#who knows maybe I’ll even be motivated enough to watercolor it | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

choerrypuffs · 4 years ago

Text

my best friend wants to be abducted by aliens.

pairing: son of athena!renjun x daughter of aphrodite!reader

genre: fluff, angst

word count: 14.6k (this was supposed to be 5k 😌)

author’s note: hi so here is renjun’s chapter to my 00 line x camp half-blood series (i’m sorry, i know it took forever)! thank you so much for all of the support, and i hope you enjoy 💞

warning: one (1) makeout session

You are currently crouched behind a cluster of bushes, trying to get a glimpse of your targets through binoculars.

Does that sound stalkerish? Perhaps.

Are you actually a stalker? Debatable.

However, no matter how suspicious it looks, your motive is pure—for the most part.

You’re spying on Kang Daniel (son of Hermes) and Park Jihyo (daughter of Apollo), both of whom are at the Archery Range. Jihyo is showing Daniel how to shoot, encasing him with her arms as she nocks the arrow for him. The tips of his ears are so red that they could practically be a flare; you can see how flamboyant they are all the way from your hiding spot.

You start grinning like a maniac, excited that your plan is finally unfolding.

You had noticed how awful Daniel was at archery during a training session a couple weeks ago, and you casually suggested to him that he should ask Jihyo for some lessons. You’ve always known that Daniel has been hopelessly in love with Jihyo since the moment he saw her (it’s a child of Aphrodite thing—you can just sense it), but she’s been oblivious to it this entire time.

Well, until now.

Just as you guessed, sparks flew immediately. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife. You give them a couple more passionately-charged archery lessons before they inevitably surrender to their emotions and begin to date—and your predictions are never wrong.

“Another job well done, Y/N,” you mumble proudly to yourself, “Mom would be so proud.”

“Excuse me, ma’am. I’m going to have to ask you to stop loitering by these bushes and stalking those two campers over there, or else I’ll have to report you to the camp director,” a sudden voice from behind you says.

Letting out a loud yelp, you drop your binoculars in surprise and whip your head around to see who it is. You turn so fast that you almost fall backwards into said bushes, quickly using your palms to balance yourself.

“Renjun, you asshole!”

Huang Renjun, your long-time best friend and professional asshole, is standing in front of you. He’s wearing the iconic orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt with black jeans, his hands tucked inside his pockets. His dark hair is parted to one side, with a single lock of hair falling perfectly into one eye, giving him the I-wake-up-and-my-hair-is-naturally-like-this look (even though it’s most definitely not true). No doubt that he’s the best-looking person in the entire camp, but his brusque personality makes him a rose with thorns. Sharp thorns.

You often wonder how the two of you even became as close as you are. Children of Athena and Aphrodite notoriously clash due to their mothers’ history with each other.

You met Renjun four years ago at Arts and Crafts Center, which is a hotspot for children of Athena. It was your first time at the camp, and you wanted to try making a ceramic (maybe a bowl or vase) to bring back to your family as a souvenir. Of course, you failed miserably and got snickered at by other Athena kids. Renjun, who had been sitting beside you, was the only one who didn’t laugh. He even gruffly gave you some pointers. Grateful, you complimented his painting—a mix of pink, yellow, blue, and purple watercolors that meshed together to resemble a galaxy. In return, he gave it to you.

“It’s not my best work, so you can have it,” he had said nonchalantly.

Even though it was the most beautiful piece of art you’ve ever seen, and it’s remained one of your most prized possessions to this day.

After that incident, you basically attached yourself at the hip with him. He would constantly complain about you following him around, but he also didn’t do anything to stop it. He’s been complaining for four, going on five, years now, yet he’s become your closest friend. Renjun likes act like you’re a pain in the ass (which isn’t untrue), but you know he cares about you. Even if he doesn’t verbalize it, you can tell by his actions; it’s all about the small things with him. Despite being rough around the edges, Huang Renjun is actually just a big softie on the inside.

“—could you stop snooping around like a weirdo?” Renjun asks, cutting your trip down memory lane short.

You rise to your feet, dusting your palms off and glaring at him. “I’m not snooping around like a weirdo. I’m just snooping around on one of my projects, like a good matchmaker.”

“Sure,” he says, rolling his eyes. He leans down and picks up your binoculars, handing them to you.

You take them and hang them around your neck. “Why are you here anyway?”

“Aren’t you the one who asked me to meet you at the Dining Pavilion for lunch?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Oh, sorry! I lost track of time,” you exclaim. “How’d you find me?”

Renjun gives you a pointed look. “Well, seeing as how Daniel and Jihyo are your current quote-unquote project, all I had to do was figure out where they were because I knew you’d be somewhere close.”

You give him a sheepish smile. “You know me so well, Junnie.”

“The hell? Don’t call me that, it’s gross,” he snaps, pretending like he’s about to gag.

“You’re not cute at all,” you huff.

“Neither are you,” he replies.

“You are so rude! You’ll never get a girlfriend with an attitude like that!” You place your hands on your hips.

“I’ll live,” he says, shrugging.

You don’t know much about Renjun’s love life because he refuses to tell you anything; he’s like a stubborn clam that won’t open up. However, he’s made it very clear that he does not want your assistance when it comes to finding romance. Obviously, it hasn’t stopped you from trying, but this is one of the few things you can’t seem to make him give in to.

Yet.

“Whatever,” you sigh. “Let’s go eat.”

The two of you walk to the Dining Pavilion, which is a relatively long walk from the Archery Range, but you make enough conversation that it feels short. When you arrive, you see that they’re serving chicken curry and rice. Your stomach growls embarrassingly loudly when the mouthwatering scent hits you, which prompts Renjun to laugh at you. You give him the middle finger and then turn around to grab a lunch tray. Once you get your food, you two sit at a table in the back.

Before you begin to eat, you notice that your curry has chunks of potatoes and slices of carrots on it—you abhor carrots more than anything in this world. Noticing your disgusted expression, Renjun slides his plate over without even batting an eyelash, so you can pick out the carrot slices and give them to him. It’s a routine thing for the two of you, since you’re an extremely picky eater and he’s not.

After you take out all of the carrots, you begin to devour your food. You’re wolfing it down so fast that you’re basically asking to choke, in which you immediately do. A piece of chicken lodges itself in your throat, and you begin to cough violently. Renjun sighs, patting your back before handing you your cup of water.

“I feel like I’m babysitting a toddler every time I eat with you,” he points out as you gulp down your water.

“Thanks,” you say after you recover.

“For dislodging the food in your esophagus or calling you a toddler?”

“Both!” you say cheerfully.

Renjun shakes his head at you, but he’s smiling. You take advantage of his good mood by quickly reaching over and swiping a couple of grapes from the fruit bowl on his tray. He rolls his eyes when you pop them into your mouth and wink at him.

“Um, Renjun?” A small, different voice cuts in. Both of you turn around to see who it is.

Hwang Yeji, daughter of Iris and one of the most popular girls at the camp, is standing there. She’s fidgeting, and you can see pink dusting her cheeks. Her friends are at the table right behind her, giving her supportive looks. She smiles shyly at Renjun.

“Can I help you?” Renjun asks, deadpanning. He isn’t rude per se, but it’s also not a friendly tone.

Yeji slightly falters at his lackluster response. “Oh, um, I’m going to be performing at the amphitheater tonight...and I was wondering if you could come watch?”

“Why?”

You know Renjun is asking because he’s genuinely baffled, but it doesn’t lessen your urge to want to slap him upside the head.

“N-No particular reason! O-Okay, bye!” Yeji turns on her heel and runs away. You watch her go back to her table, head hung low in defeat.

“What was that all about?” Renjun is still bewildered.

No longer able to control yourself, you punch him in the arm. “You moron!”

“Ow! What the hell, Y/N?” he hisses, rubbing his arm.

“She invited you to watch her perform because she likes you!” you hiss.

“What? No, she doesn’t.” He furrows his eyebrows.

“Yes, she does! I should know of all people, you dingus. Even without powers, literally anyone else would be able to see that Yeji likes you!” You’re trying your best to keep your voice down, but he’s making it difficult for you. “You are the densest person on the planet!”

“Look who’s talking,” Renjun mutters underneath his breath.

“I can’t believe you just blew her off like that,” you continue, not hearing what he said.

“How was I supposed to know she liked me? I’ve never even spoken to her,” he protests.

You stare at him in disbelief. “Couldn’t you tell by the context clues?”

“What context clues?”

“Oh my gods,” you groan, covering your face with your hands.

“What do you want me to do then?” he asks tiredly.

“Go to her performance tonight,” you say immediately, uncovering your face and whipping your head to look at him with a hopeful expression.

“I don’t really want to though. There’s no point in getting her hopes up if I don’t like her back,” Renjun states matter-of-factly.

“How do you not even have a little bit of interest in her? Look at her! She’s stunning!” You feel like your eyes are about to pop out of your head.

“I’m not saying she isn’t, but I just don’t feel anything special towards her,” he explains.

“You’re actually insane,” you say incredulously. “There’s no way someone can look at Hwang Yeji and say they don’t feel anything special.”

“If you feel so strongly about it, you could date her,” he suggests.

“No, I’ve decided,” you cut him off, slamming your hand on the table with determination. “I’m going to find you a girlfriend.”

“I’ll have to respectfully decline your services,” he answers, sighing.

“Give me one week,” you plead, “all of my matches have worked out within a week. Please, Renjun? The worst thing that can happen is that you actually like someone and you two become a couple.”

“And what if it doesn’t work out?” He tilts his head.

“Then, I’ll drop the girlfriend topic for good. I swear on River Styx. And I’ll also give up my title as Camp Half-Blood’s official matchmaker,” you promise.

“You gave yourself that title.”

“Shut up.”

“Why are you so adamant on finding me a girlfriend anyway?” he asks.

“Because you’re so set on not getting a girlfriend, and that drives me crazy. I want to know just who on this Earth can make you feel something special, if even Yeji can’t do it. I want to crack you, like a walnut,” you admit.

“Bad analogy.”

“Yeah, it sounded better in my head.”

Renjun falls quiet, and you can practically see the gears turning in his head as he weighs the pros and cons of your proposition. Athena kids think way too much and way too loudly; they need to let loose and follow their hearts more.

You sit in anticipation for just a little longer before you see the tension on his face begin to dissipate and his features begin to droop. It’s an expression you know well; he’s going to let you have your way, like he always does.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing. “You get five days. That’s it.”

You squeal loudly, launching yourself at him so you can envelop him in a big bear hug. He grunts as he catches you, saving the both of you from toppling backwards onto the floor. “You’re the best, Renjun!”

Even when he’s irritated or annoyed, Renjun never pushes you away when you hug him. He isn’t exactly the affectionate type, yet his embrace is always so warm and calming. His words may be cutthroat, but his actions are always gentle.

He circles his arms around your waist loosely as he sighs into your hair, seemingly waiting for you to pull back to face him before he says anything. When you do, he flicks you on the forehead instead.

Okay, so you take the his actions are always gentle part back.

“Ouch!” You shrug yourself out of his hold, rubbing the probably reddening spot on your forehead.

“Payback for punching me earlier,” Renjun says, crossing his arms. “But are you sure about this?”

“What do you mean?”

“You have a perfect record when it comes to your matches. Plus, you’re losing two out of your usual seven days. Are you sure you want to risk breaking your streak?” he asks.

“What makes you think it’ll get broken?” you shoot back.

“I don’t just think; I know it will,” he smirks arrogantly. “That’s why I’m asking.”

You feel your left eye twitch. Riled up by his cocky demeanor, you grab your cup and chug the rest of your water, wincing like you just downed a shot. Wiping your mouth, you point your finger at him.

“Huang Renjun, just you wait. I’ll make you fall in love so hard that you’ll forget your own name.”

ও DAY ONE.

The Athena Cabin is a marvel to you every time you enter it. Rather than a cabin, it’s a workshop and a library in one on the inside. There are beds pushed haphazardly against the walls, and if you didn’t know that this was the official Athena Cabin, you would’ve thought that the Athena children had simply just crashed at a random facility at the camp and decided to call it their place of residence.

Renjun is still asleep, despite the commotion of his brothers and sisters running around in the library and/or constructing something in the workshop. His bed is located in the very back, hidden by a bookshelf that’s not frequented often. He’s curled up into a ball, with the blanket covering his head but you can still see tufts of his hair sticking out from under it.

“Rise and shine!” you sing, lifting blanket off his face.

His peaceful expression twists with discomfort as its exposed to light, and he immediately rips the pillow out from under his head and puts it over his face. He says something to you, but his words are muffled. You just assume it’s some sort of profanity.

“Come on, Sleeping Beauty! We have business to attend to,” you say cheerfully, taking the pillow away and tossing it to the foot of his bed.

“And what exactly is this supposed business?” Renjun asks dryly, opening his eyes and squinting up at you.

“We’re going to scout for potential candidates for you,” you answer as you grab his arm and pull him up. He reluctantly lets you, slumping forward like a limp puppet.

“Isn’t that your job?” He raises an eyebrow, running a hand through his messy bedhead. Renjun always looks particularly adorable when he wakes up. His pajamas consist of a pair of basketball shorts and an extremely stretched-out t-shirt. The shirt is so big that it’s slipping off his shoulder, which makes him look like a little kid. His hair is sticking up in all sorts of directions, and you can’t help but grin at how cute it is.

“Yes, but you’re a special case.” You talk to him like he’s five, running your hands through his hair and messing it up even more. Renjun scowls at you, but he sits there and lets you do it.

“Geez, who peed in your cornflakes?” you tease, seeing his stormy look.

“You.”

“Okay, fine! I’ll wait for you outside, but don’t take too long to get ready,” you say, finally retracting your hands. “No more than thirty minutes or else I’m gonna come find you!”

He gives you another nasty look, and you blow him a kiss before skipping away. As you head back to the entrance, you greet a couple of Athena kids who pass by. Normally, Aphrodite and Athena children stick their noses up in the air and ignore each other, but you’re such a frequent visitor that they have had no choice but to accept you. It also helps that Renjun is quite popular, so the campers that don’t like you are forced to tolerate you anyway because you’re his best friend.

That’s another thing you don’t understand—why Renjun hangs out with you when everyone around him is practically foaming at the mouth at the prospect of being his friend (or something more). But for reasons unknown to you, he chooses to ice them out and spend time with you instead.

It’s not that you’re inherently unpopular or someone that would “tarnish” his reputation, but he could probably find someone that annoyed him less and didn’t cause as much trouble as you do. However, you’re glad that he’s choosing to stay by your side in spite of how crazy you can get, because you’re not really sure what you would do without him.

Not that you would ever admit that because Renjun would roast you to high Olympus.

As if on cue, you spot Renjun trudging toward you. True to your request, he got ready within thirty minutes. In fact, it only took him about fifteen. He doesn’t look very happy, but he’s always had a resting bitch face (though you’re pretty sure he’s just pissed at you right now).

Strangely, you’re a little embarrassed to see him. You’re not sure why you suddenly thought of your friendship with him and got all sappy. You’ve never really been good at handling the mushy-gushy stuff—only helping others find it.

“Let’s get this over with,” Renjun says begrudgingly when he reaches you, crossing his arms.

“Okay, well, first thing’s first,” you respond, trying to get back on track. You loop your arm through his, which prompts him to instantly uncross his own so you can cling onto his bicep. It’s such a natural action for you that you don’t even think about how quickly he accommodates you. “What’s your type?”

“Where are we going?” he asks, furrowing his eyebrows as he lets you lead him around.

“That depends on your answer to my question,” you reply breezily.

“Aren’t you supposed to be the one who figures that out? You know, with your whole Aphrodite-love-sense-tingle thing.”

You ignore his dig at your ability. “Normally, yes. But seeing as you’re incapable of feeling any emotion other than bitterness, I have to directly ask you.”

He laughs at your comeback. “I see. But even if I do tell you my type, what makes you think she will like me too?”

“If she doesn’t, then just woo her with your irresistible charm,” you say sarcastically.

“My irresistible charm has a tendency to make people hate my guts, actually,” Renjun says, shrugging. “Wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“Renjun, you are fully capable of making a girl fall for you,” you chide, huffing at his negative attitude. “I’m not concerned with that. My main issue right now is finding someone that will make you care enough to want her to like you back.”

“You think so?” he asks quietly, looking down at where your hand is resting on his arm.

“Hm?”

“I hope you’re right,” he says a little louder, dragging his gaze away from your hand and giving you a small smile. “About being capable.”

When Renjun looks into your eyes, you feel him for the first time. Your heart wrenches with his, like a knife was driven into it and something keeps twisting it. It’s an excruciating pain that makes your lungs want to cave in, a pain so unbearably sad that it makes you want to assume fetal position and bawl your eyes out, an exhausting pain that drains you of all your energy until you want to collapse, a pain that makes you hate yourself—but it’s a pain you never want to get rid of. It’s a pain that makes you happy. It’s a pain you’re willing to endure for...for...for what?

But the pain only lasts for a moment, flashing by like lightning. As you try to reach deeper, it slips through your fingers. Just as suddenly as it hit you, it vanishes. What remains in its place is the metaphorical iron wall that you always seem to run into every time you try to look into Renjun’s heart.

You can already feel your body starting to forget the pain. It’s so fast that you begin questioning if you even truly felt it in the first place, or if it was all some fever dream. You could also be having a stroke, so there’s that.

All jokes aside, you’re not sure what you’re more surprised by: the fact that Renjun has been feeling like this or how well he’s managed to hide it.

And you’re not sure what you’re more hurt by: the fact that Renjun didn’t tell you or if you’re the one he’s trying to hide it from.

“—hello? Y/N? Earth to Y/N?” Renjun waves his hand in front of your face.

You jolt, blinking several times as you detach yourself from your whirlwind of thoughts. “S-Sorry! What were you saying?”

“What’s wrong?” he asks, brows furrowing in concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Ghosts don’t exist,” you retort automatically.

“Yes, they do! How many times have I told you there’s no way that my glass bottle could’ve fallen from my bed without shattering, yet it was underneath my bed, completely and totally unsc—” He begins to protest.

You cut him off by wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him in for a hug. Thankfully, Renjun stops rambling about his ghost story that you’ve heard about a million times and trails off. His hands slowly come to rest on the small of your back, giving you soothing pats. It makes you sad that he’s always ready to comfort you when he’s the one that needs it. Your vision gets blurry with tears, but you hurriedly blink them away.

“How can you be so smart yet so dumb?” you whisper into his shoulder, clutching him tighter.

“You know, you’re sending me mixed signals here,” he says wryly.

You hug him for a couple more seconds before pulling back. Reaching your hands up, you cup his face. Unfortunately, you do it a little too enthusiastically and basically slap both of his cheeks. “Shit! I’m so sorry, Renjun!”

“Ow! What is wrong with you?” he demands, wincing. His lips are adorably jutted out and his words probably aren’t as angry as he wants them to be because you’re squishing his cheeks way too hard.

“I just wanted to tell you that I will definitely find you a girlfriend. No matter what,” you declare with determination in your eyes.

Because I don’t want you to be in pain anymore. Because you deserve to be happy. Because you should have someone to lean on too, you want to say.

Renjun is staring at you like you’ve grown another head. “Y/N, you’re scaring me.”

“Don’t worry about it,” you dismiss. “Now, hurry up and tell me your ideal type.”

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Oh my gods, I’m fine. Stop with all the questions and just answer me!” you say, placing your hands on your hips.

“I think I’m starting to reconsider my ideal type right now,” he replies, eyeing you suspiciously.

You sigh loudly. “Could you tell me one character trait that you would like in a girlfriend? Just one. Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

He snorts, and you begin to grow frustrated. “Renjun—”

“Stubborn,” he answers.

You raise an eyebrow. “Of all the things you could’ve chosen, you went with that?”

“I finally answer your question and now you’re shaming me for it?” he shoots back.

You put your hands up in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, sorry. Anything else you can think of?”

“Unpredictable. Hotheaded. Infuriating. Nosy. Reckless. Unable to take anything seriously. No concept of personal space,” he lists them off like he’s has it memorized.

“These are all terrible traits,” you point out, frowning.

“Tell me about it.”

“Stop messing around,” you snap, giving him a small shove. “Some positive ones, please.”

Renjun pauses. “This might take a second.”

You give him a pointed look, crossing your arms and tapping your foot impatiently. At this point, you’re not even sure if he’s just joking or if he actually means it. However, it’s the only thing you’ve gotten out of him so far, so you have to work with it.

“Dedicated,” he finally says after some intense pondering.

You exhale in relief. “Thank gods. What else?”

“Kind. Cheerful. Carefree. Funny. Always makes me smile. Marches to her own beat. An open book when it comes to her feelings. Says whatever is on her mind without thinking twice. Gets excited about things that don’t matter. Has a wonderful laugh. Able to see the good in me, even though I’m an asshole—”

As he continues, you eventually stop paying attention to his words and watch his expression. All of his features have softened, and there’s a warmth in his eyes that you’ve never seen before. He has the gentlest smile on his face as he talks, but you’re not even sure that he’s aware of it.

You wouldn’t be a child of Aphrodite if you couldn’t recognize a boy in love, and Renjun certainly fits the bill.

Suddenly, you feel an ugly sensation twisting in the pit of your stomach, coiling like a poisonous snake. It’s an awful feeling, and it makes you ashamed because it resembles jealousy way too closely for your comfort. You hate feeling like this, but you don’t know how to stop it. In fact, you don’t even know why you’re feeling this way. It’s foreign to you, but you know it’s not coming from Renjun. This is all coming from inside you.

“Stunning in every way,” Renjun finishes quietly. His voice is barely a whisper, but you can hear it clearly, as if it’s right in your ear.

Digging your nails into your palms, you let out a low whistle. “That was very...specific.”

“Afraid of a challenge?” he counters, smirking.

His banter makes you grin. It’s almost enough to make you forget the feeling in your stomach. You wonder why you keep getting worked up by yourself. Maybe the summer heat is getting to you, and you really are on the verge of having a stroke.

“It’s like you don’t even know me,” you retort dramatically, clinging onto his arm again. “Alright, let’s go!”

“Where?”

“The Training Grounds!”

“Why there?” His nose crinkles.

“Your ideal type is as Ares kid as it can get,” you say, snorting. “So, obviously, we’re going to their turf.”

“Ares children are obnoxious and arrogant,” Renjun scoffs.

“And you’re a smartass, so it’ll be fine,” you say breezily.

He rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath.

“You’re such a drama queen. Besides, it won’t be only Ares kids there,” you point out.

He shrugs in a noncommittal manner but ultimately lets you lead him to the Training Grounds. When you arrive, as expected, it’s mainly Ares kids there. For people who aren’t used to it, the Training Grounds could be mistaken for a battle royale, judging by how vicious it can get at times. Even though it’s just a bunch of sweaty young adults angrily swinging swords at dummies and each other.

Stroking your chin, you begin to scan the area. It’s only when your eyes fall onto Park Sooyoung, the daughter of Ares that’s infamous for making men cower to their knees, that the lightbulb goes off in your head.

“What about Sooyoung?” you ask excitedly, tugging on Renjun’s shirt.

He frowns. “She hates me.”

“You don’t know that,” you say.

“She tried to throw a dagger at my head once,” he states flatly.

“She does that to everyone,” you dismiss. “I think you two would work well together.”

“Please, enlighten me.”

“She could be the brawn to your brain. She’s super rambunctious, while you’re more reserved and can keep her in check. But she’ll be able to teach you how to live a little, and you’ll just perfectly balance each other out. You know, that whole opposites attract and enemies to lovers trope,” you explain.

“Enemies to lovers?” He raises an eyebrow.

“Yes,” you say dreamily, “You two start off absolutely despising each other, but neither of you can fight the tension building and eventually just get entangled in the throes of your passion!”

“Okay, Fifty Shades of Grey, calm down,” Renjun says, scrunching up his features in disgust. “Stop writing fanfiction in your head and come back to the real world.”

You glare at him for killing your vibe. “Just go and try to talk to her.”

“I don’t want to be mauled.” There’s actually a small glimmer of fear in his eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s not gonna kill you. At least not in front of everyone like this,” you reassure him.

“So you’re admitting that there is a possibility she would kill me.”

Fed up, you snatch his wrist and begin dragging him. He makes noises of protest, but you keep a vice-like grip on him. Sooyoung is sparring with some of her brothers (and frankly, handing their asses to them). You’re envious of how beautiful she is even with sweat dripping from her chin and tendrils of hair stuck to her neck. Her face is flushed with effort, but it makes her look like a peach.

However, don’t ever judge a book by its cover because she proceeds to lift one of her brothers, as if she’s bench pressing him, and tosses him aside like a rag doll. He comes flying directly toward you, but Renjun wraps an arm around your shoulders and yanks you aside with his surprisingly quick reflexes. Sooyoung’s brother lands with a hard thud, right beside your feet.

Renjun holds you tightly against him as he scowls at Sooyoung, who is smirking at him. Your heart is pounding wildly, though you’re not sure if it’s from the adrenaline rush of one of Sooyoung’s brothers hurling towards you like a projectile or the way Renjun is cradling you to him.

“Are you out of your mind?” Renjun demands, livid.

“Sorry about that,” Sooyoung says, trying to hide her amusement.

“No, you’re not. You did it on purpose,” Renjun snaps.

“Remove head from ass, Huang. If I didn’t think you’d be able to get her out of the way in time, I wouldn’t have done it,” Sooyoung responds, sounding bored.

“What if I hadn’t? Your tank of a brother would’ve knocked Y/N out,” Renjun says angrily, gritting his teeth. “And trust me, she doesn’t need any more screws loose than she already has.”

“Hey!” you chime in, offended. His arm falls from your shoulders and back to his side when you give him a dirty look. He seems a little surprised, whether the reason be from your sudden protest or how long his arm’s been around you.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Sooyoung says, rolling her eyes. “Anyways, what do you want? You’re here to see me, right?”

Renjun opens his mouth to say something, but you slap a hand over his mouth. “Renjun thinks you’re really pretty and wants to train with you.”

Perhaps you could have delivered it in a smoother manner.

“Mm?” He stares at you with wide, horrified eyes. He’s trying to speak, but it’s all muffled by your palm.

Sooyoung snorts, crossing her arms and tilting her head. “Does he now?”

“Yes. He’s just too shy to admit it,” you lie through your teeth.

“Mhm, I’m sure he is,” she laughs. “What’s the actual reason you’re here?”

“Whatever are you talking about? That is the reason,” you answer sweetly. “So, what do you say? Wanna spar him?”

“Mmmmmm!” Renjun has you by the wrist, trying to remove your hand from his mouth, but you won’t budge.

“You must think I was born yesterday,” Sooyoung sighs. “You’re trying to set us up together, right? Glad to see you’re sticking to your whole matchmaking schtick.”

“Maybe,” you admit sheepishly. “Also, it is not a schtick! I have a natural affinity for finding people that are compatible with each other, like all Aphrodite children, and it is my duty to use that ability in order to help others.”

Despite how proud you look, Sooyoung and Renjun exchange knowing glances, and she reaches forward and gives him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Stray strong, soldier.”

“Mm,” he responds, sounding tired.

You watch the interaction with a baffled expression. Neither one of them seems intent on providing any context for you. You’re hit with another pang of jealousy.

“While it would be my utmost honor to be Renjun’s girlfriend, I will have to decline. Firstly, because I would definitely murder him by our third date tops. And secondly, because I already have a girlfriend,” Sooyoung says nonchalantly.

Your hand goes limp and falls off of Renjun’s mouth, finally freeing him. Your jaw is hanging wide open, a direct invitation for flies. The both of you just stand there and gawk at her.

“What?” you exclaim, grabbing her by the shoulders. “You have a girlfriend?”

Most Aphrodite kids are just naturally aware of all the couples at Camp Half-Blood whenever they see them, but you make it a point to keep tabs on them so you can avoid incidents like this while you’re trying to find matches for others. Clearly, you’ve missed one.

“Ye—”

“Who is it?” you demand, resisting the urge to shake her until her bones rattle. “How could I not know about it?”

“Well, that was the goal,” Sooyoung explains, “we want it to be a secret.”

You’re gripping her so tightly that the tips of your fingers have turned white, though you’re sure it doesn’t bother her since she’s pure muscle. You want to know who it is so badly, but you respect her privacy, so you decide to let it go. Even if you really don’t want to.

“I understand,” you say solemnly, begrudgingly releasing her. Your body is slightly twitchy as you fight to control your need to snoop.

“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Renjun cuts in, half-joking and half-concerned.

“Today has not gone well for me,” you sigh, spirit crushed by the sudden news and exhausted because of your weird mood swings that have been happening. “I’m hot, and I just want a nice, cold shower, followed by some nice, cold ice cream, and then followed by a nice, warm nap. We’ll try this again tomorrow.”

“Want me to walk you back to your cabin?” Renjun asks.

You nod, shoulders slumped in defeat. “Sorry to bother you, Sooyoung.”

“No problem. You’ll get ‘em next time,” Sooyoung says, trying to sound encouraging.

As you turn to pitifully walk away, you notice Sooyoung and Renjun exchange another look in your peripheral. She gives him a thumbs up and he smiles wryly before he also turns to follow you.

It’s just the icing on the cake for your awful day.

The walk back to your cabin is pretty quiet; Renjun sensing your foul mood and making the wise decision of letting you pout all by your lonesome (not that he’s much of a chatterbox anyway). You’re looking down at your feet as you walk, and he kindly navigates you through crowds and moves you out of the way when campers run by. This is something Renjun does often, since you have a tendency to not pay much attention to your surroundings on a regular basis, so you don’t even think twice about it.

When you finally arrive, Renjun gives you a comforting pat on the back. “See you tomorrow. I’ll meet you here. Do not barge into my cabin and give me another rude awakening like you did today.”

You give him a strained smile and wink. “No promises.”

Of course, your act doesn’t fool him. He sighs. “Did it really bother you that much that Sooyoung managed to hide her relationship from you? It’s not like you to be so down after one failure.”

Honestly, that’s the least of your concerns right now. Did it hurt your pride? Yes, but you’ve recovered from a wounded pride countless times.

What bothers you the most right now is the vile jealousy that you’ve stored in your heart. How shitty you felt when he was describing his ideal type (and how absolutely lovestruck he looked), or how bitter you were when you saw that Sooyoung and Renjun were in on something you weren’t. It eats away at you, seemingly within moments, before you even know what’s happening. But why? Where is it all coming from?

This is Renjun you’re talking about. Renjun, your best friend. Renjun, the one who’s always there for you. Renjun, the closest person to you other than your bloodline.

Or so you thought.

The pain that you felt from him earlier still haunts you, even if it’s faint. You’ve always seen Renjun as someone you can confide in, no matter what, yet it doesn’t appear like he feels the same towards you. In fact, an irrational part of you thinks you may be the one he’s trying to keep it from.

And the paranoid part of you thinks Sooyoung knows about it too.

You know it’s horrible to think that, but you can’t control it. Renjun isn’t required to tell you everything he feels just because you do, not that it doesn’t hurt any less. It just bugs you that there could be someone closer to him than even you, which is an incredibly toxic mindset to have. You’re upset by the fact that you’re so possessive of him, yet you can’t seem to let him go either.

I guess it’s alright if it’s Sooyoung, you admit to yourself, since she has a girlfriend.

You blink.

Wait, what?

Before you can figure out what the hell your brain meant by that, you feel Renjun place his hand on your forehead. It jars you from your thoughts and you come back to reality, where Renjun is staring at you with furrowed brows as he checks your temperature.

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright? You’ve been spacing out all day,” he says, clearly worried.

“F-Fine!” you answer way too enthusiastically. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Don’t worry about it,” he dismisses. “Just go get some rest.”

“Aye, aye, captain,” you nod hurriedly, giving him a two-finger salute. “I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early! Don’t oversleep!”

“Yeah, yeah,” he waves you off, smiling. You can tell he’s still concerned, but your brighter attitude relieves him just a tad. “Oh, and Y/N?”

“Mhm?”

“I forgot to mention one more trait for my ideal type.”

“What is it?” You wish you had never asked him in the first place. Just when your mood was getting a little better, it sours just as quickly.

“Dense,” he adds.

You give him a puzzled look. “Huh?”

“I want her to be dense,” he states simply.

“No way,” you argue, when his words finally register. “How is it gonna work out if both of you are dense as hell?”

“Who knows? Maybe our denseness will cancel each other out, and we’ll fall in love instantly,” he shrugs.

“Of course. PEMDAS and shit,” you jokingly agree.

“Exactly,” he says, nodding with a deadpan expression.

You laugh loudly—a big belly laugh that makes Renjun beam. The tension eases off his features, and he seems much more reassured. Your heart swells at how hard he’s trying to make sure you’re okay, not that he would ever admit that.

“Okay, for real now. Bye, Y/N.” He gives you a lazy wave before walking away, shattering your touching moment.

You huff at how he turned around without even letting you respond, though you still wave back (even if he can’t see it), and go back into your cabin. The moment the door closes behind you, you make a beeline for the shower. Peeling off your sweat-soaked clothes, you close your eyes in bliss when the cold water hits you.

As you let the water run down your body, you begin to feel more and more like a petulant child that just threw the biggest tantrum ever. You’re embarrassed that you overreacted like that and got so emotional for no reason. You chide yourself for being selfish. Just because you’re upset that Renjun doesn’t confide in you the way you do him, it doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t have someone. You should be happy for him when he finds a person he can fully open up to, even more so than you. Isn’t that what you’re trying to do for him right now?

You shut the water off before slapping your cheeks hard, giving yourself a wake up call. Resolving to be more composed tomorrow, you decide to just take a nap for now as you change into comfortable clothes and dry your hair off.

When you get to your bed, you see a small bowl of ice cream on your nightstand. Luckily, your shower didn’t take too long, so it’s still relatively frozen. It’s two scoops of chocolate, which is your favorite. You’re so excited that you almost miss the note tucked underneath the bowl.

don’t know when you’re going to get out of the shower, so this might just be soup by the time you’re out. if that’s the case, drink it anyways since i went through the trouble of getting it.

You snort. It’s so like Renjun to write a tactless note like this and not even bother signing off on it. If he’s going to be sweet, he shouldn’t ruin the moment by doing what he always does—opening his mouth (figuratively, in this case).

But it’s not enough to wipe that big grin off your face, as you carefully fold up the note and put it in your drawer.

He’s not cute at all.

ও DAY TWO.

The next day is about as successful as the first one, if not worse.

You had woken up with a game plan. Before you went to meet Renjun, you drafted up a list of campers that matched his ideal type (for the most part, since he was a little too specific). The goal was to narrow it down to a couple names before trying to march in head first, since that went disastrously yesterday.

Unfortunately, instead of things going smoothly like you had hoped, you find yourself banging your head against a tabletop repeatedly.

You and Renjun are currently sitting in the library of the Athena Cabin, having been there for almost an hour now. He’s nearly eliminated your entire list that you so meticulously curated this morning. You’re starting to wonder if he’s purposefully being difficult just to see you riled up.

Renjun watches you hit your head a couple more times before outstretching his hand, catching your forehead in his palm and blocking you from hitting it against the table again. “Stop before you bleed all over the table, and I get stuck scrubbing it out later.”

You raise your head to glare at him. “I’ll show you bleeding all over the table.”

He doesn’t even blink at your threat, infuriatingly unfazed. “Are you done with your list already?”

“No,” you grumble, “I still have some left.”

“So, if I’m not interested in the rest, does that mean we’re done for the day?” he asks.

“Haha,” you say wryly, “you wish. If you don’t pick one, then I’ll just go through the list myself and pick one that I think is the most compatible with you.”

“Damn it.”

“Okay, what about Hyun Seunghee? She’s an Apollo kid. Super talented and sweet, one of the most adorable people on the planet, and loves art just like you,” you suggest.

“Seunghee is a very sweet girl,” Renjun agrees. “But I don’t think I have the energy to keep up with her. She’s even bubblier and more hyperactive than you, and I can barely manage dealing with you.”

Sighing, you cross out Seunghee’s name on your list while simultaneously flipping off Renjun with your other hand. “Okay, what about Lee Mijoo? She’s one of my sisters, and honestly, she’s way out of your league but I’ll keep her in the running for now.”

You figure it’s best to not mention that, despite being way out of his league, Mijoo has expressed some very...explicit interest in Renjun before. It’ll make things awkward if they do end up talking, and you aren’t one to expose your own sister like that.

“Ew, no way, that’s weird,” Renjun says, scrunching up his nose.

“What, why?”

“I don’t want to date anyone related to you. That would make us sort of related too, and the last thing I want is to be your brother.” He spits out the word like it’s a stale piece of gum that he’s been chewing for four hours.

“First of all, slow down, tiger. You would have to marry her for us to be related. This is just a casual thing. No one said anything about marriage. Second of all, that is so mean! Why wouldn’t you want to be in-laws with me?” you demand, offended.

“Don’t most people enter relationships with the intention of spending the rest of their lives with each other?” he asks, skillfully dodging your question. “I won’t date someone if I think we’re just going to breakup down the road.”

There’s a beat of silence as you stare at him with wonder. Your lips curl into a gentle smile, and you can’t hide the adoration in your expression. Renjun truly is all bark and no bite. Who would’ve guessed there’s such a lovely and pure person behind his sharp tongue?

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks warily. You swear you can see a little pink dusting the shells of his ears and the tip of his nose.

“It’s just...you’re much more of a hopeless romantic than I initially thought, Huang Renjun,” you say teasingly.

Now, you can definitely tell he’s embarrassed. He mumbles a “shut up” under his breath, but you can barely hear it.

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself,” you advise, “it’s totally natural to date and breakup. You can love someone with all of your heart, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be your life partner. Loosen up, my friend, and just have fun! Fall in love recklessly, and don’t think about anything else! That’s what youth is all about!”

You expect him to make fun of you for lecturing him like you’re centuries old, when the both of you can barely label yourselves as adults, but he doesn’t.

Instead, he’s gazing at you with a deep melancholy in his eyes. You’re sitting right across from him, but the way he looks at you makes it seem like you’re galaxies away. Your gut wrenches at how hurt and helpless he seems, like he’s yearning for something that is out of his reach.

Time seems to slow down as the two of you stare into each other’s eyes, as if you’re both entranced. It’s hard to tell how long you stay like that, but it feels like you’ve woken up in the middle of a sweet dream when Renjun finally breaks eye contact. You’re slightly disoriented, even though it’s probably only been a few seconds.

Clearing his throat, Renjun mutters, “Anyways, don’t put anymore of your siblings on the list.”

You take a moment to gather your thoughts before sighing. “Fine. But now I’ve run out of names on my list.”

“Well, gosh darn it, what a shame,” he says in a terrible Southern accent while attempting to get up. “Look’s like that’s a wrap for today!”

“Not so fast,” you cut in, snapping your fingers at him to sit back down. “We’re not done yet.”

He groans but reluctantly obeys, dramatically throwing his head into his arms when he does.

“Behave while I go through this list again,” you order, putting stars next to names that you’re going to force Renjun to reconsider with.

“Now, you’re making me want to hit my head against the table,” he complains, voice muffled by his arms.

You ignore his whining, focusing on your current task at hand. Just as you finish narrowing it down to a select few, someone brushes past you and it’s like you hear angels singing. Seo Soojin, daughter of Nemesis and actual hotness personified, walks by.

Soojin is relatively new to Camp Half-Blood, having arrived for the first time last year. You don’t know much about her personality because she keeps to herself and her tight-knit circle of friends for the most part. You know for a fact that she’s a far cry from Renjun’s type, but you’re starting to think he doesn’t really know what he wants—seeing that he shot down every single person on your list already. She will be a nice change of pace for him.

“What about Soojin?” you ask in a hushed whisper, leaning forward.

“Who?” Renjun looks around, not lowering his voice or trying to be subtle in the slightest.

“Shhh!” you hiss, grabbing him by his shirt and yanking him forward. You pull a little too hard and end up knocking your foreheads together.

“Ow! Why is your head made out of cast iron?” Renjun winces. He tries to lean back, but you don’t let him escape.

“Shut up! You’re the blockhead, asshole,” you protest, getting offended for the second time. “Anyways, Seo Soojin. The girl over there. The one with the bangs, big lips, and is hot as fuck?”

He squints, finally zeroing in on her. “What about her?”

“That’s what I’m asking you, dipshit!”

Renjun shrugs noncommittally—an action that you’ve grown extremely accustomed to during these past two days, an action that makes you want to rip your own hair out. “She seems nice.”

“Well, try and talk to her then,” you say, spelling it out for him. “You know, so you can see if the two of you will hit it off or not.”

He gives you a look. It’s the same look that a twelve-year-old kid gives his mother when she makes him take a picture in front of a national monument that he doesn’t know anything about, nor does he care to. However, she insists, so he reluctantly trudges over to it and takes the picture—hands firmly balled up by his sides and his lips pressed into a hard line, no matter how much his mom tells him to smile.

So, in other words, Renjun looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die.

“Are you sure that you’re human?” you ask incredulously. You’re not even being sarcastic at this point; you genuinely want to know how he is able to feel absolutely nothing for women that could rival the goddesses themselves.

“Technically—”

“If you say that you’re only half-human because we’re demigods, you’re going to get a pen through the jugular,” you warn, pointing your pen at him.

“Am I wrong, though?”

“You know what I mean, you smartass. Are you or are you not capable of feeling romantic attraction towards another person?” you demand.

“I am,” he simply says.

“That’s it? That was the most robotic answer I’ve ever heard in my life!” you exclaim.

“What else am I supposed to say?” he asks, throwing his arms up.

“Have you experienced any blackouts recently, like woken up without memory of the past twenty-four hours? Have you checked your body for any chip implants under your skin?” You eye him suspiciously. “Been beamed up by any UFOs? Gone somewhere haunted?”

Renjun gives you a pointed look, sighing. “While it is touching to know that you do, in fact, listen to me whenever I talk about topics I’m interested in, this is not how I wanted you to apply your knowledge.”

“You know, now that I think about it, you sure talked about alien abductions a lot,” you say, stroking a fake beard on your chin. “Could it be because you were actually abducted by aliens and got brainwashed into gathering information about us demigods, but they took away your ability to feel emotions so they wouldn’t get in the way of your mission?”

You pause, waiting for his reaction. Renjun is very obviously trying not to smile, with his chin being propped up by his palm and his fingers covering his mouth. “Please, continue.”

“But ultimately, that will be your fatal flaw and the downfall of your mission because you can’t empathize like humans can,” you finish dramatically.

“Alright, let’s say I was brainwashed by aliens. Why would I then draw more attention to myself by talking about the very thing that happened to me? Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Reverse psychology,” you explain, “you talk about them, so you won’t seem suspicious.”

Renjun exhales sharply before looking down at his feet. You can see his lips twitching as he tries not to laugh, though you’re pretty sure that exhale from before was a small laugh. You’re grinning, despite the fact that you’re also trying to keep up your detective act.

“I’m kind of wish I had been abducted by aliens right about now. Maybe brainwashed me would be a little more courageous,” he mutters under his breath. You’re not sure if you were meant to hear that, but you do anyways.

“That sounds exactly like something someone abducted by an alien would say!” you say in an accusatory tone, pointing a finger at him. He rolls his eyes, but a tiny smile eventually makes its way to his lips.

You gasp loudly, grabbing his face and pulling it towards your own. He makes a small noise of surprise, eyes as wide as UFO saucers. Your faces are so close that your noses are slightly brushing up against one another, but you’re not paying attention to that right now.

“Or you could be a lizard person,” you whisper, “you know, the ones that people think take the place of government officials.”

“They’re called reptilian humanoids,” Renjun corrects. His breath (which smells like the blueberry muffin he had this morning) rustles your baby hairs.

“Your eyes are glowing yellow, and your pupils are turning into slits,” you tease.

“Are they, now?”

No, they aren’t. His eyes are a cool, icy gray, like most Athena children. It’s always been a trait you’ve been jealous of. They sparkle like stars, or freshly fallen snow. They change according to his mood too. For example, when he gets angry, there are no stars. Instead of twinkling, they flash like lightning. His eyes are truly the window to his soul; they’re one of your favorite things about him.

Renjun slightly leans into your touch, and it finally hits you how close he is. You’re cupping his face with both hands, tilting his chin up, and it looks like you’re about to...kiss him.

It seems you’re not the only one who thinks so, because almost the entire library is gawking at you. Including Seo Soojin. She looks surprised, and slightly disgusted, by the two of you.

Oh.

You feel heat rise from your neck to your entire face.

Oh gods, they all think we’re a couple.

You recoil away from him, withdrawing your hands like your just burned yourself. “We have to get out of here.”

“What?” As always, Renjun doesn’t know what’s going on.

“Just come on,” you say quickly, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the library.

Your face burns for a long time after that, and you can no longer focus on anything else. In the end, you decide to call it a day after a few more half-hearted attempts to find more candidates for Renjun. When you come back to your cabin, you take another cold shower.

You’re not sure what you’re so flustered by: the fact that you didn’t realize what you were doing or the fact that everyone in the library saw it.

Or the fact that you didn’t mind the notion of being mistaken for a couple with Renjun.

ও DAY THREE.

You don’t meet bright and early with Renjun today. He demanded to sleep in this time, since he’s not an early riser to begin with and the past two days have sucked all the energy out of him.

Which means you’re free until noon. You check the time—10 AM.

Two hours to kill.

You don’t feel like getting all sweaty and hot, so any activity outside is out. You really don’t want to be judged by more Athena kids in the Arts and Crafts Center without Renjun. So, you decide to head back to the library, despite how yesterday went.

You check out a book that goes into depth about some of the most believable conspiracy theories; Renjun actually read it a while ago (and totally geeked out about it to you), but who would have thought that you would end up reading it too? Past you definitely would’ve laughed in your face if you told her that.

Once you get back to your cabin, you curl up in your covers and begin to read. You get about two chapters in when you hear the door open and Jeong Jaehyun, one of your brothers, walks in. He’s wearing his orange t-shirt that’s soaked with sweat, and his hair is dripping from perspiration too. His pale skin glistens, and he looks like a sweaty and sparkly vampire.

“Hey, kid,” Jaehyun says, nodding at you. He isn’t that much older than you, but he’s gotten into the habit of calling you kid for some reason.

“This is a surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you come back from training before 5 PM,” you tease.

He lets out a low whistle. “Way too hot out there. I needed to get some A/C before I had a heatstroke—is that a book in your hand?”

“What about it?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.

Jaehyun snorts. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you near a book, much less read one.”

“Rude. I am expanding my horizons,” you retort.

“It seems so. What was up with you and Renjun at the library yesterday?” Jaehyun plops down on the edge of your bed.

“How do you even know about that?” you ask, wrinkling your nose. “And go take a shower first before you sit on my bed! You stink!”

“Do I?” He waggles his eyebrows and throws his arms around you in a bear hug. You try your best to shove him off, but he has a hold on your like a python.

“I hate you,” you say when he finally pulls back, sniffing your shirt to make sure you still smelled like your fabric softener. “Anyways, how’d you find out about the library thing?”

“Rumors spread fast around here, dear sister. But, seriously, what’s the deal?”

“There is no deal, Jaehyun,” you sigh, closing your book. “It’s all just a misunderstanding. We were joking around while I was trying to find a potential girlfriend for him there—which, by the way, is going horribly. I don’t think he feels romantic attraction properly like everybody else.”

“Oh right. I forgot you roped Renjun into your matchmaking thing,” Jaehyun says, disappointed. “Damn, and here I thought he finally made a move.”

Your head snaps up to give him a quizzical look. “What?”

“What?” He tilts his head.

“What did you mean by that, the part where you said you thought Renjun finally made a move?” you ask.

Jaehyun stares at you for a couple of seconds, an astonished expression on his face. “Do you really not know?”

“Would I be asking if I didn’t know?” you shoot back, annoyed that he still hasn’t answered you.

“Gods, all this time, I thought you were just pretending like you didn’t know because you didn’t want to make things awkward,” he continues, shaking his head.

“Jaehyun, what are you talking about?” you demand.

“Renjun is in love with you, Y/N.”

You gape at him. It’s a good thing you’re already sitting down because you definitely would have fallen on your ass if you had been standing.

“Th-Th-That’s impossible,” you stammer, like an absolute idiot. “There’s n-n-no way.”

“Oh, come on, lil’ sis. He’s never even tried to hide it. He’s so obvious about it that I seriously don’t understand how you didn’t know,” Jaehyun snorts. “You don’t even need to have powers to see that he’s head over heels for you.”

“But—but how? I would’ve sensed it!” you exclaim.

“You’re so sharp when it comes to other people, but you’re dense as hell when it comes to yourself,” Jaehyun points out, shrugging. “You just never paid attention, Y/N.”

You don’t respond. Your mind is a mess, a jumbled mishmash of emotions. You’re feeling so many things right now, and you can’t pinpoint any of it.. You wouldn’t be surprised if you passed out.

“Do you like him back?” Jaehyun asks softly.

“I—no! Of course not. Renjun’s my best friend. If I liked him, why would I be trying to find him a girlfriend right now? That’d be stupid of me. Yeah, that’d be so dumb. Why would I do that?” You’re rambling now, and it’s glaringly obvious that you’re trying to convince yourself rather than Jaehyun (and you know he can see it too).

“It doesn’t seem like you’re trying that hard, though.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” you ask defensively.

“The Y/N I know spends all hours of the day gathering information on her potential matches and making sure even the tiniest detail goes according to her master plan that she’s already drafted inside her head. She wouldn’t be sitting here, leisurely reading a book, especially if it’s going horribly. She would be doing everything in her power to get things back on track,” Jaehyun notes. “Ask yourself. Do you really want Renjun to get a girlfriend?”

“Wh-Why wouldn’t I?” You ask him, hoping he knows the answer, because you sure as hell don’t know.

“Because he won’t always be there anymore. He won’t have time to let you constantly drag him into your antics anymore. You won’t be his number one anymore. His girlfriend will be his first priority, of course, as she should. Think long and hard about that, Y/N. Will you be okay with that?”

“I—” The words seem to die inside your throat as you come to realization that you might not be okay with that at all. You’ve always gone to Renjun for everything and knowing that he may not always be there makes you feel lost, like a compass without it’s True North. You’re being selfish again, but it seems like you’ve gotten into the habit of acting selfish whenever it comes to Renjun. You’ve let yourself grow too reliant on him.

“Why do you care so much anyways?” Now, you’re deflecting. “Why did you tell me all of this?”

“Because you’re my little sister and I care about you. I want you to be one hundred percent sure of your own feelings, so your heart doesn’t get broken. The only reason I didn’t say anything sooner was because I thought you were already sure. Take some time and think about it, Y/N. It’ll be better for your friendship with Renjun if everything is crystal clear between the two of you,” Jaehyun advises, giving you a pat on the shoulder. He gets up, presumably to take a shower, and leaves.

You barely notice him go.

You sit in your bed, staring blankly at the wall, until Renjun finally arrives. He’s still a little groggy, probably having woken up ten minutes ago before coming. His clothes are a little rumpled and his hair isn’t styled, with his bangs flopping in his eyes. Normally, you would have made fun of him and mussed it up, but you have other things on your mind as of the moment.

Like always, he can tell something is up. He gets that concerned look on his face—the one where he has a deep crease between his brows and his rosy lips are turned downwards.

“What’s wrong?” He places a hand on your arm, lowering his head so he can’t get a better look at your face.

Physical contact with Renjun has always been something normal for you, but suddenly, you’re now acutely aware of everything about him. You can feel the pad of every one of his fingertips on your bare skin, the warmth of his palm, and just how easily his touch makes your body relax. Even when your brain is a whirlwind of thoughts, your muscles, like clockwork, instantly loosen up with just a brush of his hand.

“We need to talk,” you say shakily, moving away from him. There’s a flash of hurt in his eyes as his hand falls to his side. You feel bad, but the longer he’s touching you, the more confused you get.

You lead him a secluded area behind the Dining Pavilion, and he follows wordlessly. He waits for you to speak as the two of you stand there. Now that you’re here, you don’t really know what to say anymore.

“Are you in love with me?” you blurt before you can stop yourself. “Jaehyun said—”

“Yes,” Renjun answers. If he’s surprised or taken aback whatosever, he doesn’t show it. In fact, it seems like he knew this was coming. There’s no fear or hesitation in his eyes. He’s unwavering in his answer, and you wonder how he can always be so certain of his feelings.

“How long?” you ask tentatively.

“Probably when we first met,” he says.

“Why?”

“Are you asking me why I’m in love with you?” He raises an eyebrow.

You’re not sure. You’re not sure of anything anymore.

When you don’t answer, Renjun looks at you for a very long time. “You make me happy, Y/N. No matter how shitty things get, no matter how much I want to ram my fist through a wall, I see you and it’s like I can finally take a breath again. When you smile at me, I forget about everything that was bothering me. You and your daily shenanigans are the best part of my day. You’re obnoxious and frustrating and exhausting, but I fucking love you for it. I’m at your beck and call; I’d do anything for you. Whenever you’re happy, I become happy too. Nothing else matters to me anymore. That’s why.”

“You should have told me,” you say, voice cracking. Your heart is singing with joy, and you want to cry with relief. He talks about you like you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him, and you so desperately want to be exactly that for him. You’re not confused anymore. Everything has finally become clear for you now. You truly wonder how you managed not to notice anything at all—whether it be your own feelings or his.

“I knew it would upset you,” he murmurs.

But then it hits you.

You can’t even fathom how much Renjun has had to endure throughout the years. He’s loved you all this time, yet he hasn’t said a word—out of consideration for you. In everything he’s ever done during the course of your friendship, he has always put you first. Even if it hurts him, he was willing to withstand it for your sake.

Yet all you’ve done for him is force him into letting you try to find a him a girlfriend, despite the fact that he was against it, and he had to pretend like he was okay as he watched you parade around like a fool telling him to love someone else.

You don’t deserve to be loved by someone like Huang Renjun.

You don’t deserve to love someone like Huang Renjun.

Suddenly, you begin to feel nauseous—probably sickened by guilt. Black spots dot your vision, and your legs start wobbling. Your body collapses only moments after, but luckily, Renjun manages to catch you before you can hit the pavement.

“Y/N? Y/N? Hey, talk to me,” you can hear him say very faintly. He’s cradling you against his chest, and you bury your face in it. Your head is spinning, but you feel surprisingly grounded in his arms.

Has he always smelled this nice? His scent is a mixture of books and sandalwood, and you’re basically crushing your nose against his chest like an absolute pervert. You don’t feel embarrassed because you know you can blame it on being sick later.

Speaking of sick, even though Renjun smells so good, you proceed to lean forward and vomit all over him and yourself.

Once again, you don’t feel that embarrassed because you black out soon after.

ও DAY FOUR.

You wake up tucked nicely under your covers. Much to your relief, you’re also in clean clothes—your favorite set of heart pajamas. Unfortunately, that’s the only bright side to your current state.

It feels like you haven’t had a sip of water in ten years, and your lips feel like they’ve been glued together. Even the tiniest movement makes your head feel like someone is drilling into your skull. Your body feels twenty times heavier, and not to mention, you just generally feel like shit because of what happened with Renjun.

“Oh my gods, you look so creepy right now. Who just lays there with their eyes wide open? If you’re awake, you should say something,” a voice chides. Turning your head just a smidgen (and wincing because of the pain), you see your sister, Lee Mijoo. She has a glass of water in her hand, setting it on your nightstand.

“How long have I been asleep?” you ask hoarsely.

“Let’s see. Renjun brought you back at like 2 PM yesterday, and it’s now 8 PM, so...thirty hours?” Mijoo counts on her fingers.

“Fuck,” you groan.

“Heatstroke will do that to ya,” she says, making a clicking noise with her tongue.

“I had a heatstroke?”

“Yep. It was a pretty nasty one too. You really did a number all over Renjun’s shirt. It was like a vomit Picasso,” Mijoo says, sounding kind of impressed.

Your face burns from humiliation.

“Here, sit up and drink this water,” she orders, helping you get up. Your head is screaming in pain, like a million little jabs to your brain. You down the water in one big gulp, not realizing just how dehydrated you were until your lips hit the water.

“So, you and Renjun, huh?” Mijoo asks sheepishly.

If you still had water in your mouth, you would’ve spat it out. “What?”

“Jaehyun told me everything,” she explains.

Traitor, you think to yourself.

“Don’t be mad at him. Renjun looked like a kicked puppy when we saw him. There’s no way I wouldn’t have asked questions,” she says. “Did you break his heart, little sister?”

You sigh, putting the cup back on your nightstand. “I hope not. His heart shouldn’t be broken by someone like me.”

“And what does that mean?”

“It means that he shouldn’t concern himself with me,” you sigh.

“Well, he does. He came to check up on you like a billion times. I had to ban him from coming back until tomorrow,” Mijoo snorts. “He’s a really good guy, you know.”

“Trust me,” you say, rubbing your temples. “I know that better than anyone.”

“So, what’s stopping you? I would be all over that.”

You glare at her before letting out another sigh. “He’s too good for me, Mijoo.”

“That’s for him to decide, no?” She raises an eyebrow.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m just saying the truth,” you say.

“So, you won’t mind if I date him?” she asks seriously.

Your face falls instantly, and Mijoo doubles over laughing.

“Geez, Y/N, you looked like you were about to claw my eyes out!” She wipes away a tear.

“Very funny,” you say dryly.

“But what if I had been serious? What would you have done then?”

You don’t answer.

“I think you really, really like Renjun, Y/N,” Mijoo whispers loudly.

“I think I love him,” you whisper back.

“Then, you should probably tell him.”

“Yeah, I should,” you echo.

Ignoring the major migraine you have and the fact that you’re still a little sluggish, you throw your covers off of you. You don’t change out of your pajamas, simply throwing a thin cardigan over it.

“Uh, Y/N, maybe you should wait until you feel be—”

“No, I have do it now before I change my mind,” you cut her off, slipping on your tennis shoes.

You hear Mijoo call after you, but you’re already out of the door. The Athena Cabin isn’t too far from the Aphrodite Cabin, so the walk is short. Much to your surprise once you’re inside, he isn’t there.

Grabbing the nearest Athena kid you see, you ask, “Where’s Renjun?”

“Um, I think he went to the amphitheater?”

The amphitheater is a bit further, so you promptly release and thank the kid, before taking off. You’re not sure if running is recommended right after a heatstroke, but you do it anyways. By the time you get there, your cardigan is slipping off and you’re dripping with sweat from the humid summer heat.

The amphitheater is extremely crowded, since there was probably a performance tonight. It’s actually a little hard to see over all the people. However, you find Renjun pretty quickly.

You see him standing off to the side, away from everyone else. He’s staring emptily at the stage, hands tucked inside his pockets. He looks so tired and dejected. His entire body slumps as if it’s too exhausting to stand up straight anymore.

All because of you.

You wait until you finally catch your breath, opening your mouth to call out to him. But you don’t ever get the chance to because a girl walks up to him. You can’t tell who she is because the back of her head is facing you, and you see Renjun give her a small smile before saying something.

The girl laughs and turns her head, giving you a view of her side profile.

Hwang Yeji.

All of the courage you had inside you withers away like a dying flower.

You take a step back, accidentally bumping into someone behind you. They say something to you, but you don’t hear it at all. Instead, you turn on your heel and run. You run wildly and blindly, nearly whizzing right past your cabin. You’re barely able get back inside, eyes so blurry with tears that you can’t even see where you’re going.

When Mijoo sees you, she doesn’t ask any questions. She just turns on the shower for you, extra hot. You step in without a word, letting the water mix with the tears running down your face.

It’s not that you think Renjun is in love with Yeji now. In fact, you know he’s not. It’s just that they would be much better together.

Yeji is one of the sweetest girls you know. She would treat Renjun with the kindness he deserves. She would consider his feelings first before making him do anything. She would make him happier than you ever could. They would be so compatible, and if you weren’t in love with Renjun yourself, you would definitely be trying to set the two up.

After your shower, you change into the clothes Mijoo set out for you—an oversized sweater with cotton shorts—and miserably crawl back in bed. You’re so drained that you don’t even have the energy to drink the fresh glass of water on your nightstand.

Everything hurt—mentally and physically.

Your heart aches most of all. You’ve dated here and there, gone through some breakups, but nothing has ever been as painful as this.

It’s a pain that consumes you whole. A pain that makes you want to scream but no sound will come out. A pain that makes you want to tear your heart out. A pain that makes you wish a bunch of aliens abducted you and brainwashed you into not feeling any emotions anymore.

It’s the same pain that you thought you felt from Renjun on the first day of when this all began.

And then the last puzzle piece finally falls into place.

That pain was never his.

It has always been your own.

You love Renjun too, and you’ve loved him for a very long time.

ও DAY FIVE.

“Come on, Y/N. At least get up to wash your face and brush your teeth,” Mijoo pleads.

You ignore her, pulling your covers over your head and turning away. It’s already well into the afternoon, but you’ve been feigning sick so you didn’t have to get up. The rest of the Aphrodite children have left and gone about their various activities throughout the camp, but Mijoo was tasked by Jaehyun to take care of you.

“If you just do that, I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the day,” she bargains.

You think about it for a second before sighing, begrudgingly sitting up. You can see the pity dripping out of her eyes when you brush past her to head to the bathroom. When you see yourself in the mirror, you can understand why.

Puffy eyes, matted hair, tear-stained cheeks, and chapped lips. It’s too bad you hadn’t been wearing mascara last night because the only thing you’re missing in your hot mess look right now are those dark smudges right under your eyes.

You brush you teeth, which takes a lot more effort than you realize, and splash water on your face. Not even bothering to brush your hair, you head straight back to bed. True to her word, Mijoo doesn’t say anything else after that.

That is, until a couple hours later.

“Um, so I know I said I would leave you alone, but I think you might want to get up for this one, Y/N,” she whispers. You can’t see her because you back is turned to her, but you can tell by the tone of her voice that it’s important.

Irritated, you yank the covers off you and sit back up once again. “Mijoo, I—”

You almost choke on air when you realize Mijoo isn’t alone. Renjun is right beside her, looking not much better than you. He’s in a wrinkled t-shirt and sweatpants, his hair looks like he just ran his fingers through it and called it a day, and he has purple bags under his eyes.

“Can we talk?” Renjun asks.

You hesitantly nod.

“I’ll, uh, give you two some privacy,” Mijoo says awkwardly before turning around and running out of the cabin.

You don’t know what to do now, staring down at your clasped hands. You hear Renjun take a step forward, and you feel the edge of your bed dip under his weight. There’s a sizable gap between you and where he’s sitting, but he’s still close enough for his scent to waft over to you. He smells wonderful like usual, and you hope you don’t stink in return.

“How are you feeling?” Renjun asks quietly.

“Like shit,” you answer honestly.

He laughs under his breath. “I know what you mean.”

Your heart skips a beat, and you feel giddy all of a sudden when you see him smile. How did you manage to turn into a lovesick little schoolgirl over night?

“I talked to Yeji last night at the amphitheater,” Renjun says after a moment.

“I know,” you mutter.

He blinks. “You do? How?”

You’re not sure how to answer that.

“Well, that doesn’t matter right now,” he dismisses, taking in a deep breath. “I just wanted to tell you that I ran into her after I checked up on you, and she invited me to watch her performance. I wasn’t going to say yes at first, but I thought it would make you happy if I did. I tried, Y/N, I really tried. Yeji’s a nice girl, but I can’t help how I feel. I love you, Y/N. It’s always been you, and it always will be. I’m not asking you to love me back. I just want to stay by your side, as your friend, if you’ll allow it. I—”

“Stop,” you interrupt, scooting closer to him and putting a hand over his mouth. “I have to tell you something.”

Renjun gives you a bewildered expression but nods nonetheless.

You remove your hand from his mouth, before taking in a deep breath of your own. “You’re my best friend, Renjun, and I’ve always confided in you for everything. I took you for granted, and I only thought about myself. Deep down, I think I’ve always known about your feelings and my own, but I was afraid to dig for it. I was comfortable, and I didn’t want to ruin that, even though you were hurting. I’m truly sorry for treating you that way, Renjun. From now on, I want you to tell me everything—the good, the bad, the ugly. Don’t bottle things up for my sake.”

He goes to say something, but you hold up your hand to stop him.

“The reason why I knew you were with Yeji at the amphitheater last night is because I was there too. I went to look for you,” you finally confess. “When I decided I was going to find a girlfriend for you, I thought I would be able to step aside when you did find someone. But once I saw you with Yeji, I realized that I couldn’t do it. What I want with you isn’t a friendship anymore. I’m in love with you, Renjun. I have been for a long time, and it took me four, almost five, years to see that because I never thought to listen to my own heart until now. I don’t think I will ever deserve you in his lifetime, but I love you. I’m selfish and I’m a mess and I always cause trouble for you, but I—”

Renjun wraps an arm around your waist and tugs your body flush against his. His hand comes up to cradle your cheek as his thumb lightly runs across your cheekbone. You’re clutching his shirt like a lifeline, holding your breath, as you stare into those gray eyes.

“You,” he whispers, his lips barely brushing against yours, “are more than I deserve.”

He leans in and closes the infinitesimal gap between your mouths. He kisses you desperately, like you’ll disappear any moment, and you can feel all of the emotions he’s been locking away. His arms are wound tightly around you as he pulls you into his lap. You weave your hands through his hair, and he deepens the kiss. Your shirt rides up as you shift, and you feel his hand slip up your shirt and rest against your back. It ignites a fire within you and you want to tell him to take it off completely, but your lungs are screaming for air, so you have no choice but to pull away.

“Sorry,” Renjun says breathlessly, his chest heaving up and down, as he takes his hand out from under your shirt.

“No, I liked it,” you say, shaking your head and placing your forehead against his. “I just ran out of air.”

“No,” he disagrees, “I didn’t mean for it to go that far. It was supposed to be a sweet kiss, but I lost control.”

He tugs your shirt back down and gently sets you back down next to him. You can’t help but giggle at how flustered he is. It’s not often that Athena children, especially Huang Renjun, loses control of their emotions like that.

“I’m glad you find this amusing,” he says wryly, rolling his eyes.

“You know,” you say in a sing-song voice, “I still technically never broke my streak. I found you a girlfriend within five days.”

“Does it really count if you ended up being my girlfriend?” He raises an eyebrow. “Seems a little unprofessional to me.”

“Don’t be a sore loser,” you taunt.

“You also said you were going to make me fall in love so hard that I’d forget my own name,” he points out. “And I didn’t, so that’s false advertising. Unprofessional and unethical? I could sue you.”

“You are so petty,” you squint. “And come on! That kiss didn’t make your forget? It made me forget!”

“I don’t like you that much.” He deadpans.

“Huang Renjun, you are so not cute!”

4 YEARS AGO.

“It’s not my best work, so you can have it,” Renjun says, trying to act casual about it.

You look so happy that Renjun would have painted a thousand more if you asked him to. You have a smile that could make the goddesses envious, and he can barely hear what you’re saying over the thumping of his own heart. He hopes his expression looks somewhat elusive because he’s not sure how to handle himself right now.

You’re the prettiest girl he’s ever seen in his life.

Renjun feels like he’s been shot by Eros’ arrow. He used to never understand why everyone was so wary of Eros; he’s basically just a mascot for corny Valentine’s Day cards. Apollo and his children avoid Eros and his children like the plague. Though granted, Eros did force Apollo to fall in love with Daphne and then she ended up turning into a tree. So, there is a little bit of history there. Point being, Renjun just didn’t get it.

But he think he does now.

“Thank you so much!” you say excitedly, extending your hand. “I’m Y/N!”

Renjun just stupidly stares at you. He’s not even sure if he’s worthy to touch your hand, but he also doesn’t want to be rude. He carefully shakes your hand, unable to say a word.

“What’s your name?” you ask, tilting your head.

Is it possible for a person to be this adorable? he thinks to himself.

“I’m...”

You’re looking at him, waiting expectantly.

“I’m...”

You’re still smiling, but he can see the slight confusion in your eyes. He’s never felt like more of a moron in his life.

“Ren...jun,” he finally says after an extreme amount of concentration.

You beam at him, and he wonders if he’s the only one seeing the ring of light surrounding you. There’s no way you aren’t Aphrodite’s favorite child.

“Nice to meet you, Renjun! Let’s be friends.”

Renjun isn’t sure he wants to be just friends, but he finds himself nodding along anyways.

Fuck, he thinks, I’m in trouble.

#neowritingsnet #ncitynetwork #cznnet #NCT-WRITERS #nct scenarios #nct imagines #renjun fluff #renjun angst #nct dream fluff #nct dream angst #nct dream imagines #renjun #nct #choerrypuffs #demigods

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shoichee · 3 years ago

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Good morning, hopefully I’m not too late to ask for a matchup!

Pronouns: she/her

Sexual orientation: 2D men ✌️😔

MBTI: INTJ (I checked which KNB characters have the same personality type and it turns out it’s fitting either for Akashi or Nash Gold Jr bYE)

Astrology sign: Aries

Hobbies: I’m a hobbyist writer but I’m also very passionate about collecting old stuff and antiques (especially photographs), books, art, anything old what touches ‘the soul’.

Skills: I suppose I’m good at my writing hobby, I can also paint a little with watercolor and I quickly learn new languages. I’m also good at remembering random facts.

Strengths: I consider myself a very brave person, strong-willed, highly compassionate and caring about everything and everyone. I’ll always help everyone in need, regardless of their intentions–that’s how I got robbed of a significant amount of money one day. I’m a very good listener and great at giving advices I personally don’t follow.

Weaknesses: Definitely caring about everything and everyone, I suffer for the everlasting existential crisis, constantly overthink and worry, and I tend to get stressed and anxious easily. Still, I’m highly competitive, stubborn, with a short temper and easily provoked, like a typical Aries. One of my biggest weaknesses is probably my resting bitch face, I look undescribably mean for the strangers.

Anything else: 100% introverted, I need to be left alone after some time of interacting with people, not to mention that I rarely ever speak unless I’m very comfortable around somebody. I have a strong intuition, can read between the lines easily, guess people’s emotions and detect lies in a blink of an eye (people may fool me but I kNOW when they’re doing it and still allow it because I’m a dumbass idiot). Due to the overthinking ability it’s hard to surprise me because whatever you’re planning to do, I’ve already thought about at least one hundred possibilities as such. Your plan B? I’ve thought about it too. I’m a hopeless romantic, I think about love all the time it’s not even funny anymore. You can be sure that if I spot a snail on the road I’ll stop to pick it up and place on the grass even if it means being late. I’m serious 90% of the time, you know, the kind of person who has a stick up their ass all the time.

Physique: I’m pretty average (5'6") when it comes to height, I’m very thin and so flat from every angle that if you put me on the water I’ll float like one of those foam boards for swimming. But not being fake humble, I have a pretty face with strong jawline, long dark hair and a whole bunch of tattoos–including a whole sleeve, some big ones on the other arm and legs. I also have some piercing.

It took me much longer to write it than I hoped for (but I had to overthink it lol). Whether I made it on time or not, I wish you a good day and a lot of motivation 😌

Originally I don’t speak English, I’m European and a Slav but don’t let it fool you–I have a very low alcohol tolerance and sometimes one beer is enough to get me wasted. Which I like to call being economical, duh. Still I’m always either sad or aggressive drunk so I’m no fun and that’s why I’m very reserved when it comes to partying. This and the fact that I can’t dance and don’t know how to chill out for a single second.

I really love snow and winter! Colder places are definitely my favourite, although I can enjoy all seasons. Maybe with a little bit less love for summer since I’m prone to sunburn and I can’t go out of the house without using the strongest baby sunscreen I could purchase, otherwise I’ll be all red and suffering. But I’m ready to risk it all if I can swim either in the pool or sea or lake, I enjoy it a lot and I’m quite a good swimmer.

I’m not really fond of horror movies; blood, gore and screams is a big 'no’ for me but I love some good psychological horror or thriller, the one which makes you stay awake at night and think over and over again about the plot twist. I’m a huge fan of Stephen King’s literature, after all. I’m also guilty of liking those Poetic Cinema movies with like two dialogue lines and neon lights 😔

My secret superpower is that I make no noise while walking and everyone is always startled because I just appear in one place or another without approaching. I try to step louder but it doesn’t help much so I tend to be called vampire because of 'looming’ inaudibly through the corridors. Speaking of which, I have slightly crooked teeth which give a little vampiric look; my friends consider it as cute, original and fitting so eventually I grow fond of it too.

I don’t think I have any particular complexes, everyone is different so no need to beat myself up because of that. Perhaps gaining some weight would help me look less like Jonny’s only friend from that Ed, Edd n Eddy cartoon but I can’t do much about it due to fast metabolism. Even though, I try to pay attention to what I eat because this fact itself doesn’t mean I should be eating whatever gets in my hands. I’m a vegetarian but I’m pretty chill about it and won’t lecture anyone unless asked to. Still, I’m literally the worst cook, I have no taste and zero creativity in the kitchen.

Listen, physically I’m hella w e a k, you can manhandle me all around. And it’s not because of the diet, I’ve always been like that, that’s why I do work out–so I can open jars by myself. I do yoga mostly so it’s not really strength enhancing but this is what relaxes me the most. I used to do martial arts too, kickboxing seemed the most fun!

I’d like to add a word or two about my collecting passion, since it truly gets me going. The oldest book I own comes from year 1787, I also have handwritten journal from 1904 and some other books with dedications or autographs–those are the most valuable for me because, you know, they still hold their previous owner’s signs. I like to take a peek into those people’s minds, not from the history books but from the point of everyday life and struggles. It can be surprising how similar we are. It’s a small collection because obviously I’m no millionaire so I just keep scrolling through the internet looking for some good opportunities to get another addition and not bankrupt while doing so. Flea markets, charity and vintage shops are where I’m myself the most, I easily get distracted for hours in places like this. Also bookstores! This is where my money goes; aside from surrounding myself with old stuff, I’m also actively enhancing my tiny library. It doesn’t mean I read that much, I just like to have them and my to-read list just keeps growing 🤡

Aside from winter when it’s really cold, I like to dress like a lady! I often wear dresses and longer skirts, heels, I wear red lipstick and do my hair. It’s only in my home where I look like a gremlin in leggins and sweaters, otherwise I pay a lot of attention to the way I look. Jewelry has to mach, perfumes too.

I try to appreciate all living creatures, even the ones like the mentioned snail or spiders. I never kill them but catch in the cup and take outside. I’m especially fond of snakes (🤡🤡🤡) though!

I’m really fucking terrible when it comes to sports, honestly, the only reason I managed to graduate PE in high school was because the teacher had mercy and allowed me to write an ESSAY BYEEE. I can’t do anything in groups (both in sport and in life), I’m weak and generally lack any skills on that field. But, as I said, I like doing yoga by myself, swimming, taking nice rides on the bike and recently I’ve grown fond of arching.

Tbh I don’t enjoy travelling a lot. I like it when I’m back home after travelling, then it’s perfect but the journey itself often stresses me a lot. Still, I love seeing new places, listening to people talk in different languages and getting to know their cultures. But I’m old-fashioned–spot me in the middle of London carrying a paper map with the places I want to visit signed with colourful pens. Every single thing has to be planned beforehand if I want to have a good time, spontaneity is terrifying.

I don’t really have any phobias, I don’t like the same stuff other people do, like loneliness or death of my closest ones but that would be it. Otherwise I’m rather brave and can handle a lot of things if necessary, especially if the person with me seems to be more scared, then I feel obligated to be the tough one and help them.

My instinct is to avoid conflict and my response is often simply ignoring it. I won’t be putting any sarcastic remarks if someone insults me, I’ll just stay quiet like🧍‍♀️And then regret not being well spoken earlier and think about it for the next 15 years. I’m definitely no silver-tongue and additionally I’m a terrible liar so in general, I’m BAD with words spoken and writing them is way easier for me. I’m generally awkward around people and I don’t mean it in cute way. I just don’t know what to say and I always think I’m making an idiot of myself. I try to be kind and nice hoping it’ll suffice ✌😔 But boi, can I be a mean bitch when I’m not in a mood or if my introvert battery is low, I aim to kill then and regret it afterwards 😶

Phew, I hope it’s not too much! Now I’m nervous it might be too much but in that case I apologize and feel free to ignore most of it. Otherwise, thank you again for letting me add something 😌❤

I AM SINCERELY SORRY IT TOOK THIS LONG, SCHOOL JUST KEPT PILING UP AND SO, I REALLY HOPE I DID THIS MATCHUP JUSTICE… I hope you’re doing great though narn! <3 without further ado…

Best Matchup. . .

Kuroko Tetsuya

this isn’t really too much of a surprise, considering that he is an INFJ that can easily compliment an INTJ like you

you two also have complimentary hobbies too!! Kuroko will GLADLY read anything you write, and as a sentimental person, he’s on board right away to help you collect photographs or any antiques that catch your eye

to be honest, you might influence him to take up your hobbies as his own, and he’d be SO, SO interested in learning about people from the past, in addition to learning about the people present around him

when he finds out what sort of things you managed to collect over the years, he gives you these “puppy eyes” (whatever that would entail for… Kuroko’s blank stares) in eyeing your collection and hoping you would allow him to thumb through the old journals, and he LOVES to have long, in-depth discussions with you in hypothesizing what sort of lives these past owners could have had

KUROKO IS PROBABLY JUST AS POOR AS YOU, but whatever money he can spare, he’d invite you to all the bookstores and markets he can think of to try to find a “jackpot” in any antiques… but when he finds out that you love bookstores to read as much as he does, he is OVER the moon (suddenly, he believes in soulmates after getting to know you)

WHAT I’M SAYING IS THAT HE IS ALSO A HOPELESS ROMANTIC LIKE YOU

SO ARE YOU JUST KUROKO??? he loves how you share the same values as he does, trying to care and help out anyone you can and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt… but uh… he’s probably the more likely one between the two of you who would hesitate to help those he’d sense with malicious intent

“Hey,” he would say, slightly pulling your arm towards himself as he addressed the said stranger. “Do you need something from (y/n)-san?” and after shooing the person away, he would turn back to look at you:

“(y/n)-san,” he would sigh, “you knew more than anyone else what they were trying to do with you.”

“But… well….”

“Well,” he would pat your head softly before smiling. “It’s okay… if you can’t bring yourself to turn them away, please let me know. I’ll always be by your side.”

but even though he genuinely meant what he said, when you told him how you got robbed of a shit ton of money because of the way you are, he had to subtly bite back a cheek to stop any signs of laughing

oh, but you knew he wanted to laugh

both of you are great listeners and give good advice to each other (though, Kuroko makes sure for you to follow your own advice LOL), and he finds your appreciation for living creatures SO PRECIOUS (he inwardly dies of wholesomeness when he sees you petting Nigou… and then the next moment you’re ushering out some bugs to the sidewalk)

when he first experienced your short temper, he was… surprised, but this isn’t a new thing for him to deal with (have you seen how he deals with Kagami??? I think he will know how to handle this side of you just fine)

ARE YOU JUST KUROKO PART 2?? both of you would have little cute games occasionally trying to “scare” the other with the silent walks and random appearances… sometimes Kuroko would suggest scaring others with the power you guys hold together, but you’d probably tell him that scaring others is the last thing you’d do

Kuroko likes to stare at you… a lot.

he finds your tattoos and strong facial features (with some striking piercings too!) so pretty to look at, and when you dress up sometimes, the air knocks out of him and his eyes shine a bit; you tend to have a HUGE presence in contrast to his low presence, so he’d sometimes wonders how he’d managed to be so lucky in meeting you

he’s quite entertained that everyone is so off-put by your resting bitch face, because he knows you so much more than your surface expression (and there’s a small part of him that feels smug happy that he knows how sweet you really are)

SO… ARE YOU KUROKO PART 3?? both of you would get manhandled so much by your respective friends, and these friends would wonder how you two haven’t become easy targets for any tempted criminals at the sidewalks yet… and in protest, both of you would insist that you work out PLENTY (which is the truth) but the genes aren’t helping either of you one bit

it’s comical to see the two of you dying on the track fields or anywhere you two are required to sprint… both of you damn near collapse together at the end of every single run

though, you have your own moments of amusement and concern when you learn that Kuroko cannot swim to save his LIFE… *cue you trying to desperately teach him so he doesn’t end up drowning in the future*

both of you avoid conflicts, and while that can lead to a very harmonious life together, it can be problematic if neither of you talk it out; though, if I’m being honest, Kuroko is very blunt when he really needs to be, so I don’t see communication as much of an issue

both of you are also introverts, so you two both give each other space during the appropriate times

and even more similarities, you’re both very serious people, so now both of you have sticks up your asses

he’d totally make idle, random compliments to your face

“(y/n)-san, you’re very beautiful.”

“?????? I am LITERALLY in my sweats, Tetsuya.”

“Well, I like seeing you in whatever you’re in. Every outfit you wear always highlights a different beauty you have.”

“What brought this on, anyways?”

and he’d probably give that small smile he’d always show and say: “Nothing.”

sometimes, you’d try to turn the tables on him by genuinely complimenting his bedhead, because let’s face it, it’s very cute

he may or may not try things to get you to smile so he can see your unique fangs

you’re not allowed to be in the kitchen… let’s leave the cooking to himself or Kagami… you and Riko can patiently wait in the living room together

Runner-Up Matchup. . .

Imayoshi Shoichi

okay, stop, before you clown me and my decision-making in why I picked him, I SWEAR LET ME EXPLAIN…

your physical appearances would definitely grab his attention

Oh? You look quite interesting… and what's this? You have quite a mean expression on your face…

*cue smirk*

TLDR; you look like the prime material for him to tease and get a reaction out of

BUT WHEN HE SAUNTERS OVER AND SAYS HIS THING TO PROVOKE YOU, YOU STAY ZIP-SILENT AND MOVE ON… and he’s caught off guard SO MUCH

he anticipated for you to respond to him, or at the VERY LEAST look pissed, but the fact that you tried to shuffle away in silence threw him in for a loop

INTJ x ENTJ shenanigans bring SUCH an interesting dynamic

meanwhile in your mind, you’re kicking yourself over for not having any comeback ready for him, and Imayoshi is just on your mind forever for the entire week, like you were SO PROVOKED BUT YOU JUST DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO RESPOND

you probably wouldn’t meet up with him again until one day a random guy tried to advertise a product to swindle you out of your money

here you were, knowing that he was probably scamming you, but a part of you believed that maybe he’s short on money or that he’s desperate to make a living...

“To think that you were actually a good girl type of pushover… my, my.”

Imayoshi’s presence alone would’ve made the scammer scram from your sight

you’d be just standing there like 🧍‍♀️ and he’s just raising brows at why you would let anyone walk over you like that

you awkwardly thanked him before leaving

it would probably take a few more “coincidental” meetups before you would try to initiate anything with Imayoshi… probably

and this one meetup would be the one to snowball your relationship:

you were at the local flea market, looking for any potential journals that would date back centuries (even if it’s super unlikely) when Imayoshi was also there (by actual coincidence this time) evaluating various fishing rods and other gear the seller was pitching to him

he would obviously notice you first; after all, who wouldn’t notice a woman with such a striking appearance of tattoos and piercings with the meanest face yet peacefully thumbing through various pages and sifting through countless books?

have I mentioned that his type of girl is a “kikubari (attentive/considerate/respectful) girl”?

😏

COUGH, that being said, Imayoshi does most of the relationship progress; he’s genuinely intrigued by you! even if the infuriating things he says don’t hint much initially…

but you’re equally sharp (or probably sharper), and pretty soon, you easily understand the real meanings of his “polite” snarks and one-liner comments… you would’ve probably ran from him if it weren’t for your strong intuition telling you that he’s not the bad person that he seems to be

if your idea of romance and love language is 24/7 teasing, then congrats, Imayoshi will fulfill your romantic hopes and fantasies to the fullest… 🤡

when you grow comfortable enough to talk to him about what’s on your mind, depending on how serious you are at the moment, he’s actually a VERY good listener and will shut up for once

when you overthink and worry, when you get stressed out and anxious, he’s always there at your beck and call, and he then runs through pragmatic solutions and advice to stop the source of worries/stress… and if he can’t do that, then he’ll be there by your side

but if you’re trying to lament about achieving your romantic fantasies and do all the cute stuff couples do, I sincerely apologize, but you’re never gonna hear the END OF HIM making fun of your “naive view” on romance

though, when you least expect it, he does unexpected acts of gentleman-like behavior JUST TO GET A REACTION FROM YOU and all with that small stupid smirk on his face that only you can see but no one else

so to everyone else, it looks like Imayoshi is the “total sweetheart,” but here you were standing there knowing better that Imayoshi has an ulterior motive that’s mostly harmless

shall I list all the possible things he’ll do to get under your skin?

the fact that you’re such a “serious” person already gives him SO MANY ideas in how to tease you and rile you up

when you stop randomly to try to save a snail or a bug, he threatens to “accidentally” step on them and go “oopsies” with his hands raised up (but when he knows you’re not looking, he keeps his eyes peeled for any more nearby critters to bring to safety)

when he learns how much of a lightweight you are, he MAY HAVE TRIED to get you drunk (within the safety of the house, of course) just to see how entertaining you can be as a drunk… he was NOT disappointed

when he learns of your great dislike of horror… oh boy. Oh boy. unless you tell him that your fears of blood, gore, and screams are very serious, he’s going to try to scare you by popping out of nowhere or roping you into watching these movies with bets and dares

that being said, he’d enjoy psychological horror with you VERY much… just two mind readers trying to process all those plot twists… though you inwardly groan when Imayoshi roasts + criticizes THE fuck out of bad psychological thrillers (whether it’s the books he ended up procuring with you in the bookstores or the movies he picked up)

when you unintentionally sneak up on him because of your quiet footsteps and tap on his shoulder, he’s always turning around and feigning being scared: hands up, eyebrows raised, and a weirdly-exaggerated, “ahhh, (y/n)-chan! you sure scared me!”

expect nicknames… always

you’re officially his little “vampire” (god, do you wanna punch him with the martial art skills you have or….?) and his “damsel in distress” (because you always end up in shady situations with your unconditional kindness and the fact that you’re physically weak, too)

but it’s Imayoshi’s duty to make sure NO ONE else gets to pick on you or makes you genuinely uncomfortable; he’s scaring them away without hesitation, no remorse

if you’re the angel in disguise, he’s pretty much the demon in disguise (I find this contrast very cute)

you show him how to be a lot more altruistic and that there’s some merits in being nice to people

god forbid you from the kitchen, he will NOT let you step ANYWHERE near the place… he’s already had trauma from Momoi’s inhumane cooking

he’s a very introverted extrovert, if you can understand what I’m saying; he has no problem interacting with others and speaking his mind, but he keeps to himself a lot, so whenever you need your personal space, say less, he’s already packing up to go fishing alone to leave you alone

he hates spontaneity as much as you do (it’s canon), so you won’t have any worries of being overwhelmed by sudden plans

though, I feel that even with your overthinking, Imayoshi is the ONLY one who can manage to surprise you (if he really tries); example: maybe he wants to do a small surprise gift (and maybe entertain your romantic views for once because he wants to see you happy, even if he finds this unbelievably sappy)

when you dress up, his heart races a bit faster (admitting that is a different story though), because then it reminds him of the contrast you have (with the tattoos and piercings and dark hair with your soft silhouette in dresses and skirts) that he knows other (judgmental) people would be scared of

“Well, you certainly look like a lady today, hmm?” he would crack open an eye before extending a hand (just to be a “gentleman”). “Hurry now, I hear that sunlight is horrible for creatures of the night. That wouldn’t be good for our cute little vampire here, am I right?”

this is why he’s an alternative matchup and not your best one… unless you can toughen yourself up to handle his little comments…

omg, dates where he’s fishing and you’re doing watercolor painting, and it’s just comfortable silence between the two of you >>>>

Alert! Honorable Mention!

Midorima Shintarou

him as an ISTP and you as an INTJ could be potential MBTI complements, but I chose him for an honorable mention because of what you wrote for your descriptions

it’ll be pretty difficult for him to open up to you at first, since he may be one of those people that are initially wary of you because of your outward appearances

it’s only after you lend him a hand in helping to find his missing lucky charm that he reluctantly accepts your help (R.I.P. Takao), and would eventually see just how… normal you were

you even reminded him of Kuroko… very much so

he’d actually be the most down to go to shops and markets with you, because while you’d be searching for any antiques and journals, he’s keeping his own eyes peeled open for any potential lucky items

a lot of the times, he gets you various antiques and figures under the guise of, “it’s your lucky item,” and you know he’s lying to save face and to not die of embarrassment

due to your overthinking + keen observation skills, you can read Midorima like an open book and know what he’s thinking 98% of the time

he’d be the most outwardly protective one out of all the matchups; he makes it very clear that he won’t let anyone try to mess with you with his scary, stoic aura

if we’re going to be honest, he finds your unconditional kindness really irritating, because he cannot wrap his head around why you would do this (and he thinks that not even Kuroko was kind to this extreme extent), but he knows that you’re not dense about it and that you really try not to let things happen the way they do

this man is just as old-fashioned as you LOL you think you’re the only one with a paper map and colorful pens to navigate?? this man would literally go out of his way to look for the town map board displays to figure out where he was going

there was one occasion where you showed him your mini-library collection and he’s in awe because your collection size rivaled his own lucky item hoardings:

“You… you had all of these stored?”

“Uh… yeah, they’re supposed to be on my ‘to-read’ list… but it keeps… growing…”

“And you’re still looking to buy more? Isn’t that wasteful, nanodayo?”

“I’ll read them all eventually!”

dates now include him insisting you two to sit together to read those books one by one to reduce that “to-read” list

both of you have the scariest resting bitch faces around, and Takao can’t HELP but tease the both of you how you both look so similar sometimes LOL

if I haven’t made it obvious before, Midorima’s love language is gift-giving, so even though he’d complain about you getting more books even though you’re never reading them, he’d still buy the books you want without you knowing… oh Midorima, you sweet man

especially in the colder seasons, he’ll gift you a wrapped box with the reddest cheeks and averted gaze and it’s either beautiful scarves or jewelry that are inside

he doesn’t mind when you save all those insects and stuff to keep them alive, but he’ll be staying away from you… he can’t handle them, his reasoning is that they bring terrible luck

don’t even THINK ABOUT BRINGING A SNAKE NEAR HIM, HE’LL FAINT

if he finds out how you got robbed of money before, he’s scolding you so much that you feel your ears might fall off, but he means well

“How the hell did this happen? You let the man steal your money?!”

welp, you two can be pretty stubborn and hot-headed, and without Takao to calm the both of you down, it can be challenging to see eye-to-eye sometimes

he’s always scared out of his wits when you approach to him out of seemingly nowhere

#milestone matchups #500 followers #500 follower milestone #narnvaeron #submission #knb x y/n #knb x reader #knb matchup #knb matchups

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solari-writes-things · 4 years ago

Text

Artist’s Touch

requested by: @sazafraz

eeeee Rainbow Six writing I can’t wait.

Prompt -

Dialogue That is Sunshine and Smiles: “Paint With Me”

Timur Glazkov x Reader

gif isn’t mine, credited below.

R6 Tag List: @sazafraz @kind-wolf @tsumethedrifter (if you wish to be included, please comment or message below.)

REQUESTS CLOSED

You hadn’t been in Rainbow for more than a couple of months. So hearing the bustling sounds of Hereford base was still quite the adjustment you needed to make. However, you were grateful to have made a rapidly growing friendship with several of the operators.

In specifics, the Spetsnaz. For a group of people who were so vastly different in many ways, they all seemed to mesh well perfectly like pieces to a puzzle. All complimented one another, the synergy in their small circle overwhelming. For them to have, essentially, adopted you meant much more than they could understand.

So you were invited to hang out with them. Just a day of relaxation, as much as Alexsandr would allow. However, Alex’s voice echoing through the room wasn’t the thing that you seem to focus on the most out of this endeavor.

You were watching Timur, painting away at something small in his sketch book with the watercolors that he had kept on his person. At least, when he wasn’t doing any work for Rainbow. You had to admit, out of the five people that you had met on your first day, he had been the one you connected to the most.

Maybe it was because of how engaging he was when you both were in seclusion. When he knew no one else would be paying attention, he became much more lively. He talked more, asked more questions about you. You had both connected on your interest in the arts, in which he proceeded to show off his works that he had on hand.

They were bright, colorful. A contrast to who he had made himself out to be. You had admitted to him that you didn’t really know how to paint, in which he had smiled widely and made a comment about maybe teaching you someday. Of course, you would be thrilled to learn from him. If he was an entertaining teaching you the arts as he was in conversing, you had nothing but hope in store for yourself.

He was a man who gave no time to the aspect of judgement, and that would greatly encourage you to learn the technique of it all.

For a moment, his focus had broken from his sketchbook, and his icy blue eyes met yours. You couldn’t avert your gaze fast enough, and you caught a glimpse of a smile before you forced your attention down to the phone in your hands.

“Did you want to see what I was working on?” he inquired simply, since the other boys were off in a different section of the room.

“I can see it when it’s finished, Timur, as much as my impatience says ‘yes’,” you joke, your eyes not peeling away from your cell phone as you scrolled through just to act as if you were doing something.

You glance up once more, after a couple seconds of entertained silence from him. He seemed in thought, a half smile playing at the edge of his lips. “Paint with me.”

You sputter with how simple he said it, and for a moment you thought he forgot that you didn’t really know what to do with a brush. “D-...Did you forget I don’t know how to paint?”

He shakes his head and moves over in his seat, patting the spot next to him. “I’m going to teach you. Come. I’ll give you a spot in my sketchbook for this.”

You blink, a little honored that he would dedicate one of his pages to your trial and error. So you stand, shuffling over to him slowly and taking a seat next to him. He digs into his supplies sitting comfortably on the arm of his seat to give you a pencil to start your project.

You at least knew how to do that. You take the pencil carefully out of his hand, as if the object were made of glass, giving him a quick “thanks” as you begin to drag the graphite across the paper surface. He moves his eyes away from the sight of you working, unsure if you were comfortable with the idea of him watching you work right now. He didn’t mind the comfortable silence, and frankly you didn’t either. Working on one of you hobbies while in his company felt...right. If it had been anyone else, you would have stirred where you sat.

But he was respectable. He honored your space, your privacy, even though you working in front of him almost tantalizingly.

After several minutes of him not peeking, you finally extend the pencil toward him with a smile. It was the sign he needed to peel his attention off of the wall and smile gently at you. With a little less delicacy than you, he takes the pencil and sticks it back where he had it before.

You watch him dig through the bag once more but for a longer period of time. He began brandishing brushes of varying sizes and shapes, before turning his head to look at you.

“Let me see what you drew,” he says to you simply.

You turn the sketchbook hesitantly, not really thinking about what you drew in the moment.

It was a sketch of some of the room you two occupied, of course lacking a couple small details you wouldn’t be able to replicate quite easily with the watercolors. Small things, like a distant book or a photo. A little to the left, just like he had been, was a portrait of Timur. Staring off in the distance for the sake of your privacy. He caught sight of it, smiling endearingly but not pressing the matter as he stood up. “I’ll be back.”

He disappeared into another portion of the room, and through Alex’s boisterous laugh you could hear cabinets open and the distant rummaging. He returns not a minute later, a few colors in his hands and a paint palette to go with it. He also had a water bottle tucked under his arm as well.

“Apologies,” he says quickly, putting everything down on a nearby surface.

“Nothing to apologize for, Timur. You weren’t even gone for a full minute.”

He chuckles a bit as he begins to delegate the colors that you would need, not bothering to mix them. You assumed that would be part of your lesson today.

You watch him carefully bring it over, putting it down within arms reach of you. “Which colors do you wish to mix first?”

You look down at the array of shades in front of you, pointing to the blues that he obviously had picked out for his eyes. “Those.” He nods and puts the colors in front of you. ““You must know what these are for. Go ahead and look at me, see how much you think you need of each shade and blend them together. Remember to add the light shade first, then the dark after.”

So you follow his instructions, peeling your gaze upward to stare into his frosty toned eyes. As much as this should have been constructive, you found yourself more distracted the longer you lingered. Little details of his popped out to you, like the scar on his iris, and you pulled your gaze away once you realized the hole that you were digging for yourself.

��Sorry, Timur, I can’t seem to focus,” you admitted,

“Need a bit of motivation on the matter?” he inquired.

You nod your head, looking back up at him to listen to what he would say. Any pointers that he would possibly give you to make this process any easier on you.

But all you could focus on now was his thumb and index finger pinching your chin, and his face drawing closer. You could feel his breath caress your face as he is now centimeters away.

Eventually, your lips met.

#timur glazkov #glaz #glaz imagine #rainbow six seige #r6s #reader insert #solari writes things

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pluto-fics · 5 years ago

Text

Inspiration is Motivation － Prologue

Fanfiction | Artist!Taehyung x SingleMom!Reader

Genres: Fluff, Romance, Humor, Smut

Rating: G (for this chapter)

Word Count: 2.385 words

Chapter Warnings: none

Your brows furrow at the earlier statement of your best friend, Hanna.

"Believe me, it'll help you to relax for a few hours and I'll take good care of Ty."

You have no doubt about the latter. Hanna might be that stereotype single woman who likes to go out for a couple drinks every so often, but she is a reliable caretaker and one ridiculously good cook. Based on this, she was an absolute blessing the last two times she watched over your son. However, you still feel a little uneasy about her suggestion.

"I don't know... Tyler is kind of stubborn and moody lately, how could I leave you both alone for nearly four full hours? Not to mention that I can paint at home if I want to, I don't need to go to some weird art course..." you try to defy yourself. The idea of entrusting Hanna with your five year old son for so long worries you. Just the thought of it causes a bad feeling to spread throughout your body. Hanna just rolls her eyes, however. "Listen. I already signed you up for that course this Saturday. It's supposed to start at eleven, won't go past three in the afternoon and you can calmly come back home to Tyler and me having a great time without setting your apartment on fire."

You can't fight down the amused giggle at her statement before you sigh. "Hanna, I really don't-..." you begin, only to be interrupted mid-sentence. "Yes, you do want to try it. I'll be here at 10 this Saturday and you can either go to that course or stay here with us and bathe in my judgment."

And here you are, two days later and sat on a chair in front of an empty canvas and an A3 sized sketchpad, surrounded by strangers who, just like you, are waiting for the course to begin.

You take this time to inspect the equipment provided to you. Brushes and pencils of rather good quality, however accompanied by a cheap, fizzy eraser. The watercolor paint seems decent enough. But the big bottles of acrylics and oils on the desk in the middle of the room, accessible for everyone in it, clearly are not top-notch quality. That of course does not mean it is bad per se, you just might have expected something fancier in the art department of the local Community College.

Your train of thoughts comes to an abrupt stop when you hear someone opening the big wooden door and entering the room, a deep but smooth voice wishing you and your fellow course participants a good morning. The slender figure who just stepped into the room makes your eyes grow wide the second you lay your eyes on him. He is tall, with model like features, facial as well as bodywise. His fashion sense clearly is a little extravagant, for he wears a way too oversized dress shirt with a pair of what almost seemed to be pajama pants of some sort, and a matching beige colored beret topping his head. The big round glasses topping his nose make you curious. Does he need them to see? Or were they simply added to this retro outfit because they fit the vibe?

"I'm glad you all made it here on time, unlike myself" he then speaks while rummaging in the bag he has just placed on top of the desk in the front of the room. You hear quiet giggles erupting from two slightly older women in the back. His lips curve into a handsome smile, not even needing to show the whites of his teeth to make you doubt the existence of a man with such impressive visuals. Yet, you feel kind of stupid for the way you swoon over his looks like a teenager, despite being a grown woman with a child waiting for her to return home.

The young man claps his hands together as if to catch everyone's attention, even though he already possesses the full concentration of everyone in this room. "Now, I'd like to start by introducing myself, if that's alright by you."

He swiftly turns to the chalkboard behind himself and writes down what you assume to be his name.

"My name is Kim Taehyung and I teach traditional art at the local University. But as you can tell, I'm also hosting art courses like this one once a week, while also working as a hobby freelance artist. So I guess you could say that art is my passion."

There it is again. That charming smile of his as he tends to the attentive group of people in front of him. "But enough of me, I think we're all here to improve our skills, so how about we start with some easy warm ups to get creative first?" You notice everyone responding by nodding or already flipping over the cover of the massive sketchpad in front of them to reveal a blank page. Imitating your 'classmates', you flip open your sketchpad and face Mr. Kim again.

He begins by instructing everyone to warm up their wrists by drawing circular shapes of several sizes and shading them to your heart's content to make yourself familiar with the medium you're using. Another hint of his is to try the different art materials provided to each one of the participants and see which one you'd preferably work with today.

A couple minutes later, you can tell Mr. Kim valued his participants' individuality. Only giving a rough theme for the artwork you are supposed to create, he left everything else to you. "Warm Autumn" was the theme he came up with and your mind immediately drifts off into what you would like to call your ‘creative mode’. Images of brown leaves, soft breezes of air and fluffy fabrics of knitwear come to your mind. Thus, you begin by settling on a color palette in warm brown, red and yellow tones and soon start by sketching an idea.

Mr. Kim does no longer talk to the whole course. Instead, he begins to slowly walk around the classroom and take a look at everyone's approaches on the topic. Usually, you'd get so engulfed in your works that you would blend out most of your surroundings. However, Mr. Kim's presence makes it hard for you to fully concentrate on the sketch before you like you usually would. You don't even need to look up to know where Mr. Kim currently stood at, while he gradually comes closer to where you are seated at.

The sound of his steps approaching you slowly sends shivers down your spine, just like the feeling of him standing right beside you, wordlessly examining your sketch. You can't keep from glancing up at his face as his gaze remains locked on the paper before you, an approving look surfacing on his face. He then glances at your face, his eyes meeting yours immediately as he leans down a bit to speak to you with a quieter, low voice. "Nice choice of motives. Do you have an idea for the final composition already?"

You feel your cheeks heating up as you mumble out a shy "Um, kind of", unsure of how to feel about the genuine interest Mr. Kim shows. It's been a while since someone other than your son Tyler had commented on one of your works. The young artist next to you smiles. "You're a fast one, huh? I like that. But let me know if you need anything, alright?" His voice is just as unique as his appearance. And the more you get to hear of it, the more you come to like the sound of it. Nodding your head with a smile, you thank him before he smiles back and moves on to the next participant of his course.

By the end of the course, you have created a piece you are rather proud of - the motives assembled in a harmonic way, adding to the calm and welcoming atmosphere of your painting. Throughout the creation process of it, Mr. Kim came around every once in a while to praise you for your ideas or help you improve parts of your piece in ways you wouldn't have been able to think of yourself. You have actually truly enjoyed today. At the end of the course, Mr. Kim gives his final speech in which he thanks everyone for participating and gives some last advice before sending everyone home with their final artworks. You had just put the materials you had used back to where you got them from, ready to pack your things to leave, when Mr. Kim approaches you with a gentle smile. "(Y/N), am I right?" He addresses you, your heart seemingly skipping a beat at the way your name sounds when spoken with his smooth voice. "Yes, that would be me" you say, turning to him with faked confidence. In reality, something about this Kim Taehyung makes you feel like a shy teenager again. He smiles apologetically as he asks "Do you perhaps have a minute or two to talk? If you're not in a hurry to be somewhere, that is."

To be honest, you want to apologize and leave right now. Tyler is waiting for you at home, after all. And so is Hanna. But your head nods on it’s own accord before your mind could stop it from doing so. What are a few minutes anyway, right?

"Great! Actually, I was curious to see how your piece turned out. To be honest, I didn't really get to look at it yet," he then says as he regards your artwork which is still on the easel at your seat. Examining it interestedly, he chuckles. "You're really talented, you know? This can't have been the first time you’ve painted something like this."

Your lips curve upwards in a bashful smile. "Ah, well actually... It's kind of my hobby. It's just that I haven't had much time to pursue it recently..." you answer. A soft humming noise resonates in his throat before he faces you again. "Are you interested in modern art too?" He suddenly asks, catching you a little off guard. "Modern art?" You repeat, to which he nods. "There's an art exhibition at the City Hall next friday. The main focus of it lays on contemporary artists and most works shown there are paintings and sculptures, rather than installations or anything like that. But I have a feeling that you might like it." You aren't sure where he was aiming at with this information, but you appreciate it. Mirroring his friendly smile, you say "It does sound interesting, yes. But I'm really busy lately, I'm not sure if I'll be able to go."

Mr. Kim seems understanding as he nods. "Well, if you do make it, maybe we'll meet there." He responds, making you nod slowly as you mumble a barely audible "That'd be nice." You want to ask him if there'd also be works of his exhibited there, remembering that he introduced himself as a freelance artist earlier, but the sound of your phone vibrating in your pocket interrupts you. "Ah, sorry" you then say, quickly looking at your phone to see messages of Hanna coming in. It’s nothing serious, just questions about whether Tyler still takes naps after lunch or not, since he apparently got a little energy boost after having eaten well. But it is urgent enough for you to decide that it is time to go home now. "I better get going now. Today was really nice, thank you. And thank you for telling me about the art exhibition, too. As you said, maybe we'll meet there." You speak as you collect your belongings and art piece, Mr. Kim nodding calmly and smiling as he wishes you a nice day before you leave.

On your way home, you keep thinking about today's events. About the fun you have had while painting for the first time in months and the useful help Mr. Kim had offered. The giddy feeling you got whenever he would lean in to talk to you quietly with that soothing deep voice of his. You have really had a great day, even if you still feel a little awkward for being so affected by the male's looks and kind words. But who could blame you, if said artist looks like a piece of art himself?

Arriving at home, the first thing you notice right after opening the front door is the welcoming scent of warm pancakes coming from your kitchen. Peeking past the doorframe, you smile at the sight of your best friend and son pouring dough into a frying pan together, your little son giggling in excitement.

"Hello you two" you greet the diligently working duo and laugh when your son immediately comes running to you to hug your legs and welcome you back excitedly. Crouching down to meet his eyes, you then give him a kiss on his cheek and smile at him. "Did you have a nice time with Hanna?" You ask, your smile widening when Tyler nods eagerly. "Yes! Hanna knows so many fun games for two! We played hide and seek too!” You give Hanna a glance, relieved to see her smiling just as happily as your little son. For some reason you’re always worried that he might be a little too challenging for her sometimes, but seeing her reaction to his happy storytelling, you have no doubt that she adores your son almost as much as you do.

Getting up to greet your friend properly with a short hug, you then look at the pile of pancakes on the kitchen counter. "Someone seems to be hungry, huh" you comment, Hanna rolling her eyes as she speaks, avoiding the topic. "How was the art course?"

You can feel Tyler leaning against your legs, silently requesting your attention. Picking him up to hold him close, you then begin to tell Hanna about the building, the people there, the fun you had when painting something from start to finish for the first time in ages, and in the end you thank her for having made this possible. Yet, a very specific detail you keep to yourself for now － Kim Taehyung.

Thank you for reading the Prologue to my new series “Inspiration is Motivation”!

If you can’t wait to read the next chapter, check out my Series Masterlist and follow @pluto-fics to be notified of new updates.

Stay safe and see you soon! 💜

- Pluto 🌑

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savvylark · 6 years ago

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Crush It - chapter 8

This story started with the prompt: “You’re my crush’s sibling and I started dating you to piss off my crush and make them jealous enough to confess feelings for me, except you’re actually really sweet and awesome and I think I might like you better, and I don’t know what to do now that my plan seems to have worked.”

An Everlark Summer College AU. Huge thank you to my Beta, the legend, my personal friend @katnissdoesnotfollowback who this story was written for. Her advice and incites are invaluable. When I was discouraged she nudged me and motivated me. Also shout out to my new friend @butrfac14 for pre-reading this. And thank you to the talented @akai-echo for this beautiful banner!!

Rated: M or maybe E for dream smut and future Everlark steaminess.

Read it here on Ao3 or

As I drive home in a figurative fog, the emotions I've been repressing have clouded to the surface, a storm builds inside me. Echoing how I feel in unexpected solidarity, light water droplets pepper my windshield. When I first formulated my plan, I planned to date Peeta, casually, so as not to hurt anyone… and it seems I've hurt everyone, especially myself.

Lightning flashes as the song playing on the car radio croons on about a crush, of all things. The sound is vaguely familiar. Though I haven't sung a note since my dad passed years ago I find myself humming along.

The lyrics express the exciting hesitant eye contact, the sighing, the blushing, the curiosity and want for more. That's how I felt about Rye. An emotional reaction. A fleeting thrill. We were both interested in the other's attention. What it did to boost the other's ego. It felt good, exciting. Temporary.

The cold reality washes over me.

As the radio shifts to a song with more depth, a raspy voice confesses a deeper love.

The damn inside me breaks.

Tears roll down my cheeks and I'm forced to sort out my feelings.

Peeta and I looked out for each other. Had our own lives, our own interests. We confided in each other, opened up about real things and shared hardships in our past. He paid attention to the things I cared about, and what would fit into my busy life as well as his own. We looked out for each other. There was a healthy give and take. It seemed to come so naturally. We just fit. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I was slowly falling, with each caress, embrace, hand squeeze. In our comfortable silences. We were living life together side by side. A unified front.

I do have some lingering questions that confuse me. How much of it was Peeta merely playing along to help me make Rye jealous? How much of it was real?

I started to hope the things were real for him. The things he said the night he fought with Rye might have meant...but now I don’t know. He could have said those things in defense of a friend. Maybe I heard it all wrong.

The beautiful melody and lyrics prompt a memory I’ve tucked deep in my heart for safe keeping, I remember my father's face.

His dark hair hung over his forehead and eyebrows, knitted in concern or concentration, his jaw clenched and eyes squinted. Then my mother seemed to float by, a flutter of silky flowing golden hair and creamy pale skin. She wrapped her arms around my father and murmured sweet reassurances in his ear. His steely gray eyes softened and seemed to sparkle as his whole expression loosened all tension. His shoulders relaxed and his strong arms wrapped around my mother. He held her tightly as if she was giving him strength, re-energizing him. He sighed and swayed with my mother in his embrace to the music.

Then, as if he was actually in the car, a voice over the radio becomes my father's singing voice to my ears. Painting beauty in my mind's eye, a deep rolling vibrato rumbling in my chest, resonating out and swirling through the car back to me. A precious sound I treasure and keep locked away. Conjuring up the memory of the look in his eyes, the unmistakable expression of love on his face when he would sing to mother.

Sweet moments with Peeta Mellark come flooding back. There's a big difference between a crush and the way that Peeta has deeply rooted himself within me. I gasp when I finally recognize the sound I barely recognize myself. It's my own voice echoing back to me.

I hate to cry, but for some reason I don’t fight it. I let the tears fall and as if I willed it to, the light tapping of the rain on the car increases and pours down. Lighting flashes again, the thunder roars, and rumbles deep in my chest, drowning out my sobbing.

It's almost cathartic, the earth and I are in agreement. Crying out together, alone.

I revved the engine, water splashing, lightning flashing. A hazy watercolor scene of blues, grays and flickers of blinding bright lightning.

I make a split second decision and u-turn, gunning my car back to the bakery. Back to Peeta.

I have to tell him.

I screech to a halt, bolt out of car and feel the water soak my clothes, but somehow I don’t feel cold. I feel red hot. I sprint through the metallic and glass bakery doors. I’m flooded with hope at the sight of Peeta’s smiling face. I speak the words in my heart. The muted and muddled colors seem to pale and gray around me. His blue eyes look pained as his brows raise and lets me down gently. He was helping me make Rye jealous.

He only ever saw me as a friend.

Nothing more.

I turn over and gasp for air, then bury my face in my pillow and scream. I’ve had this dream a few times now. It seems to start out with true events, driving in the rain through tears as the radio plays.

I never turned around that day, but I dream of the ‘what if.’ What I find through the bakery door changes with each dream. I find Peeta kissing the blond he was with, I find him angry with me, and one instance that I cherish, he runs out before I reach the doors and kisses me in the rain.

It's Monday morning, or is it afternoon? I stand, rub my eyes and study the clock. I would normally be late for my second job by now.

As if life would ever relent in the roller coaster that this summer has been, last week my fatigue and an itchy throat came at me full force. My mom urged me to get checked out, and sure enough, the blood test came back positive: mononucleosis.

I was forced to quit my second job because of exhaustion. The fall semester is approaching, so I convinced Sae to keep me on the schedule at the diner, even if all I can do is four hours shifts, and then rush home to collapse into bed. She instructed me to wash my hands every chance I can and keep my mouth shut as much as possible. “I'm sure that will be difficult, I’m known to be so warm and talkative, Sae.” I rolled my eyes and then shrieked as Sae snapped her towel at me for my sass.

Adding insult to injury, Gale's various texts informed me that Rye was also bedridden with mono. Another reminder of the kisses we shared. I collapse in a heap on my bed and sigh into my pillow.

My days and nights are so mixed up. I've barely left the bed on days that I'm not scheduled to work. I'm fatigued all the time and pathetically weak. I hate being weak.

My eyelids grow heavy. In a sleepy daze, I distantly hear the rattling of the loose front door knob. Prim cheerfully greets someone at the door and eventually two muffled voices echo from the kitchen. The deep timbre I hear almost sounds like Peeta's, but that can't be right. “I love his warm laugh,” I mumble to my empty room as I drift back to unconsciousness.

As I feel a blanket being tugged over my body and a kiss planted on my cheek with a brush of stubble, I smell baked bread and a manly scent that bring me warm feelings. I grip the soft cotton fabric tightly and beg for the feeling, the sensation of home to stay. I feel moisture escape one of my eyes.

I hear a raspy whispered reply and I'm engulfed in a haze of warmth, sweet aromas and a sense of belonging.

I drift off in a blissful sleep thinking of deep blue eyes and orange sunsets.

I wake and it seems to be the middle of the day. I look next to me and muse, “I love dreams when I find myself wrapped in Peeta's arms.”

I gently reach for his hair and sink my fingers into the soft blond waves. I remember noticing these ashy blond strands in a couple of college courses we shared, and I couldn't help noticing the way his biceps protruded when he would stretch. I kept thinking he was out of my league, and I was right. I gently scratch at his scalp and study his profile through weary eyes.

“I do too.” He sighs, slowly opens his eyes, he tightens his hold on me, and snuggles a little closer into my chest.

My breaths becomes out heavier, my heart beats a little faster. I relish in the feeling of Peeta's body against mine.

“We need to eat. I'll make dinner soon.” I mumble.

“Not too soon alright?” His voice has a husky sleepy quality. His kind eyes meet mine and plead with sincerity, “Just let me take care of you for awhile.” I nod with a small smile.

This is such a nice dream. I feel so warm inside. Cocooned safely, wrapped in hope and light.

“I'll wake up any minute and he’ll be gone. He won't be mine. I’ll wake up alone and cold,” I think. The agony and longing in my heart causes me to wrap tighter around him.

“I'm so tired, Peeta.” I trail kisses across his jaw and whisper secrets in his ear. Words of longing. I confess that I think of him all the time and keep dreaming about him. I even blurt out that I was thinking about him when Rye kissed me, wishing it were Peeta instead.

“Every love song on the radio is about you.” I hum a tune, and sing the melody softly. He looks at me with surprise, happiness and opens his mouth to say something but closes it, looking curious, but almost afraid to say anything. Peeta sighs and holds me tighter.

I whisper, “I know I don't deserve you.” A tear slips down my cheek. All words I would never be brave enough to speak face to face to a living breathing non-dream Peeta. More tears seem to prick my eyes as I bury my face into his neck and inhale his scent, sweet bread and dill from baked goods.

“I'm sorry I ruined it Peeta, I'm sorry for everything.” I admit pathetically, and I drift back to sleep.

I turn over and open one eye. I'm alone, as expected. I wrap a blanket around myself to follow the banging pots and chopping noises in the kitchen. Prim’s happy chatter causes me to search the clock, 5pm. I squint. Does mom have a short shift today?

Two blond heads are bent down chopping vegetables and chatting in our tiny kitchen.

I do a double take because the second head is taller, and much broader than my mother.

I think I know why Peeta's here: I'm in trouble!!

I slap a hand over my forehead, “It's Monday isn't? I'm sorry Peeta! I didn't mean to bail on our hiking plans.” I grit my teeth and cover my eyes. Of course I'm already ruining our fragile newly established friendship.

Prim laughs, “Katniss that was hours and hours ago. I told him how exhausted you've been and,” she smiles at me with mischief in her eyes, “how much nicer you are lately. You don't scowl as much! You're just sweet and pitifully tired.”

If I had more energy I would say something sarcastic, or at least make a face. Instead I just slump in a chair at the kitchen table wrapped in my blanket.

Prim smiles at me and tells me Peeta had her practice driving in an empty parking lot, he taught her how to parallel park. She's so excited to get her licence soon. She casually mumbles something about groceries.

“That's nice.” I remark as my head lobs forward. I give up, holding my head up is far too much work. I rest it in the crook of my arm on the table. Stifled laughter follows.

The laughing might be about me but I don't have the energy to care.

“Do you need anything for your throat?” Prim asks me, I open one eye to look at my amused sister with sweet baby blue eyes. “We picked up lozenges for you.”

I bob my head and close my eyes, just for a moment...

I turn and find myself wrapped in steady arms. I burrow in and inhale the calming scent.

I’m gently placed on my bed and my arms wrap around Peeta, I look up at him with blurry eyes. Things I want to ask him, things that I want to say linger heavy in my chest.

Why are you still here? Why are you taking care of me?

And of course the guilt.

I’m sorry.

His blue eyes twinkle as he looks at me, a crooked smile on his face.

I’m sorry I kissed Rye.

He motions to pull away and I shake my head and cling to him. “Just-- Will you talk to me?” I ask in a small voice. I shift and pull him to me, he groans but relents and shifts beside me.

We lay beside each other in silence, all my thoughts bubble and boil to the surface until I just blurt it out all at once “I didn’t do that on purpose, that wasn’t my plan to, er--” I sigh and try again, “I kissed Rye and it was a mistake. I didn’t… It didn’t…” I lower my head and hold my face in my hands with a discouraged sigh. I feel Peeta’s comforting hand lightly rub my back in circles.

“Katniss, it worked. Rye was jealous and he stopped stringing you along and admitted he liked you. He stepped it up because you reacted tactically, you faked left and gained the edge and you had him in a half Nelson-- exposing but not pinning. Most girls would go in for the take down, once they have him, they pin him…”

I shake my head and blink a few times. “What?”

Peeta sighs, shakes his head, scratches under his jaw and tries to explain again. “I already talked to Rye, I know you don’t want to be with him. You got close enough to know that he isn’t right for you. Thanks for putting my brother in his place. I think he needed that lesson,” he smiles sadly, “and I got to know you.” Peeta squeezes my hand and lets it fall.

“You say things when you’re tired. I don’t always know what’s real and what isn’t, but I’ll find out,” he whispers and I stare at a spot on the wall as my mind races, trying to imagine what that means. Did he hear me talk about my dad? Did I talk about Peeta in my dream about him?

“Don’t worry about it now, okay?” he says. I nod and stretch out, so that we're both lying in my bed facing the ceiling, and Peeta pipes up, “So tell me the story of how you won Lady the goat for Prim?”

His blue eyes are intent to listen, as I start in with how excited Prim was to see the goat at the fair. Peeta takes my hand in his and playfully draws shapes on my palm that make me... Well, warm, relaxed, and nervous I guess? Because it's hard not to concentrate on the gentle caresses across my palm.

“...and I looked at the target and thought, ‘well that can't be too hard.’ Sure enough, Gale would have scoffed at my so-called-competition. I basically had none. I found a pink ribbon at another booth for the goat to wear before I showed my sister. The best part was the look on Prim’s face.” Peeta’s blue gaze meets mine and my heart skips a beat. I bite my lip and attempt to divert the conversation.

“I knew that goat could be a gold mine, you can make a killing with goat milk at the farmers market. We've done pretty well.”

“Right, and it had nothing to do with how much you love your sister and her happiness?” Peeta asks in a teasing tone, his eyes gleam.

His fingers continue to trace each of mine and with gentle strokes in soft slow movements. I'm nearly taken adrift, lost in the sensation. I find my eyelids growing heavy, gently lulled to sleep. The kisses on my cheek slightly tickle.

I barely breathe out the word “Stay.” A pathetically vulnerable plea, but I just want him with me. I feel like everything is going to be alright with him near.

His sexy breathy voice does things to my insides that make me squirm and breathe heavier, “Always.”

His warm plush lips land on my cheeks. I feel his lips reach below my ear, then linger on my neck, a hum trembles deep in my throat. “That's not a friend thing to do.” I mumble, though I can't fight the tug of a smile I feel on my cheeks.

“Huh?” he asks, all too innocently and kisses my neck again.

“In the bakery, you said we were just friends.” I murmur drowsily.

“Friends, for now.” Peeta whispers just before I'm taken under the heavy nothingness that is a sound deep sleep, wrapped in safety and warmth.

“I just don't know why Peeta would want me to go to the zoo with his sister-in-law and nephews Saturday.”

Prim looks at me like I'm an idiot and throws a kernel of popcorn at me. I wince, turn my head and laugh.

“Why would he come by almost all week, knowing you would be a walking zombie, just to be with you?” she asks.

“I don't know, maybe he feels like he owes me because I helped him when he had a concussion?” I answer, frustrated.

“Katniss, you're oblivious sometimes, but not this bad. What's your real deal here?”

“Don't know, I'm scared? This is nothing like the way I felt about Rye, or any other guy for that matter. I think he's seeing a beautiful blond, and Rye did tell me Peeta had a silver tongue.” I huff, I’m getting frustrated and exhausting myself by over thinking.

“Did you ask him if he was seeing someone else?” She asks, her eyes twinkle in a way that tell me she finds my frustration funny.

I sigh and shake my head.

“And he's an amazing guy, I'm selfish, impulsive, brash…” I trail off and don't admit my fears about it not being real, he’s so kind to everyone. That doesn’t mean he feels the same.

We gather the popcorn bowls and set them on the coffee table, and then pile pillows in spots where people might want to lounge on the floor for our movie, because we only have one couch and a chair in our small living room.

“And what if those are things he wants? You're fierce, assertive, protective of those you love, and you jump at the chance to do what is right. Plus, you're beautiful, his eyes follow you when you're not looking.”

I start shaking my head because Peeta doesn't feel that way, and I'm plain looking. But those kisses on my neck and his words, “For now…”

Prim looks at me seriously, “He's so in tune with you, Katniss. He knew just what you needed when he planned this movie night!”

The bell rings and at the door I'm met with Finnick, Annie, Gale, Madge, and Peeta's smiling faces.

“We brought Pizzas!” Finnick announces, holding the hot boxes above his head as if dramatically bestowing a gift. Annie rolls her eyes and steps in to hug me and place the boxes on the counter.

Peeta has a way of making everyone feel comfortable in a group. The way his eyes crinkle in a genuine smile and how humor and hidden genuine compliments just roll off his tongue he makes everyone feel appreciated and keeps the conversation flowing without dominating it.

I made it halfway way through the movie before my eyelids felt too heavy. My head started to nod, as I fought to keep eyes open.

Peeta opened his arms I started to slump towards him and snuggled into his warm soft sweatshirt. Enjoying his comforting scent and the safe feeling of his arms wrapped around me as my eyes slid shut.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #savvylark writes #crush it #peeta and katniss #with a rye crust #there are no Ryes in this chapter #summer college au #college au #summer lovin #had me a blast #mononucleosis #the kissing desease

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queenangst · 6 years ago

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Hey! Any advice for someone that wants to get into art as a hobby of sort? I like to draw sometimes, and I’d like to get better at it. I know a lot of the time advice boils down to simply practicing with the skill and gradually getting better, so if that’s what you’d recommend I’d understand completely. Anything else you could add to that concept would be welcomed, though! Hope you’re having a nice day.

hi nonnie! ur right—the best thing to do is practice, but it’s also important to know how and what to practice too.

tips for improving your art skills

study! study people, objects, and the environment around you. start noticing the way things are shaped, or how things look different from different angles. draw from life if you can, and draw from reference so you have a strong foundation.

learn the basics of art theory. there are lots of books and videos out there for you to learn from—take a gander at the elements of art and principles of design, and color theory! no need to be extremely studious, but even knowing these basic things can help you create works that are more complex and interesting.

draw things you like. i like girls and flowers and swords. i draw lots of girls and flowers and swords. draw things even if they’re weird. in the end the work is for you, so what’s the point if you don’t enjoy it?

try different mediums. i can’t stress this enough. you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get your hands on some art supplies - there’s plenty of cheap student-grade brands for your needs. better yet, borrow a set from friends or family or school. charcoal, colored pencils, crayons, markers, acrylic, watercolor, digital art, you name it! this sets you free to do so much, and different mediums offer different things. together you learn techniques and have multiple perspectives of the process of an artwork.*

set goals! i draw a lot of characters, so every now and then i’ll sit down and find one thing i need to get better at. for example, feet. i’ll watch some videos, look up references, draw feet, and then make my own poses and ideas to understand.

don’t be discouraged. as creators, it is so, so, so easy to be discouraged. you don’t feel like you’re improving fast enough. the art cycle (aka, your perception vs your skill not lining up). you’re not making enough art. try not to think about those things in a negative way, because there is always growing to do. it’s really really hard to just… make things. make bad art. and then, like neil gaiman says, make good art.

take on challenges. there are plenty of art challenges out there. inktober is a popular challenge every year. you can make prompt lists. you can join a weekly challenge. draw this in your style, popular on instagram. challenges push you out of your comfort zone and sometimes makes you draw in a way you hadn’t tried before.

use your resources. the internet has made so much art and art resources accessible. to make good art you must consume good art. follow your favorite artists (and support them). tutorials. art book pdfs. videos. courses. in ten or fifteen minutes you can enrich your knowledge.

art friends and supporters! art friends and supporters are the best. finding someone to draw with or finding someone who will happily look at your art will make you happy, motivated, and it’s just fun. i’ll be your friend!

i hope this is what you were looking for! there’s loads of things you can do to improve, but in the end… just make art. the world’s a better place with it.

*i’m not encouraging you to go out and buy a ton of art supplies, bc sometimes you end up not liking them and then they sit in your drawers. but maybe a couple things you’re interested in!

come back and talk to me if you have any other questions. or if you wanna know artists. or if you want to hear me gush about, say, james turrell or gustav klimt or something.

and share your art with me!

#hope this helps babe!#asks #art #art advice #art tips #i'm so honored ur asking ME lol #im just surprised bc most of my art is on ig and not here so #anonymous

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kpopisthereasonihavenolife · 7 years ago

Text

Secret Sketches

GOT7

Im Jaebum (JB)/Reader [F]

Genres: Cute/Fluff

Words: 5.1k

I think I had too much fun writing this??? Thank youuu

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You currently sat in a booth, waiting for JB at some local hole in the wall diner you two had found in the past. He had texted you, asking if you wanted to come over or go out to eat something with him that afternoon, and with no other plans and you missing your best friend, you had reason to decline. Another reason is for you to get mental and maybe even a few sneaky pictures of him to snap on your phone.

You waited for him, getting there early as you took the small black bag off your back and pulled out your most recent sketchbook and opened it to the latest page you started to sketch on. You always sketched when you were by yourself, or if you were in an environment where you didn’t know anyone. One simple reason was because of what littered the pages of your sketchbook.

Sketches of JB is what you hid so fiercely from any familiar eye around. The only person who knew what was inside the book was Jinyoung, and that was only because he snatched it out of your hand last time you were at his house and he was being a dick. Now he silently teases you about it and promises not to tell anyone after you literally begged him for nearly and hour. You also blocked him inside his own house so he couldn’t leave until he promised.

You would sometimes take pictures of him you would find online or take your own pictures when he isn’t looking and then put them on your computer before printing out a small version of it to tape to the corner of your sketch page and then sketch it out with pencil. Sometimes you would just sketch from memory or there was one time you sketched him when he fell asleep.

You weren’t being a creepy, or being some crazy stalker fangirl. He was your best friend and, idol or not, he was what inspired you to draw. To sketch and be artistic. As cliche as it was, he was your muse. His singing and talents inspired you, his words kept you up and going and his features, from bedhead to showtime, were your inspiration and motivation to keep doing art.

You did to other things too, like still sketches or messed with paint and what not, but you never let him peek inside your precious sketchbook you always had on you. You were currently sketching and darkening a shadow of his jawline when you heard feet coming closer to you from behind. You quickly slammed your book shut, and peered over your shoulder to see JB enter the diner and wave to you. You stuffed your book back into your bag and tossed your pencil in with it just as he sat down.

“You were sketching again?” You nodded at him, zipping your bag. “You’re never going to show me what’s in that thing, are you?” You looked up, seeming to be thinking for a moment. But in fact, you were just playing and prolonging the answer he always got.

“Hmm, I think, no.” He just huffed and shook his head, laughing slightly as the two of you changed topics and started conversing.

It had been a while since he actually saw you in person. He had been too busy lately to go out and do things freely without someone following him or him being on the way to some promotion or show. He would call you and text you as much as possible and you two did speak everyday, but it wasn’t the same as actually seeing you sit in front of him.

He listened to you ramble on about your college classes your talking on about the people who annoyed you and the people who didn’t. Your exams and results, even your job. He listened to it all, and took everything in, listening intently to every word. He didn’t really care what you spoke about, so long as you spoke to him.

“And as always, I’m probably boring you again.” You told him as you huffed and grabbed your drink you ordered some time ago and twirled your straw around before sipping on it. He shook his head, taking his own cup and bringing it up to his lips to take a drink from the edge of the glass.

“No. I enjoy listening to you ramble, contrary to popular belief.” You just rolled your eyes at him. “You mentioned working on something new for your art class, didn’t you?” You looked at him and nodded.

“Yeah. Just a landscape though. I’m not very good at those, I’d much rather do a still sketch of an object or a person than a large chunk of land.” He watched you put your elbow on the table and lean into your palm, twirling your straw to stir the ice in your glass. You weren’t very enthusiastic about it it seemed.

“How much have you finished of it?” You tapped the straw with your index finger, thinking for a moment.

“Uh, I have the outlines sketched lightly on one of my canvases, so I could start with color if I wanted to.”

“Medium you’re using this time?”

“I’ll probably just watercolor. It’s easier to blend than oils or acrylics, or with me it is anyways.” You knew what he was going to ask next. He always asked the same thing when he brought up your work.

“Can I come and watch you work on it then?” There it was. You just smiled at him as you finally dropped your arm from your cheek and let it hit the table and looked at him.

“Don’t you always?”

“It’s always better to ask.” You nodded sarcastically at him.

“Right. If I let Bambam come over anytime he wants to, then you’re sure as hell welcome to waltz in whenever you want to.”

“Yeah, well, Bambam has no sense of mannerisms because you spoil him too much.” You faked a hurt gasp. Bambam was a like a little brother to you, and you needed to spoil him. It was your obligation. JB just laughed and swatted at your arm across the table, only whiffing your skin as you pulled your arm back too quickly.

You then grabbed your bag and slung it on your shoulder after digging out some cash to set on the table for the price of your drink. You slid out of the booth and stood up, stretching, before putting your hands on your hips and looked down at JB who was taking a sip of his, nearly empty, drink.

“Well, if you’re coming over, do so now. I’m going to start when I get home and home is where I’m headed.” You turned and moved to the door, stopping only to chat with a friend of yours about an assignment in one of your core classes woh sat at a different table. JB looked at your bills on the table and shook his head. He dug out enough money to pay for both drinks and grabbed your bills, hiding them in his sleeve as he walked over to you.

“You ready?” You looked up and asked him. He nodded as he pat your bag that was on your back. The pat was his silent way of telling you he was ready to go, or so you thought. However, what he really did was slip your money back into your smallest pouch, not letting you waste your money you needed to be careful with, for a drink he would happily pay for in your stead.

The walk home wasn’t long and soon you entered your apartment. It was like any other ordinary apartment with a couple bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room all connected along the entrance to the small hallway. One room was obviously yours, the other was your ‘studio’ as you called it. You kept your canvases and sketchbooks, brushes, pencils and mediums of all kinds in that room.

Lined with plastic covering the tan carpeted floor to keep it from being stained at any point and a ceiling fan to help move the scent of paint or wax out the open window faster. It was almost like a real art studio.

You entered your studio, JB behind you, and set your bag on the desk, taking your sketchbook out and setting it on the desktop before turning back to JB.

“I’m going to go change into something I don’t mind getting dirty. You can just pull up a stool and wait in here.” You turned to go, but stopped. “Oh, and the clothes you left here from the last time you stayed over is in the bag you also left in the living room. Grab that before you leave this time.” With that you trotted out.

JB went and grabbed the bag of his he forget and saw his clothes stuffed inside. He had been wondering where that shirt had got to, now the mystery was solved. He brought it back with him in the studio, knowing if he didn’t, he’d forget everything again. Then, in his waiting moments of hearing you jungle around with your hangers to find your art clothes, he looked at your sketchbook.

He put his bag down by your desk and picked up the book, almost afraid to open it. He knew you didn’t like anyone looking in it, but he was your best friend. What could be in this god forsaken book that you wouldn’t even let him see? It couldn’t possibly be anything that bad. It was obviously PG, or else you wouldn’t even dare to open it in public places or places children could sneak a peek at it. So what could it be?

He took a breath and steeled himself before hooking his finger under a few pages and slowly cracking it open. He nearly dropped the damn thing when he opened it to see his own face staring back at him- er, well not at him, but angled in a way it would be looking right past him. It was a sketch of him, shaded and all in pencil. He could see the outlines of your starting basic shapes and how you used different pencils for darker places and detail. There was writing on bottom of the page, but he heard you coming back to the room before he could read it.

Acting totally on impulse, he shut the book and stuffed it into his bag with his clothes, even burying it under them before he moved to sit on the stool in the back corner, the same place he always sat and pulled out his phone to seem like he was on it the whole time.

Not a second later you opened the studio door and stepped in, the sound of the crinkling plastic under your bare feet. Your jeans were covered in old paint stains and your black, old tank top was as well. Your hair was tied up into a messy, loose bun on the back of your head and you even had your glasses perched on your nose today. Your hands and wrists were bare of all jewelry and you only had the necklace the boys had got you on, but tucked under your tank top.

JB always preferred seeing you all bare and covered in paint than anything else. It made him feel oddly satisfied to know you were comfortable working in front of him; and the outfits clad in paint always made sure to tell him that, even if you didn’t.

“Like I always say, just go when you get bored, alright?” He just rolled his eyes and leaned against the two walls behind him that met in the corner.

“I won’t get bored until you stop.” And with a rolled of your eyes this time, you were grabbing your things and were soon painting.

You were copying a blown up image of the nearby park you took a picture of. Swapping to look at the image only to paint a bit, back up and then get closer just to make small changes, look back at the photo and repeat. JB wouldn’t be able to explain why he enjoyed watching you work if someone asked him. If anyone else were to work so quietly in front of him, he’d probably doze off, but you always kept him wide awake.

You would occasionally share a short conversation or you’d tell him to start playing some music from either his or your phone, and when he did he’d enjoy watching you tap your foot or slightly dance around when you backup to make sure you were painting correctly.

It was getting closer to dusk now, so you decided to call it quits or else JB would never go back home. You knew Jinyoung was coming to his house tonight, something or other about JJP, so you couldn’t keep him here. You huffed as you dipped your brushes into your cup of your cheap paint thinner solution and turned around to motion to JB you were done for the night.

“How’s it coming?” He lifted himself from his stool and walked over to you as you turned to your canvas and crossed your arms, shifting your weight to one leg and tilting your head.

“Not sure. I’m happy with some of it, other parts I wanna fix, but I’ll work on it more tomorrow probably.” You turned back to JB and pulled your phone from your pocket and showed him the time, tapping on the screen. “Now, you need to go home. Jinyoung will call and shout at me if you aren’t home when he gets there. It’s annoying when he yells at me over the phone.”

“You could just mute him, or put the phone on the table until he’s done.”

“Yes, but I’ve tried that. Then he yelled at me for not listing when he’s ‘lecturing’.” You used air quotes around the final word and caused JB to chuckle. “Seriously thought, get home you oaf.” You slightly pushed on his arm and pointed at his bag, still in the corner. “And take your bag with you!” He was suddenly reminded of the sketchbook in said bag.

Should he give it back? You hadn’t even noticed it was gone, far too busy with painting. Maybe he could borrow it, just for a day and apologize tomorrow. If you were angry, then he’d buy you food or take you out, but after seeing that picture of him and not being able to read what it said, he had to know.

He had to.

He went and grabbed the bag, slinging it on his shoulder as you walked him down to the main floor of your building and saw him off. He said his final goodbyes before he swiped his thumb across your cheek, catching the last bit of some still not yet dry paint that lingered on your skin.

“Paint.” Was all he said as he rubbed his thumb against his forefinger to slowly rid the color off his skin. You crossed your arms and chuckled at him.

“Thanks, but it would have came off in the shower.” And with one more shove from you and a small hug, careful not to get paint on him (he didn’t really care, he was getting a hug, paint or no paint), he was off and you were headed back inside to your apartment for a much needed shower.

When he got home, he was indeed greeted by an annoyed Jinyoung with his phone in hand, probably more than ready to call you and rant about how JB wasn’t home when he got there. JB only put his bag on the couch and told him not to call you, because then he wouldn’t be able to show him what he had found, or rather tell him about the sketchbook of yours he had.

“Why not? I can’t just not call her.”

“No, I have her sketchbook and if you call her, she might find out.” Jinyoung took a moment.

“You,” he pointed at his older friend, “have Y/N’s sketchbook?” JB nodded. “Like, the one she’s using right now, not a new one?” He nodded again. “And why do you have it? I know damn well she wouldn’t just let you have it. Oh, I know she wouldn’t.” JB rubbed his neck.

“I saw it on her desk when she was out of the studio changing and I just opened it and I didn’t get to look as long as I wanted to, so I just stuffed it in my bag,” he reached in the bag and pulled it out, “and now here it is.” JB looked at the black, simple hardcover of it.

“So, what’s in the book Hyung?” JB looked at Jinyoung, hearing a slight twinge of playfulness in his voice with the spoken honorific. He arched his brow at him; he was acting like he knew something. “What’s with the look?”

“You’re acting weird.”

“Just answer my question. What’s inside?” JB just shook it off and opened the book again, this time to a different page to yet another picture of him. Jinyoung held back his smile at the sketches. You really were very talented. “You?”

“Me.” He flipped a few more pages. All of them were him. Some had small Polaroid photos of him doing random, everyday tasks taped to the top corners of pages with your sketch of the same photo below it. Some had many small sketches of him. A few pages just had profiles of him with no photo reference, just memory. Then some had small notes and messages about him.

The two men took the book and sat at the kitchen table, laying the book on the hard surface and looked it over together. Jinyoung was already aware of most of the content inside, but he did enjoy looking at your newest additions to your JB Admiration Book as he calls it.

Meanwhile, JB felt his face get hotter with each note and paragraph he read. Each small heart or star you littered a page with. Each extremely detailed sketch of him he looked at. He was flattered, yet confused. Why would you, someone so talented, decided to draw him? Much less, over and over again and not tell him about it?

Don’t misunderstand, he didn’t care that you didn’t tell him, he didn’t mind at all. But, if you wanted to sketch him, all you had to do was ask. He’d play stubborn for a bit, but in the end he wouldn’t say no to you. He couldn’t say no to you.

“Oh, I haven’t seen this one.” Jinyoung took the book and slid it closer to him as he looked at the newest sketch you were doing today at the diner while you waited on JB. It wasn’t finished, as the only solid, dark lines were his jawline and his shoulders. “Seems like she’s not done with this one. Shame.” JB looked at his friend.

“You act like you’ve seen this before?” Jinyoung looked back as he slid the book back to JB.

“Of course I have.” JB gaped.

“What?! But, she doesn’t show anyone this book!”

“She doesn’t unless she’s backed into a corner and forced to come out with it.” JB gave him a look, not wanting to know what he did to be able to see inside.

“What did- you know what, nevermind, I don’t want to know.” Jinyoung nodded at him as he watched JB reread all the notes. They weren’t exactly notes, but things about Jb that you admire about him. Dare say, loved about him.

You talked about the moles he has on his eyelid. His nose, his shoulders, his lips, his eyes, his brows and even his forehead. Some of the pictures where he was laughing you talked about his laugh and his smile. The one he was sleeping was chalk full of mushy things about how cute he is when he’s relaxed. Or focused when he’s working, tired when he’s busy, and sulky when he misses you.

“You know,” Jinyoung started, “I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to say she has a little crush on you.” JB didn’t look at him, but he could hear the smirk on his face. Jinyoung constantly poked fun at JB for his more than obvious soft spot for you, and now that he knew that he knew how both sides felt, he was in the middle of a fun game where he poked and jabbed at you both without either of you noticing. He was crafty.

“I couldn’t come up with a valid argument if I tried.” JB couldn’t stop looking through it again and again. “How do I give this back to her?”

“Just text her saying that you’ll come to her place tomorrow when she’s out of class. She’ll probably be in a frenzy all day from not having the sketchbook. So, she’ll be delighted to see it at first when you return it, then the realization will set it and bam. Opportunity open.” JB eyed him.

“Just how long have you been hoping this would happen?”

“A while.”

“It shows.”

Jinyoung stayed a bit longer and the two of them did actually get to talk about what they needed to for a bit before he was leaving to his own home. JB sat in his bed, changed and ready for bed at nearly midnight, but kept going through the book over and over and over again. He couldn’t believe it, and even if he kept looking back and forth to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, it was still hard to believe.

He didn’t doubt anything, but he was just surprised. Someone like you, actually liked him? It just shocked him, but it was a joyful shock. A happy one that would be confirmed tomorrow. So with one final look through, a text to you saying he’d be over tomorrow to ‘watch you work more’ and placing the book on his nightstand for the night. He tucked himself into bed and basically forced himself to go to sleep, for the next day couldn’t come faster.

The next day when he was heading to you place, he hadn’t gotten a reply from you but he knew you had seen it. Part of him felt guilty, knowing you were probably anxious to high heaven about losing your sketchbook, but if he hadn’t taken it, he would have never known. He made his way to your building and trotted up to your floor and entered your apartment, knowing the passcode lock code to get inside.

He went in, taking off his shoes and was met with your body slumped, laying across your couch, face in the cushions and arms hanging above your head over the armrest. Yeah, this was more or less what he was expecting. He sat on ground next to your head, his bag next to him as he rubbed your back.

“Y/N?” You groaned to him a greeted. He almost smiled, finding your sulking cute. “You seem glum, something happen?” Lets see if he can get you to spill about losing your book first. You shook your head, denying anything. He rolled his eyes as he pinched your side, making you jump and turn your head to see him. Well, almost. Your hair covered your face, so JB took the liberty to move it out of the way and tuck it behind your head or behind your ear.

“Hello there,” he smiled to you.

“Hello yourself,” you grumbled back. JB just sighed and unzipped his bag as you turned and faced the ceiling to sulk some more. He pulled the book from his bag and then moved to hold it above your face. You gasped and sat up, slamming your face into the hardcover of it, knocking it out of his hand and down into your lap. JB gasped in turn as you connected with it. Your forehead was turning red, but all you did was grasp the book and sigh in relief.

“That’s where it was. Thank goodness it was safe.” You huffed as JB just sat there, waiting. Waiting for you to realize he had the book. He had it all along and with as long as he had it, he knew you would realize he went through it. You jumped to yourself and whipped around to look at him, nearly falling off the couch before he caught your shoulders to keep your upper half suspended in air, your knees still on the couch cushions.

“Why did you have my book?!” Your yelling pushed your body forward, as you unconsciously pushed forwards with your knees, and the lack of support behind JB made him fall onto his back as you fell onto him, both hitting the ground with a dull thud and hoping the people under you don’t bother to investigate the sudden noise.

You shook your head and moved to sit up, not realizing how you sat on his stomach, legs on either side of him and hands on his chest. Book long forgotten on the couch cushions. You looked down at him as he looked up at you. Clearly your mind was in a different world than his, his mindset too focused on how you sat on him at the present moment in time, you demanded answers.

“Well?” He just looked away from you, clearing his throat. “Im Jaebum, why did you have my book!” He looked back to you.

“Yah! Where are your manners at?”

“Clearly not here right now, as I want answers!” He sighed as he explained.

“I wanted to know what you always kept hidden in that stupid thing, so I took a peek and when I was looking at it, you were coming back and so I stuffed it in my bag and took it home. End of story.”

“That’s all. End of story. So you didn’t look inside anymore?” He rolled his eyes and scoffed.

“Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I when I had the damn thing.” Your face grew to show a bright red colored face of panic as everything hit you. He knew all the things you wrote, all the pictures you had and took, all the sketches you did. All the feelings you wrote down that you would never be able to tell him to his face. Not to mention, you finally realized how you were pinning him down and started to scramble to get off him and run from your problems.

Perfect plan, right? Just run away and don’t deal with the repercussions of your stupid little hobby and all will be well, right? That’s how that works, isn’t it?

You swung your legs over his stomach and moved to stand up, but a grip on your wrist dragged you back to the floor with a yelp. You hit the ground on your bottom before you were being trapped. JB sat with his legs on either side of yours, his arms wrapped over your biceps and hands clasped together in front of your chest, pulling your back to his chest, keeping you locked against him.

He pushed his cheek against the top of your head as he felt your breathing quicken. He tried calming you down by whispering to you that it was okay and that he wasn’t angry about anything. He wanted you to calm down so he could explain himself, then maybe you could explain what everything meant.

He had an inkling of an idea, but he wanted to hear you say it. He wanted it to be certain.

“I just want to know Y/N. What do those things you wrote mean?”

“W-what things in particular?”

“All of it.” If his cheek wasn’t still against your head, you would have thrown your head back in frustration.

“You’re being unfair.”

“I think the unfair one is you here. You drew amazing sketches, took pictures and wrote so many things down in that book and never told me.” He felt you stiffen.

“I-I’m sorry, I know it’s a breach of your privacy. I just really like how you look and well- you know, you’re my best friend and well-” You cut yourself off with a sigh and started kicking your feet in annoyance accompanied with whines. Your childlike behavior was basically confirming his suspensions more and more. He snickered behind you making you snap at him. “What’re you laughing about?!”

“Nothing.” He moved to put a kiss behind your ear, making you jump as he felt a buzz in his pocket. His phone. He had let you go, as you moved not too far from him, but out from his grasp as he dug his phone out of his pocket and opened it. You watched him tap around and smirk at his screen as your face felt like you could fry an egg on it.

He looked up to you and smiled bigger as he held his phone out to you. You looked at him, then it, then him again. He wiggled the phone a bit, gesturing for you to take it.

“Read it. It’s from Jinyoung.” You hesitantly took the phone, wondering why he wasn’t acting like he hadn’t just kissed behind your ear as he trapped you in his arms after admitting he took your sketchbook. You should be mad, but all you could be is confused and flustered.

Looking at the phone screen, you wanted to throw the phone itself, the text not helping your already jumbled mess of questions in your head.

“You tell her you like her yet?”

You looked back up to JB as he was now leaned his elbow on the couch cushion, legs crossed under him and he supported his chin on his palm. He looked way too calm, and way too cocky for that matter. He was filled with pride and something about that comforted, yet worried you.

“Uh, JB? What’s he talking about?” He shrugged.

“Talking about the girl I like. He knew I took her sketchbook and he told me how to give it back to her and how it would be the perfect chance to tell her how I felt.” Screaming was a thing that you wanted to do, but if you did, the neighbors of yours would most certainly bang down your door to make sure you weren’t being murdered, or to murder you.

“So t-that girl, is she-”

“You? Yeah.” You froze again as he leaned towards you and kissed your nose, making you jump. He grabbed your wrist again and pulled your forwards to where your face hit his chest and knocked him backwards, like before when you landed off the couch. Only this time, he held your chest to his as you lay on him and he just laughed. He laughed long and hard and soon, you were laughing with him too.

You weren’t sure why you were laughing, or how you got to the point you couldn’t stop, but every other feeling was gone besides happiness now. Your anger, confused, flustered emotions were gone like a storm and your laughter mixed with JB’s was like the sun coming back out, promising to soak up the rain and make it brighter again.

Love surely was a thing to laugh about, especially with your new boyfriend.

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Who’s bad at endings? Well, me of course~!

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