#yeah the friends in every universe thing but then

[heartsriki]

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY ⌇ 우리를

pairing ᝰ ni-ki x fem!reader — featuring.. sunghoon | word count: 5.7k+

⌇ … warnings & genre ↺ childhood friends, tease ni-ki, middle school to highschool au, cussing, angst if you use a magnifying glass, fluff, kissing, underage drinking, miscommunication.

synopsis — Ever since middle school, Nishimura Riki has been an absolute pain. Now at your senior year of high school, things get complicated when confused feelings start to rise.

lee's ₊˚⊹ ᰔ comment ┊I am here to represent the playful over nonchalant riki agenda 🤓☝️I wanted this to give shitty 2000's romance movie did I succeed? (this is so ass but I haven't posted a pic in a while so muah, creative fics coming soon trust)

If there was one universal truth in your life, it was this: you hated Nishimura Riki.

Childhood best friends? The kind you see in movies, laughing over dumb jokes, sharing secrets under a blanket fort, or being there for each other no matter what? Yeah, that wasn’t you and Riki. Not even close.

Your history with him began the summer before middle school, a day you remembered all too clearly.

“Who’s moving in, Mom?” you asked, watching the moving truck parked outside the empty house next door.

She glanced over as she set down a stack of plates. “A family with a boy about your age,” she replied, patting your head. “Maybe you’ll make a new friend! Why don’t you go say hi?”

You wrinkled your nose, stepping back from the window. “I wish it was a girl.”

Mom sighed and gave you that knowing look as she moved around the kitchen. “You never know. Your dad and I were childhood friends once.”

“Gross,” you shot back, crossing your arms. “That’s so weird.”

And just like that, you moved on with your life, assuming the new boy next door was unimportant. After all, families came and went in your neighborhood. You didn’t expect him to stick around—or to matter.

Oh, how wrong you were.

The first day of middle school was supposed to be a fresh start. You had plans. Big plans. Make friends, fit in, and survive until High School. And for a moment, it seemed like everything would go smoothly. Until him.

Lunch was going fine. You grabbed your tray, scanning the cafeteria for a place to sit when you collided with someone. Hard.

Your lunch went flying, splattering all over you, and in your panic, you looked up, ready to apologize. But then you noticed he was perfectly fine—completely untouched—like the universe had gone out of its way to humiliate only you.

You glanced at his name tag. Nishimura Riki.

He crouched to help, concern etched across his face. “Are you okay—”

Before he could finish, a blinding camera flash went off, followed by whispers and giggles erupting all around you. Mortified, you bolted to the nearest bathroom.

You thought that would be the end of it, but Riki wasn’t done ruining your life. Far from it.

In gym class? He always aimed for you during dodgeball. At lunch? He somehow snagged the last banana milk every time. Clubs? Teachers practically begged him to join while you couldn’t even get a recommendation. Worst of all, everyone adored him. Everyone but you.

By the end of your first year, Nishimura Riki was your sworn enemy.

And then things got… complicated.

It happened one evening while you were studying in your room. A soft knock at the door interrupted your focus.

“Come in,” you called, expecting your mom.

She stepped inside with two glasses of water. “Remember the tutoring favor I mentioned? My friend’s son is here in need of help, Be nice, okay?”

“Sure,” you replied, not thinking much of it.

But when the door creaked open again, you froze.

“Not who you were expecting?” Riki grinned, leaning casually against the doorframe.

You crossed your arms. “What are you doing here Riki?”

Riki winced. “Tutoring obviously, and could you please just call me ni-ki like everyone else?”

“You’re not coming in,” you snapped, blocking the doorway.

He sighed dramatically. “And what would I tell your mom?” He bent slightly to meet your glare, his grin widening when you finally moved aside.

“Fine. Sit down,” you muttered, plopping back at your desk.

For the next hour, you worked in tense silence. Or tried to, anyway. Riki kept fidgeting, pulling out a folded piece of paper halfway through.

“What’s that?” you asked, snatching it before he could stop you.

“Hey!” he yelped, scrambling to grab it back.

It didn’t take long to figure out what it was: another love letter. You rolled your eyes and tossed it back at him. “Veryyyy humble.”

“Not my fault I’m handsome, but it really is annoying though, I'm constantly surrounded… sometimes I feel like I'm drowning” he muttered, leaning back on his hands.

You were thrown off by his sincerity but you ignored him until he suddenly perked up as if struck by divine inspiration.

“Wait,” he said, sitting up straighter. “I have an idea.”

You raised an eyebrow. “That’s never good.”

“Let’s be friends, like attached to the hip friends.”

You blinked. “What?”

He grinned. “Think about it. You don’t have anyone covering your back at school, and I need someone to scare off all the girls who keep following me around. It’s perfect.”

You rolled your eyes. “Hard pass.”

“Come on, at least think about it!” he whined.

Unfortunately, he didn’t leave you much of a choice. Day by day, Riki wormed his way into your life, showing up at your house, sticking by you at school, and, somehow, turning everyone’s attention to you.

It was annoying. It was infuriating. But, worst of all? It worked.

Fast forward to your senior year of high school, and here you were—still stuck with Nishimura Riki. And somehow, despite your ups and downs, things weren’t going to be quite so simple anymore.

You were buried in your assignments, your usual library spot surrounded by a fortress of papers, highlighters, and books. It was your sanctuary, a place where Riki always knew he could find you.

He wasn’t alone when he spotted you this time. A couple of his friends hung around, laughing about something entirely unimportant in his mind the second his eyes landed on you. His grin stretched wide, and with an exaggerated sigh, he excused himself. The girls groaned, rolling their eyes at his now-predictable antics. “You’re obsessed, ni-ki,” one of them muttered, but he didn’t care.

Jogging up to your table, he glanced at your mess of notes and books. You didn’t even look up. Of course.

“What is it, Riki?” you murmured, still scribbling, your tone bored, uninterested—classic.

“Would it kill you to talk to me lovingly every once in a while, Y/N?” he mocked, flopping into the chair across from you. His eyes darted to the pile of folded papers shoved to the side, and his eyebrows shot up. “Oh? What’s this? Love letters? These for me again?”

You finally glanced up, leveling him with that deadpan expression he swore you saved just for him. “They’re definitely not mine,” you replied flatly.

He gasped, hand over his chest like you’d shot him. “Poor baby. Jealous much?” he teased, leaning forward on his elbows.

“Of you? Hardly.”

Riki narrowed his eyes at you, suddenly curious. Now that he thought about it, he’d never actually seen you with anyone—no rumors, no dates, no shy confessions. And while you always rolled your eyes whenever he brought up girls in front of you, you never chimed in about any guy in your life. Suspicious.

“Y/N,” he started, his tone a little too casual as he began doodling nonsense shapes on the table. “When was the last time you had a boyfriend?”

You blinked, caught off guard. “Well, you remember Choi—”

“Choi Soobin? That lasted, what, a week?” he scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.

“And why do you think that is, genius?” you shot back, pointing your pencil at him accusingly.

Riki faltered for a split second before looking away. “Well… I think you can do so much better than him,” he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

Your brow shot up, amused. “Oh? Alright then, Mr. Matchmaker. Who’s my ‘better match,’ huh?”

His mouth opened, then shut. For once, he didn’t have a quick answer. He gulped, scrambling to save face. “How about I… set you up?”

You laughed, leaning back in your chair. “With one of your fuckboy friends? No thanks.”

“Hey! Not them!” he laughed, hands up in defense. “I meant someone like… Sunghoon.”

That made you pause. “Sunghoon? Like tall, calm, cool, and basically perfect Sunghoon? Yeah, right. He wouldn’t go on a date with me in a million years.”

“What? Says who?” Riki shot back, standing up like he’d just been challenged to a duel. “I’ll talk to him. Watch and learn, Y/N. Watch and learn.”

“Riki—”

“Later! Don’t miss me too much” He winked and walked off, leaving you to roll your eyes at his retreating figure, wondering if he’d actually follow through or if this was just another one of his ridiculous schemes.

“Y/N? I thought you guys were dating,” Sunghoon said, his brow furrowing in confusion as he leaned back against the locker.

Riki nearly choked on his water, his eyes going wide as he turned to face him. “What? No, Y/N is just a friend.” He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a half-smile. “Oh. Huh. Well, I think I’m gonna pass anyway. She’s kind of… boring?”

The words hit Riki like a slap. His head snapped toward Sunghoon so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. “Boring?” he echoed, his voice sharp. “Says who?”

Sunghoon shrugged nonchalantly. “Everyone. I mean, I haven’t seen her at a single party or game, not even during lunch. What would we even talk about?”

Riki scoffed, crossing his arms as he glared at him. “Y/N is plenty of fun, asshole. What do you even know?” His voice was defensive, almost protective, and it surprised even himself.

Sunghoon tilted his head, studying Riki’s reaction. “I mean, she seems… quiet,” he admitted. “But now that I think about it, if you’re the one setting me up with her, she’s probably pretty great. You don’t exactly play matchmaker for just anyone.”

Riki blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Uh… well, yeah, she is great,” he muttered, not meeting Sunghoon’s eyes.

Sunghoon grinned. “You know what? Why not? She’s cute.”

Riki froze. His grip tightened on the strap of his backpack, and for a split second, he wasn’t sure why his stomach twisted at Sunghoon’s words. Calling you cute? Of course, you were cute. He’d always known that. So why did it sound weird coming from someone else?

He quickly shook off the strange feeling, chalking it up to his usual overprotectiveness. “Alright,” he said, his voice coming out more clipped than he intended. “But don’t do anything weird. Seriously.”

Sunghoon laughed, pushing off the locker. “Weird? Relax, I’ll be a gentleman. So, you gonna tell her, or should I?”

Riki sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll tell her. Just… don’t mess this up, alright?”

Sunghoon smirked as he walked away. “I won’t. But, man, you’re acting real possessive for ‘just a friend,’ don’t you think?”

Riki didn’t respond, watching as Sunghoon disappeared down the hall. The words hung heavy in the air, and for the first time, he wondered if maybe—just maybe—he was more than just “overprotective” when it came to you.

Today, you felt a kind of giddiness you hadn’t experienced in a while. After weeks of drowning in study sessions, late-night cramming for club responsibilities, and endless schoolwork, you were finally doing something for yourself. And to top it all off, you weren’t just going out—you were going out with a boy.

It had been forever since you’d made this much effort. You dolled yourself up, not too over the top, but more than your usual routine. Casual but undeniably cute. You felt like a new version of yourself, and it was exciting.

Standing in front of your mirror, you hummed along to the music playing softly in the background, carefully adjusting your hair. You tilted your head, giving yourself one last once-over with a satisfied grin when there was a knock on your door.

“Y/N, I’m coming in,” came the familiar voice.

Before you could even respond, the door creaked open, and Riki stepped inside. His usual easy-going demeanor faltered the second he saw you. The air felt heavy, and his eyes widened as if he’d been caught off guard.

For a moment, he just stared, the words dying in his throat. Why were you so dressed up? He’d seen you a thousand times, but never like this. Something about the way your hair framed your face, the slight gloss on your lips, and the way your outfit hugged your figure—it was like he was seeing you for the first time.

Were you always this pretty?

“Is he on his way? What kind of car does he drive?” you asked, practically buzzing with excitement.

Your voice snapped him out of whatever trance he was in, and he blinked, his expression hardening as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Uh… yeah, he’s almost here,” he muttered, his tone uncharacteristically stiff.

The doorbell rang, and your face lit up instantly. Clapping your hands together, you grabbed your bag and checked your outfit one last time. You turned to him, your eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Not too bad, right? Think he’ll like it?”

Riki froze again. The words caught in his throat, and for a second, he thought about telling you the truth. That you looked beautiful. That the thought of you being this excited about someone else was bothering him more than it should.

But instead, his pride got the better of him. “I—well—you look stupid,” he blurted out, his words harsher than he intended.

You rolled your eyes, clearly unimpressed. “Say whatever you want, Riki. Your opinion doesn’t matter tonight. I’ll text you the details tomorrow!”

And just like that, you were gone, your scent lingering in the room as you hurried past him and out the door.

Riki stood there, staring at the space you’d just left. His chest felt tight, an unfamiliar weight settling there as he replayed the moment in his head. What was this feeling? Why was his stomach twisting uncomfortably at the thought of you with someone else?

He swallowed hard, running a hand through his hair as he sat on your bed, shoulders slumping. Something was changing—something he wasn’t sure he was ready to admit yet. But as he sat there, his chest aching and his mind racing, one thing was becoming painfully clear.

He didn’t want to be the one you texted tomorrow to tell all the details about tonight. He wanted to be the one sitting across from you, the one you were so excited to see. And that realization scared him more than anything.

The next week was nothing short of torture for Riki. As if fate was playing a cruel joke, you and Sunghoon seemed to hit it off. You weren’t officially dating, but the two of you were in the so-called “talking stage.” It didn’t matter what stage it was—every second of it felt wrong to Riki.

Your usual library spot? You weren’t alone anymore. Sunghoon was always there, sitting across from you, leaning in too close, making you laugh in ways that Riki used to. Your desk? It was now stocked with your favorite snacks every morning—snacks that weren’t from Riki. And the final blow? You called Sunghoon by his nickname. His nickname. Riki clenched his fists every time he overheard it because not once in all the years he’d known you had you ever called him by a nickname.

What did Sunghoon have that Riki didn’t? He left snacks, visited you in the library, and called you nicknames. Riki did all of that first. So why wasn’t it enough?

For the first time, Riki felt you slipping away. And for the first time, he realized just how much you meant to him. But instead of confronting those feelings, he did what he always did best—he buried them.

The dismissal bell rang, and the school flooded with students rushing to leave. You were taking your time, slowly packing up while your music played softly in your headphones. A tap on your shoulder startled you, making you jump.

“Hey, sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” Sunghoon said with an easy laugh.

You laughed back, pushing him playfully. “It’s fine. Yeah, I’m ready to go, but we should wait for Riki. He might need a ride home.”

Sunghoon’s brow furrowed, confused. “ni-ki? I thought he went on that date.”

Your hands paused mid-motion. “What?”

“Yeah, didn’t he tell you? He’s been talking about it all day.” Sunghoon said it so casually, but his words felt like a punch to your chest.

No. Riki hadn’t told you anything. And now that you thought about it, he’d been distant recently, skipping out on plans and barely texting back. But to go on a date and not even mention it? That wasn’t like him at all. A strange feeling bubbled in your chest—was it anxiety or something else entirely?

“Oh. I guess we should just go then,” you murmured, brushing past Sunghoon, who quickly followed after you.

It stayed like that for weeks. Riki kept avoiding you, making himself scarce. He didn’t leave snacks on your desk anymore, didn’t visit you in the library, and the only time you caught glimpses of him was when he was with her. That girl in his friend group—except now, his arm was around her shoulder.

Something about seeing them together twisted your stomach into knots. You couldn’t figure out what was going on. The absence of Nishimura Riki was a void you weren’t coping with well. You missed his annoying presence, his whining, his endless teasing. When had he become so important to you? And more importantly, why did it hurt so much to see him with someone else?

Days passed, your short fling with Sunghoon had come to an end. You and Sunghoon realized you weren’t a good match. It wasn’t dramatic; the spark just wasn’t there. You were relieved to have gained a friend, but even that small resolution didn’t fill the aching gap that Riki had left behind.

One day, as you trudged toward class, your thoughts heavy, you spotted him. For a moment, everything else faded. His uniform was crisp for once, his hair falling perfectly across his forehead, and his headphones hung loosely around his neck. You felt your heart skip, a familiar warmth creeping in. But then you saw her—the girl. She was right next to him, laughing as she leaned closer.

Riki caught your eyes, and for a moment, you swore you saw something flicker in his expression. But then he looked away, a fake smile plastered back on his face, and it felt like someone had ripped the air out of your lungs.

You couldn’t take it anymore. The sudden, painful realization hit you like a truck—you had fallen for Nishimura Riki. The cocky, annoying, rude, childish Riki. And you had realized it far too late.

Fueled by a sense of urgency, you stormed over to him. The closer you got, the more his eyes widened. His body tensed, his jaw clenching as if he knew what was coming.

“Riki, I need to talk to you,” you said, your voice trembling slightly.

He scoffed, avoiding your gaze as he shifted awkwardly. “What could we possibly need to talk about?”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that you’ve been ignoring me for weeks? How about the fact that you’ve completely shut me out?”

He let out a bitter laugh, his eyes now locking with yours. “Me? Ignoring you? Don’t make me laugh. Weren’t you the one who ditched me first? The second Sunghoon gave you a little attention, you were all over him like he was your whole world.”

You flinched at the venom in his words. “What are you even talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb!” he snapped, his voice rising. “You’ve been desperate for attention since day one. The moment someone else gave it to you, you didn’t even think twice about ditching me.”

The words stung more than you thought possible, and tears welled in your eyes. “Is that how you really see me? Someone who just begs for love and clings to anyone willing to give it? Or is that what you wanted me to be? Someone who would never leave you, so you could string me along whenever you wanted? Like you always have?”

His eyes softened, regret flickering through them, but before he could respond, the girl at his side stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm.

“Alright ni-ki.. I get it now.” You took that as your cue. Turning on your heel, you walked away without looking back, tears blurring your vision.

He gulped as he watched you walk away, Itching to chase after you. He never thought the loss of his first name coming from your lips would hurt this much. But it did.

For the nights after that, sleep was impossible. You lay there staring at the ceiling, replaying the confrontation with Riki over and over in your head. His words, his tone, the hurt that lingered in his eyes despite the venom in his voice—it was all too much. The raw pain left a lump in your throat, and the longer you thought about it, the more your chest ached.

You didn’t know how to move past it. Slowly, you started closing yourself off. The window you always left unlocked for Riki to climb through at night? It was shut now, the latch sealed as if closing it would somehow lock away the memories too.

Everything was weighing on you, dragging you deeper into a pit of emotions you couldn’t escape from. You needed something—anything to distract yourself. That’s when you remembered Sunghoon’s message from earlier.

Sunghoon:

Hey I know parties aren’t really your thing, but you can always come and stick with me tonight if you want? LMK.

You sighed, staring at the screen for what felt like forever before finally making a decision. Maybe this was what you needed, a change of scenery, a chance to forget for just one night. Without overthinking, you hit the call button.

He answered almost immediately, his voice casual but with a hint of surprise. “Hey, Y/N, what’s up?”

“Hey, Hoon,” you said, your voice soft but steady. “I’ll be on my way soon.”

When you arrived at the party, the air was buzzing with energy. Music thumped loudly in the background, lights flickered through the windows, and the yard was packed with groups of people chatting and laughing. You felt a pang of anxiety as you stepped inside, but it was quickly drowned out when Sunghoon spotted you from across the room.

“Y/N!” he called, weaving through the crowd with a grin. “You made it.”

You nodded, offering him a small smile. “Yeah, I thought I’d give it a shot.”

“I’m glad you came,” he said, resting a reassuring hand on your shoulder. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to some people, and we can hang out.”

He led you through the party, his presence grounding you as you met new faces and settled into the environment. For the first time in what felt like weeks, you felt yourself relaxing. Laughing. Forgetting.

But that peace was short-lived.

Halfway through the night, as you stood by the kitchen with Sunghoon, sipping on a red solo cup which he’d handed you, your eyes landed on someone you weren’t prepared to see. Riki.

He was standing on the far side of the room, a red Solo cup in hand, his face half-hidden by the shadowy lighting. But it was unmistakably him. His posture was relaxed, but he wasn’t speaking as his group of friends talked. You looked around for the girl he grasped onto recently but she was nowhere in sight.

Your chest tightened, and it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. For a moment, all the progress you’d made to distract yourself unraveled. You tried to look away, but it was like your eyes were glued to him.

Sunghoon noticed immediately. “Hey,” he said gently, stepping in front of you to block your view. “You okay?”

You blinked, forcing yourself to focus on him. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

But you weren’t fine. Not at all.

Riki hadn’t noticed you at first, too caught up in the chaos of the party. But when he finally glanced toward the kitchen, his heart stopped. There you were, standing next to Sunghoon, looking beautiful in a way that made his chest ache.

His grip on his cup tightened as he watched Sunghoon lean closer, whispering something that made you laugh softly. That laugh. The one he hadn’t heard in weeks. It was his laugh, the one you used to share with him.

“ni-ki,” a girl next to him said, tugging on his sleeve to grab his attention. But he barely heard her, his focus still glued to you.

“Excuse me for a second,” he mumbled, setting his cup down and stepping away from his group. He didn’t even know what he was doing. His feet carried him across the room before his brain had the chance to catch up.

You saw him coming before he even reached you. The sight of him walking toward you, his expression unreadable, made your stomach twist. Sunghoon glanced over his shoulder and immediately stiffened.

“Y/N,” Riki said, his voice low but firm as he stopped in front of you. His gaze flickered to Sunghoon briefly before settling back on you. “Can we talk?”

You hesitated, your walls immediately going up. “What is there to talk about, ni-ki?”

“Please,” he said, his tone softer now, almost desperate wincing at the way you spit his nickname.

Sunghoon stepped closer, his presence protective. “Maybe now isn’t the time, Riki.”

Riki’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. “I wasn’t asking you, Sunghoon.”

Your heart was racing, caught between the two of them. The tension in the air was suffocating, and you didn’t know what to do.

“I’ll give you guys a minute,” Sunghoon finally said, his voice steady but his eyes lingering on you for reassurance before he walked off.

Riki took a step closer, his hands buried in his pockets as he looked at you with an intensity that made your breath hitch. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “For everything.”

You swallowed hard, your emotions a whirlwind. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”

“Then don’t say anything,” he said quickly. “Just… listen. Please.”

And so, for the first time in weeks, you let him talk.

He led you up the stairs, weaving through the chaos of the party. The bass of the music faded the further you went, replaced by the pounding of your heartbeat in your ears. He stopped in front of an empty room, pushing the door open and letting you step inside first. The room was dim, lit only by the moonlight streaming through the window. When he followed, the soft click of the door shutting behind him felt heavier than it should have.

You turned to face him, crossing your arms defensively. Your guard was up, and he could see it all over your face—your hurt, your anger, your confusion. He hated that he was the one who put that look in your eyes. How had things gotten so messed up? It reminded him of when you were younger, back in middle school, when he could never find the right words to say to you. But this time, it felt like so much more was at stake.

“Y/N…” His voice was quiet, laced with hesitation, his dark eyes glowing softly under the light. “I haven’t been real with you lately.”

You didn’t say anything, your glare sharp enough to cut through him.

“To be honest…” He froze, the words catching in his throat as his face heated up. He looked down, running a hand through his hair as if it would steady him. “Well, I’ve realized that you mean… a lot more to me than I thought.”

You blinked, your heart skipping a beat, but your defenses didn’t falter. “What are you trying to say?”

He sighed, taking a tentative step closer. “I’m saying I screwed up, okay? I’ve been jealous, selfish, and downright stupid. Seeing you with Sunghoon, thinking I might lose you… it made me realize something.”

You raised an eyebrow, waiting, your breath catching as he took another step closer.

“I like you, Y/N,” he admitted, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of his confession. “No, scratch that—I’m in love with you. I think I’ve been in love with you for a while now, but I was too dumb to figure it out until I almost lost you.”

Your heart was pounding, the walls you’d built around yourself threatening to crumble. His words felt like a punch to the gut, but in the best way possible.

“Why now?” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “Why did it take all of this for you to say something?”

“I was scared,” he admitted, his tone filled with regret. “Scared of ruining what we already had. But when I saw you with him, I realized I couldn’t just stand by and lose you. I’m sorry, Y/N. For everything. I just… I need you to know how I feel.”

You stared at him, your emotions a whirlwind. Part of you wanted to stay mad, to keep your guard up and protect yourself. But the other part—the part that had always been soft for him—wanted to believe every word he was saying.

“Riki,” you started, your voice trembling. “You really hurt me, you know that, right?”

He nodded, guilt washing over his face. “I know, and I’ll spend however long it takes making it up to you pretty. I swear.”

There was a long silence as you studied him, searching his face for any sign that he wasn’t being genuine. But all you saw was raw vulnerability.

Finally, you sighed, stepping closer to him. “You’re such an idiot,” you muttered, but there was no malice in your voice.

He smiled softly, a flicker of hope lighting up his eyes. “I’ve been told.”

Before you could second-guess yourself, you reached up, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him closer. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t hesitate. His hands found your waist as you stood on your toes, and then, without another word, you kissed him.

It was soft at first, tentative, like the two of you were still testing the waters. But as the moment deepened, all the tension, all the weeks of hurt and miscommunication melted away. His hands tightened around your waist, pulling you closer, and you let yourself fall into him completely.

When you finally pulled away, your foreheads rested against each other, both of you breathless. He smiled at you, his usual cocky grin softened by the tenderness in his eyes.

“Does this mean you forgive me?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at your lips. “Don’t push your luck.”

He laughed, the sound light and carefree, and for the first time in weeks, you felt like everything was going to be okay.

BONUS 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Riki had known you since middle school. Back then, you were the girl who sat by the window during lunch, scribbling in your notebook or reading while everyone else was too busy trying to be cool. You were quiet but quick-witted, and for some reason, that always fascinated him.

He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment he started noticing you more. Maybe it was the time you helped him with a history project because he procrastinated and would’ve failed without you, Maybe… It was the day you both ran into each other. Literally.

He hated admitting it, but he always found himself drawn to you. You weren’t flashy or loud like the other people in his life. You were just you—calm, focused, and, most of all, real.

But middle school Riki wasn’t great at handling feelings. Instead of being sweet to you, he’d tease you mercilessly, always looking for a reaction. He loved how your face would scrunch up when you were annoyed or how you’d mutter sarcastic comebacks under your breath, pretending you weren’t affected.

Even then, he knew you were different. Special. But he never let himself think too much about it.

As the years passed, his feelings only grew, even if he wouldn’t admit it to himself. By the time high school rolled around, you were still his constant. The one person he could always count on, the one who somehow understood him without needing a million words.

But somewhere along the way, he’d started feeling something heavier whenever he saw you. When you smiled at him, it felt like a spark ignited in his chest. When you scolded him for slacking off, he’d secretly enjoy the attention. And when you laughed—God, when you laughed—he swore it was his favorite sound in the world.

Still, he buried those feelings deep. He figured it was better to keep things the way they were. If he said something and you didn’t feel the same, he could lose you entirely, and the thought of that terrified him.

Then Sunghoon came into the picture. And for the first time, he realized he wasn’t the only one who could see how amazing you were. Watching you smile at someone else, laugh at someone else’s jokes, give someone else the attention that used to be his—it tore him apart. He felt like he was suffocating, and he didn’t know how to stop it.

Even now, standing in that room with you after finally confessing everything, he couldn’t help but think back to all those moments from middle school. How blind had he been? How stupid to waste so much time pretending he didn’t care?

Looking at you now, your cheeks flushed, your eyes searching his face like you were trying to figure him out, he realized he didn’t want to hold back anymore.

He smiled, soft and genuine, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

“You know,” he said, his voice low, “I think I’ve been falling for you since middle school. I just didn’t know how to say it back then. Guess I’m still figuring it out now.”

You blinked at him, stunned for a moment, before a small laugh escaped your lips. “You’ve been a mess since middle school, Riki.”

“Yeah,” he said, his grin growing wider. “But I’m your mess now.”

And with that, he kissed you again, pouring years of unspoken feelings into the moment, knowing he’d finally found where he belonged—right there, with you.

[marvelandponder]

I'm gonna speak from my experience and it's probably going to be different than OP's and that's okay

I had super bad social anxiety from about 10th grade through most of university. I straight up believed that if I didn't have anything "worthwhile" to say, it was a burden to say anything at all, because then you'd be subjecting people to a painfully awkward social interaction they didn't want

So basically everything I had to say wasn't "worth it" and I felt like I was failing every social interaction, or cowarding out by hiding myself away when it became too exhausting

I think over the course of those years I had about 4 or 5 therapists?

Each was helpful for different reasons but the one that was the most helpful was a guy who had me write out what I believed about socializing. And we picked them apart until we got to the underlying truth

The one that really stuck out to me was we basically got to a point where he was like "so you believe human beings are inherently judgemental"

That didn't feel right. Like, yeah, we have automatic passing thoughts, but most people don't really care about what's weird with others for more than few seconds. Then they're focused on themselves again

So that stuck out to me as a belief I could revise. Where were examples of when people didn't care about me being awkward or not knowing how to socialize?

We devised a plan to test the new theory

I was in university at the time, and there were scheduled meet ups in our LGBTQA+ centre's on campus. That seemed like a pretty safe place to try things- I had even been there before

So I went. I went a few times. It was still tough sometimes but I started to feel more safe saying things, contributing to set discussion topics, or just being quiet when I didn't have anything to add (and not beating myself up for having nothing to add)

That built a little bit of confidence, then I had a few job experiences that helped too. At first those sucked - I would have panic attacks sometimes. But then around the time I was doing this therapy, I got one where I could tell my managers first thing, hey, I've got anxiety, this is what it might look like if I have a panic attack. And I didn't have a single one that term, or the term after.

I built up confidence just by reinforcing my new beliefs that people really weren't as hyperfocused as I was. I became more social - I had a cubicle of three other students around me, so I joined in on their discussions and even had a good time

Fast forward a few years, I'm now more comfortable and confident in any social situation than ever. I call with friends every week, I go out with my partner and do all sorts of stuff together, I have this huge community of people around me in all kinds of capacities!

I'm not you, and what worked for me isn't gonna be what works for you. Also? It's valid as fuck to not be in a place where you can at all comfortably socialize with any human beings at all, and to be there for so long that you just straight give up. Or maybe it's all you've ever known

That's fucking valid and you don't need to feel ashamed for it. And also, in my personal experience as someone who couldn't socialize without anxiety for several very formative years, people can become social

Doesn't mean you have to, or that one is better than the other. I'm just saying I was in a big doomer place before about my own ability to socialize and if I was talking to my past self, she'd be so fucking relieved to hear that things get better and she doesn't have panic attacks about talking to people anymore. She actually likes it

people are way way too generous in assuming that you can just “learn to be social” and everyone will welcome you with open arms and forgive you forever for all the years you spent not talking to people. sorry no. if you don’t start out social you never get the opportunity to become social. people assume that’s just how you are and treat you accordingly, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy

[nevernonline]

✧.* pancakes for dinner; svt smau

chapter 12.5; boo's big bash (bonus written chapter.)

synopsis: y/n while in her third year at greenwood international university finally gets an opportunity to move off campus into a new complex, she has to deal with the realization that her childhood rival is her new next door neighbor.

 paring: seungcheol x fem! reader. 

feat: non-idol! svt,  other passing idols ykyk.

genre/s: reader is super oblivious, fluffy, sexual themes. 

content: swearing, mentions of sexual relations, some drinking& mary jane 🍃

updates: weekly

word count: 16.3

tag list - open

masterlist ▸ 12. social cues ▸ 13. fallout

Y/N stood in front of her mirror, smoothing down her outfit for the hundredth time. Her phone buzzed faintly on the desk beside her, but she ignored it. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that tonight wasn’t just about a party.

Seungcheol’s behavior had been eating at her since the other night. Their secret friendship—something they’d both agreed to keep private for reasons that made sense at the time—had felt strained. His texts were shorter, his smile a little less easy, and when she’d bumped into him in the hallway this morning, he’d barely looked at her before mumbling an excuse and disappearing back into his apartment.

Had she done something wrong? She replayed every interaction in her mind, searching for an answer. Maybe it was the housewarming duel? He could be taking the friendly rivalry a little too seriously, Y/n knew he was always up for competition, but that didn’t feel like the whole story.

Y/N sighed, picking up her phone and scrolling to his contact. She wanted to text him, to ask if they were okay, before the party, hoping to at least have a small faint interaction between secret friends, but something held her back. What if she was overthinking it? What if she made it worse?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on her door. “Y/N?” Mingyu’s voice called. “You okay in there? Everyone’s waiting.”

She hesitated, smoothing her dress again and forcing a smile onto her face, even though no one could see it. “Yeah, just fixing a couple things. Be out in a minute!”

On the other side of the door, Mingyu lingered, his hand still resting on the knob. He debated saying something—apologizing, maybe. He knew why Seungcheol had been acting off, and guilt twisted in his stomach even though he didn’t know the whole story about Cheol and Y/n’s current relationship. He just did what he wanted without asking her how she felt and it didn’t make him feel good. Last night, after a few drinks and too many moments of watching Seungcheol hover near Y/N like he owned the air she breathed, Mingyu had snapped.

Mingyu hadn’t replied further, but the tension in his jaw when Seungcheol saw him earlier today said plenty.

Inside the room, Y/N took a deep breath, her heart heavy with confusion. Whatever was going on with Seungcheol, she’d have to push it aside for now. Tonight was supposed to be fun no matter how much she just wanted to curl up under her sheets and ignore it. 

Y/N gave herself one last once-over in the mirror, tugging at the hem of her cream-colored cropped cardigan that sat snugly over a simple beige tank top. Her high-waisted light wash jeans hugged her just right, paired with a set of clean white sneakers that gave her look an effortlessly casual vibe. She’d added a few subtle gold accessories—a dainty necklace and matching hoops—that shimmered under the soft glow of her desk lamp. It wasn’t over-the-top, but it was her: comfortable, easy, yet just put-together enough to feel confident.

But despite how good she looked, the unease in her chest didn’t budge.

When she opened the door, Mingyu was leaning against the hallway wall, scrolling through his phone, but his head snapped up the second he saw her. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he forgot what he was supposed to say.

“Wow,” he muttered under his breath, standing up straighter.

Y/N paused, eyebrows raised. “What? Too casual? I knew I should’ve gone for that dress—”

“No, no,” Mingyu interrupted, shaking his head as a soft grin tugged at his lips. “You look great.”

Y/N laughed, brushing past him toward the living room where Yuqi and the others were waiting, but Mingyu stayed rooted in place for a moment longer, his fists clenching at his sides.

Whatever happened tonight, he wasn’t going to let Seungcheol—or anyone—hurt her.

The pre-party buzz filled Y/N’s apartment as she hurried between rooms, trying to wrangle last-minute details for the night’s housewarming showdown. Yuqi was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her playlist with the intensity of a DJ about to headline Coachella.

“Y/N, I swear to fucking god, if I don’t get full control of the music tonight, I’m defecting to the boys' apartment,” she teased, shooting a smirk over her shoulder.

“Bold of you to assume they'd let you touch their playlist,” Mark quipped, walking in with two glasses of wine. “We can’t risk losing the MVP before we even start.”

In the kitchen, Hoshi was busy assembling snacks, humming a tune while occasionally sneaking chips into his mouth. Mingyu, meanwhile, leaned against the counter, eyes trailing Y/N as she darted around.

“Relax, Y/N. It’s just a party,” Mingyu said, trying to sound casual, though his heart raced every time she glanced his way.

Y/N laughed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, sure. Just a party where half of our friends are going to judge who’s got the better vibes, plus a bunch of random ass people that Seungkwan invited will be in my home.  No pressure at all.”

Across the hall, Seungcheol and Seungkwan were prepping their apartment with an equal mix of friendly competition and mild chaos. But here, in Y/N’s apartment, the air felt different.

Mingyu caught Yuqi’s knowing smirk as he watched Y/N adjust the decorations. “What, Troll?” he muttered defensively.

“Nothing,” Yuqi sang, but the look she exchanged with Hoshi said it all.

The tension wasn’t just about the party anymore—especially not for Mingyu, who’d been watching Seungcheol’s shitty attempts to get closer to Y/N for weeks without knowing the real truth of the situation. Tonight wasn’t just about which apartment would win; it was about keeping feelings in check in the middle of a warzone of snacks, games, and underlying rivalries.

“Alright, team,” Yuqi said, clapping her hands. “This is it. Are we ready?”

As the group cheered, Mingyu’s phone buzzed in his pocket. A text from Seungcheol.

"Try not to get in my way tonight, Mingyu."

Seungcheol paced around his apartment, the soft hum of music doing little to settle the storm in his head. Seungkwan was in the kitchen, hyper-focused on arranging the snack table to look like something straight out of a lifestyle blog.

“Cheol, seriously, if you’re not going to fucking help, can you at least stop pacing? You’re literally giving me anxiety, and I’m already stressed about Yuqi taking this fake rivalry too far and trying to destroy us tonight,” Seungkwan said, throwing a handful of pretzels into a bowl with dramatic flair.

“Sorry,” Seungcheol muttered, running a hand through his hair. His gaze drifted to his phone on the counter, his thoughts circling back to Y/N for the hundredth time that day.

He’d been trying so hard to rebuild things with her. Their friendship now, as quiet and under-the-radar as it was, felt fragile. It had taken years to even get to this point after what he’d done.

Betrayal.

The word still stung. They’d been inseparable as teenagers until he screwed everything up. She’d trusted him, and he’d let her down in a way he hadn’t been able to forgive himself for, even now.

“Cheol, stop overthinking,” Seungkwan said, snapping him out of his spiraling thoughts. “I know you’ve been trying to make things right with Y/N or whatever other things you're always brooding about, but tonight isn’t the night to get all serious about it, it’s a night to forget that shit and have fun, maybe meet another girl for once? Just keep it light, have fun, and, for the love of everything holy, do not make it fucking weird.”

Seungcheol frowned, crossing his arms. “I wasn’t planning to make it weird.”

Seungkwan shot him a look. “You get that face every time she’s mentioned. The guilt. Just relax, okay? Be your charming, fun self. Save the heartfelt apologies and deep talks for literally any night but this one. It’s a party, plus it’s half our party. So, lighten up.”

Seungcheol sighed, his fingers twitching with the urge to grab his phone and text her, but he knew Seungkwan had a point. Tonight was supposed to be fun. Still, it wasn’t easy to just set aside the weight of their history, or the complicated tangle of feelings that came with their secret friendship now.

And then there was Mingyu.

Seungcheol’s jaw tightened as his phone screen lit up with another notification. Mingyu hadn’t sent anything since last night’s pointed text, but the words still echoed in his head.

"If you’re just going to keep stringing her along, back off. You don’t deserve her."

The thing was, maybe Mingyu was right. Maybe he didn’t deserve her—not after what he’d done. But that didn’t stop the quiet moments they shared from replaying in his mind, the way she laughed when he managed to get her to let her guard down, the rare moments when she looked at him like she had back then, before everything went wrong.

“Cheol.”

Seungkwan’s voice pulled him back to the present. He was holding up a perfectly arranged tray of sliders. “Try one and tell me these don’t scream ‘winner of the housewarming duel.’”

Seungcheol managed a small smile, grabbing a slider. “Yeah, they look great.”

“Great? Great?” Seungkwan huffed. “You’re impossible. I swear, if I lose to Yuqi and Y/N because you’re too busy brooding over old fucking teenage angst, I’ll never fucking let you live it down.”

Seungcheol chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it light.”

But as he glanced at his phone again, Mingyu’s message and Y/N’s name swirling in his thoughts, he couldn’t help but wonder if avoiding it all for the night was going to be as easy as Seungkwan made it sound.

The warm hum of laughter and music filled Y/N and Yuqi’s apartment, the cozy yet lively atmosphere setting the perfect tone for the night ahead. Yuqi was already buzzing with energy, standing on one of the kitchen stools and declaring herself the queen as she handed out glasses for a pre-party toast.

“Alright, everyone!” Yuqi clapped her hands, her grin lighting up the room. “Before the chaos begins and this hallway rivalry gets out of hand, let’s take a moment to acknowledge one important thing: we are the fucking moment.”

Y/N laughed as she leaned against the kitchen counter, her gold hoops catching the light. Mingyu handed her a glass, his fingers brushing hers for a split second, but she didn’t seem to notice. He, however, did, and it sent a jolt through his chest.

Seungkwan, standing near the doorway with Mark, rolled his eyes. “Yuqi, you’re making this sound like we’re about to head into battle.”

“Aren’t we?” Yuqi shot back, raising her glass high. “To good vibes, great snacks, and absolutely annihilating the dumb boys across the hall. Cheers!”

“Cheers!” Everyone echoed, laughter erupting as they clinked their glasses together.

Seungcheol was the last to walk into the room, holding a bottle of tequila he’d brought over. He paused in the doorway for a moment, his eyes instantly finding Y/N. She was laughing, her smile brighter than the overhead lights, her glass raised as she playfully bumped shoulders with Mingyu.

That familiar ache crept back into his chest, but he shook it off, forcing a casual smile as he stepped in.

“You made it!” Yuqi cheered, hopping off her stool and snagging the bottle from his hands. “And you come bearing gifts. Good choice, Cheol. You might just be safe from our wrath tonight. But, guys wait- we have to have another drink quickly before people come because Seungcheol is here now.”

“Lucky me,” he said with a smirk, though his eyes flickered to Y/N again, who had just noticed him. She gave him a small, almost hesitant smile, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the room faded away.

“Cheol!” Hoshi called, breaking the moment. “You’re just in time for the.. second toast. We were about to declare Y/N and Yuqi’s apartment the better party spot.”

“Bold of you to assume,” Seungcheol shot back, making his way to the group and grabbing an empty glass Yuqi shoved into his hand.

“Alright, alright,” Y/N said, stepping forward to get everyone’s attention. Her voice was warm and steady, her presence instantly commanding the room. “Before this whole hallway rivalry spirals out of control, let’s just take a second to appreciate the fact that we’ve got two great apartments, a bunch of good music, and way too many people about to cram into this building.” She raised her glass. “To a good night, no matter whose party wins.”

The group cheered, clinking glasses again before downing their drinks.

As the laughter died down, Yuqi grabbed Seungkwan’s arm. “Alright, you little fucking traitor. Let’s go make sure your place isn’t falling apart. I need to see this insane spread you’ve been bragging about.”

“Fine, fine,” Seungkwan grumbled, letting himself be dragged to the door. “Just don’t touch anything. We’re running a tight ship over there.”

The group started shuffling toward the hallway, but Seungcheol lingered for a moment, watching as Y/N placed her glass on the counter. She caught his gaze, tilting her head slightly in question.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked softly, her voice cutting through the noise.

He hesitated, the weight of everything he wanted to say pressing against his chest. But before he could answer, Mingyu appeared at her side, slinging an arm around her shoulders with a grin.

“Come on, Y/N,” Mingyu said. “Let’s go see if Seungkwan’s sliders live up to the hype.”

Y/N laughed, giving Seungcheol one last look almost as if to tell him she’s sorry, even if she had no clue what was really going on before letting Mingyu guide her toward the door.

Seungcheol clenched his jaw, draining the rest of his cup in one go. Tonight was going to be harder than he thought. 

The hallway between the two apartments was already bustling, with a few early arrivals laughing and chatting as they migrated back and forth between the two party zones. Y/N and Mingyu trailed behind the group, their steps falling into an easy rhythm.

“You’re really going to let them think Kwan’s sliders are better than your spread?” Mingyu teased, bumping her shoulder lightly with his.

Y/N smirked, her hands tucked casually into her pockets, begging internally for a drink “Please. I had one of Seungkwan’s sliders earlier, and they’re good, but Yuqi and I? We’ve got the edge. It’s all about presentation.”

“Ah, so you’re playing the long game,” Mingyu said, nodding sagely. “Distract them with good vibes while subtly crushing their spirits. Respect.”

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Exactly. It’s all part of the plan.”

As they reached the doorway to Seungcheol and Seungkwan’s apartment, Mingyu placed a hand on the doorframe, pausing for a moment to glance at her. “You look really nice tonight, by the way, I know I already told you that, but it can't hurt to tell you again,” he said casually, though the faint hint of nerves in his voice betrayed him.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard. “Oh, you’re a charmer tonight, huh? But, you too,” she replied, giving him a small smile. Mingyu always knew how to make people feel at ease, and tonight was no exception.

He hesitated for a second, then tilted his head, his gaze softening. “You okay? You’ve seemed a little… I don’t know, distracted tonight.”

Y/N froze for a moment, debating how to respond. Should she tell him about the knot of confusion in her chest, the questions swirling around Seungcheol and whatever invisible tension had been hanging between them lately? But that felt too complicated to explain, and besides, this was supposed to be a night for fun, not overthinking.

“I’m fine,” she said finally, brushing it off with a small wave of her hand. “Just trying to make sure everything runs smoothly, you know? I need some drinks.”

Mingyu studied her for a moment longer, his lips pressing into a thin line like he wanted to say something else. But before he could, Seungkwan’s voice boomed from inside the apartment.

“Yuqi! Stop fucking rearranging the snack table! I had a system!”

Y/N and Mingyu exchanged an amused look before stepping inside. The apartment was already buzzing with energy, the warm lighting and neatly arranged snacks giving it a welcoming feel.

“Looks good in here,” Y/N commented, scanning the space. Her eyes landed on Seungcheol, who was standing near the makeshift bar, a drink in hand. He caught her gaze for a split second before looking away, his expression unreadable.

“Impressive,” Mingyu said, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret. “But still not as good as ours.”

Y/N laughed, letting Mingyu’s easy humor lighten her mood. But as she moved further into the apartment, she couldn’t shake the lingering weight of Seungcheol’s fleeting glance, or the way her chest tightened at the thought of everything unspoken between them.

Seungcheol leaned against the makeshift bar in the corner, one hand loosely holding his drink while the other drummed against the edge of the counter. He was trying to stay present, trying to focus on the party around him, but his gaze kept pulling back to the doorway like a magnet.

And then there she was.

Y/N stepped into the apartment with Mingyu by her side, the two of them sharing a quiet laugh that twisted something deep in his chest. She looked effortlessly beautiful, her neutral-toned outfit perfectly complementing the way she carried herself—confident, warm, and completely oblivious to the storm she stirred inside him.

Seungcheol’s grip tightened around his glass as he watched Mingyu lean in, saying something that made her laugh again. The sound was soft, unguarded, the kind of laugh that used to be just for him, back when they were younger and everything was simpler. Before he ruined it.

“Cheol!” Seungkwan’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see his friend approaching with Yuqi trailing behind him, holding a slider in each hand.

“What’s with the broody look? I thought I told you no brooding.” Seungkwan asked, raising an eyebrow as he nudged Seungcheol’s shoulder.

“I’m not brooding,” Seungcheol said, though he knew it sounded unconvincing.

Yuqi, never one to miss an opportunity, jumped in. “He’s totally brooding. Classic Seungcheol move. What’s it about this time? Did someone insult your taste in music again?”

Seungcheol forced a chuckle, shaking his head. “Just tired, that’s all.”

Yuqi narrowed her eyes suspiciously but didn’t push. “Well, snap out of it. This is a fucking party, not a therapy session. You’ll have plenty of time to sulk after tonight.”

As Yuqi wandered off to inspect the snack table again, Seungkwan leaned closer, dropping his voice. “Look, I know I said to keep it light tonight, but you’re not exactly selling the whole ‘charming and fun’ vibe. Whatever’s going on with Y/N, just… don’t let it mess with your head too much, okay? Mingyu’s clearly trying to make his move, and if you’re going to act like this all night, you might as well hand him the win.”

Seungcheol bristled, his jaw tightening. “I’m not competing with Mingyu.”

“Well, that’s good,” Seungkwan said with a shrug. “Because you’d lose. The guy’s been attached to her for a lot longer than you have.”

Seungcheol’s eyes flicked back to Y/N, who was now standing by the living room sofa with Mingyu, a soft smile on her face as he animatedly told a story. Her laugh rang out again, and Seungcheol felt that familiar ache, the one that always came with being so close to her yet feeling miles apart.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll be fine,” he muttered, more to himself than to Seungkwan.

But as he took another sip of his drink, the bitter taste of jealousy lingered far longer than it should have.

Just as he was about to lose himself in thought again, a familiar voice pulled him back.

“Hey, bartender.”

Seungcheol turned his head sharply, surprised to see Y/N standing just a few feet away, leaning casually against the bar. Her expression was light, playful, though he caught the subtle tension in her shoulders, the faint flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

“You look like you could use a distraction,” she continued, raising an eyebrow as she gestured to the drink in his hand. “How about you do a girl a favor and make me one of whatever you’ve got there?”

He blinked at her, momentarily stunned. It had been days since she’d initiated a casual conversation like this, and it threw him off balance. “You want me to make you a drink?”

She grinned, tilting her head. “Isn’t that what you’re doing? Or are you just going to fucking stand here looking cool for fun?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her teasing tone, the smallest smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Alright, alright. What do you want?”

“Surprise me,” she said, leaning her elbows on the bar as she watched him.

Seungcheol nodded, turning to the bottles in front of him. His hands moved with practiced ease, pouring and mixing as if it were second nature. The act of making the drink gave him something to focus on, a brief reprieve from the chaos in his mind.

“You’re unusually chipper tonight,” he said after a moment, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

“Chipper?” she echoed, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know this is just my default party mode. Someone has to keep things fun around here.”

He glanced at her, his expression softening. “It suits you.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, though she masked it with a quick laugh. “Careful, Cheol. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

He smirked, sliding the finished drink across the counter to her. “Maybe it was.”

She took a sip, her eyebrows raising in approval. “Not bad. You might actually have some hidden talents after all.”

“Only some?” he teased, leaning against the counter now, his earlier tension easing slightly in her presence.

“I’m still collecting data,” she said with a shrug, her smile teasing.

For a moment, it felt like old times—like the weight of their shared history, their secrets, and their unspoken tension had faded into the background. But the moment was fleeting, and as Mingyu’s voice called out from across the room, Y/N straightened, her playful demeanor shifting back into something more guarded.

“Thanks for the drink,” she said, her voice softer now. “I should probably—”

Seungcheol just nodded, “Yeah. Catch you later.” 

Seungcheol wasn’t sure what Mingyu’s play was with Y/n. Obviously he didn’t know she was actually rebuilding her friendship with Seungcheol behind closed doors yet, but somehow Mingyu was onto something or at least thought he was and was going to do anything in his power to stay in the way of them. 

Seungkwan leaned against the far wall, sipping his drink as he took in the scene before him. The party was in full swing now, with more people trickling into the apartment and the energy growing louder, livelier. But his sharp eyes, as always, weren’t distracted by the chaos. They were focused on one corner of the room.

He’d seen the way Y/N had walked over to Seungcheol at the bar, her easy smile and casual demeanor masking something more. And he’d seen the way Seungcheol had looked at her—like she was the only person in the room, even when she wasn’t trying to be.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that there was more going on between those two than either of them let on.

“Why do you look like you’re plotting something?” Yuqi’s voice broke through his thoughts, and Seungkwan turned to see her standing next to him, arms crossed, her gaze following his.

“I’m not plotting,” he said defensively.

Yuqi arched an eyebrow. “Sure, and I’m not typsy. You’ve been staring at Y/N and Cheol like you’re watching a soap opera.”

“I’m just… observing,” Seungkwan admitted, lowering his voice slightly. “There’s something fucking weird going on with them.”

Yuqi narrowed her eyes thoughtfully as she watched Y/N walk away from the bar, drink in hand, and rejoin Mingyu, who immediately looped an arm around her shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. Meanwhile, Seungcheol was left behind, his expression carefully blank, though Yuqi could tell he was anything but calm.

“Weird how?” Yuqi asked, turning back to Seungkwan.

“I literally don’t know,” Seungkwan said, frowning. “Cheol’s been acting off around her for weeks, and I know he’s been trying to apologize for, like, literally fucking everything he did back when they were younger. But he’s being so… I don’t know? Cryptic about it. And now weirdly he’s so mad about Mingyu being in the picture, and—”

“Ohhh,” Yuqi interrupted, her eyes lighting up. “Are you saying you think it’s a love triangle?”

“What? No? That actually didn’t cross my mind.” Seungkwan hissed, though the flush creeping up his neck betrayed him. “It’s not… okay, fine, maybe it’s a little like that. But whatever it is, it’s just so messy, and they’re clearly not handling it well. The energy has been weird especially after last night.” 

Yuqi smirked, but then her gaze shifted to another part of the room where Vernon stood near the bookshelf, quietly chatting with a small group of friends. “You do have a point but I have a feeling you’re focusing on the wrong guy,” she said, nodding toward Vernon. “What about him?”

Seungkwan blinked, taken aback. “Vernon? Seriously?”

“Yes, dumbass.  Seriously. ” Yuqi shot back, her hands on her hips. “He’s literally fucking perfect for Y/N. Chill, kind, actually emotionally available. You know, unlike some people. And bonus, he knows her so well, he hasn’t been this social in years.”

Seungkwan followed her gaze, his expression skeptical. “I don’t know. Vernon’s great and all, but does he even like her like that?”

Yuqi rolled her eyes. “Of fucking course he does. Do you think he spends all that time around her just for fun? He’s lowkey about it, but I can tell. He’s got a crush. Well, probably has had a fucking crush for over a decade. And honestly? She deserves someone like him.”

Seungkwan glanced back at Vernon, who had just caught Y/N’s eye from across the room and offered her a small, shy smile. She smiled back, and for a brief moment, it was like the tension from earlier melted away.

“Hmm,” Seungkwan muttered, sipping his drink thoughtfully. “You might just have a point, my little devil friend. He’s drama free at least, which she definitely deserves.”

“Exactly,” Yuqi said, nudging him with her elbow. “So maybe instead of obsessing over Seungcheol and Mingyu, we should help Vernon out. He’s like the black sheep, and you know how much I love an underdog story.”

Seungkwan sighed, rubbing his temple. “I don’t fucking know, Yuqi. This whole thing is already a huge ass mess. Adding Vernon into the mix feels like lighting a match in a fireworks factory.”

“Or,” Yuqi said with a grin, “it could be the spark that finally gets her to realize who’s actually worth her time.”

Seungkwan shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love me for it,” Yuqi replied, raising her glass in mock cheers.

Seungkwan chuckled, but as he glanced back at Y/N, who was now laughing at something Mingyu said while Seungcheol lingered in the background, he couldn’t help but wonder if Yuqi might actually be onto something.

Y/n hadn’t realized her drink dried up until she went to take another sip. She casually excused herself and found the way back to the bar through the streams of people going in and out of each room, talking and mingling. 

The figure standing and looking into the fridge nearly startled her when she got bumped into his back, but she immediately recognized the smell of their cologne. 

“Trying to kill me, y/n?” Vernon turned around, smiling while he cracked open a can of beer. 

“Thought it would be a nice way to take you out, when you least expected it.” 

Y/N smirked, leaning against the counter as Vernon chuckled, his eyes crinkling in that way that always made him seem effortlessly calm. He handed her the opened can, grabbing another for himself before shutting the fridge.

“Well,” he said, twisting the tab open with ease, “if that’s your plan, you’ll have to try harder. I’ve got quick reflexes.”

“Oh, is that so?” Y/N quipped, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip.

“Mm-hmm.” Vernon leaned against the counter beside her, tilting his head slightly as he studied her. “You okay? You seem kind of distant tonight.”

The question caught her off guard. She’d been so focused on keeping up appearances and untangling the web of emotions around Seungcheol and Mingyu that she hadn’t realized how transparent she might seem.

“I’m fine,” she said after a beat, though the way Vernon’s eyes narrowed told her he wasn’t buying it. “Just a lot on my mind.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asked, his voice easy but sincere.

Y/N hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her can. She wasn’t sure she had the energy to dive into everything, but the warmth in Vernon’s gaze made her feel like maybe she could let down her guard, just a little.

“It’s nothing major,” she said finally. “Just people being complicated.”

Vernon nodded, taking a sip of his beer. “Yeah, people tend to be good at that.”

They shared a small, knowing laugh, and for a moment, the tension in her chest eased.

“You know,” Vernon said after a pause, his tone a bit lighter, “if anyone’s giving you a hard time, I’m pretty good at standing there and looking intimidating.”

Y/N laughed, nudging his arm. “You? Intimidating? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so much as raise your voice.”

“Hey, I can be scary when I want to be,” he said, mock-offended. “I’ve got the stoic face down. Watch.”

He straightened up, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes in what he probably thought was a menacing glare. Y/N burst out laughing, almost spilling her drink.

“Wow. Terrifying,” she teased, wiping at her eyes.

“Okay, okay, maybe I’m not scary,” Vernon admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But I’m a good listener. So, you know, if you need to unload I’m here.”

Y/N looked at him, warmth blooming in her chest. Vernon’s sincerity was disarming, a rare kind of comfort she hadn’t realized she needed tonight.

“I’ll take a rain check right now, thank you.” she said softly, meeting his eyes. “That means a lot.”

“Anytime,” he said, clinking his can gently against hers.

Before the moment could stretch further, a loud burst of laughter from the living room pulled their attention. Y/N glanced toward the noise, catching sight of Seungcheol leaning against the far wall, his eyes already on her. The flicker of something unspoken in his gaze made her chest tighten again, but she quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.

Vernon must have seen it, too, because his expression shifted slightly, a knowing edge creeping into his otherwise calm demeanor. “Complicated people, huh?” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Y/N groaned, resting her forehead against her palm. “Don’t remind me.”

“Well, if they get too complicated,” Vernon said with a small shrug, “just say the word, and I’ll swoop in. Nice and simple.”

Y/N laughed, feeling the tension ease again, even if just for a moment. “You’re the best, Vern.”

“Don’t forget it, get back to keeping the peace, I’ll find you in a bit. I have to go brag to Wonwoo about a level I beat in this game we’re both playing. ” he said, smiling as he stepped aside to let her head back toward the party.

But as she made her way back into the crowded living room, Seungcheol’s gaze followed her every move, his grip on his drink tightening.

Y/N slipped back into the living room, the din of laughter and conversation washing over her like a wave. She clutched her drink a little tighter, scanning the room for Yuqi or Seungkwan, anyone who could ground her in the moment. But instead, her gaze caught on Seungcheol—still leaning against the wall, still watching her.

She felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. His expression wasn’t sharp or angry, but it held something else, something heavy, like he was trying to convey a message she couldn’t quite decipher. Y/N quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the makeshift dance floor where Hoshi was dramatically showing off his moves, earning cheers and groans of laughter.

“You’re back,” Yuqi said, suddenly appearing beside her with a fresh drink in hand. “I was starting to think you’d bailed on me.”

“Needed a drink,” Y/N replied, smiling faintly.

Yuqi sipped her drink, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced toward Seungcheol. “And let me guess… that moment was interrupted by you-know-who?”

Y/N gave her a look. “I wasn’t thinking about him.”

Yuqi snorted. “Sure. And I wasn’t just watching him watch you like his life depends on it.”

“Yuqi—“

“I’m just saying,” she cut in, holding up a hand, “you can ignore it all you want, but something is going on there. And if you don’t figure it out soon, the tension in this room is going to swallow us all whole.”

Before Y/N could respond, Vernon sidled up next to them, his easy smile helping to diffuse some of the weight in the air. “Am I interrupting some secret girl talk?”

“Always, Idiot.”  Yuqi said, smirking.

“Good,” Vernon said, sliding an arm around Y/N’s shoulders in a friendly gesture. “Because I think Y/N needs a break from whatever you were grilling her about.”

Y/N let out a small laugh, grateful for the distraction. “Thank you, Vernon. Finally, someone’s on my side.”

“Always,” he replied, giving her a quick squeeze before letting go. “Now, what’s the plan? Are we dancing, or are we rescuing Hoshi from himself?”

“I vote dancing,” Yuqi said, already moving toward the music.

“You coming?” Vernon asked Y/N, his expression open and warm, hand held out to drag her along with them.

She hesitated, glancing back toward the wall where Seungcheol had been standing—but he wasn’t there anymore. Her chest tightened, unsure if she felt relieved or disappointed.

“Yeah,” she said finally, taking Vernon’s cold hand in hers, forcing a smile. “Let’s dance.”

The three of them joined the group on the dance floor, Yuqi pulling Hoshi into a ridiculous choreographed move while Vernon and Y/N laughed from the sidelines. For a brief moment, Y/N allowed herself to get swept up in the energy, the music, and the comfort of her friends.

But as the night stretched on, she couldn’t shake the feeling of Seungcheol’s eyes on her, even when he wasn’t in the room.

Seungcheol stood in the kitchen, gripping his drink tighter than necessary as he watched Y/N move through the living room with Yuqi and Vernon. His gaze lingered, though he tried to keep his expression neutral, uninterested—anything but the turmoil he actually felt.

She was laughing now, her head tilted back slightly as Vernon said something that made her smile. The sight made Seungcheol’s chest ache in a way he hated. It was easier when she wasn’t around, when he could pretend he didn’t care, that their shared past didn’t matter anymore. But here, in the same room, it was impossible to ignore.

His thoughts kept circling back to earlier in the night, during the game. When she’d walked in and asked him to make her a drink, her attempt at easing the tension between them had felt so transparent. And yet, he hadn’t known how to respond. He couldn’t shake the way she’d looked at him—like she was trying to bridge a gap that neither of them fully understood.

And then there was Mingyu. Seungcheol clenched his jaw at the memory of the arm-wrestling match, the way Mingyu’s easy confidence grated on him. He didn’t blame Mingyu for looking out for Y/N—hell, he admired it, in a way—but there was something about it that made his blood simmer. Maybe it was how obvious Mingyu’s feelings were, or maybe it was the way Y/N seemed to trust him so effortlessly, in a way she hadn’t trusted Seungcheol in years.

He leaned against the counter, taking a long sip of his drink as he replayed everything in his mind. The unresolved tension from their teenage years, the secret friendship they’d rebuilt in recent months, the way she looked at him tonight—like she was both wary and curious. It was maddening.

“Are you just going to stand here all night?”

Seungcheol turned to find Seungkwan leaning in the doorway, a knowing look on his face.

“Not in the mood to socialize,” Seungcheol said flatly, though the edge in his voice made Seungkwan raise an eyebrow.

“Uh-huh. And that has nothing to do with Y/N?” Seungkwan asked, crossing his arms.

Seungcheol shot him a look. ���Drop it.”

“I’m just saying,” Seungkwan said, stepping closer, “you’re not exactly subtle, Cheol. If you don’t want people to notice, maybe stop glaring at Vernon every time he talks to her.”

“I’m not glaring,” Seungcheol muttered, though he knew it wasn’t entirely true.

Seungkwan sighed, leaning against the counter beside him. “Look, I get it. You’ve got history, and you’re trying to make things right. But maybe tonight isn’t the night to hash it out. She looks overwhelmed, you know?”

Seungcheol exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. He hated how well Seungkwan could read him, but he couldn’t argue with the truth of it. Y/N did look overwhelmed—like she was carrying the weight of something bigger than anyone in the room realized.

“I don’t want to make things worse,” Seungcheol admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Then don’t,” Seungkwan said simply. “Just be there for her. Without the drama. Without the tension.”

Seungcheol nodded, though he wasn’t entirely sure how to do that. He glanced back toward the living room, where Y/N was now dancing with Vernon and Yuqi, her laughter ringing out above the music.

He couldn’t help but think about the last time they’d danced together, years ago, before everything fell apart. Before he betrayed her trust.

For now, all he could do was watch from a distance, hoping that one day, she might see him as someone worth trusting again.

Y/N laughed as Yuqi spun her dramatically in time to the music, nearly sending them both stumbling into the couch. Vernon caught her arm to steady her, his calm energy a welcome contrast to Yuqi’s chaotic antics.

“Careful,” Vernon teased. “I’m not dragging anyone home tonight if you sprain something.”

“I’m fine.” Y/N insisted, laughing as she straightened up. Her cheeks were flushed, a mix of the alcohol and the growing heat in the room.

Still, her smile faltered when she caught Seungcheol’s figure lingering in the kitchen doorway, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t looking at her now—his gaze was fixed on the drink in his hand—but his presence alone made her chest tighten.

She hated how easily he could unsettle her. No matter how much time passed, no matter how many layers of their friendship they rebuilt in secret, there was always that lingering sense of something unresolved.

“Earth to Y/N.”

Yuqi’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Y/N turned to find her friend giving her a pointed look, holding out a fresh drink.

“Where’d you just go?” Yuqi asked, pressing the cup into her hand.

“Nowhere,” Y/N said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just zoning out.”

Yuqi’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, but she let it slide, gesturing toward the small dance floor. “Come on, you can’t check out now. Hoshi’s about to break out his signature move.”

Y/N laughed and allowed herself to be pulled back into the fray, her body moving automatically to the beat of the music. But even as she danced, her thoughts kept drifting back to Seungcheol.

Was he mad at her? She couldn’t tell anymore. Every interaction between them felt like a puzzle, one she wasn’t sure she was equipped to solve. And then there was Mingyu—always so present, so protective. It was overwhelming, trying to navigate everyone’s emotions while also managing her own.

At one point, she stepped away from the group to catch her breath, retreating to the edge of the room where it was quieter. She took a sip of her drink, her eyes scanning the party.

Seungcheol was still in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with Seungkwan by his side. Mingyu, meanwhile, was talking animatedly with Hoshi and a few others near the couch. Both of them were so different in their energy, yet both had this gravitational pull that she couldn’t quite escape.

“You okay?”

The familiar voice made her turn. Vernon stood beside her, his expression calm and curious.

“Yeah,” Y/N said, nodding quickly. “Just needed a minute.”

“Fair enough,” he said, sipping his beer. “You’ve got that look, though.”

“What look?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“The ‘I’m overthinking everything’ look.”

Y/N sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. “Am I that obvious?”

“Not to everyone,” Vernon said with a small smile. “But I can tell.” 

Y/n just blinked at him, studying the look on his face. “Cover for me while I sneak away for a minute?” 

“I’ve done worse for you. Where are you escaping to now?” 

Y/n just smirked and patted him on the shoulder. “If you know me so well you’ll know where to find me, you have to wait five minutes, we will see if you pass.” 

Vernon watched her slip through the crowd, his curiosity piqued. He didn’t bother following her immediately—he knew Y/N well enough to recognize when she needed space. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t check on her.

After waiting the full five minutes (and a little longer just to be safe), he grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair and slipped out of the apartment. It didn’t take long to figure out where she’d gone.

The crisp night air hit him as he stepped onto the rooftop. The faint smell of weed greeted him before he spotted her, sitting cross-legged on a bench with her hood pulled up, a joint in one hand and her gaze fixed on the stars above.

“You really didn’t make this hard to figure out,” Vernon said, announcing his presence as he walked closer.

Y/N looked over her shoulder, exhaling a soft cloud of smoke. “I wasn’t trying to. I just needed to breathe.”

Vernon sat down on the bench beside her, leaving enough space to give her the room she clearly needed. He didn’t say anything at first, simply tilting his head back to look up at the sky.

“It’s cold as hell up here,” he finally said, his breath visible in the air.

“That’s the point,” Y/N replied, holding the joint out to him. “Want some?”

He hesitated for a moment before taking it, bringing it to his lips for a quick drag. The smoke burned his throat slightly, but it wasn’t unpleasant. “So, what’s the escape this time?”

Y/N shrugged, pulling her hood tighter around her face. “Too many people. Too many things.”

“Things,” Vernon repeated, handing the joint back to her. “That’s specific.”

She gave him a look but didn’t elaborate. Instead, she took another hit, the glowing tip of the joint briefly illuminating her face. Her eyes seemed heavier than usual, like she was carrying something she couldn’t quite name.

“Was it the whispering of Seunkwan wanting to be a drama queen and play truth or drink?” Vernon asked gently.

Y/N exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl upward. “Part of it, maybe. But honestly, I think it was always going to hit me tonight. Doesn’t really matter what started it.”

Vernon nodded, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. “Want to talk about it, or are we just stargazing?”

“Stargazing sounds safer,” she said, though the corner of her mouth twitched in the faintest hint of a smile.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the muffled hum of the party below them barely reaching the rooftop.

“You’re really good at disappearing,” Vernon said after a while, his tone light but not teasing.

Y/N glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’re here, but it feels like you’re not. Like… your body’s sitting on this bench, but your mind’s off somewhere else, doing a million calculations.”

She didn’t respond right away, her gaze drifting back to the sky. “Maybe that’s because it’s easier. Being present is… messy.”

“Life’s messy,” Vernon said, his voice soft. “But you’re allowed to exist in it. You know that, right?”

Y/N’s throat tightened, but she nodded, her fingers toying with the edge of her sleeve. “It’s just complicated. With everyone. And I don’t know how to balance it all without screwing something up.”

Vernon watched her carefully, his expression thoughtful. “You don’t have to balance it all perfectly. You just have to do what feels right for you. The rest will figure itself out.”

She let his words sink in, the warmth of them surprising her. Vernon had a way of making things feel simple, even when they weren’t.

“Thanks,” she said quietly, offering him the joint one last time.

“Anytime,” he replied, taking it with a small smile.

As the cold air bit at their skin, Y/N found herself relaxing, the weight in her chest lifting ever so slightly. For the first time that night, she felt like she could breathe.

“Think they’ll notice I’m gone?” she asked after a while.

“Probably,” Vernon said with a shrug. “But I’ll cover for you, remember?”

Y/N smiled, nudging him lightly with her elbow. “You’re the best.”

“Don’t forget it,” Vernon said, grinning.

Y/N leaned back on the bench, stretching her legs out in front of her. The cold nipped at her fingers, but the warmth from the joint and the comfort of Vernon’s presence balanced it out. She handed the joint back to him, watching as he took a slow drag, his eyes squinting slightly against the bite of the chill.

“You know,” Vernon began, his voice low and steady, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you just sit like this before. Not running around or worrying about someone. Just here.”

She tilted her head, studying him. “What, like I’m incapable of sitting still?”

“Not incapable,” he said, smiling faintly. “Just rare. You’re always trying to fix something, or make someone else comfortable. It’s nice to see you actually breathe for once.”

Y/N turned her gaze back to the stars, the quiet sincerity in his words catching her off guard. “Guess it’s easier to breathe up here,” she admitted. “No expectations, no noise.”

“No Mingyu, No Seungcheol,” Vernon added, his voice teasing but laced with something heavier.

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t look at him. “Yeah. That too.”

Vernon sighed, leaning back on the bench beside her. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Just saying. You seem like you’ve got a lot going on.”

“That’s one way to put it,” she muttered, exhaling a puff of air that mingled with the smoke curling into the night sky.

They sat in silence for a moment before Vernon leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know, whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to do it alone. People care about you, Y/N. You can lean on us.”

She glanced at him, his profile illuminated softly by the glow of the city lights. “Do you ever think leaning on people just makes things messier?”

“Sometimes,” Vernon admitted. “But I’d rather deal with the mess than pretend it doesn’t exist.”

His words hung in the air, heavier than the smoke swirling around them. Y/N wanted to say something, to thank him or deflect with a joke, but her throat felt tight. Instead, she reached out and lightly bumped her hand against his, a small gesture that said more than words could in the moment.

Vernon glanced at their hands and then at her, his expression soft but steady. “You don’t have to figure it all out tonight, you know,” he said quietly. “Or even tomorrow. Just don’t shut people out. Especially the ones who care about you. Me, Yuqi, Kwan, Soony, you know the list, but. ”

Y/N smiled faintly, her lips curling up just enough to show she appreciated his words. “You’re kind of annoyingly wise for someone who usually refuses to get involved in drama.”

He chuckled, leaning back against the bench again. “That’s because I’ve got the best seat in the house. Watching from the sidelines keeps me out of trouble, but it also means I see a lot of things people don’t notice about themselves.”

“Like what?” she asked, turning her head to look at him.

“Like you,” he said simply. “You’re always putting everyone else first. You try so hard to make peace or keep the balance, but you don’t let anyone do the same for you. It’s like you’re afraid to ask for anything because you think you’ll tip the scales.”

His words struck a chord deep inside her, leaving her momentarily speechless. It was rare for someone to call her out so directly, and even rarer for it to come from someone as laid-back as Vernon.

She let out a shaky laugh, more to ease the weight in her chest than anything else. “Guess I’m not as subtle as I thought.”

“Not to me, anyway,” Vernon said, giving her a warm, knowing smile.

They sat in comfortable silence for a little while longer, the joint burning down to its last embers between them. The cold air seemed to sharpen everything—the stars above, the distant hum of the city, the steady presence of Vernon beside her.

Eventually, Vernon stood, brushing his hands on his jeans. “Alright, I should probably get back before Yuqi starts a search party. Are you good up here?”

Y/N nodded, her smile soft but genuine. “Yeah. Thanks for escaping with me.”

“Anytime,” he said, his tone light but sincere. “Don’t stay out here too long, though. It’s freezing.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving him off.

As he walked away, she leaned back against the bench, staring up at the stars again. The rooftop felt quieter without him, the air heavier with her thoughts. But for the first time in what felt like hours, she didn’t feel completely alone.

She closed her eyes, letting the cold air bite at her cheeks and the quiet settled around her. Maybe Vernon was right—maybe she didn’t have to figure everything out tonight. For now, she could just exist.

When she opened her eyes again, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, watching the faint mist of her breath disappear into the night.

“One step at a time,” she whispered to herself, the words more of a promise than a resolution.

Y/N stood from the bench, brushing off the frost that had collected on her jacket. The cold had seeped through her layers, leaving her fingers numb and her cheeks tingling, but it also cleared her mind in a way the rooftop always seemed to. She took a final look at the stars, exhaling deeply, before heading toward the door.

The hum of the party grew louder as she descended the stairs, the muffled bass of the music vibrating through the walls. By the time she reached the door to Seungcheol and Seungkwan’s apartment, her body had adjusted to the warmth seeping out into the hallway. She hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the doorknob.

The party inside was still alive and chaotic. She could hear laughter, the clinking of glasses, and Yuqi’s unmistakable voice cheering someone on. She steeled herself, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

As she slipped back inside, the heat and noise enveloped her like a wave. Her eyes scanned the room, noting the various clusters of people still mingling, dancing, and drinking. Vernon had returned to his usual quiet spot near the couch, looking up when she entered and giving her a small nod. She smiled back faintly, silently thanking him for earlier.

“Y/N!” Yuqi’s voice pierced through the crowd as she bounded over, a drink in hand and an exaggerated pout on her lips. “Where were you? I thought you got kidnapped or something!”

“Just needed some air,” Y/N said, dodging the hug Yuqi attempted to throw around her.

“Air?” Yuqi repeated, narrowing her eyes playfully. “You’ve been gone for, like, a year.”

“Ten minutes,” Vernon corrected from across the room, raising his beer.

“Felt like longer,” Yuqi grumbled before thrusting the drink into Y/N’s hand. “Here, bitch, you’re behind. Catch up!”

Y/N took the cup, pretending to sip from it as her eyes scanned the room. She couldn’t help but notice Seungcheol standing near the kitchen, his arms crossed as he talked to Seungkwan and Hoshi. He wasn’t laughing, but there was a soft smile on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Mingyu, meanwhile, was in the center of the room, animatedly telling a story to a group of people who seemed completely entranced. His gaze flitted over to her briefly, but his expression remained unreadable before he returned to his audience.

“Y/N, come on!” Yuqi tugged at her arm, pulling her toward the group gathered near the couch. “We’re playing some games—someone said the charades last time were rigged.”

“Yuqi, I just—”

“No excuses.” Yuqi declared, plopping her down on the couch next to Vernon, who looked amused but didn’t say anything.

As the game began again, Y/N found herself slipping into the rhythm of the party, though her thoughts were never far from the two men who seemed to loom like shadows over her evening. Every laugh, every drink, every fleeting glance across the room felt charged with an undercurrent of something she couldn’t quite name.

Eventually, she leaned toward Vernon and muttered, “Remind me again why I didn’t just stay on the roof?”

He smirked, his voice low. “Because you’re not the kind of person who disappears when things get messy.”

She sighed, slumping back against the couch. “I wish I was.”

For now, though, she decided to stay seated, letting the party swirl around her while she gathered the strength to face whatever unresolved tension the night still held.

“Y/N, come on.” Yuqi tugged at her arm, pulling her toward the group gathered near the couch. “We’re about to start the truth or dare—but with a twist! If you don’t want to answer or do the dare, you drink.”

Y/N hesitated, her grip tightening slightly on the cup in her hand. “Truth or dare? Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” Yuqi said, grinning mischievously. “It’s the perfect way to spice things up. Seungkwan’s already set the rules, and people are starting to get brave.”

“No excuses!” Yuqi declared, practically shoving Y/N down on the couch next to Vernon, who looked amused but not at all surprised by Yuqi’s antics.

Y/N leaned toward him and muttered, “You’re supposed to be my escape plan. Why are you letting this happen?”

Vernon smirked, leaning back lazily. “You’ll survive. Besides, it’ll be fun to watch.”

The circle was a mix of familiar faces—Seungkwan, Hoshi, Mingyu, Yuqi—and a few others Y/N didn’t know as well. Seungcheol sat on the opposite side of the circle, his arms resting casually on his knees, but his gaze flicked to Y/N for a split second before looking away.

“Alright, rules are simple,” Seungkwan said, taking charge as usual. “Truth or dare. If you don’t want to answer or do the dare, you drink. No whining, no excuses.”

The game started lightheartedly, with Hoshi doing a ridiculous dance on a dare and one of Yuqi’s friends admitting to an embarrassing crush from years ago. The laughter eased Y/N into the mood, though her attention kept drifting between Mingyu, who was sitting a little too close to her, and Seungcheol, who seemed oddly quiet.

“Alright, Y/N,” Seungkwan said, his eyes gleaming as the bottle spun and landed on her. “Truth or dare?”

She hesitated, the weight of everyone’s attention pressing on her. “Truth.”

“Boring,” Yuqi teased, earning a laugh from the group.

Seungkwan ignored her and leaned forward, his grin wicked. “Who in this room do you think is the most attractive?”

Y/N’s cheeks burned as the group erupted in playful cheers and groans. Her eyes darted around the circle—Mingyu smirking confidently, Seungcheol looking down at his drink, Vernon raising an eyebrow like he was waiting to hear something interesting.

“Not answering that,” Y/N said quickly, lifting her cup and taking a long sip to the chorus of boos and laughter.

The game moved on, but the tension hung thick in the air, especially when the bottle eventually pointed to Mingyu.

“Dare,” he said, his voice firm, as if he was trying to prove a point.

Yuqi’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Alright, I dare you to kiss the person you’re most interested in right now.”

A hush fell over the group, the room suddenly feeling smaller. Mingyu’s eyes flicked to Y/N, and for a moment, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.

“I’ll drink,” Mingyu said abruptly, lifting his cup to his lips.

“No, come on, do it. Don’t be a pussy, Gyu.” Yuqi taunted him, Seunkwan joining in gesturing beside her and it was enough to make Mingyu stand up and hover over everyone who was sitting down, but he suddenly got scared and downed his drink and ran quickly to the bar to refill another one. 

By the time he got back Seungkwan was already spinning the bottle to put another victim on the spot. 

“Truth or dare?” Seungkwan asked.

“Truth,” Seungcheol said, his voice steady but low.

“Alright,” Seungkwan said, leaning forward. “What’s something you’ve done recently that you regret?”

The question felt loaded, and the room seemed to sense it. Seungcheol’s jaw tightened as he thought, his eyes briefly flickering to Y/N before settling on his drink.

“I regret not saying what I should’ve said sooner,” he answered cryptically, taking a sip of his drink despite not needing to.

Y/N’s heart pounded, the weight of his words settling heavily in her chest.

The circle had grown quieter, the earlier lighthearted mood replaced with something heavier. Sensing the awkwardness, Vernon leaned over to Y/N and murmured, “This game’s going downhill fast.”

She nodded, her mind too clouded with thoughts to respond. The next spin of the bottle felt irrelevant, her focus locked on the tension simmering between Seungcheol and Mingyu across the circle.

As the game moved on, the energy in the room shifted, but Yuqi wasn’t ready to let Mingyu off the hook so easily. She nudged him with a wicked grin.

“Come on, Mingyu,” Yuqi teased. “That was such a fucking cop-out. I dare you to actually follow through. What are you so scared of?”

Mingyu leaned back, smirking at her but clearly feeling the pressure. “I’m not scared,” he shot back.

“Then prove it.” Yuqi challenged, earning cheers and laughter from the group.

The room fell silent as Mingyu’s gaze flickered toward Y/N, who froze under his stare. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, the tension mounting with every passing second.

“Mingyu,” she started, her voice barely audible, but before she could finish, he leaned forward.

“I mean, a dare is a dare, right?” he said, his voice teasing but his eyes serious as they locked on hers.

And then he kissed her.

It wasn’t rushed or hesitant—Mingyu leaned in with a confidence that made Y/N’s breath hitch. His hand lightly brushed her cheek, his lips soft but firm against hers. For a moment, the rest of the room seemed to dissolve into nothingness, the cheers and gasps from the group fading into the background.

When he pulled back, the air between them felt charged, like a live wire sparking between them. Y/N blinked, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

“See?” Mingyu said, leaning back with a lopsided grin, though there was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. “Not so scary.”

The room erupted in a mix of whoops and laughter, Yuqi clapping her hands triumphantly. “Finally. That’s what I’m talking about!”

But Y/N wasn’t laughing. Her heart was pounding, and her gaze flickered to Seungcheol. He sat completely still, his jaw tight and his eyes dark as he stared into his drink. The muscle in his jaw ticked as if he was fighting every instinct to react.

The weight of the moment crashed down on Y/N, her chest tightening. Mingyu’s kiss, Seungcheol’s reaction, the eyes of everyone in the room—it was too much.

“I need a drink,” she muttered, pushing herself up from the couch and heading toward the kitchen, her legs unsteady beneath her.

Behind her, she heard Yuqi say something to Mingyu, teasing him again, but Y/N couldn’t focus. Her mind was spinning, her lips still tingling from the kiss.

In the kitchen, she gripped the edge of the counter, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The moment replayed in her head, over and over, until she felt a presence behind her.

“You okay?” Vernon’s voice was soft, grounding her.

She turned to see him standing there, his usual calm expression slightly concerned.

“Not really,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vernon handed her a fresh drink without a word, and she accepted it gratefully.

“You know,” he said after a moment, “Mingyu’s always been bold, but that? That was something else.”

Y/N let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. “Yeah, no kidding.”

“And Seungcheol…” Vernon trailed off, his eyes flickering toward the living room where the tension was still thick.

“Don’t, please,” Y/N said quickly, cutting him off. “I can’t think about that right now.”

He nodded like he’d expected her answer and stepped further into the kitchen. He leaned against the counter across from her, studying her carefully. “Want to get out of here?”

She blinked at him, startled. “What?”

“You heard me,” Vernon said, his lips curling into a small, reassuring smile. “This party’s a shit show. You look like you need some air, and honestly, so do I. Let’s go to a bar or something. Anywhere but here.”

Y/N stared at him, caught off guard by the offer. “You’d leave? Just like that?”

“Why not?” he shrugged, taking a sip of his beer. “Not like I’m missing anything groundbreaking in there. And you seem like you could use a break from whatever the hell that was.”

She hesitated, glancing back toward the living room where laughter and music still spilled through the air. The idea of leaving—of stepping away from all the chaos and tension—sounded more tempting than she wanted to admit.

“I don’t know…” she started, her voice uncertain.

“Y/N,” Vernon cut her off gently, his tone steady. “You don’t have to figure everything out right now. You don’t even have to explain anything to me. But if you want to hit pause on this whole mess, I’m offering you an out.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She didn’t know if it was the kindness in his voice or the simplicity of his offer, but for the first time that night, she felt like she could breathe.

“Okay,” she said finally, nodding.

“Yeah?” he asked, his smile widening slightly.

“Yeah,” she confirmed. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Vernon straightened up, holding out his hand. “First round’s on me.”

She let out a soft laugh, slipping her hand into his. As they walked out of the kitchen together, Y/N didn’t bother looking back at the party. For now, the tension and confusion could wait. All she wanted was a moment of peace, and Vernon seemed like exactly the person to give her that.

The cold air seemed to lift some of the heaviness in Y/N’s chest as she and Vernon walked down the street. They didn’t talk much at first, their footsteps echoing softly on the pavement. But it wasn’t awkward—just easy, like it always was with him.

Vernon walked a little ahead, hands in his jacket pockets, his calm presence making the silence feel almost comforting. When he noticed her shivering, he stopped, pulled off his jacket, and handed it to her without a word.

“You really don’t have to,” she started, shaking her head.

“Just take it,” he interrupted, his tone casual. “It’s cold, and you’ll end up catching something.”

She hesitated for a second before slipping it on. His jacket was warm and smelled faintly like cedarwood and something unmistakably Vernon. She glanced over at him with a small smile. “Fine. Thanks.”

“No problem,” he replied, his lips curling into the smallest smile.

The two continued walking, their pace unhurried. The neon lights of the city reflected off the damp streets, and Y/N felt the tightness in her chest start to ease with every step.

“So,” she said after a moment, “do you make a habit of sneaking off with people at parties, or am I just lucky?”

“You’re lucky,” Vernon replied with a smirk, his voice light. “But don’t let it get to your head.”

She laughed softly, shoving her hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Noted.”

When they reached the corner, waiting for the light to change, Y/N glanced over at him, her curiosity bubbling to the surface. “Why’d you ask me to leave with you?”

He looked over, his expression as calm as ever. “You looked like you needed it.”

“And you?” she pressed, tilting her head slightly.

Vernon shrugged, his gaze flicking back to the crosswalk. “I didn’t really feel like being there either. Figured we could both use the escape.”

She studied him for a moment, something warm blooming in her chest. Vernon had always been like this—quiet, observant, and impossibly kind in the moments she needed it most.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

He turned to her, his brow furrowing slightly. “For what?”

“For knowing when I need a break and for never asking too many questions,” she admitted, the corner of her mouth tugging up.

He smiled at that, the kind of smile that reached his eyes. “You don’t have to thank me for that. I just get it, you know? I’ve known you long enough to be able to tell.”

Y/N nodded, feeling a strange mix of comfort and vulnerability in his presence. She looked down at the pavement, letting his words sink in as the light changed and they crossed the street.

When they reached the bar, Vernon held the door open for her like he always did—small, easy gestures that never felt forced or out of place. The warmth inside hit her immediately, the quiet hum of conversation and clinking glasses a stark contrast to the chaos of the party.

They found a small table in the corner, and Y/N slipped out of his jacket, draping it over the back of her chair. She watched as Vernon flagged down a server and ordered a beer for himself before gesturing for her to order whatever she wanted.

“You feeling better?” he asked once the drinks arrived, his tone light but with a hint of concern.

She nodded, taking a sip of her drink. “Yeah. This is perfect. More my speed, you know?”

“Good, me too.” he said simply, leaning back in his chair.

There was a moment of quiet as they both sipped their drinks, the ease between them so familiar it felt like muscle memory. Y/N glanced at him, the warm light of the bar softening his features.

“You know,” she started, her voice quiet, “we don’t do this enough.”

“What, escape from parties together?” he teased, his lips quivering into a small smile.

“No,” she said, rolling her eyes but smiling anyway. “Just get to hang out. You and me.”

Vernon looked at her, his gaze steady and unreadable for a moment before softening. “Yeah. We should fix that.”

Her heart fluttered in a way she tried to ignore, and she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, we should.”

As the night wore on and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, the unspoken feelings between them lingered, warm and subtle, like an old song neither of them was ready to sing just yet.

As Y/N sat at the small table across from Vernon, her phone buzzed relentlessly in her pocket. She hesitated for a moment before pulling it out, glancing at the screen. The group chat with Yuqi, Seungkwan, and Mingyu was lighting up.

Yuqi: Where the hell are you? Seungkwan: You disappeared and took Vernon with you?? Yuqi: Don’t make me come find you. Mingyu: Y/N, answer us.

She sighed, her thumb hovering over the screen to type back, but Vernon’s calm voice broke through her thoughts.

“Don’t,” he said softly, his gaze steady on her.

She looked up at him, a bit startled. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t answer,” Vernon replied, leaning back in his chair. “Just for tonight, let it go. They’ll survive without you for a few hours.”

Y/N frowned, her phone still buzzing in her hand. “But they’re probably worried, and Yuqi will never let me hear the end of it if I don’t—”

“They’ll be fine,” he said, cutting her off gently but firmly. “You’re not obligated to explain yourself every second of the day. If you want to talk to them later, that’s fine, but for now? Just be here.”

His tone was calm, but there was something grounding about it that made her pause. She looked at her phone again, the screen still lighting up with new messages. Slowly, she locked it and slid it back into her pocket.

“Better?” Vernon asked, his lips curving into a small smile.

“Better,” she admitted, leaning her elbows on the table.

He raised his glass, gesturing slightly toward her. “Good. Because you deserve a break too, Y/N.”

She studied him for a moment, her chest tightening with something she couldn’t quite name. He always seemed to know what she needed before she did, always so steady and sure in a way that made her feel lighter, like the weight she carried didn’t have to be all hers.

“Thanks,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

He tilted his head, his expression curious. “For what?”

“For this,” she said, gesturing vaguely to the space around them. “For being you, I guess.”

Vernon let out a soft laugh, his cheeks flushing slightly under the warm light of the bar. “Don’t get all sentimental on me now. And stop thanking me for everything.”

She grinned, her tension easing as the moment lightened. “Fine. You’re the fucking worst. Better?”

“Much,” he said with a smirk, raising his glass again.

They clinked their drinks together, the moment settling between them like an unspoken truce, a quiet escape from everything they’d left behind at the party. For the first time that night, Y/N let herself relax, the noise of her phone and the chaos of her thoughts fading into the background.

As Vernon took a sip of his beer, Y/N leaned back in her chair, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her glass. The bar hummed softly with the sound of laughter and quiet conversations, but their little corner felt secluded, as if the world had momentarily forgotten about them.

“So,” Vernon said, breaking the silence, “how’s it going with  everything?”

Y/N blinked at him, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a loaded question.”

He shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Figured I’d rip the Band-Aid off.”

She sighed, slumping slightly in her seat. “It’s been a lot to say the least. Mingyu and Seungcheol are driving me fucking insane, Yuqi’s trying to play referee, and I feel like I’m stuck in the middle of a reality show I didn’t sign up for.”

Vernon raised an eyebrow, resting his chin on his hand. “And what about you? How do you feel about all of it?”

Y/N hesitated, her fingers stilling on the glass. “Honestly? I feel like I’m just there. Like I’m the thing they’re both fighting over, but no one’s asking me what I want. And it’s not like I’ve given them any reason to think there’s anything to fight over. I constantly tell everyone I’m not interested in dating, but they cant seem to let it fucking go.”

“That sounds exhausting,” Vernon said quietly, his gaze steady on her.

“It is,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s not like I can just shut them out. They’re my friends.”

Vernon was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. “You know, you don’t have to fix everything for everyone else. You’re allowed to set boundaries, even with your friends.”

Y/N tilted her head, studying him. “You sound like you’ve had some practice with this.”

“Med school’s good for teaching you to prioritize,” he said with a small laugh. “If I didn’t learn how to say no, I’d have burned out by now.”

She smiled faintly, her heart twisting a little. “How is med school, by the way? You never really talk about it.”

“It’s intense, of course,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But it’s what I’ve always wanted, you know? It’s worth the late nights and early mornings. Even if it means I’m not around as much.”

Y/N nodded, her chest tightening. “We miss you, you know. I miss you.”

Vernon’s gaze softened, and he leaned forward slightly. “I miss you too. I hate that I’ve been so busy, but it’s not because I don’t care. You’re important to me, Y/N. Always have been.”

Her breath caught for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a small smile. “I know. You’re important to me too, Vernon. That’s why it sucks not having you around to balance out all the chaos.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know how much balance I bring, but I’ll take the compliment.”

Y/N leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. “You bring a lot more than you realize. And honestly, I’m just glad you dragged me out of there tonight. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d be fine, but you’d have to learn some better exit strategies on your own.” he said gently, though there was something in his voice that suggested he didn’t entirely believe it.

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “But I’d rather not find out.”

The conversation lulled for a moment, the weight of their words lingering between them. Y/N glanced down at her drink, her thoughts swirling.

“Have you ever thought about how weird it is?” she asked suddenly, her voice quiet.

Vernon frowned slightly. “What’s weird?”

“How we’ve always just clicked,” she said, looking up at him. “Even when we don’t see each other for months, it’s like nothing’s changed.”

He smiled faintly, his gaze warm. “That’s how it is with the people who matter. Time doesn’t change it.”

Y/N’s chest tightened again, and she looked away, the warmth of his words settling over her like a blanket. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Maybe it is,” Vernon said softly. “At least with us.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just nodded, her mind swirling with unspoken thoughts.

After a moment, Vernon reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers briefly before he pulled back. “Let’s make a deal. No more drama tonight. Just this—quiet, no stress. Deal?”

Y/N smiled, her chest feeling a little lighter. “Deal.”

Vernon tilted his head back, taking a long sip of his beer before setting the bottle down on the table. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the edge, his signature calm expression lighting up with curiosity.

“Okay,” he said, his voice teasing but warm. “I’ve got a question for you.”

Y/N arched an eyebrow, swirling her straw around her drink. “What kind of question?”

“A burning question,” he replied with a grin. “One I’ve been dying to ask you all night.”

She smirked, leaning forward to match his energy. “Alright, hit me.”

“What,” Vernon began, pausing dramatically, “was going through your head when Mingyu kissed you earlier?”

Y/N nearly choked on her drink, and Vernon’s laugh echoed through the small bar. “Oh, come the fuck on,” she said, laughing despite herself. “You’re really starting with that?”

“Absolutely,” he said, his grin widening. “You can’t drop that on me and not expect me to be curious.”

Y/N sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Honestly? I didn’t even process it at first. It just happened so fast. And then I was so focused on the fact that everyone was watching that I couldn’t even think about how I felt.”

“Uh-huh,” Vernon said, nodding as if taking notes. “And now that you’ve had some time to think about it?”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t know. Mingyu’s... Mingyu. He’s sweet, but it’s just more complicated, you know? I wouldn’t want to lose his friendship for a relationship that may not work out for whatever reason.”

Vernon’s gaze softened, and he nodded. “Yeah, I get that.” Vernon leaned back in his chair, his beer bottle spinning lazily between his fingers. “Alright, your turn. What was your real first impression of me?”

Y/N smirked, raising an eyebrow as she sipped her drink. “You mean besides the fact that our moms completely embarrassed us at summer camp?”

Vernon groaned, covering his face with one hand. “Oh god, I was hoping you’d forgotten about that.”

“Forgotten? Are you fucking kidding me?” Y/N said, laughing as she leaned forward. “Your mom practically shoved you in front of me and said, ‘This is Vernon. He’s shy, but he’s very friendly once you get to know him.’”

“And then your mom jumped in and said, ‘Y/N loves making friends, don’t you, sweetheart?’” Vernon added, cringing at the memory.

Y/N nodded, her laugh ringing out. “I swear, I wanted to sink into the ground right then and there. But you—” She pointed at him, a teasing smile on her lips. “You just stood there with this blank look on your face like, ‘Is this really happening right now?’”

“I didn’t know what to say!” Vernon protested, laughing along with her. “What was I supposed to do? Our moms basically ambushed us.”

“You could’ve said something,” Y/N teased. “Instead, you just shrugged and said, ‘Cool.’”

“Hey, at least I wasn’t the one who tripped over my own flip-flops five minutes later,” Vernon shot back, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Y/N gasped, feigning offense. “That was one time! And I was distracted because someone wouldn’t stop staring at the ground instead of making eye contact!”

Vernon laughed, shaking his head. “Okay, fine. But seriously, what did you think of me back then?”

Y/N thought for a moment, her smile softening. “Honestly? I thought you were  kind of intimidating at first. You were so quiet and had that ‘too cool for everyone here’ vibe going on. I wasn’t sure if you even wanted to be friends.”

Vernon raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. “Me? Intimidating? I was the most awkward eight-year-old in the world.”

“You hid it well,” Y/N said with a grin. “But then, after a day of being forced to hang out because of our moms, I realized you were just as awkward as me. And I don’t know if you made me feel like I didn’t have to try so hard to fit in.”

Vernon’s smile softened, and he looked down at his beer. “You know, I felt the same way about you. I thought you were the cool one, though.”

Y/N snorted, nearly choking on her drink. “Me? Cool? Vernon, I fell in the lake trying to get a canoe off the dock on the first day.”

“Yeah, but you laughed about it,” Vernon said, his voice quiet but sure. “I think that’s when I realized you were different. Everyone else was always trying so hard, but you were just you.”

Y/N blinked at him, her chest tightening at his words. She tried to shake it off with a laugh, but the warmth in his eyes lingered in her mind. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing our moms embarrassed us that day. Otherwise, I might never have realized how awkward you are.”

“Awkward?” Vernon repeated, feigning offense. “I was charming. Admit it.”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “Sure, Vernon. Charming.”

As the bartender slid another round of drinks onto the counter, Vernon’s phone began vibrating relentlessly against the wood. He glanced down, and the screen lit up with a flood of notifications.

Group chat messages from Seungkwan, Yuqi, Hoshi, and even Mingyu piled in:

Seungkwan: Where the fucccck are you guys??? Party’s wrapping up, we’re trying to have a group thing before everyone bails.

Yuqi: HELLOOO? Did you two run off and elope or what?

Hoshi: I’m drinking your share of soju if you’re not here in 5 mins.

Mingyu: Vernon, seriously, Y/N okay? People are asking questions.

But what really made Vernon’s stomach drop was the series of pings from an account he recognized as the unofficial “drama page” for their school. The caption of the latest post read:

“Things got steamy at tonight’s party. Who saw the Mingyu/Y/N kiss? 👀🔥”

Below it, there were blurry pictures of the kiss, clearly snapped by someone from across the room, with comments already piling up. Some were playful, others speculative, but a few were outright vicious:

“Y/N really gets around, huh?”

“Mingyu’s so obvious; he’s been into her forever.”

“What does Seungcheol think about all this?”

Vernon locked his phone immediately, sliding it face down on the bar. His jaw tightened slightly as he glanced at Y/N, who was oblivious to the chaos brewing in her absence. She was staring at the neon signs hanging above the bar, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass absentmindedly.

“You okay?” she asked suddenly, catching his gaze.

Vernon’s lips parted for a second as if debating how to respond. Then he smiled, easy and calm. “Yeah, just Seungkwan and Yuqi being their usual dramatic selves.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, chuckling softly. “Let me guess. They’re yelling at us for disappearing?”

“Something like that,” he said, brushing it off casually. He didn’t want to risk her seeing those posts or the inevitable fallout they would bring. Tonight had been peaceful—he wasn’t going to let the drama ruin that.

“You want to head back?” Y/N asked, but there was a hesitance in her voice, like she wasn’t ready to dive back into the chaos just yet.

Vernon shook his head quickly, leaning forward on his elbows. “Nah. Let’s take our time. They’ll survive a little longer without us.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “You’re not worried about them hunting us down and forcefully dragging us back?”

“I mean, they might try,” Vernon said with a small grin. “But honestly? I’m kind of enjoying not dealing with all the noise for a bit. Aren’t you?”

Y/N smiled at that, tilting her head. “Yeah, I guess I am. It’s nice to just be, you know?”

“Exactly,” Vernon said, tapping his fingers on the table. He glanced at her half-empty drink and grinned. “Speaking of just being, I think you owe me an answer to my last question.”

“Oh, do I?” Y/N teased, raising her glass to her lips. “And what question would that be?”

“What you actually thought of my mom forcing you to take me as your date to the school dance,” Vernon said, steering the conversation back into lighter territory.

Y/N laughed, falling right into his distraction. As she began recounting yet another embarrassing story about their youthful days, Vernon felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He knew he couldn’t keep her insulated from the fallout forever, but for now, he could give her a little more time away from it all.

He picked up his phone again when she wasn’t looking, quickly typing a response to Seungkwan:

Vernon: We’re fine, just wanted to get away from the noise for a bit.

Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he turned his full attention to Y/N, letting her laughter pull him out of his thoughts. For now, this was enough.

As they walked back from the bar, the cold air nipping at their faces, Y/N tugged her jacket tighter around her, her hands buried deep in her pockets. Vernon glanced at her sideways, noticing how her steps slowed the closer they got to the apartment building.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his voice cutting through the quiet of the nearly empty street.

Y/N hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh. “I don’t think I want to go back yet.”

Vernon tilted his head, studying her carefully. “Because of the party or everything else?”

“Everything,” she admitted, kicking at a stray pebble on the sidewalk. “I just don’t feel like dealing with everyone’s questions or looks. You know how they all get. And with Mingyu, and Seungcheol, and probably half the party wondering what’s going on with me I just—” She cut herself off, shaking her head. “I don’t want to face it tonight.”

He nodded, his expression calm and understanding. “Fair enough. So, what do you want to do?”

Y/N blinked at him, unsure. “I don’t know? Maybe never go back. Not yet.”

Vernon gave her a small smile. “Alright. Then don’t.”

She looked at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he said, stopping and turning to face her, “if you don’t want to go back, you don’t have to. You could come to my apartment instead. We’ll hang out, chill, whatever you need to get your mind off things. No pressure.”

Y/N hesitated, glancing toward their building in the distance. The thought of walking back into a room full of friends and unresolved tension made her chest tighten. But Vernon’s suggestion sounded like a much-needed escape.

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice quiet.

“Yeah, of course,” he said with a shrug. “My couch is comfier than it looks, and I’ve got snacks. What more could you want?”

A laugh bubbled out of her, easing some of the tension in her chest. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, here we are,” Vernon replied with a grin. “So, what’s it gonna be?”

Y/N bit her lip, then nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”

They turned onto the path leading to his apartment building, the crisp night air filling the comfortable silence between them. But as they walked, Y/N’s phone vibrated in her pocket, the soft buzz breaking the momentary peace. She pulled it out, her brows furrowing when she saw the notifications.

One was from Mingyu: Mingyu: Hey, I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have kissed you like that, especially not in front of everyone. I didn’t mean to make things weird for you. I was just caught up in the moment. 

And the other was from Seungcheol: Seungcheol: You okay? You disappeared. Just checking in.

Y/N stared at the messages, her stomach twisting. She hadn’t even begun to process what Mingyu’s kiss meant, and Seungcheol reaching out only added to the tangled mess of emotions swirling in her chest.

“Everything okay?” Vernon asked, noticing the shift in her expression.

She blinked, quickly locking her phone and shoving it back into her pocket. “It’s nothing. Just people checking in.”

Vernon gave her a knowing look but didn’t press. Instead, he smiled softly and said, “Leave it for now. Let’s unplug for the rest of the night. You can deal with them tomorrow.”

Y/N hesitated, her fingers twitching toward her pocket, but eventually, she nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

By the time they reached Vernon’s apartment, the tension in her shoulders had eased slightly. He unlocked the door, gesturing for her to step inside, and she was instantly greeted by the warmth of the space.

“Make yourself at home,” Vernon said, tossing his keys onto the counter. “Want a drink? Tea? Water?”

“Tea sounds nice,” Y/N said, sinking onto the couch.

As Vernon busied himself in the kitchen, Y/N pulled out her phone again, rereading Mingyu’s and Seungcheol’s messages. She didn’t reply, but the weight of them lingered in the back of her mind.

“Here you go,” Vernon said, setting a mug of tea in front of her.

“Thanks,” she murmured, wrapping her hands around the warm cup.

He sat down beside her, glancing at her carefully. “You know, you don’t have to figure it all out tonight. For now, just be here.”

Y/N looked at him, the sincerity in his eyes grounding her in a way she hadn’t expected. “Thanks, Vern. For this. For everything.”

“Anytime,” he said with a small smile.

And for the first time that night, Y/N let herself relax, knowing that at least for the moment, she didn’t have to face the chaos waiting for her outside.

As the night stretched on, Vernon stood up from the couch, stretching his arms with a quiet groan. Y/N was curled up on the other side, her legs tucked beneath her as she stared at the television with no real thoughts. She looked up when she noticed him moving, her eyes flickering to the clock on the wall.

“It’s late,” Vernon said softly, glancing at her. “You should get some sleep.”

“Yeah, probably,” Y/N agreed, setting her phone down.

He motioned toward his room. “You take my bed. I’ll sleep out here.”

Y/N frowned immediately, leaning forward. “Vern, come on. You don’t have to do that.”

“You’re my guest,” he said with a playful shrug. “I’m not gonna let you sleep on the couch. That’s, like, hospitality 101.”

“And where’s the part where you’re supposed to let me argue about it?” she teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Not in this house.” He smirked, leaning against the armrest of the couch.

She rolled her eyes but stood, tucking her phone into her pocket. As she moved toward the door to his room, she hesitated, glancing back at him.

“Hey,” she said, her voice softer now.

“Yeah?”

“Would it be weird to ask, or like would you mind if we just, like, shared the bed?” she asked, her tone careful but casual. “You know, like when we were kids and we’d end up squished together in bunk beds on family vacations.”

Vernon blinked, surprised by her suggestion. “Are you sure?”

Y/N shrugged, though there was a slight blush creeping up her neck. “Yeah. I mean,I don’t really feel like being alone tonight.”

His lips curved into a small smile, and he nodded. “Okay. If it makes you feel better, I don’t mind.”

They walked into his room together, the faint warmth of his space instantly wrapping around them. Y/N slipped off her jacket and kicked off her socks, climbing into his bed like it was the most natural thing in the world. Vernon followed, staying on his side as he adjusted the pillow behind his head.

“It’s a little comfier than I remember,” Y/N said, settling in.

“Well, you’re not eight years old anymore, so you probably fit better now,” Vernon teased, earning a soft laugh from her.

“True,” she admitted, turning onto her side to face him. “But you still hog all the space.”

“Not my fault you’re tiny,” he countered, grinning.

Y/N smirked, nudging his arm lightly. “I’m not tiny. You’re just a giant.”

They fell into an easy rhythm of light banter, the tension of the evening slowly melting away. As the quiet of the room settled in, Vernon glanced over at her, her profile illuminated faintly by the streetlights outside the window.

“Feel better?” he asked softly.

Y/N nodded, her voice almost a whisper. “Yes. I finally do.”

“Good,” he murmured.

For a moment, neither of them said anything, the quiet between them comfortable and familiar. And just like when they were kids, it didn’t take long for the weight of the day to fade as they drifted into sleep side by side, the unspoken closeness of their friendship grounding them both.

The morning sunlight cut through the curtains sharply, pulling Y/N from a restless sleep. She blinked, momentarily disoriented, before realizing she was still in Vernon’s bed. He lay beside her, sprawled out on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, the other resting on his chest. The calm rise and fall of his breathing contrasted with the chaos that greeted her when she reached for her phone.

The screen lit up, and her heart immediately sank. Notifications were flooding in from every app.

Her group chat with Yuqi, Seungkwan, and Hoshi was ablaze:

Yuqi: Y/N, what the actual hell? WHERE ARE YOU?

Seungkwan: You left us in the middle of a disaster. Mingyu and Seungcheol almost fucking killed each other after you bailed.

Hoshi: They started yelling after you and Vernon left. WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?!

Yuqi: You and Vernon left together, didn’t you? People are talking. A LOT. Like, literally even our phones are blowing up about it.

Seungkwan: This whole thing is a fucking mess. Please tell me you’re okay and not caught up in it.

Y/N sighed heavily, scrolling past their messages to her notifications from Instagram and Twitter. The drama pages were out of control. Pictures and videos from the party had gone viral overnight.

One blurry photo showed Mingyu leaning in to kiss her during the game. The caption read: Did anyone else totally not see this coming? Or am I just an idiot?

Another post showed Seungcheol and Mingyu standing off later in the evening, their tension palpable. What’s going on here? Battle for the heart? 👀

And then there were the posts about her and Vernon:

A grainy video of them leaving the bar together was captioned: Forget Mingyu and Seungcheol—Y/N left with Vernon?? Plot twist of the century. We should all start placing bets on it.

There were also speculative tweets:

Y/N really upgraded from that mess to Vernon? Honestly, good for her. Seungcheol’s brooding and Mingyu’s impulsive, but Vernon? Stable king. I’m rooting for this one. Is it just me, or does Y/N seem to have all three wrapped around her finger? Good for her. 

Her phone buzzed with new texts.

Mingyu: Y/N, I’m so sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have kissed you. Please just let me explain.

Seungcheol: Are you okay? Please talk to me. I need to know you’re alright.

She groaned, her thumb hovering over the lock screen. It was too much—too many opinions, too many assumptions, and too many emotions she didn’t know how to process.

“Morning,” came Vernon’s groggy voice, pulling her attention. She turned to see him rubbing his eyes, his hair even messier than the night before. He yawned, then looked at her with a small, sleepy smile.

“Morning,” she said, trying to sound normal, but her voice cracked under the weight of everything on her mind.

He noticed her tense posture and the way her phone screen was lighting up non-stop. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice low but concerned.

She hesitated before handing him her phone. He scrolled through the messages and posts, his jaw tightening slightly.

“Well,” he said dryly, “this is a disaster.”

“You think?” she muttered, running a hand through her hair. “ I don’t know how to deal with this right now.”

Vernon set her phone down and looked at her seriously. “You don’t have to deal with it, not yet. Let them talk. Let them speculate. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”

“I don’t even know what I’d say,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mingyu kissed me, Seungcheol’s mad, and now apparently the entire world thinks we’re a thing. I guess they got into a fight? Like what the fuck. Maybe parties are a bad idea like my Grandma always said.”

Vernon smirked slightly, leaning back against the headboard. “To be fair, we domake a pretty good team.”

His attempt at humor made her crack a small smile, even as her chest tightened with stress. “Yeah, but that’s not what this is, and you know it.”

“Yeah, I know,” he said softly. “But seriously, Y/N, ignore this shit. You don’t have to face this mess until you’re ready.”

Y/N nodded, though the knots in her stomach didn’t ease. “I feel like I owe you one.”

“Always, but no pressure. I don’t plan on getting into any trouble.” he said with a reassuring smile.

The sunlight spilled across the bed, the warmth of his presence grounding her amidst the chaos. But even as she tried to push the drama to the back of her mind, the thought of returning to the fallout lingered like a storm on the horizon.

note: hi!! a litttle bonus chapter to give u before i upload the next party probably tomorrow?? or this weekend :) just a taste of what the party was like and what happened and what y/n is going thru next (rip my girls mental health fr.)

taglist: @minhui896@sun-daddy-yoriichi@luchiet@miles-sketchbook@kissesfrmwonwoo@readerlozies@vcutparis@mxnhoeuwu@writingbarnes@headlockimnida@odxrilove@jeonghaniehaee@bath1lda @wonwootakemyheart @dokyomis@hanniesdegree @blvkkeddcc@gyuguys@rakshithanotrao @multiplumes @jihoonsbbygirl

[fizzyapplecandy]

The Nerd in the Washroom

Ateez Seonghwa x Female Reader imagine

Genre: neighbours to lovers, classmates to lovers, slight fluff, smut, oral (f & m), lovely Seonghwa has a crush

Word count: 16k (I got way into it) (Not proofread, editing on the way)

Ever since you've moved to Korea to study at university, you've been curious about your neighbour Seonghwa. You know him as the nerdy guy on campus who has a Lego Star Wars themed backpack, big glasses, and a new fluffy sweater for every day of the week.

Others might find him boring, but you found him intriguing. You couldn't help but think there was something more to him than his nerdy looks.

You were certainly proven right while bumping into him in the laundry room of your complex - chest muscles on display, and an obvious huge bulge in his grey sweatpants.

.

.

.

"Oh my God, here he goes again. I wonder if you can catch his nerdiness in the air?"

She scoffed and continued to snicker with the boys behind her. Their target - Park Seonghwa.

"I think you're being a tad dramatic Jiun."

His appearance never bothered me, so I didn't engage in their gossip. Maybe it's because I never shared the same opinion as them. Jiun is my friend, and if it weren't for her I'd be stuck in a corner without friends. That didn't mean I shared all of her opinions.

"Don't you think you've talked about him enough? Jesus, he's just a guy. Besides, I've seen him around my building, he seems pretty normal."

The silence that followed my statement was ice cold. I could practically feel Jiun's stare.

"Y/N, sweetie, are you okay? Do you have a fever? Here, let me check, because what you're talking about is disturbing."

I slapped her hand away as she came for my forehead. Did I mention she could be a bit pushy?

"I'm fine. I just don't get why you would bother to talk about him so much. It kind of gives "middle school" vibes " I grabbed my pen and started taking down some notes. I was done with their nonesense.

"Woah, it seems like somebody has a crush on the nerd. Didn't think you went for that type of guy Y/N."

I scoffed and tuned out their snickering. Me? Having a crush on Seonghwa? No way. I just felt bad about the way they were talking about him. They didn't even know the guy. And hey, he may be a super nerd, and he may carry around a Star Wars backpack, but... Yeah, well that didn't make his case better.

I looked at him, sitting in the front row. He jutted something in his notebook before highlighting it with a pink pen. He seemed satisfied with it, a small smile gracing his features. He looked... Pretty.

Before I got list in my thoughts, the professor came in. Time to face reality.

Ironically, we lived in the same off-campus building. I've seen him around, wearing his pink sweatshirts, white headphones on his head. He always smelled nice, like a flower field. Made me question what kind of detergent he used. We never spoke, but he always nodded politely when we crossed paths.

.

.

.

"I've got to stop piling up laundry."

In my defense, I am a full time university student, with a part time online job. I don't exactly have time for laundry. Not to mention I don't even have a washing machine in my apartment. I would have to go three flights of stairs down to the basment, where our laundry room was located. It was old, a bit run down, but hey, it got the job done.

With a huff, I picked up my basket and made my way down. It was getting hotter as the days went by. We were approaching July, and my usual home wardrobe consisted of pyjama shorts and a white tank top. I left my bra in my bedroom, beacuse I haven't seen anybody use the old washroom besides myself. Occasionally, Seonghwa, but we've never been down there at the same time.

"Jesus, my arms hurt."

I opened the door with my butt, having my hands full. As I Iifted the basket I couldn't see a thing in front of me.

And as I finally put it down, I was in for a surprise.

There, with his eyes wide, pants low on his hips, pecks on full display stood none other that Seonghwa.

My expression became a mirror of his own, eyes wide and mouth open. I made the grave mistake of glancing down. Right at the surprisingly massive buldge in his gray sweats.

Holy shit.

Who knew nerdy boy was like Hercules underneath all of the pink fluff.

Before I could help myself, I gasped.

"Oh my... Sorry. I..."

He grabbed a shirt from his (surprise) pink basket, putting it in front of his chest.

"No! I mean... I'm sorry? I don't know, oh god."

"You're... Wow" What? Come on Y/N, get it together.

"I'm...? Thanks? I guess."

My eyes grew wider, flapping my hands around.

"No, no, no. I didn't mean it like that! Well, kind of, but... Did I? I don't know."

Seonghwa's ears and cheeks turned red and he flicked his own forehead.

"Of course you didn't mean it like that. Sorry, you caught me off guard." He smiled bashfully, looking at the ground now.

"Talk about catching people off guard. Dude, you're ripped."

My amazed expression could not be kept at bay. Boy, oh boy, I could feel myself getting hotter by the second.

" I wouldn't say that, but... Thanks, I guess?" Seonghwa smiled, this time looking at me. Or specificly, my tits.

I guess going without a bra has its benefits.

"Seen something you like?" I teased, putting my hands behind my back, jutting out my chest.

"Well... I... I have to say, I've never seen someone as hot as you, so..."

I hid my surprise behind a smile. Was he trying to flirt with me?

"I think you should come closer to take a better look."

I honestly thought this would be the moment he backed off, but again, he managed to exceed my expectations.

Without a word, he put down the shirt in his hands, walking over slowly. He stopped a foot away from me, his eyes locked onto mine. I had to strain my neck to look up at him. He was tall, and I liked that.

"Now that I'm up close, I can definitely say it. I've never seen someone as hot as you, Y/N."

I took another small step towards him, almost making our chests touch. His breathing was shallow, and I knew he was trying to keep his cool.

"Tell me, Seonghwa... Are the fluffy jumpers and nerdy backpacks only a cover-up? Why are you hiding this delicious body from the world? Hm?"

I slowly placed my index finger on his chest, bringing it down his stomach, only stopping when I heard his sharp inhale. His muscles contracted, and you could count his abs perfectly.

"Well, I... It's easier this way, I suppose. I don't particularly like attention."

I nodded. "Ah... A bit shy, are you? It doesn't seem like it to me. But I could be wrong."

"I am shy. You're just too pretty, and I like pretty things. I guess I also have a bit of a crush on you. It's stupid, I know. You'd never be with someone like me, but it's wishful thinking."

A crush? On me? I guess my dumfounded expression wasn't as well managed, because Seonghwa giggled a bit.

"How on Earth could I have known that? You never even speak to me. And, hey! Give yourself some credit! You're like, super smart, and you're handsome. It's quite ridiculous how good looking you are. Even with that backpack of yours."

"Which one, the Lego or Star Wars?"

I laughed out loud this time, patting him on the chest.

"You're funny. So, what do you want to do to me? I have to say, I am more than open to prove you wrong about your 'wishful thinking' if you want."

I could feel his heartbeat under my palm, and it seemed to pick up with my question. He gulped before opening his mouth, closing it, and opening it again. He seemed at a loss for words.

"I... I never thought I'd get this far, to be honest. But, God... The things I'd do to you...

Before I could tease him again, his lips were on mine.

I don't know if someone has ever kissed me with such passion. His hands were all over me - first my hair, my throat, my arms... He settled them over my hips and pulled me towards him. I couldn't help myself eather. My arms went around his broad shoulders. Our kiss grew urgent, and the hair grew heavier with each sigh of pleasure we left out.

His tongue prodded into my mouth, caressing mine. I don't know who pulled away first, but thank god, because I needed some air. And I needed to do something else.

I looked into his eyes as I dropped to my knees. My head was perfectly aligned with his impressive buldge. He was a bit taken aback, lips red and puffy, eyes wide.

"You don't have to do that, you know. I am perfectly content kissing the shit out of you for, like, forever."

"Seonghwa?" "Yes?" "Shut up and drop your pants."

"Yes ma'am."

With that, he pulled down his sweats, and surprise surprise, there were little starships and baby Yodas printed on his boxers.

"Please, for the love of everything sacred, and my pride, do not say anything about it now."

I pretended to zip my mouth shut, grabbing at his boxers to get them out of my way. I was a woman on a mission.

His cock was as pretty as the rest of him. Big, with a pink tip. I slowly carresed the head, making it pulse in the air. Seonghwa left out a breathy moan, putting his hand on my head. He didn't urge me, he simply slipped my hair though his fingers.

"I've never seen such a pretty cock before. It matches you perfectly."

I gripped him tighter, making him moan a bit louder this time.

"Thanks... I... Oh god."

He couldn't finish his sentence because I took the chance to lick his cock from his balls to his head. My lips wrapped around the pink bulb and I sucked at it like it was a lolly.

His hand soon fisted my hair, pulling a bit tighter every time I lowered my head some more. Soon enough, with a bit of a struggle, I took all of his glory into my mouth. There was droll everywhere, but I didn't care. Neither did he, judging by his moans.

"Oh my... I knew you'd be good at this... Look at you, drolling all over me. I think you can take it a little rougher, am I right?"

With that, he thrusted his hips up, and his cock hit the back of my throat. I gagged, but I wasn't about to give up. I relaxed my muscles and began bobbing up and down, going faster when I felt his first tightening in my hair.

"That's it... What a good girl... Just like that..."

His words only made me speed up, encouraging me to finish him off. It seemed like he had other plans, because I was pushed off his cock and up on my feet in seconds.

"Sorry doll, but I don't want to cum unless it's in you."

He picked me up and sat me on one of the washing machines. It creeked with my weight on it, and we chuckled before sharing another kiss. This time it was slower, more passionate.

"Do you know how pretty you are right now? With your lips all pink and glossy... I could kiss you all day long. I could also keep your mouth on my cock forever... You're too good at it."

I spread my legs to let him get closer. My shorts were soaked, and he could feel it.

"Thanks babe, I was trying to impress you."

"Oh doll, you did a fantastic job. Let me show you what I can do now."

Without another word, he crouched down. His hands went up my legs, caressing them on the way up. His touch was soft, feather like. Until he got to my sleep shorts, and almost ripped them off me.

"Impatient, are we?"

He chuckled. "You have no idea doll."

Seonghwa was a bit surprised with my lack of panties, but he was also glad. One less layer to take care off.

He slowly parted my pussy lips, eyes focused on my wetness.

"Good god... I could look at you all day."

"Seonghwa, please, look at it all you want another time. I'm gonna bust up here."

He let out a laugh, nodding his head.

"I'm gonna hold onto that promise."

I didn't get to reply because he went right in on my clit. His tongue was doing wonders, going up and down, left to right, keeping a steady pace. He sucked on my little nub, watching me carefully.

"You taste so sweet doll. I knew you would. I could stay here forever."

"I won't complain if you do."

He chuckled and went right back at it. I can't remember the last time someone was this devoted to eating me out. Probably never.

His fingers prodded at my entrance, slowly punching one inside. His tongue kept going over my clit, making me shake.

"Keep going baby, I'm so close..."

My words only encouraged him to go faster, more eager. His finger reached my sweet spot, pushing against the gummy walls. I could feel my orgasm coming. It took a sharp suck on my little nub, and I was out.

"Yes! Oh my! Oh Seonghwa..."

My moans soon turned into little cries, the overstimulation making me more sensitive. It seemed like he wasn't going to stop, so I had to push his head away.

He came up and kissed me roughly, grabbing my boobs and squeezing.

"Sorry doll, got a bit lost. You have the sweetest pussy..."

"I think it's time you use those hips now, don't you agree?"

"You are absolutely right. What a smart girl you are."

I giggled and put my legs around his hips, pulling him into me. He understood my intentions, pushing his pants all the way down. He stroked his cock a few times before slowly pushing it in.

We both let out a sigh after he was fully inside.

"My god doll, you're so tight. You suck me right it. I think we were made for this, you know?"

I nodded and put my hands around his neck. Our foreheads touched, and we gazed into each others eyes. I slowly nodded, and he started thrusting into me.

His pace was slow at first, almost as if he was soaking it all in. His hands grabbed my ass, squeezing every time his cock plunged into my pussy.

"Y/N, doll... We have to do this every day, you know? It's the only logical option."

I smiled, kissing him again.

"Yeah, you think so? I have to say...Ah... I agree."

He speed up, moaning loudly while I clenched around him. It was difficult to keep my hands at bay, so I caressed his chest and shoulders. His broad, sexy shoulders. Without much thought, I sank my teeth into his neck, trailing bites down to his shoulder.

Seonghwa gasped, squeezing me even more.

"Do that again doll. Do it harder."

I listened, putting my head on the opposite side, doing the same thing. I was a bit rougher now, leaving deep teeth marks.

"You're mine now, I left my mark." I was only half joking, but it seemed to make him even more eager in his movements.

"I'm yours. I'm yours, however you want me."

I squeezed his cock again, tightening my walls while he pushed them even deeper inside me. I could feel my orgasm approaching again, and I could tell Seonghwa was hanging by a thread.

"I'm close doll, your pussy is just so good... Come on, you've got to cum with me. I need to feel your pussy pulsating around me."

"I'm close, I'm so close. Please, please..."

He put his fingers on my clit, rubbing fast circles, making me clench even more.

"Cum for me Y/N."

With his whispered words, my orgasm crashed through me like a truck. Seonghwa was seconds behind, groaning in pleasure. I could feel his cum painting my walls, milking his cock until he started shaking.

We hugged, our breaths laboured as we got down from our highs. He took a deep breath, running his fingers through my locks.

"That was..."

"Yeah..."

"We should totally..."

"Yeah..."

He chuckled at my lack of articulate responses. I was in no shape to form a sentence.

He slowly pulled out of me, watching as his cum dripped onto the old washing machine.

"We made a mess doll."

"Yeah, well, I don't care honestly. That was just wow. "

Seonghwa grabbed my shorts, pulling them up my legs before helping me get off. My legs were shaking, so I leaned into him. He hugged me close, kissing the top of my head.

"Do you think you'd be up for a date maybe? I mean, only if you want to. If you don't that's okay, I get it. I am a bit of a nerd after all."

"Yes."

"I get it, I am reasona - Yes?"

"Yes, I'll go on a date with you. But only if you let me wear that cute pink sweater of yours."

"Well now that wouldn't be practical, would it?"

"You can wear all of my sweaters if you want."

.

.

.

"Did you see the residential nerd this morning? He's got a new backpack. And guess what? It's pink!"

"Hey isn't that Y/N?"

"What?"

Jiun turned around and locked eyes with me, and my newly acquired boyfriend. Seonghwa took me on a date this weekend, and we bought matching baby pink backpacks. Way to introduce us as a couple, am I right?

I waved at my friends, motioning to the seat next to Seonghwa's, basically telling them I'm moving.

"Not at all big boy, not at all..."

Jiun was a bit stunned, but the smile she gave me was genuine. Seonghwa glanced at me, interlocking our pinkies.

"You don't mind sitting with the nerd now?"

[livefromthedas]

Surviving Purely Out Of Spite

By ClickClickBoom

(Also here on AAO3.)

Chapter 8: Making it Weird in Rivain and Talons in Treviso

“Lucanis, duck!” Shouted Taash.

The battlefield ran red, buzzing with a swarm of furious Deep Stalkers, but the assassin, as ever, was incredibly fast on his feet. Lucanis dropped back within seconds of an enormous chunk of granite whizzing by his right ear. It immediately lodged into the skull of another rampaging beast.

“Nice one, Taash!” Dellamorte hollered with a fierce grin.

“Pack leader on your left!” Yelled Rook over the din.

Spite’s wings erupted from Lucanis’s back and he launched skyward at an impossible speed. Within seconds he had landed on the muscle-bound beast, a dagger lodged into its skull. Even dying, the furious creature lurched and bucked, desperate to get free of its attacker. Lucanis hung on like a champ, and a second dagger to the eye sent the beast clamoring to the sand in a heap.

Rook fried a trio of the creatures in succession with bombastic bolts of lightening. They too crumpled to the sand, sizzling with smoke.

Seconds later, Taash gored the final two beasts with their gleaming golden axes, one in the head, the other splayed fully across the gut.

The battlefield had fallen silent. Rook and Lucanis both wavered where they stood, panting from exertion and sweating buckets beneath the scorching Rivaini sun. They’d been traipsing around the coast since well before sunrise, and at barely past 9, the day was already becoming a scorcher.

“How on Maferath’s left nut does anyone manage to run into a horde of deepstalkers within twenty minutes of chasing off a dragon?” Rook joked between pants. They had barely caught their breath after helping a couple of Isabela’s Lords of Fortune flush a lightning-belching Northern Hunter from one of their more frequently traversed caves when an ambush of three Deepstalkers quickly became many times the problem, “I am really starting to think one of us is cursed.”

“…Was that a demon joke?” Lucanis deadpanned, “That was a demon joke.”

Rook quirked an eyebrow and snickered, “Good? Bad?”

“Workshop it.”

“Uuugh,” Taash complained. Their Qunari friend waded through nearly two dozen bodies to retrieve a sword, “is it just me, or have these damn things gotten juicier lately?”

It was a fair question, given the state of them all. The beach was riddled with deepstalker corpses and soaked through with blood. Taash, Rook and Lucanis hadn’t faired much better - Rook was quite sure blood had soaked through every layer of clothing she had on… it was deeply unpleasant.

“It’s the numbers,” Lucanis assessed, trying and failing to wipe a dagger clean on his thigh - his pants were just as bloody as the blade, “You cut open anything in numbers greater than three, you are going to have one hell of a mess.”

“Well, it’s gross. This is gross,” Taash grumbled.

“Death is gross,” Rook noted. She squint against the sweat in her eyes, “But, I mean, aren’t dragons super bloody to kill? I’d think you’d be used to this kind of mess.”

“Yeah, but it makes sense in an animal that big,” said Taash.

Lucanis had given up on his daggers and worked to peel off sticky, sodden gloves instead, “Universal rule - Generally speaking, most bodies are the same. All are basically just bags of water and farts.”

An unseemly snort escaped Rook - a sign of success, judging by the Crow’s grin.

Taash, meanwhile, balked, “Aaugh! That’s worse! You just made it worse!”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Oh my god, seriously though?” Rook’s attention was quickly pulled to the fact that her hair - waist length and curly as it was - was also matted with blood. She could feel it sticking to her back through her clothes, “I don’t think I can make it all the way back to the Lighthouse like this.”

“See?” Taash insisted to Lucanis, jabbing a finger at Rook, “Exactly!”

The assassin looked unphased.

“In which case,” Rook pressed, “Two questions. One, is that river nearby decent freshwater?”

Taash shrugged, “Technically, they all should be. They’re all coming in from the mountains.”

“Good, then two,” Rook bumbled a bit, trying to pull a boot from her foot a sickening squelch, “Think you can handle a couple of naked human asses while we try and get some of this mess washed off?”

Taash laughed, “Yeah, whatever. Doesn’t bother me any.”

It was a surprisingly time-consuming affair. Every scrap of clothing, and every weapon (which, by Rook’s count, hit nearly 15 between Taash and Lucanis alone. So many knives!) had to be soaked or scrubbed through.

An hour later, accoutrements of all sorts were splayed across granite boulders, baking beneath the sun. Taash ducked back beneath the roaring waterfall just up the way, making sure they were free of any more errant bits of deepstalker.

Rook, meanwhile, sat chest-deep in the river’s frigid crystal waters. She leaned back, thoroughly relaxed, as Lucanis helped gingerly work the carnage from her hair.

“You nearly took an entire deepstalker home with you,” he teased.

“Can’t have that,” said Rook, cracking one eye open against the sun to watch the Crow’s endearing concentration over the task, “Between Assan, Manfred and Spite, I’m pretty sure we’re full up on chaotic tag-alongs.”

Lucanis’s eyebrows rose humorously, “No doubt… Ah,” he managed to detangle one last fleshy bit of something, before nodding, “There. About as good as we’re getting without a decent soap.”

Rook dunked back beneath the chilly currents, quick to re-emerge with a sputter, “Shit this is cold!”

Lucanis, meanwhile, float back to submerge up to his collarbone and was eyeballing her with a chuckle.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he teased.

“I’ve got that whole ‘kinda looks like a drowning rat’ thing going on, don’t I?” Rook joked knowingly.

Her curls had run straight under the water’s weight, and a usually full, bold head of hair ran lank and incredibly long. She was familiar with the effect - it always looked absurd.

The Crow threw up two hands in a mock defense, “Your words, not mine.”

“Uh-huh.”

Lucanis quickly found himself dodging splashes and trying to catch the hands that launched them his way, cracking up the whole while.

“Heeeyy,” they only calmed down when Taash’s voice sounded from closer nearby, “You two leaving enough room for the Maker over there?”

“Oh, I have not heard that one in a long while,” the assassin laughed.

“How we doing with the drying?” Rook asked.

Taash had waded over to everyone’s gear, giving their own tunic a good shake, “Eh. I think half of Lucanis’s leather’s gonna need overnight and some conditioning. The rest? Wet, but good enough.”

“Good enough means lunch soon. And I am starving,” Lucanis replied.

Rook was already making her way for their gear… smartly out of reach of the Crow before turning back to tease, “Yeah, vehnan. Come on out, let’s see just how cold that water really is.”

“Making it weird,” warned Taash.

Lucanis, meanwhile, half-scolded, half chuckled, “Ohh-ho …Rook.”

He tore after the elf, grinning after her ridiculous squeal and laughter, just as Spite chimed in, “NICE one. Rook!”

———————-

They were still tracking drops of water onto the stone floor as they arrived home through the Vi’Revas. Rook suddenly found herself shivering. After hours boiling on the coast, the Lighthouse’s cool underbelly felt frigid.

“Chioccolata Calda?” Lucanis offered at the sound of Rook’s chattering teeth.

“Oh yes please.”

Boots squelched wetly the entire way up the stairs.

“Did Rook take another surprise trip to the bottom of a lake?” Neve mused from her perch on the Library’s couch at her teammates’ soggy appearances.

Taash snickered, continuing their damp trek to the second floor.

“Oh, come on,” said Rook, “A gal falls into a lake once—“

“Thrice,” Lucanis correctly playfully, “We really do need to teach you how to swim.”

“If we could ever find the time,” Neve mused from over her quill and a fat stack of notes. She then looked up, adding seriously, “Your baby Crow is in the Dining Hall, Lucanis. Apparently, whatever news he has was too important to write down.”

Lucanis went shock-serious. He spared Rook a glance, before quickly making for the door.

———————

“Ser!”

Valentín scrambled to stand from a casual slump at the Dining Hall table the moment he realized just who, exactly, had entered the room. At just the right age where long legs and big ears hadn’t quite caught up with the rest of his growth, the teenager somehow looked even more reedy than usual. Quickly adding to that was the look of genuine nerves that seemed to have struck ramrod up his spine at being found slouching by one of the heads of his house.

“What do you have?” Lucanis bit coolly.

“Movement from the Talons,” said Valentín, “All of them. The staff… houses De Riva and Cantori… Treviso Crows only just found out this morning as they started to arrive.”

The boy blanched, looking a bit baffled as Rook walked right up to him. She had placed hands upon his cheeks and was giving him the hairy eyeball.

“Baby, you look exhausted,” she noted warmly, “How long have you been here?”

“I…” he squirmed, casting a cautious glance at Lucanis.

The senior Dellamorte sighed as he watched the little woman fuss over details that he had brushed past entirely. The knot in his brow unfurled a bit as he thought better of himself.

“Sit. There is nothing that need be said that cannot be done over food.”

Before long, a solid spread of meats, bread, cheeses and fruit sat before the boy, and he was quick to dive in. Rook beamed at the steaming mug of chocolate that Lucanis placed before her before taking a seat of his own with his coffee.

“According to Viago, the third Talon said he received an invitation weeks ago,” the boy continued unprompted, “It seems much the same for the others. And all sworn to secrecy about the meet. The Villa has been scrambling - Food, preparations. We’ve a dozen extra security from Teia and Viago alone… and for some reason, the entire staff has been forbidden from the east wing. Tia Alma has been furious.”

Lucanis managed a chuckle at that, for all of his pensiveness otherwise, and it was little wonder why. He had regaled Rook of more than a few stories of Tia Alma. The shrewd, matronly little woman had overseen the entire staff of Villa Dellamorte for as long as Lucanis could remember, and she was nothing if not incredibly skilled at ruling that particular roost when Caterina was busy with business as First Talon. She was also, apparently, an exceptional cook. The one area she and young Lucanis had bonded most over was food, and over the years she had taught the boy everything she knew on the subject.

“Illario and half truths are to be expected,” Lucanis noted, “Though I suspect Viago and Teia are less than pleased about discovering the inventions second-hand.”

“However mad Alma may be,” Valentín agreed sheepishly from past a healthy bite of ham, “They are much worse. Especially Teia.”

“Si,” Lucanis mused evenly, before cutting to the chase, “But you are burying the lead.”

“Aye, siento,” the boy winced and was quick to explain, “It’s bad, ser. Illario has everyone expected to gather in the Opera House by dusk. To discuss his succession as First Talon.”

Rook froze, mid-gulp, and watched over the lip of her mug as the color completely drained from Lucanis’s face. His temples twitched as he bit down hard, and she swore she caught a flash of violet light in his eyes. She carefully placed her cup back on the table. Valentín, meanwhile, kept his gaze fixed silently upon his food. Both Rook and the boy, it seemed, knew Lucanis quite well enough to gather when he was genuinely, deeply irate, but doing his damnedest to mask it.

“Forgive me,” he said quietly as he stood, “A moment.”

Rook and Valentín watched in silence as the senior Crow strode for the pantry and shoved his way inside.

“You’ve got a shit job, kid,” Rook whispered apologetically to the boy, a hand patting his forearm.

Valentín watched the open doorway for a moment, clearly trying to gage his own safety, before a sad little smirk crossed his face.

“Believe it or not,” he mused quietly, “I have had worse.”

Rook tittered a chuckle of her own, “From what that one has told me of his own training, I believe i—“

There was a violent flash of purple light and a plume of unctuous black smoke from the pantry door. Rook scrambled to catch Valentín by the sleeve of his coat as he leaped to his feet in a panic.

“Nonono,” Rook whispered quickly. She was glad the kid was smart enough to listen, less he make an already tense situation much worse, “Sit. You focus on your food, I’ll…” she had stood up as the teenager reclaimed his chair, still unable to tear his wide, worried eyes from the door.

“But it…”

“Eat, sweetheart,” She said, patting a hand upon a scrawny shoulder as she rounded the table, “I’ve got it.”

…She hoped. Rook strode cautiously for the open doorway, the scent of ozone and sulfur tickling her nose the closer she came to the room.

“Lucanis? Are you…?”

She blinked owlishly for a moment, trying to gauge what she was seeing upon stepping inside.

Violent streaks of char and ash streaked the walls, fanning out from center in vicious tendrils. But not just streaks - the singe of two white-hot, furious wings - at the center of which, sat huddled upon the floor, was Lucanis.

“Oh, Vehnan,” Rook whispered softly.

Lucanis sat, his knees pulled up nearly to his chest, elbows upon his knees. One hand laced into his hair, his eyes glassy with tears.

Rook doubled back, and quietly shut the door - Privacy between them and the stressed out teenager at the table.

She sat right down with him then, face to face, a gentle hand brushing his cheek. He couldn’t make eye contact at first, thoughts trapped in a painful, grief-stricken spiral. The moment he blinked tears, Rook pulled him into a tight hug, “I’m so sorry, Vehnan. There’s nothing about this that mustn’t hurt like hell.”

Wickedly tense shoulders relaxed just enough to wrap arms around her, pulling Rook as close as he could manage, anxious, furious trembling be damned. She held him quietly, breathing slow and even - breathing he struggled to ground himself to once again.

“How are we doing in there, Spite?”

“Hurts,” was all the demon could manage.

It made sense, Rook thought. She knew from experience that few emotions stole words from tongues more completely than the sting of betrayal.

Lucanis closed his eyes against fingernails that brushed softly through his hair, hot tears warming the damp fabric at her shoulder where his face had hidden away. It was only once the Crow had managed a deep, shuttering sigh that she let him go - and even then, only enough to sit back against the wall, looking deeply miserable.

“I have to be ready for this, mi amor,” he said quietly, admitting, “I do not feel it.”

“Lucanis, I don’t know how anyone could,” Rook replied. “This… this is a lot. For anybody. But I also…” she mulled carefully over words, a hand rubbing idly over where his heart thrummed a war drum in his chest, “I cannot imagine anyone more capable. Or more brave. And who will absolutely not be doing this alone.”

He caught that hand, and pulled it to his lips, leaving a kiss upon the soft, delicate underside of her wrist, before holding it warmly back over his heart.

“Then… We deal with this tonight,” he agreed. He slowly wrestled back his calm with that small scrap of composure, one breath at a time, “The three of us.”

“We absolutely do.”

[allthedrugsforcreativity]

☆*:.｡. Do you think we’re rivials in every universe ? .｡.:*☆

[coddda]

I wish we could have met in some other way.

Lawlight Week Day 2: Soulmates

If you saw me repost and re-edit this several times uh No you didn't </3

Still frames/Individual gifs:

If you know what every frame is from you get a free cookie. by the way

[mispatchedgreens]

drift compatible bitches bc like knows like

[swagging-back-to]

worst trope is found family separating as soon as the antagonist is dealt with.

[the-red-hoodlum]

killing people who don’t get an animals consent before touching them &/or ignore when animals are visibly uncomfortable with being touched.

[son1c]

What would Sonic have done if Shadow stayed catatonic for a while ?

"for awhile" could mean anything. 5 minutes? 5 hours? 5 days??? regardless of how long it was, sonic wouldn't have just left him there on that tiny island all alone

[suffarustuffaru]

What If Julius and Subaru both met when Julius was a commoner and Subaru got transported Sooner

fun stuff im sure !! but haah okay given julius was a kid when he was a commoner - yeah theyre both kids here!! not sure how old but definitely somewhere before the age of ten. and i think theyd be up to some shenanigans together im sure!! theyre both very mischevious kids (or from what little we know of little kid julius, given iirc tappei hasnt specified just How Much of a "delinquent" little kid julius is okay. but hes definitely the type to sneak out past curfew or something. stay up late reading too, probably. that sort of thing). and also subarus a kid and no way he ISNT missing home poor guy T^TT getting ripped away from home like that is bad enough at seventeen, getting ripped away from home when you are like. no more than eight or something is Bad. but luckily!! im assuming subaru gets found by the juukuliuses (julius's parents probably?) and thats how julius and subaru form their friendship / long-term yearning for each other (if you so desire that) (okay but no way subaru ISNT gonna form long-term yearning for julius flajsdlf). but yes i think julius and subaru would be silly happy kids together and julius's parents would be like oh no this other kid is so lost where is he from :(( but hes so loved by julius already too... well we got another kid under our roof now.

except. julius's parents die in a flood. so i mean. Hypothetically.... either julisuba survive this one first try or subaru dies for the first time. which. ohh god. oh god. oh g -

[bueris]

okay maybe I should seriously reconsider my path in life and sell my soul to marketing or journalism instead

[morningmask27]

I do sometimes find it really annoying that most of the things I do right now are At Least tangentially related to a trauma I lived through.

I am living in a university dorm right now, it's a very typical thing to do, but most people return to their family home during the weekends and only really stay in the dorms because they have classes in the week and having to go from their home to the classes, especially the 9 am classes, can be heavy if they live somewhat further away. I stay in my dorm the entire week. For Reasons I don't want to go back to my old home for longer than half a day to drop my laundry and leave with clean clothes, some food and a chat with my mother. I wouldn't feel good doing so anymore, but mentioning that is weird because most people (except internationals because going to a full on other country just for the weekend, every weekend, would be a bit dumb) return to their home (My dorm feels more like home to me right now than my old house did btw).

When I say I stay in my dorm people are somewhat confused, as it on its own already implies that something must not be that good at the familial home for me to not go there for the weekends. By the simple fact I don't go back it's already implied there is something wrong, and it's true, there Is something wrong, but I can't just start explaining the whole thing, it's not really appropriate for most conversations, and I simply don't want to open up about this part of my traumas. So I just have to quickly and very blatantly brush off that fact and the unpleasant implications to continue the conversation without making it awkward and it's so annoying.

Most of my weird trauma responses at least have the added thing that if I don't verbalize them nobody will really notice. I am good at hiding them, I kinda had to, but this dorm situation is such a blatant sign of something Weird (and not the good kind) that I cannot hide since my actions on their own imply a situation already.

I am somewhat good at dealing with all of these issues, brushing off The Problems is a typical part of normal conversations, but it does get frustrating sometimes when I get severely affected by something traumatic, and it's The Only reason that my problem happened, but I cannot talk about it in casual conversations because of how heavy and intense it is. I have to vaguely mention The Horrors (They Are Complex) and move on before I make my conversation partner uncomfortable. It happened when I had to miss a class because of a severe relapse in my mental health, it happens every time I mention I stay in my dorm the weekends, it happens whenever I get too jittery and weird because of stress (I don't even always know Why I am stressed) and I just cannot explain anything about the cause because it's too heavy for most people to hear. (I do understand that fact, it makes sense you're not going to tell classmates casually about the horrific stuff you went through in your personal life, but it fucking gets annoying when it is fully related to a situation and I have to Shut The Fuck Up anyway.)

It's just frustrating to me that I have to deal with all these Weird Things because of trauma, and everyone sees them, but I cannot explain where they come from truthfully because of how much they are. It's in this weird middle state where people See I am weird hurt, but they don't Know why. I do things differently for reasons they can assume are unpleasant, but I cannot ever truly explain everything to them.

[theconfusedartist]

maybe this is weird (and I do promise I’m dropping the rest of the lore in a hour or so) but

in the rewrite, i always write Altaïr as seeing Desmond as:

Altaïr: this is my little brother, my son, my best friend, and annoying twin that makes all the reckless mistakes i already learned from. i love my boy, but damn if he doesn’t be doing some wild shit

wereas Desmond is like

Desmond: i love Altaïr! he’s my brother, my best friend, one of the few people who I’d happily consider my father, my face twin, and (did I already mention?) best friend! he makes a lot of mistakes, and we disagree about lots of stuff, but i’m so happy he’s in my life

Altaïr in permutation 17: this sucks. Des isn’t even here right now (hist time) and he can’t even hear me when I’m trying to talk to him (in modern time)

Desmond in permutation 17: this sucks. Altaïr isn’t even here right now (modern time) and I’m so fucking lonely !! !! !! now I’ve gotta die to turn on the eye and then what?! no one is coming back for me!! I don’t even know where Alex is, I’m just praying that I’ll survive after dying to get Elijah and keep him safe, but this shit sucks!

[thefleshyougoveggie]

cishets (and some queer ppl too…) think it’s an insult to say “you seem like you had a steven universe phase” and it’s like??? yes i did???

and i honestly don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

oh i’m so sorry for liking a cartoon with queer characters and positive messages

🙄🙄🙄