#will make you woozy and almost pass out so that just adds to the scary factor for them

[puhpandas]

You Stress Me Out

(4,135 words)

Gregory shows up at Evan's house during a storm with a wood carving knife stuck in his stomach. It may not be that bad of a wound, but that doesn't mean having a knife sticking out of you is any less scary. Or that Evan will freak out any less.

warnings: blood, mentions of a fistfight, an unsafe home environment, stitches, and of course, a blade being stuck inside flesh

Evans incredibly on edge right now. Which, nothing new here. But this time, it's less of his normal state and more of a genuine, rational kind of edge.

First off; a storm is on it's way. Not only does a storm mean that outside is a no-go, meaning that Evan is trapped inside his house with no way to leave, but hes absolutely terrified of thunder.

Which is why as soon as he'd heard about the bad weather, when his fathers back was turned and Michael had been focusing on something other than messing with him, he'd snuck to the kitchen, grabbed all the snacks and water he could need, and took them to his hidden stash in his bedroom.

This way, he didnt have to leave his room. And he could do his old trick of blocking the door leading from the shortest route to his room with his dresser, which could give him enough time to shut Michael out if he decides to persist on the other side.

Unlockable doors. The bane of Evan's existence.

The other reason hes on edge isnt because of himself, even though his body is locked up and sense, waiting for the thunder to start booming outside and send him flying off of his bed from how hard he flinches. Its because of Gregory.

Evan's brows furrow from his place on his bed, curtains drawn, but just open enough to see the rain start so he can brace himself. He takes one look at the gray clouds and white sky and frowns deeply.

Evan knows all about his friends... situation. Honestly, after being friends for almost a year, you'd think he would have known sooner, but nope. Evan had just been giving Gregory the benefit of the doubt too much. when Gregory'd refuse to let Evan go to his house, he'd assume he had parents like his, who he didnt want Gregory to have to see either, which was why he had been asking. When Gregory would have new bruises and cuts and rips in his clothing the next time Evan would see him, he would deliberately choose not to pry, or wonder, because he would think maybe it was worse than he thought.

But Evan had figured it out eventually, and he'd understood why Gregory kept it from him so long. Evan wouldnt want Gregory to see him differently for being a certain way.

But like Gregory, Evan had made it clear he didnt. He understands, really. Like he understands that with the knowledge comes the worry.

Evan knows Gregory doesnt always have stable shelter. The city and it's people arent so kind to homeless people like Gregory, even when hes outside and theres about to be a hurricane. Which is why Evan is hoping, wishing, praying that Gregory will come to Evan, this time.

It's why he's reading a book, sitting on his bed next to his window instead of on his phone like usual. Evan's on edge because he cant stop thinking about what would happen to Gregory if he didn't come, and if he does, will Evan hear him to let him in.

Evans room is on the ground floor, which makes it very easy for Gregory to come and go as he pleases (also for Evan to make an escape when he needs to. It's not rare for Evan to ditch his room to flee to the city with Cassidy, sometimes).

Evan's eyes trail over the words on the pages, but he isnt taking them in. He huffs, letting the book drop to his lap, and tries to ignore how cold-but-on-fire his stomach feels. He can't focus. Not when Gregory's supposed to trust Evan enough to come to him when he needs help and he hasnt yet.

Evan only waits a while longer, foot tapping on the side of his comforter and fingers drumming. When the first few thick drops of water land on his window, he goes for his phone.

Gregory said to never call him unless it's important. But right now, with how much Evan's stomach swims with nausea over uncertainty about Gregory's safety, Evan thinks this is important enough.

Evan only has enough time to enter his fifteen digit pin and tap the phone app before the sound hes been waiting for rings out by his window.

Evan can feel his shoulders drop when the familiar jingle of a Fazbear song is knocked on his window. He smiles, hurrying over to his window and almost ripping the curtains off the wall with how fast he opens them.

When Evan reaches to open the window, Gregory's there, if not a bit weary, if his half lidded eyes and the cut on his cheekbone are any indication, but Evan doesnt worry too much. Just unclicking the locks on his window and helping Gregory step inside when its apparent he needs help.

He has a hand clutching at his stomach, which is worrying, but Gregory looks like hes okay. Not about to die, which is what Evan's thoughts always end up going to, so he thinks that's a good thing.

Evan shuts the window and locks it just as the rain starts to drop harder, and he shuts the curtains, sending a glance at his door (the one not covered up with a dresser) out of paranoia. When his father doesnt burst in and send Gregory away like Evan's imagining, he turns his attention back to Gregory.

Hes huffing, like he cant catch his breath, which makes Evan furrow his brows. Gregory's bent over, like when you have a stomach cramp and try to curl in on yourself as much as possible. If Evan looks hard enough, he can see the inklings of bruises on Gregory's knuckles.

Evan frowns. Okay, probably a fight, but it wouldnt be the first time he would have to pull out the first aid kit.

"Gregory." Evan catches his attention. Gregory's eyes dart up to him, and he offers a shaky smile. "Hey. You had me worried sick."

"Me too." Gregory says, but it sounds strained. He still has that hand pressed firmly over a spot on his stomach, and when he looks pained, Evan guides him over to his bed, letting him sit down. "I know you don't like thunder and stuff. A-And you'd be stuck with Michael.

Evan crosses his arms, trying to look stern but coming off as incredibly worried instead. "Gregory. You're acting weird." He points out. "Listen, I know you're hurt. You know I've seen you get into fights before. Can you just tell me what's wrong?"

Gregory, suspiciously, looks away, focused on one of Evan's toys hes had since he was younger that he never bothered to put away. "Um. I-I dont think this is like those times, though."

Well. If Gregory can be this difficult, he cant be feeling too bad. Doesnt do anything for the anxiety digging a hole in Evan's stomach, though. "No matter what it is, you need help, okay? I wont judge. Just let me patch you up."

Gregory doesnt respond for a moment, then, "Promise not to freak out."

"What?"

"Promise not to wig out." Gregory meets his eyes, looking pained. "This is gonna make you freak. I know it. Just... try to stay calm. It's not that bad, I swear."

"Just show me already!" Evan presses, getting jittery from nerves. "You saying that is already making me freak out!"

"Okay! Jeez." Gregory huffs, and takes a deep breath. "Just dont look at it too hard."

"Gregory!" Evan yells.

"Okay, okay!" Gregory says placatingly. He doesnt say anything else, just takes his hand off of his stomach like ripping off a bandaid.

Evan's eyes blow wide, and his legs turn cold. "Oh my god."

"There it is." Gregory sighs.

"Gregory." Evan says, just above a whisper, because he cant manage anything louder at that moment. He stares at Gregory's stomach, feeling a pit in his own stomach when he cant tear his eyes away. "Gregory!"

"I told you you'd freak out." Gregory mutters, like he doesnt have a literal knife sticking out of his flesh.

"Why would I not freak out?!" Evan whisper yells, because wow he does not need his father or Michael to walk in right now. He gestures wildly, trying to put all of his emotions I into the single movement. "You have a knife in you!"

Despite what Gregory said not to do, Evan looks hard at it anyway. It isnt super deep; it's one of those really tiny pocket knives, like what you would use to carve wood with. He can still see some of the blade sticking out, which means the inch and a half long blade isnt plundged very deep.

"I know." Gregory says. "Can you help me get it out?"

Evan gapes. "Help you--" He giggles maniacally. "Gregory, if I pull it out, I'll have no clue how to make it so you wont bleed out."

"Well," Gregory glances away. "I cant really go to the hospital, and I cant just leave it in." He says. "You're my best bet. Besides, I promise it isnt that bad. It could have been way worse. I dont need a hospital."

Wow. No pressure, or anything. Evan implodes, shaking his hands out and doing laps around the room. "I'm gonna have to pull a knife out of you."

"Okay. Stay calm, remember?" Gregory repeats, and when Evan's facing Gregory's direction again after another lap, he can see him wincing. "Look, I know you're wigging out, but I really dont want this knife to me stuck inside me anymore."

"I would assume so!" Evan hisses, coming to a stop in the middle of his room and wringing his hands through his sweater sleeves. "Gregory--"

"Okay, listen." Gregory sounds strained, and Evan takes a moment to pause, worry taking ahold of his stomach like a giant hand and squeezing. "You have a phone, don't you? I need you to Google what to do, and pull this stupid knife out of my stomach."

Evan gets queasy just thinking about it. "Gregory."

"I know." He says. "But, look. I'm not gonna be awake much longer, since I pretty much ran from the city to here while I was bleeding, and the guy who attacked me had already beat me up a bit before stabbing me."

Evan's heart seizes at that. He returns to Gregory's side, sitting down with him. "But, isnt it not good if you're unconscious--"

"I dont know." He interrupts, eyes squeezed shut. "Look, I'm feeling kinda woozy, so I dont know how much longer I have left, but I'll try to stay awake."

Evan frowns. "You're acting like you're gonna die or something." He jokes, but his hand shake at the thought. "...Okay. Come here."

Gregory perks up, sitting up with great effort and putting an arm around Evan's neck when he gestures to. "We're doing this?"

"Yeah." Evan says shakily. He supports Gregory as he leads him lay down, pressed up against the wall, where if the door opened, hed be hidden behind it. Evan grabs a few of the towels he hides in his room to always have a clean one, -since he can never rely on laundry being done in his house-, and lays them under Gregory to soak up any blood. His father would kill Evan if he got the carpet stained with blood.

Evan grabs the first aid kit he always has hidden under his bed, and clicks it open, settling on his knees in front of Gregory's slack form on the floor with hovering hands as he glances at each of the kits contends uncertainly.

He grabs his phone, fingers trembling and pressing all the wrong buttons. Gregorys harsh breathing doesnt help.

"How did this even happen?" Evan asks as he desperately types in 'how to pull a wood carving knife out of your stomach at home' into the search bar. "Like-- I know you get into fights sometimes, but this?"

"Okay okay." Gregory coughs a bit. "Ill tell you. So, you know how it's about to storm?"

Evan glances at the crack through the curtains just enough to see the dark gray clouds swirling. "Yeah."

"So, I wasnt at my usual spot, but it was really close to starting to pour. And getting sick is like, the worst case scenario." Gregory says while Evan reads the random article he found at the speed of light. "So, I had to find some other place closer to where I was to wait out the storm, because I couldnt travel that far in the rain."

Evan pauses in reading, frowning and looking at Gregory's face. "You know you can always come here, right?"

Gregory frowns, looking away. "Yeah, but..." He trails off. "Its not fair to dump my problems on you like that."

Evan scoffs, breathing out a light chuckle. "Like you didnt dump your problems on me right now. And even then, I dont mind. I would much rather you come to me then be in pain somewhere else. Okay?"

Evan doesnt look at Gregory's face, too busy looking down at the article he has pulled up on his phone in his trembling hand, but he can tell hes smiling.

"Also, don't act like you don't make my problems your own, too. Im allowed to do the same as well, you know."

"Okay, okay." Gregory huffs. "I get it. I'll come to you right away next time. Happy?"

"Yes." Evan says, and he really is. Knowing that Gregory is sure to come to Evan when the weather gets bad, or something happens that makes the city unsafe, Evan will be able to sleep soundly knowing Gregory will either be safe with him, or he will be if need be. "You never finished telling me how you ended up with a pocket knife stuck in you, though."

"Right." Gregory chuckles. "So, I find this kind of hidden away spot, right? And I'm thinking I got really lucky, and set my stuff down. But then this other older kid shows up, and its obvious hes like me. But he gets really mad that I'm in his spot and starts yelling at me to get out."

"Jerk." Evan says, pulling the things he needs out of the first aid kit. "You should help eachother out, not fight. I'm sure he could have lended you some space."

"I'm sure you would have." Gregory chuckles. "But anyway, I'm packing up my stuff to leave, because this guy hurting me is a bigger concern than the weather at this point, and I dont want to mess with him."

Evan nods along, and goes to begin, but pauses when the first step is to take out the knife. Nausea curls in his gut, and he winces, glancing at Gregory.

"Hey." He cuts Gregory off in his story, and tries to look as apologetic as possible. "I, um. Have to take the knife out."

Gregory's eyes blow wide, and he frowns. "Oh."

Evan fidgets, having no idea how to make this better for Gregory. "Do you want me to count to three, or...?"

"Just do it." Gregory puts that steely exterior on. "I can handle it. Just do what you need to do."

Evan feels awful; this must suck for Gregory. Even if the knife is small and not very deep, having something sharp ripped out of your flesh cant be fun. "If you're sure."

He props himself on his knees, getting as close to Gregory as possible, and wraps a hand firmly around the small handle of the wood carving knife.

He can see it in Gregory's eyes. Neither of them want to do this.

"Keep telling your story." Evan says softly. Maybe itll distract Gregory from it, even a little bit. And Evan, as well. He can already feel bile working it's way up his throat at the thought.

Gregory nods minutely, jaw locked and tense. He breathes out a bit. "...Kay. So, I'm trying to tell him that I'll leave if he let's me get my stuff, but hes really impatient, and when I dont leave right away, he tries to scare me away faster by beating me."

Evan winces, pointedly twisting his neck away from the knife, as he tightens his grip, anticipation sending lightning through his veins. "That explains the bruises." He says shakily.

Gregory pauses, waiting for something that doesn't come. "...Yeah. He uh, he got me pretty good... but he didnt leave unscathed either. But, I think I got it worse."

"Definitely." Evan agrees ghastily, his stomach rolling when he feels the cold handle of the knife pressing idents in his skin. "Keep going."

Gregory gives him a look, but continues. "...So when I start fighting back, even though I'm smaller, he took that as a bad thing, apparently, and wanted me gone so he didnt get hurt. So what does he do?"

Evan doesn't respond, just squeezing his eyes shut, biting his tongue, and ripping off the bandaid.

Evan rips the knife out with a quick flick of his shoulder, and gags when it makes a fleeting metal-on-flesh sound as its removed. Gregory lurches lightly next to him, making a garbled, suprised sound, and when it's over, just lays flat on the floor.

"G-God." Gregory coughs, stuttering. "Okay, that wasnt that bad. I guess."

"I'm sorry." Evan frets, flinching and dropping the knife on the towel when some of Gregory's blood drips down his fingers. "I'm sorry, Gregory."

"You didnt do it." Gregory chuckles, his face white as a sheet. He brings up an arm to clutch at a spot just above the wound on his chest. "Jesus."

"I'll fix you up." Evan says softly, setting a hand on Gregory's own and taking it away just as quickly when he rushes to go wash his hands. "Okay? It might hurt, but you'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."

"...Kay." Is all Gregory says, and Evan rushes faster when he just let's his head fall against the floor.

When Evan comes back, he all but dives onto the floor, grabbing the things he layed out on the carpet and beginning. "Gregory, hey!"

"What?" Gregory asks, and Evan sinks in relief when hes still awake. He rolls up Gregory's shirt, inspecting the wound, and he finds it looks more like just a deep cut than anything. "I know you're trying to stay awake, but I'm probably gonna have to find a way to close this cut, so you might want to go ahead and go to sleep."

Gregory pales. "Like, stitches?"

"Probably." Evan shudders. A wave of sickness washes over his body when he realizes hes probably gonna have to find a needle and thread, and stitch Gregory's flesh closed, even if the cut is only an inch or so long. "Better safe than sorry. And I really dont think having a wood carving knife stabbed into you, even if it wasnt that deep, is okay to just put a bandaid over."

"...Alright." Gregory sighs, and his head rolls against the floor, his body relaxing. "I don't want to be awake for that."

"Me neither." Evan huffs, and Gregory breathes the air of a laugh through his nose. "But I think you'll be okay. Just sleep, and you'll be patched up when you wake up."

Gregory sighs a deep sigh, and Evan thinks it sounds like deep relief just settled. "Okay. Thank you, Evan."

"Of course." Evan replies, and when Gregory shuts his eyes and no doubt falls asleep pretty quick, Evan glances around his room, and realizes hes gonna have to go on a scavenger hunt for a needle and thread.

He sighs, hoping and wishing that he wont run into his father or Michael when he has to venture out of the safety of his room, but he relaxes at the moment, taking in a deep breath and reaching for some supplies.

First, he has to clean the wound.

🐻

When Gregory creaks his eyes open, it's not to Evan's carpeted floor like he had expected. Well, he is on the floor, he finds when he finally takes in his surroundings. But he isnt laying down completely. Some pillows and blankets have been posed and laid around him, like a nest, and Evan is sitting next to him in the middle, scrolling and watching something on his phone.

Gregory twists his neck and puts pressure in his arm, trying to prop himself up. He yawns, and Evan startles, taking out the crappy Walmart earbuds he'd bought. "Gregory!"

"Hi." Gregory groans, feeling the effects of his fistfight and intense sprint take hold, his body groaning and aching with soreness at his movement. He feels warm; which is something he wasnt expecting when he'd initially thought he'd spend the span of the storm outside in it. "Ugh."

Evan shuts his phone off lays it and his earbuds on the blanket, twisting his torso and shimmying in his spot laying against a pillow against the wall and legs covered with a throw blanket to face him. "You probably dont feel too good."

"Like crap." Gregory agrees. When he shifts again, back and head cushioned against two pillows without cases on them, he can feel the sore sort of throbbing pain of whatever stitches Evan had sewn in him. He wrinkles his nose at the thought, feeling guilty on Evan's behalf. "But... the stitches feel secure. I'm sorry you had to do that, it must have sucked really hard."

"It did." Evan shudders, but chuckles at the same time. "You know, I had to go in my Moms room to get the needle and thread and steal the pills from my Dad."

Gregory quirks a brow. "What pills?" He asks at the same time Evan hands him a small bottle of Advil. "Oh."

Evan hands him some snacks, too. A water bottle and some crackers. He smiles softly and takes them, taking two Advil with a swig of the water bottle. "You did all that for me?" Gregory asks, voice small. "...I know you hate your Dad, and your parents would get mad at you if they saw you snooping."

"I know." Evan says, fidgeting with one of the blankets and laying his head on the pillow propped against the wall. "But I wanted you to feel better more than I was scared of my parents."

Theres a short stretch of silence after that, only the harsh rain and wind against the house being heard. Gregory stays silent, turning over Evan's words in his head.

His eyes burn slightly, but he pushes it down with precise practice. "Thank you" Is all he can find in him to say. Theres too many feelings, too many emotions he has to put them into words.

But Evan knows him, and Gregory knows he understands when he nods, and smiles that small, kind smile that just screams 'and I'd do it again'. "Of course." Evan insists, and looks away for a moment. "I want you to trust me, okay? I want to show you that if you come to me because you need help, I'll be here, and I wont discount you, or-- or shrug you off."

Gregory doesn't smile, but he feels warmth spread through his chest at that. Gregory knows Evan, so he knows exactly why he would want Gregory to feel that way. He knows exactly why Evan holds himself to that, even though Gregorys confident a lot of it has to do with just the kindness in Evan's own heart.

"I-I know." Gregory whispers. "I came here because I do trust you. I came here because I know that."

It's really hard for Gregory to say that, and he knows Evan understands, because he doesnt comment, just nods, relief sagging his shoulders.

Theres a short burst of silence for a moment, the two of them just soaking up the atmosphere of being warm and comfortable, despite the circumstances.

"You're staying here, by the way." Evan's voice rips him out of his thoughts suddenly, and Gregory snaps to attention to see Evan looking at him sternly, but worriedly. "I know you're gonna try to say something stupid about how you're fine to go back into the rain. You arent going anywhere near the city, alright? I don't care if the storm lasts a week. I'll find a way to hide you so Michael or my father dont find you, okay?"

Gregory snorts at Evan's intense voice, but his heart bursts all the same. "Okay, Evan. I promise."

"Good." Evan sounds appeased. He twists his body, reaching for something, and grabs his phone, putting one earbud in and giving Gregory the other. He opens YouTube, handing the phone to Gregory. "You can pick. Honor of the patient."

Gregory grins, giggling. "Thanks, Doctor Evan."

ao3 link

[rkivepacks]

TITLE: life’s no fun without a good scare Originally posted on: AO3/dtgloss Pairing: taekook/kookv/vkook (Kim Taehyung & Jeon Jeongguk) Rating: 18+ Genre: Fluff Word Count: 3,825 Trigger Warning/s: Swearing, Use of green jokes but no actual smut Disclaimer: This work is solely from the idea of the author. Should there be similarities with the works of other respected artists are purely unintentional. This also do not reflect on the real lives of the artists portrayed in this work. Comments, suggestions and any other concerns are accepted in my inbox. Thank you!

Summary: “Is your asthma really that bad, like all the time?” He asks, curious.

“I’m a virgin with asthma.” Taehyung bit back with a straight face.

“Really?” Jeongguk’s eyes widened almost innocently.

“I’m joking I suck dicks in my sleep but if I do it too much I might die from asphyxiation.” Taehyung explains almost seriously.

or that halloween au based on the prompt where Taehyung was dared to go to a horror house alone and he honestly hates horror houses and Jeongguk is that one fucking annoying scare-person that scared the fuck out of him and ended up breaking character to comfort Taehyung

Taehyung hates heights, haunted houses and his friends. Taehyung also hates when his friends make him go to haunted houses. He hates when he’s someone who can’t say no to people. He’s not a person who is easily a people pleaser. He just doesn’t know how to say ‘no’. He also hates how he ended up at the entrance of the haunted house, other customers and carnival goers passing him by. In his defense, he’s trying to plot the run he should make to make it to the end, fast.

Taehyung can hear the screams of the ones who went in before him, and he’s trying to picture in his head the workers dressed up to scare customers to their wits, making them scream.

Taehyung counted to ten, breathed in and out and tried to tell himself not to be scared as it will only worsen his case. He starts walking and he did a good job not being startled that much by the popping up head from the right that welcomes the customers. He continues walking and notices a couple of turns, doors, windows and short stairs and elevated platforms. Five minutes in and Taehyung is already judging the interior of the haunted house. Sue him for being an interior design major. And who the fuck puts stairs in haunted houses, assholes.

Taehyung keeps walking, with his hands intertwined in front of him like vines. The sound effects being played in the haunted house adds to the eerie environment of the place, adding chills and making Taehyung want to run back out.

Taehyung is almost here he’s halfway there because he can hear the opening and slamming of the door and the sounds from the outside and people laughing. His relief cuts short when someone suddenly grabs his ankle, making him jump, which is an understatement as he was sure he levitated. Taehyung screamed a “fuck you” to whoever it is because honestly, who paid someone to grab ankles for more than five seconds?

He kicked his foot that was locked in place by the wrists wrapped around it. At this point, he doesn’t care if he hurt the person. He just wants to leave. Taehyung also thinks that his planet is in retrograde as someone tapped his shoulder, making him scream as soon as he turned a corner and he can see the lady dressed in tattered clothes and covered in blood starting to approach him in a manner that’s sinister.

Taehyung started to feel his asthma attack, his chest feeling tight and the air inside the museum not being enough for him to breathe properly. It soon dawned on him that his bag was outside, with his friends and his inhaler was somewhere in the pockets of the said bag. Taehyung thinks dying inside a haunted house is something he doesn’t deserve and wouldn’t look good in his part and for the reputation of the haunted house. Quite ironic to think the management doesn’t need to hire an additional scare actor as they already have a ghost — Taehyung’s ghost.

“Hey are you okay?” Someone asks. Taehyung doesn’t have time to see who dared stop in the middle of the haunted house just to help a stranger with asthma. He starts walking slowly with his hand in his chest and sat down when he got a bit dizzy. “You’re not okay. Are you asthmatic?” The stranger asked again.

Taehyung took the time to turn around and saw a figure with a very gross and greatly done prosthetics, making him jump in shock, sit beside him with one hand fanning Taehyung to provide a bit of air and the other one on his back to soothe him. Taehyung realized that the stranger must be someone who works inside the haunted house.

The man with gross gnash on his face realized that he has his costume on and starts peeling off the mask. “Let me help you, okay?” He gently said, and Taehyung nodded. The man brought him up by his waist and guided him towards the exit. However, as they neared the door, there was another one on the left and they head towards it instead. Taehyung thinks he’s being kidnapped.

“Stay here I’m going to get you a paper bag.” He instructed and helped Taehyung sit on the sofa. As promised he found a paper bag at the cupboards, one that’s clean enough for Taehyung to breathe in. He quickly hands it to Taehyung and helped him breathe in and out of the paper bag. Once situated, he went to fetch a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and sat it in front of Taehyung.

Taehyung has always had asthma since he was young, which only got worse as he grew up. The all too familiar meds he needed to take has always been a part of his routine, tucked away in his bag, along with his inhaler.

“Can you breathe now?” He asked cautiously.

“A bit. Thank you.” Taehyung looks up, managing to smile a bit.

“Why did you enter a haunted house if you have asthma?” The man asked, hesitantly.

“I was forced into it.”

The two sat there for minutes, the stranger gazing at Taehyung to see his condition. Taehyung wondered if the man got no job to return to, like scaring the fuck out of people outside. When Taehyung thinks he can stand independently without being woozy and dizzy for five seconds, he started to walk towards the door.

“I should probably get to my friends.” He pointed towards the door.

“Oh. Yeah. Sure. Get well.” The man stuttered, and Taehyung offers a tight lip smile. “I should help you out.”

Taehyung nodded and followed the stranger towards the exit to make sure he gets out just fine without someone scaring the fuck out of him. He continues walking, his eyes wandering around the exit to look for his friends. His steps were halted when the stranger-ghost-dude who helped him inside the haunted house tapped his shoulder, not knowing how to call out to him and catch his attention.

“Uh... you forgot this.” The said stranger handed him a new small paper bag, the same as the one he used inside the room as a substitute for a proper equipment for asthma attacks. Without even having the chance to voice out his appreciation and gratefulness, the stranger turned around and went back inside the haunted house which he assumes is to continue his duty before he got interrupted by Taehyung’s malfunctioning lungs and maybe because of the side-eye he was getting from the employee manning the exit booth and some visitors near the exit.

“I know you have a really bad sense of direction but taking an hour inside a haunted house is too much.” Yoongi tells him and he glares at him in return.

“They give free paper bags inside?” Seokjin eyes the unused paper bag he’s holding.

Later that night Taehyung discovers a handwriting sprawled on the other side of the paper bag,

Hi asthma boy,

Hope you feel better soon. Let me know, please? + 0373 828 289

Forever sorry for scaring you, Jeongguk

The paper bag may have been hidden inside Taehyung’s bedside drawer and not serve its purpose as a breathing bag but it’s okay. The note he found in the paper bag put a name to the face of the stranger-ghost-dude.

Taehyung convinced himself that texting Jeongguk would be too soon, but he owes it to the person after he helped Taehyung.

Thank you.

~ asthma boy

~~~

The next time the two met under a different circumstance and without the slightly hideous and quite scary costume and makeup covering Jeongguk and Taehyung’s asthma attack, Jeongguk was having his lunch at the mall near his law firm internship building. He was supposed to meet Hoseok for the older to pay him back for making him take up a one day fill at the haunted house for a friend of Hoseok, but the older canceled last minute due to a sudden shift at the hospital where he works as an intern.

Taehyung was browsing through the supply center for materials he needed for a new project due in three weeks. Taehyung considered having lunch and take a break from looking for more supplies and design materials, but he needed to be back in his storm that turns into a working area at times like this before his shift at the bakery near the campus. Taehyung thought about and was convinced by his friends to drop his job for the meantime to focus on his last year or to lay low, but he insisted, knowing he needed the income to keep coming through to be able to afford his two to three meals a day and his course materials.

There is only one thing left in Taehyung’s list that he can’t seem to find in this whole damn mall that he considered having his lunch, so Taehyung found himself at the sub-par Japanese fast food chain five stores down the one he was in.

“Asthma boy?” Taehyung whips around at the name, before back-tracking because, am I the only one called asthma boy? He need not to, as the man on the line beside him is already looking at him expectantly.

“Jeongguk?”

Jeongguk breathed out a sigh in relief. He was kind of hoping the other would remember him after their quite memorable meeting inside the haunted house. “Just me.” He smiles.

“Do you stalk people with asthma after you cause their asthma attack?” Taehyung jokes. The line they are in moves quite slowly, caused by the packed mall and the fast food for lunch hours.

“Depends. You forgot something.” Says Jeongguk.

“Really, what is it? “ Taehyung asks, almost alarmed.

“You forgot to give me your name.” Jeongguk actually pout and Taehyung huffs out a giggle.

“I’m Taehyung.”

You look like you’re seconds away from having another one because of the stuff you have with you.” Jeongguk eyes the materials, some poking out of shopping bags.

Jeongguk got to order first, the person in front of Taehyung taking too long to decide whether to get the bento or not and Taehyung just wants his maki and tempura. After Jeongguk ordered, he side-stepped away from his counter, standing closer to Taehyung. “Do you mind sharing a table? And Taehyung shakes his head no.

“You’re in uni?” Jeongguk ashed after they settled down at a table for four, to accommodate the two of them and Taehyung’s materials without being too crowded.

“Graduating. You work near here?”

“I’m an intern at the law firm two blocks down this mall.”

“So why is a future lawyer dressed in gory costume with bloodied hands and face in a haunted house scaring people?” Taehyung jokingly inquires making Jeongguk laugh, with his two front teeth sticking out. Taehyung thinks he’s too adorable to be scary looking in broad daylight.

“Had to do someone a favor.” He pondered. “Is your asthma really that bad, like all the time?” He asks, curious.

“I’m a virgin with asthma.” Taehyung bit back with a straight face.

“Really?” Jeongguk’s eyes widened almost innocently.

“I’m joking I suck dicks in my sleep but if I do it too much I might die from asphyxiation.” Taehyung explains almost seriously.

The two finished lunch in relative comfort, almost like they knew each other and did not meet under a circumstance set in a haunted house. Taehyung learned that Jeongguk is taking pre-law and he’s also graduating soon. He learned that he took on a pre-law major instead as he figured he wanted to explore international relations and maybe planning a master and law. Taehyung learned that Jeongguk is finishing up his studies at the campus a train ride away from his. He also learned Jeongguk takes some jokes seriously, his last ‘virgin with asthma’ joke, a classic, being too much for him.

Jeongguk learns that Taehyung is majoring in Interior Design and he’s finishing up his thesis and graduate in three months. He learned about Taehyung’s asthma, his habits and things he likes to do when he’s not slaving away for some programs and finishing up plates and the occasional essays. Jeongguk learned that Taehyung gets scared easily, which is ironic for someone who entered a haunted house alone and Taehyung went in a defensive mode, ranting about how he was forced into it.

Jeongguk offered to helped Taehyung with his materials at least to the nearest bus stop, as he needed to go back to the office before lunch break ends, which is in ten minutes. Taehyung assured him that it’s okay, he can manage, but Jeongguk seriously said he’s worried the other might get an asthma attack and there’s no one to help him. In the end, Taehyung won the argument by promising to text the other if he makes it to the campus without using his inhaler. Before they left the table, Jeongguk went up to the counter and asked for a small paper bag, fishing the pen he keeps in his pocket, scribbling down on the paper bag, before folding it in two and extending his hand to Taehyung, signaling him to take it. Jeongguk bids goodbye and a see you soon because he really needed to go back to the office and Taehyung waves, smiling up at him.

Before he left, he unfolded the paper bag, seeing the words and the familiar handwriting he’d like to be acquainted more with.

Hi Taehyung,

Add this to your collection. Let me know if you make it to the campus without using it, but feel free to do so if you need to.

See you soon, Jeongguk

~~~

“So he gives paper bags with notes?” Yoongi asks, referring to the ones sitting peacefully inside Taehyung’s bedside desk,

“It’s cute. It has notes, hyung. Notes.” Taehyung huffs.

He doesn’t actually plan to tell his friends about his potential flirting buddy but Yoongi raided his dorm room to find a pair of scissors for who knows what and Taehyung wonders why the older doesn’t have one in his dorm room. The older kept on opening and closing all possible places where Taehyung could hide a pair of scissors, even opting to open Taehyung’s secret stash of flavored lubes but he luckily managed to stop the older. The older then opened his drawer and rummaged under the paper bags, the handwritings catching his attention, resulting into their current topic: is writing ‘cute’ letters (courtesy of Taehyung’s description, not Yoongi) the new standard?)

Taehyung’s roommate, Seokjin who was busy packing up his shit as he is graduating a term earlier than Taehyung, barges into his dorm room with the two in the middle of a debate and eventually falls into the debate, still on the same topic.

“Again, the bar is on the floor.” Yoongi fake gags/

“The only bar that will only be on the floor is when I smash your sex toy bar.” Taehyung warns.

“I don’t care, that wasn’t mine. I don’t have one.” Yoongi convinces with a wave of his hand.

Seokjin eventually had to see the said paper bags and reading the letters and throws it at Taehyung after reading them.

“He called you asthma boy!” He yells.

“You forced me into the haunted house.” He reminds the two older men in the room.

“He wants to be your caretaker. A nurse. Not your boyfriend.” Yoongi laughs and Taehyung snatches the paper bag and hides them inside the drawer, in their original hiding place.

With the piles of work from thesis and internship and income-generating jobs, the two have not seen each other since their impromptu lunch. They exchanged messages from time to time, often planning to meet up if time allows, but most of the time, one of the two to cancel last minute due to a sudden workload. Like the one time, Taehyung fell asleep after a quick nap when he finished his task for the day, finishing up his thesis, but his quick nap turned into a full-on sleep. He had to text Jeongguk an hour later when he was already an hour late that he fell asleep and he was really sorry, and an ‘I’ll make it up to you.

Jeongguk assured him that it’s fine and he had to be called in again by a friend for another favor involving a certain costume and makeup and a haunted house. Taehyung said to scare people for him, instead. Jeongguk may or may not have stayed at home the whole time, smiling down at his phone like a dumb fuck.

The next time they were supposed to go out, they were already together. They met up halfway near the campus to get lunch before the afternoon classes. The two were in line to order together when Jeongguk got a call from his supervisor if he can make his way to the office before one in the afternoon to fix some paper work he needed by two. Jeongguk couldn’t say no but he also can’t forget the understanding look in Taehyung’s eyes when he explained why needed to leave.

Taehyung also convinced him to have his lunch to go instead, the same as Taehyung so he can take it with him to the office. Before Jeongguk left, he grabbed the paper bag containing Taehyungs lunch, before scribbling down quickly. He handed it back to Taehyung and insisted that he walks him to the bus stop back to his campus. Taehyung quickly gives Jeongguk a tight hug before stepping on the bus and a wave. He remembers Jeongguk wrote something on his paper bag and took a glance, seeing his quite scribbly handwriting due to his rush but still he managed to read and love his words just as much.

Taehyungie,

I’m sorry. Txt me your address?

, jeongguk

Taehyung sleeps like a log. He sleeps through knocks on the door, his alarm at times when he’s sleep deprived, a phone call, or a tap on the shoulder. In his defense, thesis deprives him of his much-needed sleep, so he gets them when he can. Taehyung wakes up, not because of the quiet taps with intervals on his door, or his phone occasionally ringing when someone (read: Jeongguk) calls him, or the rapid text in succession he’s receiving for the past twenty minutes. When he sleeps at noon, he usually wakes up by eight in the evening, if he’s feeling particularly recharged or a task has been bugging him, or not at all.

Jeongguk who was sitting outside of his dorm room for the past twenty minutes was lucky enough that this is one of those days that Taehyung wakes up. The latter texted him his address as promised sometime in the afternoon after their lunch was cut off. Taehyung asked him what it for was and Jeongguk did not reply, being busy with the paper works he needed to tend to, making him have his lunch cold and late.

There are also times when Taehyung forgets to check his phone, or forgets he has a phone at times. But Jeongguk is lucky that this isn’t one of those days. Soon he hears a loud thud from inside the room and a set of slim doors slamming before the front door opened with a certain Taehyung limping with his slippers slightly off his feet and disheveled hair and puffy face.

“I brought you dinner.” Jeongguk smiles.

Taehyung smiled back, fully awake and mushy and he thinks Yoongi and Seokjin should see this/ See what he’s talking about, so they can stop telling him that he has been getting the bare minimum, although Taehyung likes to think that is how the two acts around romantic situations and scenarios.

“I didn’t know your preference actually, so I brought garlic bread, strawberries, Nutella and corn muffins.” Taehyung stared in awe at the enormous servings in front of him. The food Jeongguk brought is surely not from one store, contained by different containers and Taehyung hoped Jeongguk did not walk around looking for each of them, although he knows exactly where he got the strawberries. Taehyung gets them from the supermarket across his dorm. “If you don’t like it we can order in?” Jeongguk asks hesitantly when Taehyung continued to stare at him.

“I love strawberries. I like it. Thank you.” Taehyung dives for the strawberries, popping them in his mouth.

The two learned more about each other. Jeongguk learned about Taehyung’s collection of astronomy books, his wide knowledge of conspiracy theories, and his secret stash of lubes. He learned about Taehyung’s family, his friends (Yoongi hyung and Jin hyung who dated before, but they decided to be friends again because they forgot they’re dating). Taehyung learned that Jeongguk doesn’t drink coffee and he knows a thing or two about serial killers. He learned that Jeongguk almost went into an art school, and he has paintings in his apartment (and he sold one of them online). Jeongguk learned that Taehyung liked cuddles, liked being trapped in a hug and random kisses. Taehyung learned Jeongguk liked giving it to him, learned his soft lips go well with his.

~~~

Taehyung always wakes up before Jeongguk whenever one of them sleeps over, seemingly not being able to wear off waking up early as a student even after he graduated. The two made it official after many dinner dates or just casual outings (they figured lunch is not the best time to meet with their schedules, even after graduating). They talked about how they can manage it with their schedule, promising to see each other at least once a week if it gets really busy, with Taehyung landing a job with a known company that really keeps him busy and Jeongguk going straight back to school to take on law.

Usually weekends let them sleep over at each other’s apartments, Taehyung most of the time visits Jeongguk after working hours, to see how the other was doing under the thick books and draining classes. Taehyung graduated a month earlier than Jeongguk, and the latter followed suit. They were at each other’s graduation ceremony, respectively meeting each other’s families. Taehyung’s younger sister, a little six years old with full bangs and soft hair too attached to Jeongguk that day and Taehyung already has a mother-son relationship with Jeongguk’s mother.

Taehyung loves Jeongguk, loves everything about Jeongguk, and still hates haunted houses. Taehyung also hates the combination of Jeongguk and haunted houses. The latter’s plan for a celebration for their six-month mark was to go to a haunted house.

“I’m there Tae, if you get an asthma attack I’ll be there.” Taehyung might swoon if only Jeongguk doesn’t look annoyingly convincing and conniving.

“That’s really not the point.” He says for maybe the third time that night.

They ended up going to the haunted house, and Taehyung ended up stepping on Jeongguk and probably elbowed him. But it's okay. Everything's okay.

[end]

[See all works here]

[coldtomyflash]

I am beyond ecstatic that you used my prompt as an excuse to give us that awesome warehouse meet scary! Coldflash in that was so good! I love Barry's response to everything. If you ever get the inspiration I would love to know what happens next, lol.

“meet scary” omg I love that. What a great term. Meet cutes are out, meet scarys are in.

I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

The outline for that story (in my head right now) involves no powers, a serial killer (the person Barry was investigating), and Bond Sickness (a concept I credit to @heartlyrathaway!) and some of the same emotional beats as AATJS but trimmed down with fewer characters. 

What probably(?) happens next is that Barry panics and goes home and tries to hide it (not that he can really hide it, given that the Mark is on his neck) and Joe finds out the next day and knows who Snart is and that just freaks Barry out more, getting a glimpse at Snart’s records. 

He starts rejecting the Bond though, and that’s… not good. Because Len is a proud asshole and absolutely refuses to reject it. 

The warehouse got cleaned up spotless and there’s not trace of what went down the night before. A team checks the whole place but… nothing. but there is traces of the chemicals Barry as looking for. This makes Snart and his crew prime suspects. Except, well, his crew is dead, and Barry manages to ID the three of them from photos, even if their bodies haven’t turned up yet.

Which makes Len the prime suspect.

Meanwhile, Len has tracked down Barry (it’s not that hard) and corners him at his apartment (slipping past the plainclothes’d cops watching Barry’s place already, because he’s a ‘target’ because he escaped, but they don’t know he’s Len’s soulmate) and Barry rejects him and tells him he’s going to go on Bond Blockers and says he wants nothing to do with a serial killer. Len says he’s not a serial killer and Barry doesn’t know what to believe because it seems like Len’s telling the truth, but all the evidence now points to him and Barry saw him murder three people without blinking.

Barry is distraught when Len tries to touch him (nonsexually) to help lessen the effects of the Bond pulling at him, and the cops waiting outside hear voices raised / a squirmish / whatever, and Len only narrowly escapes.

Not long later, Len starts feeling the effects of Bond Sickness. Barry’s getting some headaches and wooziness, but nothing like Len is starting to. Len’s too proud to do anything about it, but it starts to really get to him and he almost passes out trying to go over blueprints with Lisa and Mick (the only two people he’s trusted enough to tell about his Bond; he’s been wearing gloves lol).

They realize he’s sick. Like, very sick. Bond Sickness has no cure except to heal the Bond.

So they kidnap Barry. Except, Barry comes more than willingly. Because he can feel that Len is ill and refuses to do anything about it, won’t reject the Bond like he should. And he doesn’t want to be the reason his Soulmate dies.

So he goes with Len’s sister and terrifying BFF and they aren’t his biggest fans because he’s “hurting” Len but when he gets there and Len’s lying in bed and then pissed that they kidnapped Barry without his permission, Barry just tells them all to shut up and crawls in next to Len.

He’s objectively terrified and whenever he forgets to be angry he’s one step off a panic attack, but he shucks off his shirts and cuddles with Len and it’s The Best Medicine. 

Barry spends the weekend ‘captive’. Joe is beside himself with worry. Barry comes to work on Monday morning after making an arrangement with Len to see him on some occasions, and he has to come clean to the Captain about his Bond and gets removed from the case, obviously, and reamed out for the conflict of interest. Barry tells him that he doesn’t think Len is their guy, that he’s pretty sure some of the dates/etc don’t even line up, but obviously now he’s biased in saying that and any evidence he submits is suspect.

And it… goes from there. In this No Powers version, because I was mentally adapting it from AATJS and trying to simplify the story in my head, the serial killer was a human version of Grodd, but could just as easily be Eiling (who was going to the FBI Agent who got tasked with coming in and cleaning up this serial killer business but who it turns out is involved with some conspiracy or other related to the killer… idk, if I bothered to add that much plot, which I probably wouldn’t to this version. The story, if I ever wrote it out as an original, would be slightly different than this even, with Barry as a junior detective, and I’d probably collapse the cast of characters in half and combine roles a lot, but anyhoo).

At some point along they way, they fall in love and Barry ends up saving Len from the serial killer, who picks Len as a target because Barry’s personal and off-the-books investigation was getting too close. He’d go to save Len and almost get killed and Joe / friends would probably show up in the nick of time to save them both haha.