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imalonelymaniac · 10 days ago

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..would it be wrong of me to say that i genuinely need this type of care

Hard Times

Chapter One: After the untimely death of your family, your step-father steps up and takes care of you.

RATED X. MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

❥Kim Hongjoong x fem reader

"A little girl who needs her Daddy real bad."

-Ethel Cain, Hard Times ♫

♡'･ᴗ･'♡genre: yandere, angst, smut ➯disclaimer: DARK FICTION. DEAD DOVE. RIP I KILLED THAT HOE- 18+. MINORS YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.

ಠ_ಠwarning/content: limited short series; see general warnings in the masterlist: step-dad hongjoong, reader calls hj dad on accident / jokingly + he likes it a little too much, age gap (reader young adult, hong in his late 30s), serious daddy issues, flashbacks will be italics and past tense, soul crushing grief (readers parents passed in car crash just before the story starts), survivors guilt, brief hospitalization, kissing on the lips (half) platonically, depepictions of deep depression, medication, mentions of ptsd nightmares, joong yells at reader (but it's kinda fair imo), emotional manipulation (lowkey going both ways), attempted suicide (via pill overdose, reader throws them up->) emetophobia, reader wears traditionally girly clothes + makeup, perv!hong has a corruption / virginity kink, talking about virginity + how readers bf tried to pressure her, non-sexual nudity, pet names including: (sweet, pretty, little, ect) girl, angel, sweetheart, baby, honey

➯a/n: happy fathers day to all the lovelies out there with horrrrrid daddy issues (self shout out fr) let me know what you think <3

୨ sweet as honey ৎ @m00njinnie @seonghwassii @whyismingi @emotionallyanaemic @werewolfcrimson @ninjakitty15 @klllerwaifu @a-tiny-thing @pandyandy71 @monstacheol @aurorasjoongie ₊‧⁺stardust˖⋆ @sousydive @sunnysidesins @onyxmango @devilzliaison @ateezswonderland @queenofdumbfuckery @emilysecresy @kyomiingi @pansexual-and-eating-pancakes

♡masterlist + navigation !♡

────୨ৎ────

"I hate you!"

Hongjoong jumped as he heard you scream from your room, muffled through the walls. He instantly got up off the couch, heading down the hall.

Equal parts nosey and concerned, he stopped outside of your closed door. "Why do you always do this? You promised me that you'd t-" He leaned his ear closer.

"Oh, and now you want to interrupt me when I'm trying to tell you how — Will you listen to me? I really wanted to spend time with you..."

He heard you throw something, followed by a sniffle. "Yeah, no, I get it... Mhm. Love y- hello? Hello?" You let out a soft, sighing, laugh. "Yeah, fuck you too, Dad."

He waited a few moments before knocking lightly. "Hey, (Y/n)?"

"Just- just a second."

You were wiping your hand on your leg as you opened the door, clearing it of the tears you were trying to hide. He, obviously, could still tell you were crying. "What's up, Joong?"

"I was wondering," he leaned against the wall across from your door, giving you some much needed space, "since your mom is going to be late tonight, why don't we order some takeout? I still have that menu from the Chinese place. We can get her some too so she doesn't have to worry about stopping after work."

"Sure," you nodded, sniffling again, "the, uh, Lins Express?"

"Mhm. You liked it, right?" He knows you did, you wouldn't shut up about their honey noodles for hours. It was so endearing — how could he possibly forget? "Honey noodles for you?"

Your eyes softened as you finally looked up from the floor and met his gaze.

He smiled. Gentle and light.

He remembered what you liked from the place you had one time? He's only known you for two months, he must be very observant; that's what you told yourself as you felt the smallest flutter of happiness in your heart.

"Yeah- yes. Yes, please."

────୨ৎ────

"Has she moved yet?"

"Not an inch."

You don't hear them speaking. Not really, anyway.

After your initial shock when they broke the news to you — you cried. A lot.

You cried so much you couldn't breathe. Sobbed so violently you fell to the floor even though they made you sit down on the hospital bed before they told you. Doubled right over and almost smacked your face into the tile if not for the fast acting nurse catching you.

And after that, after the nurse sedated you, you cried yourself to sleep with your face in the pillow. It kicked in fast — left you only with a mere minute to beg them to let you join your parents.

"Can you blame her? Poor girl's in shock..." Your step-father, Kim Hongjoong, leans back in the stiff chair on the wall; crossing his arms over his chest.

He'd married your mother almost a year ago. After her divorce with your father, she had trouble staying afloat. And marrying him helped her back to the surface. Taxes are a powerful thing.

For him, marrying her, it brought him closer to you.

He met you at a work event, when your mother had brought you along.

Dancing in the grass in a sun dress that twirled with your movement, the most beautiful smile on your lips —

He fell in love.

It was a stroke of luck that your parents got divorced a few months later. For him, at least.

And another that you had been on the way back from your old home together, finalizing the selling of it, when you were hit by an oncoming truck. Leaving you the only survivor with nothing but a broken arm, a bump to your head, and a crushed soul. Again, luck for him.

He was still thinking of a way to get his hands on you. And this works. As fucked up as he knows it is — this works.

His is the only family you have left. In the state you're in, in the state he knows you're going to be in for a while, you need someone to lean on.

Might as well be him.

"I think I'm going to head home and get some shut eye..." Your uncle, his brother; Bumjoong, pats his leg as he stands.

Leaning his knee on your small hospital bed, he leans over and kisses your hair. "I'll be back soon." He doesn't know if you can hear him, but he lets you know anyways. "Be strong, kid."

You're staring at the wall, laid curled up on your side just like Hongjoong left you after you'd woken them up with your sobs for the fifth time.

When you don't respond after a moment, he lets out a soft sigh and rubs your arm before getting up. "Take care of her, Hong," he says as he leans down to hug him, "I'll be back tomorrow. Try and get her to eat something, will you?"

"Yeah," Hongjoong nods, hugging his brother back lightly, "I'll see you tomorrow."

He turns to face you as Bumjoong leaves, waiting to hear the door thunk closed before he moves towards you.

He speaks your name quietly as he sits on the twin bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. The blanket it ruffled and messy ontop of you, pulled all the way up to your neck. When he touches your head, he reels back.

You're burning up.

"Get this off, honey," he hurries to pull it off of you, and you still don't move a single muscle. Even as he drops it to the floor and gets up to turn down the AC in the room.

It's almost the height of summer, and you don't even seem to notice you've been sweating for god-knows how long.

"Come on." He lifts you with a groan — his heart breaking as you let out a soft whimper.

He hates that this is the way he gets to have you all to himself. His sweet girl doesn't deserve all of this pain. If he had it his way, nothing in the world would ever hurt you. But it went and stole away both of your parents on the same night, breaking your forearm and your heart in the process.

As he pulls you onto your feet and wraps your arm around his shoulders, your eyes start burning with the urge to cry. Nothing comes out, though. You've already exhausted your body's supply of hydration through your sweat and tears. You squeeze them shut to relieve the sting, sobbing tearlessly as he guides you to the connected bathroom.

"I know, sweet girl," he whispers, bumping the door open with his foot. "It's going to be okay."

It certainly doesn't feel like it.

"I know it doesn't feel like it," he pouts as he sits you on the closed toilet. "But I'm going to be here with you, okay? We're going to get through this together, you and me. I'm here for whatever you need, honey."

He peels the thin hospital gown off of you carefully, forcing his eyes anywhere but your chest as it heaves with the force of your dry sobs. "Let's get you cleaned up."

────୨ৎ────

"She didn't eat anything: I tried, the nurse tried, the doctor tried to tell her she should at least have something..." Hongjoong sighs, holding his phone to his ear as he leans his head against the wall; slumped in the chair. "Mh... You can get her some honey noodles. It's her favorite, so..." He trails off.

"Hopefully she'll eat it?" Bumjoong speaks on the other end of the line.

"Yeah. We couldn't even get her to drink anything. They had to put her on a drip, she was so dehydrated she couldn't even cry."

"Poor thing..."

"Mhm..."

"How are you doing, Hong?"

He pauses for a moment. He hadn't really thought of his feelings — too worried about yours. Your wellbeing far outweighs his care of his own, it has for a long time.

"I'm okay." He says truthfully, "I'm a- I'm sad, I guess. I wasn't in love with her, and I didn't know him. She was..." A means to an end? "A good friend. I really cared about her." Not nearly as much as he cares about you, though. "I'm more worried about (Y/n)."

"It's a really big shock. Both of you will get through this. I know you'll take care of her, you're good like that."

"Thanks, B- oh, I gotta go. See you when you get here."

Hongjoong stands up quickly as he catches you moving in bed. Laid atop the blankets in some slightly too large sweat pants and a tank top, you stir awake.

He's by your side when you open your protesting eyes, holding your hand gently. "Hey, honey." He keeps it simple, "I'm here."

"Joongie..." Your voice comes out raspy from all the crying, and more tears are working their way into your eyes now that you're hydrated again.

"I'm here, don't worry."

You open up your arms, and he dives right in, wrapping his around you tightly and pulling you up into his lap. Your legs lock around his hips, and your arms around his neck, the rough texture of the plaster cast itching his skin; but he doesn't move it as you land your face in the crook of his shoulder.

"I've got you. Joongie's got you." He coos at you like you're a child and really — you might as well be one right now. All you can do is cry and cry and cry.

His hand sliding up and down your back gently keeps you grounded, and you aren't sure if you appreciate it. You don't know if you want to be present while your mind sorts through all of the sudden grief you're slammed with.

Through your blubbering, messy tears, you ask, "wh-ere are- are they?"

He doesn't want to answer. He knows anything he says will make it worse. But he can't lie to you. You deserve to know. "They're in the morgue. Bum just went and claimed their bodies-"

You let out a scream into his shoulder, making him jolt before he hugs you tighter. Pure heartbreak, absolutely soul shaking and he knows the patients in the neighboring rooms have heard it.

Another raw scream rips through your throat, followed by a series of mumbles. "No, no, no, no, this can't be happening-"

"Shhh, I'm sorry, honey," he holds your head to his chest, tucking you under his chin, "I'm sorry, it is..."

He blinks away his tears, cradling you close to him. He can't stand to see you so upset. But there's nothing he can do to make it better.

This is only a wound that time can try to heal.

But that doesn't mean he won't be there as it does. He's always been there, ever since he came into your life. He isn't going anywhere.

────୨ৎ────

You were always afraid of thunderstorms.

It started when you were a girl, and carried all the way into your adulthood.

As the thunder boomed too close for comfort, you curled up in your blanket tighter. And when the lighting flashed right outside of your window; you scrambled up with a terrified yelp. "Mom!"

"(Y/n)?" Hongjoong yelled as he ran to your room quickly, sluggish with the remnants of sleep but bolting to the sound of your voice nonetheless. He was just about to fall asleep, but your scream had him up in seconds.

Your mother wasn't home, and wouldn't be for some time. She had taken to working extra late nights and weekends. It's usually always just you and Hongjoong when you get home from work.

He grabbed your doorframe as he came to an abrupt stop, looking around your room before he heard a small sniffle — and there you were.

Sitting with your back against the bed and your head in your knees, hugging yourself tightly. "Honey?" He called with such gentleness it hardly broke the air.

Your teary eyes looked up from your legs, your lip trembling. He came up to you slowly, placing his hands on your knees as he kneeled in front of you. "Are you okay?"

"It's so- so childish..." You had whispered, wiping your face quickly as tears streaked down your cheeks. Just when he was about to ask 'what?' —

Another house-shaking rumble of thunder made you jump, instinctively grabbing his arm. Fear in your eyes, you opened your mouth; but no sound escaped.

"It's okay," he said, placing his hand over yours gently as you clung to his arm. "Are you scared of the storm?"

Embarrassedly, you had nodded.

"Yeah, I get it — mother nature is a scary son of a bitch." His eyes lit up as you chuckled lightly. "Do you- is there anything I can do?"

You hesitated for a few moments before another rumble shook the walls, then you spoke quickly; "Can you stay?"

You felt ridiculous. A grown woman asking her step-father to stay with her because she was afraid of some thunder and lightning. You thought he'd come up with some excuse to leave and go to his own bed.

But he didn't even pause before saying, "of course, honey." He didn't make you feel ridiculous. Childish.

No, he made you feel safe.

────୨ৎ────

"Are you awake?"

You are. Staring at your ceiling. In complete silence. The comfort of your own bed, your own clothes, the smell of your mothers laundry soap that you always complained about being too floral — it's all so comforting that you haven't moved since you got home... 17 hours ago.

"...Yes."

"Are you hungry?" Hongjoong asks from the doorway, leaning with his hands in his pockets. "The doctor said you should try to eat with your medicine."

You take a second to think. To try and feel your bodies needs. You fall short. "I don't know."

"I'll make you some breakfast."

Breakfast?

You turn your head with a groan as he walks away, looking towards your window. In from the closed curtains, on your floor is the early morning light; trying its hardest to seep into your room.

You roll your head back and sigh, looking at the ceiling for a moment before urging yourself to sit up.

Sit up. Just do it. Just get up!

But your body doesn't respond to your brain telling it to move. You close your eyes defeatedly, keeping the tears held back by your eyelids. "Hongjoong..." You call weakly. "Joong."

He peeks his head into the room before coming in slowly, "yes?"

"I c-" You breathe out slowly, forcing your eyes open. Your chin trembles with your held back emotion. "I can't move."

His eyebrows push together, "do you want me to help you?" He asks softly, his fingers tracing over the cast on your arm.

"Please," you choke out your response, melting into his touch as he wraps his arms under you and pulls you up carefully.

"Here we go, baby," the nickname slips out unintentionally; and neither of you notice it. "Easy does it." He hums as he rubs your arms, letting you sit up on your own as he moves your legs to dangle off the bed.

"When- when are we going to bury them?"

He sighs, crouching infront of you and placing his hands on your knees. "Are you ready to talk about that?"

"I need to- we need to. I can't... I can't just let them sit there." I should be there with them; is what you want to add.

It's all you've been able to think about. Why, of all of you, are you the one to survive? The only one?

"We can talk about it after you eat something."

"Hongjoong, c-"

"Come on," he grabs your hand gently, leading you onto your feet and holding you steady as you waiver. "One step at a time."

────୨ৎ────

"Hey, Hiyyih," Hongjoong greets the young woman as he opens the door the next day.

She's the first person other than him and Bumjoong that you were willing to speak with.

"How is she?" She asks as she pushes her way into the house, taking off her shoes in a hurry.

"About how you'd expect..." He sighs, pushing back his messy hair. He spent the entire night in bed with you, both of you only getting fitful episodes of rest between the nightmares and crying.

But he was diligent and soft with you the entire time, holding you close with just enough pressure that you didn't feel trapped. You just felt... protected.

"Not great. At all."

She goes to run to your room, but she stops herself and looks him up and down. "I've got her. You need to get some rest, too."

"Thank you," he smiles, just barely.

He doesn't want to put you in someone else's care. But, if it's going to be anyone, he's glad it's her.

You've been best friends since childhood and he's got to know her and her brother well during the last year. She cares about you almost as much as he does. Almost.

"If she needs anything- or you, if you need anything-"

"I know where to find you," she nods, giving him a light hug before rushing down the hallway; calling your name.

She finds you right where he left you, laid on your side in the bed; watching your fingers trace along the cast on your arm with the slightest hint of disgust in your otherwise blank eyes.

"Hey." Her softly spoken tone makes your eyes flick to her quickly, relief written on your face.

"Hiyyih," you sit up too quickly, but your dizziness doesn't stop you from getting up and hugging the blonde tightly; getting the exact treatment back.

She doesn't handle you like you're fragile, like the brothers do. And she doesn't carry pity in her voice, like others had, as she says, "I'm so sorry."

Hiyyih hugs you like she means it, wrapping her arms around you tightly and squeezing you into her while you both start tearing up. "I was so scared," she whispers as she holds you impossibly closer, "they wouldn't let me and Kai up to see you. Joong wasn't answering his phone, yours is still straight to voicemail, I was so scared I lost you-"

"I'm still here," you choke out. Pained with the fact. And she can hear it in your voice.

She pulls back with a pout, her arms around your neck gently, "and I'm glad. (Y/n), what happened to you is-"

"A miracle?" You grimace as you recall the word the doctor and nurses said over and over again. "So I've heard."

"It's a miracle she survived." The doctor had told Hongjoong. "Your arm should heal within two months, it's really a miracle." The woman said as she explained how to care for your cast. Miracle. Miracle.

The word even slipped from Hongjoong the day he brought you home from the hospital, as he placed you into bed. Thinking you were sleeping. "My miracle."

"No," Hiyyih shakes her head, frowning. "It's a tragedy. I can't even begin to imagine the pain you're in..."

Hearing someone else say exactly what you were thinking, hearing it be validated — you crash right back into her arms in a wreck of sobs. "Oh, Hiyyih! I can't- I don't-"

She doesn't shush you, she doesn't tell you it's okay. She just sniffles, holding you tightly as you shake with the force of your grief.

────୨ৎ────

"He said that?!" Hiyyih slapped her hand over her mouth as you shushed her.

"Shhh!" You hit her arm, pouting dramatically, "will you quit it? My step-dad works from home."

"Sorry, sorry," she frowned, sitting atop the counter while you cooked for the both of you. "But... he said that?"

"Yeah... That's what he said," you smiled brightly, "he said he'll even pick me up."

"Oh, I'm so excited for you! This is your first date since when? How long has it been, two years, three-"

"Hey, girls," Hongjoong said as he turned into the kitchen, spooking you both into silence. He nodded to Hiyyih briefly before smiling towards you.

"Hey, Hong." You didn't seem to think anything of it as he pushed you forward a bit by the small of your back to get past you to the refrigerator. "If we're too loud, just tell me. Hiyyih doesn't know how to control her volume." You stuck your tongue out at her, laughing as she did the same.

"You're fine," he chuckled lightly, taking a seat at the table with his drink. "What're you making? Smells good."

"Ramen with my secret ingredient," you were already reaching into the cabinet to get another pack as you asked, "want some?"

"Sure. What's the secret ingredient?" He hummed, leaning his head in his hand as he watched you.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret~"

"It's Tajin and cooking wine." Hiyyih smirked as you turned to her, wielding your fork like a weapon.

"I'm never telling you my secrets again. You've betrayed me for the last time!" You yelled dramatically, snatching up the seasoning she handed to you.

"Yes, you will," she gigged, nudging your leg with her foot, "you tell me everything!"

"Not any more."

Hongjoong watched from the table, smiling, as you and your friend went back in forth with your playful argument. Really though, his eyes never left you.

────୨ৎ────

Neither your mother nor your father had much family. The only ones who showed up to the funeral a few days later was a handful of cousins and some sympathetic co-workers. Hiyyih and Kai, their parents.

Hongjoong didn't let you leave his side, and you didn't want to anyway.

You dread the day he leaves because he's the only thing keeping you even semi-functional.

For the past four days: he's pulled you out of bed, cleaned you up, made sure you took your medicine, he helped you change everyday — claiming it was only worse for your mental health to stay in your pajamas all day.

He must pity you. That's what you think. That's why he's sticking around. He'll probably leave after the funeral like everyone else.

Your stark white cast stands out in the sea of black as your parents are lowered into the ground next to one another.

Hongjoong looks over to you; your bloodshot eyes trained on the caskets.

He doesn't pity you. He loves you.

Of course he feels bad. He hates that you're in pain. But he cares for you more than he pities you. Far more.

He wraps his arm around your shoulders and your head immediately falls into his, your hand coming to cover your mouth. Bumjoong, from behind you, rests a comforting hand on your shoulder.

You don't know what you're going to do when they leave.

Hiyyih, from your other side, rubs your back softly as you muffle your cries. Kai is biting back his tears as he reaches between you and holds your hand. You'll always have them.

────୨ৎ────

And even if you didn't, you don't have to worry about the brothers leaving, especially not Hongjoong. He tries to make that clear as he helps you out of the car.

He came back with you. He isn't going anywhere.

"I'll heat you up some-"

"(Y/n)?" Your elder neighbor hobbles over quickly, stopping the three of you in your driveway. "Dear, look at you..."

"Now's not a great time-" Hongjoong tries to stop her, pulling you behind him gently when she reaches out.

"Oh, I'll be quick," she says as she takes your hands in her own, cast and all.

"Ma'am, really-" Bumjoong similarly gets cut off.

"I just wanted to let you know how very, very sorry my husband and I are for you. You're so young, you shouldn't have to deal with such grief. I was in my fifties when my parents passed, I can't imagine..."

You look up at her blankly, "thanks, Miss K."

"Oh, dear, I'm so glad you're okay! You're such a sweet girl. It's a miracle you survived. I saw the photos on the news, it's a work of god that anyone made it out-"

"Okay, okay," Hongjoong steps between you, "really, that's enough. Thank you for your condolences."

Both you and Bumjoong are looking at the woman like she's grown another head, wide eyes and jaws dropped.

Hongjoong, though, is seething. "We'll see you around, Miss K." He yanks your hands from her grasp and pulls you to the front door, hiding you in his side with his arm around you while he unlocks the door. "What a fucking bitch, read the room-" He grumbles as he pushes the door open, guiding you inside. "Come on, honey."

Bumjoong gives the awestruck woman an awkward smile before run-walking to join you.

Hongjoong is kneeling down, taking your shoes off of you gently.

"Ignore her." He knows you feel guilty for surviving. He, and everyone else, have been trying to get that idea out of your head.

The idea that you should have died with your parents.

"I think I wa- I want to go lay down."

That's all you've wanted to do for the past six days. All six days since the crash — all you want to do is curl up and disappear.

"Come on," he pushes you into the direction of the couch, "Bum, will you make her something to drink?"

"On it."

You crash onto the cushions, laid face down as he pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and drapes it over you. "Thanks." You say shortly.

"Anything you need, honey. Anything at all."

────୨ৎ────

"What're you wearing?" Hongjoong hummed, leaning his head over the back of the couch and looking you up and down.

Dressed in a cute skirt and a button up blouse, all dolled up, you did a twirl that made his heart flutter. "Cute, right?"

"Very~ Where you off to?"

"Me and Hiyyih are going on a girls date. Her boyfriend just broke up with her, so I'm standing in," you laughed as you grabbed your purse from the hook by the door.

"You're a good friend," he smiled, quickly standing up and making his way to you. "No boys right?"

"No, Dad," You rolled your eyes playfully, missing the way his eyes widened a bit. "Just me and her- well, her brother. But he doesn't count!"

"Hmm... I'll allow it," he joked right back after his shock passed, handing you the keys to his car after you pulled your shoes on. You took them with a big smile.

"Really? I was gonna take my bike to meet her-"

"In that skirt? Do you want the whole neighborhood to see your pant-"

"Okayyyy!" You shoved his arm, "I get it, perv."

He smirked lightly — if only you knew the half of it.

"I'll be back before mom gets home," you said as you opened up the door, leaning back to him. "Mwah," you gave him a quick peck. Chaste and fleeting.

That's one thing he still can't get used to. You kiss everyone on the lips, it's just part of how you show affection. But it still makes him giddy.

"Bye, Dad." You closed the door before either of you got the chance to really take in what had just slipped from your lips. Not joking like before.

Hongjoong stared at the door with wide eyes, debating on whether or not he actually just heard you correctly.

Debating on if he should just deal with the consequences of yanking the door open and shoving his tongue in your mouth to show you how to really kiss.

In the end, he didn't. But he thought about it.

He still thinks about it. A lot.

────୨ৎ────

"I made you an appointment with a grief counselor," Hongjoong says quietly over the sound of the rain against the roof.

The wind howls, the screen door bangs every few seconds, the television keeps it's steady sound of a show you've seen a million times.

You stay there, laying across the couch, unmoving with your unfocused eyes on the TV.

"Did you hear me, honey?"

"...Yeah."

"Is th-" He sighs, rubbing his face as he leans on the doorframe. He's asked you 'is there anything you need' five times a day, at the very least. And he never got an answer.

He's not been guiding you through your grief — he's just been keeping you afloat so that you don't drown in it completely.

He needs to know what you need to start getting through it.

"I'm really trying. I really am, (Y/n)... But I can't help you if you don't tell me what you need."

The lights flicker with a loud rumble of thunder, and his heart breaks a little more as he watches you flinch.

He pushes off of the wall, getting a tissue from the third box you've gone through this week and a half on his way over.

When he kneels in front of you and dabs your tears away, they start flowing quicker. "Shhh," he coos softly, rubbing your arm as you hold yourself, "I know. I know, honey."

His blurry figure pouts as you meet his gaze. "I need-" Your voice cracks, "I need you to hold me."

He presses his lips together in a gentle smile, "okay. I can do that."

You finally push yourself off of the couch for the first time in hours, sniffling quietly.

He sits next to you and pats his lap lightly, urging you forward. Carefully, you sit sideways atop of him; your shoulders slumped and your head low as you wipe your eyes.

As he wraps his arms around you, you can't help the wave of ugly sobs that come with the comfort of his touch.

"It's okay," he says softly as he presses his forehead against your shoulder, "cry it all out."

You turn quickly, hugging his neck and crying into him, "why am I alive, Joongie?"

He's well and true speechless. He has no idea what to say. How to comfort you. "Don't... don't say that."

"It should have been me-"

"Stop. Stop talking like that, honey."

When his palms touch your cheeks, you almost think he's slapped you from both sides simultaneously — but his touch is soft, and it doesn't move.

His eyes flick wildly across your teary face, his finger twitching on your cheekbones. "Don't say that. Don't fucking say that."

"Why are you even here? You can leave, go find an actual girlfriend-"

"I don't want to." He breathes softly, frantic eyes finally locking on yours, "I don't want to leave. This is our home. This is where we belong, together. I don't want a girlfriend, I want you."

"Wh-"

"I want to stay with you," he shakes his head as if correcting himself, "I want to take care of you, honey. Please, please just let me. You don't need to do this on your own — you can't. I want to stay."

Your pout only gets bigger, bottom lip trembling and calling his attention. "Why?"

"Because I care about you."

Despite the circumstances, his heart is trying to beat out of his chest to try and jump into yours. He means every word he says, but you don't know the extent.

"Don't say those things again, baby. Never. You deserve to live. And I'm not going to leave. Especially not when you're hurting so bad."

A bittersweet warmth touches your soul for the first time since the accident. The corners of your lips twitch up instead of down. "R-really?"

He takes a steadying breath before he pecks your lips, holding himself back. "Really."

────୨ৎ────

"Joong." You grab his wrist as he turns to leave your bedroom the next night, looking down at the floor.

"Yup? Yes, honey?" He turns back around quickly, rubbing your arm.

He had helped you clean up and change into your pajamas, and was about to go do the same for himself.

Hiyyih had visited again, but left a few hours ago, promising she'd come back soon. You hugged her extra tight.

"I just wanted to say... thank you for taking care of me and my mom. You're a really nice guy. I hope- I hope one day you'll get to have an actual family."

He wants to tell you you are his family. But he just smiles and pets your freshly washed hair. "You're sweet."

He gets the wind knocked out of him as you crash into him. Hugging him extra tight. "Oh-" He wraps his arms around you in return, squeezing you much gentler than you do to him. He waits until you let go — he always does.

You appreciated that about him. He was good to you. "Goodnight, Hongjoong."

"Goodnight, honey. See you in the morning."

You don't say it back.

He closes the door behind him quietly. Shuffling down the hall, he rubs his face tiredly.

It doesn't hit him until he's rinsing his face, staring down at the place where your pain and sleep pills should be. And it's empty.

The door just about comes off the hinges as he yanks it open, running down the hall. "Hey!" Your door gets the same treatment, slamming into the wall behind it as he throws it open.

It's only been twenty minutes — if that. But you're sitting on the floor, leaning on the side of the bed, eyes drooping as you stare at the photo of your parents on your nightstand. Both bottles of pills are empty on the floor next to you.

"No, no, no, no," he mumbles as he runs to you. "No! What did you do? What did you do, baby? Hey, you stay awake, goddamn it!" He slaps your cheek lightly, multiple times in quick succession until you pout and open your eyes.

Wildly dilated eyes scanning his face, you groan. "I'm gonna go."

"Like fuck you are! Get up, c'mon," he grits his teeth as he hauls you to your feet, wrapping his arms up under yours and dragging you out of the room, "you aren't going anywhere! No fucking way!"

"Let go of me," you slur tiredly, kicking your feet weakly as they drag on the floor. Everything is slightly blurry from your tears. The photos lining the hall, the wallpaper they're on — your mother's bedroom door that hasn't been opened in a week.

He falls to the tile with you, dragging you to your knees as you protest feebly, "oh, god... How long ago- oh, god!"

You whine as he pulls your torso over the clawfoot tub, slapping at his hand while he grips your jaw. "You can't leave, you can't! I need you. You can't go." His fingers dig into the sides of your face; forcing your mouth open.

His fingers are in the back of your mouth before you can even grab at him, making you gag. "Ge- get them out, angel." He shoves them deeper, making you retch right into the tub. Bile and half dissolved pills.

But not nearly as many pills as he knows was in those bottles.

He does it again, cringing at the sound of your gagged whines. Not paying any mind to the stomach acid on his fingers as he digs them back into your throat. Only your pained noises as you spew more pills.

"Shhh," he uses his clean hand to rub your back as he turns on the water, washing away all of the filth and pills before rinsing his fingers. "Shhh, you're o- I'm here."

He doesn't dare say 'you're okay'. Because that's far from the truth.

You're so filled with grief and misplaced guilt that the first thing you've done in almost two weeks without being coaxed — is try to kill yourself.

But as you spit up into the tub: hard tile under your knees, heart clenching painfully in your chest, casted arm slipping on the edge, Hongjoong's trembling voice cutting through the air to beg you to stay awake long enough to get the pills out —

You realize you're afraid to die.

He's crying almost as hard as you are as you ask yourself, in a near incoherent voice, "why did I do that?" You cough into the tub, spitting up the taste of your stomach. "Joongie, what did I do?" You yell as you grip the edge of the tub with your finger-tips. "I don't want to die!"

You don't.

You miss your parents so badly that it feels like there's a void in your heart — like someone has hole punched it and left you to bleed out. You feel so guilty for walking away with nothing other than a broken arm that you may as well be calling yourself the anti-christ; like you've committed a mortal sin just by existing.

But you're afraid of what comes after death. If it's pitch black and cold. If it's like a deep sleep. If it's like heaven and hell.

You aren't ready to find out.

He hugs your arm tightly, sobbing into your sleeve, "how many did you take?"

"I t- all of them! All of them!" You shake your head, blinking rapidly, "what do I do?!"

"Open," he shakily lifts his fingers again, wrapping his hand around yours on the edge of the tub as he shoves them back into your throat. "Get them out, as many as you can, honey. Before you start digesting them more."

You can hardly breathe as he makes you empty your stomach into the tub, three more times before pills stop coming up with the burning acid that has your throat raw.

"We need to get you to the hospital-"

You shake your head, coughing dryly, "they'll admit me."

"You need to be looked at, sweetheart..."

"Please," you look at him, begging. "Don't make me. They'll keep me, Joong... I can't- I can't." You squeeze his hand tightly, "they won't let me see you."

His gaze softens even more, lacing his fingers with yours. The rushing water fills the silence between you.

"You were right," you say quietly, voice hoarse with pain; both physical and mental. "I need you to take care of me. Please, take care of me."

────୨ৎ────

You came home late, mascara smudged and half-assedly cleaned up.

"Where you been?" Hongjoong's voice made you jump, holding your hand to your chest. He turned around at the table and his eyes widened; practically jumping out of the chair. "What-"

"It's nothing." You tried to shove his hands away as they came up to cradle your puffy and heated face. That, along with your ruined makeup, told him you'd been crying.

He tilted your head up, pouting as he inspected you. "What happened?"

His soft touch, his gentle tone, the genuine concern in his eyes — it made you burst into another round of tears.

"Oh-" He shook his head, shushing you as he rubbed your cheekbones with his thumbs, "hey, shhh, you don't need to cry, sweetheart. Whatever it is, I can try to help you."

You threw yourself into his chest, hugging him tightly and leaving him a bit surprised for a moment before he returned the favor.

It was the first time he ever called you anything other than 'honey'.

He let you cry into his chest for a good few minutes before you finally exhausted yourself; sniffling and holding onto him.

"Want to tell me what this is about?" He whispered as he traced on your back.

"He dumped me."

Hongjoong wanted to jump for joy, but he hid his smile as he continued to hold your head to his shoulder; trying to keep his tone even. "He doesn't know what he's missing, honey."

"Can I... could I ask you something a bit personal, Joong? About guys?"

"Sure." He smoothed out his expression as you leaned back. He'd answer any question you ask without hesitation.

"Well... I know you and my mom don't have sex-" His eyes widened a bit, having absolutely no idea where you were going. "-and... I was just curious if guys really do get blue balls if they don't... do it? God, I sound ridiculous." You laughed humorlessly, wiping your cheeks.

"Uuuuhm- sorry, sorry." He scratched his neck, feeling heat creeping up it. "I wasn't expecting that-"

"You don't have to answer, I just- well... Google wasn't very helpful. It was a bunch of incels on Reddit, not the most reliable source."

He pushed a hand through his hair as he wandered back to the table, sitting quickly. "No, that's not true." He looked down, and then back to you in a split second, "why?"

He noticed your unease, the way you swallowed with a bit of trouble; like there was a lump in your throat.

"He said that's why he couldn't be with me anymore... We were just w-" You cleared your throat, choosing to leave out the details, "he said because I won't put out."

"That's stupid, honey-" Your heart dropped for a split second, thinking he was telling you you should go back to him and- "-you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

You slunk into the chair across from him, tapping your fingers on the table as you bit your lip. "You seriously don't get blue balls? He made it sound so real..."

He laughed a bit, fondly. Reaching over, he held your hand softly, "seriously. We can handle it on our own." Looking over your features slowly, watching you take in the information; his eyebrows pressed together. "Are you a virgin?"

The question had caught you both off guard, and he let go of your hand quickly to cover his mouth. "I'm so sorry. I did not mean to say that."

Although a bit mortified of answering, you thought it a fair question. You know he didn't mean to ask, and he was definitely not expecting an answer — he was fully expecting a scold or a slap or for you to completely ignore his personal inquiry.

But you just spoke, "yeah."

You didn't know it, but his wide eyes weren't of shock. They were of wonder and awe. Can you get more perfect? Is what he was thinking in the brief moment of silence that hung between you.

He swallowed thickly before speaking, "and that's why he broke up with you? Because you aren't ready to have sex?"

"Yeah, but, I mean," you shrugged, "I see where he's coming from-"

"No, no, noooo," he interrupted, quickly, "absolutely not!" He met your eyes and spoke sincerely, "you should wait until you're ready. Don't let that jackass get in your head. If it's important to you, you should do it with someone special."

"You really think that? Most people say I'm overreacting, being too picky..." You looked away, sighing, "most people my age don't really think it's such a big deal. I mean, it really is mostly societal- but for me, I want to feel safe with the person who I literally let inside of me, y'know?"

He was internally freaking the fuck out, but he kept a calm face; nodding along with your words. It was your first time ever opening up to him about something so undeniably personal.

"No, that's completely valid," he said quickly when he realized you were done talking; looking to him for a response. "I can imagine it's scary to you, right?"

"Yeah," you leaned your head on your hand, "it is."

He'll make sure you never feel scared with him. He can take much better care of you than any boy your age ever could. He should make sure you stop going on dates — one of these times, you might give into their pressuring. All of these thoughts ran through his mind as he watched you, his heart in his throat. What can he do to make you feel better?

"Hey, honey?" He broke the silence carefully, a smile tugging on his lips as you looked up at him. "Have you ever egged someone's house?"

────୨ৎ────

"How are you feeling?" Hongjoong asks for the third time in twenty minutes, looking over to you as he puts the stopper in the tub.

Letting it fill with lukewarm water, he sits on the edge to face you.

"Tired," you whisper as you pick at the plaster cast. "My throat hurts- you had to jab me so hard?" You're fuzzy headed and it's the first time you've even gotten close to laughing.

Your small joking tone doesn't amuse him though, not when you're still in the danger zone and refusing to go to the hospital.

He knows he should just pick your ass up and make you go. But he can't bring himself to, the thought of them keeping you away from him nagging him into doing research as fast as possible so he can take care of you.

You're going to be so pissed when he keeps you awake for the next few hours, already nodding off every so often with your head rolling back and forth on the wall you rest on. But he isn't risking letting you fall asleep. Not when you never waking up is a possibility.

He knocks his foot against yours as your eyes droop for the umpteenth time.

"Let me sleep," you draw on in a whine, slapping at his foot clumsily.

"No. You need to stay awake for at least a few hours until I know you're okay."

You peek your eyes open and pout up at him, dramatically at first. But it turns genuine as you register the sternness, the care and concern on his face.

His nose slightly red from crying, his eyes puffy, and his hair a mess.

"I'm sorry." You blurt out quickly. "I d- I just..." You squeeze your eyes shut as you roll your head to face away from him. "I don't even know. I'm sorry..."

"Why did you do that?" He deadpans, finally asking the million dollar question.

"I don't know-"

"Yes, you do."

"I don't!"

"Stop lying to me!"

You flinch as he stands quickly, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Stop lying to yourself! You didn't do this for the fuck of it. You were trying to kill yourself! I want to know why! Why would you do something so stupid? What if I hadn't noticed? Huh? You were just going to lay there on the floor until you seized to death? Until your heart gave out? All alone i- What- I can't-" He paces back and forth in the small space, gripping his hair.

He stops as he hears you choke back a cry, and his eyes snap to you; still on the floor. Your knees pulled up to your chest and your wide eyes teary as you watch him.

He sighs, sliding down the wall to sit next to you. He holds your hand gently, but his voice is still laced with anger and confusion, "I want a goddamn answer, (Y/n)."

You take a few short seconds to steady your shallow breaths, not daring to look over at him even as you feel his gaze on you. "I feel like... I shouldn't have survived. Like this is some sort of sick joke the universe is playing on me. Why d- why did I get to live and they don't? It's not fair..."

"Life isn't fair," he says without hesitation, "life is fucking brutal. It sucks, but, honey, that's the truth. The world will throw the most vile things at people who deserve it least. It pummels us to the dirt — and you know what we do?"

He squeezes your hand lightly, getting you to look at him. "You know what we do?"

You shake your head slowly, gripping his hand tight.

"We get up. And we keep going. No matter how much it hurts. We keep living, keep fighting. Do you understand me? We don't get to give up just because life is unfair."

Your lip trembles, and before you can stop them, tears are free falling down your face.

"C'mere," he mumbles softly, opening up his arms and wrapping them around you as you crawl into his lap. "I got you."

"I'm so sorry, Da- Joong," you stutter into his neck breathlessly, already a mess of sobs in his hold.

"I know, honey," he hums as he rubs your shoulders slowly, "it's okay, I'm not mad. You just scared me, you know? What would I do without my sweet girl?"

You can only respond with more tears, clinging to him tightly.

────୨ৎ────

The sun rises in through the windows, casting the dim table in its light. Shining on you and Hongjoong in two separate blocks of warmth as you both rest your heads on the surface.

Your fingers play idly with his, eyes barely held open.

He's just the same, holding back his yawns as he waits in silence; tracing your face and committing every detail to memory like he hasn't already.

He had kept you up all night despite your growing aggravation as he did so; the pills that managed to dissolve in your stomach making you unbelievably sleepy. Eventually, around two hours ago, you had given up arguing and forced yourself to stay awake so he'd stop shaking you and blasting music in your ear.

When you made it clear you'd stay up, he turned off the blinding overhead light and rubbed your head to aid your headache.

When the alarm on his phone finally goes off, he breathes a sigh of relief. "You're in the clear," he shuts it off quickly, sitting up and stretching his arms above his head.

"Can I eat now?" You moan tiredly as you rub your eyes, forcing yourself up.

"Yes, and then we'll get some sleep," he kisses your head as he stands. "Cereal okay?"

"That's good."

The events of the night still hang heavy in the air, but less so. In between your bouts of annoyance over not being able to sleep; Hongjoong got you to open up more.

All of your feelings laid out in the open, the crushing weight of dealing with them all on your own has lightened. Your shoulders feel less tense. Your soul feels just a bit less plagued.

You eat in silence, both of you clearing your bowls quickly with the promise of sleep awaiting you.

He doesn't even bother clearing the table before he stands up and opens his arms for you. With a small groan, he lifts you up and allows you to wrap your arms and legs around him. "Let's go to bed, honey."

"Mhm," you hum into his shoulder, resting your head against him while he carries you to your room.

"I'll set an alarm for a few hours." He lays you down gently before taking his phone from his pocket, doing just that.

You expect him to leave, go to his own bed. But he throws his phone down on your bedside table and tells you, "scoot over."

You don't hesitate before sliding closer to the wall, making room for him as he lays next to you. "You're going to stay?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna stay," he smiles lightly, settling on his side to face you. "I need to know my honey is safe."

You roll to mirror him, eyes tired like never before — but he sees a small flicker of life in them as you move closer.

You cuddle into his chest, hiding your face in his shirt as you close your eyes; melting into his hold.

"Thanks, Dad."

The word slips without you even noticing, already falling asleep with the warmth of his body soothing your soul.

But he latches onto it. Letting it echo with something akin to love blooming in his chest, sinking it's vines into his heart.

He isn't going anywhere.

────୨ৎ────

316 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 11 days ago

Text

I'm gonna explode

hongjoong ver. | seonghwa ver. | yunho ver.

a yeosang situationship/fwb probably takes years to actually form.

he's not really that kind of person -- he's had his fair share of hookups, but they're not usually with people he knows well. that gets messy really fast, and he values his relationship with you as is! regardless of what both of you want and are okay with, the basis of your friendship will fundamentally change the second you pursue anything more.

well. that's what he tells himself, and then you text him to come over and he practically sprints to your apartment.

and it's good. he won't deny that! you make him feel amazing, and he loves that he gets to repay you for it tenfold. and it's never awkward, or rushed, or strange -- you guys know each other. he blows your back out and an hour later the two of you are curled up on his couch playing fucking mario kart. it's so good.

then he realizes he actually likes that kind of domesticity with you. he likes the slow kisses after sex, and the way you look in his shirt, and the random texts you'll send him when you get home. and because of the nature of your new, modified relationship, those things don't have a platonic warmth to them. they're red hot and stinging with desire and romance.

when he pitches the idea of breaking it off, or at least taking a break, you seem disappointed, but understanding. a little sad, maybe. you reassure him that he still means something to you as a friend and just because you had some fun for a while doesn't mean you don't still value that part of him. and when you leave, you hold his face in your hands like you're trying to commit the feeling to memory.

he doesn't see you around very often after that.

#What if I cry actually #was the angst..hmm☹️☹️☹️#It was necessary guys..#still.. ☹️☹️#ateez scenarios #ateez x reader #ateez imagines #ateez yeosang drabble #ateez yeosang imagine #ateez yeosang x reader #fwb! yeosang #yeosang angst #ateez angst

150 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 12 days ago

Text

it’s okay to feel good

counselor!song mingi x f!reader

tags: sensitive topics on religion, coercion, praise, loss of innocence, pet names (pretty baby, lamb, love, etc.) corruption, unprotected sex(yikes), religious guilt, pleasure dom mingi, oral (f! receiving), cheating, eye contact, mentions of breeding, talking you through it, NOT PROOFREAD. (Like at all, sorry for any spelling mistakes)

summary: you would do anything to relieve this dark, invasive feeling in your soul. absolutely anything.

wc: 7.3k

“in the crooks of your body, I find my religion.”

track list- gibson girl, glory box, the death of peace of mind

Frankly, from the beginning, you thought it was out of the ordinary. And you had to give yourself credit for the fact that this was indeed your last resort.

For the past 10 years, you’ve struggled with a deep-seated shame in yourself. Growing up sheltered and with a family that valued innocence and chastity. Basically, celibacy was the only way to live your life without sin. While being raised that way was damaging on its own, after having left the church once you got out on your own, it followed you. The guilt...

It was instilled at a young age that anything along the lines of adultery is sinful and is to be utterly ashamed of. And even though those ideals are not ones you wholeheartedly live by anymore, ideas that you lived with for such a long time tend to stick. Old habits die hard, you guess.

So when you had your very first boyfriend, a young, kind, smart guy you had met in your public speaking class, you thought this was your chance. To break through and not let the chains of the past hold you back from experiencing new things.

When you guys had your first kiss, it went fine. He respected your boundaries, made sure to understand that you were kind of fragile. To be careful with you. You can't ask for better. But one issue is that he never ever tried anything further than kissing. You two could make out for hours, and it never progressed any further than that. On one hand, you were relieved that you didn't have to put yourself out there like that so soon, but at the same time, you wondered if you just didn't see yourself in that way. Maybe he didn’t find you pretty enough for sex. Or maybe intimacy just wasn't his thing. You came up with every excuse in the book. Some for yourself on why you won’t just ask him, and some for him as to why he never initiated. This went on for a year. A whole year of dating and not once touching each other.

You felt disgusting. Something must be wrong with you. Your boyfriend never even once suggested anything sexual. It felt like it was all you. You felt perverted, like all you were thinking about was sex. You’d touch yourself at night while he was on his computer, working in the other room. Your pillow in your mouth as you bit to muffle your noises while your fingers explored your body. Every time after you were done, a strong and hot feeling of dirtiness and guilt washed over you as you realized what you had done. Touching the rosary on your neck as you stared into the ceiling, breathing heavily, a prayer in the back of your mind raced by as you tried to calm yourself. The sacred jewelry on your neck was a gift from your mother. Something that even though held sick memories and painful reminders, it was just too familiar, and you wouldn't dare part with it.

“I'm not doing anything wrong. This is normal. I'm okay. It's okay. “ But you became addicted, touching yourself until it hurt. Until it burned, but it was never enough. Lust was becoming a drug, and each dose you amped it up, but it never was the high you were searching for.

You decided that after this had been going on for too long, you needed help. You could never tell your boyfriend. You’d be humiliated, and he’d find you repulsive. You searched all over online for a solution to this problem. Sex counselors were a thing, maybe they could help.

Nothing online was helping, article after article. Website after website. It was feeding you all the same redundant information, and none of it was settling the constant disturbance in your gut. You'd find yourself twirling your necklace again, leg bouncing from anxiety. You needed to be somewhere familiar. Somewhere that might ease you.

Slipping on some clothes and gathering your things, you walked out of your room, walking to your boyfriend as he sat at his desk, like always, typing away. You pressed a chaste kiss to his forehead and smiled.

“I'm going out for a little. I’ll be home later.” He gripped your hand a kissed the back of it, squeezing it gently.

“See you later, hun, love you.” He smiled up at you. It felt mocking, even though he meant completely well. He let go, and you walked out the front door. Making your way to your car.

You didn’t know where you were driving, but you were going somewhere. It was like your mind was on autopilot. Your brain clocked out, and your body took you where you wanted to go.

You blinked and found yourself parked at the cathedral you had frequented your whole life. Standing tall and sharp against the stark contrast of the orange and purples that littered the sky as the sun descended behind the steeple. The wind blew softly, and the streets seemed oddly empty for a Sunday night. The stained glass windows called out a whispering “welcome home” as you stepped out of your car and stared at the beautiful building in front of you. The wind started to become harsher nd began to bite at your skin with the cold. You walked up to the front entrance, purpose in your step as you ascended the stairs and slipped past the doors as quietly as you could.

Immediately, the comfort of silence enveloped you like a warm blanket. The tall ceilings with beautiful murals scrawled on them. Giant glass windows with depictions of different moments in history cast blue, green, and red lights from the setting sun on the altar. And next to it, tucked away in a dark corner in the front of the room. The confessional. An all too familiar space to you. You forced yourself to drag your eyes away from it as you stepped further into the space, heading for the very first row of pews. You looked around, the church completely empty and the definition of quiet. Just the soft blow of the wind outside. You sat in the first row of pews, taking a moment to just take it all in. You felt safe, clean, and forgiven in here. You sat in that pew for what felt like hours, just basking in the quiet. When you looked around again, you noticed it had gotten dark outside. The moon shone through the windows. The candles by the altar were the only light in the whole building, casting an eerie orange glow about the church.

And there was one candle in the confessional. It shone like a quiet soul inside that wooden box, seeping through the intricate carved designs on the door. You felt a small tug on your heart, like it was asking to go, to unload all the thoughts and emotions plaguing you. Let them spill free, unabashedly, somewhere to feel forgiven.

So you followed it and walked to the confessional, opening the door with a creak and sitting on the bench. You shut the door behind you, and it seemed like the world around you faded away, within the quietness of the booth. You immediately had the urge to just start talking. To get these things off your chest.

You talked about your guilt. You talked about your sadness. You talked about your lust, how it was plaguing you all the time. How you felt like your boyfriend didn’t actually love you, and how you felt like a pervert for always wanting to feel good. How it hurts to not feel good. Another 30 minutes spent in the booth trickled by before you decided you needed to head home. You stood, before bowing your head. Old habits die hard, like you said. A prayer you remembered began to flow past your lips with the ease of muscle memory. Hands clasped around the rosary and eyes shut tight.

“Merciful Lord, I come before You seeking forgiveness and healing for the sin of lust that dwells within me. I confess my weakness in giving in to impure desires and indulging in lustful thoughts and actions that offend You. Purify my heart, renew my mind, and sanctify my body as Your temple.”

You continued until the prayer was finished. You dropped your hands and turned, opening the door and stepping out.

But as soon as you did, you looked up from the knob and locked eyes with someone. A chill tickled down your spine as you stared past the altar, at a man sitting in the first pew, exactly where you sat for hours before. Wearing a tight, barely fitting sheer white button-up shirt, black pants, and sharp black shoes. His hair was slightly tousled yet still professional in a way. He was hunched over, elbows resting on knees as his hands came up, pressed together like he was praying, the tips of his fingers pressed against his lips. His head was tilted slightly down, while his eyes stayed up, locked directly onto yours.

Your breath hitched, and he didn’t move a muscle. His eyes bore into yours, the orange glow of the candlelight flickered across his features beautifully, and you couldn't look away. You felt small under his gaze as he pinned you down with his stare effortlessly.

Who is that? Why is he here? How long has he been here? Did he somehow hear me?

His hand twitched, then he moved it down, before fully turning his head. He narrowed his eyes. He smiled. He waved.

You felt a lurch in your stomach. He was unbelievably handsome, with the mole under his eye. The charming way his crooked teeth formed the most beautiful smile. The borderline [predatory look in his eyes. He stood and began to walk towards you.

Immediately, you stood up straight and made sure you took a couple of steps away from the confessional, as if you were too close, you would start spilling secrets.

He was right in front of you now, smiling down as the closer got, the smaller you felt.

“Evenin’, I'm sorry, thought I was the only one here tonight, I hope I wasn’t bothering you.” He had a deep, baritone drawl in his voice that felt like ice on your brain. This was not good. Not good at all.

“No, no, you’re completely fine, it's not like I own the place, I was just… visiting.” You smiled nervously, your palms sweating. Even though you were just conversing with one person, you felt like you had millions of eyes on you in the dark, empty church. His gaze alone was already so intense, the ghosts of former church goers seemed to stare at you as if you moved, the floor would cave underneath you.

His eyes traced your body, just for a flicker of a second, you didn’t catch. He caught your gaze again, taking a small barley there step closer to you. His hand rested lazily in his pants pocket. His other hand reached forward to offer a handshake.

“Song Mingi. I'm a counselor at the cathedral. It's a pleasure to meet you, sweet thing.” You smiled as you hesitated, but ultimately brought your hand up to shake his.

“(Name), nice to meet you, Mingi sir.” His hand wrapped around yours, easily swallowing your entire hand up as he shook it firmly, lingering just a little too long.

“So what brings you here so late at night (Name)? Can’t be anything good, right?” He laughs and nudges your shoulder playfully, a little glint of joy in his eyes. While mostly an overwhelming and intense presence, he sure knew how to soften the armospehete.

You smiled softly and shook your head. “Just… feeling a little weird lately, just thought maybe a visit to somewhere familiar might ease me a little.”

He tilted his head, and his eyes softened as he tsked. “What's going on, if you don’t mind me asking. I am a counselor after all, maybe I can give you some advice.” His smile was genuine, and he seemed like he really just wanted to lift your spirits.

“Well..” You bit your bottom lip, worried, before sitting on the red velvet stairs, resting your forehead on your knees as you hugged them. Mingi followed, sitting on the step a couple below yours, looking up at your face with genuine curiosity all over his face. You took note of the clunky rosary wrapped around his neck, the crucifix sitting directly between his rather protruding pecs that pressed through the thin fabric of his shirt. You tried not to stare too much.

“Its, hard… for me to talk about. I had just been feeling strange lately. Like I can't find rest within myself. I thought maybe coming by my childhood church and just spilling my guts in the confessional would help, but it's just made me realize that what I'm feeling and thinking is REAL. And not just… I don’t know. I feel like there's some kind of animal in me that just won't sleep. I can't even sleep. I'm always anxious, always guilty, and I somehow can’t even get my boyfriend to validate me when I’m feeling-” Imedicualty, your eyes widened, and you slapped a palm over your mouth in embarrassment, a heat trickling up the back of your neck.

“Sorry.” You whispered. “I started rambling..” You were too out of it to notice that Mingi’s hand had been silently and ever so softly grazing up and down your calf, as if trying to soothe you through this confession.

“You’re perfectly fine, sweetheart. Thank you for feeling alright with telling me.” His hand gave your calf a small squeeze before slipping away from your leg, back on the stairs.

“It sounds like you’re going through a lot right now. You sound tired, so let me tell you something.” You were still looking down from shame, and he softly btoguht his hand up and tilted yout chin upward so he could look into your eyes. That intense stare of his pinning you down like a fawn in headlights, you felt like you were coevred in a warm, heavy weighted blanket, like even if you tried to run away, your wouldnt be able to.

“My doors are always open to counseling sessions.” He points to a door behind the altar. “Over there is a door to my office. By the confessional. I’m here every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4 to 10, accepting walk ins. If you’d like you can come back and we can try to explore these feelings deeper and see if we can work on getting you some well needed relief.”

You felt a flutter in your stomach at his kindness, but also at the seemingly suggestive way he chose to express his words. Maybe you were really in need of professional help, he was trying to help you, for God’s sake. You nodded, and your eyes flicked to his nose, to his lips, to his chest, back up to his eyes. You felt like you had been caught, a small flicker of something in his eyes, his body shifted slightly, a small pink tongue darting out to wet his lips.

“That sound alright princess?” You took a second, mulling over your thoughts. This could really benefit you. This could fix the unrest in your heart. Fix your relationship with your boyfriend, with yourself.

“I'll stop by.” You smiled, nodding your head once as if in confirmation. “Thank you for listening to me.”

His grin widened and he dropped his voice down to a low whisper, coming a little closer to where you could feel his breath on your ear, his warm, woodsy scent wrapping around you, filling you with him.

“It's my job, sweetheart, no need to thank me.” Now, you may not know too much about people, but one thing you just barely caught was a slight twitch in his soft smile, like his lips wanted to smile wider, but he stopped himself. A look in his eyes that held a secret. A desire. It was odd, you felt so safe and comforted in his presence, it was almost eerie how easy it was to get you to spill to him like that.

I mean, you walked out of the confessional, and he was sitting in your spot, staring at you like he was going to eat you. That should have unnerved you from the beginning, which it did. But something was so alluring. So tantalizing and bewitching about him. Just a few words from his pretty plump lips, and if he had asked for your soul, you’re sure you would have given it to him.

You left, turning around to look at the church. The steeple seemed sharper against the stark black sky. The streets were even quieter, the air colder. The building seemed more haunted than holy now, but before you psyched yourself out, you got back in your car and drove home.

It had been a week since your visit to a church. If you weren’t going to hell before, you were certainly going now. Every night, the same routine continued, but this time, you were imagining him. Mingi, tracing your curves and kissing your skin. Mingi, reaching inside you and caressing your insides in a way so invasive it should be considered immoral. You wanted him pressing his body into yours, his warmth soaking into your skin as he pleasured you in ways you imagined heaven should feel like.

Just sick in the head.

There was no way you could go see him now, with these images of him squeezing your body and rolling his hips, mouth agape and eyes rolling and boring into yours in a fashion that felt like he knew your entire being.

You slept next to your boyfriend every night, not even daring to cuddle with him in fear that even just by touching, he could feel the want and the lust seeping from your skin.

And that's how you found yourself in your car, back at the church. The streets are empty again. The sky had opened on your way there, the clouds angry and dark, fat droplets of rain pouring fast on the streets.

Your hands gripped the steering wheel so hard it began to burn, but you didn’t let go. You were trying to ground yourself before you walked into the church and saw him. You needed to get a hold of yourself. With a couple of bites to your palm and a cold sip of water. You rushed out of your car and walked with purpose to the church quickly as not to give yourself time to chicken out and go back home.

You entered the church, albeit soaked to the bone from the rain. It felt darker and colder now. The candles cast flickering, dark shadows on the walls. Behind the altar was his office door. Standing tall and mocking, you pinched your necklace and took a deep breath before making your way to his door.

The carpet swallowed your footsteps as you walked to his door, past the confessional, the urge to tell secrets welling up in your chest again. You stopped in front of his door, a soft light emanating from the crack at the bottom. Your hand hovered over the knob.

“Come in.” The muffled voice beckoned behind the door. You obeyed.

Twisting the knob you opened the door with a quiet creak. Inside was a broad, beautiful mahogany desk, littered with papers, candles, and an assortment of Bibles. A large painting of Mother Mary was mounted on the wall directly behind the chair behind the desk, where Mingi sat. The first 2 buttons of his shirt were undone, and he leaned back lazily as his foot rested on his knee. His hand was on the table, his fingers resting in between stacks of paper, caressing the edge of the paper ever so slowly, occasionally slipping between sheets.

His eyes caught yours immediately, smiling as he gestured to the chair in front of him. A large velvety red and blue couch was against the left wall, and tall, gold-plated mirror was on the right. His eyes were darker tonight. Narrowed. Filled with… intention. 3 candles lit up the room, providing minimal light to properly see his face.

“(Name), it's good to see you again.” You sat in the chair, feeling his voice rumble in your chest as a roll of thunder sounded in the distance. He laughed gently before flashing that charming grin of his at you.

“Guess you got caught in the rain, huh?” The teasing lilt in his voice sent a little shock wave through your head, suddenly aware that you were still, in fact, soaking wet.

“Yeah it just started pouring as soon as I left, I considered d turning around.” You smiled in an attempt to hide your nervousness, before he reached across and took your hand in his, squeezing it gently.

“Well, for what its worth, I’m glad you wanted to be here so bad you came anyway.” Confusion shot through tou but before you could even react he pulled away and cleared his throat.

“Now then, let's start unpacking this, yeah?” He waves his hand at you and smiles.

“Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me everything that's on your mind.” You blinked. Once. Twice.

Oh god…

“Well..” You shifted in your seat. This was it. You were here for a reason. No time to be shy, this is how you get the help you’ve been needing. But his presence is so heavy… it was overwhelming your senses. The whole office smelled like him. The air was thick, and the atmosphere was dark. It felt like the painting was watching you. He was watching you. Picking you apart with his eyes, carefully.

“I’ve got this suffocating guilt that's been following me for what seems like years. As a kid, I was sheltered, being part of the church kept me away from much outside influence, and frankly, I feel like it's messed me up a bit, in a way… I don't know how to explain it. Anyway, so I get out, right? Out in the world by myself. I’m doing okay, learning new things and trying to work the world without the influence of the church holding me back.” You stop and smile, a little lost in your thoughts as you think about old memories.

“Then I meet my first boyfriend. Hes really sweet, smart, kind. Kind of the complete package kind of guy.” Too busy lost in your story, you failed to see how Mingi’s grip on his knee tightens, how his jaw clenches and how his eyes rove over you like you’ll disappear if he looks away for one second, enamoured.

“How’s that going?” Mingi asks softly, “Sounds like a pretty awesome guy.” There it is. He sees the change in your demeanor. The way your shoulder slumps, the burning shame in your eyes. The slight readjustment of your posture.

“Well, that's just the thing. He's great and all, a really good guy. But, he doesn’t seem… interested…” You refuse eye contact as you trail off, beginning to close up again. You can feel the heat crawling up your back as you know in a second the conversation is about to take an incredibly inappropriate and soul-baring turn.

“Interested in what love? Cmon, talk to me.” he comes over from behind the desk and squats down in front of you as you stay sitting in the chair, so he can look at you eye level. His hands rested on his knees, and he spoke even softer now that he was closer. “You can trust me. Let me help you.”

Mingi was so close now, and he was making it so hard for you not to just straight up start acting like an animal in heat with that look he was giving you. He was trying to pull the secrets from your throat with his eyes. Like a fish hook in your mouth, he was prying you open to him, and you just simply couldn’t resist

“I… fuck okay. Fine. I feel so gross because he won’t make any sexual advances towards me, and it's been over a year of dating. Yes, it's unbecoming, and it makes me feel so sick that all I seem to crave is for him to touch me. I'm so ashamed it's all I think of every day and every night, and we’ve never gone any farther than kissing. I feel like I'm missing out on so much because of my lack of knowledge, but I also feel like it's better for me to just never know. It's sick and it's hurting! It–it hurts me to know that it's not okay to feel good like.. That..” Silence fell, your eyes glued to your lap.

You slowly raise your eyes, ready to see the disappointment in Mingi’s face at your shameful confession.

Instead, a small smile, barely there, tilts up the corners of his lips. You glue your eyes to the rosary on his chest as you feel the deep, baritone chuckle that slips past his lips. The shame burned. You won’t look at him.

“Y’know. I’m going to tell you a secret, okay?” You felt a finger pinch your chin gently, before he directed your gaze at his, dropping them before they landed on your knees.

“What you are feeling? Is okay. I promise.” His voice was soft and promising, words dripping in sugar as he began to drag his big, calloused palms up and down… up and down… your thighs soothingly through your pencil skirt.

Your breath hitched, and you couldn’t take your eyes off him. “Your boyfriend, not touching you, has nothing to do with you physically. You’re beautiful, I can promise you that.” You felt that warmth envelop you again from when he whispered in your ear. That deeep pull in your lower stomach that burned.

“In fact, I could even go as far as to say you’re very alluring. So small, soft, like a lamb.” Daringly, his hands slipped further up, now resting on your hips, like they were made to fit there.

He knew what he was doing. The dangerous look in his eyes swelling as he watched you slowly melt as his words sat in your skull.

“I’ll confess it now, I heard everything you said in the booth last week.” his voice was now a whisper, gentle like he would scare you off. He felt your body jolt like you’d run from him, and his hands held your hips tighter, holding you down onto the chair only slightly, like it was a suggestion that you should stay, his thumbs rubbing slow, soft circles into your stomach.

“I heard every word. Every cry. Every plea. Every prayer that this feeling could be relieved for you. You were so pretty coming out of the booth. Little tear droplets on your lashes and embarrassment all over your body. I knew you needed help.”

Mingi sank to his knees, so close to your body you could feel and smell every inch of him all over you. His hands moved up and gently cupped your face, guiding your head down so he could mumble in your ear.

He breathed quietly for a second before blowing a cold gust of air on your ear, making you shiver. “Let me help you, precious. Let's drag that feeling out. Let me drag it out of you.”

“If anyone can make you feel good in a way that’ll satiate the craving inside of you, it’s me. I can take care of you. Treat you like the angel you are. Does that sound good.” He pressed a gentle kiss to your hair, his hand mindlessly massaging your leg. “I promise.” He was whispering now, barely contained desire seeping from his gentle, coaxing words. “Don’t you trust me?”

Your brain was so fuzzy. Was this happening? Was he offering to take care of you in the way you’ve been crazy about? The one your boyfriend won’t give you. Maybe it’ll clear the nasty thoughts out of your head. Make the hysteria go away.

“Cmon baby…” He was all over you now, standing, towering over you as he leaned down, one hand on either side of your chair. You followed his gaze up and stared into his eyes. His rosary dangled right above your chest, almost touching it. It swung back and forth back and forth, hypnotically. His hand gripped the armrests tightly, like he was stopping himself from ripping you apart with his bare hands.

You looked so good, so delicious, so pure. He’d love to be the one to introduce you to the wonderfully sinful world of pleasure, to drown you in the feeling himself. To give himself to you.

“Let's get it out of your system, yeah? I can fix you, angel.”

Testing the waters, he leaned further down, his breaths mixing with yours, keeping you caged in, his eyes never leaving yours. It felt like you stayed like that forever. Lips millimeters from touching, tension in the air crackling.

You had never felt this way before. Your body ached, and your lower stomach throbbed with what could only be described as need.

All it took was the small, slight parting of your lips before Mingi finally pressed into you. His plushy lips sinking into yours like they were meant to be there. His eyes stayed on you, watching and guaging your reaction to the touch, only when your eyes fluttered close and you whined softly into his mouth did he really let himself go.

Pressing himself impossibly closer against you, his hands left the arm rests and threaded through your hair before gripping gently and completely swallowing you whole with his mouth. His tongue delved deep, tracing patterns in your mouth and moving against you in ways that had you groaning deep into him.

He swallowed your sounds gratefully, a loud crack of thunder nearly shaking the room. One candle blew out.

It wasn’t enough. He needed more of you. He needed to consume you. Even though it hurt, he pulled away from your mouth, panting softly as he watched the trail of saliva snap between you. He stared at your glassy eyes and pink lips, groaning to himself as he stood up and started to undo his tie.

“Alright, princess, I need you to take off your skirt and go lie on your back on that couch over there, okay? Can you do that for me?” Taking a second to break out of your stupor, you nodded and stood up, slipping the skirt and pantyhose off your legs before complying and lying on the couch. Mingi strode over, his tie gone and his shirt completely unbuttoned, a filthy, hungry look in his eyes. Rosary hanging proudly around his neck.

Gently, like he was still afraid to scare you. He laid between your legs on the couch. He planted his head directly between your thighs, his big hands slipping under your thighs and guiding them upward around his head, before spreading his big hand directly over your lower abdomen. His other hand slipped down and teased your soaking wet cunt through your panties.

Mingi stared into your eyes from between your legs and breathed in your scent deeply.

“You’re gonna taste so sweet fa me, aren't you angel?” Your head lolled at the sweet words, he just knew how to break you down and turn you into a puddle in his hands.

“All for me…” he mumbled completely to himself as he dragged your panties down your thighs and off your legs. He couldnt pull his eyes away from your pretty pussy. You felt so bare, so exposed, shying away, you tried to close your legs, but of course, his head was in the way.

“Don’t be ashamed, pretty girl.” He rubbed gentle circles on your thighs again before letting out a quick, quiet whistle. “Look at me, {Name}.”

Your head snapped to him, eyes locked with his, his gaze so intense you felt your eyes water, and a whimper bubbles up from your chest. He kisses your thighs softly, before hovering his mouth over your cunt, letting his breath fan over her gently.

“I want your eyes on me while I eat, okay? I need to see what you like, baby.” He’s going to read your body. You shivered and moaned softly at his words as you kept your eyes on him.

“Good. Keep those pretty eyes on me.” Slowly, tortorously slow, he brought his mouth down, licking a slow, wide strip up your cunt, kissing your clit at the end of its journey. The switch in Mingi was quick. Too quick. He became addicted immediately.

His eyes clouded over and buried his tongue inside of you, his nose grinding against your clit. You felt like you were going to die. It was so good. It felt so fucking good. You brought your hand up and bit your finger to keep yourself quiet. It felt so wrong. Doing something like this in a church, of all places. You felt judged and watched, but it felt like heaven. Mingi’s tongue felt like heaven.

“Yeah, yeah, that's it. Feeling good, pretty baby?” You nodded frantically, whimpering out broken “yes’s” and cries of his name. His hand snuck up and pulled your hand away from your mouth, grabbing both of your wrists in one hand, keeping a firm grip on them, holding them down in front of your tummy.

He groaned LOUD into your pussy, the vibrations reaching deep inside and making your back arch. He closed his eyes for a second, lost in the taste of you. “I have to hear you, don’t be shy.”

The knot in your stomach tightened, that familiar feeling from the nights you explored your body, but this time tenfold in strength. Mingi truly was drawing a kind of pleasure out of you that you’ve never felt before.

“Oh mmff… Min-! Feels good.” You whined, feeling that climax building deep in your gut.

“Oh, baby, I feel you. You bout to cum?” He smiled and latched onto your clit, sucking and slipping one long, slender finger deep in your snug cunt. You nod again, moans breaking when he curls his finger upward inside, pressing against a spot you’ve never been able to reach yourself.

“Yeah.. yes yes yes..” You panted out, focusing on the feeling of Mingi all over you. He let out deep staccato moans around your clit before he slipped a second finger inside, coaxing inside even deeper.

“I’m gonna get you there, sweetheart. I’m gonna fuck you right through it and spread you on my cock. I'll have you seeing stars, baby, I promise.”

Before you could react he slipped his fingers out and moved up, caging you against the couch, in split second he removed your shirt and his pants, his cock, hot and heavy laid on your stomach as his hand came up and snaked behind the back of your head.

Pressing all his body weight down on you, he nudged your legs up to wrap around his waist.

His other hand slipped down and adjusted the fat head of his cock against the slick entrance of your pussy, before moving to hold your waist tighly, his thumb sinking and pressing hard against your stomach.

“I’m gonna make you feel so good. Such a good girl like you deserves to feel good, right?” Mingi’s lips came down and swallowed your whines again, increasingly desperate and sloppy like his tongue was trying to drag noises from deep in your throat.

“You deserve it.” He groans into your mouth, keeping his eyes on yours as he slowly, slowly sinks into your cunt.

Already you felt so full, tears spilled from the corners of your eyes, falling apart as his eyes stripped you down to your soul and his curved, thick cock splits you open. He bottoms out with a deep groan.

Your legs shake as his head sits snugly against your G-spot perfectly. He stays there for a moment, sinking his teeth into your plush bottom lip.

“Shh, yeah… that's it. So filthy. You feel how deep I am? So warm and so perfect.” Mingi rolled his hips into you, not quite thrusting, but he dragged his tip against that spot, and you came just like that, convulsing and whining into his mouth.

‘“Oh angel, you just came?” His whole body shivered at the amount of control he had over how good you felt. Like clay, he could shape and mold you to fit him perfectly. Make you his pretty little doll.

Your hands wrapped around his neck as he pulled himself out of you, dragging deliciously against your insides before thrusting back into you.

“Oh, you're so good. So good for me…” Ming sucked and licked dark purple marks into the flesh of your collarbones, drooling on your neck before leaving wet, open mouth kisses against the shell of your ear.

“You’re perfect, there’s nothing wrong with you, pretty baby. So responsive. So easy to please.” Mingi words floated around in your empty brain as he fucked you deep, and heavy. Your moans and cries egged him on. He wanted more from you, he wanted you to come on his cock again.

“You’re gonna give me another one (Name). I’m gonna make you come on my cock again, okay baby?” Mingi took the rosary that was swinging in your face off and flipped you over so you were on your stomach now. Wrapping the chain around your wrists, he brought them down behind your back, bound tight.

His hand massaged from your neck, down your shoulders, along your back, and down to your hips. Without warning he slid his cock back inside of you, the new prone angle making your pussy suck him even deeper. He bends over, lips pressed directly against your ear, one hand around the back of your neck and the other snaked between your stomach and the couch, drawing slow, rough circles against your clit. He fucked you deep and hard, feeling him in your stomach.

“This is what heaven feels like, baby. Like it? I know you do, your voice and your wet cunt is telling me everything. Every dirty thought you’ve been having. I’m giving you what you need. I can always give you what you need…”

The knot was building again, the drag of him against your walls stretching you so perfectly, the feeling of his body overtaking yours.

“My dirty, dirty girl. Would you like me to take you out and fuck you stupid in the altar? All whiny and sensitive, I can breed you like an animal, would you like that?”

Grinding his hips into yours without mercy, Mingi relished in the feeling of you giving yourself up to him. He was obsessed with the way you twitched and squirmed, completely at his mercy.

He loved that he was the one to rip this abstinence away from you, drag you down further into sin.

“See, this isn’t so bad, no need to feel guilty about it baby, it feels good, nothing that feels this good— fffuckkk… could ever be so bad…”

Mingi must be right. It feels so good, it’s impossible for this to be so bad right?

You weren’t going to last much longer, and he could feel you clench around him as your impending orgasm was reaching its height. Mingi licked and bit all along your back, dragging his open mouth along the length of your shoulder blades. His hand continued to rub slow, pressured circles on your clit.

“Almost there sweet girl,” he murmured against your bruised skin, chasing his own high with your body.

“You sin so beautifully for me, you’re to tempting, as soon as I saw you I wanted to shove you back in that confessional and eat you out so good you’d beg me to stop. A sweaty overstimulated mess for me in a place meant for repentance.” He kept whispering in your ear, the deep rolls of his hips making your stomach feel like it was sinking.

“Ooh I wanna cum in you so badly. But that’d be so wrong of me. So bad..” Mingi’s hips began to stutter as he buried his face deep in the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent and lazily kissing every inch of your throat.

“Cum for me baby, it’s okay to feel good, feel good under me, feel good while I strip your purity from you, give it to me, let me have it. I want it please honey please..”

Who were you to ignore such sweet prayer to you as he worshipped your body, practically melting into your flesh and becoming one.

His arms came around and wrapped around your torso like you were a body pillow, locking his hands together around your arms and your chest, effectively caging you against him and the couch, you couldn’t budge if you tried. He held you in a vice like hold, so tight you almost couldn’t breathe.

Your vision blacked, for just a second, as your orgasm came crashing down on you in STRONG periodic waves that felt like your insides were being battered, again and again and again and-

Mingi slowed his pace inside of you, opting for deep, deliberate rolls of his hips to move you through your orgasm, fuckinf his cum into you in the process.

His grip on your body turned softer, more like he was trying to hold you together rather than prevent you from moving. He ran his hands up and down your body so slowly and gently, like he was mapping you out and finding every curve, every mole or scar, every stretch mark and every sensitive spot.

“Yeah good girl. Let me fuck you through it mkay? Should I fuck you to sleep too huh? Would you like that pretty baby?” His voice was low and soft, his lips kissing along the top of your head, soothing and gentle. Your eyes lids fluttered at his softness, your cunt giving one last clench before you fully realized he had run you ragged.

Your body slumped under his own, face smushed in the pillow as you caught your breath. Mingi stood up and slipped on his pants, before gently turning you over on your back again. He pulled a pack of baby wipes out of his desk drawer and began gently cleaning between your thighs and all over your body.

His eyes followed trails of marks and bruises he left on you from his kisses and his grip on your flesh, a flash of possession hit his heart as you traced the dark marks on your neck and collar bone. “Did so good, love. Bet your boyfriend wouldn’t be able to have you praying for me like that huh?” He laughed to himself before reaching up and untying his rosary from your wrists.

He turned to the mirror and began putting it back on him. With his back turned you stared at the scratches on his back. He made you feel so good… and then it hit you.

Your boyfriend.

Your eyes widened and panic quietly began to set it. But before you could really process anything, Mingi turned back around, that stupid smile on his face as he gestures you to stand up.

“Come on lamb, we have to go visit the confessional.”

The puzzled look on your face formed and he laughed, almost condescendingly at your pitiful appearance.

He leaned down to your ear and gently bit the lobe, tugging with a low, quiet hum.

“You’ve got some sins to get off your chest.”

My fics always end up being like 7k something words it’s like my body knows when to stop, it’s like my ancestors being like “stop.. that’s enough…”

Thanks for reading :3

#mingi x reader #song mingi #ateez mingi #ateez smut #mingi smut #ateez x reader #ateez #mingi #religious councelor! Mingi #counselor! mingi

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imalonelymaniac · 12 days ago

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Hide Mingi I'm coming for you

wait omgg ,,, mingi headcanons pls like fwb IM FEINING RN ,,, foaming at the mouth

SAY LESSSSSSS. i got carried away. its mingi. my bad fr

fwb!mingi who’s always your first text in the morning and your last text before you go to sleep

mingi who’s been your friend since your freshman year of college, who’s had his eye on you through your long-term relationship with your ex, who was the first person to console you after he broke up with you, completely by chance, he just saw you on campus and you spilled everything

mingi who made an effort to get closer to you after that, asking you how you are, if you want to hangout, completely friendly until it’s not

mingi who took you out for drinks, got you just buzzed enough for the lock on your lips to loosen, to tell him all your dirty little secrets, and he was disgusted to find out that your ex never made you finish. did he even realize how lucky he was to have you?

mingi who let you sober up a bit before he put his moves on you for real, who told you it was okay that he makes you finish for the first time because you’re friends, and that’s what friends do!

mingi who took you back to your place and laid you out on your pink and plush bed, all sweet words and careful touches, and took his time with you. open mouthed kisses up your calves, thighs, sweet pecks to your hipbones before he showed you exactly what you were missing

mingi who had you begging for him by the end, he made you cum twice, you couldn’t possibly let him stop there. if he could do all of that with his mouth, what could he do with his cock? he slept soundly beside you after a bath, an arm hooked around your waist, his face nuzzled in your hair, giving you warmth and comfort that you weren’t expecting

mingi who couldn’t quite leave you alone after that night, and you’d be sick to your stomach if he did

mingi who had to be touching you every time he was near you, it didn’t matter who saw, from your friends to your professors to your classmates. if mingi was close to you he was connected to your hip, a hand over your shoulders, around your waist, a finger slipped through the belt loop of your jeans

mingi who was over your apartment every single night, fucking you through the mattress, toying with you in the shower, waking you up the next morning with a face between your legs like he couldn’t get enough

mingi who would bring your favorite snacks over if you were feeling shitty, or if you were on your period. he called you every sweet name in the book, princess, my love, angel, beautiful, and would peck you on the cheek when your face flushed in embarrassment

mingi who started leaving tee shirts, hoodies, pairs of boxers scattered around your apartment, always saying he’d pick them up later, always an excuse to come back, not that you’d ever deny him. he would just add to the pile that was quickly growing, throwing his shirts wherever they landed when he walked through your front door, pressing his lips to yours

mingi who would sigh under his breath, a slight groan when your palm ghosted over his jeans, “fuck baby i missed you so much” he’d fuck you slow just as often as he blew your brains out, holding you close to him as he steadily rocked into you, an arm under your back and another holding your head, pressing open mouthed kisses to the column of your neck, “you’re so beautiful, so perfect for me”

mingi who made space for himself in your life, who was comfortable in the routine you two created, never asking for more, never talking about more

mingi who confused you more than anyone ever has in your life

mingi who laughed it off when yunho asked if he was going to make things official with you as you sat around a bonfire, all of your friends and their partners present

mingi who was confused when you stormed off in the house, but didn’t follow you. he was even more confused when you never came back out, damn near lost his mind when you wouldn’t answer his calls

mingi who came over your apartment to see what the fuck was going on just to be met with your pretty, pouting, tear soaked cheeks. he couldn’t help but ease all your worries, whispering praises and soothing words into your ears as he rocked into you, while reminding you all the same that all you ever were to begin with was a friend

you who let the routine reset, allowing him in time and time again, because at the end of the day he was honest, and even if you didn’t have all of him, you had some of him, and that was more than none of him at all

masterlist

i hope i did fwb mingi justice 🫣

449 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 12 days ago

Text

🅳🅾🆄🅱🅻🅴 🅻🅾🅰🅳

🧺Pairing: Porn actor! Seonghwa x Director! Reader (f) x Porn actor! San

🧺Genre: smut, pwp

🧺Au: porn industry, director, porn star

🧺Trope: position of power, employer/employee

🧺Rating: 18+, MDNI

🧺Warnings: clothes ripping, threesome, double penetration, creampie, unprotected sex, anal sex, vaginal sex, mxm, groping, dirty talk, verbal instruction, switch! san, switch! reader, switch! seonghwa, dick drunk! reader, clit play

🧺Word Count: 3,106

🧺Summary: after a demonstration on set with your two male leads, they corner you in your trailer, and insist on a more hands on approach to the next scene

🧺Author's note: ... i don't want to talk about it. this is what happens when i'm left to my own devices....

You sigh and rub your eyebrow tiredly. This has been the seventh take of what was supposed to be a tasteful, slightly corny, but by EVERY means for the female eye porno. Your female actor was too used to acting it up for the male gaze and it was fucking with your vision.

You pull off your headphones and stomp over to the scene in the laundromat. “Let me show you what I want.”

Park Seonghwa, in his short top and jeans slung low, underwear band playing peekaboo and tanned skin out for display, stood leaning back against the washing machines, double stacked.

“Can I touch you?” You make a point of asking. You may be in the porn industry but it was especially important that the actors feel comfortable. When Seonghwa nods slowly, like he’s a deer in the headlights, you begin your example.

You looked pointedly at the female star, who was casually tying a robe over her skimpy clothes. You grabbed Seonghwa's hips, firmly pushing him up against the machine. “You’re the one in power. It’s taking two men to pleasure you,” You instruct.

You run the tip of your nose along the seam of skin that Seonghwa is flashing. “You’re enjoying yourself. You want to feel the heat of his skin against your tongue, like you could drink it off him.”

Seonghwa watches you with wide eyes. He’s a vet in the porno world but he’s never been manhandled like this before. Especially by the director of all things.

“You want to hear his noises, hear him moan. You can be drunk off your power and loving it but moaning for no reason is really going to throw a female viewer off,” You say, head still at height with Seonghwa’s crotch.

“And then--” You look over your shoulder at the newbie, San. “Come over here, San.”

Choi San, a rising star with an equally slutty waist, pads over hesitantly where you’re bent over in front of Seonghwa. His eyes are shaky, looking hesitant as his hands hover.

“Now San is enjoying what he’s seeing. He wants a piece too. But he has to be a good boy if he’s going to share,” You continue your narrative.

“Good boy?’ San squeaks.

You sigh. “Yes. Now put your hands on my hips.”

San’s hot hands grip your hips firmly. He may be a newbie but he was good at his job.

“So while you’re busy sucking Seonghwa off, because you do so enjoy the weight of him on your tongue, San is nudging up against you, begging for access. You can pop off Seonghwa to answer San, but it has to be a place of power. You’re not begging him to fuck you. He’s gotta show that it’s worth taking the two of them at the same time.”

“Wow,” is all the female star can say.

You stand up suddenly and clap. “Got it?” Both San and Seonghwa nod quickly in response. You smile, full of sunshine. “Good. Let’s go for another take.”

You sit in your chair, pulling your headphones back on, and sitting forward in your chair. “And action!”

The female star takes her cues from you very well, changing her attitude immediately. Seonghwa appears as melted candy in her hands and it’s exactly what you wanted. You did a careful pandown of Seonghwa’s body, from top to bottom. You managed to capture his eyebrows curved inward and the pop of his full lips as his teeth let them go.

You raised your hand to silently count down until San entered the scene. His eyes were hooded as he took in the scene before him. Bronze skin on display because of the hot weather made him even more readily available than Seonghwa. Suddenly, the main female star has more options than she thought. You smiled inwardly, feeling glee at the female empowerment.

The next hour or so goes seamlessly and you call for a break.

Seonghwa and San make a beeline for you, after your assistant took your afternoon coffee order.

“Can we get some notes for the next scene?” San asks eagerly.

“We?’ You raise an eyebrow in Seonghwa’s direction.

The older actor nods enthusiastically. “It’s been eye opening to hear your perspective.”

You turn around to head to the back door of the laundromat. You crook two fingers to guide the two actors behind you. “My trailer has air conditioning. Let's go boys.”

Once inside, reclining against the sink, you open your script to refresh yourself. The next scene was the actress getting double timed by the two men. San takes a seat on the bench with the table and Seonghwa sits on the other end.

“So this next part, after being spitroasted by the two of you, is…” You lick your finger and flip the pages.

Upon the pause in your words, San pipes up. “You never acted, did you?”

Your gaze slowly rises above the script pages. “Why do you ask?”

Seonghwa exchanges a long glance with San. “Well, it just seems you have a lot of experience with this. And considering how you want to change the perception…”

“I’ve had a couple of indie films that were sensual enough that I had a few porn production companies ask me to try my hand at one of their films. I knew I wasn’t going to produce anything that they’d like. Or that they’d butcher my script. But when a female run company approached me, I knew it was time,” You provide.

“So… this vision comes from different experience?’ San continues.

You chuckle lowly. “Are you asking me if this comes from personal experience, San?”

San scratches the back of his head. “I mean… does it?”

Cheeky bugger, this one. “Can’t film a porn if I’m an innocent soul, hmmm?” You hum.

“Well, no, what I mean is--!” San sputtered and you found it cute.

“She’s playing with you, San.” Seonghwa claps the younger’s back. “The script is definitely yours,” he says to you. “I can feel your voice right now and it is so similar to the narrative.”

You can’t help but shrug. “A woman in power is a heady thing.” You straighten your spine to get back into the professional head space. “Back to the script, the scene--”

“It’s my turn, right?” Seonghwa interrupts your train of thought.

You lay down the script. “Exactly. The main character has decided what she’s had in her mouth she’d like to feel inside of her. And she can’t leave out her new toy, so she decides she’ll take San from behind.”

“Can you show us?” San wonders.

Casting was easy with this one. You had judged him too quickly when he had walked into the room. Natural bitch face had you pegging him as one of those ‘take’er from behind and slap that ass’ type man. But the minute he read your script, wet eyes big and begging, you knew he’d be perfect.

“The position is that San, with his arms, is going to hold the female up and open for Seonghwa,” You supply.

Seonghwa stood up along with San. “Won’t that be uncomfortable for her?”

“She’s been warned. A few stretches will do wonders for her,” You shake your head.

“I think he means, would that really be comfortable if they were truly having sex?” San clarifies.

You frown. “Well, no, it’s actually quite easy--”

San’s hands descend on your shoulders, having taken his place behind you. Oh. They wanted that kind of show. Whatever helped them film the scene better, you supposed.

You lean a little bit against San’s firm chest. “So, to start you’re gonna lift one of her legs by the back of her thigh. You want to almost brag to Seonghwa that you came inside her first. Your cum should be dripping out of her, and Seonghwa says--”

“--I can’t see that well, lift her other leg,” Seonghwa supplies in a sultry tone.

You nod. “Exactly so then--” You can’t help but squeal as San puts you in the position that the female actor is going to be. His hands grip your thighs firmly, immediately burning a handprint through your leggings.

“I’m turned on by another man’s cum dripping out of your pussy or I’m simply eager to add my own to the mix?” Seonghwa wonders.

“Uh, well, I was thinking the latter,” You supply.

Seonghwa nods slowly like he’s absorbing your words. “But San’s got no way to maneuver himself inside of you. He’s using his hands to hold you up.”

You’d let the freudian slips go. “If you check the script, it says that--”

San begins to lift you slowly up. “Aren’t I supposed to let my cum run down your cunt and coat my cock?”

Okay, one of them making a mistake you could accept but the both of them? “Her cunt. Yes, and then--”

“Can I help him?” Seonghwa asks.

He’s awfully close to you now, his lips turned inward as if he’s anticipating your response.

“To put himself inside of her?” You ask. Seonghwa nods. “Well, I suppose that adlib wouldn’t be horrible. I wasn’t exactly looking to festishize two males in this one, though.”

“It’s just one bro helping another. What if he slips while trying to push in?” Seonghwa supplies.

San’s most definitely getting turned in by the conversation. His bulge is between your ass cheeks now. He must be trying to figure out how high he’ll have to raise you--her---so that he can penetrate the asshole.

“So, we can practise this on set with your co-star. Now if you’ll just let me down, San.” You wait but you don’t feel the release of San’s muscles. “San?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we practised more?” Seonghwa meets your gaze, eyes searching out yours.

You raise both eyebrows. “I think this is plenty, don’t you?”

Seonghwa shakes his head. “I thought I’d help a newbie out. San’s not done anal on camera before. We should pop his cherry before you get back in your directing chair.”

Well, that’s a new one.

“With me.” You state.

“Who better to practise with than the one with the vision? You can give us notes afterwards. Learning first hand would give me such an edge moving forward,” San murmurs into your ear.

Your nipples tighten under your shirt. Instead, you say, “This is so unprofessional.” You squirm slightly in San’s grasp but he adjusts quickly, not letting you go.

Seonghwa shakes his head, his fringe in his eyes making him blink cutely, helping his case. “Surely not. It’s our profession and yours. You tell us where to go, just like on set, and we’ll follow your lead. You’ve got the lines memorized, right, San?”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” San says, straight from the script and going right to your stomach, curling there like a purring cat.

“Don’t you want this too?” You reply with a husky voice, unable to help your tone.

“It’s more important that this is what you need,” Seonghwa purrs.

“I need both of you inside of me.” Your voice is wobbling by now.

“This is in the way though,” Seonghwa muses.

“No no, wait--!”

Before you get a chance to tell Seonghwa to not ruin your only pair of pants on set, Seonghwa's already tearing the crotch apart. The satisfying ripping sound is like music to your director’s ears, however.

Seonghwa lets out a very male chuckle. “Oh, she’s gooey.”

“Excuse you,” You cough out.

“It’s too bad it isn’t my cum though,” San laments.

Jesus, how long had these two been planning this? Was it because of your demonstration earlier?

“Good point,” Seonghwa agrees, lips pursed in thought.

“Where else are you going to get lube at a laundromat?” You laugh weakly.

“Mmmm, spit will just have to do,” San says.

“Oh no, young padewan,” Seonghwa shakes his head, his shoulders moving with silent laughter. “Spit will dry too quickly. Get inside of her cunt first, coat yourself with her wetness, then fuck her ass.”

“Oh, pro tips coming from a pro, huh?” You can hear the grin in San’s voice.

“Also you’re putting the cart before the horse. You have to get out of your pants first,” Seonghwa says with a crooked, playful grin.

“Weren’t you supposed to be helping me with that?” San reminds Seonghwa.

Seonghwa looks at you inquiringly. “Well, Director? What do you think?”

“Tease--” You croak so you have to clear your throat. “Tease him.”

Seonghwa looks over your shoulder to San. “You didn’t say anything earlier.”

“Please, Papi, tease me,” San coos and then laughs.

The joking between them relaxes some muscles in you. Two men being at ease with each other, especially on set, was settling whatever nerve had been holding you back.

“That’s it, sweetheart, use my chest to relax. It’s us pleasing you, remember?” San murmurs.

Those plush lips of his brush along your neck and you find yourself turning your head to give him better access. When San moans into the crook of your neck, you know that Seonghwa has found his target.

“There we go, I didn’t even have to do anything,” Seonghwa whispers quietly. “Sannie was nice and hard for you already. Now we just have to get him inside of you.”

Seonghwa angles San so that the younger man can penetrate you. You and San groan in unison as he slides right into you without any resistance. With all of your weight in San’s hands and arms, the pornstar flexes his abdomen and shallowly thrusts inside of you. You whimper at the stimulation.

“Just enough to coat it,” Seonghwa reminds San. “Remember, that’s my hole.”

“Yeah yeah,” San grumbles. “She’s clamping down on me so hard though. It’s like she doesn’t want me to leave.”

You’ve got a problem on your hands: you’re already dumb on San’s cock.

“No no, don’t leave,” You moan. “So good.”

Seonghwa grips your chin to bring you back to reality. “C’mon, lover, don’t go soft on us now.”

“So good,” You whine.

Seonghwa captures your lips in a kiss. “God, you’re cute when you’re pussy drunk.”

“No!’ You whimper as San slowly pulls out of you.

“It’s okay,” San reassures you. “I won’t leave you empty for long.”

With the aid of Seonghwa again, San penetrates your puckered hole, more slowly this time. When he’s full hilt inside of you, you mewl when he doesn’t make any movement.

“So demanding,” Seonghwa jokes, flipping to the script.

You attempt to pull some moisture into your mouth by licking your lips. One of your hands clasps the back of Seonghwa’s neck. “You better finish inside of me before my loads are done, otherwise, I’ll be the one you never finished.”

Seonghwa flashes you a crooked, slow smile that makes your insides melt even more. “It would be my pleasure.”

Seonghwa’s hand moves to the small of your back to push your lower half further out, somewhat pulling San out of you but pushing into you nonetheless.

“Oh, oh my god,” You curse at just how full it is to feel this way. Again.

“That’s not the line, Miss Director. Should we call cut and roll it back?” San wonders. He pulls you back down on his length, pulling Seonghwa out.

“No, no, I can do it,” You gasp, pulling yourself back from the lust-fog that’s covered your mind. “I want to feel like you’re fucking me on the washing machine, come on boys,” You whine.

Then it’s off to the races as the two pornstars fuck you like they’re being filmed. You can feel San’s body rolling behind you, small puffs of air hitting the back of your neck. Seonghwa almost doesn’t have to do anything to move in and out of you, so he takes advantage of his free hands and holds your head in place for messy kisses. San whines about being left out and you watch in awe as the two exchange a kiss full of tongue and saliva.

“I’m not going to last very long,” You admit.

“I thought it took two dicks to even make you come?” Seonghwa counters with the lines from the script.

“It’s just so good. I forgot. Oh please please please don’t slow down. You’ve got to recover and then we’ve got to shoot and--”

Any further real life invasive thoughts are gone as Seonghwa sucks his thumb and then begins to rub your clit.

“Let’s see you come, Director,” Seonghwa suggests.

“Are your come noises pornographic?” You could picture the adorable eye smile of San’s right now at his pun.

Your back arches, your toes point, and your legs spread as you come hard enough to see stars behind your eyes. You don’t even attempt to quiet your groans as they both fuck you through your orgasm and search out their own.

“Fu-fill me up,” You manage to stutter.

San’s first to go, bringing his hips flush to your ass and releasing with a low groan. He holds your legs wide as Seonghwa finishes next, nose scrunched up and unloading everything he’s got.

“Not sure our co-star will be able to live up to that performance,” Seonghwa teases you.

“Oh god,” You moan. “San let go of my legs. One at a time, mind you, please.”

San does as you ask, Seonghwa’s hand firmly on your waist in aid. Your face heats up as you feel both loads of cum slowly start to leak out of you. You clench as hard as you can with both holes.

“No one speaks of this,” You command.

San dips his head, his eyes searching out yours. “Because this is going to happen more often or..?”

Seonghwa starts to laugh at the rookie’s insistence. “That can be the price for our silence,” he offers, eyes shining with amusement.

You rub your eyebrows in worry. “We’ll figure out the semantics later. Clean up and I’m going to see if my assistant can’t find me another pair of leggings.”

“No notes?” San pouts.

“I think the fact that she was dick-drunk was enough,” Seonghwa supplies.

When both male pornstars leave your trailer, you hear the perky voice of the female actress from outside of your trailer.

“Where have you two been?” She wonders.

“Getting notes from the director,” San says immediately.

“She’s great, isn’t she?” the female actress sighs happily.

“Oh, better than you can imagine,” Seonghwa confirms.

The male laughter you can hear from inside your trailer is enough to get your face heated up again. Filming the rest of this movie was going to be a pain in your ass… literally.

292 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 16 days ago

Text

"My princess. All fucking mine. Take it, take it, baby-" His voice breaks into a loud moan;

IT SOUNDED LIKE THIS IN MY HEAD FOR A SECOND😭😭😭:

"Take it, Take it, Take it- Oh honey,

Chanka-chang got me all motivated;

Come like you're made for me- make it a masterpiece"

Lowlife Princess

Act Two: The Joker is one hell of a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to his precious girlfriend. Or — You and Jeong Yunho are perfect for one another.

❥Jeong Yunho x fem reader

"They became the King and Queen of Gotham City — and God help anyone who disrespected the Queen."

(>ᴗ•)genre: smut with plot, gotham au

♫soundtrack♫

SERIOUSLY 18 AND OLDER. MINORS TAKE YOUR LEAVE.

ಠ_ಠwarning/content: not beta read, sugar baby reader / obsessive joker yunho, daddy kink outside of sex, possessive behavior, reader wears skirts and dresses because yun likes it but he doesn't make her, yunho goes above and beyond to help reader get revenge, kidnapping, the couple who tortures together stays together aka they torture someone (not detailed, mostly off screen), reader showing just how crazy she can be, recounting murder of family members, smoking and trying to quit (again, yun), emotional vulnerability, causal nudity, reader stalked / threatened / held hostage briefly, physical violence (not towards reader), blood, murder, crazy ass yunho laughing while he kills someone / crazy ass reader gets turned on by it.

smut warnings: very long smut scenes, soooo much more sex than act one; both have high sex drives and now there's no holding back- 😭 general: rough dom yunho, so many pet names (baby, princess, pretty girl, doll, love, angel, sweetie (variations of little, poor, sweet, dumb / stupid, needy, all used affectionately) ), daddy kink + ddlg themes, hardcore dacryphilia, size difference!!, he has a habit of edging himself, overstimulation, yunho likes when reader is a bit mean, praise + kind of condescending yunho, EXTREMELY possessive dialogue (going both ways), cunnilingus, unprotected (wrap it before you tap it), dumbification, spit, matching each others freak on an astronomical level, lowkey marathon sex, yunho king of dirty talk, squirting, spanking + slapping, choking !!! manhandling !!! hardcore sex !!! they are freak nasty !!! 1: brief somnophilia (yun wakes reader up with head), gentle to rough, yunho makes reader scream his name + say she belongs to him, intense morning sex, orgasm control, talk about fantasies including cnc + free use / exhibitionism / anal / throat training 2: brief somno (reader wakes yun up with head), i went maybe a smidge too detailed while describing his cock... cock worship ! kind of ball worship, hand job, hand kink goes both ways, face + throat fucking / head pushing, tongue in ear action (don't look at me-), mid sex love confession, messy make out, slight cnc: yunho 'makes' reader take more than she can handle but she can stop him at any time, fingering, aftercare wooohoo !

➯a/n: dAYYYUM YALL CALM DOWN kkkkk but in all seriousness thank you, i am really proud of this story so im glad people like it so far ! im just as crazy for joker yunho as you guys lol aaand tag list at the bottom because i legit ran out of room above the cut from the warnings 🥲 enjoy and let me know what you think <3

♡masterlist + navigation !♡

ꕥ

You wake up sore. Muscles aching, hips tender. And you feel like you're about to fall into a warm pool of ecstasy. Tears are already welling up in your sleep hazed eyes.

"Good mornin', doll." Yunho's voice reaches you muffledly, and you quickly find why when you lift your heavy head off the pillow and find him lying between your legs.

At some point last night, he came home with you. Stayed with you and held you until you both fell asleep.

"Yunie?" You moan sleepily, slumping back into the mattress. "What're you doing?"

"Breakfast~" He chuckles, giving your slit a long, slow lick that makes you shiver. "I told you I wanted to spoil your pussy, didn't I?"

You let out a little whine, melting beneath his tongue as he starts lapping at your clit. "F-uck," you stutter, rubbing your eyes before you look down at him again. "How long have you been down there?"

He looks at his watch from where he caresses your sore hip. Not even bothering to remove his tongue from your wetness, he holds up two fingers. "Only two minutes? I feel like I'm about to cum..." You sigh softly, his actions filling your sleep addled body with pure bliss.

"Twenty," he mumbles with a mouthful of you, having wrapped his lips around your cunt and began sucking. He lets go with a lewd pop. "Pretty sure you already have, princess~"

"One more then," you ramble out, quickly pulling his head back towards you by his hair and making him moan. "Please, Daddy? Your tongue feels so good~"

He can't deny you. He said he'd give you anything you wanted, and if you want him to eat you out until he physically can't anymore — he will. His tongue is back to work in a second, licking at your clit while his lips massage your swollen ones; still puffy from taking his pounding. Making out with your cunt slow and passionate, he has to grind down on your mattress to relieve some of the pressure of his hard on.

It doesn't take long for you to crash into your peak, sensitive from last night and newly awakened after his almost half hour long teasing. You meet it with a broken gasp, your twitching hips held still by his warm grip, tears slipping down your face and wetting your pillow.

His hands slide up your body as he crawls up to hover over you; coming all the way to cradle your heated face. "I could eat you out for hours, baby," he whispers against your lips before kissing you softly, smearing your own slick against your face.

"Will you fuck me? Please?" You whine breathlessly when he pulls back, tracing your hand across his naked back and feeling the scratches you left there. "I want to make you feel good, J."

"Fuck," he sighs, leaning his forehead against yours, "you're so tempting~" He searches your eyes deeply, "was I too rough last night, love?"

You blink a few times, taking in the new nickname with a soft smile. "No," you shake your head, spreading your legs further for him, "I liked it, a lot..."

"Good~" He pecks your lips before rolling you onto your side, not giving you enough time to wonder what's he's up when when slots himself behind you; his bulge against your ass. "I woke up so hard for you... I thought last night was the best dream of my life~"

You gasp softly as he lines up with you, using the mix of his spit and your arousal to lube himself up, grinding against you. "Fuck," you breathe out in a huff, dripping on his length from the way he wraps his arms around your waist tenderly, "you're gonna have me like this?"

"Mhm~" He kisses your shoulder, rubbing his thumbs over your ribs soothingly as he sinks into you slowly, letting his eyes roll back freely. You feel so hot and billowy around his pulsing girth. Like heaven on Earth. "Best of both worlds," his voice is dripping with pleasure, "get to cuddle and fuck."

"I love that," you laugh airily, holding your hands over his while he begins thrusting slowly. His member stretching you out so gently makes you dizzy. "Love it when you hold me, Daddy..."

"I know you do, sweet girl~" He smiles into your skin, keeping his pace leisurely and deep; massaging your sore walls with his cock. "You fit so perfect in my arms, don't you?"

"God, yes," you sniffle, holding his hands tighter. You don't know if you'll ever get over crying during sex — probably not. Because Yunho is encouraging it. He likes it. He likes making you feel so good you cry; he loves it. Even when he gifted you your jacket and you started tearing up, he had got hard.

Something is wired a bit off in your mind; crying when you feel even an ounce of pleasure or sudden happiness. But that's okay — something is wired completely off in his; getting rock hard when he makes you cry.

"You cryin' already, princess?" He coos into your ear as he continues his lazy early morning stroking of your insides. "You like it that much? Am I making you feel so good you don't know what to do?" He chuckles as you let out a muffled 'mhm', not trusting your voice to do more without sobbing.

He can tell you feel vulnerable, and that makes it all the better because you continue to hold his hands and trust him not to break you in your fragile state. He can hold you like a breakable doll, like now, and he can manipulate your body like a lewd toy, like last night — and you love it just as much either way. And he won't take advantage of that fact.

Now that you're all his, he's going to do everything in his power to make you feel happy and safe and fucked to contentment.

"Don't you worry, baby-doll," the hybrid of his two nicknames for you makes you clench around him, breathing shakily, "Daddy will take care of you and your wet little cunt~"

"Nghh-" You gurgle on your own moan as one of his arms slips up and his large hand wraps around your throat, choking you just enough to cut off a bit of your air flow.

"Shit-" He hisses as you clench around him tightly, leaning his head against your shoulder, "you really do like it when I choke you~ You're fucking perfect..." You also, evidently, like it when he praises you — because a shiver runs through your body as you cum around him, moaning and sobbing in some sort of harmonious mix.

"Y-Yunie!" You croak out with a whine, breathing deeply as he eases his grip and strokes your neck softly.

"Shhh, you're okay~ Can you take it just a little longer, princess?" He reaches down and cups your cunt softly, making you fidget. One of his arms around your shoulders and the other over your hips, though; you don't get far. "Quit squirmin', use your words."

You yelp as he sucks on your neck, his hand squeezing your puffy pussy as he continues to thrust at a torturously slow pace. "F-fuuuck! Fuck you, why is your cock so perfect?"

He has a huge grin on his lips, body tingling at your tearful voice. The way you said 'fuck you' and then immediately praised him makes his brain pleasantly foggy. "Can you take it, baby? You gonna let me fuck you until I fill your perfect pussy~?"

"Ah~ Uh-huh!"

"Words, doll~"

You groan loudly, eyes squeezing shut and making fat tears roll down your face. "Yes! Yes, Daddy!"

"Yes?" The feeling of his tongue tracing up to your ear makes you tremble. "Say, 'Daddy, please fuck my perfect pussy until you cum'," he whispers right to you, moaning at the way your walls twitch around him. "Make it good, baby, you know I don't like to ask for things twice."

Zero hesitation is to be found as you grab at the sheets, steadying yourself as he locks a leg over yours and starts fucking into you with more force. Still slow and steady, but it feels like his rattling your brains every time he bottoms out. His chest is so warm against your back.

"Yunie! Daddy, p-please- oh, god~ Fuck m- ah! I can't think! M'sorry, I can't think!"

"Poor baby~" His laughter tickles your neck, "can't even remember a sentence cause I'm dicking you so good, huh?"

"Nuh-uh," you shake your head, that's one thing you can do.

The spank on your ass makes you shout, both of your hands flying up to your face and covering your mouth. "Words, baby," he reminds you with a threat, "or I'm gonna have to stop."

"No! Don't stop!" You wail behind your hands, grinding your hips back into him and making him moan deeply. "Please-" You whine as you search your scrambled brains, "oh! Daddy! Please, fuck my p-perfect pussy until you cum!" It comes out a bit slurred, but it plasters a smirk on his face nonetheless; even more satisfied when you add some of your own. "Fill me up, Yunie~ Want it, want it, pleaseee!"

"Oh, that's a good girl, I knew you could do it~" He coos, making your heart flutter as he places a kiss to the back of your neck; wrapping his arms up under yours and holding your shoulders. "My little doll~" His sudden quicker pace makes you scream, hands back over your mouth and muffling your own noises roughly; tears soaking your fingers.

He laughs breathlessly at your efforts, because you're still loud as all get out even with both hands slapped over your mouth. "Scared to wake the neighbors, princess? Don't want them to know The Joker is all up in your guts~?" He grabs your wrists, pulling them down to your chest and pinning them there.

"Ha-harder!"

Your face meets the pillow before you know up from down; laid flat on your stomach with him pushing your legs open with his own. "Harder," he laughs, "sweet princess already cryin' but wants it harder~? Oh, don't worry~" He pins your wrists down to the either side of your head as he starts pummeling into you; his hips clapping against your ass each time he slams the weight of them down into you. Slow, rhythmic, and the fucking roughest you've ever got. He gives you time to feel the impact of his cock driving into you before he's pulling back out and doing it again.

"Daddy will pound you just how you like it, baby," he pants from above you, eyes wild as he watches you bury your face in the pillow; screaming with each of his brutal thrusts. "Nice and rough for my precious girl~"

"Ah!! Fuck! Fuck!" Comes your muffled, frazzled response. "M'gonna c-"

"Not yet." He growls with a particularly brutal slap of his hips. His bulbous tip stays buried deep, driving you crazy; trying to hump your hips back into him. He lets go of one of your wrists in favor of smacking your ass. The rough sting makes you wail, clenching around him and leaking all over your unmade bed. "I said not yet."

"Whyyyy?" You sob into the pillow, trembling beneath him with your orgasm just a few small drops of pleasure away from spilling over and consuming you.

"Because you're gonna scream my name first."

"Yunho!" You let it tumble out of your lips with not a second thought. "Yunie!"

He hums, pretending to think, "what about 'Daddy'? Try that one for me, doll."

"D-Daddy! Please, keep going!"

"Let me hear... 'Mister J'. You're so sweet when you call me that~"

He's taking maybe a little too much joy in teasing you. Holding your orgasm just out of reach while he coaxes out your tearful voice, grinding against you just enough to keep you hanging right there. Dangling you above the boiling hot ecstasy and keeping it just at your trembling fingertips.

"Ngh-" You swallow thickly, fisting the sheet tightly and kicking your feet in a small tantrum. "You jerk! Let me cum!"

His cock twitches heavily inside of you, a guttural groan bubbling up his throat as that fire he loves about you so much comes out and singes him even when he's fucking you into a pile of tears.

He pins your legs in place with his own, "say it, baby. And I'll let you cum. I'll make you cum as much as you want, my needy girl~"

"Mister J, please~" You moan so sweetly that he starts up his deep, soul shaking thrusts against immediately.

"Good girl~"

His simple praise makes you fall straight into the ecstasy he kept out of reach, a cry breaking off in your throat as you cum so hard that you blank for a few seconds; your entire body shaking like a leaf in the wind as he keeps you pinned to the bed.

"Fuuuuck, that's it, keep milking my cock just like that~" He sucks in a sharp breath as he pulls up your boneless body, letting your shoulders slump against the mattress while he lifts your hips and starts pulling you into his thrusts — going faster.

"Ah, ah, ahh!!" All you can do is moan, drooling into the sheets as your brain gets flooded with entirely too much pleasure for you to handle. "G-ah..." Any and all attempts you make towards forming words falls short, making him grin widely as he pounds into you.

"Poor princess~" He coos in a mix of mockery and comfort, making you drip. "So dumb on Daddy's cock that you can't even speak," his next words each come with a smack to your heated ass cheek, "so damn cute." The squeaks that leave your lips make him want to spank you more. Harder.

He has so much pent up energy. So much bottled up lust. He's been fantasizing about you for months. Fisting his cock while he thought of all the ways he wanted to absolutely wreck you and place you back together just for him.

And now that you're his — it's all coming out. Through his actions, and his words.

He can't help himself. Just like when you were grinding on his lap; all of his darkest thoughts come tumbling out before he can stop them as he holds back his orgasm. Because while his body might be ready to cum, his brain is still urging him to fuck you more. Until you can't breathe.

"Goddamn~" He starts with a pant as he feels your arousal drip down his balls, "you're so wet for me~ Making a damn mess, you needy doll~ Fuck... This messy little cunt is all mine, hmm? I'm the only one who will ever touch you, ain't that right?"

"Y-yeah!" You manage to get enough air in your overworked lungs to respond, slurring and panting more than he is as another wave of mind-numbing pleasure creeps up on you.

"Say it. I wanna hear you say it, princess. 'My pussy belongs to Joker', go on and scream it~" He pushes you back flat on the bed, his hands pressing down on the small of your back to keep you in place as he pounds into you as hard as he can — trying to fuck all of his pent up emotions right into you.

"M- ah! Joker! My p- oh, my god! I'm gonna cum! Please, I'm gonna cum! Don't stop- my pussy belongs to you, Joker! I belong to you! Fucking make me c-cum! Make me cum, Daddy!" You start rambling just as much him; goosebumps rising on your sweaty neck as he snakes a hand between your hips and the bed, squeezing your cunt again.

"Fuck- that's right, baby~" He moans loudly, right by your ear as he pounds you into the mattress. "You're mine. Every fucking part of you. Get to fuck you whenever I damn well want to."

He's panting, his entire body tingling, ears burning as they revel in the sound of your shaky cries of pleasure.

"Make my pretty girl scream for the whole world to hear~ Make them all watch while I fuck you until you're stupid, yeah? Oh, yeah~ You like that, doll?" He coos with a slight tremble in his voice as you start grinding clumsily into his possessive grip on your cunt. "You like it when Daddy tells you all the dirty things he's gonna do with you?"

A string of slurred agreements and begs is all you can muster up, teetering so precariously on the edge that it feels like you may as well be having one long orgasm.

"My perfect girl," he wraps his arm around your shoulders and holds you tightly, blanketing you entirely while he slows his thrusts enough to let you both breathe. When you start whining, urging him to keep going by wiggling your hips, he shushes you softly. "Shhh, none of that. I'm going to fuck you all morning long, okay? But you gotta let me slow down or I'm gonna cum. You even feel how good your pussy is milking me?"

You let out a soft whimper, shaking your head. "Aw~ Poor baby so fucked out she can't even feel her pussy? Just wants to keep cumming and cumming~"

"Uh-huh," you moan into the pillow, hissing from the slight stinging sensation as he pulls out of you slowly. "Noooo, where are you going?"

"Hey, it's okay, princess," he chuckles, "I'm not goin' anywhere. I just want to see you~ Can't let my pretty girls face be stuck in the bed all morning, right?"

"O-okay," you pant, blinking up at him with wide eyes as he turns you over gently.

"Shit," he whistles quietly as he scans you, his cock twitching in the air. He cups your face, manic grin on his lips, and strokes your cheeks with his thumbs. "I really am fucking ruining you, aren't I? Poor girl~"

"It- It's okay," you whisper as you lean into his tender touches, "I'll let you ruin me whenever you want... I like it."

He just about cums untouched as you speak those words. "Y-Yeah?"

"Mhm~ I belong to you, Daddy."

"Fuck-" He crashes his lips onto yours, smooshing your face in his hands. "That's right-" He says before quickly planting another kiss. "Damn fucking right~" He licks up your cheek, wild in his actions. "All mine-" A lick to your other cheek. "My perfect little doll," he smirks down at you, "I'm going to have so much fun with you, princess~ You don't even know~"

The next kiss he lands on your lips is hot. Burning with passion and all-consuming. You're so fuzzy headed from it — from everything — that it takes you a few moments to realize he's pulled away and slapped you.

It was light, testing the waters. Nowhere near as rough as he could be. But it makes your overstimulated cunt twitch nonetheless. "Open your mouth." You're still dazed, catching up to what's happening when he lands a soft slap to your other cheek. "Say 'ah', baby."

You swallow before you open up your mouth, but there's still strings of saliva as you roll out your tongue. "Ahhh~"

"There we go~" He coos as he straddles your hips, fisting his length slowly while he leans over you. "God, I can't wait to fuck this pretty little mouth~" He spits right onto your tongue, making you jump in surprise. He laughs airily, tracing your chest with his free hand as you look up at him in awe and shock. "You're so fucking adorable..." He hums as he looks down at you, stars in his eyes, before spitting again.

"Swallow it." He says, cupping your breast and giving it a squeeze. "Whenever I put something in your mouth, swallow it. Got it? Spit, cum- fucking swallow and open your mouth to show me what a good girl you are."

You're quick to bring your tongue back into your mouth and do as he says — swallow. With a soft moan, you take his spit down your throat before reopening your lips. "Ah?" You hum, searching for his approval.

And he gives it. His cheeks are flushed pink and he's got a shockingly fond smile on his lips. "You're a quick learner, baby~ Good job," the kiss he places on your forehead has you melting. Almost as much as his next words make your heart flutter, "most people would be running for the hills if they heard all the nasty things I wanted to do. But not you, doll... We're a match made in heaven~"

"Not me," you bite at your lip for a moment before you find the courage to ask, "will you tell me more?"

His eyes light up even more, looking up from your chest to meet your eyes. "Yeah?" He whispers, smirk overtaking his smile, "you want to hear what I thought about every night? C'mere-"

You yelp as he suddenly lifts you, wrapping his arms around you tightly and sliding you down on his length as he sits on the edge of your bed. "Ffffuck~" You shiver in his hold as he starts thrusting into you immediately.

"Look at me," he moans, cupping the back of your head and pressing his forehead to yours, "wanna see the look in your eyes when I tell you exactly what I want to do."

"I w- I wanna hear it all, Daddy," you whimper as his girth drags along your overworked g-spot.

"I want to cum inside all of your holes." He dives straight into the deep end, blurting out his fantasy with zero hesitation; eyes locked on yours as they widen slightly. "Your pretty little mouth, perfect fucking pussy-" His jaw tightens a bit as you start meeting his thrusts, "how many people been inside that ass of yours?"

"N-none."

His cock leaks with excitement inside of you, his grip on you tightening. "Fuck, baby- really?" When you nod against his head, he starts thrusting harder.

"Will y-you make it feel good?"

"Fucking christ, doll! You're making me crazy..." His eyes squeeze shut for a moment before they're right back on you, "of course. Of course, baby. I'm going to make your little ass feel so good~ You'll love it, won't you?"

"M'gonna cum-"

"Hold it." He growls, gripping the back of your neck. "I'm not done. I want you to hear about how I want to pin you to the floor and see how hard you'll fight-"

"Ca- holy shit! Can't- I can't hold it!"

He ignores you, slamming his hips up into you while running through his imagination, "I wanna know how much fire you've really got in you. See juuust how far you'll go to try and get away-"

"Yunie!"

"Maybe that's when I'll fuck you in the ass." His vulgar words make you squeeze your eyes shut to try and focus on holding off your impending orgasm. His slap to your cheek makes you open them again, hot tears streaming down your face and getting smeared by his palm. "Thinking about that gonna make you cum? Fuck- It's gonna make me cum~ I can just imagine the pretty cries you'll let out when you realize you can't get away. When I hold you down and make you cum so much you pass out- fuck, it's going to be beautiful~"

You're panting heavily, your entire body is hot, your cunt is tingling. His face is blurry behind your tears, but you can see how excited he is. You feel an unfamiliar twinge in the massive ball of pleasure building up inside of you. One you've only felt once before. "Oh- Fuck- I think m'gonna squirt-" Your words come out in a fast jumble, but he catches every single syllable.

"Do it, pretty girl~ You've earned it~"

"Oh, fuck! Thank you, Yunie, thank you!" You squeal, hugging his neck tightly and keeping your eyes on his until you physically can't — the force of your orgasm slamming into you so roughly that it sends your eyes straight back into your skull, eyelids fluttering shut as pure unadulterated ecstasy rushes through you.

"Fucking perfect..." His whisper of awe, his heart filled eyes as you squirt around him all goes unnoticed as you twitch and tremble in his tight hold.

"Yunho~" Your soft, pleasure drunken whine of his name pushes him off the edge — shoves him, hard. His brain takes over as it floods with dopamine and endorphins. He rolls you both over quickly, thrusting as deep as he can get while he pins you to the bed with his body; hugging your head to his chest.

"My princess. All fucking mine. Take it, take it, baby-" His voice breaks into a loud moan, a full body twitch running through him as he cums inside of you; filling you with warmth from the inside out.

You cling to him tightly: head buried away from the world in the comfort of his chest, sore legs spread wide for him, soft sniffs and whines meeting his pleasured hums.

"You're so good for me, love," his voice is almost a purr as he holds you tightly, "my precious doll. I'll never let you go."

"Y- You better not."

ꕥ

"Hey, pretty girl~ Needa' ride?"

The car pulls up right next you, music blasting.

Yunho smirks as he sees you instinctively reach for the knife he knows you keep in your jacket before you register that it's him; a grin making its way to your lips.

You lean your arms on the rolled down window, popping your gum. "Cash, grass, or ass?"

He simply chuckles, reaching over and opening up the door for you. "Come on, doll-face."

You slide into the car, leaning over the center to give him a kiss, "missed you, Mister J~" It's not even been twenty-four hours — more about ten. He had left late in the night after he got a text, saying he had to 'grab' something and that he'd pick you up in the morning.

So, here you are.

"Missed you back, baby," he hums, cupping the side of your neck to pull you into another quick, hot kiss. He hates to pull away, but he does anyway. It's a big day ahead; and he wants to get right on with it. "Buckle up."

"Ironic," you giggle as you pull on your seatbelt, the car already speeding, "don't think I've ever seen you wear your seatbelt."

"Hm," he pouts as he thinks, before shrugging with a laugh. "Probably not!"

You grab his cigarettes as he points to them, sliding one out carefully. "Where we off to, J?" You ask as you place it between his lips, leaning over to light it for him.

He takes a long inhale before blowing the smoke into the rushing cold air; the winter air whipping through the car. "Surprise~ Don't worry, you'll like it."

"How do you know?"

"I just do~ Call it a gut feeling." His hand finds its rightful place on your inner thigh, rubbing his thumb over your skin softly. "This skirt is pretty on you, wear it more for me~"

"Uh-huh, if you say s-" As he stops at a red light, the song happens to change at the same time; and something else reaches your ears. Muffled screaming and banging from the trunk. "Yunho?"

"What's up, princess?"

"Do you have someone in the trunk?"

"Yup~" He beams as he turns up the music, "don't mind him. It's not a long ride."

You stare at him for a moment. Clearly to ask 'what the fuck?' "Who's back there?"

"No one important," he tosses his cigarette butt out the window before rolling them up and turning the vent toward you. "You cold, baby?"

"A little bit- wait, wait! We aren't moving on that fast. The fuck is going on?"

"Don't you worry about that, love," he smiles over at you, "you trust me, right?"

You think, only for a split second. "Of course, Yunie."

ꕥ

The wear-house by the river clearly hasn't been in business for a long time. The only sign of life for miles is Yunho, running over to open the car door for you.

"C'mon, doll," he takes your hand, all but pulling you back to the trunk. "Are you ready?"

You don't really know. You have no idea what — who to expect when he opens the trunk. "Yeah, I guess so..." You trail off as he pushes it open, eyes going wide. "Holy shit." You whisper. "Holy shit!" You slap a hand over your mouth as you laugh; looking between him and the fearful man who's bound with tape in his trunk.

"You goddamn crazy fuck," you grab his neck and pull him down into a deep kiss. Mumbling into his lips as his hands find your waist, you find a wide smile spreading on your features, "you did this for me?"

"I'd do anything for you, doll~" He hums softly, reaching over without looking away from you and shoving the man back into the trunk as he tries to clumsily crawl out. "I told you that you'd have his heart in a gift basket, no~? I figured why have all the fun myself, I should let my girl have some, too."

In the trunk is none other than Earnest Holmes; the man who you hate more than anything. "This is the best gift I've ever received, Mister J~ How could I ever repay you?"

"Let me help you with whatever plans you've got running through that pretty little head~"

"Deal." You land another kiss to his lips before turning quickly, your pocket knife pulled in a second flat and the tip of it against Holmes' throat; making the man still.

"I bet you don't even remember me." He shakes his head violently. "No?" You press the sharp stainless steel into his skin, a single pinprick made in his neck. You don't want him dead just yet. "I'll give you a hint..."

Yunho leans over, joining you in crowding the terrified man; your shadows looming over him.

"My momma gave you that nasty scar on your back. She got you real good." You laugh as his eyes widen, "mhm~ Ringing a bell?"

Yunho rests a hand on the small of your back, the look in his eyes basically already gutting Holmes. If looks could kill, he'd be dead twice over. Once from you, and another from The Joker resurrecting him just to do it again himself.

"I'm going to do so much more than she did. I'm going to kill you. But not before Mister J and I have a fucking field day making you suffer."

The man yells behind the tape on his mouth as you twirl the knife before driving it straight into his thigh.

"Let's get him inside, baby," Yunho grins wildly, basking in the unbridled fire in your eyes as you look up at him, "we can take our time with this worm."

You yank your blade from Holmes' leg, staring down at the blood on the steel. You're usually queasy around gore. But now? You're thinking of all the ways you and Yunho can hurt him.

You appreciate that he hasn't asked just exactly what the man has done. Because if you tried to explain it at the moment, you'd end up stabbing Holmes more fatally. And he doesn't deserve a quick end.

You move out of the way, letting his blood drip off your knife; which you keep a death grip on — just incase you change your mind and decide that you want to stab him in the throat.

Yunho doesn't have any trouble yanking the man up, dropping him to the dirt with a glare. It softens when he looks to you, and it's back to pure hatred as he looks back down at Holmes. He doesn't know the details — but he doesn't have to. All he has to know is this man has harmed and disrespected you.

He scoffs at the mans sniveling, grabbing him by the ankles and dragging him through the dirt towards the warehouse. "Watch your head." He smirks as he pulls the man up the concrete steps, making his head thud against them.

You have a slight grin making its way back to your lips as you follow, running to pull the large sliding door open for him. "Well, thank you, baby~" He pecks your head as he passes, kicking the man in his injured leg as he tries to use his bound hands to grab at your ankles. "Hands off, fuck-face, or I'll cut them off."

You slide the door shut behind you as he pulls the man up and shoves him into the chair in the middle of the empty space. One look around the desolate building tells you that it's far from the first time The Joker has used it for this purpose. Between the blood stained wooden chair and the work desk of instruments of pain; this seems to be his second office.

By the time you've finished scanning the large, near empty room, Yunho has Holmes hand-cuffed to the arms of the chair.

You toss your knife onto the stained workbench, stalking over to them as Yunho leans back against the metal wall. "What you got planned, pretty girl?"

You grab the edge of the duct tape on Holmes' mouth, pulling it off slowly. "Let's hear him try to explain himself." Half-way across, you yank it; making him yell.

"You fucking bitch-"

Before Yunho can even jump to strangle the man for daring to insult you — you slap the man. Hard. Hard enough for it to snap his head to the side and for the sound to echo a few times.

"Do you think you're in any position to be insulting me?" You huff a laugh, "you should be begging for mercy, you worthless piece of shit." He's silent, looking at the floor. "You think you're too good for that? Hm..." You pout towards Yunho, sarcasm laced in your voice, "he thinks he's better than me, Mister J."

He pushes off the wall with a wild grin, "oh, that won't do~" Holmes groans as he yanks his head up by his hair, making the man face you. "Maybe, if you play nice," he whispers to him, "my girl will make it quick."

He knows that you won't. But Holmes doesn't.

"Listen..." He starts slowly, breaths shaky, "your mother-" He hesitates when you take a step forward. "Your mother... she was just- I d- Fuck, what do you want me to say!?"

"Tell me why you chose her."

Yunho yanks his hair again when he takes too longer to answer.

"Because she was pretty."

Your jaw tightens. "I've decided what I want to do first, Yunie."

"What's that, baby?"

"Do you know how to gouge someone's eyes out?"

He shoves the man's head as he lets go, wrapping an arm around your shoulder and showing you to the workbench. "I'll teach ya'."

ꕥ

You let out a soft sigh, leaning into Yunho's side after he wraps his long coat around your shoulder. "Thank you, Yunho..."

You're both sitting on the edge of the dock, legs dangling. It's only a few hours later, but it feels like a life time has passed. Some of the things you did — you didn't even know you were capable of.

"Anything for you, love."

And he's proved that. Absolutely anything for you. He had washed his hands in the river after carving out the heart of a man who had wronged you — there was probably nothing he wouldn't do.

It sits next to you in a wicker basket that he handed you with a kiss.

You had helped him roll the dead, weighed down man into the water and watched him sink with a feeling of cathartic release sinking down on you.

"He stalked my mother for three weeks." You start with a whisper, "and then he broke into our house. Killed my pops first when he tried to protect us. And... she tried to fight him off, stabbed him in the back. But it wasn't enough. Police said it was random- home invasion gone sideways. They didn't have any records of him stalking her because they said they couldn't do anything until he actually hurt her. What kind of ass backwards bullshit is that?"

He's angry for you. He could tell by the way you talked about it that it has been weighing on you for a long time. He sighs, rubbing your shoulder softly, "I'm sorry, baby. The world is an unfair place, we have to make our own justice... Do you feel better now that he's gone?"

"It doesn't change what he did. But... for some reason? I do."

"Good. He deserved every single thing we did to him and more. If there's a hell, I'll find him there and continue his punishment."

You chuckle quietly, leaning your head against his shoulder. "Maybe I do owe him a single thanks."

"Mh? What for?"

"After my parents passed, my aunt and uncle took me in. Hongjoong's parents. And when he opened The Riddle Room, he gave me a job there. And, in a fucked up kind of way, that lead me to you."

He breathes a small chuckle, "sentimental already, doll?"

"Oh, screw you," you laugh, shoving his shoulder with yours.

He pulls you closer to his side, smiling down at the water that now houses your first kill — right next to his.

ꕥ

"Yes, princess?" Yunho leans back, taking his lollipop stick out of his mouth to speak into the phone.

It's about a week later. A week of officially being his. And while he would absolutely love if it were the case — you don't spend every second by his side. He has business to attend to that he would rather not mix you up in, and you have your college work to focus on now that you've officially quit working for Riddler.

"Hey, Yunho," your frazzled voice makes his heart drop, "are you busy?"

"What's wrong? Where are you?" He asks quickly, chewing on the stick while waiting for your response; impatient.

"Uhm, I'm just at my apartment, but," you trail off for a moment, "sorry, is this a bad time? I can- I know you're working, I can call back later."

"No, it's okay. What's going on, doll?"

He's ready to drop everything for you.

"Some asshole ran into the gas pipe across the street and now my whole apartment building is turning into a damned freezer. I hate to ask but, uhm," you clear your throat. He can tell you're nervous even over the phone. "I don't really have anywhere else to go until it gets fixed, my aunt lives all the way in Arkham and Hong is still a little butthurt- the maintenance lady said it should only be a few days!"

"You can stay with me, baby," he doesn't even hesitate. Honestly, he's relieved it wasn't something worse. His mind immediately went to the worst case scenarios. What if Bullock was following you? What if someone saw you dump the body with him? What if one of his rivals h-

"Really?" Your elated voice rings from the speaker, "oh, thank you, Yunie! I promise I won't be trouble."

"Hm, why not? That's what I like about you, doll-face," he smiles as your chuckle comes through.

"Oh, shut up," you huff a laugh, "you gonna pick me up or should I come to your office?"

"I'll pick ya' up, pack whatever you need," he pulls the phone away to check the time, "I'll be there in an hour, try to stay warm, yeah?"

"Yeah- thank you so much, Mister J."

"You know I'll do anything for you, princess."

He slips his phone into his pocket and takes the lollipop stick back into the side of his mouth. "Sorry," he looks up to the gagged man who's currently tied up on the chair, "had to take that. You don't mind, right~?"

The man shivers as The Joker pulls his leather glove back on, picking up the pliers he had sat down to answer your call.

"Now, let's hurry this along. My girl needs me."

ꕥ

"So..." You trail off as you look around the apartment slowly. "This is the infamous Joker's home."

It's shockingly normal. Nice. Small and cozy. It's clear he doesn't spend a a lot of time here, but he still cares for it.

"Home sweet home," he chuckles as he unzips your large jacket, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to your lips, "get comfy, baby-doll, I'll turn on the heat."

"Thank you, J," you cup his cheek softly as he goes to turn around, stopping him. "Really, thank you. I'd be freezing my ass off if not for you."

The way he absolutely melts into your touch doesn't go unnoticed. It never does — you always notice. You have since the beginning. Or, at least since you stopped being afraid of him. You realized he needs touch just as desperately as you.

"Well, we can't have that~" He jokes to break the intense staring contest, kissing your palm softly, "gotta take care of my girl."

"I'm gonna get spoiled if you keep this up-"

"Good." He shrugs, turning and disappearing deeper into the apartment, "my princess deserves only the best!"

You shake your head with a smile overtaking your lips, taking off your jacket and hanging it next to his coat. "How long have you lived in this part of the city?"

It's right in the middle of the upper and lower parts. Probably so he can get around quicker.

"Couple years," he calls back to you, joining you in the open living area; cigarette resting unlit in his lips. "How long you been in your neighborhood?"

"Couple years," you mimic him as you investigate the living room from your spot next to him.

He swipes up the lighter on his short coffee table and lights the cigarette as he falls onto the fabric couch. "Don't be so shy," he says before he inhales deeply, slumping as the nicotine fills his lungs. "What's mine is yours~"

You drop your bag on the floor and all but jump onto the couch next to him. He props his feet up on the table, his arm wrapping around your shoulder as you snuggle into his side; hugging his torso. "That's more like it," he laughs softly as you fold your legs under you.

Almost polar opposites in the way you sit — it's kind of amusing. He's spread out, taking up his space and leaning his head back against the cushion as he smokes. You're curled up on his side; in his space more than your own, head pressed to his chest as you listen to his deep inhalations.

"Did you have a good day at work?" You ask softly, knowing that he's not going to answer. He never does. But you always ask anyway.

"Hm," he toys with your hair softly, humming amused at your insistence of asking. He's not going to tell you that he spent the day sending a message to a rival drug dealer by torturing his runner. "How was your school work? How's my pretty genius gettin' along?"

You smile into his chest, pressing closer.

You suddenly don't mind that the gas heating in your apartment is broken. You like it here, with him.

ꕥ

"I can't believe you were serious." You set the stuffed animal back down on the corner of his bed, giggling as he pulls off your pants.

His bed is big and warm and so comfortable you find yourself wanting to never leave.

"I told you," he shrugs with a smile, "I like to snuggle."

"I guess you did, yeah, just a bit shocking." You smile back as he leans over, pecking your lips as he pulls the pajama bottoms he had gotten out of your bag over your legs.

"Why?" He asks between soft kisses left across your face, his hands sliding under your sweater to caress your waist.

Both of you now dressed warm and ready for bed, it's possibly the most cozy you've ever been as he hovers over you, peppering your skin in light smooches.

"You have a reputation, you know?" He leans into your touch as you reach up and push back his hair. "My Mister J~"

His face would probably be unreadable to anyone else. But, for some reason, you can see past his calm features — you can see into his mind through the smallest flicks of his eyes as he scans your face.

"Are you still afraid of me?"

He asks it so softly that you nearly miss it; like he's scared of the answer he might get. He doesn't need to be, though.

"Why would I be?"

He sits to straddle you, bringing his hands out from your sweater to find yours. Lacing your fingers together, he says, "I'm not a good man."

You wrap your fingers in his, never letting your eyes leave his. "You're good to me."

A smile tugs the corner of his lips. "I've killed."

"So have I." You tilt your head as you look up at him, "do you think I'd leave over something so trivial?"

He laughs at your choice of words, a short huff of amusement. Trivial. Like it doesn't matter. Like you don't mind the blood that stains his very being.

Looking down at you — he can tell it doesn't.

You're holding his hands despite their tainted nature.

"I'm not afraid of you. I bare my neck to you because I know you could kill me... but you choose not to."

You're getting blurry. His cheeks are wet.

Is there a leak —

You force one of your hands from his grasp and cup his cheek, wiping his tears. "Yunho-"

"I love you." It comes in a quick breath, like it was squeezed out of his throat. Like he doesn't want you to catch the confession.

But in the quiet of his bedroom, in the intimate moment; of course you do.

Your face softens, eyebrows pushing together slightly, pupils widening.

"I love you." Again, louder this time. "Please-" He leans over you, hiding his face in the crook of your shoulder, "you can't-" His brain isn't working properly. He's blinking rapidly, trying to rid the troublesome tears before he gives up and squeezes his eyes shut.

When was the last time he cried? It had to have been years. Not since he was a boy.

"I'm not going anywhere, Mister J," you whisper as he wraps his arms around you tightly; holding you like you'll disappear any second. "You can't get rid of me that easy~"

You smile as he chuckles quietly into your shoulder, rubbing up and down his back slowly. "Guess I'm stuck with you~" He jokes right back, his voice heavy with his tears.

It's definitely... strange to see the man who you once thought was nothing but chaos crumble like a house of cards as he leans into your touches. You can't find it in yourself to care, however.

He isn't The Joker right now. He's yours.

"Stay with me, baby..."

"Of course, Daddy."

ꕥ

You decide to flip the script on him in the morning whenever you find that you've woke up before him.

"Mh, Yunie?" You moan sleepily as he presses closer to you with a deep groan. You think he might be awake, the way he's pressing his hard-on into your behind while pulling your back more securely to his chest.

But when you turn in his arms, you find his peacefully sleeping face: his lips parted by his gentle breaths, his hoodie over his messy hair, completely content as he rests. Completely — besides the bulge in his sweatpants that he's still trying to press against you subconsciously; a soft whine in his throat when he can't find your ass.

You spend a second to look at him.

He strangely... pretty. The perfect mix of sharp features and round. Just like his personality. Well — towards you, at least.

"Babyyy," he groans in his sleep, you can see his eyes flicking slowly behind his lids.

He did it to you, so you may as well return the favor.

You carefully push him to his back, kicking the blankets off of you in the process, "I'll take care of you, Daddy." You whisper with a kiss to his jaw before crawling down.

You pull his sleep pants and boxers down past his hips, gulping as you get your first good look at his length.

You've never seen one that you would call mouthwatering. They do say never say never for a reason; because you are salivating at the sight of his hard inches.

No wonder he feels so good inside of you. He's just a little too thick for your fingers to wrap all the way around as you softly grasp his base. His tip is leaking, slightly flushed. The vein running down the side looks like it throbs ever so slightly. He has a freckle, near the tip.

His breath hitches as you kiss the freckle. You smile before you trace over the pronounced vein with the tip of your tongue. You catch a taste of his pre-cum and moan quietly, closing your eyes while you swirl your tongue around his head slowly.

The little sounds he's making are making you ridiculously wet for how early in the morning it must be.

You situate yourself a bit better, laying between his legs as he spreads them and bucks his hips subconsciously. With a hum, you lean back down and start kissing along his length; soft, opened mouth smooches echoing in the quiet apartment with his deep moans and whines.

His hand finds the top of your head as you wrap your lips around the head of his cock, just resting there heavily.

When he slowly opens his eyes a few moments later, he blinks up at the ceiling as his waking brain catches up to all of the pleasure that's coming from your warm mouth wrapped around the first inches of his painfully hard cock. He looks down quickly, meeting your eyes as you slowly pull away from his length.

"Good morning, Daddy-"

"Are you suckin' my dick?" His voice is raspy with sleep and pleasure; you can feel your panties stick to your lips with slickness.

"Mhm," you hum while kissing back down his length, chuckling as his head falls back to the pillow.

"Fuck, doll-" He huffs, biting his lip as you go even further down and kiss his balls. When you suck a bit, he hisses, pulling your head closer, "again."

You take one of the globes into your mouth, suckling tenderly and rolling your tongue along the taut skin. "God-" He slumps into the bed, bringing his arm over his eyes as he laughs airily.

You let go with a soft pop, licking up the underside of his length.

"Oh, you're gonna make me crazy, love," his chuckle makes your clit throb, and you almost want to give up on making him cum in your mouth when he looks down at you again. Eyelids heavy with sleep, pupils wide with lust, his chest rising and falling a bit quickly.

"You want me to stop, Daddy?"

His cock twitches next to your face, calling your attention. You slide your hand up the length with the help of your spit, making his eyes roll back from the slow motion. "I'll fucking choke you on my cock if you try to stop, pretty baby."

"Will you do it anyway?" You tease with a twist of your wrist while going back down his member.

"Open," he growls while gripping your head with both his hands, pushing you down toward him, "open wide, princess."

He shoves you down on his length until you gag — not even half way down but stuffing your mouth entirely. Your throat contracting around the very tip of his cock makes a loud moan spill past his lips; especially because it's paired with your warm hand working up and down on the rest of his length. "Goddamn, I could cum just like this~"

You grab onto his hip as he starts thrusting into the entrance to your throat, making you sputter and gag each time. "Mh~" His eyes flutter shut as he pulls you along his girth, your sounds and your messy spit making his heart race just as much as the heat of your tongue and the soft muscles of your throat trying to reject him.

You try to relax around his cock, but the feeling is so foreign that it forces you to pull away with a gasping breath, heaving as he laughs. "You okay, sweet girl?"

Your response is to start leaving sloppy kisses on his wet cock as you catch your breath, making his back arch slightly. "I might not be able to take you," you say with a pout as you look up, cradling his balls in your palm.

"Aw~" He coos as he pushes himself up, leaning to kiss your head, "yes, you will, doll. That's what training is for."

"You think so?" You ask innocently while you stroke his member quickly; filling the room with lewd shlicks.

He curses under his breath, eyebrows pinching together, "I'll make you take it, baby. I'll make it fit. Even if you pass out, if you can't talk for a few days — I'm going to make your throat fit me perfectly, just like I will to all of your little holes~"

"Shit-" It's your turn to curse, leaning up to kiss him as you continue with your smooth movements. "Do you promise?" You whisper against his lips, "promise you'll make me yours?"

"You already are."

You were his the moment he laid eyes on you. You just didn't know it yet.

He wraps his arms around you tightly, lifting you up into his lap as he sits on the edge of the bed; his cock twitching between you at the loss of your touch when you wrap your arms around his neck. "I am?"

"Don't you fucking doubt it, pretty girl~ You're mine. Every little piece of you: every bone in your body, every hair on your pretty little head, every smile and every tear. All of it belongs to me. Ain't that right, doll?"

You smile as you slide your hands down his chest, almost shy. "That's right, Mister J~" You yip a moan as he slaps your ass, smirking as he rubs the sore cheek through your pajamas.

"Mhm, good girl~ Hey, look at me," he pinches your chin delicately and tilts your head up to meet his gaze, "I'm yours. Just as much as you belong to me, I belong to you. Your name may as well be carved on my very soul. Tell me you understand."

"I understand, Yunie." And as strange as it might seem — you truly do. You've read stories of all-consuming love. Once in a lifetime meant to be type of love.

Yunho is yours. And you're his.

"We belong to each other," you grin as you let your hands trail down his stomach, watching his eyes flick across every inch of your face; committing each detail to memory before his eyes close as you wrap your hand around his cock again. Warm skin almost searing against the cooling spit as you jerk him off nice and slow.

"Ah~" He pants quietly, taking his lip between his teeth as he looks down, "fucking christ, baby..." He laughs from the back of his throat, fingers digging into your shoulders to stop himself from cumming. "Oh, oh, fuck- Your hand is so small around my cock, look at that~"

You press your heads together as you look down, watching your hand slide up and down on his slick length. "You're just so big, J~" You giggle with him, your free hand going to the back of his head and your fingers wrapping up in his hair now that his hoodie has fallen. "So big and pretty," you hum with a lick of your lips.

"F- you think I'm pretty?" He just about cums then and there when you say —

"The most handsome man in Gotham, cock included-"

"Get on your knees," he says quickly, spreading his legs and helping you fall to do exactly what he says. You push up your sleeves as he rids himself completely of his sweatpants and boxers. "You like my dick, princess?" He smirks as you nod up at him quickly. "Kiss it."

He leans his weight back on his hands, letting you take control as you dive back in with zero hesitation, kissing up his thigh quickly as you settle between his legs. A hum of approval rumbles in his throat as you kiss up his length — indecent, wet, smooches echoing in the sex-heavy air.

"Mhm~ Th- oh, that's it, love," his hands twitch in the messy blankets. He wants to grab you and skull fuck you so badly. But, he's also absolutely floating at the feeling of your lips all over him. "That's my girl," his sweet, pleasure soaked voice makes you whine quietly as your heat gains a heartbeat, "make out with Daddy's cock, show me how much you love it~"

You pant softly as you travel further down, back at his balls; sending a shiver up his spine as you start kitten licking them. "Fuck!" He brings a hand to his mouth, biting his finger as your hand starts giving his shaft attention while you lick and kiss below it.

"Oh," he pants a laugh, feeling his orgasm snowballing in his gut slowly, "I'm going to fuck you so hard you forget your own name~ Not gonna be a single thought in that pretty head of yours when I'm done with you... Fuck you right back to sleep, baby," his hand finds your head no matter how hard he tries to keep it to himself; his head rolling back as you take both of his balls into your mouth. "You want that? Want me to stick my cock in that cute little cunt while it's covered in your slobber?"

Your hum of agreement vibrates through him, making him gasp; the leaking pre-cum from his tip quickly worked into his length as you stroke him.

"Ah, yeah, you do~ My needy doll," he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, finding himself drooling from the sight of your blissfully closed eyes while you lap at the base of his cock; your hand faithful in its pace higher up. "Fuck... You're so pretty, baby."

The way he said it is so sweet compared to the absolute mess you're making on his member; your sloppy licks and kisses leaving him glistening with spit.

"Open your mouth." And the second you do, he's back inside of it. But instead of fucking back into your throat — he's pressing his tip into your cheek, making it bulge out and filling your face with heat even more than before when he reaches and cups it softly.

He doesn't take his eyes off of you, guiding your head with one hand on the back of your head and the other on your cheek. "My pretty girl~" His gentle slap to your puffy cheek makes both of you moan. "Shit-" He laughs, eyebrows raised slightly as he looks down at you, your hand sneaking into your bottoms, "aww, poor princess~"

He coos with a series of quick, light slaps, "you getting worked up, angel?" He pulls out of your mouth to let you answer, fisting his length roughly. You take in a gasp, rubbing your fingers along your slit faster as the new nickname soaks into your brain.

"M'so wet, Daddy..." You plead as you look up at him with unshed tears, "please- I wanted to make you cum in my mouth but I can't take it, I can't take it anymore, please fuck me?"

"Take your pants off. Let me see how wet you got from making out with my cock~"

You fall into your ass so quickly that he chuckles at your eagerness, pushing back his messy hair in his free hand as he slows his fist on his length. His ears start blushing after you shove your pants away and scramble back a bit before spreading your legs.

You're so fucking wet that the baby blue of your panties is near translucent where it clings to your pussy lips. Your fingers glide over the fabric easily as you circle your clit. "Please, Yunie?"

"Get up here before I fuck you on the floor."

You're on the bed before he even blinks, pulling your sweater off and leaving you in nothing but the soaked underwear. "How do you want me-"

"I'll put you how I want you, how about that?" He grins widely as he pulls you to the middle of the bed, throwing you onto your stomach, "put that pretty little ass in the air for me~"

You land with a moan, immediately pulling your knees up and arching your back; ass in the air just like he asked. "Hurryyy-" You yelp into the bed in surprise as he spanks you. Once, twice, and then his mouth is wrapped around the dripping center of your panties, making you wail, "Daddy!!"

"Hm?" He moans, sucking at your cunt through the fabric and making you cry into the sheets.

"Pu-" You huff, grabbing at his pillow as he all but nuzzles your desperate heat, "pleaseee, make me cum..."

"Ah," he nips your thigh, "since you asked so nicely~" He yanks your panties down, letting them rest around your knees as he impatiently laps at your hot slit.

"Oh, so good~" You slur at his raw movements, each lick and suck he makes filled to the brim with unbridled lust.

He smacks your ass at the same time he takes your clit between his lips, sucking harshly. "Ah! Gonna cum! D- don't stop!"

And of course, he'll be doing no such thing. When he nips at your bundle of nerves and lands another open palmed hit to your cheek, your hips stutter as you gush all over the bridge of his nose. "Ah, you son of a bitch! Oh, fuck! Fuuuck~"

There you go again, making his dick twitch with want as you curse at him; backing your cunt into his face as you work through your peak.

"Mmf~" You groan as you fall flat, face buried in his pillow and soaking it with tears, "s'good, Daddy..."

He crawls up, flipping you over with a smirk, "needy little doll, I barely got to eat you out~"

"M'sorry, you're so good at it," you hum dizzily, melting under his touch as his hand slides up your side.

"Aww, it's okay," he pecks your lips as he grabs the base of his cock, lining up with you, "I know my poor angel was so worked up~"

He slams into you, making your back arch and your jaw drop; eyes squeezing shut while your hands scramble for purchase. "Oh- my god!! Fucking fuck- fuck you, you fucker!" He laughs into your neck, kissing softly while giving your fluttering walls time to adjust. "Holy shit, Yunie..."

"Shhh," he pecks below your ear, licking up slowly until he takes the lobe between his teeth; feeling you clench around him. He tugs ever so slightly, making you gulp forcefully. "You like that, baby?"

"Yeah-" You let out a puffed breath, sniffling as he start to thrust slowly. And you can't help the squeak that comes either when he licks across your ear with his hot, flattened tongue. "More!"

Whether you mean more for your heated ear or gushing pussy — he gives it to you.

One of his hands finds your neck, squeezing and caressing as he makes out with your ear; the filthy noises literally right in your ear. The other grips your waist, keeping you still as he pounds his hips into yours rhythmically.

"Ngh~" You can only manage a few small, pathetic, sounds as his tip assaults your g-spot, "I lo- oh~"

His head perks up from beside you, hovering over you in a split second; hips never stilling. "What, doll?"

You grab onto his shoulders tightly, locking eyes with him even as tears blur your vision.

"I love y-you, Yunho."

He stuffs your mouth with his tongue the second you finish your sentence, hammering into you mercilessly as you squeal and suck at his tongue while he explores every inch he can reach.

Both of his hands find your neck, grounding you in place physically and mentally as he pounds you to another plane of existence. Fucking you like he hates your guts, he pulls back with stars in his eyes —

"Say it again."

"I l- I love you, Yunho!" You stutter out, sobbing below him from the rush of pleasure and emotional relief you've gotten from blurting out your feelings.

"Oh, I love you, princess," he moans as he cups your teary cheeks, rubbing under your eyes with his thumbs, gently — like he's not rearranging your insides. "I fucking love you. I'll go to the goddamn ends of t-the Earth for you. All you have to say-"

"Please, Daddy!!"

"That's right- ah, that's right, baby~ Shh, shhh," he smiles manically as you start hiccuping, throbbing and clenching around him, "I got you, shh, I got you... You just let yourself go, my dumb little angel~"

You cry loudly, pulling him down by his hoodie and burying your face in his shoulder, "m'g- uh!"

"I know, sweetie~ I know, feels so good, right?" He wraps his arms around your head, pausing briefly to hook one of his legs over yours for leverage before starting up his animalistic pace again. "You can cum, baby. You don't have to wait-"

"Ahh! Fuck you- thank you! Fuck, thank you!" You scream into his shoulder as your brain starts short circuiting, your legs trembling below his.

"Mh," he bites his lip, holding you close tightly as you convulse with your release; so much so that he has to pin you to the bed with his body so you'll stop jerking your hips over his member — which is dangerously close to cumming.

But he's not done making you cum and cry yet. "One more." He growls simply before resuming his movements, thrusting and grinding into you so deeply that you see stars. "Come here," he groans, pushing your head back to the bed with his hand around your neck, "open your mouth."

You drop your jaw with a shaky 'ah', rolling out your tongue. He spits right onto it, watching you with dark eyes as you quickly swallow it and put your tongue back out.

"Good girl, you remembered~" He squeezes your neck as he leans down, hips slowly slightly as he presses his tongue to yours and groans with satisfaction.

It's unclear if this is kissing, but it kind of feels like it. Your lips don't touch, but your tongues are all over each other as he rolls his hips into you.

His tongue slips away from yours, going up your heated cheek slowly and gathering up all of your salty tears. Your noises have him going deeper, rougher. Every sniffle and gasp and moan makes him try to thrust further into you and get more out of you.

"You gonna cum for me again, princess? Can you take it?"

"I d- uh! I dunno know," you shake your head with a loud whine, "f-fuck, feels too good!"

"You can take it~" He chuckles breathlessly, rubbing his thumbs on the sides of your throat while he chokes a broken moan out of you. "My girl can take it," he leaves a trail of kisses down your jaw, fingers tightening around your neck. "If you really want me to stop, slap the shit out of me, okay, baby?"

You only let out another whine, grabbing the sheets tightly.

"Hey." He slams his hips into you one more time, lodging himself deep and staying there as he slides his hands up and cups your face. "If you want me to stop, fucking slap me. That will tell me you really can't handle it. Okay?"

"Yes, Daddy," you whimper quietly as his cock twitches inside of you, his knuckles stroking your cheek softly.

"Say it back to me, I want to know you understand before we continue."

You lean into his touches, blinking your teary eyes to try and see him clearly, "if I want you to stop, I'll slap you."

"Good girl~" He pats your cheek softly before slapping you, his hips grinding into you again in the next second and knocking your brains hardwiring loose from the mix of stimulation. "Knew you could take more- this little pussy can't get enough of me, can it?"

He huffs a laugh as you gasp in response, forcing himself to pull out. There's so many positions he wants to try with you, he can't let himself stick to one.

You slump on the messy bed, panting to catch your breath as he pulls off his hoodie. "Fuck, angel," he chuckles, rubbing your trembling thighs softly, "you got me working up a sweat... come here~"

You don't have much choice as he pulls you down the bed until your hips hang off the edge, shaky feet planted on the floor. "Where are you goin'?" You pout as he stands, wiping your face as you look up at him.

"Nowhere at all, pretty girl~ I'm gonna stay right here and make you cum the rest of your brains out."

You breathe sharply as he plunges three of his fingers into your messy hole, curling them right into your g-spot. "Ohhh, fuck! Why, why, why- give me your cock, Daddy!"

"I don't want to cum yet," he hums nonchalantly, smirk growing on his lips as you press your legs together, shoving at his hand as you start sobbing all over again. "I want you to be completely stupid when I stuff you full of my cum."

"Yunie!!"

"Baby~" He mimics you, leaning one of his knees on the bed as he hovers over you, "you gonna be a good messy doll and squirt?"

"Ah! Ah! Please!"

"C'mon, love," he pins you to the bed by your throat, leaving your fidgeting useless, "one more for me, you can do it-"

"I can't! I can't! I c- cumming!"

He watches in a twisted awe as your jaw slacks and your eyes roll back into your head, your legs tensing up as you squirt with every thrust of his fingers. A broken whine leaves your throat as you droop into the bed, your feet hit the floor again with a thud. The splash as he pulls his fingers out makes you hide your face in your arms, sniveling as he licks his hand clean.

"One more."

You groan as he turns your boneless body onto your side, wailing as he slowly slips his member back into you. "Daddy! I al- I already did! That was one more!"

"Hm?" He pretends to think, bending over you and placing his hands on either side of you; admiring your side profile as he sinks balls deep into you. "No? I don't think I said that~"

"Y-you didn't? I though-"

"Shhh," he laughs softly, petting your head as you pout, "I did, princess. I did say that, I'm just playing with you~"

"You play meannn~ My brain isn't workin' right now," you bite your lip as he starts his thrusts slowly.

"Good," he lays his chest across your side, making sure your hands are free before he starts hammering into your over-sensitive cunt. "Then I can fill you up now~"

You slap at the bed, fist the sheets tightly, but you never come towards him — because the pinch of pain that comes with the mind-numbing pleasure is just as delicious. Even if your body doesn't seem to agree, trying to flatten yourself and get away.

"Where the f-fuck you think you're going?" He hums, wrapping an arm under your leg and gripping your thigh tightly; pulling you into his barbaric thrusts. "You said you wanted my cock, so just lay there and take it, sweet girl~"

You stutter out the start to ten different pleads at one, babbling nonsense as he digs into you with the all new angle. You grab at everything you can reach, eventually reaching one of the pillows and clutching it to your chest; hiding your face in it as you scream and cry. He's really, officially fucked your brains out and you are a-fucking-okay with it.

And so is he, dangling himself over the edge and slowing down whenever he gets too close to tumbling over because he still wants more. He wants to watch you hug his pillow as you shake with the overwhelming pleasure forever. But in the end, he's still just a mortal man and you still feel fucking heavenly as your walls tremble around him.

He pulls out for only the second it takes to shove you onto your back; already slipping back in as your head falls flat on the mattress. He pulls the pillow from your death grip and slots himself in your arms instead, letting you hold him tightly as he ruts into you. He wraps his arms under yours and grabs your shoulders, anchoring you in place.

"Poor baby, look at you~" He kisses up the tears that have slipped down to your neck. "Oh, god, look at you..." He says again, trailing off in a low moan. "You're so perfect."

You can barely recognize that he's speaking to you, head lolling side to side; feeling completely empty. "Daddyyy~" You manage to slur as you dig your nails into his back, your hips still turning this way and that to get way from his unrelenting thrusts.

"Mh- fuck! Stop s-squirming, pretty girl," he pants as he leans to your ear, "you ready to take my cum?"

"Yeah!" You huff out, voice dripping with tears and overwhelming ecstasy.

He doesn't have to say anything else, and he can't anyway — too busy gasping for air as his orgasm knocks it all out of his lungs.

Your soft whimpers are the only thing grounding him to Earth. His grip on your shoulder is so tight that it will undoubtedly bruise. His eyes are closed and rolled back, his jaw dropped and his heavy breaths meeting your neck.

"Fffffuck!" He whines with one last thrust, stilling deep inside of you with his warm release. "Good fucking hell, princess..."

He kisses your neck softly, sucking a deep mark as you sniffle and catch your breath, trembling below him.

"Shhh," he coos genuinely soft, rubbing your shoulders gingerly, "Daddy's got you."

"D-don't leave." You plead quietly, clinging to him like your life depends on it.

"Never, doll." He promises just as quietly, letting the air settle around you and letting you collect your brains, "I'll hold you until you're ready to let go."

"Never," you pout, squeezing him in your arms tighter.

"Not ever?" He chuckles fondly, slipping one of his hands to wipe your cheeks softly.

"Nope, you have to hold m-me forever."

"Not a problem, angel~"

ꕥ

A couple of hours genuinely felt like forever as you held each other, talking about everything and nothing all at once until you fell asleep.

Fucked back to sleep, just like he said he'd do.

Even as your breathing evens out to a slow, steady pace and your eyes close peacefully — he still holds you. You didn't say you were ready to let go. So, he stays right where he's at.

In nothing but his boxers, holding you; in nothing but his hoodie with it pulled over your head and shielding your face from the early afternoon sun that shines through the blinds and casts stripes of warmth across your near-naked bodies.

You sleep curled up on his side while he lays on his back, one arm securely around you at all times as he watches the birds on the fire escape.

Something is nagging the back of his mind, and he can't figure it out. He tries to ignore it, and just fully enjoy holding you. But —

His morning cigarette.

It hits him completely out of nowhere. He didn't smoke when he woke up, for obvious reasons. And even now, a couple of hours later; he still isn't craving one.

He looks down at you, your face hidden in his chest. "You little witch~" He giggles to himself, rubbing your back softly as you stir.

He has been smoking less and less with you around because you started to pout about the health of his lungs. But to not even have a craving? He hasn't been craving free for years.

Even with every technique he's used. Snapping a rubber band when he has a craving, not keeping his cigarettes in reach, keeping his hands busy — lollipops and gum was the closest thing that got his mind off of it. Only for a few minutes, though.

Never hours.

Never filling him with a satisfaction deep in his bones.

Never like you.

"Yunie?"

"Hey, baby," he smiles softly, looking over you slowly as you lift your head, "good nap?"

"Mhm," you smile back, groaning as you lean up and peck his cheek.

"You hurtin'?" He helps you sit up slowly, rubbing your lower back.

"Yeah, you fuck like a mad-man."

"Weeeell-"

"I heard it when I said it," you shove his shoulder with a laugh, eyes shining as you look up at him. "Gimme a kiss."

"Oh, yes, ma'am," he jokes, but he leans down as he stands and he kisses you, just like you asked.

"Another?"

And he gives it to you, lifting you off of the bed gently and holding the back of your thighs as you wrap your legs around him.

"One more?"

You get it as he sits you on the bathroom counter carefully, chucking into your lips.

"One more," you grab his wrist and tug him back when he goes to turn on the shower.

"I just gave you one more~"

"Nuh-uh~"

"Nuh-uh?" He grins, cupping your cheeks and pecking your lips repeatedly while you laugh softly. "Is that enough 'one more's, pretty girl?"

"I'll take 'em~"

You let him go to the shower, watching him with a smile stuck on your lips. "I love you, Yunho."

His back straightens out, eyes slightly wide; like he's forgotten you admitted it while he was ruining you earlier.

"I meant it when I said it earlier, I don't want you to think I just- cause the heat of the moment, y'know? I really do love y-"

"You stop talking before I get hard again." He cuts you off with a blush on his cheeks, looking away to check the temperature of the water. "C'mere," he has a smile just a permanent on his face as you do while he pulls the hoodie off of you. "I love you," he says with a kiss to your head, "don't say it like that unless you want me to fuck your sore cunt, though."

"Like what?"

"All soft and shit."

You laugh as he helps you into the shower, holding your arm as you step in before ridding himself of his boxers and joining you.

"Should I say it meanly, then?"

"God, that's even worse. I love it when you're mean." He caresses your sides softly, letting the water run down your aching back.

"You perv~" You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him to you as he moans dramatically.

"Oh, I'm hard~"

"Shut up," you smile widely, crashing your lips into his. Both of your eyes fall shut, moving together in tandem.

He towers over you, leaning down to meet you without forcing you to be on your toes. He guides you by your hips until your back hits the cold tiles, making you gasp.

You moan around his tongue, kitten licking against it as he laps at everything he can reach until you both run out of air. He places his forehead to yours gently, "thank you, doll."

"Hm?" The water runs down his jaw and drips onto your chest. "What for?"

"Being mine."

ꕥ

Three days later, your heat is still broken and you're still staying at Yunho's apartment.

As you make your way up the vast stairwell after getting his mail; you notice it.

The shadow that comes up the stairs, turning the corners right after you do.

You slow down, and their footsteps echo for a moment before they do as well.

You go to grab your knife from your pocket — only to realize you don't have it. You don't have anything. You're in nothing but one of his large hoodies and a pair of pajama pants, your sneakers pulled on lazily.

You stop completely; so does your stalker.

You pull your sneakers over your heels quickly, glancing down the stairwell and only seeing their shadow against the wall. Can't even be bothered to hide all the way?

It's much too short to be The Joker.

You pull the hood over your head, covering your hair and tying the strings in a tight bow. Less to grab, the better.

Yunho should be coming home soon. If you can't scare off your stalker, he certainly will — he'll do much more than scare them.

"Are you stupid?" You call down loudly, your voice bouncing on the walls and down the long drop down the middle of the stairs.

The shadow doesn't move.

"Hey! Jackass! I know you're following me!"

It takes a few seconds for the person to speak. "...I don't want to hurt you."

It's a man, a younger one.

"So stalking is just a fun way to pass the time?"

He takes the remaining steps to turn the corner, and you drop the mail onto the floor with a dramatic sigh.

He's much too buff for you to fight off on your own.

"I just need your help with something. It's in your best interest to comply. I don't want to hurt you, but I can."

"Out with it then." You lean your shoulders on the wall, face to face with him as he ascends the stairs slowly.

"I need you to call The Joker."

You raise your eyebrows, "mh? What makes you think I know him?"

"You've been his gal-pal for a couple months now." He stops on the same flat landing as you, a few good inches away. An arm, or a legs length away. "I saw him leave. Call him back."

"Sorry, I'm not his assistant-"

Your sass earns you a gun to your face, staring down the barrel of it with a blank face even as your heart thuds.

"Call him back."

"I don't have my phone."

When he reaches to grab your shoulder, you kick him in the stomach; shoving him down the stairs and running before he gets the chance to get back up.

"Get back here!"

He's up and his footsteps are booming behind you much faster than you'd like. But then, he does look at least semi-professional. He's probably here to kill or at least threaten Yunho — and you happen to be his best bet at getting what he wants.

He grabs the hoodie, and it yanks you to a stop; but thankfully it protects your scalp from his grasp. "Fucking should have seen it coming," he groans as he drags your stumbling figure up the last set of stairs to the floor Yunho lives on, "of course Joker's bitch is feisty."

He seems to know exactly which door, pulling you right to it as you try to get out of the hoodie without falling flat on your face.

You're a bit too late, slipping out of it just as he throws you into the small entrance hallway. You scramble up as he puts the chain lock and the deadbolt on; racing mind trying to think of a game plan.

You can't do much without risking getting a bullet in the process. You need to be alive for him to use you as bait — but you can survive a shot to the leg or arm.

"Let's try again... Call The Joker."

ꕥ

"Yes, doll?" he answers the phone as calm as ever, leaning his head on his hand as he sits at his desk; business partner sitting across from him, on his own phone with a slightly annoyed look.

"Yunie..."

He shoots up out of his chair, letting it clatter to the floor. Your voice is tense and full of unshed tears. He's out the door before the man in his office even notices he'd gotten up.

He knows deep in his gut that something is wrong.

"I need you to come home. I think- think I'm sick."

"Am I on speaker phone?" He asks quickly as he gets into his car.

"No, I'm okay... I ju- I just need you to be here."

Bullshit. You are far from okay. But you do need him to be there.

People are honking at him as he weaves his way into traffic. "Is someone there, baby?"

"Mhm."

"Did they hurt you?" He'll kill them. If the answer is yes or if it's no; he'll kill them either way.

"Just a little-" You get cut off by a hushed whisper. He's tries to listen, but it's all in vain. The person is too far away from the microphone. You clear your throat, "will you come home?"

"I'm on the way. Try to get them to the living room."

"M'kay... See you soon."

ꕥ

"My hands are getting numb." You deadpan from your place on the couch, sitting with your back against it and your feet up on the table. "Can't you loosen-"

"No."

He tied your wrists together with some rope, and it was tight enough to be chaffing your skin with every attempt you made to loosen it.

"...Well, fuck you too then."

"Are you always this mouthy?" He groans from the chair he'd placed facing the front door, ready to shoot The Joker the second it opens. With every second that passes, you're more and more afraid that that will be the outcome.

Your throat is dry and your stomach is in knots.

"Most the time, yeah."

A soft clink catches your attention. It sounds like it came from the bedroom behind you.

You tilt your head over the back of the couch — and your eyes light up as you meet Yunho's dark gaze while he crawls in through the window by the fire escape.

He slips in as silent as a mouse, pulling a knife from his back pocket as he stands. With a metal finger to his lips, he approaches.

You look back to the intruder with relief on your face. His back is still turned as Yunho makes his way into the apartment quietly. He stops briefly to give you a once over, ruffling your head before continuing on to the man.

"Ahem."

The man jumps, gun aimed — but quickly knocked out of his grasps when Yunho slams the butt of his knife into his hand.

"Fucking stupid jackass," Yunho groans as he grabs the man by the hair, knife to his throat and eyes daring him to move. "Do you think you're going to get out of here alive after what you've done? Do you think I won't gut you like a fucking fish?! Breaking into my home? Threatening my girl?!"

He shakes his head quickly, making The Joker scoff. "Coward on top of being an idiot, how did you make it this far in life?"

He drags the man over to your tensely seated form by his hair, forcing him to kneel. "Beg."

"W-what?"

"Beg for her forgiveness. Make it convincing enough and I'll make your death quick." He can sense the man's hesitation, which is fair — because he's lying through his teeth. "Scouts honor~"

"Please, Joker, this was just a job! Your girl was never gonna get h-" He gets his head slammed into the armrest for his troubles.

"I said beg for her forgiveness. There's no need to beg me, it won't get you anywhere. She's the one you've disrespected, look at her!" Yunho yells right in the man's face, yanking his hair again as they both look at you.

You seem almost unfazed by the situation, but your heart is beating wildly. You've never seen Joker so angry. He was calm and collected when he was showing you all of the ways he knew how to make a man scream. The run-in with the detective might come close, but you didn't hear anything he had said.

Now, though, he may as well have steam coming from his ears, "look at her! Tied up in the safety of her own home-" You catch onto that, but he doesn't; too lost in his rage. "Did he hurt you, princess?"

The way he goes from absolutely livid to soft as cotton when speaking to you makes your heart flutter. "Not bad. My wrists are bleeding a bit..."

"Poor baby, c'mere." He shoves the man to the floor and steps on his chest, making him wheeze. "We need to wrap you up when we're done here, don't let me forget."

He does another once over of you as you stand up and hold your wrists towards him. "He didn't touch you, angel?"

"No." You shake your head quickly, sighing with relief as he carefully cuts the ropes.

"Hmph," he pouts as he holds your hand gently, turning your arm to get a better look. "One thing this idiot did right, I guess. He can die with his dick still attached to his body."

"Joke-"

"Shut up!" Both of you yell down at the man before going back to looking at one another softly.

"How did he get in?" Yunho presses more of his weight on the man as he struggles.

"Caught him following me up the stairs, drug me up here after I pushed him down a flight-"

He holds a finger towards you to tell you to wait and kicks the man across the face. "Would you stop fucking fidgeting, asshole? I'm trying to listen to her! Go on, love."

"He was watchin' us. He said he saw you leave. He-" You sneer, glaring down at him, "he called me a bitch."

"A bitch?" Yunho looks down at the shivering man, almost laughing. Either this man is the stupidest man in Gotham or he was hired by the person with that title. Sending such an unprofessional after The fucking Joker. "You called her a bitch?"

"No- no, no, no!" He tries to deny it, getting a kick; this time from you, to his leg.

"Liar."

"No, I sw-"

"So you're calling her a liar, then?" Yunho replaces his foot with his knee, leaning over the man and dragging his blade against his cheek. "My sweet girl would never lie. Right?" He looks over his shoulder to you with a manic, dark smile.

"Never, Mister J."

"See?" He twirls the knife to get a better grip before driving it into the man's shoulder, making him yell. "I told you." The blood spurts onto his suit as he yanks it out.

You hover over the both of them, jaw tight.

"You said it was a job," Yunho says evenly, like the man isn't writhing beneath him and bleeding all over the floor, "who hired your sorry ass?"

"Falcone-"

"Ugh!" Yunho rolls his eyes dramatically, "seriously? That fucking guy is back?"

"He wants-"

"I know what he wants. He isn't going to get it. Especially not if he keeps sending dimwits like you after me. Baby?" He turns to you, making you perk up.

"Yes?"

"How do you think we should send a message that says 'fuck off'?"

"We could..." You hum, coming up behind him and looking down at the man's begging eyes as you place your hands on Yunho's shoulders; relaxing him ever so slightly. "Carve it into him?"

"Wait-"

"That's a great idea, doll! Here, hold this." You take the knife without a second thought, backing up while he yanks the man up quickly. "You won't be alive for it, don't worry," he chuckles as he slams the man to the wall; banging his head against it and making him too dizzy to fight. "Just know," he smiles darkly as he reaches his hand out. You place the knife in his open palm, skipping over and looking around his arm.

"You had this coming. Nobody gets to touch her, so-" He shoves the blade into the man's stomach, "nothing too personal. No hard feelings, right?"

By the time the man recovers from the slam to his head, he's already half dead. The Jokers blade jabbing his torso too many times to count. But if someone were to do so, it would be around stab number 16 that he started laughing.

Quietly, at first. Then it's full fits of chuckles. Then, pure manic laughter. The last sound that anyone killed by the man has heard. His mocking, gleeful sounds as their life force bleeds away.

You look away from the carnage, instead looking up at Yunho. His lips stretched wide with his cackles, crinkles in the corners of his eyes.

He's fucking crazy.

And you smile at him.

When the man becomes nothing but dead weight, Yunho finally steps back; panting softly as he watches the body slump to the floor. He covers his mouth another giggle slips up his throat, peeking over his arm at you.

"Yunho?"

He hesitates for a second. "Yes?"

"Have you ever fucked in front of a dead body?"

"...No?"

"You want to?"

You're fucking crazy.

And he smiles at you.

"Absolutely."

ꕥ

【jokers♱】 @mentallyunpresent @fireseo @beomkyum @spicyhotteokkay @vinylphwoar @ramadiiiisme @m00njinnie @love--in-stayville @xoenhalover @roxhanah @zeilixir @aurorasjoongie @palchokitty

₊‧⁺stardust˖⋆ @sousydive @sunnysidesins @onyxmango @devilzliaison @ateezswonderland @queenofdumbfuckery @emilysecresy

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imalonelymaniac · 17 days ago

Note

I was putting these pictures up:

Then I saw the title again:

hiii congrats on hitting 3.5k!! i love your writings 🥹 for the event, can i get 6 & 27 with yunho? thank you!!

embrace me before you go

Pairing: Spiderman!Jeong Yunho x gender neutral reader

∞ TW: mentions of crime, murder and weapons, allusion to depression ∞ Word count: 3.7k ∞ Genre: angst; Marvel Superhero AU; Spiderman AU; high school sweethearts; lovers to exes to lovers; post university setting, @cromernet ∞ Rating: pg-13 ∞ Prompt(s): 6: Wait, don't pull away...not yet. / 27: Do you normally go this long without sleep?

A/N: Hello, anonie! When I saw your request my mind instantly said: 'what if I make it a Spiderman!au since we all love Yuyu like that'. I hope you enjoy it anonie, and I promise it's not a bad ending, their love shall prosper ehehe! Thank you for requesting, I hope you'll love this story too! ^^ Requests are open until the 8th, you can check out the prompts here! divider

The big city was quiet for once. The rainfall had subsided not long ago, allowing you to leave the alcove underneath which you had found refuge from the downpour. The past few days have been gloomy, the grey rain clouds looming in the sky over the city, forcing people to stay inside if they had the luxury to do so. You didn’t have that luxury, but it was fine, you were already used to it. Just like you were used to the high crime it was so well-known for in the rest of your country. You should’ve been more scared to walk alone at night, the shadows crawling on the walls frightening enough to force you to walk faster. But you didn’t. Not because you were fearless, no, you were perhaps too aware of just how dangerous your city was. You just couldn’t care, not tonight when you were so tired. Your feet ached, your calves quivering at every step, and you sighed when you finally reached the bus station. Nobody was around as you settled on the bench, leaning forward to cradle your head in your hands. A few cars passed by, driving into the puddles on the road and your skin was covered by goosebumps as a cold gust of wind blew through the boulevard.

It hadn’t always been like this. Your life, you mean…there were brighter and happier times when your life was filled with laughter and the only worry was missing your term paper or homework due dates. It wasn’t even that long ago, but it felt like it. You sighed as your stomach churned, and you realized your fridge was completely empty at home. That wouldn’t be new either, just another night when you’d go to bed hungry, just to wake up nauseous the next morning. You gulped, hearing something shift behind you. You didn’t react, you knew it was better if you didn’t. But the rustling continued and when your skin was covered in goosebumps again, you knew something was wrong. You licked your lips and stood up straight, rigid as you were met with a masked man standing in the middle of the road. It didn’t look like he carried a weapon on him, but you knew he did. Every criminal—and not just—in this city did. The pepper spray felt heavy in your bag, and you moved slowly, reaching for it without making it obvious. But the masked man just knew, and he took off running towards you before you could even scream.

But he was charging towards you one second, and then the next he was gone. Whisked away by nothing but a blur of red and blue, a swish of the air so quick that the eyes weren’t able to register what happened. But yours did. You knew who that was. Your heart hammered in your chest as you stood up abruptly, your body working on autopilot. God, you felt pathetic for wanting to call out his name when it was you who decided to end things. And it only became more pathetic when you realized almost a whole year and a half had passed since you two had split up, and yet here you were…fighting the urge to call out your ex’s name. The superhero had better things to do than sit around and wait for you to say something.

Yunho had better things to do than being held back by someone like you. Broke and pathetic, indebted at twenty-four already, with no promising future ahead of yourself. You wanted to be an artist, but who were you kidding…you were no nepo-baby, you were never going to make it. But Yunho…Jeong Yunho was bright and smart, talented and a genius working at Kang Corporations since he was seventeen. And you…you were nothing and nowhere. You huffed to yourself as the bus pulled up finally, taking you away from the bus station.

You didn’t want to think about why he had shown up, it was only normal after all, he was the city’s superhero. It was Spiderman’s duty to look out for the citizens, and you were a regular citizen like everyone else. He was pretty much obliged to save you, to look out for you, and yet…your heart flickered with hope, with faith, that maybe Yunho was missing you, too. By the time you made it home your whole stomach was aching from hunger, and your feet almost buckled when you saw the white bag hung on the door handle, the little note inside making your jaw clench.

Eat, please. ~ Y.

You wondered why he had shown up in your life again, right now out of all times. You were thinking of moving again…but not just to a different neighbourhood, but to a completely different city. You wanted a fresh start, away from everyone who you knew, who judged you and laughed at you, far away from the crime and…Spiderman. You realized it was time you rediscovered yourself, and became the person you always dreamed of being. And you couldn’t do that here, where each step of yours reminded you of a past you never got over, the memories that still haunted your dreams, the wanton touches that made you yearn, made you miss the man’s gentle eyes and smile, his joyous laughter and his honest words, his gentle but loud love that made you crave and crave some more, wanting to take and consume, to never perish. But that wasn’t doable anymore, and you knew it…Yunho knew it, too.

You had never wanted to make him choose, never. You loved him with your whole heart, but the days and nights started bleeding into each other and he barely came home. You knew he was dedicating his life to his research as well as saving the city, but it felt like that took you out of the equation. You had been a constant in his life, always there, something stable he could return to when things got scary, and you wanted more now. You wanted to become his priority, you wanted Yunho to drop everything if you needed him, you wanted your dates not to be interrupted by some damsel in distress, and you wished he stopped taking all-nighters so that he could find new solutions for his research progression. All you ever did was wish for more and more, yearn and want, but you never asked for anything. You tried to be grateful for what you had, but it became unbearable one day. It had been a rainy day, the trains were late and people were rushing home after a long day at work. You had just been kicked out from the art club for missing the last few deadlines. You were crying as you were headed to the metro, until you weren’t, until a knife was pressing into your neck, making you freeze up.

You were so in your head that you didn’t realise you had walked into an active hostage situation, police cars surrounding the building. And now it was too late as you gasped, standing motionless against your attacker. Your eyes searched the skies and the sides of the buildings, but there was no sight of Yunho. And then you realized he had a conference today, an important one which might help him take his research to the next step if he got funding from the Parks. So you knew Spiderman wasn’t going to come, Jeong Yunho wouldn’t come. You didn’t dare scream or cry, you didn’t even breathe as the police officers negotiated your and the other’s hostages' release. Yunho didn’t show up until later when you were still shaking and your eyes were red, your body not completely dry from the shower you took. Yunho’s t-shirt was doing nothing to comfort you in his absence, his cologne not enough anymore.

“Baby! I did it! I got the—” When Yunho rounded the corner, his grin faltered and his eyes widened. He was by your side in an instant, kissing your cheeks and checking if you were injured. But you weren’t, not even a nick from the knife. You looked into his eyes hollowly before he cradled you to his chest, and your body shook more as you sniffed, kissing his chest where his heart was.

“I was kicked out from the art club today.” Yunho froze for a second as you started crying, letting him rock you in his arms as you came undone, your body aching and your soul yearning for something you couldn’t have.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” Yunho whispered, his eyes watery as you pulled back to look at him. He looked genuinely so sad for you, it broke your heart that you took away his happiness, that instead of celebrating his success he had to comfort you for something that wasn’t even nearly as significant as his achievement. Your lips couldn’t even form the words to tell him you were taken hostage today, you knew Yunho would never forgive himself.

“It’s okay,” You muttered as your heart broke even further. You leaned closer and closed your eyes as your foreheads pressed together. Yunho held you tighter, squeezing you to his chest as he exhaled slowly, kissing you on the lips gently, “I’m happy for you, Yunho.”

Your voice wavered as you pulled back, your heart racing as you stared into Yunho’s unsure eyes. He must’ve felt you were about to say something he didn’t want to hear—no, feared he’d ever hear coming from you. But it had to be said and done, you couldn’t pull down Yunho anymore. He deserved better, so much better.

“Let’s break up.”

“I love you.”

He tried to ignore your words, he tried to speak over you as desperation bled into his tone, holding onto you so tightly that it hurt. Your skin would bruise, but you wanted that to happen. You wanted Yunho’s mark to be burned into your skin for it was the last thing that would be of his. You untangled yourself from his arms and stood as Yunho followed your every move with his eyes, frozen in his spot. He didn’t say anything as you packed a duffle bag full of your stuff—that was all you had to your name. He didn’t say anything when you pressed a wet kiss against his lips, his inhale deep as his fingers gripped your cheeks tightly, trying to hold you back. He had probably known this moment would come, so he didn’t try to stop you. He didn’t try to hold you down like so many other people would’ve. Yunho loved you so much that he was willing to let you go because deep down, he knew you wouldn’t have lasted. What he did as Spiderman was too dangerous, what if he was out while you needed him? What if he didn’t show up in time? He couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, he couldn’t do that to you. So, he stayed put as you walked out on him, crying silent tears as he clutched the sheets where you had been tangled up before his arrival, still smelling so much like you. God, he loved you so much he wondered if he’d survive on his own now.

That was the last time you saw Yunho since you had broken up. The city was large enough to ensure you two would never again run into each other, and you knew Yunho had all your favourite spots and places memorized, so he stayed away. You also made an effort to avoid any place you knew he liked—or might’ve liked—and acted like you were fine, like you could breathe without your heart aching at every step that took you further away from Yunho. The feel of his touch still lingered in the back of your mind, his warm and loving embrace too, but you ignored it to your best capacity, finding something to distract yourself with. It didn’t always work, especially right after you left him, but you were doing relatively fine now. Except that ever since Spiderman showed up at the bus station to stop the masked man from hurting you, you couldn’t stop thinking about Yunho.

Your apartment was being emptied little by little, just a few more boxes and you were ready to go. You heard a nagging voice in the back of your head trying to tell you that what you were doing was wrong, but you ignored it as you cooked yourself a simple dinner, your one day off having passed by in a blink. It was late at night as the police sirens billowed in the distance, and you looked out the window, eyes cast towards the sky and the sides of the buildings, looking for one person only. Maybe catching a glimpse of him would bring some closure and help settle your restlessness, but who were you kidding…you knew that if you saw Yunho right now, you wouldn’t have the power to leave anymore. You gulped, turning off the stove as you leaned against the counter, eyes lost as you stared towards your TV. A movie was on, but you couldn’t tell which one it was as you hadn’t been paying attention to it. You just wanted some noise in the background while you cooked, your mind lost in never-ending memories. You were feeling nostalgic, so you wondered if it was a good idea to drink some beer tonight. You never deleted Yunho’s number—and even if you did, you knew it by heart—so you couldn’t trust yourself with what you’d do if you got tipsy.

As you turned to grab a plate for your dinner, you heard a thud coming from the small balcony your apartment had. Your eyebrows furrowed as you paused, your head slowly turning towards the balcony. Something dark shifted outside and your heart started racing, making you gulp as you grabbed a knife in case you had to defend yourself. You lived on the twelfth floor, but in a city like yours, you never knew from which way the danger came. You gulped as you took a deep breath, then slowly walked towards the balcony, hands slightly shaking. You pulled the curtain aside just as your door clicked unlocked, and both you and the person on the outside froze as you noticed each other. Your heart raced even faster as you stared at the familiar red mask, Yunho’s tall body hunched over as you took a step back, letting him open the balcony door. You placed the knife on the counter to your left and gaped at Spiderman as he stumbled inside your tiny and shitty apartment, a huge gash having split open his costume on his left leg. Your eyes widened as you looked at it for a second longer, making Yunho look down. He hummed before he grabbed his mask, and pulled it off his head.

You gulped as your eyes widened, taken aback by Yunho’s sullen cheeks, his round and lively eyes now void of emotion and the light they always carried. There were dark bags under his eyes, and his lips were chapped and paler than usual. Something was wrong, and just as you thought that Yunho crumbled, falling forward. You gasped as you jumped to catch him, his body heavy and sturdy as it fell into yours, his weight crushing you, but you remained standing and holding him up. Yunho shuddered against your body and pressed his face into your neck. He was cold against you and trembling, his breath hot on your flushed skin. It felt surreal that you were holding Yunho in your arms, and you felt bad for tightening your arms around him when he groaned.

“I’m sorry.” You whispered, smoothing out his matted hair.

“I shouldn’t have come,” Yunho whispered back as guilt laced his voice, and you grimaced as you tried to make him stand up.

“You should sit down, you’re injured.” You said as Yunho nodded, following your lead as you walked him to your couch, “What happened? I heard the sirens not far from here.”

“Armed robbery,” Yunho muttered, carefully sitting down on your couch, groaning when he shifted the weight off his left hip, “But it got bad pretty fast, I didn’t mean to come here, I just…I couldn’t see which way I was swinging, I’m sorry—”

“It’s alright, Yunho.” You tried to give him a soft smile as you found yourself reaching out to cradle his cheek. Yunho’s eyes closed as he hummed, melting into your touch as he grabbed your wrist. It was at that moment you realized Yunho looked terrible. He looked like he wasn’t eating nor sleeping enough, his skin greyish and his muscles less strong than they had been the last time you had seen him from so close. Your heart broke all over again as you stared into his tired-looking eyes, his gulp loud. It made you realise that he was injured, that you should be doing something instead of sitting here and staring at him, “We should go to the hospital, you look rough.”

“I’m fine, just give me a second,” Yunho muttered, his voice hoarse as he closed his eyes, head falling back against the back of the couch. You stood up and quickly walked to the sink to grab a glass of water. Yunho’s eyes snapped open when he heard you move away, and he twisted his torso around to look at you. His gaze felt intense, insistent almost as if he was afraid you’d disappear if he wasn’t watching you. You walked back with the glass of water and Yunho took it almost greedily, gulping it down in no second. You remained standing by the couch, not knowing what to do next as you two stared at each other. It’s been too long, and yet now that he was in front of you, it felt like it had happened yesterday. It was jarring, so much time had passed yet not enough to forget him. You doubted there’d be enough time to forget Yunho, though.

“You look…tired.” You broke the silence, your eyebrows furrowing as Yunho chuckled, his eyes half-closed as he hummed. You realised he was bleeding out onto your couch, but you couldn’t care less.

“I haven’t slept in almost three days,” Yunho explained, trying to run a hand through his hair. He gulped as he looked at you, his eyes shaking with an emotion you couldn’t read.

“Do you normally go this long without sleep?” You asked unsurely. It’s been a year and a half, you had no idea if Yunho was still the same old Yunho you had known, or if he had changed. People were bound to change, though, so you really had no idea if this Yunho in front of you was the same Yunho you loved so much.

“No,” Yunho chuckled, opening his round eyes to look at you with a sad smile, “I haven’t been able to sleep since you left.”

Your stomach coiled as you felt guilty, casting your eyes down as you couldn’t reciprocate Yunho's intense gaze anymore. You scratched at your arm as you chewed on your bottom lip, “You knew where I live.”

“Yeah,” Yunho nodded, something unspoken in his expression, “Are you moving again?”

Again, he said. So, he knew. Yunho had kept tabs on you, he knew where you were and what you were doing this past year and a half. You couldn’t even feel angry or disappointed. You just felt resigned as you stepped up to him again, bending down as you grabbed his waist.

“Let me take care of your wound, please.” You said instead of answering his question because wherever you were going this time, he would not follow you. Your heart lurched at that thought, uncomfortable and frightening. Yunho stood with struggle, his arms flying around your shoulders when his legs almost gave out underneath him. You gasped as you held him tighter, realising a beat later that you were embracing. You felt tears spring into your eyes as your fingers dug into his suit and skin, arms tightening around his torso as you buried your face into the crook of his neck. Yunho shuddered and held you tighter too, pressing kisses into the crown of your head and making you cry quietly.

“I’ve missed you.” You whispered even if you shouldn’t have. You were a hypocrite for saying that after you had left him, after you decided to break up a lovely relationship without discussing it first with Yunho. Yunho nodded as you closed your eyes, revelling in the warmth of his familiar body. He was thinner, but his embrace still felt the same old. You were safe here, loved, cherished, protected. Yunho’s skin wasn’t as cold anymore as it had been, and he stopped trembling too. He smelt of blood and musk, but you didn’t care, you were glad he was in one piece and still breathing. But his wound had been neglected for too long, so you tried to pull back when Yunho whined, pressing your head back into his skin as he whispered in your ear.

“Wait, don't pull away...” Your heart lurched again, and you nodded without realizing what you were doing, “Not yet.”

“Okay.” You said, melting into his warm and loving arms. Yunho’s head hung low as his cheek brushed against yours, and you weren’t surprised to find your hearts beating a steady rhythm, at peace now that you had finally found each other again.

“You’re leaving, right?” Yunho whispered and your lips quivered as you pulled back, finding Yunho’s gaze.

“I have to.” Yunho sniffed as he leaned down, lips hovering over yours as you tipped your head back.

“I love you.”

This time, you said it back, “I love you too, Yunho.”

Your lips sealed in a promise that this wasn’t the last time you’d meet, that it wasn’t the last time Yunho would hold you in his arms, that it wasn’t the last time you’d kiss, that it wasn’t the last time he should come to you if Spiderman was exhausted, that it wasn’t the last time you’d patch him up and welcome him with open arms.

Spiderman was the city’s superhero, but Jeong Yunho was your one and only love.

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imalonelymaniac · 19 days ago

Text

FORBIDDEN FRUIT

ღMy fifth contribution to the tipsy drabbles~

ღPairing: Knight! Wooyoung x Archivest! Reader

ღGenre: Dark, suggestive

ღAu: fantasy, medieval, royal

ღTrope: strangers to lovers, quiet girl/bad boy

ღRating: 18+, MDNI

ღWarnings: mentions of blood, torture, killing, corrupting the pure, restraints, edging

ღWord Count: 734

ღSummary: Wooyoung has been eyeing you for weeks, contriving of touching you when you're untouchable. Little does he know that you've been aware of his stares and he isn't who he thinks you are

ღAuthor's Note: inspired by the weed strand name and also merged with this link that @anyamaris sent me and said it was so topaz coded

ღMy Tipsy Drabbles mini Masterlist

Wooyoung can’t have you. He absolutely cannot. He’s one of the broken, not worthy of touching you. But that doesn’t stop his desire from surging through him.

You’re the head archivists, one of the pure servants to the Emperor. You have dedicated your life to keeping the words of the empire preserved. You kept to yourself. Wooyoung has rarely seen you speak, even when the Emperor himself has summoned you for specific text.

There’s no way Wooyoung could have you. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting it.

Wooyoung, being one of the Tri-Knights that are sworn to protect the emperor and thus the kingdom, has done some horrible things in the name of his sworn lord. He’s tortured; there is blood of the innocent on his hands. Not to mention, he’s probably fucked every whore from one side of the empire to the next.

Even now, he holds his hands out, knowing that there was no way they could touch your body. How could they? You’ve probably never even had a man touch you before. The thought makes Wooyoung quiver.

He should probably leave the library. He doesn’t even have a reason to be here.

“You’ve been standing there for an awfully long time.”

Wooyoung’s hand moves to his sword before he realizes it’s you.

“I--” Wooyoung clears his voice. “I’m here on official business, darling.” And then he winks at you. Why did he do that?

You raise an eyebrow in question. “Are you here to take me to the dungeons?”

Wooyoung scratches the back of his head. “I could.”

You nod as if you’re convinced. “Well? Shall we?” You offer your wrists up, waiting for the manacles.

Wooyoung reaches for the ones he keeps on his belt and you giggle.

“Oh, kinky.”

Wooyoung drops the manacles and quickly retrieves them. “There is a text his Highness requires.”

Your face drops. “Oh you are here on official business.”

Were you disappointed Wooyoung wasn’t actually going to take you to the dungeon in manacles?

“It’s the Halazia texts. He needs Book Three,” Wooyoung says gruffly, to hide his amazement. Weren’t you supposed to be pure?

Your eyes glow, as you go through the index in your mind. “It’s on the level above us. If you’ll just follow me?”

Wooyoung must be crazy. He could swear that your hips were swaying as he followed you. There was no way…

“I know you’ve been finding reasons to come to the library,” You murmur quietly.

Wooyoung almost has to lean in to hear it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” wooyoung denies immediately.

“It’s been an entire moon phase since you started your impromptu visits. And you almost always come to stare at me.”

“I do not! I am searching for you,” Wooyoung continues with his lies.

“And yet this is the first time we’ve spoken. Interesting.”

“The other archivists have told me you’re too busy,” Wooyoung insists.

“My, what insubordinate things they are. To deny one of the tri-knights access to the head archivist on behalf of the Emperor. Treasonous even.”

“Listen, I--”

You stop suddenly and Wooyoung slams into your soft body. He almost moans at the feeling. Almost.

“I know, Wooyoung,” You say. You raise your gaze to his. “You don’t have to pretend.”

Wooyoung folds immediately. He falls to his knees, clutching at your robes. “I am your servant.”

Your hand cards through his hair before yanking it back. “Good boy.”

Wooyoung’s Adam’s apple bobs anxiously. “What happens now?”

“Now?” You cock your head flirtaciously. “Now you stop showing up to the library when I’m working and you start showing up to my bedchambers.”

“Truly?” Wooyoung says in wonder.

“Wasn’t that your intent? To corrupt the pure head archivist?”

Wooyoung chuckles lowly. “It was.”

You cluck your tongue. “Isn’t that disappointing.”

Wooyoung shakes his head, or as much as he can, with your hand still buried in his hair. “No! Of course not.”

You release his hair and tap your finger under his chin. “Then you’ll lay on my bed while I have you restrained with your own manacles? And let me have my way with you?”

“Yes please,” Wooyoung agrees immediately.

“Imagine that. One of the Tri-Knights, a notorious womanizer, letting the quiet head archivist edge him. Scandalous.”

“Whatever you say,” Wooyoung stays on his knees. “I'll do it. Anything.”

You smile gently. “Thats what I like to hear.”

#They're so in love they actually got the King have wooyoung go to the archives #but actually the King doesn't need the scriptures- He already went through them #HE IS however- tired of seeing wooyoung yearning #and it's not like there's a glint of rejection in reader's eyes #The King is actually doing things to get them closer to eo #FOR YEARS #they don't know it though #they're both a bit dense #😓😓#BUT HEY!! If his knight/ buddy comes to work beaming the next day #With the glo of L-O-V-E surrounding him #AND The head archivist with a jump on their step and a glint in their eyes whenever they see wooyoung #then everything's fine🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️#ateez scenarios #jung wooyoung scenarios #wooyoung scenarios #ateez imagines #jung wooyoung imagines #wooyoung imagines #ateez fanfic #jung wooyoung fanfic #knight! wooyoung #archivist! reader #ateez x reader #jung wooyoung x reader #wooyoung x reader

41 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 19 days ago

Text

They're so in love with each other (they're willing to fuck with the system that surrounds them)🙂‍↕️🤲

𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙧 ☆ 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞

★𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚, 𝙣𝙚𝙤-𝙨𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙡, 𝙨𝙢𝙪𝙩, 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙘𝙮𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙪𝙣𝙠 𝙖𝙪 18+!

★𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝙧𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧! 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞 𝙭 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙭! 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

★𝘸𝘤: 2.7𝘬 (𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴)

★—𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨: 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞'𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚: 𝙂𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧, 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙢𝙗, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙭—𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.

★𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: 𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙙! 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞, 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞'𝙨 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞'𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙜, 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 (𝙛 & 𝙢 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜), 69, 𝙪𝙣𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙭, 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙜𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧'𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡, 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙚

𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴—𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘓𝘌𝘋 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 "𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘮𝘣" 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘈 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.

𝘖𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴—𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝙮𝙤𝙪.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴, 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩—𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦.

𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺.

𝘉𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘰-𝘚𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘭'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘴.

𝘛𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘦. 𝘈𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥" 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘦𝘰-𝘚𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘭—𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘌𝘋 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮: 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦. 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘮𝘣—𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥.

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬: 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬.

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘦𝘰-𝘚𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯—𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘰𝘮𝘣 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝘈 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳. 𝘏𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘦—𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘨𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯— 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦—𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘺𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶: 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘱. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮—𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘩.

𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦.

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘪𝘯.

𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥—𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰.

𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮, 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘣. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵.

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦.

"𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭—𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?" 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴, 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩. "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."

"𝘋𝘰 𝘐? 𝘌𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦." 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘹-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘥𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤.

"𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯." 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺

"𝘕𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦—𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦?" 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

"𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶." 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵'𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦—𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪?" 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘈𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘦—𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

"𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. '𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵' 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳?" 𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺. 𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳.

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘯.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰—𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘮𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶

"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦��𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯." 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭.

𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧𝘧.

𝘈 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦s 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴. "𝘐𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺?" 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵, 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵.

"𝘌𝘢𝘵." 𝘈 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳, 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘢𝘸.

𝘐𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘶𝘭𝘭. 𝘖𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘬𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘎𝘖𝘋 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺.

𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘥.

"𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱." 𝘏𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱.

𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘬𝘯𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴.

𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺?

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬.

𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦—𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦.

𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩.

"𝘉𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘢?" 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰 𝘤𝘳��𝘴𝘴-𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘦𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘈 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘹 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘱 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘻𝘻𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘩'𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴.

𝘐𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘵— 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴: 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘴, 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.

𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬.

"𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩." 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.

"𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴." 𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘵—𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵, 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩.

𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭?" 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬. 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮—𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘵, 𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴.

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩.

𝘏𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨

"𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦—𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚, 𝘐'𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵." 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵, 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘺.

𝘔𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺—𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩.

𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦—𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥.

"𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘰—𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴, 𝘔𝘪𝘯." 𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪'𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘴—𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩.

"𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴." 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯. 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮—𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶." 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘺𝘭𝘺, 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺. "𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘐𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥." 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦—𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦

"𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?" 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵, 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺.

"𝘔𝘩𝘮" 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚:.... 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨—𝙞 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙.

#I Can('t) believe I'm crying because they found love in a hopeless place #^ I'm not even tryibg to be funny #there's actually tears in ny eyes #Mingi is all hands and knees down bad for his star #He was like: “I stand for rebellion🗣️‼️💥”#“BUTTTTT‼️‼️‼️‼️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️💥💥💥💥 My girl comes first 🙂‍↕️😘🥰”#He's so “I believe in women's rights🗣️‼️💥”#MOST DEFINITELY ‼️‼️‼️#Their wrongs🙂‍↕️🤲🗣️💥‼️#They're actually soulmates #they're gonna live forever it's my Canon #I love them #I love this #this is wonderful #ateez fanfic #ateez fanfiction #ateez x reader #ateez #ateez imagines #ateez smut #ateez angst #song mingi x reader #song mingi x you #mingi x you #mingi x reader #ateez mingi #ateez mingi smut #mingi smut #mingi fanfic #mingi angst

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imalonelymaniac · 19 days ago

Text

Bₐd Dₑₛᵢᵣₑ ~ ₚₛycₕₒ! ₛₑᵣᵢₐₗ ₖᵢₗₗₑᵣ! ᵥₐₘₚᵢᵣₑₛ!

🔪Pairing: Vampire! Heeseung x Vampire! Jake x Vampire! Jay x Vampire! Sunghoon x Human! Reader (Sweetheart) (f)

🔪Genre: smut, horror

🔪Au: vampire, dystopian

🔪Trope: captive/captor

🔪Rating: 18+, MDNI

🔪Word Count: 8,328

🔪Warnings: ⚠the warning is in the title folks, dark content ahead⚠, spitting, knocking someone out cold, holding breath under water, vampire powers (fast speed, super hearing, super smell, hypnosis), blood sucking, biting, details of areas where killings have taken place, verbal taunting, cutting by knife, descriptions of freeze dry food, details of bodily mutilation, serial killer tendencies, fainting due to blood loss, adrenaline shot, blood infusion, descriptions of stabbing, descriptions of wrists being cut, physical fighting

🔪Kinks: predator/prey kink, fear kink, licking, oral (f), knife kink (used to cut reader shallowly in order to drink her blood), orgasm denial, dubcon (hypnosis used to coerce sex)

🔪Summary: when four vampires decide to pick up a human for some steady blood, they certainly get what they paid for. However, you have no idea what's in store for you. If only you knew...

🔪Author's Note: all inspo comes from these different sets of concept photos that had my mind racing. i truly have no clue where I'm going with this and if there will be more but i had so much fun writing for these characters. no regrets

🔪Beta: @downtoamagicalland

🔪divider by @cafekitsune

In a vast theatre, where the remnants of velvet curtains still cling to the wings of the stage, a young man is pulled onto the stage. He struggles weakly against his bonds. The vampires in the theatre seats cheer, hoot and cat call. The vampires that had dragged the human on stage, laugh mockingly. It’s a fair for food, and that human isn’t going anywhere.

The announcer smiles broadly to his audience. “As you can see here, we have prime real estate with this one.”

A thug vampire pulls forwards the young man’s bound hands until his inner arms are on display. Two screens on opposite sides of the stage, where there used to be opera seats for the upper class have been repurposed for close ups of the selling product. On his inner arms, visible veins can be seen. The crowd goes wild for the view.

The announcer draws a finger down the line of the young man’s arms. “He was practically made for vampire fodder.”

The thug next pulls back the strong neck of the vulnerable young man, who whimpers at the angle his head is yanked to. A camera zooms in on the pulse of the human’s artery and some of the crowd rushes the stage. More thugs stand in front of the stage to hold back the throng.

“Now now,” The announcer walks forward. “Be good children and go back to your seats. We will start our bidding as soon as you all behave.”

Jay crosses one foot of the other, rattling the seat ahead of him in the balcony. “This is stupid.”

“We don’t have any jobs,” Jake reasons. “You know how Heeseung gets when he’s bored.”

Heeseung sits so forward on his seat, eyes glued to the screen where they keep flashing the veins of the human there. Sunghoon sighs and puts a hand on Heeseung’s shoulder. “We don’t have enough money for him.”

Jay snorts. “Yeah, and who’s fault is that?”

Heeseung turns his head slowly, an eerie grin pulling at his lips. “Worth it.”

“Listen, we should go to where the dredges are being sold,” Jake announces.

Sunghoon sends a look of regret towards the stage before standing up. He kicks Jay’s rude feet off the seat in front of him. “Let's go.”

They fall in line with each other, Jake shooting forward to walk beside Sunghoon as Heeseung and Jay fall behind them. Bad combination.

“Seriously,” Jay starts back up again, aiming his poison towards Heeseung. “Do you have to be such a psychopath? If you had just held back a little bit, we would be drowning in money. But nooooooo, you just had to go straight for the jugular and hold your mouth over the spray like a dog with a fire hydrant.”

“Drop it, Jay,” Sunghoon says over his shoulder.

Heeseung simply shrugs, pulling his knife. “How could I resist?”

Jay’s lips pull into a sneer. “Easy. Think about the many others we could have bought and tortured and enjoyed.”

Heeseung’s shoulders droop in disappointment. Then he licks his knife. Jay makes a look of disgust as a line of blood shows, black along Heeseung’s tongue. “Why’d we get stuck with the true psychopath?”

Jake flashes a giddy smile, laughing at his companions. “Just lucky I guess.”

The lobby of the old theatre features body hawkers, selling humans for a low price. These humans aren’t as tantalizing as the prime piece that had been on stage but they still pumped blood, and thus, are appealing.

Sunghoon’s eye trails over the offerings. “What are we looking for today?”

“I think…” Jake puts a finger to his lips in thought.

“Someone who will put up more of a fight than the last one,” Jay mutters under his breath.

“Heard that,” Sunghoon frowns at Jay, who is clearly in one of his moods.

Heeseung’s eyes zero in on a human across the room. All the others have given up, huddling on themselves, either hoping they don’t get sold on this day, or their eyes stare lifelessly at nothing. But this one stares defiantly. Her chin is stubbornly held at an angle, as if to dare anyone to buy her. She looked like she would fight tooth and nail.

Heeseung points at her. “That one.”

“Oh?” Jake curiously follows Heeseung’s finger.

“Seriously?” Jay questions immediately. “You want to take the choice of the one that will just bleed her dry immediately?”

Sunghoon cocks his head. He can see where Heeseung might be tempted. Breaking the humans of their will is a great pastime. So the even-keeled vampire meanders towards the body hawker clearly in charge of this female that’s pulled at Heeseung, and now Sunghoon.

“How much for that one?” Sunghoon inquires.

The body hawker looks derisively at the female who chooses the same moment to spit on Heeseung. “I haven’t broken her in yet, I shouldn’t have brought her to market.”

Heeseung thumbs the spit on his cheek and then brings it to his mouth, sucking down on it. The female tsks loudly. Heeseung begins to giggle.

Jake leans on the body hawker companionably. “You should give us a good deal then. We’ll take her off your hands, since she’s such a problem.”

The body hawker eyes up Jake uncertainly. “You won’t complain to the association that I sold you bad goods?”

“Course not,” Jake pats the body hawker in reassurance. “Now, what kind of coin are we talking about?”

Jay shakes his finger in front of Heeseung’s face. “I don’t care how much we pay for her, you don’t kill her before the month’s up, at least.”

“Jay,” Sunghoon warns the other vampire. “You know he’ll only put up with so much of your shit.”

Heeseung crouches in front of the female. “We’re going to have a lot of fun, you and I, I can tell.”

“I’d rather run into traffic,” the female snarls.

Heeseung casts his head back and laughs whole heartedly. Sunghoon is on guard. The more jovial Heeseung acts, the more off the deep end he actually is.

Jay moves his hand to grip her chin roughly in his hands, turning her head from side to side. “She’s small. Starved. Not much of a meal.”

Jake makes a face of agreement towards the body hawker. “He’s got a point.”

The body hawker grumbles. He comes to a price with Jake, handing over blood enhancement products to make the human healthier quickly. “That’s my final price. Take it or go.”

“Done,” Jake slaps his hand, with the coin, against the palm of the body hawker and shakes it eagerly. “Happy to do business with you.”

Sunghoon grabs the rope that binds the female and pulls her upwards effortlessly. “Come on now.”

She pulls back immediately. Fear flashes through her eyes but she doesn’t dare show it on her face. “No.”

Jay sighs and rubs a hand over his face. “She’s going to be like chewing tough meat.”

Heeseung is smiling like he’s a kid just given the go ahead to buy the candy he’s been whining for. “Chewing isn’t bad.”

Sunghoon throws the female over his shoulder with a grunt. “Whatever. Let’s just get out of here.”

Heeseung follows closely at Sunghoon’s heels, head turning any way that lets him make contact with the female. “What’s your name?”

“Fuck you,” She curses, squirming in Sunghoon’s hold.

Jake strolls beside Heeseung with his hands in his pockets. “What do you wanna name her, Heeseung? You found her. You get dibs.”

Jay rolls his eyes. “Yes, let the psychopath name the blood bag.”

Heeseung announces with a deep breath. “Sweetheart.”

Jake throws his head back in belly laughter. “Oh, that’s brilliant.”

Jay shakes his head. “What did I ever do to get stuck with all of you?!”

“Alright, Sweetheart,” Sunghoon says. “It’s light’s out for you.”

“Excuse me?!” Sweetheart says with barely withheld fury.

“Night night,” Heeseung whispers before Jake knocks her out.

“You really worried about her making a run for it, like Heeseung isn’t going to kill her quickly?” Jay says in disbelief.

“No one knows how to get to our lair, them’s the rules,” Jake says with a know-it-all look.

Jay rolls his eyes. “Can’t believe you let the psychopath name our blood bag.”

Sunghoon hefts Sweetheart higher on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

***

A light humming tugs at your senses. It slowly but surely pulls you out of your subconsciousness and into reality. Your eyes flutter open and then the humming stops.

“There you are,” the same, melodic voice washes over you.

You blink blearily and realize it’s the vampire that chose you to be purchased leaning over you. You purse your lips, unimpressed. “I’m surprised I even woke up.”

Heeseung sports a small, knowing smile. “Where’s the fun in biting you when you’re out cold?”

You bank the curl of fear that surrounds your heart. You know better than anyone not to show any weakness in front of a vampire; especially not one as crazy as this one. “Where am I?”

Heeseung stands up and throws his arms out. “This is our lair, Sweetheart. We should throw a welcome party in your honor.”

You cast a wary glance around the open room. There are shuttered windows and tall windows with long curtains. It’s an open concept, perhaps an old lodge from a forgotten time when humans once ruled the world. There are antlers EVERY where. The irony that human hunters used to live here where now vampire hunters now inhabit isn’t lost on you.

“Where are the others?” You can’t help but wonder.

Heeseung’s smile slowly falls from his face. “They’re out hunting.”

You nod like you understand but you don’t. You’ve never lived the life of a vampire.

“That leaves you and I together,” Heeseung alludes.

You feel every muscle in your body lock up in fear. You lick your lips. “Oh? How delightful.”

Heeseung flashes a toothy smile. “Isn’t it? Just you and me.”

“The body hawker considered me feral, you know,” You advise the vampire who is stalking towards you with sure steps.

“What a delicious quality,” Heeseung purrs.

“Wouldn’t you rather someone pliant? Someone who won’t resist?” You persist.

Heeseung crouches before you once again. “That's no fun.”

“Ah yes, because what’s an immortal life without a little fun,” You scoff.

“Exactly.” Heeseung licks his lips slowly.

You raise your chin stubbornly. “Well, if you’re going to torture me, might as well get it over with.”

Heeseung cocks his head curiously. “Torture? Do you want that?”

A bitter laugh barks from your throat. “Want? Of course not!”

Heeseung pouts for a moment. “Oh. Why bring it up then?”

“I heard the other one. Jay? Say you were a psychopath. Psychopaths usually want to carve up their victims.”

“But Sweetheart!” Heeseung protests, his eyes swirling with madness and something else. “You’re not my next victim.”

You freeze like a deer caught in headlights as Heeseung reaches out to smooth his hand over your jaw. “And what’s with the goddamn nickname?”

“You wouldn't tell me what your name was. Besides, you smell sweet.”

“Why did you buy me if not to torture me then?” You can’t help but persistently question the vampire in front of you.

“For your blood, of course,” Heeseung answers you in a matter-of-fact voice.

You let out a small noise of disgruntlement. “Obviously!”

“Then you won’t fight me?” Heeseung says with an air of disappointment.

“I will fight you with every bone in my body,” You promise.

“Good.” Heeseung grins and you see what Jay sees: a pure psychopath. “I’ll give you a head start. Don’t bother trying the doors. They’re all locked.”

You jolt upwards and make a beeline for the stairs. It’s of no use. Heeseung was true to his word, all the doors are locked. You run back down, the soft chuckling of Heeseung haunting you. You dash for the basement stairs instead and find much more than you initially realized.

The basement is its own little world. You speed past stark white rooms with blinds and soft lighting. The further you go in, the more clinical it is. But some rooms are… dirty. Messy. Covered in blood and who knows what else. Well, you know, but your brain can't let you identify it without screaming. And you very much need to stay quiet if you want to keep Heeseung from biting you.

The deeper you go, with more stairs aiding you, the more the atmosphere changes. You go from modern to something wild. Dirt and rocks and you can smell sulfur. What is this place? You find a pond. A shallow pond, but a body of water nonetheless. If you submerge yourself, will that hide your scent from Heeseung? It is worth a try.

You don’t hear Heeseung first, per say. More like you hear metal against rock. You don’t dare duck your head under water and hold your breath until Heeseung is very close. But that doesn’t stop your heart from beating a mile per minute at the sounds Heeseung is making.

You know that you are only drawing Heeseung closer to you but you can't help your reaction. Perhaps it is a better idea to submerge yourself and attempt to at least slow your heart.

You did so for as long as you could, the faint beating of your heart echoing in your eardrums. Your head slowly comes out of the water, still unable to spot Heeseung. But you can hear him.

“Will you struggle for me?” Heeseung wonders out loud, his voice echoing through the corridors. “Will you claw at me and shout? I long to feel your pulse against my tongue. Sweetheart.”

You can’t help but shudder at Heeseung’s words. He truly is a psychopath. Or did that just come with the territory when you were long lived and hunted others?

You dunk under the water again, hoping that Heeseung would circle back towards the upper levels. Your sluggish heartbeat should be undetectable. This wasn’t the first time you had attempted to hide from vampires before.

You come back up to find Heeseung in the room you are in. You fill your lungs full of air quietly. If even the smallest whimper flits past your lips, you’re done for.

“How interesting for you to come here,” Heeseung ponders out loud still. “Was this a part of your monkey brain hiding in the water? Unaware that the crocodiles lie in wait.”

What the hell was that supposed to mea--

“Peekaboo.”

Your scream bounces off all available walls. You wince and close your eyes. Everything is ruined now.

“Did you really think you’d win?” The voice behind you says with amusement. “Did you think you were the only human that’s played this game?”

You turn around slowly and find the vampire that bartered for you with the body hawker. He is drenched like you, a tiny, smug smirk tugging at his lips.

“Fuck you,” You say, albeit somewhat weakly.

“Don’t offer me a good time, Sweetheart.”

Heeseung growls behind you. The vampire in front of you raises his hands. “Okay, okay, Heeseung. You’ve got first dibs. I get it.”

You slowly move out of the pond, angling for the end that Heeseung isn't waiting on.

The vampire in the water with you stays where he is but begins to giggle. “Now now, Heeseung won. You aren't about to get away.”

“He said some fucked up shit,” You say as if that will explain anything.

“Is that true, Heeseung? Did you say some fucked up shit to scare her?” The vampire asks.

Both vampires laugh together and you feel your temper rise. Fear spikes along with it when you see Heeseung with a short blade.

“Come here, Sweetheart,” Heeseung says in a sing-song voice. “I told you we'd have some fun.”

You begin to back up. “You said you weren't going to torture me.”

Heeseung takes a step forward for every one of your steps backwards. “Oh, I won't be carving you up.”

You gulp loudly. “Then what's up with the knife, Jack?”

Heeseung cocks his head curiously and looks to the other vampire for help.

“Jack the Ripper. Known human serial killer. He killed whores with doctor-precision. She's mentally reaching for something familiar,” the other vampire supplies.

Heeseung flips his blade, catching it by the hilt. “You want to be my whore?”

You laugh mirthlessly. “Fuck my life.”

“Just a little bit of blood,” Heeseung murmurs, his eyes zeroing in on your neck. “Then we can have all the fun you want.”

You refuse to break eye contact as your back hits the cave wall. Heeseung advances on you, knife flicking between his fingers. You hear the whish of the knife before you feel the sting of the cut.

“There's a good girl,” Heeseung whispers as he leans into your neck, where your pain is radiating from.

The roughness of Heeseung’s tongue on your skin makes you wince. Once his saliva is introduced to your bloodstream, your blood thins out and you bleed steadily for him. Instead of sucking at your neck, Heeseung continues to lap at the cut on your neck, like you're a saucer of cream and he is a cat.

Your nails dig into the palms of your hands. You feel warmth curl in your lower stomach and you inwardly curse. What the fuck was going on here?

Heeseung’s hands glide over your hips to hold you steady but you knock them away. Heeseung laughs and then slams a hand near the wall by your head.

“Will let me drink from you but won't let me touch you. You play a strong game, Sweetheart.”

“It's not a game,” You snarl.

“It's always a game,” pipes in the other vampire.

“Jakey boy? It's time for you to leave,” Heeseung suggests sugar sweetly.

Jake hums in discontentment. “Already? I can't stay and watch some more?”

“Watch what?” You demand.

“Leave!” Heeseung commands.

“Fine. I'm going, I'm going,” Jake mutters. “Geez.”

“You had your fill of me,” You say, legs itching to move with Jake.

Heeseung’s eyes zero in on you. “Oh no, sweetheart, I have not had my fill of you.”

“Why are you all like this?! In my world, this is done freely!” Your eyes widen once you realize what you've said.

“Your world?” Heeseung’s eyes grow dark with intellect. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” You vow to never open your mouth ever again.

“Heeseung! I told you he was going to have the first taste, Sunghoon. Heeseung!”

Heeseung sighs loudly and places his forehead on your shoulder. “And we were having such a fun play time.”

Jay, the disgruntled one, jogs into the cave. “I smell blood. I knew it.”

You watch as the vampire that had thrown you over his shoulder and Jay enter the cave. Sunghoon, you assume, is pushing back Jake with two fingers to his chest.

“Heeseung, we talked about this. You were going to hunt after we came back. You were supposed to watch over her,” Sunghoon says.

“And since when are you on his side?” Jay demands to Jake.

Jake shrugs. “We were just having a bit of fun.”

Sunghoon rubs the bridge of his nose. “He must have some sense of ownership since he picked her.”

“She’s OUR bloodbag,” Jay insists.

Jake smiles. “Sure she is.”

“Her blood is sweet,” Heeseung whispers.

All three vampires freeze, like they had no problem hearing the psycho vampires quiet voice. Damn super hearing.

“At least she’s not dead,” Jay begrudgingly admits.

“I circled back so I didn’t… I’ll take him with me to hunt,” Jake says, as if he’s making amends for pairing up with Heeseung’s tricks.

Heeseung turns around and stands in front of you. “All other blood will taste like ash compared to her.”

Jay rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Dramatic much?”

Heeseung grins widely in response. “You’ll know soon.”

“All this talk about being hungry has me hungry,” You mutter under your breath.

Sunghoon jerks his chin in your direction. “Make sure she gets fed, Jay. I’ll make sure those two actually do what they’re told.”

“Do I need a babysitter?” Heeseung cackles maniacally.

Jake can’t help but smile a bit with Heeseung. “Seems like our brothers don’t trust us anymore.”

Jay roughly grabs your upper arm and yanks you back towards the entrance of the cave. “Come on. We’ve got food.”

Silently you follow along, even though Jay shows no signs of letting you go. “You act like I was in on it too. You know, if I had my say, I wouldn’t have run through this place like a prison escape.”

Jay looks down to the side of him at you, looking like he doesn’t believe a word you say. But you have a feeling he treats everyone like that. “Yeah well, either way, you’re more dangerous now that he’s had a taste of you.” Jay mutters under his breath to himself. “Sweet blood? Ash? He’s even further in the deep end today.”

Your hand unconsciously goes to the cut on your neck. Why slice you with the knife and not his fangs? These four vampires were beyond your comprehension.

Jay prepares a meal for you once you get back to the cabin portion of the fucked up place these vampires inhabit. It’s one of the simple pre-packaged bullshit the vampires make for their blood bags. Some kind of combination of astronaut food from the old world when humans were in charge and a sci-fi blend of the future. The packet goes from three portioned foil in a microwave to a plate of food. Either way, it tastes nothing like real food and you make a face when Jay puts it in front of you at the table.

Jay sighs loudly. “Eat. You’re lucky we’re even feeding you.”

“You have to feed me to feed from me. Even I know that,” You scoff back.

Jay slams his fist against the table, making you jump. “I don’t know who or what you think you are, but you are like livestock to us. You don’t matter much beyond a fun chase and some blood. Now eat before I break the rules next.”

“Yeah?!” You demand, feeling rebellion and anger surge through your veins. You pull aside your dirty shirt, bearing your shoulder and collarbones. “Why the pretense then? Just worry away at my neck like a damn dog. Break my neck and drink from me while my life’s blood drains from me. Go on! Do it!”

Jay’s eyes flash, too quickly for you to read, but red nonetheless. “You’re getting on my nerves, blood bag.”

“The feeling is mutual, Tick!”

“Tick?!” Jay shouts, pushing back his chair, the noise screaming against your ear drums.

“Uh oh, do you think it’s okay to leave those two alone together?” Jake wonders mockingly, having climbed up the stairs finally with Heeseung and Sunghoon.

“Jay?” Sunghoon says his name uncertainly.

“She started it!” Jay points his finger accusatorily at you.

“Yes, because I’m in charge of my life right now,” You mutter.

Jay lunges across the table to grab you but Sunghoon intercepts him. Sunghoon’s hand is firmly wrapped around Jay's wrist.

“Why are you rising to her bait? Are you not the superior species here?” Sunghoon says with an eyebrow raised.

“You will sit and you will eat,” Jay ignores Sunghoon and points a finger at you.

Now it's your turn to roll your eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

Jake snickers behind his hand. “Maybe he prefers Mommy.”

Sunghoon sends a withering glance to Jake. “Don't you start too.”

Jay won't meet your eyes now, but that's okay, you can't look him in the eye either. Grudgingly, you eat but the other vampires never leave to hunt. That makes you nervous but you do nothing to let that known

“She's coming with us, isn't she?” Heeseung says somewhat gleefully.

“Clearly none of us can be trusted,” Sunghoon says begrudgingly.

Did that include Sunghoon too?

Heeseung holds out his hand to you and wiggles his fingers. “Come hunting with me, Sweetheart. Oh, how your heart will pitter patter.”

You ignore the offered hand and walk to the door. “Well?”

“You can't just go out there,” Jay says.

“I'm with you four, aren't I?”

“But no one will know that,” Jake adds.

“And????” You say somewhat strained and impatient.

“You'll need to smell like one of us has fed from you. You can't steal another vampire's food,” Sunghoon says quietly.

Jake’s proverbial ears practically perk up. “Rock paper scissors?!” He asks hopefully.

“But! Heeseung fed from me!” You protested.

“No, Heeseung cut you and licked you,” Jake corrects.

Now you're the one blushing. When Jake put it that way... It sounded so dirty “So?”

“You need to be bitten. Our venom needs to be in your system. That's the only way,” Sunghoon says, making eye contact.

You stare at all four vampires. “This is a trick, isn’t it? The stupid little human who doesn’t understand, right?”

If Jake had a tail, it would be wagging. He fidgets from foot to foot as he says, “I can do it. It’ll be super quick. I’ve got the smallest fangs. You’ll barely feel it.”

This time it's Jay that snickers. Jake sends Jay a baleful look.

“Can you at least not do it on the same side Heeseung already cut me?” You ask quietly.

The words are barely out of your mouth before Jake zooms to your side. His clothes still move with gravity, hair fluttering over his face. “No worries. That’s Heeseung’s side now.”

Your face screws up in confusion and Jake laughs. You see his fangs flash for a second and then you feel a pain in your neck. Jake’s hand is cupping the back of your neck and the small of your back.

Heeseung is restrained, barely, by Sunghoon and Jay. “She doesn’t like to be touched!” Heeseung snarls.

Jay sends a look of confusion at Heeseung. “Since when do you care about what a blood bag likes?”

Heeseung snaps his teeth in front of Jay’s face. “She’s not a blood bag, Jongseong.”

“Come on man, don’t call me that,” Jay laments.

“There,” Jake whispers against your neck and then he takes a step back. “See? Not a problem.”

Your fingers can’t help but find the two holes on your neck now. Heat radiates from them. “That was quick.”

Jay snickers again and Jake zooms, ending up holding the front of Jay’s shirt with two clenched fists.

Sunghoon lets go of Heeseung with a loud sigh. “This human is starting to be more of an issue than I originally anticipated. Alright, clearly you two are hungry. Let's burn off that angry energy.”

Jake lets go of Jay, silently fuming, but then becomes all smiles. “Come on, Mommy.”

Heeseung waggles his fingers again but Sunghoon puts a hand on his forearm and pushes the hand down. “You have to hunt. I’ll watch over her.”

“Sweetheart,” Heeseung insists, eyes solidly locked with Sunghoon.

“Yes, I’ll watch over Sweetheart,” Sunghoon corrects himself.

Heeseung’s eyes soften when he turns to you but he says nothing, instead slipping out of Sunghoon’s hand and pushing Jake and Jay ahead of him. “Touch her again without my permission and I will pull your eyes out with a whisk.”

“That’s creative,” Jake grins.

Jay looks at Heeseung like he’s crazy. “Yeah yeah, come on, I’ll show you where we found a clutch of them.”

“Do not put me over your shoulder again!” You protest towards Sunghoon immediately. “That was degrading, to say the least.”

Sunghoon smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I wouldn’t dare bend a hair on your head, Sweetheart. After all, it seems like Heeseung is quite attached. That’s rare enough.”

“Good,” you let out a sigh of relief.

“You will, however, have to hold onto me. We are hunting and don’t move at mortal speed.”

You can’t help but wrinkle your nose. “Great.”

Sunghoon swoops you into his arms in a millisecond and the world begins to stream past you. “I don’t exactly enjoy doing this either, Sweetheart.” The nickname somehow sounds like an insult with Sunghoon’s lips.

“Must suck being the most sane of them all,” You mutter.

“Who said that?” Sunghoon murmurs.

Just as suddenly as you started, you stop. The scene is something you had been privy to countless times. Only this time you knew the names of the vampires. Heeseung was drinking from the wrist of someone’s broken arm. Jake had slashed the chest of another, the blood streaming into the clothes as he drank greedily as well.

As Sunghoon lets you down, you look away, not wanting to see the life slowly fade from the other human’s eyes. Bad idea, because now you’re looking at Jay. Jay’s face is stoic but he’s watching the other two feed. “You should have seen Sunghoon’s last kill. We weren’t as merciful as those two right now.”

You make a look of disgust. Vampires were animals. Smart animals, but feral nonetheless.

“Did someone get a pet mortal?” A melodic voice echoes from the shadows of the surrounding forest.

“Sunoo. Happy Hunting,” Sunghoon greets the new arrival.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Sunoo continues to say, voice almost purring.

You shudder and he laughs. “Such a frail one at that. I thought you preferred heartier meals.”

“Go ask the psychopath. He’s the one stuck on her. Says he wanted a fight,” Jay jeers.

The clear look of shock is almost comical on Sunoo’s features. “Seungie?!” His nostrils flare for a moment. “But I smell Jake on her.”

Jay winces. “Sunoo.”

The air is heavy for a moment. You feel like something is being said over your head but you can’t catch it.

“Oh. Right. I forgot. Well, enjoy your new pet.”

You don’t even see Sunoo leave because Heeseung is wiping his face with the back of his hand, effectively smearing blood further along his face. “Disgusting.”

Jay shoves his hands in his pocket. “Such a snob now.”

Jake waves at you with two bloody hands. “All fed now!”

Sunghoon jerks his head back towards what you assume is their home. “Good. Let’s get out of here. We already attracted Sunoo’s attention. It won’t be long before word spreads.”

Heeseung crouches before you. “Hop on, Sweetheart.”

You look at the other three vampires but no one protests. Better than Sunghoon’s arms, right?

You cautiously straddle Heeseung’s back but he jostles you higher up his arms, making you collapse against him. And then it’s off to the races.

You duck your head behind Heeseung’s, cheek against the collar of his shirt. You’re worried that you’ll get hit by an errant branch or such. “Please don’t let me die,” You say to yourself.

“Nothing will ever make you bleed except us,” Heeseung oh so casually throws over his shoulder.

Super encouraging.

When Heeseung stops, you’re back in the log cabin. However, Heeseung doesn’t release your legs to let you down. He keeps you perched on his back.

“She’s sleeping with me today,” Heeseung declares.

‘“Heeseung, be reasonable," Sunghoon says, holding his hands out as if he’s about to calm a feral dog. “She needs to be restrained. We have a room for that.”

Heeseung shakes his head adamantly. “No. That’s not safe enough.”

“Not safe enough,” Jay laughs mirthlessly. “Heeseung, no one has ever escaped the second level.”

“I’m not worried about Sweetheart escaping. I’m worried about the third level.”

“He’s got a point,” Jake agrees.

“You just want Heeseung to pave the way so you can sleep with her!” Jay protests.

Sunghoon closes his eyes and rubs his temples. “She’s going in the secure room.”

Heeseung steps forward but Jay steps in his way. “You can’t always get your way, Psychopath.”

“Is it true? That you want Sweetheart to call you, Mommy?” Heeseung shoots back instead.

Jake is slapping his thighs while laughing. “Oh god, can you imagine?”

You tap Heeseung’s shoulder. “Can I get down now? Please?”

“You’re wrong, Jongseong. I always get my way.”

Sunghoon sighs. “Heeseung--”

Dark panelled wood blends seamlessly until you realize that you’re in a different room and the others are not here. “Be a good girl and sleep with me, hmmm? You’ll do that for me, won’t you, Sweetheart?”

You slid from Heeseung’s back, eyes flitting around. It’s bare of anything except a closet and a broken bed. “Surely not on that.”

Heeseung breaks out into a smile that sends a shudder down your spine. “No, not on that.”

The two puncture marks on your neck pulse and you slap your hand on your neck. “What the fuck was that?”

“Found her. He’s just in his room. Weird. Heeseung, buddy, what’s going on?” Jake calls out.

“Can you track me because of your bite too?” You demand.

Jake sends you a lopesided smile. “Sure can. Can do some other fun stuff with the bite too. How about we--”

“No.”

You now have the wonderful image of Heeseung’s back. He’s blocking your view of Jake.

“Oh, come on, Heeseung! You had the first taste, let me have this!” Jake protests.

“No one is having anything,” Sunghoon joins the chat. “Heeseung, go put her in the room!”

“No.”

“Well, you’re not sleeping with her. You know how unstable you get when you slumber during the day.”

“It will be different with her.”

“You don’t know that.”

“You don’t know that it won’t.”

Jake tries not to look excited. “Ah, an impasse. You know, I’m still here. How about--?”

Heeseung and Sunghoon say no to Jake at the same time. Which might have made you giggle, if you knew what the hell was going on right now.

“I won’t sleep,” Jay offers with a hesitant voice.

“The next time day breaks, you’ll sleep even longer though, Jay!” Sunghoon argues.

“It’s fine. I’ll watch over the bloo--Sweetheart. She’ll be safe. I swear it.”

Heeseung grudgingly moves out of the way, giving you a clear view of Jay at the door. Heeseung raises his hand as if he’s going to pet you but stops, thinking better of it. “I will dream of you, Sweetheart,” he offers instead.

You walk by Heeseung warily. “Vampires don’t dream.”

“Psychopathic ones do,” Jay grunts.

“Alright, now that that’s figured out, I’d like to go to sleep now.” Jake salutes you jauntily with two fingers to his forehead and then he’s gone.

“Good day,” Sunghoon nods resolutely to Heeseung.

You can feel that Heeseung’s eyes never leave your form, even as you exit with Sunghoon and Jay. They both walk down at normal paces down the stairs with you trailing behind them.

“Mind your temper, please. You know what will happen if Heeseung sees she’s been mistreated. He has seemed to form an attachment to her.”

“I got this. Okay?” Jay presses. He shoots you a look and then returns his gaze to Sunghoon. “I swore on it.”

“Pinky promise,” You suggest.

“Yeah yeah, whatever lame ritual the humans do too. I gave my word, Sunghoon.”

Sunghoon sends you a look that he’s clearly uncertain where you stand. “Try to stay alive.”

“That’s the plan,” You grumble.

“Come on. My bedroom actually has a bed for a human to sleep on. You should get your rest while you still can,” Jay suggests.

Jay’s room isn’t as dilapidated as Heeseung's. The bed is intact and there’s a few personal nicknacks. You take a seat on the bed.

“So. Why the sudden change of heart, Jay?”

Jay won’t look at you but he does close the door behind him with his foot. “Because I don’t want Heeseung to kill our latest blood bag during his slumber.”

“Come on, that must sound lame, even to you,” You scoff.

Jay’s eyes wander around the room. “Yeah, well, that’s the truth. It’s the best answer you’re going to get right now.”

“Don’t you think I should know some things since I'm going to be here for a bit?” You push.

“Listen, I don’t like the guy anymore than you do, but that’s not my story to tell,” Jay resists.

Still, Jay ends up sitting on the side of the bed with you. As he was pulled like a magnet, despite his attitude towards you. You couldn't quite figure this vampire out, even though on the surface, he appeared as a disgruntled guy.

“Guess I’m gonna die eventually anyways,” You shrug.

“You’re not going to die,” Jay stresses the last word like you’re being dramatic. “Especially if Heeseung has anything to say about it.”

“And you?” You poke.

Jay runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. It’s weird. Heeseung has never acted this way before. With anyone. And believe you me, we’ve had a lot of you mortals.”

You cross your legs and start to bounce your foot anxiously. You were starting to wonder if your origins were the reason Heeseung seemed to be enamored with you. Even though he was attracted to you before he had even had a taste of your blood.

“Listen, I--”

“Do you wanna fool around?” Jay interrupts you. He’s half turned on the bed, one leg bent on the mattress.

“Do I what?” You say with shock.

“I heard your heart beat spike when Jake brought up the Mommy thing. I’m not going to last this entire day with you on my bed.”

The confession shocks you even further. You knew things had been awkward since that statement but you felt like Jay saw completely through you at this moment.

“Uh…” You honestly didn’t know how to respond to that.

Jay moves closer to you, his leg bumping yours. It causes you to meet his eyes. Those red orbs that seemed to simply suck you in. You felt yourself getting lost in them, falling deeper and deeper.

“You know what would be hot? If you sat on my face and I bit you. Think about it. A little something for you, a little something for me. Don’t you want that?” Jay’s voice goes down an octave, stroking something inside of you.

You find yourself nodding your head in agreement. “I do.”

Jay cups the side of your face, fingers easily sliding into your hair. “See? Fighting isn’t the only choice.”

Your inner core shakes and something suddenly doesn’t feel right. Shouldn’t you be fighting Jay? “I--”

Jay’s eyes swirl once again. “You want me to kiss you now.”

“Jay, why aren’t we kissing?” You echo, a whine growing in the back of your throat.

Jay smirks. “Let me fix that.”

His lips feel cool against the raging inferno your body is feeling. You press eagerly to Jay, lips tangling with teeth and tongue. Jay falls to the bed, smiling into the kiss. Your body straddles his chest, fully invested in this kiss. You feel your lower half becoming wet with need. Everything else falls away.

“So eager,” Jay teases.

“Please,” You whine fully this time.

Jay helps you out of your shorts and gleefully lays back against the pillow at the top of the bed. You eagerly settle on his chest, legs pinning his upper half to the bed.

“I’m about to feast on you, Sweetheart,” Jay groans.

You gaze down at the vampire between your legs with something akin to desire and ownership. Jay’s yours, he just doesn’t know it yet. His place was where he was exactly at this moment.

You cock your head flirtatiously. “You gonna make me feel good?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Jay’s eyes almost roll into the back of his head.

With his arms pinned under you, he uses his lips and tongue only. His nose dives into you at some point and you moan wantonly. He’s absolutely making a mess but you haven’t a care in the world except seeking out pleasure from what Jay is providing.

Mouth deep in your pussy, tongue circling your clit like crazy, Jay extends his fangs and almost passes out from pleasure. Your wetness and your blood is too much for him.

“What the fuck are you?” Jay demands as soon as he removes his mouth from you.

You pant and whine. “I’m a human. Goddamn it, Jay, I was almost there!”

Jay shakes his head. “No, you’re not. I’ve never tasted blood like yours. Shit.”

You sigh dramatically. “Fine, I’ll finish myself.”

You reach between your legs but Jay grabs your hand before you can meet your mark. His eyes are blown, you almost can’t see the red iris. “I don’t think so.”

“Fucking decide then, goddamn it!”

You cry out as Jay latches himself back onto you again. You have to brace yourself against the headboard as his arms wrap around your thighs and you are even more firmly seated on his face. He follows every line of blood that has found your cunt. He feasts on your folds, even pushing his tongue into your hole to lick up all the blood.

“Oh please, Jay, please, please,” You beg as you wind your hips.

“So fucking good, the psychopath just had to be right,” Jay grumbles before he’s committed to tongue fucking you to completion.

You collapse with a moan as you climax. You grind on Jay’s face until the pleasure you feel is a simple buzz in your finger tips. “Fuck.”

“Fuck is right,” Jay echoes you.

You feel lightweight and slowly you slip to the side, unable to raise your arms.

Jay catches you with a few choice curses. “Ah shit. You need a shot.”

Carefully, he lowers you to the bed, and then he’s gone. The edge of your vision becomes faded and your ears start to ring. You were about to pass out but you can’t find the capacity to care.

Hours, or seconds, you aren’t sure, pass and then Jay’s concerned face is above yours. Your body jolts as he slams something onto your chest. Suddenly, your vision is clear and your hearing returns to normal. Pain radiates from your chest but you feel like you could run a marathon.

“What did you just do?” You demand.

Jay scratches the back of his head sheepishly. “Too many of us have drank from you today. I gave you a shot that helps us in case we’re on the edge.”

You rub your chest where Jay stabbed you with the shot. “Jesus.”

“Yeah, we’re not exactly used to keeping you blood bags alive,” Jay admits.

You sigh and roll your eyes. “Thanks, I guess.”

Jay runs a hand through his hair as he sits on the edge of the bed. “Listen. I know it’s been rough for you…”

You pull down your clothes back into place, reaching for your shorts. “Rough.” You shake your head at how understated that term was.

“Yeah. Okay. Worse than rough. You were sold and bought. Heeseung has become obsessed with you. He played one of our games with you. Jake bit you. And now we’ve…” Jay smirks to himself. “...well we had some fun too. But you seem like someone with a good head on their shoulders. Just don’t fuck up and I think you’ll be good.”

“Oh sure,” You mockingly agree. “Don’t piss off the psychopath serial killer vampires. No problem. Easy peasy.”

Jay’s eyes flash with barely suppressed anger. “See? Like that. Why do you have to be so goddamn provocative?”

“But that’s why Heeseung chose me, Jay. I’ve got fight in me, he keeps saying. You got what you paid for!”

It’s silent for a bit. You don’t know if Jay is absorbing your words or if he just doesn’t know what to say. Either way, he decides to settle further onto the bed, with his back propped against the headrest.

“I don’t know how to do this either, you know,” Jay admits.

“This?” You wonder with a raised eyebrow, turning around to speak to him.

“Taking care of a human. A pet.”

“Don’t call me that,” You argue immediately.

“Whatever!” Jay shakes his head. “Most of the time we just kill you guys and--”

You hold your hand up, as if they could stop the words that are about to flood from Jay’s jabbering. “Please, spare me the details.”

“Don’t wanna hear what happens on level two?” Jay smirks.

“Not really.”

“Don’t wanna hear about how your boyfriend slits them on their wrists and lets the blood drain to the tiles? How he says that if they whimper and plead, it’s like music to his ears. How he enjoys slamming his knife over and over--”

“ALRIGHT I GET IT!” you shout, covering your ears.

Jay moves to grab your wrists and tugs your hands from your ears. “Don’t you wanna hear how I like it?”

The damn vampire is getting off on torturing you mentally. You meet his amused gaze with a steely one of yours. “Fuck you.”

“I think I get it now,” Jay laughs, sitting back.

You try to sleep, and you should, you’re beyond exhausted. But your brain is simply buzzing too much, or was that the result of the adrenaline and blood that Jay had shot you up with? How did he know what your blood type was? Was that why you were sweet? Questions circled in your mind over and over and you fitfully rested.

You knew the sun had set when Heeseung entered the room.

“You could knock,” Jay grumbles but there’s no bite behind it.

“Sweetheart,” Heeseung coos. He moves until he’s crouched in front of the bed. He’s like a kid that’s excited it's morning again.

“Uh. Hi. Heeseung.”

Heeseung practically beams with inner glee. “Can we play again today?”

“I had to give her a thunder shot last night, Heeseung. How about we give her a break?” Jay suggests.

The information sits in Heeseung’s brain for a bit as if he’s computing it and then his eyes narrow down at Jay. “Now you know.”

Jay won’t meet Heeseung’s eyes. “Yeah yeah, gloat all you want. I know.”

“Three tastes and two bites, you’re getting around, sweetheart,” Jake’s teasing tone comes from the hallway as he walks by.

“Again! Like I have had a choice in the manner!” You shout back but all you hear is Jake’s retreating laughter as he doesn’t stop.

“You look tired,” Heeseung brings your attention back to him.

“I didn’t sleep well,” You admit.

Heeseung nods like he saw that coming. “It’s because you weren’t with me.”

“Oh, come on,” Jay scoffs. “You chased her through a hallway and then cut and licked her blood. What makes you think she would have slept well with you?!”

Heeseung smiles crookedly. “Our hearts sing to each other.”

Jay rolls his eyes. “Not this shit again.”

“This shit again?” Heeseung’s smile grows wider. “Please enlighten me what this shit is, Jongseong?”

“Stop. Using. That. Name,” Jay says through gritted teeth.

This time there is no one to intervene when Jay and Heeseung clash. They snap their teeth at each other’s necks, zipping and flashing at lightning speed, grunting as their bodies slam against each other.

All you can manage is to wrap your arms around your head, hoping they remember you’re still in the room and to not accidentally kill you.

“Enough!” Sunghoon shouts.

Normally, you would say that Sunghoon’s outer appearance is cool, calm and collected but he is a totally different man right now. His chest is heaving and his eyes are burning. “I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with us right now, or if it’s the catalyst on the bed, but this is done. No more fighting over the blood bag. She is just a fucking human who is feeding us!”

Heeseung’s eyebrows furrow together. “No she’s not! She’s more than that. Even Jay knows it now. Please, just feed from her. Then you’ll understand.”

“Fine!” Sunghoon agrees immediately.

He storms into the room with such intense intent that you find yourself scurrying backwards on the bed. “Wait, Jay said you’ve already taken too much of my blood. I need a break.”

Sunghoon ignores your protests, crawling over you as you lie flat on the bed, as far away as you can get from him. “If I feel like draining you until barely a drop is left in you and then fill you back up with blood, I will. Don’t forget who is on top of the food chain, mortal.”

You whimper as Sunghoon grabs your wrist and brings it up to his mouth. He’s not nice about biting you either. After his fangs enter your skin, he turns his head sharply, ripping the skin as his fangs look to vacate your wrist quickly. It does give a steady flow of your blood, however. Sunghoon lifts your wrist above his head and pushes out his tongue, to let your blood drip onto it. He swallows it and still allows your blood to splatter onto his lips and face.

Sunghoon’s body shudders in reaction to the taste of your blood. “Delicious,” he murmurs.

“I smell--” Jake appears in the doorframe. “Oh. Sunghoon is starting a party in here, huh?”

“Do you hear her heart? Do you smell her scent? Do you feel her heat?” Heeseung demands insistently.

Sunghoon’s eyes zero in on you. You want to lean back from the scrutiny but there’s nowhere for you to go, certainly not with the firm hold of your wrist still.

“You’re different. I don’t know why, nor do I really care, but…” Sunghoon stiffly nods in Heeseung’s direction. “I understand now.”

Heeseung visibly reacts, shoulder collapsing in relief. “Finally.”

“You guys are fucking crazy,” You whisper.

“Crazy for you, maybe,” Jake jokes.

“She’s not going to have anything delicious to provide us with if you let her bleed out,” Jay grunts.

Your vision becomes fussy and your world slows down, similar to after your moment with Jay. The last thing you see is Sunghoon’s calculating visage before everything goes to black.

What the hell were you in for with these vampires?

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imalonelymaniac · 20 days ago

Text

ME all throughout :

Shells Masterlist

❥Siren Kim Hongjoong x fem reader

➯a/n: i made the mermaid joong art plz don't steal it 😭 this story was my first ever long-form fanfic and i truly love it, but it's been abandoned for a little while. i'm in the process of re-writing it, so stay tuned !

(>ᴗ•)(✯◡✯)genre: yandere, fantasy, smut w plot

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

#ateez #kim hongjoong #hongjoong #yandere ateez #ateez hongjoong #yandere hongjoong #Siren! hongjoong #Yandere! ateez #yandere! hongjoong #x reader #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #ateez au #siren! au #really good guys🗣️‼️

412 notes · View notes

imalonelymaniac · 20 days ago

Text

SIREN! HONGJOONG🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ MY PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS BABY

Shells

Chapter One

Kim Hongjoong x fem reader

a/n: executive producer creds to my gf because she helped me come up with this and she's my angel

"Aren't they so pretty?"

✫彡wordcount: 5k

♡´･ᴗ･`♡(✯◡✯)genre: yandere, fantasy, (eventual)smut w/plot

ಠ_ಠwarning/contents(chapter specific): non-explicit gore, ptsd, captivity

MATURE UNDER CUT MDNI

"Abandon ship!"

A safe journey. They told you it would be. An unsinkable ship. The captain said. Nothing to be worried about. They may not have known it, but all of that was lies.

It was not a safe journey. The ship was not unsinkable. There was something to be very, very worried about.

"Hyunjin!" You call out for your brother as you run across the deck: pushed and shoved by the chaos around you. The ship had struck something in the freezing water. It was filling with water quickly, soaking your shoes and the hem of your pants. People slipped around as they fought for a spot on the safety boats. "Hyunjin!"

"Here, (Y/n)!" He pushes through the crowd and grabs onto your shoulders the second he gets to you. "We have to get on one of the boats, the ship is sinking too fast to repair!"

"Too fast t- you said this ship was inpenetrable!"

"We must have scraped something, there's damage, all the way 'round t- come." He notices a spot open on the side of the ship and pulls you to it before someone else can get there. The boat that's supposed to be there is already deployed, lowering slowly.

"Jump up." He says. And before you know it he's lifting you up by your waist, settling you on the edge of the ship. "There's still room!" He yells down, "stop lowering!"

"Hyun-"

"What the fuck are you doing?" First mate, Minho, joins Hyunjin in yelling at the premature escapees."Fucking cowards!" The bad mouthed man continues as he wraps a comforting arm around your shaking form.

Hyunjin leans away from the edge and begins, holding your cheeks gently as he speaks. "You'll have to jump and swim to the boat. You'll be safe until rescue comes. Don't drink sea water, and don't take your clothes off no matter how hot you feel- you'll just freeze to death from hypothermia. Do you understand?"

"What?" You grab onto his sleeves as he lifts you to your feet, shaking on the rocking vessel.

You hold onto one of the ropes to stable yourself as he lets go. You nearly slip into the water when someone yells, scaring you. "Sirens!" Your heart stops in your chest as you look over your shoulder and see the patrons of the boat you were about to jump in and join. Being pulled from the safety of the wooden boat and into the freezing depths by clawed hands. The dark blue water becoming tainted red with their blood. "Get out of the water!"

A wet mop of short red hair raises just below you. Fully black eyes catch yours quickly. It's black scaled cheeks rise as it smiles under the water.

You slip when a stray limb is thrown and collides with the ship with a thunk.

"No!" Hyunjin grabs onto your ankle before you can fall into the water. Minho scrambles away, quickly returning with a rope and fighting with it as he tries to untangle it.

Dangling just a few feet above certain death, a song from one of the sirens lures your eyes to it, away from the redhead.

It's a blue haired mermaid, buff shoulders raised above the cold water. A loud splash is heard underneath you, and you look back just in time to see the end of a metallic black tail before it disappears into the darkened water. "(Y/n)! Don't listen to him!" Your brother yells as your kick at his hands with your free foot, brain fighting itself as you both try to stay above what you know is an inescapable death and try to get to the singing creature.

Multiple have already been lured in by the multiple vocals around you, some have even jumped into the water willingly. "Listen to me, don't listen to them! Look, listen, once we get out of here we're going to go to Australia! Remember? Remember, Australia! So you can open a girls school and teach them everything Mom taught you! Don't fucking listen to that devil! Are you so weak? Fight back! Fight back, (Y/n)!"

You fall limp in his hold for a moment as you come back to your own mind. Then panic takes over your entire being. A flash of black overcomes the buff creature and takes it down into the water with it. "Hyunjin! Minnie, pull me up! I don't want to die!" You sob as loud as possible, wether to drown out the screaming and splashing around you or to make sure he hears, you don't know. "I don't want to die, Jin, please!"

One of his hands slips off your leg and to the very edge of your boot. He curses loudly as you're dropped a few inches, nearly touching the water. Your finger tips graze the water and you feel the death that awaits you as the redhead siren reappears further away, near where a spot of black is painting the water like an oil spill- where the other creature once was. Others have spread out, luring your acquaintances further out and away from the redhead.

"(Y/n), hold on! We've got you! Plug your ears!" Minho yells as he creates a noose with the rope and slips it under Hyunjins fingers, tightening it around one of your legs. He tosses the end to some good citizens who've noticed the threatening position you're in, and joins in holding your leg to take off some of the pressure that's growing on your hip.

You slam your hands over your ears as the redhead begins singing, directly at you as he inches forward. "You fuck!" Minho yells as it grows ever closer. "I'll fucking fry you for dinner, you shrimp!" The creature doesn't seem to be phased by the mans threats, focused solely on luring you into his arms.

"I don't want to die!" You repeat as your tears trail down your forehead and drip into the stilling sea. It's gone nearly quiet. Just the remaining people aboard who have immunity to sirens songs and the occasional crunch of a bone as a siren breaks its catch apart.

"Your tears taste delicious." The mermaids voice makes you let out a guttural cry. It rings in your head even as you press your hands as close as possible. The creature comes uncomfortably close under you again as they begin pulling you up, screaming over his honey laced voice to try and save your mind. It is a him. A beautiful him. "Don't be afraid."

"You leave her be, devil!" Hyunjin yells as he desperately pulls you up, watching in pure terror as the creature raises his arm and grazes his black stained hand against your shoulder.

"Don't be afraid." He repeats before he lowers himself into the water, watching un-moving as he lets them pull you back over the edge.

"(Y/n)! Oh my God!" Hyunjin inspects your shoulder, seeing no signs of injury. No signs a siren ever touched you besides the stain of the creatures black blood. Minho leans down with him and holds your knees steady as they shake. The good citizens, a man you don't know and your cousin Yeji, seem to be the only ones left on the boat beside your trio.

It's true that many descendants of sailors have gained immunity over decades, but you never imagined it was this little amount.

"Look for any boats left, most of them seem full," Minhos words make your stomach churn. There was over three dozen people aboard. All of them now in the bellies of sirens? You were inches away from joining them in that fate.

You squeeze your eyes shut as you see the redheads void-like eyes in your mind.

"There!" Yeji screams as she points out a life boat upright, a few mere feet away. You stand shakily and cry harder as you see it.

"We'll never make that," you sob, grabbing onto Hyunjin as you slip in the still-rising water.

"She's right," the man agrees, giving you a glance before he mentions, "some of them are still out there. They'll wait us out if they're hungry enough. Redhead over there hasn't moved an inch. Must be starving."

"What the hell is wrong with you? He almost ate my sister!"

"And he will! It's pointless to try and wait them out, they can stay here for weeks if they wanted to. The second he starts singing again, she's dead meat! I say we just hand her over and distract them, make a dash for the boat."

"What the fuck?" The four of you chime together, Minho grabbing the man by his sweat soaked collar and ready to defend you.

"Why don't we give him a taste of pig, huh?" He insults the man, spit flying as he yells.

A low chuckle admits from the side of the ship, and it's the redhead. He's holding himself up on the edge, looking over it with a smirk. You back as far away as possible, cowering into Yeji as she places her hands above your own for extra protection. "I've never had pig... but you look mouth water right now, Mister 'Hand Her Over'."

Everyone is quiet. Hyunjin is brandishing a broken oar at the siren. Minho lets go of the man and steps in front of you and Yeji. The man stares in shock and horror.

"Come and join me, bastard." He sings out to the man, barring his sharp teeth in a smile as he watches the cowardly man's eyes glaze over.

No one makes a move as he starts stumbling forward in the knee deep water. "Come just a bit closer," he coos, propping himself up on his elbows and cocking his head to the side as he watches your confused face as the man comes forward.

"What the fuck," Hyunjin backs up out of the mans straight path, oar dropping to his side in his pure confusion. He's the closest to them, and he makes it a point not to stop the man as he comes face to face with the creature.

"Won't you join me, Mister?" The man climbs up the edge and steps right off. The mermaid winks your way before dropping in to follow him.

Everyone runs to the edge and leans over, gasping at the sight.

He's holding the man who threatened you by the top of his head, holding him completely still under the water. With a smile up your way, he turns his hand and snaps the man's neck.

—

"How long ago did you check the radio?" Minho whispers as he looks over to you and your family, huddled up in a corner of what's left of the ship.

Hours ago, it feels like, a group of sirens joined forces and snapped the boat in half as the redhead looked on with an amused smile. The half you were left on was completely afloat somehow, leaving you safe for the time being until rescuers arrived.

"Give it a rest, Minho." Yeji groans as she turns into your hold, wrapping you up in her purple cardigan. "Some of us are trying to sleep. Freaking insomniac..."

"Sorry," he mumbles before laying his head back down. "Freaking napper."

"Napper? Is that even a word?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Where did you ever hear someone say 'napper'?"

"Just now. I said it."

"Yo-"

You laugh quietly at their bickering, but quickly slam a hand over your mouth as there's a splashing sound. Hyunjin pulls the both of you closer as Minho stands up with a flashlight to see. The partial vessel rocks slowly with his careful movements as he steps closer to the rough edge.

"What was it?"

"Fish." He says before turning around. A clawed hand wraps around his ankle and yanks him down. His head bangs against the edge before he's submerged.

All three of your scramble to the edge in a hurry, yelling for him. Hyunjin curses. Yeji prays.

"Minnie!" You yell, scanning the water as Yeji uses the dropped flashlight to look for him.

You swear you hear a small growl, but you don't have time to digest it as he splashes around, gasping for air.

Hyunjin reaches for him, but his arm falls just a few inches short: like the sirens are toying with you. "Swim, swim!" He tries, before he's yanked back down. "Fuck, what do we do? Think! Think!"

"I can't think with you yelling in my ear!"

You grab the broken oar and begin trying your damndest to paddle closer, only making it a fraction of an inch when the redheaded devil appears and pushes you further away, smiling as your eyes lock. You yell, scrambling to the middle of the float. "Why are you doing this to us?!"

"My (Y/n)," he coos. Your heart drops as he all but moans your name, reaching for you before Yeji uses the flashlight to smack his hand. "Bitc-" He takes a sharp breath, stopping himself. Hyunjin takes the oar from your shaking grasp and threatens him with it. He makes a loud string of clicking noises before he dashes back into the depths, unable to be seen in the dark even as Yeji tries to follow him with the bright light.

"Jin!" Minho yells, emerging moments later, close to the edge.

He drops the makeshift weapon, grabbing at him and pulling him closer.

His wet hands slip from the polished wood and he almost falls back when you reach into the water and grab his wrist. As you do, though...

Something grabs yours. You're pulled in right next to him and trapped in a strong hold even as your thrash. Something sharp painfully breeches the skin on your jugular and you're peacefully falling asleep under the water as the torches of the rescue boat come into view.

—

You awake with a start, gasping in a breath of desperately needed air. You turn on your side quickly as you begin coughing up salt water. Your mind is foggy, admittedly. But you know that something is terrible wrong.

Tears fill your eyes as you quickly come to your senses and look around. You find yourself in a cave of sorts. Moss climbs up the jagged walls. You're laid next to a pool of water that seems to go down forever and turn into darkness even though sunlight shines through a pair of large holes in the rock ceiling.

Your panic almost sends you into the water as you remember the horrors of the sea. You manage to scoot away and further into the room-like cave. As you turn around, you find it's even more room like than you originally thought.

It's very large. Sunlight is filtered down through a large tarp that's decorated in embroidery of sea plants, pinned up over a large hole in the ceiling.

At the very back of the sediment room, shrouded in darkness, is a pile of fabrics and furs which seems like a makeshift bed, a bunch of scraps even balled up to make a pillow. There's a large chest that's sat next to it, worn with years of sitting in such a dreary place. On the other side of the room, across the bed is a back sheet that hangs over a doorway of sorts.

You wrap your arms around your cold self and take a weary step forward, unaware of the dark eyes that track your every move. Your clothes are dry, the sun is warm. But you feel oh so cold. You stop under the middle of the filtered sunlight and bask in the warmth to try and figure out if you've died and gone to the afterlife.

It feels all too real.

You kneel down and cry. What for?

Uncertainty. If you're not dead, where are you? If you've survived the sirens attack, how? You touch the last place you remember feeling anything. The sore wound makes you recoil from your own touch. If he sunk his teeth into you... why didn't he devour you? Why is the creature toying with you like this?

Anxiety. Is your family okay? Is Minho? Did he even make it out of the water? What will the devilish mermaid do with you? What does he want?

Pain. Your neck aches more than any bruise ever has. Your muscles are sore and tense. Your lungs feel heavy, like they've worked over time.

A tiny splash.

You whip around and fall to your behind. The redheaded siren of your waking nightmares is right up on the smooth rock shore, looking at you with wide, unblinking eyes. "Hello, My (Y/n). Did you sleep well?" He lays down on his forearms he awaits your answer, metallic black tail splashing behind him slowly.

You cry harder as you come to the realization that this isn't the afterlife. This isn't a fever dream. This is reality. Your tears blur the appearance of the handsome creature before you. "Awe, Precious. Don't cry."

"W-why are you...doing this?" You ask shakily. "Please, let-let me live. I have so mu- please!" You turn yourself over and kneel, placing your head on the warm rock floor as you sob.

You miss the way his tail separates into legs much like yours. He snatches up a pair of shorts on the edge.

You almost have a heart attack when you hear footsteps approaching. You body betrays your mind and you look up to see that siren has grown legs. "Don't bow to me." He says simply, sitting cross-legged in front of you. "You don't bow to anybody."

You don't listen, bending back down to avoid his unfaltering gaze. "Stop that!" He smacks your head lightly. "Listen to me. Get up and let's have a talk."

You sit up slowly and back away only to be followed. You scoot back, he scoots forward, until you're stopped by the bed of fur. He pushes you back into them and smiles. "Get comfortable."

You lay uncomfortably still on the softest fabrics you've ever touched, staring up at the drawings on the ceilings. He sits by your hip and nearly places a hand on your thigh, before setting it in his own lap. "I bet you have so many questions, My Darling. I will answer them all."

"Where am I?" You ask, voice coiled tight.

"My home."

Youre eyes flick to him for a single second, looking away quickly when you see his eyes trained onto you like a predator. "An...and who are you?"

The words you hear next are some that make you feel sick.

"I'm Hongjoong, your mate." You simply look over at him, hands balling into fists, grabbing the fabric under you tightly. "I sense you have more questions."

"No, yeah. What?"

He moves slowly as not to spook you, laying on his stomach besides you, not caring that he's soaking the fabric. How could he care? He's finally so so close to you.

There's nothing you can do. No where you can go besides the water. That is probably a worse idea than staying still. You'd be in his element, in some place you don't even know.

"We were marked by the Huntress to be together until the end of our souls."

You bite your lip as it quivers,"I don't understand."

He grabs your hands gently and turns it palm up. He blows on it gently and it glows the same color as his tail from what you can remember.

Hongjoong

You stare in disbelief as it fades as quickly as it came.

He holds out his palm and gestures for you to do what he did. He shivers with pleasure as your breath washes over his palm to reveal your name, in your handwriting. He watches it fade with a smile before looking up at you.

"I know you must be very confused... scared. But I promise you, every fabric of my being, nothing with hurt you. I won't hurt you. I will take such good care of you, my beautiful mate..."

"I ha-" you take a deep breath to calm yourself, swallowing your sobs, "I have more questions?"

He lays his head on his arm and gets comfortable, ready to answer every question you throw his way. "Go ahead, Precious."

—

All of your questions answered for the time being, you allow yourself to feel a bit less crazy. However, just having been abducted by a shapeshifting mermaid who's fated to be your husband-mate-partner for the rest of eternity by the Goddess of mermaids: you do feel the right to be shaken up.

He left to the room behind the black sheet after you were quiet for a few minutes. He sets a folded pile of fabric at your feet. "Whenever you're ready, you can change into these. They may not fit the best... but I will get you some of your own soon!"

He smiles brightly, and it's nothing like the smile you saw before he lured the man on the ship to his death. It's... cute. His sharp teeth nowhere to be seen as he flashes you a glance of his much more human looking teeth. In fact... he looks almost completely human. The only dead give away of his lineage is the scales on his cheeks, fluctuating between pink and blue hues.

You curl up on yourself and cry silently. He takes the cue, and sits down at the end of the bed, watching you quietly.

Another question hits you like a ton of bricks.

"Hongjoong...?"

"Yes, My Precious?" He responds eagerly, sitting up like a dog sitting for a treat.

"Is..." You clear your throat and hide your face in your elbow, "is the people I was with alive?" You violently sob at the thought of it, grief wracking your body before he's even responded.

"Oh, (Y/n)!" He crawls up next to you and holds your shaking form gently. In your state, you don't even bother to shake away his shockingly warm embrace. "They are alive... They were rescued."

"Real-really?"

"Of course. I would never... My friend stayed behind to make sure. Don't worry, he was full." He says the last bit bluntly, like it's an every normal thing. To him, it is. To you, it's a reminder of what was the most traumatic experience of your life to date. "Precious," he whines as you sob harder, hands over your face like your ashamed to be upset over the death of so many innocent people.

You lean your face into the makeshift pillow and let it cover your heated face as you wrap your arms around your cramping stomach, consequently folding them over his arms to get there. He purrs as your skin collides, and it makes your skin form goosebumps. He comes closer and lays right on you, cold and damp clothes clinging to yours. You feel his wet hair soak into the fabric of your shirt as he rests his forehead on your back.

"I'm so sorry." He whispers, although he has a smile on his lips as he revels in the feeling of your warmth. He's waited so long. Too long. He doesn't care that his path to getting you is tainted by blood. As long as he's finally crossed that path and gotten to you.

He has waited his entire life. He doesn't mind that he'll have to help you bounce back. He will gladly wait on you hand and foot to see you happy. So when your stomach growls, he speaks up eagerly.

"Are you hungry?" He sits up so abruptly that he doesn't have time to unravel from your form, bringing you up with him. "I can go and get some fishes for you! You like fish, don't you? It would be harder to find some berries, but I can do that too... Maybe over at near Taedmere?" He keeps going on speaking to himself until he feels your gaze on him.

You look at him with the ghost of a smile on your lips as you listen to the creature ramble like a child fixated on a cartoon book. You don't notice he's stopped until his cheek scales turn a bright red color, a few shades brighter than his hair.

The both of you look at each other with a similar look of 'uh-oh, I was just caught'. "C-" You bite your lip, "can you?"

"Of course!" He all but runs and jumps into water, resurfacing a few moments later and slapping down his soaked shorts on the edge. His scales are slowly turning black as he gets ready to hunt. "I'll be back soon, My (Y/n)."

You wait until the water settles in his wake and stand slowly, picking up the clothes on the end of the bed. You wonder wether or not you should change right there, but decide against it after you remember how silently he snuck up on you earlier. You eye-ball the black sheet, and then come to the conclusion of 'fuck it' and pull the sheet back to change in the relative privacy of the room.

It becomes clear that this is his 'restroom'. Bottles of strange liquids that must be soap, bars of something a similar color, an odd looking toothbrush all up on a little shelve above a mountain of clothes, even what looks like a built in toilet.

You quickly change into the clothes and it's apparent that they are his. They're baggy and no matter what you do, the pants won't stay over your hips. You don't want to piss off a creature with multiple built in sets of weapons, so you don't go digging for something that will. You just pull the shirt as low as it will go and sit back down on the bed.

You're picking through your thoughts with a fine toothed comb when he returns. A little splash of his tail acts like a doorbell, and he smiles with his sharp teeth- spooking you. He holds a hand over his mouth and apologizes, quickly flashing a more human smile as he lifts up a small net with a few things in it. "Tada~"

He sets it down and reaches for his shorts, putting them on under the water before emerging for your modesty. He slides it over to a small fire pit on the side of the room with his foot, eyeing up your new attire with a prideful look.

He pats the space next to him and you hurry over as you catch a glimpse of his claws, remembering just how devilish he's built to be. "Do you know how to start a fire?" He asks. You nod your head, yes. "Would you, Precious?"

You nearly flip yourself into the pit to start the fire, making him chuckle. "Take your time. I still have to gut them." You nod silently again, working diligently as you wonder why the hell a mermaid has a fire pit in its den. You cringe at the sound of his claws slicing open the fish, images of the claws that slashed open everyone aboard stuck in your head until you shake them away.

The silence is deafening. You can't bare to listen to the gore anymore. "Hongjoong?"

He responds like he always does, eyes on you as he speaks, "Yes, My Precious?"

You shake off the uneasy feeling the nickname leaves behind. "Why do you have a fire pit?"

"I get cold sometimes in m... I get cold. Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just... I heard, just like word of mouth- I don't know if it's-"

"You can speak freely, Darling. Don't be so shy."

You clear your throat and back away as the fire sparks to life. You look in the fire and poke at it as an excuse to avoid his gaze. "I heard sirens don't get cold... that they're cold blooded."

"Some are. Ones that don't shape shift. They don't have any human blood lines. Stupid pure breeds." He scoffs as he slices open the last of the three fish.

"So..." You struggle to keep speaking, most uncomfortable in a conversation that you have ever been, "you're kind of human?"

"Kind of. My mother used to be human."

"Used to?"

"That's a conversation for another day, Precious."

"You said you'd answer any of my qu-" You shut your mouth and feel every ounce of confidence fade as he flashes his eyes black at you with a scowl. "Another day," you nod, taking the skewered fish form his hand shakingly.

"Oh!" His outburst makes you jump. He grabs the bag he almost discarded. "I have something for you, My (Y/N)."

"Oh?" You shift on your knees and prop up the stick between them, looking over anxiously as he digs in the netted bag.

"I found them while I wasn't hunting," he sets them down on the ground between you.

Two large, pretty, shells. They look like regular flat shells: save for their color. One is a glowing yellow and the other a 'normal' dark green green. "Shells?"

"Aren't they so pretty?" He asks, voice laced in desperation for your approval as you pick up the glowing shell in disbelief. His face is decorated with a pale pink on his scales.

He sees the wonder in your eyes and explains what he knows you must be thinking. "Humans haven't been that far down yet," he smirks. "You're probably the first to see one like this..."

"Aren't they pretty?" He asks again, holding up the green shell for you to take. Your fingers graze against his as you take it slowly.

"Pretty."

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imalonelymaniac · 20 days ago

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FORBIDDEN FRUIT

PAIRING — hongjoong x reader

GENRE — smut, greek mythology au, hades!hongjoong, persephone!reader, fem!reader, dom!hongjoong, sub!reader

WARNINGS — smut, unprotected sex, fingering, marking, corruption, sexual langue/dirty talk

WORD COUNT — 2.1k

SUMMARY — for underworldnet’s season of love event day three, something sweet.

You had tasted the most delectable of fruits, delighting yourself in an endless abundance in your mother Demeter’s gardens. All your life as a goddess you were spoiled with fruits that ran full with the sweetest juices.

You never imagined how those flavors would grow bitter in comparison to the taste of a handful of pomegranate seeds. You never expected the lips of the god of the dead to be sweeter than anything your tastebuds had ever touched.

You never knew yourself to be a glutton, but as his fingers pushed another pomegranate seed through your lips, you were suddenly insatiable. The seed overwhelmed your tongue with its tart sweetness, and you relished in it, humming in satisfaction.

Hongjoong smirked, sharp eyes locked onto the sight of his fingers pressing into your lips. His free hand traveled up your thigh, gathering the silk fabric of your dress and hiking it upwards. His palm felt the goosebumps on your skin, and he delighted himself in the way you whimpered as his hand sunk underneath your dress. “Have you always had a taste for sweet things, goddess?”

You gazed down at him through hazy eyes. He was a sight to behold, sitting underneath you, back reclined into his throne casually, power effortlessly exuding from him. You leaned into his touch, his fingers grazing against your bottom lip. “Yes,” you replied, your voice quiet yet loud with arousal. His eyes left your lips to meet yours, and your heart fluttered at the intensity of his gaze. “But I have a much greater taste and hunger for you.”

His eyes deepened and they were like endless pools of obsidian looking up at you. You saw the way desire swam in them; it was the same desire that steadily grew between your legs, and the same desire that filled the throne room with a thickness that rested heavy on your body. Hongjoong’s fingers pressed into the seem of your lips. “Then feast on me until you have your fill.”

But you could never have enough. The moment you stepped foot in the Underworld your fate was sealed; the pomegranate seeds weren’t the only thing that bound you here. It was him, the god of the dead and king of the Underworld. It was him, the god that your mother despised. It was him, the forbidden fruit you were never supposed to taste.

Your lips wrapped around his fingers, tongue lapping at them as they plunged into your mouth. You hummed at the taste of his skin. The rings adorning his fingers were cold against your lips.

“And what if I told you that I hunger for you, too?” Hongjoong’s hand that had been under your dress reached further until his fingers met with your bare sex. You were soaked, and he was eager to plunge two of his fingers into your heat. He watched intently as your face contorted in pleasure, your eyelids fluttering shut as you reveled in the pleasure he offered you. You were warm and tight around his digits, your walls greedily enclosing around him.

Mewls and whimpers spilled from your lips, the sounds slightly muffled by Hongjoong’s fingers. You rocked against his hand in eager desire to chase the building high while your hands rested against his chest. You were happy to take as much as he was willing to give, and with the way he continued to plunge his fingers deep into your sex, it seemed as if his generosity knew no limits. It should’ve been alarming, the way he was able to weaken you so quickly, able to melt you down to a smoldering mess. His deft fingers were quick to reach the most sensitive spot; so effortlessly it was as if he’d been exploring your body for all of eternity. There was an eternity with him to look forward to, an eternity you’d gladly spend just like this, suspended on his lap while he filled you full of the most intoxicating euphoria.

“You’re so pretty like this,” Hongjoong whispered. His voice was reverent, and he worshipped you with his touch. “So pretty stuffed with my fingers.” Long gone was the innocent goddess he had first met in the gardens. You had been so beautiful then, sun kissed skin and bright, wide eyes. Flowers adorned your head and cascaded down the lengths of your hair, and the faintest blush painted your cheeks. His heart was your prisoner the moment you gazed up at him through fluttering lashes, and he was certain then that he would have you for all eternity. Now you were straddled across his lap as you fucked yourself on his fingers, your body soft and pliable from the euphoria, and your skin flushed from arousal. Your hair was a mess of curls and strands hung loosely over your face. And your lips glistened with drool while your eyes rolled backwards at every curl of his digits. You had never looked more divine than you did in this moment.

Your high took you by storm, and he was there to be your solid ground, guiding you through it with soft kisses and praises against your neck. His fingers fell from your mouth so he could wrap his arm around your waist, holding you steady against him. You shook as you fell from your high, fingers curling into his shirt as an attempt for you to ground yourself.

Hongjoong rested his forehead against yours, eyes watching you closely. He smiled fondly as you breathed, air escaping your mouth in heavy pants. “You look the most beautiful when you come undone for me.” He removed his fingers from your sex and brought them near his lips. You watched through hazy eyes as his tongue lapped at his slick fingers, and despite just coming off your previous high, your core reignited with new arousal. The god groaned as he tasted you. “You’re delectable. So fucking sweet. Makes me want to feast on you from the source.”

You moaned when he pulled you against him until you felt the hardness of his erection against your bare sex.

“But as much as I would love to do just that, I can’t deny my own need anymore.” Hongjoong guided your hips back and forth over his erection, and you both moaned at the friction. “I desire to take you. To fill you so full you’ll feel me for all eternity. Would you like that? Want me to fuck you, hm?”

You should have denied him, should have ran as far away from the god of the dead as possible. Your mother warned you to steer clear of him; but here you were, upon him and his throne and so deep within his grasp with no way of escape. The pomegranate seeds weren’t what bound you here. Your desire was. And you were perfectly content to remain within the Underworld if it meant an eternity with him. Your eyes were resolute as they looked into his, and with one word you sealed your fate. “Yes.”

Hongjoong brought your lips to his in a searing kiss. His hands were all over you just as yours sank down to palm his erection. This earned you a low groan from the god below, and the sound shot arousal directly to your core, and suddenly all you cared about was hearing that again. You stroked him over his trousers until you could feel the dampness of precum against your palm. You felt powerful with the king of the Underworld and the dead underneath you, groans of pleasure slipping from his mouth at your touch. “You could unravel me in every way, bring my entire kingdom to its knees with just your touch alone.”

He spoke those words with such conviction you were left with no room for doubt. Pride and arousal flooded your veins; you’d never felt more like a goddess than you did in this moment. You worked to free his cock, and he aided you in slipping his pants down to his knees. You took a moment to admire the beauty that stood erect between his thighs. He was godly in every way, his cock thick and glistening at the tip with precum. You wrapped your fingers around him, and he hissed at the contact immediately. Your thumb swiped across his tip, smearing his arousal all over the head of his cock. You were content to worship his cock despite your raging need, but the calling of your name broke your attention.

Hongjoong watched you closely, eyes darker than they had been before. He replaced your hand with his own and guided his cock to your entrance. “Sit. Sit on your throne, goddess.”

You sank onto him slowly, taking him in inch by inch. You groaned at the stretch, pussy aching in the best way as you accommodated his size. You relished in the foreign yet incredible feeling of being full. Your eyes found his just as his cock sheathed completely in your tight heat, and you could have unraveled there and then.

Hongjoong’s hands gripped your hips as he urged himself to remain still. You were so tight and warm and wet, it took everything in him not to buck his hips into you. In all the centuries he’d endured, he’d never found someone as perfect as you. “It’s like you were made for me, made to take my cock so perfectly. You’re absolutely divine.”

It wasn’t long before you couldn’t endure the stillness anymore. You tentatively rocked your hips against him, and the pleasure was immediate. You mewled, continuing the motion before fully lifting your hips upward until just his head remained within. You came back down, taking him fully again, and the both of you cursed aloud. “O-oh!”

Hongjoong readjusted his hold on you. “Feels good? Do that again. Fuck yourself with my cock.”

You did as he said, bouncing on his cock over and over, steadily increasing your pace. Your thighs soon began to burn, and your knees ached from being bent for so long. Your pace became sloppy as you grew tired, but you were desperate to keep going.

Suddenly your vision was spinning. Your ass met the throne’s cushion as Hongjoong flipped you underneath him, his body now hovering over you. He withdrew himself out of you and slammed himself back in, the force so strong it shook your frame. He repeated this over and over until you were clawing at his back. “I could never tire of having you like this. You’re so fucking perfect, and you’re all mine. Mine to have just like this, splayed out on my throne with your legs spread wide for me as I fuck you. My goddess, my queen.”

Goddess of spring, queen of the Underworld. Those were your titles now, but before you were either of those you were his. And you didn’t care what the aftermath of this would be.

Hongjoong’s hands tugged at your dress until your sleeves fell from your shoulders, revealing your breasts to him. He leaned forward to capture one of your nipples between his teeth, eliciting a whimper from you. You arched into him just as he used his hand to show affection to your other breast, palm kneading the soft flesh. He uttered soft praises against your skin while leaving marks all across your chest. His hips kept their pace, his cock hitting the sweet spot inside you and making stars appear in the corner of your vision.

“Hongjoong.” You spoke his name with both adoration and urgency as you began to spiral closer to your climax. Your fingers gripped at his back as you grew overwhelmed with the pleasure.

Wordlessly Hongjoong reached for your clit, pressing smooth circles into it as he kept his rhythm within you. He watched you as your high took over you, committing every moan, every expression of your face to memory. He was enraptured by your beauty and by the sight of your body as it shook underneath him. Within moments he found his own end, releasing himself inside you and enjoying the way you whimpered as you felt yourself be filled with him. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against yours.

Your breaths mingled as you both both lied there within the afterglow. Your hands traveled up his back and to his hair and you pulled at the strands until his lips met yours in a slow, languid kiss. You delighted yourself in the taste of him, his sweetness urging you to go back for more and more until your head was spinning. “You said I could feast on you until I had my fill.”

Hongjoong hummed against your lips. “Yes.”

You smirked. “And I am still hungry.”

❦ “Mother you don’t understand; I made Hades run to me. He saw my bones beneath, and offered me half his kingdom. Do you really think I ate the fruit unwillingly?” ❦

AUTHOR’S NOTE — this wasn’t exactly meant specifically for this event, but the timing of me finishing it and the event itself aligned so well i just had to post it now. hope you enjoy hades!hongjoong as much as i do <3

TAG LIST — @a1sh1teruu @abiaswreck @ateezourstars @bangtancultsposts @becauseiloveyunho @glitterhongjoong @couchpotatoaniki @ddemonseonghwa @fantasy2wonderland @hoohoohope @hwas-strawberries @hyuckilstan @jeongyunhoed @jess-1404 @jhluvr @justanotherkpopstanlol @kazumiisama @llsiriusminorisll @lovingyeosang @mrcarrots @mypreciouskhj @pieyoon @eternalmingki @siham21 @sirwaddlefuck @spiderrenjunfics @whatudowhennooneseesyou @woahitsguin @yunhostreasure @yunyunatz @yeritheloml @rdiamond2727 @cypher-net @rkivesofmymemories @moonseonghwa @drunk-on-hwa @hongthoven @8tinytings @thesafecafe @kawaiikels @changbinslovelylegs @minkysmilk @niyizh @mingiholic @friseealamode @kiwibaekie @stargalaxydragon @svintsandghosts

NETWORKS — @underworldnet @kflixnet

ALL FICS ARE THE ORIGINAL IDEAS AND WRITTEN WORKS OF NATEEZFICS. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. REPOSTING WITHOUT CONSENT FROM THE AUTHOR NATEEZFICS IS PROHIBITED!

#mhm 🙂‍↕️#this is a bop #hongjoong smut #ateez smut #hongjoong x reader #ateez x reader #hongjoong fanfiction #ateez fanfiction #ateez imagines #ateez scenarios #ateez reactions #hades! hongjoong #Persephone! reader #ateez au

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imalonelymaniac · 20 days ago

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love's an uncharted path ★ masterlist.

★ prev called: show & tell universe ★

An exploration of the eight distinct stories of friendship, love, and self-discovery that intertwine as each character faces the trials of entering adulthood and falling in and out of love.

warnings: smut, drinking and drugs, adult language and female presenting oc's (with breasts and vaginas), angst, tears and attempted comedy throughout all stories.

note: this masterlist is organized so that stories are in chronological order, although there's some context within them that range from their childhood, teen years and college years. in these stories, the guys are in their last years of college/entering their first job and tasting a bit of adulthood as they navigate through the motions and find love along the way.

MINGI'S STORY: SHOW AND TELL (bf2l).

summary: you have known mingi since you both were fourteen. you’ve been by his side through thick and thin and you would do anything for him, really, considering he’s your other half. when he has an unfortunate bed experience and asks for your help and you say yes, he starts considering that, maybe, you’re just the best friend a guy like him can have.

main story: part one (8k) & part two (11k).

extras: a very show & tell christmas (7k), tba.

WOOYOUNG'S PRELUDE: A CLOWN'S REMEDY TO HEAL A BROKEN HEART (halloween special, hookup2??).

summary: a drunk and kind of akward conversation inside of a closet is the start of Wooyoung's journey into healing his broken heart. only he doesn't really know the name of the scarlet witch that helped mend a heart that wasn't supposed to break anymore, even if she starts plaguing his thoughts and dreams after that.

posted here (11.9k).

SAN'S STORY: WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (f2s2l).

summary: san is your first love. he broke your heart and played with your feelings without even kissing you back when you two were in highschool. now, many years later, you do your best to avoid crossing paths with him because there's just no way you could ever hate him, but there's also no way you two can be friends again. but his best friend is also one of your best friends, so there's only so much you can do to avoid san when he arranges a dinner you're forced to go to.

main story: one shot (20k).

extras: tba.

SEONGHWA'S STORY: I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU (s2l, love at first sight).

summary: in an attempt to grasp at his youth, seonghwa buys a motorcycle despite not knowing the first thing about them. when it inevitably breaks down, he has no other option that to ride it to a mechanic shop and, after following a sweet hum, he’s faced with the life-changing (and predictable) fact that, maybe, what he needed after all was not a motorcycle. maybe, just maybe, what he needed was you.

main story: one shot (20k).

extras: tba.

YUNHO'S STORY: MOUNTEBANK CHEM (e2f2l, arranged pr relationship).

summary: the first time you met yunho, you knew he was going to be part of the biggest tragedy of your life: the loss of your freedom, of your free will. you didn't know why back then but what you did figure out is that you and jeong yunho were going to, eventually and very publicly, date each other at some point. is that reason enough to hate his guts? well, of course! now, when the time comes to fulfill the prophecy, how the hell are you going to pull it off? and, most importantly, what do you need to do to not fall in love with him in the process?

main story: part one (9.7k), part two (14.2k), part three (16.5k), part four (24.1k), epilogue (7.08k).

extras: tba.

YEOSANG'S STORY: THE RHYTHM OF OUR HEARTS (s2f2l, slow burn, two part). CURRENTLY WRITING!

summary: Yeosang, with his camcorder and his looks from afar, ignites your curiosity in a way that makes you act a little dumb and against your friend’s judgments. When you finally get tired of him not approaching you, you decide that the night is young and life’s too short to not find an answer to your questions. On a dirty rooftop, your newfound friendship with him might just be the most surprising outcome of the whole ordeal. Is it enough to make you stay, though?

main story: part one (17.5k), part two (tba).

extras: tba.

WHAT'S NEXT?

HONJOONG'S STORY: WIP.

JONGHO'S STORY: WIP.

WOOYOUNG'S STORY: WIP (extra: woo's prelude / posted!).

#guys this whole thing is wonderful #PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE #give this one a read #it like- perfectly encapsulates fluff and angst and all that feels #it's so beautiful PLEASEEE READ THIS #ateez x reader #ateez #ateez imagines #ateez smut #ateez fanfic #ateez fic

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imalonelymaniac · 20 days ago

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friends with benefits a roommate (p. sh)

★ summary: after hooking up with mingi, you wake up the next morning and share a coffee with his attractive roommate seonghwa. a one night stand suddenly turns into a recurring thing—is the sex with mingi really that great? or are the mornings after with the roommate even better? ★ pairing: seonghwa x f!reader (ft. mingi) ★ genre: fluff ★ word count: 3.2k ★ tags/warnings: consultant!seonghwa, grad student!reader, fem!reader, grad student/best friend!mingi, references to sex but no descriptions, references to drinking, corporate grind woes, intentionally lowercase ★ notes: beta'd by the bestie @starhwas-bunny. also this is my first time posting :') ★ masterlist

like most grad students, you like to work hard, play hard.

which is why you’re at the dingiest bar on campus with your cohort, drunk out of your mind and grinding against your friend mingi to some doja cat song. and once it ends, you tug on mingi’s arm to presumably get more drinks, but instead drag him to the hallway near the bathrooms and stand on your tiptoes to slot your lips over his.

(thankfully, he reciprocates.)

and so, stumbling and giggling, the two of you call an uber back to mingi’s place.

⋆⋆⋆

the first thing seonghwa notices about you are your legs.

after all, how could he not? when all that’s there to cover them is the frayed hem of mingi’s ratty old high school football shirt. and you’re not shy about it—the fact that you’re walking around the apartment in nothing but a shirt that barely reaches the tops of your thighs.

the second thing seonghwa notices about you are your eyes.

surprisingly big and round for so early in the morning, and the fact that they’re trained straight on him.

“‘morning,” he says casually.

“good morning!” you reply, seemingly cheered by his acknowledgement. you scamper to the barstools on the other side of the large kitchen island and plop down on one. “i’m y/n.”

seonghwa is a little surprised at the introduction. he’s used to mingi bringing home girls often after living with him all through college until now, but he’s not used to interacting with them beyond catching a flash of their hair as they make a hasty exit.

the name is also unique, yet familiar.

“oh,” seonghwa says. “mingi’s mentioned you before. you’re in his cohort, right?”

“yup,” you say, popping the p at the end. “we’re besties.”

seonghwa hums, and then realizes he hasn’t introduced himself. “i’m seonghwa. you want some coffee?”

“yes, please,” you say.

“an iced latte okay?”

“um—yeah…?”

seonghwa can hear the apprehension on your tongue. the unsaid question—can he make a latte?

it’s silent for a little while as seonghwa flits around the kitchen, fetching the bag of fresh guatemalan coffee beans he’d picked up only yesterday and meticulously grinding them down into a powder. he presses it in the portafilter and then locks that into place in the group head of his shiny chrome silver espresso machine. it’s a relatively new purchase—or investment, as he likes to call it.

mingi had been wary about the whole thing—understandably so, since buying an espresso machine on a grad student budget is frivolous to say the least—so seonghwa had paid for it. they’d reached a mutual agreement that while the machine belongs entirely to seonghwa, mingi can pay for the beans to earn his share of the coffee it produced.

regardless, the espresso machine is an immediate hit with you, who oohs and aahs as the machine whirs and espresso drips out into two small porcelain cups.

“so fancy,” you say dreamily.

smiling, seonghwa opens the fridge. “milk?”

“do you have oat?” you ask.

“of course,” seonghwa says, pulling out the carton.

with practiced hands, he pours the oat milk into a metal cup and then takes it over to the milk frother attachment. afterwards, he portions the frothed milk into two glasses filled with ice, before topping them off with the espresso shots. from a drawer, he retrieves two glass straws and then slides the finished drink over the counter to an awed you.

“it’s like a personal coffeeshop!” you squeal. “hold on, i have to take a picture!”

you dash back into mingi’s room, and for a second the spell is broken. seonghwa remembers that you’d come home last night with mingi—that you’d presumably had mind-blowing sex with mingi, that you slept over in mingi’s bed.

when you return to the kitchen, seonghwa has already swirled his drink together and sips on it a little impatiently. you beam as you take a photo of yours, before following his lead. when you take a sip, your eyes brighten and widen and suddenly, seonghwa is back into it.

back into you.

“omygod!” you say.

“nice, right?” seonghwa says.

“delicious,” you moan. “what beans did you use?”

“oh,” seonghwa says, unable to hide the surprise in his voice at your curiosity. “it’s a new guatemalan blend. i know a guy.” he hands the bag over to you so that you can read the description on the sticker.

you laugh. “‘i know a guy,’” you mimic. “are we talking about drugs?”

“might as well be,” seonghwa says. “i definitely have a caffeine addiction.”

“that’s okay,” you say. “so do i.” you say it conspiratorially, and seonghwa likes the theatrics.

he likes you.

seonghwa’s current project at work has him traveling to utah during the week, and while he loves mingi, coming back on the weekends to a dude just doesn’t really do anything for him. and seonghwa’s been so busy for the past two years—working 70 hours a week and commuting across the whole continent—that he’s never taken the time to consider that maybe there’s something missing.

something like—

sharing a coffee with a pretty girl on an early saturday morning.

something nice. domestic.

something that makes flying back to new york feel like coming home.

but seonghwa is shaken from his out-of-character introspection by sloppy footsteps coming from mingi’s bedroom. the man himself slogs into the kitchen, wearing only low-slung sweatpants and yawning like a heathen.

“no coffee for me?” he pouts at seonghwa.

“didn’t expect you up so early, sleeping beauty,” seonghwa says.

“fucking rude,” mingi grumbles. he turns to you, “you staying for breakfast?”

you peer suspiciously at him. “can you cook?”

“he can’t,” seonghwa says before mingi can reply. “but i can.”

the grin that you flash him is so breathtaking that he has to set his glass down.

“okay, then,” you say, clapping your hands. “i’ll stay!”

seonghwa hides his own grin by ducking into the fridge for the eggs.

over breakfast, seonghwa tells you about his glamorous (derogatory) life as a consultant, and you respond by enthusiastically explaining the research you do at the university. mingi interjects occasionally, but mostly he just scrolls through twitter on his phone.

seonghwa easily deduces that you’re close friends, but the vibe feels mostly platonic.

he wonders if last night was a one-off, or the beginning of something. if there’s any hidden unrequited feelings.

he’ll have to sus it out of mingi later, but for now, he’s content with discussing the ethical sourcing of coffee with you.

⋆⋆⋆

two weeks later, after another two grueling visits to utah, seonghwa wakes up to the scent of coffee.

it’s pleasant, and then jarring, because seonghwa knows that mingi doesn’t have the patience to use the espresso machine on his own (he drinks the instant stuff when seonghwa isn’t around). seonghwa leaps out of bed, all thoughts on his precious, pristine espresso machine child.

but the scene he finds in the kitchen is very much the opposite of a catastrophe.

first he sees the afterthought of a bun. hair tossed carelessly into a topknot that bounces as you move.

and then he sees the underwear—baby pink and lacy—and the perfect, round ass sticking out of the fridge.

“oh shit,” he croaks, before clapping a hand over his eyes and spinning around.

he’s rewarded with tinkling laughter that makes his ears burn red. he could get used to that sound, but maybe under different circumstances.

“good morning!” you call.

“um, morning.” seonghwa removes the hand and opens his eyes, but doesn’t turn around quite yet.

“sorry, i would put on some pants, but i wasn’t wearing any last night,” you says. “i’m decent now, though!”

true to your word, your bottom is as covered as it can get with that godforsaken high school football shirt. seonghwa really wishes mingi would get rid of it, but he knows that making varsity is still one of mingi’s proudest accomplishments.

“sorry about that.” seonghwa has to cough to get all the words out properly. his throat hasn’t quite woken up yet (the rest of his body, though, is thrumming with adrenaline, and his brain is working overtime figuring out the morality of saving that image of your ass).

“no worries,” you say breezily. “coffee?”

having the script flipped on him—someone else offering him coffee in his own goddamn apartment—is unsettling. even more unsettling is how similar the scene unfolding is to his brief daydream of domesticity the last time he encountered you.

“you, uh, know how to use the espresso machine?” he asks stupidly. he registers belatedly how his question might sound condescending, but you seem to take it all in stride.

“i was a barista for a bit in college,” you say.

“nice,” seonghwa says, just for something to say.

“i hope it’s okay that i used it,” you say. “i just really needed some caffeine after last night.”

at seonghwa’s questioning gaze, you explain, “we went way too hard.”

“any occasion?” seonghwa says, sliding dutifully onto a barstool when he realizes that you really do know what you’re doing. you have the oat milk out on the counter, the same glasses he used last time—pre-prepped with ice—and the new bag of orange-infused coffee beans.

you hum as you froth the milk. “made it past our first thesis deadline.”

“that’s exciting,” seonghwa says.

“barely,” you sigh. “we’re just waiting around to get our asses handed to us during critiques.”

“oh, well,” says seonghwa sympathetically. “i can relate. i routinely get my ass handed to me. some internal organs too.”

it’s not his best work, but it makes you laugh, so seonghwa considers that a win. it’s been a long time since he tried charming someone, and he’s more than a little out of practice.

but he can barely mull over it as his brain finally moves past its previous mental exercise (that image of your ass is burned in his memory forever now, intentionally or not) and finds a new problem to turn over: if you’re here, in the morning, wearing mingi’s shirt, then you must have stayed the night. and if you stayed the night, then you must have—

“here! hope it’s as good as yours,” you say, passing the latte over the island to seonghwa.

the moan that he lets out is involuntary, and it makes you beam.

“what do you think of the new beans?” seonghwa asks.

“mm, it’s nice,” you say. “sweet.”

in spite of the alarms firing in his head, seonghwa ventures a: “is there full-service breakfast with the coffee?”

“ooo,” you say, “taking advantage of me while i’m the one in the kitchen, i see.”

seonghwa instantly regrets it, as he says, “oh, i was just joking. i can make—”

“oh no, mister,” you say. “you sit your ass down. i’m about to blow your mind. this girlie can do much better than eggs and toast. now, where’s the flour?”

over the next twenty minutes, seonghwa watches in awe as you prance around the kitchen, unearthing ingredients and kitchenware that seonghwa barely even knew existed in the apartment. you tsk at the state of the stovetop, manage to reorganize their poor smattering of spices, and utilize takeout chopsticks expertly as a whisk.

and at the end, you present seonghwa with a plate of fluffy pancakes and perfectly soft-scrambled eggs.

when he takes a bite, he’s transported instantly back to his childhood. to picturesque mornings, eating homemade sunday brunch with his family to the lazy twittering of birds and under the warmth of a midmorning sun.

it tugs at his chest as he drenches his pancakes in potentially expired syrup from the back of their fridge, pours hot sauce over his eggs—

a nostalgia and a fondness that he thought he lost to the corporate grind.

“how is it?” you ask.

“marry me,” seonghwa says.

and despite being more serious than he’s ever been, you laugh at him.

“the patriarchy really popped out there for a second!” you say, digging into your own pancakes.

seonghwa opens his mouth to explain that he really did mean it, but as per usual, mingi decides that now is the perfect time to ruin everything with his presence. he’s at least wearing a shirt this time when he emerges from his lair, and you pop up to throw together a plate for him.

“thanks, mommy,” mingi sighs as he slides into a barstool.

“ew,” you wrinkle your nose.

“not what you were saying last night,” says mingi, with a disgusting amount of scrambled egg shoved into his mouth.

“don’t listen to him,” you say to seonghwa, but seonghwa has already turned his attention to scrolling through the news on his phone.

“kinky,” he throws out casually, not even bothering to look up.

breakfast goes like that this time—seonghwa as the one glued to his phone, while mingi and you gripe about having to regrade midterms because of a cheating scandal.

⋆⋆⋆

by the fifth time seonghwa encounters you in his kitchen on a saturday morning, you’ve fallen into a routine. seonghwa makes coffee, and you make breakfast; seonghwa makes sure to keep the fridge well-stocked as you begin making increasingly elaborate dishes, and you gift seonghwa a package of your favorite coffee blend.

you enjoy these stolen moments alone, bustling around the kitchen to the soft crackling of whatever record seonghwa chooses to play that morning. the two of you have the first few sips of coffee, first few bites of eggs, first few spoons of porridge alone, until the smell finally draws mingi out of his bed.

and then there’s three of you sitting around the dining table. it’s always pleasant, always comfortable, but it always feels like just one person too many.

sometimes it’s mingi, who is hungover or tired or grumpy; sometimes it’s you, who doesn’t like star wars or follow sports; and most of the time, it’s seonghwa, who doesn’t go to grad school, who spends most of the week, month, year in a different city—

who falls asleep alone at night.

seonghwa knows he could ask just mingi about it. are you just hooking up? is it a situationship? does mingi have feelings for you?

but he won’t, because somehow ignorance is bliss, and he’d rather live in limbo than risk a dive into hell. anyway, he’s not around enough for anything to flourish; he can barely keep the small succulent on his windowsill alive, least of all a real, adult relationship.

and eventually, you always have to leave.

⋆⋆⋆

seonghwa is exhausted.

his flight had been delayed three times, and it’s already almost midnight by the time he toes off his shoes in the entryway of the apartment. his watch buzzes furiously, and seonghwa knows that it must be either mingi or you, drunkenly asking where he is. a few days ago, he’d promised that he would finally go out with you two, but he’s far too tired for those frivolities now.

instead, he shoots mingi a brief but apologetic text and hops into the shower.

what he intended to be a quick wash turns into a long one, as he lets the warm water pelt him—he’s never gotten around to fixing the abnormally aggressive water pressure of the shower head. but it feels nice now. jolts some feeling back into his system.

when he steps out of the shower, he feels clean but oddly raw. he treats himself to his favorite set of silk pajamas and decides that he has just enough energy to do some of his animal crossing daily tasks.

before he can slip into bed with his switch, he hears a series of frantic knocks on the front door.

operating under the assumption that mingi probably forgot his keys at the bar or something, seonghwa doesn’t check the peephole and just unlocks the door. he doesn’t even bother opening it before turning back towards his room.

but the thing swings open so abruptly that it bangs against the wall.

“jesus!” seonghwa says. “be careful with that—!”

except it’s not a drunk mingi standing in the threshold, it’s—

“you!” you say, pointing an accusatory finger at him. “you didn’t text me back. why didn’t you come out tonight?”

you look different tonight.

you’re wearing real clothes, for one. jeans and a top that makes your tits look great (not that seonghwa is focusing on that).

your facial features look sharper, outlined and defined by makeup that’s usually washed away by morning. and you’re angry—eyes narrowed to near slits and hands on your hips.

seonghwa sighs. “i just got back. i was too tired to go out. i told mingi that i’m sorry.”

“well you didn’t tell me sorry!” you huff, stepping into the apartment and letting the door shut harshly.

“sorry,” seonghwa says.

you square each other up just then. the smaller but furious you against the bigger but drained seonghwa.

“what are you doing here?” seonghwa finally tries. “where’s mingi?”

“last i saw, he was making out with sarah kim on the dance floor,” you say.

“oh,” seonghwa says. this must be why you are so mad. “i’m sorry.”

for the first time tonight, your anger drops just slightly. “for what?”

hesitantly, seonghwa says, “aren’t you mad?”

“well, yeah,” you say. “but not at mingi.”

and then before seonghwa can ask who exactly you’re mad at, you smack yourself in the forehead.

“oh my god, what was that for—?”

“seonghwa—do you think mingi and i are together or something?”

“well, you two have been hooking up for at least two months now,” seonghwa says.

“fuck,” you mutter, and then you round on seonghwa. “i’ve been trying to hang out with you, and we were supposed to tonight, until you bailed.”

seonghwa is so preoccupied with defending himself, that he barely picks up on the subtext of your words. “i told you—i was fucking tired! my flight was delayed, like, three—”

“the only i reason i was hooking up with mingi was to hang out with you!” you wail.

the statement is so ridiculous that all seonghwa can do is stare at you in stunned silence.

“you- what—?”

“and for the record! we never even really hooked up!” you continue.

faintly, seonghwa wonders if he’s having a heart attack. with every word that comes out your mouth, seonghwa can feel his heart rate spike dramatically. but none of this adrenaline is making its way to his brain, so his processing power is still slow.

“what are you saying?” seonghwa croaks.

your expression softens, and you take a step closer.

“i like you,” you say. “i really like spending the mornings with you, and i’d like to spend nights with you, too. but only if you—”

“yes,” seonghwa says immediately. “yes.”

the edges of your eyes crinkle as your face splits into a large grin. “so, you like me, too?”

seonghwa replies by surging forward and finally, finally kissing you.

⋆⋆⋆

the next morning, seonghwa and you wake up early, but you don’t get up to make coffee or breakfast. you stay in bed for as long as you can, until you hear timid knocks on seonghwa’s door.

“guys? how do you work the espresso machine?”

#seonghwa #seonghwa x reader #park seonghwa #seonghwa fluff #seonghwa fic #ateez fic #ateez x reader #ateez imagines #really good guys🗣️‼️

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