#yes these are the old Ero colors. what of it

[peapod20001]

So anyways.....he’s pink...

Fuckin uhhhhhh. Ass <3

[rainydayarcaneimagines]

One Last Night(Jayce x reader)

Warnings: SHIELD YOUR EYES FOR THE UNCOVERED ANKLES (smut. There is smut.)

It was all a shock. To land in an alternate reality where everything was fucked up. But it was an even bigger shock to him when he went to go back to his own and still ended up in the wrong reality.

There he was and everything was…

Great?

Life was almost a damn Utopia. What was crazier was Zaun and Piltover were put together and better functioning than his own damn reality. He walked the streets absolutely fucking baffled by what was happening before him. He heard tidbits and realized that in this reality his creation killed Vi, but was destroyed in the process.

From what he managed to understand, he had basically gone through his trial by getting his experiment confiscated. Even weirder, Jayce was successful in other ways but not… actually hextech.

It was beyond bizarre. Especially since… you were alive. No hextech meant no advanced weapons, no explosion, no explosion meant you were alive. Now he was fixated on finding you. If he was stuck there, he had to find you.

He had looked high and low.

And nothing.

Not a freaking sign. He sighed, sitting at a booth in a bar with his head in his hands when the gods seemed to finally answer his prayers.

“Can I get you anything sir?”

Jayce’s head snapped up and his eyes widened. You were fucking beautiful. Your hair was longer, dyed a vibrant color, just like you always said you wanted but weren’t ballsy enough to go through with it. Your eyes were brighter. You seemed happy.

“Y/n..” he breathed.

“Yeah that’s my name dude, don’t abuse it.” You chuckled.

“Jayce— it’s me Jayce.” He said staring at you. You squinted.

“Uh… do I know you man?” You asked confused. Oh fuck. No hextech meant you never got hired at the academy to be his assistant…

“Fuck uhm…” he sighed. You looked at him confused.

“You okay?” You asked. Your kindness was definitely still there.

“Uh… Shit I uhm.” He couldn’t form words. You were alive. The love of his fucking life was alive. But didn’t know who he was.

“…Need a drinking buddy?” You asked.

“…Yeah that uhm… Yes please.” He nodded.

“Vander! I’m taking my break!” You called out. Holy crap— Vander and Silco were alive?! And running a damn bar—“what’s got you so weirded out right now?” You asked.

“Why do you think I’m weirded out?” He muttered.

“Because you looked… bugged out, like you just took a fucking ice bath dude.” You shrugged. Glad to see your bluntness was still intact too.

Jayce smiled sadly before sighing. “I uhm… well I just… feel like a fish out of water.” He admitted.

“Why’s that?” You asked.

“…” did he risk sounding nuts, potentially causing you to freak the fuck out? Did he risk pushing you away from him? Fuck it. Things were still out of control in his reality, he needed to find a way back and there was someone he knew had a brilliant enough of a damn mind to make it work. “This is going to sound crazy but—“

He explained it all. From start to finish. You of course, stared at him like he was nuts. “Yeah but do you have proof dude, because right now you sound batshit.” You said after the explanation.

He sighed leaning back. “Your favorite song is Midnight blues. But you always say it’s Eros.” He says. You snorted.

“Okay weirdo maybe you just lurk on my Next tune—“

“You are allergic to peanuts. You always wanted a poro but your allergies stop you so you have a hairless cat instead. You love to sit on top of the old factory at night because it overlooks everything and you love to see the city at night, you love ionian literature, you hate the sounds of trucks that run too loud and flip off the driver every time you see one.” He listed off. Some of those were habits you knew no one would know. And he knew this. “You wear your grandmother’s locket. It has a picture of both your grandparents inside, the damn thing is almost eighty years old and has their initials engraved on the heart.” That. That detail made you believe him. Because you wore your locket, yes. But it was tucked inside your shirt so the pendant wouldn’t fall off.

You stared at him “..How did you—“

“Because in my reality we were together.” He said softly.

“…oh” you said. That’s why this guy stared at you like you completed his life just by merely existing. “Did we break up or something—“

“You died, Y/n… some girl— uhm… she went nuts and shot off a missile into a council meeting. Killed half the council, my partner got severely injured and… you died.” He muttered.

You blinked “…No offense, really. But if… your reality is really that shit, why are you so eager to go back?” You asked.

“Because before I ended up in this one, I saw what happens when I don’t succeed. I gotta say. It’s bad.” He said. You sighed.

“Why… tell me all this?” You asked.

“Because I know your mind. I know your talent Y/n, if anyone can help me I know it’s you.” He said softly. You stared at him before sighing again and running your fingers through your hair.

“…I mean I don’t even know how to start with time travel.” You admitted.

“I don’t either.” He admitted. “But… I think if we work together we can figure it out.” He said softly. He put his hand over yours that rested on the table and you pulled away. He mentally scolded himself that you didn’t know him in this reality.

“Okay I mean I can try but don’t be disappointed if me in this universe isn’t a damn genius.” You said leaning back in the booth. You seemed to have a lightbulb moment. “But my dad might know.” You added.

Your dad. You never mentioned even in your relationship in his reality who your dad was. He assumed he wasn’t around in his reality.

“Hey! Dad!” You called. Silco looked over.

“Yes kid?” He asked. Jayce froze. Silco? Silco the gods damned inventor was your dad? The man who basically made Vi’s sister into Jinx was your dad? That’s why you never mentioned this?!

“Come here for a sec.” You motioned. He walked from behind the bar and sat down. With zero hesitation you explained everything Jayce had told you. You trusted Silco. You clearly loved your dad too.

“…Well this is… interesting.” He said.

“Yeah. Any idea where to start?” You asked.

“My best educated guess is string theory. You made a major event. You came back here from a major event. So maybe make a major event. Your uh… hex something or other, doesn’t exist in this world, do you know how to make it again?” He asked.

“Yeah..” he admitted.

“Then I’d start there. And maybe try to do what you did to your core in your timeline to that one?” He suggested.

“That’s… solid advice. Thank you silco.” He nodded. The fuck? Silco never said his name..

“Right. Be careful Y/n.” He muttered before getting up.

“Thanks dad.” You nodded. Jayce looked at you. “What?” You asked.

“Your dad is Silco?” He asked quietly.

“Yeah. Why? Was he not in your reality” You asked.

“No he was but… nevermind.” Jayce sighed.

“We can use my dad’s workshop. Plenty of space. Come on.”

You started working. Days Jayce spent close to you, working on calculations and making a hexcore. Many nights he found you sleeping at your desk. And every time his coat would be wrapped around you in the morning when you woke up.

It was strange. A man you swear you had never met loved you so much that you could tell that the closer you got to cracking this, the more he struggled with the idea of losing all you over again.

It had been a week. You walked over to him sitting on the couch with calculations.

“Can I ask you something?” You asked. He looked up and nodded. “…Were we happy?” You asked softly.

His focused gaze cracked to a soft fondness. “We were.” He told you.

“…And even though I don’t really know you… do you still love—“

“Without question.” He said softly. You stared at him in silence. You almost felt sad. To have such a firm romantic love from someone, even if it was from another timeline but not be able to know, to share that feeling with this man that seemed to unconditionally love you…

There was guilt. You thought of throwing him a line, flirt with him. But you didn’t want what you knew were his last memories with you to be a lie. You couldn’t force yourself to love this stranger either.

“Jayce?”

“Mhm?”

“What if we went on a date?” You asked. He seemed shocked by this suggestion. “I mean… you feel this love for me. And judging by the way you mentioned your memories of other me, it was mutual and it… bugs me that I can’t really share that.” You said.

He looked at you like he was happy yet still… sad. “Sure, Y/n. Where would you like to go?” He asked softly. He couldn’t refuse one last lasting memory with you. Not when this wound still felt this fresh.

“Uh… well I dunno. This version of me never went on a date before so..”

“Mm. I can figure it out. Come on.” He said getting up.

“Oh— now?”

“Yeah. I know where we should go. Come on.” He said softly.

So you went. On a date. From that moment on, every night was a date. Spend the day working with this strange little blue glowy ball, then go off to dinner. What was worse? You knew this version of you was going to lose him. But you still fell in love with him anyway.

It was the final night. The last piece had been clicked into place thanks to Ekko and Heimerdinger in the same damn predicament. Heimerdinger insisted he needed to make adjustments. In reality he was giving the boys time to say goodbye.

You sat across from him in your apartment. “So this is it… after tonight you’re going back.” You said softly.

“Yeah… yeah I uhm… I am.” He nodded clearing his throat.

You looked in his eyes “…I didn’t expect this to be hard.”

“For what to be—“

“You leaving.” Jayce went silent. You drew in breath “…after these dates, these… times… I get why I loved you, Jayce.”

He swallowed hard. “Then… let’s treat this night like it really is our last.” He said softly.

You looked over at him “how?”

He pulled you closer to him from the chair you were sitting in. “…Let me love you for one last night.” He said softly. You broke at that. This was your last night. You were losing the only romantic love you have ever known. You had had “situationships” that pretty much were just sex but nothing like this. You had two options. Cry….

Or cherish it.

You kissed him. For the first time you kissed someone. Was this absolutely bizarre? Oh fuck yeah. But you didn’t regret it.

He pulled you even closer, into his lap, holding you like you were the most precious thing in the world to him. He needed you like fucking air right now. One final victory before the bigger fight he knew he’d come back to.

He kissed you, over and over again, his fingers in your hair, his other hand on your back holding you close. You slid off your shirt and his eyes widened.

“Y/n are you sure—“

“I don’t want to think anymore Jayce… I just… I want to feel.” You whispered. So that’s what he did. He kissed your neck, unhooking your bra, cupping your breast in his hand. He rolled your nipple through his fingers and you buried your face in his neck.

“We can back out at any time Y/n—“

“Don’t stop” you breathed out. No. Not breathed. You moaned. Any semblance of control the man may have had flew out the window as he pushed you onto the couch.

Kiss after kiss, hickey after hickey his hand moved lower undoing your pants. He slid his hand past the hem of your panties and you gasped, your hands covering your mouth.

He pulled them away with his freehand. “Let me hear you.” He said in your ear, rubbing circles over your clit. Your eyes fluttered closed, your hands moving to his hair as you took moaning breaths.

“J-Jayce I need—“

“I know baby. I know.” He said pulling off your pants. There you were sprawled out naked under him as he pulled off his belt. He let it hit the floor with a soft clatter and he gently spread your thighs.

“Gods if we had time I’d be worshipping you right now,” he murmured. You kissed him as he lined himself up. With a gasp from you he pushed in and you gripped the couch moaning as he moved. He went the pace he knew you loved. Deep, and fast.

“Oh gods— don’t stop please don’t fucking stop!” You moaned.

“That’s it. Let me hear you.” He whispered in your ear. Gods his voice as he was absolutely railing you was making this very difficult not to finish on the spot. It didn’t help that his fingers found their way back to your clit rubbing circles as he kept going with his thrusts.

In.

Breaths kept mingling

Out.

Kisses and moans filled the room.

Back in.

“I love you”

“I love you too”

Back out.

Your nails dug into his shoulder as he thrusted, your head tilting back. The release hit you both, his face buried in your neck as he panted against you.

After a few minutes he pulled away looking in your eyes. You looked at him with that same warmth. That soft smile. But from both of you it had an underlying sadness. You looked in his eyes before you swallowed hard, looking down.

“…Jayce..?” You murmured

“Yeah?”

“Do you… really have to go?” You mumbled. He sighed softly.

“Believe me. If I didn’t, I would stay right here with you.” He muttered.

“What if I went with you..?” You muttered.

“Baby, I don’t know how that would go… you died in my reality. If I brought you from this one… you might die… again.” He said softly.

You looked sad. “I’m never going to see you again… am I?” You murmured.

“…I don’t know. I will find a way to come back once all this shit in my reality is over.” He murmured. You swallowed hard.

“And if you can’t?” You muttered.

“I will.” He said determined. You looked in his eyes. You could tell he meant it.

“Then let’s get you to that weird little core then.”

[justtrash202]

The Scent of Sector V Boys

Hey, just a heads-up—this post is all in good fun! The weirder parts are totally jokes but I couldn’t resist diving into what I imagine these characters would smell like as they grew up. Enjoy the weirdness!

Ever wondered what the boys of Sector V would smell like as they grew up? This is what I think they would smell like—or what their canon versions might go for (including my post-KND teenage AU). Yes, I may have way too much time on my hands, and I definitely think of the weirdest things sometimes—but hey, let’s have some fun! Let’s take a dive into their evolving scents—from their childhood days to their teenage years and finally, their adulthood!

Nigel Uno

Kids (10–12): Pencil shavings, freshly cleaned uniforms, and the faint smell of his mom’s detergent. Nigel is all about discipline and practicality.

Teenage Years (13–16): Unscented or lightly scented deodorant, like Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort or Speed Stick Fresh. Nigel values efficiency over flair and doesn’t think much about colognes.

Late Teens (17–19): He begins leaning toward minimalist colognes like Bleu de Chanel or Prada L’Homme, which are clean, elegant, and understated.

Adulthood (20+): Nigel’s final choice is something classic and commanding, like Tom Ford Oud Wood or Creed Aventus. Sophisticated and timeless, much like the leader he’s become.

Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr.

Kids (10–12): The faint scent of engine grease and peanut butter sandwiches. Hoagie’s inventing and snacking habits leave their mark, literally.

Teenage Years (13–16): Old Spice Swagger or Nautica Voyage. Light, fresh, and sporty, reflecting his laid-back personality. He doesn’t overdo it, making his scent approachable and fun.

Late Teens (17–19): Hoagie starts experimenting with slightly more mature options, like CK One or Versace Eros Flame. Playful yet polished.

Adulthood (20+): His signature scent becomes Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani. It’s aquatic, fresh, and subtly masculine, embodying his dependable and easygoing nature.

Wallabee "Wally" Beatles

Kids (10–12): Dirt, sweat, and faint hints of sugary snacks like candy or chocolate. Wally isn’t exactly one for hygiene at this age, so his natural “scent” is mostly the result of outdoor adventures and messy eating habits.

Teenage Years (13–16): Axe Dark Temptation or Phoenix. Wally goes through an Axe phase, applying way too much to “impress” people (read: Kuki). The overpowering scent of chocolatey musk or crisp freshness follows him everywhere, earning him plenty of teasing.

Late Teens (17–19): He transitions to something more refined, like Old Spice Timber or Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, with hints of sandalwood or citrus. Still bold, but more mature.

Adulthood (20+): Wally finally settles into a rugged yet subtle cologne, like Dior Sauvage or Armani Code. Warm, spicy, and slightly smoky—perfect for his grown-up, confident self.

Bonus: The Girls of Sector V

Since we’ve got the boys covered, let’s not forget the girls! This is what I think they might smell like—or what their canon selves might gravitate toward. And to continue the weirdness, here’s what I think the girls might smell like!

Kuki Sanban

Kids (10–12): Bubblegum and strawberries. Kuki smells exactly like her favorite candy, bright and cheerful! It’s a scent that perfectly matches her bubbly personality and love for all things colorful and fun.

Teenage Years (13–16): Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom or Sweet Pea. Floral, sweet, and delicate, reflecting her playful charm and growing sophistication. She’s the type to love a spritz of body mist before heading out.

Adulthood (20+): Chanel Chance Eau Tendre or Marc Jacobs Daisy. Fresh, light, and romantic, with a soft warmth that mirrors her kind and loving heart. Kuki’s adult scent feels elegant but still retains a youthful joy.

Abigail Lincoln

Kids (10–12): Cocoa butter and freshly baked cookies. Abby always has a comforting, homey vibe about her, thanks to her chill demeanor and her love of sweets.

Teenage Years (13–16): Victoria’s Secret Love Spell or Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus. Smooth, fruity, and effortlessly cool, just like Abby. She’d wear something that’s understated but still leaves an impression.

Adulthood (20+): Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt or Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium. A mix of earthy and sultry, reflecting her mature yet unapologetically chill persona. Abby’s adult scent is grounded but bold, just like her.

And there you have it—the scents of Sector V! This was all just for fun, so don’t take the weirdness too seriously. Honestly, I might have way too much time on my hands, but I couldn’t resist sharing this random idea. Hope you enjoyed!

[starsfic]

Eros and psyche au prompt: season 1, MK and Mei repair their friendship

It had been about three weeks since Qi Xiaotian had reunited with his husband and formally took the title of Sun Wukong's successor. In those three weeks, Long Xiaojiao hadn't seen him.

It wasn't unusual. Xiaotian and Red were sorting out where they would live together and preparing for the baby. He also had to introduce himself to people, making sure that his name was known as Sun Wukong's successor. Xiaotian was doing deliveries.

He was also avoiding her.

On one hand, Xiaojiao wanted to be mad. Furious. Her best friend was pregnant with her little niece and nephew and he wasn't taking a break to take care of himself. He wasn't letting her help.

On the other hand, Xiaojiao had given him a knife and suggested he stab his spouse. Which led to Iron Bitch's whole "trials" that were more like attempts to flat out murder him.

Xiaojiao could see why Xiaotian was avoiding her with that.

Still, it hurt and she didn't know how to fix things.

Not until the day that Xiaotian texted her.

U free on Sat?

She blinked at the sudden text. She was tempted to say no, but that would drag this on. Ye. U need smth?

Need help picking out paint colors. There was a pause and a second text popped up. Promised u that u wud help with my kid's room.

Xiaojiao blinked. She didn't expect that old promise to come back up, not when they were discussing whether or not they wanted kids. Personally, she wasn't the biggest fan of the idea right now, while Xiaotian always knew he wanted to start a family or at least have a kid or two. Back then, they had assumed he would start with adopting, like what Wukong and Pigsy had done for him, and if a bio kid happened, they happened.

She felt a smile form. But she also saw it for the olive branch it was. When they did this, she would apologize, to both him and Red.

I'll be there.

[cerseimikaelson]

Episode Three: Period Cravings [AO3]

It took Ares longer than he was comfortable confessing to notice the thief.

In his defense, there were multiple explanations for this blunder other than a sheer lack of observation skills.

Number One: they lived in a world of magic. When your doorknockers could talk and your books moved on their own whenever you forgot to dust them and your ties changed color to match your girlfriend’s dress, (though Ares wasn’t complaining about the last one) it wasn’t uncommon for objects to switch places for no better reason than boredom.

It was only when Ares decided to broach the subject with Aphrodite that the following dialogue ensued:

“Has the fridge been acting up lately?” he asked out of the blue.

They were laying on the U-shaped sofa Aphrodite had insisted was imperative to buy in lime green to bring out the curtains. Ares hadn’t been entirely sure how the whole concept was supposed to work, considering she liked changing their drapes every other month, and brought out holiday-themed ones for the solstices, but the sofa was soft and comfortable to cuddle on, so he just let her do her thing.

He was a good boyfriend like that.

“Um… no?” Aphrodite looked somewhat bewildered at the topic, so it rather came out as a question. “Why are you asking?”

“Couldn’t find the jam earlier. Demeter just dropped by and left us this jar of strawberry jam she made from her own plants, there’s no way it’s gone so quickly.”

Aphrodite quirked a brow.

“And you think the fridge just… what? Swallowed it up?”

“Crazier things have happened.”

She couldn’t really dispute that one after having witnessed last year’s Halloween spectacle with her own two eyes.

The less said about that, the better.

Uno was still under an Olympus-wide ban.

“Well, I am in my avocado spread era, so I definitely didn’t try any jam. Have you asked the kids?”

Which brought us to Explanation Number Two.

When one lives with two rambunctious toddlers, one learns fairly quickly nothing- not carpets, not bookcases, not even paintings literally nailed to the freaking wall, which Ares still had questions about- stayed in one place for long. 

Combine that energy with the mayhem that came with raising two immortal toddlers with absolutely no handle on their budding magical powers originating from a love goddess and a war god and you got…

Well, their kids basically.

“What have we said about sneaking into the kitchen for snacks after bedtime?”

Two pairs of adorable wide eyes blinked up at him in exasperated innocence.

Damn, he and Aphrodite had to stop creating such cute miscreants.

“Not to.” Harmonia even shook her head for emphasis, honey curls bouncing.

“Yes, that’s right. If you want a snack, you…” Ares trailed off, letting Eros take the lead.

“Come to Mama and Papa.” his four year old son finished his sentence, looking serious like he was delivering an answer in math class.

“Correct. So which one of you ate the pozole last night?”

There was a part of Ares that doubted they had done it, though. The thief had been incredibly meticulous in covering their tracks, no stains or prints in sight. The only reason Ares noticed the missing quantity was because he had actually made the dish himself, and he knew exactly how filled the pot had been. How well-thought the operation had been overall required a bit more stealth than his four year olds were capable of.

Hopefully. Otherwise he and Aphrodite were so screwed.

Harmonia and Eros glanced at each other and then proceeded to simultaneously shake their heads.

“We didn’t, Papa.”

Okay, Ares wasn’t new at this. It wasn’t the first time the little ones thought they could weaponize their big eyes and wide grins and turn them against him. He wasn’t even mad, it was the principle of the matter. He and Aphrodite agreed the kids had to feel free to come to them to ask for more food, safe in the knowledge they would never be turned away by their parents. They didn’t have to sneak around and smuggle items out of the kitchen.

Ares opened his mouth to tell them a variation of that, but one look at Eros’ cherubic wings made him pause.

They weren’t flapping.

His son’s wings were dove shaped, but the feathers resembled something more eagle-like, (possibly due to the influence of Ares’ genetics) white and pristine since the day he was born.

They were also his biggest tell: not strong enough to fly yet, they twitched like mad every time Eros lied.

The utter petulance on the boy’s face as he tried to get them under control was something Ares wanted to blame on Aphrodite, but the truth was he had seen that same expression one too many times on both their faces.

Only this time the wings were still, nary a twitch in sight, and Ares had to admit he had missed the culprit again.

“It could be someone pulling a prank on us.” Aphrodite said as they settled into bed one night, a few days after Ares’ fruitless conversation with the kids. “Hermes or something.”

“Sneaking into our pantry and eating small portions of our food isn’t really Hermes’ brand of mischief.” Ares argued. “Besides, what would he need to do that for? He can literally snap his fingers and conjure whatever.”

“Maybe it’s someone else then.” Aphrodite shrugged, looking supremely unconcerned at the possibility of some stranger essentially breaking into the home where they and their children slept and committing theft, however minor.

Ares knew it was because she was confident it wasn’t anything serious, because if his girlfriend ever felt they or their kids were threatened she could put the fear of the Primordials even in his father, and that wasn’t something anyone could claim.

Gods, he loved this woman.

“I am just irked by the whole thing, you know? I feel like whoever it is are mocking us.” Ares grumbled, watching Aphrodite tie the end of her long braid with a pink ribbon without even glancing downwards.

“I am sure you’ll figure it out.” She kissed him soundly. “Don’t stay up too late, okay?”

Ares didn’t sleep at all that night (sorry Dite) but the plan he drafted to catch the mysterious food thief in the act was nothing sort of genius. It involved copious amounts of string, a jingle bell from one of Harmonia’s toys, a HD camera he pilfered from Apollo, and a bait tantalizing enough to tempt a saint: his mother’s double stuffed smore brownies.

Ares had to pull strings to get Hera to bake those in such a short notice, but as he carefully set the plate down on the counter, all he could think was: worth it.

No one could resist the allure of his mother’s baking.

“Is that extra chocolate graham cracker? Gods spare me.”

It took a considerable amount of effort on Ares’ behalf not to forget what he was here for entirely and just inhale the whole thing himself.

Yeah, the food thief was definitely down for the count.

Satisfied with himself, Ares turned the lights off, turned the camera on, and waited.

And waited. And waited. And waited.

Now he knew what trying to catch Santa in the act felt like.

He hadn’t been able to detect a concise pattern when it came to the thief’s, well, thieving, only that it was somewhat regular and occurred every month or so. But sometimes it happened twice in the span of a few weeks and once the thief skipped a month entirely.

Ares was so busy trying to calculate the number of days between tonight and the last incident (nine of Aphrodite’s limited edition flavor changing French truffles had vanished without a trace) that he almost missed the bell chiming.

Shooting to his feet, the war god made a mad dash for the kitchen, hand immediately reaching for the trusted sword strapped to his hip.

He would show this sniveling excuse of a criminal what happened to those that defiled his family’s sanctuary (and ate his brownies!).

He would teach them the hard way not to ever covet the gods’ belongings again.

He would…

Swinging his sword with a war cry, Ares lunged forward.

And found himself staring at his very displeased, very judgmental niece.

“Let me get this straight.”

Ares ran a hand through his curls, probably tousling them beyond repair. He would have to let Aphrodite put conditioner on them. But honestly, after nearly decapitating the mysterious food thief whose secret identity had plagued him for three months, only to find out said thief was his niece, well, Ares thought he was entitled to his reaction.

“You’ve been fighting with your mom over eating healthy, so your solution was to sneak into my house and eat my chips and chocolate instead of, I don’t know, getting your own?”

His voice rose a little at that last part.

Viola, for her part, looked entirely unrepentant. She sat cross-legged on his counter, eating the brownies straight out of the container with a spoon Ares was pretty sure was meant for soup.

“Athena forbade all the shopkeepers on Olympus to sell me over 7 chocolate bars a week. One for each day after dinner, she said.” Viola scoffed as if the idea was ridiculous. “I burned through my secret stash within a week. It’s going to take me some time to charm the shopkeepers back to my side. She’s pretty goddamn scary when she wants to be, and they are all wimps.”

Ares tried to comprehend this information, but it was 2 am and his brain wasn’t entirely cooperating.

Anyone with a working set of ears was aware of Viola and Athena’s tumultuous relationship. In just the short three months the girl had been living with the Olympians since the diplomatic incident that forced her out of the Faerie realm (her permanent residence) for a whole year, her clashes with the wisdom goddess had become the stuff of legend.

Ares himself wasn’t surprised. Viola and Athena were like oil and water. Night owl versus early riser, flashy and fashionable versus practical and conservative, careless and spontaneous versus organized and prepared. Even if there wasn’t anything to bicker about, they’d sure make something imaginary up and go from there.

However, this particular stunt felt… odd, even for Viola’s standards.

And this was the girl that convinced Hermes to take her for a joyride in Artemis’ moon chariot.

“Okay kid, time for subtitles. I am too tired for this. If you wanted snacks, why didn’t you just ask someone?”

“I am not allowed to leave Olympus per the terms of the treaty.” Viola reminded him. “The forest is considered part of the grounds, but that’s the end of the property line and as far as the wards extend. Since no one on this godsdamn mountain is permitted to sell me past the Ice Queen’s limit, the closer shops are in the mortal realm. And I can’t go there without violating the treaty and pissing off a lot of important people.”

Viola used air quotes for those last words. There was a tint of bitterness to her speech that warned Ares to tread carefully. For the first time, he contemplated how it must have felt to her, ripped from her home and used as a pawn in the complicated relations between the Olympians and the Fae, essentially changing hands. It was a lot of responsibility to place on a child, even one as precocious as Viola, not to mention the added strain of having to live with a mother she hardly knew anything about.

It gave a whole new meaning to her rebellious tendencies for sure.

“Alright.” Ares said slowly. “I get not wanting to mess with the treaty’s rules. But why not take the stuff from a store and leave the money in the register?”

Viola shrugged, taking another bite of gooey brownie, but there was something deceptively casual about the motion. Like she had to try to pull it off.

“It didn’t feel right, you know? That’s someone’s job. Not to mention, if Athena found out she never would have believed they didn’t just cave and sell it to me. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

“But it’s okay if you get in trouble?” Ares asked, curbing his voice into something a little more gentle.

Another one-shouldered shrug.

“I am always in trouble. If not for this then something else. I like a little variety.”

Ares took in Viola’s hunched posture, the way her fingers were wrapped protectively around the container with the brownies as though she feared he would snatch it away before she finished, and the dark circles under her eyes and realized there was more to this than a midnight craving.

“Kid, I still don’t get it. Why all the sneaking around? You could have just knocked on the front door. Dite would have fed you to her heart’s content.”

“It’s not like Athena doesn’t feed me.” Viola protested immediately, eyebrows furrowing. “Sure, she’s a little too invested in the whole protein/no carbs after three/smoothie before the gym thing, but even she understood I need my daily chocolate fix the same way she needs her tea after supper, you know? It’s just…”

Ares waited patiently as she tried to find the right words.

He already had a good enough of a clue where this was headed.

“I am on my period, okay?” Viola aggressively stuffed her mouth with chocolate marshmallow. “And it sucks because when does it not and the cramps are killing me and I want to do nothing but curl up watching Love Actually and Gone with the Wind and eat a bucket of ice cream all by myself and I just…”

She waved her free hand around, indicating at Ares’ kitchen as though he could figure out the rest on his own.

He could, actually. After all, Ares had Hera for a mother, Hebe, Eileithyia and Enyo for sisters and Aphrodite for a wife. He knew a thing or two about period stigma.

“That’s perfectly acceptable.” he said, and Viola’s head snapped in surprise as though she expected him to say something nonsensical about how gross periods were like they were in third grade.

“You can have anything you like unapologetically on your period. It’s already uncomfortable and painful, you deserve the pampering. If that means indulging in gourmet French chocolate, you do what makes you happy. Your body is doing some hard work, you can reward it with pizza or chips or whatever. And treat yourself while you’re at it.”

Viola stared at him like he had grown two heads like a Hydra. Ares raised a bushy eyebrow.

“What? I am the eldest sibling. I’ve got a mother that doesn’t take shit from anyone. I have three baby sisters that won’t settle for anything other than being treated like the princesses they literally are. My girlfriend is the literal goddess of beauty. I’ve been raised right.”

“So it seems. Kudos to you, actually. I didn’t think you had it in you. That’s a major green flag right there.” For the first time that night, the beginnings of the familiar impish smile bloomed on Viola’s lips. Ares took the win for what it was.

“Yeah, yeah, just don’t go spreading it around. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.” Ares pretended to be gruff. “But seriously, if you want me to fetch you like, a heating pad or something, I got you covered. Hebe has me thoroughly trained in what painkillers do the trick. And I always get my mother ginger tea and Danish pastries.”

“The god of war is a softie and I am living for it.” Viola gushed, grey eyes sparkling in a way Athena’s rarely did.

“Eat your brownies, kid.” Ares rolled his eyes. “But I still don’t get it. Why didn’t you tell Athena you have period cravings?”

Viola’s good mood vanished. She glanced sourly at the half empty container.

“She wouldn’t understand.”

Ares blinked at that.

“She’s a woman.”

If the kid was comfortable discussing this with him, then surely she could talk about it with another adult who was literally her own mother, right?

“She’s all about self control and not giving in to our urges. She goes nuts when things don’t go according to schedule, you know? There’s no room in the Goddess of Wisdom’s Daily Plan for unwinding with romcoms and eating our weight in Rocky Road. We’re supposed to be tough and power through, which okay, I get it. I just… didn’t want her to judge me.”

Oh Athena…

Ares was going to have words with his sister (who was generally brilliant but could be such a blithering idiot sometimes) but first things first. He needed to get that dejected expression off his niece’s face.

“Listen up, kid. Taking breaks and recharging doesn’t make you any less of a badass or a strong, capable woman, okay? It’s literally what your body and mind needs to survive and keep on all the good work you’ve been doing. Now, Athena may be used to powering through anything, but even she should know you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you want to do something silly just for fun while you’re literally bleeding for four days straight, then that’s exactly what you should do.”

Viola snorted.

“Sweet of you to think it’s only four days.”

“What? You know, nevermind.” Ares shook his head. “The thing is, Athena can come across as frigid and judgmental at times, but even she wouldn’t deny you a little indulgence when you so clearly need it. She’s hardcore, but she’ll cut you some slack.”

Viola looked doubtful, which honestly made Ares want to march up to Athena’s palace despite the ungodly (no pun intended) hour and ask her what the Hades she had been doing to alienate the girl this badly.

Apparently fatherly instincts could extend to distressed kids that weren’t even his. Who knew.

“Okay, how about this? You stay over tonight, and tomorrow we all have breakfast with the little ones. Dite has this special pancake recipe that will make you see Kronos in a piece of batter. You’re going to be licking your plate clean.”

Viola’s grin returned full force.

It mustn't have been a conscious decision, but the girl leaned forward and enveloped his larger frame into a hug. 

"Thanks Uncle Ares." Viola mumbled into his neck, a testament to how affected she really was.

This baby owl was going to make him soft.

Damn it.

Ares knocked once on the heavy oak doors leading to Athena's study and entered without a care in the world.

The goddess of wisdom was seated behind the ornate, claw foot desk, engrossed in some parchments filled with tiny, cursive writing in Ancient Greek.

"You do realize the whole point of knocking is to wait for a reply, right?" she asked dryly.

"I come bearing gifts." Ares said in lieu of an answer and dumped the box he was holding all over her papers.

Athena hissed in annoyance and tried to recollect them.

"Yo, pay attention." Ares snapped his thumb and forefinger inches from her face.

"What's gotten into you?" Athena asked, cheeks darkening with anger.

"You need an intervention and you need it yesterday." 

As Ares relayed the facts of what had transpired the previous night, he was somewhat surprised when Athena didn't immediately start yelling in outrage. 

Maybe she wasn't as hopeless at this as he thought.

"I trust you have the common sense not to rat me out. The last thing Viola needs is thinking someone else broke her trust." Ares said, looking and feeling uncharacteristically stern. He wasn't sure how he felt about it, to be honest. He had always assumed berating Athena would make him feel like the happiest god to ever grace the heavens, but now that day had finally come, all he could think about was Viola's crushed face last night in his kitchen.

Ares wasn't okay with his gloating coming at the price of a kid's comfort.

"Of course I won't tell her." Athena said like he was being an idiot and put her head in her hands. "Fates, this is such a mess. Why didn't she come to me?" 

"Maybe because, and don't even think about acting shocked, people don't usually seek the comfort of those that hurt them?" Ares retorted sarcastically. "What the fuck have you been doing?" 

"Nothing! I swear, I was just trying to get her to consume something that wasn't orange soda pop tarts for breakfast! The one chocolate bar per day seemed like a good compromise, and Viola even agreed to it!" Athena protested.

"Look, I get it, the kid is a handful." Ares conceded because that much was true. "You can't have her walking around either on a sugar rush or a sugar crash every day. Trying to set her nutritional habits straight isn't a bad thing. But you clearly forgot to factor in something important."

"I didn't think about it." It was a cold day in the Fields of Punishment if Athena was openly admitting that. To him! Ares wished he had a camera. 

"Well, you not thinking about it got someone really hurt." Ares continued without rubbing it in her face despite the overwhelming desire to do just that.

If he didn't get the Brother of the Year award this year he was going to riot. 

"I know, alright?" Athena rubbed her forehead. "I'll talk to her. Make sure she understands her period cravings are nothing to be ashamed of."

Finally they were getting somewhere. 

His job almost done, Ares pointed at the box he had brought.

"What's that?" 

"An olive branch." Ares thought it over for a moment and snickered. "Although this one definitely tastes better." 

As Athena unwrapped the golden foil, a blue velvet box of fancy chocolate truffles was revealed. The label advertised them as beetle shaped, cranberry jam filled white and milk chocolate bites.

"You'll do better with Viola if you bring in a peace offering." Ares explained gruffly. 

Athena studied him carefully.

"I can't take credit for this. It was your idea."

Ares rolled his eyes. She really was clueless, wasn't she? 

"Take the damn candies and go apologize to your kid. Do something with her that doesn't involve fighting for once, okay? She's not bad once you get to know her."

Viola really wasn't. A bit intense, sure, but Ares happened to like her brand of chaos. It was about time Athena found someone her icy demeanor couldn't intimidate. 

Athena looked from the beetles to him then to the beetles again as though she had been presented with a very complicated math problem. 

"I am messing this up, aren't I?"

She sounded almost defeated. Ares decided there and then it wasn't a good look on her.

"You can do better." he said flatly, because he wasn't one to mince words. "You're not terrible. You clearly care about her being healthy and stuff. That's good. But having a kid is about more than just putting a roof over her head and making sure she has blankets and keeping her fed. You gotta care about her feelings. Make sure she doesn't pull stunts, yeah, but there's a difference between disciplining her and hurting her. And if you mess up, swallow your damn pride and apologize."

Athena sighed deeply.

"I wish there was a rule-book for this. Every time I feel like I am ahead of things something happens and I have to deal with yet another curve ball thrown my way. It’s exhausting." 

Ares grinned. 

"Congratulations. You just became a mom. It sucks deeply sometimes, but you are going to love it." 

See you for next week's Episode Four: A Clash of Style

Tagging as per usual: @sarnai4, @firinnie, @greekmythstan, @angelfoxlove,

@strongest-angel-in-heaven, @mer-acle, @cloak-of-ares

[dizzymisslizzie]

Casual Friday

Henry’s luggage is somewhere over the pacific going in the complete wrong direction.

He fantasizes that this would never happen to someone with a private jet.

The heat of LA is overwhelming in his trousers and sweater. His carry-on is a Burberry weekender that has his meds, toiletries and a few books. He’s going to have a buy a whole weeks worth of clothes.

He’s being picked up from airport by his new publisher. He’s on the curb and realizes that he didn’t pass the typical dark suited person holding a sign with his name. He’s looking around and opens his rapidly dying phone to call his contact, Zahra. Before he can type out the message, a red open jeep screeches to a halt in front him. After the dust settles, Henry sees brown curls, a sharp jaw cresting into a chin dimple, a perfect nose holding up aviator sunglasses that reflect Henry’s hapless expression. The curls are cut short but he’s imagining them longer and draped over his shoulder as… wait - is the most attractive man he’s ever seen walking towards him?

“Fox?” The southern drawl that comes out is honey smooth and adorable. He nods and this seems to amuse the gorgeous human who smirks and takes off his aviators. When he pulls the sunglasses off his face Henry notices his sinfully long fingers that he wants to suck into his mouth.

“Is that all you brought?” Adonis asks Henry who still hasn’t said a word. He shakes his head, “The airline lost my luggage.”

“So you need to go shopping?” Eros asks Henry who barely trusts himself to speak so he just nods. The brown eyes of Adonis sparkle and Henry isn’t sure why.

“Well then, Sweetheart. I’ve got just the place. Hop in. Oh! I’m Alex!” Henry’s fucked. “Hi, I’m Henry.”

“Oh I know, let’s get a move on.” Alex winks and takes Henry’s bag from his shoulder and stores it in the jeep.

A short drive full of getting to know you things later…

“Here we are!” Alex pulls in a gravel parking area with an old wooden A-frame store front with gold letters reading Vintage.

“I was expecting…” Henry starts.

“Rodeo drive, your majesty?” Alex smiles wide.

“Not exactly… but maybe one of those malls you’re all so proud of.” Henry looks over the well kept building.

“C’mon, give it a shot.” Alex claps him on the shoulder and walks him into the shop.

A bells rings when they enter, Alex leads Henry to a section of the store.

“Ok, there’s chinos and button ups but there’s some great denim for your readings and these amazing vintage t-shirts.” Alex is pointing in various directions and Henry cannot keep up.

“Sorry, too much?” Alex asks, wincing a little.

“No, I’m not a great shopper. I tend to get anxious.” Henry’s admits as he looks around at the decor on the walls. It’s got rich colors and accents that could border on over stuffed but isn’t.

“Can I pull a few things for you?” Alex asks.

“Yes… I think that’s would be helpful.” Henry is nervous that he’ll just buy whatever Alex picks out for him.

“Stellar!” Alex is off to the races, “oh! Sizes?” Henry tells him and turns to a rack of khakis. He finds a few trousers in his size, a few button up shirts that are neutral colors. He takes his finds to the dressing room where Alex has set up a dressing room full of selections.

“Jesus, we have got to work on your wardrobe.”

“My look is… classic.” Henry’s sticks out his chin.

“Absolutely! But also boring as fuck.” Alex gives him a cheeky smile.

“What’s your plan then?” Henry looks around his selections.

“Picture it! Color… on… your clothes!” Alex does silly magician flourishes and Henry honest to god giggles.

“I am in LA for professional reasons.” Henry’s reminds him.

“And I pulled several business casual options but! You could dress more your age, relate more to your audience, maybe even… gasp… show some personality.” Alex teases.

“Why would my readers care about my personality?” Henry’s quirks and eyebrow.

“They are obsessed enough to come to a reading, they are interested in you. Authenticity, well… it’s something that not everyone can give but I see you can. I think showing more of yourself will resonate with your readers. They might even feel seen.” The sincerity on Alex’s face when he says to Henry makes his inside molten with feelings.

“That’s… exactly how I wanted people to feel with my first book. I… Pez, he’s the only one who sees me.” Henry shares.

“He’s a very lucky human.” Alex says low and a little… Henry can’t place it.

“He is, we became best mates at Eton and it was like he saw straight through the uniform and confident facade and saw me. It meant everything to me and I wouldn’t be who I am today without him.” Henry smiles nostalgically.

“I’m so glad you’ve got him in your corner.” Alex says and Henry can’t believe he’s real.

“Alright, Foxy, let’s try so stuff on!” Alex turns and Henry would swear he wipes his eyes before picking up a few hangers. “Here ya go! Shopping montage!” Alex sits in an overstuffed purple chair and Henry closes the curtain.

Henry tries the trousers first and two of them fit fine, third are too long.

“Hurry up! I wanna see something! Also, I’m almost done with the pick up order for essentials. Any special requests?”

“See something? I’m trying on trousers, I don’t think I need assistance in deciding if they fit or not, Mum!” Henry’s being cheeky.

“I’ll be the judge of that!” Alex calls back. Henry smiles and rolls his eyes. Henry puts on the bright blue button up and navy trousers and opens the curtain.

Alex looks up from his phone and his smile makes Henry’s brain fuzzy.

Tagging @miss-minnelli

[theraven-void]

Shades of Black

Chapter 1. Denial

Connection(s): The Isle of Stones, The Broken Gods, A Story of Sea and Death

Chapter 1. Denial

Connection(s): The Isle of Stones, The Broken Gods, A Story of Sea and Death

Ero paced around the room. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be true. Really, he just wasn’t sure if this could be true. It couldn’t be! His mother, his absent mother who he’d never even met was the goddess of destruction! Luckily for him, he’d been the only one made aware of this- for the rest of the home, they were under the impression he’d gotten a scholarship for a fancy, expensive summer camp. I mean, that wasn’t completely incorrect, but still.

“Oh gods… how did this happen? There isn’t even a goddess of destruction! Ytzol law says there are only three gods! Then again…” He said, thinking out loud. Then again, he reminded himself in his mind, apparently all religion is completely false, and the Three aren’t the only gods, so- ugh! Why me of all people?!?! At least this explains where I got my shapeshifter genes.

While walking out, he proceeded to walk into a wall and bump his head, reminding him of his pitch-black eyes with no pupil nor color which constantly reminded everyone he met to ask about them. He’d actually rehearsed the answer.

“Not sure exactly why they look like that, but pretty sure it’s because I’m blind.”

“Then how are you looking directly at me?”

“Oh, well, I can see souls? It’s odd. But for example, your soul is [color], for [species]. Deathborn have purple, and shades have dark gray; etc.”

It was beyond his eyes being pitch black voids; they seemed to have smoke coming out. At least this partially explained his shade heritage; apparently, his mother was a shade as well.

Another thing he’d noticed; the three strangers that had come to bring him to the camp. They had the soul color gold, or partially gold. One of them was strong green/gold, green for lizard person. One was pale blue/gold, blue for angel, and the last was dark crimson/gold, the crimson for demon. That gold, however; he’d never seen it on anyone but himself. Gold apparently represented godly, he’d learned. This was a lot to take in for a child, you can imagine.

He finally managed to exit the building without giving himself a concussion, and shut the doors to that old rusty car; which he’d soon learn was not going to be a car for very long.

All of a sudden, a pale green soul appeared with slight tinges of bright red. Earth dragon, he presumed. He hadn’t seen many, but he could guess. The old seat he’d been sitting on felt more like the leather of a saddle now, and he realized they’d somehow just… spawned a dragon?

Finally, they arrived, and what he saw was indescribable.

A dozen souls of many colors, lots of different species; except they all had that hint of gold. For most of them, it was about half. He was the only light silver he saw besides that demonic god stranger that’d brought him there.

“Why’s your soul silver and mine too, but none of those other people?” He said. This had piqued his curiosity. “Are you like a shade too? I don’t see dark gray.”

The stranger chuckled. “No, that’s just because we’re both broken. There’s another one here; she’s just hiding in a cabin. Oh, I don’t believe we’ve properly met.” She flicked a fly out of the air.

Ero laughed with her instinctively. “Broken? Oh, yes. Um- I’m Ero. You?” He was even more curious at this point. ‘Broken’ was a touch vague, and he didn’t think that was a species.

The stranger seemed amused by Ero; they muttered something incomprehensible and began to speak. “Tamu’Kai, god of chaos, pleased to meet your acquaintance. You may call me Kai or Scarlett, however.” The strange- er, um, Kai, walked off and Ero was left alone.

The other two he’d already met; the angel being Jay, or Jay’s Wing, and that lizard being Ouroboros. The other two called her Oro, but when Ero tried she threatened to rip his throat out, so he decided that he’d address her by Ouroboros, or ‘Captain Ouroboros’, as she had insisted.

By now he’d realized these were the Three; the three original gods that ruled the universe. Apparently, this wasn’t true, but it was still quite an experience to meet the god you believed controls all good, the god you believed controls all evil (or essentially just your religion’s devil), and the god you believed keeps the world in balance.

Ero walked into the main campground and hoped, simply wishing to not immediately embarrass himself.

>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<>-<

Thank you for reading! I’ll add a Chapter 2 link when it’s done, but thanks to @asqadia-banthen for making me feel like anybody would actually care about my writing, so yay!

Next

[jerzwriter]

Y'all have been asking for Eli x Zoe x Troy, I'm delivering Eli x Zoe x Troy. Though, this is just a little intro, not at all the beginning of an HC. Speaking of which, if you'd like to help me out in deciding how to move forward, take this poll!

Book: Wake the Dead Characters: Eli x Zoe (F!MC) x Troy Words: 1,700 Rating: Teen Summary: Zoe's a little under the weather, but Eli & Troy are determined to make it a special day after all. A/N: @choicesfebruary2024 Eros/Philia/Storge/Pragma @choicesholidays

The sun had finally set. Though, finally wasn’t a word that would typically be used. It seemed to set as quickly as it appeared in the sky this time of year, and that was one of Zoe's least favorite things about winter. But today, it worked to her advantage.

There were many upsides to winter at Olympus. Fewer zombies meant less anxiety and less work, too. It was the only time of year when the concept of “downtime” became a reality, and what better time for it to occur? Winter transformed Olympus into a veritable wonderland blanketed in a bed of sparkling white snow, shrouding the often dark and desolate world with a sense of frivolity and wonder most of the colony’s occupants had never known before.

Zoe simply loved it. She could often be found outside, sledding and making snow angels with the children. Long winter walks and snowball fights with her friends were the norm, and her snowman-making ability was unmatched. Yes, winter was full of wonder, as far as Zoe Rivera was concerned, but it had a downside, too.

“Ahh-ahh-ahhh-chooo!” she sneezed, gripping the wall beside her to maintain her balance. Her congested head felt like a ball of lead upon her shoulders, and keeping upright was proving to be a difficult challenge.

But the early sunset meant everyone was inside entertaining themselves in the great room, which made it easier for her to sneak off to bed. No one would have prevented it; most had encouraged her to return to bed all day. But Zoe wanted to sleep, not to be fussed over; sneaking off was her best choice.

~~~~~

The great room was bustling. Angel was sprawled out by the fire, playing games with some of the colony’s youngest residents, Eli played guitar in a corner, and Shanon led a small group in song. Troy was thoroughly occupied. Winter was the perfect time to retrieve the old Frogger game from the mall, and while there were some glitches in its functioning, he was determined to get it fixed. When the screen came to life with semi-vibrant colors and a joyful little tune started to play, he jumped to his feet.

“YES!” He hollered, smacking the side of the machine in triumph. “It’s working! I’ve got it working!”

The pronouncement got Angel to her feet, and she rushed over, demanding first play. But Eli looked up from his guitar with annoyance.

“If you smack it like that again, it might not work for long."

“Au contraire mon frere,” Troy beamed. “That’s precisely what got it working!” Troy looked around the room frantically. “Zoe! Where’s Zoe? She has to see this.”

The mention of Zoe’s name had Eli searching the room as well. “Yeah, where is she? I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“I think she went to bed,” May replied, never turning away from her coloring.

“Bed?” Troy asked. “It’s barely evening?”

“True,” Shannon nodded, “but she has a terrible cold. I’ve been telling her to rest all day.”

Eli and Troy's eyes met, and both men headed to the stairs.

“Guys,” Shanon called out, “The best thing she can do is sleep.”

“We’re not waking her up to take her for a sleigh ride,” Troy insisted. “But we can check to see that she's OK.”

May’s eyes lit up. “If she’s OK, I wouldn’t mind the sleigh ride!”

“Maybe tomorrow, May," Shanon smiled. "But for now, just color.”

When Shannon turned again, the men were gone, gingerly stepping into their bedroom, where Zoe lay, snoring just a bit. Eli smiled tenderly. He found their girlfriend’s snoring endearing, whereas Troy said it was the only time he fantasized about tossing her out in the snow. But right now, they were both relieved to find her at rest. Eli reached over to touch her forehead.

“No fever,” he whispered. “But she does feel a little cold.”

Troy wordlessly retrieved an extra blanket from the closet and tucked it around her. “Then Shannon’s right; we should just let her sleep.” He nudged his head toward the door, and the two men convened in the hall.

“It’s just a cold,” Eli stated. “With some sleep, she’ll be fine in no time.”

“Yeah,” Troy sighed. “But what about our plans?”

Eli shrugged. “Do you think she even remembers it’s Valentine’s Day?”

“With the way she loves celebrating old-world events? Probably. But even if she does, I don’t think she’s up for a special dinner and romance tonight.”

“Hmmp,” Eli said, the corner of his lip turning.

“Oh, I know that look...What are you thinking?”

“A special dinner and romance is what you make it, right?” He clapped Troy’s back with a smile. “Let’s go downstairs.”

~~~~~

An hour later, Zoe’s eyes began to flutter. She wasn’t certain if it was day or night, and it didn’t even matter. Alone in her room, she was glad no one was present to hear her soft groans as she shifted onto her side. If she was anything, it was self-aware. Self-aware enough to know that she made a lousy patient and it was in everyone’s best interests to leave her be. She loved Eli and Troy, and she loved her friends, and the last thing she needed was knowing she’d have to embark on an apology tour the moment she felt better again. They knew her, she smiled, pulling the blankets to her chin. They knew her well. She was about to doze off again when the creaking of her bedroom made her rethink her friend's judgment. Just barely making out a figure in the darkness, she called out.

“Troy....”

“Nope, not Troy,” Eli smirked.

“Eli...”

“Nope, not Eli,” Troy chuckled.

Her blankets rustled as she lifted herself on her elbows. “Guys... you know I’m grumpy when I’m sick. Why are you putting yourselves at risk?”

“Bravery,” Eli said at the very moment Troy replied, “Stupidity.”

“There’s a fine line between the two,” she half smiled, her voice weak.

“We might be willing to let you stay here alone on a normal day,” Troy began. “Nah, I’m full of shit, we’d check in on you even then.”

“He’s right,” Eli agreed, “but we certainly weren’t going to leave you up here alone today.”

Her brows knitted together with confusion. “Today? What’s today.”

“It’s Valentine’s Day. Ta-da!” Troy beamed, removing a napkin covering the heart-shaped cookies the men just baked with dramatic flair.

“It’s.. Valentine’s Day,” she lamented. “Shit! I forgot! I didn’t get to do anything for you two!”

Eli sat at her side, taking her hand in his. “Wow. How fortunate for you that... we don’t care.”

Troy nodded as he scooted to her other side. “You know how much I hate to say this, but Eli’s right.”

It hurt to breathe, and her head pounded. Still, Zoe couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You guys!”

Eli dragged a small table beside the bed and placed a bowl on top. “You need to eat something, so we brought you some soup.”

“Yeah. You just lay there; we’ll feed you. The plan was to feed you grapes...this won’t be as seductive,” Troy playfully wagged his eyebrows, “but you're the one that went and got sick."

Zoe laughed, but it quickly turned into a wicked cough, and Eli gently rubbed her back to assist.

“Good work, Hassan. I told you your jokes are lethal.”

“If my jokes were lethal, there would be no zombie apocalypse.”

“He has a point,” Zoe smiled. “Now, feed me that soup because sick or not... I want those Valentine's cookies, and I’m sure you won’t let me have them if I don’t have my soup first.”

“She knows us too well,” Troy winked.

���When did you guys decide to make cookies?”

“I came up with the idea this morning,” Troy declared to Eli’s chagrin.

“You! YOU came up with the idea? I told you I was preparing the dough when you came to the kitchen for breakfast!”

“True... but I’m the one who suggested the heart shape, and face it, Sipes, without that... there is no pizzaz, and according to everything I’ve learned about the old world, Valentine’s Day was all about pizzaz.”

Zoe shook her head as Eli grumbled under his breath, and then she reached out to hold their hands.

“I don’t know how they did it in the old world, but I know how we do it now. It’s not about pizzaz; it’s about love, and I’m so lucky because I’ve got plenty of that.”

“You sure do,” Troy smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

Eli leaned over to kiss her forehead. “You can say that again. Now, do you want to go back to sleep for a bit?”

“I do,” she smiled, patting both sides of the mattress next to her. “But I want company. Will you guys take a nap with me?”

“Holy shit!” Troy gasped, reaching to touch her forehead. “She wants us to stay with her when she’s sick? It’s got to be a fever! She can’t have much time left.”

“Hassan, stop being a wiseass and hop under the covers,” she instructed. “Otherwise, I’m sending you back downstairs.”

“He’d be fine with that,” Eli teased as he lay on Zoe’s other side. “He got that Frogger machine working after all.”

“You got FROGGER working! And you still came to stay with me?”

“Yeah,” Troy smiled, putting an arm around her. “I’ve got plenty of time to get that poor little guy splattered by trucks tomorrow.”

“Wow! You must really love me.”

“I do,” he said, bopping her nose with his index finger. “You’re my girl.”

“Your girl?” Eli challenged.

“Our girl,” Troy corrected with a smile.

“I’m a lucky girl,” she said, shutting her eyes.  “Only one thing could make me luckier.”

“Oh, what’s that?” Eli asked.

“Both of you being quiet so I can go back to sleep. Happy Valentine’s Day guys, we’ll celebrate proper when I feel better.”

“We can if you want,” Troy shrugged. “But this feels plenty proper to me.”

Eli closed his eyes and nodded in agreement as Zoe began to snore.

“Great,” Troy sighed. “Now we’ll never sleep.  Right, Eli? Eli?”

He turned to find Eli, head on Zoe's shoulder, snoring lightly, too, and he shook his head while adjusting his pillow.

“You’re both so lucky you're cute," he sighed. But despite the snoring, he joined the slumberfest as soon as his eyes were closed. In the end, Valentine's Day was just fine; they had all that they needed.

~~~~~

Thanks for checking out the inaugural E/Z/T! :)

@choicesficwriterscreations

Tagging others separately.

[kallie-den]

One Little Kiss

Eros, a small-time supervillain, gets a lucky break when the all-powerful psychic heroine Qualia succumbs to her mind-warping kiss and starts falling in love with her

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---

“Hurry up!” the supervillain Eros yelled down the stairwell, already faintly out of breath from all the running and climbing. “We don’t have all day! This is a heist, you know.”

“Yes, my love!” called back an even more breathless security guard. She was carrying a huge duffel bag stuffed with cash, and despite how red-faced from exertion she was, the vibrant red lipstick mark on her face stood out even more. “Anything for you!”

Trailing behind her were a few more guards and bank tellers, each one of whom was carrying a duffel bag and each one of whom was wearing one of Eros’s little kisses on their face. One after the other, they each replied with their toothachingly sweet little professions of devotion and undying affection.

Eros rolled her eyes. Hearing her love-drunk minions babble got old very, very fast. But if it was the price of becoming a successful supervillain, so be it.

Admittedly, calling herself a successful supervillain was getting a little ahead of herself. Eros hadn’t yet succeeded at anything more than robbing a few high-end stores so she could put together a costume while she tested the limits of her ‘power’. She didn’t know much about the life of a villain, and she certainly didn’t know anything about fighting superheroes.

But as a perpetually-overworked administrative assistant, she knew a great deal about timing and scheduling. For her first big heist, Eros had put those talents to good use. The likely time it would take for someone to sound the alarm. The delay before the cops arrived. The time it would take to grab everything and get out.  Eros had it all memorized. She’d planned it out like clockwork. At this day and time, once a week, a helicopter landed on top of the building that held the Pierce Street bank to accept delivery of some sensitive financial documents. It was the perfect way out, and Eros had already taken care of the pilot.

Everything was perfect. Eros had even spent a week scouring social media for superhero sightings. If she was right, the bank was far enough from any patrol routes that they should be able to avoid any interventions.

It was still a risk, of course. Heroes were unpredictable. But the millions in those duffel bags was worth any risk. And Eros was thrilled to be doing something truly selfish for a change.

“Here!” she called, as she reached the top of the stairwell and pushed open the door that led out to the helipad. “Load it into the heli. And quick!”

Her adoring, unwitting goons hastened to obey. And as they did, Eros took a moment to re-apply her lipstick.

Her vivid red lipstick was the key to everything. It was Eros, just as much as she was. After years of thankless work as an administrative assistant at a cosmetics company, Eros had already been ready to snap - and when she’d seen the discarded lipstick formula before it was to be destroyed, it had seemed like an opportunity too perfect not to take.

According to the government, it was both unethical and dangerous. Whenever she thought about that, it brought a grin to Eros’s face. In a way, she’d proven them right.

Love was a very, very dangerous thing. In a way, cosmetic companies had always been aiming to create artificial love, be it with the right color, the right shape, or the right scent. But Eros’s company had gone further. They had created a lipstick that could make someone fall in love with a single kiss. Eros didn’t know how it worked, but it certainly worked. She’d stolen the formula, and ‘redirected’ enough raw materials to synthesize it herself. And now she had love itself painted all over her lips.

But as it turned out, love was more than just a pretty word. If someone truly loved you, you could convince them to do anything - at least until the effects wore off. Anything. They’d gladly break laws, if Eros asked sweetly enough. It was the perfect tool in the arsenal of a supervillain. Because of it, the women hired to work at the bank she was robbing were currently helping her make off with the money.

All it took was one little kiss.

Thanks to her mind-warping lipstick, Eros’s heist was going perfectly - or so she thought, until she realized that all of the people she’d brainwashed with her kisses had stopped moving.

“Hey!” she said sharply. “What’s going on?”

There was no reply. Her confusion started to turn to alarm.

“Hey,” Eros repeated. “Can you even-“

She trailed off when she realized what had happened to them. Something was coming. Something big.

Eros wasn’t sure how she knew, exactly. But there was something in the air. Something so palpable it was almost physical. It reminded her of the kind of brimming charge you could sense hanging in the atmosphere before a thunderstorm, only ten times more potent. Whatever that strange energy was, it felt as though it was touching her very soul. And she could sense it coming off her minions in waves.

And then Eros saw her, floating over the nearby rooftops.

Qualia.

Immediately, Eros knew it was over.

Qualia was one of those superheroes every single person had heard of. Every single citizen of Future City would have recognized her. She was a member of the city’s Apex League, the team of its most powerful heroes. Time and time again, she had appeared to defend the city against world-ending threats, and every single time, she’d triumphed. According to some, she was more like a god than a human.

And if she was close enough to put Eros’s minions on ice, it was already too late to run.

“What do we have here?” Qualia asked imperiously as she floated down to stand on the helipad, eyes blazing with green light. “I don’t recognize you, villain. This will be your last misdeed, as well as your first.”

Eros grit her teeth. She was so fucked.

The things Qualia could do made Eros’s lipstick look like child’s play. In simple terms, she was a psychic - a natural telepath and mind controller - but it went deeper than that. Some experts speculated that she was psychic so powerful, she was capable of tapping into and manipulating the collective unconscious that made up reality itself. Others disagreed, but ultimately, that was all academic. There was simply no denying what Qualia was capable of.

Even now, as she stared coldly at Eros across the helipad, she was surrounded by a crackling nova of energy, the same green as her eyes. Pieces of random debris - stones, branches, other small objects - kept levitating off the ground and floating towards her, before being pulled into a kind of orbiting ring that surrounded her, as if Qualia’s sheer psychic presence gave her a gravitational pull.

Eros’s nerve broke. She turned and ran back towards the stairwell.

She made it one whole step.

“No,” Qualia said simply.

As she did, Eros felt her whole body lock up. There was no warning. She simply couldn’t move. She couldn’t even turn to look at Qualia as the superhero walked slowly toward her.

“I’ve partitioned your nervous system from the conscious part of your mind,” the superhero explained calmly. “You’re paralyzed, just like your minions.”

Eros tried to scream. She couldn’t even do that. Her lips, her tongue, her vocal cords - they were all frozen.

“And now that this little farce is over,” Qualia continued, walking a slow circuit around Eros, ��let’s see what you’re all about.”

Without any more warning than that, Qualia started to peer into Eros’s mind with her power. Eros wasn’t sure how she knew it was happening. She just knew. Eros felt completely transparent for a moment, before being struck by a chilling sensation that she instinctively associated with being completely and totally perceived. When she tried to focus on it, it felt a little like staring into one of those lights that the doctor used to inspect your eyes.

It sucked.

“Yes, I understand now,” Qualia said dispassionately. “Your name is Rhea Galanis, even though you call yourself Eros. You’re thirty-two years old. You’ve spent the last twelve years working your way up from secretary to administrative assistant - until you decided to turn to a life of crime.” The superhero’s lips curled up into an arrogant smirk. “That was very unwise. Tell me, what did you think was going to happen?”

For a moment, Eros thought Qualia was simply mocking her, but then she found that she could speak again. Control over her throat, her tongue, and her lips had been returned to her.

“I… just…” Eros replied slowly, stumbling over her words. “I… wanted something for myself for a change!”

“Yes, I see now.” Qualia nodded thoughtfully. “You were overworked and under-appreciated, so you decided to start breaking the rules. I’ve seen the same story many, many times.” Her smirk grew. “It’s so very petty.”

There was a chilling arrogance in the superhero’s voice. Eros could see what was happening now. Qualia was enjoying herself. She wasn’t indulging some kind of morbid curiosity. She was simply playing with her food.

“Not that I’m surprised you’re new on the scene,” Qualia continued. “Your ‘costume’ says it all. You… stole the jacket from a high-end clothing store.” Her lips curled a little further upwards. “How charming.”

Eros couldn’t help but blush a little. She’d done her best! Her costume - such as it was - consisted of a striking white leather jacket with a red sports bra underneath, worn with some simple, pragmatic, black combat pants and a black domino mask to conceal her identity. It wasn’t exactly professional, but it was wildly daring compared to Eros’s mousy dress sense in her old life as an administrative assistant. She’d even sewn a massive patch featuring a stylized pair of lips onto the back of her jacket. Branding was important, after all!

Still, the whole affair marked her out as belonging to an entirely different world from Qualia. The superhero had no need for a mask, and she was clad neck-to-toes in a black, tight-fitting bodysuit. It was made out of some kind of futuristic, texture, membrane-like material that rippled with a green glow whenever Qualia called upon her psychic powers. It wasn’t exactly something you could get at a clothing store.

Perhaps the most obnoxious part was how utterly perfect Qualia looked in it. She had a classically curvaceous bombshell body, absolutely none of which was kept hidden by the skin-tight costume, and the blazing green her eyes shone with was the perfect counterpart to her rich, dark, tanned skin. When she floated or lifted something, her long, brunette hair spread out behind her like a mane, making her look utterly, implacably regal.

She might have been Eros’s type, if she wasn’t such an ice queen.

“Insecure?” Qualia let out a high-handed little laugh. “You should be. You’re not suited for this, Eros. It’s just like you thought.”

“Hey!” Eros whined. “Get out of my head!”

“No,” Qualia replied simply. “You chose this. You decided to break the rules, and now you’re going to be punished for it.”

Eros tried to shake her head, although Qualia’s control barely let her move. This couldn’t be the end. Not already. She wanted better! That’s why she’d put herself on this path.

“It doesn’t matter what petty little power you managed to manifest,” Qualia lectured. “You’re nothing compared to heroes like me. Your kind always loses. If not to someone else, then to me.”

There had to be something Eros could do. Anything. But what? Even plotting felt like a fool’s errand when Qualia could see into her thoughts. And how could she ever overcome all the other aspects of Qualia’s power?

She had frozen Eros’s minions without so much as a touch or a word. The gulf in power between her and Eros was beyond measure. Her reputation as a top-tier invincible hero preceded up, but up close, Qualia seemed even more formidable. Between her overwhelming power and her supreme arrogance, she was like a force of nature.

“You should count yourself lucky I was the one to catch you,” Qualia went on. She said it so bluntly. To her, it wasn’t even a boast. It was a fact. “Rather than someone more destructive. Or another supervillain, sweeping in to steal your prize. You should be grateful.”

Eros grit her teeth. There had to be something. Please. Or maybe not. Maybe she should just give up and go quietly. Maybe Qualia was right. Maybe her plan to break bad as a supervillain had never been anything more than a pathetic joke. She wasn’t a criminal. She was a glorified secretary.

“You know, I could reach into your head and fix you, if I wanted to.” Again, Qualia made it sound more like a gospel truth than a threat. She said it the same way Eros might have said that it could rain tomorrow. “I could make you sorry for this. I could make you regret everything. I could make sure you never break the law or hurt anyone ever again. But I won’t, because that isn’t what heroes are supposed to do. Instead, I’ll hand you over to the cops. They’ll give you plenty of time to contemplate your mistake. Your defeat.”

Something inside Eros’s head suddenly snapped. She wasn’t sure what it was exactly, but something about Qualia’s lecturing reminded her of the way her former boss had always talked to her when she did something wrong. And it pissed her the hell off.

No. She wasn’t going to go quietly. She had an idea.

“My defeat?” Eros forced a half-crazed grin onto her face. Her plan was a ‘maybe’ at best, but it was all she had. “I haven’t lost anything yet, hero.”

Qualia raised an eyebrow disdainfully. “Yes, you have.”

Eros spat onto the ground. “Come a little closer, and I’ll teach you otherwise.”

Her heart started pounding a double rhythm. If Qualia peered into her head again, she’d know exactly what was going on. She’d just have to hope the hero was too arrogant to bother.

“Very well.” Pointedly, Qualia took a big step forward. She looked even more amused than before. “Do your worst.”

She was two steps away now.

“You gotta get closer than that.” Eros sniffed. “Or are you scared?”

Qualia laughed softly. “You understand that you can’t move right now. Don’t you?”

Unafraid, she took another step forward. Just one pace away.

Qualia hadn’t mentioned Eros’s power. Eros had to hope that meant she didn’t know what it was. Eros was obviously small-time. Her power was nothing compared to the hero’s, and she was paralyzed. Why would Qualia even bother to check, when she could knock Eros out with a single thought?

“I’m waiting,” Qualia mocked.

“C’mon,” Eros jeered. She tried to make her grin look even bigger and even stupider. “Closer.”

Qualia was too amused not to indulge her. She pressed close to the would-be supervillain, like they were about to embrace. Eros knew she felt secure in the knowledge that she couldn’t move or raise a fist.

The only thing she could move was her lips.

It was time for the last and dumbest part of Eros’s gambit. She sneered up at Qualia, and mumbled something completely incoherent under her breath.

“Huh? What did you say?”

Instinctively, Qualia moved even closer to try and make out her words. She put her face right next to Eros’s.

So close, Eros was able to stretch forwards, just barely, and kiss her.

At once, Qualia surged backward. She was too experienced a hero not to react instantly. But the damage was already done. Eros rejoiced at the sight of her big, red, bright lipstick stain on the superhero’s tanned cheek, and almost jumped for joy when, a moment later, she was suddenly able to move again.

It was time to have some fun.

***

Qualia recoiled as soon as she felt Eros’s lips touch her, chiding herself sternly as she did. It was unbecoming of an Apex League superhero to allow a third-rate villain to make a fool of her. Fortunately, it was just a kiss. A harmless prank.

Or so she thought until, moments later, she felt her concentration slip.

That never happened. It was impossible. Qualia was a genius. A savant. She could keep a crowd of hundreds dancing to her tune and have it be nothing more than an afterthought as she crushed the psyche of a world-class supervillain. The only time she had ever come close to losing her focus was against a dark mirror version of herself from another dimension.

Compared to foes like that, Eros was nothing more than a bug.

And yet, after a few more seconds, she felt her own thoughts scattered like ships in a storm, and she lost her grip on the villain.

Qualia blinked. She shook her head. She tried to recenter herself. This was impossible.

“What… did you do?” she said slowly.

Eros was stretching languidly, enjoying her brief moment of freedom. As Qualia spoke, her face lit up in delight.

“Oh my god!” she exclaimed. The villain looked like a kid on Christmas. “It’s actually working? Oh my god.”

Qualia closed her eyes. This was a momentary lapse. Nothing more.

“I can’t believe it!” Eros squealed. “I wasn’t sure… I mean, according to the research documents, it all depends on willpower. Mental resilience. I thought for sure, someone like you…”

Qualia opened her eyes again. She needed to figure this out. For the first time, she deigned to look properly at Eros’s minions. She could still hold them in place, at least. A sinking feeling developed in the pit of her stomach when she noticed the lipstick marks on their faces.

“What have you done to me?” the hero demanded.

“Oh, now you’re real curious about my power, huh?” Eros laughed. “Well, let me explain. It’s my lipstick. I kiss you, and it makes you fall in love with me.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Qualia scoffed. “You can’t just… you… you can’t…”

She trailed off. She had just noticed something that suddenly seemed incredibly important to her.

Eros was really, really pretty.

Qualia tried to pinch herself. So what if she was pretty? Why would she even notice that right now? It didn’t matter.

Except, it felt like it did.

“Wait,” Eros said, pausing. “Have you ever been through anything like this before? Ever been captured and brainwashed? Hypnotized? Drugged?”

“O-of course not!” Qualia scoffed. “No villain has ever got the better of me! I’d never let them, um, even so much as try to… or, um drink something, without, um… I mean, I don’t even drink!”

She glanced down. Qualia kept getting tongue-tied and tripping over her words. Why?

“Oh my god!” Eros was practically delirious with glee. “That’s it, isn’t it? That’s hilarious! I can’t believe this is the closest anyone’s ever come to defeating the legendary Qualia.”

“What are you t-talking about?” Qualia’s cheeks were starting to grow hot.

“Don’t you see?” Eros gloated. “You’ve always kept danger at arm’s reach with your power. Behind that, you’ve got no defenses. No resistance. You don’t even drink. Gotta keep a clear head, am I right?” She took a step closer and leered eagerly at Qualia. “You might be one of the most powerful superheroes in the world, but you’re also the single most susceptible person I’ve ever met.”

A cold shiver raced down Qualia’s spine, but she wasn’t sure if it was because of Eros’s words or because - as much as she was trying not to think about it - the closer the villain, the more overwhelming her beauty became.

‘Beautiful’ really was the only fitting word, Qualia unwillingly decided. She was having trouble taking her eyes off the supervillain, even though when she had first arrived she had barely bothered to look at her. Eros had seemed pretty ordinary, physically. But now, everything about her was enchanting.

The way Eros’s short, curly, coiffed hair sat atop her head like a crown. The way her vibrant lipstick made her perfect lips pop. The dazzling blue of her eyes behind her mask, and the way her costume left her stomach teasingly on display. It was all breathtaking.

Qualia’s calling as a hero didn’t leave much time for romance. She’d never spent much time thinking about her ‘type’ - but now she knew. This was it. Eros was exactly her type.

Which was strange, because Qualia had always considered herself straight. But even so, she couldn’t bring herself to question it.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Eros commented. “It feels pretty good, right? Falling in love?”

That remark was like a bucket of cold water dropped over Qualia’s head. Right. The lipstick. She needed to remember.

However much she wanted to get lost in Eros’s eyes…

Qualia made a fresh attempt to focus. There was no denying Eros’s lipstick was affecting her. Qualia needed to subdue the villain while she was still in her right mind. If she couldn’t use her power, she’d use her fists. The superhero clenched them as tight as she could.

And then, as she looked at Eros once more, let them fall to her sides.

What was she going to do? Put a bruise on Eros’s pretty cheek? No way. She couldn’t bring herself to throw a punch. It would be like defacing a work of art.

“I’m curious,” Eros piped up. She was watching Qualia intently. “How do you feel about me? You know, you said some very, very mean things earlier.”

She affected a pout. It was so cute it made Qualia sigh. But her mood instantly soured when she remembered the way she’d spoken to Eros earlier.

“O-of course I do!” Qualia replied half-heartedly. “You’re a… a criminal. A villain!”

Still, Qualia couldn’t help but regret her words. What if she’d actually hurt Eros’s feelings?

The superhero blinked. There was no way she’d ever care about something like that. Was there?

“Are you sure?” Eros pressed. “Really? That’s all I mean to you?”

“I…” Qualia said in an uncertain, strangled voice. “Y-you’re…”

So many embarrassing professions of admiration were on the top of her tongue. And moreover, she had to fight down the urge to apologize for everything she’d said before.

Why did she feel so terrible about it? Was it the lipstick? How could Qualia be sure?

No. No, of course not. She wasn’t falling in love. That was ridiculous. She couldn’t accept that she’d be so easily influenced. It was just that, she’d been so blunt and needlessly cruel. Boorish, even. It was embarrassing. Mortifying.

And there was nothing wrong with the fact that she found Eros so beautiful, either! It was just a fact. Qualia was simply acknowledging it. Only a fool wouldn’t have admitted that she was one of the most perfectly divine creatures ever to have walked the Earth, and only someone with no taste whatsoever wouldn’t have found themselves thinking about how much they wanted to hold her hand, and embrace her, and-

Qualia groaned and buried her head into her hands. What was happening to her?

“Hey, don’t worry about it too much.” Eros laughed. “But do you wanna know what I think of you?”

Qualia looked up with humiliating eagerness. Now that it was being suggested, she realized she wanted that desperately. It was all-important.

Eros leaned in, wearing a slightly cruel smile that, to Qualia, did nothing but enhance her beauty. “Actually, I think you’re really pretty.”

Immediately, Qualia’s face lit up in a red-hot blush, and she could barely hear her stammering reply over the sound of her pounding heartbeat. “Y-y-you do?”

“Of course!” Eros confirmed. “You’re so cute, Qualia.”

Qualia’s blush deepened and her mind started to race. Why would Eros say that? Was the supervillain messing with her? Lying to her? No. There was no way Eros would do something like that, she decided. Eros simply wasn’t that kind of person.

Then… did she mean it? Really? It was almost too good to be true. Qualia struggled to imagine that the vision of beauty standing before her would even notice a girl like her. She didn’t want to get her hopes up. And yet, the mere thought of it had butterflies filling her stomach.

After a few moments of torturous mental gymnastics, Qualia could no longer bring herself to meet Eros’s gaze. She was a blushing, stammering mess. She felt like a schoolgirl.

“Oh my god!” Eros laughed again. Qualia was keenly aware of the villain’s gaze. It kept making her blush anew. “I’ve seen ‘down bad’ before, don’t get me wrong. But this is something else! Wait… is this the first time you’ve ever been in love?”

Qualia’s heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t answer that! This was the first time they’d ever met. Qualia didn’t know much about romance, but she felt sure that confessing her feelings right away would be coming on way too strong. Weren’t you supposed to play it cool for a while? She was sure she’d heard that somewhere.

“I-I-I! Um!” she blurted out, tongue-tied. “I mean um… I guess… I guess I’ve never really, um, dated?”

Immediately, Qualia paled. Why had she said that? She risked a glance at Eros. Would she think it was lame, or cool? Surely the former. Who, at her age, hadn’t even dated? Qualia was crestfallen.

Eros giggled at her, smiling. “Wow. Maybe I’ll get to be your lucky first.”

Qualia had fought insane pyrokinetics and gone to Hell itself to battle demons, but her face had never felt as hot as it did now. She could tell Eros was teasing her, of course, but maybe that wasn’t so bad. She was interested, wasn’t she? That was the most important thing. And besides, even the teasing was starting to feel pretty amazing.

At that moment, Qualia realized she’d been forgetting something. The lipstick. All of this, everything she was feeling, was down to Eros’s lipstick.

Only… Qualia wasn’t so sure of that anymore. Everything she was starting to feel for Eros was just so real. So important. Surely it couldn’t be explained away so easily. It reminded Qualia of when people tried to insist that love was ‘just a chemical reaction’. Admittedly, Qualia had always been of that mindset. But now it seemed so foolish. So cynical. So lacking in poetry.

Suddenly, it occurred to Qualia that maybe she should try to write Eros a poem.

"Hey Qualia,” Eros piped up, grinning. “Since we’re getting to know each other, how about you tell me your name?”

Qualia froze at once. She couldn’t. She shouldn’t. For a hero like her, revealing her identity was an unspeakable taboo. It exposed her, and all those close to her, to unspeakable dangers.

And yet, she yearned to answer.

“I…” she struggled. “I’m… we’re not, um, supposed, um…”

“C’mon. Please?” Eros pouted again. “I thought we were getting to know each other! And besides, you know my name. It’s only fair.”

Qualia was no match for that pout. “S-Sophia,” she said, before she could think better of it.

“Sophia!” Eros repeated, delighted. “A pretty name for a pretty girl.”

Qualia thought she was going to pass out from sheer joy. Her heart was beating like a jackhammer.

“So, Sophia,” Eros continued. Just hearing her say her name made Qualia bite her lip girlishly. “Wanna help me haul this stolen money out of here?”

The superhero blinked. Hearing that brought her back to herself, a little. It was a patently absurd proposal. She was one of the greatest heroes in the world. A powerful and righteous defender of everything lawful and good. She couldn’t possibly help a petty crook carry out a bank heist.

But… could she really say ‘no’ to Eros?

“T-that’s…” Qualia struggled. “I… well… you know… I’m a hero.”

“Oh, sure,” Eros replied dismissively. Her smile didn’t budge. “It’s just, I thought maybe we could be partners.”

Partners.

That word hit Qualia like a lightning bolt.

“P-p-p-partners?” she stammered. She couldn’t keep her leg from bouncing. “Like…?”

Eros kept her hanging for just a moment. “Partners in crime,” she answered. “Or perhaps, you know…”

That ‘you know…’ meant everything to the lovestruck superhero. Her face kept twitching, threatening to break out into a nervous, adoring, smile. But even so, Qualia held back. If she agreed, she’d lose everything. Her status. Her reputation. Her pride. It would all be gone, and she’d never get it back.

“L-look, um, Eros,” she said slowly. “It’s not that I don’t want to be, um, p… it’s just… well I… I mean, people would… maybe t-there’s something else?”

She lapsed into silence. Qualia had never been so on edge as she was waiting for Eros to respond. Somehow, more than her reputation or her pride, she found herself worrying about whether or not Eros would think less of her now.

After several seconds of awkwardness, Eros just shrugged. It was devastating. “Well, OK. If that’s really how you feel…”

Then, she did the worst thing she could have: she turned away.

Qualia tried to hold firm, but after Eros made it just two steps, her will broke. She couldn’t handle this.

“W-wait!” the prideful hero cried out.

Eros paused and turned back. “Yeah?”

“I…” Qualia took a moment to contemplate everything she was about to throw away. But ultimately, none of that had ever made her feel the way Eros made her feel. What was she fighting for, if not love? What was more important? “I want to be your p-partner.”

“I see.” Eros folded her arms and smirked. Clearly, she’d expected nothing less. That made perfect sense to Qualia. Eros was so smart. “But you know I’m a villain, right? And you’re a hero?”

That gave Qualia pause, but she immediately found herself rationalizing. It was strange, sure, but heroes going bad was far from unheard of. Maybe there was a good reason for it. And suddenly, being a villain had started to seem kind of cool. If Eros was doing it, it had to be cool.

If Qualia became a villain, maybe Eros would think she was cool too.

The very thought made Qualia want to squeal.

“W-well, um,” she said nervously. “If we’re p-partners, then I’d be a villain too, right? S-so that’s fine.”

“That’s true,” Eros replied.

She sounded pleased. Her approval made Qualia’s whole body hum with joy. It felt better than saving people ever had. Her pride and her reputation had been important to her, yes. But maybe, deep down, she’d always been a romantic at heart. Maybe there had always been a little hole in her heart, waiting to be filled. Maybe she’d always been pining for that perfect connection.

How could she let it slip through her fingers, just for the sake of a little pride?

“Although,” Eros added, “if we’re partners, I think it’s only fair that I’m the senior partner. Right?”

“Of course!” Qualia agreed instantly. She wouldn’t dream of having it any other way. Eros had been a villain first. It only stood to reason that she’d be in charge.

The fact that this was Eros’s first big act of villainy failed to register with her. Neither did the fact that her power was so much stronger.

“Great!” Eros held out her hand. “Shall we shake on it?”

Qualia blushed yet again. She was going to get to hold her crush’s hand. She couldn’t believe her luck. She tried to surreptitiously brush her own hand off on her thigh. She didn’t want it to be too hot or too sweaty. She didn’t want to look like a nervous, blushing virgin in front of her crush. Even so, as they shook, she couldn’t keep her hand from shaking. And she let out a gasp when Eros abruptly pulled her closer.

“Actually,” Eros said, smirking. “You like me, right?

“Yes.” Qualia was too disarmed by the sudden gesture to lie.

“And you think I’m pretty?”

“God, yes,” the superhero whimpered.

“In that case, do you want to kiss?” Eros’s eyes were shining with the thrill of victory. “Since we’re maybe going to be more than just partners in crime.”

Qualia forgot to breathe. She certainly forgot to play it cool. She just nodded with breathless eagerness.

“Great.” Eros giggled. “Then go ahead and kiss me.”

Qualia looked at Eros’s perfect lips, still drenched in that bright red, mind-warping lipstick.

She didn’t even hesitate. She kissed Eros as fiercely and passionately as she could, smearing the villain’s lipstick all over her own lips in the process. The whole time, Qualia was blushing fiercely. She didn’t have a lot of experience with kissing. She wasn’t sure if she was doing it right. But now, all her nerves were blown away by giddy jubilation.

She couldn’t believe this wasn’t a dream. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was.

“Wow,” Eros giggled, as they broke the kiss. “You’re an eager one, huh? Although your technique could use a little work. Who knew heroes didn’t get laid?”

Too love-drunk to be embarrassed, Qualia felt like she was going to faint as the second dose of the lipstick took hold of her. When she looked at Eros, it was almost like the villain was shrouded in a heady, pink glow.

“Well, fortunately, I’ll have plenty of time to teach you,” Eros mused. “Maybe we’ll change your costume too. I like that idea. And… huh. Did your eyes just…”

“Huh?” Qualia tilted her head.

“Never mind,” Eros decided. “Let’s get out of here - you and me both, babe.”

Qualia giggled wildly and took Eros’s hand. She summoned up her power and used it to lift both of them up into the air, along with all of Eros’s ill-gotten gains. And then, without a single regret, she flew both of them off into the sky, and left her life as a superhero behind.

***

Starfrost grunted in pain as she was lifted into the air and thrown bodily through the solid brick wall of a nearby building. Even for a superhero like her, that was going to leave some bruises. It was fear, though, rather than pain that was starting to grip the statuesque heroine.

So this was what it was like to go up against Qualia.

A couple of weeks ago, reports had started coming in that Qualia had switched sides and become a villain. Starfrost hadn’t believed it, of course. She’d only met the psychic a few times - Qualia was definitely a league or two above Starfrost, in terms of power and prestige - but that had been enough for her to know that Qualia was morally upstanding to a fault, and far too powerful to succumb to any kind of corruption.

She had been so, so wrong.

Psychic power crackled around Qualia as she stepped through the hole Starfrost had left in the side of the building. Without so much as lifting a finger, she seized Starfrost in her mental grip and paralyzed her. A chill ran through Starfrost.

What the hell had happened to Qualia?

There was no mistaking that this was the real deal, but Qualia had undergone some shocking changes. The most obvious was her costume. Her traditional sleek, high-tech jumpsuit had been trimmed down to nothing more than a bikini, leaving a mouth-watering amount of skin and curves on display.

Ominously, her new costume revealed that all over her body, Qualia was covered with bright red lipstick marks.

Her eyes had changed, too. Normally, when she used her powers, Qualia’s eyes glowed with her signature, psychic green. Not anymore. Now, they were red - the same red as all that lipstick she was covered with.

But to Starfrost, the biggest change of all was in the heroine’s face. Starfrost had always known Qualia to be stern and calm, and perhaps a little arrogant. There was no longer any trace of that. Instead, she wore a big, joyful, unnatural smile that reflected the same placid happiness she could see in the superhero’s eyes. The happy, tranquil expression was completely out of place on Qualia. It was obvious someone was messing with her head.

“Hey,” called an unfamiliar voice. “You got her?”

“Yes, my darling!” Qualia called back brightly. Her smile seemed, if anything, to grow even wider.

Starfrost frowned.

Someone else entered through the hole in the wall. After a moment, Starfrost recognized them. It was Eros - apparently a new villain on the scene, and an associate of the corrupted Qualia. Starfrost hadn’t thought much of her, but now she couldn’t help but notice that the lipstick on Eros’s lips matched the lipstick planted all over Qualia’s body.

“What did you do to her?” Starfrost demanded.

Eros just laughed. “I’d explain, but in a few moments, you won’t really care. Suffice it to say, she’s had a change of heart.”

Starfrost’s blood ran cold. “And… what are you going to do to me?”

“Well, it’s been going great between me and Qualia,” Eros explained theatrically. She sounded half-crazed with power. “She's such a sweetheart. But I don’t think I’m really a one-woman type of girl, you know? So we’ve decided to expand our relationship a little. You don’t mind, do you, Sophia?”

Qualia shook her head and giggled. “Not at all! Whatever you need, my love.”

Starfrost’s dread was mounting. She tried her hardest to move, but all her superhuman strength was worth nothing when Qualia was in her head.

“In fact, she even offered to help wingman for me!” Eros exclaimed theatrically. “Isn’t that sweet? She’s such a wonderful partner. And soon, you will be too. Would you mind, babe?”

“Of course!”

Qualia looked positively rapturous at the petty villain’s praise, but then she focused as she turned her attention to Starfrost. Her eyes started to glow, and pieces of debris started to lift into the air around her.

Starfrost shuddered as she felt the former superhero break her mind wide open, and replace all her deepest convictions with nothing but true love.

—

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[mperosx]

Super Shy || Ahri & Eros

Continued from here with the lovely and fun @mpahri

—*

   He had noticed the first day it began but given that his wife had told him that someone had asked after him posing he merely thought it had just been a mild curiosity that would fade after a bit. Eros had let the girl trail him like a ghost for a good few hours around town as he shopped, met with friends, and took time to visit the newer exhibits in various galleries around the city. Sufficiently done with his day, he made his way back home on foot preferring to enjoy the long city walk just before the snow would surely come.

  On day two of the following Eros had sensed that it was more about the little tingle of a feeling he had noticed on day one. That sharp and undeniable feeling of hope, quick like lighting a match stick, was burning in her heart and Eros, felt it in his own. A charge! The god loved each charge he got and only stepped in when they were ready enough to seek him out or call on him within the silence of their hearts. She was the bolder sort and while it was slightly weird— the god was tickled by her growing determination.

     On the second day, Eros makes his way around town on foot again but armed with a slightly thicker jacket, the chill in the air delightfully crisp! It’s when he takes a seat at one of his favorite cafes to read for a while that it becomes radiantly obvious that she wants to talk to him. 

   Her little heart pounds with a million questions, her mind alight with her wondering of how to approach not only the topic but the god himself but above all of that, he hears a name over and over.

      Ayden.

   There it is! Eros’ cheeks color softly when it’s clear who it is she is toiling over so much. Well, isn’t that sweet! He hums softly to himself as his order is set down and he pulls from his pocket a small journal. In neat Greek he jots down her and Ayden’s names before setting the little journal open on the table before him. It’s light magic and something he can do for now that Eros speaks the names quietly before he waves a hand over the paper. The names do nothing for a second then go from black ink to glowing pink lettering that wiggles a bit before lifting off the page to pull close to each other. On their frail impact the letters dissolve into nothing, the page blank before him.

   “Well, at least they’re compatible,” he smiles before shutting the little book and tucking it back into his pocket.

    On the third day, they speak. Or well, he does! He watches the recognition that she’s been caught dance across her little face but schools his own to an expression of understanding. She’s just curious if he can and will help! He’ll be kind and see what she needs.

    “I’ll take that as a yes,” he chuckles gently before he closes the book he’s actually reading this time when she has found him again. Its title is embossed in gold on its deep red cover as he sets the book down. Tristan and Iseult, the spelling and book itself old. Eros gestures to the seat across from him. “You’re safe friend, talk with me.”

[midnightriderx]

BASICS

FULL NAME: SASITHORN MANOBAL

» MEANING: Sasithorn [ This poetic word for the moon is also used as a name in its native Thailand, pronounced “sah-see-TAWN”. Sweet short form Sasi also means “moon”. ]; Manobal [ Thai มโน (mano) meaning "heart; mind; imagination" and "บาล" (ban) meaning "to protect; to tend; to govern". ]

NICKNAME: Night, Midnight, Sasi.

AGE: 24-years old.

DATE OF BIRTH: 1999 October 13, Wednesday, at dawn.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Bangkok, Thailand.

OCCUPATION: Mechanical Engineer for a large Japanese construction company; broadcast jockey on an establish social media site.

ORIENTATION: Pansexual; Panromantic.

GENDER: Cisgender Male.

VERSES: The Meaning of Forever.

POWERS: His abs............................

PERSONALITY

STRENGTHS: Loyal, Hard-Worker, Compassionate, Emotional, Brave.

WEAKNESSES: Insecure, Low Self-Esteem, Distant, Emotional, Cautious.

APPEARANCE

FACE CLAIM: Boss Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya.

HEIGHT: 6′0 [182 cm.]

WEIGHT: 149 lbs. [68 kg.]

BUILD: Lean with muscles.

GAIT: Relaxed.

HAIR COLOR: Black.

EYE COLOR: Dark brown.

BIRTHMARK: TBA. 

OVERVIEW: » SCARS: Yes, from minor accidents.

» TATTOOS: Yes, details to be added.

BACKGROUND

HOMETOWN: Bangkok, Thailand.

RESIDENCE: Bangkok, Thailand.

NATIONALITY: Thai.

ETHNICITY: Asian.

FINANCIAL STATUS: Middle class.

EDUCATION LEVEL: Graduated under the Faculty of Engineering in Chulalongkorn University.

DEGREES: Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Night's first language is Thai. He speaks English as well, some Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese.

RELATIONSHIPS

PARENTS: Both parents are alive.

SIBLINGS: Three siblings, one older brother and a younger sister and twin brother, Saengdao who's name means starlight in Thai. Their mother wanted girls and was convinced she was having twin girls; she found out she was having twins but did not want to know their gender. She gave them names while still in her belly. Traditionally, their names are meant to be for female babies. Their mother didn't want to change their names and a bit disappointed that they are boys when they were born. She got over it pretty quickly though and although many pointed out the obvious favoritism, their mother loved them to the core. [ Saengdao means "starlight," and has just the right amount of whimsy to delight any dreamer. It comes from the Thai word saeng, meaning "light, ray, beam," and dao, which means "star." Saengdao was nicknamed Day. Growing up, his mother also called him Yihwa., saying that having him lights up her soul. In Thai, Yihwa (ยิหวา, RTGS: Yiwa, pronounced [jíʔ.wǎː]), also spelled Yiwha and Yiwah, is a feminine given name meaning "soul" or "heart". It is derived from Javanese: jiwa,[1] in turn from either Sanskrit or Pali jīva, meaning "life". It is often a shortened form of the associated name Wanyiwa (หวันยิหวา, also spelled Wanyihwa, etc.)]

CHILDREN: None.

PETS: A beta fish. He said it's probably one of the very few animals that he can own and won't run away from him even if they wanted to...

SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIPS: 

» Night was once very close to his twin Day but circumstances - and Aphrodite's curse - pulled them apart. Night is often seen hanging out with Zero, a photographer/film maker working for Amarin Group. He doesn't friends aside from Zero.

FAMILY HISTORY: Night was never favored by the gods. At least, this is what he claims. He wasn't entirely wrong as one god, Aphrodite or the entity that embodied this powerful being hold grudges against Night.

When Psyche was reborn for her punishment, she was given a new identity and a huge baggage in the form of her former family who instigated her rebellious and malicious acts against Eros.

Psyche who was known for her beauty now had a twin and she was reborn in a form of a human man. The gods said that with a duplicate, Psyche couldn't boast about her extraordinary beauty anymore because she looks exactly like another being.

But still, Psyche had an advantage over Night; Psyche a mortal turned to goddess had kept her charm. In her new body and life, she was more popular than any of her siblings, most especially her twin Night.

Even their parents favored Psyche.

When the twins were born, they were immediately compared to night and day and got their nicknames that way. Although both twins were fair in complexion, Day appeared to have fairer skin. And due to the culture's colorism, comparisons fed favoritism within the family.

Night developed insecurities and had issues with confidence. He worked as a mechanical engineer during the day and once midnight hit, he's a broadcast jockey who goes on live to entertain subscribers. This job appealed to him as he was able to distance his true self to the character he plays. He wore a mask and hid his face meanwhile letting thousands of people adore his body and what he can do with it. None of the people related to him in his private and professional life know this side of him.

Night got into adult entertainment online when he heard some students at his old university talked about it. He has been a broadcast jockey for the last three years but only really delved into adult entertainment this recent year.

ROMANTIC HISTORY: Night never had a proper relationship although he tried in the past. He was cheated on and they always preferred his twin brother, Day. There were several people who tried to get with him to get closer to Day.

Although in his past life, Night was said to be very jealous of Psyche but in this lifetime, Night for whatever reason just feels embarrassment when he's around his twin. He doesn't resent Day and missed the times when they were really close. He tried to avoid Day even when he goes home to visit their parents. But since they both live in Bangkok, there are still times when they cross paths.

Night is not entirely without his own successes but as the curse/punishment follows him, there were mouths that talked about him stealing the spotlight from Day.

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS: Night is good friends with Zero; they sometimes ride bikes together. He likes that Zero cannot speak the way people like him speak - not that Zero has a problem expressing his thoughts - but he appreciated that he can just be quiet around Zero and not have to deal with 'sorry' and 'are you okay' comments. Although, he always thought that Zero never really felt bad for him and treated him like another person struggling with family issues and inner demons. Zero also never treated him special and that his flaws are all his and no one caused them and could be blamed for them other than his own way of dealing with his situation. It makes him forget that he does have that shadow that follows him around that he can't shake off. Anyway, he enjoys Zero's company and often times, he accompanies Zero on photography trips. They usually ride their bikes to locations.

THOUGHTS ON LOVE: "It's not for me."

HEALTH

PHOBIA(S): None, clinically.

HANDICAP(S): None.

MENTAL DISEASE(S): Depression, anxiety.

PHYSICAL DISEASE(S): None.

PREDISPOSITION(S): Alcoholism.

[starlightmoon96]

The age of Rosalie Chapter 5.

"I can't believe a human managed to get the drop on you?" Lucrecio said those words to Rosalie, she had her head resting on his lap while the two where sitting on one of the love seats Rosalie owned in her mansion. The two where in her library, Rosalie called her husband after what had happened to her and explained why she went after Alastor.

"I can't believe it either, Alastor wasn't like normal humans that's tried to kill me over the centuries. He was the closest and I'll give the guy credit." After saying that Lucrecio lovingly rubbed the top of Rosalie's head

"From the way you described him I have a feeling he might cause an uproar in the pride ring."

The thought worried Rosalie she did contact her daughter and warned her about Alastor, she had good timing by the time Rosalie informed her daughter Alastor had appeared in hell.

Rosalie had quite a different night. Just as she was recovering from the blood loss and making tea in her kitchen she head a noise from her garden that caught her attention.

"The fuck?" Being curious Rosalie went outside to her garden, she didn't see anyone at first...until she saw a demon passed out on her rose brushes that where covered in snow, seeing the bright beautiful tail feather she knew that she was seeing a passed out Goetia.

"Well...this feels familiar?" When she got closer to the goetia like with Lucrecio when she first met him he reeked of strong alcohol that made her cover her nose

"Whoa...he smell worse." She pocked the demon with a gardening broom a few times and the guy fell on the ground in the snow on his back, Rosalie was surprised by the Goetia. He was young around seventeen years old. He wasn't really dressed like royalty but like a rebellious teenager, he also had different colors from the Goetia that Rosalie knew about and different colors like that of Lucrecio who was a prince. His tail feathers where beautiful peacock feathers and his main feathers on his body was dark blue and the top part of his head was light green, another thing noticed was the smell. Yes he reeked like alcohol but he also had the faint smell of sex also and sensed that it was apart of him.

" I have a feeling his situation might be similar to Lucrecio when I first met him?" Rosalie was familiar with this type of dance, she brought the young Goetia into her home and put him in her library study while she made something for the kids hangover. By the time Rosalie finished making the drink Lucrecio had returned but he wasn't alone with him was Cordelia, she explained how she found a Goetia outside and brought him in her home. Instead of Rosalie bringing the kid the medicinal drink the person that brought it was Lucrecio, when he entered the library the kid had started waking up he groaned in slight pain and holding the side of his head as he was sitting up.

"My fucking head." The second after he said that Lucrecio had handing him the drink standing near him

"Here, this will help really quick." Not looking at him the young Goetia took the drink from him and drank it and Lucrecio questioned him

"Your one of Grand Duke's Armaan children aren't you? Duke Eros his second child?" Saying that the kid look at him and was a little surprised to see him in front of him

"Lucrecio?Your...alive?"

"Care to explain what you where doing in my wife's prized rose garden your grace?" Was Lucrecio's question to Eros, him saying whose garden caught the kids attention he then noticed that he wasn't in hell upon looking at his surroundings

 "This doesn't look like we're in hell?"

"Just answer my question first and I MIGHT answer yours?"  Having that said to Eros, the teenager sighed and sat back down

" I guess it's alright to tell you, your not like usual goetia. Your the first to rebel and leave. I've heard about you and what you've tried to do when you where younger than me… also…I already know about your marriage,

I'm a secrete ally with the sinner twilight." Him saying that really shocked Lucrecio more so with Rosalie and Cordelia hearing him from the other side of the door, being surprised Rosalie couldn't help but open the door and revealed herself along with Cordelia being right with her

"I have a sense you haven't said a word to anyone? Out of fear maybe?" Of course the kid that a little surprised seeing Rosalie in person but he calmed himself down

"No...out of respect...I actually do believe in Prince Lucrecio cos, I'm on your side." Him saying that really surprised the family of three then the young duke looked at Rosalie

"You maybe a very skilled and fearful demon hunter, but the way Helen told about you...and the things you've done for change over the few centuries in the living world. I have nothing but respect."

"Your different like Lucrecio, your sick of the outdated traditions as well. Have you ever voiced your thoughts?" Her asking that Lucrecio answered her

"He can't, not in his position. He's the second child of the Grand Duke's." That one caught Rosalie's interests

"Grand Duke? That's new I thought there where only dukes?"

"This group of Goetia is different, THAT family has a blood relation to Asmodeus . Hence the reason why he had similar colors to the King of the Lust Ring, because of that bloodline they where given the title Grand Duke and equal to power and raking of king. This family member is the second son of Grand Duke Armaan , they reside in the lust ring Duke Eros."

"That explains why I detected the faint smell of sex on him?" Rosalie said that and Cordelia noticed that Eros tensed up when her mother mentioned the word sex

"Wait a minute? Are you....uncomfortable with sex?"Her saying that caught her father's attention that made him look at Eros who was looking at his feet with a nervous look in his eyes then Rosalie spoke up to him

"It's okay to speak freely here." Eros was very hesitant at first but after a couple of minutes he spoke

"Yes....I'm actually......asexual...I've...never had sex with anyone...No one ever caught my interest." That word really shocked Lucrecio

"A blood member of the embodiment of lust and the sin of lust....asexual? That's impossible...or at the very least unheard off." Eros sighed after hearing that and he then continued talking

"This is why I never said anything to anyone, people assumed that I'm just like the other members in my family. I purposefully sneaked out with our guards noticing in thinking that I was getting some ACTION in different ring, when really I just couldn't stand being in the lust ring. I've always hated the smell and even more so whenever I would be around Asmodeus, I preferred staying FAR away from him and that ring if I had a choice....I was out drinking to myself in the sloth ring and I guess I had too much? I didn't notice that I opened I portal to earth instead?"

Because of his story and for being an ally with Helen Rosalie had offered Eros in staying in her home from time to time and he accepted, he ended up staying in Rosalie's mansion for three weeks with a cover story saying that he would be traveling for a bit and his family believed him. During that time him and Cordelia had became close since she was staying in her mother's home after Alastor started causing a little chaos in hell upon his arrival and Helen kept herself safe and out of Alastor's way, hearing the news on how Alastor was powerful it amazed her with just how evil his soul was.

During those three weeks Eros and Cordelia had became so close that the two had ended up dating, in those short weeks the two had strong feelings for each other and both had confessed their undying love for one another. Even after Eros's three weeks where up and returned to hell the two didn't stop seeing each other in secrete so other demons nor the goetia family would find out about the two of them, withing four months of dating Eros had proposed to Cordelia and she said yes after the two had fallen in love. That love was so strong that the two had bonded their souls with each other a lot like how Rosalie bonded her soul with Lucrecio, Cordelia's parents have their blessing even and Lucrecio even performed the wedding with just the four of them at the same place Rosalie and Lucrecio had their wedding in the Belmont garden at night under the blood moon in France.

Within the first month of Cordelia and Eros being newly weds Cordelia was already pregnant, how the child will out was a type of mystery. They didn't know if the child would look less human or more like a goetia, Cordelia's pregnancy lasted for three months unlike Rosalie. However Cordelia's pregnancy was......horrible compared to her mothers, she had DEEP demon like hungers mainly for meat. It was so bad that she had live caudal a few times while she was in France in the country side, a lot of sheep also thus her beginning of the legend of the harpy women in 1934 both in France and Scotland. The animal eating only lasted for a month because she gave birth to her egg which was eight pounds for the process of the egg hatching the eggs color was different, the egg was a beautiful light sky blue like a cardinal egg.

On August 24 1934 Cordelia's and Eros's daughter was hatched out of her egg, what really shocked the family that her eyes where two different colors one eye green just like Rosalie's father's and the other the same shade of blue in Rosalie's eyes and her blood red with the feathers with the tips being the same light blue as Asmodeus if she was goetia. The blood red was one thing but have Rosalie's eye color was another since no Goetia or demon besides Cordelia had those eyes, how she would look when she got older was a little bit of a concern and worry if she started looking a lot like her human grandmother who was still feared and hated by demons. 

Eros's had made a cover story with the rest of the grand duke family about his daughter that he named Harmonia, Cordelia was to be kept secrete from the rest of the Goetia family besides the family of the Grand Duke since she still on her second identity of being a sinner. But because she had the title of an overlord Eros's father Grand Duke Armaan

allowed it and since Eros was the first to give him an heir instead of his older brother of three years, because he was able to produce and heir first as much as Eros didn't like it he was given a much more higher status than his brother Duke Bhojadeva.

Harmonia was the first member of the grand duke family whose name didn't mean desire or lust instead her name meant ' Unity' also it was only Eros's father that knew that Cordelia wasn't a sinner but instead a half human/goetia but didn't reveal the identity for Cordelia's mother claiming that he didn't know who she was.

As for Rosalie she still did her best with helping humanity and when ww2 started in 1939 she knew she needed to help the nation the she called home along with making certain that the Belmont home wouldn't be in any danger, she had very loyal humans on her side that gave her information about the person that started the war. Hitler was the person that started the Nazi's and putting Jewish people in concentration camps which she knew she needed to free those people and their children from Europe, another thing that she was aware of where certain demons that loved war and feeling off it and feeding off fear she had killed dozens of different ranking of demons in protecting what she could. Lucrecio did what he could to help, the same with Cordelia and even Eros since he was now a part of Rosalie's family and a in law of the Belmont family, in secrete Rosalie had supplied the united states military with her solider pills and plasma pills. Not only those pills but also pills that she created for healing broken bones and help with pain almost instantly, she didn't give them to just soldiers she also gave those pills to villages and towns where where invaded by Nazi's and the children that she rescued she had brought them to Rosemont and told the current head mistress the situation and took those children in the school. It wasn't just the school she also requested the families that she was allied with in taking in the children temporary until the war was over, those families agreed with her request, as much as Rosalie didn't like killing humans she had no choice and those Nazi's where already going to hell so to convince herself she told herself that she was just speeding up the process.

For five years to 1945 Rosalie had killed over a hundred Nazi's and freed thousands of people that she could, many camps and the prisoners dealt with a lot of mental pain and Rosalie was aware of it especially with the women and children. Rosalie knew there was only one real way in ended the war with Germany and that was killing Hitler eve after WW2 ended she needed to kill the man that started it all and she knew it needed to be done by her hands alone, before she carried out her plan she inform Helen about a Hitler soon to be in hell and request him to really suffer and her friend and those that where with Helen where more than happy in fulfilling that request for Rosalie.

  It took two years in 1947 to find Hitler and his location before caring out her mission she had worn her demon hunters clothing, for making things a little stealthy for her she chopped off her hair to her shoulders. Before she left Lucrecio had wished her luck and kissed her goodbye and for luck, another good luck kiss she gave was on the forehead of her new grandson of three years old named Eadwardsone who had Cordelia's eyes. Rosalie also kissed and hugged her granddaughter who was fourteen years old and the spitting image of Rosalie when she was younger if goetia form despite Rosalie looking like she was still sixteen years old, Harmonia admired her grandmother so much that she wore the colors of her demon hunters robes and bared half of the Belmont crest but on the opposite side from Cordelia.

With the resources Rosalie had she knew where to find Hitler and where to strike, she went to Berlin Germany using a portal she learned how to do from Lucrecio and the location her destination was führerbunker from her sources said that Hitler was hiding. She decided to make her attack at night however something she wasn't expecting was facing a demon on her way to the bunker.

"Well...isn't this a nice surprise." Rosalie said that to the demon figure that was right in front of her and the demon having her back to her which was surprised hearing her voice, when the demon turned around she saw that it was large demon hound. And from the looks of the hound it looked like he was on a mission himself, of course he was shocked seeing Rosalie in person as she drew out her morning star with a serious look on her face.

"R-Rosalie Belmont?" Was what the demon hound said as he started backing away from her and she said to the demon

"This human is MINE to kill, the only smart thing you can do is not getting in my fucking way."

Rosalie didn't want to risk more demons after her target so she just killed the hellhound, he did put up a fight but he wasn't a match for her. Another thing she had to deal with where the nazi guards that where protecting Hitler though she still didn't mind killing those humans if it meant getting to her target, she could have used a portal but she didn't want that. Those people that where Nazi even if they where forced needed to face their actions, so yay the bunker had turned into a blood bath. Using stealth and magic to gain the upper hand and hiding her identity, she saved the best for last. When she found Hitler he begged for his life and she didn't listen to him, before she killed him she tortured him so that he knew the pain and fear that he had inflected on thousands of people.

[penhive]

March 31, 2023

Creativity is chaos redefined. A lot has been going on in my head. I am thinking of emotions and feelings and they are a cathartic subjectivity and they are so irrational. I saw the motion of ant, a tiny creature and it was a dancing waltz. It was poetry humming in time. While listening to old hymns I feel the presence of Christ. My body’s needs of physical intimacy are not being satisfied and my wife is a social media nerd. I write God’s name in Hebrew and Greek and I ask him to immerse my body, mind, soul, spirit and loins with blessings, cured curses and miracles. Eros is life and Thanatos is death. I am a muse of feelings. I ask God every day that I can transcend all the poets, novelists and philosophers that I have read. The muse of feeling is a beautiful rainbow. I wonder why God is giving me trials and temptations. Yes, the Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing. I love to become Nietzsche’s Zarathustra and also be a professing Christian. Many a time I have backslided but I have got a prodigal welcome from God on my return. I feel unhappy that I could not marry my college sweetheart. Yes the first kiss from her was a beatific poem. I also cajoled her breasts with loving fantasy. Words have become thoughts and thoughts have become things. I am living in the word of flesh and the spirit of meaning. I am writing with a poet’s heart and with a muse of feeling. I look at the evening sky soaked in a myriad of colors and I become a beatific entity. I wonder why the Philosopher Nietzsche hated God. And why he became mad. Music makes the soul happy. I feel contented about life with no regrets. The peace of God that transcends all understanding be with me. Though I have no money, I live the millionaire mindset. My body is an orgasm of eroticism and my soul a butterfly of hope. I am happy that God has forgiven all my transgressions. I think why God blessed Abraham’s maid Hagar and her son Ishmael and made him inheritors of a great nation. If God can bless the gentiles why can’t God bless me? Yes, my flesh is weak but the spirit is willing. Let my will yield to the will of God. The mystery of life can’t be fathomed. Beauty is form, content and meaning. Beauty is the poetry of life. Art is the essence of life. I have copulated with muses in my dream. I wish that the fantasy of my dream life merge with fiction of real life. Eros is the poetry of meaning. Existence is the authentication of essence. Existence is the privilege of meaning and not condemnation.  Existence has to be lived creatively. Existence is the celebration of meaning. This my postmodern view of existentialism. When Christ was asked to pay taxes he asked his disciple to fetch a coin from the fish’s mouth and said the iconic statement: give unto Caesar what is his and give unto mine what I mine. Christ was hinting about the necessity of material provisions and where there is lack of money, Christ will intervene supernaturally.

[neovisioned]

♡ꜜ cupid victorious﹫jaehyun jung

pairing : jaehyun x reader (f) ft. doyoung, jungwoo, yukhei, mark, taeyong and sicheng as the six other cupids, quick mention of seventeen’s jeonghan as jaehyun’s old tutor and red velvet’s joy as the reader’s close friend.

genre : angst, fluff, another smut with too much plot, cupid!jaehyun, soulmate!au, strangers to friends to lovers.

warnings : slow burn, one protected sex scenes, two unprotected sex scenes (as always, stay safe in real life) : heavy making out, dirty talk, body worship, praising, nipple play, penetration, marking, cock warming, morning sex, shower sex, manhandling, degradation, oral (make receiving), face fucking, creampie, fingering, overstimulation, heavy making out in an elevator, they can’t keep their hands off of each other at some point, mentions of sexting (again, in real life know the precautions to take before sending anything risqué) and non descriptive masturbation scene, car sex, semi-public sex, grinding, oral (female receiving), tongue fucking, edging, hair pulling, slight ass play, mention of spanking, slight impreg kink and cum play. 

word count : +26,5k

synopsis: where Jung Jaehyun is one of the seven cupids, one for each continent, and he truly, deeply loves what he does for the small people on planet earth. there isn’t any competition between him and his six other brothers, but most would agree that he’s the best cupid among them. and yet, he’s been stuck on a case for a bit too long now. down on the pretty blue planet, is you. equally as pretty, Jaehyun has to say, yet it seems his arrows aren’t working on you. being a hard-working and pretty stubborn cupid, he decides to take a trip downtown to get to know you better and why exactly, are his arrows not working like they’re supposed to. things don’t go as planned, especially when you take interest in him. 

a/n: please read this i just, this lowkey means a lot to me, this isn’t proofread and, peep my weak attempt at giving jaehyun pink eyes, this takes place in seoul. taglist : @coffeeofmine​, @mailuvsnct​, @junguws​, @suhweo​, @suhfluffy​, @animegirl366​, @ceruleanskies​, @the-universe-in-you-jjh

Jaehyun loves what he does. He wouldn’t even dare call it a job, rather, a vocation, a strong feeling that he was meant for this. The young men had been trained to become one of the seven Cupids when the old ones retired for other adventures. The legend says the old Cupids are eventually reborn on Earth for a more ordinary life after their service on Olympus. He also remembers being taught by the previous Cupid of the continent he was assigned to, a young-looking men with graceful and delicate features, long greyish hair that matched his silver bow. 

Quickly, he learned that Jeonghan - his tutor at the time - was somewhat a vicious Cupid. He knew how to make his job even more fun, taking young Jaehyun alongside him for adventures he could then brag about to the six other apprentices. The brunette remembers watching as his eldest shot arrows at two strangers, two best friends, two rivals, even. But never, never did he let Jaehyun touch one of his arrows, he was only allowed to watch from the high pedestal of a fluffy cloud, or draped in a soft sheet of invisibility. 

Out of the seven continents, Europe was given to Taeyong. One of the smallest, but prettiest, the Cupids all agreed. Taeyong was a cupid with sharp features, hair as red as his beloved bow. After travelling in every country and city, he, himself, fell in love with Paris without the need of any arrows. Taeyong eventually ended up making too many people fall in love in this very city after staying there a bit too much.

Mark, one of the youngest Cupids, was assigned to North America. What a huge continent for such a small frame, was what Jaehyun thought when they were first assigned. But, the brunette had to admit, Mark grew up a lot, Jaehyun didn’t have a single doubt that he had the shoulders for it now more than ever. The young men had a lot of fun with his blue bow, that’s for sure, and he made sure to tell every juicy story at the end of the day with the same contagious smile. 

South America was given to Yukhei. Another with sharp features who was more than happy to oblige. The Cupid was adventurous, loved going to secluded areas and learning more, loved a good sunbath after a day of work when he had the time. His green bow never had a chance to rest, though, it’s like he had a competition with Taeyong on who could shoot more arrows in a week.

Australia was Doyoung’s. The smallest continent, but that’s how the men liked it. He knew the entire country like the back of his hand, he even had his favorite spots, the black-haired could even walk in the streets like a normal citizen at times, without his invisibility spell. Doyoung was quite the careful Cupid with his silver bow, he liked to take his time with his decisions, a privilege few cupids had. 

Sicheng was in charge of Africa, oh how he loved how diverse the continent was. His favourite part was going to the small islands, he truly was living his best life, yellow bow shining under the burning sun. He too, has some interesting stories to tell, though he was extremely busy too.

Antarctica was Jungwoo’s. Needless to say, he didn’t really like it at first. At best 4,000 people during the summer, but Jungwoo finally found something good about it. He knew everyone, or almost. Sure, he didn’t use his black bow as much as everyone else, but he didn’t mind. He could even visit Yukhei every now and then, just to annoy him right before he had to shoot an arrow. 

And finally, Asia. This one was Jaehyun’s. What a huge responsibility for the young men. But, he accepted the biggest continent without a complaint. The brunette travelled the continent from north to south, east to west. His golden bow rarely caught some rest, Jaehyun was rather quick to shoot. 

And, when the time came for Jaehyun and his six friends, that he called his six brothers, to become the new generation of Cupids, he was nothing other than filled with joy. Joy and excitement, maybe a little bit of anxiety at the responsibility but, they all had been waiting for this moment.

It was five years ago, five years since he finally was able to take his bow in hand, pink irises shining with excitation as he accepted the great responsibility, fingers running over the sharp arrows. After years, months, weeks and days of learning how to match people together, become the perfect, invisible matchmaker. 

Strangely enough, it seemed humans managed to grasp the grand concept of their work pretty well. On his first day with Jeonghan, Jaehyun learned about Roman mythology’s Cupid and Greek mythology’s Eros, and how humans thought it was one immortal men handling the entire job, shooting a single arrow, making that person fall in love with the first individual they saw.  The brunette found this depiction rather funny, some differences were notable. Obviously, it wasn’t a one men job. Yes, the seven boys were pretty fast, but they wouldn’t ever be able to work with even one of them missing. They didn’t have one arrow, they actually had four different arrows : same heart-shaped at the end, different colors, different purposes. 

The first one was quite innocent, an open door for mistakes, it was the first many Cupids used. A bronze arrow meant for crushes.  The second one was what humans knew about. Silver, it was meant for love, be it for a serious relationship or not.  The third, was one every Cupid used often too, but with caution. The soulmate arrow was a golden arrow, eye-catching and almost dangerous looking. Cupids used this one when they knew two people were soulmates. Sometimes, they never used it on someone, and other times, they used it multiple times on an individual. 

The last one, every Cupid hated using at first. Dark, black, the “heartbreak” arrow. Jaehyun thought the name wasn’t so appropriate after all, it’s less radical than it sounds. It’s an arrow used to make people lose feelings. Because with time, Cupids learn that humans need a bit of a broken heart, need to fall out of love to move on to better things. 

Ask about the ceremony, the seven Cupids remember it like it happened yesterday. An entire night, from dusk until dawn, starting with the old cupids reciting the thousand years old speech they, themselves, heard when they became the new generation.  Every Cupid was called with their assigned continent, tutor handing them a bow, one by one, each a different color. Finally, when all the new seven Cupids were aligned, seven white arrows were shot in Olympus’ sky, leaving a pretty trail behind them, before eventually falling on earth. Yet another tradition, the legend says that whoever gets touched by this arrow will be one of the next Cupid. 

The night was attended by almost all the Gods and Goddesses, filled with songs, wine and nectar, gifts to get the Cupids’ good favors. Jaehyun remembers looking down on earth by the end of the night with a sense of pride and excitement.  That night was also the last time Jaehyun saw Jeonghan, the last time their tutors were seen on Olympus. As wine and nectar stopped flowing, two generations of Cupids went to sleep and only one remained, the oldest vanishing without a sound, without a trace. 

It was quite a sad sight, fourteen became seven, but Asia’s cupid knew he’d eventually come across his old tutor one day, living like a normal human, oblivious and amnesic to the adventures he had and loved to tell up in Olympus.  Jaehyun would recognize him in a second, and he swore he’d look over him like Jeonghan did. 

Jaehyun taps his fingers on his golden bow, itching to shoot an arrow again. It’s been a bit too long since he shot the last one, and he’s getting bored. On his pedestal, the Cupid looks down on earth with half-closed eyes, longing for something exciting to happen already.  No matter where his eyes land, what country, what city he decided to look over, it seems that his instincts aren’t kicking in, his instincts aren’t letting him know that his arrows could be useful. 

Minutes feel like hours for the brunette, but it seems the Gods and Goddesses heard his silent complains and bend to his needs, eyebrows raising as his pupils finally catch an interesting situation.

“Ah, finally.”, breathes Asia’s Cupid. Leaning in, his eyes take in the scene. In a gym, he doesn’t take long to find whoever sparked his interest. You. 

Hair attached in a ponytail, sweaty forehead, you’re in the middle of an intense workout session. By your side, it seems you have a coach, helping you with some gestures, shouting some encouraging words Jaehyun doesn’t really care to listen to.  Jaehyun has seen a lot of people, thousands a day, maybe more, who knows. But the Cupid himself has to say, you’re pretty. 

Though, the brunette is a professional Cupid. Or at least, he likes to think he is. This said, he doesn’t stay stuck looking at your figure, pink irises focused on the men next to you, going back and forth, detailing the situation.  As a Cupid, Jaehyun quickly understands that you need a little bit of love in your life, something to spice things up. Ask him to explain, he’ll tell you he can’t. Again, it’s pure instinct, with a bit of analyzing. Cupids usually feel when an arrow could be used on someone, and then, instinct and some thinking help them decide on the arrow to use. Usually, it doesn’t take more than a few seconds, Cupids just know when something is only meant to be a simple crush, when love is involved, or when things are simply meant to be. 

A pout forms on his lips, this wasn’t the most interesting case he had, but it could do. 

Now that the Cupid thinks about it, he had a thing for making strangers fall into each other’s arms, but he loved, absolutely loved, helping people cross the blurry line between hatred and love. Jaehyun has a few favorite stories, like the one time he made a prince and a trader fall in love, or the cliché college enemies finally giving in. But hélas, these stories didn’t happen every day, Jaehyun told himself as he grabbed his bow, arrow ready, string tense. 

A bronze arrow, one that will only make a crush bloom in your heart, that’s the one Jaehyun chose for you, your coach wasn’t the one for you, he could feel it. 

The Cupid did it hundreds of times a day, he didn’t have to think much about it. The brunette had the habit of closing an eye, making sure he had a good view and, without thinking too much, Jaehyun shot his arrow. 

And just like that, Jaehyun’s job for the day was done. 

A hot cup of black tea in your hand, you groan as Sooyoung swipes right on yet another picture you didn’t even get the chance to look at. Nice. Your friend had been asking, almost begging you to finally get on Tinder. And, after much convincing, you agreed, not knowing what you got yourself into. The red-haired didn’t waste a second to grab your phone, swiping left and right while barely letting you judge by yourself the people she was virtually matching you with. 

Pictures were moving left and right, left, left, right, faces blending into each other, not a single bio catching your attention. Crazy how many people like the same few hobbies, how bland description can make you dizzy overtime. You were too tired to focus on the handful of people Sooyoung was making you look at anyways. After an entire day of work, and a full session of workout, all you could do was hum more or less loudly, hoping your close friend could translate your vibrations into yes and no’s. 

“Fuck, you’re out.”, she interjects. It manages to catch your attention a bit more, lifting your eyes from the brownish liquid. Out ? Out of what.  “What if you payed for more swipes ?”, your friend taunts. Judging your reaction, her head rolls back, trying to get a good look at you with her head on your lap, finger dangerously hovering over the payment wall on the screen. 

“Oh no, no way I’m paying for that !”, you mumble with a tired voice, almost knocking your drink out of your hand as you grab your phone. No way you’d pay for something like that anytime soon. 

“Y/N, c’mon !”

You know Sooyoung so well you don’t need to see her face to picture her rolling her eyes at you. For the past month or so, your friend had been trying to get you on dates, without much success, unfortunately. See, if Sooyoung was quite with her time, not having a problem with finding dates after dates via dating apps, you on the other hand, didn’t feel the same. Maybe you were too romantic for your generation, but you still found it really hard to get with the entire meeting via social media thing.

“You know I’ll delete that as soon as you leave, right ?”, you tell her again, quickly closing the application before locking your phone, an audible sigh from your friend as the background noise. 

“Uh, alright, at least I tried.”, the red-headed tells herself, finally moving from your legs that were starting to get numb under her body. But, it doesn’t take long for her to lash onto yet another possibility the second after. “And what about your coach ?” 

A frown takes over your features, your mouth a thin line you hide behind your cup. The tea’s still hot, the sugary liquid burns down your throat and you take the opportunity to think a bit more about her words. 

Your coach, you never really thought about him in that way. You also never thought about him out of the gym setting, actually. But, now that you did, you had to admit that he was a good looking person. And, you did notice his new haircut today, undercut making his figure look cleaner.  Then again, you saw him often, but when he saw you, you were always sweaty and out of breath. You also realized that you associated his name and face to the not-so-pleasant body aches you had every time you left the gym. Strangely, your right arm was always a bit more sore-. 

“Nah.”, you finally respond, catching a drop of tea threatening to fall down your chin. And, by the looks of it, Sooyoung really thought something could spark with how long you took to respond. The young girl can only scoff, mumbling something under her breath, scrolling on her phone and you can only guess she’s trying to find one guy she met once in college five years ago that she can maybe present to you. 

And you guessed right, after a few minutes, she turns her phone towards you, the brightness a bit too much for your half-closed eyes. An Instagram picture on her phone shows you another guy with red, long hair. Half of it is tied in a bun, the other half falls in front of his sharp eyes in a curtain of bangs. From his caption, it seems he’s Japanese, or at least can speak it. 

“Nice hair.”, you simply tell her, hoping she’d drop the subject, but obviously, Sooyoung doesn’t. The young girl looks at the picture once again, a fake frown on her face as she gestured to her own hair. “I’m actually, CEO of the company.” 

“You’re one hard case, Y/N.”, your close friend finally concludes, after facing your silence for a few seconds. You can’t believe her, she starts scrolling again, determined look on her face. You really find it heartwarming, how she’s trying to help you find love even when you act the way you do. You didn’t even tell her why you disregarded the red-haired men, she already knew you were a stubborn, hopeless romantic, views tinted and distorted by years of romance novels and cheesy movies. 

“Sooyoung, you’re not the Cupid you think you are.” 

Yet another day in the somewhat mundane yet exciting world of Cupids. Jaehyun wouldn’t have it any other way, though, or at least, he thinks so. On his little pedestal, the cupid takes a sip of his nectar.  On the soft cloud, his foot kicks at the fluffy texture, watching as it dissolves in the wind. It’s right in the middle of the day for Asia’s Cupid, he already shot a lot of arrows, a few soulmate arrows and had just been the invisible witness of a forbidden love blooming, something he could tell the other cupids about tonight. 

Jaehyun finds himself looking over your city again, it’s something he does a lot. The young men doesn’t have a favorite city, he can’t put Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and other cities against each other, but he does like Korea’s capital quite a bit. Cherry trees full of fruits, people are going out more often, summer is making everything better. And then, the young Cupid gets that feeling. One him and the six other Cupids know oh, so well. Tips of his fingers tingling, pupils blown, his eyes quickly find his new subject.  And it’s...You again ? 

“You, again...?” Jaehyun can’t help but voice his thoughts out, no one can hear him anyways. But it’s weird, to see you again. Didn’t he shoot you yesterday ? Yes, Cupids see a lot of people, but Jaehyun has a good memory and won’t forget a face so quickly.  A human having a crush on someone and falling in love with someone else weeks, even days after isn’t impossible, but Jaehyun never had it happen so quickly. Maybe you fell in love with your coach, the brunette thinks, but as he gets a closer look, he notices that your coach, isn’t really here.  Uh, interesting, Jaehyun thinks. Maybe today won’t be so mundane, maybe you’re the one who’ll spice things up for him.  It’s weird, you’re not thinking about your coach. That, Jaehyun can tell. There isn’t a single trace of love interest for him in your soul, Asia’s Cupid wonders if he missed his shot yesterday. It happens rarely, maybe three times since he started this, but it can happen. It gets the young men even more intrigued. 

A small smile creeps on his lips as he sees you stopping in front of a cherry tree, admiring the red dots all over, taking a quick picture before walking straight ahead. It doesn’t look like you’re working today, Jaehyun knows it’s Saturday on Earth. Much like Doyoung, the brunette has a sort of obsession with the blue planet, he knows more than most of his brothers.   Another thing he knows, it looks like you’re meeting up with someone. The Cupid sees you stopping at a coffee shop, he decides not to look inside of you walk in. 

And Jaehyun is right to do so, several minutes after, you’re walking out with a hot cup of tea and a cheesecake. Good taste, the Cupid thinks. He loves cheesecake as well, Doyoung bought some the other day. Even better, the two ate it all by themselves, lets just say his five other brothers aren’t that interested in Earth’s culture. Finally, you take advantage of the Summer weather, taking a seat outside. You don’t look as sweaty as yesterday, obviously. Hair down, the soft wind makes the tips of your locks tingle your skin, locks you brush away quickly. Jeans and a light top, your everyday makeup is done. 

As you take your phone out, the young men takes a step back, trying to see if he can find the one you’re waiting for in the streets. It’s a fun luck-based game he plays from time to time. But it seems luck isn’t on his side today, when his pink irises find your silhouette again, he notices a man sitting right in front of you.  Oh, him. Something serious could happen with him, Jaehyun can tell by the way the tip of his fingers tingle. Yet, you can do better than that, Asia’s cupid thinks to himself. And suddenly, he stops himself. He shouldn’t think this, a Cupid shouldn’t have such judgments. Brushing the thought away, he takes a step forward, trying to understand who this guy is to you. 

“How long has it been ?”, the men asks, apparently it manages to make you laugh a bit as you answer. “A decade or so.” With this, it’s easy to understand you two haven’t seen each other in a long, very long time. So you two already somewhat know each other, it might help things, maybe you didn’t know your coach enough to feel things. The arrows’ law can alter and be a bit strange, sometimes. 

“You’ve grown up a lot since junior high, Y/N”, the unknown men says, a pool of heat creeping on your cheeks.  Pretty name, the Cupid thinks. Old friends reuniting after years, that’s a cute situation, he thinks to himself. He can see something mildly serious coming out of it, he isn’t a soulmate but, he could be in your life for a year or two, maybe three. 

He shrugs, taking his beloved bow in his right hand, silver arrow in the other. A routine, string tense, one eye closed, from this distance, Jaehyun knows he won’t miss, there isn’t a chance in the world he’d miss a shot like that, he’s close, the target isn’t moving. 

And so, he shoots. When the arrow lands, right in the middle of your chest as you’re taking a bite of your cheesecake, the young men sees you slightly choking on it, chuckling to himself. Something quickly sparks in your eyes when your old friend helps you whip your chin, there you go.  Jaehyun thinks he’s done with you. That night, he tells his six brothers about the girl that choked on cheesecake.

“Myungdae ? Ew, no.”, you whisper out, eyes travelling from the sculpture to your friend, almost choked at the proposition. The look on your face is enough to tell her exactly what you think about your old friend, to Jaehyun’s misbelief.

He cannot believe it, he can’t believe the words coming out of your mouth. His lips part in pure shock, or maybe it’s awe, he doesn’t know quite yet. On his pedestal, the arrow and bow the young men was supposed to shoot a few moments prior stay inert at his side, glowing under the white neon light.  Ew, no. The two, simple words, simple sounds, ring again and again in his head. And it’s not like you’re lying too, the Cupid can feel it, or he actually, he doesn’t feel it. He doesn’t feel any love interest towards Myungdae, the guy you saw a few days ago, the guy he thought would be your future boyfriend. 

“What ?”, Asia’s Cupid almost screams out, it’s not like anyone will hear anyways, right ?

“What…?”, Sooyoung unknowingly mimics the young men’s words, but her tone is slightly different. “He’s cute !” The red haired speaks a bit too loudly for the setting, Jaehyun sees you shooting a death glare at who he found out is your good friend. She’s being too loud in the museum, the very museum Jaehyun felt pulled to, his instincts telling him to shoot the golden arrow at your best friend, one of the museum’s tour guide he quickly found out was a soulmate.

“He…He is…!”, you tell your friend, hoping it’ll make her calm down a little bit more. As Sooyoung sighs, eyes wondering around as she searches for the right words, her pupils land on a group’s guide. He’s a tall men with dark brown hair, beige shirt from the museum hugging his built figure. Fuck, Jaehyun thinks. There’s too much going on, he can not forget about Sooyoung.

“I just…Can’t help but see him as the kid that puked on the school trip for Busan.”, you tell your friend, but it’s clear her attention is taken by the men describing the sculpture to the small group of tourists. Little do you know, Jaehyun is listening closely to your words. Though, the men has to act quick. He’s been a Cupid for long enough that it takes him seconds to get everything ready. String tense, one eyes close, golden arrow aiming just right, the brunette shoots the arrow at the tour guide with ease. He looks a bit older than you and your friend. Finally, as the heart tip touches him right on the left side, his eyes meets Sooyoung’s, he smiles at her.  

“…But…But it went well, right ?”, Sooyoung is a good friend, trying her best to keep her attention on you but, it’s clear the men’s smile took her back. Jaehyun also decides he likes her a lot, voicing every question he isn’t able to ask you in person.

“It did…” You can’t really explain it. Yes, it went well, he seemed a bit interested, but you weren’t. It’s not what you were looking for, it’s like everything was right but, something was missing. A feeling something much greater was waiting for you out there, somewhere. Only, if only it’d present itself to you. A sigh leaves your lips as you’re literally ranting about your dead love life as your best friend seems to fall in love with you, what a cruel coincidence.

A worried look takes over Asia’s Cupid’s face.

The brunette never saw this, not in front of his very eyes. He doesn’t even remember hearing stories about anyone…Refusing love ? Not being affected by his arrows ? Eyebrows furrowed, Jaehyun’s heart picks up for the first time. It’s a weird feeling, he doesn’t know if he’s supposed to experience, it pumps faster, alters his breathe.

“Maybe I used all my shots at love already.”, you tell Sooyoung, shoulders going up, and down as you try to act nonchalant. It’s not hard to tell you’re faking it, at least, it isn’t for the Cupid.

No, Jaehyun wants to scream it out at you, you still have so much to see, so much to feel, he thinks. It’s funny, how the brunette didn’t even experience it and yet, he knows about all the things you deserve to see. Shit, something is clearly wrong, the Cupid can tell, he feels it twisting his guts, a cold sweat on your forehead. The subject is dropped quickly after your close friends reassures you the best she can, too quickly. The Cupid sighs from above, he wishes he was there. 

That night, Jaehyun decides he’s going to Earth for another one of his mission.

Such a simple phrase. “I’m going down.”, yet, it has the power to take back the six other Cupids, again. A decision like this shouldn’t really require such an announcement, they think at first. Doyoung goes to Australia whenever he wants and doesn’t feel the need to nervously let it out after tapping on his glass with his knife. But quickly, they all understand this isn’t about a small walk on Earth to visit, Jaehyun’s on a mission he’s decided he won’t give up on. Jaehyun had two trips to Earth, small ones for missions that required his presence and a little bit more knowledge on the person he was supposed to shoot. But never did it felt this, Jaehyun couldn’t really put his finger on it, but something told him this mission would be a lot more different than the two others.

“Aren’t you taking this a bit too much at heart ?”, asks Doyoung, after Asia’s Cupid finishes his explanations. He’s worried for the youngest, Cupids usually don’t go on Earth for anything other than a walk, Jaehyun already broke this stereotype twice and came back without a scratch, but the black-haired was scared something would eventually happen to him there, where they may not have as much of an authority. His back faces Jaehyun, slicing some red apples for Sicheng, who’s making dinner, but Asia’s Cupid still pouts at him like he’ll be able to see. “No…”, he starts, but his sentence quickly gets stopped by Taeyong’s low chuckle, who’s following the situation with a curious eye. “Alright, maybe a little. But that’s my job !”

“He’s right, that’s our job. Something isn’t right with her.”, Yukhei finally speaks, looking up from the book he was reading, body ungracefully laying on the bench. The brunette had a long, long day, and didn’t talk much that evening, but Jaehyun sure appreciated the small contribution to his cause.

“Thank you.”, Jaehyun slightly nods at his brother for the support, before looking over at Jungwoo, helping or rather, clinging onto Doyoung. “Jungwoo could look over Asia while I’m gone, I won’t take long anyways…!”

At that, Jungwoo drops what he’s doing, such a dramatic being. Pretty unfortunate for Doyoung’s hand, who has to dodge a sharp kitchen knife. “Jungwoo, what the-.”

“For real ?”, asks Antarctica’s Cupid, pink eyes as big as saucers. Don’t get him wrong, the young men grew to love his continent, but he’d kill to be Asia’s Cupid, even for a day. And he said it multiple times before. Jaehyun’s other two missions were so short he didn’t really need replacement, but this time, Asia’s Cupid was clear in making everyone understand that this, you, were a special case.

“Yeah…But only if it doesn’t add too much work…”, Jaehyun knows it isn’t an easy task, the biggest continent is a lot of work and a lot of arrows to shoot. He barely needs more arguments, though, the blonde laches onto Asia’s Cupid’s arms, to the five other’s misbelief. It’s a mechanism, the way Jaehyun’s arms wrap around Jungwoo’s frame with a small laugh.

“You won’t have a lot of time, thought.”, Taeyong says, to which the brunette has to agree with a nod, awaiting for his brothers’ final decision. Obviously, he wouldn’t do anything without everyone’s approval.

Time behaves differently, in Olympus. Weeks and days are not really a thing, after all, Gods, Goddesses and other creatures don’t really need to worry about a thing that won’t affect them. But, if they’d have to count, a year on Earth would feel like six months for the Gods, maybe even less.

“I know, I know. I won’t be long anyways…How much time do I have ?”

It’s a group decision, Jaehyun’s aware of this. If his brothers end up disagreeing to his proposition, he’d have to accept it, if they give him a small amount of time in unanimity, he’d have to bent to their decision and make it work.

“How about, around a month on Earth, maximum ? You can take care of Asia for that time being, right, Jungwoo ?”, Sicheng finally speaks up and proposes, it’s unnecessary to say that Antarctica’s Cupid agreed with a vigorous nod of the head, locks bouncing on his smiling face.

“It’s settled, then.”, it’s half of a question Doyoung asks Asia’s Cupid, a month is more than enough, he thinks.

“Good luck on Earth, then. And don’t do anything stupid, we’ll watch over ya.”, Mark concludes, slightly hitting his brother’s shoulder.

And that’s how, Jaehyun, Asia’s Cupid, ended up on Earth for the third time.

Unlike Doyoung, Jaehyun never really went on Earth for a simple walk but thankfully, he was so curious about Earth that the rules and codes of the planet weren’t new to him, at all. It was indeed, different from Olympus, but he liked it as much, maybe even more. No Gods or Goddesses to please, no curses and weird family treasons to keep up with. He didn’t have the same authority here but, he wasn’t helpless either, he was equal to everyone.

He knew about phones and, he was very happy to get his hands on one. He sometimes thought about how it’d be pretty funny to have these up on Olympus so he could send pictures to his brothers, same for televisions but he didn’t know if any deities would actually want to participate in such a thing. Even after these two trips, the difference between watching from his little Cupid cloud and being on Earth still struck him. Being painted as a normal human, at the same level with everyone, being noticed and looked at by people he does not know and won’t ever see again, not being invisible. It was different, but it felt right.

When his body finally materialized in the small apartment he was granted for his stay, the first thing he did was look outside. The place was in the city center, a modest apartment that didn’t have anything to compare with his Palace in Olympus, but he quite liked it. Pretty trees, grey streets, the sound of cars and people talking was something he wasn’t used to, nor was he used to the city lights enlightening his apartment at night, the pitch-black darkness of Olympus long gone. Inside, it was small, intimate, kitchen and living room connected, a small bathroom but one large bedroom he immediately took a liking for with it’s floor to ceiling windows. He’d get used to it pretty quickly, Jaehyun was sure of that, but one thing he probably wouldn’t get used to, even after a month here, was not being able to see his brothers. Jaehyun remembers thinking he’d be able to live here until he thought about them. It took him back, at first. Jaehyun wasn’t used to being alone at home, he was used to the somewhat harmonious chaos his brothers would create with and around him. He knew he’d be able to communicate with them if, and only if it was necessary, he knew they’d watch over him, but it still felt weird.

Loneliness isn’t a feeling Jaehyun is used to, he finds the feeling usually comes with a lot of questioning too. That’s something Jaehyun doesn’t like to do, questioning. Yet, his current status comes with a lot of blank spaces and questions that are maybe meant to stay unanswered. Asia’s Cupid would like to be able to push them aside, like his brothers seem to be able to do. But maybe they do think about these questions a lot too, after all, Jaehyun never dared to ask. It’s on his first night on Earth, stomach empty and apartment half decorated that he finally lets these question fill his mind again. Sitting on his new bed, gazing at this city that never seems to sleep, he wonders if he was one of them, before. There’s a club nearby, Jaehyun wonders if he used to be the type to party, if he was a student, if he was a boy or a girl, what he identified as, if he was in love, if he was loved. He never told anyone but, sometimes, he feels nostalgia looking down on humans, missing something he doesn’t even remember experiencing. A sense of déjà-vu, like he used to do these things, going out with friends, watching movies, having first kisses, making love, living oblivious to everything above. Jaehyun will never admit it, much less talk about it to his brother, but, a few times, he had blurry visions. Images forming in his head at random times, they were never long, a slip second leaving Jaehyun wondering, desperately trying to recreate it. Asia’s Cupid remembers seeing a tall man, brown hair, cat-like eyes, an old camera pointed at him. Him, he saw him two times, he also remembers seeing a brunette, petite girl with a dimple. Who were they to him, before ? He’d never know, family, friends, lovers, it’s his guess. He hates it, but what can he do about it ?

It’s one of the few downsides of being a Cupid. Knowing you have a past, maybe multiple past lives, and not remembering any of it, it’s cruel, in a way. Not knowing how you died, when you died, knowing the ones you now view as brothers weren’t in your life. Knowing one day, another generation of Cupids will take the lead and goodbyes are going to be crushing. It’s a double sided blade, being that aware of your faith.

The young men doesn’t like thinking about it much, busying his mind whenever his brain wonders with whatever he can find. And, that’s exactly what he’s doing.

Ah, how Gods and Goddesses are dramatic, Jaehyun thinks when his eyes finally land on the file, neatly tracked on the black table. Golden letters on the white hardcover, his name written on it, calling him. Finally, delicate digits peal the cover, flipping the first page over. Your name, age, date of birth, everything’s written on it. And, most importantly, your workplace.

 “Hey, Y/N.”, a voice you know too well calls you out, but do you care enough to look up ? No. Definitely not. Maybe it’s a bit…Mean. But you pray to any God above that he’ll leave you alone. Eyes scanning the same sentence over, and over again, you try your best to look busy. Extremely busy with your email and empty photoshop project open.

“Hey ! You busy ?”, the same voice again, a bit closer, fuck. You have to look up at Daeyong, standing right behind your computer, forcing a smile on your face. The men gives you the same smile, though you don’t doubt he’s a bit more sincere than you are. A half gloved hand pushes his bleached hair back - he works on a graphic tablet -, you wonder if the dry locks won’t fall right off. He, Daeyong, is one of your many colleagues in the publicity agency. He works in the cubicle a few meters away from yours, though you sometimes wish he was in an entirely different building.

“Hey, Daeyong. No, no, what’s up ?”, at this point, you can’t really tell him you’re busy. Knowing him, he’ll probably look over your computer to see any progress on the project you’re supposed to be working on. You bite the inside of your cheek when he giggles at your face, you can’t be the only one to feel the awkwardness, fuck. See, a few months ago, he asked you out on a date to a niche restaurant. At first, you accepted, he had cornered you in front of a few other people and you couldn’t really say no, you didn’t want to put him in such an embarrassing situation. But, after much thinking - a minute into your shower-, you decided you didn’t want to go. A text was sent and lets just say your doubts were now facts, Daeyong was the cliché of the Reddit Nice Guy.

You remember him blowing up on you, and of course, you didn’t let it slide. Heated texts were exchanged and after weeks of silence and tension - not the good one - between the two of you, he decided to apologize. Yet, you couldn’t let the situation go, he still made you feel uncomfortable. He tried to act overly nice, you’d prefer if he just…Apologized and stopped talking to you.

“There’s a newbie, he’s taking the spot next to you. Boss wants you to help him feel welcomed and all, y’know the drill, yeah ?”, you hate how he speaks to you like you’re still friends, like nothing happened. You just nod, getting more and more uncomfortable the longer he stays there. Right behind your computer, like you own him something. Daeyong opens his mouth a few times, trying to starts a sentence, tongue wetting his chapped lips.

As you’re about to excuse yourself for an early coffee break, he finally finds his words.

“Hey, I think we cou-.”, he starts. And you know, you know were this is going. We could try again, we could be good together. But, before he can finish his sentence and before you can even let out a syllable, it seems the universe finally helps you out.

“Hey, Y/N, right ?”, a deep, unknown voice comes from your side. You’re so tense it almost makes you jump. “Oh, sorry, am I interrupting something ?”, he continues. Your savior, and polite at that. The universe gave you an opportunity, you’re going to take it, with both hands and not let go. Quickly, you use your chair to spin around, back to Daeyong, facing whoever saved you from this embarrassing and quite annoying situation, maybe you’ll-

“Oh.”

Oh. You freeze for a good second, maybe a bit more, looking up at who you hope is your new cubicle neighbor. Slender, feline eyes that curl at the inner corner looking at you through short, cute, eyelashes. Deep, dark brown irises and it feels like…You’ve seen them before ? They hold something familiar, something inviting, you wonder if you met him before, a long, long time before. It’s when the bridge of his nose scrunch up with a smile that you snap out. Fuck, have you been glaring at him for long ? Did he notice ?

“N-No, no !”, you starts quickly, pearly teeth biting down on your painted bottom lip when he laughs a little. It’s airy, short and yet, the small sounds makes your heart pick up, pumping up blood to your cheeks.

“I mean yes, I’m Y/N. And no, you didn’t interrupt anything !”, you reassure him, finally collecting yourself. Oh god.

“Eh…He’s the newbie I was talking about.”, clearing his throat, Daeyong adds, visibly throw off, great. “I’ll get going then, take care of him.”, he finishes, before finally, oh finally, leaving for his own cubicle. You can’t help but sigh of relief, before the said newbie stretches a hand out.

“I’m Jaehyun.”, he says, and you don’t hesitate to take his hand in yours, intending to shake it slightly. But, when his skin touches yours, it might seem insane, maybe you’re going crazy, but the shiver that runs down your spine takes you back for a second.

Jaehyun feels it too, the lukewarm tips of his digits lingering on your skin. Something is different, different from the few other humans he met, face to face. Jaehyun isn’t supposed to be feel anxious around humans, isn’t he…A superior being after all ? He isn’t from this world, not…really. He has another understanding of the world and yet, he feels equal to you, equal to humans for the first time in this very moment, when his brown eyes bore into yours.

“Y/N.”, you introduce yourself anyways.

People say time behaves differently in certain places. Unfamiliar McDonald’s on a roadtrip, lakes in a suburban neighborhoods, you could name a few and maybe, just maybe, you can add your small cubicle in this very moment.

Jaehyun sits down in front of the desk next to you, his face disappearing behind the thin wall for a quick second. He lets his black bag down, before both his palms hit the white desk. You laugh a little, he might be a little overwhelmed by the graphic tablet, the two computer screens still asleep in front of his eyes. He looks young, you note, probably around your age, maybe he’s straight out of university and just started working.

“So, Jaehyun.”, you start again, Jaehyun’s body leaning against his chair. His ears are a bit red, rosy skin contrasting, cute, you think. “Where did you study ?”

“I, uhm…”, fuck, Jaehyun knew his made-up backstory by heart and yet, his throat went dry the minute you said his name. “Paris, Gobelins.”, he finally says with a smile. Relax, Jaehyun, relax. Before leaving, him and his brothers made an entire backstory. Family name, parents, siblings, hobbies, anecdotes, studies, exes. They went through everything and yet, he almost fucked it up a second in. Thankfully, you don’t seem to notice, your attention drawn to his words. Paris ? Les Gobelins ? Your lips part for a second, eyes wide for the second time today. “Paris ?”, you whine out, unconsciously leaning forward. Jaehyun hums, finger pressing on the computer’s button, thank the Gods, he knows how everything works, “How was it ?” Thankfully for Jaehyun, he doesn’t even have to set foot in Paris to know exactly how it is. “Pretty, it’s a really pretty city.” Taeyong brags about it every day, he thinks to himself. “Especially during the summer, the architecture is amazing. Lots of tourists and traffic, though.”, he notes, acting like he’s thinking to himself. You sigh at that, almost day dreaming when your new cubicle neighbor tells you about the Louvre and other highly known places. “I’ve always wanted to go.”, you mumble, graphic pen slightly hitting your desk. Jaehyun decides the pout on your lip might be the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

If Jaehyun was a bit more aware of himself, he would’ve known, he would’ve known he was fucked from the very beginning. The slight alteration in his heartbeat when his hand met yours, a Cupid is not supposed to feel such things. It’s a cruel rule, Cupids are not supposed to feel love, they are not supposed to fall in love. After all, if Cupids are able to comprehend such emotions, wouldn’t it make their job harder ? Love would come across their duty, what if they had a crush on someone on Earth and forgot to shoot, or even worst, refuse to shoot an arrow ? Cupids understood rather quickly that love might be beautiful, it could also be extremely dangerous. Especially when they travel across their continent all day long, meeting beautiful souls after beautiful souls.

If he was aware, the Cupid would’ve known. He would’ve known when your giggle at his confused look towards the two computer screen and multiple programs took a smile out of him. He would’ve known when you asked for his phone number on his third day and his throat went dry. He would’ve known when you walked out of the building with him on the fifth day and his heart skipped a beat when you waved goodbye, slight tired smile stretching your lips. Asia’s Cupid would’ve known when you bought him something to drink around his second week, he would’ve known if he wasn’t so stubborn, so blind.

It’s just because he’s taking the mission at heart, he thinks to himself after a little bit more than a week working in your small company. Jaehyun brushes it off, he keeps himself busy and would rather not think about you more than he already is. The young men does not want to think about his past lives and the half second long flashes he seems to get more frequently on the blue planet and so, he tries his hardest to distract himself. On his trip to Earth, Jaehyun finds he loves painting, it’s something he could not do on Olympus very often, he was too busy during the day, too tired during the night. And so, the Cupid buys himself some paint, some brushes and some canvas. Jaehyun finds he also really likes this deep brown bubbly soda, at least he has something else to drink than the sugary nectar he always has up there. The Cupid also gets interested in Earth’s cinema. It’s fun to watch, he finally has the time to binge watch every Spiderman ever made. But, when the movie ends and the inspiration runs out, Jaehyun can not run away from you. He doesn’t know it yet, the Cupid does not want to face it either but, you’re already carved in his heart. And, even when he thinks he’s distracting himself from you, he takes a step back from the painting he’s working on and… The pretty pale colors strangely look like you.

See, there’s another small issue with Asia’s Cupid’s plan. After two weeks on Earth and much observation, Jaehyun notices you aren’t interested in anyone. A rather big issue when he barely has half a month left to understand exactly what the fuck is going on with you and successfully accomplish his mission. You two share even more during coffee breaks and there isn’t a single spark. His sensations aren’t as sharp on Earth but, he doesn’t see any lingering look from your side, no discreet look over someone, nothing. It’s clear none of your co-workers had a chance with you, at least. Another thing the boy notices after a bit more time, you don’t need him, you don’t need help on your shoulder. When you finally seem interested by someone, Jaehyun feels the slight numbness in his fingertips and, for a second, he’s happy. So happy, it feels like his mission starts now. You don’t need his help to go out of your way and make a move. Small issue ? He’s the love interest.

From : You, 8:37 pm. : “About the company’s gathering, we should go together so I can introduce you to everyone you need to know.”

There’s a slight sigh coming from Jaehyun’s lips as he looks at the screen of his phone, he quickly got used to the object. This is just a friendly proposition, he thinks to himself. After all, you were supposed to help him get more comfortable in his new job, right ? The gathering is in three days, the third day of the third week of Jaehyun’s timeline. Now that he thinks about it, maybe he’ll find your perfect match at said gathering with other similar companies. The Cupid still blinds himself. If anyone was looking over him from above, they’d scoff at his attitude.

To : You, 8:40 pm. : “Yeah, sure !”

From : You, 8:42 pm. : “Nice, will pick you up at 9 ?”

To : You, 8:45 pm. : “Good for me !” Jaehyun hits send, his fingertips tingle.

Third day of his third week, the blindfold finally falls down or rather, it rips. Jaehyun can only numb himself for so long, a man can only pretend to not hear when someone’s screaming at them. Jaehyun might remember this very moment all his life. It had rained, this morning, the dark concrete floor dark by the summer water. At least, it took some degrees out of the current heat. Poor Cupid enters a phase the moment he sees you checking your lipstick in a small round mirror, in the back of a black, luxurious car. His heart doesn’t skip a beat, it pumps faster. The tallest had some fever dreams, dreams where the air is thick, dense, where it feels like he’s the only one aware of the altered universe his brain created and, it feels the same. Jaehyun feels like he has every God and Goddess watching him from above. Judging, detailing and yet, he also feels so alone, standing there right in front of the glossy car door. Palms sweaty, ears a deep shade of pink, there’s no denying it.

“Don’t get attached, you won’t see her again.”, Doyoung’s words before he left ring in his mind again, it seems he never stood a chance anyways. He’s fucked, oh so fucked. Jaehyun doesn’t want to say the word love, he does not. But he’s a Cupid, he knows how all of this work. The man almost has an out of body experience the moment you look up, bright smile stretching your lips and you lean to the side, opening the car door for him. The dress you’re wearing is a deep blue, much like the suit Jaehyun is wearing, what a coincidence. It hugs your body, softly decors the skin of your hips before falling under gravity’s law. By the way you’re seating, one leg over the other on your side of the car, Jaehyun can clearly see the deep thigh cut in your silk dress, his eyes almost flash their natural pink color for a second.

He might project out of his body at any second. At that moment, Jaehyun knows, if he was simply Asia’s Cupid looking over two people, two colleagues going to a fancy gathering, he’d shot the soulmate arrow without a doubt in mind. He knew it before, he just didn’t want to face it. Tonight, he knows and acknowledges it. You, on the other hand, don’t take too long to notice his skin turning white when he finally steps in and takes a seat. The nervous rub of his palms against the fabric of his pants, his lack of words when he’s usually talkative. How could you know ? At this very moment, when Jaehyun understands you’re his soulmate, his other half in this world, you think he’s simply nervous.

“Hi. You seem nervous.”, you voice is soft, comprehensive. You were the new employee too, at some point, and you remember being extremely intimidated for your first gathering as well.  

“Hey. Uh, yeah. I’m a bit…nervous.”, he mumbles, eyes straight ahead. At this very moment, he does not know what to do, he finds the driver’s bold head very, very interesting. The moment he attaches the security belt, the car starts moving. The Cupid looks away, eyes on the multiple neon lights lightening the dark streets, softly reflecting on the wet ground, he does not know what to do.

You, on the other hand, might be a bit too worried about the brunette. The car might be a pricy one, the space in the backseat isn’t so big but you use it at your advantage. Lightly pushing your colleague, now you’d like to say friend, with your shoulder, you get his attention back. There’s a soft smile stretching his lips, Jaehyun quickly understood he couldn’t resist you, he couldn’t stay unphased in front of your pouts.

“Don’t be, everyone’s nice ! You’ll see.”, you start, a hand readjusting your dress. “It might be more of a fancy gathering but, it’s just for show.” Without thinking twice, your hand lands on his thigh, softly patting his clothed leg order to reassure him. Jaehyun understand the meaning of guilty pleasures at this very moment. He doesn’t chase your hand away, he lets your touch slowly fade away, he loves the tingle it lets behind, the way it has his eyes widening. But, somewhere not so deep in his mind, he’s screaming at himself. He barely has two weeks left here. He knows, he knows you may be one of his soulmates, if not the only. He knows he might not meat you in another life, he knows it isn’t fair the let you all alone after this. He doesn’t even need to wonder if you feel it too, he knows you do, he feels his fingertips tingle every now and then, a reassuring buzz whenever he’s right next to you. You feel it too, there’s no doubt. Especially when the car finally stops and Jaehyun doesn’t hesitate to step out of the vehicle, walking around to open your door. Your hand quickly finds his, you both act natural. He offers his arm, you easily let your hand rest in the crook of his elbow right after taking a better look at his outfit. You wonder if he got the suit especially made for him, it perfectly hugs his body. Not too tight, not too big. The deep blue shade compliments his light brown eyes and you wonder if he has some eyeshadow but can not really tell under the dim light.

The building privatized by your company is a cute one floor hall, small light hanging at the entrance and you notice they ditched the red carpet because of the rain. Some people are already there, most are from your company as the other as supposed to arrive a bit later. The decoration’s prettier than last year, you have to say and, you notice all the efforts made once you step in. Heels click on the ground, soft music plays as your colleagues speak together, you take Jaehyun by the arm to greet the boss he never met.

The gathering’s a blur for Jaehyun, his mind’s busy with much, much more important things. He knows he can contact his brothers whenever he feels the overwhelming need and ramble. But, it feels like he’ll have to go through this multiple hours long party with a polite smile on his face before even thinking about going home. The Cupid’s pushed and pulled from his thoughts, on and off. Jaehyun falls deep in his thoughts when he’s left alone but, gets abruptly brought back to the surface when you bring other colleagues he doesn’t know yet and people from other companies. It’s a shame, he knows he’d enjoy the gathering in another situation. It’s a bit like the parties up in Olympus, with a bit more choice when it comes to drinks and music and at least, here, he doesn’t have to worry about getting on a God or Goddess’s wrong side by pure accident. You seem to be enjoying yourself too, the brunette sees you joking a bit around with some people he already forgot the name of, enjoying the food and drink they’re serving you in plates. Jaehyun wouldn’t admit it, whenever he judges someone is being a bit too close to you, an unknown feeling sparks in his chest, one that wants everyone to know you’re his soulmate. Is it jealousy ? The brunette never knew he was capable of such a raw feeling. It’s a weird situation for the poor thing. He’s aware of your status and yet, he does not know what to do. He’s lost in this party full of people, this party where men and woman both don’t hesitate to look at him up and down, silently gushing at his features, it seems the Cupid forgot he wasn’t invisible here. At some point, the tune changes to something Jaehyun would recognize as classical music, though he isn’t an expert on human music yet. His company’s boss he met moments prior steps in the middle of the hall and a crowd forms around them and, that’s when the Cupid understands they’re about to dance. Yet another thing similar to Olympus’ parties, slower dances aren’t uncommon and he quickly understands the pattern of steps.

He has to say, the brunette’s quite enjoying the view, especially when more and more people decide to step in the circle. Though, the Cupid definitely does not expect it when you step right in front of him, small smile tugging at your lips. He notices your lipstick’s fading a little bit, surely because of the drinks you had but, he quickly looks away.

“Do you dance ?”, you ask, arching an eyebrow with a hand stretched out. It almost makes the brunette laugh, you definitely do not need his help to make a move. He also almost says he doesn’t but, his hand touches yours before he can even comprehend what he is doing. Biting down on your lower lip, you quickly pull the brunette towards one side of the circle, slowly dissolving as everyone finds a partner to dance with as well.

“I learned when I was a teen.”, the Cupid simply hums when you look up at him with semi-impressed eyes the second he perfectly follows the steps of the slow dance. Is there anything he can not do, you wonder for a moment. Maybe he has some issues picking up on hints. One hand in his, the other curling behind his back and resting on his shoulder, it feels right when his hand rests in the middle of your back, subtly arching your back. It is at this very moment that Jaehyun understands the light tingle in his fingertips’ addictive, he likes keeping you close a bit too much and, for a split second, wonders how your curves would feel under his hands.

“What can’t you do ?”, you ask, teasing him a bit. There’s the same butterflies blooming in your stomach the moment he giggles softly, eyes rolling up as he dramatically acts like he’s thinking really hard. “I can’t juggle.”, the brunette says after thinking for some long seconds, though he keeps swinging you softly at the same time.

“You can’t ?”, you fake shock, lips parted. “You shouldn’t tell that to anyone, ever. That’s a shame.”, you tell him and, he pouts. Fuck, how can he look so good and cute at the same time ? For a second, you think about kissing the pout away, eyes travelling down to his pink lips.

Isn’t it crazy ? How weeks before, you felt like you had used all your shots at love and now, this men comes into your life and crashes everything. Jaehyun does not know it, but you’re overthinking as much as he is. Finally, the song end and yet, the Cupid’s hand stays lingering on your back, a gesture that makes you softly smile.

“You’re having a lot of success, here.”, you tell him once he stops in front of the buffet again, it seems he has a good view on the entire hall here. There’s a flew glasses left and, you take one.

“Hm ? Success ?”, he asks, himself taking a drink. You laugh a bit at that, you wonder if Jaehyun’s really that clueless about his looks. Unbeknownst to him, the same feeling sparks in your chest when you notice a small group of ladies from another company looking over at where your friend was standing. Though, unlike the brunette, you know what this is, jealousy.

“Hm hm, saw a bunch of people looking at you.”, you tell him, shamelessly stepping next to him and leaning against the table, if some didn’t know you and him walked in this party together, you made sure they knew now. There’s a small laugh coming from Jaehyun, though you find it isn’t as bright as it usually is. Something seems off, but you don’t dare ask him right now, in the middle of the hall.

“Same for you.”, he says before bringing the glass to his mouth, a hum coming out of his lips when the liquid coats his taste buds. There’s a small sense of pride blooming in your chest, does this mean he looked at you ? Noticed other people were too ? Did he get jealous too, you wonder. “What is this ?”, he asks, eyeing the golden liquid, brushing the conversation.

“Champagne ?”, you inform him with a little giggle, an eyebrow arched. You were sure he already tasted champagne for someone who knew so much about wine. Lets just say you two sometimes slack a bit during working hours and talk about other…unrelated things. “You never had it ?”, you ask, a bit curious. You have to say, Jaehyun himself is a curious personage, a mysterious character. It might be one of the many things that struck you when you met him, along side his personality, his deep voice and dimples. He knows a lot, it seems like he saw and experienced a lot too. Sometimes, he sounds like a Disney character, like he has a lot to show you but, you might be able to show him a lot as well, like he might just be the one you’ve been waiting for.

“Nope, but I like it.”, he concludes, quickly finishing the liquid, he decides Olympus’ lacking when it comes to drinks too. He’s about to add something, continue the conversation so he doesn’t have to overthink again but, as he’s about to ask for the song playing in the hall, his mouth stays agape. It can’t be, it can not. Somewhere far, almost in the very middle of the hall, a men stands in his light grey suit. He did not see him before, he doesn’t know where he came from. Jaehyun wonders if his mind’s tricking him, if he’s hallucinating, he knows some stuff on Earth can have this affect but definitely not Champagne. Short brown hair parted in the middle, slender and tall body, the last time the Cupid saw him, he had locks falling to his shoulder. Jaehyun wished the world could stop right at this moment, just so he could walk up to the men and detail his features, Jeonghan’s. His old tutor’s. His heart tightens, another weird feeling the brunette isn’t used to. He pushes the thought aside but, the more he stays here, the more Jaehyun feels human. Could it be him ? It’s been five years, he thinks to himself, can a Cupid reincarnate with the same body ? Do Cupids magically spawn on Earth at the same age they left Olympus ? Ah, for someone who wanted to strop overthinking, Jaehyun thinks he might overwork his brain at this very moment. But as he said when Jeonghan left, he’d recognize him in seconds, even on the blue planet. The way he speaks with a hand illustrating each of his word, a foot always in front like he wants to punctuate his slim, long body. The way he carries himself, head high, smile knowing, the way his eyes spark with malice.

“Jaehyun ?”, you ask, worried. You wonder at this very moment if he can support alcohol or, if he has a problem with big crowds. Whatever the case, your hand wraps around his wrist and you consider calling a cab for the both of you.

“Yeah- Yes, sorry. I though I saw someone I knew.”, he breathes out, though his eyes never leave Jeonghan, or Jeonghan’s doppelganger. “Yeah, you look like you saw a ghost.”, you mumble out, though you’re relieved when the brunette accepts the glass of water you offer him and laughs a bit, the sound resonating in the plastic cup. Ghost don’t look like that, the Cupid thinks to himself.

“Do you know Mr. Yoon ?”, you ask and, if he says yes, you wouldn’t even be surprised. As said, Jaehyun is a mysterious man you’d like to know more. “Let’s see him !” Poor thing, you barely give him a second to answer and almost drag him towards Mr. Yoon with a wide smile.

“Mr. Yoon ! Hi, I didn’t even see you come in.”, you greet the older men with a warm smile, Jaehyun isn’t aware yet but, you and him have a tight history together and, you respect the men greatly. “This is Jung Jaehyun, the new employee I’ve been looking over.”, you inform him, proud. The brunette’s heart might stop at this very moment, he made an effort to close his mouth but he doesn’t know if his eyes are still as wide, especially when the so called Mr. Yoon stretches a hand out with a smile. He knows it so well and yet.

“Oh, I see the student became teacher.”, same voice. Mr. Yoon smiles at you and it’s at this very moment that Jaehyun understand. When Jeonghan was his tutor on Olympus, he – or his look alike -, became your art tutor on Earth ? Jaehyun thinks he might go crazy, he has so many questions colliding against each other in his mind. Nonetheless, he politely shakes the men’s hand.

“Yeah, but I’m sure I’m not as good as a tutor as you were.”, you laugh a bit. Mr. Yoon slides a hand in his pocket, head tilting to the side as he details Jaehyun’s face, who’s trying his best to look unphased and professional. The same sharp eyes that looked over him for so long, Jaehyun would go as far as saying he’s the only paternal figure he’s ever had.

“Do I know you from somewhere ?”

This city never sleeps, it’s a known fact. It’s around one, maybe one and a half in the morning when you and Jaehyun decide to leave the gathering after saying good bye to as much people as possible. You could’ve taken a car but, the brunette proposes to walk you home and there’s no way you’ll refuse. The summer night’s warm, fresh breeze moving some leaves every now and then. Clubs are at their picks, neon flashing in every streets, different music mixing together. The streets are packed with citizens and travelers, some a bottle in hand, you even see a few groups dancing to mainstream music. The walk is a quick one, moving through crowded main streets. The Cupid sometimes look like a curious puppy, he always saw these things from above. Finally, streets grow less full when you enter the more residential side, near your home. There, the wind gets fierce and, the brunette doesn’t hesitate a second and takes his jacket off, draping the thick fabric of his suit over your naked shoulders.

“Did you have fun ?”, you ask a bit before spotting the street to your building, head lolling forwards at you check the state of your shoes. Jaehyun hums at your side, hands in his pocket. “I did ! I didn’t expect to meet so many people, though.”, he tells you and you laugh a bit at that, you remember being even more intimated for your first gathering.

“There’s more people each year. The first time, I dropped a glass full of punch on my dress.”, you tell the brunette with a sigh. You know everyone remembers it but thankfully, no one brought it up expect for one person. “Mr. Yoon made fun of me for like, three months.”

Mr. Yoon, here’s another thing bothering Jaehyun tonight. The same appearance, same voice, same attitude. The Cupid wonders if your old tutor’s indeed his old teacher as well. He can not help ask himself, especially when he noticed the men’s knowing when he left with you. The Cupid wonders if he should bring it up to his brothers tonight but, his thoughts are quickly cut when you point a building with a digit, probably where you live.

Oblivious to his thoughts, you step up the few stairs to the class door of your building, fishing in your small bag for your keys. What a convenient little thing, cute and able to hold your phone and keys, you find them in seconds. “Mr. Yoon seems really nice.”, is the only thing Jaehyun seems to find but thankfully, you don’t pick up on his tone. Using one of the keys, you open the thick glass door and lean against the frame, you’re not really ready to say good bye. There’s an adoring smile stretching your lips, it’s clear you hold Mr. Yoon close to your heart. “He is, I’m sure the two of you would get along.”, you breathe out and, it seems your brain isn’t completely on the subject. As Jaehyun climbs the step of your building, your eyes wonder on his figure for the nth time tonight. The sent of his cologne cocoons around you, it’s floral and strong at the same time, the heat and comfort of his suit’s jacket doesn’t help your heart beat. His white button up perfectly hugs his body, it’s tight around his arms, belt around his small waist. There’s a smile that tugs his lips and that’s when you understand he just said something you completely missed. Nice.

“I’m sorry, what did you say ? I’m a bit tired.”, you fake a yawn and Jaehyun steps closer, shoulder leaning against the second closed door. Obviously, he is tired too. His eyes are half closed, arms closed and he unconsciously leans forward. “I said, you look really good in that dress.”, he whispers out, like he’s scared he’ll wake your neighbors up. A pool of heat creeps to your cheeks but, you don’t break the eye contact the men installed. You wonder if you’re going too fast at this very moment, if you shouldn’t wait a bit more but, something pulls you in. It feels like the brunette might slip away at any moment now and so, you take a step closer.

You think about answering him first but, words seem to disappear from your memory when he doesn’t budge nor take a step back. It’s a sign, isn’t it ? You wish the brunette was not so complicated. It’s something you do by pure pulsion, instinct, without thinking twice. Your heels help you reach his face, a hand anchors itself with his collar and you bring him closer. Jaehyun is not clueless, he knows what’s happening and yet, he does not step away. Rather, he comes closer, closer, closer until finally. Finally, your lip softly meet his. It’s like kissing petals, soft and fragile. The brunette kissed a few deities before, more or less important and yet, he’s now kissing you like you’re the highest of them all. His hand cups your cheek lovingly, a shiver runs down your spine and his. So this, this is what it feels like, to kiss your soulmate ? There’s something familiar about it to Jaehyun, he wonders for a second time if he found you in another life. On the other hand, you melt easily into the kiss, pecking his pink lips with a breathy, dumbfounded laugh. You know it, if something was missing with your coach, with Myungdae, you’re sure Jaehyun has it, if not more to offer. You’re slightly out of breath when he pulls out, and he smiles down at you. Right then and right there, in front of your apartment building, you’re convinced he feels the same way. No words are spoken expect for a soft “Good night.”, when your door bips annoyingly but you don’t even pay attention. That night, you walk up the stairs to your apartment with a giddy smile, one you won’t get rid off until you fall asleep. Jaehyun, him, has the same smile. The same butterflies in his stomach. It’s crazy how someone can take over your thoughts, he doesn’t even think about the consequences of his actions, he doesn’t even think about the future. Next, what’s next ? The brunette doesn’t even worry about that, until he steps into his own home and he spots it. The little gold note on his table, name written on it in black ink. He already knows what it is. A request to come back to Olympus.

Asia’s Cupid has a lump in his throat the moment he accepts the request and, the soft golden cloud wraps around him like a duvet. Eyes closed, it takes a second for his body to materialize on Olympus again.

It grows the moment he steps foot on the higher ground again, after more than three weeks. Nothing has changed on the cloud above, except for Taeyong’s expression when he finally sees his brother again.

The brunette knows Olympus like the back of his hand but this might be one of his favorite areas. Five years ago, it’s in this very place him and his six brothers shot the white arrows after their ceremony. At the very border of Olympus, tall pillars and half destroyed statues, benches and rocks from previous fights between creatures that happened long ago, it’s always calm here nowadays. If Jaehyun steps a bit closer towards the sharp edge, and looks down, he’d see right above the clouds and the blue planet he now adores more than anything.

Taeyong waits for him under one of the biggest weeping willows, arms stretching to embrace his brother when he’s just close enough.

Taeyong might be a more serious Cupid, his features always soften whenever he sees one of the six other Cupids after a long time. This time, he looks worried still. Red, bushy eyebrows frown in front of his piercing eyes, it almost has the power to take the brunette back. It’s weird, to see him all alone, waiting for Jaehyun in a secluded area. Jaehyun wonders for a moment if something happened while he wasn’t there, if one of them got into a fight with a major God, if Jungwoo didn’t manage to take Jaehyun’s place. His thoughts are gone in a second, this is about him. He wonders if he knows, if they know. The Cupid wonders if Taeyong happened to be looking over him, he promised he would, after all. Jaehyun knows, he knows kissing a human during a mission is not something he’s supposed to do, he knows the unspoken rules of Cupids.

Jaehyun hugs his brother silently, like the both know things won’t be the same after this very conversation. “That’s a change in style.”, Taeyong lets out with a breathy laugh, an attempt to make things less serious before he gestures towards a bench under the tree. Jaehyun laughs a bit at that, he sure looks like a human lots in Olympus. The brunette sits on the cold marble, fingertips running on the smooth surface. “I know why you called me.”, Asia's Cupid look down for a moment, shoes kicking the almost white sand.

He thinks Taeyong might grown, scowl him, scream even. He'd understand it, he would but, the red haired's next move is one the brunette did not even think about. Ring hugged digits carefully lay on his own. It's a reassuring gesture, one Jaehyun looks at with eyes slightly watering. Poor thing, there are emotions he suppressed, they rush and crash over him at once and his head lols backwards.

“We told you not to get too attached.”, Taeyong softly says, crossing his arms over his chest. There's a tone the brunette can't really pick up on, at least it isn't disappointment. He tried to, Asia's Cupid thinks to himself. He tried not to get attached but he couldn't resist. Even if he tried to act like the most arrogant, detached person, he couldn't build a wall strong enough for you.

“I tried to, I—. I really did.”, he starts. Words block in his throat, he looks to the side, desperately trying to get his brother's eyes. When the red haired easily finds his pupils, it's like words flow out of his mouth. “She's my soul mate.”

Finally, finally he says it out loud. It's at this very moment, in front of Europe's Cupid that he lets it out in the world. There's so many questions, questions he passes onto the red haired. Jaehyun does not even know, he didn't know it was possible for him to have a soulmate and meet them. Taeyong doesn't even freeze, he simply hums, thinking to himself as his eyes wonder towards the horizon.

“I've heard stories like that.”, he starts, and Taeyong laughs to himself for a second. “I knew something like that would happen to you, eventually.”

“Stories ?”, Jaehyun asks.

“Hm. Stories where Cupids fell in love with a human. I heard a story through the grapevines once, about a Cupid finding his soulmate on Earth.”, there's a spark of hope in Jaehyun's chest. So he isn't the only one, it happened before. The brunette scoots closer to his friend, though Taeyong's eyes stay on the horizon for a moment.

“Sometimes, love doesn't need an arrow.”, he continues. Jaehyun's heart pumps faster at that, he thinks he might cry at this very moment, he doesn't even know why. “Some loves are faster, stronger.” If a love greater than his arrows, the Cupid can barely wrap his mind around it and yet, it doesn't seem to bother the red haired. His tone changes slightly, he gets more serious, this time he makes sure to look his brother in the eye.

“The stories I've been told never end well.”, Jaehyun knows it, Taeyong's only worried for him and his well being but he can't help and wonder. Isn't a love greater than Cupids' arrows worth living ?

“What happened to them ?”, asks Jaehyun but his brother only shrugs, that he doesn't know. “I don't know what to do.”, his voice's strangled as he confesses. He really doesn't. He quickly fell in love with the blue planet and everything it holds, the feeling how having people you don't know, strangers looking at you is a weird one he's starting to like. There's so, so many things he has to learn down, the thought only gets Jaehyun excited, a feeling he hasn't felt for a while. And then, then there's you. Jaehyun thinks he couldn't ever forgive himself if he ever lets you go. The Cupid won't ever forgive himself if he leaves you all alone. On one side, he has the chance of knowing and being aware of your bound, what if in his next life, you don't meet ?

And then, there's Olympus. All these thoughts and Jaehyun doesn't even know if he is allowed to leave his duties so abruptly, maybe they won't even let him go. And then, Jaehyun has his brothers. Six boys he, a few weeks ago, never thought he'd leave and there he is, wondering if he could live without them.

“It's your call. I can not tell you what to do.”, Taeyong's tone is a comprehensive one. Thought he isn't in his brother's situation, he sure can try and put himself in his shoes.

Staying with his brothers or starting over on Earth. No matter the possibility and outcome, it tugs at the brunette's Earth.

“This isn't a decision to take in minutes, or hours, even.”, the red haired says softly. And he's right. Like he's able to read his brother's mind, Jaehyun's twisting his brain in every way he can to find a solution, something that won't end up in heartbreak. A hand sneaks on his brown locks, a gesture Taeyong has whenever one of his brother's feeling sick.

“Take a few days, hm ?”, and Jaehyun nods. A few days to think, a few days for himself.

Saturday, there’s a lump in your throat too. A ball that expends inside of you, it tightens around your neck and it creeps deeper, deeper into your heart. Poisonous roots pierce into your muscle and twist at your guts until you need to curl on yourself to feel better, you think you might puke and stop breathing at the same time. Poor thing, you wonder how can Jaehyun have so much power over you, how his lack of response physically affects you. The gathering happened days ago, the kiss happened three day prior and yet, you don’t have any news from Jaehyun. None, not a phone call, not even a text, nothing. He disappeared into the night the moment he left you in front of your building. You at first texted him after you took a shower, changed into your pyjamas and removed all your makeup, resting in the comfort of your bed. A simple one, thanking him for the night and telling him you hoped he had fun, only hinting the slightest bit at the kiss, a giddy smile at his name on your screen. He did not answer. He didn’t even open the message. You brushed it off and went to sleep but, the afternoon after, something felt off. The rose glass was still in front of your eyes. It didn’t take long to shatter and fall down. If you knew, if you were aware of Jaehyun being your soulmate, you’d understand your connection runs deeper, you’d understand why your body seems to suffer as much as your mind. His anxiety and doubts manage to linger on your mind like a bitter aftertaste in the morning. It’s weird. You’ve been ghosted and ghosted people yourself at times, when you did not feel like having a deeper conversation or having another date. But this, this felt different, like there was another reason behind it, something you did not know yet. And again, he couldn’t really ghost you when he was your neighbor in your workplace.

Or could he ? You did not text him the day after the gathering but, on Friday, when he didn’t show up to work, you couldn’t help but think you screwed up. Thoughts kept you away from working, you wondered if he was okay, if you went too far. It was weird, it really felt like he wanted it too ? He didn’t take a step back, he even moved closer. He didn’t push back, he kissed back. And, when he left, he smiled like everything was more than fine, like you could expect more from him. Maybe he had a few more drinks than you thought and regretted it after but, you have to say, you thought Jaehyun was the type of guy to make things clear rather than disappearing all at once. Some, - maybe disappointment – creeped up in your chest at some point, a mix of emotions you now couldn’t comprehend.

Something does not feel right when they tell you he called in sick. You debate sending him another text and, after your second coffee break, you convince yourself you’re just acting like a friend. You ask him if he’s okay, you wonder again if you did something wrong but don’t mention it, a bubble of anxiety growing in your stomach. And again, he does not answer, you wonder if he even receives it.

Confusion and a sort of sadness suddenly changes into anger the moment Sooyoung visits you. Needless to say, you kept her updated on everything and on the third day of pure silence, she couldn’t keep it together. God bless her, she cancelled her plans with her crush – and soon to be boyfriend – to be with you. The red-haired’s like your very own emotion compass, validating your feelings you bottled up for days on end.

“I don’t- I just don’t get it.”, you let out for the nth time this evening, bringing your cold bottle of coke in the air. For the first time in a while, your friend stays dumbfounded, body ungracefully sat on your coach. Your friend had bought some things to eat and drink, though you could only find the force to indulge liquid.

“And it’s not like he wasn’t interested either !”, ah, Sooyoung’s the little voice in your mind. You vigorously nod at that, it’s clear your friend turns her brain again and again to find a reason, much like you are. You’ve been at it for hours now, ranting on and off, forcing your throat dry, babbling and tripping over yours words. It feels good, though, to have someone to rant to.

“Right ! He- It’s clear he wanted it too !”, you whine out and harshly let your body fall right next to your friend. Anger bubbles in your chest and your body’s first reaction to that is simple : water collects at the corner of your eyes. It’s unfair, it really is. Finishing the soda, you blur out something you didn’t think you’d tell her.

“I thought he could be the one.”, you abruptly say, so quickly Sooyoung has to process the words at a lesser speed. Head low, you play with the cold bottle between your hands.

Soonyoung loves you dearly, she really does. Many times, she thought of you as a soulmate in a friend and, it obviously hurts for the red haired to see you in such a state. Her hand rests right behind your head, fingers lacing in your locks. It’s a reassuring gesture while she finds her words, guiding your head towards her shoulder.

“Maybe he needs time to think. I know ignoring isn’t the right thing to do but, maybe he has a lot of things going on ?”

Sooyoung couldn’t be more right. If Jaehyun heard what she told you, she would’ve become his second favorite red-haired person. Poor Cupid has so much going on, too much to deal with. For days, his mind tried and tried again to find a solution, something where everyone would be happy. Poor thing doesn’t want to hurt everyone but, Jaehyun soon finds out things aren’t that easy, they never are. The brunette even thinks about spending a week on Olympus and a week on Earth but, he knows it would only be unfair for everyone. He cannot act like his brothers aren’t already overworked, like it wouldn’t be unfair to you to see him on and off without ever knowing why. A permanent headache clouds his mind and eventually, on Sunday, all he can think about is you. You’re all he can think about, all his thoughts go back to, all it revolves around. What are you doing, how are you feeling ? Are you mad at him ? The Cupid feels bad for leaving you like this but, he’d rather be sure of himself before speaking to you again. Jaehyun spends sleepless nights gazing out his window, he wonders again what his past like was like, if you were in his. And again, the thought of not having you in the next snaps the string of his heart. One night, as he gazes over the calm street next to his building, he even catches a couple having what the brunette thinks is their first kiss. Soft summer breeze as they step out of the cinema, they both stand awkwardly in front of each other as a car stops in front of them. Sweet, innocent love. The Cupid envies them.

Eventually, finally, it’s in the early Monday morning that the brunette finally understands. It’s around five in the morning, sun slowly rising over the city that doesn’t sleep, orange hue coloring the pale blue sky. Jaehyun took the bad habit of sleeping too late, lost eyes wondering outside as his brain never stopped.

The brunette finally understands. Him and humans aren’t so different, much like them, he needs a little heartbreak to move on. Which one would he rather experience, between the heart ache of never seeing you or never seeing his brothers, the brunette thinks he might know the one he’ll chose if he has to.

One thing he knows for sure, as he understands he only has a week left on the blue planet, he wants to be with you, next to you, more than anything else. You might refuse to see him, scream at him, - hell -, even slap him, Jaehyun doesn’t really care. He really doesn’t, he doesn’t either when his hand curls into a fist right before knocking on your door. He has to thank one of your neighbor for letting the door open, without checking twice and, his good memory when he checks for your last name.

Even if he slept all day, the slight dark circles under his eyes are there? Brown locks wavy from the lack of care, he wishes he did something more to his appearance the moment you open your door and, he swears to all the Gods and Goddesses above. It’s clear you just came back from work, hair matching his, sleeves of your white button up rolled up.

The moment he sees you, his thinks his heart might drop. Your initial shock, lips parted and raised eyebrow swiftly twist into an angry stare. Eyebrows furrowed, fading lips a straight line, you take a second to speak up. “What are you doing here ?”, you ask harshly. You almost fear it’ll come out like a whisper but, you stand your grounds. The surprise, confusion and anger you expressed bubbles up in your chest, you can’t believe he’d show up like this, out of the blue. But again, isn’t it better than just texting you like nothing happened ? You turn your back anyways, walking towards your leaving room in a hurry. Nonetheless, you don’t close your door in the brunette’s face, letting the opportunity open for the Cupid to take. And take it, he does. His usually calm behavior suddenly disappears, he quickly steps into your apartment, doesn’t even have a second to look at your home before chasing you blindly.

“I can explain.”, is the first thing he lets out in a blur. A white lie, Jaehyun can not explain everything yet, he fears you’ll run away, he knows it will be too much anyways. But, don’t get him wrong, he wishes he could. To that, you abruptly turn around, and there it is again, the lump in your throat. Can he explain ? You wonder, there so many unsaid things. Does he know why you’re mad, is he aware of what you’re feeling ? You almost want to blow up on him at this very moment but, decide against him when you notice the dark circles under his pretty brown eyes.

“Why didn’t you answer ? D-Did I do something wrong ?”, the crack in your voice you desperately tried to hide comes out when you least expect it, Jaehyun takes a step closer though, it’s clear he’s conflicted. He wants to touch you, hold you, so, so bad but he fears you’ll push him away.

“No ? No ! You didn’t.”, the Cupid gives in, his right hand lands on your shoulder the moment he’s close enough and he hates the way you look to the side. So many questions, you think now is the time to ask them, you’ve been sleeping on and with them for days now. God knows you do not want to sound harsh but the bitterness is clear in your voice. “It feels like you’re running away.”, you finally let out. The lump in your throat seems to disappear the moment you find the confidence to speak out. “Like you’re running away from…Me, what happened after the gathering.”

Poor Cupid sure is taken aback, he thought about all the things he wanted to say and yet, at this very moment, he can only open his mouth and close it again like a fish. “I am not, I swear I’m not. It’s just-.”

Maybe you should let him say his words but, you can’t stop the flow of words when the ball in your neck disappear, you don’t want to let the confidence slip away. Taking a step back, you desperately try not to get affected by Jaehyun. The way he looks at you, sorry puppy eyes, the way his bottom lip looks red and bruised from how long he bite on it. You refuse to let his sent and the cologne he seems to be imprinted in cloud your mind, you don’t want to let your body falls into the heat of his own, the one you’ve been craving for days.

“You feel it too. I know you do. I don’t know what it is, but. There’s something, between us.”, you start and, you’re almost shocked at the audacity you have. Jaehyun takes a sharp breathe at that, though he lets you finish your thoughts. “Don’t lie to me. Tell me you feel it too.”, there’s a small plea in your voice, Jaehyun can sense it, you’re hurt and he hates it.

He hates the fact you doubted his feelings. A hand runs in his messy brown locks, Jaehyun thoughts about everything he could say but, what he says next isn’t something he planned on. “I do. I was scared.”, and he was. He tells the truth and doesn’t make up lies, twist the reality to cover himself. At the end of it all, Jaehyun is scared, he’s terrified. He does not know what’s next, what awaits him eventually, in what position he’s putting you in.

You, on the other hand, slightly gets taken back by his quick honesty. Jaehyun takes a step forward and, you don’t flinch. The brunette ditches every long explanation he had, slightly shaky hands cupping your cheeks. If he held you like you were made of glass last week, he holds you like a bubble threatening to disappear at any moment, like an image out of his imagination. The Cupid holds you so he can melt his eyes into yours, trapping you in the chocolate, comforting hue.

It’s crazy, how his touch managed to calm your nerve down. Your shoulders flop down and you, for a moment, let your eyelids close halfway to appreciate the warmth. There’s a breath coming out of your lips, half exhausted, half calmed by his presence. But, your eyes fully close when he comes closer again, carefully. Jaehyun makes sure he isn’t crossing any border, he makes sure you don’t shy away from his touch.

“You overwhelm me.”, The Cupid traces on your lips.

Oh, to be loved by a Cupid, to be loved by Jaehyun. You quickly understand how intense it is.

This time, Jaehyun kisses you first. He fears he’ll lose the chance, he fears he won’t have a second chance. Plump lips softly press against your own and, when you process his actions, you finally give in. There’s a weight lifted up from your heart, he feels it too, that’s all you wanted to hear at this very moment. You finally acknowledge the hunger for his touch, for him. Fingertips softly trace over his sharp jaw and, the brunette easily gets it. Tilting his head to the side, the kiss grows deeper, and deeper. There’s no fight for dominance, just a harmonious dance, Jaehyun matches you and you match him. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”, the Cupid continues and, it feels like he has a lot more to say, he wants to make sure you know his reality. Voice deeper, chest irregularly moving up and down, he barely moves away. “I feel it too.”, he confirms again. The brunette will say it again if he needs to, he feels it too, he understands you, he knows.

You don’t answer, you’d rather show him. You chase after his lips, linking your arms around his neck just to bring him closer. “Don’t do that again.”, you half warn him before crashing your lips against Jaehyun’s again. The brunette quietly and breathlessly laughs at that, promising he won’t ever disappear like this. You discover more about him, tongue meeting his own for the very first time. He tastes sweet, something fruity lingers, probably the gum he was nervous chewing on before going to your home.

The Cupid’s hands get more curious as well, finding their place in the small of your back. Pink lips traces down your neck before placing a greedy kiss where your neck and shoulder meet. Such a simple touch, something you’ve felt before but, it’s different when it comes from the brunette. It’s crazy, the power he has on your body. Pearly teeth carefully catch the skin there and, you can not longer deny the heat that washes over you. It happens at once, the heat in the room seems a bit too much and your underwear gets uncomfortable.

Your hands creep up his chest, feel his body for the first time, you almost moan. Under your fingertips, even under the tick fabric of his white shirt, you can feel his muscles. Borders are blurry and, when your hands grip his collar, you hope you don’t cross anything.

Jaehyun wants to share your space, breath your air and yet, even if you’re the one walking him to your bedroom, he needs your verbal affirmation. “Are you sure ?”, Asia’s Cupid asks when he steps into your dimly lit bedroom.

It almost makes you laugh, giggle at his doe eyes contrasting with his wondering hands. You don’t care enough to turn the light off or even turn it on, your hands grip the middle of his shirt and you make his fit body follow you as you softly fall down on your bed. Jaehyun’s weak, he doesn’t even resist. Knees plant itself next to your hips, towering over you.

“’m sure, wanna drown in you.”, you confess right next to his ear. The brunette shivers at this, he hisses between pearly teeth. And, before he can even answer something, you tug a little bit more at his shirt. The Cupid easily gets the hint, grabbing the back of his top to take it off.

“Fuck.”, the curse slips out of your mouth before you can even process it. It’s ironic, you think he might be crafted by the Gods. You felt it under your fingers tips under the fabric but, his abs look marbled under the dim light of your bedroom. Every single one of Jaehyun’s nerves are on fire at this very moment. Digits work on the buttons of your shirt and, when you give him the green light, he does not hesitate.

His lips find the skin of your neck again, he pecks at the column of your throat and lets his tongue dip right between your collarbones. Jaehyun’s a messy lover, his kisses are long, he worships every new parcel of skin he discovers.

“Wait, let me help you.”, you breath out with a small laugh when the Cupid’s shaky hand sneak right behind your back. Arching your spine, you quickly undo your bra as the men finds your lips again. It’s thrown somewhere next to your bed soundlessly, Jaehyun’s mouth automatically wraps around your left nipple. Your fingers quickly sneak between his locks, nails softly gazing at the Cupid’s scalp. His tongue feels amazing on you, he coats your hard bud with saliva and doesn’t hesitate to softly catch it between his pearly teeth, pulling back.

“Jaehyun.”, you breath out when he turns his attention towards your second neglected bud but, you don’t care enough at this very moment. “Hm ?”, he hums against the skin right between your breasts, “So fucking pretty.”

As much as you enjoy all his attention, you don not think you can wait any longer. Your underwear’s too uncomfortable and you don’t think you can wait another five minute before completely, entirely feeling him. Unbeknownst to you, the brunette is as desperate. And so, when you beg for him to have you, right now, right next to his ear, he doesn’t think further.

Arms wrap around your waist, the brunette guides you to the middle of your bed. Everything happens quickly, then. Jaehyun helps you out of your skirt, you help him out of his jeans and boxers. The brunette doesn’t let you completely look at him for very long, but you have to say, the length of his shaft and the deep pink, wet by pre-cum head makes you mouth water. He hovers over you again after finding a condom in your bedside table. Jaehyun holds himself on his arms, on each side of your head but the slight weight of his body is comforting.

“So fucking wet, you’re dripping.”, Jaehyun almost hums to himself when he left two digits dip between your legs.

No words are spoken, expect for your verbal consent the moment the Cupid lines himself right in front of your wet folds. The tallest thinks he never felt more alive, you take his breath away, even more when his head pushes between your lips.

“Shit, so tight.”, he breathes out, slowly, inch by inch thrusting into your core. Like you were made for me, he almost says, but his words get caught in this throat the moment his last inch gets wrapped around you. His head falls in the crook of your neck, left hand resting on your waist.

It’s a slow, sensual pace you easily get used to, but the stretch of his cock doesn’t fade away. It’s a slight pain added to the pleasure, an addicting mixture you quickly grow addicted. You, on the other hand, don’t know where to touch, where to claw. You’re sure you’re leaving some deep marks on his back the moment the brunette almost entirely pulls out, right before slamming back in. Your own back arches at that, right hand grabbing onto his bicep.

It’s clear the Cupid enjoys the jolts of pain, hissing quietly whenever your nails create small croissant shapes on his pale skin. “Please, mark me.”, you beg breathlessly. Jaehyun might come at this very moment. It’s a possessive, primal, proud feeling that blooms in his chest when he understands. Mark you, mark you as his for everyone to see. The brunette hopes you’ll parade proudly with the purple petals he now creates against your throat.

“Mine.”, he groans against the skin of your neck, the words slips without him even thinking about it twice but, when you keen under it, he doesn’t hesitate to say it again, again and again on your lips. Mine, mine, mine. When your walls continuously clench around him, it’s almost too much for Asia’s Cupid. His composure crumbles down, it breaks down and his hips falter. Long gone is the sweet, soft pace he created for you, he chases his own orgasm and your own in deep, fast thrusts.

Uncoherent words tumble from your lips, Jaehyun conceals his own moans against your skin again, nose dipping into your hair. And, after a few thrusts that reach the deepest, you reach your high in a silent moan, Jaehyun’s lips kissing your tense forehead until he, himself, lets himself go. The broken moan he lets out as his seed spills in the condom might be the prettiest thing you’ve ever heard, you think in your daze.

There’s a comfortable silence broken by irregular breaths, Jaehyun’s brown eyes bore into yours the moment he understands what just happen. It’s even more comfortable when his strong arms wrap around your waist, his body falls into yours right before pulling you to his side.

“Holy shit.”, you let out after some minutes, a hand carefully lacing into the brunette’s locks. It hits you at this very moment too, a soft smile stretches your lips when Jaehyun hides his face in your chest.

“Yeah.”, he hums, keeping your body close. It seems he doesn’t have the energy to move too, you don’t blame him. “Can we stay like this ?”, he mumbles and, for a moment, you wonder what he’s talking about. Colleagues…with benefits ? The thought crosses your mind before you understands what his talking about. You’re so fucked out you barely registered the fact he’s still, in fact, in you. You clearly don’t mind, it still amazes you as well how perfectly he fits, even with his cock softening between your walls. “Not knowing where you begin…Where I end.”, he breathes out, letting out any thoughts his blurry mind creates.

There’s a small giggle from you and clearly, you agree to the proposition. It feels right, it feels domestic, intimate. Your arms finally wrap around his shoulders, chest against chest. You notice his hair smells like green apples and mint, he has little freckles here and there and soon enough, he’s sleeping peacefully in your arms. What a mysterious men, you think again. Thought this time, you smile to yourself, it seems he doesn’t mind opening up to you.

That night, Jaehyun finds he sleeps best in your arms.

“Jaehyun.”, you softly call out, stretching your muscles as best as you can. You have little room as the brunette’s arms are still firmly locked around your figure. It’s around eight in the morning and, by the way your phone’s beeping more and more loudly, you should be getting ready at this very moment. Though, you have to say, you’d much rather stay in your bed.

“Hm ?”, he hums, eyes still closed and, you wonder for a moment if he still remembers about work. You know he took a few days off but, he’s supposed to be back in office today, if you believe your manager.

The brunette clearly does not remember, you note when his lips peck right under your jaw.

“We’re going to be late.”, you whine and yet, your head rolls back enough for him to let his lips travel down your throat again. He adores on the bruises he left there the night before, slowly waking up. You have to say, he looks ethereal. The morning sun shines on his skin, the light bruises you left there contrasts against his epidermis, thin lashes batting up and down. Two deep dimples crave themselves in his cheeks when he looks up at your figure, rosy lips stretching at in a soft smile. Though an arm gives you a bit more space, the second one right under your body doesn’t let go.

He seems to remember about the night before slowly, low chuckle moving his chest. In fact, his cock’s still inside you. Condom discarded somewhere in the bin of your bathroom, Jaehyun easily fell asleep a second time after.

“Fuck, I forgot about that. I’m too tired.”, he confirms your doubt in his deep morning voice, one you weren’t ready for. It’s an octave lower, if that’s even possible and, it unconsciously makes you clench around him.

“About yesterday.”, Asia’s Cupid starts, using his hold on you to flip you on under him. It’s clear the brunette already loves having you like this. The small sound that comes from your lips when he does so makes him laugh again, eye still half closed. His right hand cups your cheek lovingly, a gesture you naturally lean on.

“Wanted to take you on a date first.”, he hums with a small pout, though it’s clear he isn’t unhappy with the outcome of the night before. Neither are you.

“I’m free this Friday.”, you tell him teasingly. Unbeknownst to you, Friday’s one of the last days he has on Earth. But, the slight movement of his hips doesn’t go unnoticed. Your eyes narrowed, giving the young men a look, fakely annoyed. You can feel him getting harder by the second, from the moment he flipped you over.

“Then, I’ll pick you up on Friday, after work ?”, he hums and you nod, a hand grabbing onto his bicep again when his moves get bolder.

“Jae’. We barely have an hour to get ready.”, you tell him. It’s half hearted, you both know you’d much rather let him have you a second time than go to work again but, you have projects to finish today and-.

“That should be enough.”, Jaehyun answers almost too quickly.

You find out saying no to Jaehyun is a hard thing. Correction, controlling yourself when Jaehyun looks like the purest incubus is hard. And so, when you bite down on your lower lip and look over at the time on your phone, the brunette already knows he won.

It’s easy when the Cupid already knows the route to your bathroom, when the two of you are already naked and riled up from the night before. Your legs lock on top of his hips and the cold water managed to wake you up at once. You slightly hit the brunette’s shoulder with a whine and his only answer’s to harshly push your back against the cold wall of your shower.

“I didn’t even brush my teeth.”, you whine out after Jaehyun plants the first hungry kiss of a few more, arms lazily resting on his shoulders. “I don’t care.”, the brunette groans out. And he clearly doesn’t, his hands firmly hold your thighs and his now hard shaft finds the same punishing rhythm he had the night before.

“Fuck, how are you already- Thought you were tired.”, you half mock, sentence cut short when he pushes into you deeper, harder.

“I’m not when it comes to fucking you.”, he confesses and, long gone are the street words he whispered out in your ear the night before. It’s like a switch being flipped, how last night’s slow thrusts turn into harsh, quick snaps. You don’t complain, though, not when he has you moaning in seconds. The water quickly turns hot, just the right temperature, droplets run down the brunette’s back, wetting his locks.

“God, you’re so good.”, you breathe out. Jaehyun’s intensely looking at you through his wet locks, agonizing smile stretching his lips. At this moment, the both of you know you’re already close. He brings you close, so close to your orgasm in minutes. Pride swells in the Cupid’s chest, he doesn’t let his pace falter and in fact, quickens.

“Fuck, keep clenching around me like that. You feel heavenly, baby.”, Jaehyun lets out, forehead resting against your shoulder. His lips find your skin again, pecking the droplets of water away as he feels you bending under his commands, clenching until he finds the right spot to hit again and again. You take minutes to come under his thrusts, head softly hitting the wall of your shoulder. Eyes closed, you see stars the moment he gives a particularly harsh snap of his hips and holds you there when he feels you coming around him, without any barrier.

The brunette’s breathless and, so are you. The background noise of the stream of water becomes white noise, senses hyper focusing on his small whines when you move your hips. He’s sensitive, so sensitive his groans turn into small whines.

Long gone’s the worry for your job and the time you have left when you let your feet touch the floor of you shower, slightly shaky, you drop to your knees in front of the men. The sight is enough for him to let out a sigh, looking up like he, himself, cannot believe he has someone like you in such a position. The brunette’s large hand easily find a purpose in your hair, gathering the locks until they’re out of your way. Finally, when you yesterday didn’t get a to detail Jaehyun’s cock, you can now have a better look. Hand wrapping around his shaft, the weight is pleasant, though you’re sure it’ll be even more on your tongue. Wet, he’s already leaking pre-cum, head a deep pink and you’re wondering how he can keep his composure when you let your tongue flat travel from the base to the tip.

“Fuck, Y/N. Thought we didn’t have much time ?”, he tease, twisting the narrative with a knowing smile. You look up at him with doe eyes, lips wrapping around his head and you suck lightly, enough to get a ripped moan from his pretty lips.

“You’re just impatient.”, you tell him, though you can’t help but take him in your mouth anyways. Indeed, the heavy weight and slight lingering taste of your juices makes you hum around him, vibrations that have him moaning lowly.

You manage to take most of his shaft in, hallowing your cheeks, using a hand to lazily stroke the rest but, after a few minutes, the men takes things in his hands. He definitely loves control. “Let me fuck your mouth.”, he mumbles out and, when you hungrily nod your head, his grip on your hair tightens. He keeps your mouth where he wants it and, slowly starts moving his hips.

It’s a harsh pace you silently indulge, his head hits the back of your throat a few times and it’s clear he’s close when he doesn’t even know how to form coherent words, hips harsher. His cock pulsates in your mouth and, when he takes it out without a warning, you almost whine and pout before understanding. His hand wraps around his base and you have to say, the sight is sinful. Body wet, face contouring with pleasure, he quickly pumps his dick in his head before he eventually comes in long strings. You, on the other hand, hungrily collect anything landing on your needy tongue.

Cleaning all you can, Jaehyun’s eyes stare for a while, he thinks he might get hard just because of that, when your fingers collect any remaining semen before popping them into your mouth.

“Fucking greedy slut.”, he groans out, almost in misbelief when his fingers hook under your jaw, forcing you up. You think he’ll clean the both of you there but, you surely don’t expect it when he abruptly turns you around, forcing your chest against the cold wall again.

“What are yo-.”, you start, but get abruptly cut by a moan you barely recognize. Jaehyun easily stuffs two fingers into your core. They definitely aren’t as big as his cock but, you’re sensitive, squirming around at his middle and fourth finger.

“Not letting you go until I make you come again.”, he mumbles again the skin of your shoulder and you stop moving around the moment his fingers scissor your around your walls and puts his free hand right next to your head.

“I c-can’t.”, you mumble out, and yet, your hips move back against his hips when he slows down.

“Take it.”, he commends, a tone in his voice you never heard and yet, you love it. It’s demanding and you let your forehead rest against the wet wall. His fingers are fast, lewd sounds drown in the water. There’s a low chuckle from the brunette when you threaten to come so quickly it would’ve been embarrassing with someone one. “Come on.”, he whispers out, a hand grabbing your head. He forces you to look at his, hungry lips crashing into your own. “You’re gonna get us late.”

The next days feel surreal for the brunette. He feels like a normal human, entirely, fully. Wednesday, dead of the night, Jaehyun might remember that night his entire life. He never had you in his bed and yet, it feels empty without your presence. The Cupid understands what not being with your soulmate feels like and, he doesn’t even want to know what it’d feel like to be in Olympus while you stay on the blue planet. He doesn’t, he can not even think about it. There, as Jaehyun mixes his overcooked noodles, all he can think about is having you on his coach waiting for him while he cooks. There, he takes his decision. Jaehyun wants everything you have to offer, he wants to share thoughts and secrets, share pointless and deep conversations, he wants to share comfortable silences and create new memories. He wants to create inside jokes he knows will make you laugh whenever he brings them up again.

There’s so much the Cupid wants to discover with you, from your favorite spots to your favorite food, the spots that make you weak and the ones that make you giggle. He wants to be here for your highs and lows, your big defeats and small victorious. He wants to be your favorite shoulder to cry on and the one you think about to celebrate. He wants you at your best just like he knows he can have you at your worst. Jaehyun wants you to love him just as much as he feels himself falling deep, deep for you.

Your texts make him smile and he doesn’t even hesitate to answer the minute he gets them. Your song, movie, show recommendations ? He notes them, listens and watches, gives a report whenever he can. He sends some back, he calls you when he cooks and can’t understand an instruction.

When he sleeps, Jaehyun dreams about you and all the things the two of you could have, you’re all he had think about and he does not complain, he’s infatuated, enamored, smitten, he learns a new word every day to express how captured he is.   And, on Wednesday night, as he falls asleep early for work, he has another flashback. Right between the lands of dream and reality, the border blurry. He sees the same girl with deep brown hair, setting unfamiliar. There’s a child he does not recognize and, when he wakes up, he realizes they both had your eyes.

It’s even better in real life. If the conversations used to flow naturally before, they hold something else now, a knowing flirt. Right between close friends and more, and dating. Firm glances are exchanged alongside some smiles here and there.

“Here !”, at this point, the brunette recognizes your voice by the second. He looks up at you with happy eyes in croissants. You have his favorite drink in your hand, peachy iced tea from a coffee shop down the street. “Ah, thank you so much.”, he pouts a little, the attention brings something that blooms on his chest.

“You’re welcome !”, you tell him, walking around to sit in your cubicle, next to him. Flopping on your seat, you quietly sip on your drink for a moment while scrolling and double checking your project, one you should be handing over tonight. “How’s your project going ?”, you ask him, leaning on the side. The small wall between the two of you is thin but, it does the job when it comes to blocking the view. Unfortunately.

“Almost, I should be done by the end of the week…Or next week.”, the brunette’s throat goes dry for a moment, when he mentions next week even if, even if he does not know if he’ll still be there by then. You obviously don’t notice it, humming at his computer screen. He told you he went to Paris for his art studies and you have to say, he sure has the level. Jaehyun is working on a more illustrative publicity campaign for some kids book and, for someone who just started, his propositions are great.  

“Oh, Jaehyun ! It looks great !”, you coo. “That’s really pretty.”, you tell him, catching your straw between your lips. Ice cubs hitting against each other, you shake your cup a little in order to get some blueberries at the very bottom.

“You’re pretty.”, the Cupid breathes a bit quietly, the two of you are still in your workplace and he doesn’t want to draw any unwanted attention from others by talking too loudly. Still sipping on your drink, you look up at the brunette with some surprised eyes before rolling them at him. “Smooth.”, you sarcasm, but smile at his attempt anyways.

“Right. Are you impressed ?”, Asia’s Cupid asks lowly and by now, you know this tone too well. Setting his pen aside, he leans aside too, meeting you halfway. If any of your colleagues looked over at this very moment, you’re sure they’d get the picture easily. His face’s too close to be anything friendly, his breath fans over your lips and you have to say, your eyes get lost in his. He holds eye contact and you don’t dare breaking it but, even in your slight daze, you’re still aware of the setting. You grudgingly pull back and let your back rest on your chair before heat burns your cheeks. There’s a chuckle from the brunette, one that rips a glare from Daeyong.

Do you enjoy it ? The slight anger flashing in front of his eyes and decomposition of his features when he understands ? Maybe, but you like Jaehyun’s smug smile when he gets it a lot more. If it looks like nothing more happens after, if it looks like Jaehyun works like a good employee after, you’d be very, very wrong. A hand stays firmly on your thigh, thumb stroking the covered skin of your leg. Jaehyun can not keep his hands to himself, he barely can. His eyes lower to your lips whenever he talks to you, whenever he catches you speaking with someone else. He stares for a bit too long at your figure and legs whenever you take a small break.

Can you blame him, though ? You’re almost as bad, drinking in the sight of his side profile whenever you doze off, detailing his hands when he adds the final touches to his project, unconsciously leaning closer.

Thank god, you and him manage to keep things calm until the end of the day. Until you gather all your files and documents, drop them in due time to your boss and finally, finally get a hold of your bag. Jaehyun waits for you like you usually did, walks you to the elevator and, when the brunette notices the emptiness of the elevator, he does not think twice. A finger quietly pushes at the “close doors” button and, when the grey metal doors slide in silence, he pushes you against the wall.

His free hand softly creeps up your neck, ring hugged digits wrap around your throat just enough for you to bend under his will and movements when he pushes you backwards. They’re cold against you skin, make goosebumps rise under them. “Jaehyun, wh-.”, the sound gets caught in your throat, knocked out of your lungs. The brunette does not even answers, he has a few floors for timing, he’d rather crash his lips against yours. He’s been thinking about it for hours, hitching to get closer to you. The kiss is bruising, his grip around your neck tightens until you whine at the gesture, hand flying to his brown locks. As you’ve found out, Jaehyun’s intense. He loves hard. Pearly teeth bite down on your lower lip, enough you know you’ll have a small bruise there and, his tongue softly smooths the abused spot before pushing the muscle between your awaiting lips.

It’s dangerous, how easily the Cupid puts you in a daze, a distorted reality where he’s the lighthouse in the fog. The taste of his peachy drink lingers on his muscle, on you teasingly suck on but, as he’s about to put his knee between your legs, a voice breaks the two of you apart.

“Floor zero !”

Jaehyun has lived next to and with Gods and Goddesses, has deities and other figures throwing themselves at him on Olympus. The brunette and his brothers have a halo of glamour and inaccessibility over them that has many gushing over them. He, at times, did fall under their charms, a pleasant experience for the both of them but never did the Cupid find it necessary to contact again, make it happen a second time. A one time thing he kept to himself, everyone knows how these things can turn into cruel revenges on the cloud up. But, Jaehyun always comes back to you. He has you tattooed under his skin, creeping and making a home for yourself in his heart, leaving an everlasting mark he’d proudly show off. With you, he has something else he did not have with other, a connection running deeper. He’s aware of it, he’s been for weeks. Simply said, Jaehyun understands quickly that physical contact with your soulmate is different. It feels different. After all, the brunette believes in the original soulmate myth, the very tale that depicts humans as one before they got separated. Reuniting as one is bound to be unlike any other thing he ever experienced. And so, Asia’s Cupid finds himself craving for you much more than he thought he would. It’s the thrill of the beginning, he thinks, but he finds himself sending a rather risqué text anyways. Thursday night, Jaehyun lays in his still made bed, typing and deleting. Should he ? Should he send this text ? It’s something the brunette never did before, it has the power to color his cheeks a soft pink.

What are you doing at this moment, in the dead of the night, he wonders. The Cupid never knew how vivid his mind was, he surprises himself when he easily pictures you in your bed, just like him. Fuck it, he thinks, and his thumb quickly presses the send button.

Ah, if Jaehyun has a vivid imagination, you have a good memory. Teasing words in a grey text bubble, it’s crazy how you manage to have his voice re-act it in your mind. What are you doing at this very moment ? Thinking about him but, you wouldn’t tell him right away. Two can play that game, he’s good at teasing and you are too.

The Cupid has to say, sexting is quiet fun. He finds himself typing things he would’ve said without an once of shame, he definitely did not expect his body to react so obediently to the words you say back. Soon enough, Jaehyun has his eyes glued to his screen, impatiently awaiting for your next words. Is it him or, is it getting too hot in his room ? Unbeknownst to Asia’s Cupid, he peels the fabric of his shirt off of his body just as you do so, getting rid of superficial clothes as texts get riskier, riskier. The brunette has your mouth parting at some of his crude words but, the gasp that leaves your mouth when Jaehyun sends a picture might wake your neighbors up.

Large hand wrapped around his veiny shaft, you stare at the picture for a bit too long. He’s hard, head a pink shade you don’t doubt is getting shades deeper by the moment. You can almost feel the weight on your tongue again but, when he starts typing again, you quickly snap a picture back.

Texts get sent hectically, not double checked, body kilometers away seems in sink, a single and common goal in mind. An orchestra in two different homes, your fingers don’t feel as good as his and, his around his cock doesn’t feel as good as your mouth. Dirty confessions are sent, he controls your pace from afar, telling you went to go faster and went to go slower.

In the middle of the night, you quietly come with each other in mind.

Tic, tac.

Friday. Times flies much quicker on the blue planet, Jaehyun knows it and yet, when he understands that he barely has three days left, he panics. He has much, so much to do. The brunette needs to get back to Olympus and he has too much to say, he pushed it away, wants to forget about it until the very last second. Tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow, he tells himself again and again. After the date, he tells himself.

The date, Jaehyun promised he’d come pick you up and, a few hours after work, he’s patiently waiting in front of your building. The car he was given at the beginning of his mission, he did not think he’d use but, here he is. It’s a pretty car, he has to say. A glossy black, a brand he read about once, his fingertips drum on the wheel. Poor thing is trying to push any thoughts of Olympus and his deadline aside and thankfully, he manages to the moment you step out of your building. You’re wearing something simple, but it isn’t your outfit Jaehyun is looking from afar. The sun shouldn’t set anytime soon but, the burning star’s less aggressive than it was earlier, leaving an orange hue on everything it touches.

It caresses your skin and makes it glow, soft breeze sending your locks aside like the second time he ever saw you. You give the brunette a small smile when you enter his car, you never knew he had such a nice vehicle and aren’t ashamed when you detail It with attention. Leather seats, tinted windows, it would’ve easily blended in during the other week’s gathering.

“Hi again.”, you tell him softly, slightly giddy at the thought of a date with the men.

“Hi.”, he answers, sweet smile tugging at his lips as he looks at you closely. At this moment, you finally notice he looks at you like you hold every star in your pupils, butterflies threatening to escape from your stomach.

The car ride is a calm one, but you sure appreciate the comfortable silence between the two of you. You sure are curious, Jaehyun never told you where he was taking you. The car passed by the building of your residential area, pretty buildings flash by until you get to the middle of the city, busier area alive as people get out of their house to eat with friends and family. The city’s lights aren’t on yet, but Seoul’s neon never die, they flash in the dim sunlight as Jaehyun’s car cuts through streets just to get away from it.

Tall buildings turn into small streets, less fancy buildings and, when you’re out of the city you look over at the brunette with a questioning look. “Where are we going ?”, you ask him as the playlist he made from songs you sent restarts. Cars get rare, grass grows abundantly at the sides of the road and you can barely see any building close enough to be a restaurant.

“You’ll see.”, he tells you with a knowing smile and, when he gestures ahead with his chin. And you see it. In the middle of an empty field, multicolor lights flash on and off. You see the big wheel just starting to slowly rotate and you can’t help the smile growing on your lips. Excitement bubbles in your chest, like a child going to Disneyland and you gasp softly when the car gets closer for you to detail the funfair even more.

You knew one was held a bit further from Seoul but, you thought you wouldn’t get the chance to go. You didn’t know when nor who drag with you, Sooyoung already had her almost boyfriend and all your friends were busy. “Are we ?”, you ask in misbelief, almost hopping on your seat.

“Yeah, I hope you didn’t go before-.”, he starts and you immediately cut him off. “No, no ! I wanted to go but didn’t have anyone to drag with me.”, you laugh out before pointing at all the rides you want to try.

“Good, I really wanted to take you here.”, he hums while parking his car nearby.

Jaehyun loves the idea of funfairs, he loves what he read about them and what he saw but this, being in the middle of the big metal structures and colorful light, he loves it. He buys a bunch of tickets and you, at some point, have to stop him. Poor thing doesn’t have the experience, he doesn’t know how many things he can do in one night. He’s a happy puppy in the middle of a lot of noise, he recognizes a few songs blasting on the speakers and he stays stuck in front of big cotton candies and candy apples. Everything smells sweet and Asia’s Cupid doesn’t know what he wants to taste first but decides against it when he remembers what else he prepared. Jaehyun uses all his tickets on you and lets you pick all the rides and games you want to play, he holds your hand when rides get too intense, locks sent away from the harsh breeze when the car rolls down a high hill. He laughs at you the moment you scream in the haunted house, he tells you ghost don’t look that friendly but he wraps an arm around you the moment he sees the pout on your lips. You might feel like a high school student the moment he tries to win you a random plush, you discover he’s pretty bad at throwing things or, the game is rigged. You feel even better when you end up winning a plush for Jaehyun.

“Do you want to do this one again ?”, Jaehyun hums, lips against your temple. He points at the first ride you went on. It was fun, went backwards at some point but you were too hungry to do anything else. Curling against his side, you move your head left to right. “I’m hungry. Do you want to eat ?”, you propose on buying him anything, knowing how he almost drooled in front of the stand.

“I already got us something.”, the Cupid informs, lips traveling to your cheek.

“Let me spoil you.”, you pout, looking up at the tallest. A small smile grows on his lips, eyes travelling to the stand where all the candies are displayed. Maybe he wants popcorns, but he already had them before. Cotton candy looks too sticky and sugary and, candy apples look way too good. Shiny coat on red apples, his choice is set. “Get me a candy apple, then.”

“What did you bring ?”, you ask curiously as the brunette brings you back to his car. By now, the sun started the set, your stomach rumbles and you wonder what exactly he has prepared when he opens the bot of his car. You have to say, you expected a generic date at a restaurant but this, this was much better. You’re sure Jaehyun would be able to make any date interesting but the way his eyes glittered with the lights and how he wasn’t scared to scream during rides truly made you understand how precious the men was.

“Picnic.”, he simply says, taking out a brown basket from his car. If your friends asked you, you think you’ll be able to pinpoint the very moment you truly fell in love with Jaehyun. He takes you by the hand and tells you he couldn’t find a hill high enough for the picnic, like a shy boy on a very first date. He swiftly pushes the back seat of his car down but takes his cute green picnic cloth nonetheless, placing it in his car.

“Ma’am.”, he says, voice sultry when he offers his hand. You fall in love the moment his digits slide between his, you use the support to climb onto his car.

You fall in love the moment he open his small basket and you see the sandwiches he prepared and how the only bought drinks you like and desserts he wanted to make you try. You fall in love the moment he takes out two pieces of the very cheesecake you love too much. His sandwiches have too much condiment and not enough salad, but you might let it slide when you catch the Cupid with some mayo at the corner of his mouth. Though, you have to say his chocolate cake is the nicest thing you’ve ever tasted.

You’re full and tasted everything Jaehyun bought for you when the night falls, bight lights of the fun fair still enlightening the field around. Conservation flows easily, as always and, you pick at a lose thread, half laying in his car.

“Do you believe in soulmates ?”, you at some point, ask. It visibly takes the Cupid back, he was sipping from the red plastic cup and stops at once. Tongue clicking against the roof of his mouth, he hums a little, or maybe he breathlessly laugh.

“I do.”, he simply says and, the both of you know nothing more needs to be said. Knowing smiles, hands brush against each other when the comfortable silence settles, and you help him clean everything.

“There, best for last.”, you tell him after Jaehyun puts anything empty in a nearby bin and everything else in his basket. You don’t know it yet but, this basket, this cloth, he bought them just for the occasion. Taking the candy apple from your bag, you unwrap it and hand it towards the brunette. And, instead of taking it into his own hand, Jaehyun softly leans closer to you, lowering his head before biting down on his apple. The hard, caramel coat cracks under his pearly teeth, humming when the mix taste of the sugar and the apple coast his tongue.

“Do you like it ?”, you ask, attention caught by the men’s lips, thin coat of sugar on the plum flesh. “Try it.”, he says after nodding, and you do so. Biting down on the apple, you laugh a little when you struggle to completely detach a piece of the fruit. “Hm, it’s good.”, you tell him, chewing on the small piece you stole. The brunette takes the stick into his own hands and happily eats the candy away.

“Thank you for today.”, you tell the Cupid after you’ve helped him push his backseat up again. Sat on the leather, Jaehyun leaning, body half outside as the door’s still open. Looking up at you after securing the seats, he smiles up at you proudly, he doesn’t tell you but he struggled to put everything together after all, he never went on one until now.

“I’m happy you liked it.”, he whispers out, laughs and screams from the funfair still hear from your spot. He leans a bit and, you take the chance in your hands to lean as well, quickly pecking his lips. He tastes just like the apple candy he ate a bit earlier, and the single peck you wanted turns into a second, a third. Jaehyun laughs a bit against your lips, breaking the exchange whenever he does. He definitely isn’t the only one who can not keep his hands to himself, he thinks when your hands wrap behind his neck.

“I loved it.”, you mouth against his plump lips. His body follows when you lean backwards, his knee planting itself in the leather seat of his car. The place’s small, his right hand grips into to top of the head rest so he doesn’t crush you but you still feel the light breeze.

“Close the door.”, you whine out and, when Jaehyun understands, his eyes morphs from a surprised look to a hungry, lustful one in seconds. As said, you’re like a switch in the brunette’s brain. You don’t have to tell him twice, the Cupid leans back to close his car’s door and swiftly gets back on top of you. The slight weight of his body’s familiar now, something you appreciate and sigh against his lips when he finds his place between your legs.

“Here ?”, he wants to make sure, though his full lips travel down your throat anyways. He knows the path by heart now, finding the spot right between your collarbones. “Don’t you want to go home first ?”

You’d almost laugh at how careful he is. A hand grip his hair hard enough that he sighs, bringing his face close to yours again. “Here. I don’t care.”, you reassure him and, Jaehyun does not need more.

“I can’t get enough of you.”, the brunette sighs against your skin, fingers quickly working on the buttons of your shirt. It’s quick, hectic, the place’s already close and it seems the need crashed over the both of you like trucks. Jaehyun lets your shirt fall open, hand cupping one of your breasts over your bra, lips leaving long, deep kisses from your collarbones to the line of your jeans. He looks at you then, doe eyes centimeters away from your core.

“Jae’.”, the nickname makes him sigh against the skin of your hip, digits working on his own shirt. “Fuck me, take me.”, you whisper out, almost desperately. If the brunette looked ethereal before, he looks utterly out of this world when his body hovers over yours. The car shelters you from the sounds of the fun fair but, the tinted windows do not block the colorful lights. Blue, red, violets, yellow, they dance on his milky skin, they contrast against the bruises you left on his epidermis and the healing scratches on his back.

If the light doesn’t manage to catch his face, they reflect on your features and has the Cupid staring for a bit too long, the way the blue light softly enlightens your cupid’s bow, the purple light adorns on your cheeks and the red color falls at the top of your eyebrow. They reflect in your irises, change at every blink.

“Shit, you’re breathtaking.”, he confesses against your mouth, pearly teeth biting down on your bottom lip before tugging softly at it. Hands work on the buttons of your jeans and, the heavy fabric gets lost in the small, closed place. It feels like just like the morning after, things are passionate and rushed, your own hands work on his pants but it’s clear the desperation is too high for more foreplay.

You’re thankful the car is set far enough you think no one will walk next to it, you’d be quiet ashamed if anyone hears you. There’s a high pitched gasp that tumbles from your lips when the Cupid presses his clothes hard on against your panties and uses an arm to help you sit up, on his lap. Your mouth finds his again, it’s all tongue and teeth, a string of saliva connects your tongues when you pull back and watch his expression change when you slowly grind against his shaft.

The blue light falls on his jaw, tightening the moment you roll your hips against his, head falling back against the head rest. His hand runs in his hand and stays at the top for a moment, enjoying you taking the control, green light accentuates the veins bulging around his digits. Soft sighs fall from his lips and you make a point when you don’t kiss him at this very moment, drinking in everyone of his sounds. You might need to thank the lack of light, you already know you’re leaving a wet spot on the men’s boxers. His hands help you find a pace, delicious friction against thin fabrics, you can make the outline of his cock but, you’d be even happier with his shaft buried in your walls.

It seems he has the same thought when the brunette swiftly moves in the small space again. Now behind you, he pushes your upper body against the seat, giving you a view of the funfair you two were in hours ago, where innocent kisses where exchanged. Your arms lay on top of the head rest and, you don’t hesitate to arch your back a little, pushing your bottom against the brunette’s crotch.

There’s an appreciative groan from him, Jaehyun’s hands are quick to help you out of your panties. You think he’ll do the same with his boxers but, when you feel his heavy breathe against your wet core, you understand he has other plans in head.

“Want to taste you so fucking bad.”, he mumbles against the skin of your thighs, lips leaving kisses everywhere but where you need it the most. You cry out desperately, unable to create words to express yourself. “Can’t hear you.”, he teases you, a single digit running between your wet folds.

“Please.”, your heart bumps so fast it resonates in your ears, your forehead falls against your arms and you speak up again. “Please, Jaehyun. Touch me, want your mouth.” And on cue, his tongue finally collects your juices on the pink muscle. He groans, it comes from his chest and sends vibrations against your core, mouthing against it. “God, you’re so sweet. Sweeter than candy apple.”, he sighs, tongue pushing deeper. The muscle easily pushes pass your lips and laps, switching between using his tongue and wrapping his lips around your clit.

You already the brunette was good with his mouth by the way he took your breath away at every kiss but, he has you moaning in seconds, his lips work wonders around you and you have to muffle your moans, mumbles and whines against your arm. Kitten licks and long stripes, he quickly brings you to the very edge. By now, Jaehyun knows the way your body works. He understands when your hips struggles between his grip, desperately trying to quickly chase your orgasm. You’re close, so close, the fear of staining his seats is long gone when you beg him to go faster but, when the bubble grows tighter and tighter, it suddenly bursts the moment he pulls away. It’s cruel, how your high fades away, it’s unsatisfying, almost makes tears pool at the corner of your eyes.

“Why did you-.”, you ask weakly, looking back at the brunette.

“I want you to come around me.”, he says, coming back at eye level. Light casts on his lips, shining from your essence.

“Fuck me, then.”, you taunt, and the devilish smile on his lips foreshadows what comes next. His boxer quickly gets thrown next to his pants. Heavy cock he slaps a few times against his palm, you hear the weight and almost salivate. But, you’ll have time for that after, you think. His free hand reaches for your bottom but, he underestimates his force and his palm slaps against your ass without a warning. The sound resonates in the car and quickly follows a ripped moan from your lips.

“Should’ve known.”, the brunette starts, fakely disappointed sigh coming from his lips. “Should’ve known you were into that.”, and he reiterates the act, palm harshly slapping against the skin. You whine at that, heat creeping into your cheeks. At each slap, he smooths the skin right after, softly rubbing at the flesh. It gets you even wetter and when you fear you’re going to drip all over his seats, Jaehyun brings his red head to your lips, collecting the translucid liquid.

Before you can even beg him again, he easily pushes the first inch between your walls, a sigh coming from the both of you. It still feels like the first time. Though, now he know exactly how you like it. A few inches in, the brunette doesn’t hesitate and rams in, in a swift motion. His hips pick up a punishing pace, it’s clear he chases both your orgasms. One hand rests on your hip while the other arches your back.

Skin slapping against skin, you try to muffle your moans against your arm but, Jaehyun doesn’t care. Deep groans, he doesn’t take your silence. His hand on your back creeps up, fingers lace in your hair and he abruptly yanks, pulling your back against his chest. No way to hide your moans, you whimper pathetically. His thrusts turn slow, deep, hard. Face next to your own, his second hand moves to your jaw, holding it tightly. You might have to wear concealer there, by the way his fingertips dig at your skin, lips mouthing against your cheek.

“Don’t hide from me. I want to hear you.”, he demands, and you bend under his wants. His name falls from your lips again and again, the fading orgasm he denied you moments prior comes running back and it isn’t long until your walls tighten around him.

He breathes, moans and whisper whatever comes into his mind into your ear, only for you to hear, it sends shivers down your spine and you know, you know it’ll stay forever engraved into your mind. How his low, deep, breathless voice muses at how good you feel around him, how slutty you are for him and only him. How you were made for each other and how he was fucking you like you deserved to be. Your moans turn silent, breathless and, Jaehyun understands you’re close before you do. He gives you the silent permission when one of his hands deep down, digits circling around your clit.

It takes seconds for you to fall apart, your walls tighten around him, grip him and you come in a ripped scream that might catch the attention, you don’t see. You don’t see because you have to close your eyes, tears threaten to fall and stars flicker in front of your eyelids, you’d fall forward if the brunette didn’t have such a tight grip on your body. He follows quickly behind, groans against your neck and spills in long, white strings. He fills you up and makes sure you feel it, slow movements of his hips. Breathing heavy, you hear him chuckle lowly at the pleasure. You whine out when he pulls out, suddenly empty but, your protest quickly gets cut when Jaehyun stuffs two of his fingers into your cunt. “Don’t waste anything.”, he hums, audibly tired. You gasp at the image when you look down, ring hugged digits coated in a layer of his and your own come, he slowly fucks it back in. It’s a thought he doesn’t voice, you tummy full of his come, the implications. He brushes it away, he’s thinking too quickly.

A single kiss is placed on your forehead as he helps you clean, “Let’s go home, love.”

Saturday, Jaehyun can not keep pushing. Second to last day, time flies quickly and the clock tics without a second to spare. His decision is made, it has been made for days now but, saying it out loud is much, much different. Short nails pick at the small piece of skin peeling at the corner, Jaehyun knows what he has to do. The television at his side plays some show he doesn’t, it’s white noise anyways while he walks back and forth in his small apartment. He started to love it, he got attached to it quickly. Needless to say, he got attached to you quickly, too.

It’s around four in the afternoon that he finally, finally uses his emergency card. Gold, small, it fits in his palm. Thin, it has Olympus written on it in cursive, white letters. He wondered if he should wear the clothes Cupids wear daily but, he decides against it, it’s symbolic, he’ll present himself with his new clothes.

There’s something twisting his guts, anxious and…Scared ? He knows, the brunette knows, he’s more human than he thinks. It’s when this exact thought crosses his mind that he opens the cards.

The same cloudy dust envelops his body, it blocks his view and, in seconds, he’s in Olympus. What happens next, will stay an unknown story for the mortals, a tale narrated from Cupid to Cupid, from a generation to the next. Sometimes romanticized but, always about that one Cupid who found his soulmate in a human and fought for her. Always about a Cupid fighting a God for the one he loved. It varies from person to person, some underline how the Cupid’s infatuation, his words and stories managed to convince Eros. Other highlight how Eros always had a soft spot for his Cupids, how good he always was with them. Who better to understand love than Eros himself. Eros, large white wings move softly, making the clouds around him dissolve at his feather’s touch, looks down at Jaehyun with a soft smile, one of his sons. His hand rests on top of his large bow, head leaning against it as he laughs a bit at the brunette’s expression. He’s dumbfounded at how easily the God agreed. But, Asia’s Cupid should’ve known, Eros is a sucker for love stories. He wouldn’t ever dare get between two lovers, not when one of them is Jaehyun.

“Child.”, Eros starts again, adoring look on his eyes. Jaehyun never had a father figure, not in his life at least but, when Jeonghan is the closest thing he had to it, Eros follow quickly behind. “You are free.” What can Jaehyun do other than bow down in front of the God, grateful isn’t a word strong enough. Though, the brunette has many questions and, Eros already knows them. Few Cupids had the same questions and, he’s prepared.

“What about…My memories ?”, Jaehyun asks, knot in his throat. Blonde, curly hair bounce to the side when Eros listens carefully to the question. On his pedestal, pretty throne in gold, he leans a bit forwards, the same pink eyes boring into Jaehyun’s now brown eyes. He noticed, he noticed how Jaehyun didn’t let his irises take their original color, how he didn’t dress like his brothers.

“You’ll keep them.”, visibly taken aback, the brunette doesn’t answer and so, Eros continues. “When Cupids leave, they’re free to pick. Return as newborns or, have a life on Earth as they are.”, simply says the God. “It’s harder, to be aware of everything, but it’s also a chance.”

“Like Jeonghan.”, he says before even thinking and, instead of answer, the blonde simply smiles.

“He’ll look over you. I’m counting on you to look over him.” The brunette’s mind might blow at this very moment, he knew. The posture, gestures, smile, the way he looked at him. So he was your tutor too.

“What about the others ?”, Jaehyun doesn’t dare say their names, his brothers, he will probably cry if he does. Will he ever see them again, he doubts, and that’s the heartbreak Jaehyun wanted to avoid. Suddenly, Eros’ features grow cold, worried, even.

“You can say good bye, but you’re not allowed to come back after that.”, he knew. But it still makes the brunette look at the ground, tears at the corner of his eyes. He won’t cry now, he tells himself.

He cries minutes after, when his brothers wait aligned in front of him. Jaehyun won’t ever talk about the good byes he had. Tearful, he made sure to look at his brothers face enough to make sure he wouldn’t ever forget them, even without pictures. He cries and begs for their forgiveness when they aren’t even mad. Jaehyun has a sweet word for everyone, he wishes he had prepared himself better and he gives something to each one of his brothers. He cries when they hug each, one by one.

They all promise they’ll look over him, they all promise they’ll find each other again, in their next life, whenever the next generation steps in. Jaehyun doesn’t even get to see the next Cupid at his spot, the one touched by his white arrow years ago.

Jaehyun looks back one last time, and before he can cry again, he falls from Olympus. Seconds that feel like minutes where Asia’s ex Cupid feels everything and nothing at the same time. When his feet touches the ground again, he doesn’t even register where he is. He thinks he’s in his apartment again and, when he opens his eyes. He’s in front of your door.

Eros, he thinks. He said he’d look over him too, seems he didn’t lie.

Red eyes, bloodshot, he doesn’t think twice and knocks on your door. The shock and worry in your eyes almost makes him laugh through his last tears, one his quickly dries off with his sleeves. You’re unaware of this, you don’t know yet but, he did all of this for you. Gods know your name, the love he has for you told to generations.

“I have something to tell you.”

Taeyong sighs heavily, a hand harshly pushing the pink haired’s hand away. Asia’s next Cupid is in formation while Jungwoo balances between his continent and his old friend’s. The new Cupid is a teenager, he looks a bit younger than Mark. Curious, he was happy to be assigned to Asia but Gods, was he the perfect annoying little brother. Death glare towards the smallest, Taeyong pushes his arrows away.

“No, Jaemin. You’re not allowed to.”, the red haired tells him again and, he pouts. “Let me at least look at my continent.”, the youngest says. It’s the end of the day and the oldest figures he’ll let him, now that he learned how to travel quickly and look over different cities.

“Oh no, I wanted To-.”, he youngest starts, trying to move to the wanted Japanese city.

“Wait !”, Taeyong’s loud voice rings in Jaemin’s poor ears, he frowns as he looks at the city he accidently landed on. Seoul. What’s Taeyong staring at, he wonders. A couple walks in the middle of a store, one Jaemin doesn’t recognize. Annoyed by the interruption, he looks over at this tutor.

“Are you going to shoot an arrow at him ?”, he asks.

“Oh no, they’re already blessed by the Gods. They don’t need arrows.”  

© NEOVISIONED l NO REPOSTING OR TRANSLATIONS ALLOWED.

[bcneheaded]

BASICS !

NAME: Artemis NICKNAME/S: "The Keeper" / "Shopkeeper" / occasionally accepts "Artie". AGE: N/A SPECIES: Demon. fallen greek god.

PERSONAL !

MORALITY: lawful  /  chaotic  /  good  /  neutral  /  evil  /  true RELIGION: N/A SINS: greed  /  gluttony  /  sloth  /  lust  /  pride  /  envy  /  wrath VIRTUES: chastity  /  charity  /  diligence  /  humility  /  kindness  /  patience  /  justice KNOWN LANGUAGES: Many, if not most. SECRETS: He was/is the original Eros. + He has a magically sealed room with souls in stasis (not conscious) in the dungeon/basement, these are the souls of the victims of his previous, demonic rage when he emerged from hell, and the owners of the bones he wears (he hopes to free them one day... when he is ready. This requires him to relinquish the bones though. They have become a part of him in a deep way... he needs time.).

PHYSICAL !

BUILD: scrawny  /  bony  /  slender  /  fit /  athletic  /  curvy  /  herculean  /  pudgy  /  average HEIGHT: 6'0" - 6'2" SCARS / BIRTHMARKS: There are what look like permanent tear streaks, darker than his tar... like...lines? beneath where his 'eyes' are under his skull. No one knows about these. They're... a form of spiritual scar. ABILITIES / POWERS: Inhuman physical strength, agility etc. Immortality, Cannot feel pain (nor pleasure), Molten (can superheat his tar), Tendrils (can manipulate his tar, often to create many "limbs" equal to his strength), Hyper-mobility (he has these bones, but he is in reality the tar itself. hes insanely flexible), can travel quickly by traversing between this plane and the next? its like the realm of shadows & is horrendous for the human psyche. He's a demon though so hes fine jjfdgj . Can also hide in shadows! Kinda steps to the side of ''field of vision'' of the living to hide in plain sight. Can form soul contracts (does not) etctecetc. General magic usage. RESTRICTIONS: His appearance cannot be altered in any permanent way. + he isn't good at alteration magic, so any ''fake human form'' he'd use would NOT last long, especially if it had to be maintained.

FAVORITES !

FOOD: N/A DRINK: Tea, coffee, wine (he can't drink it though; its the aesthetic of it + warmth of hot beverages he likes) PIZZA TOPPING: N/A COLOR: Black, white, almost all dark colors. MUSIC GENRE: Classical, generally. BOOK GENRE: Mystery, tragedies, romantic comedies. MOVIE GENRE: Same as his book taste; prefers plays/theatre. CURSE WORD: No 'favourite' / rarely swears (he's a gentleman). "Damn"/"Damn it" if anything. Usually substitutes for old sayings though. SCENTS: Faint florals, charcoal, old books, tea, etc. (he can't smell well enough to /enjoy/ scents but these are ones that bring him comfort)

FUN STUFF !

SONGS: Oh god I don't know jfsDSFS I don't know classical songs!! he probably does have favourites he just whips out by name tho AESTHETIC: Dark colours, tailored suits & cravat ties, Victorian gothic, the smell of old books, morning newspaper and tea SINGS IN THE SHOWER: No LIKES PUNS: ... He's particular about them, but an old man at heart so yes.

tagged by: @normaltothemax (ty ! &lt;3 ) tagging: you reading this!! you, I'm tagging you!!

[dragontame]

Ok so, here's another Planet 51 AU that I have cooking up recently (I have more AU's for this film, but those will come at a later time), it's called the Umbra Witch AU. It's still in development at the moment, but it's pretty much Grawl and his older brother Zarad (another Planet 51 OC that will come soon) are Umbra Witch's like Bayonetta and Jeanne. Grawl has a pact with Madama Butterfly and Zarad has a pact with Madama Styx, but both have their own Gomorrah's. Considering thanks to the information from Bayonetta 3 that it turns out Gomorrah is a species, meaning there are more down in Inferno. Grawl's Gomorrah is a little bit unique as originally this one was the runt of the litter as he was a bit smaller than the other Gomorrah's and due to eating the Paradiso scraps that his siblings didn't want to eat. Grawl felt bad and knowing how it felt being lonely, he befriends this Gomorrah and promises him that he'll help him grow bigger and stronger. True to his promise, this Gomorrah prospered greatly as he had more access to Paradiso food and with a proper training. He became quite more bigger and stronger than the rest of the other Gomorrah's.

Despite the species of Gomorrah's having ill tempers, Grawl's Gomorrah is EXTREMELY loyal and VERY obedient to him as this Umbra Witch gave him a chance to actually shine and will forever be grateful towards him. Yes, his Gomorrah will tend to get feisty, but a good talking down from Grawl will do the trick to keep him in check. This Gomorrah will have his grumpy moments, but he's quite soft, gentle, and protective of his favorite Umbra Witch master. As for Madama Butterfly, Grawl immediately befriends her when he was 6 years old as he rarely had any friends and considering he asked her nicely, especially how can she say no to an adorable Promethean child (the species name I gave Grawl and his people). Ever since then, their bond has grown very strong and she is quite protective of her Little Witch. In a way, Madama Butterfly is like a second mom to Grawl. I do have in mind on what Grawl and Zarad's Umbra Witch outfits would look like, but I'll have to draw that out later. Though they have their own Umbra Witch locket watch and 4 Umbra Witch guns. Their guns do have names like Bayonetta and Jeanne's guns.

Grawl's Umbra Witch Guns: Love Kills - (Cupid, Venus, Aphrodite, Eros) - Color: Icy Blue with Silver Aesthetics.

Zarad's Umbra Witch Guns: Manners Maketh Man - (Arthur, Merlin, Galahad, Lancelot) - Color: Silver with Gold aesthetics.

Again, this AU is still in development, but if you are curious. Don't hesitate to ask or send a DM.