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kiwriteswords · 5 months ago

Note

For the trope day could we please see maybe celebrity reader and hotch? congrats btw!

Walked in and dream-came-trued it for ya [Aaron Hotchner x Popstar!Reader]

Ki2k Masterlist||MainMasterlist (not updated, sorry!)|| Ao3||Word Count: 2k|| AN: I keep seeing so much queen Sabrina Carpenter stuff around the Hotch fandom these days; she's who I envisioned reader to be like here--but obviously open to interpretation of whatever popstar you would want to be! I lowkey could never picture this happening, but it was fun, nonetheless. This is also likely my last story I'll do for trope tuesday because they take a lot of time, haha. Unless I do a short drabble!

Tags/Warnings: female reader, speculating bau team!, gossip!!, Penelope Garcia is your biggest fan!!!, you're a superstar who sells out stadiums, even rossi knows this!, mysterious!hotch, more of a fun one-shot than anything too fluffy, very team-focused, non-bau!reader

Summary: Hotch has been in a great mood, oddly enough, and when one day, he hands over tickets to Penelope for her favorite singer of all time--you--the team really begins to wonder where Hotch is spending his free time.

The bullpen of the BAU was unusually animated for a Monday morning. Derek leaned back against his desk, arms crossed, watching Reid flip through files at an astonishing rate while Penelope hovered over both their shoulders, her curiosity practically buzzing.

“Seriously, Spence, you didn’t notice anything different about Hotch last week?” Derek asked, his tone teasing but genuinely curious.

Reid, without looking up from his reading, adjusted his glasses. “Well, he did leave on time every day, which is statistically significant for him.”

“Leaving on time? That’s an understatement. The man was practically sprinting out the door at five o’clock. And he smiled--actually smiled--at me yesterday,” Penelope chimed in, her eyes wide with the thrill of the gossip.

Emily, walking in with a cup of coffee in hand, joined the group. “Don’t forget, he also took a personal day last Friday. When’s the last time Hotch took a day off that wasn’t for something work-related?”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Exactly! Something’s up. Hotch is seeing someone; it’s got to be.”

Reid finally looked up, curiosity overcoming him. “But who would it be? I mean, we practically live at work. When would he even have the time to meet someone?”

Penelope twirled a strand of her brightly colored hair, thinking. “Oh, my sweet geniuses, that’s the million-dollar question! I could do a little cyber snooping--”

“Penelope, no hacking into Hotch’s personal life,” Emily cut off, her tone half-serious. “But I agree, it’s odd. He’s even been more... what’s the word?”

“Chill?” Derek suggested with a chuckle. “For Hotch standards, anyway.”

The group’s laughter was a mixture of disbelief and genuine amusement, just as Rossi walked up, a knowing smile playing onhis lips. “Talking about our fearless leader’s mysterious new habits?”

Derek nodded, welcoming Rossi into the conversation. “Rossi, you’re the profiler extraordinaire with all the life experience. What’s your read on this?”

Rossi stroked his chin, pretending to ponder deeply. “Well, if I were a betting man--and I occasionally am--I’d say our boy Hotch might just be reminding himself there’s more to life than case files and jet fuel.”

Reid’s brow furrowed in thought. “It’s statistically rare for individuals in high-stress jobs to make sudden changes to their behavioral patterns without a significant emotional or personal catalyst.”

“Exactly,” Penelope squealed, delighted by the support for their theories. “He’s got to be dating someone. This is just like those romance novels where the broody, mysterious man finds love and starts changing his ways.”

JJ laughed, sipping her coffee. “Let’s not get carried away. It could be anything--maybe he’s just taking up a new hobby…or maybe it’s Jack.”

“But a hobby that makes him leave work on time and take days off? That’s not just any hobby; that’s a passion,” Derek countered, his smile suggesting he was thoroughly enjoying the speculation.

The group quieted as Hotch suddenly appeared, his pace steady and his expression unreadable as always. He paused by their cluster, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Morning,” he greeted, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. “I trust we’re all ready to focus on the real mysteries at hand today?”

Caught in their own theories, the team straightened up, mumbling their morning greetings. Hotch’s gaze lingered for a moment longer than usual, giving nothing away.

As he walked off towards his office, Emily whispered to the group, “See? Happier. I’m telling you, there’s definitely something--or someone--new in his life.”

Rossi chuckled, watching Hotch disappear into his office. “Or maybe our esteemed unit chief just decided it’s time to start living a little. Either way, it’s good to see.”

The team nodded in agreement, the mystery of Hotch’s unusual behavior lingering in the air, adding a layer of intrigue to their day. Derek grinned, clapping his hands together.

“Alright, let’s get to work. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll crack the case of the Happy Hotch.”

Laughter echoed softly among them as they dispersed to their desks, the day’s work ahead, but their minds still occasionally drifted to the enigma of Aaron Hotchner’s uncharacteristic lightness.

Days after the team's animated discussion about Hotch's peculiarly cheerful demeanor, Penelope Garcia was in her vibrant lair, surrounded by her kaleidoscope of tech and trinkets.

The sound of a catchy pop song filled the air, and Penelope couldn't help but dance and sing along to the tune, her voice echoing slightly off the walls lined with monitors.

She was in the middle of a particularly enthusiastic chorus when a knock at the door made her jump. Swiveling around in her chair, she saw Hotch standing at the entrance, an amused smile barely touching his lips.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Hotch said, his eyes twinkling with a hint of humor.

Penelope chuckled, brushing off her surprise with a flamboyant wave of her hand. "Oh, it's nothing, Sir. Just enjoying some tunes while I work. You know, fuel for the brain!"

Hotch nodded, his gaze drifting momentarily to the colorful post-it notes of affirmations on her screen. "I couldn’t help but overhear. Do you like this artist?" he asked, nodding toward the speaker from where the music still played, though now at a lower volume.

Penelope’s eyes lit up, eager to share her enthusiasm. "Like her? I adore her! She’s all about empowerment and fun, and her beats are just infectious. Plus, her lyrics are, like, super relatable. She's a total queen!" Penelope exclaimed, not missing the opportunity to promote her musical taste.

Hotch's smile grew a bit as he listened to Penelope’s gushing review. "I see," he said, his voice filled with a warm, curious tone that Penelope rarely heard from him. "Thanks, Garcia."

With a final nod and a mysterious smile, he turned and left as quietly as he had arrived, leaving Penelope staring after him, slightly confused but smiling nonetheless.

She shrugged to herself and turned the volume back up, diving back into her work with the music as her soundtrack, her mind briefly wandering to wonder about Hotch’s sudden interest in pop culture.

"Maybe he’s getting a life outside those case files after all--and a decent taste in music..." she murmured to herself, her head bobbing to the beat as she focused back on her screens, the mystery of Aaron Hotchner adding yet another curious, albeit lighter, layer to her day.

The following week brought an air of excitement that seemed to linger around the BAU, particularly around Penelope Garcia's tech-filled lair. The atmosphere was thick with disbelief and joy as Penelope, unable to contain her excitement, recounted a recent encounter with Hotch to JJ and Emily.

"You guys will not believe this!" Penelope beamed, her hands animatedly waving the prized items in the air. "Hotch--our Hotch--just handed me these!" She fluttered a pair of tickets like they were sacred texts.

JJ and Emily leaned in, eyes widening as they caught sight of the tickets. "No way! How did he even get those?" Emily exclaimed, her skepticism matched by her amusement.

Rossi, overhearing the commotion as he walked in, joined the group, a curious smile playing on his lips. "What's all this about?" he inquired, peering over to see what had stirred up such excitement.

Penelope held up the tickets with a theatrical flair. "These, my dear Rossi, are tickets to see none other than--" she paused for dramatic effect, "--the popstar we were just talking about last week! And not just any tickets--Hotch got them for me!"

Rossi's eyebrows shot up, a clear sign of his surprise. "Those tickets? I heard on the news this morning that they were impossible to get. The show sold out in minutes," he commented, adding to the bewildering nature of Hotch’s gift.

Before Penelope could respond, Derek Morgan swooped in, his hand snatching the tickets from her grip to inspect them himself. "Let me see these," he said, his voice a mix of suspicion and awe. Flipping them over, his eyes scanned the details, and a slow whistle escaped him. "Ladies, these aren’t just any tickets. These are front row. Front. Row. Do you realize how good these seats are?"

JJ laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "This is insane. Hotch pulled some serious strings. Front row to see a popstar like her? That's not just pulling strings; that's a whole concert orchestra at work!"

Penelope snatched the tickets back from Derek, clutching them close to her chest. "I knew Hotch had a secret side to him!" she exclaimed, her previous theories about his recent behavior seeming to find validation. "This is like, the best thing ever. I can't even--"

Emily leaned in, her voice low and playful. "You know what this means, right? You're going to have to get all dolled up, Penelope. Front row means you’ll probably be on camera!"

Penelope’s grin widened at the thought, already planning her outfit in her mind. "Oh, trust me, I will be camera-ready. Our stoic unit chief might just make a fangirl out of me yet!"

Rossi chuckled, shaking his head as he watched the excitement bubble over. "Well, I'll say this," he mused, "it's nice to see Hotch letting his hair down a bit, even if it’s in his own unique way."

“Whoever he’s seeing’s got some serious connections,” Derek shared.

The group nodded in agreement, the mystery of Hotch's recent behavior adding an unexpected but welcome layer of camaraderie and speculation among the team. As they dispersed back to their tasks, the buzz of excitement remained, the BAU team finding a rare moment of lightness amidst their usual, graver responsibilities.

At the concert, JJ and Penelope stood in the front row, the pulsing lights and thumping beats of the music wrapping around them like a vibrant cloak. You were the popstar that Penelope (and the rest of society) could not get enough of.

Your performance had a cascade of dazzling visuals and soul-stirring vocals that had the crowd roaring with excitement. Each song seemed to resonate perfectly with the audience, a mix of chart-topping hits and beloved classics that had JJ and Penelope singing along, lost in the nostalgia and the thrill of the night.

They felt like they were sixteen all over again.

As the concert progressed, the atmosphere turned electric, each track bringing a new wave of cheers from the audience. You moved with a grace and confidence that commanded attention, your presence on stage both mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. The night was already unforgettable, but it was about to become even more so.

Before launching into the next song, you paused, your gaze sweeping over the crowd with a playful yet intense look.

"This next song," you began, your voice ringing clear over the din, "is a very special one. It’s for the grumpy man who changed my life. He's from here, and guess what? He's here tonight. Supporting me, despite having the most important job out there."

The crowd erupted in cheers, curiosity piqued by your heartfelt introduction. You continued, your eyes twinkling with emotion and mischief, "And because he’s here, supporting me, I want to give a shout-out to someone very special in the audience tonight--Penelope!"

Penelope’s jaw dropped, her eyes wide with shock, and JJ turned to her with an expression that mirrored her disbelief. "How does she know your name?" JJ whispered her voice a mix of excitement and confusion.

Before Penelope could formulate a response, you launched into a flirty, romantic ballad, your voice soaring as beautifully as the lyrics. As yo sang, you glanced toward the VIP section, and with a sly wink and a blown kiss, you acknowledged someone standing there..

Driven by curiosity and an overwhelming sense of wonder, JJ and Penelope followed your gaze. There, among a few shadowed figures in the VIP section, stood none other than Aaron Hotchner. His usually impassive face wore a soft, almost shy smile as he acknowledged the kiss with a slight nod, his eyes locked on the stage.

He was dressed in a black button-up and jeans--a far contrast to his usual attire. He looked relaxed…happy. Maybe not singing along to the words, but he sure knew them. He inspired them.

The realization hit Penelope like a wave. "Oh my god, JJ, Hotch is her boyfriend? Hotch is the grumpy man who changed her life?" she gasped, her voice a mix of shock and delight.

JJ laughed, shaking her head in amazement. "Looks like we've been underestimating our boss's ability to keep secrets," she said, her eyes twinkling with humor and newfound respect for their unit chief.

As the song ended and you took a graceful bow, the crowd’s applause was deafening. JJ and Penelope clapped and cheered along, their hearts full of joy and their minds buzzing with the night’s revelations.

The concert continued, but for JJ and Penelope, the evening had transformed into something even more magical--a story they would share and reminisce about for years to come, the night their grumpy boss was revealedto be the secret boyfriend of a popstar, right before their very eyes.

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wonderjanga · 6 months ago

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Gifts

Marvel gets a lot of gifts whether it be from heroes, civilians, or even villains.

Joker: “Captain! I have a surprise for you!”

Marvel: *confused as to why a Gotham villain is in Fawcett* “Uh… what is it?”

Joker: *hands him a trophy for the most taxes evaded* “You really are my hero. I hope to reach your level of fearlessness one day.”

Marvel: *looks super alarmed* “Thank you…?”

Joker fears the IRS and Marvel regularly evades them and doesn’t pay them. So, he gained the Clown Prince’s respect. Batman later came to confiscate the trophy in case it suddenly blew up and started spewing Joker Gas or something.

Marvel: *finishes saving a witch*

Witch: “Thank you, young man.” *twirls her hair* “Take this.” *casually just gives him a man-eating rose*

Marvel: “Oh!” *takes it and lets it nom on one of his fingers* “Thank you, miss!”

Witch: “No problem.” *flies away on her broom*

Later, he gave it to Zatanna who then plucked all the petals due to the petals being important in certain rituals. She let him keep the part that had teeth and he later threw it at Adam’s face much to the man’s obvious anger.

Marvel: “Batarangs are so cool!”

Robin!Damian: *immediately gives him a batarang* “I would like to see your skill.”

Marvel: “Sure. Wanna have a contest?”

Robin!Damian: “Of course. Whomever can graze the most hair off of Red Robin’s head without cutting him wins.”

Red Robin: “WHAT?!”

Marvel: “You’re on!”

Robin let Marvel keep a batarang after that whole fiasco of them running after Tim to see how much hair they could cut off.

#billy batson #shazam #dc captain marvel #captain marvel dc #fawcett city #fawcett #fawcett comics

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stillgotscars · 7 months ago

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there’s only one more eras show left, meaning:

one last transition from “applause” into the “you don’t own me” countdown

one last eras tour intro

one last “oh HI!”

one last “does anyone here know the lyrics to this bridge? PROVE IT!”

one last “you’ve got me feeling really, extremely… powerful”

one last “LET ME! SEE YOUR! HANDS!”

one last “what an absolute honor it is to say these words to you: [insert city], welcome to the eras tour”

one last “so you and i, we’re about to go on a little adventure together”

one last endearing “i’ll be your host this evening, my name is taylor”

one last fearless twirl

one last “it’s fearless” followed by the entire crowd holding up a hand heart

one last “are you ready to go back to high school with me?”

one last *clap clap* during you belong with me

one last heart-warming 22 hat exchange

one last comical quip from kam during wanegbt

one last “do you have 10 minutes to spare?”

one last extravagant ballgown appearance for all of one (1) song during the speak now set

one last “1, 2, 3, let’s go bitch!”

one last “do the girls back home touch you like i do?” *shakes head*

one last “don’t blame me for what. you. made. me. DO.”

one last “and so we’ve brought the folklore cabin to [insert city]”

one last minutes-long standing ovation after champagne problems

one last august run

one last illicit affairs bridge in all its glory

one last “and i can go anywhere i want, anywhere i want, JUST. NOT. HOME.”

one last lighting up the entire stadium with phone flashlights for marjorie

one last thunder and lightning transition from marjorie to willow

one last willow coven dance

one last golf club swing during the blank space bridge

one last pavlovian stress response during bad blood as a lasting consequence of the original set list

one last collective gasp when the pyro starts during bad blood

one last archer pose before so high school

one last roomba appearance

one last alien abduction metaphor brought to life during down bad

one last the smallest man who ever lived bridge being cathartically scream-sung by thousands of people all at once

one last attempt to make taylor break during the icdiwabh skit

one last “i’ve been doing it since he left” note change

one last “try. and come. for. my. job.”

one last surprise song set

one last stage dive after just causing mass emotional devastation

one last garter reveal

one last “except when i’m on tv” pose

one last vigilante shit performance

one last “do you have time for one more song?”

one last final bow as confetti falls to the ground

eras tour (march 2023 - december 2024), you will be remembered 💚💛💜♥️🩵��🩷🩶🤎💙🤍

#taylor swift #the eras tour #this got so long #and i still feel like i could’ve added more #*

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solxamber · 7 months ago

Note

Hey! Hope you're having a great day!

First time requesting <3

Could I request a male cowboy yuu with a rowdy and chaotic personality, like fears nothing and no one, and is proficient with guns, etc? With the housewardens? (Or if not allowed, then just Vil)

Housewardens x M! Cowboy! Reader

a/n: so sorry for the long wait, i hope you like it <3

Riddle Rosehearts

Riddle is constantly on edge around you.

He’s horrified by your reckless behavior, especially when you stroll into Heartslabyul and start shooting cans off fences for fun.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?! Guns are not toys, and rules exist for a reason!”

You respond by tipping your hat and smirking. “Reckon you could loosen up, Sheriff.”

He’ll try to collar you, but you’ve got lightning-fast reflexes and dodge every time, leaving him fuming.

Secretly, he’s impressed by your skill, but he’ll never admit it.

Leona Kingscholar

Leona finds you annoying but amusing.

When you call him out with a drawl, “How’s the big bad lion doin’? Ready for a duel, partner?” he just yawns.

“You think I’m scared of you and that oversized slingshot?”

You fire a warning shot near his feet (safely, of course), and his smirk widens. “Alright, I’ll bite. What’s the game?”

He respects your fearlessness but finds your energy exhausting.

If you try to mess with him during his naps, he’ll pin you down and tell you, “Keep it up, cowboy, and you’ll find out what happens when you poke a lion.”

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul is equal parts terrified and intrigued.

He sees your chaotic energy as both a threat and an opportunity.

“Mr. Cowboy, I assume you’d like to avoid the consequences of property damage? Perhaps we can negotiate…”

You just laugh. “I don’t deal with smooth-talking fellas.”

Every time you walk into the Lounge, he watches nervously, waiting for the inevitable “incident.”

However, he admires your confidence and skill. He might even offer you a contract to use your talent to benefit Mostro Lounge (if he can survive your antics).

Kalim Al-Asim

Kalim adores your wild energy.

“Whoa! That was so cool! Can you show me how to spin a revolver like that?!”

He’s fully on board with your chaos, encouraging you to show off your trick shots at Scarabia parties.

Jamil is the one tearing his hair out. “Kalim, that man is a walking hazard!”

You and Kalim probably end up in some wild adventures together, like trying to tame a camel for fun.

Kalim loves your boldness, seeing you as someone who knows how to live life to the fullest.

Vil Schoenheit

Vil is not impressed by your antics.

“Do you have any sense of decorum? Or are you just going to keep clomping through here with those filthy boots?”

You flash a cocky grin and twirl your gun. “Aw, c’mon, pretty boy, you know you like a bit of danger.”

He glares, arms crossed. “The only danger here is you scuffing my floors.”

Despite his irritation, he finds your unshakable confidence intriguing. He’ll begrudgingly admit you have a certain… rugged charm.

You love riling him up, just to see him flustered.

Idia Shroud

Idia is terrified of you.

“W-why is the cowboy from that survival-horror game standing in my doorway?!”

Your loud, chaotic energy is the complete opposite of his shy, reclusive personality.

“C’mon, partner, let’s hit the town! Reckon I can shoot a soda can off a rooftop.”

“N-no thanks! I value my life!”

Despite his fear, he secretly finds your confidence kind of cool. He might even watch you practice your shooting from a safe distance, muttering, “This is just like an FPS�� but IRL…”

Malleus Draconia

Malleus is intrigued by your boldness.

Most people fear him, but you stroll up to him like it’s nothing. “So you’re the big bad dragon, huh? Reckon I’ve tamed worse."

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh? You believe you could tame me?”

Your fearlessness fascinates him, and he enjoys your company despite your chaotic tendencies.

“You are… quite unique,” he muses after watching you shoot a lightning-fast trick shot.

You’d probably challenge him to a duel just for the fun of it, and he’d indulge you with a smile, finding your bravery endearing.

Masterlist

(ended up very boothill coded)

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missmadella · 2 months ago

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Stitches & Signals (Bonten x Reader)

Different scenarios with Bonten have been running wild in my head, and I tried to write them like a story to make it a bit easier to read. I hope you enjoy it!

Summary: You’re Bonten's darling, the emotional heart of the gang, and while they’re tough, you bring a lighthearted, fearless energy to the group. With your playful nature and quick wit, you’ve caught the attention of the Bonten members, not only for your charm but also for your uncanny ability to read people and situations. Whether you're accidentally stumbling into important meetings or catching someone lying, you always seem to know exactly how to handle things, keeping the gang on their toes.

Words: 11906

The meeting room was silent, filled with smoke, tension, and false pleasantries.

A rival gang leader was seated stiffly at one end of the long black table, running through negotiations that sounded carefully rehearsed—too carefully. Across from him sat Bonten’s elite: Mikey at the head, cold and unreadable. Kakucho beside him, arms crossed and eyes sharp. Sanzu was spinning a butterfly knife into the wood between his fingers. Ran and Rindou looked like they were either deeply amused or two seconds from violence.

And in the plush white couch tucked near the window?

You.

Legs curled under you, oversized cardigan slipping off one shoulder, crocheting.

The quiet click-click of your hook against soft red yarn was the only gentle sound in the room. You were calm. Humming. Content.

You were the softest thing in Bonten headquarters—and, somehow, the most untouchable.

Not Mikey’s. Not Sanzu’s. Not anyone’s. You were Bonten’s darling. Their little light in a place built on blood.

So when you paused, head tilted ever so slightly, and your fingers stilled mid-stitch… they noticed.

You didn’t interrupt. You didn’t speak.

You just watched the rival boss—watched how his eyes flicked to the door, how he licked his lips too fast, how his words started to run together with too much confidence.

He was lying.

You finished the row anyway. Knotted it. Snipped the yarn clean.

Then you stood up and padded softly over to the table.

The man kept talking, but Bonten watched you.

Mikey leaned back just enough for you to approach. Without a word, you held up the scarf.

“Finished it~,” you said gently, like there wasn’t a storm building around the table.

“For me?” Mikey asked, already knowing.

You nodded and reached forward to loop the scarf around his neck. As you adjusted it, your fingers brushed his hand, and you tapped it—twice.

No words. Just the signal.

Two taps. He’s lying.

Mikey’s eyes didn’t move, but his hand rose to yours, catching your wrist gently. He tugged you down—not into the chair next to him, but into his lap. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

You giggled softly and nestled in sideways, yarn in your lap. His arm came around your waist, loose but protective.

Kakucho shifted to give you more room. Rindou offered you the yarn ball that had rolled away. Sanzu paused his spinning knife and leaned forward, lips curling.

You began crocheting again, perfectly calm.

The rival boss blinked. “Uh…”

Ran leaned back lazily. “Y’know,” he said, “you’d think people would stop lying when she’s in the room.”

“She doesn’t even know what we’re discussing,” the boss scoffed. “She’s just… what? A trophy wife?”

Silence.

Then—

Kakucho stood up.

Ran dropped his smile.

Rindou cracked his knuckles, and even Sanzu stopped twirling the knife.

“She’s not a wife,” Sanzu said, slowly and darkly. “She’s family.”

“She’s the reason you’re still breathing,” Rindou added, voice light, dangerous.

Mikey didn’t speak. He just looked at the man across the table with the calm, soul-freezing stillness that always came before something ugly.

You leaned your head back against his chest and murmured, “Can I stab him?”

“No,” Mikey said flatly.

“Please?”

“…Maybe later.”

The scarf looped again. The yarn tugged gently.

You didn’t need to say more. You’d already said everything that mattered—without a single word.

And Bonten handled the rest.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The meeting room had long since emptied. Well—emptied of outsiders.

The rival boss had been escorted out—barely. His crew trailed after him, pale and shaken, murmuring apologies they weren’t sure would matter.

Bonten hadn’t followed. They didn’t need to.

Instead, they stayed behind—because you stayed.

Now, you were curled up on the massive sectional in Bonten’s private lounge, swallowed in a black hoodie you “borrowed” from Sanzu’s room (you never gave it back). Your bare feet rested on Mikey’s thigh, your head leaned gently against Ran’s shoulder, and your yarn sat nestled beside you like a pet.

You were halfway through a new scarf—this one a deep plum purple.

“Is that one for me?” Ran asked, flicking a lock of your hair with casual fondness.

You hummed. “Nope.”

He gasped like you’d stabbed him.

“Betrayal.”

“It’s for Rindou,” you said, winking as the younger Haitani brother beamed from the bar. He raised a glass in your direction like you’d just handed him a crown.

“Hell yeah,” Rindou grinned. “I win.”

“You didn’t win,” Sanzu called from where he was hanging upside down off the arm of the couch, a lollipop in his mouth and a knife in his sock for some reason. “You just exist in her favor. We all do.”

You didn’t look up. “Exactly.”

Kakucho, seated in the corner with a tablet in hand, let a rare smile pull at his mouth. “She really is the only one of us that makes sense.”

You turned your face into Ran’s shoulder, hiding a laugh.

“I'm not even a part of the meetings," you teased. "I’m just the designated emotional support human."

Mikey’s hand, resting on your ankle, flexed slightly.

“You do more than you realize,” he said simply. His voice was soft—but the weight behind it made everyone pause.

The truth was: you saw what they couldn’t. Not just lies. Not just danger.

You saw them. All of them. And never flinched.

You tapped your crochet hook lightly against the edge of the couch and looked up at them—these terrifying men, these broken pieces of Tokyo’s underworld—and smiled like they were just your boys.

“Okay,” you said, stretching a little, “who’s next?”

Ran immediately raised his hand. “Me. You said Rindou, but I know you didn’t mean it.”

“I did mean it,” you said sweetly.

“Traitorous.”

Kakucho cleared his throat. “She started mine last week. She’s just pretending she forgot.”

“I didn’t forget,” you said, mock-offended. “Yours is the olive green one. With the pattern that looks like waves.”

Kakucho’s ears turned a little pink.

You didn’t call him out for it.

Sanzu rolled onto his stomach, chin on his hands, swinging his legs like a child. “Can mine have blood splatter in it?”

“No.”

“Fake blood?”

“Still no.”

“Ugh.”

Mikey hadn’t said anything else, but his fingers traced slow, absent-minded patterns against your ankle as the room buzzed around you. You weren’t sure he was even listening.

But then he spoke.

“Red. For mine.”

You blinked. “You already have a scarf.”

“I want another.”

You smiled gently. “Okay.”

He looked at you—really looked at you—and there was something unreadable in his gaze. Something you didn’t press.

Because Bonten didn’t need declarations. Not with you.

You were the only person they didn’t have to guard themselves from.

You resumed your stitching, your yarn looping like quiet magic through your fingers, and the room settled into a strange sort of peace.

Danger would return tomorrow. Blood, chaos, negotiations.

But tonight?

Bonten was warm. And you were exactly where you belonged.

___________________________________________________________________________

“I’m out of red,” you mumbled, staring into your yarn basket like it had personally betrayed you.

The rest of the room went still.

Ran, who was painting your nails for fun, glanced up. “You mean like... one of the reds?”

You held up your little yarn ball dramatically. “No. The red. Mikey’s red. The soft one.”

Sanzu’s eyes narrowed. “Who used it up?”

“I did,” you sighed. “Because I made Mikey’s scarf... and a matching headband... and maybe a heart-shaped coaster for my tea.”

Kakucho blinked slowly from across the room. “So… you need more?”

You nodded, bottom lip pushed out in a soft pout. “But I don’t wanna go alone.”

You didn’t have to say more.

___________________________________________________________________________

The bell above the door jingled softly, but the atmosphere inside the store immediately shifted. The Bonten men had entered. Six of them. Tall, brooding, and intensely intimidating in the yarn aisle.

The first employee behind the counter blinked in shock as they walked in like a storm—a mix of mafia vibes and... yarn. Their eyes darted to each other nervously. One pulled out their phone, half-tempted to call for backup.

At the head of the pack was Mikey, calm as ever, his cool, almost ethereal aura cutting through the store. He glanced around like he was sizing up the place, scanning the shelves with precision, as if planning the perfect way to get you what you wanted without anyone being harmed—yet.

You bounced excitedly in the middle of the aisle, bouncing the empty red yarn ball like a small child who had just lost her favorite toy.

“I need more of this color!” you announced, holding it up. “But it has to be the exact same blend, or my project is ruined.”

Mikey’s eyes softened for a second, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips as you pouted.

Ran nudged your side. “Come on, darling. You know exactly what you need. Just tell us where it is.”

“You’re so smart, babe,” Sanzu said with a grin, leaning over and taking your hand briefly before reaching for a random skein of yarn on a shelf. “I bet I can find it faster than Mikey.”

“Stop messing around,” Kakucho snapped, his voice always calm but a bit sharp. He was scanning the rows of color-coded yarn with intense focus, eyes flicking between labels. “We’re here for a reason, not to entertain you.”

You smiled up at him. “I like it when you’re serious, Kaku-chan.”

He gave a small, barely visible smile before returning to his task.

From the opposite side of the aisle, you heard a voice that made you roll your eyes.

“Is this the color, babe?” Ran called out, holding up a skein of bright neon pink with a mischievous grin on his face. “Or do we need something a little more subtle for your delicate hands?”

“Oh my god,” you muttered under your breath, but the smile tugging at your lips was undeniable. “Stop messing around.”

“Messing around?” Rindou chuckled, walking over with a handful of different shades of red. “This is serious business, sweetheart.”

“Yeah, serious,” Sanzu added with a playful tilt of his head, flashing you that signature grin of his. “But can you blame us? We’ll do anything to make our girl happy.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Stop calling me your girl in public. People might start thinking you’re all crazy.”

“Baby, we are crazy,” Sanzu replied with a wink. “Crazy in love with you.”

“Oh my god,” you groaned, but you couldn’t stop your heart from warming. “You guys are ridiculous.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kakucho murmured, finally pulling down a bundle of yarn from the top shelf. “Found it.”

You turned to look and immediately gasped. “Yes! That’s it! That’s the one!”

“You really do have the best taste, huh, princess?” Ran teased, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Could’ve found it in half the time if we just listened to you.”

You shot him a playful glare. “Well, I could’ve told you, but I didn’t want to look like a show-off.”

They all froze.

“You’re not a show-off, sweetheart,” Mikey said, walking over with the perfect shade of red yarn in hand, holding it up like it was precious. “But you’re always right.”

You beamed at him, your eyes sparkling. “Thank you, Mikey.”

“You’re welcome, princess,” he said softly, his hand lightly brushing your hair, before stepping back.

“That’s it,” Sanzu said, smirking from behind you. “C’mon, babe, let’s go pay before these guys start getting real weird with the employees.”

You barely heard him, your gaze still on Mikey as he took your basket of yarn and followed you to the counter.

The young woman behind the register stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief as she scanned the items. She seemed unsure of whether to compliment you on the beautiful color choices or be terrified of the towering, tattooed men standing silently behind you. The tension was thick.

Mikey glanced down at you with an unreadable expression, his fingers brushing your back gently, and whispered, “We good?”

“Yeah, we’re good.” You nodded with a smile.

The woman hesitated and then asked, her voice a little shaky, “Will that be all today?”

Before you could answer, Ran leaned in from behind, his voice as smooth as silk. “We’ll take whatever she wants, sweetheart. All for her. Got that?”

The cashier nodded hastily, scanning everything through. You felt your face burn with embarrassment, but the affection in their voices made it all worth it.

Sanzu leaned against the counter, eyes glinting mischievously. “Next time, we’re bringing her shopping in the middle of the night, so we don’t scare the poor people. Right, baby?”

“Next time, maybe you won’t come,” you teased.

They all chuckled.

As you gathered your items, Mikey walked beside you, his hand on your lower back, guiding you out of the store like he was the only one who could protect you from the overwhelming affection coming from his men. He could feel your slight discomfort at the attention, so his thumb brushed your back soothingly.

You looked up at him, your soft smile reassuring him. "I’m okay, Mikey. Just a little... embarrassed."

“No reason to be,” he murmured, his fingers gently brushing your side before sliding into yours. “They’re just jealous they don’t get to spoil you the way we do.”

___________________________________________________________________________

As you walked out of the yarn aisle, your eyes landed on something completely different—something totally unrelated to yarn.

A display of dresses.

The bright colors and intricate details drew you in like a magnet. You stopped in your tracks, staring at one in particular—a soft lavender dress with lace trim and a delicate flow to it that screamed elegance. You couldn’t help but smile.

“Do you see that?” you asked, eyes wide and innocent as you turned to the men who had been walking with you. “That dress is gorgeous!”

Ran raised an eyebrow, following your gaze. “You want it?”

“Yes! I want to try it on,” you said, practically bouncing on your feet. You didn’t care that you were in a craft store. The dress was beautiful, and you felt like it was calling your name.

The rest of the group paused. They were used to you finding things that caught your attention in unexpected places, but this? This was a bit new.

“I don’t know about this, babe…” Sanzu started, eyeing the dress with his usual casual disdain. “Are we really gonna buy a dress in a craft store?”

You gave him a playful look, hands on your hips. “What’s wrong with that? I think it’s perfect.”

“I’ll let you try it on,” Mikey said softly from behind, ever the calm one. “But only if you promise not to take forever in the fitting room.”

You beamed at him. “Promise! I’ll be quick!”

Rindou snickered, his voice teasing. “What’s next? You want to get boba too?”

Your eyes lit up, and you turned to face him with an exaggerated gasp. “Yes! I want boba. Can we get boba after?”

“Do we look like a boba run kinda crew?” Sanzu grumbled, his lips curling into a playful smirk.

“Oh, please, we can do both!” you insisted, already darting toward the dressing room. “Please! I need both the dress and boba.”

Mikey, still watching you with a protective eye, couldn’t suppress a smile. “Fine. Go try it on, and we’ll get the boba.”

You squealed and ran off toward the fitting rooms, the rest of the guys standing there as though you’d just dragged them into a storm of unpredictable cuteness.

“Is she really making us do this?” Kakucho muttered, raising an eyebrow.

“We’re doing it because she’s our girl,” Rindou replied, grinning widely. “It’s not like we can say no.”

___________________________________________________________________________

You stepped out of the fitting room, twirling in the lavender dress, the soft fabric flowing around you like it had been made just for you. You looked over at the Bonten men—who were all standing near the entrance, watching you with varying expressions.

Mikey’s gaze softened when he saw you in the dress. His eyes followed the movement of the fabric and the way it made you shine, and he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips.

“You look amazing,” Mikey said, voice hushed but filled with something sincere.

Ran, leaning against the doorway, grinned like a cat that had just caught a mouse. “That dress looks even better on you than I imagined. Damn, girl.”

You laughed, spinning again. “You guys are too sweet!”

Sanzu wasn’t even looking at you anymore. He was inspecting the price tag on the dress with a frown. “Why’s it gotta be this expensive? It’s just fabric and stitching.”

“You’re the last person I would ask about fashion,” you shot back, a little teasing. “But thanks for looking out for me.”

Kakucho, ever the cool one, gave a small, approving nod. “It fits you well.”

Rindou smirked, raising an eyebrow. “I gotta admit… you’re gonna look real good in that dress, princess. It’s perfect for you.”

You blushed slightly but kept the smile on your face, feeling their attention make you both bashful and proud at the same time.

“Do I look like a princess?” you asked playfully, knowing you were already spoiled in every other way.

“More like a queen,” Mikey responded, stepping closer with a grin.

“I think it’s settled then,” you said with a wink. “I’ll take it!”

They all followed you as you made your way to the counter, a few of them muttering about how expensive it was, but no one objected when you handed over the money. After all, you were their darling, and if you wanted the dress, you’d get it.

Next Stop: The Boba Shop

“Okay,” you said after leaving the store, feeling giddy. “Time for boba!”

“You’re killing us, sweetheart,” Sanzu groaned, but he was already pulling open the door of the van for you to hop in.

“Relax,” you teased, grinning widely. “You all love it. Admit it.”

Rindou laughed from the backseat, slinging an arm around your shoulders as he sat down next to you. “Yeah, we do, princess. But don't think you’re getting out of paying for your own.”

You stuck out your tongue at him. “I’ll let you buy me boba this time.”

Sanzu rolled his eyes but smirked. “Lucky for you, we’ll make an exception... but only because I’m craving it too.”

The van took off, heading toward the nearest boba shop. As you chatted about what flavors you wanted, Mikey sat quietly beside you, his hand resting casually on your leg, fingers brushing lightly against your skin as if it was second nature.

When you reached the shop, they all swarmed in after you, their intimidating presence causing the employees to freeze in place as soon as you walked in. You grabbed a menu, grinning and pointing to your favorite flavor.

“Can I get the matcha with red beans, please?” you asked sweetly, smiling at the flustered employee.

“You know I’m just getting the regular one,” Ran muttered, glancing over the menu, trying not to seem too out of place.

“You always get the same one, old man,” Rindou teased, poking him in the ribs.

Sanzu ordered his boba with no hesitation, and Kakucho just glanced at the menu, leaning slightly over to you.

“Got your flavor right, princess?”

You giggled. “Of course you do.”

Mikey ordered something simple, his eyes never leaving you as he stood by your side, his presence as steady as ever. He squeezed your hand once, his thumb brushing the back of your knuckles in that quiet, protective way he always did.

___________________________________________________________________________

You woke up to the usual chaos of Bonten, but today there was a calmness in the air. The guys were lounging around, and the tension of the past few days seemed to melt away. There were no big missions, no urgent matters to attend to—just an afternoon where you could let your guard down.

You were sitting on the couch, legs tucked under a fluffy blanket, a bowl of snacks in your lap. Mikey, always the one to give off an air of indifference, was seated next to you, his head resting against the back of the couch, but his hand rested lightly on your knee, his fingers brushing your skin every so often.

He wasn’t talking much today, but his presence was more than enough for you to feel secure, comfortable, and loved.

Ran was sprawled out on the other couch, his legs stretched out lazily, a smirk on his face as he eyed you. “You know, princess,” he said with that signature smug grin. “You’re really gonna make it hard to get through the rest of the day without taking a nap. You’re too cute.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed you. “You know you’re not supposed to flirt with me like that in front of everyone. You’ll give the guys ideas.”

“Eh,” Ran shrugged, “They already know I’m the one who steals your heart first.”

You playfully nudged him with your foot, but you couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a dork.”

From the other side of the room, Sanzu raised an eyebrow and shot you a teasing smile. “Can we talk about how much this guy flirts with you, even though he’s technically our princess?”

You blinked at Sanzu, grinning. “I know, right? Ran’s always acting like he’s the one who gets to spoil me.”

“Oh, stop being dramatic,” Ran shot back, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “I’m just giving her the attention she deserves.”

Mikey, who had been quietly observing the conversation, let out a small chuckle. His gaze softened, and he reached out to pull you into him, wrapping his arm around your shoulders with a gentle, protective motion.

“No need to fight over her, boys,” he said, his voice smooth as he pulled you closer to his chest. “She’s our princess. All of us spoil her in our own way.”

You smiled up at Mikey, the warmth of his touch and his calm demeanor making you feel even more cherished. “Thanks, Mikey. But you spoil me the most,” you said, your voice light and teasing.

He chuckled softly, the sound making your heart flutter a little. “You know it’s true, sweetheart. But don’t let the others know,” he added in a quieter tone. “I don’t want them getting any ideas about how much of a soft spot I have for you.”

You turned to look at Ran, who was now pretending to sulk dramatically on the couch. “Don’t worry, Mikey. I’ll keep your secret,” you said playfully.

Rindou, sitting near the window, glanced over at the interaction and couldn’t help but comment. “You two are ridiculous. But we all know who has her heart,” he said with a knowing grin.

You smirked back. “It’s not like I have a favorite, but I do appreciate the attention.”

Kakucho, who had been silently sitting beside you, gave you a small but warm smile. His hand reached for the back of your head, fingers lightly brushing through your hair. “We know, princess,” he said softly. “And we’ll always be here for you.”

The calmness of the room, paired with the easygoing atmosphere, made it feel like time had slowed down. No rush, no pressure, just a moment where everything felt right. You leaned back against Mikey, your head resting against his chest, and felt his heartbeat beneath your ear, steady and comforting.

“That’s the best thing about today,” you whispered, closing your eyes for a moment. “No one’s in a rush. We can just be together.”

Mikey nodded quietly, his hand absentmindedly brushing your hair back. “Exactly. It’s nice to just be with you, princess.”

Ran, clearly not one to be left out, leaned over from his spot on the other couch, shooting a playful smirk in your direction. “Alright, alright, I’ll admit it. Today’s a good day. As long as I get my turn for cuddles later.”

“I’ll take my turn first, thanks,” Sanzu chimed in, his voice light but with a certain possessiveness that made you laugh.

“You guys are ridiculous,” you teased, but you were smiling, knowing that no matter how much they bickered, it was all out of love.

The soft chatter and the comfortable presence of the Bonten gang wrapped around you like a blanket as they took turns teasing each other, all while making sure you were tucked close to Mikey, the center of their world.

___________________________________________________________________________

As the evening wore on, you shifted to make more room on the couch, curling up between Mikey and Kakucho. Rindou sprawled across the other couch, his feet resting on the armrest while he scrolled through his phone. Sanzu ended up with his legs resting across your lap, his head leaning against the edge of the couch, as if he could’ve spent the entire night like that.

Ran, who had been pretending to ignore everyone, finally sat up, leaning over to poke his head in your direction. “So, what’s the plan now, princess? You gonna make us all watch those rom-coms again?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

You grinned, leaning back into Mikey’s chest as he pulled you closer. “If you insist, I will.”

“Oh god, please no,” Rindou muttered from across the room, rolling his eyes. “I can’t deal with the ‘will they, won’t they?’ plotlines tonight.”

“Too bad,” you said with a playful shrug. “You’re stuck with me.”

Mikey chuckled, and you felt the vibrations through his chest as he nuzzled into your hair. “I think we all know we’ll be watching whatever you want, princess. We don’t mind.”

With that, the Bonten crew settled into a comfortable silence, the air heavy with warmth and a sense of belonging. You had a blanket spread over all of you, your body nestled against Mikey’s side while Kakucho’s arm was casually draped over your waist. Ran laid across the couch with his feet near your head, while Sanzu made himself comfortable with his legs thrown lazily over your lap. Rindou kept his distance, but even he couldn’t resist the gentle camaraderie that filled the room.

No more talking. No more teasing. Just the sound of the TV in the background and the soft hum of contentment that hung over the room.

You felt secure, happy, and loved in this little pocket of peace. It was a rare moment—just being with them. All of them. And that, you realized, was enough.

___________________________________________________________________________

The atmosphere in the Bonten lounge was calm, almost too peaceful. The members were sprawled across the room, some on their phones, others simply lounging in the laid-back comfort of the space. You were nestled between Mikey and Kakucho, having dozed off after a long day of being pampered. Your soft, even breaths filled the silence as the guys looked on, each of them too comfortable to disturb your peaceful slumber.

But the moment was short-lived.

Kokonoi, ever the professional, stood at the entrance of the lounge, clearing his throat as he glanced around at the relaxed atmosphere. “Alright, enough with the downtime,” he said, his voice sharp but calm. “We’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes. Everyone up.”

As his words cut through the tranquility, the members started to stir. Sanzu muttered something about not wanting to move, Ran let out a long yawn, and Rindou grinned as he stretched, knowing Kokonoi’s orders were not something you could easily ignore. But as everyone began to get ready, their eyes naturally fell to you—still completely unaware, deeply asleep in Mikey’s arms, your head resting against his shoulder.

“Looks like our princess is out for the count,” Ran noted with a chuckle, his fingers brushing through his hair. “We can’t exactly drag her to a meeting like this.”

Kokonoi, looking more concerned about the meeting than your rest, raised an eyebrow. “She needs to be moved. We can’t have her staying in here while we handle things. We need to keep things professional.”

But the tension in the room was brief—no one wanted to disturb you, especially when you looked so peaceful.

“You think we should just leave her?” Kakucho asked quietly, glancing over at the others. His expression was one of concern, not wanting to disrupt your sleep, but knowing the meeting was important.

Before anyone could suggest anything else, Rindou spoke up. “I’ll carry her,” he said casually, but there was a softness in his tone that told the others he was already prepared to help.

You shifted slightly, murmuring in your sleep, but didn’t wake. Sensing the moment was right, Rindou slowly made his way to the couch where you were sleeping. He kneeled down beside you, his expression gentle as he carefully placed his hands beneath your shoulders and knees.

“There’s no way we’re letting her miss out on this meeting,” he said softly, his voice warm with affection as he gently lifted you into his arms. Your head lolled slightly against his chest, still deeply asleep.

Kokonoi watched the scene for a moment, eyes narrowed in professional calculation. “Make sure she stays comfortable. She can sleep in the meeting room, but don’t let anyone bother her.”

Rindou nodded, his face softening as he glanced down at you in his arms. He walked toward the meeting room, making sure to move with care and precision. He could feel the soft rise and fall of your breathing against him, the weight of you in his arms almost grounding him.

__________________________________________________________________________

The meeting room was a sleek, minimalistic space, typically used for intense discussions and high-stakes decisions. The large table in the middle was surrounded by chairs, each occupied by a Bonten member, their usual confident, business-minded energy settling into place. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave a panoramic view of the city, but today, the focus wasn’t on the outside world. It was all about what was happening within the room.

But there was one thing out of the ordinary.

You were nestled comfortably in the corner of the room, resting peacefully on the couch, still fast asleep in Rindou's arms. Your head had lolled onto his chest, your soft breathing and occasional shift of your body the only sounds that filled the otherwise quiet room. The rest of the members seemed to have an unspoken agreement to keep things low-key, not wanting to disturb your rest.

Kokonoi, ever the professional, cleared his throat, calling attention to the meeting at hand. “Alright, let’s get started,” he said, his voice sharp but not unkind. “We’ve got a lot to discuss today. We need to make decisions regarding the new territory, and the logistics of moving the product through new channels. We can’t afford any more slip-ups.”

The room fell into an immediate hush as everyone straightened up and gave their undivided attention to Kokonoi. Even with you asleep in the corner, the business side of Bonten remained ever-present.

Kokonoi adjusted his tie and paced slowly in front of the table, making sure everyone was paying attention. His gaze flicked over the group—Sanzu leaning casually in his chair, his eyes half-lidded with disinterest, Ran tapping his fingers rhythmically against the surface of the table, and Rindou who had a protective hand resting on the side of your waist as you slept in his lap. The other members were all alert but trying to maintain their usual, laid-back vibe.

“We can’t afford another delay with the shipments,” Kokonoi continued, his sharp eyes flicking to each member as he spoke. “Mikey, I need you to push the plan forward with the other gang leaders. We need that deal to close fast.”

Mikey nodded, his eyes scanning the documents in front of him. “Got it. We’ll make sure it goes smoothly,” he said, his voice cool and authoritative, but his gaze occasionally drifting to you, still curled up comfortably in Rindou’s lap. There was a protective glint in his eye that wasn’t lost on the others.

Sanzu, ever the curious one, leaned forward in his chair and glanced at Rindou, his eyes briefly landing on you. He let out a low chuckle before speaking up. “You know, this meeting's a little more fun when you’ve got someone cute napping in the corner.” His tone was playful, but there was something warm in his voice as he looked at you.

“Don’t start,” Ran shot back, his tone teasing as he smirked at Sanzu. “You can’t be serious. How are we supposed to get anything done with all that cuteness around?”

Rindou shot Sanzu a look, a quiet but firm warning in his eyes. He didn’t like how the others teased, even if it was all in good fun. You weren’t just some trophy to be ogled. You were their darling, and they each protected you in their own way.

“You all need to focus,” Kokonoi added, shooting a sharp glance at the group. “There’s no time for distractions.”

Rindou adjusted his position slightly, still careful to make sure you were comfortable in his lap. He had his arm around you, the gentleness of his touch almost in contrast with the intensity of the meeting. His fingers lightly brushed against your hair, not wanting to disturb your rest but keeping you close.

“You’ve got her all cozy,” Ran remarked with a sly grin, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. He was teasing, but his eyes softened slightly as they looked at you. There was something undeniably peaceful about the scene, and it made him feel oddly content despite the weight of the discussion. “Who knew Rindou had a soft spot for our princess.”

Rindou just let out a low hum, his expression unreadable as he continued to watch over you. He didn’t respond to the comment directly, but his actions spoke volumes. He gently adjusted the way you were resting in his lap, making sure your head remained supported while your body curled closer into his chest. He lightly rubbed his hand up and down your arm as if to reassure himself that you were okay.

It wasn’t typical for him to be so affectionate in front of others, but the peace you brought him—when everything was chaotic and unpredictable—was more than enough to make him want to protect you with everything he had.

Kokonoi, still discussing logistics, looked around the room, noticing that the attention had shifted momentarily. His sharp eyes caught the soft, almost protective glances the others were giving you.

“We can’t afford to be distracted,” he reminded the group, his voice cutting through the lull. “Get it together.”

Rindou’s eyes met his for a brief second, but his response was quiet. “She’s sleeping, Kokonoi. Let her rest. We can focus, too.”

For a moment, there was an unspoken understanding between Rindou and Kokonoi. Kokonoi didn’t argue, though his expression remained businesslike. “Fine,” he said, his tone softened just enough for Rindou to hear. “But make sure she stays safe. We can’t have her vulnerable.”

Sanzu, who had been lounging in his seat, shifted his attention back to the discussion at hand. “Alright, enough with the soft talk. We’ve got work to do. Mikey, what’s the deal with the new shipment? I thought we had a deadline this week?”

Mikey looked up from the papers, his face all business now. “We’re pushing it forward. There’s no more room for error.”

For the rest of the meeting, the room operated like a well-oiled machine. Everyone spoke with authority, debated the issues with sharp intellect, and pushed forward with the task at hand. But despite the usual hustle of Bonten’s business, the gentle presence of you—sleeping soundly in Rindou’s lap—remained at the heart of the room.

As the conversation turned toward the finalizing of the deals, Sanzu leaned back in his chair again, his eyes glancing at you as he quietly asked, “When this is over, you think we can all just rest for the day?”

Mikey, who had been the one to take charge of the meeting, glanced over at you with a soft smile. “I think she’s already doing that for all of us.”

The members exchanged quiet chuckles, their usual demeanor softening as the meeting wrapped up. Kokonoi made the final call, and everyone rose to their feet, the room shifting into the next phase of business.

But even after the meeting ended, they remained quiet around you, each member sharing a knowing look, a silent understanding that while they could manage Bonten’s affairs, you were their grounding force.

___________________________________________________________________________

The Bonten meeting room was, as usual, filled with the quiet hum of conversation and the weight of business that needed to be handled. Mikey, Kokonoi, and the others were gathered around the table, preparing for the crucial meeting with the gang handling the next shipment. It was a critical moment—the timing had to be perfect, and the details had to be flawless if they were going to ensure everything went smoothly.

On the couch, curled up under a soft blanket, you were still deep in slumber. The gentle rise and fall of your chest, the relaxed expression on your face, was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere in the room. Rindou sat with you, his hand carefully resting on your waist, watching over you while the others talked business. He couldn’t help but glance at you every so often, the comfort of your peaceful presence settling his otherwise restless mind.

Meanwhile, the other members of Bonten were talking logistics—timing, routes, security—and the meeting with the shipment gang was about to begin. Sanzu sat back in his chair, a toothpick in his mouth, watching the others like he didn’t have a care in the world. Kokonoi, ever sharp, was taking notes, his usual efficiency in full force. Ran, his arms crossed, was quietly assessing everyone’s input with a distant look in his eyes.

__________________________________________________________________________

The room was quiet except for the sharp voices of Bonten's leaders and the murmurs of the other gang’s representatives. Mikey, Kokonoi, and the rest of Bonten were discussing the shipment deal, making sure every detail was in place. You were comfortably seated on the couch with a soft blanket, your eyes closed as you tried to rest amidst the chaos of the meeting. The weight of the room's tension barely fazed you, as you had become accustomed to the heaviness of Bonten’s business. Your presence, however, was an odd comfort in the cold, calculating world they worked in.

But it wasn’t long before the silence was broken by an unintentional, yet loud, clattering noise.

One of the men from the shipment gang, a lanky individual who seemed a bit too nervous for this kind of business, had fumbled with the coffee cup in his hands. His sudden shift in movement caused it to tip over, spilling the contents onto the table. The cup hit the surface with a loud bang, and that was all it took to pull you from your light sleep. Your body shifted on the couch, the blanket falling partially off as you groggily blinked your eyes open.

The room instantly went quiet, as if everyone had been holding their breath, waiting for your reaction. The man who had caused the spill froze, panic flashing across his face as he glanced over at Bonten's members, his eyes quickly darting to you.

Sanzu, ever the opportunist, smirked lazily from his seat across the room. “Nice job, pal,” he said with a half-amused, half-annoyed tone, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You’ve officially woken up the princess.”

You rubbed your eyes, still trying to shake off the sleepiness, and noticed the eyes of every person in the room on you. It wasn’t exactly the way you wanted to wake up, but you sat up and stretched, sighing.

“Great…” you muttered, realizing that the tension in the air wasn’t only from the deal. It felt like a thousand eyes were on you now. “What’s going on?”

The man who had knocked over the cup shifted uncomfortably, his voice shaky as he apologized. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to disturb you—”

Before he could finish, Rindou shot him a look that could freeze anyone in place. His protective nature kicked in immediately as he leaned forward, hand resting on your shoulder. “You just disturbed our princess’s sleep,” he said coolly, his voice dripping with a barely concealed irritation. “Be more careful.”

Mikey, still sitting at the head of the table, glanced briefly at you before looking at the shipment gang's representatives with a dangerous calmness. “Keep it together,” he said, his voice sharp, but not raised. “We’re here to do business, not babysit.”

The other gang members shifted uncomfortably at Mikey’s tone, clearly aware of the subtle, but very real, threat in his words. The tension thickened as Bonten’s members exchanged subtle glares at the shipment gang, who were trying desperately to save face.

Kokonoi, ever the strategist, didn’t hide his displeasure. “This isn’t a daycare,” he muttered, tapping a pen on the table as he glared at the other gang’s members. “If you can’t keep your shit together, maybe we should end this meeting right now.”

The shipment gang's representative who had caused the spill flushed red, clearly on edge. “My apologies, we’ll be more careful,” he said hurriedly, fumbling with his papers to divert attention from himself. “Let’s just continue the deal, alright?”

Despite the tension in the room, you stretched again and rubbed your eyes, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “It’s fine,” you muttered, giving a soft, but slightly irritated, wave of your hand. “I’m awake now.” Your voice still held a hint of sleepiness, but the irritation at being woken up was clear in your tone.

Bonten’s members, still not entirely happy about the disruption, exchanged looks, but they didn’t push it further. Sanzu shot one last teasing remark your way, “Waking up from your beauty sleep like that, huh? Must be a pain.”

Mikey, who had been watching the interaction closely, didn’t even flinch. “If you’ve got something to say, say it now,” he said to Sanzu, his voice commanding but with a hint of warning. His gaze flicked back to the shipment gang members, the weight of his attention sending an unmistakable message that any further disruption would not be tolerated.

Kokonoi let out a low sigh, and with that, the meeting resumed, though the air was thick with unspoken tension. Mikey gave the nod to continue, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as he kept his eyes on the shipment gang.

__________________________________________________________________________

As the meeting went on, the conversation returned to the shipment deal. Mikey and Kokonoi led the negotiation, but everyone in the room was on edge. The shipment gang’s representatives seemed to understand they had overstepped, and their words became more careful, more measured.

You, still seated on the couch, finally shook off the last remnants of sleep and decided to pay attention to the deal. Despite the awkwardness, you could tell that the shipment gang was still trying to salvage the meeting, but Bonten was already on guard.

It wasn’t long before the deal was finalized. Mikey stood up, his eyes cold as he addressed the other gang one last time. “We’ve got what we need,” he said, his voice firm. “Next time, don’t make the mistake of waking her up.”

There was no room for argument. The shipment gang nodded, clearly eager to leave the room with the deal still intact.

Once the other gang members left, the tension in the room loosened, but it lingered in the air. Rindou moved to sit beside you on the couch, wrapping his arm around your shoulders protectively. “You alright?” he asked softly, looking at you with a mixture of concern and irritation.

You nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “I’m fine. Just a little annoyed,” you said, running your hand through your hair. “But whatever. It’s over.”

Mikey, still standing by the table, gave a small sigh. “We’ll make sure they don’t mess up again,” he muttered, clearly still irritated by the earlier disruption. “Next time, there won’t be any chances given.”

_________________________________________________________________________

The meeting had finally come to an end. The shipment deal was settled, the signatures all secured, and the representatives from the rival gang filed out of the room, eager to leave with their business done. The Bonten members, however, lingered. Mikey, Kokonoi, and the others were finishing up the last of the details while you, seated on the couch, were barely holding on. Your exhaustion was palpable, and you could barely keep your eyes open.

Mikey glanced over at you with a soft chuckle, his lips curling up just slightly. He had been watching you throughout the meeting, and though you’d tried your best to stay alert, he could see the drowsiness taking over.

“Looks like someone’s about to pass out,” Kokonoi teased from across the room, an amused glint in his eye. “Maybe we should let her get some rest.”

You blinked, barely lifting your head from the plush cushions, but when you saw the others glancing your way, you tried to muster enough energy to speak.

“I’m really tired...” you murmured, the words coming out thick with sleep. “Can I just go to bed now...?”

You shifted slightly on the couch, your hands reaching out as if to ask for help. Your fingertips brushed against the armrest as you looked up at the others with sleepy eyes, your voice barely above a whisper. “Can someone... carry me to my bed?”

The room went silent for a brief moment, Bonten’s members exchanging soft glances. They all knew what you needed, and your request made them feel protective over you. Mikey looked over at you with a small, fond smile, but it was Sanzu who spoke up first.

“You look like you could barely move a muscle, doll,” Sanzu said, his voice teasing but with an edge of concern. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

You let out a quiet sigh of relief, and before you could even respond, you raised your arms slightly, palms open as if asking for help. It was a simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes. You needed comfort, and you knew that Bonten—your family—would always be there to provide it.

With a grin, Sanzu moved swiftly toward you. He crouched down in front of the couch and, without missing a beat, slipped his arms around you. You didn't protest as he gently lifted you into his arms, your head resting against his shoulder as you snuggled into him.

“You’re not getting away from me now, darling,” he murmured softly, his tone playful, but there was a softness in his voice as he held you securely.

You sighed contentedly, your eyes fluttering shut as you relaxed in his embrace. The warmth of his arms and the steadiness of his movements made you feel safe. As he stood, carrying you toward your room, the rest of the group followed behind.

“Can’t let her get too comfy without us, huh?” Kokonoi teased, his eyes glinting with amusement as he watched you cuddle into Sanzu’s chest.

“Let her rest,” Mikey said quietly, though the hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. “We’ve handled the business. She deserves it.”

As Sanzu walked down the hall with you in his arms, he looked down at you, his lips curling into a small smile. “You’re really something else, huh?” he said with a soft chuckle, his voice full of warmth. “Always so needy, but you know we don’t mind.”

You gave a soft hum, your face pressed into his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “I just like being taken care of,” you mumbled, your voice growing softer as sleep began to overtake you. “You all spoil me...”

When you reached your room, Sanzu carefully placed you onto your bed, adjusting the blankets around you as he tucked you in. You were already halfway asleep, but before you drifted off completely, you managed to mumble, “Can... can someone cuddle with me?”

Sanzu chuckled softly, leaning down to brush a strand of hair from your face. “Of course, doll,” he said, his voice gentle and full of affection.

As he settled beside you on the bed, the others slowly filed in, each of them taking their place. Mikey sat at the edge of the bed, his expression softening as he looked at you. Kokonoi grinned and lay down on the other side, his arm extending across your waist in a protective manner.

“Get some rest, baby girl,” Kokonoi said softly, kissing the top of your head before settling beside you.

Rindou, who had followed them all in, didn’t hesitate either. He laid down on the other side of you, his hand gently resting on your arm. “We’re all here, doll. You’re safe with us,” he whispered, his voice soothing and tender.

The room felt warm and peaceful as Bonten gathered around you, making sure you were comfortable and at ease. You could feel their love and care surrounding you. The constant teasing and banter had melted away into something softer now that you were tucked in, surrounded by your protectors.

Mikey, always the one to make sure everything was just right, leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on your forehead. “Sleep well, darling,” he whispered.

As the room grew quiet, you finally allowed yourself to drift off into a peaceful sleep, surrounded by the comforting presence of Bonten.

The weight of the day had faded away, and for now, everything felt right.

___________________________________________________________________________

You woke up slowly, feeling the comforting weight of the blanket that had been carefully tucked around you. The warm, soft environment felt soothing, but there was an odd shift in the air that immediately caught your attention. It wasn’t as peaceful as it should have been.

You opened your eyes, blinking softly to adjust to the light, and looked around. Mikey was seated on the edge of the bed, his usual cool demeanor now tinged with something slightly off, though his gaze softened when he saw you wake up. Kokonoi was across the room, glancing your way before quickly looking away, as if trying to mask something. And over by the couch, Sanzu and Rindou were lounging, but their glances towards each other told you that something had shifted.

Kakucho, who had been sitting quietly near the window, also noticed you waking up. He shifted his gaze to you, but instead of his usual calm expression, there was a small, unreadable tension in his eyes. You could tell something was bothering him, but you weren’t quite sure what.

“Did I miss something?” you asked sleepily, your voice soft as you stretched beneath the blanket, rubbing your eyes. “You all seem... a little tense.”

The room fell into a brief silence, and then Sanzu smirked, though his voice had a teasing edge. “Guess someone’s been getting too much attention,” he joked, glancing between Kokonoi and Mikey. “Everyone’s feeling a little possessive, huh?”

Mikey's eyes flickered with amusement, but there was a hint of something else in his gaze. “I just don’t like the idea of anyone hurting my doll,” he said nonchalantly, but there was an underlying possessiveness that was hard to ignore.

Kokonoi finally spoke, but his tone was terse. “It’s nothing. Just... nothing important.” He waved his hand dismissively, but you could sense the frustration behind his words. He was avoiding looking at you, which was unlike him.

Rindou leaned back in his chair, observing the situation with a raised eyebrow. “You’ve got everyone worked up today, doll. Mikey’s being extra clingy, and the rest of us are just... fighting for your attention.”

You blinked, trying to process the words. You had no idea you were causing any sort of tension, but you could feel it now. You never meant to make things difficult, but it seemed like your affection for them was creating a subtle rift between the members.

“Hey, no need to make a big deal out of it,” you said softly, standing up from the bed, wrapping the blanket around your shoulders. You walked toward Kokonoi, who was trying to act like everything was fine. He looked up as you approached, but quickly looked away again.

Without hesitation, you leaned down and kissed him, pressing your lips gently to his. It was a simple kiss, but you could feel the surprise in the way his body froze before relaxing. When you pulled back, he blinked in surprise, his lips curling into a small smile, his usual sharp expression softening just a little.

“That’s one,” you said, your voice light as you moved back.

The room seemed to exhale as everyone let the tension drop, but you could tell they were all watching closely, waiting to see what you’d do next.

You moved on to Sanzu, who was leaning against the couch, his playful smirk never far from his face. You walked up to him, and before he could react, you pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Two,” you said, your voice teasing. Sanzu chuckled softly, his arms wrapping around you for a moment, pulling you a little closer before letting you pull away.

Then, you turned to Rindou, who was watching you intently, that mischievous grin of his not fading in the slightest. You didn’t hesitate, kissing him softly, feeling the warmth of his hand brushing against your cheek before you pulled away.

“Three,” you said with a soft smile, and Rindou let out a quiet laugh, clearly pleased.

Next, you walked toward Mikey, who was still watching you with that unreadable gaze. You leaned down and kissed him gently, feeling his hand slide to your waist as you pulled back.

“And four,” you murmured, your smile soft and satisfied.

Finally, your eyes shifted to Kakucho, who had been quietly observing from the corner of the room. There was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but you walked over to him and, without saying a word, leaned in and kissed him too. His reaction was immediate, his hands settling on your back as he kissed you back softly before you pulled away.

“And five,” you said with a small, teasing grin. Kakucho couldn’t hide the small smile that tugged at his lips, his usual stoic expression cracking just enough to show how pleased he was.

“And the last one’s six,” you said as you made your way over to Ran, giving him a quick, soft kiss on the lips. What you didn’t expect, however, was for him to place his hand on your cheeks and kiss you like a man starved for affection—something that earned plenty of protests from the others.

The room was silent for a moment as everyone processed what just happened. But this time, the tension had disappeared completely, replaced with an atmosphere of ease and affection.

Kokonoi leaned back in his chair, still trying to act cool, but there was no hiding the small smile on his face. “You really know how to make everything better, huh?”

Sanzu grinned widely, his arm slipping around your shoulders as he pulled you closer. “Guess that’s one way to get everyone back on track.”

Rindou chuckled, shaking his head, clearly entertained. “You really know how to handle us all, doll. But don’t think this means you’re off the hook.”

Mikey watched you with a soft smile, a rare moment of warmth in his gaze. “You always know how to get to the heart of things,” he said, his hand resting on your waist. “Can’t stay mad at you for long.”

Kakucho, who had been quiet throughout the entire ordeal, gave you a small, affectionate smile. “You’ve got us all wrapped around your finger, haven’t you?”

You chuckled, relaxing into the moment. “I’m not going anywhere. You all know that, right?”

There was a chorus of affirmations, a mix of teasing and genuine affection, as Bonten settled around you, each member finding their place in your space. Kokonoi casually brushed your hair back from your face, his usual sarcasm softened by the warmth he felt for you. Sanzu leaned his head against yours, and Rindou flashed you a grin as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. Mikey kept you close, his arm around your waist, while Kakucho simply looked at you, a quiet understanding in his eyes.

As you all settled into the comfort of one another, the earlier tension was nothing more than a distant memory. You were Bonten’s darling, their princess, and they were yours.

___________________________________________________________________________

The evening had fallen into a comfortable quiet as the Bonten members lounged in one of the plush lounges. Mikey, Kokonoi, Sanzu, Rindou, Ran and Kakucho were all seated, the usual energy of the gang replaced by an unusual calm. The room felt warmer than it usually did, a soft intimacy hanging in the air. The conversation had shifted to you, naturally—the one who had become the center of their world in the most unexpected ways.

“Do you guys remember the first time we met her?” Kokonoi asked, his usual cynicism softened by a nostalgic tone. His feet were propped up casually on the coffee table, but his eyes betrayed his thoughts, glancing toward Sanzu. “She really did catch everyone off guard that day.”

Sanzu let out a smirk, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he glanced at Rindou before looking back at the group. “How could I forget? She just waltzed into the meeting like she owned the place—no hesitation, no fear. We were all so caught up in the business talk, none of us even noticed her slipping in.”

You hadn’t been expecting it that day. You had no idea you’d end up in Bonten's territory, but you’d walked into the wrong room—an honest mistake. The way you had stood there, trying to gather your bearings, completely unaware of the heavy atmosphere in the room, was almost endearing. It was almost as if the air had shifted the moment you entered, catching everyone by surprise.

Ran chuckled, his grin wide as he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms across the backrest. “What really gets me is the fact that she didn’t even flinch. She just casually strolled in, picked up her yarn, and—bam—exposed that guy for lying.”

You had been there for a completely different reason—just searching for your yarn that had rolled under Mikey’s chair—but you hadn’t missed the fact that the guy talking had lied straight through his teeth. And you hadn’t hesitated to call him out on it.

Mikey smiled softly, remembering how he had watched you, intrigued and impressed. “I didn’t expect her to read him like that. I’m pretty good at spotting lies, but she made it look like child’s play. She didn’t even bat an eye.”

___________________________________________________________________________

It had been just another regular business meeting with a rival gang, tense negotiations over an important shipment. The members of Bonten were seated at the table, but the mood was anything but calm. They’d been speaking in cryptic phrases, guarding their words carefully, knowing that one slip could cost them. As usual, Mikey had been at the helm, keeping everyone in check.

But the real shift came when you stepped into the room.

You had walked in unassumingly, looking like you were just there to grab something you had lost. The gang members immediately stiffened, unsure whether they should ask you to leave or wait for you to leave on your own.

Mikey, ever the calm one, had simply looked at you, nodding as if your presence was no more than a casual occurrence. “It’s alright,” he’d said, his voice warm. “She’s with us.”

You hadn’t noticed the tension at all, your mind only focused on finding your yarn, rolling beneath Mikey’s chair. As you bent down to pick it up, your gaze flicked around the room, and without meaning to, you’d caught the flicker in the eyes of the rival gang leader sitting across from Mikey.

It was a small thing—something most wouldn’t have noticed. His posture had shifted ever so slightly, his eyes avoiding direct contact as he flashed a fake smile. The room was thick with suspicion, but no one had dared speak it aloud, except for you.

You didn’t even hesitate. “You’re lying,” you said, your voice quiet but firm.

The entire room froze. Everyone turned toward you, the words hanging in the air. The rival leader stammered for a moment, his confident smile cracking, before he recovered and tried to brush it off. But you’d already seen through him.

Mikey, leaning back in his chair with that cool smirk of his, had raised an eyebrow. “Explain,” he’d said, eyes twinkling with curiosity. He was fascinated—he’d seen many try to outwit him, but this was something different.

You had simply tilted your head and pointed out the small details—the way his posture had shifted, how his hands had trembled, and how his eyes avoided meeting yours. “When people lie, their bodies give it away. It’s the little things—eyes flickering, posture shifting—he’s uncomfortable, and he’s trying to hide it. The shipment details you’re presenting aren’t true.”

A long silence followed. Everyone in the room was stunned. The rival gang leader’s expression shifted, his confidence faltering. Mikey glanced at his men, who were just as shocked as he was. It wasn’t often they were caught off guard, especially not like this.

Kokonoi, ever the strategist, had leaned back, his gaze fixed on you. “That’s impressive,” he murmured.

And just like that, you’d already proven yourself. You didn’t even know it at the time, but you had unknowingly captivated their attention—and just like that, you became a part of their world.

Back in the present, Mikey was leaning back in his chair, a soft smile playing on his lips as he looked at you. You were now sitting across the room, your focus on the soft yarn in your hands as you crocheted, your concentration completely unbroken.

Mikey’s gaze softened, his usual coolness melting into something more genuine as he reflected. “I don’t think anyone expected you to be such an important part of Bonten when we first met you. But from that moment on, I couldn’t ignore you.” He laughed softly, shaking his head as if remembering the moment fondly. “You impressed me. Hell, you impressed all of us.”

Kokonoi chuckled, leaning forward slightly, the usual sharpness in his voice replaced with affection. “Yeah, I’ll admit, I didn’t see her sticking around either. But she just… got it. She understood the way people worked. And now, here we are.”

Sanzu, who had been lounging casually, let out a playful laugh. “You really had no idea what you were getting into, did you? You walked into our meeting, and now you’re the one who keeps us on our toes.”

Ran grinned, raising an eyebrow. “And you’ve got Mikey wrapped around your finger now too.”

Mikey smirked, giving Ran a pointed look. “Let’s just say I know a good thing when I see it.”

Finally, Kakucho, who had been silent for most of the conversation, looked over at you, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I always thought Bonten was just about business. But when we met you, everything changed.”

You glanced up at that moment, catching his gaze. He gave you a small, affectionate nod, the usual stoic exterior softened as he spoke his next words with warmth. “You’ve become part of this family, whether we planned on it or not.”

The group fell silent for a moment, everyone absorbing the unspoken understanding that hung in the air. You weren’t just a casual part of their lives anymore. You were someone they had come to care about deeply—someone who could read between the lines and see things no one else could.

And as you sat there, the weight of their words hanging in the air, you couldn’t help but smile softly, feeling more at home than you ever expected.

___________________________________________________________________________

It was supposed to be an ordinary day. You were out running errands, humming to yourself as you walked down the street, totally oblivious to the dangers lurking around you. Bonten was busy as usual, and though they’d always warned you to be careful, you had a way of getting lost in your own little world.

That’s when it happened.

You didn’t see them coming, but you heard the footsteps—the heavy, deliberate ones that signaled something bad was about to go down. Before you could react, a hand shot out from the shadows, grabbing your wrist and pulling you into a van. You kicked and screamed, but they were prepared. A cloth pressed to your face, and everything went black.

When you woke up, it took a few moments for the fogginess to clear. Your hands were bound behind your back, and your surroundings were unfamiliar—a dimly lit room with a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows across the floor. You could hear muffled voices from outside, but there was no sign of your captors.

At first, the situation felt dire. But then, you remembered something important.

You weren’t helpless.

You were Bonten’s darling, and you weren’t going to let some random thugs make a fool out of you. The little tricks they had used to tie you up? Not going to work. You grinned to yourself.

You may have been tied up, but you had more than one trick up your sleeve. The moment you had been dumped in the room, you had already started analyzing the situation. You’d been trained in self-defense, and you knew how to break free when you needed to.

With a little bit of shifting and a few clever movements, you worked the knots loose around your wrists. It wasn’t long before you were free, silently creeping toward the door.

Moving through the dimly lit hallways of the building where they had taken you. As you crept further, a plan started to form in your mind.

One of the thugs had followed you out of the room—clearly thinking you were still helpless. Wrong move.

You grabbed him by the collar and yanked him toward you, pulling him off balance. A swift knee to the stomach made him grunt in surprise, but it wasn’t enough to take him down completely. But you didn’t need him to go down immediately. You dragged him, ignoring his confused and pained protests, down the hallway toward the exit.

You could hear footsteps getting closer—faint at first, but they were definitely getting louder. Mikey and the rest of Bonten were getting close, and you had no intention of letting the thug out of your grip. The fact that he was still struggling just made this moment more fun for you.

His feet shuffled awkwardly against the floor as you pulled him out of the hallway, closer to where Bonten was heading. You could almost taste the satisfaction in the air, the thrill of it, as you dragged him into plain view. And when you finally saw Mikey, Sanzu, Kokonoi, and Rindou rounding the corner, you couldn’t help but grin.

You yanked the thug into full view, making sure Mikey and the others saw you—and the man now on the floor at your feet. You let him drop to the ground with a thud, just as Bonten approached, their eyes widening in amused surprise.

Mikey, at the front of the group, took in the scene. His gaze flicked from you, to the thug lying on the floor, and back to you with a raised eyebrow. “And what do we have here?” he asked, his voice light but carrying the usual authoritative edge. “Did you need help with him, or was this all you?”

You crossed your arms and shot him a playful wink. “I was just showing him the door,” you said casually, tilting your head toward the thug, who was groaning on the floor. “They really didn’t think I could handle myself.”

Sanzu let out a low chuckle, eyeing the guy on the ground. “That’s one way to deal with it,” he said, clearly impressed. “You didn’t waste any time. But, seriously, that’s gotta be a new record for you. Kidnapped, then escaping and taking one of them down all by yourself? Damn, Princess, you really do love the chaos.”

Kokonoi wasn’t far behind, his lips curling into a smirk. “I’m starting to think we should’ve had you on guard duty instead of wasting time with the usual muscle.” He looked over at Mikey, as if to imply you were a more efficient choice. “Looks like she can handle herself better than half of us.”

You shrugged, dropping down beside Mikey, a playful grin still on your face. “I don’t mind helping out when I get a little bored. Besides,” you added, nodding toward the guy still on the floor, “I think he learned his lesson.”

Rindou, leaning against the wall nearby, smirked. “You really are something else. Just dragged him out like he was a ragdoll.”

Mikey’s smirk widened, clearly entertained. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised,” he muttered, as if this was just another regular day in the life of Bonten’s darling. But there was a certain warmth in his gaze, a pride that shimmered beneath his cool exterior. “Good job, kid.”

You let out a satisfied sigh, feeling the tension from the situation slip away. Your eyes scanned over the gang. Kakucho had been standing quietly behind everyone, a calm presence as always, but even he couldn’t hide the soft smile tugging at his lips as he looked down at you. “You know, you really do make things interesting.”

You tilted your head back, smiling up at him. “What can I say? I aim to entertain.”

Then, without skipping a beat, you turned back to Mikey. “Now, I’ve had enough of all this excitement. Can we get some boba and McDonald’s now? I’m starving.”

A beat of silence passed before Mikey raised an eyebrow, glancing at the others. “You really think after all this you can just ask for food?” he asked with a smirk, though there was a flicker of fondness in his eyes.

You stared up at him, the glint in your eyes mischievous. “Absolutely. I’ve earned it. And I’m not leaving until I get it.”

Without another word, Sanzu pulled out his phone, already typing away. Kokonoi leaned against the doorframe, clearly amused by the entire scene. Rindou and Ran just shook their head in disbelief. Kakucho, standing slightly off to the side, let out a low chuckle.

Mikey just shook his head, but he couldn’t hide the affectionate grin that spread across his face. “You really do make things more entertaining than they need to be, don’t you?”

You grinned back, settling down comfortably as Bonten began to prepare your order. “It’s what I do best,” you said. “Besides, who else could deal with a bunch of idiots like this and still want comfort food?”

248 notes · View notes

chaoticbardlady99 · 2 years ago

Text

Pinkie Promise? (Astarion x F! reader) MDNI 18+

Author note- this is specifically for @spitfireunhinged who wrote a beautiful little post with a concept that I adored. I hope I did it justice and you enjoy!

CW- NSFW, mentions of SA

Synopsis- You tell Astarion that you don’t think sex is as good as people say it is. Astarion is determined to prove you wrong.

*not my pic. Please let me know if it is yours so I can give credit

I rewrote this like 7 times. This draft is lightly edited, but I couldn’t wait to post it!

Part 2: I Triple Dog Dare You

Astarion had heard the phrase “pinky promise” before. It was usually between Leon and Victoria before Leon left for a hunt. She always made Leon pinkie promise that he would come home and Leon always swore it- his pinkie hooked with hers.

The whole thing made Astarion vomit, but he thought it was just a “them” thing since he had never heard it before.

Then you used it on him and he had hurt your feelings terribly. He had called you a child and then proceeded to mock you.

You had just smiled at him sweetly like you usually do, apologized for invading his space, and for crossing his boundaries.

When Astarion had come by an hour or two later to drop off a book he ‘borrowed’ (it was his book, but he wanted an excuse to talk to you again), he heard you sniffling and asking Karlach if you were a child. You were so upset by his judgment because you like him as a person and thought the two of you were friends. Karlach said that some people just aren’t capable of being nice.

Astarion found you after Karlach went to sleep and pinkie promised to never call you a child again (and that he doesn’t think you are a child).

Suddenly, it was your thing and it slowly became more enduring as time went on. A part of him was envious if Karlach or Gale offered you the gesture first and you would give them one of your breathtaking smiles. He wishes he could initiate it, but it feels far too intimate to him. Asking someone to promise him something? Perish the thought! No one can truly be trusted. Well- maybe you can be trusted.

Astarion doesn’t know when he became so infatuated with you and your existence. Maybe it was that first night at camp when the two of you got to know each other a little bit better. You hadn’t been able to sleep because you were struggling to adjust to the new environment. You asked him lots of questions that he honestly had struggled to answer, but you were actually interested in him- not just his body.

Astarion was beginning to crave your presence and he despised sharing it with anyone else. One time he even went as far as making you pinkie promise you wouldn’t kiss Gale when he had called you over. You had scoffed and said that is ridiculous because “Gale would not kiss you ever, yuck!” , but did it anyway.

Low and behold- Gale did not get his kiss. He’s tried since, but you have rejected his advances. Astarion likes to think it’s because you like him more- want him more.

So maybe that’s why he was quick to drag you away from the Tiefling party after you had made your rounds- not wanting to watch you be with another person a second longer. You let him take your hand and you giggle as he chastises you for taking so long to talk to everyone else.

“How dare my self-proclaimed ‘best friend’ spend so much time not in my presence!” Astarion melodramatically states, “I am hurt, Darling. I thought we had something special.”

You blow air out of your mouth with an eye roll and smile at him.

“Well of course we do,” you say matter of factly, “but I also knew the minute I went to talk to you that I wouldn’t talk to anyone else.

“I’m the fearless leader!” You say with emphasis, “Leader of the Freakshow- welcome one and all to the most traumatized individuals alive!”

Astarion’s chest bursts with laughter, “how very on the nose of you, my Dear.”

“I must keep all of us humble, my Sweet,” you say boldly.

He tsks at you and twirls you around, “I’m afraid you aren’t allowed to steal my lines- that is going to cost you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Certainly.”

“Name your price.”

Astarion pauses- right now doesn’t feel like the moment to go full throttle. He has more work to do.

“I need time to think,” he says lewdly, “there are so many things I could ask for, after all.”

You hum in agreement and smile at him coyly.

Maybe it’s because you are the first person he has actively sought out since he has been released from Cazador’s grasp.

Astarion guides you to a spot in the meadow he had found earlier. Well- actually he had followed Gale to it earlier- Astarion just found an even better spot like 10 yards away.

Gale had stupidly announced to Wyll around the campfire that he was going to ask to spend time with you alone tonight.

There was immediately not a chance in hells that that was going to happen. Gale found a nice spot in the forest- Astarion found a better one. Gale brought a blanket and wine? Pfft, Astarion can do that.

You stop in front of the blanket and wine before you look at him- a nice blush running up your neck.

“Is this for-?” You seem surprised.

Which Astarion finds very interesting considering you are from Noble society- shouldn’t you be used to being courted? Astarion is almost certain you’d have at least a hundred suitors.

“For you?” He smiles charmingly, “well of course, only the best for you, my Dear.”

You duck your head and you blush even harder. Astarion guides you to sit with him. You both drink the wine and talk. You ask him questions about himself and he asks plenty about you.

Astarion isn’t sure when the conversation turns into talking about sex- that had always been the original intention of the conversation.

“Sex can’t possibly be all that great.”

“Pardon?”

You shrug your shoulders and slightly slur the sentence again with emphasis.

“Sex can’t possibly be all that great.”

Astarion is shocked to his core. You flirt back and forth with him as if you’ve bedded at least a couple men.

“You’ve never?”

“No.”

“How?”

You look at him with a puzzled expression. You are staring at him as if he’s grown a second head.

Hypocrite. You’re the one spewing none sense!

“How?” You state incredulously, “you have looked at me right?”

Oh yes and I’ve imagined fucking you until you are screaming my name, but that’s beside the point I suppose.

“I’m nothing much to look at. I’m always the friend- never the girlfriend or the lover or whatever!” You emphasize with your hands, “no one has ever felt that way about me and if they have- they’ve never gone for it so I assume it’s just not that much fun.”

Astarion feels like he’s dying all over again. That was your assumption? Not that you might be horrifically oblivious because he’s only tried to to get in your pants several times. One time he quite literally asked you to come to his bed that night and you showed up with a book.

“Darling,” Astarion’s exasperation obvious, “I’ve been trying to have sex with you for a couple weeks now. Probably even more than that at this point.”

You stare at him with wide, unblinking eyes.

“You,” you stammer, “you want to? With me? No way.”

You laugh nervously, “you are beautiful and intelligent and-“

“No, no way.”

Astarion raises an eyebrow at you and smiles seductively. Your lips part slightly as he pushes you on your back and parts your legs with his knee.

Your arms automatically wrap around his neck- your pupils blown wide with lust. Astarion kisses to the left and right of your lips- grinning when he hears your huff in frustration.

“You sure do keen a lot for someone who doesn’t think sex could possibly be ‘that good’, Darling,” Astarion coos, you tighten your lips in embarrassment.

Astarion rolls his eyes at you and cups your face while putting his thumb in your mouth, pressing down on your tongue. You hum with pleasure and peer at him through hooded eye lids. Astarion feels his cock strain against his pants

“So, my Dear,” Astarion drawls, “do you want me to fuck you? Would you like to see all the bliss you are missing out on?”

You nod eagerly and Astarion presses his thigh against your growing heat. You whine around his thumb and you run your tongue against his skin.

Fuck.

“Are you going to be a good girl for me?” He asks hotly.

You nod- Astarion can smell your arousal and feel it seeping through both of your pants.

“Pinkie promise?” He says teasingly, pulling his thumb out of your mouth to hold out his pinkie.

You hook your pinkie with his and whisper, “pinkie promise.”

Astarion pulls you in for a mind numbing kiss- caressing your lips with his until you are keeping up with his pace. He feels your arms around his neck pull him in deeper.

Your kiss against his lips is sweet and intoxicating- for a second he completely forgets about the purpose of the evening. Astarion could sit here and just kiss you like this until the sun comes up.

Your breathing hitches and Astarion watches as you desperately try to find release by riding his thigh- your movements erratic and wanting. The sounds you are making fill him with excitement and for the first time in a while- he’s actually eager to be inside someone.

He realizes your moaning has become muffled all of a sudden and he looks up to find you covering your mouth- your cheeks and ears are bright red while you pant with arousal.

Astarion laces his fingers through yours and holds your hands down on either side of your head- your pupils are blown wide from lust. The galloping of your heart is like music to his ears.

“Oh no,” he whispers seductively, “do not keep those delicious moans of yours from me, Darling. You promised to be good, remember?”

“Y-yes,” you say between heavy breaths- this time you are the one to surprise him by closing the space between the two of you with a needy kiss.

Astarion unlaces his fingers from yours as he begins unlacing your trousers- quickly discarding them to reveal your soaked underclothes. He growls involuntarily as the smell of your arousal hits the back of his throat- you smell incredible.

Astarion could leave it at just taking your pants off for now, but Gods does he want to see more and if you are willing to let him, then he is not going to deny himself the pleasure of being able to touch and kiss every inch of your body.

Your shirt is next and you don’t even fight it- helping him get the article of clothing off and helping him discard his shirt as well. Astarion stops and looks down upon your naked form.

“Gods you are exquisite,” Astarion says as he begins to kiss down your naval, “open your legs for me, Darling.”

He leaves tiny love bites as he goes- wanting to make sure everyone knows exactly who you belong to. You are a whimpering mess underneath his touch as he presses his fingers to your clothed clit- teasing you slowly.

“Asta-“

You are cut off by your own sounds of pleasure leaving your throat as he slips your underwear off- slowly pushing one finger into you while playing with your clit using his tongue. A string of curse words leaves your mouth as he begins to pick up the pace with his fingers and basks in the way pleasure looks on your face, how your body is writhing for him, and the tumbling praises for him echo through the clearing.

He rolls your sensitive nub between his teeth and he has to hold your hips down as you keen underneath his touch. Astarion adds a second finger- still meeting some resistance, but you aren’t stopping him, in fact- you are giving him complete access using your tadpole right now (intentionally or not) and he can feel how desperate you are to feel fuller. Then he adds the second fingers and the euphoria that rings through your body goes straight to his groan. Astarion can feel his cock straining against his pants as he brings you over the edge with his fingers and mouth- your sweet pleasure dripping down his chin and his fingers. He languidly cleans his fingers off with his mouth, humming in delight while making eye contact with you.

Your eyes are half lidded and glassy- your mouth is slightly parted open. He leans forward and leaves a chaste kiss on them and begins unlacing his own pants- slipping them off and throwing them to the side- his underwear quickly following.

Astarion lines himself up with your entrance- your orgasm coating the head of his cock and he has to fight the urge to slam into you right away. He lines himself up with your entrance- teasing you. You look more nervous now than lustful and Astarion feels his gaze soften. He hovers over you and caresses the side of your face with his thumb. The last thing he wants is to start with you in the wrong headspace.

"Wrap your legs around my waist."

You obediently comply- your back slightly arching and your pert nipples are touching his chest. You sigh in arousal at the contact.

“This may hurt a little,” he says, “we can stop whenever or however much you need- we can stop completely and try again another time even.

“But do you want me to continue?”

You smile up at him with relief and nod coyly.

“I trust you, but please go slow,” you whisper.

Astarion feels a tightness in his chest when you look up at him. Your eyes are so vulnerable and of all the people you’ve decided to trust you chose him. Astarion is fighting not to dissociate- wanting to give you his full attention.

Astarion slowly begins to push inside you. You cry out and clutch at his shoulders- taking a sharp breath as he slowly sheaths himself inside you. Astarion has to fight the want- no need to go faster- you are so damn tight and Astarion is almost wondering if he should have done more foreplay.

He rocks in and out of you- making sure to check on your facial expressions. There are tears pricking your eyes, but your look of discomfort is becoming more and more euphoric as he keeps rolling his hips into you gently.

“Hells darling,” Astarion manages to moan out through clenched teeth, “you feel so fucking good.”

You whimper at his praise and Astarion lifts you up by the hips so he can get a better angle. He thrusts a minuscule harder this time and the whimper that leaves your mouth is making him feel positively feral.

“Astarion,” you whine, “ple- please I need more.”

You definitely don’t have to tell him twice. Astarion snaps himself up into you at a faster pass- your keening only encouraging him to go faster- both of you moaning and gasping while clawing at each other. For the first time in the last 200 years- Astarion does not want to stop. Despite the feelings that are always there, this may be the only time he’s actually experienced bliss while being with someone.

"Such a good little pup, aren't you?"

You clench around him at his words, you beg him to fuck you harder, and he drops your hips back to the ground before putting his face into the crook of your neck- kissing and praising you as you ride out your high.

“You were such a good girl for me,” he breathes into your air, “thank you.”

Your hands find purchase in his hair, tugging his lips to yours. If he needed air, the kiss would have suffocated him from how intense and wanting it was- the air between the both of you feels alive and Astarion barely registers that he’s finishing inside you until he’s collapsed on top of you- his head resting on your chest as it races in time with your breathing.

“That was amazing,” you say breathlessly and Astarion can’t help but laugh.

“I told you so.”

You plafully slap his arm and laugh- the sound filling his body with comfort. He can hear your heart beat begin to slow down and your breathing becomes deeper.

“Thank you Astarion,” you say sleepily, dozing off with your hands teasing his curls, “not just for this- for everything. I feel worth something when I’m with you.”

You yawn and Astarion tries to focus on the sound instead of the twisting guilt in his stomach. He cares for you too and that might be where he fucked up.

Your breathing quickly evens out and he is drowning in the smell of sex and rose water- a scent he heavily associates with you. Astarion stays there with his head on top of your chest- trying to get his bearings together. That was like no other sexual encounter he has experienced before- it was blissful- so why the hell is he about to have the melt down of the century?

“Shit,” you jolt awake, accidentally pushing Astarion off you- your eyes are still glassy “sorry I should probably not just fall asleep here- I’m sure you want to get back to your tent…”

Astarion pulls you back down and against his chest as if it’s exactly where you belong. The idea of you leaving right now makes his soul twist painfully. No, he needs you to stay. Existing is easier with you around- it has been since he met you on the beach.

“Stay,” he whispers, “please.”

There is a pause and he worries he may have overstepped his bounds. You look up at him with sleepy, kind eyes. If peace were to have a face- it would be yours.

“I’ll stay as long as you want me to.” You smile at him sweetly.

The word leaves his mouth before he can stop himself, “pinkie promise?”

You give him the biggest, toothiest grin he has ever seen. Astarion is certain you may be the single most beautiful person he’s ever met.

You take his pinky in yours and then place a soft kiss against his cold lips.

As you pull away, you whisper against his mouth, “I pinky promise.”

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thesecondhandwoman · 5 months ago

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𝑷𝑼𝑷𝑷𝑬𝑻 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑾

Jinx x f!reader

Synopsis: It was just another comforting family moment in Jinx’s hideout when your daughter, Isha, decided that she wanted to have a puppet show created by her mamas.

A/N: Had to write a mama jinx fic because her relationship with isha destroyed me.

The hideout was cluttered in the best way possible—scraps of paper, gears, and bits of paint-streaked fabric scattered across the wooden floor. It smelled like gunpowder and paint, the air still tinged with the scent of last night’s late-night project, some kind of half-finished contraption Jinx had abandoned midway in favor of lying across your lap and playing with Isha’s hair until the little girl fell asleep.

Now, the three of you were sitting in your usual spots, Jinx lounging on her stomach, absentmindedly twirling a screwdriver between her fingers, you sitting cross-legged beside her, and Isha perched between the both of you, sketchbook in hand.

Jinx yawned and stretched, poking Isha’s cheek with the screwdriver. “What’s up, kid? You’re staring.”

Isha scrunched her nose, swatting Jinx’s hand away before flipping her sketchbook around. Crayon lines sketched out three figures, two taller ones with unmistakable streaks of blue and your own signature look, and between them, a smaller figure holding their hands. But what stood out the most were the little stick-puppet versions of you and Jinx clutched in your drawn hands.

You tilted your head, taking it in before a grin tugged at your lips. “Looks like she wants a puppet show.”

Jinx’s eyes lit up with an almost childlike glimmer, pushing herself up onto her elbows. “Puppet show, huh? Oh, kid, you are in for a treat.” She shot up, already digging through the various piles of junk around the hideout, snatching up cloth scraps, loose screws, and what might have been an old sock at one point. “We’re gonna make the best damn puppets this side of Zaun has ever seen.”

Isha clapped her hands together, eyes alight with excitement. You chuckled, reaching over to ruffle her hair before helping Jinx gather materials.

It didn’t take long for your makeshift crafting station to turn into chaos. Jinx had glue on her cheek, you had thread tangled around your fingers, and Isha, bless her, was trying her hardest to sew while giggling at Jinx’s constant stream of nonsense.

Jinx, being Jinx, crafted something delightfully chaotic—a tiny, messy version of herself with wild blue yarn for hair and big mismatched button eyes. “Looks just like me, huh?” she joked, holding it up to her face.

You held back a laugh. “It’s a spitting image,” you teased before presenting your own puppet, much softer in dramatics than jinx’s, with neatly stitched features and a lopsided smile. “And look, she even has an actual shirt instead of whatever that is.”

Jinx gasped in faux offense. “Babe. That ‘whatever’ is art.”

Isha was already giggling, hugging her own tiny puppet versions of you both to her chest. She then pointed expectantly at the table, signaling that it was time for the show to begin.

Jinx cleared her throat dramatically, dropping into a stage whisper. “Alright, ladies and, well, ladies. Welcome to the greatest, most entertaining show of your life!” She ducked behind a nearby crate, holding up her mini-puppet self. “Introducing the fearless, the stunning, the ridiculously cool, Jinx!”

You played along, lifting your own puppet and giving it a tiny bow. “And her ever-patient, slightly concerned partner, me.”

Isha clapped as the show began, the two of you making the puppets bounce and interact in exaggerated, silly voices. Jinx’s puppet cackled and flipped over dramatically (assisted by her wiggling fingers), while yours sighed and crossed its little arms.

“Jinx, you can’t just declare yourself the queen of Zaun.”

“Uh, yeah, I can.” Jinx wiggled her puppet in a mockingly regal manner. “I got the crown and everything.”

“You don’t have a crown,” your puppet huffed.

“Oh yeah?” Jinx disappeared for a second before reappearing, having shoved a small tin lid on her puppet’s head. “How about now?”

Isha was in stitches, muffling her giggles with her hands. It was a rare sound, and one that made you and Jinx share a quick, warm glance.

By the end, Isha was clapping enthusiastically, her joy written all over her face. She reached forward and tugged both you and Jinx into a tight hug, her little arms squeezing as if she could keep this moment forever.

Jinx snickered, ruffling Isha’s hair. “Alright, kiddo. You win. Puppet shows are officially a thing now.”

You pressed a kiss to Jinx’s temple before squeezing Isha back. “Best audience we’ve ever had.”

The three of you spent the rest of the evening making more puppets, one for Silco, one for Sevika (though Jinx made hers absurdly buff), and even a tiny Fishbones. At some point, Isha curled up in your lap, drowsy but still smiling, and Jinx draped herself over both of you like a content cat.

“Hey,” Jinx murmured after a while, her fingers absently playing with Isha’s hair. “We’re a pretty good pair of parents, huh?”

You pressed your cheek to her shoulder, letting out a hum of agreement. “Yeah. The best.”

And as the soft glow of lanterns flickered around you, the sounds of the Lanes distant but ever-present, you let yourself believe it, right here, with Jinx and Isha tangled up in warmth and laughter, everything was exactly as it should be.

A/N: MY SHAYLA, OH MY SHAYLA..

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fgumi · 8 months ago

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🪼⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ HELLO

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 { PAIRING; leehan x reader, GENRE; angst, romance, one shot, WC; 4.8k, A/N; if you've never seen exchange 3, be glad. if you have, this one shot is based off of the very couple that broke everyone's hearts. leehan is very slightly aged up. he's 21 in this. }

leehan couldn’t remember a time he’d ever been as happy as he was on the day he met you. the first time leehan saw you, he knew he was in trouble.

it was like a switch flipped inside him. one moment, he was just another kid with dreams too big to fit his hands, and the next, he was caught up in something he couldn’t name, something that felt bigger and brighter than anything he’d ever known. it was you—laughing, eyes sparkling with that careless confidence, as if the world was yours for the taking. and for some reason he still didn’t understand, you’d decided to take him with you.

being with you made everything sharper, like the colors around him were suddenly more vivid. time flew by in a way that only happens when you’re young and in love, and nothing else matters. you’d sit with him under the stars, talking about everything and nothing, dreaming together like you had all the time in the world. every laugh, every touch, every look you shared felt like a promise, one that whispered, this is forever.

with you, he was just leehan—the guy who’d show up outside your window at midnight, who’d sneak you into practice rooms to dance, who’d hold your hand under the streetlights, feeling like the luckiest person alive.

every stolen moment between you felt like a rebellion against the life he was being shaped for. the late nights, the times when you’d run down empty streets together, out of breath from laughing, hands tightly clasped, sure that nothing could ever break what you had. how you looked at him like he could be anything he wanted to be. for a while, leehan believed it too. you had a way of making him feel like there was a future beyond the grueling practices and relentless pressure, a future that included you and him, just as you were.

he remembered the night you’d gone to the beach together, the one night he didn’t care if anyone caught him because you were laughing, twirling in the sand under the moonlight. you’d both been fearless then, convinced that love could carry you through any storm. and when he’d told you he loved you, you’d looked at him like he’d hung the stars just for you. his heart had never felt fuller than in that moment.

but as the years passed, his world changed. his dreams, the ones he’d chased so recklessly, started coming true. fame crept in, first like a gentle wave and then like a storm, unstoppable and unforgiving. suddenly, his face was everywhere. people knew his name, his voice, his life—parts of himself he never intended to share with anyone but you.

and that’s when he felt it: fear. not for himself, but for you.

he remembered the way his heart had dropped the first time a fan recognized him when you were with him, the way the girl’s eyes had darted curiously between the two of you.

the first time the thought crossed his mind, he brushed it off. he was determined to keep you, to protect you. but with each passing day, it became harder to ignore. the gossip, the comments—people were ruthless, unrelenting. he’d seen what happened to others like him, and he couldn’t bear the idea of you being dragged into that world. the world where people were willing to tear apart anyone he cared about just to get closer to him.

the decision began to eat at him. he knew you loved him, trusted him. but the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that staying with you would only hurt you in the end. he would never forgive himself if that happened. so, he made a choice, and it was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

it took weeks to work up the courage. he started distancing himself, ignoring your texts, avoiding your calls. he could feel you pulling away, the hurt in your eyes when he canceled plans or brushed you off with empty excuses. but the night he ended it, he had to make it believable—he had to make you think he didn’t care.

he could still remember the night he realized what he had to do, the night he’d decided to break both your hearts. he’d stayed up, pacing, agonizing over the words he’d have to say. how could he tell you that he couldn’t be with you, when every fiber of his being was screaming to hold on?

but you trusted him. and because of that, you believed him when he looked you in the eyes and said he needed to focus on his career, that he didn’t feel the same way anymore. you didn’t cry. you didn’t beg him to change his mind. you just nodded, your voice a soft, “i understand.” that hurt more than anything else.

and as he walked away, he thought maybe the worst was over. maybe he’d done the right thing, even if it felt like his heart was breaking in two.

in those first weeks after, he’d forced himself to stay away, to focus solely on his music, pouring everything he had into every note, every lyric, hoping it would numb the ache. he kept telling himself it was for the best, that he was protecting you, sparing you from the ruthless gaze of the world that now watched his every move.

but even with every excuse, he couldn’t forget you.

now, three months later, he was barely keeping it together. his company, clueless to the truth, thought the solution was simple: go on a therapy show for more exposure. show a vulnerable side. gain sympathy, more fans. they didn’t know that every second he spent being on that show would force him to confront the very thing he was trying to forget. he’d have to dig up the memories he’d tried so hard to bury, face the truth of what he’d lost.

the truth of the girl he still couldn’t forget.

for the first two episodes, leehan had been an observer, a listener. he wasn’t the one sharing stories or baring old scars; instead, he’d listen to the others as they spoke about their broken relationships, regrets, and long-lost loves. each time he was asked to comment, he felt a strange pull to respond honestly. there was something about the studio lights, the silent attention of the cameras, that made it impossible for him to hide his true thoughts.

“i think sometimes… we let go of people not because we stop loving them, but because we think it’s what’s best for them,” he’d said once, almost without thinking.

the words had slipped out, and he’d felt the familiar tug of a memory—the sight of your face that night, the way you’d nodded, swallowing back the hurt. he wondered if you’d known, deep down, that he’d loved you even as he let you go.

the crew and his co-stars seemed taken aback by his insight, and he could feel their eyes on him, curious. he’d brush it off each time, saying, “ah, well, it’s just my perspective,” but even he could see the wheels turning. viewers began to speculate, but in the world of entertainment, speculation was unavoidable. still, only a few wondered what experience leehan had to draw from.

by the second episode, netizens were already buzzing. people seemed genuinely impressed by his quiet wisdom, the sincerity with which he spoke. and he’d been content to leave it at that, to stay in the background, offering advice without stepping too far into his own past.

but then the producers had told him it was time for his story. he felt his pulse race at their words, and he nodded, though his heart pounded with the reality that he’d soon have to lay his heart bare for the cameras.

the night before the recording, he sat in his room, his phone in his hand, fingers hovering over your contact name. he knew he couldn’t do this without telling you first, couldn’t let you find out through a screen. so, he gathered his thoughts, choosing each word carefully, not wanting to stir up any more pain.

finally, he typed the message.

“i’m going to be talking about us on a show. i’ll be respectful, i promise.”

he stared at the screen, heart pounding, half-hoping you’d reply right away. he wanted you to understand that he wasn’t trying to hurt you, that this wasn’t some desperate grab for attention. it was just him trying to find peace with a decision that still haunted him.

but as the minutes passed with no response, his hope faded, leaving a hollow ache in its place. you didn’t reply, and maybe he shouldn’t have expected you to. after all, he was the one who’d chosen to walk away.

when he finally set his phone down, he felt more alone than ever.

leehan sat across from the host, feeling the weight of the cameras and the expectant eyes of his co-stars. he was prepared to talk about his past, but when it came down to it, he could feel the ache of it in his chest—how real it still felt.

he took a deep breath, casting his mind back to the very beginning, to the memories of you that were etched so deeply he could never forget them, even if he tried. “we met when we were seventeen,” he began, his voice steady but softer than usual. “we were young, just kids, really. but i remember thinking back then that i’d found something real.”

a faint, nostalgic smile crossed his lips. “she... was everything i thought love was supposed to be. she had this way of making me feel like i mattered, like i was more than just another person with big dreams.” he paused, his fingers playing with the edge of his sleeve as he tried to explain what you’d meant to him without losing himself in the memories.

“people say that first loves don’t last. but when i was with her, i thought… no, i was certain that we could make it through anything,” he continued, the words flowing as if he were talking to himself rather than a room full of strangers. “and it wasn’t just infatuation. it was deeper than that. she believed in me, even when i didn’t believe in myself. i can’t explain it, but she made me feel like i could be anyone, do anything, and it’d be enough for her.”

the host leaned in, clearly intrigued. “how long were you together?”

“four years.” leehan’s gaze softened, as if reliving each one of those years in his mind. “from seventeen until we were twenty-one. is that a long time? maybe it was. but, it never felt like long enough.”

one of his co-stars, who had already shared her own story, asked gently, “if she meant so much to you, why did it end?”

leehan’s smile faltered, replaced by a shadow of regret. he shifted, glancing away as he collected his thoughts, the truth a knot of emotions he could barely untangle.

“it wasn’t that i wanted it to end,” he murmured, almost to himself. “it’s that i… had to. as my career started growing, so did the attention on me. and with that came the fear. i’d seen how some people’s loved ones were treated by the public. how one wrong picture, one careless word, could turn a person’s life into a nightmare.”

he could feel his co-stars’ gaze intensify, their sympathy and curiosity mixing in the air around him. “she didn’t sign up for that,” he went on, his voice catching slightly. “she deserved to live her life without strangers dissecting every part of it just because she was with me.”

his gaze lowered, and his voice grew softer. “but i couldn’t bring myself to tell her that. instead, i told her i didn’t feel the same way anymore. i told her i wanted to focus on my career, that i didn’t have time for us anymore.” he swallowed, his hand clenching slightly as he admitted the words he’d hidden for so long. “i made her think that she’d done something wrong.”

the room was silent. for a long moment, no one spoke, the weight of his confession hanging heavy in the air.

one of the cast members, a little teary-eyed, said quietly, “that sounds like it was really hard for you, but, did she ever know?”

leehan shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. “no,” he replied, his voice barely more than a whisper. “i never told her the truth. and every day, i wish i had. because she loved me.”

the host leaned forward, sensing the depth of leehan’s regret. “do you still have feelings for her?”

he hesitated, but only for a moment. “i don’t think you ever stop loving someone who showed you how to love in the first place,” he admitted, his gaze distant. “and i know i’ll always care about her. she was my first real connection. sometimes, i feel like i could never do enough to repay her for everything she gave me. she made me feel like i was enough, just as i was, and i never got to tell her that she was everything i wanted.”

when the recording ended, he felt drained, as if he’d poured out parts of himself he didn’t even realize he’d been holding onto. he hadn’t expected to feel so exposed, hadn’t expected the memories to hit him with such force. and as the episode aired, he found himself torn between relief and dread, knowing that his truth was now out there for everyone to see.

the reactions were swift. many fans were touched, moved by his sincerity and regret. they flooded online forums, calling his feelings heartfelt and genuine, urging him to find closure, some even hoping he’d reach out to you. but there were others who didn’t see it that way, who were outraged that he’d even had a relationship at all. they questioned his loyalty, his dedication, accusing him of betraying them with his “secret love.”

yet most people settled somewhere in the middle. they wanted to know more, to understand the story that had remained hidden all this time. and even through the noise, the love, the anger, and the curiosity, one thing became clear—people were invested in seeing where this story would lead.

filming continued, and the show’s crew orchestrated activities to help the cast "work through" their unresolved feelings. leehan found himself participating in exercises that felt strange, even surreal, as they dug into emotions he’d spent years trying to bury.

one episode had them writing letters they’d never send, pouring out the words they’d never spoken. he’d stared at the blank paper for a long time before he finally started to write, each word heavier than the last.

i’m sorry. i’m sorry i couldn’t tell you the truth. i’m sorry i thought i could just let you go like it would make everything better. i thought i was protecting you, but all i did was hurt you.

the pen shook in his hand as he continued, feeling the weight of every mistake, every regret.

i don’t think i’ll ever forgive myself for walking away from you. i thought i was doing it for you, but i didn’t even give you a choice. you deserved that much. you deserved everything.

when he finished, he felt hollow, like he’d just poured out pieces of his heart onto that page. but the worst part was that none of it mattered. you’d never see those words. you’d never know how sorry he was, how much he wished he could turn back time and fix everything he’d broken.

a few episodes later, he found himself sitting in a circle with the other cast members, sharing memories of things they missed about the people they’d lost. one by one, the others spoke about simple, beautiful memories, and leehan’s mind drifted to you, to the countless small moments that had made up your time together.

“i miss the way she’d laugh at my jokes, even when they were terrible,” he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. “and how she’d always hold my hand when she thought no one was looking. i miss the way she used to call me out when i was being ridiculous, and... just how she made me feel like i could be myself.”

his voice cracked, and he looked down, swallowing hard. “i miss everything.”

the show carried on, each episode chipping away at the wall he’d built around his feelings. and though he tried to keep his emotions in check, there were moments he could feel his heart slipping, reaching for the memories of you he could never quite let go of.

and then, toward the end of the season, it happened. one night, his phone lit up with a message from you.

i’m sorry for not replying sooner. i needed time to process it all. the show reached out to me and asked for an interview. i just wanted to let you know. i’ll be respectful about everything.

he read the message over and over, his heart pounding. you’d watched the episode—his regrets, his apology, all laid bare—and now, you were reaching out, letting him know you’d be sharing your side. it was more than he could have hoped for, and yet it filled him with an ache, a reminder that he’d hurt you enough to make you wary, enough to make you careful with him.

when the day of the interview came, he found himself waiting with bated breath, nervous in a way he hadn’t felt in years. the producers set up a projector, informing the cast that they’d recorded interviews with the people who had been part of their stories. his co-stars seemed excited, but leehan felt his stomach twist, knowing that in mere moments, he’d see you again.

the screen flickered to life, and there you were. he sucked in a breath, his heart racing. you looked so familiar yet somehow different, more mature, like life had changed you during those long three months apart. your hair was a little different, and there was a strength in your expression that he didn’t remember. but to him, you were just as beautiful as you’d always been.

the staff interviewer’s voice echoed softly from the speakers, gentle but probing.

“thank you for joining us today. before we begin, i wanted to ask—have you been watching the show?”

you shook your head, offering a small, polite smile. “no, actually. i... needed some time to process everything, so i haven’t watched it.” there was a pause, and then you added, almost as if to reassure yourself, “i’ve only heard a little about it.”

leehan felt a pang at that. he wondered if it was too painful for you. the thought made his chest ache.

you took a breath, your voice soft but steady as you began. “i’m here to share my side of the story.”

and as you spoke, each word seemed to reach out and unravel the memories he’d held so close, all the years of love, regret, and loss flowing back to the surface.

“he was my whole world back then,” you said, a bittersweet smile tugging at your lips. “and i wanted to be there for him, to support him in everything he did. but, i think i was young and lost in my own plans, my own ambitions. i didn’t always know how to be there for him the way he needed.”

leehan’s chest tightened as he listened, guilt crashing over him in waves. you were apologizing, talking about regrets, when he knew it was his fault you’d been left behind, his fault for not supporting you in the way you deserved.

“i just wish…” you trailed off, your eyes growing misty. “i wish i could’ve done more for him, given him the love he always gave me. i know he tried so hard, but looking back, i feel like i didn’t do enough to make it easier for him.”

he shook his head, unable to bear the thought of you blaming yourself. you did everything, he wanted to say, you were everything. but he could only watch, his heart aching, as you shared pieces of yourself, pieces he’d never thought he’d hear again.

the interviewer asked you the question he dreaded most, the one he hadn’t been able to answer for himself. “if given the opportunity, would you give your relationship another try?”

a tear slipped down your cheek, and you laughed softly, wiping it away. “maybe… maybe if i felt like i’d grown up a little. if i could confidently say that i could support him in the ways he needs, i would. he did so much for me, yet i feel like i did so little for him.”

leehan felt his eyes sting, his chest tight as the screen displayed photos of the two of you together. old memories flashed by—your first cafe date, your goofy faces at the aquarium, a candid shot of you laughing as he tried to photobomb you. he remembered each of those moments, the joy in your eyes, the warmth that had filled his heart every time he’d looked at you.

when your interview ended, the room was silent. his co-stars glanced at him, sympathy and understanding in their eyes, but he could barely look at them, his emotions too raw, too close to the surface.

one of the staff members asked gently, “if you could go back, would you give it another try?”

leehan’s voice was thick with emotion as he replied, “absolutely. only to prove to her that she really did give me everything, and that now, it’s my turn to repay her.”

as the words left his mouth, he felt a weight lift, but it was accompanied by a hollow ache. he didn’t know if you’d ever believe him, if you’d ever understand just how much you’d meant to him, even after all this time. but if there was ever a chance—a sliver of hope that he could make things right—he would do anything, absolutely anything, to show you that you’d always been enough.

after the episode aired, leehan found himself scrolling through endless comments, each one a mixture of emotions he couldn’t quite sort out. some comments were kind, urging the two of you to rekindle what you’d had, filled with hope and nostalgia for a love story they’d only seen glimpses of.

“you can tell he still cares about her so much. they should get back together!” “there’s so much love there. i hope they find a way to make it work.”

but mixed in were other, harsher voices, ones that made his stomach drop.

“why would he date at all? we’re the ones who made him famous.” “it’s disrespectful to the fans to have a secret relationship. we deserve loyalty from him!”

he skimmed through more comments, some even harsher than those, laying blame on you, criticizing your every word and expression. each line he read stung, a painful reminder of why he’d ended things in the first place. he’d left to protect you, to shield you from exactly this, yet here he was, watching it unfold again.

but as the backlash swirled, there was also a growing conversation he hadn’t expected—one about the boundaries between idols and fans, about the intense relationships fans felt they had with the people they idolized. some questioned whether fans truly had a right to be angry over his love life, pointing out the thin line between admiration and ownership.

“it’s strange how invested some people are in who he dated. he’s a person, not just a public figure.” “maybe it’s time we respect that idols have private lives.”

despite the support, the voices of the critics loomed large in his mind. he knew what they could become, knew how easily they could grow out of control. this is what he chose to protect you from. and even though the majority wanted to see the story unfold, their encouragement didn’t quiet the ache of knowing how painful it might be for you to see the hate mixed in.

part of him wanted to reach out, to make sure you were okay after the episode aired. he’d wanted to tell you that none of it mattered, that their words didn’t define anything between the two of you. but he stopped himself. he feared that if he reached out, he’d only be dragging you deeper into the chaos he’d tried to keep you away from.

so, he kept his phone silent, keeping his feelings to himself, even though every part of him longed to hear your voice.

the final day of filming came, and leehan found himself standing with the rest of the cast, staring at two doors set up at the end of a narrow hallway. the producers explained the choice: one door led to the future, to a clean slate, to moving on from everything they’d unpacked and left behind. the other was labeled “past” and opened to a room filled with memories, mementos of the relationships that had once meant everything to each cast member.

one by one, each person chose their door, some moving forward into a fresh start, others glancing back to revisit the memories they hadn’t been able to fully let go. leehan watched, his heart heavy, knowing his turn was coming. when the time came to step forward, he paused, his eyes lingering on the door to the future. it was what he should choose, he told himself. he’d already made his peace, or so he thought.

but his hand moved to the other door—the door that led back to everything he’d lost. taking a breath, he pushed it open.

the sight that greeted him stopped him in his tracks. the room was filled with pieces of his life with you. photos of the two of you, eyes bright with laughter, arms slung around each other as if nothing could ever come between you. he saw the small notes you used to leave him, little scraps of paper with scribbled hearts and doodles. his fingers traced over one note that simply said, have a good day today. you’re amazing. he felt his chest tighten, his throat growing tight as the memories flooded over him.

on a shelf by the wall sat a small glass jar filled with tiny, delicate origami fish—each one a labor of love, a piece of you he’d carried with him long after you were gone. the jar shimmered under the light, and his heart twisted as he picked it up.

one of the staff members, their voice crackling softly through the telecom, asked, “could you tell us about the jar, leehan?”

he took a shaky breath, the edges of his vision blurring. “it’s a thousand fish,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “she made them for me. usually, people make a thousand cranes for a wish, but she knew how much i loved fish, so she folded me a thousand tiny fish instead.” he let out a weak laugh, tears slipping down his cheeks as he held the jar close to his heart. “she always did things like that. she made me feel like i was special, like i was enough.”

he blinked, staring down at the jar, his voice breaking. “i’d cash in that wish for just one more chance with her.”

there was a pause, and then the soft voice came over the telecom again. “leehan, there’s a phone in the center of the room. you can call her if you want. we can’t guarantee she’ll answer, but you have the chance to try.”

he turned, his eyes settling on the old-fashioned phone sitting in the center of the room. his heart pounded as he looked at it, a mix of longing and fear swirling inside him. this was it—a chance, a tiny sliver of hope that you might be on the other end, that he might hear your voice one last time.

he stood there, holding the jar, glancing between the phone and the memories scattered around the room. every laugh, every touch, every promise he’d made to you flooded back, and with a trembling hand, he reached for the receiver. he didn’t need the number on the paper the staff had offered him; he still remembered your number as if no time had passed at all.

slowly, he dialed, each click of the rotary phone echoing in the silent room. the phone began to ring, and with every second that passed, his heart climbed higher into his throat.

then, finally, a small, familiar voice answered, tentative but unmistakable. “hello?”

for a moment, he couldn’t speak, his breath catching as he closed his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.

disclaimer: this, in no way, reflects the idol. this is purely fiction. ✧ comments and reblogs are appreciated! ✧ give my other works a read too!

tagged; ૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ @en-dream @onedoornet

#onedoornet #boynextdoor #kim leehan #leehan x reader #boynextdoor x reader #bnd x reader #boynextdoor imagines #boynextdoor scenarios #bnd scenarios #bnd imagines #⍣ 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚: writes #⍣ 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐚: one shot

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jks1uv · 2 months ago

Text

𝐼’𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ; benjamin (ben) “benny” miller | one-shot |

summary: one mildly disorienting night opens your heart to your best friend.

pairing: introvert!fem!reader x ben miller.

trope: best friends to potential lovers.

genre: fluff + a few drops of angst.

warnings‼️: reader gets roofied + crude language + details alluding to a bar fight + 2 mentions of blood + i bring ben affleck's character back to life + reader & ben r in their mid-late 20's.

word count: 3,327.

random disclaimerrr: inspired by this post. i’m so attracted to this man jfc he’s so fine. also don’t mind me… i got carried away w writing this. edit: here’s the sequel! happy reading! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♡ © 2025 @jks1uv

You've heard of high school and college graduating class reunions. Now get ready for military class reunions!

Ben received word through a digital invite (e-vite) and begged you to go with him.

You never said no, just that you were hesitant.

You see, you're the total opposite of your best friend.

He's fearless, outgoing, and the physical embodiment of the sun. In the sense that he lights up every room he enters.

People smile and laugh more around him.

You're cautious, reserved, and are a creature of the night; much like the moon. You have a certain charm that exudes organized chaos.

“Pleaseee.”

He reminded you of a stubborn child, not that he isn't one.

“You know I'd never ask you if it was meaningless.”

That right there is what made you rethink your previous position.

It's true, Ben had never asked you to do anything that he deemed wasn't worth your time.

You've been friends for a long time, almost 12 years! This is the least you can do.

“Fine.” You murmured, picking at a loose thread on your sweater.

His smile is something worth framing.

He laughed boisterously and picked you up bridal style, twirling you around just hooting and hollering.

You giggled nonetheless at his rambunctious behavior.

And now you're here; in a flowy sundress, the hem stopping just an inch above your knees.

Your hair is styled just the way you like it, your makeup enhancing your confidence to show your face in a room full of people you'd otherwise be intimidated by.

Otherwise because he'll be there every step of the way, looking at out for you. Otherwise because despite how excited he is to meet some people, he won't leave your side.

Ben stares at you, his blue eyes soft on your form.

“You’re beautiful.” His gruff voice gently sounds.

He wants you to know what he thinks. He wants you to know because you are.

“Thank you.” You say as you avoid eye contact.

You're diffident when it comes to compliments. You bashfully smile and look down as you accept them but it's something about his compliments that create an extra layer of timidness.

You think it's because of his tenacity towards you. He won't move on until you accept it.

You hear the heavy thunks of his boots come towards you and you're inclined to look up.

Ben leans on the wall next to him, his arms crossed over his chest.

He's wearing all black: plain black tee with black cargo pants and black combat boots.

All that's missing is a black baseball cap and he's solid, you joke to yourself.

“You, um… you look good.” You try.

Handsome.

He chuckles, nodding to himself while his ears burn. “Thanks.”

Something catches the light from his wrist, your gaze flickers towards it and are pleasantly surprised to see him wearing the watch you got him when he came back from a mission a couple of years ago.

“You like it?” You'd asked, excited to see his reaction to getting the watch he'd been eyeing for quite some time.

Ben just stared at you in awe, like you'd gotten him the moon and stars.

He hugged you tight, pressing a chaste kiss to your temple and whispering an ‘I love it’ to the side of your head.

All of those actions left you dazed for a week.

“I thought you would've lost that watch.” You poke at his tendency to lose expensive things in the most baffling ways.

He just shrugs. “You gave it to me.”

Ben admits that like it’s the only reason he hasn’t lost it yet.

Gifts from you hold meaning beyond materialistic value to him. It’s proof that he’s seen and heard.

Of course, you’re touched and he’s rendered you speechless once again.

“Come on, don’t wanna be late.”

The reunion’s at a nice restaurant with a great bar. You frequent this place often with Ben.

“See, it isn’t so bad.” He says as he pulls up to a parking spot.

Ben puts one hand behind the headrest of your seat and turns back to reverse park.

He’s a natural with one hand doing the steering, but it also makes him look even more attractive.

You fiddle with your rings in your lap and try not to think about how good he looks, how nice he smells.

Having a crush is so stupid, you complain internally.

What you don’t know is that despite having a camera built in for the very reason of not having to look back, he doesn’t use it when reversing.

Ben always makes sure to pull this move because he clocks your reaction the entire time.

Is he being kind of a jerk? Yes. Can he be blamed for wanting to show off for someone as beautiful, compassionate, and unique as you? Nope!

You two walk in and are immediately hit with the lively atmosphere. Conversation, country music and the steady stream of laughter all mix in together well.

Ben’s hand finds yours and you feel your heart stuttering in your chest. His palm slides on top of yours effortlessly, interlocking fingers. A squeeze of I’m here.

He leads the way with ease, already spotting his kind of people.

They hug him and you let go of his grasp, but he decides only for a moment.

They pat his back with pride and affection, offering to buy drinks and putting it on their tab without hearing what he has to say about it.

“Guys, this is Y/n.”

3 pairs of eyes rest on you and you feel your hands getting clammy already.

“Hi.” You say with a small wave.

They all smile at your sweet introduction.

“Y/n, this is Santiago.” Ben points towards a man with a light stubble, dark hair with faint strokes of gray, and equally dark eyes.

“Nice to meet you.” Santiago says as he reaches out to shake your hand.

You indulge him. “Nice to meet you, too.”

An older man with a full beard stands up, extending his hand and welcome. “Tom Davis.” He says as you shake his hand.

“Y/n L/n.” You smile.

“And this, here; is Frankie.”

You follow who's next in line and are met with a nice pair of eyes, ones that contain a steady calmness.

“Hello.”

“Hi.” He says back warmly.

“And that's it. That's all my crew.”

You tilt your head slightly in confusion. “What about Willy?”

Santiago accidentally snorts, his drink comes down the wrong pipe and causes him to erupt into a small fit of coughs. Frankie hits his back hard with one loud smack, and soothes it by running his palm over it.

“Willy?” Tom parrots, so clearly amused at the choice of name.

“Yeah. It's my nickname for him.” You smile shyly.

You don't pick up on the fact that Tom and Santiago think it's funny and that's alright.

If looks can kill, Ben would've been a serial killer.

“Willy's coming later.” Ben answers while maintaining eye contact with the two.

You nod to yourself, feeling a bit awkward. “I'm gonna go get a drink.”

Ben looks at you. Want me to come with?

You communicate with him through your own eyes. No, I'll be okay. Promise.

He nods once, only letting you out of his eyes when he sees you sit down on a stool.

“Holy shit, you're whipped!” Santiago laughs in disbelief.

Ben rolls his eyes, his defense ready on the tip of his tongue against the very true allegation.

“What, I can't care for my friend now?” He retorts with a quirked eyebrow.

Tom enters the discussion. “No, no. You absolutely can. It's just that she seems to be a special kind of friend,” He brings his beer up to his lips before pausing. “If you know what I mean.” He winks slyly and fuels Santiago’s rumbling laughter.

Frankie shakes his head at the duo's ridulousness.“Alright, alright. She can just be a girl who's a friend.”

“Thank you.” Ben exasperatedly puts his hands out towards the mellower man.

“But even I'll have to bite. How long you know her for?”

Fuck.

Every bit of gratitude Ben had for Frankie went out the window.

He knows once he opens this can of worms, there's no putting them back.

Ben exhales deeply. “Just about half of our lives.”

Santiago almost flips the table. “WHAT?!”

“There's no fucking way.” Tom deadpans.

Frankie rolls his eyes and sighs. “Why'd I even ask.”

“Guys, guys, wait. Hear me out—”

“Are you fucking shitting me right now?” Tom's voice booms over his plea.

“I mean seriously, Benny, this is,” Santiago scoffs incredulously. “A low blow.”

He's honestly impressed with how long he’s kept you a secret from them yet a little disheartened.

Frankie doesn't say anything, wanting to hear Ben's explanation. He knows his friend and understands that maybe there's a good reason.

“Just let him talk.” William's voice echoes through their ears.

“Oh great, Willy's come to the rescue.” Tom jokes.

“You just get here?” Ben asks, surprised to his older brother so early on into the night.

“I've been here. You didn't get my message?”

The younger Miller fishes his phone out of his pocket and finds his message sent to him a little over an hour ago.

“Saw Y/n and talked with her for a little bit.” William looks back at you, smiling when he sees you look at him.

You both wave to each other and he thinks about how endearing you are. You’re the baby sister he’s always wanted.

Ben is thinking and he realizes why he didn't see it before. “I was with Y/n, we were getting ready.”

This had never happened before. Missing his older brother's text? Leaving it unanswered?

Maybe you have casted a spell on him.

“Uhhh... you good over there?” Santiago asks.

Ben nods swiftly. “Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine.”

Will prods as he grabs a drink. “So, you were saying?”

Ben sits down, already feeling a headache coming on.

“Y/n isn't like us. She’s shy, quiet, likes her alone time. Our friendship is something that took a lot of time, a lot of effort.”

He turns around to spot you and turns back around when he sees you're doing fine.

Although, you’re anything but.

The guy next to you won’t stop rambling on about how much money he makes and how his job is so demanding.

He’s a narcissist in the making, you amuse yourself.

It’s when you pay your tab and move to go back does he shut the fuck up.

“Wait, I didn’t even get to buy you a drink.” He sleazily smiles.

You keep it pushing. “No, thank you. I’ve had enough for one night.”

The double entendre flies over his head as expected but he’s relentless.

“Oh come on, it’s just one drink. It won’t hurt.”

You take a moment to see how Ben’s doing and when you see him smile, you don’t want to go back and make it awkward.

But you also don’t want to be in the presence of this buffoon.

“Fine. One drink.” You set the boundary hard.

You didn’t see how he made eye contact with the bartender and what it meant.

“Atta girl.”

Your skin crawls at the repulsive taste his comment leaves in your mouth.

A shirley temple is placed on a napkin in front of you and you take a sip from the short, narrow straw.

Tastes fine, you conclude.

As you sip from the drink, his yammering begins.

You don't have it in you to roll your eyes anymore.

Now that you think about it, you don't have a lot of energy, at least not as much from the beginning of your night.

You don't feel like doing anything, you feel sluggish and uncoordinated.

Oh my god, you think. He just fucking roofied me.

You leave your drink and get up, instantly regretting it as your knees feel weak. You anchor yourself on the counter, noticing the stranger's attempt at trying to reach out to you to hold your unbalanced self.

You need to get away from him. Right-the-fuck-now.

“Ben.” You weakly call out.

Your ears feel muffled, like someone dumped your head underwater and led the liquid right into your ear canals.

Your voice comes out raspy and soft, despite your trying efforts.

Cotton mouth. Great.

At least your brain isn't too fuzzy.

You sense the stranger coming closer to you, saying shit you don't care to hear in an attempt to touch you and take you somewhere secluded.

You muster up all your strength to call out to your best friend but it's of no use as it's in your head.

It's alright though because you feel Ben come to you.

His careful hands are on your waist, easing you back down on the stool.

You look up, eyes suddenly becoming bleary and almost sober up when you see the events unfolding in front of you in real time.

Ben is out for blood.

He punches the sick fuck in the mouth, blood pooling in already, just from one punch.

Santiago, Tom, Frankie, and William are on the scene as well. They have his back when it comes to you.

The sounds of glass breaking, people screaming, and the music abruptly coming to a stop serves as an entirely different atmosphere.

You stand up, wanting to distance yourself from the rowdiness. Somehow, you make it outside and away from any trouble.

You hear him this time.

“Y/n?”

You can't trust yourself. Is this real or the effect of a possible psychedelic drug serving as a date-rape roofie?

“Y/n, can you hear me?”

Ben's frantic, he wants to touch you but is anxious he'll scare you away.

You force your eyes open, blinking hard and shaking yourself awake.

Your vision clears up just a bit, allowing you to see him.

“Benny?” You breathe in sharply.

“Yeah, it's me. It's me, it's just me.”

He repeats it in hopes of you letting him take care of you.

Ben inches closer, his hands hesitantly come up and grab your shoulders. When he notes you relaxing, he brings you flush against him.

He sighs as your face lays on his chest, he can't help kissing your forehead.

“It's okay, you're okay. You're alright.”

He's mostly saying it to himself but it helps ground you.

“Take me home. Please.” You whimper.

Ben's heart squeezes in anger, he curses at himself. How could he let this happen?

“I gotchu, I gotcha. Don't worry.”

You're losing control of your motor skills, your body falling onto him more and more subconsciously.

He notices though. He always does.

“Can you walk?” His panicked eyes rake over your form for the thousandth time, making sure he's not missing something.

You shake your head as the world spins, not feeling like answering him.

“That's alright, don’t worry. I gotchu.”

You feel his hands reposition themselves on your body; one on your back and the other under your knees.

“Wait-wait, don't! I-I'm too heavy.” You blurt out.

Even in your most vulnerable state, you manage to hurt yourself and your best friend tends the wounds.

Ben stares at you like you just told him you can't be his friend anymore. His turquoise eyes are sad and unwilling to believe this is how you see yourself.

“I bench you plus another twenty pounds anytime, any day of the damn week. You understand?”

He's stern yet gentle, soft but with a no-nonsense attitude.

You don't shy away from his heated gaze for the first time. For the first time you see yourself in his eyes and when you do, you finally understand him when he says you're beautiful.

“Y/n? You with me?” His eyes dart back and forth from both of yours.

You nod nimbly and murmur, “Yeah. I am.”.

You prepare yourself for him to lift you, both arms around his neck to stable your disorientated self.

He lifts you so effortlessly, so carefully.

Ben looks straight ahead as he walks to his car but you’re too busy staring at him.

You analyze his face, one you’ve seen so many times yet can never get tired of.

You smell the aftershave and even though he shaved today, you spot the beginning of a stubble growing along the sides of his chin and cheek.

A faint trail of hair trickles down from his nose and expands above his upper lip, adding charm.

The curve of his nose is delicate, like he was crafted carefully from stone. A little scar is stamped on his cheekbone, you don’t know how you haven’t seen it before.

Maybe it’s from a recent mission or something.

“Stop staring, you’re gonna make me drop you.”

He turns to you momentarily with a smirk and you blink, a small grin gracing your lips.

Ben opens the door and sets you down, coming in close to put your seatbelt on you.

“I can do it.” You mumble.

“I know.” He says. “I just wanted to do it for you.”

He kisses the spot above your left brow and you melt inside.

He has to stop kissing you or else you’ll fall in love with him.

Love, you think. I do love him.

As he drives you home, you recall this once-nervy evening now turned into a shit-show.

After everything that’s happened, not once did he show annoyance or aggravation towards you. Not once did he blame you for accepting the drink or tell you to do anything differently.

Does that mean he’s thinking it?

He’s not. He’s blaming himself and how he should’ve been more careful.

Ben’s not gonna let you out of his sight anymore.

You stare at him hazily as he drives, one hand on the steering and the other one holding your hand in comfort.

“Almost there, okay? Don’t fall asleep on me now.”

He wants you to despite his words. He wants you to sleep so you can’t see how holding you affects him. He wants you to be blissfully unaware of what your staring does to him, what you do to him.

“I won’t.” You promise.

He lays you down on your bed and your eyelids flutter.

You’re fighting the urge to sleep because you’re debating if you should tell him or not.

There’s always tomorrow but you don’t know if you’ll feel this urgency again.

You just don’t want it to be too late.

“Ben?” You softly call out to him.

He walks out of your bathroom with a damp rag, setting it on your forehead to reduce your body temperature.

“I’m here.” He murmurs, equally soft.

You gulp. “I have to tell you something.”

He eyes his watch. “Go ahead, ‘m listening.”

You take a deep breath in and out.

“I like you.”

You feel like a little schoolgirl confessing her crush.

He looks at you with the fondest his eyes have ever been for you, even though they’re always like that with you.

“Well, I’d hope so.”

He’s joking. He wants to know if you’re saying that because you’re teetering on the edge of delirium or if you really mean it.

“No, I like you. Like, like-like you.”

“Wow, that’s a lot of likes.” He chuckles and you show him a beautiful grin.

“You’re always so nice to me… and I wanna know if you feel the same.”

This is the scary part.

Ben puts his hand in yours and brings it up to his cheek.

“I’m nice to you because you’re easy to be nice to.”

Your heart soars when he rubs his thumb on the back of your hand.

“And I do like you. As in, like, like you.”

You giggle and he loves the sound. It makes his heart happy.

“Go to sleep now, we can talk tomorrow. Okay?”

You nod and he sits back in your chair, staying the night in there as you sleep.

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