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penelopehere · 2 days ago

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Being A Demon HCs With Saja Boys

Jinu

The only demons he’s familiar with are the ones Gwi-Ma sent to help him on his mission

Otherwise he wouldn’t have bothered to remember who you were, only focusing on getting his memory erased

Would only go out of his way to interact with you if you acted out and proved to be a threat to his plans

He would get reports of a demon purposefully stopping others from harvesting souls and often going rouge, disappearing for periods at a time

At first he’d be absolutely pissed, sending others to hunt you down and get rid of you

However, the more you manage to evade them, the curiouser he got

There was no reason you should be standing in the way of Gwi-Ma, and the fact that you managed to act out despite his voice in your head astounded him

That’s when he decides to seek you out himself

He’d instantly go in to attack, trying to see if the stories he heard about you were true

Would be making a lot of snide comments as well, still annoyed at the fact that you were in his way

When you managed to evade him over and over again, disappearing the moment he turned his back towards you, he’d be a lot more open to just getting you to talk

Would act innocent at first, raising his hands when he saw you and clarifying that he was alone

He would doubt that you managed to escape Gwi-Ma’s voice, asking what you had to gain from acting out like this

Would be in heavy denial about a demon being able to go off and be free like you were, since he wasn’t able to

Eventually however, he begins to wonder if it was really possible and he could do it as well

Begins to manipulate you a lot, trying to get you to open up about your past and reveal your inner shame as well as how you managed to overcome it

Would also open up to you, only revealing parts of his history since he was mainly doing this so you’d let down your guard

Sometimes uses his tiger and bird to find you to convince you to meet up and trust him more

However, when he sees how genuine you are with not wanting to be like the other demons, his behaviour shifts

His becomes more caring, empathizing with you a lot more and purposefully warning you of upcoming attacks so you weren’t anywhere near them

If any other demon found you and tried to hurt you or bring you back to Gwi-Ma, he would quickly get rid of them

Wanted you to be his secret

Even the other members of the group weren’t fully aware of his relationship with you, only knowing that a rogue demon took up a lot of his attention

But the moment he realises how close he was getting to you, he’d immediately distance himself and not give any explanation as to why

You’d have to be the one to confront him, asking what went wrong and why he’s acting so weird

He’d then snap back at you, saying not all demons could live your life and it wasn’t easy to just change

From there he would ignore your advances, purposefully avoiding you if you ever tried to seek him out again

It’d only be during a confrontation, where you were in some sort of danger with demons or hunters, would he step in and bring you away from the fight

He’d be checking you over for injuries, practically ignoring your words as you continuously asked why he abandoned you

It’d take a lot of coaxing, but eventually he’d confess he cared too much about you and didn’t want to feel vulnerable

It’d be best if you didn’t try to pry any further, cause he wouldn’t want to explain himself

From there you’d have to take control of the relationship, with him being less sure of his actions now that he realized his feelings for you came from a genuine place

If you were patient though, things would eventually evolve into something more loving

Neither of you would officially acknowledge it, with the words ‘dating’ accidentally slipping out one day and neither of you correcting it

Would be a lot more teasing, being relentless with his playful jabs and insults

Often times enjoys spending quiet time with you, with both of you doing your own thing but still touching in some way

Loves to explain things to you, especially new things he’s learned about the human world that he knows you’re not familiar with

Sometimes, in more intimate moments, he’ll open up about his history with his family and how much regret he has from it

You’ll have to be the one to constantly pull him from Gwi-Ma’s voice

Doesn’t fully stray away from his plan to erase his memories, so he tries to avoid the topic with you since he doesn’t want to argue

Is infatuated with your markings, never even considering demon traits could be beautiful until he met you

Would enjoy training together to develop your demon abilities, since it was fun but also so he knows you’ll be safe when he’s gone

Will also make sure you have access to souls to feed on if you needed it, regardless of your opinion of harming humans

Would do everything in his power to make sure Gwi-Ma never got a hold on you again, even considering turning against the overlord if it came to it

Baby

Often goes off and does his own thing away from the group, so getting his attention even as a fellow demon would be difficult

However if you also had a rebellious side he’d be at least a little intrigued

Like if you wandered off during missions and overall just didn’t care that much about Jinu or Gwi-Ma’s plan

Just toeing the line between doing the bare minimum and being a liability, so you managed to fly under the radar for a while

If you also liked to mess with others, whether it’s demons or humans, he’d be even more interested in you

Would do whatever it took to get a reaction out of you

Followed you around constantly, and would act even worse if you ignored him

He’d repeat questions over and over again like a toddler, or poke you until you acknowledged him

Would definitely tease you a lot, making fun of how you basically worked for him and that he was the reason you could get souls

From this he would also try to pry into your personal life, curious about who you were and how you became a demon

However, anytime you even considered doing something rebellious, he would be right by your side and force himself to be apart of it

There’d be no point in trying to stop him, since you were both equally stubborn and would spend hours arguing with each other

The other members would notice his interest in you, especially with how often he wandered off to go find you

Eventually would force you to come with him, dragging you to rehearsals, meetings etc

Anytime you tried to leave, he’d basically drag you back and place you in your own little corner to chill in

The group didn’t care that much, slightly relieved Baby had someone to focus all his mischievous energy on

That was until the two of you teamed up and began pranking the other members

Then everyone began to be a lot more cautious if you were anywhere near each other

Neither of you talked about your emotions that much, mainly hanging out in silence or planning your next stunt

There was no doubt you guys had a connection though, not that either of you would admit to it

The only way something would change in your relationship is if you had to leave the human world, whether that be because you got in too much trouble or if the mission no longer needed you

Baby would try everything in his power to make sure you could stay with him

Would be lowkey about it, going to other members to casually ask if they could do anything or just full on threatening lower ranked demons in secret

Would go as far as getting rid of other demons so you could replace them and stay

Even considered going back to the demon world with you, but the other members wouldn’t allow it

Eventually you’d confront him on this, not wanting to make a big deal out of having to leave since you were unsure about his feelings towards you

This would force him to accidentally confess, causing the two of you to go silent for a couple moments

He’d ask if you felt the same way, and when you admitted to it, neither of you would know how to act at first

To break the tension Baby would probably begin teasing you about your ‘crush’ on him until you did it back

From then on the two of you would be inseparable, the members having no choice but to make sure you stayed in the human world

If they didn’t then Baby would leave and the mission would be put at risk

He stays by your side no matter what, basically hovering around you since he finds comfort in your presence

In more private settings, he loves to have you resting against one another

Would develop the most insane tricks to scare humans, even incorporating these acts into performances or interviews sometimes

Also uses it to get souls, getting satisfaction out of the torment they experience

The two of you also get scolded the most out of the group

Loves to make posts with you, even showing off your markings sometimes saying it was just ‘makeup’

Even does this with your fangs and eyes on occasion, loving your demon form and enjoying how risky it was just revealing it on the internet

If you ever felt insecure about being a demon, or if Gwi-Ma’s voice became too overwhelming, he’d try to reassure you with his actions

Like by calling you dumb for even thinking such a thing, while pulling you closer and draping his arm around you as he rested his chin on your head

Romance

He practically obsesses over getting attention from fans in the human world, mainly using demons to further push his image as an idol

So it’d be hard for him to develop a genuine connection with you if you were just assisting the, in the mission

However, if you were someone back in the demon world that knew him before he became a Saja Boy, he would remember you

The two of you only interacted a couple times, too busy with surviving and finding ways to get souls

However, the kindness and respect you showed him in those rare moments still left an impression

Automatically places you in high regard because of it

When he got put on Jinu’s mission, he managed to get you assigned with them

It gave him an excuse to spend more time together and he was eager to get to know you more

Would use his charming personality as a front since it was so successful in getting human fans

Used you as a ‘stand in’ for fans and interviewers, telling you pick up lines and constantly touching you in some way in an attempt to catch your interest

Even tried to help you develop your own human form, making sure you guys has matching styles

Everything he did felt disingenuous at first, feeling like he was just trying to manipulate you into liking him

While in reality, Romance would overthink constantly about how you perceived him and what kind of person you wanted him to be

Everyone in the group was well aware of his little crush on you, constantly teasing him about it since he acted so fake with you

This would make him consider being more vulnerable with, even if the very thought of doing so frightened him

So at some point, when the two of you were alone, he would open up to the stress he faces because of this mission and Gwi-Ma’s voice

He used it as a way to explain why he was hesitant to be sincere when you first met, feeling insecure about his true personality

It would take a while for you to fully let your guard down, still unsure if anything he was telling you was true or if he had some ulterior motive

But eventually you’d see he was being genuine, allowing you to develop a proper relationship with him

You’d also open up about hearing Gwi-Ma’s voice in your head, the two of you supporting each other and talking it out whenever things got really bad

He’d definitely be the one to confess, planning everything out to the smallest detail and getting the other members to help him make sure it was perfect

He’d do all the stereotypical things, like giving you roses, lighting candles, taking a walk with you in the moonlight

However at the end of the night, all his plans go out the window

After looking into your eyes, he knew he would do anything to make sure you were happy

He told you how he felt about you, that you were different from anyone else that he met and how you made him feel things he didn’t think were possible

Around you he felt confident in who he was and loved, despite being a demon

After hearing your response, saying you felt the same way, he’d be so overcome with emotion that he’d just hold onto you; not wanting to let go

Now that you were dating, he was lot less extravagant with the PDA since he feels more secure with you

Still likes to be touching at all times though so he knows you’re there

Also keeps on flirting with fans, taking his role in the group very seriously and wanting the Saja Boys to succeed

However reassures you though that he belongs with you, through both his actions and words

Especially since he can’t go out with you while being overly affectionate, due to his role as the ‘flirt’ of the group

Is constantly checking on your wellbeing, making sure you were handling being in the human world well and had enough souls to feast on

Becomes a lot more secure with his demon form since he loves the markings and fangs you have

However he does enjoy pretending to human with you, loving how you let him style your appearance

On special occasions he finds ways to go dates with you in public, charming his way out of it when confronted during interviews and fan meets

Abby

To get his attention you’d have to be on the team somehow and working closely with him

So your role would most likely be one of the demons that follows the group at all times, acting as a form of protection in case any hunters come by or if human fans want to see them when they’re busy

He would mainly interact with you by making a few side comments, saying he could protect everyone himself because of how strong he was

It’d only be after seeing you in battle would he start to take you seriously

Would constantly ask you to spar with him, taunting you if you kept saying no

Eventually he’d just try to sneak attack you, getting frustrated when you’d just disappear or ignore him

If you fought back he’d be ecstatic, giving it his all and expecting you to do the same

Losing would make him distraught, immediately demanding a rematch

However if he won, don’t expect him to ever let you forget it

Would probably be so annoying that you instigated the next sparring match

From then on he’d subconsciously try to get your validation by trying to be better than you at things

No matter how small the task, he’d insist he could beat you at it

Basically everything became a competition, and he would spend most of his free time just being around you because of it

Everyone in the group probably realised that he liked you before he did and they’d tease him relentlessly about it

Out of principle he’d deny it, sounding like a little kid throwing a tantrum

However if you ended up finding out about this, most likely by overhearing one of the members saying it, he’d get a lot more flustered

Began stuttering and backtracking on all his words, not truly knowing how he felt

You’d have to take control of the conversation, admitting your feeling first so he could calm down

Honestly short circuits, not talking for a few moments as he focuses on your words and forgets everything he was thinking

Tries to be causal when he says he likes you too, eventually saying he expected it because of how strong he was

Still tries to constantly impress you, however now it’s more so about skills and talents he has

This mainly includes his cooking, always wanting you to try whatever he makes

Will take your opinion very seriously, especially since you weren’t familiar with human food and he wants your experience with it to be perfect

Is okay with redoing things over and over again until they taste just right

Would fall even deeper in love if you asked him to teach you how to cook, brushing it off by bragging about how he’s the best teacher you’ll ever have

Also has you help with a few of his dance moves, loving how you can keep up with him cause your both demons

Is constantly hugging you and putting his arm over your shoulder, almost like he’s trying to draw you in closer whenever you’re nearby

Also continues to spar with you a lot, playfully jabbing you and escalating it to the point where one of you is pinned to the group

But he is more open to both of you improving your fighting technique, taking the time to show each other effective attacks and defences

He still has a short temper, often letting his demon attributes coming out when he gets mad, however he appreciates that you can match his energy and stand up for yourself

Also loves seeing your demon attributes getting more enhanced when you get pissed, loving how unapologetic you are with being inhumane

He thinks it makes you seem more authentic

The only reason he would try to convince you to have a human form is so he could go out in public with you and show yourself off as a power couple

Also tries to do the same thing around demons, bragging about how the two of you could probably defeat the hunters by yourself

But if you ever did doubt yourself, whether that be because of your own thoughts of Gwi-Ma’s voice, he’d do his best to reassure you

Would give you praise, stating every compliment as if it was a fact before finding something fun or relaxing to do to take your mind off things

Mystery

He usually stays quiet in large groups, so you wouldn’t really catch his interest by being a demon that hangs around the members

He also didn't make that many connections in the demon world, so he wouldn’t know you from there either

Most likely you’re a soul collector, going between both realms and eventually catching his eye

This is because he found it interesting how you managed to blend into the shadows and disappear, similarly to how how did

He’d follow you every now and then, keeping an eye on how you lure humans away and find them in moments of weakness

You wouldn’t even notice him at first because of how quiet he was

At most you’d notice something in the corner of your eye, or feel like someone was watching you

However, when you looked around, no one would be there

The only way you’d properly meet is if he decided to approached you out of sheer interest and curiosity, appearing at your side and accidentally scaring you

You recognised him of course, with the Saja Boys being the whole reason as to why demons like yourself could collect souls

He wouldn’t say much, merely staring at you and then immediately disappearing in a cloud of smoke

These interactions would get slightly longer and longer overtime, with him eventually just walking behind you and hovering while you did your job

You never really asked him to leave you alone, since he rarely interfered with what you were doing

The only times he’d step in is if you were about to get caught

If it was by a human, he would come from behind and take the soul from their body, before retreating into the shadows once again

However if it was a hunter, he would pull you into a hiding spot, even going as far as transporting away with you if he thought things were too risky

On some more rare occasions though, you’d also see him tormenting a few of his own humans while you were out hunting

Sometimes to steal their soul, but often just scaring them to the point of tears

The first time you heard him spoke was simultaneously fighting and calming, not expecting him to actually say anything but strangely loving the way his voice sounded

He still didn’t speak much though, only saying a few words every now and then

Because of this, whenever you guys were around each other, it’d be a comfortable silence or you’d be talking to yourself

You’d most likely open up to him on accident because of this, not even fully realising that your guard was down until much later

Despite his eccentric nature, you’d still find it calming to just be around him

From this an odd friendship would form, the two of you finding solace in the other’s presence despite not truly knowing much about each other

Eventually you’d hang out with him in front of the other members, just sitting in silence and doing your own thing

However the group didn’t question it

They had a small suspicion he was doing something like this, but they would have also believed he just found a stray cat he really liked

You would slowly begin staying at their house more and more, everyone else just leaving the two of you alone since you seemed to be getting along

The only way your relationship would move forward is if another member questioned if you guys were dating

Neither of you knew how to answer that, just staring at each other

You decided to have a conversation about it when you guys were alone, finally saying that you both liked one another

At first you thought nothing in your relationship would change, immediately turning around to walk back towards the house

However, when Mystery reached out and gave you a back hug, holding you from behind for a few moments, you were glad that some things were going to change for the better

He would become much more affectionate in his own way

Always having his arm draped over you somehow or has your pinkies locked together

Loves helping you collect souls, especially when you play with the humans for a bit first before devouring them

Personally prefers his demon form over his human one, so is most likely in it when he’s around you cause it makes him more comfortable

However he would also enjoy helping you develop a human form, implementing it when you guys go hunting

If you ever became too overwhelmed with being a demon, specifically because of Gwi-Ma’s voice, he would quietly take you into his arms and whisper words of reassurance if you needed it; promising he would keep you safe

#kpop demon hunters #kpop demon hunters x reader #kpdh #kpdh x reader #kpop demon hunters headcanons #kdh #kdh x reader #jinu x reader #baby x reader #romance x reader #abby x reader #mystery x reader #saja boys x reader

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seleneprince · 1 day ago

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The villainesses want the divorce!

After meeting a tragic end together, Mrs Wayne and her daughters find themselves reincarnating into the bodies of their younger selves...from another universe.

In this world, their counterparts suffered from their own abrupt deaths, leaving their souls to merge in the wake of the loss, and coming back with the memories of both of their lives now bound in one person respectively.

As if that wasn't hard enough to deal with, turns out that in this alternative universe, the three of them are well-known "villains", petty and infamously evil, whose bad deeds are the reason they eventually wind up dead. And all because...they just wanted the dynsfunctional family of bats' love? And were so jealous of the "main characters" for getting it that they committed to idiotic plots to harass them and get rid of them?!

Sorry but no. Not this time, babes.

Their lives are too precious to waste on chasing after men. Seriously, what were their stupid counterparts thinking?

So, in order to enjoy this second chance they've miraculously gotten and avoid such pathetic deaths, they come up with a simple solution:

"Bruce, dear, I want the divorce."

"Oh, and the girls are coming with me."

It's perfect. Easy, because Bruce Wayne will no doubt jump at the opportunity to erase them from his life. As soon as they're no longer tied to the Waynes, they won't have to worry about suffering the consequences of this gothic telenovela anymore. They will finally make the best out of this new life and enjoy without dealing with those stupid vigilantes.

Nothing can go wrong. There's no way.

What's he going to do? Refuse?

"We'll make them beg for us to leave this house."

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2?

Taglist: @la-patrona-magdalena @therealme13posts, @coldilikeit, @like-thechocolate, @yuyuzi-ling, @luludeluluramblings (can't believe i'm tagging one of my favourite batfam writers ahshdhf), @errorunfound1, @cxcilla

a/n: If you want to be added, ask me or dm me 💖

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likeumeanit9497 · 22 hours ago

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heatwave | m.s. |

matt sturniolo x fem!reader

summary: you and matt find a way to entertain yourselves during the east coast heat wave.

warnings: smut; unprotected p in v; oral (fem receiving); fingering; hand job; squirting; cream pie; dirty talk; overstimulation if you squint; established friendship (duh); 18+

notes: this may or may not be heavily inspired by an encounter i had yesterday (i've never ever used real sexual experiences as a structure for my very fictional writing but that d was fire tbh). i hope y'all enjoy this as much as i did LMAO i love u all very very much <333

─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─

Boston is sweltering, and Matt’s room is a sealed oven — windows cracked but useless, blinds drawn to block the sun, a fan wheezing like it’s dying a slow death in the corner. The two of you are sprawled across his bed — limbs loose, clothes clinging to clammy skin, the sheets kicked to the end of the bed hours ago.

You’re lying flat on your back, one leg bent, the other outstretched; your tank top stuck to your ribs in damp patches. Matt’s beside you, lying the wrong way across the mattress, one arm flung off the side like he’s trying to melt through the floorboards.

“Why is this place a furnace?” You groan, dragging a hand down your sweaty face, “I feel like I’m being slow-roasted alive.”

“You’re dramatic,” He says, not even opening his eyes.

“Well you’re delusional.” You shoot back.

He tilts his head slightly toward you, lips curved into a lazy smirk. “Take your shirt off, then.”

You blink at him, letting your head roll to the side, “What?”

He shrugs, the sheen of sweat on his forehead glistening under the light, “It’s hot. I’m trying to help.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I’m being nice,” He brings both hands up and covers his eyes, palms flat to his face, “I won’t even look. Scout’s honour.”

You huff a laugh, biting back your smile, “You were never a scout.”

“No, but I’m very honourable. And sweaty. You are too, so, shirt off. Live a little.”

You watch him for a moment, amused. His mouth twitches like he can feel you staring. There’s a bead of sweat at his temple. He’s a mess — hair sticking up, shirt of his own long discarded. You shake your head, “You’re such a freak.”

But the heat is unbearable. And he really wasn’t looking. You hesitate just a second longer before grabbing the hem of your shirt and peeling it up, the fabric sticking stubbornly to your back as you tug it over your head. You drop it somewhere by your side, now left in nothing but a bra and shorts. Still sticky and flushed.

Matt’s hands stay right where there are, fingers splayed like he really is shielding his vision. For a few seconds, he’s perfectly still — dramatically obedient with his mouth locked in a tight smile like he’s resisting every natural impulse. You watch him, amused, for a moment. Then, just as you shift your weight on the bed, you catch the slightest flicker — a single eye glinting through the sliver between his fingers. You can’t help but burst out laughing, “Matt!”

He flinches like he’s been caught red-handed, slapping his hands fully back over his face with a theatrical groan. “You saw nothing,” He mutters into his palms.

“Right,” You laugh.

“I was just checking on you,” He insists, muffled, “For safety reasons.”

“Oh, I see. In case I passed out mid-shirt removal?”

“Exactly,” He says, briefly lowering one hand just enough to wink at you, “What if you got tangled?”

You roll your eyes, but you’re still laughing. You nudge his bare shoulder with your foot, “Creep.”

He grins wider, then finally drops his hands and turns his head toward you. His gaze travels down your body, playful but lingering. He wiggles his eyebrows in a mock-seductive flourish, “Much better.” You roll your eyes, crossing your arms lightly over your chest, “Pervert.”

“Saviour,” He corrects, and leans back into the mattress like he’s done something heroic.

You both lay in silence for a little while, focused on lowering your body temperatures. No movement besides the occasional shift of a leg or the tilt of a head. After a lull, Matt glances over. “You cooling down?”

You snort softly, “Not really.”

He’s quiet for a second, eyes fixed on the ceiling. You can almost hear the gears turning in his head. After a moment, he sits up abruptly. “Wait, I have an idea. Stay here.”

“Where else would I go?” You mumble, watching him slip out of the room in search of whatever brilliant plan he’s concocted. A minute or two passes. The fan hums uselessly, blowing stale recycled air in your face. Sweat trickles down the side of your neck. Then he returns — triumphant, holding a plastic cup brimming with ice. You lift an eyebrow, “Seriously?”

“I’m a genius,” He says, settling back onto the bed beside you, “I come bearing salvation.”

He plucks one cube from the cup and rolls it between his fingers. You eye him warily.

“Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Just trust me.”

You do. Once your eyes flutter shut, the ice touches your forehead and your whole body shudders in response. It’s a shock — biting, electric — and then it begins to melt, cooling the skin it traces. Your breath hitches. Matt drags the cube down your temple, across your cheekbone, down the column of your neck, and then back up again in slow, fluid strokes. He doesn’t speak. Neither do you. Too soon, the ice cube melts to nothing in his hand.

There’s silence. You open your eyes to find him staring at you. Something about the air has changed — impossibly thicker, slower, hotter. He pulls his eyes from you and grabs another cube. This time, it presses to your cheek again, trailing down. Past your jaw. Down your throat. And then lower, to the swell of your chest. You inhale sharply.

His fingers keep moving, steady and smooth, gliding the ice across your skin, circling your thin bra, skimming the tops of your tits. The cube slides between them, slipping into the dip of your sternum before melting again. Your whole body is awake now — flushed, chilled, aching. He pulls his hand away, and you catch his wrist gently. Your other hand drifts to his thigh, fingers curling into the fabric of his shorts. When you look up at him, there’s nothing casual about it. He sees it — his throat bobs.

“More?” He asks softly, voice low and rough, like he already knows your answer and what it actually means. Still, you nod. He doesn’t say anything else — just reaches for a third cube. It’s pressed to your tit first — right at the curve — and then lower, bolder, tracing the edge of your bra. The chill is unbearable in the best possible way. Your back arches, hips shifting slightly as your body reacts on its own.

Through hooded lids, Matt watches you. Watches the way your lips part, the way your lashes flutter. He takes his time letting the melting ice drag slowly beneath the cup of your bra now, sending cold water in thin, shocking rivers across your pebbled nipples. You gasp, hand tightening on his thigh. He brings the ice lower again, this time over your stomach, tracing a path past your ribs, across the soft skin of your belly, toward your waistband. You bite your lip as the ice stops at your hip, and you almost tell him — say it out loud, give him permission. But you don’t need to. You lift your hips instead, just a little. Barely a tilt, but enough to signal to him exactly what you need.

He tugs gently at the waistband of your shorts, easing them down over your hips with a softness you weren’t expecting from him. Your friendship with him was usually filled with quick wit and crooked smirks, but now his fingers are slow and careful and almost cautious — as though he wants to take his time in this moment.

The shorts slip past your knees and you kick them off lazily, still sprawled across his sheets in nothing but your bra and thong. He sits back slightly, ice cube in hand, eyes flicking over you and your goosebumped skin. He leans in, and this time the ice touches the top of your thigh.

You gasp again, sharper this time, and Matt lets out a laugh — low and breathless, the sound of someone who’s trying very hard not to lose control. He drags the cube up along the inside of your thigh, slow and deliberate. You feel every nerve ending flicker awake; your core flooding with a heat much more pleasant than what you have been experiencing all day.

“You’re insane,” You whisper, but there’s no weight behind it. Just the heat of your breath and the sharp contrast of the cold.

“And you’re melting,” He murmurs, voice closer to your hip now, “I’m just doing my part.”

The ice skims higher, fraction by fraction. You hold your breath, body vibrating with desire. The cube stops a breath away from the edge of your thong. He glances at you with a look of finality, as if to say: this is it. This is your last chance to stop this thing that will change our friendship forever.

You nod again, even faster than before. The next second is quiet. He presses the cube to the thin fabric between your legs, and your whole body jolts. A sound slips from you, embarrassingly real, and his mouth curls at the edges like he’s not trying not to smile too much.

“Still hot?” He teases.

“Shut up,” You whisper. But it’s breathless, and he knows you don’t mean it. The cube disappears even quicker than the last two — leaving only a slick trail behind — and his fingers follow, brushing lightly over the edge of your lace underwear, right where the ice had been. They linger there, fingertips barely brushing the dampened fabric. Just curious and waiting, but there is an energy in the way that they tremble that lets you know he needs this as bad as you do.

Without a word, you shift your hips again and widen your legs, offering more. His gaze darkens with lustful disbelief — as though he hadn’t let himself imagine this far ahead, as though he thought you would eventually tell him it’s all a joke. He blinks into a swift recovery. And then slowly, carefully, he hooks his fingers around the waistband and begins to pull.

Your breath hitches as the warm air caresses more of your skin, as the thin fabric slips over your thighs, your knees, your ankles, and finally off entirely. He tosses them somewhere and then he’s still again, just sitting beside you, taking in the sight of you laid out across his bed like some impossible offering. Sweat-slicked, yet goosebumped. A perfect paradox.

A gritty sound escapes his lips as he takes you in. You don’t say anything, just reach behind your back to unclasp your bra. The straps fall like silk down your arms. You let the fabric slide off and drop beside you on the bed. There’s a beat of silence where he doesn’t move, eyes on your bare tits. “Well, you’re definitely hot.”

His lame joke makes a laugh burst out of you, startled and breathless. “You’re such a loser.”

But he’s already leaning down, grinning as he kisses the curve of your knee. Then up your thigh. Then again, higher. Your body tenses, breath rising fast. He shifts on the bed so that he’s right in front of you now, body so close you can feel the anticipation radiating off of it. “Don’t worry,” He murmurs, voice raw, “I’ll cool you down.”

His hands are warm and sure as they slide over your thighs, coaxing them apart even more. His thumbs trace slow, wide arcs on your inner thighs, not quite approaching your centre yet — and the anticipation makes your skin tingle, makes your breath catch. Then he shifts lower, flattening himself against the bed, lying fully between your legs. His face hovers just above your glistening core — close enough that you feel the heat of his brooding breath across your slick skin. He’s staring, openly now, no jokes left in him. You can see it in the way his eyelids droop, the way his lips part like he’s about to say something but can’t quite find the words.

His breath continues to fan over you in an unhurried way that makes you twitch in anticipation. And then, just as you are about to pout, his mouth is on you. Not right where you need it yet. No, he’s still taking his time. His lips find the inside of your thigh first, the soft flesh kissed and then kissed again. A slow trail of heat and patience. He hums against you, the sound low and lazy like he’s easing himself into this — like he wants to remember how every part of you tastes. It makes your hips tilt, chasing his mouth.

He chuckles softly, lips still pressed to your skin. Then finally, finally, he shifts just slightly, and his mouth meets your folds. In an instant your body jerks at the contact. His tongue is slow at first — too slow. Flattening against you and drawing a long, deliberate strip through your slick heat like he’s savouring something sacred. You feel the first roll of pleasure hit deep in your belly — sharp and liquid and sudden — and your spine arches off the bed involuntarily.

“Oh my God,” You gasp, one hand flying instinctively into his hair, fingers twisting tight. He groans in response, a rich, appreciative sound that vibrates deliciously against you. Like he’s agreeing with you, like he wants to say the same thing — Oh my God — but he’s too preoccupied. His mouth works with more focus now, his lips wrapping around the delicate bundle of nerves at your centre with maddening precision, his tongue flicking and pressing in just the right way, just the right rhythm.

You’re really melting now. Every part of you feels like it’s been plunged into heat and ice at the same time. Your thighs threaten to close around him, but his hands are there — steady, anchoring — one splayed across your stomach, the other curling around your thigh and dragging upward, brushing so close to where you need him most that you whimper. Then his fingers find your entrance. Not yet entering you, but pressing softly, as if to feel how ready you are for him. You’re soaked, you know it. He knows it, too, and his groan confirms it.

Your head tips back against the sheets, eyes fluttering shut, every muscle singing under his touch. And he’s listening to you. He’s watching you. He’s adjusted his movements to your reactions. The way your legs twitch. The way your breath skips. The way your hips rock in tiny, desperate pulses. Every movement of his mouth is tuned into the sounds that leave your lips. He learns you fast — adjusts, adapts, deepens. Sucks harder when your fingers tighten in his hair. Flattens his tongue when your hips vibrate.

Your thighs begin to tremble beneath his grip, your back arching higher now, neck exposed, lips parted in soft, uncontrollable moans that sound nothing like you, and he knows — he can feel it. He tightens his grip on you and keeps going, keeps coaxing, keeps drawing sounds from your lips like he’s performing an exorcism.

“F-fuck Matt— I’m g-gonna—”

He doesn’t let up. In fact, he groans again, as though your words are the trigger he’s been waiting for. The vibration against your swollen bud tipping you over the edge. You come apart beneath him, everything in you buckling, curling, unfolding. Your hips jerk, hands flailing against his head and shoulders, and for a moment you forget how to breathe. Your mouth is open but no sound comes out until the wave crests and you sob his name. His crazed tongue doesn’t stop until you’re gasping, whimpering, pushing at his shoulders — too much, too sensitive, too hot. Only then does he pull back.

His lips are swollen, chin wet with you, eyes dark and blown out as his chest rises and falls like he’s been the one undone. He looks at you like he just did something unspeakable, but also unmistakably like he wants to again. Your skin is thrumming, flushed and oversensitive, but every nerve feels lit, alive, and reaching for more. You feel the slow drag of his body as he travels up yours. His mouth brushes across your hipbone in a lazy kiss. Then your stomach, where the warm press of his lips leaves invisible stains across damp skin. You shudder when he pauses at your ribs, nose nuzzling the underside of your tit, and your hand finds his hair again, fingers curling gently through the strands. He groans faintly when your nails graze his scalp.

The next kiss lands just above your heart — soft, but lingering. His breath is still uneven, matching yours. And then his face is level with yours. You look up at him — chest rising, eyes hazy, lips parted — and he’s already watching you with that same wild, unreadable expression. His hand comes up to your face, knuckles brushing along your cheek, and then he kisses you. Gentle, at first. But in an instant it slips into something urgent and achingly slow, like he’s trying to devour you without losing control.

His swollen lips fit over yours perfectly, parting just enough to taste, to tug, to ask. You open for him instinctively, and the low sound he makes in the back of his throat lights a new fire in your core. His tongue strokes against yours — cautious at first, exploratory, like he’s testing you — but when you respond, when you meet him with equal hunger, he sinks into the kiss fully.

His hand slides from your cheek to your jaw, thumb brushing your skin as his mouth moves against yours in slow, wet, desperate waves. His body hovers just above yours, one arm braced beside your head, the other hand skating down your ribs, across your waist, gripping the curve of your hip. Your whole body arches into him in response. You moan softly into his mouth, the sound swallowed between your lips, and you feel him shiver, even in the heat.

His hips press closer — just enough that you can feel how hard he is against your thigh — and you whimper at the sensation. He responds with another kiss, messier this time, lips dragging down to your jaw, your throat, sucking gently at your pulse point as his fingers dig tighter into your skin. Everything feels swollen. Your lips. Your chest. Your heat. The tension has shifted — pooling low in your stomach all over again.

When he returns to your mouth, the kiss is slower but no less intense. He kisses you like he wants it to last forever — like he can never get enough of your taste. You feel yourself melting again, hips rolling up toward his without thought. He pulls back just an inch, breathing hard, forehead pressed against yours as though he’s trying to hold himself together.

Your hands drift from his face to his shoulders, fingers curling around his muscles, pressing into the warmth of his skin. He’s solid above you, and yet he trembles when you touch him like that — a subtle, involuntary twitch beneath your palms that thrills you. You let your hands roam farther. Over his inked arm. Across his chest. Down his back, your nails grazing along the soft dip of his spine. He shudders again, exhales sharply against your cheek, and his hips rock forward in just a way that makes his cock press against your clit.

Without a thought your hand drops lower. Fingers drifting between your bodies, you reach down, tracing the line of his stomach, past the sharp dip of his hip and the waistband of his pants, you find him — hard, hot, pulsing in your hand. He groans when you wrap your fingers around him, his forehead dropping to your shoulder, lips pressing into your neck like he’s trying to hold on to something

“Fuck,” He breathes, barely there.

You stroke him slowly, learning the shape and weight of him. Your thumb brushes over his tip, slick and already beaded with precum, and his hips twitch against you like he can’t help it. His whole body jerks, his breath dragging ragged against your collarbone. You feel drunk on it — how much he wants this. He lifts his head again, mouth finding yours, kissing you harder now — mouth open, a little messy, like he can’t quite keep himself in check anymore.

He shifts his weight onto one arm and his other hand slides between your legs, fingers trailing through the slick mess he made of you earlier. The sound it makes — wet and unabashed — draws a gasp from both of you. It’s embarrassing and exhilarating all at once, that undeniable evidence of your desire. He lingers there for a second, fingers gliding through your folds, collecting your arousal, spreading it slowly, deliberately, with slow circles that make your breath catch.

“So wet,” He murmurs, almost to himself, “Jesus.”

Then, with a swift push, two fingers curl inside of you. You cry out softly from the sudden fullness. The way you stretch around his digits, the slow glide of his knuckles as he sinks in deep. Your body rolls into his contact, seeking more, and he groans again as your walls flutter around his fingers. He begins to move — slow and steady at first, learning the angle, the rhythm matching your own hand on his cock. His fingers curl just right, finding that perfect pressure on every stroke, and it sends a ripple of heat through your core that makes your legs tremble. Your mouth falls open around a whimper, body moving with him now, chasing the sensation. His thumb brushes your clit in a lazy circle and you nearly sob out loud.

“M-Matt—” His name is a barely coherent sound.

He kisses you again, swallowing your noises, and his fingers pump into you deeper, faster now. You cling to his shoulders, his back, free hand digging into his skin. Every muscle inside you coils tighter, your body inching closer to the edge with every curl of his fingers. And he knows it — you can tell. He watches your tight expression with awe in his eyes. The tension in your lower stomach is exquisite, almost unbearable.

“D-don’t stop,” You gasp, “Matt—p-please—”

He doesn’t. He keeps pushing his fingers into you, twisting them just enough to make your legs shake. Keeps circling your clit in perfect, devastating passes. He whispers something against your cheek, but you don’t even hear it — all you know is the pressure, the slick glide, the fullness, the heat. You’re going to cum again.

He grabs your hip, holding you in place while you writhe. Your hand freezes around his length, incapable of movement of your own. “Right there,” You gasp, “Don’t stop, don’t—”

And that’s when it hits. You clamp around his fingers, your entire body tensing before it explodes outward, a burst of white-hot pleasure tearing through you so completely you forgot your own name. Your legs shake, your back arches. You cry out, eyes squeezed shut, and Matt just guides you through it, pulling back just enough to watch as the pressure in your lower stomach collapses into a gushing puddle against the mattress, dripping down his fingers, down his wrist. You tremble around him, and you’re still gasping when he finally eases his fingers out of you, hand slow and careful.

Your eyes flutter up to his slowly, blinking up at him through the blinding haze, and he’s watching you again — flushed and wild, chest rising fast. His fingers glisten in the light, and he brings them to your mouth, eyes alight with fiery desire as you wrap your lips around them and suck — the sweetness of you melting against your tongue as it swirls around the digits. He swallows hard, then whispers almost desperately, “I need to be inside you.”

Your breath catches. The urgency in his voice ignites you. It matches the ache deep in your core, the ache his fingers had only just began to quiet. You nod without hesitation, but your body says it louder — the way your fingers pull down his shorts, the way you wrap your thighs around him, inviting him in.

“I want that,” You whisper, “So fucking bad.”

He kisses you again, that slow kiss that tells you he’s holding himself back. You can feel how badly he wants this, not just in the way he moves, but in the tension humming through his entire body — like a taut wire ready to snap. He cups your face in one hand as he does, thumb stroking just beneath your jaw. His other hand moves between you, and you feel the soft rustle of him reaching down, the glide of his fingers as he lines himself up.

You’re still so wet from your last release, your inner thighs sticky, the air thick with the addictive scent of it, but the stretch of him pressing at your entrance makes you gasp again. The raw, unfiltered heat of him a promise that makes your body pulse. He pauses — just barely resting inside you — and lifts his gaze to yours.

“Okay?” He asks, voice strained and barely more than a breath.

You nod, lifting your hips a fraction to urge him forward. His eyes stay on yours as he pushes himself in; slowly, exquisitely. You feel his thick head slide deeper, a tight, stretching burn that blurs into something molten, something impossible to define. Your lips part on a soft moan as your body opens for him inch by inch, yielding to him as he parts you. He goes slowly, as if he’s trying to feel everything. And you are, too. You feel every ridged inch of him as he sinks deeper, your walls fluttering around him, welcoming him. Your fingers dig into his shoulders, clinging. You don’t know if you’re pulling him closer or just holding yourself together.

His breath breaks above you in a low groan, and your mouth falls open in a soundless moan against his shoulder, eyes fluttering shut, overwhelmed by the fullness, the pressure, the weight of him sinking inside of you. Finally, he bottoms out with a shudder, buried to the hilt, his hips flush against yours. For a moment, neither of you move. Your foreheads are pressed together, your breath tangled, your bodies locked in a silence more intimate than anything either of you could say. And you feel it everywhere — the pulse between your legs, the tremble in your limbs, the way your body molds to his, takes him in like it was made to.

“You feel so good,” He whispers, “So fucking tight.”

You whimper, involuntarily pulsing around him, and he groans again like he’s barely holding on. Then he draws back — not all the way, but enough to make you feel the absence — and pushes back in with a slow, steady roll of his hips. You gasp at the stretch, the fullness, and you swear you can feel him rearranging something inside of you. He finds a rhythm almost immediately, each thrust unhurried but deep and deliberate. Every motion presses up into your g-spot, makes your mouth fall open, makes your fingers claw down his back and clutch at his waist.

You arch beneath him, chasing every moment, and the angle of his body, the way he so completely fills you, starts to build another aching knot low in your belly. You feel slick, swollen, stretched, perfect. He kisses you again, open-mouthed and distracted, one hand still against your face while the other slides under your back, lifting your chest toward him. Your tits press against his own chest, flushed body to body, and the friction of your nipples brushing his skin sends a ripple of sensation through you.

“Faster?” He asks, his voice gritty and uncertain. Like he wants it desperately but won’t push. You nod, eyes glassy and blown out. “Y-yes, please.”

His hips snap harder now — deeper, faster — and the rhythm punches a moan from your throat. You meet him eagerly, hips rising to meet every stroke, gasping as the friction and fullness begin to spiral tighter again. The sound of your bodies colliding fills the room, wet and obscene. You’re drowning in it. In the feel of him. The scent. The pressure building low and hard in your stomach.

You moan openly now, voice raw and desperate, every sound torn from your throat without permission. He grits his teeth above you, his face — dripping in sweat — twists with restraint as he fights not to finish too fast. But your body around him — your heat, your wetness, the way you tighten on every thrust — is undoing him by the second. Your body trembles and he buries his face in your neck, one hand gripping your thigh and pulling it higher over his hip so he can fuck you deeper.

You whimper at the angle, at the sudden pressure against your spongey core. It shatters your thoughts. Your hands tangle in his hair, your back arches off the bed, and the pleasure crests sharp and sudden in your gut. You’re coming apart already, faster this time, your body raw and open from the waves that still echo in your limbs. He can feel it, your exposed nerves communicating with his own.

“Give me another,” He pants, forehead pressed to yours, “Needa feel you around me. Come on— fuck— give it to me—”

There’s a desperation in his voice that sets you aflame. This is Matt, who’s unraveling above you, who can barely hold himself together, who’s chasing your pleasure like it’s the only thing anchoring him to this earth. His thrusts are erratic now, messy and deep, like control is slipping through his fingers and all he can do is chase the feeling of you tightening around him, the sound of your moans, the heat, the wetness, everything all at once.

You’re there. You’re right there. You look up at him through hooded eyes and your breath catches. His dark hair is damp, sticking to his forehead, his cheeks flushed red and glowing. His mouth is parted, jaw tense, eyes wild and dark and locked on your own. You’ve never seen anyone look like this. Like they’re about to come undone just from watching you fall apart.

“There you go,” He coos, encouragement thick with desire, “That’s it, baby.”

All at once, your body clenches around him in frantic, uncontrollable waves, wet and tight and pulsing. You cry out — his name, or just a sound, you’re not sure — as the orgasm rips through you. It seizes you completely, head tipped back, fingers clawing at his arms, your legs trembling around his hips. It’s a violent, full-body surrender. A deep contraction from somewhere unreachable inside of you, like your core itself is pulling him in and refusing to let go.

And Matt feels it. He chokes out a groan, deep and raw, and you feel the shift in him — the exact second he begins to lose control. His rhythm falters. His breath punches out of him in short, desperate grunts. One thrust, another. Then a sharp jerk of his hips, and suddenly he’s still — his body locking above you like something has snapped inside him. You feel him throb between your walls. The twitch of his cock, thick and urgent, is followed by a guttural sound you’ve never heard from him before. Like a growl broken in half, cracked by sensation.

His head drops to your shoulder, his arms shaking where they cage you in, his entire body shuddering. Then you feel the heat of him spilling into you. Rope after rope, thick and hot, pulsing into your already aching body. It’s overwhelming — not just the satisfaction of being filled, but the knowledge that he’s coming because of you. That you alone did this to him. That your body brought him to the edge and held him as he fell.

He stays inside of you, buried to the hilt, as the last few waves pulse through him. You feel every one. Every throb, every flicker of his release as it fills you. His breath is ragged against your throat, his whole body weight pressing into you now, heavy and real and shaking. You don’t mind, even in the humidity of the room. You need the weight of him. It pins you to the moment, keeps you from floating off somewhere. Because your whole body is humming — sore, raw, alive — and your mind hasn’t caught up yet with what just happened.

You wrap your arms around his back, fingers dragging gently up his spine. He’s soaked in sweat, heaving beneath your palms, and you can feel his heart hammering where his chest is pressed to yours. Neither of you can speak yet. There’s only breathing. The soft, broken rhythm of lungs searching for air. The thundering in your ears. The quiet twitch of your walls still fluttering around the softening length of him, like your body hasn’t quite figured out it’s over.

You don’t even realize you’re practically suffocating until Matt slides carefully out of you and collapses on the bed to your left, chest rising and falling in sync with your own, both of you gasping like swimmers who misjudged the distance to the surface. The bed feels disgusting beneath you — damp, sticky, top sheet clinging to your back like wet paper. Every inch of your skin is slick with sweat. The heat presses in like a second body. It’s even hotter now than before you started, like the room itself is exhaling with you.

Matt groans, throwing one arm over his eyes. “Okay,” He says, voice raw and hoarse, “In hindsight? Probably the worst possible activity for a heatwave.”

You let out a breathless laugh, turning your head toward him, “Yeah, I noticed.”

He doesn’t move — just lies there, limbs spread like he’s trying to make contact with any available patch of cool air. Eventually, he turns his head toward you, eyes squinting in the light, hair matted to his forehead. “You good?”

You nod, small smile tugging at the corner of your mouth. “You?”

He lifts one lazy hand and gives a crooked thumbs-up before letting it flop back to the bed. Silence drapes over you again, but it’s comfortable. It’s the stretch of space after something monumental, when your body is still remembering and your brain hasn’t quite caught up. Matt rolls onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. His fingers reach for your hair — pushing it back gently. You close your eyes at the comforting feeling of his knuckles skimming your temple, dragging sweat back into your hairline.

“Wanna take a shower?” He mumbles, brushing a damp strand off your cheek.

“Yes,” You reply, though it comes out more like a sigh.

Neither of you rush it, though. You just stare at the ceiling for another moment, slippery legs braiding together mindlessly. Eventually, you both drag yourselves up. The floor is hot beneath your feet. The hallway even hotter. When you reach the bathroom, Matt leans over the tub and fumbles for the cold tap. He doesn’t speak, just waits, listening to the rush of water hit the tile. You lean against the wall beside the closed door, arms crossed under your bare chest. “You gonna keep your hands to yourself?”

He blinks at you in the mirror, then gives a lopsided grin. Holds two fingers up, “Scout’s honour.”

You raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Hmm. That sounds awfully familiar.”

He pretends to look scandalized. “Are you accusing me of being untrustworthy?”

“I’m accusing you of being full of shit,” You say sweetly, stepping around him to test the water. It’s ice cold, thankfully. “I believe you very recently said the same thing. Then proceeded to melt an ice cube on my tits.”

“That was purely for heat stroke prevention,” He explains.

You snort, “Then you fucked me.”

“Touche.”

You step into the spray first. The cold shocks your system, but it feels so good — almost as good as your last orgasm, who’s aftershock still sits low in you. Matt steps in behind you a moment later, groaning dramatically as the water hits him. He stands a respectful distance away, but you can feel the heat of him still. It’s silent for a moment as you shampoo your hair, rinsing it out and letting the suds run down your body.

“Are you cooled down enough yet?” His voice comes from behind you. You turn around and find him standing with his arms crossed, goosebumped skin and blue-tinged lips. You laugh at the pitiful sight, letting the water run slightly warmer.

“You could’ve waited.”

“You may have died of hypothermia in here unsupervised.”

You snort. “Supervised? What are you, a lifeguard?”

He pauses for a moment, playful smile toying with his lips in the way it does when he’s coming up with a clever response.

“I prefer the term wetness consultant,” He finally says, and you nearly slip from how hard you began to laugh.

“You did not just say that to me.”

“It’s true,” He tilts his head beneath the spray, flicking water from his lashes, “I stand by it. I’m providing a service.”

“A public one?” You retort.

He rolls his eyes, smirking, “Nah. Usually private one-on-ones.”

You shake your head, stepping forward to reach for the body wash. His gaze drops automatically to your tits, and you catch it. “Eyes up here, creep.”

But his gaze has intensified, and brows pull in just slightly with focus. “You just,” He says, voice low, words half-lost beneath the rush of water, “Have something—”

Before you can ask what, his hands rise and settle at your waist, thumbs brushing your wet skin. His touch is so light it feels almost imagined. You lean back slightly, instinctively, and the chill of the tile wall hits your spine like a warning. But his body moves with yours, crowding just enough without forcing space. His eyes flick down again. You follow his gaze and see a single line of suds, clinging to the curve of your tit, delicate and iridescent in the light.

One of his hands travels up your side and cups your breast, and he swipes a thumb across your nipple to clear away the shampoo in a single, fluid motion. It hardens under the contact, and you groan internally at the way your pulse began to race. His lips part as he watches it react, and he leans down, wrapping his mouth around your nipple and sucking delicately. You close your eyes, the cold washing over you in unison with rippling desire, and try not to think too hard about the distinguishable heat still burning dangerously beneath your skin.

─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─

#sturniolo triplets #sturniolo smut #the sturniolo triplets #the sturniolos #sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo x you #matt sturniolo smut #matt sturniolo x reader #matthew sturniolo #matt sturniolo #sturniolo #matthew sturniolo x you #matthew sturniolo smut #matthew sturniolo x reader

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unluckiestmember · 23 hours ago

Text

K-Pop Demon Hunters: HUNTR/X X Fem! Reader

Characters: Mira, Zoey and Rumi

Warning: None. SFW.

A/N: I can't believe pride month is over, but I'll be damned if it ends and I don't have anything for these girls! Should I do one for the Saja Boys??

Zoey

“What do you say to us going to the bathhouse after this?… Awesome- You hear that, guys?! I’m taking my girlfriend to the bathhouse!” Zoey knew she liked girls for a long time. When she lived in America, she enjoyed that she was in a sense comfortable to love who she wanted to love without much ridicule if at all. So for her, falling in love with you came easy and somewhat fast. She knew some fans wouldn’t understand, but that didn’t stop her from putting you on a pedestal and making sure the whole world knew who she was dating.

This maknae will always find a chance to hold you if not cuddle you in between shows, all while telling you endlessly how much she loves you between kisses on your cheeks. Because of how proud she is to have you as a girlfriend, she’ll even invite you to join HUNTR/X during interviews and fan signing. This lovebird makes sure no one forgets you two are together because of how happy you make her. And she hopes she makes you feel the same way.

Mira

“Where’s my girl?… There she is~. You enjoyed the show? Good, now come on, babe, we gotta celebrate.” One of the reasons why Mira didn’t get along well with her family was because she wasn’t conventional when it came to her love. She liked guys, don’t get her wrong, but she loved girls way more. And she used to be pretty self conscious about it, but after she met you? Beautiful gorgeous you? Well, let’s just say that she parades you around sometimes. When she’s done with a show, she’s all over you, quick to put an arm around you and walk around as if you are both goddesses everywhere you go.

Expect to get a bunch of kisses on your forehead and brushes along your hand from her thumb. And especially be ready for her to put you in her lap like it’s a personal throne while she caresses your side. If anyone tries to ridicule you for loving her, she’s going to make an example out of them. She dares anybody to hurt you or make you feel like you don’t belong. They’re just another display of how much she loves you and cherishes you.

Rumi

“For the melody, maybe we can-… Why are you looking at me like that? I know it may be hard, but can you try to stop being cute and focus?” Rumi had made it clear that she likes boys as much as her friends. But what she’s always kept behind closed doors along with her past is that she likes girls too. She had to learn that the hard way from performing at so many shows, meeting other artists and just being entranced by their beauty. It’s one of the reasons why she fell in love with you. You just. Waltzed right into her life and she thought you were the most beautiful person she’d ever seen.

She pursued you and at first tried to keep your relationship a secret due to fear of ridicule. But with your help and your unwavering love for the lead singer, after a show, Rumi pulled you aside and revealed to the world that you two were together. She has never been happier now that you two can be together in public. She loves how she can compliment you around Mira and Zoey. How she can talk about you fondly during interviews. And especially how she can sleep by your side without having to sneak you out in the morning. She couldn’t do it if it wasn’t for you. And because of that, she loves you so much and will love you forever.

Likes and retweets are always appreciated! I love you all, stay hydrated and have a good day! <3

#x female reader #x reader #x you #headcanons #netflix #lgbtq #mira x reader #rumi x reader #zoey x reader #kpop demon hunters #kpdh #rumi kpdh #zoey kpdh #mira kpdh #sony animation #fluff headcanons #trash #pride month #happy pride 🌈

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crazziforazzi · 5 hours ago

Note

can you write a oneshot about that munch - wordle interview answer?

Love that idea! It's not a long one shot, but I hope you like it:

MUNCH

The door clicked shut behind her with a dull thud, and Paige didn’t even bother locking it right away. She kicked off her sneakers in two lazy thumps, one bouncing off the wall, the other landing god knows where. Her t-shirt was already halfway off as she made her way toward the couch, peeled the rest off with a lazy tug, and let it land somewhere behind her. She really didn’t care where. She flopped face-first onto the cushions in nothing but her shorts and sports bra, the sticky late-June Dallas heat making everything feel like it took ten times more effort than it should have.

She groaned dramatically, then fished her phone out from under her and immediately pulled up Azzi’s contact.

Paige: Facetime dinner in 1 hour ?

She wanted to play it cool, play it casual, but the truth was, Paige needed her tonight. Nothing dramatic had happened. Training was fine. But the whole day felt heavy in that quiet, annoying way where everything just felt off. She had been dragging herself through it, but deep down, she knew the only thing that might refill her tank was seeing Azzi’s face while they both shoveled reheated leftovers into their mouths in front of their camera.

The reply came just a couple minutes later. Azzi: I’m home in 30, call you right away?

Paige exhaled, long and soft. Azzi got it.

Paige: Please.

There was a beat. Then:

Azzi: Are you ok?

Paige: Just tired and want to see my girl.

Azzi: I’ll try to hurry, okay babe? In the meantime, play Wordle. It’ll cheer you up. No cheating!

That made Paige squint at the screen. Wordle?

She rolled onto her back with a low groan, forehead scrunched. Why the hell was Azzi sending her to play Wordle right now? Sure, they used to get a kick out of solving them together back when it was viral, but that had been years ago. Paige hadn’t even thought about it since.

Still… she reached blindly for the iPad wedged somewhere between the couch cushions. Grumbling under her breath, she pulled up Safari and typed in "wordle." The site loaded with its usual grey-white grid.

With zero energy and even less brain power left after that intense training, Paige decided to go the basketball route. Azzi must’ve suggested Wordle for a reason. There had to be a connection. She was too tired to overthink it, so she just trusted the process and started typing.

First guess: SCORE.

Seemed right and on-brand. Only one yellow: C.

Paige frowned slightly. That wasn’t nothing, but it also wasn’t helpful.

Second guess: COACH.

Another basketball word. Subconscious doing all the work now. This time, second C went green, and H did too.

She blinked. Okay, okay. That was something. But… still felt like guessing in the dark. She tapped the back of the iPad rhythmically with her knuckles. She was hungry. Which, somehow, led her to…

Third guess: LUNCH.

Immediately, U, N, C, and H all turned green. Only the L was wrong.

Paige stared at the screen. She tilted her head, letting her tired brain catch up. Four letters in place. Just one left. She could feel it, the answer was right there. And then it hit her.

Azzi told me to play this.

And if it wasn’t basketball-related, then it had to be the other thing Azzi always swore could "relax her." Her eyes widened. She blinked once.

"Oh my god," she muttered, already typing.

Fourth guess: MUNCH.

The green squares lit up in a row, and Paige grinned for the first time since she walked in the door. Of course that was the word. She shook her head, biting her lip as her smile widened.

"You’re such a dumbass," she mumbled to herself, the grin never disappearing. She snapped a pic of the finished Wordle and sent it off with a message:

Paige: You tryna tell me something or…?

Three dots appeared immediately.

Azzi: Just making sure you are warmed up for dinner 😏

Paige groaned again, but this time it was way more flustered than fatigued. Her eyes fluttered shut as she dropped her head back into the couch, laughing softly to herself.

Already, she felt better. She was still tired, but the good kind now. The kind that settled in her chest instead of dragging her down. The kind that felt like being home.

And somehow, impossibly, Azzi had found a way to give her that from miles away.

#pazzi fics #paige x azzi #pazzi

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sunskisser · 18 hours ago

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simon ghost riley x sunshine!reader

summary: you were a specially brought in sergeant from the navy. sunshine personified, you start to break down simon’s walls.

a/n: um…. no one look at me 😭😭 i’m so behind on requests lol but i can’t stop thinking about this man!!! might write a part 2 hehe

The moment Simon laid eyes on you, he knew he was gone.

You came in like a whirlwind of warmth, like love itself had taken your name. You were everything he wasn’t, everything most seasoned soldiers had long lost — bright, affectionate, kind.

You introduced yourself as a Sergeant from the Navy, deployed to Task Force 141 for a few missions, just to gain exposure. It wasn’t like Simon had heard what you said, he was too busy staring at you, with all your pretty features and sweet smiles — but he did make sure to ask Johnny later.

Everytime he passed by you on base, you were busy chattering animatedly to someone else. And every single time you gave him a little wave, you had that damn smile on your face.

It always sent a twinge of annoyance through him. Just how experienced were you — to be grinning in a dreary place like this? This was the military, for God’s sake. It wasn’t a place for smiles, or happiness, or anything remotely close to that.

But damn it, he would be lying if he said it didn’t make him feel some kind of way. If you didn’t make his heart squeeze some kind of way.

Simon’s first private encounter with you happened about a week later. He was sat in his office, head in his hand and fingers ink-stained. The stacks of paperwork sprawled over the table didn’t seem to be getting any smaller, and it was frustrating. He grit his teeth, just about to give up and ask Price to get somebody else to do it, when he heard the knock.

“Come in.”

You poke your head in, beaming. “Morning, Simon!”

He grunts in acknowledgment, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “What d’ya need, Sergeant?”

“Oh, please, just call me Y/n,” you smile, waving him off, because of course you didn’t know how many times he’d mentally repeated your name to himself. You walk all the way in and close the door behind you, almost skipping to his desk.

“Anywho,” you say brightly as you hold out a plastic box to him, “I baked you cookies.”

Simon blinks, staring up at you suspiciously. “Cookies? For me?”

“Mhm!” you push the box into his hands, and he cautiously accepts it. “Johnny told me you loved chocolate chips, so I rolled in some extra for you.”

Simon looks up at your smiling face, and has no idea how to respond. He suddenly feels like he has a heart. You baked him cookies, for absolutely no reason at all. How could he say no?

“Uh,” he grunts, clearing his throat and shifting uncomfortably as he puts it down on his desk. It’s getting annoyingly hard to keep the frown on his face. “Thanks, lass. ‘Preciate it.”

“No problem,” you gush. And Simon thought that this would be the end of it, that you’d leave once you’d given him your cookies. But no, of course not.

You unpromptedly take a seat across his desk, eyes flitting all over it.

“Paperwork?” you ask, so sympathetic that it tugs on Simon’s (apparently existent) heartstrings. “Seems like a lot of it. Do you need some help?”

You look up at him with those big, hopeful eyes, and Simon has to resist the urge to agree immediately. Price would kill him if he knew he was getting a specially brought-in Navy sergeant to help him with paperwork, but fuck Price.

“Well…” he scratches the back of his head, feigning hesitation. “If ye don’t mind, then yeah, I could use some help.”

You look almost delighted at that, and Simon wondered how anyone could be happy to do something as monotonous as paperwork. But you proved him wrong.

You helped him file, reorganize, and proofread everything on his desk, all while chatting his ear off. You told him all about your work back in the Navy, your family, your pet dogs, even about your favourite couch back home — whatever that meant.

Nothing he needed to know, but everything he wanted to. He could feel himself softening more and more as the minutes passed, annoyance turning into a fonder shade.

So this is what it felt like to be on the receiving end of your liveliness. This is why you were already so popular around base, within just a week of your arrival.

Simon knew he’d be asking you for help again sometime soon.

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creature-wizard · 19 hours ago

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Here are some tips for appropriate behavior as an ally:

99% of the time, you should not talk about yourself (like mentioning things you've done or how something makes you feel) on somebody else's post. There are a few exceptions (like a personal anecdote that strengthens OP's point), but usually it's inappropriate.

You might see a post talking about a thing and feel compelled to talk about another thing it reminds you of or feels adjacent to. Sometimes people don't mind this, but it's also highly contextual and depends on the person you're responding to. Usually, it's considered inappropriate behavior.

When in doubt, add nothing and only use filing tags. Remember, you can always make your own post or vent in a private journal.

Learn to manage your own feelings and work through them in appropriate settings. Practice mindfulness, try journaling, talk to your friends, a therapist, your priest, whatever. People advocating for their rights have a lot to do and worry about, it's not reasonable to expect them to manage your feelings or listen to your confessions.

It takes time to learn how to talk about issues with all of the depth and nuance they deserve. Trying to be a teacher after a few weeks of research is a bad idea. If you're new and not well-read, focus on boosting other people's stuff.

Research stuff for yourself as much as you can. There are some people who will be happy to explain things for you, but lots of people are tired and nobody likes repeating the same 101 stuff forever. Searching DuckDuckGo for simple phrases like "systemic racism" or "systemic transphobia" are good places to start.

Go read Information Literacy Basics 101 while you're at it, to improve your research game.

Everybody advocating for their rights is tired and stressed out to some degree. Don't take it personally if they're short with you, and refrain from snapping back. Yes, even if you think they're wrong.

You should generally trust oppressed people when they talk about their own personal experiences, but you don't have to take literally everything they tell you at face value. Distinguishing between people talking about their own experiences and the narratives they use to explain and makes sense of those experiences is a crucial skill.

Posts generalizing about a privileged class are not inherently posts demonizing a privileged class. "All men want to rape" is demonization, "cis men are responsible for most rape" is not. Learn to distinguish between them and don't react to the latter as if it's the former. Bend like a reed in the wind and let it pass over you and through you etc.

Feeling uncomfortable is to be expected, and you have to get used to it. You will hear a lot of things that reframe a lot of things you took for granted in a very negative way. That said - you need to be able to distinguish between feeling uncomfortable and accumulating actual psychological damage. If you start feeling like you're irreparably broken or like you deserve to be punished for having privilege, that's unhealthy.

Acknowledging systemic oppression and the need to dismantle it doesn't mean you need to adopt an us vs. them mentality. In fact, that kind of mentality is unhealthy and harmful. Watch out for that because it can sneak up on you.

No matter what anyone tells you, performatively traumatizing yourself (such as by viewing gory pictures) is not activism. See Bellingcat's article How to Maintain Mental Hygiene as an Open Source Researcher.

You might be tempted to share gory photos because you think it'll get more attention and make people care more. However, sharing photos of murder victims is widely considered disrespectful and traumatizing people will not make them better activists.

This is what I've got right now; additions are welcome.

#activism #allyship #social skills

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jennelikejennay · 2 days ago

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"Straight women write Spirk because they are straight and want their porn with two men in it"

"Straight women gender swap Kirk or give Spock weird genitals because what they really want is straight sex"

WRONG.

Spirk is a gender weird ship and a whole lot of us writing it are gender weird in one way or another. The fact that characters have both male and female traits is part of the point. The fact that Kirk and Spock are canonically male is less important for many of us.

Can't speak for all Spirk writers of course, but the idea that you can be one gender, have different genitals, have a third gender expression, and in the end be seen as your individual self rather than simply an example of your gender is a big part of it for me. I happily ship women and there are straight couples I ship too, but the commonality you'll see is that these people are all defying gender norms and het relationship scripts in one way or another.

When I wrote intersex Spock with a masculine gender identity and a vulva, I was not attempting to write a woman. I know how to write a woman. I wanted to write about that dysjunction between body and mind and the ways you can see your body though the lens of your gender identity—having a masc vulva, having gay sex with a masc vulva. That was the point. A lot of trans readers picked up on that immediately and felt seen.

Just thought I'd say something because I think a lot of non-cis-men feel a little guilty about shipping them, but I really don't think it's fetishistic in the way people sometimes accuse it of being. It's more about the specific characters they are, and for many of us it's about gender weirdness in a way we may not be able to pin down. All I know is, I've never been in a group so full of trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer people as the Spirk fandom, and I think there's a reason for that.

There's also a reason why Spirk shippers are so adamantly trans-inclusive and I think that's beautiful.

#this isn't @ anybody it's just a couple bad takes i see sometimes #i am learning so much about my gender in this ship #star trek #spirk #spock #james t kirk #spirk says trans rights

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destinysbounty · 3 days ago

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I think I wouldn't mind Zane's NPC-ification quite as much as I do, if it didn't feel like they were also retconning the fact that he was ever a person to begin with.

Like, sure, I totally understand. Dragons Rising has a huge ensemble cast, and the RGB trio + new ninja are the clear focus. And I don't mind that! Everyone who does get proper narrative attention is written so wonderfully and I adore what we have. But...sometimes it feels like they're just kinda divvying up everything that makes Zane who he is and giving it to everyone else, and never even briefly acknowledging Zane's ties to those traits.

Remember when Zane used to have prophetic dreams foretelling future events? Me neither. Hey Lloyd, how are your visions coming along?

Or, y'know how one of Zane's most integral plot lines, character details, and motifs is his struggles with memory and identity? Remember that time he got amnesia and was then both manipulated and magically corrupted into being a villain? Nah that never happened, anyway check out what Jay is up to now

Or, does anyone recall how Zane is a canonically really good cook with pies so delicious they made Jay cry on screen? No that's Arin's thing, actually

Heck, we even have our quota of ~Silly Robot Beep Boop Bop~ jokes fulfilled by Lobbo!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on any of the other characters for having these traits. Nor am I arguing that Zane should have a singular monopoly on these types of storylines. But when they take traits that have for so long been primarily associated with Zane, like cooking and visions and amnesia, and share them with someone else without even briefly acknowledging Zane's prior involvement...idk. It just feels like they're trying to repackage all the things that make Zane interesting while still writing him out of the narrative. It feels like they're going "whaat? Zane, have personality outside of being a generic robot character?? That never happened!" Like they're just trying to have their nindroid and kill him too.

And I mean, to some extent I can understand their hesitation. It's the same reason the Mr. E/Echo reveal got scrapped in s8 - theres just way too much going on right now, and the narrative load required to explain somwthing this complicated during a reboot/sequel would just bog down an already very complicated story. Zane has a very convoluted backstory that, for new fans dropping in to the sequel series for the first time, may be difficult to explain. How do you recap Zane's history with amnesia in a neat an tidy way for the next gen story, when there's already so much going on?

Like i said, i get that. But they could at least make, like, brief blink-and-youll-miss-it allusions, yknow? Like how they played the Ice Emperor theme during Zane's existential crisis during drs1, or when Zane told Zanth not to follow dancing birds in drs3. Tasteful, subtle, doesn't require much insider knowledge and newer fans could easily interpret it as a noodle incident comment without losing out on their comprehension.

Maybe after Jay gets eliminated from the Tournament, Zane offers to go after him saying, "I've lost myself once or twice before. If anyone understands what he's going through, it's me." And if you want to preserve the plot unobstructed, maybe you can have it so that either Zane fails to get through to Jay or Jay is gone without a trace before he can get to him. Maybe there's a brief scene of Zane making a pie to try and cheer Sora up, but she can't eat it because it reminds her too much of Arin. Or maybe Lloyd has a panic attack over his visions and Zane is the one to offer him the advice about not fighting the vision and letting it come naturally.

Don't you see how easy that is? You would change literally nothing about the story at large, and you're not detracting from the main plotlines or character arcs that are quite validly dominating this series. But you're also throwing a bone to the people who actually like Zane. Like???? I'm not even asking for much here, man :/

Idk. Maybe I'm just bitter and need to touch grass, who's to say

#ninjago #destiny post

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4linos · 2 days ago

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when the past knocks 2

seo changbin x f!reader, kim seungmin x f!reader

synopsis: you left to protect your son and yourself. but healing gets complicated when old ghosts return… and one of them still makes you laugh.

genre/warnings: angst, infidelity, emotional manipulation, grief, jealousy, unresolved feelings, slow burn, hurt/comfort.

wc: 16,998.

[when the past knocks part 1]

The morning felt like it had arrived too soon, dragging its weight across your chest, suffocating you with its inevitability. You had barely slept, your mind cycling through the words you and Seungmin had exchanged the night before, the look in his eyes when he saw the texts, the way everything seemed to snap so suddenly, everything falling apart in ways you never thought possible. You tossed and turned, trying to find some comfort in the bed that used to feel like home. But tonight, it felt like a cold, empty void between the two of you.

You had hoped maybe things would be different when you woke up. Maybe Seungmin would be there, sitting on the edge of the bed, tired from the fight but still here, still trying. But no.

The bed was already cold on his side.

You blinked, feeling an uncomfortable lump form in your throat as you pushed yourself up, rubbing your eyes, trying to force your body into action despite the exhaustion that clung to your limbs. The room felt too big, the silence almost suffocating.

You checked the bathroom connected to the bedroom, still expecting to see him there, even though you knew, deep down that he wouldn’t be. But maybe… maybe there would be something. A reason to hope that things hadn’t gone as far as they felt. But the bathroom was empty, and so was the small corner where he had placed his bag the night before.

His things were gone.

The clothes he had brought back with him, the ones he hadn’t bothered to put back in a suitcase, but had just tossed over the back of a chair were no longer there. There was no sign of him at all.

It felt like something heavy and sharp pressed against your chest. Not anger, not even frustration. Just hurt.

You wanted to be angry. You wanted to tell yourself that you should be relieved, that this was for the best. But you couldn’t. You loved him. You still loved him. And despite the lies, the betrayal, and the damage he’d done to you and your son, you couldn’t erase the love. You hated how it still clung to you, how it refused to leave, no matter how broken things were.

You called out for him softly, almost like a question. “Seungmin?”

There was no answer.

You walked downstairs slowly, feeling the weight of every step. You knew your mother would be down there by now, probably waiting with a warm breakfast as she always did. She was still trying to hold things together. You could feel the weight of her expectations, the hope in her eyes every time you walked in, the way she didn’t want to admit that something might be wrong.

When you got downstairs, your mother was in the kitchen, moving around the stove. Roan’s laughter echoed from the other room, a reminder of how normal everything was on the surface. But you felt like you were living in a different world. You cleared your throat, trying to sound casual, but the words still came out quieter than you intended.

“Mom, have you seen Seungmin?”

She paused, turning slightly, her expression unreadable. And then it softened, just a little, though it didn’t stop her from giving you a look. A look that wasn’t judgment, but concern. The kind of concern that mothers reserve for their children when they’re trying so hard to hold everything together, even when it’s falling apart.

“He left early this morning,” she said, a quiet finality in her voice. “Caught him leaving around 4 a.m. Said he had to go into the office today. He thanked me for letting him stay.”

Your stomach turned.

You nodded, trying to pretend it didn’t hurt to hear that. Trying to act like it was fine. “Okay,” you muttered, your voice thin and strained.

But she didn’t buy it. She stepped closer, crossing her arms in a way that told you she wasn’t going to let you off that easy. She studied you for a second, searching your face like she was trying to read some kind of clue.

“What’s going on with you two, huh? I thought you’d be working things out by now. I really thought it was just a bump in the road. After all these years, I figured it would be fixable.” Her voice cracked just a little, and it caught you off guard.

You bit your lip, fighting the urge to just collapse right there in front of her. You felt the weight of everything you hadn’t said. The weight of everything you had been holding back.

And for a brief moment, you almost thought about telling her everything, the truth, raw and exposed. That Seungmin had destroyed your trust, that the marriage was over, that there was no easy fix to this. But when you looked at her, you saw the years of hope, the way she had loved Seungmin like her own son. You saw the way she still believed in the “happy ending” for the family she’d always dreamed of.

You couldn’t break her, too.

So you lied.

“It’s fine, Mom. We’re just… working through things. It’s been tough, you know? But we’re figuring it out.”

She didn’t seem entirely convinced, but she didn’t push either. Her eyes softened, but she couldn’t hide the doubt in them.

“Well,” she said, her voice tightening, “he left early this morning, said he wanted to give you some space. I heard you two arguing last night.” Her voice dropped a little. “You didn’t seem like things were fine then.”

Your heart skipped. She heard you?

But you couldn’t react, not now. Not when everything felt like it was already on the edge.

You forced a smile, shaking your head slightly. “We’re just… having a hard time communicating right now. But we’ll be okay. I’m sure we will.”

Your mother didn’t press further. She crossed her arms and looked at you with that knowing expression. “You’re sure? Because I’ve never seen you like this. You don’t have to keep pretending everything’s fine if it’s not.”

But before you could respond, Roan came bounding into the kitchen, his hair messy from sleep, a bright smile on his face. “Mom! I’m ready for breakfast!”

The moment was over, broken by the sound of your son’s excited voice. And you felt an immediate pang of guilt for lying in front of him, for pretending to be okay when everything felt like it was crumbling.

You forced yourself to smile at Roan, pushing the sadness deep down. “Okay, buddy, let’s get you something to eat.”

But your mother’s eyes lingered on you for a second longer, as if waiting for something you weren’t ready to say. Then she turned and started preparing breakfast as if nothing had happened.

The rest of the morning passed in a haze of motions. You got Roan dressed and ready for school, the conversations were light, forced, and polite. But in the back of your mind, you could feel everything shifting. The truth you weren’t telling. The love you weren’t ready to let go of.

The ping of your phone broke the quiet stillness of the morning. You were sitting at the kitchen counter, slowly sipping your coffee, eyes unfocused, trying to drown out the weight of everything. It was too early for this. The morning felt like a battle between the pull of comfort and the sharp sting of everything unraveling around you. You hadn’t heard from Seungmin all day after the night’s argument, and despite your internal pleading not to think about him, your mind had been consumed by him, by everything he was, everything you once had together.

You pulled your phone toward you. The message was from Seungmin.

It was a simple text: “Hey, can I call Roan tonight? I just want to check in on him and hear his voice.”

You stared at the message for a moment, your thumb hovering over the screen. It hurt to even acknowledge that he wasn’t here. You’d been waiting for him to step up, to take accountability, to make things right, but it wasn’t like that, was it? He had left. And now he was giving you space. Space you didn’t even know if you wanted, but were probably going to have to learn to live with.

You couldn’t blame him for needing space. You needed it too. But how do you move forward from this? How do you separate the love that’s still so strongly rooted in your heart from the anger, the betrayal, and the overwhelming sadness? You missed him so much that it physically hurt. But there was so much damage between you two.

You quickly typed a response, something simple “Yeah, that’s fine. Roan will be happy to hear from you.”

Then came the barrage of texts that you hadn't expected, each one coming faster than the last.

“I didn’t want to wake you.”

“I left early this morning because the argument from last night made me realize we both need space.” The words were clear and deliberate, almost as if he was trying to make himself sound reasonable, calm.

“I’m going to give you all the space you need for now. Whenever you’re ready, we can sit down and talk about what’s going to happen with us… and with Roan.”

A strange, hollow feeling spread through you as you read his words. You hadn’t expected him to leave. It was just too… final. But here he was, sending these texts, acting like everything could still somehow be fixed. And deep down, you didn’t know if you wanted that. You weren’t sure what you wanted anymore.

You didn’t respond right away. Instead, you let your phone sit on the table while you mindlessly stirred your coffee. The silence was deafening, and you felt the ache in your chest grow. Was he right? Was space the answer? Could you and Seungmin really talk about the future? And even more confusing, did you want to?

You loved him. You still loved him. That love hadn’t faded, even in the wake of everything that had happened. Even now, despite the anger and betrayal, it felt like your heart refused to let him go.

You hated that it hurt. You hated how badly you still wanted to fix things, to hold onto the family you once had. You wanted to feel that warmth again, the kind that was once so certain between you and Seungmin. You wanted to believe it could all go back to how it was before.

But something had changed. Something else had wormed its way into your mind. And it wasn’t just Seungmin anymore.

Changbin.

His face flashed in your mind, sharp and bright like a sudden storm cutting through the fog.

It wasn’t just that you remembered him. It wasn’t just the memories of the past, of high school, of how he had always been there for you, how he'd always understood you. It wasn’t even the fact that you had spent time with him recently, reconnecting and laughing over old stories.

It was the way you felt now, in the silence after Seungmin’s texts.

The way you smiled at your phone after reading his message. The way your chest felt lighter with every word he sent, the way your thoughts drifted to him and not Seungmin.

Suddenly, you were questioning everything. The connection with Seungmin that you had once believed was unbreakable, it felt less solid now. More fragile. As though it was built on sand.

You hadn’t meant for things to get complicated again. You didn’t want to feel this pull toward Changbin. Not now. Not when everything with Seungmin was already so volatile. But it was like trying to fight the current, your thoughts kept returning to him. To the way he made you feel seen, understood, and even happy. There was no bitterness, no tension, no past mistakes haunting the space between you.

The thought of Changbin now felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the suffocating weight of the relationship with Seungmin.

And it wasn’t just about the past. It was now. You’d spent hours talking to him, laughing with him, reconnecting in ways you hadn’t expected. And even though the friendship was unexpected, there was this undeniable connection. An attraction that had been buried under the weight of your life with Seungmin, but now seemed to bubble back to the surface.

Your thoughts were scattered, tangled between the man you had married and the one who once held your heart, the one who was still somehow here, slipping back into your life.

A sharp ping broke your reverie. Another message from Seungmin.

“I just wanted to remind you that I’m here when you’re ready. For you. For Roan. Don’t shut me out.”

You felt the familiar sting of guilt. You wanted to respond. To tell him that you didn’t know what you wanted anymore, that you didn’t know if you could fix things. But you didn’t. Instead, you set your phone down and stood up.

The pull toward Changbin had unsettled you. You didn’t want to admit it, but you couldn’t deny it either.

The more you tried to push it down, the more it crept up. He was becoming a constant thought. The more you thought about him, the more the idea of Seungmin and what you had with him seemed less and less certain.

You loved Seungmin. You did. But you didn’t know if the love you had was enough to fix everything. You didn’t know if it was enough to erase the years of resentment, the lies, the unspoken words between you two.

And now, a part of you was wondering if it was possible to love someone else, someone who could actually see you. See you in a way Seungmin never had.

You leaned against the counter, feeling the weight of the decision hanging in the air, heavier than anything you had ever faced before. Would you even allow yourself to love again? Would you be willing to take the risk? Or would you bury everything, hoping that time and space would somehow heal the broken pieces of your marriage?

You couldn’t decide. Not yet.

And so, you pushed it all down, Seungmin’s texts, Changbin’s face, your emotions.

But you couldn’t escape the ache, the pull, the uncertainty.

And as the day dragged on, the questions remained.

What would you do next?

The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting soft, dappled shadows over the park as you sat on the blanket, surrounded by a picnic spread. Roan and Yuna were playing on the swings and climbing frame with the other kids, their laughter ringing through the air. It felt like a rare moment of peace, a fleeting escape from everything that had been weighing on your heart for the past few weeks.

But the conversation you were having with Changbin was the highlight of your day, as it always was. Changbin had just finished recounting one of his favorite stories from high school, one that had you laughing so hard you almost spilled the lemonade you were holding. The way he told it, with his wide grin and exaggerated gestures, made it feel like it happened yesterday.

You’d almost forgotten about that time. You and Changbin had been inseparable during those early years, always getting into some kind of trouble. But the one memory that always seemed to stand out was the time he’d tried sneaking into your room late at night, only to have your dad catch him in the act.

Changbin grinned at the memory, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I thought I was going to be a goner that night,” he laughed. “I was halfway through the window when your dad came storming in like a SWAT team. I don’t even know how he heard me. I thought I was being so sneaky!”

You chuckled, shaking your head as you remembered your dad’s furious face. “You were terrible at being sneaky,” you teased. “I told you not to come through the window. It was too obvious. But you still thought you could outsmart my dad.”

Changbin snorted, the memory still clearly amusing to him. “I swear, I never saw him coming. He just barged in like some kind of ninja. Then he grounded you for a month, right? It felt like a year, honestly. I couldn’t even talk to you outside of school. That was brutal.”

You nodded, your smile widening as you remembered the long, quiet days after that. “It was. My parents were furious when they found out what was going on. They never trusted you after that, especially my dad. He probably still tells that story to anyone who will listen.”

Changbin laughed again, a rich, deep sound that made your heart flutter in a way you hadn’t expected. “I can’t blame him. I deserved it. But I’d do it all over again if it meant I got to hang out with you. It was worth it. Every second of it.”

His words hit you in a way you couldn’t quite explain. You hadn’t realized how much you had missed hearing Changbin talk like this so open, so genuine. He had always been the kind of person who wore his heart on his sleeve, and even though so much had changed since high school, it still felt like you could talk to him without any pretense.

For the first time in what felt like forever, you felt something like warmth spread through you. A comfort you hadn’t realized you were craving. It wasn’t just the carefree way he talked about the past, or the teasing banter, or even the fact that he was just here, present and sharing this moment with you, but something deeper, something that felt like a connection you hadn’t realized was waiting to be rekindled.

Since Seungmin had left, you had been living in a quiet sort of limbo. Every day had felt like a blur of uncertainty. Your interactions with Seungmin had become limited to brief texts and calls about Roan. He had asked about you a few times, but those conversations were brief, awkward, and mostly focused on logistics how Roan was doing or if he could speak with him. And while part of you appreciated the space Seungmin was giving you to think, it also left a hollow feeling in your chest.

But here, with Changbin, it felt different. You didn’t have to pretend. You didn’t have to act like everything was fine or like you had everything figured out. With Changbin, everything felt like it could be uncomplicated again, just two old friends, reminiscing about the past and sharing laughs without the weight of expectations.

You glanced over at Roan and Yuna, who were giggling as they played tag. The scene felt almost too perfect. You didn’t want to overthink it, but you couldn’t help but notice how nice it was. Roan had been so happy lately. Maybe he didn’t fully understand the complexities of what was happening between you and Seungmin, but he felt secure in the routine you had established.

You turned your gaze back to Changbin, who was still in the middle of telling another hilarious story about high school, something about the time he had accidentally ruined a school play by tripping over the curtain during his big moment on stage. You laughed and shook your head, appreciating the simplicity of the moment. It was a stark contrast to everything else that had been happening in your life lately.

You weren’t sure when things had started to shift between you and Changbin, but now it felt undeniable. The way you found yourself smiling more easily when he was around, the way he seemed to fill the space left by the absence of Seungmin’s presence. It wasn’t that you didn’t still love Seungmin. You did. That love was still buried deep in your chest, like a flickering flame that refused to go out. But what you were beginning to realize was that you couldn’t ignore the fact that being around Changbin made you feel something new, something you hadn’t felt in so long.

You had always thought that after everything that had happened with Seungmin, your heart would be closed off, shut tight. But with Changbin here, with his easygoing nature and the familiarity of old memories, it was like something inside of you was starting to open again. You didn’t know what that meant, or what would come of it, but for the first time in weeks, you felt hopeful even if it was just a little.

The conversation shifted as you both fell into a comfortable silence, watching Roan and Yuna. You could feel Changbin’s eyes on you, but you didn’t turn to meet his gaze immediately. Instead, you focused on the moment, the quiet warmth of the afternoon, the soft rustle of the leaves above, the laughter of the kids echoing in the distance.

When you did turn to face him, he was watching you with an expression you couldn’t quite place like he was carefully considering something. You raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at your lips.

“What?” you asked, your tone light.

Changbin seemed to hesitate for a moment, his smile faltering just slightly before he spoke. “I’m just glad we’re doing this.”

You blinked, not quite understanding. “Doing what?”

He shrugged, a little sheepish now. “This. Hanging out. It feels good, you know? Like it’s... easy. Like it always should have been.”

You felt something catch in your chest at his words, but you didn’t know what to say. So, instead, you just nodded, your throat suddenly tight. The silence stretched between you both, but it was a comfortable one, a shared understanding that something more was blossoming between you. Something you weren’t ready to name yet, but something you couldn’t ignore either.

And for the first time in a long while, the weight of your life didn’t feel quite so heavy.

The atmosphere between you and Changbin shifted subtly when he asked about Seungmin. The once-easy banter faltered, replaced by a quiet tension that neither of you could ignore. Changbin’s voice was careful when he spoke, as if weighing his words before asking.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” he began, “but... what happened with Seungmin? If you’re okay sharing, that is. I just... I want to understand.”

He paused, letting the silence settle, as if giving you the space to decide how much, if anything, you wanted to share. You could see it in his eyes, a mix of concern, empathy, and the deep care he always had for you. It made the weight of your emotions even heavier.

You took a deep breath, looking over at Roan as he ran around the playground, his laughter ringing in your ears. He was so full of life, unaware of the storm you were weathering on the inside. You hadn’t realized how much you’d been holding in until that moment, how much had been left unsaid for weeks. Now, with Changbin’s patient gaze on you, it felt like the dam was finally starting to crack.

“I don’t even know where to start,” you said, your voice quiet. You reached for the bottle of water in front of you, your fingers trembling slightly as you picked it up. The coolness of the bottle felt oddly grounding. “I guess... I started noticing something was off about four months ago.”

Changbin’s eyes never left you, his expression soft but expectant. He wasn’t rushing you, but you could tell he was hanging onto every word you said. You drew a shaky breath, trying to steady yourself as the memory unfolded.

“It was subtle at first. Just... little things. He came home one night, and I could smell this strong perfume on him. It wasn’t mine. I tried to convince myself it was nothing, just some mistake. But I knew something was wrong. I never doubted Seungmin. How could I? He’d never given me a reason to, not once in all the years we’ve been together. But that night, I couldn’t ignore it.”

You paused, glancing at Roan again, his carefree joy in stark contrast to the ache you were feeling. You pushed through the tightness in your chest and continued, the words feeling heavier the more you spoke.

“Then, there was this one day, I had to borrow Seungmin’s car because mine was in the shop. I was just picking up lunch for him when I found something, something that didn’t belong to me. A necklace. It had a letter on it. Her initial. The woman he’d been seeing behind my back.”

Your voice caught at the end, but you fought to keep it steady. Changbin’s face had shifted, his brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, as if he could feel the hurt radiating from you. He didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly, signaling for you to keep going.

“I didn’t want to believe it at first. I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t what I thought it was. That I was just being paranoid. But then... I met her.”

The words were hard to get out, like they had been sitting in your throat for so long, just waiting to spill out. But now that you were saying them aloud, it felt like the weight on your chest was increasing by the second. You swallowed hard, but your throat felt dry.

“I went to Seungmin’s office one day to drop off a file he’d forgotten for him. And there she was. Wearing the exact same necklace. The one I found in his car. And Seungmin—Seungmin introduced us like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t a huge blow to everything I thought I knew about him. It... it hurt more than I could even explain.”

You paused, squeezing your eyes shut, not wanting to relive it but unable to stop the memories from flooding in. The way Seungmin had smiled at you when he introduced you both, like he didn’t even know how badly it would shatter you. How the world seemed to spin out of control in that moment.

“I didn’t know what to do. I was surrounded by his coworkers. I didn’t have the courage to confront him, not there, not in front of everyone. I just—” you stopped yourself, taking another shaky breath. “I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t. But later that night, I heard him on the phone with her. I just... I don’t know. It all started to spiral from there. I couldn’t pretend anymore. I knew what was going on. I knew he was seeing her.”

Changbin’s expression darkened as you spoke, his fists clenched slightly in his lap, clearly frustrated at the whole situation. He leaned forward, his voice low and steady as he spoke.

“You didn’t deserve that, you know?” he said, his words filled with genuine anger. “I don’t know how someone can do that to you. To betray your trust like that. You trusted him. You gave him everything, and he threw it away.”

You nodded, the sting of his words cutting deeper than you expected. You had been trying to hold it together for so long, but hearing Changbin’s words, hearing the sincerity in his voice, broke something inside you. You exhaled slowly, trying to push the tears back.

“I never expected it from him. Everyone always said Seungmin was head over heels for me. And for the longest time, I believed it. I felt it too. He made me feel like I was the only one in the world. But somewhere, somewhere along the way, he fell for someone else. And that was the hardest part.”

Your voice cracked as the weight of that realization settled in. You had loved Seungmin with everything you had. You had built a life together. A family. And to see him so easily slip away from you for someone else felt like the ground had been ripped out from under your feet.

Changbin’s hand reached out instinctively, resting gently on yours. The contact was warm, grounding, and it felt like a lifeline in the sea of confusion you were drowning in. You looked at him, grateful for his presence, for his understanding.

“I can’t believe he did that to you,” he said softly, his thumb brushing over your hand in a comforting gesture. “You’re worth so much more than that. You deserve someone who sees you for who you are. Someone who doesn’t take you for granted. And I hate that he didn’t see that.”

The words were a balm, soothing a part of you that had been raw for so long. For a brief moment, you let yourself lean into the comfort of Changbin’s presence. You couldn’t fix the past, and you weren’t sure where things would go with Seungmin, but you felt a flicker of hope for the first time in a long time, and it scared you.

But it also made you wonder if maybe, just maybe, you had been holding onto a broken piece of your heart for far too long. And perhaps it was time to let it go, to allow yourself to heal, to move on.

You didn’t know what the future held. But right now, with Changbin by your side, with Roan laughing in the background, it felt like maybe, just maybe, you could start to breathe again.

You sat there for a few more moments, with Changbin’s hand still resting on yours. The sunlight was warm on your face, and the sounds of Roan and Yuna’s laughter filled the air, but it felt like everything else around you had momentarily faded. You didn’t have to say anything, because somehow, you knew Changbin understood. He wasn’t pressing for more details, nor was he making you feel like you had to explain yourself further. He was simply there, being the kind of person you’d always hoped for someone who didn’t shy away from the hard things but stayed right alongside you when they needed to be faced.

You glanced up at him, catching the way he was looking at you, his expression soft but intense, as if he were silently willing you to let go of the weight you had been carrying for so long.

“I never wanted to be in this situation,” you said quietly, breaking the silence, your voice carrying the weight of everything unsaid up until this point. “But somehow, I ended up here. I don’t even know how to fix things with Seungmin anymore.”

Changbin squeezed your hand lightly, offering you a gentle smile. “You don’t have to fix everything right now. It’s okay to be uncertain. It’s okay to not have all the answers. I think you’ve been carrying the burden of that relationship for so long that you haven’t been able to see what you deserve outside of it. But whatever happens, I’m here for you, okay?”

The sincerity in his words wrapped around you like a warm blanket. You hadn’t realized how much you needed someone to tell you that it was okay to not have everything figured out, that you didn’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone. You had been so focused on trying to keep everything together, on being the strong one for Roan, for your family, that you hadn’t even given yourself permission to feel the depth of the hurt, the confusion, the loss.

“Thank you,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath, but Changbin heard it. And that was enough.

For a long while, the two of you just sat there in comfortable silence, watching Roan and Yuna run back and forth across the playground. It felt like the world had, in some small way, started to right itself. Maybe not everything was fixed yet, but for the first time in a while, you could see the potential for it.

At some point, Roan and Yuna ran back to you, both of them breathless and flushed from all the running around. Roan immediately climbed up next to you, his small body pushing against yours as he asked for a sip of your water. You laughed softly, ruffling his hair and handing him the bottle.

“What were you two up to?” you asked, keeping your voice light, your mind momentarily distracted by the sight of Changbin’s easy smile as he chatted with Yuna about something funny that had happened while they were playing.

Roan took a long sip from the bottle before answering, “We were pretending to be superheroes! I was saving Yuna from the bad guys, and she was helping me stop them!” His eyes were wide with excitement, and for a moment, you just let yourself soak in his joy, feeling the weight of your earlier conversation lift just a little bit.

“Sounds like a good time,” you said, smiling at both of them.

As the afternoon wore on, you found yourself feeling a little lighter. The heaviness that had been in your chest wasn’t gone, but it felt less suffocating. You spent the rest of the time at the park talking to Changbin about random things, movies you’d loved, music you’d both forgotten about. Every now and then, Changbin’s eyes would flick to you, that soft, understanding look never leaving his face. You caught it once or twice, and it made your heart ache in a way you didn’t expect.

But you didn’t pull away. You let yourself feel it. The way he was there for you. How his friendship, his steady presence, made you feel like maybe you could take the next step forward, even if you weren’t sure exactly what that step was.

Eventually, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, and it was time to leave. Roan reluctantly agreed to head home, his energy starting to wane from all the running around. You packed up the blanket and snacks, your mind still wrapped in the thoughts of Seungmin, but also the subtle comfort of the moment you had shared with Changbin.

Life with Changbin was easy. Too easy, sometimes. You found yourself laughing more, smiling more, and just... feeling more than you had in a long time. It wasn’t that you were actively seeking a distraction, but it almost felt like everything that had been broken in your life was being patched up with something as simple as a few hours spent with him.

When he texted you, you felt that warm flutter in your chest. It was like a light breeze that made everything feel less heavy, less... suffocating. His jokes, corny as they were made you laugh like you hadn’t in years. And you knew it wasn’t just because of the jokes themselves. It was because of the way he looked at you when he said them, like you were the only one in the world who could possibly get how funny he was, even if his humor was a little goofy at times. And the way he smiled after making you laugh... it was like he was seeing you again, not just the person wrapped up in the struggles of life, but the person who had been buried under the weight of a marriage that had long lost its spark.

You tried not to think too much about it. Tried not to get caught up in the way he made you feel. Because you didn’t have feelings for him, right? That would be impossible. You were still married. You were still living in a home with Seungmin. You still had a son who needed stability. The idea of starting over, of letting go of everything you’d built even if it had been built on shaky ground felt too impossible to entertain.

But the more time you spent with Changbin, the more those lines blurred.

It was the way he noticed you in a way that no one else had. The way he’d listen to every word you said, paying attention to the smallest details, the things you thought no one else would care about. When you helped him with Yuna, making sure she was fed or entertained. It felt natural, like it was just something you were meant to do. And even more than that, Changbin would thank you in the most genuine way, making you feel like your efforts actually mattered. Every thank you, every smile he gave you made your chest tighten in ways you didn’t know you were capable of.

And when you realized he was taking time out of his own busy schedule to spend with you, even when it was just hanging out and talking about random things, it felt comforting. You found yourself looking forward to it. Waiting for his messages, his calls, and the next time you’d get to see him.

But here’s the thing. You didn’t have feelings for him, right?

You would try to convince yourself of that every time your heart skipped a beat when his name popped up on your phone. You would dismiss the way your stomach fluttered when he complimented you, or when he offered to drive you home from the grocery store just because he wanted to spend more time with you. You told yourself it was just friendship. That was all it was. You were still figuring things out with your marriage, still trying to keep everything together for Roan. Everything you had with Changbin was just a distraction, you thought. Nothing more.

But you couldn’t ignore how natural it felt when he was around. The way your conversations flowed effortlessly, the way you could talk to him about anything, even the things you didn’t feel comfortable sharing with anyone else. With him, you could be yourself in a way you hadn’t felt like you could be with anyone in a long time.

The simple truth was, it felt too good. It was too easy. You found yourself grinning every time you saw his name light up your screen. And yet, in the back of your mind, there was this nagging feeling, a voice reminding you that you still had a husband. A family to protect. A son who deserved a stable environment.

So, what was this? What was it that was pulling you towards him?

Maybe it was that, in all the chaos of the past months, he was the one thing that made sense. With Seungmin, everything was complicated, a mess of hurt feelings, betrayals, and unspoken words. With Changbin, it was simple. It was carefree. It was a reminder of who you used to be, the person who had felt loved and wanted, who had laughed without hesitation and smiled without second thoughts.

But you didn’t have feelings for him, right?

You told yourself that again. But this time, it didn’t feel as convincing. You had liked Changbin back then when you were in high school. But that was a long time ago. You were different now. You had a son, responsibilities. Your life was no longer about chasing feelings or fleeting moments of joy. Your life was about keeping things steady, for Roan’s sake, for Seungmin’s sake.

Yet, every time you saw Changbin, that line between friendship and something more seemed to blur just a little bit more. You found yourself wanting to stay in that moment, just a little longer. You didn’t want to leave when he dropped you off after dinner or when you’d walk out of a store and he’d offer to carry your bags for you. Those little gestures made you feel... special. Like maybe you hadn’t lost everything after all.

But you weren’t in love with him.

Right?

The sound of your phone buzzing in the dead of night made your heart leap, and for a brief second, you almost let it go to voicemail. It was late, and Seungmin never seemed to understand the boundaries of your new reality, calling you at odd hours of the night, pulling at strings you had carefully kept taut. You knew he’d probably just leave a message, something along the lines of “I’ll call in the morning.” But this time, something in you made you answer it. Maybe it was the guilt. Maybe it was the fact that despite everything, you still cared for him, and you didn’t want to cut him off entirely, even if that meant dealing with the same emotional tug-of-war that had been going on for months.

"Hello?" you said softly, your voice still rough from sleep.

The first thing he said, before even asking how you were, was, "I miss you."

Your throat tightened. You didn’t say anything, couldn’t bring yourself to. His voice had that familiar tone again, that soft vulnerability that used to make your heart ache in all the right ways, and yet now felt like a weight in your chest.

“I’m... I’m laying in bed,” Seungmin continued, his words dragging, like he was unsure of how to say what was on his mind. “The bed we used to share... I wish you’d come back. I miss you so much. And Roan, I miss him too.” His voice faltered, the emotional rawness unmistakable.

You could hear the rustling of sheets on his end, and then the quiet, barely-there sniffle that followed. It hit you harder than you thought it would. Despite all the hurt, despite what he did, you still felt for him. You wished you could hold onto the anger that had kept you steady, but in this moment, the hurt felt like it was leaking through the cracks.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a pause, as though he could sense something in your silence. You couldn’t lie to him. Not now, not after everything.

You didn’t answer immediately. Your mind was racing. Roan. Seungmin. Everything. You had to keep this together for Roan, but the weight of the past few months seemed to press down on your chest.

“I don’t know,” you finally answered softly, your voice distant. “I still don’t know how I feel about being around you.”

“I understand,” Seungmin said, his tone quieter now, almost apologetic. “I just... it’s been unbearable not having you here, not having you around. I miss coming home to you after work, seeing you and Roan. I don’t know how to do this without you.”

The words burned. You wished you could say it didn’t matter, that it was his own fault, that you had every right to shut him out and leave everything in the past. But the truth was, there was still a part of you, however small that ached for what had been lost. You couldn’t help it.

“Well,” you said, unable to keep the bitterness from creeping in, “I’m surprised you’re not keeping her there while I’m gone.”

There was a long pause on the other end. A tense, uncomfortable silence. You could practically hear him swallowing his pride.

“She’s not staying with me,” he finally said, his voice tight, like he was trying to hold back his emotions. “It was just a one-time thing. Please, can we just... let it go already?”

Let it go? How could you? How could you let it go when everything you thought was solid and permanent had been shattered in a matter of weeks? He had let you down. He had let both of you down. But despite everything, you could feel the temptation, the pull to forgive him. To believe that this could be fixed, that the person who had once loved you with so much intensity could still be there.

You let the silence linger. "It’s only been a few months," you said softly. "How am I supposed to let that go when you’ve been with her for who knows how long?"

“I understand,” Seungmin replied quietly. “But I’m telling you, it was a mistake. It didn’t mean anything.”

You didn’t say anything after that. It felt like the same old circular conversation you’d been having for months now. You both had been here before. Neither of you seemed to be getting anywhere.

Then, Seungmin brought up something that stopped you in your tracks. “I was thinking about coming over,” he said, his voice hopeful. “Maybe we can talk. For Roan’s birthday coming up. I don’t want to miss it.”

You immediately felt a knot in your stomach. The thought of him coming over again, especially with everything still so raw felt like the worst idea imaginable. You’d barely made it through the last few weeks without breaking. The idea of facing him in your parents’ house, knowing how much time you’d been spending with Changbin lately, was a mess waiting to happen. You didn’t want to deal with that. But at the same time, you knew he had every right to want to be there for Roan, especially if his son had been asking about him.

You sighed, long and drawn-out, before speaking. “I... I don’t know if it’s a good idea for you to come over. Things are still... complicated.”

“I know,” he said quickly. “But it’s for Roan. I promise. I just want to see him. Please.”

You thought about it, your mind running through all the possible scenarios. Your heart wasn’t ready for the confrontation it would bring, but you also didn’t want Roan to feel caught in the middle of it. You sighed again, this time more reluctantly. “Okay. Fine. But it’s only for Roan. Nothing more.”

Seungmin’s voice brightened at that, and for a brief moment, you could almost feel his relief through the phone. “Thank you. I’ll be on the road first thing tomorrow.”

You didn’t respond, only nodded as if he could see you. Your thoughts were a whirlwind, but you managed to keep your voice steady as you said, “Okay. We’ll talk soon.”

You hung up, your finger lingering on the screen before finally setting the phone down. It felt like everything was spiraling again. A part of you wanted to stay angry. You wanted to keep your distance. But another part, the part that still loved him just wanted peace. And that made everything feel even more confusing.

But in the end, no matter what you told yourself, you still didn’t know what you wanted.

Seungmin’s arrival that morning had an almost surreal quality to it, as if the events of the past few weeks hadn’t happened at all. The door swung open with a soft creak, and before you could even react, Roan’s excited voice echoed through the hallway, “Dad!”

Your son came running, his small feet slapping against the hardwood floors, his eyes wide with disbelief and joy. He didn’t know Seungmin was coming, and when your father opened the door, Roan practically flew into Seungmin’s arms, as though no time had passed at all.

Seungmin caught him easily, pulling him in close, his face breaking into that familiar, soft smile that always seemed to melt away the stress of the day. Roan wrapped his little arms around Seungmin’s neck, pressing his face into his father’s shoulder. You could see the emotion in Seungmin’s eyes, how much he’d missed Roan. And despite the anger, the hurt, the chaos swirling in your own chest, you couldn’t deny it. Seungmin loved Roan. That was undeniable.

Your chest tightened as you watched the tender moment unfold. It hurt. It hurt in ways you couldn’t put into words. You had been through so much so much that you weren’t even sure if there was any way back to where you once were. But Roan was always at the heart of it, wasn’t he? He deserved this, to have his father in his life, to feel that love, even if everything between you and Seungmin had become so fractured.

Your mom greeted Seungmin with an excited smile, giving him a quick hug. Your dad followed suit, a warm handshake followed by a slap on the back, as if this was just another visit, another day when nothing had changed. As though everything was still fine.

Then, Seungmin turned to you.

For a moment, there was hesitation in his eyes. You could see him searching your face, trying to gauge your reaction. And then, without a word, he pulled you into a hug. You didn’t pull away. It wasn’t that you wanted him to hold you, but the guilt of pushing him away in front of your parents weighed on you. You didn’t want to make a scene not now, not in front of them.

So you held him back. Just for a second. It was stiff, forced, but you allowed the hug. He kissed your temple softly, his lips lingering for a moment longer than they should have, and you felt the old ache stir in your chest, the one that had never truly faded.

But that wasn’t enough to erase the anger and betrayal. Not by a long shot.

By the time the evening came, you were exhausted, mentally, emotionally. Roan was finally in bed, tucked in with his favorite stuffed animal, and your parents had gone out for a wine night with some of their old friends. The house felt quieter now, the calm before the storm.

Seungmin and you were left alone, with nothing but the thick, unsettled air hanging between you. You sat in the living room, the TV playing softly in the background, but you couldn’t focus on anything. Not the shows, not the quiet hum of the house. All you could focus on was him. Seungmin.

He reached for your hand, the gesture slow, almost tentative, as if he wasn’t sure if you would pull away. But you didn’t. You let him take your hand, and when he pulled it gently to his lap, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something that made your heart drop.

The wedding ring. The one you had left at home, the one you hadn’t worn since the night you packed your things and left.

“Seungmin, no,” you whispered, your voice shaky.

But he ignored your words and carefully slid it onto your finger. You stared at the ring, feeling the cold metal settle into place, and it was like your entire past came rushing back at once the promises, the dreams, the life you thought you’d built together.

You tried to pull your hand away, but he held it there, not roughly, but firmly. You didn’t want to wear it. You didn’t want to be reminded of everything you were still struggling to let go of. But his grip softened as he looked up at you, his expression raw.

“Please don’t take it off,” he said quietly. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”

You swallowed hard, the anger rising in your chest, but you fought to keep it at bay. “What does that even mean, Seungmin?” Your voice cracked slightly. “What does ‘making things right’ look like? Because right now, just looking at you makes me angry. Every time I look at you, I see her. I hear her name in my head, and it makes me sick.”

Seungmin’s eyes softened, his hand shifting to lift your chin, gently but firmly, so you had to meet his gaze. He didn’t let go of your hand, the warmth of his palm grounding you in a way that felt so intimate, so familiar.

“Look at me,” he said softly, almost a whisper. “Really look at me.”

You didn’t want to. You didn’t want to give him that. But you did. You looked into his eyes, and for a moment, you saw the man you used to love. The one who had stood by you when everything seemed impossible. The one who had held you when you cried, the one who promised you forever.

His thumb gently brushed away a stray tear that had fallen down your cheek, and he took a deep breath. “I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. I hurt Roan. But please, don’t shut me out completely. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done.”

The words were like a balm to a wound that had never fully healed. You wanted to believe him. You wanted to believe that he could fix everything, that the man in front of you wasn’t the same one who had betrayed you.

But then, he leaned in, his lips brushing against yours softly. It was gentle at first, the kind of kiss that spoke more of longing than of passion. But it lingered. And it hurt. You hadn’t realized how badly you missed his touch until you felt it again. The warmth of him, the closeness you hadn’t had in so long.

Your heart pounded, conflicting emotions swirling inside you. You wanted to pull away, to stop the kiss, to remind him of the pain he’d caused, but something held you there. Something you couldn’t quite define.

When the kiss ended, he didn’t pull away right away. His forehead rested against yours, and his voice was barely above a whisper.

“Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. Just please... don’t walk away from me completely.”

You closed your eyes, feeling the weight of his words settle over you. Everything in your body screamed that you couldn’t forgive him, that you couldn’t go back to the way things were. But another part of you, one that still ached for the life you once had with him, wanted so desperately to believe that you could make it work.

But you didn’t know if you could.

“I don’t know what to do, Seungmin,” you said quietly, your voice shaking. “I don’t know if we can fix this. I’m so tired of being hurt by you. I don’t know if I can forget.”

Seungmin didn’t pull away, didn’t argue. He simply held you, his hands gentle on your shoulders, as if he was waiting for you to make the decision for both of you. He didn’t press. He didn’t beg. He just stayed there, waiting for you to decide.

And in that moment, you realized that you were at a crossroads. Your heart was torn between the life you had built and the possibility of something new, something that you weren’t sure you were ready for. You didn’t know if you could ever truly forgive Seungmin for what he’d done. But you didn’t know if you could keep running from him, either.

You pulled away slightly, looking up at him one last time before saying, “I need time, Seungmin. I need more time.”

He nodded, his face softening with understanding. "I’ll wait. As long as you need."

And you didn’t know how long that would be. But for the first time in months, you felt like you had time. Time to figure things out. Time to make the decisions you needed to make.

What came next was uncertain. But for the first time in a while, you felt like you had the space to breathe.

The night passed quietly, and despite Seungmin sleeping so close to you, it was a strange kind of tension that filled the space between you two. It wasn’t the same as it once was, the comfort you used to find in his presence. You both respected the silence and the space that now existed, and yet, there was a subtle tension that reminded you of everything that had happened the betrayals, the hurt, and the unresolved feelings. Seungmin didn’t try to hold you or pull you closer. He simply slept close, not intruding, but not exactly distant either. It was almost like a truce, a fragile attempt to bridge the gap between the two of you without truly addressing the distance that had grown in your relationship.

It was almost too quiet. The kind of quiet that made everything louder. Your thoughts. The memories. The pain.

You didn't sleep soundly, tossing and turning for hours as the weight of your emotions lingered. Every time your mind would start to settle, you’d remember something new, something you hadn't processed yet whether it was a memory of Seungmin before everything fell apart or the unexpected closeness you felt with Changbin, the one who made you feel like you could breathe again.

But you couldn’t let yourself think too much about Changbin. Not now. Not with Seungmin here, trying to make his way back into your life.

When you woke up, Seungmin was already downstairs, most likely with your parents or spending time with Roan. You were grateful for the space, the chance to take a breath without feeling the weight of him looming over you. You stretched, trying to push back the thoughts that wanted to swarm, but it wasn’t easy. You needed to talk to someone. You needed to hear a familiar voice.

The buzz of your phone broke your concentration, and when you saw Changbin’s name flashing on the screen, your heart gave a little flutter. You hesitated for just a second before answering.

"Hello?" You tried to sound normal, though there was an unspoken layer of tension hanging in your words.

Changbin's voice came through the speaker, warm and comforting as always. "Hey, you up? You wanna do something today?" He sounded casual, like he was just checking in, but there was a slight edge of anticipation that made you pause.

For a brief moment, you felt a flutter of hope, a momentary feeling that you could escape everything that was happening in your life just by being with him. But then reality hit. Seungmin was here.

You sighed softly, feeling the weight of the situation. "Seungmin's actually here. He arrived yesterday morning," you said, trying to keep it light, though you could feel the disappointment creeping into your voice.

There was a long pause on the other end. Changbin’s usual upbeat tone faded, replaced by a soft hum. The sound of disappointment was subtle, but it was there. "Ah," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I see."

You knew he wasn’t thrilled about the situation. Changbin had been there for you in ways Seungmin hadn’t been in months. But still, you couldn’t shake the feeling that telling Changbin about Seungmin’s sudden reappearance would change things between you two. You didn’t want to push him away.

You quickly tried to change the subject, to salvage what was left of the conversation. "You know, Yuna mentioned wanting to go dress shopping with me recently. I promised her I’d go. And maybe you could hang out with Roan, do some boy stuff together while Yuna and I do that. I’m sure he’d love that."

But before you could say anything more, Changbin cut you off, the disappointment heavy in his voice. "Actually, I just remembered I have something come up. I... I gotta go." His tone had shifted, and you could tell he was trying to keep his words neutral, but there was a tightness there that wasn’t normal for him.

You blinked, feeling a pang of confusion and hurt in your chest. "Oh," was all you could say. You had been expecting something different, perhaps a little more understanding or at least some reassurance that it was okay. But that wasn’t what you got.

"Yeah, sorry. I gotta go," he said, and before you could respond, the line went quiet. The call ended abruptly, leaving you holding your phone in the middle of your room, feeling strangely abandoned.

You stared at the screen for a moment, your heart sinking. That was... different. Changbin had never ended a conversation like that before. He’d always been patient, always made sure you had the last word, always seemed so willing to spend time with you no matter what was going on. But today was different.

You sat down on the edge of your bed, replaying the conversation in your head. Was it something you’d said? Something you hadn’t said? The disappointment in his voice had been unmistakable, and the suddenness of his departure from the conversation stung more than you cared to admit.

Maybe he was just trying to give you space, he knew Seungmin was around, and maybe he didn’t want to make things more complicated. But the sudden shift in tone made you wonder if there was more to it, something you weren’t seeing.

You didn’t know what to make of it. You had spent the last few weeks leaning on Changbin, allowing yourself to laugh, to forget for a moment about all the hurt surrounding you. He had become this unexpected source of warmth, a reminder that not everything in your life was broken. But now, his abrupt departure from the conversation left you questioning where you stood with him, too.

You shook your head, trying to clear your mind. You couldn’t focus on this now. You had too many other things going on. Too many things to figure out.

But as you got up and walked toward the door, heading down to join Seungmin and your parents, the weight of the conversation lingered in the back of your mind. Something had shifted with Changbin, and you weren’t sure if it was something you could fix.

Changbin had been in denial for weeks, pushing down his feelings as best as he could. At first, it had been easier, he told himself that what he was feeling toward you was just sympathy, maybe a lingering sense of care for someone he had always been close to. After all, you and Seungmin were married, and despite everything that had gone wrong between you two, he couldn’t have possibly seen you as anything more than a friend. His heart had already been through too much, and he didn’t think he was ready for anything more.

But then, the last time he saw you, something shifted. He had been watching you laugh, the sound so familiar and comforting, yet different in a way. It wasn’t like before, there was more lightness, more joy in your voice than he had heard in years. The way you had made him laugh, teasing him like you used to back in school, brought back a flood of memories. You were the same person he had once been hopelessly in love with, but time had changed both of you.

That was when he realized it. He had feelings for you again. And not just a little crush either, but something deeper. Something that terrified him.

It had been the first time in years that he allowed himself to feel something for someone other than Sua. His wife, Sua, who had passed away two years ago, and after her death, Changbin had completely shut himself off from the possibility of loving anyone else. He had convinced himself that he would never be able to love anyone like he loved her. That maybe the kind of love he shared with her was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. He had grieved deeply, and his heart had healed in its own time, but the scars were still there. He wasn’t sure if he could open up to someone new without betraying the love he had for Sua.

But then there was you, someone he had known intimately in a past life, someone who had been with him through his teenage years. He had seen you go through so much Seungmin’s betrayal, your struggles, the hurt that still haunted you. He wanted to be there for you in a way he hadn’t been before, but somewhere along the way, the friendship turned into something more.

When you had called him earlier that morning and mentioned Seungmin, it hit him harder than he expected. A tight knot twisted in his stomach. He tried to keep his voice neutral, but inside, something dark stirred a mix of frustration, jealousy, and fear. The thought of you still being so close to Seungmin, still entangled in your past, ignited a deep sense of possessiveness. He had told himself it wasn’t his place to feel this way, but hearing Seungmin’s name, Seungmin, the man who had hurt you, the man who had been the reason for so much of your pain felt like a slap to his chest.

He had been so careful, keeping his feelings to himself, pushing the idea of a future with you aside, but hearing that Seungmin was there, staying with you… it felt like a betrayal, even though he knew it wasn’t. You and Seungmin shared history, a history that Changbin wasn’t a part of, no matter how much he wanted to be. It made him feel small, like an outsider who didn’t belong in the picture anymore.

The moment you mentioned Seungmin’s arrival, Changbin’s chest tightened. He couldn’t keep the disappointment from leaking into his voice. “Ah, I see,” he said, his words soft, almost like he was trying to mask the hurt he was feeling. He had told himself over and over that he wasn’t entitled to your time, that you had every right to make your own decisions, but hearing you talk about Seungmin made him feel like he was losing you, even if you weren’t technically his. It wasn’t just that he was jealous, it was the painful reminder that Seungmin had been your past, and no matter what Changbin felt, he would always be a part of your story.

When you tried to salvage the conversation, suggesting you could still hang out later, Changbin’s mind raced. But the thought of spending the day with you while Seungmin was around felt wrong. It wasn’t just the jealousy, it was the fear that maybe he was too late. Maybe you had already moved on, maybe you still needed Seungmin. And what was he supposed to do with that? He couldn’t compete him, no matter how much he wanted to.

And then, when you mentioned your plans with Yuna, the disappointment hit again. Changbin felt this sharp pang in his chest, this deep sense of frustration with himself. He had been so certain that today could be the day when things felt different, when he could spend time with you, laugh with you, maybe even though he hated to admit it, confess to you how he felt. But now, everything felt out of reach. He couldn’t get a clear moment with you without Seungmin standing in the background, hovering over everything. It was suffocating.

“Actually, I just remembered I have something come up,” he said quickly, almost like he was trying to justify his decision to pull away. He didn’t want to hear himself say it, but the words came out anyway. “I gotta go.”

He hung up before you could say anything else. He didn’t want to hear your voice in that moment, didn’t want to hear you try to make it better. The truth was, he was afraid. Afraid that his feelings for you would never be returned, and that all he was doing was hurting both of you by being around. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do with his emotions, and he didn’t know how to even start a conversation about it without ruining everything.

He paced around his apartment, trying to calm himself down. The jealousy, the confusion, it all spiraled. He didn’t want to lose you. He didn’t want to be the guy who stood by and watched while someone else had your heart, but at the same time, he couldn’t push you too hard. You needed space. You were still navigating the wreckage of your marriage, and he wasn’t going to be the one to force you into something you weren’t ready for.

But the thing about Changbin was that he’d always been one to act on impulse, to dive headfirst into the things he cared about. And despite all his fears, he knew one thing for sure, he couldn’t just walk away from you now. The feelings he had were real, and they weren’t going away.

That night, as he sat in his apartment, he stared at his phone for a long time, wondering if he should call you back, wondering if there was any chance for the two of you. He had never been this uncertain before, his heart and his mind at war with each other. What would he do next? Would he try again to be a part of your life, even if Seungmin was there?

He didn’t know, but he knew one thing, he wasn’t ready to let go of you. Not yet.

Seungmin was never the type to make grand gestures. He wasn’t the kind of man to chase after someone or beg for forgiveness with tearful eyes and flowery words. He had always been pragmatic, calm, and a little reserved when it came to matters of the heart. But this, this was different. The reality of the situation, the hurt he had caused you, had cracked something inside him that he hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just about him wanting to fix things for himself anymore. He wanted to fix things for you, for your family, for Roan.

When he arrived back at your parents’ house that morning, a part of him still felt like he was walking on eggshells. His chest had tightened as soon as he saw you, the discomfort in your eyes unmistakable, but what hit him the hardest was the cold distance between the two of you. That had been a wall he had built himself, and now that it was there, he wasn’t sure how to break it down.

But he was trying.

He had to try.

Over the past few weeks, after you left and he stayed in your once shared home, Seungmin had spent sleepless nights replaying everything in his head. The mistakes. The lies. The things he had told himself to justify his actions. The distance between you two, even after everything he did, had never felt so suffocating. It wasn’t just about being away from you, it was about the family he had broken. The life he had destroyed by being selfish.

The realization came when he woke up one morning, staring at the empty space next to him in bed, the weight of his choices bearing down on him. He had been too focused on his own needs and desires, too caught up in what he wanted in the moment, to see the bigger picture. He hadn’t seen how much it hurt you, how much it had affected Roan.

For weeks, Seungmin had convinced himself that you just needed time. That, eventually, you would come around, that the time apart would heal things. But that realization was a punch to the gut. He had to do something, something more than just waiting around and hoping you’d forgive him. He had to show you that he was willing to change, that he was ready to be the man you needed, not just the one he thought you needed.

That’s when he made the decision to come back.

When he knocked on your parents' door and saw Roan running toward him with his arms wide open, his heart cracked a little bit. Roan’s warm embrace, his innocent excitement to see his dad, felt like a slap in the face to Seungmin. He had been so lost in his own guilt, his own shame, that he had almost forgotten about what truly mattered the love his son had for him, the unspoken bond they shared.

Seungmin needed to do right by that.

He smiled as he held Roan tight, but the smile quickly faded as he looked at you. There you were, standing in the background, watching him closely. You looked… different. Stronger, perhaps. But there was still a tenderness in your eyes, an old familiarity that made his heart ache.

He greeted your parents, tried to appear casual, as though he hadn’t just barged back into your life after everything that happened. Your mom greeted him warmly, but there was a trace of hesitation in her eyes. Your dad shook his hand, but there was no attempt to hide the discomfort in his stance. They both said all the right things, but the underlying tension in the air was palpable.

Later that evening, when Roan had gone to bed and your parents had left to visit some friends, Seungmin took his chance. He wasn’t going to let this moment slip by.

He sat down next to you, the air thick with the words left unspoken between the two of you. He reached for your hand, hesitating for a moment before gently brushing your fingers with his.

"I’ve made so many mistakes," he said, his voice quieter than usual, but full of sincerity. "I know I’ve hurt you, and I don’t expect you to forgive me just like that. I just… I need you to know that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this right. I can’t lose you, and I can’t lose Roan."

You didn’t pull away when he touched your hand, but you didn’t move closer either. You sat there, silent, processing his words. The wedding ring he had brought with him glinted in the light, and he slid it onto your finger gently, as though asking permission without asking for it.

You stared at it, not sure what to do. The weight of it, the weight of everything between you two, felt so heavy. Seungmin’s eyes searched yours, almost pleading, and for a moment, you almost wanted to believe him. You wanted to believe that he could be the man he promised to be. That he could make things right for Roan. For your family.

But there was still that sharp, raw pain at the center of it all. You still couldn’t erase the image of him with her, the betrayal, the lies. The way he had moved on so easily, as though nothing had ever been wrong between you two.

And still, you didn’t push him away. Maybe because you weren’t sure if you were ready to either accept or deny what he was offering. You didn’t know what the next step would be, but in that moment, you felt an old piece of your heart, the part that had loved Seungmin fiercely, that had trusted him with everything you had, start to stir again.

“I don’t know how to do this anymore,” you whispered, your voice breaking as you spoke the truth that had been buried for so long. “I don’t know how to be with you, Seungmin. I don’t know if we can go back to what we had before.”

His hand remained in yours, warm and gentle. “I’m not asking for everything to go back to the way it was,” he said, his thumb running along your knuckles. “I just want a chance. A real chance to show you that I can be the man you need me to be. The man I should have been all along.”

You looked at him, really looked at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes, the same vulnerability that he had hidden for so long. Maybe you could believe him. Maybe, in time, he would prove that he meant every word.

But then, just as quickly as the hope flickered in your chest, doubt filled its place again. Could you let go of everything, everything he had put you through and trust him again?

And just like that, with everything weighing heavily on both of you, Seungmin leaned in. His lips brushed against your forehead first, soft and tender, before he gently kissed your lips.

It wasn’t a passionate kiss, nor was it full of desire. It was a kiss filled with longing and regret, one that carried with it all the unspoken promises that had been left unsaid for too long.

And in that moment, you realized that things weren’t going to be easy. There would be days where you’d feel confused, where you’d question what the right thing to do was. But for now, you allowed yourself to believe that, maybe, just maybe Seungmin was doing everything he could to make things right.

But would it be enough?

Changbin had been a storm of conflicting emotions ever since he heard that Seungmin was back in the picture. At first, he had tried to brush it off, to keep his distance from you so he wouldn’t get too attached, especially when things between you and Seungmin were still so unresolved. But there was something in the way your voice had faltered when you talked about him, something that made Changbin wonder if you were letting yourself slip back into a relationship that had caused you so much pain. He hated the idea of it. He hated how your pain seemed to disappear whenever Seungmin was around, even though deep down, Changbin knew it wasn’t that simple.

Still, he’d kept his distance. He convinced himself it was for the best, he couldn’t risk being the guy who made things messier for you, who stood in the way of your family’s attempts to piece itself back together. But seeing you so quietly accepting of Seungmin’s return, even when you were still hurting, made something inside him twist uncomfortably.

Why should you let him back in so easily? Changbin thought. After everything he did, after all the lies, after hurting you so badly, why let him waltz back into your life like it was nothing?

It wasn’t just about Seungmin’s return, it was about the way he felt for you. The way he couldn’t stop thinking about you when you laughed, when you smiled, when you’d pick up little things for Yuna and Roan, your soft touch, the quiet moments that seemed to stitch the fractured pieces of his heart back together. It was about the tenderness he had developed for you over the past few weeks, the moments when you’d sit together, letting go of the world around you. And it was all crumbling now, slipping through his fingers, because of that damn wedding ring.

Changbin didn’t know why it stung so much, but when he saw it sitting on your finger as you adjusted your hair that morning, it felt like his chest was being crushed in a vice.

His breath caught in his throat as his eyes focused on the ring, the ring he hadn’t seen on your finger yet not even when he reconnected with you. The one that symbolized all the promises you had made to Seungmin, the life you had shared, the family you had created together. It was still there. And it hurt. It hurt to know that no matter how close he got to you, no matter how much time he spent trying to help you heal from the pain Seungmin had caused, he wasn’t the one who held that promise.

For a brief moment, Changbin had considered walking away pretending he didn’t care, pretending he wasn’t feeling the suffocating weight of his own jealousy. But the truth was, he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t lie to himself. He couldn’t act like the wound in his chest wasn’t there.

You’d been through so much already, and here he was, having a hard time even standing near you when the man who had hurt you so badly was back, effortlessly sliding back into your life. That wedding ring felt like an anchor, dragging him down into a pit of confusion and self-doubt.

When you approached him, he forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He turned slightly, making sure to keep his distance, pretending that he wasn’t affected.

“Hey,” you said, a little hesitantly. “Are you okay? I haven’t heard from you since… well, since that phone call.”

Changbin gave a tight-lipped smile, his mind racing. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just been busy, y’know.” He shrugged, trying to make it seem casual. He tried to avoid looking at your hand, but his gaze betrayed him. There it was again, the wedding ring.

He felt his throat tighten.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” you continued, oblivious to the storm brewing inside him. “Are you up for doing something soon? You know. I promised Yuna I’d take her shopping for dresses. Roan’s been telling me that she’s been talking about it nonstop.”

Changbin nodded automatically. He had no intention of ignoring you. It wasn’t that. He just needed to sort through this mess in his mind first. “Yeah, that sounds great,” he said, though his voice felt distant, not quite as bright as it usually did.

You fixed your hair absentmindedly, and that’s when he saw it again, the ring. The diamond glinting faintly in the morning sun, making it hard for him to focus on anything else. That damn ring.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at it, fighting the overwhelming urge to rip it off your finger, to scream at you for not protecting yourself, for not protecting your heart. He had no right to be angry. He knew that. But his chest was tight with something he couldn’t name, something that felt dangerously close to resentment.

You looked up at him and noticed the way his expression had shifted, a flash of something unreadable in his eyes.

“Changbin?” you said softly, stepping closer to him. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He clenched his jaw and nodded, refusing to let his emotions spill out. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”

Your smile faltered slightly, and you looked at him with concern. He could see it in your eyes, the curiosity, the worry. You weren’t buying it. But he didn’t know how to explain it to you, not without sounding petty and selfish. Not without admitting how much it hurt to see you wearing that ring.

So he did what he always did when things got too complicated, he turned away. He kept his distance.

“I’ve gotta get going,” he said quickly. “But, uh… yeah. I’ll talk to you later.”

Without waiting for a response, Changbin quickly turned on his heel and headed in the opposite direction. He had to get away from you. He had to process this. Because if he didn’t, he might do something he’d regret. Something that would only make everything worse.

He didn’t want to lose you again, not to Seungmin, not to anyone. But he wasn’t sure if he could keep pretending that he was okay with standing in the shadow of a wedding ring that wasn’t his.

Seungmin’s return to your life had been, at best, confusing. But if you were being honest with yourself, you couldn't help but notice the effort he was putting in, even if it didn’t erase the hurt, the betrayal, or the cracks that ran deep. He was trying, and for the first time in a while, it wasn’t just about him. It wasn’t about his comfort or his needs, it was about you, about us, or at least, the remnants of what that was supposed to be.

It wasn’t like it was perfect, far from it. But Seungmin seemed to be realizing, bit by bit, that just saying he was sorry wasn’t going to be enough. He couldn’t just expect you to forgive him, and, for the first time, he was showing that he understood that. That realization, that effort, was enough to keep you tethered to the idea of trying, of giving him a second chance, or even just the space to prove that he was different now.

At first, it felt like he was just trying to go through the motions, just doing what he thought he needed to do to win you back. He brought you coffee in the morning, remembering your exact order, just like he used to. He'd offer little, thoughtful gestures like picking up your favorite snacks from the grocery store or asking if you needed help with anything when he knew you had a busy day ahead. It was almost like he was trying to show you that he could still be the person you had once relied on.

But there were other moments, more subtle ones, where you saw a shift. He’d try to engage in conversations with Roan, or ask if you needed help with something around the house, even if it was the last thing he wanted to do. He’d ask how you were feeling, not in a casual way, but with real concern like he genuinely cared. The way he’d look at you sometimes, with a mixture of apology and longing, made your heart twist.

You hadn’t seen that look in a long time.

It was in the little things too. Like how he started making sure you were included when he was talking about future plans, something he used to exclude you from. It was like he was starting to remember what it was like when you were a team, when everything wasn’t so fractured and distant. When he asked if you wanted to go out for lunch, he didn’t just suggest places that were convenient for him, he picked ones you’d always liked, places that held memories from when things were simpler between you two. He even asked if you wanted to go for a walk in the park, something you used to do when you first started dating.

And then, there were moments when he would genuinely listen, and not just for the sake of listening, but because he wanted to know how you felt, wanted to know if things were okay between the two of you. His eyes would soften when you spoke, like he was processing everything you said, really hearing it. He wasn’t rushing to make things better, or to jump in with excuses, he was just… present. It wasn’t like the Seungmin you had known, the one who’d always tried to fix things quickly with humor or with grand gestures. This version of him wasn’t rushing anything; he was just trying to make sure you knew that you were seen and that you were heard.

You had to admit, even though it made you uncomfortable at times, it made you feel something you hadn’t felt in a long while. It made you feel important again, like you were his priority. That was a feeling that used to come so naturally between you two, but over time, had eroded. The years of work, the growing distance between you two as his distractions took over, it was hard not to feel like an afterthought. But now, in the quieter moments, you could see that he was trying to change that.

There were also moments when he was more physically present. He didn’t just hover; he’d do small things, like picking up Roan from school, offering to help out around the house, or just making sure you didn’t feel alone. When the weather got cold, he’d wrap an extra scarf around your neck before you could even think to grab one, like the old Seungmin who had always worried about you getting sick. When Roan’s homework was difficult, he’d patiently sit beside him and explain it, not even looking at his phone as he usually did.

But the most telling sign was how he interacted with you. In the rare moments when it was just the two of you, when the house was quiet and Roan had gone to bed, Seungmin would sit across from you, his gaze lingering on you a little too long, almost like he was trying to read you. His smile was softer, less rushed, as if he was savoring the fact that you were still there. And for the first time in a while, you could see how much he wanted to make it right. He didn’t just want you back for himself, he wanted you back because he realized what you meant to him, what he’d been too blind to appreciate until now.

You didn’t know how you felt about him, not fully. There were still too many scars. Too many pieces of your heart that were still cracked, still raw. But, somehow, his small efforts, his attempts to rebuild trust were making it difficult for you to completely shut him out. It wasn’t the same. It was never going to be the same. But for the first time, you saw a glimmer of hope, a chance that he might truly be trying to be the man he had failed to be before.

Still, the confusion lingered. How could you forgive him for everything? How could you let go of the pain, the betrayal, when the memories of everything he’d put you through were still so fresh in your mind?

But as Seungmin held Roan close, as he cared for you in the way he knew how, as he showed you, not just told you that he was trying, the doubt started to fade a little. Maybe it was a beginning. Maybe, with time, this could work. Or maybe you were just allowing yourself to hope for something that couldn’t be fixed. It was too soon to know.

But you couldn’t deny that, for the first time in months, you were allowing yourself to consider the possibility of forgiveness. Not for him, necessarily, but for you. Because at the end of the day, it wasn’t just about whether Seungmin deserved it. It was about whether you deserved to heal.

When you heard the buzz of your phone, your heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t like you had been expecting to hear from him. After all, the last time you spoke, things had been… well, different. Awkward. You weren’t sure where things stood anymore. And yet, when you saw Changbin’s name on the screen, your thumb moved before your brain could process what was happening. You picked up the phone, trying to mask your nervousness with an air of indifference. It wasn’t easy, but you tried. You didn’t want him to know how much his voice affected you, how it had always affected you.

"Hey," you answered, trying to keep your tone casual, even though you were anything but.

He greeted you warmly, his voice sounding as comforting as it always did, but there was an undercurrent of something you couldn’t place. “How have you been?” he asked, his words soft but genuine.

You paused, thinking about your answer. You could lie and say you were fine, but was that really fair to either of you? Instead, you settled for, “I’m okay.” It wasn’t the truth, not entirely, but it was the answer that didn’t invite too many questions.

“How’s Roan?” Changbin asked next, his voice filled with the same warmth. You could hear the concern in it, and it made your chest tighten a little.

“He’s good, keeping busy with school and his friends.” You didn’t elaborate on the way Roan had been dealing with things, the times he’d asked about his dad or when he talked about how much he missed things being ‘normal.’ You didn’t want to bring any of that up now, not when the conversation was so casual.

“That's good," Changbin said. You could feel a slight pause, like he was taking a deep breath before continuing. “Yuna misses you, you know. She says she only gets to see you at pick-up nowadays. She’s been asking if you and Roan could hang out more, maybe have another playdate. She misses hanging out with you.”

The mention of Yuna made a lump form in your throat. You did miss her, miss the simplicity of the moments you’d shared, before everything had become so complicated. Before life had gotten in the way of your friendship.

You smiled, genuinely, as you thought of the little girl who’d stolen your heart in the most unexpected way. “I miss her too,” you said, and you meant it. “And I miss you, Changbin. It’s been a while.”

You heard a soft sigh from the other end of the phone, and it sounded so much like a mixture of relief and longing that it made your stomach flutter in a way you weren’t prepared for. He didn’t respond right away, but you could tell something was weighing on his mind. He seemed hesitant to speak, and that only made you more curious.

“I wasn’t gonna call,” Changbin said suddenly, his voice a little quieter, almost like he was trying to hide something. “But Yuna’s been talking about you a lot, and I guess I miss seeing you guys too. It just... it’s been a while, and I know things have been... complicated, with everything.” There was that weight again, that familiar heaviness in his tone, like he was trying to tread lightly but couldn't hide the depth of his feelings.

The words “complicated with everything” hit you harder than you expected. That phrase alone summed up everything you’d been going through. It felt like a lifetime ago when everything had been simple between you, Changbin, and your little world. And now? Now it was all a tangled mess of emotions, regrets, and… choices.

“I know, I know…” you started, but you didn’t really know what to say after that. You wanted to explain the mess that had become your life since Seungmin came back, but what good would it do? Changbin didn’t need the details.

But he wasn’t letting the silence settle between you two. His voice came back, a little more hesitant this time, like he was trying to figure out how to phrase what was on his mind.

“Well, I don’t know if you’re busy with Seungmin or what,” Changbin said before trailing off. The mention of Seungmin hit you harder than it should have, and you could hear it in his voice, the quiet edge of jealousy that he hadn’t quite been able to suppress. You knew what he meant, what he was trying to ask without saying it outright. Were you back with Seungmin?

You frowned, your mind suddenly racing. You didn’t understand why he would even bring Seungmin up now, after everything. You had mentioned to Changbin that you and Seungmin were working through things, that you were trying to find some kind of stability for Roan, but it felt like that wasn’t what Changbin needed to hear. It was like he was looking for something different something more, something you weren’t sure you could give him.

Before you could say anything, Changbin continued, his voice awkward and strained, “I didn’t mean to bring up Seungmin like that... It just slipped out. What I meant was, if you’re not too busy, if you have time, maybe you, Roan, and Yuna could hang out with me sometime soon. I—uh, I miss spending time with you, with all of you.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that. The words "I miss spending time with you" felt like a punch to the gut. You hadn’t realized just how much you’d missed him, how much he had come to mean to you, until that very moment.

But still, the whole situation felt too complicated. He was asking you to hang out like it was the simplest thing in the world, but for you, it wasn’t simple. Not when you were trying to sort out your life, your feelings, and your priorities. You couldn’t just pretend everything was fine. It wasn’t.

“I’m not sure when, Changbin,” you said slowly, carefully, “but I promise I’ll try to find time. I think Yuna deserves that.”

He didn’t push you. There was a quiet pause before he let out a breath, something between frustration and relief. “Yeah, of course,” he said softly. “I get it. Just... just let me know when you’re free.”

You wanted to tell him you were sorry for not making things easier, for making everything more difficult than it needed to be, but you didn’t. There was no room for apologies, not yet. You weren’t sure if it would make anything better.

The conversation slowly came to an end, neither of you saying what was really on your mind. You hung up, staring at the phone in your hand, thoughts swirling. There was so much you wanted to say to Changbin, so much you needed to figure out before you could even think about doing anything with him anything more than friendship, at least.

But right now, all you could do was try to make sense of the messy feelings, the confusion, and the painful truth: you were still so drawn to Changbin. Even if you didn’t know exactly what that meant for your future, you couldn’t deny the pull. It was always there, lingering just beneath the surface.

And as you sat there, still holding your phone, your mind wandered back to the time when things had been simpler. To when you and Changbin had been on the same page, before everything had gotten so complicated. You didn’t know what would happen next, but you knew one thing for sure: this, whatever it was, was far from over.

Changbin felt a momentary calm settle over him after hanging up the phone with you. Hearing your voice again, even if it was through the filter of awkwardness and unresolved tension, gave him a small measure of peace. You hadn’t shut him out, and that was enough for now. It meant he hadn’t imagined it, those weeks you spent leaning on him, laughing with him, feeling like something was blooming between you. He told himself not to hope, but still… a part of him did.

He was lost in those very thoughts, his mind spinning around the images of you and Seungmin, the uncertainty of your feelings, the way you still wore your wedding ring until a familiar, bright voice jolted him back to the present.

“Daddy!”

Yuna’s sweet shriek of joy rang across the school courtyard as she ran toward him at full speed, her little backpack bouncing with each step. He immediately bent down, arms open, catching her as she leapt into him without hesitation. He lifted her with ease, settling her comfortably in his arms, her cheek pressed against his shoulder.

“Guess who I talked to today?” he said, voice teasing and light as he tried to push away the heaviness that had returned to sit in his chest.

Yuna pulled back just enough to look up at him, eyes wide with excitement. “Y/N?” she guessed with a hopeful grin.

He smiled and nodded. “Bingo.”

Yuna let out a high-pitched squeal and kicked her legs in the air with excitement. “I knew it! I told Roan you would talk to her. I told him,” she said with pride, like she had willed the conversation into existence. “Does this mean we can go shopping now? She promised.”

He chuckled softly and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I think we’ll make it happen soon.”

Her face lit up again, and she leaned her head back on his shoulder as he began walking toward the car, his grip on her secure and comforting.

As they made their way through the parking lot, Yuna started chattering about her day, what snack her teacher gave them, how she and Roan played tag at recess, and how Roan had reminded her to not forget about his birthday party this weekend.

Changbin blinked.

The party.

Of course. Roan’s birthday. This weekend.

Yuna’s voice became background noise then, not because he didn’t want to hear her, but because all he could focus on was the sudden realization that he would have to see you again. Not just for a brief moment at pick-up or drop-off. Not a quiet phone call. But see you.

Be around you.

Be around you… and Seungmin.

His chest tightened with that familiar bitter ache, jealousy rising in his throat like bile. It wasn’t fair not to Roan, not to Yuna, not to you, but he couldn’t help it. The idea of standing there, in your parents' home, watching you and Seungmin smile and act like a family again, felt unbearable.

He would have to watch Roan call him “Dad.” He would have to hear your parents praise him. Watch Seungmin touch your back gently or say something to make you smile, and pretend it didn’t make him sick.

Because Changbin wasn’t just jealous of Seungmin having you. He was angry. Angry that he had broken you in such a cruel way cheated, betrayed, and somehow still got to come back into your life like a ghost demanding space.

And yet… you’d let him back in. Even if you hadn’t fully forgiven him, you’d opened the door.

That was the part that crushed Changbin the most.

He shifted Yuna a little higher in his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead to ground himself. Her little hand wrapped around his thumb.

“You okay, Daddy?” she asked softly, peering up at him with curiosity.

He blinked down at her and nodded, pasting a smile on his face. “Yeah, baby. Just thinking.”

“Are we still going to Roan’s party?” she asked, and he nodded again. He couldn’t say no, not when her eyes looked so hopeful. Not when she was so happy at the thought of seeing you again.

“Of course,” he said, his voice low and steady despite the storm inside. “We wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

But as they reached the car and he buckled her in, his mind wandered again to the party, to you, to the way your smile lingered in his mind even when he tried to push it away.

He was happy to see you again.

He dreaded it too.

Because loving someone who’s trying to fall back in love with someone else? That kind of pain was the slow kind. Quiet. Hidden. And it burned like nothing else.

Still, Changbin would go. He’d smile, for Yuna. For Roan. Even for you.

And he’d pretend the ring on your finger didn’t feel like the door shutting in his face.

masterlist.

(a/n: who else is #TeamSeungmin 🖐️)

❌proofread

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