#warmer hues au

[loboto-bear]

Okay, okay, I know Warmer Hues is about lowbloods, but, uh, these two are unintentionally kind of relevant to the plot, so I whipped up designs for them.

Behold! Warmer Hues Stelsa and Tagora :))

[ask-warmer-hues]

Hey skylla, do you know what a 'pet' is?

A real unsavoryy one, at that-

[beloveds-embrace]

Angst duke au where reader ends up running away on her own accord. She’s got a wild spirit on the inside and it can’t be contained any longer. They already pay her no attention, nobody notices she’s left until half a month passes.

She finds a small, small village eventually and lives a cottagecore life collecting mushrooms and being showered in attention by a fellow villager (König) that spoils her rotten

Dukedom au masterlist

It happens without ceremony, just as quietly as you’ve lived these past months. You’ve given it enough thought to know this is what you want, but not so much as to paralyze yourself with doubt. There’s nothing left for you here- no affection, no companionship, no purpose. You’ve tried everything, haven’t you? Every word unsaid, every gesture rebuffed, every quiet hope dashed. If there’s nothing here but loneliness, then it’s time to seek something else. If you stay here any longer, you know you will rot away, unloved and unwanted.

And so, you leave with only a satchel. A plain cloak, a coin pouch, and a few essentials- the duchy’s wealth was never truly yours, and you feel no guilt leaving it behind. The manor is dark when you pass through its cold halls one last time, its silence now strangely soothing.

No one stirs as you open one of the less used back doors, no one watches as you step out into the cool night air. The gravel crunches beneath your feet as you make your way down the long road leading away from the estate, and you don’t look back. Not once.

You don’t keep track of how long you walk, only that the world seems to grow softer, warmer, with every step you take. You hadn’t even noticed how much life had been sucked out of you until you’ve left.

The grand estates and meticulous gardens of the duchy fade into rolling hills and dense forests. Villages dot the landscape here and there, but you don’t linger in any of them. You’re not looking for a crowd or a bustling town. You want quiet. Solitude. A place where you can breathe and exist without being watched or judged or resented.

It’s tiresome weeks before you find it: a tiny village nestled at the foot of a forest. It’s so small you almost miss it, hidden away among the trees and wildflowers, but when you step onto the dirt path leading into the cluster of cottages, you feel something you haven’t felt in years-

Peace.

The villagers are kind in a way that catches you off guard. They greet you with smiles even despite your messy appearance, not because they’re obligated to, but because they seem genuinely pleased to see you.

An older woman tuts at the state of you and offers you warm, fresh bread from her oven, sitting you down in her home. A farmer waves as you pass by. No one stares too long or whispers behind their hands. No one asks intrusive questions. It’s such a sharp contrast to the stifling scrutiny of the duchy, and it makes you realize how much you’ve craved this simplicity.

And so, you finally decide to stay.

You find work with the herbalist, a quiet, weathered man who doesn’t seem to mind your silence. He gives you tasks to complete- gathering herbs, organizing his jars- and pays you a small wage that’s enough to rent a modest little cottage at the edge of the woods. It’s a humble place with a thatched roof and a creaky wooden floor, but it feels like yours. It is yours.

You spend your mornings walking through the forest, learning which mushrooms are safe to pick and which plants have medicinal properties, books always ready to be cracked open, and your evenings curled up in front of the fire, your legs tucked beneath you as the light flickers across the walls. The herbalist and the old woman are friends, unsurprisingly for such a cozy village, and they tell you stories of their lives. Simple lives, yet so precious and fulfilling.

Your body, too, begins to change. The gaunt, hollow look you wore in the duchy fades as your cheeks fill out again, as your muscles grow stronger from the work. Your skin takes on a golden hue from the sun, and your eyes, once dull and lifeless, begin to sparkle with something new- contentment. The old woman even pats your cheeks, priding herself on constantly doing her best to fatten you up.

It’s a lovely life, you truly. And then something quite unexpected happens.

You meet König on one of your forest walks.

You had only heard of him- everyone told you he isn’t one to socialize much even if he is the forester of the village, simply does his job and prefers his solitude. Yet, you still end up meeting him.

He’s crouched among the trees, examining a patch of wildflowers when you almost stumble over him. You let out a startled yelp, and he rises so quickly you take a step back, craning your neck to meet his gaze. He’s huge- taller than any man you’ve ever met, even Duke Riley- with broad shoulders and an intensity that makes him seem more a part of the forest than a mere visitor.

Though perhaps, you think, that could be because of his work?

He speaks softly, his voice low, as he apologizes for startling you. His accent is unfamiliar, his words slightly awkward, as though he’s unused to speaking at all but you don’t mind.

You smile to reassure him, your heart still fluttering in your chest, and the way his blue eyes soften makes something inside you twist. How silly of you, such ridiculous thoughts.

König offers to walk you back to the village as an apology, insists on it, and though you’ve been perfectly fine on your own, you accept. There’s something… soothing about his presence, about the way he towers beside you but keeps a careful distance as if afraid to overwhelm you. When you part ways, you (dejectedly) think it’s the last you’ll see of him, but you’re wrong.

König starts appearing more and more often.

At first, it’s small things: helping you carry a heavy basket, pointing out a hidden patch of mushrooms you might have missed, but it quickly becomes clear to everyone except you that he’s seeking you out on purpose. He’s awkward about it, clearly unused to conversation, but he tries. And every time you see him, he brings something with him.

Never before have you had such attention dotted on you, and you… love it. You adore König, truly, and all the little gifts he brings with him.

A carved figurine of a fox, whittled from wood with painstaking care that you place on your bedside. A bundle of freshly picked berries, their juices staining his hands, a day after you told him you quite like berries. A bouquet of wildflowers that matches your favorites so perfectly you wonder if he’s been watching you.

If he is, you don’t mind.

Truthfully, you tell yourself it’s nothing at first. Just a kind villager being neighborly. But König doesn’t treat anyone else like this and even the herbalist and the old lady say so, hiding their smiles.

It’s only you who he looks at with those soft, steady eyes. Only you he lingers near, his massive frame somehow gentle as he helps you with whatever task you’re doing.

And so to no one’s surprise, over time, the relationship between you deepens into something far more precious and tender:

König listens to you in a way no one ever has. He hangs onto every word as if you’ve hung the stars, his gaze fixed on you as though you’re the most important thing in the world, in his world. He asks about your day, about your thoughts, and eventually, about your life; and when you tell him about the life you left behind, his jaw tightens, and his hands curl into fists. When they loosen, his hands hover for a few seconds before he gently cups your face, callouses thumbs rubbing the soft skin under your eyes.

“You deserve better,” he tells you, his voice quiet but firm. “I hope this… village gives you happiness.”

You don’t respond, but your heart aches with a feeling you can’t quite name. You give me happiness, König. More than anyone ever has.

He spoils you in ways you never thought possible, and gives you the steady, unwavering presence of someone who genuinely cares. It’s overwhelming at first, this constant, undivided attention, but you find yourself softening to it, leaning into it, _craving_ it.

For the first time in years, you feel seen. You feel wanted.

The life you’ve built here is nothing like the one you left behind. It’s smaller, quieter, but it’s yours. You wake each morning to the chirping of birds and fall asleep each night to the distant rustle of trees, and both times, you have warm and secure arms that wrap around you in the coziest embrace. Kisses trailing up the nape of your neck, a soft voice whispering vows of adoration into you skin.

The duchy, John, Kyle, Johnny, Simon- they feel like ghosts now, distant figures from a life that doesn’t belong to you anymore. You don’t know if they’ve noticed your absence, if they’ve felt the sting of your silence, but…

You don’t care. Let them wonder. Let them regret. You’ve found your freedom, your happiness, and you’re never looking back.

To be loved is to exist, and you understand that now.

[minhosimthings]

Elysian || 18+

Synopsis: you never wanted to fall for the only son of the family yours hated. And yet you did.

Pairings: Mafia boss!Hyunjin × fem!reader

Warnings: SMUT MINORS DNI 18+, mentions of dagger, kind of knife play?, P in v sex, fingering, angst, fluff, forbiddened love, mafia boss au, mention of poison, blood, food and alcohol, reader wears a dress, implied mental abuse, fluffy at the end but it's really angsty in the middle sorry yall

A/N: ahhh this took a lot of time to write because I wanted everything to be PERFECT. and in my opinion this is the best shit I've ever written Mona 2am brain go burr. Also this is dedicated to my beloved @astraystayyh and Hyunjin's photoshoots which have made me go feral approximately 143 times

Red.

You remembered it as a hibiscus, decorating the gardens of your family's estate as child. You remembered it as the ugly hue of your grandmother's rug, the only thing you'd fixate on whenever the stench of blood filled your nose. You remembered it as your family's emblem, in a kingdom of money and roses and whatnot. You remembered red as death.

But you never thought you would have remembered red as the colour which outlined the shadows of the painting in front you.

You never though red would remind you of one of your most favourite persons ever, of his plump pink lips and gorgeous waterfall of hair you would decorate with rose petals anyday.

You never thought red would remind you of Hwang Hyunjin.

Red, as the multifaceted colour it is, fascinated you. It was like an idea in your head, hard to drive out, impossible to kill. What was red truly? What shades did it hide?

Red as a ladybug or red as a lobster? Red as a tulip or red as red as a new bride's cheeks? Red as lipstick or red as a gown? Red as roses or red as blood?

Red as the dominating colour of Hyunjin's palette was the correct answer to you most of the time.

You could recall the first time you had ever met him. Five months ago or had it been a year? You didn't remember much, just the fact that Hwang Hyunjin saved you, the 'enemy' from a bullet wound when he could have let you rot and made his family proud. The Hwangs were nefarious for their merciless behaviour, and yet you found in Hyunjin, a different kind of warmer mercy.

A mercy which you preferred because no one else gave it to you.

And that was how you found comfort in Hyunjin, a sense of familiarity that made you believe that you could be your true self with him and not just another painted version of you. Granted, he did paint you, in various shades of golds, violets and reds.

Painstaking as they were, you loved your short lived secret sessions with him. He was like a thief, quietly sneaking in through a window, and stealing away your heart with his demeanor.

Both of you came from families who despised each other, there was a certain Romeo-Juliet element to it all that both amused and frightened you.

But no matter what thing troubled you, you always had your memories with him to come back to. Especially those soft tender moments when you realised how much you craved a normal life away from the money and the blood.

You remembered one moment better than most others. It was the first time you said the poisonous word. It was that time in Italy...or was it Belgium? All you seemed to actually recall was the time you first walked into the love which Hyunjin gave you.

Dark chocolate eyes flickered over your naked body as it sunk beneath warm water, a bottle of liquid soap shone a bit in the candlelight as Hyunjin poured it into your tub. His ethereal figure was like a God in the pale moonlight coming from the tiny window.

“Just a little something extra to provide you some… relief,” he smiled, dipping his elegant hand into the waters to stir it around.

Hyunjin knew you were an assassin, carefully molded into one by your family, nevertheless he saw more than what he was supposed to. He saw you as a human instead. A human who was tired of all the blood she had spilt.

Your body easing into the water, you barely noticed the ripples of Hyunjin slipping his carved body beside you. It barely registered, his arm wrapping around you, the warm water pouring down your neck to rinse off the blood, the trickles that run down your face as he wets your hair and washed it clean of sweat and more.

You couldn't remember the last time you had felt like this, so relaxed so taken care of. So you said it, you said the word without a moment's waste.

"I love you" you had blurted out without a second thought, "I love you, Hwang Hyunjin." The name mattered to you in ways you hadn't ever fathomed before.

And the worst thing was he said it back. With a kiss to imprint it.

And now here you were, eyes flickering between the ceiling and each other. The warm light of the massive ballroom shone its glory onto you as you clutched your champagne tight to your bosom, making sure to distract yourself with it, whenever your stolen glances at Hyunjin were caught by someone.

You hadn't been forced to attend the ball by any means by your family, in fact you volunteered for it. You had waited eagerly for your target's name, your mother stressed that it was an important one, and as the quietest daughter it would have been easy for you to kill in plain sight and prove once and for all to your father that you were ready to take over as the heir to his 'buisness'. Maybe you'd finally have the fame and the power you craved off as a child, like some starved deer eating its own kind.

But now, you clutched the tiny vile of hemlock close to your hip, carefully dropping it into your pocket, all the while staring at Hyunjin across the room, who was laughing with someone you recognised as a painter Hyunjin adored. His raucous yet polite laughter, gorgeous strands of hair framing his face, your heart sobbed at the thought of slipping poison into his veins.

If you had even a modicum of respect for your own head, maybe you would have sneaked the hemlock into his drink at the slightest moment. Unfortunately though, you didn't and so it came to be that you resorted to dissecting a serene painting until hopefully Hyunjin ultimately noticed you.

The painting fascinated you, it was one you hadn't ever seen before. Dark blue traced the outlines two people, with grey hair and wisened foreheads, holding hands through a rough brown canvas. You smiled at the painting before taking a sip of your champagne. Love, eternally, was one of Hyunjin's most beloved topics to waste all his blue paint on.

Words rushed through your mind as your eyes traced each brushstroke. Whips of harsh sentences and scenes of conversations, contrasting the soft daubs of paint, flashed in front of your eyes.

'The Parks? Mum I can't do that!'

'You want to be useful to this family? Marry him and you'll be more than useful'

'But Mum...!'

'You think you have a say in this? Shut up and do what's good for that useless head of yours'

"Admiring my work, my love?"

You flinched slightly at the different voice, which sounded like spring rain and lily pads. Spinning on your heel to face the source of the voice, you found yourself melting into a pair of beautiful eyes, the kind of eyes that made thieves wonder why they ever bothered to steal pieces of art. His eyes—the color of an intoxicating champagne—beckoned you over with nothing more than a warm smile.

"What?" Hyunjin chuckled, seeing you stare at him, "Did I get fondue on my lips again?"

"No, just..." You trailed off, not finding the correct words, "You look good."

"As you do, my sweet." Hyunjin's hand took yours and brought it up to his lips, "God, I wish I could paint you right here."

"Hyunjin," you gave him a playful look, unsure of whether or not it was hiding your fright, what if someone saw?

Hyunjin's arms went to your waist, pulling you closer to him, which felt like syrup wafting through the air, sweet with a touch of familiarity. He leaned in, you felt his hot breath on your neck as he whispered, "None of your family or their spies are here don't worry."

You took in a shaky breath, as you felt his long, dainty fingers reaching up your thigh, fiddling with something strapped tightly to it. Hyunjin smiled into your neck, as he continued to fiddle with the leather.

"That's how they plan to kill me?" He chuckled, "With a dagger strapped to the ravishing thigh of the love of my life?"

"That's just Plan B." You whispered, shoving his hand off gently, as your eye caught a waiter in the corner glancing at you and Hyunjin, "Just in case the hemlock doesn't work."

"Willing to test that theory?" Hyunjin stepped away from you, leaving your body colder than you wished. His cocky smile, his raised brow and relaxed demeanour, he was like a like a cat lounging in a garden, at peace with watching the world pass on.

"In front of everyone?" You questioned, "don't tell me the only son of the Hwangs is becoming soft for someone like me."

Hyunjin's mouth stretched lazily as he grinned at you, extending a hand for you to take.

"Let's go somewhere private?" He asked, not giving you time to answer as he basically dragged you across the hall, where magnificent stairs led to the upper floors of the luxurious mansion. Gossiping eyes followed your movements, well, more precisely, Hyunjin's movements, as he led you up the stairs, making sure not to step on your tartine dress, as you carried the fabric behind you with regal grace.

"Now," Hyunjin smirked as you climbed onto the last step, now well hidden from the party downstairs, "Shall we?" And he broke into a run, dragging you behind him, giggling maniacally like a child in the summer. You were sure you heard your dress rip, but you had not a care as you ran with Hyunjin down the corridor, to the last door, his bedroom. The walls of the corridors were lined with paintings, Hyunjin's evidently, fading edges of canvases standing out against the ruby of the wall paint and the carpeted floor. You recognised each and every painting. A painting of a woman amongst daffodils, another of the same woman in an abandoned mansion which Hyunjin had always told you would be that women's one day. The day he married that woman to be specific.

'The woman in my dreams', Hyunjin told his family when they asked him who she was. 'The woman in my dreams', Hyunjin told his patrons when they asked who she was. 'You', Hyunjin told you when you asked, though you knew, but you still questioned him, in between chaste kisses on the neck and giggles. Hyunjin came to a halt in front of the oak carved door, a tiny metal label on top spelling his name in cursive letters.

"How about we put that dagger to use then?" Hyunjin pressed your back against the door in no time, devouring your being as he tasted the honey of your elysian lips. His hands went again, to your thigh, fumbling to take the dagger out, but you were quicker in your actions. Your hand had been resting on the door's handle, and as you tugged on it, both of you fell back into the room, lips never wanting to leave each other's company.

"Jinnie," you made a sound of pleasure as you pulled away from him, suddenly aware of the audible music coming from downstairs, "Maybe not now."

"Come now love," Hyunjin laughed, striding into the room, where painting supplies lay cluttered next to a pristinely made bed, "Don't say that after we escaped from the prying eyes of everyone downstairs."

"Hyunjin," you looked at him with reprimanding eyes, how could you tell him the actual reason? "Don't you think it'd be suspicious to my family if I return today with messed up hair and a torn silken dress after merely slipping poison into someone's champagne?" How could you tell him to make you stop falling more for him? "This shit is expensive you know."

"Would it not be more dangerous if you were to return without killing the Hwang family's brightest hope?" Hyunjin's voice, though low, spoke it's volume, as he removed his coat, throwing it onto an empty chair.

Locked in a gaze that spoke volumes, you inched toward Hyunjin, a silent plea lingering in the air. As your fingers tightened around his hair, a palpable tension filled the space between you.

His ethereal eyes held yours, revealing a tumult of unspoken struggles and desires. Your gaze shifted to his lips—slightly chapped yet irresistibly inviting. 

Without even a moment of hesitation, you kissed him.

Hyunjin's initial surprise melted into a shared passion, and for a moment, the world around you faded. His arms encircled you, pulling you close as if trying to etch the moment into his memory. As the intensity deepened, you let go of his soft hair, your hands finding their way to his jaw, pulling him even closer.

He tasted your soft lips and felt your warm skin. He pulled away slightly, breath mingling with yours, lips lingering, an anguished pause in the silent night.

"so pretty..." he mutters, taking in the sight of your body.

Hyunjin's lips attach to your skin, leaving deep marks of love all over which wouldn't go away for days now. You stifled your moan, as his lips sucked on your collarbone, you could feel his erection pressing through his pants to your core, making you accidentally whimper.

Hyunjin's ringed hands made their way up your right thigh, the slit in your dress allowing him to caress the soft skin, the cold metal of the ruby created dagger hitting his skin like soft cotton to a wound.

He couldn't explain how attractive it was to him, the carved golden hilt, the blood red jewel in the centre, and the carefully shaped blade of the dagger, decorating his most favourite muse. You were a painting come to life for him.

You were his painting, his magnum opus, a canvas as precious as an angel's wing.

Your mind, on the other hand, was racing at a hundred miles per the hour. How could you tell him? How could you tell him the truth he'd always known? That your love was one the stars crossed each other to find?

You draw him into another uncertain kiss, this one your confused mind didn't think much about, and trailed a hand up the smooth skin of his exposed chest. Hyunjin signs into your mouth and runs both his hands down your sides, pausing to squeeze your thigh, and the cold blade pressed against your skin again.

“My love, that was by far one of the most sexy things I’ve ever seen.” Voice low and seductive, your lips barely pulling away from him. "I really can't believe you chose this one out of all. You know it's my gift don't you?"

"Hyunjin..." You trailed off, impatiently pulling away from his lips, "we shouldn't, we really shouldn't."

"Why not love?" Hyunjin's lips pressed against yours again morphing into a gentler kiss, he was evidently trying to calm you down.

"Hyunjin please don't." You begged with him, as if you were begging for your mind to stop itself before you went too far. You had to stop falling for him before it was too late. And yet how could you?

"Princess-" Hyunjin began before looking at you with worried eyes, "You're scaring me what's wrong? You can talk to me."

"What's wrong is we shouldn't be doing this." You tried to feign disgust, but all that came out was pathetic love for Hyunjin, 'Don't let me fall in love again' was what you had meant to say.

"Princess—"

"No!" You all as but screamed, forgetting that you were currently above a party filled with guns and roses, Hyunjin stood shocked in front of you at your sudden outburst, the air around you stilled, as words came out like vomit.

"listen, I am to get married to the Park family's eldest son, and if anyone, anyone, finds out about this," you stopped and took in a breath, "we're dead, Hyunjin, both of us! Or worse shit I can't even fathom to think about!" You took a breath at every word, stressing each note like a violin's vibrato, "And I'd really fucking take this poison myself rather than living in a world where everything tries to stop us from being together. So, please Hyunjin," your eyes held whispers of pained love, "Don't let me fall into this depth of love, because I just know I can never climb out."

The silence that overtook the room was heavy, heavier than you would have liked. You could have endured bullet heads, burn marks, fractures, but this was the greatest wound of all. The greatest pain you'd endured was the one you had always been deprived of.

Love, had it always been such a sin?

Your head felt dizzy as you say down on the bed, letting the soft material of the cover sink in. The dagger round your thigh and the air round your being felt tighter. You felt as if you could have drawn oceans of blood at that moment.

"Love," his voice echoed through your entire being, "look at me.

Your head turned to look up at him, as his hands quickly straddled you onto his lap, one of them squeezing your right thigh, eliciting a quiet moan out of you.

You saw it in his eyes. Felt it in his touch. The ethereal, devilish angel, Hwang Hyunjin had been loafing around on this earth long enough to know how to claim what was his. When his hips knocked yours to lay you flat on the bed, you already knew what was coming next.

"Hyunjin I-"

"I don't care what or who comes in our way. You, my dearest, are mine, and mine alone." Hyunjin growled into your ear, his anger would never seep through to you but on certain occasions it would certainly scare you, the way his anger was cold as an icicle, rather than fiery like a volcano.

A groan rumbles through Hyunjin's chest, and he dips down to give a playful bite to your bottom lip, earning a squeak you will deny if asked about later.

One of his hands moves down to delicately play with your breast, kneading softly before pinching your nipple between his finger and thumb. You break the kiss with a breathless gasp, tugging at Hyunjin’s roots, forcing a ragged groan from him. Hyunjin wastes no time to pepper kisses down the column of your neck. He pushed the hair out of his eyes before he grabbed you by the waist and rubbed his cock up against you. He could feel heat settle in his body as his cock throbbed for you. He wanted you, he needed you more than he needed air. And he was more than willing to let you know that.

Stripping off your clothes and throwing it to the side, Hyunjin climbed up the bed and grabbed your hand on the way, hauling you under him. He wasted no time in lining himself up with you, throwing his head back in a groan as your pussy enveloped him.

Hyunjin groaned through grit teeth as he pushed his cock into you. You tensed and he groaned louder, he held onto the bed under you and moved all the way inside of you. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and held him tightly as he started to thrust. You moaned into his skin as he moved against you.

His mouth went to your neck, leaving dark scars there. His teeth hit the ruby of your necklace, as he took it in his mouth and tugged at it, making you gasp loudly.

Your body felt numb but in a pleasurable way. You could only lie there and accept all the pleasure that he was giving you. He kissed your soft face, he could feel your racing heartbeat under your skin. His face went back to your neck where he left more bruises on the flesh. He felt heat through his body as the pleasure coursed through his veins. It was arousing, he couldn’t deny what he was feeling.

"You're mine." Hyunjin growled through a symphony of soft sighs, "I will never let anything get in between us, alright?"

The only response he got was a pleasured moan escaping from your lips, but he took it. He took pride in the way he could make you feel like this.

Your head fills with pleasures, not a single thought could form in your head. “Fuck you feel so good doll” he groans holding your hips down and slamming deeper inside you. “G-god Hyunjin! Feels…s-so good!” You cry.

Your eyes begin to roll back feeling how good he felt. His tip hitting your G-spot making you ready to cum just as fast as before. “H-Hyune fuck I’m gonna c-“ you are interrupted by his hand gripping your throat, choking you.

“Fuck baby you got wetter just from that… god you're so good” his mixture of degradation and praise had your body a dripping, desperate mess. You couldn’t believe the hold he had over you.

His breathing is labored when he pulls his hips back and thrusts in, he goes slow at first, treating you like you were a fragile statue made from porcelain, but then you’re begging him to go faster, to go harder. His tongue swipes along the roof of his mouth before he speaks, “are you sure, doll? i don’t— fuck— want to hurt you.”

“h-hurt me, it’s okay,” you mumble out, and he truly does hesitate for a second, then his thrusts are suddenly faster, bumping you into the bed with the sheer snap of his hips. Your cries sound like noises formed from a blessed harp, passed down by the gods for him to listen to, each moan getting louder and louder until his ears are ringing, until the music sounds hushed compared to your screams.

He felt you trembling hard, pulsing around his cock as you got close to cumming. He works himself deeper inside you, stroking all the places you need to reach that high point. A few more thrusts and you burst. You gush around him with a long whine.

You squirm and buck as he holds you in place and keeps rutting into you until it becomes too much for him. He also lets loose and shoots his cum inside you. He fucks it into you a bit, before slowly pulling out.

Slightly panting and out of breath, Hyunjin's figure could be seen gracefully outlined by the moon's tears penetrating through the tall, stained windows. He gets up and fetches a towel, gently cleaning you up as your eyes flickered between sleep and consciousness.

"Are you alright, love?" He questioned you, his fingers tracing shapes on your hips as he layed down beside you again, clearly not in the mood for wearing his clothes. Neither were you, so you turned your body towards him, allowing him to wrap you into the cocoon of his warm muscles. Laying your head on his chest, you felt his hand, once again, reaching for your thigh.

"You really do like that dagger don't you?" You laughed, as he caressed the metal.

"You should wear it more often, maybe for a painting?" Hyunjin's suggested, a smile like the air after rain, fresh with the stench of earth and dew, imprinted on his face.

"Hyunjin I-", you began, taking a breath before continuing, "What about—about my family?"

You swore you could have heard Hyunjin gently scoff, but you ignored it as he brought you closer to him, the space in between you practically empty.

"Stay here for tonight." Hyunjin said, "and if they come in search of their 'beloved' daughter," he scoffed once again, muttering a curse underneath his breath, "I'll tell them I stole her away from her tower."

"More like stole her dagger away." You giggled, finding his obsession with the strap on your thigh amusing. Hyunjin merely smiled at that, and silence fell again.

"Y/N?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

Red wasn't that bad of a colour after all. Not when it reminded you of Hyunjin, not when it reminded you of secret kisses and poisoned paintings, and certainly not when it reminded you of love.

"I love you too, Hyunjin."

[joyful-enchantress]

Spring Heat (18+) | Loki x Fem!Reader

banner created by the amazing @springdandelixn

A/N: You help your husband through his yearly heat, which is part of the Jotun mating cycle. He's afraid he might hurt you, but you are determined to stay... I wrote this for @springdandelixn and her Double-Trouble Sleepover! Congratulations, Beanie, my love! I hope you enjoy this little fic that I put together for you 🖤

Genre/Warnings: Jotun mating cycle AU, smut (18+), rough sex, choking, dubcon? (everything is consensual but Loki is not entirely in control of himself), language, light angst, fluff too, filth with feeling, established relationship

Word Count: 3182

The sights and sounds of springtime were all around you as you strolled through the palace grounds —

The busy twittering of birds as they searched for food and fought over tree branches on which to build their nests.

The chattering of squirrels and rabbits and other small animals as they came out of hiding to begin a new season of life.

The rich shade of green returning to the grass in the meadow, speckled with pops of color where wildflowers were beginning to bloom.

Speaking of blooming flowers -- the palace gardens were thriving, and in the next couple of weeks were sure to become a spectacle of color, ranging from delicate pastel hues to bright, vibrant tones. Just in time for the Spring Festival that would be held at the end of the month.

Yes, spring was upon you. Your favorite season. It meant warmer temperatures and sunshine and new life.

But despite all the bright cheerfulness that spring brought with it, for your husband, Loki, it also brought with it a certain darkness.

His heat.

Loki was of Jotun blood; a Frost Giant. And with that heritage came certain Jotun traits, some more easily embraced than others. One such trait that your husband found more loathsome than the rest was the Jotun mating cycle.

Each year since his body matured, around the time of the Spring Equinox, Loki would find himself at the mercy of his primal instincts. Unable to control his animalistic urges to mate, he’d lock himself in his chambers until it would pass.

That is, until you had something to say about it.

When you learned of the agony he endured — both physically and emotionally — locked in his chambers for anywhere from one week to one month until his heat cycle passed, you couldn’t bear it. You had to do something to help, if you could.

You remembered the conversation you’d had with him well. It was shortly after your wedding…

————

“Loki, isn’t there anything that would make it easier to endure? Or at least make it come to an end more quickly? I can’t imagine a week of that, let alone a month.”

“Unfortunately, no, darling. There isn’t really anything that can be safely done to help it. The healers can give me an elixir that will suppress it, but I can’t take it every year, or it would lose its effectiveness. And besides, a heat the year after a suppressed heat is always more intense and agonizing.”

Your eyebrow cocked, looking at him with curiosity. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience…?”

He took a deep breath before answering, “Yes, I’ve taken suppressants occasionally in the past. The temptation of a year of reprieve was too great for me to resist at times. But I always found that the following year’s heat was far worse than what is typical. More desperation, more madness, more… pain.”

Your heart broke for him in that moment.

“Why does it last so long, Loki?”

He gave a mirthless chuckle. “It lasts as long as it takes for one of two things to happen. Either it quite literally burns its way out of my system, like a fever that takes weeks to break. Or…”

His voice trailed off, and he looked off into the distance, as if he was searching for his thought amongst the forests and rolling hills.

“Or…?” You gently encouraged him to continue.

Loki let out an exasperated sigh and quietly admitted, “Or… I mate. Breed. Fuck.”

Something about the way he enunciated the hard ‘k’, his Adam’s apple bobbing sinfully as the sound clicked in his throat, had your core throbbing with need and a wave of hot arousal unfolding over your body.

You blinked a few times as you contemplated what he said. “Well that seems easy enough,” you replied cooly, as if you were discussing the weather.

“What…?” He looked at you, perplexed.

“If having a good fuck will bring your agony to an end, then that seems like an easy solution to me. I can help you with that —”

“NO!” His rich baritone voice boomed as it cut you off, dripping with authority, anger, and — was that fear? “You don’t understand, my love. I am not myself when this happens. I lose myself, I lose control. I no longer am capable of keeping up the Asgardian façade; my Jotun form takes over and I am overcome with the primal desire to mate. I lose all regard for decency, I become… a monster. I am a monster.”

“Loki…” you reached a hand up to caress the side of his stupidly beautiful face, running your thumb soothingly along his sharp cheekbone and slotting your palm against his chiseled jaw, which was tightly clenched. A sign of his distress. “I love you, Loki. Let me help you through this.”

“I love you too, darling. More than my life itself. Which is exactly why I can’t let you do this.” He wrapped his large hand around the back of yours and turned his head to the side to tenderly kiss your palm. “It isn’t safe. I could hurt you. Badly.”

“I trust you, Loki. I trust you with my life, no matter what physical form you assume.” The next words you uttered came to you as easily as breathing, “I want to do this. Please. Use me. Use my body to sate your desires and end your own suffering.”

His emerald eyes widened at your words, most likely shocked at how brazen and self-assured they were. But swirling behind the shock was something else. Reverence. Trepidation. And lust.

He slowly swallowed, gathering himself together and collecting his thoughts after you scrambled them with your salacious plea.

“Alright then, darling.” He cautiously relented, his eyes boring into yours, searching for any sign that you were having second thoughts or hints of doubt. “Come springtime, when my next heat cycle is upon me, I’ll let you help me. I’ll let you be the balm that soothes my burning, searing ache.”

————

And now, spring was upon you. And any day now, it would be time to make good on your promise to him. For better or worse. You suddenly had a renewed appreciation for the words you spoke in your wedding vows to him, just 8 months ago.

Loki has been warning you for the past few days that his heat is imminent, and could take over at any time. He could feel it; all the warning signs were there. The restlessness. The irritability. The discomfort. Crawling under his skin like an itch he can't scratch. Until it makes him snap.

Each and every time, he asked if you were still sure. He reminded you that you could change your mind, that he didn't expect you to do this. That he'd never expect you to do this. It was entirely your choice.

And each and every time, you stood firm in your decision. You wanted to help him. You would do this.

The sun was beginning to set on your evening stroll, so you altered your route so that it would lead you back towards the private chambers that you shared with Loki. As you approached the hallway which led to your shared door, you could feel a distinct, unseasonal chill in the air.

Was this it? Was tonight the night?

Once you reached the ornate wooden door, you noticed a thin blanket of frost coating the edges of it, as if, behind the door, was the force of winter itself, its icy chill seeping through the gaps between the door and the frame.

You reflected for a moment on the irony that all this frost and chill was the result of something called a heat, and you couldn't help but chuckle to yourself.

But then you remembered that not just fire, but ice, too, can burn.

A shiver rolled down your spine, and the cold seeping through the doorframe wasn't entirely to blame.

You took a moment to gather your courage, reminding yourself that this was Loki. Your husband. Your one true love.

You could do this.

You softly knocked, each tap of your knuckles against the cold wood sending a jolt of bravery through you.

"Loki... can I come in?"

"Pet..." The voice that answered you was familiar, but more... ragged. It was deeper, if that was even possible, and assumed a huskiness that made your usually gentle husband sound nothing short of feral.

It sent a surge of hot, wet arousal through you, which pooled between your thighs.

"I'm here, Loki..." you whispered like a prayer. "Let me help you."

"This is your last chance, pet," he warned. "You can still change your mind. But the moment you open the door, I'm afraid there will be no going back."

Good thing you had no plans of going back.

You opened the door and stepped into your chambers; after ensuring the door was closed and locked, you took a deep breath. This was it.

As you turned around, you came face to face with your husband.

Except he wasn't quite the Loki you knew. For one thing, he was taller. Much taller. At least 8 feet tall. You briefly wondered how you'd be able to take him in this form. His usually porcelain skin was replaced with a brilliant cerulean, and across every bit of blue that your hungry eyes could find, were ridges that swept across his skin in bold strokes and delicate lines, forming intricate patterns that you longed to trace with your fingers. As your eyes settled on his face, you found some familiarity there. You recognized the bone structure and the shape of his nose, the curve of his lips; the luscious raven locks that framed his angular face were unchanged. But in place of the emerald orbs that you knew and loved were two glistening rubies, staring at you with an intensity that could only be described as ferocious.

He was beautiful. Flawless. You saw no monster before you. Only your husband. Showing you a side of himself that he has kept hidden from you. Until now.

You broke the silence first, and simply muttered, "I love you, and I am here. Use me."

And that was all the permission he needed.

He closed the distance between you impossibly fast, like a predator stalking its prey, and wrapped an icy hand around your throat, squeezing firmly, the coldness stinging like pins and needles against your skin.

His lips met yours with an urgency that you hadn't experienced before; any hint of gentleness was gone and in its place a brutal clash of tongues and teeth as he claimed your mouth, a throaty growl slipping past his lips as he basked in the taste of you on his tongue.

Fear crept up your spine for the first time since you entered, and you brought your small hands up to claw at his wrist, a desperate attempt to let him know that you needed a break; you needed to breathe.

Something within him seemed to get the message, because he peeled his mouth away from yours and released your throat, repurposing his hand to wrap around your midsection and toss you unceremoniously onto the large bed in the center of the room.

You had to admit that part of you enjoyed the way he was manhandling you.

He wasted no time freeing himself from his garments and strode towards the bed, where he situated himself over you, caging in your small frame like a hungry animal about to enjoy the spoils of its hunt.

You gulped at the sight of his enormous cock, as it bobbed angrily against his stomach, covered in the same ridges that decorated the rest of his body, the tip weeping with the evidence of his primal desire. For you.

"These pretty silks have got to go," he rasped against your ear, his breath somehow both hot and cold.

He roughly grabbed the fine fabric and you winced as you heard him rip it to shreds as easily as if your dress was made of flower petals from the garden.

Within seconds, you were bare before him, and his ravenous gaze lazily roamed over your body, savoring every dip and every curve like the sight of you alone could sate him.

Even though that couldn't be further from the truth.

When he decided that his eyes had had their fill, he brought two fingers up to prod against your lips, his gaze meeting yours, daring you to defy him.

But you didn't dare.

You submissively parted your lips and wrapped your mouth around his fingers, astonished at how much your mouth had to stretch just to accommodate them. A wicked smile tugged at his lips as your tongue danced over his digits, preparing them for exploration of another warm, wet hole.

A gasp escaped your lips as his fingers were abruptly pulled from your mouth and pushed inside your weeping cunt. They pumped and stretched you almost as much as his normal cock would, and you shuddered at the thought of what was to come.

The nerves melted away though, as his thumb found your clit and worked the sensitive nub in sweeping circles, pleasure taking over your senses and lulling you into a state of calm.

"Loki..." you whispered softly between your whimpers and pants.

He growled in response, withdrawing his fingers from your soaked pussy and wrapping his hand around your thigh, forcing your legs open as wide as they would go.

Before you had a chance to adjust to the new position, his huge cock was at your slick entrance and he thrust forward, forcing as much of himself inside you as he could, his girth stretching your walls and the tip pushing against your cervix. The sudden intrusion took your breath away, and the stinging pain you felt caused unshed tears to well in your eyes. The coldness of his skin only heightened the sensations, forcing your mouth open in a silent scream as he claimed you.

You loved him. You wanted this. You silently reminded yourself as a large blue hand found your throat once again and wrapped around tightly.

A feral moan left his lips as he began to rut into you roughly. Pushing himself in as far as your body would allow. Over and over. Chasing his own pleasure without regard for your own.

"So warm... So tight... You take me so well, pet." He grunted between thrusts. "You're mine."

You couldn't help the fresh pool of arousal that gushed between your legs in response to his words. Even as he wrecked your body and used it like a toy, you loved nothing more than being his.

His rhythm became sloppy and you knew he was close.

With a wild growl, he pulled out of you and violently flipped you over onto your stomach. You were thankful you were on the mattress and not on the floor in that moment.

His large hands dug into your hips, pulling them upwards and angling you so that he could sink himself once again into your tight cunt. You turned your head to the side, gasping for air between shameless moans as he pounded into you from behind like an animal.

It didn't take long for him to reach his peak; he let out a primal roar as he came, pumping you full of his seed. You felt it leaking out of you, dripping down your inner thighs as he continued to shallowly thrust into you while he rode out his high.

And that was the last thing you remembered before darkness blurred the edges of your vision and you succumbed to exhaustion, your body limp and spent.

--

Later, when you came to, you wiggled your fingers and toes first and slowly worked your way to moving each limb, assessing the soreness. There was an undeniable ache, but nothing you couldn't manage. You sat up in the bed and looked around the room, searching for Loki. Your eyes settled upon his familiar Asgardian form, huddled on the chair in the corner, as if he was putting as much distance as possible between the two of you without leaving you alone. His eyes were red, but not because of his Jotun blood. Because he had been crying.

"Loki, what's wrong?!" you frantically asked.

When he realized you were awake, he rushed to your side. "What's wrong? Love, look at what I've done to you!" He gestured to your body, to the bruises on your inner thighs, your hips, your wrists, your neck. He pointed to the mess between your thighs, to the bit of blood that was on the sheets between your legs. "I'm a monster. A vile, disgusting creature. I should have never let you do this!"

He looked away from you, ashamed.

You reached for his hand, in an effort to reassure him. "Loki, I wanted this. I wanted to help you. I insisted." Your thumb stroked the back of his hand in soothing circles, willing him to believe that you were okay. "And look! It worked. Your heat lasted only a few hours instead of weeks!"

"But at what cost?" He muttered, without meeting your gaze.

"I am your wife. We are a team, in everything. I vowed to be there for you and to love you no matter what, for better or for worse. A few bruises and some soreness are a small price to pay once a year if it means my husband isn't in agony for weeks at a time."

He sheepishly met your gaze then, peering up at you from under his eyelashes.

"I don't deserve you," he whispered softly.

"Yes you do. Because you are the most amazing person I know," you smiled easily as you said it. "Now, I did say we are a team, so if you're done sulking, I do believe it is your turn to do your part. Don't you have some magic healing powers that could soothe some of my aches, or am I misremembering?"

Now it was his turn to smile at you. He got to work straight away, a blanket of green seidr engulfing your body and buzzing through you, soothing away the worst of your residual pain. Then he spent the day spoiling you, running you a hot bath with your favorite rose scented bath oil, pampering you with a massage, and waiting on you hand and foot.

"Darling?"

"Yes, Loki?"

A wolfish grin crept across his lips. "When you've had a day or two to recover, I intend to make last night up to you, tenfold. To drown you in so much pleasure that the only word you'll remember is my name as it falls from your lips like a mantra."

You met his grin with your own cheeky smile. "And I intend to hold you to that, Laufeyson."

His lips met yours, then, in a passionate kiss; one that conveyed all the love and adoration he held for you. Your lover. Your husband. Your everything.

Spring was definitely your favorite season.

--

--

Tagging some lovely people who might be interested. No worries though if not, of course! @lokisgoodgirl @muddyorbsblr @mochie85 @cheekyscamp @give-me-a-moose @sarahscribbles @gigglingtigger @ladyofthestayingpower @mischief2sarawr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @wheredafandomat @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @loopsreacts @maple-seed @fictive-sl0th @coldnique @thomase1 @peachyjinx @superficialdomina @peaches1958 @evelyn-kingsley @simplyholl @tallseaweed @cake-writes @tripleyeeet @lokiandbuckysdoll @vbecker10 @lovelysizzlingbluebird

[bedoballoons]

Hello! Just wanted to say I LUV ur workss!

I also have a little smth

Basically they take the reader out shopping specifically for undergarments and someone just so happens to walk in? W/ kazuha, albedo, lyney, xiao?

Awe thank you! I'm glad you do and I hope I can keep it up! Apologies for your request taking so long, but I hope you enjoy even so!

─⊰⁠⊹ฺ🍂𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕠𝕟𝕤⊰⁠⊹ฺ🍂

{༻~You look mighty fine~༺}

CW: Very suggestive! MDNI! Almost smut but not! Established relationships! Gn pronouns used! Heated makeouts and the characters are kinda pervy cause they peek in on the reader! Modern au! Use of the words undies, panties etc.

(Includes: Lyney, Albedo, Kazuha, And Xiao!)

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

𑁍༄Lyney:

Lyney's hands drummed against the armrest of his chair. All around him were others shopping for lacy undergarments and lingerie, but he was entirely to infatuated with the changing room to even care. Just knowing you were in there, trying on those enticing things, oh how it made his heart race...you were so close..just a peek and he could see exactly what you'd gotten for him. It was so tempting..

"Only a few more minutes I swear! Just trying on this one...it's a bit strappy though.."

Lyney chocked on air, trying to not think about what that could mean...but wanting so desperately to find out. Just. One. Peek. "Take your time Mon amour!" Perhaps this wasn't appropriate of him...he could really wait a bit longer, but his body was already in motion. Hand reaching out to touch the curtain and slightly open it..

You smiled to yourself, spinning around like you had no idea what he was doing, "Lyney? W-what are you-"

"Mon amour, apologies to interrupt you and invade your privacy...but I...I..nevermind words just let me have you." He pulled you close, kissing your soft lips as his hands ran down your body, snapping the straps of your undies so it would gently smack your skin. You made him absolutely dizzy with need, groans spilling out of him as the kiss grew more heated. If you didn't hurry and finish your shopping...you might just get kicked out of the store~

𑁍༄Albedo:

Albedo leaned his head back against the frame of the changing room, forcing himself to not glance into the parting between the curtain door and the frame itself...he had no idea shopping for new undergarments for you would leave him so...heated.

It felt like the store was growing warmer by the second, like the thoughts in his head were slowly corrupting him...he couldn't help it really. You were a masterpiece, your body a work of art...and the vivid picture of your trying on perfect little undies for him..."How much longer did you say love?"

"Not long! Just making sure the thong part fits as nice as it should! Oops I mean, just triple checking they fit~"

Albedos legs went numb for a second, his face dusted with a sweet pink hue...were you really trying on such a thing mere inches away from him? His heart began to beat harder in his chest, maybe if he had a bit more will power he could have stopped himself, but alas his eyes glanced into the small gap and there you were. Standing there so beautiful with your body basically on display for him...

He held back a soft moan, looking away almost as fast as he had peeked..."L-love...I think the fit is perfect, please I'm...in deserpate need to return home.."

𑁍༄Kazuha:

Kazuha loved shopping with you, wandering around the the mall aimlessly while you glanced in windows and occasionally tried things on. It was always such a soft couple experience that brought you two closer...

But now you'd decided to shop for new undies. Bringing him along as you picked out various lacy ones...themed ones, red ones, black ones, all while he trailed behind you with a bright red blush. He was a creative person, always envisioning things in a calming, breath taking way...and you were no exception. He kept thinking about all the different choices, picturing what they'd look like on you...what he'd do while you wore them.

It was starting to get a bit much for him...his own imagination swaying how he'd normally handle himself..

"Kazu? Are you doin okay? You look a bit red in the face.." You closed the curtain behind you, trying to get ahold of the butterflies fluttering in your stomach as you took of your clothing, intentionally leaving them visible on the ground while you started to try on the choices.

"Yes...no....?"

"What? Kazuha, what does that mean?" You paused for a moment, waiting for a answer..., but he'd already entered the small room. His warm hands gently grabbing onto your hips so he could pull you close...kiss you passionately while every so often opening his eyes to catch a glimpse of you in the mirror...

His lips trailed down to your neck, his body forcing yours against the changing room walls...maybe he should shop with you for these items more often~

𑁍༄Xiao:

Xiao sighed softly, watching the ground beneath his feet...wondering how such a simple shopping date had become such a flustering event. He wasn't even sure how you'd even convinced him to walk into the undergarment section...let alone try some on while he was just outside. He could hear you changing...see your clothes fall to floor out of the corner of his eye..

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"How...how many are you going to try?" His voice sounded strained..., like he was bound by something and he silently cursed himself for the neediness that coated each word.

"Just a few! What did you think of the sheer one hmm? It's super soft and I love it!"

He swallowed roughly, remembering the basically see through panties that you'd held up to him...the idea of you wearing them sent a shiver down his spine, "T-they were good."

"Good as in like I should get them, or good as in I could do better? Because I think they are hugging me in all the right places."

"Archons above..." He muttered...knowing that any grip he had on himself had been let go as he slipped into the room with you. His eyes ravaged you, taking in how the undies emphasized everything in the most perfect ways...

"X-xiao-"

"Enough." He leaned in close, his face barely a inch away from yours...his breath hot on your skin, "I'm not patient enough to do nothing...let me have you~"

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚~Have a nice day~*⁠.⁠✧

[littlelordfuckler0y]

Felix catton x reader Instagram au

yourusername if I can’t Oppenheimer my way out of this sem, I’ll Oppenheimer my way out

yourfriend NO LMFAO not the green apple 😭

yourusername was held hostage at the lab today

yourfriend you mean had to prepare a lab report right there?

yourusername had to perform the experiment three times.

yourfriend I support the green apple

fel1xcatt0n Pub tonight. See you?

yourusername I’ll try to make it but I think lab’s gonna run late…you guys carry on tho :)

-

Sun casted a bright yellow hue from the grass to the glass, making the general weather warmer than usual. Walking alongside her friend y/n was somewhat surprised to see the notification of felix’s comment pop up, voluntarily inviting her to the pub, again. Quite the modern day tragedy it felt like to have to decline it because their labs ran very late. But regardless it was surprising to say at the very least, “We just had drinks with his friends once and he’s inviting us again?” She said as she showed her friend the notification.

“Woah.” Her friend said as they looked at the notification and smiled “well, inviting you but this is-this is cool?”

“You and I are a package deal so inviting me is inviting you.” Y/n said as their friend stared at the comment and the reply, they were analysing the interaction.

“Oh okay yes” they nodded “Also when did he start following you?”

“Okay so we had drinks two days ago right? I think, that night, but it was after I returned to my dorm and I don’t remember exchanging socials.” Y/n said as she went through their interaction from drinks that night.

Her friend tilted their head raising brows, “oh so he looked you up. Plus your account’s open and he still commented? Wow.” They implied in a surprised yet elated tone.

“Wait-what? What do you mean by open account? Almost everyone has open accounts?” Y/n stated confused with a shrug.

“Yeah and anyone can see his comment on YOUR page. So he wasn’t embarrassed to comment now that’s the outlook.”

“Why would he be embarrassed to comment?” Y/n said as she looked at her friend in somewhat the offended tone.

“Are you serious? You have 79 followers.” Her friend said giving her a tight smile to comfort her through their brutal honestly.

“Exactly. Even the serving lady follows me. I get along with everybody.” She stood her ground with an obvious shrug.

“Do you hear yourself? Do you want to repeat that first sentence?” Her friend asked her with a sigh as y/n contemplated that. She needed the serving lady’s follow to reach upto 79 followers as social as it may seem. “Also, don’t forget how we got drinks with him and his friends in the first place.”

“Oh” she said nodding, “We were getting alcohol for lab work on a weekend, wow, yeah I see it now…”

“But. Come on. He commented.” Her friend said pointing her phone screen which still had her comment section open like a textbook.

“Him and his friends most definitely thinks we’re the coolest.” Y/n added regaining her optimism.

“Well…” her friend trailed off not wanting to dampen the enthusiasm “I like how you positive you are.”

“I wish we didn’t have lab today” She whined and rested her head on the lab table.

yourusername ideal study session

fel1xcatt0n can’t believe you never tried the Chinese place around the corner…

yourusername Sorry to break it to you but it is not crime

fel1xcatt0n literally is.

yourfriend ^^it is a crime

-

“So you ditched us to get Chinese last night?” Farleigh asked raising a sharp brow as he’d scroll through his phone and stumbled upon a certain post.

“How’d you know?” Felix asked as he turned in his chair to look at farleigh.

“Y/n has the dumbest social media presence” Farleigh stated as she scrolled through her previous posts “I mean all her posts are some ugly project model and if not that it’s some random cats?”

“Oh yeah it was a last minute plan-to get Chinese whatever…” felix trailed off with a sigh.

“What is this girl doing? She is too pretty to post stupid jokes and labs god” Farleigh complaint as he went through y/n’s posts. “2 likes on each post yeah, you’ve got to give it to her dedication to document everything.” He scoffed.

“Can you stop stalking her?” Felix urged rolling his eyes.

“Oh I’m stalking her?” Farleigh asked tilting her head. “I know you just out of curiosity asked around for the D wing lab timings and you just happened to be there by the end of her lecture yes sure” with not much reply felix just threw a pillow at farleigh which he happened to dodge.

-

Fel1xcatt0n local pen and paper girl in her natural habitat

yourusername LMFAO

yourusername didn’t see you click this one

Fel1xcatt0n ;)

farleigh_start you are not subtle.

Fel1xcatt0n thank you for your input

yourusername at that point in semester when breadboard starts looking like bread

farleigh_start why do stem majors follow diet culture the ugly way ew

yourusername I’m not dieting????

farleigh_start then why does your charcuterie board look so ugly

yourusername never mind…

yourfriend LITERALLY I was thinking the same thing

yourusername “what happened to your group project” well…professor…we got hungry

Fel1xcatt0n this is not funny

yourusername ouch.

Fel1xcatt0n be there in 5

Fel1xcatt0n healthiest thing she’s had in decades…

yourusername thanks MOM

Fel1xcatt0n laugh all you want but you can’t live on sugar donuts and ramen

yourusername try me

farleigh_start …

farleigh_start you have never passed me the table salt

—

I really like this and I’d like to do more parts but it feels pretty stupid idk if I’ll do more parts pls let me know what you think <3

DRINK WATER AND HIIII ILY

requests are open go nuts!!

[1nthedarknessofthenight]

﴾ i drink your blood and i eat your skin, part thirteen.

pairing: hwang hyunjin x f!reader

genre: vampire au

word count: 23K

warnings: angst ⋆ gore

masterlist

main masterlist

playlist

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You couldn’t quite recognize yourself. The first glance at the mirror before you reflected the sadness, fright, and pain that you feel — the dark circles under your eyes, red from the restless nights you have spent here. Though after a while, under all these layers that lay over your features, it was still you. The girl afraid of so many yet, compared to now, little things. The girl who never imagined herself being in this situation — too scared to even try and survive what her future self did. Your melancholy circled around you, wrapping its cold arms around your neck, but at this moment, for the first time in a while, you truly enjoyed seeing yourself… like it was for the first time.

You can still remember your first breath this morning — remember the feel of his body behind you, cold as ice, but his touches warmer than the sun kissing your skin. You remember waking up from a restless night, but him being by your side gave you everything you needed. You blink a little too harshly at the light shinning down on the side of your face. You couldn’t sleep because you didn’t want to miss the feel of the sun’s warmth — which you haven’t felt and seen for a while. You got so used to the ways of a vampire life that you forgot you are human after all — ignoring your very much human feelings.

Watching yourself in the mirror, your gaze trail over the soft hue of browns, pinks, eyes circling around the redness of your cheeks till they fall on your lips. They are red, bitten, the color of blood, the lipstick the maids put on for you nothing, but a stain now. Your chest tightened, breaths short, mostly from your anxiety, but also from the corset tightened around your body. The dress on you was heavy — layers, upon layers of fabric, the deep maroon color seeping through your skin. You didn’t know that a color could give a person an heartache. It only reminds you of the blood that was shed because of you.

You don’t even flinch back when the woman next to you almost punctures you with the last hair pin, the small sting not lingering for too long. You can see her leave your side, because you still weren’t done with looking at yourself. The more you look, the more your mind swirls, eyes tired. Everything was so quiet…Maybe no one said a word to you, because they know — but hearing words of pity really wouldn’t make you better. The only thing you could hear were the voices coming from behind the closed doors of the bedroom, footsteps of the people making the old wooden floor creak. Everything was a show — this dress, your hair, even your own face. You felt like a pig for a slauther. Was it really necessary to do all of this, if it maybe not end well? Maybe…you have to remember that. Maybe you are truly just overthinking things, just overwhelmed, but Hyunjin certainly didn’t take anything lightly.

You are alone in this room, basking in your ownself and you hate the fact that you have never felt more prettier and loved than right now. All of this now requires a payment. Your body reacts first than your own mind, hair standing at the back of your neck, before you feel cold fingers tickling your shoulder. Your body also recognizes the person touching you, already having many of experiences to know at just a subtle touch. Your eyes look away from yourself to the place next to you, where he should be standing, but there was nothing but thin air.

The rings on his finger scratch you, as he trails his hand to your exposed collarbones, palm pressing down on the left side of your chest, feeling your heart. “You are cold.” Says Hyunjin and you push your own frozen hands into the thickness of your skirt. You can hear something in his tone — concern perhaps, but you are not particularly shocked by his statement.

Your eyes look down your slowly rising chest, watching his fingers dance across your skin, stopping right where the sun shines down on you. You are not cold, but your side that is next to his pulls you into the darkness. Looking up again, you sigh, glancing at the view peaking from behind the curtains. “Hold me, Hyunjin.” You say, eyes blinking away the tears from the light of the setting sun.

He moves you at that closer to him, you now nearly fully galloped by the darkness and coldness that somehow felt better than the kiss of the sunset. Hyunjin pulled you to him without a word, wrapping his hands around your naked shoulders and you can feel your eyes meeting his in the mirror. “You are breathtaking–“ You close of your mind, closing your eyes a little, when his breath hits your ear, your earring clinking, when he puts a small kiss to your earlobe.

Your head rolls back, falling onto his chest. You lean into his touch, begging almost — desperate for more. You don’t see the look in his blue eyes that trailed over the length of your neck in the mirror, but you do feel the deep inhale he takes, when his goes to dig his nose into your skin. Shaky breaths leave you, when his hand slithers to the middle of your chest, pressing you even further to his chest to run his mouth over your neck. The kisses Hyunjin covers your skin with are almost bruising, but you still can tell that he isn’t fully letting himself go.

You want him to and by the way his teeth trailed over the jumping vein under your skin — he wants it too. His low, long hum makes his chest rumble, air getting caught in your throat at that sound. “I almost want to leave you bare like this — so soft.” Trailing wet kisses across your neck, his breath fans over the spots he touched with his lips, shiver going down your spine. “However I have something for you.” You want to say something about him and his gifts, but seeing the look in his eyes, you don’t have the heart to reject him.

Giving you a one last kiss to your collarbone, his mouth leaves you, slowly dragging his lips up to your ear again, before he departs from you with a small shaky sigh. Your skin tingles, fingers releasing their tight grip they had on your dress. In the corner of your eye something glimmers, turning to look at him finally, only to gape. In his hands is a necklace — big, filled with diamonds in all different sizes and their beauty reflects in your eyes that stop at the bloodied stone in the middle. The necklace shines so brightly your breath is taken away from you from such sight and as your gaze travels over its beauty you look at the way he is holding it — two ribbons hold the whole necklace, its weight making the strings strech at its limit.

Looking at his fingers that are wrapped around the ribbon, you then meet his eyes. Hyunjin’s lips held a small satisfied smile and you hope that at that moment your eyes hopefully give him the gratitude he deserves. You are just speechless — watching him move behind you, before you look back at the mirror. The sight of the necklace floating in the air is almost comical and if it weren’t for its captivating beauty, you would for sure laughed.

The metal is cold on your skin, which seems to be suddenly flushed for some reason and you immediately feel the heaviness of the necklace as he ties a knot at the back of your neck. You wish you could see him, but maybe it is for the better — his whole presence is already screaming. The jewelry completes you, melting into your body that is covered in the color of blood. “Perfect — you are so perfect.” The side of his face falls against yours, shielding the bashful look on your face just a little.

Your hand goes to the necklace, trailing your fingers over the sharp stones, while you watch him move the few small pieces of hair away from your neck. “Thank you…for everything.” You don’t see his reflection in the mirror, but you basically can feel his questioning look that makes you turn around to face him. Looking up, you stop to admire his features like it was for the first time. The pull at his eyebrows is small — softening at your own face of vulnerability. “I wish that–“ The words, which you wanted to say get stuck in your throat, shutting down your mind instantly to let your heart speak. “I thank you for making feel something that I thought I never would. I thank you for seeing me for who I am.” You say, voice little and you will always be grateful for not having to scream to truly be understood. He already knew you so well…

Gazing at you he can tell that it wasn’t everything that you truly wanted to say, but your glossy eyes told him everything he needed to know. He brushes away the loose strands of hair before your face and his heart stings at your fighting — you don’t want to crumble anymore. “No, I thank you for letting me know that in this world there still could be someone, who would feel for someone like me.” You softly shake your head at his words, but you do not stop him for continuing. “Once a man turned into a monster, who somehow was bewitched by a simple glimpse — feel of someone like you. You make me feel human.”

Your eyes fall shut, lips quivering against your will, his words hitting you so deeply. You gasp, breathing in harshly, your hands falling to grip at his white shirt. “I don’t want to–“ You don’t want a lot of things to happen, but somehow the most realistic one that might happen isn’t the scariest.

“Please.” His on hands fall on top of yours, gently, not pushing your clamming hands away, even as they are so close to ripping apart the material between your fingers.

“Please, Hyunjin-“ The whisper of his name is sweet — you glance up from his rising chest, with soft, yet broken look, but you do not let your tears win. Your eyes hold determination, making him momentarily shake. “If something happens…promise me that you won’t try anything — that you won’t put yourself in danger–“

“Y/N-“

You don’t let him speak, silencing whatever he wanted to say, because you do need to hear him promise — promise you that he will not try to safe you. So much has happened and if it will have its ending, it should be only you, not the man that grew so close to your heart. That thought scares you even more than your maybe incoming death. He now knows what you want and you know that you don’t have to repeat yourself. The expression on his face tells you everything. Trailing his hands down yours, they hold you gently to his chest as he kneels down before you.

You can see everything in his eyes — every passing moment you two had shared, yet you only see the Moon…the Moon on the night you first met. You remember each breath you took, while you looked at his distanced figure, drawing this unforgettable moment and sealing it forever. You wish that you didn’t try and pull away from his ever touch that became so dear to you — you wish to relive everything. The man before you is cold as a stone, hands freezing, but they shake, seemingly on the edge of crumbling. “Hyunjin…I am sorry that I wasn’t kind to you firstly, that I didn’t–“ You ramble, because you want him to know how much everything meant to you — how he didn’t leave you, even after what you had done in the past.

You regret behaving how you did, even if it were just a normal and very understandable reaction after learning about the secrets of this world…you still have so much to learn. Hyunjin doesn’t want you to regret it, because it only made his dead heart beat more — it was still you and that’s what he loves the most. His eyes trace over every small wrinkle, dip, curve and invisible imperfections, which he will spend his whole undead life painting, but he knows that he will never be able to truly portray the enchanting beauty that you are. He can’t help, but press his finger to your lips, silencing you. “Please, stop it now, I can’t anymore–“ A frown falls on his face, but he is not so upset — he just wants to take you in one more time, with nothing in his way. “…just let me hold you, feel you…” He can hear your heart pounding as he puts your face into his hands. You let him him cool your hot skin, sighing softly, eyes fluttering and he has to bites down on his tongue. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Hyunjin says, tone hard and you blink your eyes open at the decision he seems to stand by.

“Hyunjin…”

Your sweet voice almost make him crumble, you have too much power for him to not say no to you — however he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he doesn’t help you, safe you…he has become selfish, he knows that, but he is fortunate enough to have a family, who would understand. His hands tremble at the thought, moments of his life flashing before him, but somehow the only thing in them is you. “No, listen to me — you are safe, nothing will harm you, when I’m with you, we will get through this…together.” Saying those words you feel your eyes stinging, chest tightening painfully. You hate that he won’t change his mind, you hate that he won’t let you go, you hate the thought of losing him — he hates the thought of losing you. You both know at this moment that there is no other way. Whatever happens, it will be together.

You lean into his hold, breath mixing with his. “Together.” You whisper, closing your eyes. You play with the ringer on your finger, feeling your own blood rushing in you ears, but you don’t notice his gaze traveling across your features. The only thing you feel is dread.

The hair on your body stands up, limbs twitching, still under his hold. Your heart stops, a wave of cold fanning over you, stabbing you. Everything turns dark. You can’t hear anything — oh, but you feel it. You feel its claws digging into your flesh, dragging you, pulling you away from this moment of peacefulness into a pit of despair and darkness. You feel a sense of weakness, making your eyes widened in fright, ears ringing. A low hum echoes in your mind, like a whisper and the sun’s light shinning down on your back seems anything, but warm. You try to make it go away, eyes going back and forth, staring at the carpet, not really looking, because you can just feel something creeping up on you. It’s so close…you can’t breathe. You can’t feel anything, but the wave of your melancholy luring you to look — ‘see me’.

The air that was left in your lungs is released but you do not take another breath in as you turn slowly to the slit in the curtains. You don’t feel Hyunjin trying to pull you back, this was something stronger than him. “Do you hear that?” You say, your whisper lingers in the air for s moment, before it fades into the pit of nothingness. Your eyes pool with tears, the harsh sunlight burning you, but it feels like if you would blink it will only come closer. You hear low, yet screeching sounds of something, perhaps another whisper and it only seem to get louder — way closer.

The man kneeling before you watches your pupils dilate, not speaking, completely frozen from the moment your hands in his turned cold. He tried to pull you back to him, but the look on your face — it was like you weren’t even here with him…in your own body. He listens carefully, unwillingly leaning away from you because of the sun shinning down on you. He can’t even reach out to you, you are completely lost. He can hear your slow heartbeat, the blood rushing in your veins, but he can’t hear what you are talking about. He feels your hand slipping from his, your hold turning weak. Hyunjin lips fall apart, when he looks back at you only to see your eyes moving rapidly — you were asleep. Panic rises in him just as he hears the door to the bedroom slamming open.

Gasping you pull your hands away from the vampire to your chest, your heart suddenly jumping back alive and somehow you knew that the sound of the door opening wasn’t the thing that scared you awake. Your head whips to that direction, eyes locking briefly with the dark haired man in the doorway, who mostly has his eyes on the vampire next to you. “Something triggered the traps.” Say Changbin, voice breathy and heavy, like he was running till exhaustion that you know he could never feel.

Your poor heart stops again at his words, your fear becoming real as you look at him in disbelief. “What?” Your question is quiet, going to turn back to the man before you only to be met with nothing, small wind blowing past you. You rapidly glance back at his brother only to be left with nothing again and you almost cry out at the realization that almost knocks you off your seat. “Hyunjin!” It was no use to call for him — he won’t listen to you, he won’t hear you…everything that you felt moments ago was more than an imagination — outside was death.

You swear that you can feel Hyunjin’s rage and with the way he disappeared you know he will do something you won’t forgive him for. You stand up, your legs feeling so heavy you nearly fall over. You still try to find your breath as you quickly gather up the layered skirt of your dress, before rushing out of the room. You don’t even need to ask where he had run of to, it was so obvious that it only made you run faster, seeing the sun still high up enough to feel its warmth on your skin. The hallways are brimmed with people — too many people, who moved out of your way, faces showing their own flashes of concern and small confusion at your state.

The tightness of your dress gives s little too no air, breathing heavily, feeling each one of your breaths coming short, chest pushing against your corset. Your muscles scream at your every move, but the adrenaline pulsing through you helps you. You can feel him — you run down the stairs, through the corridor, passing numerous of doors, but like you knew where to got to, you rush into the direction of the back doors, leading to the garden.

The first thing you see is the big stream of light on the floor, that almost blinds you as you come around the corner, stabilizing yourself quickly enough not to fall into the person running past you. You shield your eyes, turning to look, only to be met with a dozens of mem, who for a moment block the open doorway right before you. “Go!” You hear someone yell at the human guards, who without a word run through of the open door to the outside.

You are again blinded by the sun, eyes traveling next to the door, where Felix is. You can see the way he is trying too look outside like the others, who are hidden in the shadows behind him. He looks distressed, fidgeting in his spot, like he was trying to jump out of his hiding — or not…no. Your eyes filled with horror, realizing that the worst of your prognosis came true. The gasp leaving you alerts the blonde and also his company and when you meet his gaze, you can see it in his eyes. “Oh, my God.” Your cry is broken, heart hammering under your skin and bones, staring out of the open door. You knew that you couldn’t help much, but so the human guards, who ran past you few moments ago to fight whatever was out there — but you knew it wanted you and Hyunjin also knew that…The thought of seeing him hurt or worse — you don’t even want to picture it. Your stomach flips, nausea filling you as you stare out to the open, sun still shining. You don’t care what happens to you, the only thing you are worried about is the man who went out there, because of you.

With a sharp inhale you run down the lightened path before you, your naked feet dragging across the floor. You can see the others from the corner of your eye coming out of the darkness, eyes filled with horror at your move. “No, Y/N!” You don’t know who it was, but someone’s hand came to grab you, only retrieving, when their skin touches the sunlight. The awful hiss of skin makes you stumble, nose being hit with the smell of burned flesh that made your skin crawl. You ignore the need to turn around and make sure they were okay, but what of Hyunjin? Such a stupid thing to do…was really revenge so sweet? The shouting behind you pierces your ears, shivers going down your spine at the cold that had nothing against the star in the sky. “Come back!” You can hear their tone of desperation, but you knew there was no turning back.

The garden which you have seen only once — the statues, the roses, which Hyunjin gifted you were covered by a thick fog. The sunlight only made it harder for you to navigate through the miss, your feet digging into the moist ground. You can’t see nor hear anything and you desperately try not to let the panic rising in you win. Your lungs hurt from your running and the cold air, tasting blood in your mouth.

You run blindly, suddenly hearing shouts in the distance, but from what direction you can’t quite tell. You want to scream out his name, but the more you go further, farther from the mansion, more trees surround you and you knew that your own voice would only echo. You can see nothing before you and you almost run into a statue, palms slamming into the stone. Because of your stop you can fully feel the exhaustion and lack of oxygen, dark spot appearing right before your eyes and you can’t help, but cry softly at how useless you are.

You call out to him in your mind, pleading to the heavens above that nothing has happened to him. Your skin tingles painfully at the thought of him, making you press your hands to your arms at the sudden feeling. Your whole body is already bitten by the cold, your hot breath only filling up the mist surrounding you. Searching with your eyes, you make a small turn around the statue, its face guiding you back to the house if you would get lost. You blink, watching the black spots in your vision disappear, till there is only one left — but this one doesn’t go away.

Stilling in your spot, you lean on the stone behind you, feeling — feeling it again. The pain, sadness and fear as you stare at the mist of darkness before you. It moves suddenly, but it is still at its spot, it seemed like a shadows slowly materializing before you…into a figure. Your body leaps closer to it, only to stop yourself. This wasn’t Hyunjin. The tall figure in the fog wasn’t him, you could feel, smell it even — like a stench of a corpse. Rotten, yet sweet in such a sickening way you feel your stomach turning. Like the time you were sleepwalking, in every corner of your mind, it reeked of filth, filling you with the most horrible emotion and leaving you in a state of nothingness.

You back away, small twig snapping under your naked foot and you don’t even feel the small sting of it piercing your skin. But then it only steps closer to you, making you release a shaky sigh of terror. It isn’t real…it just your mind playing tricks on you, the person trying to hurt you is not a day walker, it’s just playing with your head again. However your own words that tried so hard to calm you sounded so forced and wrong you have to shake your head. You for once truly believe it, there is nothing that could make you believe this was just your imagination.

You watch it mimick you, though the last two steps that you take — it seems to get way closer to you, its strides way longer and more consistent than yours. You don’t want to look away, you can’t run, you can’t find your breath and you chase after it desperately, hand falling on top of your closing chest. And then suddenly you do breathe, only for it to not be yours. The sound of air puffing out of lungs wasn’t yours, but its. The sound sends shivers down your spine, hair at the back of your completely exposed and vulnerable neck standing. You can feel it fanning over you, even if it was still standing far away from you — so why can you feel it breathing down on you? Why can you hear the sound of their throat closing around each of their exhale? Why can you see their chest rising? Why does it seem like a silhouette before you — not a phantom, nor mass of darkness, but a real person.

The air fanning over you makes you freeze, taking in the smell of rotten flesh and blood. It makes your eyes sting, tears gather in your eyes, standing in the mist of nothingness — like in your omen, you and this were the only things present. Your limbs are so heavy, your body fuzzing and mind swirling. Screeching pain shoot through you, so sharp you had to press your fingers into your temples. Your nails dig into your skin, like trying to dig up the immense pain. Your mouth opens in a silent cry, eyes barely open, because you can hear — feel the whispers coming back to you.

They scream over each other, each different, some high pitched, some so low that you can feel their voice rumble. You are trying, but you can’t keep your eyes fully on the figure in the distance whose distance seemed even shorter than before. You can’t move, but your whole body shakes in your spot. The sun shines less and less and it seems to get even closer to you — was it really hiding in the darkness, the one you go so used to? It was hiding in each dark corner watching you and each time you felt it — each time you thought about it, each time you tried not to think of it…it was so close.

You hear it suddenly. In the depths of those whispers a voice rings louder than the others. You didn’t recognize it, nor understood it, but your body seems to. It felt just like the other time, just like yesterday’s night — you hear another. You gasp silently, eyes searching the cold ground under you. It was like the voices were fighting for who will pierce your poor jumping heart. They scream, words you cannot understand flying around your mind, but one of them calls to you. It says your name so sweetly, breathlessly and you swear you can hear the pain in their voice. Pain — ‘Y/N’, it repeats. It was in pain, pain, pain…it is in pain — he.

“Y/N…” Your heart stops, head turning into the direction from where the voice call out to you. You could recognize it everywhere…”Y/N–“

Hyunjin — his voice was broken, filled with pain and the sound tears your insides apart, completely silencing the others that die down, leaving nothing, but the memory of their screams. You blink, unleashing the tears that gathered in your eyes and the small plea in his voice makes you run into the direction of its owner. You don’t know where he is, you just feel him. The dark figure is forgotten, almost like it wasn’t even there to begin with — it tried to lure you, but the man calling out to you overpowered your corrupted mind, pulling you out of the suffocating darkness.

You run on your frozen feet, feeling the strain in your muscles that still fuzz with each of your step. The sun was getting lower, but it still was high enough to make shadows dance on the ground under you. Your eyes search through the garden, looking at each statue hoping that he hasn’t turned into one of them, but then a small cry is heard. It makes you stop, turning around you, searching, before your gaze travels to a tree not so far away from you. It was tall — tall enough to make a shadows big enough for someone to hide and go unnoticed.

The small specks of hope sparkles, when you see movement behind the tree and you breathe out in small relief to be only strike by another cry, that was full of pain. You move with a start, eyes wide in fear as the more you near it, the more you can smell the scent of burned flesh. Your eyes are sat completely on the figure hiding in shadows, your footsteps so loud you can hear the ground rumble and you weren’t the only one. From behind the tree you see pair of familiar eyes, but they now looked so dim that you can feel your own skin burning. You run towards him, watching his blue eyes widened, his hand so shaky and weak reaching towards you. You thought he was calling for your help, but no — he was trying to push you away. Your foot lands on the ground, but you freeze at the small distant click.

“No!”

You gasp, throat closing as the air is taken away from your lungs. Your eyes sting from the cold, hair fanning over your face that scrunches up at the force you feel on your chest. The world becomes a blur around you, colors and shapes in one for a small moment that seemed way longer than it truly was. The pressure on your chest tightens, pushing into you with force so great that you can’t breathe, till a silent cry leaves you. You feel yourself falling, head bumping into the ground, your body struck with sharp pain, but it is smaller than the one coming from your back. Your head doesn’t burn in pain, your vision slowly coming back to you, watching the world spin around you, till you blink. The pressure on your chest is torn away from you, making you cough, rolling onto your side, only when your hands come to support you they fall on top of a wooden floor.

Confusion strikes you, before it becomes all clear and real to you, when you hear a horrifying scream of pain, which makes all the hair on your body stand up. You sit up quickly, making your head spin for a moment from such a sudden move, but you don’t seem to register the pain in your limbs, when your eyes are met with a sight, that leaves you filled with complete shock. Hyunjin — his whole face and body is covered in lesions, skin puffy, red and raw. His friend support him to grasp at a stake that is pierced through his left shoulder.

“No…no, no, no–“ You crawl your way over to him, gasping in horror at his state. His whole body shakes, gripping onto the hand of his blonde friend. His eyes meet yours, filled with pain, lips opening and closing, gasping for air. You can feel the setting sun shining down on your back as you shield him, your own lips curling into a pained cry.

Hyunjin reaches out to you once more, but it is for you to come closer to you. You grasp onto his burned hand, ears ringing from the yells of others, but the only thing you can focus on is his raw skin — you don’t want to hold on to him, scared of hurting him, but he himself tightens his grip on your hand, eyes trailing across your face. Something falls from his mouth then, but it is nothing, but a splatter of blood costing his lips. “God, what did you do-“ You whisper, crying, your voice cutting through the small hallway, that quiets down, when Chan kneels behind Hyunjin.

You know what he did, but you hate the thought of him truly doing this and it wasn’t all — looking at the stake coming through his left shoulder, you have to sigh in agony at the way the man behind him doesn’t take it out right away. You watch his own hands shake, you see the way Felix tightened his grip on him, as Chan wraps his hands around the wood. “Hold him down!” He says and you are at that pushed to the side by Han and Jeongin, your hand falling from Hyunjin’s, who desperately reaches out to you again, only to be held back by his brothers.

Your breathing stops, with wide eyes watching as the stake is slowly pulled out his body. You frown deeply at the short scream leaving his lips, body twitching in the hold of his family, who doesn’t look at the painful expression on his face. Your eyes strain at his, the only thing left that could make you recognize him — his features were eaten by the sun. His eyes shine red, bloody like his raw skin, staring into yours and you can’t look away from the way you can see the absolute agony in them.

When the stake comes out of his body, everyone sighs out in small relief and you choke at the hightened emotions filling up the room. Sobs shakes his body, but no tears fall from his eyes, nor cries, it was more like he was trying to breathe. He couldn’t — but he needed you. You move closer to him, clasping his hand once again, tears falling onto his body, but he doesn’t even twist at the liquid seeping into him. His mouth opens again, head rolling back, but the the man who has his body in his lap helps him face you. “I had him…I almost–“ His voice is hoarse, words almost unintelligible as blood flows from his mouth.

Hyunjin chokes, coughing uncontrollably and the sound seem to snap everyone back in the real time. “Somebody find a maid!” Seungmin yells, walking back and forth across the floor. His words is strong, seemingly collected, but you can hear the sadness and pain in his voice.

You shake your head softly at the man before you, feeling him grip at your hand more tightly till you feel bone touching you. His eyes are wide, but they hold nothing, but anger for a moment. Hyunjin coughs again, blood flowing down his chin as he gritted his teeth in pain. Your lip quivers, lump in your throat of trying to stop the sobs that want to so desperately shake your whole body. The words he said fly over your head, but they are not unheard by the others, who look at him with hard gaze, just as he turns to look at you again.

“Wolfs–“ He sneers through his bloodied teeth, the word being spat out like a venom. Even a single word is enough to make him cough out blood again, the liquid pooling from his mouth and seeping into his raw skin. You are completely deaf to what he is saying, you are on a verge of falling apart at his state. Your eyes trail over his lips, gaping, gulping at what seem like air, but it all comes to you instantly.

You lean closer to him, knees buckling under you as your hand hovers over his heaving chest, the rasp and almost whistling sound coming from his lungs makes you sick. In his wide eyes you can see the need for warm flesh, squirming in Felix’s hold that only seem to tighten more, when he looks between you two. “Drink from me.” You say, desperately trying to get closer to him, but he only backs away from you.

“No-“ He doesn’t know if he can trust himself right now, knowing that the subtle pulsing of his dried out veins crave the blood pulsing through yours. His need is taking control of his body and it is worst than ever before and the others surely can tell by the look in his red eyes. He is on the edge of losing control…but you however don’t see it or actually you do not seem to care.

Your hand reaching out for him is grasp into a tight grip, making you turn to its owner, who shakes his head at your move. “No, Y/N, you cannot-“ Han looks at you with sorrow in his eyes and you shake your head at him stopping you.

“I don’t care! Do you see him?” You raise your voice, though it is still quiet and broken as the eyes of the man pushing you away. You don’t care that the look in Hyunjin’s is pleading — pleading you for not to go closer to him, while pleading for your blood all the same. You know you are maybe not in the right mind right now, but you can’t stomach seeing him in such pain any longer, surprising the trembling man holding you by throwing yourself to Hyunjin, but unfortunately you are not quick enough for the man behind you.

You see for a split second how Hyunjin leaps at you also and you for a moment feel your heart skip a beat at the primal look in his eyes. It only makes you remember his true nature, but you still naively try to give it to him. You are harshly pulled back by the arms of the sandy blonde, who wraps his arms around you, caging you against his chest. You squirm instantly at the sudden and sharp move, momentarily looking away from the injured man, not seeing the way his three brothers push him down on the floor. “It’s gonna be alright–“ Minho’s words hit your ear, grip ever so slightly tightening around you, leaving you room to wiggle around in his hold, but it only makes you realize that even by a such small use of his strength you have nothing against him. You hear the hurt in his voice, while you shake and the raw emotion in his words makes you cry softly. “It’s nothing, calm down.” He shushes you, whispering to you.

You let the tears fall down your hot cheeks, your feet squeaking on the polished floor. Your eyes fall back to Hyunjin, who is already looking at you, sighing in pain as the hands holding him down pierce through his skin. The sight makes you slowly stop moving, exhaling. Footsteps follow, making you look up for a moment to the two figures nearing you. Changbin is holding s unknown woman, a maid that seems vaguely familiar to you and she certainly doesn’t seem to be unfamiliar in such position also. Her eyes widened a little as she looks down on the injured vampire, but she doesn’t miss a single beat after, kneeling down next to his head and he for the first time looks away from you to the wrist with she offers him.

You hold your breath, while watching the small interaction. Hyunjin lips parted, shaky hands wrapping around her hand, pulling it towards him, but even in his state and the desperate need for the warm blood in her veins, he doesn’t bite her. You can hear more than you can see it — the small sound of skin being pierced by his nail that cuts into her. You for a second thought he did it because he didn’t have the strength to even bite down, but when he suddenly looks at you, it becomes clear to you. Her blood drips down to his open mouth, making him lightly gasp, before he finally pushes her hand to his thirsty mouth.

The gulps he takes are loud, long, yet quick and you watch his skin slowly melt back together before your very eyes. He doesn’t move his eyes away from you, making you shiver slightly. The way he drinks makes something rise in you — his eyes bloom lighter, body and face healing with every drop of blood. He is shaking once again, but not in pain anymore, more in relief that over comes him and Changbin has to pull the maid away from him, before the hunger could overpower him.

You glance at the maid briefly, who shakily breathes out, pressing her hand to her chest, before she is pulled back. “Y/N.” Hyunjin voice makes you turn your attention back to him, lips partying at the sight of his face, that is now almost without any injury.

The rasp in his voice is still there, but when he reaches out for you again you are not pushed back away from him. Minho lets you go, everyone watching as you crawl your way to him, your hand hovering over his body. “Your face…” You trail off, moving your hand to his cheek and he softly leans into your touch with a gentle sigh.

Relief washes over you, as his breath fans over the dried tears on your face. You fight the argue to break down again seeing him healed, but in his eyes flashes something. He sits up slowly, with a helping hand from his blonde friend pressing onto his back, as he still recovers from his state. “I’m alright-“ Hyunjin says then, seeing the look of concern on your face and he feels guilty, because he knew what he did, but now that it is not as important as thing he says next. “I saw him — I almost had him-“

Him — same as you, you are now sure that the thing that has been haunting you is a person. His confession sparks up interest in the room, everyone going closer. The thing truly wasn’t just nothing, not your imagination or a spirit, but a man, who has been torturing you with his powers. Your expression betrays you, making Hyunjin realize that you already knew yourself. His mouth opens again, but he is interrupted by Chan who leans over his now uninjured shoulder.

“What did he look like?”

He was looking at Hyunjin, but no one could miss the empty look on your face, as your mind goes back to the moment in the garden. You do not know what he looked like, but your body seems to have the power to recognize him in every dark corner. “I did not see his face.” Says the vampire for you, already aware that he is not the only one, who saw the dark figure. “He was…there were wolfs with him, they bit me-“ You look back at him at such information, glancing at the noticeable tear at his side.

You become confused. Were you really not paying attention to anything around you? You have not seen a wolf, not even heard one. To you this doesn’t make any sense and you didn’t seem to be the only one. Though maybe the figure that you saw was one of them — a day walker, yet a supernatural being. No…it can’t be a warewolf. You have not seen any of them even once, but this answer cannot be so simple. The vampires whisper amongst themselves, in same disbelief like you, but it is certain that the now healed wound at his side was a bite.

“A warewolf?” States Felix, the word laced with confusion, yet anger. No guards had seen anything, other than his brother and you — you both saw him.

“No-“ You say, making everyone turn their heads at you, including Hyunjin, whose foreboding is proven right. He straightens just a little at your confession, but he doesn’t let the obvious concern win over him. The fact that know everyone realizes you have seen the same figure too, made the thought of the person seeking revenge all too more believable.

“He wasn’t one of them.” Continues Hyunjin for you, gazing at you with glimmering eyes. “He was like a phantom, I couldn’t feel him, but I knew he was present.” There is a pull at his eyebrows. He now fully understands you and what you are feeling, but the others still seem to be not so sure about such reality. Would it be possible that something else is out there, that they didn’t know of? Even after centuries, could there still be something beyond their imagination?

“Your mind maybe be playing tricks on you because of the sun.” Even Minho doesn’t seem to believe himself as he says those words, but he still can’t except the fact that there maybe be things out there that don’t have an explanation.

The dark haired vampire shakes his head and you for second see the reflection of yourself in his eyes that plea to be understood. “No…I know, he was real. Standing right outside of our bedroom window — he knew I would go after him, the wolfs were just a distraction.“ He doesn’t even have to say that. Everyone already knew that maybe this was the answer — werewolves might be behind this, but none of you fully believe such statement. It was so obvious that this was really just a distraction, so the unknown entity would make you confused. But who would convince werewolves to side with them? Who could be so powerful enough to use them for a simple distraction?

Sigh falls from Felix, placing his hand on his shoulder. “You must rest-“ He says, but Hyunjin only wiggles out of his hold, sitting up once more.

“I’m alright.”

“No, you are not.” Seungmin says, almost sneering at his words.

Standing up, the short haired man comes to stand behind you, towering over you both as the others come to stand next to him. “Brother, promise us that you won’t do anything so stupid ever again.” Says Chan, glaring down at the sitting man, who only gives him a look back. He doesn’t answer him, because if he did it would only be a lie.

Frowning, you fall back to your knees, hold leaving Hyunjin and that makes him glance back to you with a small alarmed look. He needs your touch so much, but you simply don’t have the heart to do anything else, but to stare at him. The reality hits you again — what he had done���There is nothing, no injuries, nothing that would remind you of what he just did, other than his torn up clothes and blood on his lips. Everything happened so fast that you didn’t even have the proper time to fully grasp what he did.

Others can feel the tension rising in the small hallway, noticing the dimming light from outside, nothing, but their eyes lighting up the room. “The sun is getting low.” States Hyunjin, turning away from your piercing stare to look upon his family. “We will have guests soon.” You want nothing more than to turn his attention back to you, so he would look into your eyes and see the hurt in them. He doesn’t need to — he can feel your anger and saddens…betrayal radiating from your body.

The words hold importance, seeing that what has happened isn’t something that they should talk about anymore, as it was just the beginning. They let it fly over their heads for now, but you do not. That is something you can’t just accept and forget so easily. “Wolfs…are you sure he isn’t one too?” Asks Felix next to you, looking down at the dark haired vampire, who still stays seated on the floor with you.

“Yes.”

“How do you know?” Hyunjin almost shrugs, but he chooses to look at you instead.

“I just know.” He says, voice so little, his dead heart skips a beat, watching your eyes fill up with salty tears.

You hear some of them walking immediately away after his words and in their fast pace you can feel their emotions that only linger in the small hallway. It only pushes you more to the edge of crumbling apart — the thing he did effect everyone, but some couldn’t spend anymore time looking down on him and see him take all of this so lightly. How can he think that what he did is right? Does he know how much it hurt everyone?

This all truly seems to be just the beginning and if it weren’t for the thing that’s about to happen next, few of them swear that they would kill him themselves for the stupid thing he did. “I want every corner of this house watched, no one gets out or in without my permission–“ Chan voice cuts through you, making for a split second come back to yourself.

“This will only raise curiosity–“ Says Changbin, tone slow and steady, but the man only shakes him off his shoulders.

“I don’t care.” You turn to look at him from the corner of your eye, meeting his gaze. At your stare he gestures to you and if you didn’t notice the look in his eyes, you would think he was angry with you. “They won’t care about anything else than her anyway — put up a show, we will all have our eyes on you.” The last part is meant mostly at the man next to you, silently watching him for a split second, before him and the others lingering behind disappear into the darkness.

The silence that follows is loud, screeching and you can feel the heated eyes of Hyunjin, who comes to sit down next to your shaking form. You can feel his hand hovering over you, but not touching you. You think of the fact that you might have not feel him again — how could he do something like that? “Y/N.” He calls out to you and you close your eyes for a moment, letting the tears fall down your face. He sounded so gentle and reassuring, but could he really not see, what he did? His hand falls to your naked back, shivering lightly at his cold touch that only leaves traces of fire. You hate how he is sounds, how he tries to calm you like it was a simple thing that you can forget about. His skin — burned to the bone, raw, his lungs screaming, with a simple breath, the blood pouring out of him…You tremble at the memory and when you suddenly feel small circles being drawn on your skin, they become anything, but calming.

Pulling away from him, you turn back to him, ignoring his eyes lingering on your teary state. “You idiot–“ It comes at as a choked sound, hiccuping as you gulp at the thick air around you. “You could have…” You can’t even finish the thought, you can’t — you don’t want to imagine him like that again.

Your shake in silent sobs, face scrunching up in pain and he feels immense regret fall on him. No — he doesn’t regret it, that’s the thing. He doesn’t regret going out there after him, but what he does regret is making you feel like this. You look absolutely broken and he knows that you know he doesn’t care. Hyunjin’s hands come to touch you again, but you only shake your head at his ways. “I’m alright.” He says and you want to laugh at his tries to calm you.

“Stop lying.” You spit out the words, chest heaving and eyes glaring. “One thing is running out there, when the sun was still high, but jumping in front of me-“

“It would have hit you!”

“And?” There is a small pause and his lips parted in disbelief. “It almost went through your heart, you almost–“

You fall apart then, placing your hands over your mouth to silence yourself. You felt pathetic in front of him like this, you hate that he try to gaslight you into thinking this was alright. The worse thing is you understand him and he understands you — it truly is like you are both alike and feel everything the other feels. It just was too much for you to handle, too little of time to truly get through this situation as your future is closing on to you. Hyunjin watches you for a moment — how you shake and cry into yourself, because of him. The dried blood on his lips cracks as he presses his lips into thin line.

He needs to be stronger — there is still the ball and knowing that he needs to not let his emotions take the win so he could be by your side. You don’t know it, but he is a coward. He doesn’t show his emotions, because it would only mean that the man haunting you was winning, but is it even necessary? The unknown man already knew the feelings he held for you, he knew that he would come after him and he knew that he was trying to kill him — he didn’t even have to dirty his hands and he almost won. He almost had you.

Hyunjin mind races with thoughts, but they dim at the broken sound of your cries. He pulls you then into his arms, now not pulling away from his touch, pressing your face into his chest. “I didn’t, I’m alright—“ His chin falls on top of your head, hands digging into you, pulling you closer to him. Your own tears fall on the already destroyed fabric of his shirt, your lips against his chest and right over his not beating heart.

With being so close to him, it is like you can see yourself through him. You understand why he did it, but it is just so hard to except it. “I know, what I did was stupid, but I c-couldn’t just leave you out there.” Hyunjin stops you, pulling you away from his chest to look down on you. You however don’t meet his gaze, staring at the sliver of skin peaking from his torn up shirt. You graze the tear left behind, before trailing it down to his chest. It was so close…”It almost went through your heart-“ You have to shake your head again at the awful thought and he helps you by pulling you to meet his gaze finally.

Both of his thumbs smear your tears away, but even that still doesn’t make the new ones leave your eyes. “Shhh…I am alright, you are alright–“ His last sentence leaves his lips with a sigh, blue eyes staring into yours. “We will figure this out together.”

You frown, surprising him by completely pulling away from him, straightening in your spot. “I don’t want to.” He holds his breath, watching your face turn stern. “This is all because of me, so promise me that you won’t try to do anything like that ever again.” Each word is said slowly, your tongue rolling over each syllable and he knows he doesn’t have a choice, but to answer. There is no way from him to back away, shield himself from your words and hard gaze. Though like a coward that he knows he is, he doesn’t answer you right away. You shake again, now in frustration and anger at his silence. “Hyunjin, promise.“ He doesn’t, he doesn’t even seem to fully look at you and it makes you push against his chest to wake him up from his thoughts. However he is right here — he hears you clearly. “Promise me, goddamit-“

“No.”

His tone is cold, pupils dilating his eyes as he finally answers you. It is no use to lie to you, he knows it would only anger you more, if he would break another promise. You are however still in disbelief, not so much of his answer, but from the way he says it. It is so selfish of him…The word together now seems nothing, but another lie. You can’t stomach the look on his face any longer, standing up to your feet and leaving him in a state of despair.

────

You can feel the pressure on your chest. You can feel your pulse, blood rushing through your vein that you push down on to with your thumb. The skin of your wrist blooms red, moon shapes dancing across your arm that you have been scratching with your nails. Staring at the wooden door in front of you, listening to the soft music only made you more nauseous. It is so amusing that behind the closed doors are vampires, just waiting for you to come in. You know that they can feel you — smell your scent, hear your poor heart. They have to know about you. A single human under the same roof as them, you can only imagine how they would feel, when they learn about your true position. Who you truly are…

It is all so quick, time ticking and the more you stand behind your possible death, the more it eats you. Your skin — blood that they all so crave maybe be splattered across the ballroom the moment you step inside. You can’t no longer think, find a plan. Now you only have to face it, with the last bits of bravery left in you. You circle the stone in your ring with your finger, watching it glimmer in the candle light, listening to the sound of violin cutting through the silence, before you can hear soft masked footsteps following the music.

The dress you are wearing is suffocating, tight around your middle and the heaviness wears you down. You can already feel your feet hurting, still tender from the outside and the shoes do nothing, but hurt you more. However this small bits of pain aren’t as strong as the one in your chest. The nearing footsteps stop right behind you, feeling the person’s breath blowing over your naked neck. It is cold, but not unwelcomed as the one you felt in the garden. This one is somewhat soothing, knowing who it is, but you don’t instantly turn around.

“It is time now, we have to go.” Each word bounces off your skin, piercing through it and traveling straight to your soul. The small nod of your head is nearly unnoticeable, even for the vampire. Hyunjin lets you for a moment drown in the small silence between you two, eyes traveling over your figure, listening to the small click of your nail makes as it meets the red stone on your ring. With his gaze traveling back to your neck, his fingers graze over the thin skin, watching goosebumps appear. He doesn’t even have to listen to your heart, seeing your pulse jump right before his eyes. “Look at me.” It’s more of plea than anything and you find your body already turning to him, before you can stop yourself. The look in your eyes makes him swallow the lump forming in his throat, feeling his chest tighten as he withdraws his hand from you. “Please, don’t look at me like that.”

You look at him all the same, trailing your gaze over his sharp yet soft features. “Like what, Hyunjin?” With furrowed eyebrows, your hand falls back to your side, ruffling the material of your layered skirt.

He sighs through his nose, momentarily looking up to the ceiling, before turning back to you. “You are angry with me.” He states the obvious, the small ‘still’ silent in his sentence.

You crain your neck at him, small pull at your lips from his words. “Now you understand?”

“You know why I went out there.” He says, taking a small step closer to you and it makes you stutter for a split moment.

“I know.” Saying that you look up at him fully again, your next words now a little clearer. “But do you know how selfish it was?”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“I know.” He is only repeating himself again and you have think that it must be some kind of unspoken rule you didn’t know of. “But what if-“ You cut yourself off, closing your eyes as you can feel them burning again. “What if the stake did go through your heart…you would leave me and everyone, because you thought you could kill him.”

His face now mirrors the same frown. “You don’t think I’m powerful enough to kill him? To protect you?” He says and you have to sigh a little.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it, you know, what he wanted and you still went out there — you left me–“

“I would never–“

“No–“ You shake your head. “But you would risk your life for me…I don’t want you to safe me.”

“Y/N.” He gasps out your name, placing his hands on top of your naked shoulders and he can see the visible shudder going over you. He is taken back by your words, by the audacity to even think of something like that. Do you really think that he will listen to you? Let you go and do nothing against it? Do you even realize what it would do to him…your death. You are both so selfish, yet not. “Stop saying those things, you would had done the same.”

You nod lightly again, looking at him through your darkened lashes, mesmerizing him for a moment. “I would — but would it not pain you that the person you care so deeply about would sacrifice themselves for you, leave you?” You almost stutter again, feeling your throat closing on you as you finally say those words. They still were quiet, but was it even necessary to say it out loud? The word scares you still and still you keep it hidden, but you hope he sees it shine in your eyes, in your words and your touch. Hyunjin’s hands on your shoulders soften as his features, lips parting. “You said we will do this together and if you want that, you can’t do something like that.”

Pain shines brightly from your whole being and he can’t fight against his own emotions any longer. “I am sorry.” His apology needed to be said, but it felt so little. “I just couldn’t stay put, knowing that the thing that has been doing these awful things to you was out there — I had to do it.” You close your eyes again, letting single tear escape, only to be caught by him. He breathes you in — taking in your state, the soft skin of your cheek melts into his and he wants to memorize this moment before him. You are so brave, you aspire him. He can’t even imagine what it must be for a human to experience this. The fact your nature is different, yet seem like such small thing. “Look at me–“ His own voice betrays him, but he doesn’t come to mask his expression as you open your eyes again. “I am sorry.”

You shakily exhale, placing your own hand over his. “We almost lost you, Hyunjin-“ You just can’t forget it.

He comes even closer to you, lips hovering over your forehead in a gentle kiss. “But you didn’t, I’m right here with you, I will always be….” In your heart and soul. You place your hand to his chest, that doesn’t rise nor a heartbeat is felt under your fingertips, but you can feel him. Your vision clears, letting his words fill your corrupted mind. You become calm again — the best you could, because the music playing behind the closed door only repeats to you your future. You feel his lips pressing to your skin, making it tingle and even if his hand falls back to his side, he pulls yours with him. “We have to go.”

Nodding your head, you let him put your arm over his, his eyes lingering on you a little longer and you can’t seem to look away either. His longer hair is brushed, kissing his shoulders and you finally take in his own clothes. The suit on him is black, but golden embroidery decorated his shoulders. Swirls turning into small leaves and flowers, the same ones that decorated your cleavage. The small details distract you a little, as he leads you to the entrance of the room. He mostly walks for you both, your legs too weak and shaky to even take a full step. It makes you glance back at the door, tearing yourself away from his heated gaze that you can still feel on the side of your face. A small squeeze on your arm makes you sigh a little and you try to focus only on him as you watch the doors before you open.

The music is the first thing that pours out of the room, orange and golden light shining down on the ground before you. The subtle sound of voices follows, while you step a little closer. Calm — you have to keep calm, you say to yourself as Hyunjin leads you. You don’t breathe for a moment, when you finally near the room and soon you have to gasp a little at the sight before you. You thought you have seen nearly everything that this place holds, but you are again left speechless.

Your eyes look up firstly at the high ceilings, painted with beautiful frescoes and decorated in gold. Candles only enhance the beauty of the room, reflecting on the metal and covering the room into warm orange light. You trail your eyes over the paintings, before they fall on the sight before you. People, upon people — wearing tailored clothes, styled in such perfection that it truly told you they cannot be humans. The whole room looked like a cathedral, with its hight, but the sin reeped from every person you laid eyes upon.

Dancers in the center of the room mesmerize you with their smooth moves, that hold passion so great it makes you shiver. The soft voice, simply angelic melts into the music and you take your attention to that direction, where a woman stands with her lips parted. Her voice is alluring and you feel absolutely hopeless by its magic and like she could feel it, she exchanged her hands to you, calling out you. The gesture is anything, but simple, because even from this distance you can feel her eyes turning into something dark. It makes you look away from her, only to be met with another sets of eyes and then another. They do not turn their heads, nor stop dancing, talking or performing, but you knew you were being watched.

Your heart dances to the beat of the music, hammering against your chest. Hyunjin however doesn’t stop leading you deeper, more into the crowd, like he thought you would both simply vanish and be forgotten in the sea of undead creatures. You don’t look away however — you can’t tear your eyes away from the scenery before you. Passing by the first figure you come upon on and their glare makes you cover, sneaking your other hand to hold your companion’s. “Everything alright?” Hyunjin asks you and you try to ignore the fact that everyone can hear him — everyone can hear and see your heart beating faster, blood boiling under their eyes.

You try to focus on him instead of them — the hand holding yours held a grip tight enough to make you see, that you are safe. You still can’t shake off the eyes on you, however you still stare right back at the people around you. It is so distracting, but still nerve racking. However the more you go deeper into the crowd, the more it makes you realize something…If they truly thought you are, who they think you are, the room would have certainly erupted by now. Maybe they are also not believing what they are seeing, or simply they don’t act on their instincts from the fear of Hyunjin and his family. Maybe they are just here for the show…

“I think so…” You say quietly, glancing up again and you stop in your tracks at the sight that hasn’t been there before. You don’t know their culture, but the thing you know is that vampires do enjoy entertainment — drama. You lips part in small gasp, while you watch two figures flying through the room. Their bodies twist and turn, before the separate themselves from the swing they held on and your sudden stop and simple look of astonishment makes the man holding you look into that direction also. “I have never seen this place before.” You say in amazement big enough to make your heart slow down a little.

“We don’t use it much, but I wanted something special for you.” Hyunjin leans closer to you so you could hear his words better, as you quite didn’t have a supernatural hearing like everyone else in the room.

His breath hits your ears, blowing away the small, loose strands of hair and you almost pull away at the sudden tickling sensation. You can see his own eyes on you, but you still have yours on the room, now especially at another performers in the distance. “It is…certainly something…” Your voice dies at the end, trying to get over the fact he made this all so grand just for you. You somehow slowly got used to being given such gifts from him, but everything from this to the dress, jewelry and mostly the one piece glimmering on your finger could not make you feel at ease.

Your own naturally tense body senses the change in his grip as his hand tightens around your arm. It makes you tear your eyes away from the things around you, glancing up. You can see the subtle clench at his jaw, eyes set straight ahead. “What’s wrong?” You ask softly, eyebrows pulling together, before turning to the spot his eyes are on, only to be met with the face of his two brothers.

You can see it in their eyes that something wasn’t right, Felix’s and Han’s usually soft features now hard and cold. Looking back at Hyunjin you don’t mask the concern on your face, watching him tilt his head down at you, but his gaze still drifts away. “I-I…stay here.” You haven’t heard him stutter like this, voice so full of concern, anger and panic — everything circled around his irises.

Your breath cuts short, shaking your head immediately, grasping on to his hand, when he start to withdraw from you. “I don’t want to be alone–“ You swallow the lump in your throat, slowing down your own words so you wouldn’t stutter also — everyone can hear you.

He finally looks at you fully, his blue eyes flashing darker and you know that he didn’t want to leave you alone either — something truly is happening. “You are not, you are save, there is nothing to harm you, trust me.” You hear the urgency in his words, squeezing at your hand a little too painfully, but it is so it would leave a residue of his touch and presence. “I will be right back.” Your lips fall apart, but before you can even make a small sound he detaches himself from you.

Watching him turn his back to you, disappearing so quickly in the sea of people, you can’t help, but pull your hands closer to your chest. His reassurance of you being watched over seem so little, highly aware of how many vampires were around you. However you try to forget about — forget that they were blood thirsty creatures that could jump on you in any given moment. You have to wonder, how many of them are actually the ones on your side, the room was too big to see it in its full glory.

Turning around, you fumble a little with the skirt of your dress, looking down at the details that seem to only swirl before your eyes. You take a deep breath, glancing up again. People walk past you, some giving you a small glare of interest of why a human is trying to disguise themselves as one of them and some don’t even a spare you a simple look. Though it felt lime they were circling around you, like sharks, predators creeping up on its prey. It doesn’t help you feel any better, that you are standing in the center of the room, so you decide to take a small — falsely confident stroll.

You know that Hyunjin told you to stay were you are, but how? You would only be giving them a full angle view and it seems unlikely for you to disappear somewhere, where he wouldn’t find you. As you maneuver through the room, passing by the cold figures, your eyes don’t move away from the wall. You can hear them taking a deep breath, their noses twitching at your scent and your shoulders slightly shrug in uncomfortableness. You soon learn that room is way bigger than you anticipated — it stretches so much and you only realize you walked into a different section of it, that was hidden by high columns.

Amazement strikes you, looking back, before your gaze trails all the way to the ceiling again. You quite frankly haven’t seen something like this before — it was like a one big hall that even by its size hides so many secrets. You have to wonder again how it is possibly that no one knew of this place, but you realize that you still don’t know where you truly are either…maybe you are way farther from home than you think. Your thoughts distract you enough to not perceive the vampires, your pulse slowing to a steady pace as you admire the room.

Your eyes then flicker to a staircase on the other side from where you are standing, music flowing around you. The multiple, grand stairs lead to a door and you swear you can feel something pulling you towards it. It calls out to you the same way as the voice of the singer, whispering sweetly into your ears. However something suddenly washes over you — something you have felt many times before. You feel this something watching you, so different from the stares of the others. This one goes straight through you, shiver going over you, turning your gaze to the direction you don’t even know — it felt like it was everywhere.

The figures blend together, creating a smear of colors as you turn around searching, but you couldn’t quite pinpoint where this awfully feeling striking through you was coming from. Your skin tingles, blood boils under your skin and you nearly stumble from the wave of distress going over you. It can’t be…You can feel everyone watching you, listening to your heart that starts to pound wildly and you so desperately try to breath through your feelings. You can only seem to focus on the ringing in your ears, which increases only more, when the music and the singer’s voice rise high. You can feel it nearing, cornering you more, as the music comes to an end.

Pain — cold, freezing fingers wrap around your arm so tightly it makes you snap back to your body, gasping from the sudden sensation. You don’t even have the time to turn to its owner completely, before your feet drag across the polished floor. Eyes wide in fright they meet two black ones, hidden behind a highly decorated mask that reaches just above the man’s lips. You don’t recognize this man and you are sure he isn’t one of the men that are here to look after you. His whole demeanor was cold, sucking the life right out of you and filling you with terror. Your lips fall apart, naively trying to pull yourself out of his hold, but he only drags you further with him and at that the scream of help gathering inside you is ripped away from you, when you are suddenly pulled away from the room completely.

The world is a blur for a moment, your eyes too slow to catch anything from the fast movement. Your head whips back, pain shooting through your neck as just as that you are pull back into the slow world you are use to. You have to cough a little, your eyes stinging, vision blurry, but you feel the stranger’s hands on both of your arms. Facing him, you can’t do anything, but to catch your breath, barely catching the new scenery around you. A small hallway, that doesn’t seem familiar, but you can’t even get the details around you strait, because the man opens a door your back have been pushed onto, shoving you inside the room and your mind is completely blank for a moment from all what happened in just meer seconds.

You watch the door slam shut before you, breathing unsteady, your heart almost jumping out of your chest. You can feel fear overtaking your whole body, almost hyperventilating from how fast you have been taken away — you felt so useless and powerless under the man’s hold. You hear a click of lock next and you knew that there is no way for you to get out. So you turn around finally to face the room who have been pushed into, but the sight you come across off makes a strangled noise come out of your mouth.

You can feel them, way before your eyes land on the seven figures standing right before you. You can your chest closing onto you, freezing in your spot, because only with just one glance you knew — you just knew it had to be them. They looked and felt so different from any the other vampire you have come across of. You thought the fear you felt in the ballroom from the stares of the undead creatures was already great, but theirs…You can’t even describe how much their whole presence intimidated you — you could even smell it. Their mouths are shut, their eyes in the same color of gold, yet distinct from each other. They glare at you, staring at your squirming form, lingering on the left side of your chest where your heart thumps against your ribs. The are like statues, letting you take in their beauty and you can help, but trail your eyes to the one closest to you.

He had a tall figure, black hair framing his high cheekbones. His posture reek of confidence and there doesn’t even have to be smile of pride on his full lips to show that. The other next to him seem to be even taller, with soft, blond hair and prying eyes. He looks at you from beneath his lashes in interest, standing before the others in a sense of authority. You can’t move away from their eyes and you know it, but you still aren’t able to fully look into them, in fear you would melt into the floor right under you.

When you look to the other, standing just behind the blonde, his gaze didn’t seem so tense, but it still lack warmth. On his longer face danced shadows from the lit candles, only to remind you that the sliver of softness in his eyes wasn’t still inviting. And so weren’t the ones of the man next to him. His hair, dark as the night, reached his shoulders, small earring glimmering under the light. His face didn’t necessarily seem stern and hard, but it was so cold it send shivers down your spine.

A shorter, light haired man stood by him and his whole presence seemed to be the complete opposite of the one next to him. You could see the twinkle of amusement in his eyes, full lips pulled into a small smile. His other companion held his softness hidden, but he didn’t shy away to show it and that made you feel a lot more on the edge. The silence was so loud and you brace yourself for any incoming impact, but it never came. They still stared at you and you did the same, but not like them, you couldn’t figure out anything about them. Over the light haired man loomed a taller figure and you are taken back by his youthful appearance. Still his eyes showed you his true age, how much he had seen and you feel so inexperienced standing here before him. His jawline is clenched, eyes a little darker in the shadow covering his features. But in the same shadows you could still see the figure standing behind him. The small freckle under his eyelashes leads you two his golden stare, that was anything, but warm. You can see the questions in his gaze like the others, but he seem to be truly looking at you.

You wanted to come to him closer.

However you are startled by the sound of a door opening right behind these seven men and you finally seem to be able to move from your spot to look into that direction. Relief washes right over you, when your eyes meet Hyunjin’s, who momentarily glanced at your company, but seeing your fear filled eyes made him instantly rush over to you. “Y/N.” You breath out shakily, carefully going around the still silent vampires. They finally move also, turning to look at you both, before facing the others, who stood in the doorway.

In Hyunjin’s eyes flashes small concern, that only you could see, while you shorten the distance between you two. With a small stinging in your vision, you let him pull you into him, his hold strong and soft, not freezing like the one of the man, who lead you here into this room. He only has eyes on you for a moment too long, because he can feel the heated stare on his back as he shields your body. He hears the quiet footsteps of his family behind him and he at that faces the seven. “You came.” His voice shows disbelief and his whole family’s faces can’t help, but show the same. It surprise them all so much, that they already feel the suspicion that their presence was anything, but good. “Why?” They really thought, prayed that they maybe wouldn’t show up for the sake of you, so the problem that they would have to deal with would be the vampires in the ballroom. But they would learn about you sooner or later and Hyunjin already puts you behind him to protect you.

Just this simple question finally answers yours. These seven men are the oldest vampires, the ones that turned them. When you first saw them, you already knew, but hearing it being confirmed, made you tremble. The blonde, tall vampire in the center doesn’t show a sign of anger or anything, only looking at you from behind Hyunjin’s shoulder. The way all eight of them dig their feet in the floor, though seem to spark amusement in him. “You think we would miss our dear friend’s ceremonial?” With smooth voice, his gaze jumps between you two and you close your eyes a little at the obvious pause in his words.

The shorter blonde man takes a step closer, feeling how Hyunjin tenses a little, but as you watch the man, he doesn’t seem to be particularly frightened. “Hyunjin…is that woman by your side really her?“ His eyes meet yours for a moment, but you instantly look away from his stare.

The question is met with a small silence, seeing that there really isn’t any need for it to be spoken outloud. “A Human…” Says the man with longer hair, his voice deep and you can feel it rumbling in his chest. “Tell us — does she know?” His tone becomes cold so quickly, you really can’t help it, but grasp onto Hyunjin a little tighter.

“Does she know of what we are?” The tall, dark haired vampire tilts his head at you, but more so his gaze lingers on the man holding you behind him. “Is it perhaps why your letter sounded so urgent?“

“I can explain–“ Hyunjin only breathes out this much, before he is cut off by the man in the front.

“Oh, you will — you will definitely explain in a detail, why a human is standing here in this room, with the knowledge of our existence and exactly why is she holding onto your heart so tightly.” The tension rises in the room, like the flames of the candles behind you that lick at your skin.

Your heart hammers against your chest, pulling your eyebrows into a frown, when Hyunjin speaks in a small tone of desperation. “Her being human doesn’t matter.” He tries to argue, but can he? Even you know what this means — it is not forgivable that you are human.

“Doesn’t?” Spits out the blonde, turning to look at all nine of you with fire in his eyes. “Do we have to remind you all of the first rule, that you all signed in your names — the biggest out of all of them…” Gaze falling on the vampire holding you, the feeling of small repent is obvious by the posture of others, but they don’t turn away from you. “I would never thought of you as a traitor Hyunjin, siding, falling for a thing that is supposed to be nothing, but food — I certainly wouldn’t believe it, if I didn’t saw her standing in a room full of vampires, seemingly not too frightened or unaware as she should be–“

“We wanted to keep it a secret, at least till we would understand it fully.” Speaks up Chan, hands trying to indicate their innocence, but it is ignored.

“And you thought we would forgive you?” With wide eyes, the short blonde’s voice cuts through the thick air. Looking over the vampires you learn to care so much for, makes him release a small unamused laugh. “Are you really that naive?”

Closing his eyes, Hyunjin sighs, stepping a little aside, but not letting go of your hand. “At least hear us, before you give your verdict.” He says, pleading — pleading for your life and you have to look up at him with wide eyes as you now finally realize the situation. Everyone is tense, hand formed into fists, eyes on your now unhidden figure…if Hyunjin didn’t speak in such unmasked desperation, you might have been in their claws by now.

“Please, do.” Hearing the demand, Hyunjin couldn’t care about anything else other than you. Turning to you, your fingers laced together, he listens closely to your heartbeat. Only thing that matters is you — you, looking into his eyes so softly, with specs of fear and sadness, but under those emotions he focuses on the woman, who came to his life so suddenly, yet dreamed his whole life. Everything around you is just a background — you only have eyes on him.

“I can feel her…I can feel everything. I have never felt so close to anyone like this before. I knew from the moment that I saw her — you that this feeling was something different.” You blink away the small tears gathering in your eyes at his words. Him talking about you so dearly made you completely blind of the eyes watching you. “Please, trust me that I didn’t even believe it myself firstly and I did try to pull away, but I couldn’t, I simply couldn’t. I tried to understand why — why do I feel so deeply for a person I met so briefly. I spend multiple nights searching, but I found nothing, nothing, but the obvious. I wanted to be sure myself — convince myself that this is real…soulmates in a form of a vampire and a human.” The single word hits you so deeply now, you finally understood. Hyunjin then glances at the oldest vampires, but your are still stuck hazing at him. “I wanted to be sure myself, before I could convince you, but someone else found the truth way before I did…” They listen carefully to his words, analyzing his whole being as he stood there before them, telling his confession. Everyone seem to be looking and listening to only him, however you can feel a pair of eyes on you, but before you could look ar their owner, everyone turns to you at the next words. “Someone got into her room and left a message completely unnoticed, but it was clear…We found no trace, even after each of their appearance, every one more direct than the other and we think this someone is seeking revenge on me, us, through her.”

These words seem to make them forget about you a little, attention now on their first creations. “You think someone would be stupid enough to try, what you are applying?” Says the tall, short, dark haired vampire.

“The more important thing is–“ Minho steps aside, making you all look at him, as he glares at the men infront you. “Would you let them?“ You see a small challenging look on their faces, lips formed into thin lines for a moment. The question holds a deeper meaning and Minho really is asking them pf one thing only — do they trust each other enough to be on the same side together again after all these years…The man in the center, sighs and was it melancholy in his eyes?

“We are no family to you and certainly not friends by any means, but the thought of someone taking over our trusted…” The last word rolls out of his tongue slowly, looking around the room slowly. “Is not pleasing–“

Chan seems to sense something in him, frown falling on his face and you for the first time see him truly act on his emotions more than actions. “Really now? Are you really worried about of said thing, that someone is trying to destroy everything that we build or are you concerned only about her?“ Venom drips from his words and his question is answered instantly, when the vampire’s eyes drift to you firstly.

“Human…” You can hear the genuine confusion and the tight smile that follows doesn’t ease you. “Chan — my old ears might have disobeyed me, but did you said we? As in you?”

You feel so small, powerless in the room that you can’t help, but pull your hands to your heaving chest. Hyunjin looks at you at your move, but you don’t meet his heated gaze as you listen to the words being thrown out of his brother’s mouth. “If it weren’t for the fact that you cannot be killed — it doesn’t matter. All of this, all of them–“ He points to the direction from where you all came from, voice rising in volume. “We have the whole right to defend ourselves.”

“You broke the first rule!” The voice of the vampire that spoke before his blonde companion booms in the room so loudly you flinch. Then he points directly at you, his emotions firing so strong you can see the flicker of red in his golden eyes. “No human can know of our existence — you are all so lucky that we didn’t punish you the moment we heard of her–“

Your lips fall apart, the others next to you straightening their back. Hyunjin steps before you, shielding you and you don’t have the see his face and the others’ to see the anger. “So you knew…” There is no remorse on their faces and you yourself are in disbelief. “You knew, we needed your help and yet you all didn’t do anything — like cowards.” Felix comes so quickly behind Hyunjin you have to blink rapidly. All of this — everything falls onto you and you helplessly stand there unmoving, only watching the blonde pushing down onto his shoulder, so he wouldn’t do the stupid thing you were so afraid of.

Another laugh, but now filled with true amusement leaves the short, blonde. “Oh — so now you need us?“ You can feel that in this whole situation that it wasn’t so much about you as it seemed to be.

Hyunjin closes his eyes in small defeat, pushing away his pride and nodding his head in what almost seemed like a small bow. “Yes, even if it pains me yes, because if something happens to her…” The words die on his tongue, but he doesn’t turn to look at your deep frown that pierces through his heart. “Everything will be destroyed.”

The long haired man puts his hands in his pockets, leaning over to his and the others direction. “Maybe it’s time for a change.” His whisper sends shivers down your spine, fidgeting in your spot.

The long pause that follows makes the short haired blonde sigh, rolling his eyes. “You all bore me.” He says, however it doesn’t cut the tension. His eyes travel to a one specific person as he says that and in small curiosity you can’t help, but look over, only to spot Han, who stands next to Minho. His gaze is turned to the floor and with furrowed eyebrows you glance back at the other, only to find him already staring at you. “How is it that you can feel the same way a vampire can?”

That question makes them all turn their attention back to you. You yourself have been asking this same question every day — you didn’t believe it, but as your mind goes back to the moment few hours ago, you could still feel it. Your skin was tingling, was it maybe because of Hyunjin? Is it because that you started to open up, let your feelings guide you, that you can finally really feel this invisible string between you two? You don’t have an answer, only staring back at them in silence, the only noise being your heart and the cracking of fireplace.

The more your lips stay sealed, the more their gaze seem to darken and you desperately want to back away and run — your human instinct. Glancing at Hyunjin you come across the same questioning gaze, but in the corner of the eye theirs won. With your racing heartbeat and silence Chan seems to realize what you were thinking or more less he spoke again to distract them from you just a little longer.

“We had encounter with wolfs today.” That seems to do the job, but still it doesn’t help you calm down. “Just minutes before the sunset–“

Another genuine expression forms on the face of the vampire in the middle and you have to think how almost unnatural it felt. “Wolfs?” He exclaims, the word lingering in the air and for a second he just stares at Chan. They all look at each other and you distinctly remember why — said creatures were the thing why they were made for. He seems to not instantly believe such thing, but with the unwavering expression he sighs. “That would make sense yes, they certainly never liked us.” He says, stating the obvious.

“But their way of thinking, acting–“ Changbin speaks, shaking his head softly. “Till now they never showed up.” He argues with his own family right now, but that doesn’t make the others unaware.

“Maybe it is your doing?” The taller vampire with dark hair points out, glaring straight at Chan, who clenches his jaw. “Maybe they do not like their once companion playing for the other team–“

“We both know that doesn’t make any sense, there are just few clans left and we know they rather stay away from us.”

“Maybe some were sniffing around, heard about you and thought of revenge.” Shrugs the amused blonde again and his remark seemed to anger Chan so much, that Minho has to take a step between them.

“Revenge?” It is obvious that someone is trying to do that through you, but werewolves seem like such a unlikely enemy in this situation. It is way closer than you think. “If they did think of it, don’t you think you wouldn’t be the main target?”

The vampire before him tilts his head mockingly at his words. “Like you said, you are the strongest…and even so they are not stupid enough to try and fight.”

“Exactly.” Fires back Minho, waiting for just the moment he says that, words already flying from his lips. “We think someone is hiding behind them, using them to make us confused–“

“Don’t be ridiculous–“

“You think someone would be so hungry for a revenge?” The vampire cuts of his own companion, silencing him as his curiosity grows at such thought.

The sandy blonde shrugs lightly and you grip onto your necklace a little tighter at each of their sentences — it felt like you are a ticking bomb, ready to explode at any given moment, because you can just feel the heat in you rising from waiting. You keep track of their conversation, but you can’t seem to fully function as your mind turns into fuzz. Maybe you are now a little selfish, but you can’t help, but think of what they might do to you after this conversation ends. You focus back on Minho, glancing at Hyunjin, who is for that moment unaware of your struggle. “Don’t see why not.” Says his brother. “We all know what it is like.”

The man before him shakes his head, knowing already where this is going. “It can’t be a vampire–“ He argues.

You hear someone take a couple steps across the floor, eyes following the sound, landing on Seungmin, who you realize has been awfully quiet till now. “Are you sure? You have not shown gratitude for what we had done. You have all done nothing over three hundred years, no wonder every vampire thinks of us as the most powerful.” Grimace falls on his face, but you can see the glimmering pride in his eyes and that seem to make them snap.

It all happened so fast, the rising tension snapping so suddenly you gasp, head whipping around as you hear a loud noise. Turning into that direction your mouth opens in shock at the sight of Seungmin colliding with a wall. Your human senses are not quick enough to realize what just happened, staring with wide eyes at the sight before you. The long haired vampire, whose demeanor seemed so calm, yet cunning turns south, as you watch Seungmin being picked up from the floor in a blur. The vampire has his hand around his neck and you panic yourself, when the man under him struggles with the grip on his throat. “Watch your tongue-“ Spits out the vampire, his hair hiding his expression of anger and you can only stand there frozen in your spot, while everyone goes to stop the vampire from breaking his neck. “Remember who gave you this power, you are nothing, but a fledgling just like everyone.”

His outburst surprises even his companion and the furry radiating from the brothers of his creation makes the air taste bitter. You feel so useless, just standing there and watching, but even the vampires don’t act on their impulses. They stop themselves from getting between them, knowing that it would only make this worse. Seeing Seungmin holding helplessly onto the hand around his neck makes you really see how much power these vampires have. The man, who seem to be holding the most authority steps closer to the pair. “Let him go.” His voice is calm, yet demanding and you watch the family of the other straightening their backs, when he doesn’t do that. “Yoongi!” Snaps again the blonde vampire and at the sound of his name he finally releases the man in his hold.

Seungmin can’t help, but double over a little, breathing in shallow breaths, hand pressing onto his neck. Even from the distance you can see the small imprint of the man’s hand, Yoongi, but the marks instantly disappear by a blink of an eye. “You are even more weak than I remember…” Mumbles the long haired vampire, whose name is the only one you knew so far. Seungmin stands to his full hight again, his family taking a step closer to him with hard looks, but that really doesn’t move him at all, as he now turns to look right into your direction.

That move only makes the others follow his line of sight and you are only reminded of why you stand here with them. However now no one is standing beside you — you are completely alone and can’t help, but feel vulnerable under their gaze. The anger that was still present in the room doesn’t weaver, when the taller, dark haired man steps before the man, who you stare at for small insurance. Hyunjin now is hidden and you can’t do nothing, but face the unnamed vampire. “Now…” The air around you shifts, almost like everyone forgot about what just happened, but you can’t — they are so strong that even with their brother being choked to his last breath, they couldn’t do anything. So what does this mean to you? You are now finally being asked, interviewed and they all finally look right at you.

“How can you be human, but still be his soulmate?” You don’t move, not even shake your head, because you yourself don’t even have an answer. “Do you feel it? Do you feel your heart beating just for him? Breathing just for him, living every passing moment with him like a spear going through your heart?” Your eyes meet Hyunjin’s behind him and the fear in you melts away for a moment. Being asked this infront of all them is so different, than whispering it to each other alone. But you don’t care about the audience, eyes only on his — so soft, sweet, vulnerable like yours.

“Yes.” You finally spoke, voice strong in emotion, but so quiet. There never wasn’t a need to raise your voice to be heard by him.

Unfortunately he is torn away from your sight as the vampire steps before him again, making you turn back at him and you can see it on his face that he did it on purpose. “And you are still human…impossible.”

You can’t help, but frown at his words and you push away your surprise, when they let you speak again — maybe do respect humans in some part. “Why can’t it be?” Your shoulders shrug a little, turning to all of them and you try to hide the fear rising, with their expressions. “Anyone and everything can feel these emotions, why can’t it be me?” You say and your words hit them harder than your thought they would. Was it truly because you can understand them better than no human ever did? You always held your emotions high, sometimes so strong that you couldn’t control them and even now it was certain in your voice.

Turning to Hyunjin, the vampire lets you see him again, meeting his gaze immediately, before it turns to the man as he gives him a question that has been in the back of all of their minds. “How did you know she was the one?” He asks and Hyunjin flickers his gaze to yours again. He wants to say everything, let his emotions speak for him again, but he knew that wouldn’t make them believe.

“I can’t compel her.” He says and everyone instantly disagrees, not believing even a little.

“Lies-“

“He can’t.” You say, raising your voice to be heard even if you know you don’t have to. With you letting your presence known, with nothing in the way of getting to you now, they don’t held back anymore.

The whole room turns to you, you are now the center of attention and even if you hate it, even if you can feel your terror overwhelming you whole, you don’t shy away. There is no way for you out of this. “Show us.” Demands the blonde man, gesturing to you both.

Hyunjin at his words steps closer to you, slowly, like he was giving you time to calm yourself or maybe turn your attention fully to him, but it doesn’t help. You trust him, you trust yourself — you know the truth, but you still shake nervously. What if it doesn’t work? No, you know he can’t compel you. It is the thing that lead you to him. The man who doesn’t mask his own small speck of fear, which only you can see stops infront of you and you look at him so closely. You already remember each curve, dip, mark on his features, but that doesn’t stop you from admiring him for the thousand time.

It is like the first time you met. You can still remember his eyes, the emotions held in them as he was the first man, who truly look at you and see you. Even you can smell the emotions in the room, slowly cutting through the thick fog of darkness caging you. Hyunjin can’t help, but graze his hand softly over your cheek, seeing the stains of tears you shed since meeting him — the tears that you shed for him. With his eyes he searches for something, using this moment to take you in and with the feeling of your skin he doesn’t even feel the ominous presence of the others.

His lips then lift up a little and you are taken a little back at such move under this situation, but then it becomes clear to you, why he did that. “Don’t smile.” He could’ve said anything, but he chose something so sweet, you truly couldn’t help yourself, but do the same.

Your small move is not unseen by the others and seeing the short blonde in the corner of your eye, you can feel his mocking grimace before you can even see it. “Oh, is that it?” The mocking sweetness in his words makes your face turn sour, but that change of expression doesn’t move him, as he eyes you closely. “You are lying, Hyunjin.” He states, clicking his tongue a little and said man turns to him with hard stare, however the vampire’s eyes are only set on your form. “I can smell the silver from here.” His nose wrinkles and the others, even you, look down to your necklace. That’s why he gave it to you — he didn’t want you to fall for the tricks of any vampire. Though that doesn’t make Hyunjin any less confident, stepping aside just a little, but what comes next he wished that he didn’t do that.

“Jungkook.”

The unknown name belongs to the vampire with youthful features, who kept himself hidden till now. He doesn’t even look back, his attention fully on you. You can tell that there is something whispered, when they said his name. He stalks to you so slowly, you have to back away a little at the look on his face. With his hands behind his back, he walks up to you, stops right infront of you. His whole presence and posture screams of power that you could only dream about of having. His eyes trail all over you and you feel yourself twitch in your spot, when he suddenly comes closer to you. You don’t want to turn around and face him, when he stalks behind you, but you do squirm at the subtle touch of his fingertips on your skin.

His freezing hand moves so slowly from your naked shoulder up to your neck that you have to shudder. Something about his touch makes your stomach turn, maybe it is because of the way he stops for a second to press his thumb over your jumping pulse. His hand leaves your skin freezing, blindly following his touch with your senses and your chest tightens, when with just a single move he unties the knot on the necklace. “Your bride has a beautiful neck.” He says, but it felt anything, but a compliment. He pulls it away from you just with two of his fingers, dangling the heavy jewelry, like mocking the try of keeping you safe from a vampire’s powers. You hear it being thrown across the room, the heavy noise making you flinch a little to harshly, but you can’t help it, when he walks back to face you again. He is so close to you, looming over you with blown out pupils. Your lips fall apart a little, almost missing the quick look behind you.

You couldn’t even blink, so fast you feel yourself twitch, mind being emptied with just his voice and you don’t even fully grasp, what he so suddenly puts in your hands, as you feel your pupils dilating just like his. “Kill yourself.” You inhale sharply, body freezing just for a second and your mind screams in panic, when you look down into the dagger in your hands. It felt horrible — you couldn’t control your own body, your hand turning the dagger to your chest so fast you can’t even blink.

Next you feel pain. Your body shakes violently as your hands move to dagger yourself, but that never comes. Someone wrapped their arms around you before you could do it, the clanking sound of the weapon hitting the ground loud to your ears and you fight harshly under their hold as they pulled you with them to the ground. Your eyes are wide, not particularly looking anywhere, but your mind only screams at you, repeating those words said over and over. You can’t — you can’t control your spasming body, mind screaming at you to stop. The tears rolling down your cheeks are the only thing coming from your doings and the panic rising in you is nothing, but fake. You have to do it — your own body betrays you, when your teeth start to dig into your tongue.

You cry silently, tasting the blood coating your mouth, praying for it stop, but you can’t do anything. You realize, who the touch belongs to, who is holding you, but you couldn’t focus on anything else other than the pain. Choking, your hand immediately grasp the hand of the man holding you down, when he suddenly shoves his fingers into your mouth. With his strength he is able to pry your teeth away from biting your tongue off, as he presses down on the muscle. “Stop!” You cry, choking, teeth digging into his fingers, tasting iron. “Stop it now!” It isn’t meant for you, but for the vampire named Jungkook, who watches with others the scene infront of them.

You can’t even breathe through your nose from the blood that pools down your throat. The compulsion literally makes you powerful enough that Hyunjin couldn’t contain your spasming body, your feet dragging across the floor as you struggle — Deja Vu. Your body betrays you again, when your lungs don’t take in any air and your head spasms at the lack of oxygen. You can already see the black spot in your vision, but before you can slip into unconsciousness — Jungkook finally speaks.

“Stop.”

Hyunjin’s withdraws his fingers from your mouth, making you choke out and lamp for the oxygen. Everything swirls around you, body slumping and falling to your side. You struggle with getting air to your stinging lungs, body shaking in pain at the tenderness on your tongue. In your state you don’t even see Hyunjin charging at Jungkook with nothing, but anger. Someone helps you sit up and your teary eyes meet Felix’s, who softly holds your head up. You gasp, cough in his hold and the more you get your breathing stable, the more the hidden sobs in you escape your lips. Your ears still ring, but even in your state of helplessness your head turns to his direction.

Hyunjin true form is uncontrollable — eyes vibrant red, face pale as alabaster and even though your vision swirls, you can see the veins on his face pulsing with anger. Three of his brothers struggle to hold him, his attention only on the man responsible for your pain, but on his face is anything, but regret. They don’t show mercy or sympathy, nothing, but amazement — and that only made him more furious. They did this only out of spite, not even caring if he wouldn’t be fast enough to stop you from piercing the dagger through your heart.

“You knew! You knew what was happening and you still choose to do the nothing!” You have never seen Hyunjin so out of control, shaking so much in emotion and you for a moment don’t recognize him. His face controls, hurt so big on his face, your breath gets stuck in your hurting throat. “After all we have done for you?” His voice breaks in the end, his chest heaving.

“You haven’t even marked her!” Yells the vampire before him, short, black hair falling into his eyes as he gestures to you. That word strikes small confusion in you and you look at Hyunjin, who at your soft gaze stops to shake with anger. His eyes turn slowly to blue at your state. You have an idea what he meant by that — the memory of your teeth barely grazing Hyunjin’s vein the time he let you feed of him…is this also why he never drank from you before? Because he knew he would sink his teeth into your pulse to make you his forever?

Hyunjin stops to struggle under the grips of his brothers, vulnerability going over him at your state, but when he decides to turn back to the man before him his softness dissolves. “There is an enemy right infront of us.” He says through gritted teeth, glaring at the seven vampires before him.

“You broke our rule!”

There is no need for Hyunjin to try and compel you again — they know. The quiet blonde, who has been watching from afar, detach himself from the others to stand between them. “You will lose us all if you won’t respect it–“ Says Jeongin, before gesturing to you. “Someone is trying to get through us through her.” He repeats the same words said before, but even with the emphasis, they only repeat themselves also.

“You think someone is that stupid enough?” Exclaims the tall blonde in disbelief that they still stand by their words. “We would kill them immediately!”

Seungmin, who you learned is standing right behind you and Felix, who still keeps you in his hold, shakes his head. “How can we trust that you would? You haven’t appear in years…no wonder they are going after us and not you–“ That makes the long haired vampire release a short, dry laugh in complete awe.

“Strongest…”

The mockery is strong, filling up the room with sourness that you could taste on your tingling tongue. You swallow your saliva mixed with the irony taste of blood, cringing lightly. The blonde still holding you puts a hand on your back and you are thankful for so such gentleness. Hyunjin still stands there in his spot, watching the silent interaction and he has to push away the anger for your sake. The silence is loud, everyone breathing through everything that just happened and you have to stare at them all — waiting. Their verdict is taking really long, but one of them finally asks the question.

“Are we going to kill her?”

It is such a horrible question to be said about a person, who is right infront of them, thinking of their life like nothing, but another waste they might needed to get rid of. You waited for this the whole time. Since you got here, why they came — did you convince them to let you live? Did the moment of you almost killing yourself convince them that you are completely devoted to a vampire? Do they trust your words? That you can feel the same way as them — and so deeply. The question is still unanswered. Do they care enough for them? Would they care if their first ever creations would be killed? Their once friends…family?

The one in the middle, the one who tried the most to understand your situation and you the most, stares at you in thought. You don’t have the strength to make yourself look stronger, but that doesn’t mean he can’t see how strong you truly are. Even if you don’t feel like it, you somehow are just as significant as them.

Vampire or not.

“No.” He says, his tone is soft, while he still looks at you. “Rules are meant to be broken sometimes…” No one — nothing is said to disagree with him and you have to release a small cry of relief, just as everyone. That man doesn’t ignore it, turning to step before Hyunjin, who was ready to walk away to you. “I hope you know what you are doing-“

“I know.”

His tone holds determination, ending into a loving whisper, when he turns to you. The vampires before them all agree with this decision, even if they didn’t show it through their words and actions. They somehow now understood, when they watch him walk up to you. There was nothing else to be done or said at this moment, but you do thank to the heavens in small, silent cries.

The blonde leaves you as Hyunjin takes his place, both of you falling to hold yourselves close to each other. Everything, the big weight of your shoulders is lifted now for the moment and the relief of not being taken away from the man holding you is now the thing laying on top of your shoulders. He pulls you to his chest, holding head under his chin as you wet his shirt with your tears. The others now see no use of being present anymore, but they can’t help, but linger just a bit longer to watch your shaking form. They never seen Hyunjin so broken, greatful — so full in emotion.

You know that this isn’t over, it is just the beginning somehow, but you can’t help, but melt into his arms in happiness. They all leave you both sitting in each other’s embrace on the floor, but someone’s footsteps slowly come over to you. Hyunjin is the one to look up first, pulling his head away from yours, but his arms around you don’t move. You do the same, glancing up to the figure standing over you, trailing your eyes up their body before you stop at their face.

It is the same man, the last one, the one that haven’t spoke, the one, who hid himself in the shadows. He doesn’t speak even now, only pulling your necklace that has been rip away from you from behind his back. Your face shows a speck of greatfulness at the gesture, taking the dangling jewelry from his hand, unaware of the looks being shared between him and Hyunjin. You are not so much thankful, because of the fresh memory of that vampire compelling you and when you turn back from the necklace to him, he is already no where to be found.

You are now both alone in the room, quietly holding onto each other for a few moments, but Hyunjin then puts your face into his hands to look at you. However your lips fall apart at the sight of tears on his face, eyes still glassy from them, while you let him look over you. He never cried before. “Where does it hurt?” He says in whisper, but you are still stuck staring at his face.

The touch of your hand on his cheek makes him snap back to the reality — the reality where you are with him, alive. Your thumb swipes over his skin lightly, other hand coming to his to lace your fingers together. “I am fine, your blood healed me.” His blood only healed you physically and you can’t help the small bits of tears escaping your eyes again, when you trail your fingers over his, remembering your teeth digging into him. “I am sorry-“

“We have been through this, Y/N–“ Hyunjin shakes his head at your apology, eyebrows pulling together. “You could never hurt me.” The painful, yet real smile appears on his lips and yours lift ever so slightly in shared relief. “It pains me that someone is targeting you because of me…but now you do not have to worry — we have them on our side.”

“How can you be so sure?” You ask truthfully, but you know it really must mean something that they let you live — that they didn’t punish him for breaking the most sacred rule of them all.

“I am not.” He says, but you don’t shake in fear of the fact that they might change their mind. Something told you that they wouldn’t — do they really care? “But I know you somehow convinced them…” Hyunjin smooth down softly the few pieces of hair covering your face, before his palm meets your cheek again, smearing away your dried tears of pain and sadness that leaves only warmth behind. “We don’t have to worry no more, at least for now — so I can fully enjoy my bride.”

You match his wide smile, watching the light come back into his eyes at that word. “Bride? Is that what I am?” You say, small playfulness in your voice and you take his words to not worry about anything, atleast for now.

“If you let me have you…” That sentence sends your heart racing, looking down to your hands. He doesn’t push you to answer such thing, but it still is left to be answered — some day. You can now finally wonder, you finally don’t have to wait and only you can only live now, but…there is still something out there haunting you. However your mind and body is so tired that you truly can’t think about what might happen next, now you have nothing to guide you or get you ready. Now it is only your destiny and that can’t be changed.

Hyunjin reminds you to not worry for now, when he takes the necklace from you to put it on to you again. It maybe now lacks a little security, but you remember that you are now more safer than you think. Their methods and way of speaking isn’t forgotten nor the fact that they might not be trusted, but that is a feeling not coming from you. Hyunjin thinks that, he doesn’t want to trust this someone so easily, when they had wronged him and all of them so maybe times before.

“We should go back.” He says and you nod slowly,pushing away your tears of exhaustion away, picking yourself up the best you could. You can’t stop now…There are still those vampires waiting for you and you know that the arrival of the originals really peak their interest. They must already know…

Standing up took you a little time, wobbly legs ready to give up on you, but Hyunjin steadies you, till you got your strength back. Even with his blood you feel the tiredness creeping up on you, but it changes into nervousness, when he lead you then out of the room. Like before, you feel the nerve racking pressure on you, as you near the ballroom again, but now you held onto Hyunjin a little more at ease. Still what if this confirmation will lead the other vampires to snap? No, like said they are not stupid enough to try and even say a word.

“Focus on me.” Hyunjin says to you, when you both stop before a door. Even in the dim light you recognize the door — it is the same one that called to you, now being opened slowly, letting out the still softly playing music out, but it seemed to waver, when you take a step closer.

Your eyes fall bellow you, traveling across the whole room, as everyone turns to look at you. Before you is the staircase that you have been looking at before you were taken. You understood that the calling you heard was maybe your own future. With the originals present, completely unmoving from the sight of you and Hyunjin, the room fills with looks of wonder, soft whispers flowing around you. His hold tightens around you a little, guiding you down the stairs, while you watch the vampires around you move aside.

They were making a room for you…even if some of them didn’t look pleased by a sight of a vampire being so close to a human — they didn’t do anything against it. You are surprised by the way they seem to respect you or maybe they are just too afraid to doing anything against it. Descending down the staircase you find the gazes of his family, who watch you both, with softness in their eyes. Being so distracted, so out of your body, you don’t even register Hyunjin stopping in the middle of the empty space everyone made for you, but you do glance at the few couples taking their stands around you.

His movement makes you look at him again, letting him put your hand on his arm, while his lands on your naked back. He can feel your goosebumps under his palm, only smiling softly at you again, as you both lace your hands together. The nerves and anxiety leave you at that and so the other people around you. He is now the center of your world and you listen closely to the music gaining in volume.

It is so different from the last time you danced with him, but it still felt the same — so warm and full of…love. Your heart beats faster, but in said emotion that has been kept hidden in your heart till now. You don’t feel any repulse, you are finally not afraid to feel. Hyunjin guides you like before, twirling you around and dipping you softly, but you somehow don’t need him to. It is like your hearts formed into one and this dance its just their making.

This dance is different from that one you danced before, it is more complex and quicker, so you don’t expect him to move away with you, your hands instantly reaching out for him. However before you can stumble or move out of rhythm someone takes you in their arms. “I don’t think we were properly introduced.” You breathe in sharply a little at the sudden move, but you don’t look away from the man infront of you. It is the tall man, with high cheekbones and longer face, also the one that haven’t spoke to you till now. You remember his eyes filled with softness and now there is no mask to hide their natural sparkle. “I’m Hoseok.”

Your mouth falls open at his light hearted tone. You don’t know if you want to even say your name back, because after all his family did to you, it really wasn’t no need, but you fall victim to his charms. “Y/N.” You say back quietly, eyes searching for Hyunjin, however his subtle touch tickling your skin leads you back to him.

“I don’t say this often as it is in my nature, but I want to apologize–“ You frown a little at that, not because you didn’t know why, but it is simply because you are taken back by it. Dipping you, he sees a look of small disbelief and confusion on your face, making him continue. “You seem to be a clever woman, vampire or not.” You look at him closely, analyzing his expression. Was that a compliment? Did he really think it would warm up your heart after what his family had done? His apology seems to be truthful, but you don’t fall for it. Hoseok only smiles at the expression on your face, just a little wider, before he twirls you into arms of another.

Their hold is strong and you flinch slightly at such differences from the man before him, who actually controlled his true strength when holding you. Your eyes meet amber and you feel your heart stop beating for a moment. It is the man from before, the one that gave you back your necklace — the one that has his hand on the upper part of your naked back. Not like his companion he doesn’t hover his hand over you, he almost digs his fingers into you, but under his gaze you don’t even feel the slight sting of his nails.

Cold — you feel coldness creeping up on you, hand that is held in his shaking slightly. The more he twirls you around, the more he dips you, the more he gets closer to you. You almost feel his chest against yours and you can’t seem to find the will to move away or anything against it. When he dips you again — so low that your feet hover over the floor. he presses his palm on the back of your neck as your head rolls back at the sharp move. His fingers tangle slightly in your hair, tugging just a little to make you shake, you looking at the upside down world, however you only feel his breath fanning over your sternum. “I will help you.” He says and you gasp at the voice. It is sweet like honey, like from a dream, it wakes fire in you, burning your skin. Your head becomes fuzzy and not just from the way he pulls you back to him, as the music ends. He doesn’t let go of you and you something prevents you to do the same, but that wasn’t the same for the someone, who walks up to you both, pulling you away from his hold.

Hyunjin stands next you, now being the one to have in his hold, glaring challengingly at the man before you, but he only gives him a sliver of his attention as his eyes still trail over you. You are puzzled by such deep look, hand falling on top of the vampire’s holding you and that seem to move his attention.

You watch with choked breath as he turns away from you, but with a one last shared look between him and Hyunjin, he disappears in the crowd like nothing happened — but something did and your body can’t seem to forget it. With that interaction you let your mind wander, while the holding you close, pulls you to fave him. “Are you alright?” Hyunjin asks you and you turn to look at him with a small sigh. Just like you, he seem to take this small interaction to his heart, something flashing in his lightly colored eyes.

You don’t answer this question, shrugging away the lingering memory, ignoring the eyes of the room watching you both. “Is there somewhere we can talk — privately?” You ask him, already feeling the tiredness weighting you down. The room is so full and even with being filled with nothing, but the walking dead you feel heat rising inside of you. It is too much for you — all of it. You truly wanted to give Hyunjin, what he wanted and truly enjoy yourself, but you couldn’t. Though you didn’t know that it doesn’t matter if you two won’t stay — everywhere is everything he wants, when he his with you.

He eyes you a little, seeing the distance look on your face, but he doesn’t question it. “Yes…come with me.” He could feel the pressure of eyes on the both of you, when he quickly leads you out of the room. The vampires’ lips are parted, questions and remarks on ready to fly of their tongue and he knew you could feel them judging you. You didn’t deserve any of it, but what did he think? Almost everyone present holds disgust for humans — seeing them as nothing, but food. The only important thing has been done and he doesn’t have to mark you for them to see it. He doesn’t care, he holds pride with having you by his side.

You do almost pull away from him, when you realize he guided you back to the same room, where it all happen. Staring at the floor which you were struggling for your life on is so hard to look at. You know that there maybe isn’t a room safe enough to speak in without being heard, but you are confused by his choice. “Is it safe to speak here?” You question, turning to him, when he closes the door to the room. “I though everyone could hear everything that happened here–“

“No, we can speak here clearly.” Hyunjin reassures you, walking up to you slowly. “Before we got here I smelled burned sage — small spell, but it does work on vampires.”

Your raise your eyebrows in bewilderment. “Spell?” You repeat in shock and small realization. “They have a witch on their side…” It is not a question and he already knows, what you are thinking.

“Propably…” He sighs, but he already knows the truth.

There has been time — still is, when him and his family thinks that a witch being the reason for your tortures is the only thing that made sense and you both share the same look at the memory. “You don’t trust them.” You say and you are in agreement with yourself. You have already thought of them not being necessary on your side, only caring about themselves and how it might effect them, but hearing this information makes you talk of it again.

“No, I don’t.” He repeats himself again and you can see the battle in his eyes — it is so hard to trust them, even if they did let you go. His head is a mush. “However I’m certain that they will keep a close eyes on you and everyone else in that matter.” He says, looking at you through his hand as he pressed his fingers to his nose bridge. Hyunjin then sighs through his nose, eyes falling to your raising chest with a frown. “I will never forgive them about that, I would kill them if it was possible–“

You walk up to him at that, hands grasping onto the material of his suit. “That doesn’t matter anymore.” It does and you know it. He only lets you bewitch him into thinking that it doesn’t. You both don’t know what to truly think, but one thing is certain — you are alive. Your skin is still warm under his hands, he can still hear your heart beating. Hyunjin is distracted by your beauty once more and he truly thinks you must be some kind of enchantress. So, your next question really makes him twitch.

“That man…is he your maker?”

He instantly knows, who you are talking about and his lips form into thin line at the reminder, but he holds himself together. He doesn’t burst into anger at the memory of him — him touching you so boldly, right infront of everyone, right infront of him. Hyunjin only nods, head hanging low, before he glances at you from beneath his eyelashes. “Taehyung.” He says, letting you put a name to his face finally, not missing the bitterness in his voice as he says his name. “Did he tell you that?”

You blink at the tone, shaking your head. “No, I just had this feeling…” You can’t describe it. Maybe it was because he reminded you of Hyunjin in some way, maybe you just knew somehow. Maybe you knew, because of the interaction in this room between you three or maybe it were the looks being shared between them. Maybe it was his touch…

You have to shake off the sudden thought, hand touching your forehead. Your head hurts from everything and you can feel the pain pulse under your fingers. “I’m tired…” You whisper, sighing at the wave of exhaustion, feeling Hyunjin’s hand on yours.

“You can rest now.” He says, rubbing soft circles onto your skin, but even with your pulsing head you open your mouth to ask him something — the thing that made you speak to him in the first place.

“Hyunjin…” Your look of sadness and the whisper of his name in a plea makes him tremble for a moment, but his shoulders quickly slump at your next words. “I want to go home.“ You say, reminiscing the faces of the people you left behind, the ones you miss so badly and care for so deeply. “I want to see my own family, I want to see them-“

Hyunjin can feel your pulse quickening and hear your breaths come out short, shushing you softly. “Alright.” He nods, smiling softly at you and he gleams at your look of thankfulness, before he pulls you closer to him again. You had never felt so safe and warm like this in someone’s arms before — not like this. “But for now, stay with me for a little while. I want to enjoy my beautiful bride a little longer.”

The title makes you warm inside, smiling into his chest and you know he can feel your lips stretching on his skin. “Alright.” You repeat, your smile not leaving you and Hyunjin can’t help, but do the same. However you don’t see the flash of emotion in his blue colored eyes…

Dismay.

──────────────────────

taglist (still open);

@babrieeee @akaligogrrr @hyuninslutbbgirl @satosugu4l @lovemeorleavemetonight @dandelions-143 @skzfelixlove @syedazarintasnim @rylea08 @ahluvisyou @oddracha @annairacheyenne @dabiscrustyfeet @blankdyean @chartrucewhore @shuporangporang @palindrome969 @vv-us @reignessance @koalanacho @skz1-4-3 @hanonlymeuu @mlink64 @hopefulrascalstatesmantoad @ilprofumodeifiori @amanstiles @sofiadaputa @luvehhj @stayytthenight @eastjonowhere @black-sunshine-00 @lailac13

for @shotoslover23

[081231]

Collision | sugar daddy! Toji Fushiguro x sugar baby! fem reader x sugar daddy! Satoru Gojo

synposis: Both of your sugar daddies love to treat you, their little spoiled princess, and when they both get you to themselves it’s always a fun time.

wc: 2.9k

tags: dark content + 18+ ONLY content + explicit smut: minors and empty blogs DNI + not beta read + modern/no sorcerer au + repost from my old blog + explicit smut + dark content + dubcon + all porn no plot + mfm threesome + you fuck both of them while the other watches then they both take you + intoxicated sex + multiple orgasms + multiple creampies + throat/face fucking + daddy kink + double penetration + slight ass play + fellatio + fingering + panty sniffing + dirty talking + pet names + cunnilingus + spitting drinks in each other’s mouths + cum eating + finger sucking + unprotected sex + overstimulation + dacryphilia + nipple play + any missing tag lmk!!

A slight breeze came over the front of the yacht carrying the smell of salty air and the ocean with the sun shining warmly over you setting a glowing hue basking your bare skin.

A small moan parted your lips as Satoru massaged your back slowly untying the back of your bathing suit, his long fingers stroking the tender flesh moving up to your neck, he grazed the shining diamonds of your necklace leaning down feeling his hair tickle your shoulder.

“Do you like this?” He asked, hearing you hum a response. Satoru chuckled looking up to see Toji walking closer with a drink in hand, he donned a pair of swimming shorts and nothing else, a very yummy image you thought whenever you saw him shirtless which was more times than not.

He sat the blue concoction down topped with a swirly straw and a small umbrella and took a seat next to your other proclaimed sugar daddy.

Large hands patted your ass before giving both cheeks a squeeze. “I have to say this color looks really good on you.” Toji said before trailing the tips of his fingers down the back of your legs stopping to rest on your calves, the both of them worked together massaging your shoulders and lower back and legs.

They took their time to relax you further, the weekend vacation they planned in the Maldives was something they planned for a while now and you were grateful.

You turned on the lounger and stared at them reaching for your drink wrapping your lips around the straw sucking slowly and sultry, batting your eyelashes knowing that it makes them weak, especially Toji who leaned down to grab your cheeks squishing them together seeing the liquid dribble from your mouth.

He slotted his lips against yours sucking the drink into his own mouth and swallowing it, ending with a sigh as he still gripped your cheeks gently kissing you again moving your head to Satoru who took a quick sip from your glass returning the sweet flavor back in your mouth.

You swallowed pressing your legs together darting your eyes around the open ocean taking more sips until it was empty and you felt warmer from the alcohol swimming through you, you giggled thinking it was crazy that anyone could possibly see you three in the middle of nowhere, they wanted to make sure that fucking you anywhere on the yacht wasn’t going to be interrupted.

“Thank you, daddy.” You murmured running your hands over the broad expanse of Toji’s chest feeling the muscles ripple under the taut skin, softly you dug your manicured nails in dragging them down watching pink lines appear, he hissed grabbing your wrists in one hand as you turned to look at Satoru who was leaning back now, his long legs were crossed watching the scene unfold in front him.

Times like this you really liked it when they took turns while the other watched but something about both of them taking you made your cunt clench around nothing.

Toji pinned your wrists above your head using his other hand to push your legs open slowly untying your bottoms staring down at you.

“You look so pretty with the sun beaming down on you princess but let’s make you even prettier with my cock in your mouth.” He said helping you sit up standing up with his legs on either side of the chair, quickly you scrambled to kneel feeling your bathing suit fall to the ground in a heap, looking over you saw Satoru grab your bottoms pressing the piece of fabric pressing it against his nose inhaling deeply making his cock tent his shorts.

Arousal made your pump hot and fast through you warming you more, mixing in with the heat from the sun, desire was thick making it hard to swallow as you palmed Toji through his shorts tugging on the band revealing his pretty cock with a blushing head and a thick shaft, you traced the veins ending at his heavy balls cupping them in your hand.

It was the least you could do, giving them the pleasure they deserved and craved. Toji and Satoru loved to spoil you, making sure you never went without, always dressing you in expensive clothes like you were their doll, which you kind of were, but you didn’t mind when Satoru has a thing for putting on and taking off your panties while Toji was obsessed with seeing your plush thighs in satin stockings rolling them off slowly.

Toji rested his hand on top of your head watching your spread your legs resting your ass on the balls of your feet opening your mouth letting his heavy cock rest on your tongue that lolled out, your eyes met his with burning passion as you hollowed your cheeks sucking him in deeper.

Satoru stood up from his seat tall and lanky walking over to your longer kneeling behind you reaching around to cup your breasts rolling your nipples between his fingers hearing you gag around Toji’s dick that slid further down your throat until your nose was flush with the dark hair, he looked down at you with a wicked grin pulling out, immediately you knew what to do and stuck your tongue out letting him slap his heavy cock against you before thrusting in and out.

Tears pricked the corner of your eyes catching Satoru’s attention. “Oh, the poor baby she’s crying.” He cooed smugly wiping away the fat streams as Toji pulled you off him leaning down to grab the glass tilting your head back while tipping your drink pouring it in your mouth.

He put his knuckles under your chin shutting your mouth. “Swallow.” Toji instructed watching you do what you were told gasping when Satoru pinched your nipple again making you yelp causing the liquid to trickle down your neck between the valley of your breasts creating a sticky trail, Toji was quick to bend down while his counterpart pulled you back against his chest making it easier for him to lick a wide stripe cleaning up the mess, his hands rested on your knees bending your legs pushing them to your chest.

Toji kneeled between your thighs peppering them in rough kisses until he reached your clit giving it a peck before slowly dragging his tongue between your lips while Satoru busied himself sliding his hands under your knees keeping them pushed back making it easier for Toji to splay you open making out with your pussy lewdly before massing your clit with the tip of his tongue slowly sliding two very thick fingers inside that felt wonderful and filled you, rough pads found your g-spot easily pressing in gently making your toes curl.

“Daddy!” You whined reaching down threading your fingers through his hair humping his mouth and fingers leaning more into Satoru for support, your eyes fluttered shut resting your head on his shoulder feeling him kiss your cheek.

“You sound so pretty when you moan for us.” He whispered in your ear tracing the shell with his tongue, he let go of your leg grabbing your hand replacing it with yours reaching up to play with your tits again, the added sensation to the mouth that was attached to your clit was almost too much, each time they liked to see you utterly fucked out, your eyes cloudy and glassed over.

Your orgasm was on the brink as Satoru pinched and pulled your nipples into stiff peaks while Toji kept lapping at your cunt dragging his tongue between your slick lips ending on the swollen bud.

Your throat felt dry with your mouth hanging open panting hard and heavy tugging on Toji’s dark locks, such a contrast to Satour’s white hair that tickled your shoulder again as he rested his chin against your clavicle.

Satoru used his free hand to grab your jaw turning your head to face him, blue eyes stared back at you, suddenly the world melted away when Toji pulled away completely leaving you feeling empty but soon it turned into feeling the fat head of his cock rubbing your entrance slowly filling you.

A gasp had you clutching Satour’s shorts leaning in more to connect your lips to him but he pulled back.

“Hold your legs open for daddy,” Toji grumbled wanting to go deeper, his cock ached and all he wanted was to feel your velvet cunt wrapped tight around him, quickly you did what you were told keeping your hands under your knees gasping when he was halfway in stretching you out, the pain stung added with the pleasure your toes curled hard almost cramping when he bottomed out staying still.

He rested his hands on your knees finding the perfect rhythm rocking his hips in and out all the while Satouru kept his hands on your breasts cupping and palming them, he used his height to his advantage and leaned over to watch Toji’s cock sink into you over and over again, long slender fingers made contact with your clit rubbing slow circles cranking your climax higher until you couldn’t hold on anymore.

“Cumming already?” Toji asked chuckling looking down to see a white frothy ring around the base of his dick, his gaze traveled up to see the whites of your eyes.

“Daddy! Daddy!” You whimpered letting go of your legs reaching up to grab whatever you could on him, he bent down and placed a kiss on your forehead still thrusting in and out slower now building the fire that crackled and scorched your body, your cunt still fluttering around him.

Satoru watched and leaned back more pulling you against him spreading your legs wider for him moving his hands under your knees again while Toji traced your lips with his thumb popping them open to slowly slide the digit inside your mouth watching you suck on it like you’ve done to his dick more times than he could count.

His cock swelled inside you resting his balls against the curve of your ass, he slowed the pace savoring the way you tried to suck him back in when he pulled out again leaving only the head in using it to draw another orgasm from you, the second one pushed him into his own climax shooting rope of thick cum against your cervix fucking it deeper.

Toji was slow to pull out watching his seed drip from your pussy before smearing it over your folds, he helped you up using his brute strength to flip you on your stomach. “Facedown and ass up, baby.” He said slapping your ass as you scrambled into position pressing your face into Satoru’s crotch.

Needy and almost delirious with pleasure you pawed and tugged the bands of his swim shorts down revealing his pretty cock topped with a swollen pinkish head followed by a slender shaft, again everything was so different from both men you eventually got the best of both worlds, quickly you wrapped your lips around his mushroomed head sucking before going down until you were met with soft white curly hair.

Satoru groaned his pleasure tilting his head back while Toji spread your ass watching the hole pucker, the plug he packed was down in the cabin but he was too wrapped up in what was in front of him to grab it so he rimmed the tight muscle rubbing his cock against your cunt seeking the wet warmth again sinking into you with a groan.

He gripped your hips pulling you back against him before going faster making you deep throat Satoru who moaned loudly unable to help himself, drool covered his shaft dripping down to his balls and onto the chair.

He trusted his hips up while Toji kept his brutal pace up desperate to feel you clench around him again, he found your clit and rubbed fast, you squealed around Satoru closing your eyes and backing against Toji shutting your eyes unable to help the third orgasm that shot through you.

The alcohol in your system made you sensitive when Toji bottomed out almost kissing your cervix in this position you gasped swallowing more of Satoru, his own orgasm sat heavy in his gut watching you drool over his cock.

“You can take dick so well, can’t you? I think we picked the best sugar baby out there, always so needy too, asking for our dick and money all the time, is that all your pretty head can think about? Cock and cash?” Satoru asked tapping the crown of your head with a long finger, warmth flooded through you hearing his lewd words and Toji’s chuckle from behind you as he bent down kissing your shoulder and neck.

“Mhm,” He hummed scraping his teeth over the warm flesh, “I think you’re right Gojo, she’s taking us like a good sugar baby. Such a good girl for us.” He teased seating himself fully inside you pushing you back down on Satoru’s dick you gagged around feeling him cumming hard and thick filling your mouth, quickly you swallowed it all not missing a drop.

Toji pulled out all the way and patted your ass while Satoru helped you straddle him.

It was a wonder how he was still so hard even after cumming but you didn’t care as you sunk down grasping his shoulders moaning feeling Toji kneel behind you holding your hips bouncing you up and down.

A stream of groans and whimpers fell from your mouth grinding your clit against Satoru feeling him cup your breasts again while leaning forward sucking on a nipple and nibbling softly.

Pleasure spread through you warm and tingly that became intense as your head lolled back against Toji’s shoulder, you reached up and buried your fingers in the soft white strands of Satoru’s hair pulling him closer wanting to cum again, the need burned through you like a wildfire.

“Daddy! I’m-” You broke off and squealed curling your fingers into his hair letting Toji bounce you harder and faster feeling your orgasm hit you hard, you panted looking up at him creaming around Satoru who pressed his palm flat between the valley of your breasts pushing you back gently.

His finger pinched your clit making you clench harder around him, his cock ended up like Toji’s with a white ring around the base, you fell forward limp and exhausted wrapping your arms around Satoru’s neck closing your eyes.

“One more time.” You slurred wanting one more orgasm, the feeling put you on cloud nine, it felt like your body was floating, suspended high in a blanket of pure pleasure.

Toji and Satoru chuckled looking at each other. “I’ll be right back doll.” He said then got up disappearing downstairs, several minutes later he came back with a water bottle and another drink.

He set them down and sat on the end of the lounger pulling you back grabbing the bottle opening it bringing the lip to your mouth letting you take a drink.

“How do you feel?” Satoru asked still inside you rubbing your lower back.

You took a few more drinks and sighed. “I feel amazing.” You said then giggled letting Toji place the straw between your lips, soon the blue drink was gone leaving another buzz in the back of your skull.

Toji helped you off Satoru with sticky thighs from the cum that spilled down them, you weren’t sure whose was whose but it didn’t matter, you stood up stretching your joints before leaning down kissing Toji first then Satoru who held your waist pulling you back down on him.

“Turn around.” He said helping you into reverse cowgirl position, you put your feet flat on the ground staring up at Toji who rubbed the head of his cock against your lips.

You opened your mouth letting him rest on your tongue before bobbing up and down feeling Satoru rub his dick between your cum smeared folds, he clipped your clit a few times before slowly sheathing himself groaning hearing the wet squelch as he bottomed out groaning using the cum from him and Toji making it easier to fuck you, his eyes stayed on the way you bounced yourself up and down gagging on Toji.

The taste of you was heavy in the back of your throat just like his cock, his hand smoothed over your hair thrusting his hips in and out. “Just like that, keep sucking me off like I know you can. Gonna cum in your pretty mouth.” He grunted going faster using your mouth for his own pleasure, your hips stilled for a moment before grinding down on Satoru.

Bliss muddled your brain into a puddle as letting them fuck you, Toji’s powerful thrusts have Satoru going deeper and Satoru’s thrusts have you gagging on Toji who was close again to his orgasm.

He wanted to see his cum spill from your mouth so he hurried the pace chasing the feeling in the base of his spine until he came with a loud grunt, you swallowed and pulled away with cum tinged spit dripping from your mouth letting Satoru fill you once more.

Both of them helped you up and downstairs to the bathroom getting you in the shower to wash you before wrapping you in a fluffy towel, Toji picked out your clothes while Satoru dried you off.

Your body was too weak and limp from earlier that you let them both dress you and tuck you into bed, soon they heard your breathing grow deeper, they looked at each other and smiled kissing your head before they both settled on either side you slowly joining you in a sweet slumber.

[pretzel-box]

In case I haven't told you: I love you.

Streamer AU Chapter 10 [Finale]

Tags: Fluff, Angst, Established Relationship

Words: 9,4k

Authors Note: This is the official last chapter for this series and my blog. Thank you all for your support.

You sat on a chair at the kitchen counter, tinkering with your new keyboard. All the keycaps were pulled off as you swapped the old, plain ones for a custom set of resin-poured, sparkling caps. You’d spent a small fortune on these, enough to make even Sebastian raise an eyebrow as he walked by to grab a cup of coffee.

"You know, one of those caps could pay for my whole breakfast," he remarked, leaning over your shoulder and picking up one of the keys—the ESC key. It was a deep lapis lazuli blue mixed with a golden hue, with tiny koi fish suspended inside. The tiny keycap was a masterpiece all on its own, and even Sebastian’s gaze lingered a moment longer as he examined it.

You laughed, rolling your eyes as Sebastian inspected the tiny piece of art between his fingers. "I don’t hear you complaining when I splurge on things for you." You teased, nudging his arm playfully.

He smirked, setting the keycap down carefully, but not before his fingers brushed yours, lingering just a moment too long. "True, but I at least pretend to be reasonable about it." He countered, the corner of his mouth curling into a grin.

You arched an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, is that so? I seem to remember a certain someone nearly buying an entire set of limited-edition streaming lights last month."

He chuckled, leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Only because I knew it would make my streamer setup look amazing." His eyes sparkled as he held your gaze, the playful teasing fading just slightly, replaced with something softer, warmer.

"Well." You replied, trying to keep your composure despite the flutter in your chest, "Maybe I got these just to impress my favorite…roommate."

Sebastian laughed, a rich sound that made the moment feel more intimate. "Guess that means we both have good taste, then." he murmured, his fingers still lightly brushing against yours, as if neither of you wanted to pull away first.

Your eyes sparkled with mischief as you glanced over to the corner of the room, where Sebastian’s laundry basket sat conspicuously overflowing. "Good taste, sure." You replied, smirking. "Though maybe your taste in doing laundry could use some improvement."

Sebastian groaned, leaning back against the counter with an exaggerated sigh. "I knew there was a catch to all this charm."

"You’re lucky I didn’t toss it all in the tub and call it ‘artistic installation.’" You teased, poking him playfully. "But hey, since you’re such a reasonable spender, maybe you can be reasonable about getting those clothes folded sometime this century?"

He raised an eyebrow, smirking as he folded his arms. "Maybe if someone would promise to make dinner while I do it?"

You feigned a thoughtful look, tapping your chin as you eyed him. "Fine. But only if it’s one of those nights where you’re my sous-chef." You said. "You know, like last time, when you almost sliced your finger but made the best pasta I’ve ever tasted."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Deal. Just don’t get too used to me in the kitchen—I don’t want you thinking this roommate thing comes with free cooking classes."

You snickered, leaning a little closer. "Oh, please, you love being my sous-chef. Plus, I think I caught you enjoying it last time."

He shrugged, pretending nonchalance. "Maybe I did." He said, his voice low, his gaze flicking between you and the pile of ingredients waiting on the counter. "Guess I don’t mind spending a little extra time with my favorite chef."

"Alright, hun." You replied, giving him a playful nudge toward the fridge. "Let’s get to work before we both end up ordering takeout."

You pulled out a recipe card, tapping it on the counter thoughtfully as Sebastian finished stacking his laundry basket against the wall. “Tonight,” you announced, “we’re making risotto.”

Sebastian’s face lit up with a mix of excitement and apprehension. “Risotto, huh? I thought that was, like, advanced level.”

You gave him a mock serious nod. “It is, but don’t worry—under my expert guidance, I’m sure you’ll rise to the challenge.” You winked, grabbing an apron and tossing one his way. He caught it midair and slipped it over his head, looking surprisingly domestic in the soft light of the kitchen.

The two of you moved around the kitchen, gathering ingredients. Sebastian was on vegetable duty, meticulously chopping onions and garlic, his brows furrowed as he concentrated. You snuck a peek at his handiwork, grinning.

“Not bad.” You said approvingly, bumping his shoulder with yours. “I think you’re getting the hang of this.”

“Only because I have an exceptional teacher.” He replied smoothly, flashing you a grin. “Though,” he added with a chuckle, “I’m pretty sure you gave me onions just to make me cry.”

You laughed, watching him chop with surprising finesse. “I have a weakness for pretty boys with tears in their lashes. Onions aside, I think you’re ready to take on the mushrooms.”

He raised his eyebrows, looking at the bowl of fresh mushrooms with a dramatic sigh. “You’re sure this isn’t just you delegating all the tough parts?”

“Maybe.” You said with a smirk. “But also, mushrooms need love, and you seem like the right person for the job.”

While he chopped mushrooms, you turned your attention to heating up a pot of vegetable broth on the stove. The savory aroma of garlic and onion began to fill the kitchen, and you stirred the mixture in a pan, glancing over at Sebastian as he focused intently on his task.

After a while, he leaned over to inspect your progress, watching as you stirred the rice, coating it in the golden mix of garlic, onion, and butter. “Looks like you’re the expert risotto-stirrer.” He teased, resting his chin on your shoulder for a brief moment. “When do I get to try?”

You nudged him with your elbow, laughing. “Soon, sous-chef. I have to make sure it’s just right.”

He watched, fascinated, as you added a ladle of hot broth to the pan, explaining as you went. “See? You don’t add it all at once. You let each addition of broth absorb before adding more. It’s all about patience.”

“Patience?” he repeated, giving you an amused look. “Not exactly my strongest trait.”

You raised an eyebrow, shooting him a grin. “Well, consider this your culinary crash course in patience.”

For the next twenty minutes, you took turns stirring and adding broth, chatting in between as you shared old memories, random stories, and silly jokes. There was something intimate about the process, each of you moving with careful rhythm, enjoying each other’s company in the warm, quiet space of the kitchen.

"Remember that time we played that cooking game on stream with just one arm each? And you fried a rat?" Sebastian laughed, recalling the iconic moment. It was one of your very first streams together.

You gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me! You told me to be culinarily creative for our dear customers."

Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head as he leaned back against the counter, his laughter warm and unrestrained. "Oh, I remember. How could I forget? You had the chat in absolute stitches when you served that poor pixelated rat like it was a five-star dish."

You placed a hand over your chest, feigning offense. "Excuse me! I was merely following instructions. You explicitly told me to be ‘culinarily creative for our loving customers.’ I just… took it to heart."

Sebastian wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "And you succeeded, alright. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so passionate about frying something that was absolutely, one hundred percent not food." He mimed holding a frying pan, doing his best impression of you earnestly plating up the rat. “Gourmet rat, fresh from the chef’s hands.”

You couldn’t help but laugh at his impression, remembering how you’d tried so hard to keep a straight face on stream, while the chat had been exploding with laughter. "Hey, I’d like to point out that I even garnished it with a sprinkle of virtual parsley."

"Yeah, and I had to pretend it was edible." Sebastian replied, still grinning. "The things I do for the art of streaming."

With a grin, you shrugged. “Guess it just shows what a great team we make, right? You keep up appearances, and I…” You paused, smirking, “I make the riskiest, most questionable food decisions.”

He looked down at you, his smile softening as he held your gaze. "Yeah." He murmured, "I guess it really does. We’re one heck of a team."

There was a gentle silence, one filled with warmth, as you both let the memories linger, the familiarity and playfulness wrapping around you like a cozy blanket. After a moment, you nudged his arm. "So, cooking game or real life—think you’re ready for another ‘creative’ culinary adventure with me?"

He chuckled, leaning a little closer, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Only if you promise me no rats this time."

At one point, he reached over and brushed a stray bit of flour off your cheek, his fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary. “You’ve got a little something there.” He murmured, his eyes meeting yours with a soft expression that made your heart skip a beat.

“Thanks.” you replied, your voice a little softer than intended.

With the risotto nearly ready, you handed him a wooden spoon. “Alright, sous-chef. Moment of truth—taste test.”

Sebastian took the spoon from you, giving you an exaggerated nod before taking a careful bite. His eyes lit up as he tasted the creamy, savory dish. “Wow,” he said, nodding appreciatively. “I actually helped make this? Totally doesn't taste like pixel rat.”

“See?” you replied, laughing. “You’ve got more culinary skills than you think.”

He laughed, taking another spoonful. “Okay, I’ll admit, this is pretty fun. You might turn me into a chef yet.”

Together, you plated the risotto, sprinkling a bit of parmesan and fresh parsley on top. You each carried a plate to the small dining table, which you’d quickly decorated with a candle and a couple of mismatched napkins to make it feel a bit more special.

Sitting across from him, you clinked your fork against his with a grin. “To our first official cooking date.” You said, feeling a mix of pride and warmth.

“To the world’s most patient teacher.” He added, giving you a smile that made your cheeks warm.

You ate slowly, savoring not just the food, but the easy conversation and gentle glances shared between bites. Occasionally, he’d sneak his fork onto your plate, taking an extra bite with a laugh as you swatted at his hand.

After finishing, you both lingered at the table, caught in the comfortable glow of shared laughter and the lingering warmth of the meal. Finally, as you stood to clear the plates, Sebastian reached over, gently grabbing your wrist to stop you.

“You know.” he said softly, his gaze holding yours, “I think I’m starting to like cooking. Especially if it means nights like this.”

His hand stayed warm against your skin, and for a moment, you forgot about the dishes, the kitchen, everything around you.

“Well.” you replied with a smile, “Then I guess we’ll have to make it a tradition.”

He nodded, his smile softening as he released your hand, but not before giving it a light, lingering squeeze that promised many more evenings like this one.

The laughter still lingered in the air as you finished washing up from dinner, the lingering warmth from the meal creating a quiet, comfortable bubble around the two of you. Sebastian was drying the last of the dishes, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he talked about what to stream next week, teasing the idea of recreating your infamous “gourmet rat” moment in real life.

But then, a sharp knock echoed from the front door, slicing through the ease of the evening. You both paused, glancing at each other, puzzled by the unexpected sound. Who would be stopping by at this hour?

“I’ll get it.” He murmured, his voice low, as he dried his hands on a dish towel. You watched as he walked toward the door, pulling it open with a curious, cautious expression. But when he looked up, his whole face shifted. There, standing in the dim light of the hallway, were two police officers. Their stern faces were blank, unreadable, and behind them, a few more officers were stationed just outside. The sight of them sent an uneasy chill through you, and your stomach twisted.

“Sebastian Solace?” The officer closest to him asked, voice flat and all business. Sebastian blinked, bewildered.

“Yes? Is something wrong?” He asked, looking back at you as if trying to gauge if you knew anything about this. But before you could even register the question, the officer took a step forward, holding out a pair of handcuffs. It was like a perfect scene from your favourite drama, as if the characters jumped out of the television to fool you.

“Mr. Solace, you’re under arrest on suspicion of multiple homicides.” The officer said, his words like thunder in the silent apartment. “Please turn around and place your hands behind your back.”

The words took a moment to sink in, and when they did, it felt like the air had been ripped from the room. You stood frozen, mouth open, as Sebastian’s face went from confusion to utter shock.

“What?” He stammered, voice thick with disbelief. “There must be some mistake—I haven’t done anything. I don’t even—” But the officer was already reaching for his wrists, pulling them behind his back as he clicked the cuffs into place with a heavy metallic clink that reverberated in the space. The sound was sharp, final.

"Wait!" You exclaimed, stepping forward as panic washed over you. “This is insane! You can’t just—he hasn’t done anything! Sebastian couldn’t—”

The second officer turned toward you, his gaze steely. “Ma’am, I understand this is a shock, but please step back. We have probable cause, and Mr. Solace will be given the chance to explain himself at the station.”

Sebastian’s head turned, eyes wide as they locked onto yours. "I… I don’t know what’s going on," He said, his voice wavering as he struggled to keep calm. "I didn’t… I didn’t do anything." His eyes, usually filled with easy confidence and warmth, were filled with a mixture of confusion and fear, a look you had never seen on his face before.

“I know you didn’t.” You managed, voice choked. “This has to be a mistake. Tell them!”

But the officers were unmoved, beginning to guide him out the door, leaving you standing in the hallway, rooted in disbelief. You reached for his hand one last time, and he turned to you, gripping your fingers tightly, as if that small touch was an anchor. “It’s okay.” He said quietly, though the panic in his voice was clear. “I’ll sort this out. Don’t… don’t worry about me.”

But how could you not? How could you let them take him, when you knew deep down, in every part of you, that Sebastian was incapable of such a thing?

As they led him out, each step growing heavier, you were left alone in the silence, the stillness deafening. Sebastian’s plate was still on the table, his jacket draped over the back of the chair. It was as if he had only stepped out for a moment, and yet, he was gone. You could still feel the lingering warmth of his hand in yours, the echo of his words ringing in your mind.

You stumbled back against the counter, struggling to breathe as the weight of what just happened settled on you. Someone had framed him. Someone had set up this impossible, unfathomable trap, and Sebastian had walked right into it. And now, the life you’d built together—the quiet mornings, the shared streams, the countless inside jokes—all of it hung in the balance.

“Sebastian…” You whispered, gripping the edge of the counter as if you could steady yourself through sheer will. Your mind raced, images of him, terrified and alone, the weight of this false accusation pressing down on him. You had to do something. You couldn’t just stand by while the man you loved was being treated like a monster.

But as you looked around the quiet, empty apartment, you felt the sinking realization that things would never be the same. The warmth and laughter of the evening had been replaced by a cold, harsh reality, one that you couldn’t ignore. And as you stood there, a single, urgent thought echoed in your mind, louder and louder with each passing second. This couldn't be how it ends.

Hours passed in a blur, each moment more surreal than the last. You sat at the kitchen table, hands clutching a mug of tea you hadn’t even touched. The entire apartment was in disarray: Police officers moved from room to room, rifling through closets, drawers, and even the cabinets in search of… what? Evidence of Sebastian’s so-called crimes?

The entire scene felt like a waking nightmare. You watched in despair as they moved into Sebastian’s room, handling his belongings like they were pieces of some sinister puzzle, prying through his private life without hesitation. The familiar warmth and comfort of the apartment was stripped away, replaced by the cold efficiency of strangers treating your life as a crime scene.

“Ma’am?” A voice jolted you from your thoughts. One of the officers, Detective Hall, took the seat across from you, fixing you with a hard, calculating stare. He placed a notepad on the table and flipped it open, pen poised, ready to capture your every word. This wasn't just a small round of questions. It felt like the pen was a gun that he was holding against your forhead, wanting you to say that he wanted to hear and not the truth you believed in.

You took a shaky breath, trying to steel yourself. “I already told you.” You said, voice barely above a whisper, it was slightly shaking from the pressure. Your whole personality crumbled under the sheer panic. “Sebastian didn’t do this. He wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

Detective Hall tilted his head, his lips curling into a thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure you want to believe that, but I have to be honest. The evidence suggests otherwise.”

You swallowed, fighting to keep your voice steady. “He’s kind, thoughtful… there’s no way he’d ever—”

“Let’s go over this again.” The detective interrupted, his tone patient yet cold. “You’ve been living with Mr. Solace for some time, yes?”

“Yes.” You answered, nodding slowly. “Some time...”

“And during that time, have you ever noticed anything… unusual about him? Unexplained absences, strange behavior, anything that might seem insignificant but could have been a red flag?”

The question felt like a trap, and you shook your head quickly, heart pounding. “No. Nothing like that. He’s just—he’s always been a good person. A little messy with his stuff sometimes, but that’s it. He wouldn’t hurt anyone.” Any wrong word could mean Sebastians end. Saying less means providing more support for your boyfriend.

Detective Hall leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure you’re not trying to protect him? It’s natural to want to defend someone close to you, but sometimes… people can hide dark sides we don’t see.”

“No, you don’t understand—Sebastian’s innocent.” You insisted, feeling the words burn on your tongue. “He wouldn’t—”

“But he did.” Hall’s voice was sharp, cutting through the air with brutal efficiency. He fired the imaginary gun at you with the following statement. “We’ve found DNA evidence at multiple crime scenes that match Mr. Solace’s. His fingerprints, his hair… even traces of his blood.”

The room spun for a moment as his words hit you like a physical blow. You gripped the edge of the table, forcing yourself to process the revelation. DNA evidence? It made no sense. How could that be possible?

“That… that can’t be right.” You stammered, shaking your head in disbelief. “There has to be a mistake. Maybe it’s someone who looks like him, or maybe the samples were contaminated—”

Detective Hall raised a brow, as if amused by your attempts to explain it away. “It’s no mistake. We’ve triple-checked. Mr. Solace’s DNA was found at every single crime scene. This isn’t a matter of chance or coincidence.”

You felt the weight of those words settle heavily, like stones in your chest. This was the kind of evidence that would seal a conviction, the kind of irrefutable proof that would convince a jury. But you knew Sebastian. You knew his heart, his kindness, his gentleness.

“He’s… he’s been with me.” You whispered, half a lie, desperation slipping into your voice. “We’re always together. If he was gone, I would have noticed. He’s not… he’s not capable of this.” There where times, where he was alone. You knew you couldn't cover Sebastian in that part.

„Well, last week, monday evening around 7...Where was he? With you?“ „Well he wasn't with m-“ „Then he wasn't always with you. Listen, we just wanna solve this case. This isn't a witch hunt to spill innocent blood.“ Hall’s gaze softened for a brief moment, as if he pitied you, but his tone was unwavering. “Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think, ma’am. It’s possible that there are sides to people we love that we never see. You wouldn’t be the first to be blindsided.”

Anger and frustration flared within you, mixed with helplessness as you struggled to find the right words. “No… you’re wrong. You have to be. He’s innocent. I don’t know how his DNA got there, but I know him, and he’s not a murderer.”

Detective Hall sighed, closing his notebook as he got up, leaving you trembling at the table. “I understand this is difficult to accept.” He said, his voice almost condescending. “But it’s better if you start facing the facts. If you think of anything—anything at all—that could help us, I suggest you reach out.”

You watched as he walked away, his words echoing in your mind like a curse. The walls felt like they were closing in on you, suffocating in their familiarity. Your hands trembled as you clutched the edge of the table, the mug of tea long forgotten and cold.

Detective Hall’s words echoed in your mind like a haunting refrain. DNA evidence. Fingerprints. Hair. You had fought so hard against the growing sense of dread, clinging to the belief that there had to be some explanation, some way to rationalize it all. But as time passed, the weight of those words settled on your chest, heavy and inescapable.

The more you thought about it, the more the pieces started to come together in a way that made your stomach churn. Sebastian’s late nights spent in the studio, the times he seemed distracted or distant, the odd comments he’d made that you’d brushed off as quirky or eccentric. What if there had been more going on?

You felt your breath quickening, the panic rising in your throat like a tide. The laughter and warmth of earlier days felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the horror that now loomed over you. How could you have been so naive? How could you have trusted him so completely?

Suddenly, it felt as if the walls themselves were pressing in on you, closing around your heart until you could hardly breathe. “No, no, no.” You whispered to yourself, shaking your head furiously. “He can’t be guilty. He wouldn’t… he couldn’t…”

But as you said it, doubt crept into your heart like a dark shadow. The evidence was overwhelming, and deep down, you knew it. There was a part of you that wanted to scream, to deny the truth, but the realization that the person you loved might be capable of something so horrific shattered your defenses.

You stood abruptly, pushing away from the table as your chair clattered to the ground. Your heart raced, and you stumbled into the living room, pacing back and forth as tears began to stream down your cheeks. “Sebastian… how could you?” The question hung in the air, heavy and full of anguish.

You could see his face in your mind—the smile that lit up his eyes, the kindness in his voice, the way he made you feel safe. But now, the image began to twist, tainted by the knowledge that he might be hiding something monstrous. You pressed your hands against your temples, fighting against the overwhelming sense of betrayal that surged within you.

What if the good times had all been a facade? What if he had been playing you all along?

Your legs gave out, and you sank to the floor, sobs breaking free as your entire world collapsed around you. The warmth of the apartment, once a sanctuary, felt like a prison. You buried your face in your hands, the weight of despair crushing you. “I believed in you.” You cried, voice muffled against your palms. “How could you do this to me?”

The sobs wracked your body, and you could feel your heart fracturing with every breath. The pain was all-consuming, a tempest of emotions swirling within you—anger, betrayal, sorrow. You felt utterly alone, abandoned in a nightmare you couldn’t escape.

It felt as if the walls themselves echoed your despair, a cruel reminder that you were trapped in this reality. The tears flowed freely, and you gasped for air, each breath feeling like a betrayal to the love you once held so fiercely. “Sebastian.” You choked out, the name a whisper tinged with heartbreak. “Please tell me this isn’t true…”

But deep down, a seed of doubt took root, a dark whisper that you couldn’t silence. And as you sat there, broken on the floor, you realized with chilling clarity that you might have to confront a truth you were terrified to face. Sebastian’s guilt. The possibility that the man you had loved so completely could be the monster hiding in plain sight.

The thought sent another wave of anguish crashing over you, and you curled into yourself, the weight of despair dragging you down into the depths of an all-consuming darkness.

The days turned into weeks, and the world outside faded into a distant blur. You had once filled your life with laughter and joy, sharing your passions and adventures with Sebastian on stream. But now, the only sound that echoed in the emptiness of your apartment was the relentless ticking of the clock, a constant reminder of the time that had passed since he was taken from you.

Sebastian’s execution had felt surreal, a nightmarish sequence that played out in slow motion. You had sat in the courtroom, heart pounding, as the gavel struck down on his fate, each word from the judge slicing through you like glass. “Guilty.” The word had reverberated in your mind, drowning out everything else. The cheers from those who had come to watch felt like daggers in your back, as you struggled to comprehend how the world could move on when yours had shattered.

In the days following, you had retreated into yourself, cocooning in the memories of what once was. The apartment felt hollow, the air heavy with the absence of his laughter and warmth. You’d tried to continue with your life, but every attempt felt futile. The vibrant colors of your past had drained away, leaving only shades of gray.

You found yourself staring at the walls, the pictures of you and Sebastian hanging like ghosts of a happier time. You avoided the streaming setup, the computer untouched and gathering dust. You couldn’t bear the thought of performing for an audience that had reveled in the spectacle of his downfall. The playful banter, the inside jokes—everything that had once felt like second nature was now suffocating.

It was in this state of isolation that you began to notice the ringing phone, the unknown number flashing on the screen each time. It became an annoyance, a constant reminder of the outside world that you had closed off. You ignored it at first, but as the calls persisted, you felt an overwhelming urge to pick up and shout into the void, to let whoever was on the other end know that you didn’t care. You were done.

“Just let it go.” You whispered to yourself, gripping the phone tightly in your hand, willing it to stop. But it only rang louder, taunting you, as if demanding a response. It felt like a ghost of your past, lingering reminders of what you had lost. You buried your face in your hands, tears streaming down your cheeks as you mourned for Sebastian—the man who had filled your life with love, laughter, and joy.

Days turned into weeks, and you often found yourself walking the familiar paths that you had taken together, hoping to feel a connection to him, to find something that could ease the ache in your heart. You walked to the small coffee shop where you’d spent countless mornings, the barista greeting you with a sad smile as if he could see the heaviness in your soul.

“Are you okay?” He asked gently, his voice low as he handed you your usual drink.

You forced a smile that felt hollow. “Yeah, just… missing a friend.” You replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, understanding etched in his features. “Take your time. We’re here for you if you need anything. I'm sure your friend will return soon.”

You returned to the apartment, the silence greeting you like an old friend. It was a comfort and a torment all at once, the echoes of Sebastian’s laughter haunting you at every turn. You stumbled through the rooms, feeling his presence everywhere, yet completely gone. The kitchen was a battlefield of untouched dishes, and the living room still bore witness to the chaos of that fateful night.

And yet, you felt compelled to keep ignoring the outside world. You and Sebastian had built a sanctuary here, and now it felt like a tomb—a space to remember and mourn, but also to be consumed by grief. You couldn’t bear the thought of facing Painter, or anyone else who might remind you of what you’d lost. Their calls went unanswered, your heart too heavy to even think of engaging with anyone.

But one night, as you sat curled up on the couch, a sudden urge struck you. You picked up the phone, thumb hovering over the contact list. It was almost automatic, a reflex driven by a desire to feel connected to someone, even if it was only a shadow of what you had with Sebastian. You clicked on Painter’s name, your heart racing as you prepared to dial. But just as your finger touched the screen, the phone rang again, the same unknown number flashing before you.

You hesitated, a surge of anger rising within you. “Why won’t you just leave me alone?” you cried out into the stillness, your voice trembling with a whirlwind of emotion. You had no strength left to deal with this mystery, this constant reminder of a life that felt irretrievably lost.

With a trembling hand, you answered the call. “Hello?” The word felt foreign on your tongue, like a brittle leaf falling from a tree in autumn.

A pause followed, stretching into an eternity, and then a voice emerged from the silence, dripping with smugness and taunting glee. “A wonderful evening, isn’t it?”

Recognition hit you like a slap, anger and disbelief coiling in your stomach. “Who is this?” You demanded, your heart racing as you tried to mask the tremor in your voice.

“It’s me… Allison.” She said, and you could almost hear the smirk in her tone. “I’ve been trying to reach you. You see, I want to meet you. In person.”

Your breath caught in your throat. The mere mention of her name felt like a punch to your gut. “What do you want?” You spat, the words sharp and laced with hurt, a raw wound that refused to heal.

“Oh, come now.” She chided, her voice honeyed yet poisonous. “You must know by now that I have the information you crave. The kind of juicy details that could change everything. And let’s be honest, you could use a little excitement in your life after all that’s happened.”

You could almost picture her, leaning back in some luxurious chair, a smug smile on her lips, relishing every moment of your turmoil. “What makes you think I’d want to hear anything from you?” You countered, trying to maintain the semblance of strength. But beneath your bravado, you were shaken, your heart aching at the memories that flooded back, memories of trust and betrayal.

“I know you’re hurting.” Allison pressed, her tone shifting, turning almost persuasive. “But the truth is, I hold the keys to unlocking the real story. You think you know what happened? Think again. Sebastian’s innocence? It’s a farce, darling.” She laughed lightly, and it sent a chill down your spine. “You need to hear what I have to say.”

A cold dread settled in your chest, mingling with your fury. How could she speak of Sebastian like that? Your mind raced with confusion and anger, torn between the desire to protect his memory and the nagging curiosity of what she might reveal. “What do you mean?” You demanded, your voice barely a whisper.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m not going to just give it away.” She cooed, her tone patronizing, like she was speaking to a child. “But I promise you, once you hear me out, everything will make sense. This isn’t just about Sebastian. It’s about the bigger picture. The real culprits behind the chaos that’s torn your life apart. And believe me, darling, it’s going to be quite a revelation.”

A sick feeling settled in your stomach as you wrestled with your emotions. You were weary of being trapped in this darkness, of the isolation that suffocated you. But could you trust her? Deep down, you felt that small flicker of hope—the chance that perhaps, just perhaps, she might hold some truth that could change everything.

“Fine.” You said finally, your voice steadying as you took a deep breath. “But this better be good. I don’t have time for games, Allison.”

“Good! Meet me at the park, by the fountain. You know the one. Tomorrow at noon. Come alone.” She instructed, her tone brisk and commanding, as if she knew you’d comply without question.

The line went dead, and you stared at the phone in disbelief, a storm of emotions swirling within you. You felt the shadows of your grief deepen, intertwining with the threads of a truth you had yet to confront. What was she playing at? Was this a trap? But the thought of Sebastian’s name hanging in the air like a ghost pulled at you, urging you to seek answers, no matter how painful they might be.

You spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, the weight of uncertainty heavy on your chest. As the sun rose the next morning, you felt a mix of dread and determination settle in your bones. You had to know the truth, even if it meant facing the very person who had turned your world upside down. You were willing to confront your fears if it meant uncovering the secrets buried in the shadows of your past.

As you prepared to leave, a part of you wondered what you would discover in that conversation. Would it bring you closer to the truth, or would it only lead to more heartbreak? Only time would tell, but one thing was certain: You were no longer willing to let fear dictate your life. Today, you would seek the truth, whatever the cost.

The morning air was crisp as you made your way to the park, your heart pounding in your chest with each step. The sun peeked through the branches of the trees, casting dappled shadows on the path ahead. As you approached the fountain, a wave of nausea washed over you. You had no idea what to expect from your encounter with Allison, but the tension was palpable, thickening the air around you.

You spotted her seated on a bench, casually flicking through her phone, the picture of nonchalance. She looked up as you approached, a smile playing on her lips that sent a chill down your spine. “You came.” She said, her voice light as if you were simply meeting for coffee.

“I’m not here to play games, Allison.” You said, forcing your voice to steady despite the tremor in your hands. “What do you want?”

She motioned for you to sit, and despite every instinct telling you to run, you complied, tension coiling in your stomach. “I wanted to talk about Sebastian.” She said, her tone shifting to something more serious. “You need to understand the truth of what happened.”

“The truth?” you echoed, the word tasting bitter on your tongue. “What do you know about the truth?”

Allison leaned closer, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. “Oh, darling, I know everything. I know what you’ve been through, the heartbreak, the isolation. I know you still believe in Sebastian’s innocence.” She paused, savoring your reaction. “But here’s the thing: He’s not innocent. Not in the way you think.”

Your breath caught in your throat. “What are you talking about?” You shook your head, trying to deny the implications of her words. “Sebastian would never—”

“Would never what?” She interrupted, her voice rising with feigned innocence. “Kill? You see, it’s easy to point fingers, especially when the truth is so beautifully complicated.” She leaned back, a smirk spreading across her face. “And I should know, because I orchestrated it all.”

A cold dread settled over you, a sickening realization dawning. “You’re lying,” you said weakly, but even as you spoke, the pieces began to click into place. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m dead serious,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “I took my time, did my research. I switched out evidence, planted things to frame him perfectly. You see, the cops would never suspect the innocent ex-girlfriend, would they?” Her eyes sparkled with malice. “And I had just the plan to make sure it all fell into place.”

“Why? Why would you do this?” The words came out as a choked whisper, your heart racing as the reality of her confession settled in. “What did Sebastian ever do to you?”

Allison laughed, a cruel, mirthless sound. “Oh, sweetie, it was never about Sebastian. It was about you. I wanted to see you broken, to watch your world crumble. You had everything I wanted—his affection, his attention, his life. I just thought it would be so much fun to take it all away.” She paused, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. “And I must say, it’s been quite the show.”

“Stop it!” You shouted, your voice rising in desperation. “You can’t keep getting away with this. I’ll go to the police. I’ll tell them everything!”

“Oh, but you won’t.” She purred, leaning closer, her voice low and threatening. “Because I’ve already taken care of that. The evidence against Sebastian is airtight. His DNA was at the scenes, his clothes were planted. I even collected hair samples—he won’t be able to escape this.”

You felt your world tilt, your heart racing as the realization hit you. She was right: She had manipulated everything, and there was nothing you could do to stop her. “You’re insane.” You whispered, your body shaking with disbelief. “You can’t just play with people’s lives like this!”

“Why not?” Allison shrugged, her expression unfazed. “Life is a game, and I simply play to win. And right now, you’re just a pawn in my little chess match.”

A shuddering breath escaped you as the weight of her words crushed down on you. “You’re a monster.” You said, fighting back tears.

“Perhaps.” She said, her smile widening. “But I’m the one in control here. And you’re left with nothing but the truth—a truth that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Think of the fun you’ll have trying to navigate this new reality.”

You felt your heart break all over again, shattering into a million irretrievable pieces. “You can’t get away with this.” You said, but your voice lacked the conviction it once held.

“Oh, but I already have.” She replied, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. “And if you’re smart, you’ll keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, who knows what might happen next?”

The weight of her threat hung heavy in the air, and you realized the truth of her power over you. The world felt like it was closing in, your vision blurring as the enormity of it all washed over you. With a sickening feeling of despair, you understood that you were utterly alone in this twisted game.

As you rose from the bench, every part of you screamed to run, to escape the grip of her twisted reality. But deep down, you knew you couldn’t. Not yet. The fight was far from over, but now, it was a fight for survival, and you had to gather every ounce of strength to confront the darkness that threatened to consume you. The battle was just beginning, and you would not let her win.

You stepped back, shaking your head as if that could somehow dispel the reality of the situation. “You’re delusional, Allison.” You said, but the conviction in your voice was wavering. “This can’t be real. You didn’t plan all of this from the beginning.”

Allison laughed again, a sound that echoed through the park like a chilling wind. “Oh, but it is real, darling. Every moment we spent together, every laugh we shared on those calls, it was all a performance. I played the role of the girlfriend to perfection, didn’t I?” She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with a manic energy. “I had you all wrapped around my little finger, believing I on his side while I was orchestrating your downfall.”

Your heart raced as you felt the blood drain from your face. “No… No, you can’t mean that.” You stammered, disbelief mingling with a sickening realization. “You were there when Sebastian was arrested in court. You acted like you cared!”

“Cared?” She scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically. “I was reveling in your pain! Watching you grieve over someone you believed was innocent while I knew the truth all along was the highlight of my little game.” She paused, her expression shifting to something darker. “And the best part? I’ll always be three steps ahead of you.”

The breath caught in your throat, a chill running down your spine. “You’re a monster.” You whispered, your voice trembling. “How can you do this?”

“Because it’s fun.” She simply repeated, shrugging her shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “And let’s be real: I’m the only one who understands the beauty in chaos. This world is just a stage, and I’m the star of my own show.”

Every word dripped with malice, a taunting melody that twisted your insides. “You’re not a star, Allison. You’re just a pathetic coward hiding behind a mask of cruelty.”

She tilted her head, a smirk still playing on her lips. “But it’s the mask that gives me power, don’t you see? I can walk into any room and make people believe whatever I want them to believe. I’ve turned everyone against Sebastian. The evidence I planted, the stories I twisted—it’s all there. You can’t change the narrative once it’s set in stone.”

A fresh wave of anger surged through you, igniting a spark of defiance. “I won’t let you do this. I’ll find a way to expose you!”

“Oh, sweet naïve darling.” She mocked, her laughter sharp and cruel. “You think anyone will believe you? You’re just the broken girlfriend of a murderer. Who would trust your word against the solid evidence I’ve crafted? You’ll be seen as the girl who couldn’t let go, who couldn’t accept that her boyfriend was a monster.”

You felt your heart shatter all over again, each piece piercing you deeper. The weight of her manipulation suffocated you, leaving you gasping for air. “Why, Allison? Why all this?” You begged, desperation creeping into your voice. “What did you gain from ruining our lives?”

She leaned back, crossing her arms with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. “I told you. It’s all a game, and I just wanted to see how far I could push you. I wanted to watch you crumble, to see you lose everything you held dear. It was beautiful, really. Watching you struggle to come to terms with Sebastian’s guilt while I quietly reveled in your despair.”

As her words sank in, a wave of grief crashed over you, threatening to drown you in its depths. “You’re sick.” You murmured, tears brimming in your eyes. “You’re not a person...“

“Call me what you want.” She said, her tone breezy, as if your words didn’t affect her. “The truth is, I’m the only one left standing. You’re the one who has lost everything, and I’m just getting started.”

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut. She was right. You had been so focused on saving Sebastian that you hadn’t seen the bigger picture—the twisted web she had spun around you both. You felt like a marionette, dancing to her strings, and the weight of your helplessness crashed down on you.

“And trust me, darling, I plan to keep it that way. The game has just begun, and you’re the perfect player. Let’s see how long you last.”

With that, she stood up, brushing off her clothes with a dismissive gesture. “I’ll be watching, of course. You won’t be able to escape me, not when I’m always just a step away, waiting for you to make your next move.”

As she turned to walk away, her laughter echoed behind her, a haunting reminder of the chaos she had unleashed in your life. You felt the tears finally spill over, hot and angry, as the weight of betrayal and loss crashed down around you.

The heavy silence of the dimly lit store enveloped Allison as she stepped through the door, the creak of the hinges echoing through the darkness. The air felt thick, laden with anticipation, and she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. The usual comforting scents of paint and wood shavings were replaced by an unsettling stillness that set her on edge.

“Painter?” She called, her voice slicing through the gloom, only to be met with silence. She squinted, trying to make out any shapes in the shadows, but the darkness felt alive, shifting around her as if it were aware of her presence.

A moment later, a soft click broke the stillness as a solitary bulb flickered to life, casting a weak glow across the room. Painter sat behind the counter, his features partially obscured in shadow, but the intensity of his gaze was unmistakable. He leaned forward, his hands clasped around a canvas and some expensive painting tools as he sketched, and the tension in the air thickened.

“Well?” He asked, his voice low and steady. He didn't bothered to even glance at her. “How did it go?”

Allison stepped closer, her heart racing with a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. “It went exactly as I planned.” She replied, a smirk creeping onto her lips. “She’s fragile, Painter. Perfectly broken, just like we wanted. The meeting was… enlightening.”

Painter’s expression remained unreadable, but the way he tilted his head indicated he was hanging on her every word. “Enlightening how?” He pressed, his voice sharp.

“She is ready for the next step.” Allison continued, the thrill of her deception washing over her like a warm wave. “I spun the tale beautifully—she’s drowning in despair. I made sure to emphasize how she was the one left behind, how she had been played all along.”

“Good.” Painter replied, nodding slowly. “You have her right where we need her. But what about your end of the bargain? You have what you promised me?”

Allison laughed, a sound laced with a hint of darkness. “Of course. Everything is in place. I took care of the evidence. The hair samples, the clothes. No one will ever suspect a thing. It’s all beautifully orchestrated, just like a well-crafted film.”

Painter’s eyes gleamed with interest, and he leaned back, a satisfied smile slowly spreading across his face. “You’ve truly outdone yourself, Allison. I knew I could count on you to bring chaos to life.”

She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “It’s just another day in our little game, isn’t it? But let’s be clear: I’m not here to play forever. I want my reward.”

“You’ll get it.” Painter assured her, his tone serious now. “But remember, the game isn’t over yet. There’s still more to be done.“

“I’m already steps ahead,” Allison replied, her confidence bubbling over. “She has no idea who’s really pulling the strings. With Sebastian out of the picture, and with me in her life pretending to the enemy, I can manipulate her emotions. It’s a beautiful arrangement.”

“Just ensure she doesn’t catch on too quickly.” Painter cautioned, a warning lacing his words. “Her grief could turn into something more dangerous if she realizes she’s being played.”

Allison waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about that. I know how to handle her. Besides, she’s already broken. It won’t take much to keep her under my control.”

“Good.” Painter said, satisfaction evident in his voice. “Let’s keep her that way. I have plans for her, and we need her to stay in line.”

As the weight of their conversation settled around them, a shared understanding ignited in the darkness. They were both architects of chaos, and together they would build a world that thrived on manipulation and deceit.

Allison stepped back, a grin spreading across her face. “This is just the beginning, Painter. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.”

Painter leaned back in his chair, a gleam of malice in his eyes. “Neither can I. But remember, the shadows are watching, and we must stay one step ahead. Let’s make sure that the show goes on.”

With that, the two conspirators shared a knowing glance, the darkness of the store wrapping around them like a cloak, sealing their plans in the hushed stillness of the night. The game was far from over, and they were ready to play.

In the dim, cluttered backroom of the art studio, the air was thick with an oppressive silence, broken only by the soft scratching of Painter’s pencil against the canvas. Each stroke was deliberate, each line imbued with a manic energy that crackled like electricity in the air. As he meticulously worked on capturing your likeness, the glee within him grew, bubbling to the surface like a sinister tide.

The whole sequence of events had been a carefully choreographed dance, an intricate play penned solely by him. From Allison’s arrival at the café to the shocking announcement of Sebastian’s (faked) death, every detail had been crafted with precision, each moment calculated to elicit the maximum emotional response from you. It was all part of his grand design—a masterpiece of manipulation that he reveled in as if it were the finest work of art.

Painter leaned back, admiring his handiwork, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and something darker. Yes, he was in love with you, utterly and completely, to the point where he would twist the very fabric of reality itself to ensure you would see him as your savior. For him, love had morphed into an obsession, one that transcended the boundaries of morality and reason. He had watched from the shadows as you and Sebastian grew closer, the connection between you blooming like a flower in spring, and it had driven him to the edge of madness.

The red strings of fate, which folklore claimed intertwined the lives of soulmates, had become a web of control and manipulation in his mind. He had to act before it was too late, before you were irrevocably lost to Sebastian. That was when he had reached out to Allison, a face from your past, and transformed her into the perfect pawn in his game.

“Skilled, wicked, and naive.” He murmured to himself, a cruel smile spreading across his lips as he remembered the lengths he had gone to secure her loyalty. He had paid her handsomely to infiltrate your life, to steal Sebastian from you, to take your identity, your streaming account, your very essence. It was all too easy to convince her that she was invincible under his protection, too blind to see the truth—that she was nothing more than a tool, a disposable piece in his elaborate scheme.

Painter’s thoughts raced, the joy of his manipulation coursing through him. The climax of his plan had been the final confrontation with Allison, the dramatic reveal that would shatter the illusion she had created. It had all been a performance, rehearsed to perfection. He had relished the moment, watching as her bravado crumbled and the reality of her situation settled in like a heavy fog. She had believed she was in control, but he had orchestrated every twist and turn, and now the stage was set for her downfall.

Yet, despite all his efforts, there was one unexpected variable—your unwavering loyalty to Sebastian. Painter had believed that once he exposed Allison, you would run to him, your savior, the one who had seen the truth beneath the layers of deceit. But you had returned to Sebastian instead, drawn back to the very man he had orchestrated the demise of. In that moment, rage ignited within him, a blazing inferno that threatened to consume everything he had built.

There was no other choice; Sebastian had to go. The thought danced through his mind like a dark melody, sweet and intoxicating. Painter was rich, clever, and dangerously unhinged. He had the resources to make anything happen, to erase any obstacle that stood in his way. It was an easy task to hire the right people, to ensure that the nine murders he orchestrated would lead the trail of blame directly to Allison.

With a deep, shuddering breath, he recalled how he had twisted her mind, making her believe she was untouchable. She would take the blame for everything, painted as the guilty party in a crime that was all his doing. It was a beautiful, tragic irony that thrilled him; the naïve little pawn would never see it coming. The moment she was caught, the world would believe her to be the real villain, and he would be the silent spectator, the mastermind hiding in plain sight.

But Sebastian? He would not be lost to the world. No, he had arranged for his dear friend to become a living test subject for Urbanshade, a dark experiment that would keep him alive, twisting in the shadows. Painter’s smile widened as he imagined the day you would finally see through the fog of lies and betrayal, when you would recognize him as the one who truly cared for you, the only one who had ever understood you.

“Soon.” He whispered, a predatory glint in his eyes, “You will see me, and then all will be right in this world I’ve created.” The canvas before him captured not just your face but the very essence of his twisted love, a love that would stop at nothing to ensure you were his and his alone.

As he continued to sketch, the darkness of his intentions wrapped around him like a cloak, and he couldn’t help but feel that, in this sinister game of puppets, he was the true artist. Each line, each shadow, was a testament to his genius—a dark narrative that would soon unfold, revealing the depths of his obsession and the horrifying lengths to which he would go to have you in his grasp.

Painter had played everyone. Sebastian, Allison, and especially YOU.

[loboto-bear]

I made this for my funny little ask blog (*cough* @ask-warmer-hues if you’re not following already *cough*), but I’m putting it here too because I love it so much-

[ask-warmer-hues]

Hello dammek, how's life?

[irishmammonagenda]

hiiii ! ^_^ I love your writing sm

I was listening to music just relax, and randomly I thought of MC with "You're loosing me" AND I HAD TO SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE. Especially from minute 3:00 to the end 😭😭😭😭 imagine a fic inspired in that song with a traumatized mc after their death 🥲

hiya!! i'm so glad 🫶🫶🫶🫶 tbh i dont really listen to taylor so i had to look up this one, but oml it kinda does fit MC sm???!!!

honestly tysm for the ask, i don't normally write seriousish fics so this was a fun change grma <3

ALSO IM SO SORRY THE TITLES SO CRINGE I COULDNT THINK OF A GOOD ONE

Surface Tension- Obey Me x Reader

Summary: MC died 😱 and reincarnated as a demon, only their death affected them more than they thought. Word Count: 2.8k+ Warnings: Mentions of Death, leans more into Lucifer x Reader, especially at the end. (i am so sorry abt that I had no idea where this fic was going myself tbh) Descriptions of drowning. Hurt/Comfort? I have no idea how to write trauma I am so sorry, (this isn't apart of my 'Death is a Debatable thing Au) dividers are a mixmatch of ones by @plum98 @isisjupiter and @cafekitsune bc im indecisive

The thing you missed most were your pact marks. Intricate designs etched into your skin, that shone the colours of the people you loved, a reminder you were someone. You had something. A security blanket of sorts. Now they were gone, clear glass sin, almost poreless, uncanny replaced the lines and marks and humans´ perfect imperfection that provided a canvas for the hues that you were sure had painted your heart.

It hurt.

You fiddle with your hands, trying to contain the urge to just...pop. The horns and the tail had been disorienting to get used to. You still preferred your 'human' form, the only issue was controlling it. It would come with time, or so everyone had told you.

They told you a lot of things would come with time. You weren't so hopeful.

"I....it's just-" you flick your gaze around the room, looking anywhere but the demon in there with you. "...the dying part..."

"The dyin' part..." Mammon sits by your side, ever your first man, his eyes gaze at you, so loving, so adoring, it hurts your heart. "I don't understand the dyin' MC....I couldn't never understand the dyin'...." He brings a hand to rest on yours hesitantly, his false bravado nowhere to be found.

"I know you don't Mams..." You meet his gaze, his eyes as blue as the sky on a summer's day, warmer than the sun, and softer than silk when he looks into yours.

"It doesn' mean I won't try te....understand...I mean." He clears is throat awkwardly. "There's nothin' I wouldn't do for ye...not now not ever."

Your heart feels heavy.

Rushing water beats against porcelain. Steam slowly rose in swirls as the bathtub filled up. You fold your towels and set them by the sink beside the clothes you had set out. Pulling the satin robe that was a gift from a certain Asmodeus, you placed it on one of the hooks on the door, before twisting the taps to a stop. You submerged yourself into the warm water, your tense muscles relaxing as you leaned backwards in the tub from where you were sitting, legs touching the bottom of the porcelain. 

It had been so long. 

So long since you were able to just relax like this. You loved the brothers and the others, but sometimes you needed the solitude of your own thoughts. That wasn’t to say Asmo’s self care nights weren’t relaxing. 

You sighed. 

The water enveloped you, you had leaned back enough to where your head had begun to submerge. All was well. The water was warm, your muscles slowly relaxed, along with the rest of your body. Your eyes slowly blinked closed. 

All was fine. Your relaxed muscles let your head fall back. All was well. Your ears were now submerged. All was fine. 

Except it wasn’t. A switch had flicked. Your eyes shot wide open. You could no longer feel the bottom of the porcelain bathtub, panic and dread tugged at your arteries, squeezing your jugular. You flailed and thrashed your limbs, your head dipped under for a millisecond. 

Clear water turned murky. 

Your arms burnt after another weak attempt, head breaking the stormy surface of the lough for a moment; only a moment. Hardly long enough to draw a breath. Your eyes stung. Your throat ached, desperation choked at your airways. 

You found yourself submerged again. The currents slammed into rocks. Your hair rose upwards, strands sticking to your face like some sort of seaweed, hindering your vision as the waves flung you against hard rock. Your hands clawed at the stone, too slippery to catch a grip. The stormy water slammed you against another rock. You broke the horrid surface of the water, gasping and spluttering. Your throat burned like sinners in the 7th circle of hell. You just barely gasped in a morsel of oxygen before being dragged under by the force of the waves. 

You were slammed mercilessly into another hard wall of stone, your attempts at clawing for a grip so desperate you drew blood at your fingertips. 

You had survived demons, witches, angels. You had survived hell. Yet earth would be the one to take you out, so it seemed. You couldn’t hold your breath any longer, your mouth opened. You inhaled desperately, lungs aching for air. Water filled them instead. 

You gasped and spluttered. The surface of the water too rough to do a dead man’s float without risking your life further. The waves smacked you against hard rock once more, eroding at your hopes for survival. 

This was it. 

You were going to die. You’re drowning. You’ve drowned. 

The last thing you felt before you succumbed to the wild waves was the dull glow of your pact marks. With the last of your strength, you let out a silent scream, submerged by the water. 

You screamed. Frenzied hands pull your sobbing form out of the clear water of the bath pulling your soaked, sobbing form to their chest. You gasp for air, lungs burning. 

“MC! Y-you’re fine! Don’t worry…you’re okay…you’re okay…!” An uncharacteristically frenzied Beel holds you to his chest, massive arms enveloping you, he cards a gentle hand through your hair as you sob and upheave, your chest tight and your breath running from you. “You’re okay MC….follow my breathing…”

Hardly hearing him, you comply either way. Matching the breaths of the sixth born, your heart rate begins to slow, your breathing begins to even. Eventually, you sit wrapped in the arms of the Avatar of Gluttony, breathing deeply and slowly, your heart rate slowed, your sobs quitened to the occasional sniffle, the tightness in your chest remains. 

You chuckle humourlessly. “I’m sorry Beel….got your clothes all wet.” 

Beel shakes his head seriously, eyes on yours. “It’s never a problem. Not if it’s you MC.” He stands up with you still in his arms. Carefully, the redhead sets you down on your two feet. Strong hands on either side of you, a stabliser. “C’mon…let’s get you dressed MC…can you stand?”

Slowly you nod.

That night you found yourself in the living room, Belphie asleep, head on your shoulder. Mammon splayed across your lap, Asmo’s arm around your waist, Beel was on the other side of his twin, but held your hand, rubbing soothing circles subconsciously into your palm. Levi sat on the ground, switch in hand, cheek leaning against your thigh.  Satan and Lucifer sat on the nearest armchairs though they sat facing opposite each other, Lucifer half reading official documents, half watching the show his brothers and little human demon were watching, Satan doing the exact same, except his reading material was a book. 

You weren't sure how or if they knew what had happened an hour prior, but you were sure they knew this would cheer you up in some capacity.

You squeezed Beel’s hand, the knot in your chest coming undone just enough you feel light.

The transition from Human to Demon was a hard one to get used to, one thing that hadn't changed however; were the balls hosted by Lord Diavolo. The only difference being that now you sported curved horns on the top of your head. You quickly found that Asmo liked to decorate them with little trinkets.

Which he had done today, as well as helping you pick out your outfit for the ball. You gave a twirl in one of his full length mirrors.

"Thanks Asmo I love it." You smile, messing with an ornament on your horn. Those are taking a while to get used to.

Asmodeus laughs gleefully, waving his hand. "It was nothing darling. I'd love to do it again! Oh...~ You look so gorgeous...." He says dreamily before he turns back to his makeup, carefully lining his lips in a dark pink.

You blush at the praise before leaving the room, not wanting to risk being (fashionably) late.

"MC!" Lord Diavolo greets cheerfully, pulling you in for a hug against his bare, tanned chest. The gold in his eyes and horns glow like fire in the light of the ballroom. "I'm so glad you could make it! You look stunning!" He laughs, strong arms wrapping tighter around you.

You smile, "I'm glad to be here, Dia."

"I'm glad..." He says softer now. If the both of your words were an innuendo, neither of you pointed it out.

Barbatos appears silently at the left hand side of the Demon Prince, shaking your hand, you give him a sweet smile.

You barely get to greet him before the Demon Butler swiftly makes his way across the ballroom, and out of the glazed, oak door that led to a short corridor and then led to the kitchens.

After more peasant conversation with Diavolo, another Demon Noble had arrived, the scarlet haired prince pouted at the thought of leaving you before waving and making his way towards one of Hell's Aristocrats.

You wave him goodbye, you scan the Ballroom, eyes locking with violet ones. The seventh born gives a small smirk, lazily making his way toward you.

Belphegor had seen your dreams. He had felt the water pool into your lungs, the air escaping your grasp, the harsh bruising of the rocks you were slammed into.

He saw every dream, tried to stop them from reaching you. Sometimes he failed, your mind wanted to return to that moment. To pick it apart, to relive what it didn't understand itself, to find an impossible answer.

Sometimes your mind, your wonderful, horribly beautiful mind; would be too adamant, would loop back to it.

He didn't protect you. Not when he first betrayed you, not when he crushed your bones in his grip.

He couldn't protect you. Not when you were flung from rock to rock, sharp edges digging into fragile skin. Not when water burnt through your throat like fire.

He couldn't protect you. Not when your dreams bypassed his control. Not when the thin threads of your trauma induced nightmares slipped through the cracks.

The Avatar of Sloth could only do so much, yet, it never felt like enough. He couldn't protect you.

"Hey Belph!" You grin, closing the distance between the two of you. "You seem distracted, whats up?"

Belphegor snaps out of it, lips upturning. "Oh nothing, I just thought of something for the Anti-Lucifer League....What about you, MC, enjoying yourself?"

"For the most part yeah! But I haven't seen Mammon anywhere...." You say thoughtfully before deadpanning. "He's going to be strung up upside down by tomorrow morning, isn't he?"

"Yep."

Hours passed, a sleeping Belphegor had been handed over to Beelzebub, who was currently carrying his twin home. You were tempted to ask to join, but decided against it.

You weren't made of glass, you had agency. You could handle a silly ball.

Standing in one of the corners, beverage in hand, you'd elected to just people watch for a while.

Levi sat semi-hidden by a curtain at the grand window, switch in hand, noise cancelling headphones in, no doubt reaching the end of his social battery.

Satan stood at the other side of the Grand Hall, talking with contacts and connections you couldn't recognise. Golden blond hair perfectly in place. Asmo must've fixed it up for him.

Speaking of Asmo, he was on the dance floor with various succubi, giggling, smiling, and just in general being a social butterfly.

Mammon however, was still no where to be seen. Probably looking for treasure. Classic Mams. You smile to yourself.

Lucifer stood, being entertained by admirorers of all shapes and sizes. You stiffened.

Sometimes you forgot the brothers were Hell's Most Eligible Bachelors. It was easy to forget, seeing as you lived with them, and they were all idiots.

You could feel Levi's worried eyes on you none the less. Your stomach twisted with his sin, orange as a yolk, what came first? the chicken or the egg? You didn’t know nor did you care. Why would Lucifer choose you anyway? A weak human demon who couldn’t even survive a…-

You gripped your drink tightly, knuckles lightening. You took a sip, but with your tense muscles, the liquid burnt its way down the wrong side of your throat.

You spluttered.

Even the droplet. Even the sip. It grew, multiplied even, filling your lungs like goop, you gasped for air. The ballroom flooded a murky green. Stumbling, you pushed through the oak door to the hallway, where it was quieter.

Your heart beat out of your chest, your breathing was laboured, leaning against the wall, you lost your boyancy, dripping down until you sat on the ground, knees to your chest.

You stayed like that for a moment, catching your breath, engaging your senses.

Three things you could hear;

Idle chatter from the ballroom, completely muffled by the heavy wooden door and stone walls. Your own laboured breathing, although it was catching up to you. The blood rushing in your ears, evaporating from a rapid raging river to a small sparkling stream.

Three things you could see;

The stone wall, dark liath limestone blocks and bricks melded together, midievil in their design, they reflected the light of the overheard torches in a subtle, orange glow. The glazed panes of a glass window, the moon shone bright tonight, as it always did in the Devildom. You liked to think it was watching over you. Maybe it was.

If you turnt your head to the left, an archway was visible, a simple one. It dug into the stone wall and ceiling, pushing against the internal structures, standing out whilst holding together.

You continued your listing, smell and taste were ruled out, on account of you not being able to taste, and there not being any real noticable smells.

Three things you could feel;

The fabric of the clothes Asmo chose for you streched on your skin, the seams digging into your thighs where you sat on the ground.

The stone floor, hard and cold, even with the layers you had on, you shivered ever so slightly.

And lastly, you could feel the phantom ache of pact marks long faded, your heart heart, though it had stopped beating out of your chest. You felt calmer, more in control, yet still;

You sniffled.

After all; you didn’t have the best track record for keeping your head above water.

That’s how Lucifer found you. The door hissing open and his signature boots clacking softly along the ground announced his presence.

“MC, my love, are you alright?” He raises an eyebrow, The Avatar if Pride putting his aside and hunkering down so that he was more or less eye level with you, concern pooled in his expression. He reached a gloved hand out and caressed your cheek.

You nod, croaking out an "I'm okay now..."

"Are you sure, my darling?" The first born looks into your tired eyes, before tilting his head, asking for permission. You grant it.

He pulls you in for a hug.

"What upset you, dove?" He asks softly, rubbing soothing circles on your back.

"I-...I just feel like I've...like I've lost you all...and myself I guess...It sounds stupid! I know...but I just...-"

Lucifer hushes you, "Nothing you could say could ever sound stupid. He pauses. "Unless you're with Mammon...or planning something with Satan and Belphie."

That squeezes a giggle out of you. He smiles, tilting his head, a strand of raven hair falling ever so out of place at the movement, crimson eyes stare into yours.

"But that's not all, is it, dear?"

You mumble something unintelligible, but count on Lucifer Morningstar to hear it. "Have I told you yet? That you look absolutely gorgeous tonight, MC?" He asks in all seriousness. You avert your gaze.

He grabs your chin softly, "I'm serious, Darling. You're the best person at this ball, the best thing that has ever happened to my brothers...to me. Sometimes I feel you truly don't realise that...seems I must take care to remind you more often, my love."

You try to speak, but the air swallows up your words, your mouth open and gaping like a fish.

Lucifer's lips quirk up, he pulls you closer to his chest. You lean into him, giving a weak smile, ear pressed against his breast, listening to his heartbeat.

You felt calm; content even,

T he hug wasn't a fix it all. It wasn't some magic wand that had been waved, you weren't suddenly better. You were still traumatised, that emptiness, though dull, still ached in your heart, along with the places on your body the bright beautiful symbols of your pacts had been sketched onto your skin.

The hug was comforting none-the-less. Lucifer was impossibly gentle. He would cradle the ashes until you built yourself back up again in his arms, phoenixes need time to adjust before they can spread their wings, after all.

It would be hard. It would be so so difficult, so taxing, to rise from the ashes once more, to thrive again, but you had an army of idiots that loved you, who would go to the ends of the earth just to see you smile. It wasn't okay yet, you weren't 'fixed', you wouldn't be for a long time but you had years upon years, decades upon decades, centuries upon centuries.

i physically cannot write anything overly angsty bc im a wee softie smh this took me ages i am so sorry abt that </3 also i had another ask that i started planning out halfway through writing this and the contrast in the tone i was going for is so funny🧍‍♂️

[mapofsouthdakota]

Caleb’s myth -

The Vermillion bird

AU: You are at the Vermillion bird’s court. Captive? (Shortish+. Fluffy, romantic, banter and a lil skin contact if u know what I mean jkjk just kissin. I rlyrly recommend the music)

Skin syntax

Caleb reclines with an easy grace, laughter simmering beneath his breath—a quiet, glowing ember rather than a sudden spark. His abs rise and fall beneath a broad belt rich with embroidery, sunset hues shimmering where the light catches.

"Hah—! That tickles," he breathes, voice laced with amusement, though he doesn’t shy away. His grin lingers, soft rather than wild, as he shifts just enough to tease, the silk of his robe fanning out beneath him like an unfurled scroll—inviting, yet carefully composed.

"Stay still," you murmur, barely above a whisper. "We both know it doesn’t tickle you."

The brush glides over his skin, a whisper of ink against warmth, sketching the fluttering language of fire and renewal—the dialect of the vermilion bird. The liquid gold flows in deliberate lines, catching the light, flickering like the playful gleam in his amber eyes.

They watch you, steady and patient, a quiet indulgence in the moment.

He leans back on his palms, legs crossed, open to your artistry, his expression amused yet tranquil. His lips move absently, shaping sounds without voice, as if tasting the syllables you write. Each stroke of your hand is deliberate, your focus so deep that your tongue peeks out in concentration, the rest of the world narrowing to the ink, the skin, the moment.

"Remind me again why you had to write this here?" Caleb asks, his voice warm, teasing, yet unhurried, as if savoring the sensation. His amusement is a slow tide, not disruptive but coaxing, letting you explore the canvas of his body without urgency.

"Du-hu," you tease, your voice lilting with mischief. "Because your back and arms are covered!"

Caleb smirks, tilting his head. "Mhm… and you just had to use me as your canvas? Not, say, paper—like a normal person?" His voice dips, playful, yet laced with something warmer.

You meet his gaze, unbothered. "Because I'm not a normal person."

With a slow, deliberate flick of your wrist, the brush feathers over his lips, leaving a trail of shimmering gold. His breath hitches—just for a second—before his smirk deepens, eyes dark with intrigue.

He grabs your wrist, his grip firm yet deliberate, eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that stills the air between you.

"You're right," he whispers, pulling you closer, his breath warm against your skin.

"You are..." he continues. His voice trails as he breathes you in, the moment stretching, charged and unspoken.

Caleb brushes a faint kiss against your lips—chaste, precious, a whisper of warmth. It lingers like a promise, stamped in golden ink, sealing itself into you.

Then—a single drop of ink slips from the brush, rolling down his chest in a slow, deliberate path. Both of you follow its descent, breath hitching in quiet tandem. When it finally vanishes against his skin, his gaze lifts to meet yours—amber burning, then shifting to violet, dark and endless.

The moment snaps.

Caleb surges forward, capturing your lips in a kiss that is nothing like the first—deep, unguarded, heat unfurling between you in slow, deliberate waves. It lingers, insistent and searching, until the space between you blurs and breath itself fades into nothing, swallowed by the intensity of his mouth pressed against yours.

His lips worship you, each movement tender yet consuming, as though he's savoring every second, every taste of you. "Y-you are... right," he mutters between heated breaths, his hands pulling you closer, wanting more of you, deeper. The fire ignites, spreading rapidly through your veins, setting your skin ablaze. The heat intensifies, flooding your body, each wave making you ache with the desperate need to be closer.

An undeniable urge to strip away the distance between you rises, driven by a burning desire to feel him entirely, to be consumed by the flames of his touch. As he pulls you over him, his voice trembles,

"You are…" he murmurs, voice hitching. His eyes search yours, violet and intent, as your foreheads touch. A slow exhale, then softer, steadier —

"Very special."

"Show me," you murmur back, your lips brushing against his as you pull back just enough to meet his eyes, "show me how special I am."

He lets out a quiet chuckle, his eyes darkening with amusement.

"I thought you'd never ask."

Writer’s note: So these two are basically just gonna make out and be covered in golden ink. Funny how my brain works sometimes. I hope you like it, Gavin 🫶🏻

[arliedraws]

Triwizard Tournament AU

James is Hogwarts Champion

Sirius is Durmstrang Champion

James fails the first task because he is too distracted when Sirius takes off his shirt to dive into the lake

Well, this was a fun lil exercise! Thank you!

—

Between the roar of the crowd behind him and the eerie calm of the lake that stretched for miles before him, James felt an odd rush of terror as he stepped out of his trousers, removed his socks and shoes, and waited until the last moment to peel off his coat until he stood shivering in nothing but his swimming trunks. It was snowing again and it must have been turning colder because his body had frozen to the bank. He’d played Quidditch in cold like this, but this wasn’t like flying out onto the Quidditch pitch with his teammates, confident he could win. Trembling in the February morning, he had never felt so exposed before the whole school—well, multiple schools. His parents were in the crowd alongside Remus, Peter, and Lily. Albus Dumbledore and all of his teachers were watching. His classmates were chanting that stupid chorus that made him laugh: James, James, he’ll win these games! Yet it all seemed so far away and no one could help him now.

“…and you shall hex anyone who gets in the way, yes?”

James rolled his shoulders as he pretended not to listen to Silvestrine Grawert, the Durmstrang headmistress, deliver sharp instructions to the Durmstrang champion—a Londoner called Sirius Black who was staring at the placid surface of the water.

“Yes, professor,” drawled Black, letting Gawert draw the black wool cloak from his shoulders.

As the cloak fell away, James hadn’t meant to stare at the snow that collected in Black’s hair and melted on his pale, muscular shoulders. It made Black gleam against the dull winter sky. Black cast an annoyed look at Grawert’s back as she retreated before he started shaking out his arms as if to rid himself of her presence. Breath misting from his mouth and nose, his bright eyes burning only a little warmer in hue than the lake before him, Black looked as if he’d just come from an invigorating swim instead of facing one in front of hundreds of people.

Black didn’t seem to need a warm up or stretch—there was an effortlessness in the way his chest expanded with each inhale, in the way he regarded the task before him, as if he’d simply woken up that morning and decided on a whim to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. It was so odd: the expectations forced upon him must have been smothering, but Black took all of the whispering and hissing of instructions in his ear as if they were nothing more than annoyances. There was nothing that reflected in his body any hint of terror or pressure to win that James hosted now.

When James had first seen Black months ago, he couldn’t quite believe that Sirius Black was a real person. Black shouldn’t have been the Durmstrang champion at all. He was supposed to have attended Hogwarts; as the heir to a very English pureblood family, he should have been educated in his homeland, but a disagreement between his parents had sent Black hundreds of miles away to the far north to learn what Hogwarts refused to teach him. Unfortunately, Hogwarts hadn’t been so lucky in avoiding the Black brothers entirely as Regulus Black, the youngest son, was a Slytherin who started two years after James. Yet Sirius Black was tolerable enough, as far as James could tell, though they’d not spoken much since Durmstrang’s arrival in the autumn. All James really knew about him as a person was that he was clever, powerful, and only seemed to have put his name in the Goblet of Fire out of curiosity of whether or not he could win. James wasn’t sure if Black even wanted to win.

And that was the most infuriating bit. Black’s secret to success was, apparently, a complete lack of ambition; the person who appeared to care the very least about the Triwizard Tournament was the person who was most likely to win it.

“Suppose those shoulders are loose enough yet?” said Black.

James snapped his gaze up from the line of dark hair of Black’s navel to catch Black’s curious look.

James realized with a rush of heat to his face that he was still rolling his shoulders as he assessed Black from head to toe. Amused, Black grinned, but he said nothing else. Except James could have sworn he saw a wink.

And then, without warning, Black was gone. He had sprung into the air and dove into the water, leaving hardly a ripple on the lake’s surface as he disappeared into the depths. James frowned, and as the crowd roared at him to get in the water and follow after Black and the Beauxbatons champion, he couldn’t remember why he was standing on the bank of the lake in the middle of winter with gillyweed in his hand. Black wasn’t competing to win the Triwizard Tournament, nor was he seeking glory for Durmstrang. And for the first time, he realized that the competition didn’t matter because the tournament meant nothing—because if it meant nothing to Black, then it could mean nothing to James.

As James stumbled awkwardly into the water and stuffed the gillyweed in his mouth, his heart began to thump anew. Winning didn’t matter now—he didn’t care about the gold or the glory. He just needed to catch Sirius Black.

[sweetcarrotsandroses97]

Spring | JJK

Hello darlings!!!

Pairing: royal guard!Jungkook x princess!Reader, prince!Jimin x princess!Reader (ft. Yoongi & Hoseok)

Summary: In which you, princess of the Gyeongdong Dynasty, were in the middle of wedding plans. An arranged marriage that would guarantee your father's bloodline to stay on the throne.

Or in which you are assigned a new royal guard that swore to protect you with his life. Jeon Jungkook. That's his name. A name you could never forget. A name that, slowly but surely got engraved not only in your memories but also in your heart.

Love, politics, betrayal and desire. All in ancient history. A love that never should have happened, two souls that wouldn't be allowed to be together.

Warnings: fluff, angst, mentions of past life, reincarnation! AU, implied soulmate! AU, flashbacks, ft. Yoongi and Hoseok, modern! AU, lost love, yearning, strangers to lovers???, all the feels, crying, there's a kiss, sweet and soft koo, hurt/comfort, (let me know if I missed anything!)

Word Count: 10.4 k

A/N: Hello, darlings! Welcome the the finale of "Four Seasons"! I know you guys have waited a looong time for this part to come out but it is finally here so let's see how Jungkook and our Princess will end their love story!

This whole story was highly inspired by "Moon Lovers" and the ending it should have had, (in my humble opinion). I included different scenes of other movies/shows/dramas that I liked with the hope you will like it as well.

Also thank you guys so much for 200 followers! Take this as my thank you gift, darlings!

Thank you so much for all the love this series got and thank you for sticking up with me to see the end of this journey and hopefully the beginning of many more! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, darlings! Happy reading, everyone!

💜 Boraghae ARMY 💜

~Taglist for Four Season: @valhallawhispers @lovingkoalaface @seokout @ackercute @jksusawife

~Tagging people who were waiting for the finale (I apologise if you didn't want to be tagged) @jjanjankook @junghoseok07 @vminkookgf @allie-is-a-panda

We have lived through centuries, carrying many lives, carrying many deaths. Carrying a world only remembered by our pure soul.

Jungkook opened his eyes, it was still dark outside. He sighed, reaching over his nightstand and picking up his phone. His eyes burned with the sudden light coming from the small device as he turned off his morning alarm.

The phone rested on his chest as he hesitated whether to get up and go to work or probably call sick today once more. Yet a sudden weight getting on the bed made him sigh once more. His other hand blindly searched for his large and sweet dog to pet him lazily while remembering Bam was running out of food and he needed to buy another bag, that meant he had to go to work once more.

With a soft groan, he sat on the bed, searching for his slippers before he stood up and walked out of the bedroom with Bam hot on his heels.

The sun was barely out yet the sky was already painted in beautiful hues of blue and orange. Decorated with the soft looking clouds that seemed to have been delicate brushes over a painting in the museum Jungkook worked at.

Loneliness encapsulated Jungkook's heart as he gazed at the beautiful sky, he almost felt as if there was something missing in his life or rather, someone. He felt empty, divided and there was nothing that could fill that void in his soul.

He tried getting into cooking, but the soft ache was always there. Working out was the solution for some time but as soon as he was back home, that melancholy drowned his soul once more. It made him ache, dream and yearn for something he didn't even know what it was but he felt like he needed it to survive.

Spring had arrived a couple of weeks ago, the trees were blooming with beautiful pink flowers and the petals fell on the ground softly, creating an enchanting path to walk by. The parks were full of greenery and the birds began to sing after the crude winter. Warmer days were to come.

Jungkook found himself walking through the same streets like every morning to get to his full-time job. He walked monotonously, his earpods on only to stop people from talking to him, not that it had happened many times but there was something about today that he didn't wish to interact with people. The least he did it, the better.

No music filled his ears, the walk was monotonous; monochrome even. Without an ounce of colour in his life even when spring was flourishing around him.

However, the sudden smell of fresh roses invaded his senses and he was pulled back from his mind and looked around the crowd that walked alongside him but were unaware of his mundane existence.

Many people surrounded him. Many people continued their paths while he stood rooted to the ground. The scent so soft and calming it made his heart skip a beat without thinking about it. But the feeling was lost before he could fully grasp it. Something clawed at his heart to search for such a unique scent, to go after the person who owned it but the idea dissipated from his mind like fog in a spring morning as someone bumped his shoulder softly and Jungkook was forced to continue moving with the crowd who carried him away of his very first taste of spring.

You stared out of the window of your car, your chin rested over your knuckles as you lost yourself in your thoughts. You noticed the beautiful cherry blossoms have already bloomed, spring has arrived sooner than you thought. But despite the mesmerising view outside of your car, you felt nothing about the pink petals that signalled a new season has started.

Almost as if your heart was frozen. Many called you that. Ice Queen. For people have rarely ever seen you smile. As if it was physically harmful for you to do so. The public always had its eye on you given that you were the only and beautiful daughter of a very important politician, your life was surely of entertainment to the media.

"Did you check the files I sent you yesterday?"

Hoseok, your best friend and personal assistant, spoke next to you. His voice brought you back from your thoughts. You turned to look at him with that emotionless expression he had already gotten used to as you spoke with a dry voice.

"Of course. If I'm going to buy something, I inform myself well, Hoseok. You already know the drill."

He sighed, opening his phone as he checked a new message from your father.

"Is there anything that caught your eye?"

You took a deep breath, your fingers playing with the bracelet you never took off as you spoke with that same bored tone he honestly hated in you. Not because Hoseok had come to terms with it meant he liked it. He had once heard your beautiful laughter. Your precious smile was enough to illuminate a whole room. But that had been long ago. Many years had passed since those golden days. Days when you didn't have responsibilities, when there were no explicit expectations. Days when you both were only children.

"I want to see the paintings. The Gyeongdong Dynasty is known for their magnificent art but I won't be convinced until I see such art pieces with my own eyes."

Hoseok sighed yet again. If he got a dollar for every time he sighed these days he'd already be rich.

"Stubborn as ever."

He muttered under his breath and you turned around to look out of the window, hiding the minuscule smirk that threatened to break over your cherry red lips.

The car stopped in front of the Leeum Museum. You looked at the building, hearing how Hoseok stepped out of the car, just as your driver. Your best friend walked around the car and opened the door for you. With graceful movements you stepped out as well and stood tall on your ground as Hoseok closed the door behind you.

"I'll call you when we’ll be getting back."

Hoseok spoke to the driver, the older man bowed down at you both before he got in the car again and drove off. You stood in front of the museum, admiring the beautiful architecture. Soft wind made your hair fly slightly as you began walking to the castle of arts with Hoseok trailing behind you.

A sudden melancholy filled your heart with each step you took towards the building. As if you had been missing something and were only about to find it. It clawed at your heart and you shuddered at the feeling. Suppressing it as the double doors opened for you and you entered the elegant and modern museum, wanting to stay and leave at the same time.

"Today Miss Lee will be visiting us for her purchase, Jungkook."

Yoongi spoke as he leaned back on his office chair while twirling a pen between his fingers. Jungkook nodded, hands clasped in front of him as he listened attentively.

"She is an extremely special client, one of our main buyers. I am trusting you to tend to her every need. Don't mess with her. Let her roam around and when she decides what artefact she'd want to buy, bring her here. I'll sign the paperwork."

Jungkook looked at his boss and friend with curiosity in his big doe eyes.

"Is there anything specific I should know about her?"

Yoongi sighed deeply, twirling his chair a bit to the right as he looked outside the beautiful gardens of the elegant museum.

"You really don't follow the media, do you? Miss Lee (y/n) is known to have a very difficult temper. She has never been seen smiling and her attitude is as cold as ice, according to netizens. Don't follow her too closely, don't even look her in the eyes. We can't lose such an important purchaser as her."

"I understand."

Jungkook reassured with firmness in his voice, feeling something oddly familiar at the mention of the stoic woman's name. Something within himself he wasn't quick enough to grasp.

"You may go, she is expected to arrive any minute now."

The younger man nodded, bowing softly before he left the classy and minimalist office. Jungkook descended the marble staircase that led to the offices above only to come face to face with Jung Hoseok himself.

"Mr. Jung."

He acknowledged. Hoseok turned to look at Jungkook before a warm smile appeared on his delicate and beautiful features.

"Ah, you must be Jeon Jungkook, right?"

The latter nodded, extending his right hand forward. Hoseok shook his hand firmly before the both men began walking back to the gallery.

"I apologise. I wasn't notified when Miss Lee arrived. I'd like to introduce myself to her."

Jungkook spoke with professionalism in his deep voice. Silently earning Hoseok's silent approval about the younger man.

"Of course. I left her in the ancient relics hall. Let's go there, shall we?"

You had ventured on your own when Hoseok left you to search for the man who was going to accompany you and assess you in your purchase. You didn't pay him much thought as he disappeared around the corner, leaving you alone in the large and beautiful house of arts.

Your feet carried you through the halls, your heels clicking in the marble floors and echoing among the walls that told centuries of history.

The exhibition of the Gyeongdong Dynasty was one the public have been waiting for a long time now. Curious as ever as to what item were you to purchase as preservation of cultural treasure as per your father's own political project.

There was something terribly familiar about the artefacts you saw kept in glass boxes. Historical treasures were kept intact, there was jewellery from noble families and even the royal families of the dynasty that were managed to be restored.

Paintings, clothes, old parchments, vases and even toys were all around the place. You walked over to the hallway where the artefacts of the royal families were kept. Ignoring the heaviness in your steps, the sourness in your heart, the odd feelings that clawed at your heart.

A big glass wall allowed you to witness the mesmerising view of the gardens, cherry blossoms in all their resplandor bloomed at the very background, pink petals decorated the outer grounds and a small fountain was at the centre of the small yet lovely garden that you felt a sudden urge to go to.

You watched it in silence. The soft and pink petals falling behind you with delicate motions. Spring had arrived. But your heart was frozen. Cold as it missed something you yearned for yet didn't know what it was or how to find it. An empty feeling that had lived within you for as long as you can remember.

With a sigh, you forced yourself to avert your eyes from the garden and focus back on the artefacts around the big room. You watched replicas of the dynasty's royal robes. A dress colour orange picked your attention the most, perhaps for its intriguing details or beautiful tailoring. Maybe because of the extravagant colour but you found yourself staring at it for quite some time. A heaviness weighing your heart down as you forced yourself to move forward from the dress you knew once belonged to a princess.

You passed the row of robes and dresses in glass cages, focusing on the paintings hanging on the walls with their respective description below.

First family of the Gyeongdong Dynasty.

Second family of the Gyeongdong Dynasty.

Third family of the Gyeongdong Dynasty.

And so on. It was mostly a man and a woman in the painting, some had children others did not. And you guessed they were the kings and queens of the long lost dynasty that brought the land to prosperity before the Goryeo dynasty started.

You stopped in front of a painting of a man and a woman, both quite beautiful in the art piece. The woman in the painting was holding a baby in her arms and you couldn't help but tilt your head slightly at the strange familiarity you felt towards the beautiful portrait.

There were no names of the people in the painting, the Gyeongdong Dynasty had suffered quite the loss of information when the palace caught fire during the last family of the bloodline. However, you couldn't stop staring at the woman in the portrait. You didn't know why, but it almost felt as if you were watching yourself in a mirror.

You felt as if you resembled her, as if your soul recognised her even when you hadn't seen such a portrait before. The man however made you nostalgic over their sad story.

According to the description of the painting, the man and the woman were married and had a son but she had died of a heart disease. He never remarried and historians said the queen was deeply loved by her husband.

The more you looked at the painting, the heavier your heart felt. It was a family portrait. A family portrait that told a sad story. It made your heart clench in your chest and you took a step back, as if the painting was cursed by the heavens and you had to walk away from it.

Perhaps you needed to stop taking that herbal tea Hoseok always pestered you to drink on an empty stomach.

You felt your stomach sink when you saw the next painting. You recognised the man from the last portrait. The young king. His queen was by his side in the large throne hall and all the officers stood in front of the throne in line. You saw a man, standing next to the queen that wore dark robes and had rough and large hands clasped in front of him.

It felt as if you were dreaming. Watching a movie or remembering something you had forgotten as images flooded in your mind and you found yourself drowning in the violent waters that was the mind.

---

A soft smile was plastered over your features while still facing him. However, he ignored what you said and commented, his voice a bit more distant than before.

"You will trip if you walk like that."

It was a statement rather than a possibility and that had you frowning up at him. If he was going to be like this then your little trips to the city and nearby villages were going to be a bit dull, at least until you got to your desired destination.

"I won't! I don't lik-"

But your sentence got cut off when, just as he predicted, you tripped with a small rock. You gasped when you felt your body being pulled down to the ground by gravity, the heavy skirts of your dress not allowing you to gain back your footing.

It was only when you felt a firm hand grasping yours and a pull over your body when you were back on your feet.

"I told you you would trip over."

Officer Jeon said, his voice cold and distant but you were able to catch a tinge of humour behind his words. A soft blush painted your cheeks when you realised he was still holding your hand in his surprisingly warm one.

Out of a sudden you felt shy, retrieving your hand from his grasp and taking a couple of steps away from him as you hadn't noticed just how close the two of you were a mere second ago.

"That... that was- it wouldn't... aish. I don't like for people to walk behind me, I feel like I'm being followed. Just... just do me the favour, could you? Just walk next to me, I promise you won't get in trouble."

He sighed, looking around before agreeing with a silent nod.

"And, thanks by the way. For not letting me fall down."

He bowed slightly, the both of you continuing your path down to the city.

"I was just doing my work, Princess."

You had to bite down on your lip to keep the smile from shining all over your face. He indeed took that vow to heart. You thought. Looking up at him, you noticed just how handsome your personal guard was and a warm sensation spread all over your body.

"So... tell me. What's your name? How would you like me to call you?"

Your question made him look down at you for a split second but you continued to watch him with curiosity. If he was going to always be with you, at least you could be friends?

"I am the First Officer of the Royal Guards, Jeon Jungkook. You can call me as you please, My Lady."

Jeon Jungkook.

---

"Thank you for coming with me to the city."

He bowed down at you, not saying a word. When he straightened back up he was met with the sight of you holding a small bag towards him.

"You can have them, you looked like you wanted some of them. I won't be able to finish them all anyway."

Jungkook took the bag from your hand hesitantly, his fingers brushing yours for a split second before the contact was broken.

"I appreciate your generosity, Princess. Rest well."

You smiled a little wider at him, your hands clasping in front of you.

"You rest as well, Jungkook."

With that being said you entered your room, sliding the door shut. Only when Jungkook saw that you had closed the door did he begin walking back to his own room.

---

"You have good skills but your posture can be improved."

At Jungkook's words you lifted your gaze, meeting his dark brown eyes with your own once more. He gestured towards your bow with his chin and asked, his voice gentle like a summer breeze.

"May I?"

You nodded, handing him your bow. The warmth of his fingers brushed yours and you had to bite back a smile. He crouched down and picked up the arrow that had fallen from your grasp a moment ago.

Jungkook positioned himself and you watched his every move.

"You are too tense while holding the bow, if your hold is firm but at the same time gentle it will give you stability."

You listened carefully to his explanations as your eyes were glued to him and for the first time since he became your personal guard were you able to admire him. Properly admire him.

Your gaze landed on his focused face, on how his eyes were put on the target mark and nothing else. Then, you travelled to his lips and marvelled on the way he was pulling back the arrow until it touched the corner of his lips softly. His jawline was defined as if it had been sculpted by the gods.

His broad shoulders carried years of training and you could see how his muscles could be traced even with more than one layer of clothing. His veiny hands held the bow and the arrow with expertise and you found yourself trapped in a trance in which only Jungkook existed.

He fired the arrow, hitting the target in its centre. You looked amazed at the clean shot he did and he commented, giving you back your bow.

"Would you like to try again, Princess?"

You nodded and took the bow. Jungkook walked where the rest of the arrows were and picked one up. He handed it to you and you took it softly from his grasp. You positioned the arrow and prepared yourself to shoot.

You silently gasped when you felt a large hand over your left one, the one holding the bow and it took you less than a second to realise it was Jungkook who was guiding you. You smelled his scent from behind you and felt the light pressure of his body at your back but it wasn't uncomfortable, on the contrary, you felt safe being this close to him. It was... Soothing, to say the least.

"You need to relax your hand a bit more."

Following his instructions, he smiled.

"Good, now take a deep breath. Straighten up a bit more and concentrate."

You did as you were told, closing your eyes and relishing in the comfort Jungkook provided. The warm feeling of his hand over yours was nearly overwhelming. The moment you opened your eyes again, the only thing you could focus on was the target. Letting go of the arrow, it travelled through the air with a mute noise and landed directly on the mark.

A gasp left your lips and Jungkook let go of your hand just as you turned around and looked up at him. Your smile showed pure happiness, a happiness he was responsible for and for some reason, that settled a spark of proudness in his chest.

---

"I care for you, Princess."

You closed your eyes, letting the tears fall freely down your cheeks.

"You can't."

Whispered words reached his ears. Making his heart shake with the need to hold you, promise you that it was going to be alright.

"But I do."

You opened your eyes, looking at Jungkook through blurry vision. His eyes were filled with tears and you felt an ache in your heart at the sight of his tears.

"You weren't supposed to. You were only meant to protect me, Jungkook. That's it, nothing else."

He sighed, his eyes lowering to your trembling hands resting on your lap. He had a sudden urge to hold them. To hold you. To comfort you.

"I know. Love is blind, Princess. No-one gets to choose."

---

Your eyes were locked with his, not daring to break the eye contact that was grounding your thoughts, in a way at least.

"I'm begging you to put yourself in my shoes, it is not correct for me to write to you in such a way. Your fiancé is in the palace and you could get in trouble if someone finds out."

The way he said "you could get in trouble" not "me", not "we". It was you who he was worried about. His heart feared for you and the fact of such care brought tears to your eyes.

"It is not appropriate, Your Highness."

He bowed slightly at you, a lump forming in your throat as realisation hit you. You were losing him. You were losing the only man who could ever own your heart. The man you cared for over everyone else. The man you loved. You were losing your Jungkook but, was he really yours to begin with?

You could never claim yourself as his so no, he wasn't yours. He wasn't yours to love and care, he wasn't yours to be with you out of what was needed to be.

You took a deep breath, holding your head high and swallowing the lump in your throat. You were never going to say you loved him, you weren't going to put yourself in such pain. You didn't want his pity. The misery it'd come afterwards.

"You are right,"

This time, Jungkook flinched at your tone. Your words were void of any emotion, a sound that he used to know was as warm like the summer days felt now cold like winter.

"it is not right for us to write to each other. It will not happen again."

Even though that was what his mind desired for you to say, his heart hurt at your words. As if someone had just stabbed him directly in the heart. Your words had such an impact on him. Not because you were the Crown Princess but because he loved you. He loved you with all his body, soul and mind. He loved you more than love itself. But he knew the cruel reality. Jungkook knew that you both could never be together.

---

"Yes. You?"

He nodded. Not hearing the commotion from before. The intruders had been defeated by the remaining palace guards. He could hear Yoongi talking to the king about investigating the bloodbath that had just occurred in the throne room.

Jungkook looked down at you. The hand that once rested on your shoulder travelled down your arm until his fingers locked with yours, holding your hand and giving it a firm squeeze in reassurance.

But the moment was short-lived. The moment in which you lost yourself in his dark orbs and relished in the feeling of his touch as innocent and reassuring as was to hold your hand.

You saw, in a matter of milliseconds how his eyes shifted from you to something standing behind you. His sword clanked to the floor and his hand left yours, leaving it cold once more. You suddenly found yourself in his arms as he twisted you both. Being him who's back faced the entrance way.

You gasped at the motion. But nothing could have been worse than the pained groan he let out a mere second after he spun you around.

Tears gathered in your eyes when you saw one of the remaining intruders holding a bow, pointing it at you. Your eyes widened when you saw an arrow had pierced him on the back.

"Jungkook!"

He began to slump forward and you did your best to ease his fall. The hand that held the bow you had used to defend yourself clattered to the floor as you knelt on the ground, while Jungkook nuzzled his head in the crook of your neck.

Jimin, who stood next to the entrance way, had seen everything unfold before his eyes. He was quick to run towards the last intruder and kill him with his own sword before he turned back to you and watched how you held Jungkook in your embrace.

"Jungkook! Stay awake, you have to stay awake! Do you hear me? Jungkook!"

---

“I just remembered,”

He stood up, his hands leaving your grasp and you felt them cool down without the warmth of Jungkook’s large hands over your own. Your gaze followed him while he searched in one of his drawers until he pulled something out and walked back to you. 

“I made you something for your birthday but with everything that happened, I never got the chance to give it to you.”

You were glad you were sitting, if not, you would have probably fainted with the amount of love you had for this man. Had he really made you something despite the terms you were in before the engagement ceremony? Did he really love you that much?

Of course he did. 

When Jungkook loved, he loved with all his heart. And right now, you were the owner of that heart of his. He gave it to you without a second thought and his little actions kept proving it to you over and over again. He grabbed your left wrist and you looked down, watching as he tied a red braided bracelet around your skin. He tightened it with the perfect amount of force, tight enough for it to not fall but not that strong that it would hurt your precious skin. 

“Do you like it?”

You couldn’t take your eyes off his gift. It was a beautifully braided bracelet with small pearls in it. 

“It’s perfect.”

You whispered. Afraid that if you spoke any louder the moment would be ruined. His heart skipped a beat with your words.

“No-one has ever given me such a beautiful gift. Thank you, Jungkook.”

He scratched the back of his neck, clearing his throat and looking away. But you were having none of that so you, once more, grabbed his hand and made him look at you. Your (e/c) eyes met his big doe ones and you said, with tears prickling at the corner of your eyes.

“Thank you, Jungkook. For everything.”

He smiled, a warm smile that made butterflies go wild in your stomach. 

“You are very welcome, my princess.”

---

"Aren't you cold?"

That voice he enjoyed so much reached his ears, making him look up at you. He smiled. Shutting the book as his arm rested next to him. Your feet crunched the snow below as you made your way towards him.

"Not really, princess. I kept myself busy."

You smiled. Looking up at him as your hands clasped themselves in front of you.

"Aren't you cold, Your Highness?"

His voiced concern made your heart flutter. You feared he could hear just how fast your heart was beating inside your chest.

"No, I just came from taking a walk with the Crown Prince."

Jungkook kept his gaze on you yet you were aware how something flashed in his eyes at the mention of your future husband. It was there in those dark orbs you loved to get yourself lost into, a second in which he let his emotions take control over him. Where he was vulnerable to your watchful eyes.

But it was gone as you blinked. He gave you no time to question whatever you had seen in his gaze as he asked you next.

"Are you ready for your wedding day?"

The atmosphere turned sombre. As if clouds had hidden the sun of a summer day during tea time. Soft snowflakes began falling from the darkening skies in a soft motion. Delicately even.

"You know I'm not. How could I?"

The smile that once adorned Jungkook's handsome features was now gone. A sad look covered his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

You took a deep breath. The little bubble of happiness and freedom he provided was now popped and you were brought to the harsh reality. You didn't say anything but you could feel his eyes on you as the both of you walked slowly through your private gardens.

The playful and innocent mood like a summer breeze had been clouded by the cold winds of winter. Of reality.

---

"You came."

You breathed out. Not really believing he was standing there, in front of you when you were literally getting married tomorrow.

"You called."

Jungkook answered. A fond smile was painted over his pink lips. His eyes twinkled with happiness upon seeing you. His hand reached forward in an unconscious manner. But he paused his motion before his palm graced your cheeks with his loving touch.

He lowered his arm and cleared his throat. Speaking once more to break the silence that fell between you two.

"I will not ask how you managed to send that note to me, Princess."

You let out a short laugh, blessing his ears with such a pure sound. A melody his heart cherished more than life itself.

"I have my ways, Officer Jeon."

He snorted at that, his frame relaxing in your presence as he leaned his side to the tree. His eyes never leave your own.

"Can't you call me by my name, Jungkook? Just once?"

Your plea made his eyes harden. You asked for the impossible but you desired more than oxygen to hear your name in his voice. That sweet voice that lived in your mind rent-free. That would console you in your memories when you were sad and would bring a smile upon your face in the most random times of the day.

"I cannot, Your Highness. It is against His Majesty's order to address you improperly."

You frowned.

"Even if I am asking you that?"

He sighed. A hand running though his dark hair. How you wished you could run your own hands through his locks. You could bet on your life they were as soft as cotton.

"I can't, princess. I'm sorry."

Silence stretched between you both. Somehow, the air felt colder, breathing got more challenging upon your rejected request.

"Why did you want to see me? Did you miss me that much?"

Jungkook said, trying to lighten the mood. A playful smirk over his lips. You looked up at him, your eyes as transparent as the lake's water; revealing your soul.

"I don't know if you'll want to speak to me after I say what's been on my mind for the last two days."

He lifted an eyebrow at your response. Curiosity got the best of him as he took a step away from the tree, now standing fully in front of you. The soft snow continues to dance around you.

"It can't be that bad, now can it? Just tell me, Princess."

You took a deep breath, your pulse quickening. This was it. The opportunity to speak your mind. To reveal your most intimate desire to him.

"I don't want to get married, Jungkook. I don't want to marry the Crown Prince. Jimin is worthy of the throne but... I don't love him."

He remained silent. His eyes turned from playful to serious the moment you mentioned your marriage. And he listened. He listened with all his attention to each word that left your lips.

"I can't marry a man I don't love. I want... I want to be with you. It is you who I want to marry, to spend the rest of my time with. Only you can make me happy, Jungkook and it breaks my heart every time I am reminded you won't be at the other end of the altar tomorrow."

Tears began to cloud your vision. But you tried to blink them back. This was what you had been trying to say to him. Yet your most desired thing in the word was still to get revealed.

"I want to leave, I want to leave this place, Kookie. I don't want to be a princess if it means I cannot be yours entirely. I burn for you, in every extent of the word. I cannot breathe when you are not near, I cannot think when I cannot see you close to me. You are everything to me."

A lump began forming in his throat. He felt exactly the same. Jungkook was glad you spoke of this first, you revealed your soul to him, your thoughts, your heart. You needed him. You lived with him, for him. It'd be a pointless life if you couldn't share it with him, he saw that now.

But the surprise when he heard you next couldn't be hidden even if he had wished to do so.

"I want to run away with you, Jungkook. "

---

"What are you doing outside at this hour, Jungkook?"

He untangled his hands from behind him and let them rest by his side, his eyes never leaving yours. Not knowing how his gaze alone was enough to make your heart thump wildly inside you.

"I couldn't sleep. I'll assume you are here because of the same reason."

You nodded, he took a step forward and your breath hitched in your throat. The action of inhaling was already painful as the air was cold, as cold as your neglected heart. Was he really going to take the risk of being this close to you? Another step. Perhaps he was. Then another. He certainly was.

It wasn't until he stood so close to you that you could feel his warm breath dust over your cold cheeks that you silently gasped and took a step back on instinct.

If anyone saw you both, there'd be problems. You didn't want that, not for Jungkook at least.

"And because I missed you. I had to see you. You do not only own this kingdom, you own my heart too and I couldn't live another day without seeing you, my Queen. For you are the one who rules my heart and soul."

You savoured the way his sweet words sprinkled your sour soul with sugar. It was delicious. To think that you were his, that he loved you, that he thought of you, dreamed of you. That he wanted you, perhaps even more strongly than how you wanted him.

You allowed yourself to drown in his sweet words. If only for a moment. Just a moment. A minute. A second would suffice. You didn't ask for more. You didn't want more. The only thing that you needed was his love and he gave it to you on a silver tray.

"Do you really want me that much?"

He nearly flinched at the way your voice was so soft, delicate even. Carrying emotions that were only reflected in your eyes.

"I want you with every fibre of my body and I can't stop thinking about that day. The day when you wanted to leave this place, I only want you to know that if the circumstances had been different, I would have escaped with you but taking you with me only meant death. I would rather die every day for not having you by my side than being the reason for your demise. I love you too much to do that to you."

You didn't realise you were crying until he reached his hand to wipe the tears but you took a step back. Hurt flashed in his eyes and that alone was enough for more tears to roll down your cheeks.

"You can't touch me, Jungkook. Not without the King's permission. Not even in an innocent way."

Your mumbled words reached his ears and he lowered his hand, he clenched it in a tight fist by his side but you didn't notice. Not when your eyes were glued to his own.

"And I understand why you didn't run away with me. I love you too much to get you killed. I'm so sorry I even proposed it on the first place."

His own eyes reflected the sadness in his soul in the form of tears. They glistened under the moonlight, little tears that he refused to let go; to set free.

"Do you really want me that much?"

A question you had already asked. A question he had already answered.

"Do you really want me that much, Jungkook? Even when I am another man's woman?"

He had to physically hold himself back so as to not take another step towards you. It pained him. His feet ached. His heart ached. It was painful to have you so close yet so far away at the same time yet he knew it had been like that since those warm summer days. Since the very beginning of the forbidden love story you developed with your royal guard.

Even when I am another man's woman...

Those words would repeat themselves in his head until the end of his days. A tear rolled down Jungkook's cheek, the chilly air hitting him and making him shiver.

You weren't his. Not anymore. You had never been his. At least not in this lifetime.

"You could never be tainted for me. You are and will always be perfect to hold my heart in your hands. And in our next life you will be mine, and if not in our next one or our next one after that. "

---

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Your steps halted when you heard his voice. A big banquet was held to announce your pregnancy to the village. Your father had come to bless you himself, he even told you he'd be staying during the last trimester of the pregnancy as he didn't want to miss the moment his grandchild were to be born.

You could only smile at that thought. But a gulp in your throat upon hearing that voice dissipated the thought, like fog when the sun came out. You turned around, eyes meeting with Jungkook's dark orbs.

A soft smile graced your lips yet he noticed how it didn't reach your eyes.

"Thank you, Jungkook."

There were so many things unsaid between you both. But have words ever been enough? He could see the sadness in your soul, the remorse, the longing and the love that existed in you. How Jungkook wished to go back to those summer days when everything was perfect, when you were happy along with him. When there existed no such barrier between you two of you being married to another man.

You could see it too, how his posture was tense, his eyes sharp with swirling storms of emotions in his dark gaze. You felt the yearning, the pain, the heartbreak from his part. And it crushed your heart even more for you knew he loved you but Jungkook couldn't step closer to you. Literally and figuratively.

He didn't know what else to say, all the courage he had managed to gather in the ceremony was gone now. Leaving him standing before you. His Queen; owner of his heart.

"I do not wish for this encounter to be like the last one, my queen. I only hope that you find the happiness you deserve for I cannot express how proud I am of you. Your child will resemble you in many ways, I am sure of it."

You wanted to run to him, hold his hand and wipe the tears that threatened to escape his eyes. But you could not. Dare not step such boundaries for his sake.

"You must find your happiness too, Jungkook. Live your life and live it right so that we can meet in our next lifetime."

---

A sharp pain made you gasp as your knees hit the floor, your dress puffing out around you. Jungkook was by your side the next second, concern was written all over his face while worry filled his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Please, talk to me."

You took a deep breath between your gasps and whimpers. Your hand grabbed his in your pain-induced mind, trying to ground yourself onto something, someone.

"I-It hurts... Jungkook, it h-hurts."

Your water broke the next second but you felt as if there was something wrong, this was not how a natural birth was supposed to start.

"Please... something's wrong. It- it hurts so much."

Tears gathered in your eyes as you tried to suppress the scream that threatened to escape your throat. You felt him let go of your hand, positioning his arms beneath your kneeling figure only to be lifted by him the next second.

Your arms circled his neck on instinct as you curled yourself in his hold. Jungkook began walking back to the palace at a fast pace, the weight of your body grounded his mind while at the same time numbed his senses. If you hadn't been in so much pain at that moment you would have noticed how his hands were trembling.

"Hold on, my Queen. You'll be fine, I'm here. It's alright."

He cradled you against his chest firmly, not wanting to let you go ever again now that you were in his arms. His heart feared for your safety, you were only eight months pregnant by now, he knew the risks of pregnancy and Jungkook knew he wouldn't be able to live if something were to happen to you.

Tears soaked his robes, your hand fisted his collar. Your small whimpers were like poisonous needles piercing his heart. It hurt. It pained him to see you in so much distress.

"Hold on, love. Please."

---

"You called for me, Your Majesty."

He bowed down at you and you sighed, realising how much you hated when he bowed at you when you'd go on your knees with only a word falling from his lips. He had that power over you. That way to command you. To make you feel.

"Jungkook."

The man before you lifted his gaze and your eyes met his once more. Had it been within any other circumstances, you'd have smiled and ran toward him. How you wish you could embrace him, how you wish you could kiss him and declare your love for him. How you wish you could love him freely.

You were sitting between blankets and cushions, taking rest after the hard labour. The prince lied next to you as he slept soundly while being wrapped up in luxurious fabric.

"I haven't seen you in a while."

He smiled. Not that smile that reached his eyes or that warmed your insides. It made you shiver with the sadness within it. Like a cold breeze on a winter day.

"I was told you were to rest, my Queen. Captain Min ordered me to give you some space, at least until you are feeling better."

You smiled, gesturing for him to sit in front of you, which he did. A moment of silence passed between you both. Your gaze lingered on his handsome features, drawing a map of him in your mind.

"I missed you."

He sighed at your whispered confession. Those words clawed at his heart with nothing but a heavy guilt that existed within him.

"My Queen... please."

You took a deep breath at his pleading, his begging. You looked aside as your heart constricted in your chest.

"Forgive me."

He looked at you with eyes full of emotions you weren't quick enough to grasp. Why must love hurt so much? Jungkook shifted his gaze from your figure, focusing on the little bundle where the prince, your son, slept peacefully.

"Congratulations on your baby. May prince Ha-joon live a long and happy life with his family."

---

"Kook!"

Ha-joon had said. Your hands felt cold against the warm cup, your soul froze when you looked up. There he was. Jeon Jungkook. You hadn't seen him in days. And before today there were only small peaks here and there followed by short greetings.

Jungkook turned to look at you, your eyes met his from across the garden. You felt your breath hitch in your throat at the mere sight of him. Your hands trembled around the cup, forcing you to put it away.

He bowed down at you slowly yet his eyes never left yours. Emotions invaded your body as you stood up from your chair. Hoseok noticed your actions and sat up, Ha-joon left his side and ran with his little legs where Jungkook was.

Your royal guard smiled down at your son and Hoseok stood up from the ground, walking the steps to where you stood.

"Your Majesty, are you alright? You look pale, should I walk you to your chambers?"

But you shook your head, your eyes following Jungkook's figure as he approached you with Ha-joon by his side. The little prince was telling him something that you couldn't hear and he smiled widely. Flashed him that bunny smile you loved so much and had missed just as fiercely.

Jungkook bowed down at you once he stood in front of you. Ha-joon looked up at the man next to him and mimicked his actions. Your heart clenched at the sight. Having the man you loved and your child who was your husband's son before you was too much for your heart.

It clenched inside you, it burned, it ached.

"Your Majesty."

Jungkook acknowledged you. You nodded softly at him and he rose to his full height. Ha-joon doing the same.

"Kook! Play, together."

Hoseok watched the interaction from where he stood. His own heart clenched at the sight of your hidden pain. You have always been an open book for your best friend. You had been able to hide your love from your father, even from your husband but not from Hoseok. He had known you his entire life. He knew you, he knew the core of your heart. He knew your unspoken words. He knew.

"Only if the queen allows it, my prince."

Jungkook's eyes found yours once more. A sad smile painted his lips. Ha-joon was a clear resemblance of you but also of his father and Jungkook was reminded once more of what he had lost the day you married Jimin. Of that dream that he wished would become his reality was instead a mountain of ashes. Of burnt dreams and wishes.

You smiled tightly at the pair in front of you, not wanting to deny sweet Ha-joon of his free days and innocent happiness.

"You may play, but please be careful."

---

"Jungkook."

His name coming from your lips was the sweetest melody he has ever heard. He had missed it. He had missed you. His eyes locked with yours and he nearly gasped at the sight of you laying on the soft bedding, your skin was paler than usual, your eyes were tired and your body was beyond weakened.

"Your Majesty."

He acknowledged you. Bowing softly at you without tearing his gaze from you. He saw you shift in your position, laying on your left side so you could see him properly. You smiled and in an instant his dark world was lightened by your existence. 

"Come closer, Jungkook. Come here."

Your hand extended towards him as if trying to reach him. He couldn't hold himself back any longer upon your innocent request as his legs moved with a mind of their own. Nearly jumping until he was kneeling by your side, his hand holding yours ever so softly.

“I heard… I heard that you are sick, my Queen. Is it true?”

Jungkook asked almost shyly. Not meeting your eyes as his own gaze was fixed on your joined hands. 

“It is.”

He sighed at your response. Feeling how his heart clenched within him. Tears watered his dark eyes and a lump grew in your throat at the sight of his sadness. 

“Don’t cry, Jungkook. Don’t waste your tears over me.”

He looked up at you, his expression hurt with your words. A frown was between his brows, eyes watered with his materialised sadness and a soul that he could no longer carry on his own. 

“How can you say that to me? I am dying with you, my Queen. Only you are capable of causing me the greatest pain yet it is you who eradicates it as well.”

You squeezed his hand, feeling your chest aching. Your mind was shutting down as you gazed at the man you loved with your entire being. 

“Forgive me.”

He shook his head, refusing to let his tears roll down his cheeks as his eyes roamed over your face as if trying to memorise all your little details in his mind. 

“It is I who should beg for forgiveness. I cannot protect you from this, I have failed you. I cannot prevent you from leaving me.”

A tear left the corner of your eye as you looked at him with so many unsaid things and raging emotions you were never able to pour out. It was too much. Too much love. Too much longing. Too much sadness. Too much anger. Your heart couldn’t take it any more.

“Maybe you can’t make me stay, but you gave me the opportunity of knowing what it was to love. Even when we couldn’t be together in the end, I still love you. I will always love you, Jungkook. In each… in each lifetime.”

—

A choked gasp left your lips as the memory dissipated from your mind like morning fog during a summer day. You didn't even realise you were crying until you sniffled and your hand came up to your face and your skin was wet with your own liquid sadness.

What kind of dream was this? What kind of cruelty had fate bestowed upon you? What kind of crime did you commit to feel this pain? You had loved, you had been loved only for it to melt like ice in those warm summer days when everything was perfect. You couldn't help the sob that escaped your lips as the realisation hit you:

You were the queen of the portrait. A representation of your old soul trapped in your past life as the unfortunate lover.

It wasn't a dream. It was a memory. Your memories from your past life and that love you were once denied to have. 

Hoseok was nearing the hall of ancient artefacts when his phone rang and he stopped in his tracks. Jungkook halted beside him and waited in silence.

"I'm sorry, I have to take this. I left Miss (y/n) at the end of this hall. You shouldn't have difficulty finding her."

Jungkook bowed softly, his warm eyes meeting the ones of Hoseok as he spoke in his professional voice once more.

"Don't worry, Mr. Jung. I'll do my best to assist her."

Hoseok nodded before he accepted the call and walked away, leaving Jungkook to sigh to himself before he ventured on the journey of finding the eccentric politician's daughter.

He walked among the centuries of history around him, through the halls that held art and a lost empire through time. Something about his line of work had always intrigued him. It made him wonder just how insignificant life was. Years, decades and centuries of history, of people that once walked on this Earth were now kept in glass boxes, a strange way of trying to preserve what should have died years ago.

It made him think about all the lives, all the deaths, all the heartbreaks from the past. All those untold stories buried in time. In every aspect, in every lifetime, in every way. It was simply melancholic to acknowledge all the history around him.

Jungkook walked, allowing his mind to wander as he thought of the beautiful politician's daughter. He thought of the times he had seen her, seen you in important events. Always looking so beautiful, always captivating the media. Always perfect, always next to your powerful father.

He reached the end of the hall but there was no sight of you. A sudden tightness gripped his heart fiercely, as if he were in pain, as if someone clutched his heart in its claws and it bled out.

As if on instinct, Jungkook walked to the royal hall. His feet moved on their own, his mind spiralled with all kinds of thoughts. With dream-like memories that he would have sworn were from one of those historical dramas he knew were popular among the hopeless romantics.

The sound of a sob echoed over the walls and it was as painful as being stabbed on the heart. He turned around with urgency only to spot you looking at a painting, your back was facing him while your left hand covered your mouth.

"Miss (y/n)?"

Your eyes widened when you heard that voice. That voice that was lost in your thoughts. That voice that was from your forgotten memories. That same voice that had broken your heart was now stitching it back together.

You turned around, your misty eyes met his in a dance of emotions you were, for once, able to dance along. Pink petals from the cherry blossoms in the garden behind fell slowly and when your eyes locked with Jungkook's he saw it as well.

He saw everything. All those memories, all those experiences. He saw his love. His sadness. His life. His reason for living. His flower. His darling. All in ancient history.

Jungkook saw his past life with you.

Like a movie in front of his eyes. A dream he wanted to reach. A memory he had promised to not forget but time was cruel and it was buried in the depths of his soul.

"Jungkook? It's you, isn't it?"

Your voice brought him back from his forgotten memories. He looked at you with a familiarity and a strangeness in his eyes. It was enough to make tears roll down your cheeks while his own eyes watered at the impossible sight before him.

"...princess? H-how?...."

You sobbed and he walked toward you. Unable to resist the sight of your tears. Perhaps this was the first time he met you in this lifetime but your souls have been in love for centuries. Your heart hadn't changed, his feelings remained the same. Love cannot be killed, not even by death.

He stood at arms length, eyes gazing down at you with the urge to know the truth. To know if you were that missing piece in his life. To know if this lifetime was worth-living.

"You found me. You said you'd find me."

Was this a dream? Was this a false memory? Was this real? He deeply needed for it to be real. Jungkook felt whole when he looked down at you. As if you were the missing piece for this puzzle called life. And you? You didn't know if he still wanted you. If Jungkook was your Jungkook. Your lost lover. Your forbidden romance. Your unfinished story.

"In every lifetime, princess."

His hand flexed next to him with the urge to touch you. To hug you and never let you go. To kiss you. To finally kiss you after all those denied moments he had before. To love you like he had dreamt long ago.

You wiped your cheeks with the back of your hand and something on your wrist caught his attention. It was a subtle glimpse of a red string around your wrist and he knew, in that moment he knew.

"You still wear it huh?"

A smile appeared on your lips at the same words he had spoken to you. A long time ago. Once upon a dream. In another lifetime. And the same answer is what he got. The same words that you had replied to him. The answer to his lovely sentence.

"I never took it off."

He was referring to your red bracelet. Something you remember always having, never truly knowing how you got to possess such a beautiful item but it simply felt right to wear it. So you did, you never took it off. As if it was engraved in your skin, almost like Jungkook's name was written in your soul and his whispered love was locked away in your heart.

"Can... Can I hold you?"

There was desperation in his voice. It sounded almost bitter that it pulled on your heartstrings. You nodded almost immediately. Burning just as him to feel him once more, to touch the man you had missed for centuries. To be held by your one and only love.

You were in his arms the next second. His hands pressed you against his chest as your own circled his waist. A long lost hug. A missed love. A romance out of time. But it was a timeless love nonetheless.

Something clicked inside you once you were held by Jungkook. As if your heart had been filled with his life, as if your broken soul was stitched back with just his simple touch. As if memories had been unlocked after your skin touched his.

"I missed you. I missed you so much, queen of my heart."

His hold on you tightened and you couldn't help but bury your face in his chest. How he had wished to do this in his first lifetime. How he wished he had been able to hold you like this. How he wished he had had you before just like this.

All the pain was gone. The tears were dried by his love. His hands held your heart so softly and purely you didn't want to part from him. You couldn't. You wouldn't. You wouldn't let go of him like that once more. You weren't going to lose him again. Not after all that pain, all that heartbreak, all those tears and all that yearning. Not again. Never again.

"I missed you too. So much, so much..."

Jungkook rested his chin at the top of your head, closing his eyes as he held you softly but firmly. It made him wonder just how much time you had been robbed in your past life. He realised just how evil fate had been to break you both like that. To separate two lovers is the worst cruelty of this fallen world.

But now, those cold days are over. Winter had passed. Even after centuries of living buried in the freezing snow, warmth had finally touched his heart. The soft rays of the sun were melting his once frozen soul. Your love did that. Only with you was he able to live in warmth. Only with you existed that flame in his heart that kept him alive.

You looked up at him and he met your gaze midway. It was magical. To look at the eyes you had unknowingly missed so much. How your soul was mourning the loss of Jungkook, how your life was always grey and cold was now warm and coloured in pink. Like the petals falling behind you.

One of his hands cradled your cheek and you smiled. Your heart was beating wildly in your heart at the proximity, at the love, at the emotions that came flooding like a waterfall from the sky.

You stood on your tippy toes only to press your lips against his. It was soft, delicate. Like a spring breeze. A kiss full of love. A healing kiss. A kiss that should have happened a long time ago. Jungkook kissed you back, burning at the feeling of your soft lips against his.

He tilted his head, deepening the kiss and you sighed, tightening your grip around his waist as he poured all those long lost emotions into that kiss. A kiss he had wished he could give you centuries ago. All the love, all the yearning, all the heartbreak, all the feelings of missing you, missing your warmth, your love, your touch, your existence were poured into that kiss.

A sealed kiss of timeless love.

"Don't ever leave me again."

He whispered against your lips. voice desperate with the promise of your love. Of your devotion. Of eternity.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

Your answer was said in a soft voice, only meant for Jungkook to hear. He pressed his forehead against yours, looking into your eyes as he felt the memories slowly come back to him. During those golden summer days, rainy autumn evenings and cold winter nights. Everything about his life with you came back like a soft spring drizzle over his soul.

Perhaps fate had been cruel when he separated you from your Jungkook with death. But it now gave you the opportunity with your rightful lover. That soulmate you were destined to love since the very beginning of life.

Through life and death, only time gets in between. Through tears and pain, it is love that keeps the hope alive and through silent feelings and absent minds; it is time that keeps them together in a dance with a melody only meant for the tangled lovers to hear.

In every lifetime, in every way, in every universe and in every season. Love is stronger than death. 

February/16/2024

~Masterpost

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, darlings!

**I do NOT give my consent for this or any of my works to be posted or translated into any other platforms or languages.