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my-mixed-up-reposts · 10 hours ago

Text

we are one

Characters: Trey, Ruggie, Rook, Sebek

Synopsis: You shared a night of passion with your lover before you left for the other side of the mirror, but fate's cruel hands strike once again as you realise you have to raise his child alone in your original world. Thankfully, your child is incredibly drawn to magic, and they opened a portal...?

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions

Word count: 4.5k+

Notes: im sorry this took so long lol, but part 4 is finally here!!

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3✧Masterlist

A few months passed as you settled back into your routine at home. Eventually, with the noticeable changes in your body, it dawned on you that you were with child—his child, your lover from the other side of the mirror whom you could no longer reach.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turn into months. You had adapted to the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Juggling the responsibilities of work, childcare, and household chores was no easy feat, but you found solace in the small moments of your child's growth and development.

Your child was a true joy to behold, a mirror image of their father in many ways, and you often see the ghost of your past lover in them. Having inherited his magic, your child experimented with their powers, leaving you to support them with what limited knowledge of magic that remained from your NRC days.

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Shizuka (靜菓) with 静 meaning "quiet, still, calm" and 菓 meaning "confectionery, sweets, pastry"

your daughter had silky green hair the colour of fresh matcha and golden yellow eyes that were reminiscent of fresh honey

you named your daughter after her father's dislike of noise and his culinary abilities that never failed to amaze the whole of Heartslabyul

she's rather a quiet child, not very loud but too quiet either

she gets along with other kids perfectly fine, and she doesn't mind sharing or taking a step back at all, always choosing to go with the flow and not get worked up over small things

honestly she's really a mature kid

also just really good at being a peacekeeper and stopping other kids from getting into big fights

buut she does have a mischievous side and may tease her friends when she's in the mood to

at home, she's pretty obedient and will listen to you, but there are moments when she sneaks around

loves helping you with cooking, and her eyes sparkle when she's baking with you

she loves sweets and desserts, but thanks to your warnings about her dental health, she does stop herself from eating too much sugar

is slightly freaked out about cavities so don't you worry, she'll never need any reminding about brushing her teeth or late night snacks

when it comes to school, she doesn't put in too much effort, but you can tell she'd be excellent if she cared more about her grades

which is clearly shown when fixates on learning magic, always so focused that you'll have to call her twice before she snaps out of her trance

you can't blame her for giving it her all though, after all, you've never seen her more excited than when you told her how amazing a person her father is, calm and soothing like a gentle summer rain

once she puts her heart to it, there's really no stopping her

so on another normal evening, as you were cooking dinner while she was studying on the kitchen counter, you found yourself enveloped by a soft light

when you open your eyes, you find yourself standing outside a charming bakery, the fragrance of roses engulfing your senses

and peering through the bakery windows, was the man you had yearned for all these years

It was just a normal day of running the bakery for Trey. With the sun on the verge of setting, he began preparations for closing, when the soft chime of the bell announced a new customer's arrival. He turned around, catching sight of you. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the disbelief in your own.

Before words could be exchanged, Trey rushed past the counter. The warmth of his embrace enveloped you as he pulled you close. The years melted away, and the two of you were transported back to a time when you always had each other.

"Is this real?" he wondered aloud, your hearts pounding in sync.

You nodded into his shoulder, tears flowing freely down your cheeks. He pulled back slightly, brushing away your tears as his gaze softened, a warm smile gracing his lips.

"It's been a long time," he whispered. "I missed you so much."

he's just holding you tight, crying as he thanks the heavens for being so lucky to have you in his life again

trey returned to his hometown after graduation, helping out and eventually inheriting the family bakery

he loved incorporating your favourite foods into the store's selection, adding some new desserts from your world that you taught him, and always reminiscing on those tender moments when it was just the two of you in the kitchen

he always knew you had to go home eventually, but that didn't stop him from wishing you could be his life-long partner, supporting each other through thick and thin

so he's beyond grateful and excited to know you and his daughter(?!) shared the feelings even though you were apart

he's rather surprised about said daughter, but there would be no denying how similar they looked

shizuka is a bit nervous, tugging your skirt as she stares curiously at her supposed father

but Trey very quickly makes her feel at home, his warm smiles and even warmer hugs melting away all her nervousness!

he closes the bakery for a few days to help the two of you settle down a bit

this involves reunions with friends and of course, the clover family, who welcome you and their granddaughter with open arms

the clovers are just really really glad their son finally has someone in his life and that he seems a lot more energised now

Shizuka is very quickly introduced to uncle riddle!! who is very surprised but delighted by the behaving little girl who seems to stick to him a lot

uncle deuce and ace also get along with her wonderfully!! especially when Shizuka wants to play around with riddle for a bit hahaha

don't forget uncle cater who flies instantly to meet his new adorable niece and show her off on magicam!!

the three of you settle into a nice rhythm and you help out trey at the bakery now

Trey is very very affectionate with you always, pecking you on the cheek or nuzzling into your neck any chance he can get

Shizuka loves helping out whenever she can too!! she loves learning from her papa and sometimes will just spend hours watching him work

all in all, a blissful, simple family that Trey had always dreamed of, but never would he have believed he was so blessed to have the two of you come back to him

Trey gazed at the young girl, her silky green hair catching the light in a way that seemed surreal. With a heart full of emotions, he approached her hesitantly, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Shizuka, was it?" he spoke softly, the name lingering on his lips like a prayer. "It's so nice to meet you."

Shizuka's gaze flickered from Trey to you, seeking reassurance. With a gentle nod from you, she turned her attention back to him, her eyes studying him intently.

Trey knelt to her level, his heart racing. "I know this might be a lot to take in, but I'm your father."

She took a small step forward, cautious but curious. Trey extended his hand tentatively, offering a warm smile. Without a word, Shizuka reached out, placing her small hand in his.

A soft smile graced her lips, mirroring the warmth reflected in Trey's eyes. With a tentative but genuine embrace, Trey enveloped his daughter in his arms, tears cascading down his cheeks. Shizuka, feeling the sincerity in his embrace, wrapped her arms around him as well, a sense of belonging beginning to bloom within her.

Kenji (賢至) with 賢 meaning "intelligence, wisdom, cleverness" and 至 meaning "to arrive at, to reach, to come to"

your son had the softest hair the colour of wheat, and blue eyes that reminded you of cloudy skies

you named your son after how clever his father was, and his endless determination to reach his goals

he's a really sweet kid, always eager to help around and even others when he notices they're in need

you've heard about the many experiences his father had when he grew up, so you've tried your hardest to make sure Kenji wouldn't have to go through them, knowing it's what your hyena would've wanted

but even then, he's never complained about not having enough, there's a subtle wisdom to him that really mirrors his father

though he differs from him in that he's always willing to share, because he knows not everyone can be so lucky

he may not be too good at haggling prices, but his puppy dog eyes work just as well!

he loves doing chores with you, always smiling and laughing that familiar laugh as he helps you sweep the floor while he tells you about his day

he loves cuddles and kisses!!! his favourite part of the day is climbing into your warm bed to wrap his arms around you, asking you for a goodnight kiss and sometimes even bedtime stories

his ears and tails are a bit of a problem, so you keep his hair a bit long to hide the ears, or just say they're fun accessories

you've told him how his father's determination to support his family and community shined through even in unfortunate circumstances, the resourceful and intelligent man he became and you fell in love with

his blue-grey eyes almost resembled a clear sky when he listened to you, asking you more and more questions about this amazing person

he'll try learning more to be like him, but his kind nature stops him from being too schemey

he's not exactly academic weapon material, but he's pretty quick at absorbing information and putting it into practice

and with lots of determination and practice, he somehow manages to manifest the very thing the two of you wanted, and before your eyes was the man who never failed to make you laugh with him

As Ruggie's eyes adjusted, your figure slowly came into focus, revealing the very person who took his heart with them. "Prefect...?" He whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

His usually carefree expression shifted to one of disbelief, and then a bittersweet smile spread across his face as the tears welled up in his eyes. Without a second thought, he rushed towards you, sweeping you into a tight embrace.

"You're here... You're really here, right?" Ruggie mumbled, his voice choked with emotion.

You nodded furiously, comfort washing over you at his touch. "Yes, Ruggie, it's real. I'm really here."

His hand reached up to thread his fingers through your hair, cupping the back of your head. "I'm so glad... So, so glad..."

he's holding onto you as tightly as he can, so afraid that you'd disappear into the light if he let you loose for even a bit

after graduation, Ruggie followed leona to become his official attendant, what with him knowing how leona likes to get things done, and his ability to pick up etiquette cues

he's also a great information gatherer, so he's perfectly able to assist leona with his foreign affairs

it's leona's voice that finally breaks the two of you out of your trance, him rushing over to investigate that weird light

the two of you pull back and you almost wouldn't notice it, but leona's smile has softened a bit from the image you had in your memory

Ruggie never expected himself to be a father, and things are going a bit faster than he'd like, but there's no denying he's absolutely grateful to have you and your kid at his side

almost immediately the next day, he takes you back to his hometown so you and Kenji can meet grandma and the neighbourhood

grandma bucchi welcomes the two of you so warmly, she even gets a little teary eyed when she sees Kenji, with him looking so similar to the very hyena she raised

leona and Ruggie delegate a room for you in the side palace, where they also live, so you'll be able to see familiar faces often

Kenji loves following his father around, picking up his mannerisms and wanting to learn more about being more schemey

Ruggie's a bit conflicted his angel of a son wants to learn his ways but even he can't deny those puppy dog eyes

uncle leona and guard jack also love spending time with him! though one of them pretends it's annoying

leona shows him magic tricks and jack will teach him how to fight! he'll be getting great lessons all around

Kenji is very eager to learn more and explore this world, so sometimes you'll have to hold him back a bit just in case he gets hurt

but you suppose with the splendid man his father is, you don't have to worry too much

Ruggie's schedule can be a bit hectic and he pulls a lot of late nights, but he always tries to make time for his family

they're the most precious thing to him in the entire world, did you think he'd let them go that easily?

"Dad!" Kenji exclaimed, darting over to grasp at the fabric of Ruggie's pants. "You're my dad, right?"

Ruggie blinked in disbelief, shifting his gaze towards you. "Is... Is he?" he asked, hope saturating his voice.

You affirmed with a nod, and Ruggie redirected his attention to Kenji. "Yeah... I'm your dad..."

Instantly, Kenji wrapped his arms around Ruggie's legs. "Yay! I've always wanted to meet you, Dad!"

Ruggie couldn't help but marvel in awe at the bundle of joy now clinging to his legs, realizing that this spirited kid was the product of your love.

Ayaka (斐佳) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 華 meaning "flower, splendour, brilliance"　

Ayato (斐斗) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 杜 meaning "forest, grove, woods"

maybe a part of you should have expected it, with how unpredictable your beloved hunter always has been, but you ended up having to raise twins

the two had luscious golden locks that rivalled sunlight and sharp green eyes akin to the forests in the summer

you named the two of them after their father's love for all things beauty and his love for forests and nature

the two are well-behaved children, though they can be surprisingly sneaky and mischievous

Ayaka is more outgoing and is always fascinated by the pretty things in her vicinity

while Ayato is more introverted and quiet, often silently following his younger sister and nodding along to her ramblings

he definitely appreciates beauty, but he's less vocal about it

and whereas Ayaka is more fascinated by gems and cute plushies, Ayato is more interested in nature, finding beauty in the moss, the trees and the insects

the siblings are just really really curious about the world and they love observing the little details, from catching beetles to keep as pets, to planting flowers they found on a hike

they really do reflect your hunter's wide range of appreciation

the twins love sticking to each other and they're rarely arguing

though they do fight a bit over who helped you more with chores or who you love more

they're very helpful and efficient, and though they may complain about not wanting to work because the other twin is lazing, they'll still get the job done

they love watching tv shows and dramas, often acting out scenes in the shows or in fairytales

and oh the way their eyes sparkled when you told the fascinating man their father was, a man who could control his own heartbeat, keep track of time so accurately, and with such incredible eyesight, who devoted himself to spreading joy and beauty

almost immediately they doubled their efforts in studying, wanting desperately to meet the man to learn his ways and see for themselves just how interesting he is

and just like that, the dazzling light gradually subsided, unveiling a world that you thought only existed in your dreams

you remember the villa, it's where he took you on vacation for the first, and supposedly last time

You hesitantly knocked on the weathered wooden door of the villa, the echoes of your anticipation mingling with the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. As the door creaked open, memories flooded back to the first time you entered this place with the man who had captured your heart.

Rook's usual stoic expression shifted, replaced by a mix of surprise and unspoken emotions. "Mon amour... You're really here," he murmured, his voice a tender whisper that hung in the air. Without uttering a single word, he enfolded you in an embrace, as though afraid you might slip away like a fleeting dream.

"I missed you so much," you whispered back the tears flowing freely now that you've felt as you savour the warmth of his touch and the comforting scent of his cologne.

He pulled back, soft brushes of his fingers wiping your tears, his eyes lingering on your face as if trying to capture the essence of the time that had passed. "I missed you too, so dearly..." he admitted as tears threatened to spill from his eyes, a rare vulnerability in his gaze.

this was the most emotion you'd seen from him, even when you said goodbye he kept a smile on his face

he's holding you so delicately, as if you were going to fade away if he applied just a bit more pressure

he's surprised by the children, but he instantly warms up to the idea!

he's remained a pursuer of beauty even after graduation, sponsoring artists while he makes a living through hunting and his film critique

he was taking a break in the family villa for old times sake, but it's almost as if the universe planned it all along

he's very affectionate with you, even more so than before, which you didn't even know was possible

always a warm hand on your waist, an occasional peck on your cheek, and every once in a while he'll feel the urge to pull you in for a hug

he tries to do everything for you so you don't even have to lift a finger, breakfast in bed, waking the children, even cooking and cleaning

he loves spending time with the twins!! teaching the two of them how to hunt and explore the forest safely

he'll show them pretty plants, and interesting fungi, all while explaining what properties they might have and whether or not they're poisonous

the twins are so fascinated by everything, their excitement and energy are seemingly endless

and who's a father to deny his children? he spoils them rotten

he also loves showing the kids a certain idol he's supported...

as well as films of vil!! occasionally talking over the movie to express how perfect a scene is or how flawless his acting is

and when the twins get to meet the vil schoenheit, they're beyond thrilled

asking questions, throwing compliments, all directed towards vil, but they're quiet the moment he tells them to shush

uncle vil loves talking to his niece and nephew, but only when they're... calm

uncle epel also loves popping by and giving the twins some apples so they'll get proper nutrition!

really, you'll have to step in to prevent your kids from being spoiled rotten

but you'll indulge Rook for a while, he's just blissfully happy with his family after all

"Are these...?" he began, his voice trailing off as he looked at the children with a mix of awe and wonder.

"Ours," you answered, a gentle smile gracing your lips as you delicately wiped away the tears that had welled up in your eyes. "Meet Ayato and Ayaka."

The hunter knelt down to their eye level, his usual face softening into a loving. "Ayato, Ayaka," he said, his voice gentle, "It's so nice to meet you. I'm your father."

The children exchanged glances before Ayaka stepped forward. "Hello father!" she exclaimed, throwing her tiny arms around him.

Ayato, the quieter one, followed suit with a nod, a shy smile on his face.

The hunter embraced them both, a warmth in his eyes that spoke volumes. "Such angels... Mon amour what a blessing you've granted me...," he sighed as he held them close.

Atsuki (惇貴) with 惇 meaning "sincerity, loyalty" and 貴 meaning "precious, valuable, honourable"　

your son had curly hair with the softest shade of light green, and piercing golden eyes with slits that reminded you of reptiles

you named your son after the chivalrous values his father had devoted his life to

he's a rather loud and excitable child, always forgetting to control his volume when he gets too emotional

doesn't really get along with other kids, but it doesn't affect him much, he's just happy to have his mama with him

if he's done something wrong, you don't even need to yell at him really, most of the time he's already holding back tears at the thought of disappointing you

very into sports and is also really good at several sports, he's earned a couple of medals and trophies already

he's not the best at magic, and you're also not too sure how his dark fae blood affects that, but he's still pretty good at making progress

he really is just a good kid who tries hard at everything and tries to make the right decisions, but he's quick to get disappointed when things don't go his way, and suddenly you're faced with a very familiar and endearing puppy dog face

so a lot of times, you'll just have to pull him in a hug, and remind him things almost never go the way we plan, and it's okay to accept defeat and learn from it

but there's nothing he's more motivated about than learning more about his dad, who in his mind, is an honourable, talented knight straight from the fairytales who devotes his life to protecting the people important to him

so much so, that you'll find him swinging around the toy sword you got him for training

he'll also start putting even more effort into learning magic, wanting to connect to his amazing papa in a way

and then on one night, you're not sure what triggered it, but he's incredibly emotional and crying about how he can't help you and you're always taking care of him and he just wants to have his dad in his life and it's all so unfair why his mama is alone and-

he starts emitting bright light, so bright you can't keep your eyes open, but you reach to hold him in your arms

when you no longer feel the bright light, you tentatively open your eyes, only to find yourself standing in the dark, spacious throne room of Briar Valley

and standing there, right next to the throne, was your knight in shining armour

Standing next to the grand throne, was your knight in shining armour, Sebek. He, along with Silver, stood in positions of defence, but the moment his eyes met yours, the mask of composure crumbled, and he rushed toward you with an urgency that mirrored the longing that had lingered in his heart during your separation.

He enveloped you in a fierce embrace, his arms securing you but also gentle to not hurt you with his armour.

"I thought... I thought I lost you," Sebek's voice was a shaky whisper against your ear, his grip on you tightening as if trying to confirm that you were indeed real.

"I'm here, Sebek. I found my way back," you reassured him, feeling the softness of his hair against your cheek.

"I never thought I'd see you again," he admitted, his words a whispered admission of the fears he had harboured, pressing his forehead gently to yours.

he's a mess the instant he sees you, and he melts completely when you're finally in his arms

malleus and silver are also immensely happy that you're back, calling lilia to join the family reunion

Sebek's pretty overwhelmed with your presence on its own, so silver and lilia have given him a gentle push to actually function and introduce himself to Atsuki

he's grown to be less awkward with his affection, and particularly with how long you've been away, he doesn't hold back too much

his hands are always inching closer to touch you, his forehead resting on your shoulder every once in a while, it's all really endearing

but his parenting style is a bit awkward

Atsuki really admires him, but that also makes him ever so slightly afraid of him

meanwhile, Sebek is nervous because he doesn't want to do anything that ruins the image of a perfect knight for his son

so they're a bit awkward, but with you as the middle person they can get along pretty well!

they bond over training, with Sebek teaching him sword fighting (with you reminding him not to push him too hard)

Atsuki also really enjoys sparing with uncle silver, who always lets him him, but Atsuki just wants him to fight for real, so it's just silver being "this is real??"

uncle malleus taking him out for gargoyle studies (Sebek is jealous lmao)

and of course, uncle lilia who cooks extremely nutritious meals that always end with Atsuki puppy dog eying you to save him

sebek's family is also very very happy to have you two!!

grandpa baul grumbles around a lot, but he keeps note of Atsuki's favourite foods to prepare them when he visits

also comments on his sword fighting and stance when he feels like it

mom and dad also adore you guys!! mrs. zigvolt loves giving you gifts and talking about sebek when he was younger haha

all in all, sebek's so incredibly grateful you could come back to him, and though he's still awkward with his affection sometimes, he'll never stop trying his best to love the both of you

Atsuki's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his father, the mythical figure he had only heard tales of until now.

Sebek's gaze shifted from you to Atsuki, and his breath caught. His eyes softened as he knelt down to be at eye level with the child who was undeniably his son. "Hello," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of joy and uncertainty. "I... I'm your father."

Atsuki's eyes flickered with a mixture of awe and excitement. "Papa?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sebek nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to gently cup Atsuki's face. "Yes, little one. I'm your papa."

The room seemed to hold its breath as father and son locked eyes for the first time. Atsuki, still processing the enormity of the moment, broke into a wide, joyful smile. "Papa!" he exclaimed, launching himself into Sebek's arms.

Sebek, overwhelmed with emotion, held Atsuki close, a mix of laughter and tears escaping him. "I've missed so much, haven't I?" he murmured, his heart swelling with love for the son he never imagined to exist.

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3 ✧Masterlist

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 10 hours ago

Text

never too late

Characters: Jade, Kalim, Idia, Malleus

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions, bot proofread

Word count: 4.1k+

Notes: same as the last two, all the name ideas are in japanese. if it makes you uncomfortable, you can imagine that reader is japanese

also wow classical music makes me so inspired i wrote so much

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 4✧Masterlist

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Miharu (翠晴) with 翠 meaning "green, emerald, jade" and 晴 meaning "clear, fine, serene"

your daughter has straight teal hair and slightly angular eyes that are a complete replica of her father's

the name you chose for her has a strong connection to jade, also representing the peacefulness you found in Jade's presence

she's a quiet child who always has this calm smile on her face

she's loves being independent and hates asking other people for help

there are some times when you have to hold her and tell her "hey, you can rely more on your mother you know?"

she doesn't look like she wants physical affection, but when she's accomplished something, you'll notice her staring at you in anticipation

when you reach your hand over to pat her head for a job well done, she smiles so contentedly and just melts at your affection

loves playing around with plants and fungi, and thankfully she's quite good at managing them, so sometimes you can save money on groceries

loves swimming in the ocean, but much prefers clinging onto you in the water

will turn to her eel form if in bodies of water for too long, so you're careful about what times or places have fewer people

incredibly intelligent and good at quick thinking, always curious to learn more about fungi, magic, etc.

seemingly calm when you told her about her intelligent and sly father, but soon after learning about him, she'll ask questions about him a lot and start practising magic more

and when she finally accomplishes teleporting you two to him, you're in a pantry that smells of fresh tea leaves, and he's looking as elegant and charming as ever as he pours water into the teapot, his hair is sleeked back and the grace exudes just puts you in a trance

Jade's eyes widen as he beheld a sight that only seemed possible in his wildest dreams. There, standing before him, was the person he had loved so deeply and had thought lost forever.

"My love... is it really you?" Jade whispers, his voice quivering with a mix of disbelief and hope. His heart thuds in his chest, the sound reverberating through his entire being.

Tears glisten in the corners of his eyes as he closes the distance between you, his steps quickening with a sense of urgency. He envelops you in a tight embrace, his arms holding you firmly, afraid you might disappear once more. "Oh my pearl, how I longed to turn back time and not have let you go, to have kept you here with me," he whispers hoarsely, his voice trembling with a mixture of joy and sadness.

Jade is showing more emotion than you've ever seen and you're both crying and holding each other tightly

eventually, floyd barges in to tell Jade azul's complaint about how long he's taken to make the long-forgotten tea

when floyd sees you, he immediately tries to come over and squeeze you

but Jade is having his moment so he lifts you and keeps you away from floyd's grasp

pouting, instead floyd diverts his attention to Miharu, who's just curiously staring at him

eventually eventually azul shows up to see why everyone has disappeared and he's incredibly surprised to see you two

he complains that Jade will be busy for a while then, but you can see his eyes are teary and there's a soft smile on his face

for quite some time, Jade is incredibly alert when it comes to you, always paying attention to your needs, your feelings, and if you get up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break, he wakes up with you and waits outside the door until he can hold you again, and then he'll carry you back to bed

he didn't realise how important you had meant to him until you were gone, how lost and empty he felt, so best beware, he's never letting you go again

oh he's so cute with Miharu!!! building terrariums together and comparing notes and cooking mushroom meals together

father-daughter swimming sessions!!! sometimes floyd and azul join

definitely pranks azul as a trio, but azul can't get mad at her hahaha

you can tell Miharu is so enthusiastic about spending time with uncle floyd

Jade cries crocodile tears that his dearest daughter prefers his brother over him

and Miharu just tells him "well you belong to mommy, so i'll have uncle floyd"

the twin eels can't say they're unhappy with that arrangement, now can they

and don't forget mama and papa leech! they love spoiling Miharu with trinkets and treasures they find!

Jade's smiling genuinely more than ever, and you can't believe how lucky you are to have both him and Miharu in your arms

You direct your eyes towards Miharu, and his gaze follows yours, a tender smile tugging at the corners of Jade's lips. "And this... is she our child?" he asked, his voice filled with awe. He crouched down, his hands gently cupping her face, his fingertips tracing the familiar features.

"I'm so sorry," Jade confessed, his voice filled with raw emotion. "I've been such a terrible father, I've missed out on so much of your life,"

Miharu's hand instinctively rises to meet his, her small palm finding solace against his cheek. A gentle reassurance emanates from her touch, and her voice, soft yet resolute, pierces through his self-doubt. "It's okay, daddy," she murmurs. "It's not your fault.

Without hesitation, he pulls her into a warm and encompassing embrace, enfolding her in his arms as if shielding her from the world. "Oh, my darling, you are such an angel," Jade whispers against her ear.

Hidaka (陽夏) with 陽 meaning "sun, sunlight, positive" and 夏 meaning "summer"

your son has spiky white hair, glowing tan skin, and ruby-like eyes that often sparkle with joy

you named your son after his father's sunny disposition, and the warmth in scarabia that you look back on fondly in your memories with him

hoo boy you got yourself a piece of bouncing sunshine

he's so bright and happy and warm and there's always a wide smile on his face that makes anyone who sees it feel re-energised

will often do things on impulse out of pure curiosity, but if you tell him off he's immediately apologising and hoping you're not mad at him

snuggles so much!! the first thing he does when he sees you is run up and jump into your arms

he's always willing to share what he has with others, and is friendly with everyone

though he has a big appetite, he's not picky about food and will happily eat anything you give him

he's not the smartest and is rather oblivious much like his father, but he makes up for it with how passionate and motivated he can be

but when he's determined, he can be surprisingly smart

when he heard about the kind and brave man his father was, he was visibly shaking in excitement, firing question after question

and before long, his determination to reunite his family brought the two of you into a dim room lit by a single nightside lantern

Kalim sat at the bed clutching a turban you had gifted him, his face has matured and lost most of its baby fat

Kalim's lips are parted, his breath catching in his throat as he sits there, rooted to the spot. "This... this can't be real," he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper, as he takes a tentative step forward, his heart pounding loudly.

His feet move as if guided by unseen forces. His eyes fixate on your face, searching for any sign that this is not a figment of his imagination. A fragile smile begins to form on his lips, the corners of his mouth quivering with a mix of disbelief and joy.

His steps quicken, echoing through the room, each one carrying him closer to the person he thought he had lost forever. And then, in a burst of exhilaration, he is by your side, his arms encircling you with a strength born from the depths of his soul.

"It's you," Kalim gasps, his voice filled with raw emotion. His grip tightens, his embrace both gentle and fervent as he twirls you around in the air, a whirlwind of emotions propelling him forward. Laughter escapes his lips, an expression of pure elation and gratitude. "Thank the heavens you're back! I never thought I'd see you again!"

oh he's crying waterfalls nonstop, you and Hidaka try to comfort him and wipe his tears but he only cries harder at your touch

at this point, jamil bursts into the room,

alert and thoroughly confused why Kalim is crying in the middle of the night

though when he sees you, his expression visibly softens and after asking a few questions to confirm your identity, he genuinely welcomes you back

his reaction to Hidaka is "oh no another one" but with the way he lifts him into the air and the teasing smile on his face you can tell he's not completely serious

after graduation, Kalim worked hard to inherit the Asim family business and has grown to become a successful businessman who cares for his workers and people

jamil willingly offers to take over Kalim's role for a while so that he can spend time catching up with you two, and it's clear from their exchange their relationship has improved a lot

Kalim, despite having seemingly matured, clings onto you like a child and you feel things haven't changed much at all

as the heir, he has been pressured to get married, but it didn't feel right for him when he still longed for you

so he's incredibly glad you can now permanently be the person who stays by his side, showing his affection by showering you with gifts and snuggling with you any chance he gets

he's great with Hidaka too! they're both super energetic and curious though, so occasionally jamil or you have to step in and be the reasonable person

so many impromptu trips on the magic carpet with the three of you just exploring places and going wherever you want!

he's also very very cautious about your security, all of a sudden he has a wife and a healthy heir, so undoubtedly there are some eyes turned to you

but Kalim has grown stronger and wiser to be able to protect what he cherishes, so he's not letting any harm come your way

Kalim gently pulls back, his eyes flickering between you and the little boy who bore an undeniable resemblance to him. "You've brought us such an incredible gift," he whispers, his voice tinged with awe. "A child, our child. I can't believe it..." His voice trails off, trailing into a breathless hush as he tries to comprehend everything.

Bending down gracefully, Kalim positions himself at eye level with Hidaka. "Hello there, little one," he murmurs, his words floating on a cloud of softness. "I'm Kalim, your...dad." The weight of the word lingers on his tongue.

Hidaka's face lights up like a radiant sun, a beacon of pure joy. Without hesitation, he lunges forward, embracing Kalim in a tight hug. Laughter bubbles up from within him, filling the air with a melodic symphony. "My daddy!" he exclaims, his voice a chorus of excitement. "I've always wanted to meet you!"

Kalim's tears fall freely once again as he wraps his arms around Hidaka, holding him close.

Honoka (火華) with 火 meaning "fire" and 華 meaning "flower, splendour, brilliance"

your daughter had bright yellow eyes that seemed to shine in the dark, and seemingly normal curly blue hair, until it would act in a similar way to Idia's hair when she became emotional

you named your daughter after her father's fiery hair, his inner brilliance and potential, and of course, the idea of a flower blooming in the underworld (Persephone vibes hehe)

she's the child who's quiet and introverted on the outside, but has so much to say when she's alone with you

most of the time she's generally soft-spoken, mumbling and acting shy with strangers

but oh wait? there's a pop-up arcade of her favourite show??? gremlin child activated

ridiculously good at games, even if she just learnt the rules, it's very like she'll end up being the winner

you used to spend a lot of time styling her hair, but there were too many instances where soon after finishing styling, her emotions became too unstable and her hair turned into flames

still braidable, just not explainable to strangers

she's kinda like a cat in the sense that she'll act like she doesn't care or not want your touch, but when you pat her head or brush her hair, she just sits still and beams at your affection

definitely clings onto you when there are too many strangers and she's scared

ridiculously smart and good at math and technology, and she had no issues learning magical theory from you

when you told her about the brilliant but shy man her father was, she was dying to meet him when he sounded so similar to her

and after running some tests and calculations, she connected her magic to Idia and the next moment you know, you were in the Styx science lab, with Idia, his hair tied up, his eyebags worse than ever, standing right in front of you

Idia's heart skips a beat as he catches sight of your figure emerging from the radiant light, a surreal moment that defies all expectations. "OMG, it actually worked..." he exclaims, dropping his tablet to the floor, forgotten in his rush towards you.

With each stride, the weight of years apart seems to evaporate, replaced by a resplendent glimmer of hope that grows brighter with every passing moment. His palms grow clammy, but undeterred, he continues his determined approach, craving the warmth of your presence.

He finds himself standing in front of you, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The room seems to shrink, narrowing down to just the three of them, the air heavy with anticipation.

Idia's voice quivers, his words delicate as they tremble in the air, like a fragile melody woven with threads of longing and regret. "I...I can't believe it's really you. I've missed you so damn much." His voice cracks with emotion, his vulnerability laid bare as he reached out to hold you.

Idia's crying and Ortho's right next time him congratulating his success, though there's a loving and emotional tone to his robotic voice

he's holding you so tightly and crying and he just melts into your arms and warmth

soon after graduation, Idia began working more and more at styx to inherit the family business

but a side project of his for the longest time was opening a portal where you could go back and forth between two worlds

and miraculously, his system connected with Honoka's magic and you were back!

idia's incredibly nervous and surprised he has a daughter, and he has a mild panic attack before he's a bit more calmed down with your and Ortho's help

but once things have settled down a bit, you'll start living comfortably with your family in styx

though idia may be busy at times, he always has ortho with you or some cameras near you so you won't suddenly disappear on him

you're basically irreversibly a part of the shroud family now, and in his mind, you really didn't get to choose

his anxiety about you leaving keeps him up at night, but when he wakes up from nightmares and you're the first thing he sees, he slowly calms down and curls his body into you to feel more of your warmth

gaming sessions with Honoka!! he introduces all sorts of his favourite games to her, though you make sure they're not too violent and inappropriate knowing him, and they bond over playing and introducing games to each other

family game nights with you four playing basically Mario party or co-op games!!

and though Idia's still working on breaking the family curse, even more motivated now because he doesn't want it affecting Honoka, he's so grateful fate has finally given him this happiness, to be able to live together as a family with his most cherished people

Trembling with a mix of excitement and trepidation, Idia knelt down to meet Honoka at eye level, his voice filled with a gentle warmth. "Hey there, kiddo. It's... it's really nice to finally meet you." His words carried a hint of awe, as if he couldn't quite believe that this precious little being was a part of him.

Honoka's eyes sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and recognition, her small hand reaching out to touch his hair. She uttered her first words, a tender melody that danced in the air. "You have the same hair as me... Daddy?" she asked curiously.

Tears welled up in Idia's eyes as he comprehended her words, a tender smile graced his lips. His voice choked with love and gratitude. "Yeah kid, I'm your daddy." He pulls her into a hug, "Let's play lots of games together, yeah?"

Keitarou (蛍太郎) with 火 meaning "firefly" and 華 meaning "eldest son"

your son has black hair that fades at the tips to a blue reminiscent of the sky right before sunrise, and shimmering emerald eyes with a reptile-like slit in them

you named your son after the night you first met his father who manifested as fireflies, and a reference to the nickname you chose to call him

your son is very polite to strangers, but he struggles with getting along with his peers

he'd love to make friends, but his aura comes off as overwhelming to other people, so unfortunately he does feel a bit lonely

but he loves it when he's at home with you, when you shower all of your affection onto him and he feels so loved and cherished

he loves his mama so much he always wants to help you with chores and whatnot, but unfortunately he can be rather clumsy and oblivious which leads to more problems being made

but in those situations, you always show him the correct way of doing things, while also reassuring him it's okay he made mistakes, what's important is learning from them

super clingy and cuddly! sometimes he becomes territorial and his dragon tail appears and curls itself around your limbs

you have masterfully disguised his budding horns by wrapping his hair around them, explaining to others than he liked this Halloween costume so much he wanted it done everyday

being half fae, he's incredibly talented at magic and it really does come as second nature to him

when you told him about his charming yet fearsome father, he was really curious about this figure, but also a part of him wondered why his wonderful mama would choose someone like him?

well, mama seems to miss him a lot, and Keitarou loves nothing more than seeing you happy, and all of a sudden, you're standing in the throne room or the dark gothic castle, and right across the room was the King of Briar Valley, his expression stone cold and cautious until he met you eyes

Silver and Sebek, positioned in a defensive stance, braced themselves for whatever entity would emerge from the swirling portal. As the portal dissipated, revealing the figure within, Malleus gasped, his breath catching in his throat. A surge of emotions overwhelmed him, an electric current coursing through his veins.

His steps quickened, propelled by an overwhelming desire to bridge the chasm of time and distance that had separated you for far too long. The distance between you closed swiftly, his graceful stride carrying him closer to the embodiment of his deepest longing. The words that slipped from his lips were laden with a tenderness and longing that only you could evoke.

"My dearest Child of Man, is it truly you?" Malleus murmured, his voice a fragile whisper, as if afraid to shatter the fragile reality that had materialized before him. His outstretched hands trembled, yearning to cradle you once more, to feel the warmth of your presence.

A mixture of awe and reverence coated his words as he continued, his voice barely audible but drenched in profound emotion. "You came back. It's been so long, far too long..." His voice trailed off, swallowed by the weight of the years that had separated you.

he's so shaken the rain has cleared up to bring about a beautiful rainbow that hovered over the castle

silver and sebek go to get lilia, and it's a heartfelt family reunion

they've all seen how Malleus has returned back to his hollow shell of existence after you left, and they're so glad his eyes are glimmering with emotions once again

though some are more direct about it, and others felt the need to rant about how cruel it was to leave them (we love you sebek)

though he's been urged by his advisors to quickly marry and start producing an heir, he's adamantly refused because he firmly believed nobody would ever make him feel the same way you did

there are some advisors who are secretly unhappy with the fact that the queen is human and the new heir is half-human, but nobody would dare say a word when they see the Malleus Draconia act like an oversized puppy dog with his head in your lap

plus, Keitarou magical prowess and intelligence easily put them in their place

Malleus, with your return, has grown more openly dramatic and affectionate

for example, if you mention you like a certain flower, the next day the entire garden is replanted to that exact flower

do calm him down a bit so he won't be too extra with his love language

Keitarou and Malleus sort of have this rivalry between the two of them to get the most of your affections

but they do eventually reach a truce when they both agree you're the most important thing in the world

but you know, general lighthearted sabotage on both ends, Keitarou wants to sleep with his mama, so papa can sleep alone yeah?

no it ends up with the entire family sleeping together and you're sandwiched in the middle

well, at least it's a happy family of two possessive dragons and possibly a baby princess coming on the way?

Keitarou hid behind your legs, his small frame peeking out to catch glimpses of the man standing before you.

"Hm? Is he... our child?" His voice carried a soft tremor, as if he dared not let himself believe in the possibility. But your nod, filled with affirmation and a love that transcended time, set loose a cascade of emotions within him. A serene smile graced his features, radiating warmth and a profound sense of peace.

Malleus turned towards Keitarou, his eyes tender and gentle, a wellspring of paternal affection flowing freely. "Hello, young one," he began, his words carrying a weight of significance that only a father's voice could hold. "I am your father, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Keitarou's wide eyes glistened with a mix of wonder and cautious hope as he listened to Malleus's gentle words. "Hello," he murmured, his voice filled with a blend of innocence and an innate longing for connection. "I... I'm Keitarou," he continued, his voice wavering slightly but growing stronger with each syllable. "It's... it's nice to meet you, Father."

Malleus's smile widened, mirroring the joy and relief that flooded his own heart. With open arms, he enveloped Keitarou in a warm embrace.

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Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 4✧Masterlist

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 10 hours ago

Text

love will find a way

Characters: Riddle, Deuce, Azul, Vil

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions, bot proofread

Word count: 3.6k+

Notes: for cohesiveness sake, all the name ideas are in japanese. if it makes you uncomfortable, you can imagine that reader is japanese hehe

Part 1✧Part 3✧Part 4✧Masterlist

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Yoshikazu (義和) with 義 meaning "righteous" and 和 meaning "harmony, peace"

your son had straight strawberry-red hair and greyish-blue eyes that reminded you of the stormy skies

Riddle's strong belief in upholding the rules, as well as his desire for peace and order, made the name perfect for your boy

he strives for perfection in everything he does, and has a strong attention to detail and dislikes anything that falls short of his high standards

he is slightly shy with strangers, but he's always polite and tries to be helpful

he likes to act mature so you won’t have to worry too much about him, but he not so secretly craves your affection and praise

if you don’t give him a goodnight kiss, he’ll stare at you with puppy eyes thinking he did something wrong

under your guidance, he’s actually rather helpful in the kitchen, although he can easily get upset when he thinks he did a poor job or wasn’t precise enough

in those moments, you often show him that not everything has to be absolutely perfect

see? the strawberry tart still tastes delicious, right?

he’s also rather quick at learning, and when you’re unsure about the magic concepts or formulae in your foggy memory, let him work at it for a bit and somehow, boom, he’s solved it

he tries to hide it, but his eyes are sparkling with admiration when you told him about the dedicated and fair man Riddle is, and he really wants to meet him

and through his hard work, he teleports the two of you into a well-lit and organised office, with stacks of papers placed neatly on the desk

Riddle sits at the desk, his face more angular having lost his baby fat, but his gaze remained as intense as it always had

Riddle meticulously reviews a case file, his focus unwavering as he flips through the pages. Suddenly, a swirl of iridescent light materialises in the corner of the room, catching his attention. He pushes himself away from the desk, knocking his chair backwards with a thud as he stands up, watching in disbelief as you emerge from the ethereal portal, a small boy clinging onto you tightly.

"My Rose…is it...is it truly you?" Riddle's voice wavers with a combination of astonishment and longing. His stormy grey eyes lock onto your gaze, searching for confirmation that this was indeed real.

His heart swells with a surge of emotions, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He takes hesitant steps forward, closing the distance between you. As he reaches out a trembling hand, he hesitates for a fraction of a second before wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace, pulling you close.

"I've missed you so much," Riddle whispers, his voice choked with emotion. "I've yearned for this moment, to hold you again, to see your face."

after the heartfelt reunion, Riddle leaves work early and takes a holiday, something he has never done before for reasons other than sickness

he takes the two of you back to his house and you spend some time catching up

he’s become a successful lawyer, having deviated from the path his mother had intended for him

that, along with his refusal to be in an arranged marriage by her will, has him basically disowned

but he’s happy with where he is in life, only he wished to find a love as fulfilling as the one he had with you

now that you’re back, Riddle does everything he can to support you in adjusting to life back with him

he’s super expressive and affectionate and savours every moment he has with you

he does get a little jealous of Yoshikazu getting all your affection, and this has resulted in all three of you sleeping together cuddled up

Riddle tries to learn how to cook because he can’t be worse than his son right??

wrong

but the two of them do get along really well, Riddle loves reading bedtime stories to Yoshikazu, and Yoshikazu tries so hard to stay awake till the end

Yoshikazu also loves visiting uncle trey’s bakery!

eventually, he might try to reconcile with his mother and have her meet the two of you, but his priority is on the two of you

Riddle's eyes show a mix of emotions, a kaleidoscope of love, regret, and gratitude. He bends down, his hands trembling, to meet Yoshikazu's gaze. A cascade of emotions surges through him as he realises the precious bond he had unknowingly missed out on.

"My child," Riddle whispers, his voice filled with awe and wonder. "I never imagined..."

Yoshikazu reaches out a tiny hand, a shy smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Riddle's heart melts as he gingerly takes his hand, feeling an overwhelming wave of love and protectiveness.

"Father?" Yoshikazu's voice was a gentle whisper, filled with innocence and trust.

Riddle's eyes shimmer with tears that threaten to spill over. He carefully extends his hand, allowing his small fingers to intertwine with his own.

"Yes," Riddle replies, his voice overflowing with tenderness. "I am honoured to be your father. I will protect you, guide you, and cherish you always, my precious bud."

Koushi (功志) with 功 meaning "a success, a great achievement" and 志 meaning "purpose, will, determination, aspiration, ambition"

your son had sleek dark hair that reminded you of the night sky, and bright cyan eyes

Deuce placed great importance on personal growth and the pursuit of success, valuing hard work and the satisfaction that comes from achieving one's goals, so you implemented those values into your son's name

he takes his tasks and activities seriously and is motivated to excel in everything he does

but at the same time, he also struggles with being patient and occasionally becomes frustrated when things don't go his way

there are many times you’re trying to console him, and he’s just standing there, fists clenched and trying to hold back tears

when you rub the back of his head though, he melts and starts crying into your chest

he can be impulsive and mischievous, but once the high passes, he’s apologising and he really didn’t mean to hurt anyone or anything

just like his father, his favourite food is egg dishes, so it’s not difficult cooking for him

generally, he’s not picky and gobbles up anything you make him except vegetables

yeahh, the vegetables are going to need some convincing, and he’ll make a big show about how he hates the taste, but still reluctantly swallows his greens

he’s not the brightest, but he strives to be the best he can be, eagerly practising and studying magic concepts, though he faces some challenges in grasping complex concepts quickly

he became so curious when you told him how much his father valued hard work, asking question after question to learn more about him

and through trial and error, somehow, he managed to teleport you to a street of residential buildings, the fresh scent of roses filling your senses

and Deuce stood in shock in front of you, looking more mature and yet still possessing that dorky lovable presence

Deuce, donned in his crisp uniform, patrols the streets with a focused gaze. As he turns a corner, his eyes widen and his heart skips a beat. There, before him, stands the silhouette of a familiar figure, obscured by the shimmering waves of nostalgia, accompanied by a small boy.

"Prefect… I’m not dreaming, am I?" Deuce murmurs, his voice tinged with disbelief and a touch of vulnerability. His pulse quickens, and he takes a tentative step forward, his hands trembling with both trepidation and longing.

Tears well up in his eyes as you nod, a mixture of emotions playing across your face. The weight of your absence suddenly lifts, and without a second thought, Deuce closes the distance between you, his arms enveloping you in a tight embrace.

"You're here. You're really here," Deuce whispers, his voice choked with emotion. He presses his forehead against yours, savouring the moment and the warmth of your presence.

once Deuce has calmed down, he takes you back to his house, where he lives with his mom to take care of her more

Deuce has become a successful police officer, and he’s decided to work in his hometown to keep the neighbourhood safe for his mom

after a quick introduction to Mrs. Spade, she’s very happy to meet you and her grandson

though she does glare at Deuce for a bit given you had to raise Koushi alone

she immediately starts gushing over Koushi and how similar he is to Deuce when he was a kid

Koushi is a little confused, but you can tell he loves listening to his grandmother and hearing about his father as an infant

Deuce can’t just leave his job whenever he wants to, but he dedicates all of his free time to the two of you

after work, he’ll take Koushi on runs, and sometimes they’ll pick a bouquet of wildflowers from a nearby field to give to you and Mrs. Spade

on weekends, you often go on family outings, like visiting the aquarium, camping, or visiting old friends!

uncle ace is Koushi’s favourite, teaching him magic tricks and telling him all the embarrassing things Deuce did back in NRC

and though Deuce had never prepared himself for parenting, he’s doing his best and making sure the two of you are happy, just like he is with the family all together

Deuce breaks the embrace and drops to one knee, his eyes meeting the Koushi's. A mixture of awe and tenderness dances in his gaze as he extends a hand toward the small boy. "Hey there, little guy. I'm your dad. My name's Deuce. What’s your name?" he asks, his voice gentle.

Koushi steps forward, hesitantly reaching out to grasp Deuce's hand. "Koushi," he answers meekly. A spark of connection passes between them, a shared understanding and an unspoken bond.

Tears stream down his cheeks as he continues, his voice filled with a mix of joy and remorse. "Koushi, I'm sorry it took me so long, to be the father you deserved. But from this moment on, I promise you, I'll be there for every step of your journey. We'll make up for lost time together, yeah?"

Akuru (渥瑠) with 渥 meaning "kindness, moisten" and 瑠 meaning "lapis lazuli"

your daughter had clear aquamarine eyes that reminded you of the sparkling ocean, and silver locks that curled naturally to frame her face

Azul had always adhered to the spirit of benevolence, so the name seemed perfect

she's quite a shy little girl, when she's in front of strangers, she'll ask you to carry her so she can hide her face in your neck

there's no way you can resist when she's staring at you with such bright eyes, her tiny arms reaching up for you to hold her

she's extremely greedy for affection just like Azul was once he let his guard down around you

she has the squishiest cheeks!!!

she also tends to observe and listen rather than being the centre of attention

but when she's alone with you, it's evident she inherited Azul's sharp intellect and has a natural aptitude for academics

you often told her about the brilliant man her father is, how hard he worked so he could become a version of himself he was proud of

the way her eyes sparkled when she heard about him reminded you of Azul's ambitious looks when he's making deals

incredibly talented at magic, she understood everything so quickly and it wasn't too long until you couldn't be much help to her anymore

but worry not, because she has brought the two of you back to your dearest lover by some accident in her experiments

Azul is sitting in a dimly lit office, his dark eye circles are evident, but he looked more beautiful than you had ever seen him

Azul sits at his desk fully engrossed in work, his quill gliding swiftly across the parchment. A sudden gust of magic sweeps through the air, causing Azul to stand in alarm, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. But as the magical energy settles, his hand freezes mid-air, his eyes widening in disbelief as your figure emerges.

His breath catches in his throat, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. "It... can't be... Can it?", he whispers as he manoeuvres himself over to you, his legs trembling as if it was his first time on land.

You reach out to take his hand, your familiar warmth and presence casting away the doubt in him. His eyes well up with tears, and a radiant smile spreads across his face.

"Oh, Angelfish... You're here...", he cries as he pulls you closer, his arms wrapping tightly around you.

he's so emotional he can't stop crying

it's to the point where his tears are slightly inky

he wishes he was in his merform so he could hug the two of you properly at the same time

it's at this point jade and floyd bust into the room to see the three of you huddled together on the floor

the two of them start teasing Azul for being a crybaby, but you can tell they're genuinely happy for him

Azul, as he had planned back in NRC, had conquered all forms of business, forming an incredibly successful corporation

now that he has the two of you back though, he immediately takes a break from work so he can make up for the time lost

Azul's a bit awkward, and he's so afraid you've found someone new or don't love him anymore

but with time, and plenty of your affection, he's loving and comfortable and completely at ease with you, just like the old days

he uses this break to spend time together with you two as a family, going on family outings, discovering hobbies, etc.

takes the two of you to the coral sea to meet mama ashengrotto

oh she loves you and can't stop spoiling Akuru

he makes a lot of effort to be present in Akuru's life, and he wants nothing more than for her to be happy

and fortunately, Akuru is very comfortable with Azul, though it takes time for her to trust him on the same level as you

but you've got all the time in the world to love and grow with your dear family now

bonus: uncle jade and uncle floyd who always bring out the ambitious side of Akuru!

Azul's breath catches in his throat as he looks down at the small girl peeking from behind your legs, his heart swelling with a love he had never thought possible. Akuru's innocent eyes meet his, mirroring his own shades of blue.

"Hello, Akuru," he whispers, his voice filled with a mixture of tenderness and awe. He crouches down to her level, his eyes locked with hers. "I... I'm your father. It’s nice to meet you."

Akuru's small hand reaches out, hesitantly brushing against his cheek. The touch sends shivers down Azul's spine, his heart bursting with overwhelming emotions. Tears spill freely down his cheeks as his arms wrap around her fragile frame.

"I've missed so much... I'm so sorry," Azul says, his voice laced with remorse. Akuru nestles closer, burying her face in the crook of Azul's neck, as if instinctively seeking solace in the embrace of her father. "Oh, I promise you, my dear, I will make up for lost time. I will protect you, love you, and be the father you deserve."

Misaki (望咲) with 望 meaning "ambition, hope, desire" and 咲 meaning "bloom, blossom, flourish"

your daughter had silky blonde, hair and violet eyes reminded you of the lavender plant Vil kept in his room

you knew through Vil's dedication towards beauty and his strictness that he values hard work and effort, and so you named your daughter hoping she would flourish in whatever ambitions she pursued

like her father, she carries herself with a certain regal air that’s beyond her age

she's incredibly strict with herself, though occasionally you'll have to tell her to relax a bit and be more carefree

she listens to you a lot though, she loves making her mommy proud!

and though she might put up a front and act confident with strangers, when she's alone with you, she's surprisingly docile and affectionate

she is enchanted by the media and drawn to acting, always reenacting scenes from movies or shows you watched with her

she asks for bedtime stories every night, but it’s more of the two of you doing a dramatic reading and playing around with character voices

she also loves to play around with different hairstyles and outfits, and even experimenting with your makeup

though she’s rather displeased with her lacklustre makeup skills, she loves it when you do her makeup for her, making her feel like a star

she’s incredibly smart and fast to pick up on the magical concepts, though she’s slower with practical magic

when you told her about the meticulous and dedicated man her father was, she was fascinated by how confident and strong he sounded

and with diligent practice, it isn’t long before she manages to teleport you to a well-lit room with a modern design

Vil is sitting on the couch studying his latest movie, his hair is in a messy bun and he is wearing glasses and he is the most beautiful person you have ever seen

As Vil stares at the television analysing his performance, the tranquillity of the moment is abruptly shattered by a sudden burst of light. His heart skips a beat as he turns towards the source, his eyes widening in disbelief. There, standing before him, is the person who had occupied his thoughts and dreams for the past years, with a sweet-looking child next to them.

"Is it really you, darling?" His voice trembles with a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming joy. He takes a hesitant step forward, his polished facade momentarily crumbling as he reaches out to confirm the reality of your presence.

Your eyes meet, and in that instant, a whirlwind of emotions surged through his being, threatening to overwhelm his senses. He swallows hard, trying to compose himself. "It's... it's been so long," Vil's voice cracks with raw emotion, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I've missed you every day, every moment."

Vil is the most emotional you’ve ever seen him, even when you had bid each other farewell at the mirror, he had been more composed

but here he’s completely vulnerable and crying tears of joy

once he’s calmed down a bit, he immediately calls his manager to reschedule whatever plans he had because of ‘family emergencies’

since you left, vil has been completely invested in his acting career and has landed a few roles as the main character, though some of them were still villainous

he’s super affectionate and relaxed with you, always instinctively reaching out for you to confirm you’re really there

and he’s super cute with Misaki!! Misaki always goes to him for makeup and styling her hair, but she likes going to you for brushing her hair when it’s tangled

mini drama sessions at home where it’s the three of you playing out scenes from a fairytale

vil is the ‘only the best for my princess’ type of father

he’s very careful with outings so the paparazzi or the media won't just sabotage your family dates, he’s determined to spend quality time with his two darlings

takes you to meet papa schoenheit, who adores you for making vil so happy, and absolutely spoils Misaki with clothes and accessories

you’ll have to be the strict parent to make sure she’s not too spoiled

not to mention uncle rook who absolutely worships the ground she walks on and cannot resist her requests

Vil's gaze flickers to the child standing beside you, her innocent eyes mirroring his own. A rush of emotions washes over him, as he finally comprehends the magnitude of the moment. His voice trembles with tenderness as he kneels down, extending a hand towards her. "Is this... our child?" His voice holds a hint of awe and wonder, his heart swelling with a newfound sense of purpose.

Misaki's eyes widen, taking a tentative step forward to try and comprehend this newfound connection. "Are you like the daddies in the shows that come back to the family?" she asks, her voice tinged with innocence and wonder.

A brief look of confusion flashes by, before a warm smile graces Vil's lips as he reaches out, gently brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Yes, darling," he whispers, his voice filled with a mix of tenderness and determination. "I am here now, and I promise I'll never leave you. I will be there for you, guide you, and cherish every moment we share, just like the fathers in the shows."

Part 1✧Part 3✧Part 4✧Masterlist

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 10 hours ago

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he lives in you

Characters: Leona, Floyd, Jamil, Lilia

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions, bot proofread

Word count: 2.4k

Notes: uh i was practicing Japanese and researching Japanese names before writing this, so all my name ideas ended up in japanese? if it makes you uncomfortable, you can imagine that reader is japanese hehe

right in time for mother's day, so here's to a celebration of the motherly figures in our lives, blood related or not, for being there for us <3

Part 2

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Hina (日来) with日 meaning "sun, day" and 来 meaning "coming, future"

Leona reminded you of a shining sun that radiated warmth and light in your life, of how the it would surely shine again no matter how dark the night seemed, and so you named your daughter after that image

your daughter has the clearest emerald eyes and flowing dark brown locks that you often braided in a similar style to her father's

she's very energetic, always curious and asking questions, eager to learn more about the world around her

she's an obedient child, although she's eager to seek your affection and may whine a bit when things don't go her way

if there was one thing that was similar to the Leona you knew, it's that she's extremely clingy and constantly seeks physical affection, hugging your legs and asking for you to carry them any chance she has

and also the fact that she enjoyed her naps a bit too much

her lion ears are a bit of an issue in our world, but you often hide them with hoods, clever hair styling, or simply saying it's a costume

when you told her about the brilliant man her father is, she grew really excited about the possibility of meeting him, and started playing around with magic more to be like the intelligent mage he is

and then it happened, just an ordinary afternoon practicing magic had the two of you transported back to twisted wonderland, face to face to Leona

somehow, he had grown even more handsome in the years you hadn't seen him, but instead of his lazy smile, he looked confident and powerful, like the leader he was always meant to be

A sudden gust of magic swept through the air behind him as he raised his staff in response, only to immediately drop it in shock as your figure came into sight, and beside you, a small child that he had never seen before.

"Herbivore..." he whispered.

Without a second thought, Leona rushed towards you, his heart beating wildly in his chest. He felt a lump forming in his throat as he reached out to embrace you tightly.

"This better not be a dream," he murmured into the crook of your neck as he inhaled your scent. "It's really you."

after a tearful reunion and introduction, Leona quickly excuses himself from his duties with a quick meeting with Falena, and helps you and Hina settle into the palace

since you left, Leona's been working hard to do what he can do as per your promise with him

he's now in charge of foreign affairs and on better terms with his brother after much needed communication

he showers you in affection, he's even clingier than before that it almost starts a rivalry with your daughter

he puts in a lot of effort to spend time with Hina, learning her likes and dislikes and bonding over magic

uncle jack and ruggie are always fun to be around and play with her

though it wasn't his fault, leona feels guilty you had to bare the responsibility on your own for so long, and he puts in a lot of effort to make amends for any mistakes work to build a strong relationship with you two

he has a family now, and you're damn sure he'll protect it with his life

Leona looked down at Hina, feeling a sense of pride and wonder at the little girl standing before him. "Hey there," he said, his voice gentle. "Nice to meet ya, kiddo."

Hina stared at him, her eyes searching his face. "Are you my dad?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.

Leona's heart ached at the question, knowing that he had missed so much of her life. "Yeah, I'm your dad," he said, reaching out to take her hand.

Hina looked at him for a moment before a smile spread across her face. "Can you show me magic?" she asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Leona felt a sense of joy at her words, feeling a connection with her that he had never felt before. "Of course I can," he said, standing up and taking her hand. "What do you wanna see?"

Sakura (桜) meaning "cherry blossoms"

your daughter has sleek teal hair that reminds you of the sea, a single strand of dark hair, and mismatched eyes in the same manner as Floyd

Floyd had lovingly given you the nickname "Shrimpy", and it only felt right for your daughter to be named Sakura, after the tiny sakura-shrimp

she's incredibly mischievous and there's not a moment of silence with her, she's spontaneous and playful and you've got your hands full

though she is very considerate of you and will listen to your words, she's uncontrollable when she's bored and in need of a spark of interest

she's also a squeezer, much like her father, and hugs you every time she sees you or anyone she likes, and you're thankful her strength hasn't developed too much yet

she enjoys biting you, albeit gently, and you find your arms littered with bite marks, but it's her unique way of showing affection

her eel form won't show unless she's been in the water for too long (thankfully), and she enjoys squeezing you in her eel form even more

ever so curious, she's asked about her father many times, and you've told her how carefree and easygoing her father is, and that he'd love her the moment she saw her

which leads you to her magic actually teleporting you to him, her spontaneous idea having manifested itself, and you found in a dimly lit room similar to the Mostro Lounge

Floyd looked matured, his hair sleeked back and his features sharpened, though his wry smile that you loved had stayed the same

Floyd's eyes widened with shock and disbelief, and his steps quickened as he rushes towards you, his long arms outstretched in a gesture of longing. As he got closer, he noticed the beautiful and curious-looking child standing close to you.

"Shrimpy?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "No way... It's really you!"

Floyd pulled you close, holding you tightly as if he never wanted to let go. "I missed ya so much, I wish I hadn't let ya go," he said, his voice choked with emotion as tears threatened to spill. "You're not allowed to leave again, okay?"

Floyd is so ecstatic he can't stand still, once he's calmed down a bit, be immediately carries Sakura and drags you to Jade and Azul

Azul and Jade are pleasantly surprised at your return, and it's a warm welcome back

the two of them are glad Floyd won't be moping any time soon

the trio have now expanded into a franchise and divulged into many businesses, though Floyd largely acts as Azul's right-hand man

Now that you're back, he refuses to be apart from you, always holding onto you tightly and afraid you might disappear just like how suddenly you appeared

he does get mood swings where he's upset or angry, not at you though, just at how unfair things were and how he couldn't be there for you

he's a good eel who does everything to make sure you and Sakura are happy and comfortable, often cooking meals for you two

he's so curious about Sakura and enjoys playing with her and lifting her high up in the air

don't worry, he's extremely careful, this precious gem is why you got back to him!

Jade is the best uncle and Sakura wants to marry him??? (honestly same)

poor Azul is getting pranked by the daughter- father duo, though Sakura does comfort him afterwards with squeezes and kissss

Floyd looked down at Sakura, and he saw her staring back at him with wide, curious eyes in the opposite colours of his eyes. Though she resembled him physically, there was an air about her that was so distinctly his Shrimpy.

"Heya," Floyd said, trying to sound friendly. "I'm your dad."

Sakura giggled and reached out to him, her tiny hands grasping at his hands. Floyd froze, not sure what to do, letting her yand his hand forward. But then, she opened her mouth and bit down on finger.

"Hey!" Floyd cried, pulling back in surprise.

Sakura just laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Floyd couldn't help but laugh too, despite the pain in his finger.

"Yer a feisty one, aren't ya, Sakura-shrimpy?" he teased, grinning down at her as he ruffled her hair. "You know," he whispered, "you can't just go around biting people like that. But I like your style."

Isami (功己) 功 meaning "achievement, credit, honour, merits" and 己 meaning "self, serpent, snake."

your son has smooth ebony locks and sharp grey eyes that make him look slightly intimidating

Jamil had shown you how much he valued his achievements over his social status, so you chose a name the could embody him

he's a quiet child who's always attentive and careful

he's rather shy in front of other people, but when it's you he'll soak up all of your affection and stare at you with longing eyes seeking praise

he's a cute helper at home too! he always volunteers to help you with chores and cook in the kitchen, though you're careful he's not close to anything sharp or dangerous

he does have an inherent fear of bugs, something he's inherited from Jamil, but thankfully you've taught him to be less destructive than his father

do expect screams and for him to be crying as a little fly chases him around though

he's incredibly smart and talented at magic, easily grasping the concepts of magic you can only teach him theoretically

when you told him about his father, you've told him about the diligent man that his father is, and how would let his guard down around those he treasured

he had listened quietly without much of a change in his expression, but you could tell there was a bubbling excitement building up in his eyes

and no long after that, he managed to teleport the two of you to a warm, airy room of marble walls

Jamil's features had sharpened, he seemed more openly confident and comfortable with himself

Jamil's heart skipped a beat as he saw you. It had been five years since he bid your farewell at the mirror chamber and lost you forever. And yet here you were standing here in front of him with a child in tow, a child who resembled him so much.

"It can't be..." he murmurs.

Without hesitation, Jamil dropped all the papers and rushed towards you, his heart pounding furiously. His eyes locked with yours, and in that moment, time seemed to stand still. He could see the love and longing still shining in your eyes, and he knew deep down that he had never stopped loving you.

Jamil couldn't stop the tears that began streaming down his face. "I've missed you so much," he said, his voice raspy. "Letting you go is the worst decision I've ever made." He reached out and pulling you into a tight embrace, his arms shaking with emotions.

he's a bit overwhelmed but still so thankful you're back in his life

Kalim barges in at this time and exclaims in surprise at your return and ??? OMG JAMIL YOU HAVE A SON?!!

Jamil has half a mind to dissuade him from holding a banquet immediately to welcome you back, and instead take things slow to not overwhelm you or Isami

asks Kalim for some privacy and the second he's away, he melts into your embrace

he hasn't felt so at ease in so long

if he wakes up in the morning and you're not right there beside him, he's panicking and searching all over the place for some confirmation you're still here

he's very curious about Isami and asks him all sorts of questions to piece together his development and personality

they definitely have a rivalry over who's braver over bugs but it just ends up with the two hugging you for safety

he's a bit awkward with how careful he is with his emotions, so it takes Isami some time to fully trust him

but trust me, Jamil will go above and beyond for his family and there's no way Isami will have to endure what Jamil did in his childhood

Jamil's eyes widened in surprise and wonder. He couldn't believe that they had created a life together. He knelt down to the Isami' eye level and looked into his eyes. "Hello there," he said, his voice gentle and warm. "What's your name?"

Isami starred back at him, his eyes wide with distrust and caution before he buried his face in your legs. Jamil chuckled softly. "It's okay," he comforted. "You don't have to be shy around me. I'm your dad."

Isami looked up at him again, this time with a mix of curiosity and wonder. "Daddy?" they said, testing the word out.

Jamil smiled warmly as nodded, his heart swelling with love and joy. "Yes, daddy," he parroted. "And I promise I'm never going to leave you or your mommy again."

Yuri (百合) meaning "lily"

Lilia's name always reminded you for lily flowers, and what better name for your daughter to embody him?

your daughter has straight raven hair with some of the hair flipping upwards resembling two horns, angular fae ears, and bright crimson eyes

she's always up for pranks and mischief, it's rare to see her without a smile

she loves exploring places, if you keep your eyes off her for one second, she's letting her curiosity take her to whatever she wants

if you're serious and stern though, she will listen to you, she wouldn't dare make her mother upset!

she's friendly with everyone and isn't shy to say hi to neighbors or absolute strangers

she's not overly affectionate, but she definitely enjoys hugs and kisses from you

she has an odd habit of taking stray animals back home in an attempt to adopt them, so you have little adventures with her trying to find an owner

do not let her in the kitchen

she has surely inherited her father's cooking abilities, somehow, she can render even a piece of toast beyond human consumption

magic comes as second nature to her, and she's always standing on ceilings

gosh her eyes absolutely sparkled when you told her about the teasing and mischievous fae that is her father

and soon, the portal opened and you found yourself in a gothic castle lit up by green candles

He's a lot taller, his hair longer and reaching his waist, and more enchanting than ever

Lilia stood in shock as your family figure come into sight. In all his years of living, he had never been so utterly stunned. After all these years, you had finally returned to him.

"Beastie..." Lilia gasped, his voice catching in his throat.

With a surge of energy, Lilia broke free from the trance-like state and hurried towards you, his hair streaming behind him like a dark flag as he enveloped you tightly in his embrace. "After all these years, you've truly come back to me?"

Carefully, Lilia held you at arm's length, studying your matured features, etching them into his memory like a cherished work of art. His eyes traced the lines and contours of your face, memorizing every detail that time had etched upon you.

"My, how you've grown," Lilia murmured, a mix of pride and wistfulness coloring his words. "The years have shaped you into a remarkable individual."

it's family reunion time!!!

he immediately drags you to the throne room where malleus, silver and sebek are

malleus is now king with two incredibly reliable bodyguards, and Lilia's his most trusted advisor

malleus is so glad his dear human friend is back, silver is satisfied that his father will have someone to be with, and sebek is screaming about Yuri, though she enjoys his loudness

for a while, Lilia is extremely affectionate, trying to make up for all the years that had gone by

when you're sleeping together at night, he hugs you tightly and it's difficult to leave his embrace

he definitely tries to cook for you two, going on and on about how the two of you need to stay healthy and need lots of nutrients

you always volunteer your portion for Yuri, and she'll gladly eat whatever her father has cooked for her

silver is an older brother often on babysitting duty, and Yuri loves watching him spar with sebek and also wants to learn

Sebek is quite fond of Yuri, and he sees his half-fae self in her

Lilia is always trying to fun with Yuri, bouncing her high up in the air and teaching her to hang upside down and swing around

plans so many family vacations, he can't wait to be exploring places with his two darlings

"Is she... ours?" Lilia asked. At your nod, he reached out to caress Yuri's cheek, his touch gentle as if he were touching fragile porcelain.

"Well, I'll be damned," Lilia chuckled, his voice cracking with emotion. "I never thought I'd be a father again. But I'm glad to meet you, little one. What's your name?"

Yuri giggled and and beamed at his touch. "My name's Yuri," she said, her voice sweet as honey.

"Yuri," Lilia repeated, his heart swelling with emotion. "What a beautiful name for my beautiful girl," he reached up to fondle her hair. "You know, Yuri," Lilia said, his voice growing serious. "I may not have been there for you when you were born, but I promise I'll always be here for you from now on. No matter what happens, I'm your father, and I'll always love you darling."

Part 2

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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Saja Baby Art

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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Saja Boys

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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WHY IS HE ON YOUR ROOM?

Saja boys reacting to another member being in your room with you

Saja boys masterlist

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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I love your writing smm!! I wanna request smth, Saja boys with an s/o who has a resting bitch face but is the sweetest person ever??

S/O who has an RBF but is actually a sweetheart

Tags: gn!reader, fluff, established relationship. RBF reader

🎀 Masterlist 💄 Request Guidelines

Jinu

Thought you hated him at first. Straight up panicked every time you looked at him.

Would lowkey rehearse conversations in the mirror before talking to you.

When he found out you were actually sweet, he kept telling the others, “They’re so nice though?? Have you talked to them??”

teases you for looking “murderous”

lowkey uses you to scare interviewers who ask dumb questions

Romance

Teases you constantly for it.

Thinks it’s hot that you look intimidating but are actually a marshmallow.

finds it hilarious that people think you’re mean

Loves when people underestimate you, because then he gets to watch you surprise them with pure kindness.

Brags about it.

probably makes you wear pastel pink once just for the irony

Abby

Was honestly too obsessed with your face to notice it was "resting bitch" anything.

“You look fine to me” was his response when someone else mentioned it.

Melts when you say something thoughtful or sweet.

Thinks your scowl is adorable.

Always goes, “Aww, look at that angry face,” even when you’re just zoning out.

loves pulling you into his lap when you're people-watching so everyone sees how soft you really are

Mystery

Didn’t think anything of your expression.

you thought he didn’t like you at first

Realized you were sweet when you offered him snacks during practice and said "you look tired."

Was caught off guard. Maybe even smiled a little.

he loves how gentle you are with him when it’s just you two

especially when you brush his hair back or hold his hand with your pinky

only he gets to see your softest smiles, and he never takes that for granted

Baby

Smirked the first time he saw your RBF. Took it as a challenge.

Tried to make you laugh. Feels warm inside every time he makes you laugh.

Now he’s addicted to it. Lives for the contrast.

LOVES how sweet you are under the surface

Calls you “grumpy goblin” or “sour patch.”

Secretly gets a little protective when people misjudge you. He knows what a sweetheart you are.

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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Hi, luv. I have a ask. can you do one where the Saja boy's (separately) girlfriend/the reader is just obnoxiously good at singing but they never heard her sing before so when they come home there just bamboozled?

(example would be Crime and Punishment by Ado. That kind of powerful toe-curling voice.)

The first time they hear her sing

Tags: fem!reader, established relationship, powerful vocals, fluff

🎀 Masterlist 💄 Request Guidelines

Jinu

He walks in halfway through your impromptu living room performance, still holding a bag of takeout, completely frozen in the doorway. You’re hitting high notes like your life depends on it, entirely in your own world, completely unaware he’s watching.

Jinu blinks. “Is that my girlfriend? Is this... live?”

You turn to him, startled. “Oh. Uh, hi?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Just walks over, drops the bag on the table, and claps once—loud and decisive. “Again. From the top.”

He starts pacing. Back and forth. A hand in his hair. “How. How did I not know this? You sing like that and you let me karaoke in front of you? You let me exist?”

He’s already grabbing his phone. His fingers fly across the screen as he mutters to himself, “My girlfriend just made me see God. With her vocal cords.”

Romance

He was lying in bed, scrolling through his phone, when he heard the opening lines. At first, he figured it was some new track playing in the background, something you’d queued up without him noticing. But then he paused. Sat up. Frowned.

“…Wait a damn minute.”

Romance pushed the covers off and padded out of the room, phone still in hand. And there you were—standing barefoot in the living room, hair tied back, absolutely belting without a care in the world.

His mouth dropped open.

When you finally noticed him, your voice trailed off mid-note.

He stared at you, wide-eyed. “That came out of you?”

You nodded, sheepishly.

Romance walked over like he was in a trance, grabbed you by the waist, leaned in close, and squinted at you. “Be honest. Are you possessed?”

You laughed.

He let out a groan and buried his face in your shoulder. “That voice was amazing. I’m emotionally overwhelmed. You need to give me five to process.”

Abby

Abby was just coming back from errands when he heard the vocals echoing down the hallway.

He knew it was you. That tone. That range. That absolute power. But at the same time, it sounded unfamiliar—like something he wasn’t supposed to be hearing yet.

He dropped everything at the door and bolted into the room, wide-eyed and slightly out of breath. “What the hell was that?!”

You paused your music, startled. “...Singing?”

“Singing?” he echoed, completely scandalized. “You’re screaming in tune, babe. That was—you—I need to sit down.”

He started pacing, hands buried in his hair like he was trying to physically make sense of it. “We’ve been dating for how long? And you didn’t think to mention your soul-shattering, opera-house-shaking, anime-opening-theme voice?”

Then he grabs his phone. “Okay. New plan. You’re joining our next track. No arguments. Jinu won’t need any convincing once he hears you.”

Mystery

He was doing laundry when he heard it.

That deep, clear sound that rang too rich to be coming from a phone speaker. It made him stop mid-step, turn his head slightly, and listen again. Then he walked—slow, quiet—toward the hallway, barely making a sound as he approached the source.

You were standing in the middle of the room, barefoot, swaying a little, lost in the song. You didn’t notice him right away; you were too focused. Singing like you didn’t have an audience. Singing like it was second nature.

His expression didn’t change much. His grip tightened around the laundry basket. His eyes locked on you like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

When you finally noticed him and paused, slightly breathless, you asked, “Is everything okay?”

He hummed. “I didn’t know you had a voice like that.”

You smiled, a little sheepish. “I mean, yeah, I never really brought it up.”

He nodded once. “You should sing more.”

That night, he laid on your lap while you scrolled through your phone. He didn’t speak, just watched you with that unreadable look he got sometimes. Jaw tense. Shoulders still. Like there was something he wanted to say but didn’t know how.

Eventually, he murmured, “I liked it. The way you sounded. A lot.”

Baby

He was half-asleep on the couch when your voice cut through the room. At first, he thought it was a recording; something you had put on in the background. But then the next verse hit—strong, controlled, and definitely live.

Baby sat up slowly, blinking at you like he had just woken up in another timeline. “Wait... was that you?”

You didn’t stop, just kept going, completely in the zone. Mid-verse, mid-vibe, absolutely wrecking the high note without even looking at him.

He leaned forward, eyes wide. “Is this a prank? Am I hallucinating?”

When you finally turned around, a little breathless and a little red in the face, you just shrugged. “I sing sometimes.”

His mouth dropped open. “You sing sometimes? You sounded... powerful. Like, scary good.”

He slapped his thigh. “Do it again. Right now. I need to hear it again to prove I’m not dreaming.”

You laughed, but obliged. When you finished, he just stared at you for a moment, like his entire brain had been reset.

Then he nodded, all serious. “New rule. You sing me to sleep every night now. No excuses.”

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

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Hi grimm! I'm a sucker for opposites so can I get the saja boys x angel reader? Like full innocence, never hurt or be mean to anybody, and of course the wings.

Anon, are you haunting my brain and drafts??? Because I swear I’ve had this exact idea floating around (and like... several versions semi-written). 😭🪽 Opposites with a literal angel reader?? Yes. Absolutely. Here you go!

🌙Saja Boys x Angel!Reader

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🧿 Jinu

Jinu has studied celestial beings. Respected them. Feared them.

But he has never been held in the gaze of one who smiles at him like he’s not a mess of laws and failure.

You radiate calm. Grace. The kind of warmth that makes the soul ache. You offer your hand to injured creatures, whisper blessings under your breath, and greet strangers with small bows like you’re honored to meet them.

And you choose him?

Jinu’s entire sense of logic shatters.

“You deserve someone who shines like you,” he says once, eyes cast down. “Then maybe it’s a good thing you do,” you answer.

His heart physically stutters.

You once patched up a scratch near his pattens. When your fingertips brushed the edge of it, it glowed—not with corruption, but with acceptance.

“You’re not tainted,” you told him gently. “You’re transforming.”

He hasn’t stopped blushing since. (Or looking at you like you’re the last prayer he has left.)

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💪 Abby

The first time Abby saw you, he tried to stand behind you instinctively. Not to hide—just to protect.

Because you looked like something holy. Untouched. Good in a way the world didn’t deserve.

And then you offered him a cookie and complimented his smile and called him gentle—and he short-circuited.

He doesn’t know how to hold something like you without breaking it. He carries furniture and enemies like they weigh nothing, but your hand in his makes him move like you’re made of light.

“You don’t need to protect me all the time,” you say once, brushing soot from his shoulder. “I know,” he says. “I just… want to.”

He builds little wooden birdhouses for your winged friends. He brings you flower seeds and says “they made me think of you.” You give him glowing compliments like they’re casual, and he turns pink for ten minutes straight.

He’s used to being big. Strong. The one who takes up space.

But with you?

He’s careful. Loved. And learning how to be soft without feeling small.

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📚 Mystery

You touched the edge of his sleeve once and whispered, “You don’t scare me.”

He’s been haunted ever since.

Mystery doesn’t understand you. You shimmer like morning fog and move like you’ve never known fear. You talk to plants and write affirmations in chalk on cracked sidewalks. You sing without knowing it.

And you smile at him like his silence is sacred, not scary.

He’s terrified of what your wings will do when they brush his shadow. But you never hesitate. You step into his presence like it’s safe there.

“You think darkness erases goodness,” you say, one night under moonlight. “But you are proof that it doesn’t.”

That’s the first time he rests his head in your lap.

He starts leaving his books open to passages about angels. Not out of fear. But because he wants to understand you. To earn the peace you carry like second nature.

You once glowed when you kissed his temple. He hasn’t mentioned it.

But he’s kept every feather you’ve shed near him. Wrapped carefully in black ribbon. Like a talisman.

----------------------------------------

💋 Romance

Romance drops to one knee the second he sees your wings.

You laugh—bright and warm—and help him up like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

He flirts constantly. He calls you “my divine disaster,” “heaven’s softest secret,” and “God’s favorite problem.” And yet—when you call him “kind,” he forgets how to speak.

You compliment his voice and he tries to pretend it’s no big deal. But then you add, “It makes my heart feel steady,” and he physically has to sit down.

“I don’t know how to deserve you,” he admits once, voice raw. “You already do,” you whisper.

He starts brushing your wings with care. Braiding small charms into the feathers. Not for protection—he knows you don’t need it. But because he wants to adorn you with joy the way you adorn his life with peace.

When you defend him—calmly, fiercely—to someone who scoffs at his charm, he looks at you like you hung the stars.

“He’s not shallow,” you say. “He’s brave enough to love loudly in a world that fears softness.”

He has never loved anyone harder than he loves you in that moment.

----------------------------------------

🔥 Baby

You're everything he doesn’t understand and everything he secretly wants.

You’re soft without weakness. Light without sharp edges. You glow when you’re happy. You hum when you make tea. You once bandaged his knuckles after a fight and whispered, “You don’t always have to fight to be strong.”

And he didn’t know what to do with that.

So he scowled.

And you smiled anyway.

“Why are you like this?” he asked, frustrated. “Because someone has to be,” you said gently. “And maybe I want it to be me.”

He keeps his distance for a while. Watches you from doorways. Pretends not to care when your feathers brush against his arm.

But when someone insults you—calls you naive—he nearly sets the pavement on fire.

You pull him back with a soft hand on his shoulder and a whisper:

“I don’t need saving.”

“…Yeah,” he says, eyes burning. “But you make me want to be worth saving.”

He won’t admit he’s proud of the feather you tied into his necklace.

But he hasn’t taken it off since.

----------------------------------------

M-List

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 4 days ago

Note

Guess whoo bbg >:))

When I tell u I jumped FOR JOY when u saw that ur requests were open again- Lord have mercy <3 BLESSED !!!

I come to u with an unusual request I think, I need more Mystery menace PLEASE I absolutely adore the way u write him. I was thinking a one-shot where he kinda just goes around (in the shadows :0) bothering the other Saja Boys, and when his s/o catches him they full on COLLARS HIM and forces him to apologize (I can just see the Saja boys faces going ghastly pale or smh lol)

much loovve, Anon <3 🫵🥰

Thank you for the request! I had way to much fun with this. Here you go!💌

Mystery — Menace in the Shadows

----------------------

It started small.

A flicker of movement. A creak of floorboards. The odd sensation that someone was behind you—but by the time you turned, the space was empty.

It wasn’t a haunting. It was worse.

Mystery was bored.

And when Mystery got bored, he got mischievous.

The others didn’t realize what was happening until it was far too late. You, however, had known something was off from the moment he started giggling under his breath for no reason and tucking his sleeves over his hands like he was hiding something. You knew that gleam in his eye. Knew the way the shadows behind the couch fluttered unnaturally when no windows were open.

You knew, because you were the only one who could really keep Mystery in check.

And unfortunately for the rest of the Saja Boys… you weren’t fast enough.

----------------------

The first target was Abby.

He’d just finished his post-workout smoothie and was mid-sentence, talking about the benefits of deadlifts, when the weight bench behind him slid an inch across the floor.

He paused, brow furrowing. “...Did you see that?”

Jinu, nearby, looked up from his book. “Earthquake?”

“No, no—wait, it moved again.” Abby turned around quickly. Nothing. The bench sat innocent and still.

“Bro,” he muttered, and backed away, eyes narrowed. “It’s always the gym equipment that gets possessed first in the horror movies.”

From the shadow under the bench, two golden eyes blinked… and a long, pale hand slowly crept out and pulled Abby’s water bottle into the void.

“HEY—HEY, MYSTERY, I JUST FILLED THAT—” Abby yelped as the bottle disappeared with a cartoonish glug sound, followed by the quiet snort of a demon trying very hard not to laugh.

----------------------

His next victim: Jinu, who was in the middle of reorganizing the pantry.

The leader stood on a chair with a notepad and pencil, muttering things like “cans left, sauces middle, snacks lowest shelf for Baby—wait, no, not the snacks for Baby.”

He was reaching for the top shelf when a soft voice behind him whispered: “Expiration date… 2019.”

Jinu screamed.

The chair wobbled. He grabbed the shelf to stay upright, pencil clattering to the floor. “I—I was—I was checking the date next! What—who—”

From inside the cupboard, a shadow peeled away, revealing Mystery crouched on a shelf like a gargoyle, holding up a very expired can of tuna.

“Do you want botulism?” Mystery asked mildly.

Jinu glared. “Do you want death by duster broom?! Get out of the pantry!”

----------------------

Third: Romance.

Poor Romance was trying to take selfies for their fan app update. He’d changed his shirt three times, picked a filter, and was mid-pose—hand behind his head, soft smile, golden lighting—when something rustled behind him.

He ignored it.

Pose, click, pose, click—

“...Smile for your stalker,” Mystery whispered softly from the reflection in the phone’s black screen.

Romance yelped, the phone flying from his hands. “W-Why were you behind me?!”

Mystery’s grin widened. “Wasn’t.”

And then he sank straight through the floor.

Romance clutched his chest. “I am calling an exorcist. Today.”

----------------------

By the time Baby noticed anything was up, it was already too late.

He was cooking.

That was his first mistake.

He’d just turned around to chop peppers when the burner clicked off.

Then on again.

Then off.

Then the oil pan started rotating slowly on its own.

“Bro,” Baby said flatly, not turning around. “You got a death wish or something?”

Silence.

Then, from the spice cabinet directly above him: “You forgot the gochugaru.”

The cabinet flung open and a single red chili packet fluttered out like a demonic fortune cookie.

“I swear to the Honmoon,” Baby growled, pulling the frying pan off the heat. “I will physically light your ass on fire.”

----------------------

You heard the commotion by the time Baby was threatening to throw soy sauce at thin air. By then, the other four had gathered in the living room—disheveled, paranoid, traumatized. Romance was fanning himself. Jinu was holding a broom like a priest with a crucifix. Abby was covered in chalk dust from having tried to salt a circle. Baby just looked like he was five seconds from committing a felony.

And you?

You were holding a red velvet collar.

You’d seen it in a shop on the way home. Meant for tiny dogs, but… you had other uses in mind.

The moment the temperature dropped and the lights flickered, you moved.

In one blink, Mystery reappeared in the far shadow of the room, giggling behind his hands.

“Mystery,” you warned, voice low and stern. “What did I say about terrorizing the house?”

He froze.

“...That it’s ‘funny in moderation’?”

“Wrong answer.”

You stepped forward, holding up the collar.

His eyes went wide. “Wait. No. You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, I would. Come here.”

Jinu dropped the broom. Romance gasped. Abby made a strangled sound.

“Wait—wait, wait, what is that? Is that real?” Romance clutched your arm. “You’re not actually gonna collar him, are you?!”

“I told you she was gonna do it one day,” Baby muttered, sounding equal parts awed and vindicated.

Mystery backed up two steps… and then, in one desperate swoop, shadowstepped behind you.

Too slow.

You caught his wrist, pulled him around, and snapped the collar on with practiced ease.

A soft click.

Silence.

Mystery blinked at you, stunned. He touched the velvet lightly, like he couldn’t believe it was real.

Then he grinned. “...You are so lucky I like you.”

“Apologize.”

“To who?”

“To everyone. Right now.”

He sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

He turned to the boys, completely unrepentant. “Sorry for being a menace. I was bored. It won’t happen again—unless it does. In which case, good luck.”

You tugged lightly on the collar. “Mystery—”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry,” he said again, holding his hands up. “For real. Mostly. A little.”

The boys, still wide-eyed, watched in stunned silence as you led Mystery out of the room by the collar.

Romance looked like he needed to sit down. “I didn’t know I could be shocked anymore. But here we are.”

Jinu adjusted his glasses with shaking fingers. “That collar had rhinestones on it.”

“I’m not gonna lie,” Abby said slowly. “That was the hottest power move I’ve ever seen.”

Baby crossed his arms. “I knew she was the only one who could handle him. I said it from day one. Y’all laughed.”

----------------------

In the hallway, Mystery leaned against you, purring like a smug cat.

“So… am I grounded or just collared?”

You arched a brow. “That depends. Are you gonna behave?”

His eyes gleamed with mischief.

“Define ‘behave.’”

You sighed and tugged the collar. “Let’s go, Shadow Menace.”

He smirked, letting you lead him.

“Your menace,” he corrected, and slipped back into your shadow—right where he belonged.

----------------------

M-List

Taglist: @honey-and-sweetdreams @lyunsafebubble @reixtsu @ghostiiess @kpopmultistans @viktor-enjoyer @ash-creationz

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 5 days ago

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WRONG PERSON, RIGHT TIME !

⌯ your life seemingly changes overnight when you get caught up in a dating scandal with a popular streamer that you’ve never met !

── ✧ ˚. ꒰ 𝓹airing ꒱ ˒˓ streamer!felix x youtuber!f!reader ˒˓ strangers to friends to lovers 𝓰enre/𝓽ags. smau, fluff, some angst (not much tho ?), cursing, joonie from ichillin as faceclaim, slightly suggestive language, kys/kms jokes

part 2 𓂅

[ 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆. ] — new smau series, who else cheered 🥳 i’m excited to start this one hehe. the chapters are shorter but there will be more parts in this series (i’m thinking around 10-15), lmk if you wanna be tagged in the next parts !

perm taglist: @justwonder113 @emilyywhyy @min-doesnt-know @alnex05 @velechi @leeknowslefteyebrow @kayleefriedchicken @jeonginsbaee @thelittletobsterthatcould @queenofdumbfuckery @met30rc1ty @geni-627 @amarecerasus @stayar1 @emma-your-goofy-girlfie @n4tr3ad5 @cowboylikemalika @obsessivemuso-withnofriends @skzfangirl143 @mmarusa @myfavoritedelusion @velvetskize @seungmyynie @n-inah @my-neurodivergent-world @yourgirljasmiin @xryusarax @natcap25 @bussdownflockiana @bahngerang @browniesandsunshine @jeonginslittledoll @beal-o @camryn-haitani @hansmic @rhys-cosmos | if you wanna be tagged in any of my future posts fill out this form here. ♡

series taglist: @lixies-favorite-cookie @peskybirdysya @satosugu4l @fackeraccount (comment or send an ask to be on series taglist)

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 6 days ago

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Pending Title... (Saja Boys x Rumi's Sister Reader)

Rumi was born half-demon, the result of the love between her mother, a hunter, and a demon. A mistake. Something to fix. She was raised as a hunter, told to never show her patterns, never tell anyone what she really was. What she didn't know was the night she was born, there was another child. Her sister. Her twin. Celine felt this second child was too much like her father. She felt the child had too much demon blood to hide, that she was dangerous. So she told Sun-Hee, the third member of the Sunlight Sisters to get rid of her. Sun-Hee made a different decision. 23 years later, you return to the human world with the Saja Boys. Raised as a demon, the adopted daughter of Gwi Ma, you have one mission. Revenge.

Prologue

Celine paced the room, biting her nails harshly as she muttered under her breath. Outside, the world was peaceful, quiet, the glow of the Honmoon pulsing gently. Inside the house, everything was chaos. Sun-Hee, the third member of the Sunlight Sisters, was sitting quietly in the corner, tears dripping silently down her face. Sharp cries rang out from the other room shrill and heartbroken, a child calling for her mother. Celine flinched, eyes darting toward the door. She cursed under her breath, going back to pacing nervously.

Sun-Hee sniffed, wiping her tears away. “What should we do?” The question hung in the air like ash, and Celine froze.

“We keep going,” her voice was hard, steel and sorrow. “We raise Rumi as a hunter, we cover the patterns. We keep this between us.” Her eyes flashed, grief, anger, betrayal mixing in the depth. “No one will ever know.”

Sun-Hee didn’t look up, eyes glued to the wooden floorboards under her feet. “What about the… other one?” Her voice was soft, fragile, like she already knew the answer and was afraid to ask.

Celine glared at her, eyes sharp and calculating. “That’s… just another demon. We get rid of it.”

Sun-Hee jumped up, fists clenching at her sides. “You can’t!” she yelled, eyes watering.

“It’s got too much demon blood, Sun-Hee. We can’t cover that up.” Celine’s voice was deliberate, leaving no room for argument.

“But, she was hers too. She’s Rumi’s sister.” Sun-Hee let out a sob, covering her mouth and turning away from the leader of the group. She couldn’t handle this. Losing Ryu was hard enough, she was her sister in everything but blood, and that was before they found out about… the twins. Sun-Hee couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility, protective over the last part of her friend that she had left. “We can’t just kill her.”

“We don’t have a choice. Rumi’s patterns are mild, they can be hidden. The other one? She’s…,” Celine trailed off. Her mind was running a mile a minute, already planning for the future. What they would say. The lies they would need to tell. “She’s dangerous.”

Celine turned suddenly, striding up to her junior, setting her hands on Sun-Hee’s shoulder just like she did when they were younger. When things weren’t so complicated. “I’m going to take Rumi home with me. I’ll raise her. You need to take that… thing, and you need to get rid of it.” Sun-Hee flinched, trying to back away, shaking her head vehemently, but Celine’s grip was strong, bruising. “Sun-Hee, I can only entrust this to you. That thing should not exist.” She tilted her head down, catching the eyes of the younger member. “You understand, right?”

Sun-Hee hesitated, eyes wide and glossy. Celine squeezed harder, nails digging into her skin, and the younger woman flinched. Sun-Hee nodded, her head slumping down as the weight of her duty settled over her. “I understand, Celine.”

“I only want what’s best for you. For Rumi,” Celine said, turning to the door, to the sound of crying and anguish. “Don’t let me down. For Ryu’s sake.” She left, silence filling the room like lead.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The forest was dark, and Sun-Hee hated it. She’d always hated the dark. When Ryu was alive, she would come into her room at night, and they would stay up late. They laughed and joked like sisters, dreaming about their futures, about crushes and families. Sun-Hee let out a bitter laugh, adjusting the small bundle in her arms gently. “So much for marrying a billionaire, Unnie,” she murmured under her breath. The bundle in her arms shifted, squirming gently and whimpering softly. She cooed, shushing the child softly.

Sun-Hee’s eyes filled with tears as she gazed down at the child. Behind the patterns, dark purple and splintering across the skin like shattered glass, behind the claws and the glowing eyes, she saw her friend’s face. She saw Ryu, giggling softly and blushing as she told Sun-Hee about the guy she had met, the look of nervousness as they got closer to sealing the Honmoon, the look of fear when Celine and her had found out who she had fallen in love with. The desperation, the anger, but also, the joy, happiness Sun-Hee had never seen on her friend’s face before. She looked down at this small child, the reflection of her parent’s love, and she sobbed.

She clutched the child close to her chest, her cries ringing through the forest like alarms. Pain like she had never known flooded her chest, and she knew she could not kill this child. This reflection of the best moments of her sister’s life. So, she cried. And when her tears had run out, fire replaced the pain in her chest.

Her eyes hardened, and she gently set the child on the ground. Summoning her daggers, she carefully slit her palm open, fresh blood falling onto the ground, the Honmoon glowing in response. “Gwi Ma,” her voice was iron and blood, anger and determination. The Honmoon shimmered violently, and a voice rang out in her ear.

“Never in all my life would I think a hunter would call upon me.” His voice was hard, but curiosity bled through. Sun-Hee could feel him, lurking just under the barrier, like a predator ready to pounce. “To what do I owe the honor, Sun-Hee of the Sunlight Sisters?”

Her jaw tightened. “I want to make a deal,” she grit out, voice steady despite the pounding in her chest. She was doing something incredibly stupid, she knew that. But if it meant the child would live, she would do anything.

A laugh, deep and mocking. “Really? A hunter selling her soul? For what? Want to bring your friend back from the dead?”

Sun-Hee flinched, glaring at the spot on the ground where her blood had fallen. A slight glow of purple shone through the usual soft blue. “No,” she muttered. “I want you to take her child.” She gestured to the small bundle on the ground, still squirming gently against the soft blanket. “Raise her, protect her, keep her safe. In return, I will give you my soul.”

“Hmm?” the voice muttered, shifting its attention to the bundle. “Interesting, I’ve never seen someone make a deal to protect a demon. Does that child mean that much to you?”

Sun-Hee nodded. “She means everything.” Her voice shook, eyes welling up again, but she would not cry. Not in front of him.

A deep, throaty chuckle. “Very well then, hunter. We have a deal.” Power surged around her, bright and blinding, and Sun-Hee had to shield her eyes against it. When she opened them, the child was gone. “I will raise the child as my daughter. She will be treated like royalty.”

Sun-Hee sagged in relief, her power and bravado leaving her, and she stumbled. She could already feel herself growing weaker. Her life force was already leaving her. She smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered, slumping to the floor.

“To thank a demon for killing you, you must really be crazy,” the voice muttered. Then it was gone. Sun-Hee collapsed against a tree, eyes tracing up to the sky. She saw the stars, shining brightly against the sky, and the Honmoon pulsed a comforting blue mixed with pink. She smiled.

Ryu’s daughters were safe, both of them. Sun-Hee closed her eyes, and the forest was silent.

Author Note: Not beta read, so don't judge! I am in grad school so I don't know how long it will take me to post updates or how many parts this will be. This is just a concept to see if people want to read.

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my-mixed-up-reposts · 6 days ago

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The Artist Who Lives for the Plot -🖋

Warning/s: Fem!Reader, Mild language/swearing, Still Chaotic��, Verbal bullying disguised as flirting, petty drama, reader still very much suffering (comically), Unwilling reverse harem, Reader is done with them all (not really), A teensy weeny angst,

[A/n]: Honestly, I don't feel too sure about this chapt but I had fun so it's a win. Enjoy, lovelies!💞

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, >Part 8<

You wake up to the worst sound imaginable.

Not your phone alarm. Not birds chirping. Not the faint hum of traffic or someone's obnoxious dog.

No. You wake up to a barrage of overlapping chaos.

BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!!

BWAAAAAAH. BWAAAAH.

COCK-A-DOODLE-FUCKING-DOO.

Your eyes snap open with the speed of someone who's just been told they're late to a final exam they didn't know they had. You sit up halfway, pillow lines still dented on your cheek. Brain foggy. Lips dry. Mood instantly ruined.

You blink once. Twice.

And mutter, hoarse and homicidal, "What the actual hell."

You glance at your phone on the nightstand. It's dark. No alarms going off. No calls. No sirens of doom.

Yet the sound is still going strong. Loud. Disrespectful. Echoing through the walls.

Grumbling, you swing your legs out of bed and drag yourself to the door like a zombie returning to the land of the vengeful. The noise gets louder as you approach.

You open your door and just stare. There they are. Right outside your room. Seven. Fucking. Alarm. Clocks. All of them different. All of them screaming.

There's a banana-shaped one that blinks with an obnoxious LED display.

A retro bell alarm that looks like it came straight from the underworld—complete with little devil horns. One is, why, duct-taped to a frying pan.

They're all lined up like a battalion of mechanical minions carrying out a coordinated psychological attack.

(You'd never guess Mystery helped place one of the clocks outside your door. He didn't care about the prank, he just really wanted you in the crowd.)

You just stand there, hair a mess, shirt slipping off one shoulder, processing whatever the hell Satan has in store for you again for surviving another day.

"Are you—kidding me?" You exhale through your nose before stomping forward and shutting each one off like you're defusing a bomb.

You don't even bother being gentle. They all get a slap or a swift flip. You swear the banana-shaped one whines on its way out.

Once the last one is silenced, the silence feels suspiciously loud. Like the calm before another storm.

You turn and grab your phone from the nightstand, about ready to choose violence. You don't even know which of them you're going to yell at first, but you're absolutely about to start swinging. Verbally. Maybe physically. Or artistically with ugly caricatures and shame posters.

You're already imagining it: each of their smug faces drawn with unflattering features. Huge ears. Crooked teeth. Jinu with a receding hairline. Tape them all around the house. Frame one above the toilet.

But then your phone lights up and you pause.

13 missed calls.

37 unread messages.

You blink then squint. "…They should just make a damn group chat at this point."

You scroll through the avalanche of chaos:

Romance Awake, princess? Destiny is calling. And by destiny, I mean me. I look hot today. Nothing new tho Try not to cry during the performance. Or do. I'll comfort you <3

Abby HEYYY BABE!! You coming or what??? If I don't see you, I'm posting that ugly pic I took of you sleeping on the couch.

Baby A voice message of him rapping over a beat made entirely of your recorded snores. ("This is art.," He said. You nearly choke on air.)

Mystery Hope to see you today :)

You stare at the smiley face. Cute.

And finally, Jinu. You pause at his message.

Jinu Jinu deleted a message Be there

You blink. "…What?"

No emojis. No punctuation. Just two words. You're not even sure if it’s a promise, a threat, or some kind of secret code.

He deleted a message before sending that, too. What did he write the first time? A poem? An incantation? A grocery list?

You reread it. "Be there."

Not I'll be there. Not See you soon. Just— Be there. Like a command from a prophecy. Did you summon him on accident?

You're 99% sure he didn't write this with thumbs. You've seen him struggle with a touchscreen before. He types with one finger. Like a grandpa. Staring with such concentration you half-expected the phone to burst into flames from sheer intimidation.

One time he got a notification that said Do Not Disturb, and he paused like it was a puzzle. "It says do not disturb... Should I knock first?"

Dead serious.

To be fair, the others are kind of weird too. They don't always get slang or certain references—like they missed a memo from 2005 to now.

Sometimes they’ll blink at words like "slay" or "rizz" like you spoke another language. And yet, somehow, they all still text leagues better than Jinu. Which is saying something.

Because Jinu… He texts like someone who's only heard of texting through folklore. You're convinced autocorrect gave up on him years ago.

And emojis? You saw him once try to drag a smiley face into the message like he thought it was a sticker.

At this point, you're not even sure the phone belongs to him. Could be a manager's. Could be cursed. Could belong to a demon pigeon with unlimited data. You wouldn’t be surprised.

Either way, you're saving the screenshot. For blackmail. Or for science.

Then you glance back at the seven clocks. Your rage returns in full.

From what you know, the boys don't own alarm clocks. Like, not once have you heard them ring before. Which begs the question:

Where the hell did these come from? Were they stacked away in a storage closet? Summoned from the void?

Is this some weird rich-kid tradition? Wake people up with designer alarm clocks and emotional trauma?

You pinch the bridge of your nose. You were going to brush your teeth first. Maybe slap on a face mask Romance has provided you. Pretend the day started normal. But then—

You see it. Something yellow taped to the wall outside your room. Large and bold letters. Bright. But you don't necessarily pay much attention to it.

Still groggy, you walk to the kitchen. Maybe if you remember, you'll get a good look at it eventually. You don't bother picking up the clocks. They can rot there.

You do, however, praise the boys for not putting them inside your room. Because if they had, one of them would've woken up with a sketch of themselves bald and crying. Framed.

You reach the kitchen, grab a glass, and pour yourself some water like you're trying to recover from war. That's when you spot the second flyer. Taped to the fridge.

You deadpan then shake your head. Finally, you decide to read it but with anger creeping.

And next to it, the most chaotic collective note you've ever seen:

SAJA BOYS

FREE CONCERT — TODAY @ NOON.

Come and capture our beauty! It'd be nice if you fall in love along the way (clearly Romance because he drew a little doodle of himself blowing a kiss) I'll see you there. (Mystery. It's not even a question or 'please' His text was much better...) You need more inspiration for your drawings. Better ones (Definitely Baby, because the last part was written with a glitter pen. He's the only one who likes to annoy you with it) And also to change your type. You need to witness history. (Jinu because it's FULL of arrogance) If you come, I'll let you take pics of me shirtless. You're welcome. (As if it's not already so obvious, it's Abby)

You don't know whether to laugh or strangle them.

Romance isn't wrong about their beauty, unfortunately. But the way his ego needs to be beaten with a stick is astounding.

Baby is clearly throwing shade at your art. Bold of him, considering he once got stuck in a folding chair for 5 minutes.

Jinu's line has you scowling. Change your type? What's that supposed to mean?! And what exactly is your type, huh?

You pause. Eyes flit to Abby's note. Hm. Maybe.

And Mystery… his is the most normal. Which is almost creepier. He wrote like he actually meant it. Which is somehow scarier than all the others.

Then your brain finally catches up. Those messages and the flyer.

Free concert.

SAJA BOYS.

TODAY.

You look at the clock on the microwave. 11:23 AM. You facepalmed. They didn't tell you last night.

They didn't mention this during dinner. Or while fighting over who left crumbs on the couch. Or when they bullied you into giving them attention at 1 fucking AM. (You were reading this fancomic and was at the good part, but of course!)

Damn it.

Did Jinu really let this whole thing happen? You had little belief on him. He may be insufferable like the rest, but he was at least smarter.

Mystery, too.

You bolt. Straight to the bathroom. Quickest shower of your life. Slapdash skincare. A swipe of lip tint so you don't look freshly resurrected.

You throw on the first halfway-decent outfit you can find, yank a cap over your head, shove your wallet and phone into your bag, and sprint like the building's on fire.

(You still haven't bought your own clothes. At this point, your wardrobe's just a rotating selection of the boys' stuff.)

Thank the heavens it's just one bus stop away. You'll let the air dry your hair— fuck, it's a bit chilly.

You grip the flyer tighter as you wait for the bus. You swear vengeance.

—

You arrive just as the crowd finishes forming, like some miracle child of speed and caffeine. You squeeze your way in, panting lightly, looking around as the music starts.

There was pink smoke at the middle. Right on time, you think. The saja boys appear with a synchronized dance.

Jinu steps forward and sings. You nearly choke.

His voice is smooth—clean, polished, almost… expensive. Like that feeling when you walk into a store and suddenly feel poor. That's what his voice sounds like. If only his personality wasn't so—

You don't know what hits you first. Their stage presence? Their aura? The fact that they actually look like idols in your eyes for the first time again?

Then Mystery takes over.

Oh. Oh no.

His voice is soft. Too soft. Gentle in a way that feels… wrong coming from him. You've heard him speak a few times before. He's got one of those low, nice voices you barely notice until he actually uses it. But this? This isn't just nice.

It's stunning.

A warm breeze after a long day. Cotton candy spun into a lullaby. Every syllable settles somewhere in your chest and refuses to leave. You blink, genuinely confused why your heartbeat feels louder all of a sudden.

You don't say anything, but your body betrays you. You stand straighter. Your grip on your phone tightens. You lean in.

Was this always in him?

You feel weirdly… proud. Like you just watched your dog roll over and recite Shakespeare. He's not your dog, obviously. That'd be weird.

But you've always treated him like one—quiet, observant, probably too smart, but still sort of harmless. And now he's got this voice? This voice that could easily seduce the stock market into crashing for him?

You gulp.

Adrenaline or admiration, you're not sure what's flooding your veins. Maybe both. Maybe something else you're not ready to name. But whatever it is, it doesn't stop.

Because right after him, Romance comes in and punches the mood sideways with a voice that fizzes like cola and sunshine. His vocal is similar to Mystery. Majestic. Heavenly. A goddamn deadly combo.

And then Baby crashes in with that stupid smirk and a rap flow that hits like a firework in the face. He's cocky, flashy, too much—and you eat it up. Against your will.

Abby backs him up. It was smooth, controlled, charming like he knows he is. Because he is.

You glance around like you need someone to witness this with you, but everyone's already too far gone.

You raise your phone. It's instinct. You start snapping pictures at lightning speed, ducking between heads, crouching for better angles like some desperate ninja mom at her kid's school performance.

You click your tongue in frustration. A better camera would be so nice right now. Stupid old phone. Why do you suddenly care about pixels?

This isn't even for blackmail. You just want to remember it. The moment you saw them not as the guys who ruined your peace and stole your (not really) couch, but as something else.

Performers. Artists. Stars.

Your eyes definitely lit up. You were lowkey fangirling. Very lowkey that you forgot about their real personalities for a moment.

This shit is good. So good that you almost screamed along with the crowd like someone possessed.

Then someone nudges your shoulder, acting all calm and cool but the smile on their eyes was so visible. "Hey."

You turn and spot her—tall, short-haired, wearing a black mask. Minji. Your face lights up even more. This day could never get any more better.

The two of you vibe wordlessly to the music, just copying the way how the boys moved their shoulders then laughing under your breath like it's your shared concert dream. Comfort, warmth. Pure friend vibes.

The song hits its final beat. The crowd cheers, feral. You and Minji scream a little too as Jinu speaks about a game show happening tonight.

And then poof. Pink smoke. Gone.

You blink. They vanished. Just like that. No trace. No one questions it because everyone was too focused on rambling and cheering about the new boyband.

Huh... something about that smoke feels familiar. Your eyes narrow a little.

Minji disturbs your spiraling as she sighed dreamily. "Oh my god, the hot boys vanished. I need all their names. I'm officially a fan. That pink long haired one? Mine."

You snort. She points at the flyer like it's sacred scripture. Then she turns to you, basically bombing you with questions like she had her system fixed.

"How've you been, though? After the fire and all? Where do you live now? I've got some clothes I can bring over. You still hate [color], right—"

Then your phone buzzes. More than once. Minju gestures for you to go on ahead since it seems like she also got an important text.

Jinu wee rr ou?

You squint your eyes as if the wording will magically fix itself. Did he type those words fast instead of taking his time?

An image of Jinu violently tapping his keyboard with one finger and crashing out cuz he's having a hard time came to mind. You snort but then you see those three dots appear.

—

Jinu where are you.

...No question mark? Just when you were thinking of replying, three dots appear again, then they quickly disappear.

Jinu 😄

That's much scarier. Just when you were getting a bad feeling, messages notified from the others boys as well.

—

Baby We said watch us not "watch us and bring your lover along so you could bond"

"What's he on about??" You mutter to yourself absentmindedly. He sounds like a bitter ex. And what? Lover???

Minji stares, wondering what's up because of the face you pulled.

Just when you're about to touch the 'back' button and check on the others, another message from him arrived.

Baby I bet he can't pull pink like I do.

You glanced at Minji, who also looked up from her phone and raised a brow. You pat her shoulder and she cursed at you despite not knowing what was happening. She just felt offended.

—

Romance Are you cheating on me??

"???"

Romance Just kidding You know better than that, right?

You do not know how to react to that. Or any of their messages.

—

You pause and stare at Mystery's mesage.

Mystery I thought you liked me best.

Your thumb hovers. Then lowers. Okay. What the hell does that mean.

Suddenly, the sweet one's acting like he's narrating the final act of your villain origin story. You don't know whether to be flattered, scared, or delete your entire online presence.

And as you're processing the messages you've read, your phone buzzes again— Of course. There's only one person whose message you haven't seen in this madness.

—

Abby So this is what we're doing now? Didn't realize being replaced was part of today's schedule.

Replaced??? By Minji??? Your literal girl best friend since middle school???

You stare at the screen like you're disintegrating. Like Thanos snapped his fingers and you were personally chosen to fade into dust.

You were going to choose peace. You really were. Turn off your phone, catch up with your girl, maybe eat something sweet and forget the world.

And then, Baby's message appears.

—

Baby Meet us here. [location] Unless you want us coming over and ruining your cute date :)

You freeze. They are unhinged. It's like they want to have a scandal right now, barely a breath past their debut.

—

Romance You should hurry btw! We're not stopping your favorite dog from waltzing back there😘

You blink as if an error has gone wrong with your system. Dog?

Does he mean—Mystery? That message really came from him???

You thought he was the tame one. The harmless one. The sweet, slightly offbeat guy who talked like whispers and moved like static. Sure, he creeped you out once or twice, but you chalked it up to the bangs. And the staring.

But now? Apparently he's the one you really need to keep on a leash. (Not that they all aren't but still)

One second you were floating, mesmerized by their performance, and the next, you're being reminded of who they 'really' are.

Or rather... how little you know.

—

Abby You should come on over now. We'll give you cake after we talk 💕

Talk? As if. You send a quick reply that you're on the way then shove your phone inside your bag.

You pull Minji into a hug so sudden she yelps. "You're the sweetest. This was amazing. I'll text you. Definitely. But I—uh, I gotta go now. You know. Evil emergency."

"Go, go." She laughs, clearly used to your dramatics but confused on what the last one meant. "I also need to do some work stuff at home. Be sure to chat!!"

You wave, backpedal, and disappear into the street. You're not sure whether to scold them or punch them when you arrive. Probably both.

...Probably.

—

It was a three-minute walk.

You didn't run—no. You're not some wide-eyed undergrad scrambling to avoid a professor's wrath. But that didn't mean you were strolling either.

Half of you thought, There's no way they'd risk their entire idol career over a misunderstanding, right?

The other half? Knew better than to underestimate five men with too much free time, too many pretty faces, and not enough impulse control.

You stepped inside the café. The moment you crossed the threshold, the air shifted—dense and heavy like fog before a storm. The lights seemed dimmer, the air colder, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

A staff member looked up, eyes locking with yours for a second too long before they went back to wiping the same spot on the counter. Their movements were smooth. Too smooth.

Like they were mimicking what a human might do, without fully understanding why. Something about their stillness tugged at the edge of your nerves.

No other customers in sight. Just you... and them.

You spotted all five instantly, seated around the largest table like it was some underground poker ring and you were walking into your own intervention. They felt different.

But you? You felt somewhat thrilled because the sight is so poster material. You almost forgot about the madness earlier, and almost told them to hold those poses still.

"Finally." Came a voice from behind you. You jolted—Baby's breath ghosting against your ear, his voice deceptively light like he needed to keep an act. "Our cute little artist has arrived."

You turned, startled. Since when did he get behind you? This was usually Mystery's role—haunting you like some brooding spirit. But he was seated, eerily composed beside Jinu, who sat dead-center like the leader of a particularly sexy cult.

Baby's tone was wrong. Still laced in sweetness, but it clung like spoiled syrup. He smiled like this was your doomsday.

Abby perked up next, flashing his usual grin. Only this time it didn’t reach his eyes. There was a glint there—something too sharp, too watchful. He stood and pulled a chair out for you like a gentleman, like a trap was about to be sprung.

"Princess." Romance greeted, stepping forward to take your hand like this was prom night and not the opening scene of a psychological thriller. "Mind telling us who the lucky guy is?"

You blinked as he gently guided you to sit. "…Huh?"

Baby dropped into the seat on your other side. Abby slid back behind you, and Romance sat to your right. Suddenly, you were flanked. Boxed in. Hands held, hair touched, like a very pretty hostage at a very chaotic court.

"Thought we had something special." Abby added with a teasing lilt that didn't quite hide the pressure behind his words. He twirled a lock of your hair between his fingers, smiling like he wasn't seconds away from biting.

Your brain stuttered, caught between is this a bit and am I being sacrificed.

Romance's thumb brushed your knuckles. His grin was still in place, perfect, sharp, dazzling—but for a second, just a blink, the edges of his irises caught the light wrong. A glint of gold. Not brown. Not hazel. Gold.

A flicker of something not quite human. And something disturbingly familiar.

The image stung. Not because it scared you. But because it reminded you of something.

Smoke. Sirens. Flames swallowing up your vision. And then: arms catching you. Holding you like glass. Eyes, glowing in the dark. Golden. That was the last thing you saw before collapsing.

But it stuck with you.

The same way certain panels stay burned in your mind from your favorite stories—the ones that made your chest ache, or your skin crawl, or both. And maybe you'd read too many of them.

Maybe your Webtoon-Manhwa-Wattpad-Manga-wired brain was running wild again. You did write one, after all.

Still. You knew tropes. Patterns. You had radar, and it was twitching like hell.

Your lips curled—barely. Just enough to tip the tension. You caught the exact moment Jinu's gaze narrowed, brows knitting like he noticed that flicker in you now. Spite. A little glint of mischief.

It was earned.

What kind of normal, functioning adult, human or not, wakes you up with seven alarm clocks outside your door like it's a horror movie?

Who tapes flyers around just to announce their new group's debut, as if you were their manager-slash-prisoner? As if you didn't need peace? Quiet? An ounce of sanity?

So fine. If they wanted to be weird? You could match that energy just fine. You've done it several times.

Mystery finally spoke. His voice cut through the cafe's low murmur, velvet-wrapped and ice-cold. "What's his name, [Y/n]?"

The room didn't go silent. But it felt like it did.

You tilted your head, playing it cool. Then you blinked at them. "Why do you wanna know?"

The question wasn't naive. It was a challenge. A dare wrapped in sugar.

Baby let out a low, short laugh beside you, slinging his arm casually across the back of your chair. "Nothing much." He hummed.

And you? You just smiled. Because spite looked good on you.

"Sure." You replied flatly, eyes flicking toward the too-casual arm, the possessive grip of Romance still intertwined with your fingers, and the sudden weight of Abby's hands resting on your shoulders like a crown of warning.

To you, this was amusing. To them, this was heresy.

If this was meant to scare you, it wasn't working. If anything, you were disappointed no one had brought roses or fake blood.

"You're not taking this seriously." Jinu said quietly. It was the first time he’d spoken since you sat down.

His lips were slightly pushed forward, like something had hit a nerve and he didn't know how to play it off. It threw you off.

You blinked at him. Was Jinu… pouting?

Not in the theatrical, deliberate way Baby did it. Not like Mystery, who used silence like a knife, or Romance, who turned guilt into performance art. No—this was different.

Jinu sat a little too still. His brows were drawn, and for someone so good at putting on a face, this felt off script. And somehow, that was worse.

Because you found this side of him cute and charming.

Your brain stalled. Was he actually upset? Or was this another mask—some guilt tactic he hadn't tried yet?

You narrowed your eyes. "Don't look at me like that." You said finally.

He didn't reply. Just gave a tiny shrug, like he was trying to pretend he hadn't reacted at all. But his silence said more than any smirk ever could.

You refused to let it rattle you.

"It feels like I'm in some reverse harem murder mystery." You say coolly while cocking your head. "Is there going to be a confession or a stabbing next? I just need to emotionally prepare."

Romance let out a short huff—could've been a laugh, could've been a threat. His grip on your hand tightened briefly, and you weren't sure if it was comfort or a warning. Abby was the only one trying to understand you just said.

Mystery stared at you like he was about to say something, then thought better of it. Baby, meanwhile, leaned forward like a shark sniffing blood.

And then, quietly, Jinu blinked. "…Reverse harem?" Sometimes you were a mystery like, well, Mystery.

The others froze.

Mystery goes into a deep thought. "…Is that one of your human cults?"

Romance tilted his head, puzzled. "Is that like a summoning technique?"

You blinked. Wait. They didn't know what it meant?

Baby was already pulling out his phone behind his back, whispering, "How do you spell 'reverse harem'? Like… with an H?"

They all reacted at once—blinking, smirking, looking away. Not one of them gave you a straight answer. Just the usual brand of cryptic silence.

"You could say that." Abby said lightly, still standing behind you. His voice was smooth, almost amused. "But let's not forget something important."

Then his hand settled on the crown of your head. Gentle, sure. But his tone carried something you couldn't quite name. Something that made your skin prickle beneath the contact.

You didn't flinch, though. You just sat there, perfectly still, like that was enough of a response.

There was a crackle in the air. That kind of dramatic tension that made you want to either bolt or clap sarcastically like you were in a play.

You didn't bother turning to look at Abby. Instead, you went with your usual defense: Sarcasm.

Why were they all so pressed about you hanging out with a guy? Not that you were, but still. The energy was just weird.

"Oh yeah?" You said, matching his tone. Your head tilted slightly, mock-patient. "That sounds totally believable coming from five guys cornering me in a café like this is a deleted scene from You."

The silence snapped tight that you could practically hear the chair creak.

And then casually, like you were just ordering, you said, "Her name's Minji, by the way."

All five froze. They didn't like that mischievous glint in your eyes though.

Romance, still holding your hand, said slowly, "...Her?"

You nodded. "Minji. That's who I was with. You know. We were catching up since it's been a while. She said she'd bring me clothes. So romantic. Truly scandalous behavior. I should be locked up."

There was a beat.

Abby blinked twice. "Wait. You were with a girl?"

The atmosphere flipped like someone hit a reset button. You almost let out a cackle.

Romance dropped your hand like it burned. Baby exhaled, slumping into his chair like the weight of the world disappeared on his shoulders.

Abby gave your shoulder a gentle pat as if telling you "good job for not having a man," before finally taking his seat. You think you're reading into it too much. Either way, you still didn't know how to feel about this whole thing.

Mystery, ever the subtle one, leaned back and stared at the ceiling like he hadn't just spent the last ten minutes telepathically interrogating you.

Jinu just stared. He blinked slowly, his pout gone, replaced with quiet betrayal. "…You could've just said that earlier."

You point your finger, dragging it on each of them with an annoyed smile. "You could've asked like normal people."

"We're not normal people." Baby said cheerfully, eyes now half-lidded. There it was, his grin, now back to being lazy and wicked. (like him)

Something about the way he said it made you pause. You weren't sure if he meant it like a joke, or if there was a punchline buried somewhere darker. The others laughed.

You huffed, eyes narrowing like you were staring down a bunch of misbehaving kittens and puppies. "Oh, believe me." You said flatly, "I know."

Then you turned back to Jinu, who smiled again—and it caught you off guard, again. He looked… relieved. Actually, they all did. With Mystery right beside him, arms crossed but shoulders loose, even he seemed to have calmed down.

That same tension from earlier, the one that had been buzzing under their skin was gone. They looked… oddly at peace now.

And that's when your brain started doing the thing.

You squinted at them. Just a little.

'Okay.' You thought, switching to detective mode like some main character in a show or comic. 'This could be two things.'

You said the thought out loud before you could stop yourself. "Either you guys are jealous… or you've unlocked some weird older-brother instinct and decided to collectively ruin my social life."

Abby scrunched his nose. "Older what—?"

Jinu glanced at the latter and scowled. "I don't like that one."

"Brother?" Mystery echoed with pure offense, as if the word burned his tongue.

Baby side-eyed you as if you personally offended him (you did). "What kind of tragic label is 'like a sister'?"

Romance basically facepalmed. "Oh, princess..."

They all pulled faces like you'd just called them your uncles. You blinked. Stared. Blinked again.

Your mouth was formed into an 'o'. "…So it's the first one, huh."

Oh.

Oh no.

You stared at them for a long moment, letting your thoughts spiral into dangerous, unsupervised territory.

'Five guys. Coordinated tension. One literally standing protectively behind me like we're seconds away from a fight scene. This is… this is Chapter 46 of every Reverse Harem Café AU I've ever read.'

You tilted your head, purely for science.

Your brain clicked the trope boxes like it was taking attendance. You blinked slowly, stunned. 'Am I the female lead right now?'

The jealous childhood friend.

The quiet one who stares too long.

The suspiciously flirty muscle-head.

The polite one hiding knives behind his smile.

The one who disappears then shows up exactly when you need him.

The thought hit you so hard, you actually laughed—right in front of them. They all turned, confused. You didn't care.

You threw your hands in the air like you'd just won a game show. "HA! I knew that manhwa addiction would pay off someday."

They ignored you. A mistake on their part because it only made you more annoying. Though they did find that smile on your face adorable, so maybe a little less annoying.

"Well, maybe next time," You said sweetly, clasping your hands together with faux innocence, "try sending a normal text before forming a jealousy-powered boyband intervention, huh?"

Abby stood up from his seat and went back to standing from behind you. He leaned forward, his arms draping heavily over your shoulders. His grin was dangerous, teasing. Like he was planning to match your energy or challenge you on whatever you've started.

"Don't be angry, sweetheart." He cooed. "Should I give you a kiss to make it even?"

You didn't even look at him—you just shoved his face away the second you caught the movement from the corner of your eye.

"Quit it!"

Abby only laughs and wraps his muscular arms around your shoulders now instead of letting it hang. He sticks his face close to yours, and you only huff. His muscles felt nice.

"Oh, but we need to make it up to you." Romance joins in with a dramatic sigh as he holds your hand back again. He brings it to his cheek and looks at you with doe eyes, attempting to be cute.

Your brow twitched. Pretty boys and their...well, pretty faces. Attempting to keep a cool front, you only stare at him with a dead look. That made Romance react like he got his heart break.

From beside you, Baby snorts. Then he reached his hand out, his turn on playing with your hair between his fingers as he smiled lazily.

On the other side of the table, you could feel Mystery's gaze on you, like he also wanted to do whatever the other three were doing.

Meanwhile, Jinu just sighed, defeated while his cheeks were lightly shaded in pink. He felt embarrassed for doing all of that and yet the boys seemed completely fine.

Moments later, Mystery stood up and Romance smiled at you charmingly. "Let's get you that cake, princess."

Before anyone could answer, Mystery had vanished—only to return seconds later, balancing two mismatched plates with all the flair of a stage magician. He placed them in front of you with careful precision.

One was a neat slice of strawberry shortcake. The other, a rich chocolate ganache that looked like it had six layers and trust issues.

"If none of them is your favorite," He said, tone light and gaze oddly focused, "we'll just order more."

He looked... expectant. Not smug or impatient, just waiting.

You stared at him then glanced at the others who were now on their own little worlds. They didn't comment, didn't snort, didn't tease. No one said a word.

You took the cake quietly and said, "Thank you." You don't know it was your eyes playing a trick on you, but it felt like Mystery lit up. You lift your fork and just took bite.

It was good. Really good. But that wasn't what had your brain stuttering.

Mystery was watching you like you might smile or praise him. Like a dog sitting patiently after learning a new trick. You were weirdly touched by that.

So touched that you almost forgot—

Oh, right. You were cornered five-to-one ten minutes ago like the final girl in a twisted boyband horror short.

You stared at Jinu dead in the eye. Mostly because he literally sat across you. "I deserve some nice coffee as well."

He laughs but doesn't say some stupid remark that'll result in both of you clashing.

And just like that, the mob boss tension disappeared. Romance started asking about performance feedback like he hadn't tried to scare you into confessing your feelings.

Abby went back to poking your cheek. Baby was plotting something in silence, scribbling little doodles on your napkin with a stolen pen.

You had just taken another bite when Jinu, with no transition at all, leaned forward. "...But you did like the performance, right?"

You glanced up slowly, unbothered, chewing in serene silence as you reached for your coffee with the grace of a noblewoman preparing to demolish a council of fools.

One pinky in the air, a faint hum of pleasure as the bitter warmth hit your tongue. It was giving CEO of Pretending She Wasn't Betrayed by Her Roommates This Morning.

Before you could so much as blink dramatically, Baby slid toward you with the ease of someone who had no concept of personal space or shame. He reached out, flicked your chin just slightly to tilt your face his way.

"Be honest." His voice dipped to that dangerously charming register. Classic Baby.

Saying you weren't affected by his action would be a big fat lie. But you were committed to this bit—stoic expression, deadpan delivery, the art of psychological warfare disguised as nonchalance. The calm and cool font was engaged. Bolded. Italicized.

And can you guess who didn't look too happy? Obviously, the evil Baby! He retreated with a pout that deserved to be painted in oils and hung in a museum.

But you know damn well he'll keep trying to get some kind of reaction out of you. And it won't just be him. Romance and Abby are both in it too.

You caught on it ever since it was your third day at work. They were trying a little too hard with those lines for getting a peak at your sketchbook.

You almost let that evil smile slip as the memory danced in your head. Instead, you crossed one leg over the other and gave them a look. One that could silence a boardroom.

"The vocals," You began, voice steady, tone measured. "were perfect."

Silence. Like a pin-drop could be dramatic enough to underscore what you just said.

"I mean—perfect." You repeated, like it wasn't clear the first time. "Stable, clean, stupidly smooth. And don't even get me started on the harmonies."

You tilted your head slightly, as if genuinely baffled. "Who even arranged that? Who gave you the audacity to slap me in the face with that bridge?"

Your eyes narrowed like you were reliving war flashbacks in high-definition Dolby Atmos. "You blended falsetto like that in broad daylight. Like the sun was out. No warning. No remorse."

Now you were off. Hands gesturing wildly, like punctuation. You weren't critiquing anymore, you were testifying.

"The song is literally contagious. Like I'm gonna be brushing my teeth tonight and then suddenly—bam—chorus in my head. And not even the annoying part, like, the good part. The kind that makes me pause and go, 'Damn, this goes kinda hard.'"

Your words sped up, your voice carried, a mix of disbelief and sheer pride tangled together. "The fact that that's your debut? No. No, I'm actually mad. That's criminal. That's not fair to the rest of the industry. Someone call the authorities."

You didn't even notice the five boys sitting in stunned silence, watching you like you were the sun and they were the last grapes in a drying vineyard.

"You set the bar. Now keep it there," You said, with a grin that made their hearts stutter. "No pressure."

For a moment, everything around them slowed—filtered through a dreamy haze. A soft warmth bloomed in their chests. You beamed at them like they were the sun, and every last one of them folded like wet paper.

Their glowing eyes dimmed down to a soft light. Their shoulders relaxed. Cheeks flushed (some visibly, some very much not—thankfully).

The tension from the past week—the suspicion, the sketchbook incident, the weirdness of being seen but not impressed—all of it melted away.

Mystery blinked, lips parted just slightly. Romance tilted his head like a lovestruck deer. Baby forgot how to be cocky. Abby looked at you with such a tenderness, like he didn't mean to, but couldn't help it.

And lastly, Jinu. He looked away, like if he didn't, he might say something stupid. Something like "Say it again." Something like "Please."

She's proud of us?

She's proud of us.

It was the kind of moment you'd see in a manhwa: pink sparkles, big eyes, twinkles, soft inner monologues about how you never expected this human to shine like this, how your words burned like gospel in their cursed little hearts.

And then—

You whipped your phone out like a weapon. The filter shattered.

"Also, look at these." You said casually, pulling up a gallery of photos. "I got all your angles. Yes, despite the crowd. Because apparently I'm just built different." You turned the screen to them and began scrolling.

Click. Click. Click.

You scrolled with purpose. "Look at that lighting on Jinu. Look at Baby's jawline. I didn't even try. It just happened. Like a gift. From God."

"You took these?" Baby asked, leaning in like he was seeing forbidden treasure and not exactly minding those last words.

"Obviously." You replied, smug. "You guys photograph ridiculously well. Like, it's actually sickening. Here— this one? Frameable. This one? Album cover. This one? Abby looks like he just won a lawsuit."

Abby blinked. Then slowly, a grin appeared on his lips. "…Huh."

Their bruised egos from earlier were rapidly being coddled into shape, poked, fluffed, and draped in compliments.

One by one, the demons started recovering—first from the gut-punch of sincerity, now from the onslaught of praise delivered with zero hesitation and far too much accuracy.

And maybe, just maybe... they were falling. Harder than they meant to. Even demons weren't immune to being seen.

You seemed genuinely pleased. Content. A little too content. Because suddenly, mid-scroll, it hit you. You'd just complimented them. Hard. And there was no taking it back.

Eyes wide, cheeks warm, you slammed the phone down like it burned you, and downed the rest of your coffee like it was the antidote. No way you were leaving a single drop.

Everything here was expensive, like pay-for-the-air-they-breathe expensive, and you weren't about to let embarrassment make you broke and flustered.

Which is why you stabbed your fork into the cake like it personally betrayed you, like it had the power to turn back time and chose not to, and then shoved it into your mouth like it owed you silence. The sweetness muffled the mess inside your chest.

Then, with your cheeks full and a mouthful of regret, you stood.

"Am momom." (I'm going home.)

You announced it like a threat, not a declaration. Not a goodbye. It was the verbal equivalent of flipping a table and storming out.

The boys blinked, visibly processing, until the full image of what just happened finally hit.

"Wait—wait—Did you see that??" Jinu's voice cracked mid-sentence, pointing dramatically at the empty space where you stood like he was in a courtroom presenting evidence. "Was she—was she blushing? I need confirmation. Was that what I saw?"

Abby, who was still frozen, slowly nodded like he'd just witnessed a miracle. "She's blushing."

Romance's voice went up an octave as he smacked Baby's arm with the back of his hand. "Someone take a picture. Take it now. Document this. For the archives. For me."

"You don't have to say it twice." Baby was already pulling out his phone, practically glowing. "Zooming in. Enhancing. Immortalizing."

Mystery didn't move. Just sipped his drink slowly, like a smug little dog. "Cute." He murmured. Like it wasn't earth-shattering. Like it didn’t knock the wind out of his chest too.

You didn't dare look back. You were already marching past tables and gasping waitstaff, your face hot enough to cook a second slice of that overpriced cake on your cheeks.

Dignity? Gone. Unraveling behind you like toilet paper stuck to your shoe in a storm. And behind you? Absolute chaos.

They scrambled like ducks in sneakers, voices overlapping like a badly edited group vlog.

You told them to shut up, and to grow up. You even spun around once with your hands out like you were casting a silence spell—but it only made them louder.

They trailed behind you like lost puppies, boy band edition. One of them might've been humming the chorus of their own song just to mock you. One kept trying to peek at your face. One was definitely recording.

They had you now. And they weren't letting up anytime soon.

—

You all made it home by 3PM.

But, unfortunately for you, the teasing didn't stop. You lasted three minutes. Maybe four. Then you locked yourself in your room and left the clocks by the door, a silent declaration that you were done for the day.

They were still there, of course. Hovering. Loud. Voices echoing down the hall as they rehashed every single compliment they'd overheard about themselves.

"I bet she's fallen in love."

"She said we set the bar."

"It's to be expected."

"Did you see the way she smiled at me?"

"She smiled at us."

They were basking. Absolutely basking. In your words, your praises, your sincerity—the kind that made their egos swell three sizes too big.

And yet, an hour later, they were gone.

You heard the sound of shuffling. Then a chorus of voices filtered through your locked door:

"Bye, princess~"

"Be sure to watch the game show."

"Later, sunshine."

"Don't miss us too much."

"Be careful when cooking."

Half-hearted sincerity, full-hearted teasing. Once the coast was clear and minutes had passed without a single creak on the floorboards, you cracked your door open and scrambled to the fridge.

The moment the fridge light hit your face, it was go time.

While they had been going on and on about the mystical beauty of your words, you'd been scrolling through quick recipes—tabs upon tabs of dishes, ranging from cute Western snacks to Korean comfort food.

The place was packed, courtesy of Jinu's overzealous restocking habits. Gochujang? Still there. Still deadly. You weren't touching it tonight. Only Baby could survive that volcanic mess, and last night's dinner was proof.

...Though why did it seem like it's been touched? You shrug. Maybe it's just you.

You laid out ingredients like a general planning battle. Rice balls? Sausages? Maybe tiny tteok skewers. There was enough for a feast, but time was tight. No clue when they'd be back. You had to be quick. Efficient.

And maybe still a little petty.

You eyed the chili flakes. Then the jalapeños. Then the small red bottle labeled 사망 소스 ("Death Sauce"). Baby's dish was getting a little love tap from all three.

He deserved it. Kind of.

As the pot simmered and you stirred his portion with the gloved hands of a vengeful chef, you glanced at the tablet propped beside the stove. The game show was live.

There they were. Wearing pink. With bibs. Their names printed in bright, kindergarten letters.

You didn't even have time to process how dumb they looked before the screen zoomed in on Baby, dead center, engaged in a hot sauce chugging contest with the co-host.

The host was red, teary-eyed, visibly suffering. Baby, on the other hand, looked like he'd just had a sip of water. No sweat. Just clearly enjoying what he was chugging.

He stared into the camera and said, in the most monotone voice possible, "Goo goo ga ga."

You blinked. Looked at the food you were making for him. Then back at the screen. "...Huh."

For a moment, you had doubts. But you kept cooking anyway. Maybe this wasn't a prank. Maybe it was a challenge.

Just as you started plating the sausages, neatly spelling out congrats in toothpicks and ketchup—Jinu's voice rang from the tablet.

"We have a special guest joining us tonight!"

Your ears perked up.

"Please welcome… Huntrix!"

You nearly dropped the chopsticks.

In all-black leather, platform boots, belts, spikes, and a very clear sense of dominance, the girls strutted into the spotlight. Their punk aesthetic slayed, as usual.

Rumi waved, animated and glowing. "We just wanted to stop by and congratulate our hoobaes on their debut and—"

"And, of course." Jinu cut in, voice booming. "Play games with us!!"

You snorted, cleaning up as fans on the livestream started chanting a phrase that made your brain stutter.

"In the balls! In the balls! In the—"

You didn't want context. You wanted peace. And just as if universe was playing a prank with you again, you heard this sound. Teeth on rubber. A horrible squeak.

You turned back toward the tablet just in time to see Huntrix sliding down a bright plastic slide—in leather. You winced on their behalf.

Then came the showdown. Apparently they were bowing. Just… bowing.

"Ours."

Back and forth, deeper each time, torsos folding like they were jointless. A fight of respect, taken to theatrical levels. The boys were too flexible.

Getting one last look, you finally broke. You laughed then looked at the dishes you've prepared. You're already imagining the faces they'll pull. And obviously the playful, teasing things they'd say.

You can't wait...

—

How many dishes could a single human make?

You didn't know. But judging by the spread you'd laid out on the dining table—soup, stir-fry, the tiny sausages, a roasted chicken you somehow revived from the depths of your freezer, noodles, a tray of sides, and even a few last-minute desserts.

You were starting to think maybe you weren't entirely human. Or at the very least, possessed.

With the last dish set down, you plopped onto the couch like your legs gave out beneath you. Ten minutes. That's how fast you'd moved. Like The Flash if he was fueled by stress and soy sauce.

You picked up your phone and scrolled, checking in on your own webtoon story. Maybe the comments would distract you. Maybe you'd reply to a few readers or sketch a bit of the next panel—

Twenty minutes later, your inbox pinged. Commissions. You blinked at the numbers. Huh. That could pay off the electric bill. Maybe even your crippling embarrassment from earlier. So you typed up a few polite replies, discussed rates, then locked in a few clients.

An hour in.

You sank deeper into the couch, fan clicking in lazy rotations overhead, and tapped on a link you saved from last night. A fancomic. Huntrix-based—obviously. The names were tweaked, but you could tell.

Mira was now Mina. Zoey became Zella. Rumi turned into Rue.

The story had you biting back a grin, heart doing somersaults. You laughed a little too loudly at one part and had to muffle your mouth with your hand.

Fifteen minutes flew by like nothing.

You curled up on the couch, knees hugged to your chest, your old sketchbook perched on your lap—the one you'd yanked from the fire, instead of the new ones Romance bought you. This one had history after all...

Jinu returned it to you last night, and by that you mean by 2 AM in the morning (Of course you were still awake). You didn't like the smug look on his face when he said, "We can always take it back. Part of the agreement after all."

You flipped through the pages, half-smiling. There they were. Doodles of the boys from your first few days working staff—messy caricatures drawn in pure spite.

You stifled a laugh. God, you were mad back then. Some pages later though… things softened, and so did your gaze.

Your pencil hovered above the page, tapping lightly. Then it moved. Fresh lines formed as you drew Jinu's latest expression burned into your brain—irritated, smug, and just a little pouty when you teased him earlier.

You added a dramatic cape to his stick-figure form. "Mr. I-Know-Everything" was written in bold above him. You snorted.

But your hand didn't stop. You drew them all again. Just the way you saw them earlier this week. Softer.

It caught you off guard, honestly. The warmth in your chest. The ache of missing something that hadn't even been gone long. You caught yourself glancing at the door between strokes, like they'd walk in any second.

They didn't.

Your eyes flicked to the untouched food. You set the sketchbook aside, stretched your legs, and made your way to the kitchen.

If they were going to be late, fine. But they weren't going to eat cold dinner on your watch. You turned on the stove, heating up the pans with a quiet sigh.

Any minute now.

They probably stopped for a break. Maybe they got caught in traffic. Maybe they were—

You stared at Baby's plate.

After a beat, you reached over and sprinkled a small handful of chili flakes. Just a little more heat, you told yourself. He could take it. He liked the drama anyway.

Five more minutes.

You returned to your desk and pulled out your tablet. You found yourself sketching Huntrix—again. They did appear on the show today, and while you didn't expect it, it made you stupidly, ridiculously happy.

The boys deserved it. And with this exposure, they'd only climb higher.

Another hour passed.

Then another. You were still alone. You stood quietly and went to the kitchen again.

This time, you didn't cook or draw. You cleaned. Slowly at first, then faster. More methodical. Scrubbing. Wiping. Rearranging the fridge. Deep cleaning the sink. Organizing the spices alphabetically.

You didn't stop. Not until your shoulders ached and your fingers were red from the water.

You weren't sure how much time had passed. Just that the silence was thick now. And your thoughts had started to grow claws.

Trying to shake them off, you grabbed a towel, dried your hands, cracked your back with a wince, and walked toward the living room to pack up the uneaten food. Maybe bed would feel better. Maybe if you curled up and closed your eyes—

You stopped.

They were there. All of them.

Right there in the doorway, like they'd been standing for some time now. You didn't hear the door open. You didn't hear footsteps. Just… presence.

Their eyes widened as they stared at you.

Your hair was a mess. You probably had flour on your cheek or something. The food was still steaming faintly. Everything smelled like home.

You blinked, glancing between them… then to the table… then back to them again.

"…Err," You said, clutching the towel awkwardly, "Surprise?"

It came out like a question. Or a punchline. No one laughed. They just stared.

Then, Mystery moved.

Silently, he crossed the space and reached for your hands—fingers red from too many rounds with hot water and steel scrubbing pads. His palms were cold when they wrapped around yours.

For a moment, nothing. His hair still covered his eyes. You couldn't see his expression. But the way he held your hands, thumbs brushing gently over your knuckles like he was… worried—it told you everything.

"Idiot." He muttered, the insult barely audible. Soft. Like the word had stopped meaning anything cruel the second he said it.

Romance was next. He crouched by the table, inspecting the dishes like they were priceless art. "You roasted a whole chicken." He said, like it personally offended him. Then his voice dipped. "You didn't even… eat any, did you?"

You shook your head, too embarrassed to make any kind of witty remark.

He stood and turned, eyeing your red fingers again. "I'll get you hand cream tomorrow." He said, unusually focused. "And gloves. And a proper ladle, that one in the sink looked like it had been in a war—"

"You look like you've been in a war." Baby deadpanned from behind him.

But it didn't come with his usual sharpness. No drawl. No smirk. He wasn't even looking at you when he said it—he was watching the chili flakes on his plate, eyes wide. "You remembered I like it spicy." He mumbled.

He didn't sound like he was joking.

You let out a tired laugh—awkward, small. "I thought it'd be funny to give you stomach ulcers."

"Right." Baby said, poking your cheek as he remembered the scene from how it was puffed with the cake you shoved there. "Hilarious. Deadly love. Classic." He grinned.

Abby was leaning on the back of the couch, arms crossed. His gaze softened as you swayed slightly on your feet. "Sit down before you fall down." He muttered, voice uncharacteristically low.

You flashed him an animated smile. "I'm fine—"

"Sit."

You sat.

Jinu hadn't said a word this whole time.

He stayed by the door, watching, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. He looked like he didn't know where to step without cracking the floor beneath him. Like he wasn't sure if he deserved to be in this room right now.

Then slowly, almost cautiously, he walked over. He didn't touch you. Didn't say much, just… sat beside you then pulled one of the plates closer to you.

"I'll serve you." He said, voice quieter than you'd ever heard it. "Just… stay still."

You blinked. "What, no snark?" You asked, tone a little playful now. You'd recovered slightly, but the room was still thick with something strange. If you didn't break this tension, you might start info-dumping about fun facts just to escape it.

"No," Jinu replied back instantly. "Not today."

You stayed quiet.

The table creaked as the rest joined in. Plates were filled. Drinks passed around. It was domestic. It was warm. It felt like something normal people did.

And for five demon boys who weren't supposed to have hearts, or homes, or humanness left to give—this moment became something terrifying.

Because it meant something.

Baby chewed slower than usual, side-eyeing your tired frame every three seconds. He didn't say much more. But his foot brushed yours under the table once. Just once. Like he couldn't help it.

Mystery wouldn't stop glancing at your hands, then towards the kitchen like he was plotting to find a way to destroy every cleaning supply you owned.

Romance tried to keep it light, throwing small jokes about the game show earlier and how cute it was on how you used those sausages to write 'congrats', but every time your laugh faded too quickly, his smile did too.

Abby… kept watching Jinu. His gaze flickering between you and him.

And Jinu? He looked like someone had removed all the walls he spent decades building. And he didn't know how to put them back up.

Because as much as he hated this guilt, this slow-burning dread crawling under his skin, he knew what it meant.

You were never supposed to do this. To cook for them. To care. You weren't supposed to look like home.

Because if you ever found out what they really were—what they were meant to do—

You'd never smile at them like this again.

A breath—soft, uneven. Could've been Mystery beside you, or Baby exhaling through his nose after another silent bite. You didn't look to check.

You blinked twice, and then it happened. "Skrrk."

A sound escaped you—somewhere between a laugh, a snort, and a dying bird. Your hand flew up, slapping over your mouth too late.

Everyone froze. Five demons. Five apex predators. All staring at you like you'd just sprouted antlers and levitated. Eyes wide. Blinkless and silent.

You tried. Genuinely, you did. But the more you fought it, the harder it hit. Your laugh cracked through the room.

Not a polite giggle. Not the soft, sweet kind you use around strangers or customers. No, this was the feral, gasping, body-hiccuping kind. Like your soul had tripped over something on the way out.

"Oh my god." You choked through it, swiping at your face even though there weren't tears. "Why do you all look like you just found out I have a terminal illness? I made food. Not a funeral speech."

There was a beat.

Mystery, seated just inches from your left, tilted his head with the exact expression of someone watching a kettle boil over. His voice was low. Careful. "Are you okay?"

Like if you weren't, he'd need a containment spell.

Across the room, Romance blinked. Once and slowly. "She's snapped."

"She's always been like that." Baby muttered through another mouthful, tone flat—but his eyes stayed on you. Warily. Like he expected the laughter to evolve into weeping or maybe spontaneous combustion.

To your right, Jinu didn't say a word. He leaned back on the couch with his usual unbothered slouch, legs crossed, chin tilted just enough to look cool.

But you noticed the twitch in his fingers. The subtle glance he shot toward you, like he was afraid words might ruin this… whatever it was.

And then Baby stood. He didn't say anything, just vanished into the kitchen like he needed a tactical retreat. The moment held its breath.

Until, from down the hall:

"…She organized the spice rack."

A pause.

"Alphabetically." He added, reappearing in the doorway like he'd just uncovered an ancient secret.

Five heads swiveled toward you.

"Why." Jinu asked, slow and ominous, like you'd committed a war crime.

"I got bored!" You said, throwing up your hands, still a little red from hours of chopping and scrubbing. "And I didn't plan to! I was looking for paprika and then there were, like, three garlic powders just sitting there all smug and disorganized, and it… spiraled, okay?"

Romance clutched his chest like he'd been shot. "I'd die for you."

Jinu made a face. Somewhere between get help and unfortunately, I understand.

"I would!" Romance pressed, gesturing grandly. "You're telling me she did all this and your first thought wasn't 'wow, she's definitely into me'?"

You narrowed your eyes. Hard.

Romance leaned closer with a wink. "Say the word and I'll pose shirtless in front of the fridge light. Bring your sketchpad."

From across the room, Abby stretched. Deliberately. His shirt rode up with the grace of a man who knew exactly what he was doing. "I think she'd prepare something much more." He said, voice all lazy warmth. "She's got a good eye."

Unbelievable.

And then, without a word, Mystery lifted a spoon. Nudged it gently toward your lips.

You stared. "…You're feeding me my own cooking?"

He nodded. "You made it. You deserve to enjoy it."

His voice was low again. Too soft. Too honest. It unsettled something in your chest, but you were more caught off-guard by the quiet confidence in the way he held the spoon, the steady look behind his fringe.

Like he knew exactly what he was doing. And he did. That much was clear when you opened your mouth, just slightly, and he gently fed you the bite like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Like you did this every day. Like he'd always belonged close to you.

You didn't miss the way his fingers lingered on the handle a little too long, the barest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth when you chewed and nodded slowly.

And when you reached up to ruffle his hair, like it was routine, like you couldn't help yourself, he leaned into your hand with quiet satisfaction, eyes fluttering shut.

A hum vibrated softly in his throat. Pleased.

From the other side of the table, chaos stirred.

Abby exhaled through his nose, slow and sharp, like he'd just watched someone commit a crime in front of him. "Favoritism is wild these days." He muttered.

Baby didn't choke on a grape. He picked one from the bowl and stared at it. Stared at it like it had personally offended him.

Then, slowly, deliberately, he popped it into his mouth—crunching down like it was your heart he was chewing on. His expression was unreadable, save for the slight twitch at the corner of his eye.

"Of course it's him." He muttered, deadpan. "Why wouldn't it be."

He didn't look at you. He didn't need to. The tone said it all.

Romance, beside him, huffed in the same breath. "Favoritism." He declared under his breath, leaning back with the same grace as a kicked puppy. "I gift art supplies and pour my soul into canvases, and what does he do? He tilts his head and speaks gently."

"Tragic." Baby added dryly, arms crossing. "Guess we all need to learn to wag our tails more."

Across from them, Mystery blinked once, as if he knew the scrutiny was there—but chose peace.

He offered the spoon again. You accepted it with a half-laugh, too endeared for your own good.

Your hand reached up, fingers naturally running through his hair in a lazy pat. He leaned into it without shame. Like it was normal. Like you were normal. Like none of this made the tension in the room go nuclear.

Meanwhile, Mystery remained perfectly still, cheek tilted against your palm, his expression unreadable beneath his bangs—though you were sure he was soaking in every second of their suffering.

And then, from your other side, Jinu moved.

Elbow propped behind you, posture loose but placed, eyes half-lidded like he wasn't watching every breath you took. He leaned in just a touch, low voice brushing your ear.

"…What if I said I'd take you shopping?" He said, smooth as silk. "For better utensils. Ladles. Maybe… a matching set."

The words were smooth, but the glint in his eyes betrayed something else—challenge, heat, a little tilt of jealousy. He wasn't about to lose. Not to Mystery.

Especially not when Mystery was now purring under your touch like some smug, hair-covered villain who knew he'd won this round.

You didn't even have to look to know the rest of the boys were watching this unfold like it was the last straw. Abby cracked his neck. Baby stabbed a cherry tomato with too much force. Romance almost let out a loud scoff.

And Mystery? He finally opened one eye, just a sliver, to meet Jinu's gaze—and grinned. He earned a glare. Not that it bothered him anyway.

You turned your head slowly. He was closer than you thought. His cheek was inches from yours.

"Is this a seduction attempt," You asked. "or are you just really passionate about cooking tools?"

"Yes." He said, without a hint of shame.

"You're unbelievable."

"I'm charming."

You blinked while Jinu laughed. His smile curled, lazy and precise as as he went on like he wasn't lowkey asking you out. "I'll even carry the bags."

"...Fine." You said before you could stop yourself. "Let's go shopping."

And that—that—was when you saw it: the way his eyes lit up before he covered it with that practiced smirk, the one that said cool, chill, totally normal, like he wasn't already planning the most absurd spice rack haul of the year.

"Already did." Jinu replied, not missing a beat. He sat back and enjoyed his food like he won some amazing reward.

From across the table, Baby popped another grape into his mouth.

"Might as well offer to wash the dishes for her too." He muttered before standing up and walking away.

You were halfway into a sarcastic comeback when Baby returned. He set a drink in front of you, quietly, no commentary, before sitting back down like he hadn't just stormed off.

But under the table, his foot found yours again. Just a brush. Barely there. You smiled before opening your mouth without a second thought, just letting Mystery feed you at this point.

"You know." Romance said after a pause, stretching like a cat who knew he was annoying, "If this is how she cracks over spice racks, I dread what happens if we surprise her with a new toaster."

"Oh, she'd cry." Abby nodded sagely. "Real tears. Then she'd kiss me."

"No." You deadpan at him.

"Later." He said confidently with a hum.

For a beat, their expressions were unreadable—caught off guard, maybe, by the warmth in your voice.

You pick up your drink. Raise it with a bright, genuine smile.

"Congrats on your debut, boys."

Then Mystery raised his glass first, smooth and silent as always, like he'd been waiting for a cue only you could give.

Baby followed with a teasing grin, clinking his glass a little too close to yours. "Cheers."

Abby gave a small nod and joined in like it was protocol, but he was hiding a smile behind his glass.

Romance beamed, lifting his drink like it was a trophy.

Even Jinu, who looked like he didn't quite understand why this moment mattered—copied the others with a blink and a delayed grin, as if following their lead just to be near you.

And just like that, the atmosphere shifted. Lightened.

...

Apparently, everything was a competition.

You weren't sure if it was because of you, or because these five were just built different in the worst ways possible. You were leaning toward the latter.

They had been trying to feed you for the past five minutes. Like, aggressively.

Romance started it, naturally. With that smug grin like he was doing you a favor. "Say ah, cutie~"

Then Baby joined in, all dead-eyed, holding out a bite like he couldn't care less whether you took it or choked on it.

His foot was still brushing against yours under the table, like he wasn't already twenty moves ahead in whatever game he thought he was playing.

Abby appeared close a second later, practically shoving a spoon into your face with a confident, "Open wide, sweetheart." Like this was cute and not a coordinated attack.

You swore you heard a low growl from Mystery's side. Not playful. Not theatrical. Just... guttural. Warning.

And then came Jinu. Jinu who said, voice flat as ever, "Everyone's doing it." Like peer pressure was a reasonable excuse for hand-feeding someone you shared exactly one brain cell of trust with.

You ate it anyway. You were hungry and tired and—okay—maybe a little weak to a pretty face and a spoon. Your heart was doing cartwheels. Your face, however, remained deadpan.

You accepted your fate. They were annoying. They were relentless. But the food was good and the attention was—

…Honestly? A little addictive. But if someone fed you one more bite, you were going to hurl.

Just as you opened your mouth to stop the madness, your gaze flicked to the hallway.

And there they were. Seven alarm clocks. Still standing guard outside your door like cursed relics of your morning trauma.

"You boys better pick those up."

Abby was mid-swoop with a spoon when he froze. "Here, prin—" Dead stop. Spoon in the air.

Everyone else turned to look. Then, as one, they turned back to you.

Jinu blinked. Slow. Flat. "...You haven't...?"

You met his eyes then took a calm sip of your drink. "No."

The room fell silent.

Romance made a dramatic noise like he'd just been stabbed. "Betrayal."

Mystery looked down, face hidden behind his bangs, but you heard the low tsk under his breath. He muttered something curt in another language. You didn't catch it. You were pretty sure you weren't meant to.

Abby let out a slow whistle. "Damn. Thought we got away with it."

You leaned back, looking far too at peace for someone at war. "Whoever did that outrageous thing," You said, "will be drawn bald. I'll print it and tape it around the house."

They all froze.

Five sets of eyes scanned the room like they were pointing invisible fingers at each other instead of a certain someone alone.

Romance looked like he was calculating. Strategizing. His mouth opened slightly like he was about to say something—maybe even sell someone out.

But one sharp glance from Baby across the table had him stiffening. He winced. Huffed. Shut his mouth with the dramatics of a man who just swallowed betrayal and found it tasted like soap.

Unapologetic, Baby grinned widely. "Not bad." He said, clearly impressed. Like being turned into a bald wanted poster was a flex.

Your eyes narrowed, eerily calm. "Ah. So it’s you."

Baby tilted his head, mock innocent. "Huh? I thought we were just talking about the clocks."

You crossed your arms and stared him down. Deadpan. Not buying a single drop of that sugar-coated voice.

He smiled sweetly. Dangerously. "Hey," He added, lazy like he had all the time in the world, "If you're gonna draw me kissing someone again, it better be you this time."

Abby's spoon clattered onto the plate, scandalized. "What?"

Mystery nearly choked on air. His hand came up to cover the lower half of his face, the rest already shielded by his hair. You could practically see the tips of his ears turning pink.

He was thinking that maybe instead of headpats he could go for something more, like level up? And so, he muttered behind his fingers, "I wouldn't mind that either."

Romance looked like he was about to argue—confident, composed, ready to spin some poetic line to one-up Baby's flirtation. Then Baby sent him another pointed glance. Sharp. Lethal.

Romance's eye twitched. He let out a dramatic sigh through his nose and pouted. "I already gave her art materials yesterday. That should've put me way ahead anyways."

Abby threw his hands in the air. "Okay, but I'm your most trusted and beloved man! You handed me that sketchbook!" (He's not getting over this any time soon)

Jinu, cheeks already flushed, mumbled into his sleeves, "...Could be me too." Quiet. Almost inaudible. Boy failure in HD.

You blinked then lifted one eyebrow. "Wow. All of you?"

"Technically, I said it first." Baby interjected coolly.

You ignored him. Your gaze slowly shifted to the seven clocks still standing outside your door. Your lips curled into a smirk.

"So," You said, deceptively sweet, "You're all admitting to the clocks then."

Dead silence.

You took a sip of your drink, satisfied. "Good. Then I'll make sure all of you get drawn bald. Or maybe something more."

Instant chaos.

"What?"

"You can't do that!"

"Please don't make it worse—"

"I'd take the bald one any day. It's better to know."