decisions, when he saw things for what they truly were. Cold, calculating. But this? This felt different. This felt like a challenge. And you were more than ready for it.

“Still think you can handle me?” His voice was low, but it had that same teasing bite, as if he were daring you to prove him wrong.

You were close now—too close for comfort, but you didn’t care. You stepped into his space, the heat of his body now radiating against yours, his scent filling your senses. “I don’t need to handle you,” you murmured, your lips barely brushing his ear as you leaned in. “I think you need to handle me.”

There was a flicker in his gaze, something almost imperceptible, but it was enough to make your pulse quicken. He didn’t move away, didn’t flinch like others would have. If anything, the air around you both seemed to crackle with intensity.

“Is that what you think this is about?” Slade asked, his voice rougher now, as though the control he so carefully maintained was slipping just a little. “You’re not the first woman who’s come to me thinking they can make me want them.”

You were sure he was referring to Tiffany, there was no way a man like him ever forgot a name or face. Knowing he knew who you were and knowing he didn't care made you want him more.

You smiled, feeling that familiar rush of excitement surge through your veins. It wasn’t about making him want you. It was about making him need you.

“Maybe,” you said, leaning even closer, your lips almost touching his. “But I’m the first one who might actually make you lose control.”

For a heartbeat, you could have sworn the world around you stopped. Slade’s eye darkened, the intensity in his stare shifting from challenge to something sharper. More dangerous. But there was something else in his eyes now. Something that made your heart race faster than you cared to admit.

His hand shot out, gripping your wrist with a force that had your breath hitching in your throat. The familiar spark of danger lit up your skin, and you didn’t pull away. Instead, you let your body melt into his, feeling the pulse of raw, untamed power that radiated off him.

“You think you can push me?” he growled, his voice like gravel, each word like a warning and a promise all at once.

You didn’t answer him right away. Instead, you let your fingers trail across his chest, feeling the ridged muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt. Your touch was deliberate, slow, each movement a calculated game of power.

“Maybe I want to push you,” you said softly, your breath a whisper against his neck, “until I break you.”

The grip on your wrist tightened for a split second, his muscles flexing with controlled restraint. For a moment, you wondered if this was where it would end, that he’d push you away, tell you it was all just a game. But when he finally spoke again, his voice was thick with tension.

“Careful, sweetheart,” Slade murmured, his lips brushing against the curve of your jaw, sending a shiver down your spine. “I’m not sure you know what you’re asking for.”

You let out a breathy laugh, your body pressing even closer to his as your lips hovered dangerously close to his own. “Maybe I don’t,” you whispered. “But I’m willing to find out.”

Slade didn’t move for a long moment, just holding you there in that thin space between danger and desire. And then, finally, he closed the gap, his lips crashing into yours with the force of someone who had been holding back far too long.

The kiss was anything but gentle. It was a brutal, desperate collision of mouths, a clash of power and need. You could feel the tension in every muscle of his body as he claimed your mouth, his hands gripping your arms, his touch insistent and almost hungry. But you didn’t break, didn’t pull away. Instead, you kissed him back just as fiercely, hands roaming up his chest to grasp the collar of his jacket, pulling him closer.

For a second, you wondered if this would be the point where you lost yourself to the heat of the moment, but the longer you kissed him, the clearer it became that this wasn’t just about passion. It was about control. About testing boundaries.

And you were willing to play that game, because you were ready to win.

As the kiss deepened, Slade pulled away suddenly, his breath ragged, eyes darker now with desire and frustration. He wasn’t used to this. He wasn’t used to someone who didn’t give in.

“Not so easy, is it?” you whispered, your voice rough from the kiss, your body still pressed against his.

He glared at you for a moment, lips curling into a knowing smirk, the kind of smirk that made you feel like you were dancing on the edge of a knife.

“You’re not the first one to test me, Slade said, voice low and dangerous, his hands sliding down your arms with intent. “But you might be the first one who wants to."

Slade didn’t pull back, his chest rising and falling with a steady rhythm, but his gaze never left yours. His hand, still gripping your wrist, was no longer a force of restraint; it was an anchor, a silent promise of just how far this could go.

The weight of his stare sent a shiver down your spine. You weren’t sure if it was from anticipation or something deeper, something darker that he carried with him, but you felt it in every inch of your body. You weren’t here for games anymore, you were here because you wanted this. You wanted him.

But there was more to it. Something about the way he held you in his gaze told you that, for once, you weren’t in control. Slade Wilson was a man who played by his own rules. And now, you were learning the cost of trying to break them.

He released your wrist with slow precision, letting his fingers linger over your skin for just a second longer than necessary. You could feel the heat of his touch as he took a step back, eyes darkening with a new kind of challenge.

“You really think you’re the one calling the shots here?” His voice was low, rough, as though it had been soaked in whiskey and smoke.

You weren’t about to back down now. You smirked, leaning into him again, almost too close for comfort. “I think I’m just... along for the ride.”

Slade’s lips twisted into something dangerous, a mix of amusement and something else, something far more raw. He took a step toward you, crowding your space, his presence suffocating in the most exhilarating way.

“Not sure you know what that ride entails,” he murmured, his voice dipping even lower, sending another shiver down your spine.

“I’m starting to,” you replied, reaching for him, but this time, you didn’t touch him the way you had before. You trailed your fingers slowly, almost teasingly, down his chest, feeling the firmness of muscle beneath the fabric.

Slade didn’t stop you. His body stiffened, though. Just enough for you to feel that tight pull of control he was holding onto. It only made you want him more. You pressed a little closer, your body brushing against his in a subtle reminder that you were still in the game, too.

“I like doing things i'm not supposed to” you said, your lips grazing his ear as you spoke. “And I think you do, too.”

He stiffened at your words, his breath catching in his throat. For a split second, you thought you saw something flash behind his gaze—something far more primal than the cold, calculating predator you’d come to know.

Slade’s hand shot out, gripping your chin with surprising gentleness, forcing you to look up at him. The control was unmistakable in his hold, yet his eyes… his eyes were like a storm just about to break. “Don’t think you know what you’re asking for.”

“I never said I did.” Your voice was steady, confident, even though the truth was you didn’t fully know what this was. But you knew what you wanted, and right now, it was him.

He searched your face, his gaze intense, like he was deciding something. just as you thought he might break, he leaned in, closing the gap between you both.

His lips brushed against yours, barely a touch, but enough to send your pulse skyrocketing. For a moment, it was almost like a game of cat and mouse. He was holding back, just enough to make you ache for more.

His lips moved to your ear, his voice dropping lower, rougher. “You should walk away now. Because once this starts, there’s no going back.”

You leaned into him, your breath shaky, but your resolve unwavering. “I never look back. Not anymore.”

Slade didn’t hesitate. His lips crushed against yours with an urgency that felt like a storm breaking free. There was no softness. It was rough, driven by something savage, and it made you lose your breath as you kissed him back just as fiercely.

You felt his hands on you, strong and sure, pulling you into him, his grip possessive in a way that made your pulse race even faster. You let him guide you, let him take the lead—because, for the first time in so long, you didn’t need to be the one in control. You didn’t want to be.

That night, Slade Wilson made you forget about every other man in your life, even Clark Kent.

For the next three weeks, you and Slade continued game of cat and mouse. Every other day, you would go to a bar to play and he would somehow appear in the crowd, like a sailor lured by a siren.

Yet everytime, in the morning when you woke, still hot after the previous nights activities, Slade Wilson was nowhere to be found.

You knew he was too old for you, too rough and unstable, but he could be kind at times, when he wanted.

And he was fun.

And you're sure your family would have a joint aneurysum if they found out.

It was fun until one night, he didn't find you.

Two months later, nothing changed. No word from your 'family' asking where you were, only Alfred's weekly check up, and Damian's insufferable posting of him, Tiffany, and the rest the family having fun without you on Instagram. He didn't even bother to block you.

No word from Slade either, yet you still hoped he would show one night. Seems like you had a thing for men ignoring you.

But tonight, something felt electric in the air.

Slade’s shadow stretched across the dimly lit bar, his presence pulling every ounce of warmth from the room. You hadn’t seen him in two months, not since he’d walked away without a word, leaving you to pick up the pieces of everything. You’d told yourself you didn’t care, that his absence meant nothing. But seeing him again, standing there with that predatory stare of his, you couldn’t help but feel the heat rise in your chest.

You were busy, sure, singing and flirting, giving the crowd exactly what they wanted. But you couldn’t ignore the sudden heaviness in the air. The way the music seemed to fade as his eyes locked onto yours from across the room. The same gaze that had always made you feel like you were his—like he could take whatever he wanted and leave you with nothing.

You kept the smile on your face, tossing your hair over your shoulder, a flirtatious laugh escaping your lips as you tossed a wink at one of the men leaning against the bar. You could feel Slade watching you, not just with his eyes but with every inch of his body. He hadn’t come to listen to the music. He didn’t give a damn about the crowd or the drinks. He was here for you.

And he was pissed.

He approached you with slow, deliberate steps, his frame imposing, his eyes cold with that familiar edge. When he spoke, his voice was a low rumble, almost drowned out by the noise of the bar, but it cut through everything like a blade.

“Well, well, well… look at you, darlin’. Didn’t take you long to move on, huh?”

Your pulse quickened, but you kept your head high. ��Didn’t realize I needed your permission, babe.”

He ignored the jab, his lips twitching in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Haven’t seen you in two months, and this is what I come back to? You’re out here playing with the other boys now?”

You didn’t flinch. “You didn’t exactly leave me with much of a choice. You were the one who disappeared, remember?”

Slade's gaze hardened, and before you knew it, he was right in front of you, close enough that his breath stirred the strands of your hair. He leaned down, his voice dropping low, rough. “You really think you can just forget about me? Move on with them? Cute little act you've got going, sweetheart, but I can see right through it.”

You pushed back, trying to ignore the flutter in your chest. “I’m not doing anything. I’m just having fun. I’m living my life, Slade. You should try it sometime.”

His smirk curled, but there was no warmth in it. “I don’t need advice from you. And I don’t give a damn about your ‘fun.’” His hand shot out, grabbing your wrist with a brutal grip, pulling you closer. “Where’s your old man? Where’s your daddy been? What about your brothers? Do they even know what the hell you’ve been up to?”

The sharpness of his words cut deeper than you wanted to admit. Slade always knew how to hit you where it hurt, and he wasn’t giving you any room to breathe. “Don’t touch me,” you snapped, but the defiance didn’t reach your voice the way you wanted it to.

“Funny, that’s what I thought you’d say.” He released your wrist, but not before giving it a firm squeeze. “I already know what’s been going on with your family. They’ve been too busy holding onto their precious Tiffany, haven’t they?”

You flinched at the mention of her name. Everyone knew Tiffany was the golden child, the one your family had actually cared about. The one they’d all protected, even when she turned out to be the one using them. You’d known for a while that she was a spy, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow.

Slade’s eyes glinted with that sharp, calculating look. “You knew what she was doing, didn’t you? All this time, she was playing them like puppets, and now they’re gonna come crawling back, pretending they care. They’ll be looking for you soon enough, you know. Guilt’s a hell of a thing.”

The words sank into you, twisting painfully. You hated how right he was. Your family had always been so focused on Tiffany that they hadn’t noticed how you were slipping through the cracks. And now, with her gone, they were going to realize their mistake. They were going to come for you, but it wouldn’t be because they cared. It would be because they felt guilty.

Slade took a step closer, his hand lightly grazing your cheek, the touch cold and commanding. “They’ll come running for you when they realize what they’ve lost, sweetheart. But don’t fool yourself. It won’t be about you. It’ll be about guilt. About making things right because they fucked up. But you know better than anyone, those kinds of people always forget when the next shiny thing comes along.”

You swallowed, trying to keep your composure. “What do you want from me?”

His smirk widened, his fingers trailing down your jaw with a casualness that made your skin crawl in a way you couldn’t quite explain. “What do I want from you, sweetheart? Maybe just the same thing I’ve always wanted. But let’s be clear: I’m not here to save you from them. Hell, I don’t even know if you want saving.”

You glared at him, feeling the bitter edge of your own anger. “Then why the hell are you here?”

Slade's eyes softened for a brief second—just long enough to make you wonder if this was something more than just a game to him. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the moment was gone, replaced by that familiar coldness. “I’m here because you’re a hell of a lot smarter than they’ll ever give you credit for. And you’re not stupid enough to think you need them. You know they never cared, not really.”

You opened your mouth to argue, but the words died in your throat. He was right. You did know it, deep down. You’d always known. It stung, more than you cared to admit, but you were done being angry about it.

He leaned in, his lips brushing just below your ear. “When they come, and they will come, you can show them what it feels like to be abandoned. You can make them feel just how you felt. But don’t think for a second you can do it without me.”

You didn’t respond right away, your heart pounding in your chest. He wasn’t offering you a way out, he was offering you a choice. A choice between playing the victim to your family’s guilt, or standing beside him as he carved his own path. Neither option was a clean one, but something about him made it feel like the one you’d always been meant to choose.

Slade stepped back, his eyes scanning you as if he was trying to figure you out. “You’re not like them, sweetheart. And you’re not gonna let them walk all over you. Not this time.”

You finally met his gaze, the anger and frustration swirling in your chest. “You don’t know anything about me.”

Slade grinned, that predatory, dangerous grin that made you feel like you were in over your head. “Oh, I know more than you think.”

Slade’s presence was suffocating, his shadow looming over you like something darker than the night itself. He’d always had that effect on you, but tonight, with the way he leaned in so close, his words cutting through the air like daggers, you couldn't help but feel a chill creep down your spine.

His eyes never left yours, not for a second, his smirk tightening as if he knew exactly how to push every button. "You know, sweetheart, you always think you’ve got everything figured out, don’t you?” His voice was soft, dangerous, like a whisper in a dark alley. “But you’ve been running from something for a long time. Something you can’t hide from anymore."

You felt your heart beat a little faster, but you refused to show it. You’d dealt with him long enough to know that showing weakness only made him more dangerous. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Slade’s gaze slid over you, dismissive yet calculating. “I think you know exactly what I mean. But let’s not play coy here. You used to be close with Jason. Back when he was alive, at least. You were a team, weren’t you?”

The mention of Jason made your stomach twist, but you clenched your jaw and forced your face into something resembling indifference. You refused to let Slade see you hurt. “What about it?”

“Nothing, just... funny, isn’t it?” Slade’s lips curved into a grin that made your skin crawl. “You two were close. But then, Jason died, and who was left? The family? They couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to you. They didn’t notice when Tiffany came around, and they sure as hell haven’t noticed since.”

Your breath caught in your throat, the truth hitting a little too hard. But you kept your composure, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much it stung. “What do you want, Slade?”

His eyes softened just enough to make you think for a second that he might’ve been telling the truth—only for that same grin to return, sharper than before. “What I want? You're not getting it, sweetheart. It’s not about me. It’s about you.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, trying to figure out just how much of this conversation was manipulation. And how much was something more... personal? The tension between you two was so thick, it felt like it might snap at any moment.

Slade took a step closer, his movements slow, deliberate. “You’ve been wasting your time, haven’t you? Hiding behind that bar, singing, flirting with men who’ll never understand you. You could do so much more than this, you know. You’ve got potential.”

He said the word like it was something sacred. A promise or a curse, you couldn’t quite decide.

You shook your head, taking a small step back. "I don’t need you or anyone else to tell me what I can and can’t do."

Slade’s eyes darkened, his smirk turning predatory. “Oh, I think you do. I think you want to know. Deep down, you’re craving someone to show you how to unlock it. Your powers. Your real potential. You want something bigger, something more than this.”

Your pulse quickened, and a sickening unease washed over you. How the hell did he know about your powers? How much did he really know? The idea that he’d been watching you from afar, or worse, had been tracking your every move, made your skin crawl.

You tried to push that thought away. “I don’t know what you think you know about me, but you’re wrong. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

Slade studied you for a long moment, his gaze never faltering. He was evaluating you, and you could feel the weight of it pressing on your chest. When he spoke again, his tone was almost... too calm, too casual.

“Let’s be real here, darlin'. You do need help. You’ve got power, and I’m not talking about the small-time tricks you’ve been playing with. You could be so much more. But you're stuck. Trapped in this little life you’ve built for yourself because you’re too afraid to face what's really inside you.”

“Why are you even here?” You asked, trying to keep your voice steady, but the edge was starting to creep in. You wanted answers, and you wanted them now. “You disappeared for two months, and now you’re showing up like you know everything about me. What’s your game?”

He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his figure blocking the dim light above you. “My game? I’m not here to play games. I’m here because I’m offering you an opportunity. An opportunity to stop hiding from yourself. To work with me. To really figure out what you’re capable of. I’ve seen the way you move. The way you think. And I know you’re capable of so much more than this little bar. But you’ll need training. You’ll need guidance. My guidance.”

Your eyes narrowed, and you couldn’t stop the involuntary shiver that ran through you. He was offering you something, something you didn’t quite understand, but the implication was clear: he wanted you to join him. To work together.

But there was something... off. The way he was talking. The way he seemed to know everything about you, the things you hadn’t told anyone, not even yourself.

“How do you know all this?” You demanded, your voice cracking despite your best efforts to sound confident. “How do you know about Jason? About Tiffany? About whats happening to me?”

Slade’s grin widened, a strange glint in his eyes as he leaned in, almost as if savoring the tension. “There's nothing I don't know. I know more than you think. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to understand everything right away. You just need to trust me. Trust that I know what you need. And trust that I can give you what you’ve been searching for. What they could never give you.”

His words were like a knife, each one digging deeper. “I’m not asking for your loyalty. Not yet. But think about it, yeah? I’m offering you something bigger than this... this place, these people. I can offer you something real. Power. Freedom.”

Your eyes were still locked with his, but your mind was racing. You couldn't stop the unease creeping through you. There was a part of you that wanted to know what he meant. Wanted to know how far your powers could go. Wanted to trust him, even though everything in your gut told you not to.

“And what about Clark?” You blurted out, unable to stop yourself. “I’m supposed to just... forget about him too? You don’t think I notice? You think I’m some naive little girl who doesn’t know what’s going on? You think I can't see you using me? Trying to groom me?”

Slade’s eyes flickered, just for a moment, before his lips curled into a snide smile. “Clark.” He scoffed. “The big, shiny boy scout with all the answers. I wouldn’t worry too much about him. You and I both know how far that age gap really stretches. He’s too good for you, always will be.”

He took a step closer, his eyes glinting with something dark. “But me? I don’t need to pretend. I know exactly what you need. And I won’t keep running from it like your little superhero friend. I’m offering you something real, and you’re smart enough to see that.”

His words, sharp and possessive, lingered in the air. You swallowed, your throat dry.

“I’ll think about it.” The words came out more breathless than you intended, but Slade didn’t seem to mind.

“Good girl.” His tone was sharp, like an order, but there was something more in it, something possessive, like a claim. He reached out, his fingers brushing your arm as if he had every right to touch you. And the worst part was, you didn’t pull away.

“Don’t take too long,” he murmured, his lips close to your ear. “I’m not the patient type. And when I come back, you’ll have an answer. I’ll be waiting, sweetheart.”

You hated how that sent a chill down your spine.

OKKKKKK WHAT DO YALL THINK??? IS IT GOOD??? BE HONEST!! I BARELY KNEW WHO SLADE WAS BEFORE THIS SO IT MIGHT BE OOC! REMEBER THIS IS AN AU! SORRY IF THERE'S TYPOS I WROTE THIS ON MY PHONE IN BED. I FEEL LIKE IT SUCKS SO I MIGHT TAKE IT DOWN AND NEVER SPEAK OF IT AGAIN!!!!

[yourtypicalhuman09]

Beyond The Bat

(Neglected reader x Yandere batfam)

Chapter 1: In The Shadows

TW!!! Cursing !!Dark AU!!

Living in the Wayne manor isn't the sweet luxurious dream you'd think it'd be, reality is in fact much crueler. For as long as I could remember I had lived in this dreary mansion, but lived isn't the word I'd use. I was more trapped here if anything. My "family", if I could even call them that, are well respected people. They're highly skilled and talented people, someone like me could only dream to be like them. I tried so hard to get close to them, I really did try, but no matter what I did nothing worked. I did everything, gymnastics, martial arts, theater, art, music, coding, dance, volleyball, cheerleading, heck I was even in the honors society. Despite being an A+ student and a role model in high society they never once went to any of my recitals, games, or showcases. I went to galas all alone, I had to deal with the sneering faces and snide remarks of high class men and woman alone since I was 8. Not very safe for a child huh? I didn't think so either but my "father" doesn't seem to care.

Nevertheless, I have no choice in this matter and it's not like life here is unbearable. Sure I get beatings and tongue lashings every now and then, but for the most part everyone in the manor tends to forget me eventually and leave me alone. It's pretty isolating but I got used to it, after all I have duties to perform. I have my job as Student council president and I don't intend to slack off. I got that job with my own blood sweat and tears and I will not let all those sleepless nights go to waste. I don't have time to wallow in self pity I have countless of students looking up to me and counting on me to do my job.

"Young master, are you okay? You seem to be staring off into space."

I looked up to our old butler, his face jaded and littered with wrinkles that seemed to contort pathetically in worry. I knew better than to accept his pity. He seems to be a wise gentle man on the outside with his elegant wardrobe, worn old body, and soft spoken demeanor, but do not be fooled. In truth, Alfred Pennyworth was a foolish coward. This was the same man who abandoned his own daughter just like my idiot of a father. I gave him a chance, but nothing's been the same since the day he accidentally called me Julia. I was nothing but a stand in for him, someone to relieve his guilt with.

"I'm fine. Don't you have something better to do? I'm sure Bruce has some kind of task for you, no need to bother yourself with my problems"

"...Very well then...Take care of yourself young master."

He clearly had something more to say but he decided to do nothing and walk away. Like I said he's a coward. Still I'm not new to disappointment, whether it's the disappointment of missed birthdays or the way they all see me as the disappointment, it's nothing I haven't experienced before. I quickly packed up my things and headed to school. Sure riding to school on an old worn out bike isn't exactly ideal, but I have to deal with what I have. Although, I do have to take some back alleys to school since I don't want anyone seeing and starting a scandal. I can already see the blaring headlines, "Daughter of Gotham's richest man caught riding to school on a beat up bicycle!". What a bunch of nosy bastards.

"Good mornin' (Y/N)!"

I turned to face the sunny senior calling my name, his unadulterated joy making him stand out in the crowd of groggy gothamites.

"Good morning Cyrus."

My crisp responses never seems to deter the boy as he continues to walk beside me chattering endlessly.

"(Y/N) I got things you asked! It's super cool what you're doing for the school, I'm so happy I get to be apart of it! If you ever need help with anything please do ask me!"

I sighed, his joyful energy was contagious. I couldn't help but crack a smile. Though it quickly disappeared as I regained my composure, but obviously not fast enough since Cyrus' joy seems to only be growing.

"Ahhhhh (Y/N) just smiled! I made the student president smile! I'm so sigma"

Here he goes again with those weird words and that cocky grin. I sighed once again, I'm too tired for this.

"Yes thank you Cyrus get to class now, I'll pick up the things I asked for after school."

"Yes ma'am!"

I watched as he playfully saluted and ran to class almost bumping into several people along the way. I facepalmed, he was such a handful but strangely I don't really mind. It's probably the lack of sleep I'll make sure to go to bed early today, for now I have to get to class myself.

Author's note: Omg chapter one is finally out! This took me a lot longer than expected but I hope it's good I went through a tiny writer's block😅. I hope you guys like Cyrus I tried to make him a silly and sunny character but trust me he'll have lore and be a much deeper character. I also tried making (Y/N)'s backstory pretty vague since they're the narrator and I figured they wouldn't like talking about it, but their lore will be revealed more throughout future chapters. Anyways as always thank you all for reading and have a good day/night!

Credits to khaer for the dividers

@simpingpandas @rosalietodd013 @sirenetheblogger @cim0nnin @00hellohello00 @crazycaoticsimp @lovebug-apple @youdontknowshtaboutfk

[lexirosewrites]

It's traditional for parents to keep their pup's stuffed animals after they stop using them or decide they don't want them anymore for whatever reason in case they present as an Omega later in life and crave those things for their nest. It's a bit like a hope chest but it's filled with baby blankets, stuffies, and one or two larger blankets for a future nest. If the pup presents as something other than an Omega it's up to them what happens with the trunk since they won't be building nests.

By the 80s it's become normalized for high-bred parents who give birth to a son to collect those things after a certain age and dispose of them as a kind of superstition/way to say, "we know our superior genes will give us a Male Alpha so we can just get rid of all this stuff." Steve's parents are of this variety and take all his nice, soft things away from him when he turns seven. Originally they planned to let him keep everything until he turned ten but they agreed their son was a little too attached to his stuffies and dollies for a future Alpha and took them away early. They tear apart his room, take anything soft and "omegan" out, cover the soft blue walls in wallpaper, and move him to a double bed with starchy cotton sheets.

Steve hates it. He hates the feeling of rough cotton on his skin, the stiff blue jeans his mom makes him wear, and the scratchy, too-tight polos. Every now and then, he sneaks a softer shirt into the fold, and those become his favorites. He feels wrong and it makes him quick to temper and roo wrung out for school.

When he presents as an Omega at 17 he has a terrible false heat that lasts for five days. First heats usually only last a day or two and aren't full blown, but Omegas also usually have their packs present and ready to supply them with their chests and make them feel comfortable and safe. It's usually a time when packs bond as they teach the Omega how to build their first nest. Robin comes early on day three after not hearing from Steve for 48 hours and helps him through the rest. She rushes home and takes a blanket out of her own nest and a couple others from the living room and helps Steve build a nest to his own liking and helps him eat and drink.

Afterward, Robin tries to insist that he take more from her nest but he refuses because he knows how important those things are to settling an Omega and Robin is a ball of nerves as is. She relents but makes him keep the blanket and comes by at least once a week to roll around in his blankets to keep her scent fresh.

Once the kids start handing out with Eddie in their freshman year, the Alpha takes advantage of his new proximity to Steve to finally pursue him. He's been half in love with Steve since before he even presented as an Omega and has just been waiting for an in that didn't make him look like every other desperate Alpha chasing his tail. The guys all say he has no chance and he's going to make a fool of himself and to be fair, he kind of does. He amps up the dramatics and makes a fool out of himself on the daily, showering Steve with praise and admiration every time they meet and it isn't long before Steve is falling for this goofy, kind Alpha who makes him laugh.

When Steve invites Eddie to see his nest for the first time, Eddie is heartbroken at the lack of Steve's presence in his own nest. He has the blanket from Robin and a couple he bought after he presented but that's about it. Steve explains what his parents did and Eddie is so fucking mad and tells Steve so, but he lets his Omega pull him into the barren nest and scent him until they fall asleep.

Eddie wakes up early the next morning and sneaks out of bed and heads for the trailer. When he gets back to the Harrington house Steve is still asleep, so Eddie wakes him up with soft touches and light kisses all over his cheeks.

Eddie presented early due to stress at the age of 12 right before he moved in with Wayne. It's what ultimately got him removed from his Father's care. But the one thing Al Munson never got to touch was Eddie's presentation chest, which his mom had made sure to stash with Wayne before she died. When Wayne reunited him with his chest that first day at the trailer, he made sure to tell Eddie that he wouldn't think less of him, think him any less of an Alpha, if he decided to keep it, and so he did.

Eddie tells him that he knows it's not the same, but if Steve would like to have the contents of his presentation chest then Eddie would be more than happy to give it to him. Steve gladly accepts, crying tears of love into his Alpha's neck.

They spend the rest of the morning rearranging Steve's nest to include Eddie's favorite childhood toys and blankets, both of them relishing in the scent of home.

stopppp this is too sweet🥺😭

[rubyuji]

She got the Ruby ๋࣭ ⭑🎸⊹ ࣪ ˖

“No way. I never knew how much I needed this kind of chaos until you showed up.” ᝰ.ᐟ

Genre: Slowburn, Fluff

AU: University AU

Pairing: Music Major!Woozi x Afab!Reader

Warnings: None

Synopsis: Jihoon had never been one for romance or dating—no one had ever truly caught his eye. But everything changed when he saw you bathed in the glow of red light at Soonyoung’s party, your ruby lips captivating him and making his heart race like never before. Why could you, a stranger, leave him so utterly spellbound?

Note: User rubyuji finally publishing a fic about her bias?! LMAO to be completely honest, this fic had been in my google docs for so long that I'm surprised it made it out despite the writer's block. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it! Don't forget to like + reblog as form of support!

W.C: 8.3k

Dating was never an option for someone in Jihoon’s league. His packed schedule aside, he barely left the house most of the time. Whenever his friends—emphasis on tried—attempted to introduce him to someone, the feedback was always the same: he was either too busy or seemed completely uninterested. 

It wasn’t entirely his fault, though. Jihoon had never quite found his footing in the dating world. Either the idea simply hadn’t appealed to him, or the person his friends introduced was too different for him to find common ground.

“Oh, come on! We’ve introduced you to, like, six people already, and you didn’t like any of them! You’re hopeless, Jihoon,” Soonyoung whined, dramatically flopping onto the couch beside his friend.

Jihoon barely spared him a glance, rolling his eyes as his fingers continued to move across the keyboard.

Soonyoung was a great friend—Jihoon couldn’t deny that. Even if he didn’t always show it, he cared about the guy a lot. But sometimes, Soonyoung could be a handful. His intentions were always good, sure, but Jihoon wasn’t ready to dive into the complicated world of relationships or love. Not now, not when all he could focus on was graduating, as if his entire life depended on it.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but being in a relationship is the least of my worries right now,” Jihoon sighed, closing his laptop with a faint click.

As if on cue, his other friend, Wonwoo, emerged from Jihoon’s room, looking like he’d just rolled out of bed after a long nap.

“You barely leave the house and hole up here like a damn hermit. You should take some time to relax once in a while, you know?” he quipped, leaning against the doorframe.

Jihoon rubbed his temples, his brows knitting together in mild frustration. He knew his friends meant well, but their constant prodding was starting to feel like a broken record.

Soonyoung suddenly gasped, drawing curious looks from the other two men. “How about this? We’re heading to my frat tonight—I’ve got a party planned. Maybe Jihoon could find someone to mingle with. It wouldn’t hurt, right? And if you end up hating it or don’t meet anyone, you can leave. No pressure.”

Jihoon’s mouth fell open like a fish out of water at Soonyoung’s suggestion.

He didn’t mind parties per se, but Soonyoung’s events were... something else. Case in point: Soonyoung had once woken up on the frat’s lawn after one of his infamous ragers and called Jihoon to help clean up the trashed house. But that was a story for another day.

Still, Jihoon found himself considering the idea. He hadn’t left his apartment in nearly a week, and after working nonstop, a change of scenery might not be the worst thing in the world.

Jihoon wasn’t a prude—far from it. He simply preferred to conserve his energy and steer clear of activities that drained him too much.

It was just part of his nature, and honestly, one of the reasons he couldn’t see himself dating someone too outgoing or high-energy. Still, this party might be an opportunity to step outside his usual bubble and meet someone new—someone who wasn’t just a direct connection to his friends.

“I’ll go this once, I guess. But if it’s a bust, I’m leaving immediately, like we agreed,” Jihoon sighed, his tone resigned.

From the kitchen, he heard the unmistakable sound of Wonwoo spitting out his water in shock, while Soonyoung erupted into cheers, dancing around the room like he’d just won the lottery.

Jihoon rolled his eyes but knew he couldn’t show up looking like a mess. If he was going to meet someone, he might as well make himself look presentable.

On the other hand, you weren’t exactly a fan of the party scene either. So why were you at Junhui’s frat, holding a red Solo cup, half-listening to Mingyu and Seokmin discuss some new workout Mingyu had discovered?

“Hey, are you even listening to me?” Mingyu huffed, snapping you out of your daze with an exasperated look.

You smirked, taking a sip from your cup. “Mingyu, you’re the biggest gym rat I know—besides Chan and Seungcheol. And Seok, don’t think you’re safe either. I’m not even surprised you found another workout to torture us with next week at the gym.”

Mingyu groaned dramatically while Seokmin burst out laughing at your comment. Shaking your head, you got up from your spot on the couch.

“Alright, I’m gonna go look for Saerom,” you announced, giving them a playful wave before weaving through the party crowd.

“If you see Minghao, let him know I’m looking for him,” Mingyu called after you. You gave a casual two-finger salute in response before heading to the kitchen, relishing the sudden drop in noise and the smaller crowd.

Saerom was leaning against the counter, deep in conversation with Jihyo. When they spotted you, both waved you over.

“Hey, have you guys seen Minghao anywhere?” you asked as you joined them.

Jihyo shrugged, and Saerom shook her head. “Mingyu’s looking for him, right? Well, no sign of him yet,” Saerom replied.

“Figures,” you chuckled. “Also, can you believe the party’s host is MIA? Imagine Soonyoung being late to one of his own ragers for once. That’s wild.”

Saerom laughed as she refilled your cup, the three of you slipping easily back into lighthearted conversation.

Before your friends can give out another remark, you guys hear Soonyoung’s boisterous laughter coming from the living room. “Looks like I spoke too soon?” You pout in faux disappointment. 

“Hey, isn’t that Lee Jihoon? Isn’t he in your class, Rom?” Jihyo pointed out, her finger directed toward the familiar face standing beside Seungcheol. Your brows raised in surprise.

As far as you know, Jihoon, along with Seungcheol, Wonwoo, and Mingyu, lived off-campus. So seeing him here was unusual—he was practically an anomaly in these parties, appearing only on rare occasions.

“That’s crazy, he’s actually at a party right now,” Saerom giggled. “We should go over to Soonyoung and see what’s up.”

You found yourself following your friends without much thought, a sudden interest in Jihoon sparking inside you.

He looks insanely good in that black button-up, and those forearms— The thought immediately made you snap back to reality, shaking your head slightly as you tried to regain focus.

“Y/N! Saerom, Jihyo! Looks like you made it too,” Soonyoung laughed, his voice bright as he spotted the three of you. Your friends rolled their eyes playfully, clearly used to Soonyoung’s usual antics.

“Yeah, we know she’s your favorite,” Jihyo teased, raising an eyebrow. “But seriously, how did you manage to convince THE Lee Jihoon to come to one of your wild frat parties?”

Soonyoung shrugged casually, glancing over at Jihoon, who was deep in conversation with Wonwoo and Junhui across the room.

“I don’t know. We talked about the party a while ago when we were at his place. I mentioned it, and he’s been holed up in his apartment all week, so I thought maybe he could use a break,” Soonyoung explained, reaching for a random Solo cup Jeonghan handed him, the latter seamlessly inserting himself into the conversation. 

“We also kinda wanted him to meet someone, but... that’s out of the question for now.” Soonyoung almost sighed as he said this, clearly not expecting much.

Your friends laughed at his comment, their attention drifting back to the conversation, leaving you free to let your gaze wander. It landed on Jihoon, just as it had moments ago.

You couldn’t deny it—Jihoon was undeniably attractive, and he was definitely your type. But you had no idea how to approach him, especially since you’d barely exchanged a word with the guy.

“Interested in Jihoon, huh? Can’t blame you. Soonyoung, Cheol, and practically everyone else has been on his case about getting a girlfriend—or at least starting to date someone,” Chan suddenly appeared beside you, causing you to jump in surprise. You hit his shoulder playfully, and he chuckled.

“I’ve barely spoken to him,” you sighed dramatically. “The only other time I’ve seen him was at Mingyu’s birthday, and the most we exchanged was him passing me a plate and me saying ‘thank you.’ I highly doubt he remembers that, considering he barely even looked at me.”

Chan laughed again, but this time he grabbed your arm and started pulling you toward the dance floor as the music grew louder and the crowd tipsier.

“Fine, take a moment to think about it. But for now, let’s dance! Give it your all—you didn’t take all of Soonyoung’s and my classes for nothing, right?” Chan yelled over the music, his grin wide.

You couldn’t help but laugh as Chan spun you into a playful dance battle, challenging you to keep up. Just then, the lights suddenly flickered off, and Junhui’s makeshift spotlights sprang to life, bathing the room in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors.

While you and Chan lost yourselves to the beat, Jihoon made his way over to where Jeonghan, Wonwoo, and Minghao were lounging, the latter two likely too lazy to join the chaos on the dance floor. He plopped down onto the beanbag next to Jeonghan, who glanced at him with mild curiosity.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. What made you change your mind?” Jeonghan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jihoon shrugged casually, taking a sip from his Solo cup filled with Coke Zero. He wasn’t much of a drinker, so he had opted out of anything stronger.

“Soonyoung and Seungcheol insisted I needed to get out of the apartment and let loose a bit. I’d been holed up there all week, just going back and forth between home, university, and the gym, so I figured I’d give it a shot,” Jihoon explained, his gaze drifting to the dance floor.

His eyes found Mingyu in the middle of the dance circle before flitting over to you.

As you danced alongside Chan, Jihoon’s eyes lingered on you, captivated by your movements. Seokmin and Seungkwan were in the middle of their own dance battle nearby, but Jihoon couldn’t tear his focus away from you.

You looked... familiar. He was sure you had been at Mingyu’s birthday party, and he had seen you with Soonyoung around campus, but he never really paid much attention until now.

It was almost as if everything slowed down for Jihoon at that moment. He took in every detail—how you looked so effortlessly good while dancing, how the red light seemed to make you glow. Red was his favorite color, and seeing the hue reflected in the lipstick on your lips only made things worse as he tried to hide how drawn to you he felt.

“Dude, why are you so thirsty?” Soonyoung’s voice snapped Jihoon out of his daze, and he immediately felt heat rush to his face. Wonwoo laughed, clearly noticing Jihoon’s flushed ears, while Minghao tried to suppress a smile.

Jihoon was finally making progress in his love life, and his friends couldn’t be more proud of him for stepping out of his shell.

“Finally, someone’s caught your attention,” Soonyoung teased, his grin widening. “Do you want me to bring Y/N over?”

Soonyoung’s plan was falling into place perfectly. The fact that Jihoon was showing interest in you—of all people—was just ideal.

You were everything Jihoon needed. Well, almost. You weren’t big on the party scene and preferred staying in, though you did go out more often than him if invited by the right people (the ‘right people’ being Mingyu).

You had a personality that could easily draw people in, and on top of that, you were the full package: pretty, smart, and kind. But being as perfect as you were also meant that you had no shortage of admirers.

“You know, Y/N’s great. She’s practically Seungcheol’s other half,” Jeonghan said, clapping his hands enthusiastically.

Everyone around them was practically buzzing with excitement, seeing Jihoon finally step out of his comfort zone. Honestly, Jihoon felt a strange surge of courage; for once, he was ready to take a risk.

“I mean, if she’s that amazing, why not? But how do I even approach her?” Jihoon asked, glancing over again. This time, he saw you dancing with Mingyu, your smile outshining every light in the room.

“Y/N’s laid-back. She can talk to anyone if you just let her be herself,” Wonwoo chimed in. “She’s a bit of a yapper, but in the best way possible—everyone feels comfortable around her.”

Jihoon didn’t get a chance to respond because, just then, you and Mingyu started making your way toward their group, which set off an eruption of teasing from all sides.

You waved at the guys before gently ushering Mingyu off to have fun with the others, then settled on the couch beside Wonwoo. It just so happened to be the seat directly across from Jihoon.

“Y/N! You’re not really into the party scene. What made you come?” Soonyoung called out loudly. You shot him a questioning glance and laughed.

He knew you enjoyed a party every now and then, but then your eyes caught sight of Jihoon sitting next to him, and suddenly, you understood.

“You know I enjoy the occasional party, Soonyoung. Today’s no different—I just wanted to let loose a bit,” you replied, leaning forward on the couch to grab an empty red cup from the table. You filled it with whatever concoction was in the bowl nearby.

“Is this spiked, by the way? Don’t wanna end up drugged or anything,” you joked, raising an eyebrow. Wonwoo shook his head to signal that it was safe and that you trusted his judgment.

“Oh, and Y/N,” Jeonghan chimed in, “Jihoon here actually wanted to talk to you. Why don’t you two take a moment?”

A smile tugged at your lips as you realized this was your chance. Chan’s words echoed in your mind—a lot of people sought after you, but no one had ever really stood out—until now.

Jihoon caught your attention in a way that felt different, and with a little liquid courage in your system, you felt ready to take that first step. You were grateful for the alcohol, knowing that without it, you might’ve been a complete mess by now.

“Well, we’ll leave you two alone then,” Jeonghan smirked, causing you to flush. You noticed Jihoon looked just as flustered as your friends began to leave the room one by one.

An awkward silence settled between you, and you decided to make the first move, choosing to go with the flow.

After all, what did you have to lose—other than your dignity if Jihoon didn’t respond?

“I take it you’re not the most sociable type? Or a huge partygoer?” you chuckled awkwardly.

Jihoon chuckled too, nodding as he noticed your flustered demeanor. Just moments ago, you had seemed so confident, but now seeing you shy around him gave him a strange sense of comfort.

He wasn’t used to many women approaching him, especially since he had no experience in the dating scene. Soonyoung and Seungcheol had quite literally thrown him into the deep end.

Jihoon scratched the back of his neck nervously, his eyes meeting yours for the first time since the awkward silence.

"I guess you could say that," he said, his voice soft but a bit unsure.

"I’m more of a quiet type, not really into the whole party scene. But Soonyoung and Seungcheol… they’ve been pushing me to get out more. I’m not used to this kind of thing."

He gave you a small, sheepish smile, as if trying to lighten the moment. There was a warmth in his expression, a vulnerability that surprised you. It made you feel like you weren’t the only one navigating uncharted waters.

You couldn’t help but smile back, your own nervousness easing a little. "I get it. I’m not really a party person either," you replied with a chuckle.

"I like the idea of letting loose, but it always seems a bit overwhelming. I’m more of the 'quiet drink in the corner' type myself."

Jihoon laughed softly at that, the tension between you both melting away just a little bit more. It was strange, but in that moment, you both seemed to find common ground in your shared discomfort.

There was something about the way Jihoon looked at you now, something less guarded, as if he was starting to feel more comfortable.

"Yeah, I get what you mean," he said, his tone a little more relaxed.

"I’d rather be at home, with my laptop and music. At least there, I don’t have to deal with—" He paused for a moment, glancing around the chaotic party. "All this."

You laughed, nodding in agreement. "Exactly. There’s something peaceful about just being at home, away from all the noise. But hey, at least we’re both getting out, right?"

"True," Jihoon said with a smile that made your heart flutter. "I guess we’re both stepping out of our comfort zones."

You looked around for a moment, the buzz of the party now seeming a little more tolerable. "I wouldn’t say I’m exactly ‘stepping out’—more like ‘dragged out’," you teased, raising an eyebrow.

Jihoon chuckled at that, and you noticed how his eyes lingered on you for just a moment longer than usual.

The playful banter seemed to ease the nerves you were both feeling. It was refreshing to talk to someone who understood that sometimes, a quiet escape was more appealing than all the loud distractions in the world.

As if to prove his point, Jihoon glanced toward the dance floor, where his friends were causing even more chaos, and let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

"I swear, they get louder every time. I feel like I might go deaf just by being around them."

You laughed at that, and before you knew it, you were both talking more comfortably, sharing little details about yourselves. You were beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, this night wasn’t as bad as you had originally thought.

"By the way," Jihoon said after a beat, suddenly looking a little hesitant again.

"I hope I’m not being too forward, but… if you’re not busy later, maybe we could grab a drink or something? I mean, I know this place is kind of… well, loud, but it could be nice to talk more, you know?"

Your heart skipped a beat at the offer, and you tried to hide your surprise with a smile. "Yeah," you replied, a little more confidently than you felt. "I’d like that."

The moment hung between you two, and for the first time that night, the noise of the party seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of you in a bubble of quiet connection.

The next day, you found yourself sitting with Mingyu and Seungkwan at a quiet café, the bright morning sun filtering through the windows.

You had been eager to tell Mingyu about your interaction with Jihoon the night before, especially after how much your friends had teased you about it.

Seungkwan, ever the curious one, was also there, sipping his coffee with a raised eyebrow, clearly interested in hearing what had happened.

"So," Mingyu started, leaning forward with a grin.

"How was last night? Did you end up talking to Jihoon like you said you would?" He shot you a knowing look, clearly trying not to make it too obvious that he was playing matchmaker in his own way.

You chuckled, feeling a bit sheepish at the memory.

"Yeah, we actually did talk. I mean, it wasn’t anything super exciting or dramatic, but we had a decent conversation. He's... surprisingly easy to talk to, you know?"

Seungkwan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "I thought Jihoon was like the silent, brooding type. What did you guys even talk about?"

You shrugged, a smile playing at your lips as you recalled the night.

"We mostly talked about how neither of us are really into the party scene. We ended up bonding over how much we’d rather stay home than deal with all the noise. It was actually kind of nice, just... quiet, you know?" You caught Mingyu’s knowing smirk and rolled your eyes.

"Stop it. I’m just saying we connected a little more than I expected."

Mingyu and Seungkwan exchanged a glance, and Seungkwan raised his cup in a mock toast. "Well, looks like you’re in the clear then. It’s not every day someone gets Jihoon out of his shell."

"Right?" You laughed, trying not to let your excitement show too much. "I didn’t expect it either. But I guess he’s not as intimidating as I thought."

Just as Seungkwan was about to say something else, your phone buzzed on the table. You grabbed it, expecting a random message, but when you saw the name on the screen, your heart skipped a beat.

It was Jihoon.

Hey, it’s Jihoon. I got your number from Cheol. Would you be free to hang out after your classes are done today?

You couldn’t help but smile as you read the message. Your friends were watching you closely, no doubt noticing the shift in your demeanor.

"You okay there, Y/n?" Mingyu asked, a teasing grin on his face. "Something got you smiling like that?"

You bit your lip, quickly typing out a reply, trying not to let your excitement show too much. Sure, I’d like that. I finish class around 4. How about then?

As you hit send, you glanced up at your friends. Seungkwan was grinning widely, clearly having caught onto what was happening. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with mischief. "Looks like someone’s got a date on their hands."

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at your lips.

"We’re just hanging out," you said, trying to play it cool. "But yeah, I guess we’ll see how it goes."

Mingyu raised his cup again, his grin widening. "You know, I always knew Jihoon had it in him. I’m just glad someone finally got him to make a move. Let’s see where this goes."

You couldn’t help but feel a little giddy at the thought. Jihoon had actually asked you to hang out. After everything that had happened last night, this felt like the beginning of something new—and you were more than curious to see where it would lead.

The afternoon passed in a blur, and as soon as your last class ended, you hurriedly made your way back to your apartment to get ready for your date with Jihoon. You were a bit nervous but also excited—this was a new experience for both of you, and the idea of spending time together in a more intimate setting had you feeling hopeful.

As you walked into your apartment, you were greeted by the sound of music blaring from the living room. Yerin, your roommate, was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

“Whoa, slow down there!” Yerin called out with a teasing grin as she looked up from her phone. “A date tonight? Are you rushing to see him or something?” She raised an eyebrow and put down her phone, clearly enjoying the playful jab.

You froze for a second, a flush creeping up your neck. “I’m not rushing! I just... want to look good, okay?” You quickly grabbed your clothes for the evening from your closet, trying to brush off Yerin’s teasing.

Yerin sat up on the couch and leaned forward with a sly smile.

“Uh-huh, sure. You know, I was starting to wonder if Jihoon was actually real or if he was just a figment of your imagination. But now it looks like you’re actually getting ready for him.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Shut up, Yerin. I’m just trying to make sure everything goes well tonight.”

Yerin laughed, crossing her arms. “I’ll be here, waiting to hear all the details when you get back! I’m expecting the full scoop.”

You quickly finished getting ready, making sure to choose a stylish but comfortable outfit. You knew Jihoon wasn’t exactly the flashy type, so you opted for something that felt both casual and a little special.

Once you were done, you grabbed your bag and walked out of your room. As you stepped out into the living room, Yerin was still lounging on the couch, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“I’m serious, I want the full report later,” she called as you made your way to the door. “Have fun, and don’t forget to text me when you’re on your way back!”

You chuckled, throwing her a playful wave before stepping out the door.

When you arrived at the restaurant, Jihoon was already waiting for you outside. He looked a little nervous but also endearingly handsome, standing there in a smart button-up and dark jeans. His eyes lit up when he saw you, and his expression softened into a smile.

“Hey,” Jihoon greeted, stepping forward. “I hope this place is okay. I figured it might be more... private for our first time hanging out like this.”

You smiled back, feeling a surge of affection for how thoughtful he was. “It looks perfect. Very cozy, just what I needed after a long day.” You gently bumped your shoulder against his as you greeted him.

Jihoon seemed to hesitate for a moment, then reached into his bag and pulled out a small bouquet of red roses. Your heart skipped a beat as he offered them to you, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

“I... I thought these might brighten your day.”

You were momentarily taken aback by the gesture. Jihoon wasn’t the most outwardly romantic person, but the red roses made it clear how much he was putting himself into this. “Jihoon, these are beautiful. Thank you,” you said, your voice softer than usual.

“Of course,” Jihoon mumbled, his ears tinged with pink. “I wanted to make tonight a little special.”

You took the flowers, your heartwarming at the gesture. "You definitely did."

Jihoon led you into the restaurant, a sleek, modern spot known for its great ambiance and exquisite food. As you stepped inside, the dim lighting, soft music, and cozy atmosphere made it feel like the perfect setting for a first date. You quickly spotted the table he had reserved, a secluded spot with a view of the rest of the restaurant.

You sat down, and for a moment, there was a brief, awkward silence.

"So," you started, trying to ease the tension, "you’ve clearly got some taste. This place is nice."

Jihoon chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I actually googled a few places... and picked one that looked like it wouldn't make me look too much like a rookie. Not that I’m exactly experienced in this stuff," he admitted with a sheepish smile.

You couldn’t help but smile at his honesty. "Don’t worry, Jihoon. I’m definitely not an expert either. We’re both figuring this out, right?"

Jihoon nodded, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and nervousness.

"Yeah, we’re in this together."

The waiter approached, and after a brief moment of looking over the menu, you and Jihoon placed your orders. As the waiter left, Jihoon met your gaze again, his expression softening.

"So," he said, leaning in a little, his tone quieter now, "what’s been keeping you busy lately? Besides... school, obviously."

You laughed softly, feeling more comfortable now that the initial awkwardness had passed. "Honestly? Between classes and spending time with friends, I’ve just been trying to make some time for myself. It’s been a lot of balancing everything, you know?"

Jihoon nodded, his eyes reflecting a deeper understanding.

"Yeah, I get that. I’ve been stuck in my routine lately, just going to class, the gym, and back home. It feels like the same thing every day, so I figured... maybe it was time to break out of that a little."

You smiled, a soft laugh escaping you. "Well, you definitely made the right decision tonight. It’s nice to step out of the routine every once in a while."

Jihoon smiled back, his gaze lingering on you longer than usual. "Yeah. And I’m glad it’s with you."

The words hung in the air between you, but instead of making things feel heavy, they only added to the warmth between you both. Just then, the waiter arrived with your drinks, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics as the evening progressed.

As the weeks passed, Jihoon and you began to fall into a comfortable routine.

After each of your classes, you’d find yourself grabbing a quick bite to eat at the diner near campus, or sometimes just walking home together, talking about everything from random observations to deeper conversations about life.

 It had started off a bit awkward, but now, it felt effortless, like you had both found something meaningful in the mundane moments.

Jihoon was starting to appreciate the routine. It wasn’t something that had ever appealed to him before—he’d always been the kind to keep to himself, going through the motions of class, gym, and home without seeking much beyond that. But with you, he found himself looking forward to these little moments. 

He loved hearing about your day, even the small things you thought were unimportant. Your laughter became a highlight of his afternoon, and as silly as it might’ve sounded, he loved walking beside you, his hand brushing against yours as you talked.

One particular day, after a long class, Jihoon met you outside the building, your usual spot. His eyes softened when he saw you, and despite the crowds, he only had eyes for you. You were wearing a loose sweater and jeans, your hair tucked into a messy bun, looking effortlessly cute.

“Hey, ready to go?” Jihoon asked, offering you a small smile. You nodded, pulling your bag over your shoulder.

“Yeah, just finished my last lecture. Let’s get food, I’m starving.”

“Same here,” Jihoon replied, glancing down at his phone. “How about that diner? I’m craving their fries today.”

You laughed, nudging him with your shoulder as the two of you started walking. “You and your fries. But sure, that works for me.”

The walk to the diner was filled with comfortable conversation, the two of you easily slipping into familiar banter.

As you entered the diner, you found your usual booth by the window and sat down, already chatting about how your day had gone. Jihoon, for the first time in a while, felt completely at ease.

Then as you two dug into your food, Jihoon noticed something he hadn’t before—how he found himself looking forward to this part of his day.

He was actually looking forward to seeing you, to sharing these moments. And it wasn’t just about the food or the walk anymore; it was about spending time with you.

Later that week, Soonyoung, who had been hanging out with Jihoon more recently, couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in his friend’s behavior.

Jihoon, who used to brush off talks about relationships or showing any kind of emotion, had been smiling more, his mood noticeably lighter. Soonyoung wasn’t exactly one to shy away from calling things as they were, and it didn’t take long for him to notice what was happening.

“Okay, what’s going on with you?” Soonyoung asked one day, leaning against the doorframe of Jihoon’s room, a teasing smile on his face.

Jihoon, who had been lounging on his bed with his laptop open, looked up in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You’re different,” Soonyoung said, crossing his arms. “You’re actually smiling. You’re not as... grumpy anymore. Did you get a new pet or something?”

Jihoon chuckled, shaking his head. “No, no new pet. Just... you know. Life’s good.”

Soonyoung raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk forming. “Uh-huh. So, it’s ‘life’s good,’ huh? Is this about Y/n?”

Jihoon froze for a second, his eyes widening. He wasn’t exactly trying to keep things a secret, but Soonyoung was quick to catch on. “What?” Jihoon tried to brush it off, but it was no use.

“I knew it,” Soonyoung said, grinning. “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”

Jihoon let out a frustrated sigh, but a soft smile tugged at his lips. “It’s not like that. We’ve just been hanging out a lot lately. I’m not sure what’s going on.”

“Oh, please,” Soonyoung laughed, throwing himself onto Jihoon’s bed.

“I’ve known you long enough to tell when you’re crushing on someone. You’ve been acting differently, Jihoon. You actually care about your schedule now. You used to skip meals like it was nothing, but now I see you going to class early, and I even saw you texting Y/n before your last lecture yesterday.”

Jihoon felt his cheeks heat up. “Okay, okay, you got me. But it’s not a big deal.”

Soonyoung sat up, his grin never fading. “You’re so obvious, man. You’re just making it worse by trying to act like it’s nothing. Just admit it: you like her.”

Jihoon sighed but couldn’t help the smile that broke out across his face.

“Fine, I like her. Happy now?”

Soonyoung let out a dramatic gasp. “I knew it! Jihoon’s got a crush! You two are so cute. But seriously, don’t mess it up.”

Jihoon ran a hand through his hair, the smile still on his face. “I’m trying not to. It’s just... I’ve never really done this before, you know?”

Soonyoung patted Jihoon’s back. “It’s all good. Just take it easy. You’re doing fine. Just keep being yourself.”

As the conversation ended, Jihoon found himself thinking about how much he had changed over the past few weeks.

He wasn’t just going through the motions anymore; he was actually living, enjoying these moments with you. And he couldn’t help but think that maybe—just maybe—there was something more to explore between the two of you.

It was a Friday night, and you were at your apartment with Yerin and Jennie, sprawled across your couch with snacks, blankets, and plenty of gossip.

The three of you had been best friends for what felt like forever, and sleepovers were a tradition. You’d all gathered to catch up, share some laughs, and spill some tea—this time, about your not-so-secret crush.

Yerin was curled up with her phone, scrolling through TikTok, while Jennie, ever the gossip queen, was snuggled under a blanket beside you, eagerly waiting for you to spill the details.

“So,” Jennie said, raising an eyebrow and giving you a mischievous smile. “How’s Jihoon? Been seeing each other a lot lately?”

You paused for a moment, unsure if you were ready to admit just how much you liked him yet. But you knew your best friends well, and there was no point in holding back.

They’d seen you go through a million crushes, and they weren’t about to let you keep this one under wraps for long.

“I mean…” you began, glancing at Yerin for support, “It’s been nice, really nice. We’ve been hanging out a lot lately—like, almost every day after class.”

Jennie’s eyes immediately widened. “Wait, what? Every day? Are you telling me that you two have become, like, regulars at that diner near campus?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” you chuckled. “We get dinner there after classes, talk about anything and everything. It’s kind of become our thing.”

Yerin, who had been half-paying attention, looked up from her phone at the mention of Jihoon. “Wait a second, hold on. I thought Jihoon was this… grumpy, antisocial guy. You know, the one who never really goes out?”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too,” you said with a small laugh. “But honestly? I think he’s just been waiting for the right person. And I guess… maybe I’m that person.”

Jennie grinned widely, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement. “Oh my god, I knew it! I saw the way you two were around each other last time, and I was like, ‘Something’s going on here.’ You two just click.”

Yerin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, how does he feel about you? You’ve been spending all this time with him. Have you two… talked about anything serious yet?”

You took a deep breath, feeling the fluttering in your chest as you thought about Jihoon.

“We haven’t really defined anything yet. I think we’re both just taking things slow. But honestly, I feel like there’s a connection there, something real.”

Yerin smiled knowingly, setting her phone down. “I can tell you like him, Y/n. And I’m glad he’s making you happy. Just make sure to take it slow and enjoy the ride. You don’t have to rush into anything.”

Jennie, ever the romantic, added, “Yeah, but also, when are you two going to make it official? I’m dying to hear how this all goes down.”

You laughed, brushing your hair out of your face. “I don’t know if we’re at that point yet. We’re still just figuring things out.”

“Right, right,” Jennie teased. “But I know how you are, Y/n. You’re gonna make him fall for you, and it’s going to be cute. You two are a total power couple in the making.”

You rolled your eyes, but deep down, you appreciated their support. “I’m just trying to enjoy these moments with him right now. But… I don’t know. I think I’m starting to like him more than I expected.”

Yerin leaned back, resting her head on the pillow, clearly satisfied with the conversation.

“You’re allowed to like him, Y/n. Honestly, I think Jihoon’s a good match for you. He’s different from the guys you usually go for. He seems like he genuinely cares.”

Jennie gave a dramatic sigh. “I’m already calling dibs on being your maid of honor whenever you two get married.”

Yerin snorted, throwing a pillow at Jennie. “Are you trying to jinx it already? Slow down, lovebird.”

You laughed, feeling a warmth in your chest as your best friends teased you. It felt good to talk about Jihoon, to let someone else in on what you were feeling. It was different from all the other crushes you’d had, and you knew that it was only the beginning of something special.

But for now, you were content to take it one step at a time, with your friends by your side and Jihoon slowly making his way into your heart.

After a long and stressful week of finals, you were finally free. The relief that flooded over you was immense, and the anticipation of meeting Jihoon made it even sweeter.

You had both been texting throughout the week, but with finals consuming all of your time, you hadn't been able to meet up. Tonight, though, was different.

Jihoon had messaged you earlier, asking if you wanted to meet up once you were done with everything. You could already feel the excitement building in your chest.

As you walked out of the library, the crisp night air greeted you, and your phone buzzed in your pocket. Jihoon’s message appeared on the screen:

Jihoon: "Hey, I was thinking we could grab dinner. You deserve a break after finals. I’ll meet you at that place we like near campus, yeah?"

You smiled at the message and quickly typed back:

You: "Sounds perfect. I’ll be there in 15 minutes."

You quickly made your way to the restaurant, the weight of finals lifting off your shoulders with each step.

When you arrived, you spotted Jihoon waiting for you outside, his usual shy smile lighting up his face as soon as he saw you. He looked great, as always, but there was something about him tonight���something more confident, like he had been looking forward to this just as much as you had.

“Hey,” you greeted, your voice already filled with warmth.

“Hey, Y/n. How was the last exam?” Jihoon asked, his voice a little more relaxed than usual, but still filled with genuine interest.

“It was tough, but I’m just happy it’s over. I could finally breathe,” you said with a smile.

Jihoon chuckled softly, pushing open the door to the restaurant and letting you go in first. The place was cozy, with dim lighting and soft jazz music playing in the background.

You’d been here a few times before, and it always felt like the perfect spot to relax and enjoy good food.

“So, what’s the plan now that finals are done?” Jihoon asked as you both sat down. He’d already taken the liberty of ordering a drink for you, something you’d mentioned you liked in passing weeks ago. It was a small gesture, but one that made your heart flutter.

“Honestly, I just want to take it easy and catch up with you,” you said, your voice gentle. “I’ve missed this.”

Jihoon smiled, and you could tell he felt the same. “Same here. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

After you both ordered your meals, the conversation flowed effortlessly. It was easy with Jihoon, like you didn’t have to worry about the awkward pauses or overthinking what you said. It just felt natural.

You talked about how your finals had gone, the stress, and everything in between. Jihoon, despite his quiet nature, opened up more than usual, and you could tell the weight of the past week had lifted from his shoulders as well.

As the evening went on, Jihoon casually leaned back in his chair and seemed to hesitate for a moment, almost as if gathering his thoughts. You didn’t mind the pause, enjoying the quiet comfort of just being in each other’s company.

“I know we’ve been through a lot recently with exams and everything, but… I’ve been thinking about something,” Jihoon began, his voice soft.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”

Jihoon took a deep breath, and you could see the hint of nervousness in his expression. “I’ve really enjoyed these past few weeks with you, Y/n. More than I expected, honestly. I know we’re both busy, but I want to see you more. Not just as a friend… but as something more.”

Your heart skipped a beat, and you felt a blush creep up your neck. “Jihoon…”

He smiled shyly. “I’m not good with words, but… I really like you. A lot. I want to be with you. Would you be my girlfriend?”

The words hung in the air between you, and for a moment, all you could do was stare at him, the realization hitting you hard. You had felt the same way, but hearing him say it out loud made everything feel more real.

A smile spread across your face as you reached out, taking his hand across the table. “Yes, Jihoon. I’d love to.”

The relief on his face was instant, and you could see the happiness in his eyes. “You have no idea how glad I am to hear that.”

And in that moment, with the lights of the restaurant casting a soft glow around you, everything felt right. It was the perfect end to a stressful week—and the beginning of something even more beautiful.

After dinner, Jihoon suggested that you both head to his place. He had mentioned before that he had a small studio where he worked on his music, and tonight, it seemed like the perfect time to finally show you what he’d been working on.

“You know, I was thinking of taking you to my studio,” Jihoon said as you walked side by side toward his apartment building. “I’ve been working on something… and I think it’s time I share it with you.”

You raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Something? What is it?”

Jihoon just smiled, his gaze a little more secretive. “You’ll see.”

Once you arrived at his place, Jihoon led you up to the small studio in the corner of the building. The space was cozy, but you could immediately tell it was filled with character.

There were posters of old-school musicians on the walls, a few vintage records stacked neatly in one corner, and the warm light from a desk lamp illuminated a red guitar leaning against a chair.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Jihoon said, gesturing to the couch. “I’ll just grab my guitar.”

You sat down, looking around the room, the quiet hum of anticipation settling in your chest. Jihoon moved around the room, picking up the guitar and tuning it for a moment before sitting down beside you.

His fingers brushed the strings, testing them one last time, before he looked at you, his expression soft and sincere.

“I wrote this song a while ago,” Jihoon began, his voice low, almost as if he were gathering courage. “And honestly, I didn’t know if I would ever share it with anyone. But when I started to really think about it, I realized… you’re the inspiration for it. I wanted to play it for you.”

You watched him, your heart already fluttering. “Jihoon…”

With a soft breath, he started playing, the chords flowing from the guitar as if they had been meant for this moment. The melody was gentle at first, and as he sang the lyrics, his voice blended effortlessly with the soothing tune.

It was clear that every word was carefully chosen, every note filled with emotion. And as the song progressed, you could feel the weight of his words hitting deep.

The lyrics were simple but beautiful, each line a reflection of how Jihoon saw you—his "ruby"—his muse, his heart’s desire.

As the last note faded, Jihoon set the guitar down beside him and looked at you, his eyes slightly unsure. “I… I know it’s a lot, but I wanted you to hear it. Because you’re the one who inspired it.”

You were silent for a moment, taking in everything—the song, his vulnerability, and the realization that Jihoon had really opened up to you in a way he hadn’t with anyone else. It took you a second to gather your thoughts, but when you finally spoke, your voice was soft, filled with sincerity.

“That was beautiful, Jihoon,” you whispered, your heart swelling. “I can’t believe you wrote that for me.”

Jihoon’s expression softened, and for a moment, he looked a little embarrassed. “I didn’t know how to tell you. But now, I guess there’s no hiding it anymore.”

You smiled, reaching out to touch his hand. “I’m really glad you did.”

There was a brief silence, but this time it was comfortable, filled with the weight of the connection you shared. Jihoon looked at you, his eyes full of warmth and something deeper. It was clear to you now—he had fallen for you, and he had done it in the most beautiful way possible.

After a few beats, Jihoon spoke again, his voice quiet but steady.

“You know,” he began, his tone playful but filled with sincerity, “you really have a way of turning my entire routine upside down.”

You raised an eyebrow, still feeling the warmth of the music and his words. “Oh really? What do you mean by that?”

Jihoon chuckled softly, the sound low and comfortable.

“I mean, my life was pretty predictable before you came around. Gym, classes, music, rinse and repeat. But now, it’s like—” he trailed off for a second, gathering his thoughts, “—I actually look forward to getting out of bed in the morning, you know? To seeing you.”

Your heart fluttered at his words, but you couldn’t resist teasing him. “Oh, so I’m just some distraction now, huh? Are you telling me I’ve become the highlight of your boring routine?”

Jihoon’s eyes softened, a smile curling at the corners of his lips as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping just a little. “If that makes me sound like I’m complaining, then yes. You’re the perfect distraction. The best one I never knew I needed.”

You let out a small laugh, not able to hide how happy that made you feel. “I don’t know if I should feel flattered or worried.”

“You should definitely feel flattered,” Jihoon teased, tapping the back of his hand against your knee. “But seriously, I’m really glad you’re in my life now. It’s like... you’ve made everything a little more exciting.”

You met his gaze, the playful air between you both still hanging, but something deeper flickered in his eyes now—something genuine, something real.

“Well, I’m glad I’m not just some distraction then,” you said, shifting slightly to face him fully. “And here I thought you were going to tell me I was ruining your carefully planned life.”

Jihoon chuckled, shaking his head. “No way. I never knew how much I needed this kind of chaos until you showed up.”

There was a brief pause, and then Jihoon leaned in a little closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You know, it’s nice having someone who actually doesn’t mind the mess I call my life.”

“Well, good thing I’m here then,” you replied with a wink. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Jihoon smiled, a mix of playfulness and tenderness in his expression. “Good. Because I kind of like this version of my life now. With you in it.”

With that, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, and as he did, you both shared a quiet moment, the atmosphere charged with the kind of ease that came only with truly being yourselves around each other.

The hum of his guitar, still resting by his side, seemed to match the rhythm of the moment. And as Jihoon leaned back into his seat, he added with a cheeky grin, “Also, just so you know… if you ever need a song to get stuck in your head, you’ve got the perfect one now.”

You laughed, nudging him lightly with your shoulder. “Yeah, I think that’s gonna be stuck in my head for a while. Especially when it’s your fault.”

Jihoon’s grin widened. “You’re welcome,” he teased.

© rubyuji 2025’ -. no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any manner without the permission from the publisher.

[fashionteahouse]

Ahem.. I'm not gonna say anything important (tbh) but.. I've been looking for a vampire reader (like a Cullen) x Paul or Embry and I can't find anything. I'm dying. Like.. WHYYY?? WHY ALWAYS HUMAN READER😭💔

i like this idea ! hope you enjoy :)

secret - paul x reader

Eyes rolled hard.

You were tired of the same routine.

How foolish was it to continue to have to move. You actually liked Washington.

“It’s unsafe for me to stay.” Edward says in deep sorrow.

The family were actually considering.

“We just got here three years ago. One human and you’re ready to crumble.” you mutter. Rosalie snickered at this.

“Don’t be so hard on him.” Carlisle says with great reasoning.

“While you all figure out the next location again, I’m going for a run.” you say.

You out in a flash.

You sulked high in the trees with a crouch. It was completely unfair how when Edward said jump, the rest of the Cullens had no problem asking how high.

It was clear favoritism.

You understood that he was the first adoptive child, but it was as if no one else’s opinion mattered. Your mind thought about just leaving, but Carlisle taught you everything you knew about the life of a vampire.

You were grateful, you were on the brink of death with all hope loss. It wasn’t until he was your doctor, nursing you back to health. You weren’t getting any better and he had taken a liken to you. He saved you. You will always be thankful to him for that.

A sound of a set of paws made you snap out of your head. You peered down and it was one of the biggest animals that you have seen.

You had already fed so you weren’t in the mood to hunt for it. But, you didn’t feel the need to even if you wanted to.

Its large head seemed to know right where you were. It didn’t run or scurry away like other animals did.

You got to see the color of their large eyes. It was as if everything was in slow motion. It was a sensation that vibrated throughout your frozen body.

It ran away before you could question any further.

Your mind was preoccupied as you went back home.

Paul was pissed.

He shook and trembled as he cursed.

“A fucking cold one.”

He felt that the spirits above were messing with him. Punishing him even

“No fucking way.”

He kept it a secret from that day forward.

You didn’t tell the Cullens about the animal you had seen. You instead thought of each animal in alphabetical order.

“I’m so glad you’re back. Your vision went to black.” Alice says with worry as you went to your room.

“I’m fine.” you say.

“Just be careful.” she warns gently. You wave her off.

As the rest of the Cullens went to hunt, you stayed back. Your mind thought back to the wolf.

You tried to read a book but your mind kept thinking about its gorgeous fur. It looked soft to the touch. It was an animal. Why you were so fixated on an animal, you just didn’t know.

You kept it a secret from that day forward.

The Cullens were packing up the home. You didn’t start packing your room. You stood stubbornly as Esme tried to convince you.

“I want to stay here. I don’t want to leave.” you say. You felt the need to stay.

“Y/N, we’re a family. We can’t just leave you behind”.

“It’s unfair Esme. Had Edward not been so blinded, we would still be able to stay.” you say with frustration.

“You can’t help who you love, Y/N. Had this been you, we would support you 100%.”

“But, I wouldn’t fall in love with food. A human.” you say bitterly.

“You don’t know that for sure. We all don’t know who we end up falling in love with. Alice is worried that if you stay, you will be in great danger. Your future isn’t clear.”

“I think we rely on Alice’s visions way too much, don’t you think?”

“Please, Y/N.” Esme begs softly.

You watch as she retreats.

You leave out as the rest of the family is preoccupied.

Ithaca.

You rolled your eyes even harder. All for Edward. The golden child. Letting him pick the location and all.

You crouched high on the tree again. A small part of you hoped that the animal stumbled upon you. But, you figured that chance was slim to none.

That’s when you heard the crunches of leaves and branches. The large animal froze. It was same one. You felt yourself get excited.

“Beautiful.” you whisper to it. The fur was silver and the body was majestic.

You watched as the animal cocked its head to the side.

Before you knew it, you watched in shock as the shimmer of the animal became a human. A muscular human. A naked human.

He covered his center with a large hand. He looked up at you with hard eyes. It was as if he tried to glare at you but he couldn’t bring it to his face.

“Are you stalking me or something?” he asked.

“No.” you say in a small voice.

“This is my second time seeing you.”

“This is my second time seeing you as well.” you say to him.

You jump down to get a closer look. He still kept his distance but he was even more beautiful up close.

Paul felt ashamed. He felt ashamed for feeling himself grow, he felt that his ancestors was looking down at him, shaking their heads.

For a bloodsucker, he genuinely felt you were beautiful. Drop dead gorgeous. He felt his curious mind get the best of him on how it could work. He shook his head.

“You turn into…?”

“A wolf.” he answered.

“A beautiful wolf.” you say as you look at him and his chiseled chest.

“You checking me out, too?” he asks.

You look up and you see a faint smirk.

“Maybe.” you say with your own smirk.

“Heard your family is leaving. Too bad the fun can’t begin.”

Your eyes grow wide a bit as you roll them, “Yeah..I don’t want to leave…It’s all because of..” you grumble.

He chuckled at your attitude. He was amused.

“If you don’t want to leave, why are you leaving?” he found himself asking. “Can’t even keep my fucking mouth shut.” he scolded in his brain.

“Because apparently Edward runs the household. It’s totally unfair…We warned him to stay away from….Bella Swan…But he was oh so curious of why he couldn’t read her mind.” you say.

“Read her mind?” he asks as you both walk.

“Yeah. That’s what he can do. Everyone except hers.”

“Vampire have superpowers and shit now?”

“You know..?” you ask in surprise.

“That’s why I transform into a wolf. To kill your kind off.”

You halt your steps as he takes a predatory step towards you. It wasn’t fear that you felt, it was rather excitement.

“Can you spare me? At least?”

“I’ll think about it.” he says in a seductive tone.

“A flirt, I see.” you whisper. His slow smirk was handsome on his face.

You hear your name ring out. The man turns away and you watch as he’s off on his own. You find out that he’s fast.

Alice rushes towards you and gasps, “You smell like..A shapeshifter. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s probably why I can’t see you. Come on, we have to get back.” she says.

You look in the direction he left. You felt yourself get sad that you never caught his name.

It was like his own dirty little secret. Paul soon found out he liked secrets.

He liked whatever game it was, he didn’t want it to end.

“We leave in the morning.” Carlisle announced to everyone. Edward seemed pleased.

“I’m staying.” you announce.

Shock surrounds the room. Rosalie stands next to Emmett with her arms crossed as he has an arm around her shoulders.

“Me and Emmett aren’t coming to Ithaca.” Rosalie announced.

“We can’t separate! We’re a family.” Alice says.

“Well, I don’t want to go to Ithaca.” Rosalie says.

“Yeah, me neither.” you say.

“And I’m going wherever Rose goes…We’ll see each other again. It’s happened before. We always reunite.” Emmett says.

“But..But..But it could be years before that happens.” Esme says sadly.

“I will stay and keep the house in order.” you offer with a small smile.

“Are you sure, Y/N…?” Carlisle asks.

You nod.

“I’m worried Y/N. That’s why you need to come with us. A shapeshifter was close to you and anything could happen while we’re away. I can’t even see your future anymore. Just please, come with us.” Alice begs you.

“Y/N, is that true?” Carlisle asks you.

“Maybe? That’s what Alice says. I was only lounging in a tree.” you say and you kept picturing deers because you could tell Edward was searching through your mind.

“Please don’t leave Forks. Got it? I personally will come to check in on you from time to time.” Carlisle says.

You nod with an, “Okay.”

You say goodbye to them all before the sunrise.

Edward watched you closely.

“What?” you ask annoyed.

“I know you’re up to something.”

“You always think I’m up to something.” you say as you remember the times he tattled on you time and time again.

“I always catch you…..I will miss you, Y/N.” he says.

You’re shocked.

“You will?”

He nods once. He even gives you a quick but sincere hug.

“Like Emmett said..We will reunite.” you say softly.

Edward grinned only slightly before he’s off right with the other Cullens.

The home was empty. You looked around. The patter of rain started to pour down.

You go out since you liked the feeling of rain on your skin.

You choose another spot, you were surprised that you felt the presence of the wolf.

You turn around and give it a brilliant smile. You watch as they slowly trot to where you were. It was much bigger up close.

Your hand reach out and the feeling of the fur almost made your golden eyes roll to the back of your head.

“They all left. It’s just me.” you say.

The wolf doesn’t say anything and you noticed something tied around their ankle.

They shimmer back to a human and the handsome man is back in your view. You saw a quick peak at his center before you turn your head. A deep chuckle hits your sensitive ears and you look again and this time shorts is on his body.

You stand up from where you were sitting and he raked his dark eyes up and down at you. You shift on your feet.

“A leech that’s nervous?”

“Is that what you call us?” you ask.

He nods.

“What do you call us? Giant dogs?”

You snort, “No….Alice said a shapeshifter so…?”

“That’s what I am.”

“Huh.” you say in thought.

“It’s just you at the house?”

“Yeah…Do..You…Want..To come over?” you ask shyly.

“Yeah.” he says.

You both walked back to the Cullen household. His eyes take in the home.

You watch in amazement as he was already dry. No towel needed.

“Like what you see?” his deep voice echoed in the home.

Your breath hitched, “You dried off so fast.” you say.

He takes your wrist, pulling you close and you felt a tad bit nervous. He pressed your cool hand to his chest. You both groan a bit at the difference in body temperature. You cooled him down and he warmed you up.

“You’re…Hot.” you say.

His smile made you feel excited and you playfully roll your eyes as he took the double meaning and rolled with it.

“They really left.” he says as he still had a hot hand on your wrist.

“Yeah.” you say quietly.

“So…Do you have a room?”

You nod with a slight smile.

He walked close behind you up the stairs, his hand grabbing onto the railing, very close to yours.

“This is my domain.” you say with a humorous tone.

He walked in and he looked around. Picking up things and observing them.

“You’ve been to…A lot of places.”

“Yeah.” you say.

“What’s your favorite place?” he asks as he looks back to you. He’s close to you again and your eyes settled to his chest.

“Here.”

You felt his warm fingers lift your chin up, “My eyes are up here.”

You breathe out a small chuckle as his dominant eyes search for yours.

“No bed..” he says as he walked around you.

“Yeah…I don’t sleep.” you say with a slight laugh. He flops down on the couch you had in your room. He was comfortable. Too comfortable. You enjoyed the sight as he had his hands behind his head.

“Where am I gonna sleep, then?”

You froze. You watch as his smirk grew.

“I can…I can buy you a bed.” you offer. He gets up and walks close up to you and you felt the heat come off of his body. His eyes were fierce with dominance.

“Alright I’m off.” he says. You rush as he was already outside.

“Wait!” you say. He stops and turns around.

“What’s your name? I’m Y/N.”

He gives you a look that made your legs wobbly, you hold onto the outside stairs railing.

“Paul.”

With a blink, he’s gone. He stayed in your brain as you slowly close the front door, as you whisper his name. You lean your back to the door as you felt a smile crept in your lips as you whispered his name again. It felt great coming out of your mouth.

[starredblood]

NOWHERE GIRL

PART SEVEN

kang sae-byeok x fem!reader

synopsis: things start crumbling down.

wc. 2.1k

warnings: violence, blood, lots of profanity, angsty af, small comfort | authors note: omg im so sorry yall the worst is almost over soon i promise lololololol

(nowhere girl masterlist)

Rain droplets start hitting your skin so you hope that’s reason enough for Yen-ho and his gang to leave you alone. Maybe just maybe, Yoon did something right by telling him to back off but you can never be too safe. Instead of heading to the dining hall, you make your way towards the library and weigh out starvation. Much better than a beating.

Today you’re hyper aware of your surroundings until the first spring showers have finally started. In the worst time possible. You try booking it to the other end of campus before you get drenched head to toe. Of course you forgot to pack a jacket the day your parents decided to disown you.

“Get her!” a muffled voice shouts from a distance.

Your breath hitches but your fight or flight instincts kept telling you to run so you started running till your legs were sore. However, running while trying to keep your belongings in your person was no easy feat as you kept having to adjust the strap of your portfolio tote so it wouldn’t slip off. But the adrenaline was kicking. Your heart race kept increasing, and you lost sensation in your legs. You think you can make it to the library hall and call for security.

“Gotcha!” a male voice snarls. He hooked his arms around your waist knocking the air out of your windpipe and lifted you off the ground from behind. “Yen-ho, I got her!”

You tried using all your body parts to push Yen-ho’s friend away but the more you fought back the tighter his grip on you became. Now you had trouble breathing.

“Shit, it’s a fucking rainstorm today.” the other friend complains as he and Yen-ho sprint towards you.

“Let’s her to the alleyway before anyone sees!” Yen-ho orders, using his hands to block the rain from his eyes. He gives you a malevolent smirk before his friend carry’s you over his shoulder.

“Stop it you bitch!” the guy barks as you tried to punch his back. It was no use, he’s as solid as a rock.

He pins you against the wall of the alley and grabs your left arm while the other guy grabs your right. You are forced to stare up at Yen-ho, who’s looking you up and down like a predator eyeing their prey.

“Thought you could get away huh? Yoon texted me this morning.” he begins his monologue. “She said to leave you alone. Thanks to you, now she thinks I’m some woman beating prick.”

“No, really? Because that’s exactly what you are.” you say brusquely.

He knees you right in the stomach. The pain is searing in your middle and you can feel your lips begin trembling, unable to hold back tears.

“Quiet! I’ll teach you what happens when you keep disrespecting your elders.” he barks. His teeth flare like a wolf. “Hey, pass me those.” he points at his friends to your tote and laptop scattered on the ground. Your heart drops to the pit of your bruised stomach.

“No, don’t do it! No fuck you—fuck you!” you cry out when he breaks your laptop by folding it on its wrong side. You hear the loud snapping sound it made, even through your louder cries. “Stop it, stop it please stop it!”

You feel yourself bellow out more profanities but aren’t sure if you said them out loud or if it was just in your head. The pain of watching him stomp and tear every work in your tote was so unbearable. His friends got a tighter grip on your arms when you start dropping on the ground, unable to hold yourself together anymore. You just want to curl down and sob. Everything was gone now. Everyone is gone.

Instead of watching anymore further, you drop your head to the ground letting your soaked hair conceal your face.

“No, no, no, you have of watch.” Yen-ho’s minion says and grabs a chunk of your hair to pull your head up giving you no other options but to look. You can’t fathom how quickly all of your years worth of work can just be gone in seconds.

When Yen-ho is finished he wipes the rain and sweat off his forehead and eyes. He turns to look at you and cackles at how defeated you look. It amuses them how you’re slumped on the ground shaking with tears pooling your eyes. They made you become a person who is nothing but drenched, pathetic and hopeless.

“Hey, don’t look so innocent now.” Yen-ho says. He bends down to meet you at eye level, grabbing your chin so you will look into his eyes. “I told you that I would bring justice into my own hands, didn’t I?”

“Yen-ho. Let her go.”

You hear a familiar husky voice ring past your ears but you can’t help but think that it’s just your imagination. Afraid to look deeper into Yen-ho’s dark eyes you close your eyes and silently sob some more.

“Kang Sae-byeok? No fucking way. It has been forever how you’ve been?” Yen-ho gapes, eyeing the taller girl then down at your trembling one. He roars with laughter yet again after connecting the dots. “Oh no, don’t tell me this your little girlfriend! Fuck I should’ve known you were a fucking lesbian too with the way you kept rejecting my moves on you!”

Sae-byeok doesn’t do nor say anything except maintain strict eye contact with Yen-ho. He sighs and signals for his friends to drop you. When they do, you don’t pick yourself off—Sae-byeok’s breath hitches when she sees your weakened state from the corner of her eyes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” he scowls. “You’re going to slice my neck open with that little thing?”

Sae-byeok’s grip on her pocket knife tightens.

“Just wait until my dad finds out you’re still alive. You’re in deep shit, Kang so make sure you got his money before we come and find you.”

“When your dead beat father does come I can’t wait to tell him about the time you called the cops on him just so you can go pop his clients pills.”

Yen-ho trembles in rage while his friends hold back their laughter. His face gets so red the rain hitting his skin could evaporate. “Hey, shut your mouths and get her!”

One of the minions snatches the pocket knife from Sae-byeok giving Yen-ho the opportunity to use his foot to kick her square in the chest. When he lands on the ground he uses this opportunity to jump on top of her and start getting in his furious punches in. Some Sae-byeok was able to dodge but most she had to endure. She can taste the familiar metallic taste of blood in her mouth.

“Yen-ho, stop it! Leave her alone!”

The heavy rain only was able to let Sae-byeok see a blurry figure of a poised looking stranger desperately approach Yen-ho. She holds him back by his chest and shouted in his face some more to level with him but all Yen-ho saw was red. Red in the form of Kang Sae-byeok.

The minions stand by confused when Yen-ho stops, not realizing that it was by force but it gives Sae-byeok the perfect opportunity to reach for you.

You were sprawled on the floor when you hear Sae-byeok call out your name, bringing you back to reality. You too only saw red in Sae-byeok’s face, not from fury but from blood.

“Sae-byeok, your—your face.” you were able to croak.

“No time. We have to run.” she says breathless and lifts you up by both your forearms.

You didn’t have time to register what just happened, you just know that Sae-byeok is the one holding you firmly by your wrist helping you sprint out of campus grounds. Although the rain was cooling off your agitated body, it blinded you from seeing where she was taking you.

“Sae-byeok, I can’t—can’t anymore.” you wheeze after running for who knows how long. She slows down when you do and leads you to the back of nearest building. You throw your back on the moistened bricks of the restaurant you’re hiding behind to catch your breath, but it hurts to breathe. It felt like you were inhaling fire.

It might’ve been five minutes, hours, or days of you just catching your breathl until you regained some of your composure. Eventually you did regain some of your senses back, that’s when your eyes adjusted to the sight in front of you.

Sae-byeok was also breathing heavily, short hair disheveled, looking down at the ground and kept wiping the blood dripping down from her nose with the end of her sleeves. You’re having a hard time believing that she is here in front of you, saving you from a fate that could’ve been much worse. But you didn’t have time to think about what just happened to both you when you know that she is here enduring pain caused by your adversity.

“We have to go to a pharmacy.” you breathe out. “You’re bleeding too much.”

It was like Sae-byeok reduced in size, feeling so small letting you see her in this broken down state.

“Okay.” she manages to say.

This time you were the one having to guide her. Luckily, you were familiar with this town as it’s still near campus so you’ve wandered them countless times. It was a ten minute journey to the nearest pharmacy but neither of you walked with urgency. Not even the spring day rain made either of you hurry due to exhaustion and dehydration.

You guide Sae-byeok by the small of her back underneath the awning of the pharmaceutical building. She slowly crouches down on the sidewalk. When she sits down, she starts clutching her stomach and her face begins to contort when the adrenaline goes away. Now all she can feel is sharp throbbing pain.

“I’ll be back quick just hold on.” you reassure her with a quivering voice.

Sae-byeok can only groan in pain so you bolt into the pharmacy and grab anything that could help soothe her aches. Tissues, pain killers, an ice pack, water bottles, all crammed in your arms as you make your way to the counter.

“At least those idiots didn’t take my wallet. Fuckers.” you scowl when you patted down your jean pockets and pulled out your thin wallet case.

The cashier throws you a skeptic glance while quietly scanning the items. You didn’t notice the concern in their eyes when all you kept doing was looking through the door to see if Sae-byeok was still sitting there conscious.

You sit next to her, placing the shopping bag in between your thighs and start pulling everything out. You take out a handful of tissue paper and reach over to wipe the blood dripping down Sae-byeok’s nose when she flinched back.

“It’s okay, I’ll do it.” you say reassuringly.

Sae-byeok stares at you, and you wonder what could she be thinking. The tension in her shoulders start subduing so you hesitate to try again. To your relief, she stays still while you wipe the blood that reached all the way down to her chin.

She stares over the rain hitting the pavement and lets the noise of the droplets tapping the ground soothe her. When she didn’t feel your body heat near hers she peers over at you. You’re holding out a bottle of water and pain killers to pass it over to her. Deja vu overcomes her.

Swallowing the pain killers and chugging the water, she savors the feeling of hydration until she hears the quiet sounds of someone sobbing.

When she observes you, she realizes that you must’ve gotten a lot taken away from you today. Not just your paintings and sketches, your dignity and hope could be gone with them.

You tried to conceal yourself from Sae-byeok by having your back facing her and covering your face hands with your hands. But you couldn’t control the cries that dared to escape your lips. Sae-byeok’s fingers start twitching, fighting the urge to reach over and find a way to console you.

Cheol is the only person she knows how to comfort. With anyone else it feels wrong, but she is aware that this moment is bigger than her. She knows that feeling of having everything you loved and worked hard for get taken away. The feeling is like a void swallowing you inside out and all you can do is watch as everything comes crumbling down. Sae-byeok yearned for the warmth of another and for them to tell her everything will be okay. But it never came for her.

You hear your name being called out mid sob.

You feel Sae-byeok gently turn your body to face her and without warning she just wraps her arms around you. Her wet strands of hair sticking to the side of your face when she kept pulling you closer like it was her mission was to extract all the pain you were feeling by this embrace. You accept this kind gesture by letting yourself melt into her touch.

“I’m so sorry for all the trouble I caused. I’m so deeply sorry.” you whisper sincerely, tears still streaming down your face. Sae-byeok responds by rubbing your back, but you quickly understand it’s her special way of accepting your apology.

She hopes that you will feel a little elated with the news that she might’ve found a place for you to stay. But she’ll wait as she is aware that you need to feel comforted more right now.

🏷️: @monroesturnns @knfthxv @jumpedthenfell-13 @peelover25 @karli6 @kissedberries @bitchybananaflower @laurenkenss @saebyeokbliss

[meadowfics]

chasing a ghost

kang dae-ho x f!reader

you started to wait for dae-ho after leaving the games

warnings: angst, angst, angst, angst. no happy ending

this was not on my wip, but I just got an impulse to write this last second

you first crossed paths with dae-ho during the initial chaos of red light green light.

he was quiet but observant, his sharp eyes catching your movements as you tried to stay out of trouble.

you weren’t sure why, but something about him made you feel safer, even in that hellhole.

the partnership began as a mutual agreement to survive.

he protected you during the first night, keeping the others from approaching your corner of the room.

at first, you thought he did it because it was strategic, but the way he stood just a little closer to you than necessary told you otherwise.

you started noticing how he always kept you in his peripheral vision, his hand subtly moving toward you when you stumbled or hesitated.

it was as if he couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.

during the nights, when the lights were dim, and the sound of breathing filled the room, he’d sit beside you, his voice a quiet reassurance that you weren’t alone.

he’d whisper stories of his time in the marines, his tone softer than you thought possible for someone who carried so much weight on his shoulders.

you began to fall for him in those moments.

it wasn’t just his strength that drew you in...it was the way he tried so hard to keep you safe, even when his own fear was evident in his eyes.

the way his voice softened when he said your name. the way his hand sometimes brushed against yours, hesitant but warm.

he fell for you, too.

you saw it in the way he stayed awake when you slept, his eyes scanning the room like a hawk.

in the way he’d share his food with you, even when it meant he’d go hungry.

in the way his rough, calloused hand would sometimes linger just a little too long when helping you up.

by the time you both made it to the final stages, there was an unspoken bond between you.

he didn’t have to say it out loud...you knew he cared for you just as deeply as you cared for him.

when it was all over, and the guards were taking you both away, you managed to whisper your address to him, your voice trembling.

he said he knew where your neighborhood was.

“come find me,” you said, your heart breaking at the thought of being separated from him.

he promised he would. his voice was steady, but you could see the pain in his eyes.

“i’ll come to you,” he said, his hand gripping yours for the last time before they pulled him away.

you waited for him. every day, you looked out your window, hoping to see him standing there.

you stayed in the same apartment, refusing to move, just in case he ever showed up.

as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, hope began to fade.

sometimes, you’d wander the city, searching for him.

you’d scan every face in the crowd, your heart leaping at the sight of anyone who remotely resembled him.

he was never there.

it was as if he had vanished.

three years passed, and you finally gave up.

the ache in your chest never really went away, but you told yourself it was time to move on from him, the squid games, and any past trauma you faced.

you packed your things and left that apartment, telling yourself it was the only way to stop the pain.

you will never know that dae-ho came looking for you the very next day.

he stood in front of the empty apartment, his heart sinking as he realized he was too late.

he had spent those years trying to piece himself back together, battling the demons from the games and his past.

he had finally worked up the courage to come to you, only to find you gone.

he sat on the floor of that empty apartment for hours, his head in his hands.

he thought of you, of the way you used to smile at him even in the darkest moments.

he wondered where you were, if you still thought of him.

you never knew how close he came to finding you, and he never stopped wondering if he’d lost the only person who ever truly understood him.

you were his light in the games, and now, you were the one thing he could never have.

I'm sorry </3

masterlist

[fr33time]

Can i pretty please have Haku x Subaru's little sister! Reader?

Whereas it was very obvious Reader has a huge crush on Haku no matter how many times she non-chalantly deny it (like always tried to look good in front of him, secretly admiring him, fixing her posture whenever he was arouns

It would be kinda funny if she was from another house and always visit Hotarubi to "see her brother" when Subaru knows damn well why she's here

A/N: This one is so funny oh my god, I love this idea 🤭 I played around with the formatting a bit and added a couple scenarios that I thought of. I wanted to try something new and have fun with it, so I hope you enjoy anon! I think Haku would be a bit cautious when with Subaru’s little sister because he knows how Subaru doesn’t tell people how he feels until it’s the worst time. On the other hand he loves teasing her and hanging out when they’re alone hehe. This came out a little later than expected but I had my lovely friend read it over for me before making some final touches. See you next post 🫶

✎ (❁ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈) ༉‧ ♡*.✧

✧༺☆Haku x !reader that’s Subaru’s little sister ☆༻∞

Divider credits: @only-ranpo

Genre: Fluff, headcanons (with scenarios mixed in ♥︎)

Requesting rules here! (Read before requesting) ╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

♥︎You try to play it up so much that you don’t have a crush on Haku, but everyone that knows you can tell… especially Subaru, and Haku himself. They won’t call you out on it, but Subaru is quietly rooting for you while Haku just loves to tease you and seeing you fix yourself in the corner of his eye.

♥︎Subaru is not one to snitch on you, he’s the type to silently push you two together. You’ll never know it either because he’s good at concealing his intentions.

♥︎ “Oh um… while you’re here, do you mind grabbing me the tea packs in the kitchen?” He needs the tea packs, but he knows that Haku is still in Hotarubi. He doesn’t want to pry too much, but he wants to see you happy and hopefully you’ll make a move someday.

You make your way to grab the tea packs and after grabbing a small box of them you accidentally crash into someone when turning the corner. You weren’t sure who you just crashed into, but you panic and step back with speed “I’m so sorry!” You trip on your legs, but you get quickly caught by a dashing and handsome Haku. “Woah! Watch yourself, you almost fell. I wouldn’t want Subaru’s precious sister to get hurt.” He gives a worried smile and you feel yourself burning up. He pulls you upwards so that you’re steady on the ground, you realize that you two are really close.

You quickly regain yourself and back up to pick up the tea packets that you dropped, trying to hide your flushed face. “Well thank you for catching me, I was just on my way to deliver these to Subaru.” He kneels down to help you pick them up, once he collects a handful he hands them back to you and smirks. “I’ll walk you there, I need to give him papers anyways.” You look in his eyes and curse him for his flirty personality.

♥︎When you and Subaru went to have lunch together, you could see Haku walking in the door. You immediately turned towards Subaru and panicked ‘he didn’t tell me Haku was coming!’ You stood up hurriedly and excused yourself “Sorry! I need to use the washroom” and grabbed your bag to touch up in the bathroom. You weren’t particularly ready to see people since you thought it was only going to be you two…

♥︎Haku tends to forget that you’re not just Subaru’s little sister that “visits” him all the time. He knows that you’re your own person, and once he hangs out with you more he slowly realizes the fluttering feeling in his stomach when he talks to you. He finds you adorable when you try and look good in front of him, he knows how you feel about him and one day he’ll ask you on a real date. He needs to talk to Subaru first before he does anything with you, as much as he likes you he also respects your brother.

♥︎Oftentimes Haku will walk you home when it gets late, he tells you that it’s important to keep his captains little sister safe, but it’s really just to have alone time with you. At some point, it stops becoming a “walk home” and turns into having your own little adventures together. Haku is busy helping Subaru, so hanging out with you after nightfall is rewarding to him after a long day. He likes to buy food with you at the general shop and sit outside to look at the stars with you and talk. He can’t be gone too long though, because Subaru gets worried. Plus, last time he was too long Subaru was waiting by the front door and asked “so how was walking my little sister home.” With a smile that did not match the look in his eyes. Whoopsies.

♥︎Subaru 100% wants you to be happy, and will encourage you two to be together, but he will absolutely be a big brother when he needs to be. You’re still the same little kid that he grew up with, and he has to remind himself that you’re grown up. So when Haku comes to him to ask permission to ask you on a date, he’s a little hesitant.

♥︎Subaru needed your help to deliver important papers from the administration after classes. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, everyone else in Hotarubi is busy. I’ll buy you lunch sometime this week (^_^;)” you read his message back while heading over and couldn’t help but wanting to check on Haku while you were visiting. He’s been busy recently and you haven’t had the chance to hang out with him this week. Usually he’d message you, but it’s been radio silent for days now and you’re starting to get worried that you did something.

You stepped inside Hotarubi and dropped off Subaru’s papers, afterwards you looked around the place for signs of Haru. You didn’t want to ask anyone where he was because then it would be obvious that you like him! (Even though practically everyone already knows). You packed your stuff with a defeated sigh, ready to head back to your own house until someone picked up your umbrella and held it up for you.

“I wouldn’t let you walk home alone when it’s dark like this.” You look up beside you and see his sly smile. You were caught by surprise and tried to fix how you look for a moment. “Haku! I didn’t think you’d be here, Subaru said everyone was busy today.” As if you didn’t look around for him for half an hour.

“Well… I need a break so I might as well, you’re gonna need to get close if you don’t want to get soaked by the rain.” He pointed out the distance you put between yourselves. “Oh.. right” you inched closer to him to the point where you two were touching shoulders which felt intimate in the atmosphere of the Hotarubi house. Both of you stepped outside and began to walk home, being hit with the smell of lavender and clouds of mist.

“By the way, sorry for not messaging you recently. I’ll make up for it if you want me to, maybe taking you wherever you want to next Monday? It’s a bit hectic in the house recently.” Your heart skipped a beat at his proposition, and you slowly turned your head towards him with your jaw dropped. He meant hanging out right? With extreme caution, you replied back “I don’t mind, that sounds nice”

It seems like your walk was too short for your liking, because you two stopped at your front door and he handed your umbrella back to you. Before he said anything, he kissed your cheek sweetly and declared “Let’s make it a date.” You were left on the staircase of Clementia wondering what just happened. You were holding your cheek with a deep flush washing over you and stared at his back while he walked away. Did he really just ask you out on a date?

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[naivety]

do we. do we think scott not only trusted theo because it's a large part of who he is but also because it's something everybody else isn't. thinking of stiles' "because you trust everyone!" in season 5 + scott's "nobody trusts anyone, that's the problem!" in season 2. for so long he'd been the only one to spearhead good faith approaches and de-escalation. just him, a high school kid, while everyone else, his fellow classmates and friends as well as the adults were either acting in bad faith or choosing to follow his lead whether they're skeptical or more open like him. there are other characters who are more humanitarian and optimistic like that, but few who are so active in going out of their way to fight for it on their own convictions until we meet mason in season 5. scott puts his best foot forward with everybody he meets because he honestly just wants to help and his life and everybody in it suddenly has too many problems to count, friend or enemy or otherwise. even jackson, one of the people he's most openly antagonistic towards, he's willing to fight to preserve the life and wellbeing of. this is a part of who scott is, and he can't wait around for anyone else to just decide to give a shit because lives are on the line. that said, he's incredibly willing to ask for help in his idealistic endeavors, he just often asks all these people who have hurt and/or tried to kill him first. because those are most of the people both within reach and powerful enough to help! being helpful is this tunnel-vision for scott and not many characters can match his dedication to it.

and then theo arrives! not just an old friend, but a werwolf, and an omega at that, who just came to join his pack. this isn't the first time that's happened, but it's the first time anybody has gone out of their way to help not just scott but people who need it. theo doesn't need to get roped into beacon hills' messes, scott's messes, that he often apologizes for needing help to clean up, and theo appears to just. want to help. not unconditionally even if scott buys his desire to join the pack, but that's not an overtly selfish desire. theo shows up and asks how can i help and i don't know if any character had done that for scott before, without him either having to ask first or talk them down from killing him before they offer. and i think scott desperately wanted to believe he wasn't the only person built like that. the only person upholding that good will in a constantly hostile environment.

scott does not just up and trust theo immediately and i do resent the fanon that scott just blindly believes people because we see how wary he is for multiple episodes before theo appears to save scott's own beta's life when he couldn't, a one-two punch of apparent proof of theo's goodwill and scott's own shortcomings. even if scott points out how stiles' distrust of all these people didn't pan out, which is true, scott himself was incredibly slow to trust them; derek, the argents, the twins, even derek's betas. even lydia!! all of these people have hurt or been antagonistic towards him and even if the outcome is them having scott's trust down the road, it's only after they've made a gesture that they'll do the right thing or save lives with or without him, just as theo does. scott wants to believe in people, and people often decide to believe in him for this, but i also think he's so so bone-tired of being the only one, and if he takes theo at his word and then actions, he doesn't have to do that alone, maybe. maybe.

and then theo wants to kill him too. and scott trusts him to do the right thing down the road anyway, like he always does with people who try to kill him. do kill him. the only consolation is that it's his beta who goes to bat for believing in someone this time. liam inherits this trait from him, and he can only hope it doesn't get liam killed too. and the thing is that it saves his life, actually! scott trusts liam and liam decided to trust theo so scott trusts that, and theo, to save liam's life when he can't! again!! and theo fucking does!!!can anyone hear me

[madmeks]

Fantasy

Pairing: Titus x Mira

Author's Note: 18+ only. Haven't been able to get the Titus/Mira smut out of my head, so I thought I'd get it onto the page. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to post some of my writing. This is my first time writing something like this and I'm always a little shy about anything I write. If you like it, please give a comment or a reblog. I have ideas for a part 2 if people are interested :)

Warnings: Smut, Voyeurism, Masturbation, Yearning.

Description: After the invasion of Graia, Mira can't stop thinking about Titus.

Aboard the Lunar-class Cruiser Justicar, outbound from the Graia system:

Mira dropped her pack onto the bunk with a sigh and wearily began unbuckling her flak armor. Shrugging out of the breastplate, she turned to regard the empty bunkroom.

Under normal circumstances she’d be sharing the junior officers quarters of this transport ship with a half dozen other platoon commanders. But after Graia, she was the only officer of the 203rd left to occupy this section. Not the way she’d have picked to get a private bunk.

Sighing again, she shed her uniform jacket and boots, and skinned out of her fatigue pants. She reclined on the lumpy Munitorum-issue matress in her briefs and tank top and put her legs beneath the covers.

Mira tried not to think about Graia. About the desperate weeks of fighting against the orks that left her in command of a tattered regiment. About the nightmarish warp-things that she’d fought after the orks. About Titus.

She’d been doing far too much thinking about the Ultramarine Captain since the damned Inquisition had taken him away. In the weeks since Inquisitor Thrax had left Graia with Titus, she found her mind straying to thoughts of him more and more. Worried about what had become of him. Worried she’d never see him again.

Don’t be an idiot, she scolded herself. Even if Thrax hadn’t taken him, you’d still never set eyes on him again. He’d be off with his company while you got shipped to the next campaign with the regiment. Probably on opposite sides of the galaxy.

She rolled to her side and tried to mash the pillow into a shape that would be somewhat conducive to rest, the bedsprings creaking until she lay still. She lay back and tried to calm her thoughts, but the sound of bedsprings creaking didn’t stop. A gentle rhythmic knocking became apparent, coming from the other side of the bulkhead wall.

Mira could make out the voices of a man and woman through the bulkhead, but not their words. Curious, she got to her knees and knelt close to the wall to hear more.

The room on the other side of the bulkhead next to her bunk was one of rooms given over to noncoms. And while the sergeants and corporals of the 203rd had fared far better than the officers, they’d had their share of casualties as well. The noncoms’ quarters were sparsely populated. Most only had two or three troopers assigned to each room. It appeared some members of the regiment were taking advantage of the unexpected privacy.

Before long, the bedsprings were squeaking loudly enough to be heard without an ear pressed to the wall, and Mira could hear the bed rock with a steady rhythm. She lay back and closed her eyes, trying not to listen to the cries of pleasure. Despite herself, she began to grow wet. She let a hand glide over her stomach, another up to her breast as she imagined what was happening.

One hand dipped into her briefs and she bent her knees, her thighs widening slightly as she imagined she wasn’t alone. She pictured a man kneeling between her legs, guiding them even wider. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she imagined herself looking down to meet the man’s gaze. As she saw…

Titus.

Mira jerked her hand out from between her legs as though burned. Her eyes flew open to confirm, yes, she was still alone in her bunk.

Why am I thinking of Titus?

She bit her lip, squeezing her thighs together tightly and picturing the space marine Captain freed from his armor, his giant form thickly muscled. She imagined him in the bed with her, his bulk leaning over her. His craggy, almost inhuman face grinning while his hands went to part her legs again. She gasped aloud, looking down to see her hand was back in her briefs. She hadn’t even realized she’d resumed touching herself.

There was a momentary pause in the noises from the other side of the wall, and then the same rhythmic thumping began again. Mira thought the sounds were even more intense now. She pictured the two next door changing positions and groaned while she massaged her clit.

This is wrong, she thought as she slid her briefs down her legs and kicked them to the floor. She fantasized that Titus was moving his massive hands up her legs. She drew the one strap of her tank top down, then the other. She pulled the tank down around her waist, freeing her breasts. With one hand she pulled and twisted at a nipple, then grasped at her breast, massaging it while her other hand moved faster between her legs.

Her breath quickened as she thought of Titus. In her minds eye she pictured running her hands along his huge chest. She let her fingers play over every curve, lingering on his nipples for a moment before traveling down. She was softly moaning now, joining her voice to the chorus of pleasured cries echoing from the next room.

“Mmmmm,” she breathed. “Show it to me.”

She imagined Titus coming to his knees before her, letting his engorged cock come into view. He settled one impossibly thick thigh on either side of her waist, his shaft laying on her stomach, waiting for her to grasp it. Stroke it. Suck it. A pearly bead of pre-cum glistened at the head. Mira’s flexed her hips, and soon her bedsprings were creaking too. Dimly, she heard the woman next door shout out in climax.

“Titus,” she panted as she pictured stroking the space marine’s massive cock. Her hand shuttled up and down Titus’ shaft in her fantasy, and she grinned as she imagined him groaning. The thought of this massive warrior gasping in pleasure as she stroked his cock had her breath hitching as she played with herself.

She rolled on to her stomach on the bed, hand working furiously between her legs now, side to side on her clit as she pictured Titus on his back. She lifted a leg to straddle him, never letting go of his cock. Leaning forward, she teased the tip of his shaft over her clit again and again before finally lowering herself down.

“Yes, yes, yes!” She was moaning aloud now. A distant part of her mind noted the noises from the other room had stopped, but she didn’t care, intent on her vision of Titus below her as she rode him.

He was perfect. Almost in an uncanny way, like a sculpture come to life. As she bucked and swiveled her hips on his fat cock, she rested her hands on his stomach. Soft, his skin giving slightly beneath her fingers before they met the hard muscles below. She pictured his face tight with concentration as he thrust up into her again and again.

Come for me, she thought as she imagined bouncing on his thick shaft, longing for the real thing. Longing for this man to really be in her bed with her. Aloud now, “Come for me!”

She pictured Titus grabbing her, his massive hands enveloping her hips and ass as he stiffened. She fought to stay seated on his cock as he began bucking up into her. He growled like a beast, and then she felt it: the rapid jerking of his shaft and the sudden flow of his cum into her.

“Mmph!” Mira groaned into the pillow as she came, the vision of Titus firing his cum deep inside her setting off one of the most intense climaxes she’d ever given herself.

“Yeeessss,” she whimpered. “Give me your cum…”

Mira rolled onto her back, her breathing slowing as the vision of Titus receded. There was silence from the other side of the wall. She reached up to brush hair out of her eyes.

“What in Holy Terra was that?” she whispered.

[yelenaslyubov]

The Holiday ⋆⁺₊❅⋆ ⁺₊❆⋆

main masterlist || florence pugh || requests

a/n: here’s my late christmas gift to you all! i’m sorry it took so long to get written, but i hope you enjoy🫶

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ pairing: florence pugh x female reader

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ warnings: MINORS DNI (18+) smut- reader receiving, fingering, face riding, language, praise

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ description: based on the film ‘the holiday,’ you decide to break out of your routine and book a trip for christmas after being cheated on. when you arrive, you find that it’s much lonelier than you expected. one night, a stranger knocks on your door and changes the stakes of your trip.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ word count: 2.9k

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The holidays suddenly became detestable. A cheerful time of year that helped you wind down from a hectic year came crashing down the minute you got the news—your girlfriend had been cheating on you for your receptionist at work.

Even though things hadn’t been working out for the two of you as of late, you figured this was just another bump in the road. This all ended the moment your girlfriend spent late nights at the office ‘working.’

You couldn’t lie, you had been focusing too much on work and not enough on your social life. It wasn’t all your girlfriend’s fault, but in the moment the blame fell on her.

The moment the confession happened you kicked her out. You were grateful now that you had never moved out of your house for her.

As reality sat in, you realized you needed to get out. Your life became suffocating in an instant and there was no way you could stay here. That was the hard part.

There were others who relied on you. Your job was too demanding. You never went anywhere if you could help it. You had to be sick or dying for there to be a lull in your work. This was one of those times you felt like dying.

It wasn’t that you were necessarily upset at the break up. You both had been having problems so ultimately you knew you needed it. What made you most nervous was the change of it all. You weren’t sure where you were going from here but you hoped it would only go up.

You got to work quickly by arranging plans for your departure. You wanted to go somewhere far away, somewhere that work couldn’t even interfere. England was apparently a good bet.

While searching destinations, you came across a quaint little cottage along the countryside that caught your eye. You investigated further which led you to find that the owner was looking to swap houses for two weeks. Each individual would have full access to each other’s houses, cars, etc. This was enough for you to be intrigued.

And so, you were off. Two weeks of nothing but quiet and relaxation. It was all you could hope for…until it wasn’t.

Upon arriving a few hours prior, you found yourself already growing bored. You explored the small cabin, watched television in bed with a bottle of wine, and tried your best to get along with the dog. Apparently the quiet and relaxation wasn’t all you dreamed of.

Just as quickly as you came, you dragged your suitcase out from under the bed and began packing your things in a disorganized frenzy. You were almost too focused to realize that there was a knock on the door until the dog started barking. You rushed down the stairs to see who could possibly be behind the strangers door.

“Hello!” the voice yelled. “Are you home?”

“Uhm, who is it?” you called apprehensively. It felt strange calling to someone from a house that is not yours.

“Iris, it’s Florence, open the fucking door before I take a piss in your flower pot!”

You abruptly opened the door to reveal a clearly drunk and sheepish looking woman. You couldn’t deny your immediate attraction to her since she was quite pleasing to look at.

“You’re not Iris,” the woman said. “Or if you are, I am much drunker than I realize.”

“I’m… I’m not,” you responded with an awkward laugh, not knowing exactly how to respond. Glances were exchanged between the two of you, studying each other from head to toe.

“I hate to interrupt this moment, but can I?” The woman motioned towards the entrance of the house.

“Oh, yes! I’m sorry, the bathroom is- well I assume you know.”

The woman rushed inside, but turned around back towards you quickly. “I’m Florence by the way, Iris’s little sister.”

She went as she was before and hurried into the restroom. You continued to talk, as to not make the entire situation more awkward than it already was.

“Ohhh, sister,” you said, the interaction all making sense. I’m y/n y/l/n, did Iris not tell you she was leaving?”

The toilet flushed from behind the door and out came Florence once again, bumping into a side table close by on her way out. “Honestly, she might have, but as you can see, I’m- I have been preoccupied more or less… as you can see.”

“She’s in Los Angeles.”She laughed, the kind of laugh that vibrates through your throat as if you had just told her the joke of the century.

“That’s not possible. Iris never goes anywhere.”

“I guess we kind of have that in common with each other,” you joked. “She listed her house on a home exchange website, so now here I am in my pajamas… in her house.”

“I can see that,” Florence smirked while also leaning a little too close to comfort towards you. “I’m just going to do myself a solid and sit down before I tackle you down with me.”

After the woman sat down, she wavered from side to side, looking as if she might tumble over any minute. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” she chuckled. “I’m sorry about my intrusion.”

“Oh please, this is more your house than mine.”

“Despite what it looks like, I’m Iris’s semi-respectable little sister. I’ve been visiting the local pub one too many times lately and my sister usually helps me out. Unfortunately, it’s become a bit of a routine lately… so, how’s it going for you?”

“Well, not so good actually. I’m leaving on a flight tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh… when did you get here again?”

You laughed. “About 6 hours ago.”

“Well we sure made a good impression on you, didn’t we?” Florence joked.

“No, no everyone has been welcoming,” you reassured her. “It’s just that… I haven’t quite been myself lately, and I thought by putting myself out there and coming here, I would feel less lonely. It turns out I’ve never felt more alone in my entire life.”

You waited for a response from Florence, but she sat quietly on the couch listening to you intently.

“Bet you’re glad you knocked on this door,” you chuckled.

“I am,” she spoke softly, topping it off with a smile. “So, since I’m clearly in a vulnerable state and I won’t remember a thing by morning, why is it that you haven’t quite felt yourself?”

“I just broke up with someone… yesterday. I thought doing this one thing for myself would help, but clearly life had other plans for me.”

You smiled and looked down towards the floor. You felt a little sorry for yourself, you couldn’t lie. This stranger had just endured your sad story of how you came to be in her sister’s house. It was quite pathetic now that you reflected.

“I really hate to be a bother, but do you mind if I crash here?” she asked. “I know you’re not my sister, but I’m afraid if I’m unsupervised I may find myself in a bit of a pickle.”

“Oh, yes of course. Let me grab you a blanket…” You pretended as if you knew your way around the cottage, as if someone who had been here millions of times wasn’t right in front of you.

“It’s in the cabinet below the TV.”

“Thanks,” you smiled. You opened the cabinet and found a stack of quilts and picked one off the top. You brought it over to Florence and she took it gently.

“I appreciate it. I promise in the morning, we’ll forget all about this silly interaction and I’ll be out of your hair.”

Her aversion to be in close proximity with you stung a little more than you had anticipated. You had just met this woman and for some reason you were sad about her leaving.

“I promise, it’s no problem,” you reassured her.

Florence smiled back and the two of you were face to face, standing towards each other. It was as if one of you was waiting to say or do something that would prolong your conversation. There was a tension that hung like a thick cloud over you both. You could cut it like a knife.

“Well then,” Florence huffed, “sweet dreams.”

Though her goodnight did not just stop at her farewell. In her drunken state, she leaned in close until

her lips found yours. You would have moved if it weren’t for your mind begging you to stay, telling you to savor this moment as long as you could.

This was only your mind speaking because your face told a different story; wide eyed and stunned. You weren’t sure what your next move was as this was the last thing you expected tonight.

Once Florence realized what she had done, she pulled away briskly. “I… don’t know why I did that, I’m so sorry. Clearly I’m much drunker than I realized.”

“It’s okay, I-I don’t mind,” you reassured her awkwardly.

She stood inches away from you again, her eyes roaming back and forth over your face taking everything in. “If you don’t mind, then I’d like to try that again.”

She wasted no time, pulling you in by your face now, not shying away from making you feel needed. The kiss was deeper and longer, allowing you to test the waters and prepare for its softness.

Florence pulled away again, slower this time. As you processed the events that led up to this, you hummed.

“Hmm,” your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Bad?” Florence asked.

“Not bad, just weird.” You plopped down on the couch with a spring.

“Weird? Weird how?”

“I’ve spent so much time with the same person, that's all I’ve known. Now, I’m here in this strange place, with a person I’ve never met… and it’s kind of exciting.” You smiled and Florence smiled back, a cheeky grin.

“That’s why… I think it would be better if we just slept together,” you spat out quickly. You looked over at Florence to see how she received the information, which seemed surprisingly well. “It’s just this whole knowing I won’t see you again thing is kind of hot.”

Florence was mindlessly fiddling with your hair; twirling it around your fingers and placing it behind your ear. This wasn’t helping your case.

There was a silence that was filled by the crackling fireplace and the distant Christmas tunes playing upstairs. You waited for her response, ensuring that it was something she also wanted.

“I don’t think I have a problem with that one bit, babe,” Florence smirked.

The flood gates then burst, both of you grabbing at one another like animals. You had never had such a deep reaction to a stranger before, the feeling being so unfamiliar. You pulled away again to catch a breath and out of your own insecurity.

“I’ve been told I’m not too great at this sort of thing,” you told her. She never stopped, kissing your neck to fill the emptiness of your lips.

“What thing?” she mumbled against your skin

“You know… sex.”

Florence stopped, lifting her head up and meeting your eyes. “I’ll be the judge of that, love.”

Without any other hesitation, Florence lifted your sweater off and started just as she had begun. She kissed you harder, her tongue filling your mouth with inexplicable desire. You each exchanged whimpers that vibrated off of one another.

Florence pulled your body down with her as she lowered herself down onto the couch. You were now straddled on either side of her while you leaned down to continue.

Her mouth was like magic and you were her muse. You never experienced a need to be savored this much in your life. She filled the void of everything and everyone who had come before.

You were pulled from your thoughts when her hand snaked into your sweatpants, over your underwear. You gasped at your own sensitivity.

“Been awhile, eh?” Florence whispered, not stopping even at your squirming.

“Embarrassingly so, it seems.”

“Good, makes it more fun,” she giggled hoarsely.

For a few brief moments, she just stared. She stared so deep into your eyes while advancing her fingers into your underwear. She wanted you exactly like this, at her mercy.

“Is this alright?” she asked before going any further. You nodded your head but that wasn’t enough. “Use your words, I need to hear you say it.”

“Yes,” you answered, “yes.” That was all that it took, your answer lit a fire beneath her that ignited at your touch.

“I need these off, baby.” Florence tugged on your pants. “I can’t do much with you trapped in these pants. I need to touch you.”

You each wrestled off your pants and underwear, leaving you with nothing. “Don’t let me have all the fun,” you laughed, pulling Florence’s shirt off as well. “That’s better.”

Everything felt right now, each of you bare for one another with nothing but the cold as a barrier. You leaned down once again to lock lips with your beautiful stranger. She was clearly eager as her fingers found your wet center, no longer trapped beneath fabric.

Her two fingers spread your pussy apart, getting a feel of your everything. Your body shuttered above her, not used to the feeling. It didn’t take her long to make circles and rub her fingers on your clit. It was practically the only thing she could think about since she arrived.

You couldn’t stop yourself from squirming and moving your hips on her fingers to gain more friction. “Fuck,” Florence whispered against your lips. “You look so good like this.”

Her two fingers went farther and slipped inside your cunt, curving inward making you moan. “Shit, right there,” you whined.

“Keep making those sounds, baby girl,” Florence said as her lips traveled away from your lips.

She kissed down your cheek to your neck, sucking on the surface. Her fingers were relentless and you wanted to scream when her teeth bit down hard on the side of your neck.

Your hips kept moving, riding her fingers so deeply that the rest of the world went away. She wanted to taste every part of you, now moving on to your chest.

Her tongue poked out of her mouth, reaching for your hardened nipple. She drew her tongue in circles around your nipple, the sensation sending sparks throughout your body. Her lips latched on, sucking and pulling on your nerves so delicately.

Her actions started pushing you over the edge. “I think I’m close,” you moaned breathlessly.

Florence took this as a queue to finish out stronger. Her lips resumed their place on your own lips and she slipped her fingers out of you to rub your clit harder and quicker than before.

“I want you to cum on my fingers. Come on, baby,” Florence encouraged you.

Your body was practically twitching with pleasure as you let go. She whispered a string of praises as you rode out your high. Your chest rose and fell quickly as you tried to catch your breath. When you looked down at Florence, a mischievous grin was painted on your face.

“I’m not finished with you yet,” she smiled. She shimmied down the couch until your dripping center was hovering above her face. “I’ve wanted to taste you all night.”

You tried to prepare yourself for contact, but nothing could prepare you for the feeling of her tongue against your pussy. The sensation had you gripping onto the arm of the couch for support.

“Holy shit,” you whimpered.

She was so gentle at first, testing out the waters and savoring every moment between your legs. She moved her tongue up and down, exploring each part of you. Then, flattening her tongue to make a harder surface, her hands that were grabbing onto your hips guided them back and forth. She wanted you grinding on her tongue just like her fingers. She loved watching you beg without using words.

You knew you wouldn’t last long, but that wasn’t the point. All she wanted was to taste what she did to you. She was admiring her masterpiece.

“Florence- I can’t,” you said.

Without warning your second high came over you. It was harder than the first, and louder than the first. You practically fell on top of her as you finished.

In a flash, you suddenly became aware of the events that took place. You saw Florence’s accomplished grin and noticed your disheveled hair.

“You should… probably get some sleep,” you told her, an attempt to brush off the intimacy the two of you shared.

“I think I might find that a bit hard now,” she smiled. You stood up from the couch and lost your balance with shaking legs. “Woah there, babe. I thought I was the intoxicated one.”

“I guess I could use some sleep myself,” you laughed. “And a clean up.”

“You take this with you,” Florence gestured to the blanket you offered her to sleep. “I’ll make do with another.”

You wrapped the blanket around you, disguising your naked body. The blanket dragged behind you as you walked towards the stairs and started to walk up.

“Oh, y/n,” she got your attention. “Whoever said you were bad in bed was a liar.”

Your cheeks flushed and you smiled at the floor. “Goodnight,” you said to her.

With that, you cleaned yourself up and crawled into bed. Sleep did not find you very well that night, as you hoped you may see her face in the morning once more.

.

.

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[mimiiiiiiiiisstuff]

"Million Dollar Man"

Ok yall..... I know I said it was gonna be another chapter of "I bet on losing dogs" but @lilithquillete sent in an ask about Reader interacting with Harvey Dent and I couldn't help myself. This is the same AU as Older, and it's the prologue. Sorry if they dont make sense together butttt I couldn't stop myself, Hope yall like it!!!!

The Pink Pony Club was Gotham’s underbelly, dark, seedy, and full of people who either wanted to forget their past or embrace it. Jazz played faintly in the background, a vocalist crooning somewhere in the distance, as smoky air curled up toward the dimly lit ceiling. The dim lighting and murmur of conversation created a sense of anonymity. For you, this was heaven.

A place where you got on stage and no one knew you, your first taste of freedom outside your family. Here, you weren't Bruce Wayne's least favorite child nor were you the failed Batgirl or useless sister, here you were just you.

Your voice enchanted people and on stage in your heels, you were unstoppable.

Only a couple nights ago, you packed your things and walked out of Wayne Manor, as if the years of being part of that family never existed. It wasn’t just that Bruce and the others had been ignoring her for Tiffany all these years; it was the cruel realization that you was never important to them. Not like they were to each other.

You tried. You had given them everything. But Tiffany’s presence had overshadowed you since she came into the manor on your 14th birthday. It was as if you'd been erased, the little attention you got diverted and multiplied to someone who was more useful, more important.

You couldn’t even get a text from Duke anymore, let alone a casual chat with Dick or Tim. Forget about Damian or Jason, or any of the girls really.

So, you left. And now, you found yourself at the Pink Pony Club, a dive bar with no judgments, just an escape.

The club was packed tonight, filled with people who seemed to have their own agendas and distractions. You took a seat at the bar, watching the crowd. It was your first day off and you had nowhere else to go.

Tonight, you weren't singing, didn't want to be noticed, but Gotham had a way of drawing attention to its wounded.

You weren't sure what you were doing anymore. This was't you. You were never a party girl, you would never be caught dead in a place like this. Bruce would kill you, if he could look away from Tiffany long enough to see you here.

Maybe you were trying to spite you family. Maybe trying to drown the anger that simmered within you. Anger at the Batfamily, who had all but erased you from their lives. Anger at yourself, for allowing it to happen.

But mostly, the anger at Bruce. You had spent years trying to live up to his expectations, only to realize that Tiffany had took his love in a day.

But tonight, you weren't thinking about them. Tonight, you were here to forget.

As you sipped your drink, you noticed a familiar figure at the back of the room. Harvey Dent, the once-proud district attorney, now the infamous Two-Face, sat alone in a booth, nursing a drink. His face was partially scarred from the acid, and his expression, even now, looked like he carried the weight of Gotham's filth on his shoulders.

Selina Kyle, Cat Woman, Bruce's ex- lover who got you the job had mentioned he frequented the club. And if you were being honest, you couldn't help but be curious about him.

"Rough night, sweetheart?" a voice purred from beside you. Speak of the devil.

You didn’t even have to look to know who it was. You knew that voice too well. Selina Kyle. The only person who never treated you like a pawn or an afterthought. The only one who didn't care about the petty squabbles of Gotham's rich, the same Gotham she had spent most of her life trapped in. Your only friend in this god-forsaken city.

You half-turned in your chair, giving Selina a wry smile. “You have no idea.”

Selina perched herself next to you, crossing her arms, sizing up the tension on your face. "Let me guess. The Batfamily still ignoring you? Haven't even noticed you moved out? Too busy obsessing over the golden child?"

Your mouth twisted bitterly, but you said nothing, Selina always knew exactly how to get a rise out of you. Your eyes flickered toward the back of the bar again where Harvey Dent, still sat in the shadows, his burnt face half-hidden under his usual dark, grim expression.

Selina followed your gaze, the slight curve of her lips pulling into a mischievous smile. “You’re looking at him again, huh? You know, I never took you for the bad-boy type. Never thought you'd betray Superboy like that.”

"I'm not thinking of Clark tonight." You said, suddenly tense at the mention of your unrequited love.

A dark, playful smirk crossed your lips. You weren't looking for anything serious tonight. Just a distraction. And Harvey would be perfect for that.

Bruce would be pissed.

You slid off the stool and made your way toward the half-handsome man, the tension between them thickening as you approached. He looked up, his eyes scanning you for a moment before he smirked.

“Is there something I can help you with, sweetheart?” Harvey asked, his voice low and rough, the raspiness of his tone sending a jolt of heat through your chest.

You leaned against the table, crossing your arms. “Saw you sitting here all by yourself, thought maybe you could use some company.”

Harvey's lips curled into a dismissive grin, but his eyes were cold, calculating. “You think I need company?” His tone was sharp, sarcastic. “You're a little young for me, don't you think?”

You grinned, unbothered by his coldness. “A little age never hurt anyone, mind if I sit?” You asked, your voice dripping with feigned innocence as you slipped into the seat opposite Harvey. You could feel his sharp eyes on you, scanning your every movement, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he took a sip of his drink, his jaw tight.

“Sure, if you’re into wasting your time,” he said flatly, not even bothering to look up again.

Reader’s lips curled into a playful smile. “I don't think anything to do with someone like you is a waste.”

Harvey glanced up slowly, his sharp gaze scrutinizing you like a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. His eyes lingered on you for a beat too long, his lips tight with something unreadable. “You’re bold,” he remarked, his voice heavy with condescension.

You tilted your head, leaning against the back of the booth, watching him through half-lidded eyes, peering at him innocently through your lashes, “What, is that a problem?”

He didn’t answer immediately, taking a long sip of his drink, his eyes now trained on her lips before sliding up to meet her gaze again. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with, little girl.”

You didn’t flinch, though a hot flash of insecurity pierced through your facade. You’d had enough of people underestimating you. “Maybe, but i've always had a thing for lost causes.”

Harvey smirked, his expression a mix of arrogance and indifference. “I’m not exactly your type, kid. You want a pretty boy, go back to playing in your Batcave.”

You scoffed, crossing your arms and pushing out your chest. “Did you just call me a kid?”

Harvey’s lips thinned, and you could see his eyes momentarily flicker to your chest. All men were the same.. “That’s what you are, sweetheart. You’re out of your league, go home to daddy and stop trying to play with the big boys. You don't belong here.”

You let out a low chuckle, leaning in just a little closer. This was a challenge now, he thought he was too good for you, too strong to give in, you'd show him how convincing you could be. “You think so? I’m not the one sitting in a dark corner of a bar brooding. Seems like I’m doing just fine.”

Harvey’s eyes darkened, and the tension in the air thickened. He took another sip, this time with a little more force, the sound of the glass clinking against the table ringing out. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

You shrugged nonchalantly. “I don't really care.”

He smiled, sharp and predatory, "This won't play out in your favor. You think you're in charge here, you're not."

The words hung between you, charged with something dangerous.

For the next hour, you exchanged glances, words, and cold retorts, every time Harvey tried to shut you down, you would respond with something even more bold and charming, pulling him in. The man was harder to read than a stone wall, but you knew one thing for sure: the tension was building, the air crackling with the kind of heat that made your heart quicken.

Finally, Harvey broke, leaning forward and offering you a sardonic smile. “Alright. What’s your angle, sweetheart?”

You leaned in as well, matching his intensity, never backing down no matter how hard he tried to intimidate you. “Just here for a good time. You’ve got your secrets, I’ve got mine. But I think we could both use some fun. A way to let loose.”

Harvey’s jaw clenched, but the flicker of interest in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. “You’re wasting your time. I’m not interested. ”

“Then why do you keep looking at me like that?” You shot back, your voice low, sharp, and breathy.

Harvey’s lips tightened again, the words bitter in his mouth. “Because you’re trouble, you're a mess. And trouble’s what I wanted tonight.”

The words stung, but you didn’t let it show. “Then we're on the same page.”

For a moment, his jaw tightened, his face betraying a flicker of frustration. He reached for his glass, swirling it absentmindedly before taking a long sip. Then, after a beat, he placed the glass down with a deliberate slowness, his eyes narrowing.

“I don’t have time for games, little girl. Why don’t you take your flirtations somewhere else?”

But there was something in his voice—something that cracked, a faint whisper of desire beneath the tough exterior. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“I don't want much,” You replied, your voice low, leaning in slightly, your noses almost touching. “Just tonight. A distraction.”

He smirked at that. “A distraction, huh? You think you can handle me?"

The words were slow, dangerous, suggestive. The tension between them had become thick, charged with the weight of things neither of them was willing to admit.

“Nothing permanent. Just... for tonight. What happens after doesn’t matter.” You'd never fall for someone like Harvey Dent.

Harvey's lips twisted, amusement in his eyes. “What would your daddy think?”

A week ago, that would've mattered. Back when your life revolved around him and his stupid family. But now? Now, it didn't matter, nothing mattered other than getting Harvey Dent in her bed tonight.

You chuckled darkly. “I'm a big girl now Harvey, I choose who my daddy is."

His gaze sharpened, his grin widened, and you could feel him moving under the table. “Really? Do you now? Does that mean I have to prove myself?" He said his Gotham accent coming out as he swiftly slid out the booth and began walking away, only glancing back at you once in a silent invitation.

The night bled into the morning as you found yourself in your bed alone, the only evidence of last night being your scattered clothes and the rumpled side of the bed that smelled of a deep, earthy cologne. Harvey, nowhere to be found, though you're sure he stayed the night.

You found a note on your nightstand with a number and a single red rose. You threw them both away.

The intensity of the night, of Harvey’s dangerous allure, his cold, hard demeanor that eventually gave way to something more primal; had left you breathless. You hadn’t exchanged any promises, but there was no mistaking the way he’d looked at you afterward. There was an intensity that had simmered between the two of you, a powerful connection of mutual darkness.

Later that day, as you met up with Selina to apologize for ditching her last night, you couldn't help but notice the sly smile on Selina's face.

"So, how was it? Life altering? Mind numbing?" Selina asked innocently, but her voice had a knowing tone.

“Fun,” you replied smirking, “Just what I needed. No strings attached.”

Selina raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because I heard Harvey’s been looking for you. Asking around. Seems like you’ve left an impression on him. He's not the type to give up.”

Your chest tightened, but you pushed the feeling down. “He was just a distraction. That’s all. i just needed to forget Clark for the night.”

Selina knew of your childhood crush, she was the first you told. You approached her as an awkward, chubby 13 year old, asking how to make Superman your boyfriend.

Selina smirked, clearly unconvinced. “You tell yourself that. But I think Harvey’s not done with you just yet.”

You shrugged, "I'm done with him."

Selina faltered, her mischief giving way to concern, "I'm serious. You need to be more careful, men like that, men like Harvey Dent, they don't take kindly to being ignored."

As the days passed, you felt the weight of your choices, of the things you’d told yourself you could leave behind. And yet, you couldn't help but feel the pull of Harvey’s gaze every time you closed your eyes and went home with a different guy.

You were still angry at the Batfamily, still haunted by the echoes of Tiffany’s presence, but now there was something else. Something dangerous, something that wasn’t just about anger anymore.

A few nights had passed since the night with Harvey. You found yourself with a strange feeling, lingering like smoke on your skin. Like someone was watching you, following you.

It started with small things, when you sang at the club, you could feel his eyes on you. When you flirted with customers and they didn't look you in the eye anymore. When even your charms and seduction couldn't pull anyone in, Harvey was trying to put you in a dry spell. Punish you for ignoring him.

A week after the night, you came home from the club to your apartment exhausted and what you saw shocked you. Dozens of red roses were in your living room and kitchen, with notes and pictures attached to each boquet. Everyday you ignored him, your apartment would be flooded with red roses, by the 4th day you were sure there were no more red roses in Gotham. You would read the notes, each day a different one, more vague and kind of threatening.

“I see you every night, whether you want me to or not. - H”

“You think I’m going to give up? Not when I’m this close. - H.”

“You can’t hide from me. I’ll always find you. - H.”

You rolls your eyes, but can’t stop the flicker of something—danger, excitement, anticipation—from flashing through you. The usual defiance is still there, but now it has a slight edge. It’s hard not to feel compelled by his power, and you pick up a card that has his number on it, and you call.

Two months. Thats how long you've been something to Harvey Dent.

Since that night you called him, you've seen Harvey Dent everyday for two months. You either saw him at the club, he never missed out on watching you sing, or at your apartment, or he'd wisk you away for a candle light dinner. The only exception of his constant attention was the two weeks you were sick, and even then he called you and sent you flowers.

Thats why when he started getting distant it hurt, you were in love with him.

Like a fool, you fell for Harvey "Two-Face" Dent.

You wrote songs for him, stayed up on the phone talking to him, baked him cookies and cakes, you didn't care about his scars or his mood swings, you put up with his sometimes hurtful comments because you could feel his love for you.

It was in the little things. Little displays of affection like knowing how you liked your coffee, your favorite fruit, how he would play your favorite movie whenever you were down and watch stupid rom-coms all night, without complaint. How he would laugh at all your stupid jokes and help you with the dishes.

Everything changed when Selina dropped a bombshell. You were just finishing your shift at the Pink Pony when Selina came up to you, leaning against the bar, a rare seriousness in her voice.

“I'm sorry. I didn't want to have to tell you this” Selina said, looking at you with eyes full of love and concern. “But I think you need to know . You’re not the only one Harvey’s been after.”

You froze, heart dropping to your feet. “What are you talking about?” You asked, chuckling at the unfunny joke, Harvey would never. He loves you.

Selina’s gaze shifted toward the back of the club, where Tiffany fucking Wayne, was standing at the bar with Harvey. The way she leaned into him, the flirtatious, familiar touch on his arm, made your heart drop. That was all the proof you needed.

“When you lost your voice last month, Tiffany came here every night, working him over. She’s been coming in, feeling him, and leaving with him. She’s been playing him like a violin. And he's been two-timing you.”

Your stomach twisted. Tiffany. Your “sister”, the girl who always took everything from you, the girl who you cried to him about, who you told him stole everything from you, stole him too. The image of Tiffany and Harvey together was enough to break something inside you.

Your voice cracked. “I... he... he was mine.”

Selina raised an eyebrow, sympathy in her eyes. “I’m sorry. You know Harvey’s not the only one she’s after. She’s always tried to steal everything from you. She’s always been good at that.”

It hit you harder than you wanted to admit. Tiffany had taken Harvey, too. she wasn’t stealing brothers or sisters from you; she was taking the one place where you had ever felt wanted.

He loved you, at some point, you were sure. But could love be so easily swayed?

Before she came and stole him like she stole everything else in your life, Harvey Dent loved you

In the two weeks you were sick, Tiffany Maverick stole the one man who loved you.

The next night at the club, the weight of Selina’s words followed you like a shadow. You stepped onto the stage, singing as best as you could, but the usual thrill was gone. Tiffany was there again, standing too close to Harvey. Every laugh they shared, every touch, was like a knife to your chest.

You couldn’t help but notice how Harvey had changed. The way he looked at you now felt different—distant, colder. There was no longer that spark of attraction, just the lingering sense that something had shifted. That someone else had taken hyourplace.

Tiffany had won. Again.

You finished your set and stepped off the stage, throat tight. You caught Harvey’s eye as he turned toward you, but there was no warmth or love in his gaze, like there was two weeks ago, only disappointment. He was looking at you like you were just another face in the crowd.

You couldn’t do it anymore. You couldn’t stay. It wasn’t just the loss of Harvey—it was the realization that Tiffany had taken your spot in their world.

Her betrayal felt too familiar, like an old wound that never healed. It wasn't enough for her to have your family, she wanted everything.

That night you quit the club and broke your lease to your apartment. You wouldn't let Tiffany or Two Face run you out of Gotham, out of your city, but you couldn't stay where you and him shared all your memories.

You would forget about him. You would never mention Harvey Dent again, you would never even think of him again. Nor would you acknowledge that he was the first man that loved you. Harvey Dent did not exist anymore.

[scaryfangirl2001]

Annabon is so excited for her birthday! She's been wishing for a cool phone, like the ones she's seen in all the catalogs.

When she unwraps the Nokia 5510, her eyes light up with joy. It's the coolest phone ever, and she can't believe it's all hers. The first thing she does, is run to her room, eager to explore her new gadget.

She sits on her bed, carefully examining the phone. The blue and black design is so sleek, and she loves the sliding cover for the keypad. Annabon giggles as she slides it open and starts pressing the buttons, feeling the satisfying click of each key. She types her name, "Annabon," and then adds some random numbers, pretending to text her friends. "Hey, Antonio, wanna come over? I got a new phone!" she imagines herself typing.

But the real fun begins when she discovers the games! Snake II is her favorite; she moves the little pixelated snake around, trying to eat the apples.

"This is so cool!" she exclaims, her tiny fingers deftly navigating the keypad.

She challenges herself to beat her own high score, her tongue sticking out in concentration.

While Annabon is engrossed in her Nokia, Papa Jim-Jim presents her with the vintage Motorola StarTAC, a true relic from a whole six years ago. She grasps the phone with her tiny hands, marveling at its unique clamshell design, which is unlike anything she's seen before. The phone feels like a treasure, a connection to a time before she was born.

"Wow, it's so cool, Papa!" Misty exclaims, her voice filled with wonder.

She flips the phone open and closed, enjoying the satisfying snap of the hinge. The buttons are big and easy for her little fingers to press, and she pretends to dial numbers, leaving imaginative voicemails for her stuffed animals.

Grabbing Scopey, Misty creates her own world with the StarTAC. She holds it to her ear, mimicking conversations, her voice a mix of whispers and giggles. "Hello, Teddy Bear Hospital? Yes, I have a patient here with a boo-boo. Please send help!" she says, engaging in a make-believe game.

The next day, Annabon decides to show off her new phone at school. She can't wait to see their reactions, especially from Ray, who always has the latest toys.

"Hey, guys, check this out!" Annabon says as she enters the classroom during recess.

Ray's eyes widen, "Wow, Annabon! That's an awesome phone! Can I play Space Impact?"

Annabon beams with pride as she hands the phone to Ray, who quickly starts playing.

Althea and Attica crowd around, their curiosity piqued. "I wanna try too!" they say in unison.

Annabon smiles, feeling like the coolest kid in school. She watches as her friends take turns playing games and exploring the phone's features. Even Miles turns down his music for a moment to join in on the fun.

During lunch, Annabon sits with her friends, and they take turns sharing the phone. Simon tries to impress everyone by showing off his typing speed, while Alice pretends to call her imaginary friends. Donna, usually surly, can't resist the phone's charm and asks for a turn, carefully avoiding touching Annabon's hand as she takes the device.

As the school day ends, Annabon packs up her things, making sure to keep the Nokia 5510 safely tucked in her backpack. She feels a sense of satisfaction and maturity, knowing she has something so special and unique for a 7-year-old.

On the walk home, she thinks about how she can personalize her phone. Maybe she'll ask her dads to help her download some new ringtones or find a cool phone case. She feels grown-up and connected to her friends in a whole new way.

#54 What would your character do, if didn’t have a phone? (Or if they already don't have one;) What would they do with one?

I know you all have amazing creative juices in you and some amazing characters. This prompt is just for you to have fun and to help you explore your Character in a different setting. I would LOVE to hear what your Characters would do.

[separatist-apologist]

Genuinely, and I mean this kindly, but learning to recognize bait and not engaging with it will change your fandom experience.

[ninnihh]

This is a vent post feel free to ignore but i'm just so pissed and honestly so fucking done

[writersdrug]

Simon "Ghost" Riley is the kind of man who:

In your shared home, always sits with his legs spread. Manspreading king. Adores it when you cross your arms and give him a disapproving look, saying there's no room for you. "Course there is, luv. Jus' sit between my thighs."

Refuses to let you do simple tasks around the house, like making tea, folding his underwear, or putting away the dishes. One might think it's a sweet, husbandly gesture - but he's just super picky. You made tea in the microwave once, and now you're banned from ever touching his tea stash. Likes his underwear folded in a specific way, and you don't understand the importance of it. He got tired of you stuffing his underwear in his drawer, so now he folds it himself. And the dishes? Couldn't stand how you put them away. "There's no rhyme or reason to 'em." "I didn't think there had to be, Si-" "Just gimme the damn bowl." Fewer chores? You aren't complaining.

Looks like he's always on edge - and he is, kinda. When he's out with you, he can't help but be alert and watchful, and extremely protective of you. You've tried to get him to loosen up - it's the supermarket, what could happen? - but have just come to accept it as his nature. Plus, you get that giddy feeling when you see other men look straight down at the floor, avoiding Simon's stare as the two of you pass.

Is the grumpiest, poutiest, and most indignant man ever when he gets sick. Doesn't want you doting on him in case you catch whatever he has. But, wait - where are you going? "Get your ass back in this bed - 'm cold." Grumbles like a child when you force him to let you get up to grab him soup, tea, or medicine. And no, he doesn't care how sick he is, he's not wearing that stupid, floppy ice pack hat.

Brings Johnny over unannounced, and you've grown used to it. The moment you hear that Scottish yapping out the front door as the key unlocks, you grab a third plate for dinner - he insists you don't need to feed him, but you always make extra for Simon's lunch the next day regardless, and the last time he'd said that, he ended up grabbing an extra fork and picking from Simon's plate. Which, of course, had Simon up at 1 am making instant ramen because he was still hungry, but didn't have the heart to ask you to make him a decent meal. So, yes, Johnny would be fed.

Loves spoiling you on your birthday. What is a man if not someone who spoils his partner rotten? Orders in food from your favorite bakery, sets all your presents neat and nice on the table (the excellent wrapping job done by yours truly, Gaz), flower petals sprinkled on the ground and the table top (also Gaz's idea), and a seat on his lap so for you while you open your presents. Loves watching your face light up, and each little "you remembered?!" fall from your lips as you open each gift. Scoffs and shifts in his seat. "I's not that much of a fuss, luv..." as you squeal excitedly, but you know he's biting back a proud smile. The blush, he can't even attempt to hide.

Is somehow a magnet for your young nephews. Every time he comes along to your sister's place, he's either making conversation with her husband in the living room, or he's interrogated and cornered by her two sons. And, lord help him, he doesn't understand it either. He'd always expected kids to look at him like a monster, but, especially with these two, that was never the case. They'd ask him for stories about "being in war" - half of the time, he'd make up some not-too-gory adventure, sparing them the details of real war. The rest of the time, he'd talk about "Soap, my mate who blows everything up." And they'd listen with wide eyes and jaws on the floor.

Has scared you unintentionally, more than too many times. He'd come home at three in the morning from a mission, and all he wanted was to quietly peel his dirty uniform off and slip into bed with you. His main intention was to avoid waking you up, because you'd force him to shower before joining you in bed - and he was too tired for that. However, you'd been rounding the corner, up for your 3 am glass of water - you screamed as you saw the hulking, dark figure by the front door, launching your phone at him. He'd caught it effortlessly and shoved it into his back pocket. "What've I told ya 'bout using the bat?" "I was just getting water!" "I coulda been anyone." "Well you're not." "Missed ya, luvie." "Missed you too- but you're grimy. Go take a-" "No." He grabbed you and threw you over his shoulder, ignoring your protests as he hauled you back to bed.