I wish Americans fucked with more foreign music. You donât have to know the language to appreciate a good record. Folks in other countries listen to our music and donât speak a lick of english. Music needs no translator
It doesn't matter how heavy the crown one wears might be- if it's made out of lies, it's worth nothing.
Tags/Warnings: Medieval AU, Alpha!Jungkook, Omega!Reader, Angst, Fluff, Adult Themes (such as smut, Violence and blood)
Type: Oneshot
Wordcount: long. Very long actually considering what I usually write.
A/N: This fic was actually written prior to moonlit, and the draft is available on patreon. But I could never really let go of it, so I'm finishing it these days.
Note: this is a 'sister-fic' to another work called Moon Of Claiming, which has similar themes and world building, but different plot. The draft for that is also available on patreon, and I'm planning on publishing that one after this one. Both fics will be Early Access there.
His prize is right in front of him, your body held by silver chains, your eyes still shining like two polished gemstones with tears of pain and fear, as youâre forced to watch whatever might happen.
But your tears are unnecessary. Jungkook doesnât even think about failing.
All that he can think about is the way that silver metal is burning your skin, how that is the only thing holding you back, weakening your body so much so that youâre unable to even move anymore. He canât stand the sight of them keeping you close like this, far away from his reach, even though everyone around, wolfblood or not, knows that youâre his. Not just chosen by him, but chosen by the moon herself, born to become his mate. And yet, heâs being challenged.
A joke, really. That is what this is to him.
âSheâs got stamina, doesnât she?â his opponent claims, already convinced that he will win this chase- most likely with the help of the same foul tricks he used to get into his position in the first place. âitâll be easy to catch her.â
Jungkook stays silent. Because deep down he knows- heâs right.
Youâll be weakened, not only by silver and wolfsbane- but also from fear, from being alone, left to run through the woods in search of anything that could become safety. And in a state such as that, youâll most likely be completely unable to differentiate between friend and enemy- youâll just take whatever you can get, even if that alpha isnât him.
But he will find you first. He knows he has to.
Tonight they may take you away from him- keep you from him, but tomorrow, when the moon sits high in the skies to watch over him and witness the whole thing unfold, heâll get you back. Tomorrow he will prove it to all that some things are not just pure chance- that your bond is more than just luck on his side, and that your choice was always written in the stars.
Tomorrow itâs time to show the fake king how much power he really holds.
I'm trying to prove a point to my brain: Reblog if you think fanfiction does not need sex to be good.
There is a trend Iâve noticed that smut fics tend to be much more popular than anything else and honestly I just want to have something to look at to remind myself and that writing doesnât have to have sex to be worth putting out into the community.
Yooooooooo! That fucking cliffhanger! Goddamn, thatâs really gotta hurt MC. I really hope this will lead her to confessing but I have a feeling this is going to do nothing but make her keep her feelings inside.
Why is Taehyung sneaking around?! Who is the person heâs hooking up with? I hope MC gets answers and I wanna be mad at Taehyung but he doesnât know of her feelings. Still think he should have been open about seeing someone tho. I donât like the sneaking and I think he knows itâs wrong
And the second investigation! How is Jungkook healing? Iâm so glad no one was hurt worse and I really hope no one gets hurt worse when they close the portal and banish all the entities.
Amazing chapter as always, Iâm dying for the next update!
Trouvaille - Chapter Seventeen (M)
Pairing(s); BTS OT7 x Reader
Genre/Themes; Hybrid!AU, themes of the supernatural and the occult, religious themes, violence, hurt/comfort, horror, romance
Rated; 18+ for swearing, violence/gore, future sexual themes. Reader discretion is advised.
Word Count; 25.k (đš)
Trouvaille Masterlist
Trouvaille playlist
Updates on the 7th of each month
My laptop is going to burst in flames after this LMAO. HIII besties! Welcome to the angst train of Chapter Seventeen! Hold onto your hats because there are a lot of emotions going on in this update. Along with angst, we have fluff to balance it out, of course! Expect spooky/scary paranormal happenings, and dirty disgusting smut I have to stop writing when I ovulate BUT I sincerely hope you all love this extra long, on time (for once!) chapter! Love from Dana and can't wait to hear what you all think đ
As an additional warning/reminder, for the smut: the scene is explicit, and is only intended to be read by those over the age of 18. Please practice safe sex, and readers please have discretion!
Previous Chapter
Blinking, not sure if she heard correctly, Y/N sat unceremoniously on Namjoonâs arm rest, nudging his hand off the laptop keyboard. Pressing the back button and slamming down on the space bar, she moved before Namjoon could stop her.Â
âY/Nââ
âTo kill you, whorish witch.â Came from the speakers again, making Namjoon flinch and grunt, like the statement was disgusting in his ears. She played it a third time, then a forth, Namjoon uncomfortably squirming beside her. About to listen a fifth, Namjoon swore, placing a hand over hers and pulling it away from the laptop.
âThatâs enough,â the wolf hybrid said gently, eyes scanning her face, searching Y/Nâs blank expression thoroughly. âIâm sorry you had to hear that, I really didnât want to show you.â
âJeongguk was right to tell you to. Now I know that Iâm going to have to bulk up on my protection magic,â Y/N responded distantly, honestly still shocked by what the entity said to her. It was something her brain didnât necessarily know how to processâ that an unseen force had a murderous intent towards her. Namjoon, making a feral noise in the back of his throat, narrowed his eyes.Â
âY/N, Iâm not saying I doubt your abilities, but this feels wrong. I donât think you should go back to that house. If you write up a ritual for us to do, we can execute it together and youâll be here, safe,â Namjoon shook his head as he spoke, ears flat against his skull. Y/Nâs eyes went wide, caught between swooning and stiffening.Â
âYou want to kick me off the case? No way, absolutely not, especially after hearing that recording. Iâd walk into traffic before letting you two go there alone,â Y/N watched a muscle in Namjoonâs jaw tick, sucking his cheeks in and leveling her a challenging look. âIâm going. This changes nothing but how urgently we need to cleanse the property.â
âY/N, itâs a bad idea. Jeongguk is experienced with shit like this,â Namjoon pressed, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. âWe both want to do another investigation before we decide how to tackle getting rid of the infestation.â
âI donât care, Namjoon, Iâm going to be with you every step in this case. You canât get rid of me,â Y/N stood, annoyed, and feeling undermined, she walked over to the bookcase in his room.
Sliding a finger along the spines of his and her combined book collection, searching for one in particular about protection magic, Y/N ignored the rumbles coming from Namjoonâs chest. When she turned, his head was in his hands, elbows leaning on the desk, dismayed. âJoon Bug, I know youâre worried, but itâll be okay. I promise.â
âIf anything happens to you, how will I reconcile that with myself? Knowing I just let you walk into a situation like that,â Namjoon muttered, seemingly to himself, making Y/Nâs heart stop dead in her ribcage for a second.Â
âNamjoon,â Y/N sighed, returning to his side with the book she needed, hooking her chin over his shoulder from behind, some of the tension dissolving from his tense upper back. âIâll be safe. I have you.â
She wound her arms around his shoulders for a hug, Namjoon still pressing his face into his hands. Clearly, he was more concerned for her well-being than she ever could have imagined, Y/N squeezing him tightly to comfort him. Truthfully, she was frightened of whatever threatened her in Julieâs room, hearing its voice out loud bone-chilling, but she had promised that family that the three of them would help them. Besides, she had banished something malevolent before with success, and she was fairly confident she could do it againâ as long as Namjoon and Jeongguk were by her side, working as a team.Â
âBug, why donât you help me gather up some materials and maybe start brainstorming how we should clear the spirits from the house, hmm? I could use your help,â Y/N attempted to perk him up, his gloom filling the room, Namjoon making a noncommittal noise in response. âPlease?â
Finally, Namjoon lifted his face from his palms, turning his face sideways to glance at her behind him, corners of his lips turned downwards.Â
âIn the van?â Namjoon relented, contrary to his clear disapproval, letting her hold him for the longest time he ever had, and his musky honey scent made her mouth water, shamefully.Â
âUh-huh! Itâs our headquarters, after all,â Y/N giggled, lightening the mood even more, before she grew serious. âThank you for worrying about me.â
With that, Y/N leaned forward, testing the waters and pecking his cheek lightly, Namjoon going rigid in her embrace with the press of her lips, nuzzling into him in hopes that she hadnât crossed a line and heâd relax. Brain catching up with reality, Namjoon cleared his throat, blood rushing to the tips of his ears, melting backwards into her. And to her astonishment, the wolf hybrid turned his face even more, burying the tip of his nose into the crook of Y/Nâs neck, breathing in deeply.Â
âI said it at the club, Y/N,â Namjoonâs voice took on a mellifluous quality, his breath against her throat causing the hairs on her nape to stand on end. âYouâre a handful, youâre lucky Iâm with you.â
âThatâs right,â Y/Nâs voice came out like silk, letting him nudge the tip of his nose against her collarbone, feeling a little light-headed. âI thank the stars.â
Chuckling at the corny reply and drawing away from her, Namjoon made a motion to get to his feet, twirling the keys to his van around a long fingertip. Finally, he was smiling, his perfect teeth and dimples on display, Y/N completely dazzled. With a twitch to his bitten ear, he nodded towards his bedroom door so they could exit together. To surprise her even further, Namjoon grabbed his denim and sherpa jacket from his bed, offering it to Y/N without hesitation and without looking at her, Y/N woodenly taking it from him.Â
âSince you seem to like wearing this so much, bundle up,â Namjoon commented, Y/N realizing that her scent was probably all over the garment from when she wore it to confront Yoongi many moons ago. âLetâs go.â
Namjoon left the room before she could shrug on the jacket, the wolf hybrid foregoing any sort of coat himself and simply pushing down the rolled-up sleeves of his cable knit sweater, expecting Y/N to follow. Blindly, she did, pulling his cozy jacket tight across her body with her heart racing in her chest.Â
Taking a deep, calming breath, Y/N rang the doorbell to her parentâs house, preparing herself for what might come out of her motherâs mouth. She had told her mother about the investigations her, Jeongguk, and Namjoon were starting to take control over, but there was no doubt that Judyâ one of her motherâs very good friends, not just Y/Nâs bossâ had dished out dirty details. Behind the great oak door, she heard someone shuffling towards her in slippers, Y/N grateful she didnât bring any of her hybrids with her for once.Â
âHi honey, come on in while the teaâs hot,â her father, in a bright tracksuit and his house slippers, answered the door, Y/N giggling at his appearance. Gone were the days of her sharply dressed father, the doctor. Now he dressed like an extra on the set of Seinfeld. âYou look well!â
Despite the fact that Y/N had a murderous demon after her blood, Y/N was in good spirits. She was always well fed thanks to Seokjin and Yoongi, there was never a day Hoseok didnât brighten it with his humor, and she was finally doing something with her life that had her excited to jump out of bed in the morning. Giving her father a squeeze, she mumbled a thank you into his tracksuit, following him into the kitchen where her mother was audibly tinkering away on the stove.Â
âYour grandparents are napping, Iâm not sure if youâll get to see them before you leave today,â her father informed her, returning to where he was sitting at the kitchen table prior to Y/Nâs arrival. âHopefully whatever you wanted to discuss doesnât involve getting your grandmotherâs advice.â
âOh, no. Just stuff you guys can handle,â Y/N waved a hand, plopping down next to him and eyeing the Italian cookies on the table. She never had a taste for them, but her father loved them to bits. âOkay. So first order of business that Iâm hoping you can help me out with, dad! I need to get my boys a doctor and schedule yearly physicals. A dentist, too.â
âYep, I can handle that,â her father accepted a cup of a strongly scented herbal tea without question, draining it in one go and handing it back to her mother.Â
Her mother, dressed in her typical drapey dresses and âshawl of the dayâ, distractedly squeezed Y/Nâs shoulder in hello as she read the tea leaves at the bottom of her fatherâs teacup. Humming in satisfaction, she placed the cup in the sink, dialing into the conversation.Â
âYour luck is good today, dear,â her mother told her father, Y/N stifling a chuckle by biting down on the inside of her cheek. âHow about David? Y/N, our dear friend is a general practitioner, a hybrid doctor. Dr. Rocha is his name!â
âI can make a call,â her father fumbled for his phone on the table, holding it far from his face so he could read the screen while he went through his contacts. âYou can just bring your hybrids to your dentist, she takes on hybrid clients. I can schedule all of the appointments for you, honey, I know how busy you are.â
âThanks, dad,â Y/N leaned her cheek into her fatherâs shoulder, relieved that something was being taken off of her plate for her. âHowâs the book club going mom?â
âSame as always! Weâre reading Kafka these next few weeks. Your boys have been such a wonderful addition to the club, Namjoon has always been the leader type. Seokjin has really been opening up lately!âÂ
âMm, has he?â The mention of Seokjin had heat pooling in her cheeksâ Y/N hadnât disclosed to her parents that she was romantically involved with both Seokjin and Yoongi, and she dreaded the day, to be honest. âThatâs good! Heâs come a long way with getting out of his shell.â
âSo, what is it that you need to ask me, dear,â her mother saw through the small talk, and likely had some kind of premonition about what Y/N was needing her counsel on.Â
âWe have to go back to the house weâre trying to cleanse and do a secondary investigation before we can tackle the actual cleansing. The spirits are⌠aggressive. I wanted to know if you had any ideas on how to up the protection for the three of us.â
Y/N, much like she wasnât disclosing that she was dating two out of seven of her hybrids, wasnât about to share that an entity was targeting her specifically as well. Not wanting to concern her father, and knowing that if her mother found out what the spirit actually said to her, sheâd agree with Namjoon and want her to stay home.Â
âHave you tried the tourmaline necklaces?â her mother stirred sugar into her tea, humming when Y/N nodded in response. âIâll give you some dragonâs blood incense, burn that while youâre in the house. Teach Namjoon and Jeongguk how to put up spiritual shieldsâ theyâre both smart boys so theyâll get it quick. Also, carry some selenite and citrine on you in addition to the tourmaline. Selenite will allow your spirit guides to better protect you and citrine combats negative energy.â
âThat will be pretty bulletproof, right?â Y/N asked, grateful her parents were humans and couldnât sense her nerves rising.Â
âShould be, my dear! Unless youâre dealing with something extremely powerful, doing all that should keep you safe,â her mother smiled, reaching across the table to grasp onto Y/Nâs hand. âIâm so glad we can talk about things like this together again. I canât tell you how excited I am for you and your two young boys.â
âOh,â Y/N squeaked, taken aback, emotions welling up in her as her motherâs smile grew wider, squeezing her hand once before she stood from the table. âI love you, mom.â
âLove you too, honey. Iâll gather up the incense and the crystals, okay? I think I have some hematite rings somewhere in my storage tooâŚâ distractedly, Y/Nâs mother ambled away further into the recesses of the home, her father chuckling with her disappearance.
âI booked the doctorâs visits for you, Dr. Rocha suggested doing two appointments per day so youâre not in the office for seven hours all at once. Theyâre in mid-March,â her father announced, ruffling Y/Nâs hair. âStill waiting to hear from the dentist, but I think thereâs enough techs to get all seven of them done in an afternoon. Sounds good?â
âSounds perfect, thank you so much, dad,â Y/N checked her watch, noting that it was time for her to scramble home and pick up Jimin for an errand they had to run. âShoot, I have to go.â
âHere you are, honey!â Y/Nâs mother reappeared as her father walked her to the front door, a gift bag filled with the protection items in hand. âOh, before you go, have you heard the whispers?â
âWhispers?â Y/N repeated, confused.Â
âThereâs rumors about some new laws being passed, regarding hybrids,â she informed her, excitement clear as day on her face, so Y/N assumed they were good laws. âAdopted hybrids might be able to seek legal employment soon. Iâve heard that universities, too, are going to start offering classes for hybrid students. Isnât that wonderful?â
Y/N paused, not expecting such a bombshell. If the rumors were true, her boys would be one step closer to living a more normal, human life, they wouldnât have to stay at home all day, and they could make their own money to buy whatever they pleased. Additionally, if her mother was right, apparently the wheel of progress was speeding up. All Y/N could think about, though, is how the government should be thinking about banning hybrid sport hunting before all of that, but progress was progress and she didnât want to rain on her motherâs parade.Â
âThat would be amazing if that actually happens,â Y/N breathed, her mother handing over the gift bag with a grin. âI do want to hold off on mentioning it to the boys for now, though. I donât want to get their hopes up if thatâs just a rumor.â
âOf course,â her mother made a zipping motion over her lips, meaning she wouldnât spill the beans to Namjoon or Seokjin at the book club. âIâve been lighting candles for a week to try and move things along.â
âHmm, influencing government affairs now, mom?â Y/N snorted, hugging her before she reached for the door. âMaybe Iâll light one too.â
âBring the boys here Friday night for dinner! Weâre going to make a big feast to celebrate Ostara coming up!âÂ
âOstara isnât for another couple weeks!â Y/N replied, eyebrows furrowed. âYou just want to see everyone, donât you?â
âBring them around 7, alright? Tell Yoongi to make those delicious mashed potatoes,â her mother ignored her accusation, waving at her from the front door as Y/N started down the street to her own house.Â
Back at the house, shivering, she found Jimin in the sunroom, where he had begun to nurse seedlings for their garden in the spring. She dropped off the bag of items her mother gave her in Namjoonâs room before she searched for the coyote hybrid, the wolf hybridâs bedroom empty and telling her that he was probably holed up in the van. Jimin was in his trademark blue jeans and a cozy-looking beige sweater, using a little mister to dampen the trays of seedlings. The room smelled earthy-sweet and was bathed with early afternoon sunlight, most of the brick floors completely covered with all of the seedlings she and Jimin planted days prior.Â
âHey, anything sprouting yet?â Y/N tiptoed around a pile of carefully swept soil, squinting at the trays.Â
âNot quite. Weâre going to have to be patient,â Jimin sent a gorgeous smile her way in greeting, peeling off his gardening gloves and setting them aside. In the corner of the room was a small stack of books pertaining to plants and growing produce that Namjoon dug out of the oven in his van for her, a couple of old tin watering cans, and Jiminâs phone on top of the books, playing soft rock in the background. âI labeled everything with tape and markers. Looks okay?â
âLooks awesome. Meticulous as always, Jimin!â Y/N made a motion to water some of the other house plants around the room, but apparently the coyote hybrid had beaten her to the punch judging by the damp soil. âIâm so excited for spring. Itâs been such a gross winter.â
âItâll be here before you know it,â Jimin reminded her, looking down at his clothing to make sure soil wasnât clinging to the fabrics. âWeâre still heading out today, right?â
âHow could I forget? I already put the third row in the Land Cruiser down so we can jam everything we buy in the trunk,â Y/N teased, dangling her hand in front of his face to help him up. His palm was rough from years of manual labor, but gentle and sure. With a swish of his tail, he rose to his feet, still smiling like an angel. âIâm ready when you are. Maybe we can get some lunch on the way back, if youâre up for it!â
âOkay, let me just get my jacket,â Jimin let go of her hand, which she didnât even realize he was still holding, Y/N casting one more look at the perfectly labeled trays of seedlings, smiling at his neat handwriting. âWant me to drive?â
âSure!â Y/N followed Jimin to the car once he slipped on his jacket and boots, calling out to the others in various areas of the house to let them know where they were heading.Â
âI saw that you updated the list of things weâre looking for,â Jimin commented after a few moments of comfortable silence in the car, Y/N scrolling through said list on her phone.Â
âI want to have the nicest backyard on the block! Itâs been looking like a mess up until you started clearing things up,â Y/N replied enthusiastically. âWant to find a cute bird bath and a bunch of feeders, those ceramic outdoor lights you stick in the dirt and look like mushrooms⌠comfortable cushions for us to sit on, a fun sprinkler to run through when itâs hot.â
Jimin, as always, listened intently and quietly, Y/N watching the corners of his mouth curl upwards as she spoke.
âYou sound like the woman talking about her dream house in The Notebook,â Jimin commented, Y/N blinking before she remembered she had made all of the boys watch the film during the afternoon on Valentineâs day. She could still hear Jeonggukâs gagging from the leather reclinerâ although, he did end up watching the entire thing without her having to strap him down. âAllie, right?â
âYeah, thatâs right! I believe you were the only one who ended up liking that movie,â Y/N giggled, though the comment had butterflies soaring in her stomach. âNow that I think about it, youâre like Noah. Doing all the hard work to make the house pretty!â
The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop them, and immediately, mortification washed over her. With her being Allie and him being Noah, she was pretty much implying that they were star-crossed loversâ since he was helping her fix up the house in the way she wanted precisely. Considering using her window breaker and climbing out onto the freeway, Y/N tried to come up with a way to stuff the words back down her throat. All she managed to come up with was staring at Jimin with obvious alarm, his ears twitching.Â
Sensing her panic, Jimin surprised her by clearing his throat and chuckling, Y/N realizing his ears were twitching out of amusement. Still gaping at him, Jiminâs eyes turned into crescents while he laughed, shaking his head.Â
âI guess that is true,â Jimin coughed once he recovered from laughter, Y/N hiding her embarrassment by returning to the list on her phone. âYou do your fair share of the hard work too, Y/N.â
She could have kissed Jimin for not teasing her. If it had been any of the others she had said that to besides he or Namjoon, sheâd never hear the end of it. Once she finally regained mental facilities, she continued to talk about her plans for the backyard as if she hadnât said anything.Â
âWe can get some wind chimes, new umbrellas, Oh! I saw this thing online that looks like a mini picnic table, you use it as a squirrel feeder. If we find that at the store, weâre so getting it!â
âWhatever you want, Y/N. If there are things you want to get that donât fit in the car, weâll have it shipped,â Jimin pulled into the strip mall where The Home Depot was, pushing a hand through his blonde hair and still wearing an expression of merriment.Â
The coyote hybrid refused to let her push the flatbed cart around the store, which left Y/N to pick out everything she had on her list and more. Halfway through the trip, she had to abandon Jimin and get a normal cart for smaller items, Jimin laughing at her when she stacked boxes of the light-up mushrooms into the basket.Â
âI think thatâs plenty of bird seed,â Jimin was leaning on his elbows on the cart, eyebrows raised and ears perky and alert, watching Y/N haul a bag of seed off of a shelf.Â
âThis isnât bird seed, itâs for critters. Squirrels and rabbits!â Y/N defended herself, tossing the bag into the cart and ignoring Jiminâs snickers. âOkay⌠I think we just need to get the fertilizer now, and itâs at the opposite side of the store.â
Y/N eyed the houseplant section as they passed by it, Jimin giving her a knowing but warning look, yellow eyes narrowing playfully. Huffing, she pushed ahead, and while she was pretending to be annoyed, she was really enjoying her one-on-one time with Jimin. The domestic activity had thoroughly distracted her from the Sandersâ case that was weighing heavily on her mind. While Jimin was hefting a bag of fertilizer onto his flatbed, Y/N gawked at the corded muscles of his back beneath his sweater, the coyote hybrid oblivious as his tail swished contentedly. Before she could get too carried away with checking him out, Jimin somehow read her deeper thoughts, appearing to brace himself.Â
âY/N, can I ask you something?â Jimin licked his lips, growing serious.
âOf course,â Y/N replied, suddenly nervous and on guard.Â
âThe past few days Iâve noticed a change in Namjoonâs behavior. He seems really worried about you. Does it have anything to do with that case youâre working on with him and Jeongguk?âÂ
Mouth opening and closing, she wasnât sure how to respond. As per usual, it wasnât like she could lie to Jimin and pretend everything was rainbows and butterflies. So, Y/N did what she always tried to do with her hybridsâ be honest, but try to prevent them from being overly concerned about her.Â
âYeah, the spirits are very nasty. Heâs worried Iâll get hurt, but I swung by my momâs earlier today for extra protection items. I keep telling him Iâll be fine, but you know how he is,â Y/N answered nonchalantly, Jimin frowning.Â
âHe told me you guys captured audio that specifically threatened you,â Jimin said flatly, his ears turning downwards. Damn Namjoon, and damn she wasnât getting out of that by being a slippery truth-bender. âWhat did the audio say?â
Y/N cringed, not wanting to repeat the disgusting statement at all, but Jimin was staring at her so intensely she knew they werenât budging from that home improvement store until she told him.Â
âThe thing in one of the childrenâs bedrooms threatened to kill me,â Y/N answered simply, shrugging. âI guess weâll just have to exorcize the house before it gets the chance.â
Y/N resumed perusing the fertilizer in order to break the intense eye-contact Jimin was giving her, one of the first times he genuinely made her skin break out into goosebumps. Unfortunately, she was peering back up into those hardened butterscotch eyes when a roughened hand grabbed onto her wrist.Â
âY/N, donât just shrug that off like itâs nothing. You have to tell everyone else,â Jiminâs voice was gruff, firm, and Y/N was blinking at him stupidly.Â
âWhy? Jimin, I donât want you all fussing over me. Namjoon is already enough to deal with, he doesnât even want me to go back to the house,â Y/N furrowed her eyebrows, picturing a range of reactions from the other hybrids in response to the audio.Â
âWhy? Y/N, donât you realize if something happens to you, it will seriously affect us all?â Jimin gaped, as if she was being totally ridiculous. Suddenly, she felt immensely guilty, and justifiably so. âThink about Yoongi and Seokjin, at least. They would be devastated.â
Y/Nâs throat was closing up, now imagining Seokjinâs tears and heartbreak, Yoongiâs miseryâ it was absolutely unbearable. Swallowing, she nodded at Jimin, who softened when he scented the emotions that came from her.Â
âIâm sorry, Jimin. I should have considered that, keeping it from you all would be so selfish of me. Iâll⌠have Namjoon show you guys the audio tonight,â Y/N apologized, a tad watery, all of the reproach on Jiminâs face disappearing.Â
âItâs alright, Y/N. I know youâre just trying to put on a brave face, but you can lean on us a little, you know? Weâre supposed to worry about each other,â Jimin let go of her wrist, patting her shoulder gently.Â
âYouâre right,â Y/N looked at the floor, glum. Jimin, humming, kept patting her shoulder until she looked at him again. âAgain, Iâm sorryâŚâ
Jimin shook his head, his normally easy-going air returning, giving her shoulder a squeeze.Â
âAll good, Y/N. We can talk about it more, later. I think you should hear everyone out before you decide whether or not to go back to that house,â Jimin returned to the flatbed he was pushing, Y/N not looking forward to that conversation at all. âWe have everything, right? Want to head to the registers? I can bring the car around while you check out so we can load everything up, then we can get some lunch.â
Y/N followed her coyote hybrid to the register, still dwelling over Seokjin and Yoongi. She wondered, if she was seriously hurt or even killed, how they would process that. Hannah mentioned that if Seokjinâs heart was broken one more time, he might not survive it. Would Yoongi survive her disappearing from his world again? Guilt festered away her very being, and she couldnât believe she hadnât even considered confiding in either both of them. Nauseous, she started robotically placing items on the conveyor belt, Jimin leaving her there to get the car.Â
Waiting by the door, she painted a smile on her face when she watched him pull up, helping him place everything into the trunk. With her stomach still turning and a half-hour ride back to the house, Y/N poked Jimin in the back.Â
âIâm going to run back in to use the bathroom, okay? Iâll meet you back out here in a few,â Y/N announced, Jimin waving her away as he slid yet another box of light-up mushrooms into the stuffed-full trunk.Â
Chewing her lip, Y/N searched for the sign for the restrooms, trying her best to hurry and not keep Jimin waiting. However, as she passed by the houseplant section again, she pausedâ before grabbing another cart and selecting seven different plants.Â
âHoly shit, do you think you bought enough crap?â Jeongguk grunted as he collapsed into the breakfast nook, wiping sweat from his brow. Y/N enlisted his help in getting everything out of the car along with Jimin, and he had carried the stone birdbath she picked out about halfway across the yard while muttering expletives the whole time.Â
âItâs your fault for being the first one I spotted when we pulled in. Blame your smoke breaks, not me,â Y/N flicked his sweaty forehead, his dark eyes flashing. She had yet to discuss the audio with him specifically, and she had the feeling he was avoiding the subject entirelyâ besides, he had been holed up in his room for days, fiddling with his cameras. âNeed help with dinner, angel?â
Y/N spun on her heel, spotting Yoongi by the fridge, putting a tub of ricotta cheese away. His hair, longer than ever, was tied up, and he was dressed in a slouchy hoodie, one that she wanted to get inside with him. Approaching, she looked around the island, and it appeared that he didnât really need help with anything at all; a large garden salad sitting in a wooden bowl tossed and ready to go, a covered casserole dish with spicy spaghetti, and when she looked at the stove, there were several skillets going with pork chops searing away.Â
âWow, chef, itâs like you donât even need your sous anymore,â Y/N pouted, wiggling her fingers against his ribs and reaching up to give his ears a scratch. Yoongi had gotten used to her stroking through the glossy fur, so he only jolted about a centimeter.Â
âMy sous is Seokjin now. Youâre like chef de partie,â Yoongi teased, and to both her delight and slight embarrassment, turned his head and ducked it, capturing her lips in a sweet, simple kiss hello.Â
Eyes fluttering shut, she let herself melt into his taste, completely ignoring Jeonggukâs gagging behind them. Squeezing the side of his waist, she made a small noise of disappointment when his lips slid from hers, opting to plant one more kiss on her forehead before returning to his pork chops.Â
âGet a room,â Jeongguk muttered, scrolling through his phone with his nose wrinkled.Â
âGet a life,â Yoongi replied blandly, using tongs to turn over one of the pork chops. Offering the leopard hybrid a kiss of her own with a quiet snicker, one on the tip of his nose, she concluded that Yoongi was perfectly fine on his own. Which meant she had no excuse to avoid finding Namjoon and telling him to get the audio ready to play after dinner.Â
Trudging into the hall, she heard Jiminâs shower turn on, the pipes in the walls clanging. Despite the fact that Jimin had that stern talking-to with her in the store, lunch at a diner and the ride back home was pleasant, even though she had returned from the âbathroomâ with seven additional purchases. She followed her ears, the tinny sounds of folk tapes playing from Namjoonâs room. Knocking twice on his ajar bedroom door, the wolf hybrid was reading on his window seat, chewing on the end of a pen with a sharpened incisor.Â
âHey,â Y/N began, glancing at her laptop sitting on his desk, scribbled notes and crumpled paper littered around the device. âI need a favor.â
Namjoon looked up from his book, the crease that had been between his eyebrows since he analyzed the audio deepening when he saw her leaning against his doorframe. The wolf hybrid slid a bookmark in place, squaring his shoulders so he could face her.Â
âA favor,â Namjoon repeated, eyes skimming her from head to toe as if to search for anything awry. âWhat do you need?â
âIâm going to play that audio for everyone after dinner. Itâs only fair, Jimin pointed that out to me. I agree with him,â Y/N said, the fur on Namjoonâs tail standing on end and his normally sharp eyes going round.Â
âDo you really think thatâs wise?â Namjoon exclaimed, getting to his feet and knocking his book off of the window seat.Â
âYeah, I do. If something happens and they didnât know about itâŚâÂ
âNothing is going to happen,â Namjoon cut her off sternly, his gaze becoming analytical again. âIf you want to show them, go ahead. But nothing is going to happen to you.â
Y/N swallowed at the resolution in his tone, still not quite used to how protective Namjoon had become of her. Nodding meekly, she gestured towards the laptop.Â
âIâll play it for them after dinner. I donât think a demon calling me a whore is a very good appetizer,â Y/N whispered, hoping that Namjoon was the only one who could hear her at that moment. Namjoon flinched, hissing, his face becoming stormy.Â
âYou shouldnât joke about it, Y/N.â
âHumor is how I cope. Ask Hoseok, he does the same thing,â Y/N grouched, and she could tell Namjoon was getting even more pissed with that comment, so she changed the subject. âDid you look through that bag I left you? My mom gave me a bunch of good tips and materials for added layers of protection.â
âYeah, I looked through it,â Namjoon was definitely still irritated, his tail swishing back and forth angrily, though he paused when his phone chimed in his pocket. âDinnerâs ready.â
Namjoon brushed by her, not sparing her one last glance, Y/N sighing and mouthing âsorryâ to his retreating form. Starting to follow after him, she went rigid when she felt a pair of arms wrap snugly around her waist, squeezing tightly until she wheezed. It was only when she felt kisses showering over the side of her face that she knew who it was, going limp in his strong arms.Â
âHi, Jin,â Y/N giggled, the heaviness of her interaction with Namjoon dissolving with the tenderness Seokjin showered upon her. âHow was your day, honey?â
âSeverely lacking without you,â Seokjin admitted, an almost whine to his voice. âI missed you so much.â
âI missed you, too,â Y/ N hummed, relaxing backwards into his chest and placing her hands over his, resting on her stomach. âItâs your turn to pick a movie or show tonight!â
âMm-hmm,â Seokjin returned, though she had a feeling he wasnât listening as he tucked his face in her neck from behind, planting tiny kisses on the exposed skin and his tail winding around her leg.Â
âCome on, you. Letâs eat,â Y/N tried to untangle herself from Seokjinâs ironclad grip around her middle, but he wouldnât ease up his hold until she murmured âI love youâ into his wavy hair. âBig kitty.â
Seokjin walked beside her, asking about her day as they returned to the kitchen. In her absence, Hoseok had bounced into the room, skin dewy from his evening run and positively glowing with endorphins. Shoving aside what they were having for dessertâ demonic threatsâ she began making herself a plate, Taehyung entering the room with his eyes glued to his phone. Y/N wasnât sure if he had downloaded a new interesting game over the past week, but he was thoroughly invested in whatever he was doing on the device. Shrugging, watching the Kodiak hybrid absently take a plate, she loaded up her own with salad and pasta.Â
Dinner passed by perfectly normally, other than the fact that Namjoon still wasnât very pleased with her and judging by the way Jeongguk was eyeing her carefully, the wolf hybrid had updated him on what was to come after they finished eating. While Taehyung helped her wash dishes, Namjoon disappeared. The kitchen was clean and everyone was still hanging out, digesting, before they inevitably moved to the parlor for a movie. Y/Nâs palms began to sweat when Namjoon returned with the laptop, Jimin making eye contact with her from across the room, nodding once with encouragement. Jeongguk was by the slider door to the backyard, the glass cracked open as he lit up a cigarette to smoke out of it.Â
Namjoon setting the laptop on the island somehow commanded attention, or perhaps it was the way he was carrying himself in that moment, grave and full of authority. Even Yoongi paused his wipe-down of the stove, his spotted ears perking up.Â
âHouse meeting,â Jeongguk announced dryly, staring out the window and flicking ash outside.Â
âHuh? New chore chart or something?â Hoseok was holding a popsicle, watching Namjoon set up the laptop, Y/N gritting her teeth, joining the wolf hybrid at the island, glancing up at the tall hybrid and searching for any kind of comfort. All he offered were drooped ears and his mouth set in a grim line.Â
âUh, no. Itâs about⌠you know the thing Namjoon, Jeongguk and I have been investigating for my job? The consults we do for haunted locations,â Y/N began, beating around the bush and feeling Namjoon trudge off to the corner of the room, at Jeonggukâs side. âThis first case, we captured some audio in one of the bedrooms. And⌠I think you guys should hear it, because it was about me.â
The room was completely quiet, Taehyung turning off the faucet and setting down the pan he was scrubbing, and Seokjin materializing beside her in half a heartbeat, worry all over his angelic face. No one said a word, Y/Nâs hands shaking as they hovered over the keyboard, and without further ado, she hammered down on the space bar to play the recording.Â
âWhat is your name?â
Static, and Seokjin holding his breath beside her.
âHow old are you?â
More static, Yoongi flanking her other side.
âWhy are you here?â
âWatching.âÂ
âHow many spirits are on this property? Are you alone?â
âMany are here.âÂ
Y/N didnât dare look up from the laptop as the audio crackled, the highlighted section labeled âJulieâs roomâ fast approaching, and she braced herself, eyes squeezing shut.
âWhy are you here?â
âTo kill you, whorish witch.â
Y/N expected an outcry of rage, but when the audio ended, the room was deathly quiet, the reedy, disturbing voice of the entity ringing out in the large kitchen eerily. She shut the laptop quickly, feeling her blood pressure rise at the lack of response. Then, all at once, chaos.
âThereâs no fucking way youâre going back, are youââ Yoongi started, gripping the granite counter top like he was going to pass out, Seokjinâs voice tangling with hisâ
âKill? Can a ghost actually do that? Jeonggukââ Seokjin was desperately holding on to Y/Nâs shoulders like she was about to be taken from him and ritually sacrificed, his expression more panicked than she had ever seen it.Â
Head spinning, she felt Seokjin shaking her shoulders, beside himself, Yoongi still cursing and telling Y/N she shouldnât go back, she canât go back. The beginnings of an anxiety attack clutched at her oxygen-starved lungs, Yoongi and Seokjin so distraught she hardly noticed how everyone else was faring.Â
âPlease, please, Y/N. You canât get hurt,â Seokjin begged, and she swore she saw tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. Truly, the image she had conjured up in her head earlier at the home improvement store paled in comparison to reality; reality was absolutely hellish.Â
âCalm down, you two,â Jeongguk called from the slider, tossing his half-smoked cigarette into the outdoor ashtray. âGive her a few inches of space.â
Seokjin did not obey, but he loosened his hold on her shoulders, lips slamming shut. Yoongi stopped swearing, but his knuckles were white with how tightly he was holding onto the island. She tore her eyes from Seokjinâs watery ones, whipping her head towards the elk hybrid, who seemed determined and confident. Y/N supposed it wasnât exactly a shock to him, as he heard the audio before, and had probably dealt with entities like that in his past. Namjoon was standing beside him like a club bouncer, stony and aloof.Â
The others, however, were watching Yoongi and Seokjin with great surprise. Those two were usually the more calm and collected of the bunch, so to see them become slightly hysterical was definitely a shock. Jimin, at the breakfast nook, was white as a sheetâ Y/N hadnât disclosed the entityâs exact wording, and he looked like he was going to be sick. Hoseok, a statue by the refrigerator, had wide eyes and mango juice running down his wrist as his forgotten popsicle melted all over him.Â
âY/N, listen to me. Tell me youâre not planning on going back to that house,â Yoongi tried to compose himself, head down as he stared at her, Y/Nâs lower lip wobbling at the look on his face.Â
âIââ
âShe is,â Namjoon answered for her, bluntly and with deep resentment. âDonât even bother trying to talk her out of it.â
Yoongi sagged, head in hands, apparently the words striking home. Yoongi was well aware of Y/Nâs stubbornness, and that if she set her mind to accomplish something, nothing would tear her away from trying. Finally, Seokjinâs hands slid from her shoulders, turning his head sideways and using the back of his hand to swipe under his eyes, defeated.Â
âWait. This is fucking nuts. Youâre telling me you recorded a ghost saying that to you?â Hoseok dumped his half-melted popsicle in the sink, regaining motor function and scoffing, however, the green tint to his skin gave away the fact that the resident skeptic was starting to believe, at least a little.Â
âNo, it was the sound of the wind, dipshit,â Jeongguk rolled his eyes, but he crossed his arms over his chest and focused on Y/N. âY/N is a big girl. Sheâs stronger than you think. Let her make her own decisions.â
âYou didnât answer me. Can it actually kill her?â Seokjinâs tone was darker than ever, and he left her side to stalk over to Jeongguk. Growls came from the back of his throat, towering over Jeongguk at that moment, though the elk hybrid simply assessed Seokjin lazily.Â
âShort answer, yes,â Jeongguk answered honestly, Y/Nâs stomach dropping as she attempted to soothe Yoongi with a hand on his backâ only to find it shaking. âBut itâs rare. Usually happens during a demonic possession, and a possession takes weeks, sometimes months, to happen. Relax, jaguar, get out of my face. Weâve been monitoring her all week, the spirit didnât follow us home. It was probably threatening her because it knows she has the ability to banish it.â
Seokjin, again, did not listen to Jeongguk, baring his teeth at the elk hybrid with his tail violently thrashing behind him.Â
âI donât want her there, either. But like Jeongguk said, you have to let her make her own choices,â Namjoon cut in, putting a broad palm between Jeongguk and Seokjinâs chests. Sick of them talking about her like she wasnât in the room, Y/N removed her hand from Yoongiâs back, spinning around to glare at the three in the corner of the kitchen.Â
âI donât want this turning into a fight. Can we just talk like adults? I know itâs⌠startling to hear. But you all have to give me some credit, canât you? I mean, I was able to banish the demon from this house. I lived with the attachment for years prior to even knowing any of you, and was never physically harmed.â
âBut Y/Nââ Hoseok began, however, Y/N held her hand out to stop him.Â
âI promised the Sanders family I would help them. To back out on that promise out of fear is cowardly bullshit. There are children in that house, living with that thing. If thatâs how it threatened me, someone who had only been in the building twice, what is it saying about the kids?â
The room fell into silence again. Realizing she hadnât heard a peep from Taehyung, she looked around the room, each of her hybrids in various states of discomfort, anger, and distressâ the latter of which affecting Yoongi the most.Â
âI thinkâ I think I need some air,â Seokjin broke the silence, cracking open the slider even further and slipping outside, Y/Nâs heart breaking.Â
âY/N? Are you alright?â Y/N froze, Taehyungâs soulful, resonant voice came from behind her, making her flinch in surprise. Those days, he really didnât talk to her unless he had to, considering he was so glued to his phone or his camera it was nearly impossible to get his attention, so hearing him address her specifically had tingles shooting down her spine.Â
âIâm okay, Tae,â Y/N softened, his usual kind, trusting face appearing in front of her, reaching out to take her trembling hands. âAre you?â
âI believe in you,â he responded quietly, tugging her forward slightly to give her a brief hug, something she didnât realize she needed so bad. âIf you go, promise youâll come back.â
âOh, I promise,â Y/N mumbled into his shoulder, her hands fisting in the fabric of his sweater over his lower back. It was the most physical contact she had from Taehyung in a long while, and the fact that he offered her comfort while the others dissolved into pieces had her heart galloping in her chest. âEverything is going to be okay. Iâll come back to you all in one piece, I swear.â
Taehyung let her go, nodding once, taking her promise as an oath. Y/N bristled when Namjoon approached, swiping up the laptop, his iciness slightly dissipating when he noticed how much it affected her. Placing a palm on top of her head, somewhat awkwardly, Namjoon left the room with his bitten ear flickering and Jeongguk close behind. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she worried for Seokjin, outside in the cold without a coat, she worried for Yoongi, pale and hunched over beside her, and Hoseok and Jimin looked like neither of them could wrap their heads around the entire situation.Â
âUm⌠Iâm gonna try and get Jin to come back inside,â Hoseok cleared his throat after rinsing the melted mango popsicle off of his forearm and wrist, not bouncing back as quickly as he usually did after an uncomfortable situation. âJimin, set up the TV.â
Although the fox hybrid wasnât totally bouncing back just yet, Y/N suspected he was trying to grasp onto normalcy by not abandoning their nightly routine. Taehyung, sparing her one last meaningful look, whisked himself away to the parlor, and Y/N heard him shoving more logs into the fireplace distantly. Jimin, slowly, got up from his seat, heeding Hoseokâs suggestion and bringing his glass of whiskey along with him, leaving her and Yoongi alone. She had an inkling that they all left the room on purpose, for Y/N to attempt to soothe Yoongi, but she didnât know where to start.
âYoongi, baby,â Y/N murmured, the leopard hybrid still leaning over the counter with his head in his hands. âLook at me.â
Yoongi didnât budge, but he began muttering to himself, far too quietly for Y/N to hear what he was saying. His tail was completely still, limp, ears drooped, and Y/N felt terrible for being responsible for his misery.Â
âPlease, look at me? Yoongi?â Y/N tried again, hesitantly placing a hand on his bicep, yelping when he straightened, immediately yanking Y/N into his chest, shoving his face into her neck and clawing at her back through her blouse. âO-oof. AngelâŚâ
At least he stopped shaking, hugging her so tight the breath was stolen from her lungs, the leopard hybrid manipulating her head so it similarly rested in the crook of his neck. She stopped speaking, letting him hold her silently, stroking her hands through his hairâ somehow, in all of the chaos, his elastic band came loose, his inky hair falling messily around his face.Â
âI canât lose you again,â Yoongi finally spoke, voice scratchy with emotion. âI canât.â
âYou wonât,â Y/N answered immediately, clutching him close, not even caring that his fingernails were scraping up the skin of her back. âNever again.â
âBaby,â Yoongi moved, cradling the back of her head so she was pressed against his chestâ and for once, he wasnât purring. âI wonât try to convince you not to go anymore, butâŚâ
âYou donât want me to,â Y/N finished for the leopard hybrid when he trailed off, pressing a kiss to his chest through his hoodie.Â
âGoes without saying,â Yoongi held her so tight, she thought he would never let go. âBut I know you. I need you to be careful, Y/N.â
Y/N had no response. She simply held onto Yoongi, smoothing her hands up and down his back, blinking away tears. While everyoneâs reactions had her worried, if anything, it made her even more determined to not only banish the spirits in the Sandersâ home, but also come back perfectly whole and triumphant.Â
âI love you, Y/N. Please be careful,â Yoongi whispered after a few moments, kissing the top of her head, easing up on his hold on her. She returned the sentiment, a palm on one of his cheeks, pressing her forehead to his. âCome back to me.â
Y/N shushed him, a tear tracking down her cheek, by kissing him gently, his lower lip between hers as they held onto each other like lifelines. She didnât deepen the kiss any further, the chaste lock of their lips more like a promise than anything else, and when Yoongi pulled away, he released her from his embrace. He wiped the tear running down her cheek with a thumb, a crooked smile on his face, despite the heavy mood.Â
âOnly you can bring Seokjin inside, go rescue Foxy,â Yoongi grunted, nodding towards the door. Moving towards the glass, she paused, looking over her shoulder.Â
âI love you, Yoongi.â
It had taken her thirty whole minutes to get Seokjin back inside. Hoseok had scrambled away as soon as she was out on the patio with them, Seokjin sitting on a lawn chair staring despondently into the distance. In the end, it was her thorough explanation of all of the protective tools sheâd be using, how sheâd leave the house at the first sign of danger, and pinky-swearing that sheâd call him as soon as they concluded the second investigation that got him to budge. That night, Seokjin insisted on sleeping with her, tucking her under his chin and clinging to her like glue.Â
In the days that followed, Y/N started to get a little annoyed by how everyone was tip-toeing around her, as if she was going to burst into flames at any moment. She put her focus on Namjoon and Jeongguk, teaching them how to create an energy shield for themselves, which as her mother predicted, was incredibly easy for them to pick up. Jeonggukâ and Taehyung, when he was aroundâ seemed like the only two who werenât staring at her with puppy dog eyes, pleading for her to reconsider following through on the investigation. No matter how cute Jimin was, Y/N wasnât budging.Â
It was the day before the second investigation, a Tuesday and the last day of February, and Y/N was packing her overnight bag in her room. Tucking a first-aid kit into the pocket of the bag, Y/N hoped she wouldnât have to use it. Yoongi and Seokjin had been up her ass the entire day, and she finally caught a break when Yoongi took one of the cars to Benâs for Daisyâs piano lesson, and Seokjin had managed to peel himself from her long enough to help Jimin drag the completed garden beds out of the stable.Â
Pushing a hand through her hair, she packed an extra sweatshirtâ one of Yoongiâs, just in case she got cold or needed the comfort of his scent, and Seokjin gave her his stuffed alpaca to bring as a companion, a âprotectorâ, as he worded it. She was about ready to take her evening shower and nod off, considering sheâd be up the entire night the next day, when a knock came to her bedroom door. Thinking it was Seokjin, she pressed a palm to her forehead and prayed for patience.Â
âComing,â she called, hastily zipping her bag and tossing it by the foot of her bed. However, when she swung the door open, the hybrid standing there wasnât Seokjin, it was Hoseok, his hands shoved in the pockets of his sweats and his ears drooping to either side of his head.Â
âHey, Hoseok, how was practice?â Y/N asked, eyes on his semi-damp wavy locks from his post-practice shower. âBeat any records today?â
Hoseok shook his head, the crewneck sweatshirt he was wearing hugging his lean frame just so. Hoseok wasnât one to typically drop by her room, if he needed her, heâd usually text or video call and sheâd join him in the basement to hang out. Stepping aside wordlessly, Y/N motioned for him to come in, noticing how quiet he was.Â
âWhatâs up? Want to do some yoga with me or something? I could use some meditation before tomorrow,â Y/N flopped down onto her bed, Hoseok imperceptibly flinching at the mention of the following day.Â
âActually, I wanted to talk to you about your plans for tomorrow,â Hoseok scratched his chin, slowly lowering himself beside her on the bed and resting his palms on his knees.Â
âYeah?âÂ
âYeah. I wondered if I could be the one to talk you out of it, if anybody,â Hoseok confessed, a reluctant look on his face.Â
Puzzled, Y/N stared at him, waiting for him to continue, but all he did was seemingly collect his thoughts, twiddling his thumbs together. Opening her mouth, she was about to repeat the speech she had given each of them at least a half dozen times already, but Hoseok cleared his throat and stalled her.Â
âHear me out darling?â Hoseok grimaced, his jaw tensing. âJust for a minute.â
âIâm listening,â Y/N conceded, knowing that when Hoseok was that serious and the golden light left his eyes, he had something important to say.Â
âYou know I donât really believe in that hocus-pocus crap you, the wolf, and Jeongguk do. Even back in August⌠I played along when they did that weird ritual on you, but honestly I thought you just had a little bit too much to drink and fell in the hallway,â he began, glancing at Y/Nâs vanity, which now held various materials for her practice such as dried herbs and bells. âI donât like things I canât explain. I canât explain what I heard on that recording, and Y/N⌠I have a bad feeling.â
Y/N didnât take the first half of Hoseokâs statement offensively. She was familiar enough with Hoseok to know that while he wasnât exactly a believer in the supernatural, he respected her practice and humored her whenever she offered him cleansing bath salts or asked to waft rosemary smoke around his bedroom. She wasnât the kind of person to force her beliefs on anyone else, so she was totally fine with the fact that Hoseok didnât believe in what went bump in the night.Â
âA bad feeling, just like everyone else?â Y/N half-smiled, nudging Hoseok in the ribs. Unlike Namjoon or Jimin, Hoseok didnât mind her trying to find a semblance of humor in the situationâ if she didnât, sheâd crumble into a nervous wreck.Â
âI get it, youâre probably sick to the back teeth of hearing everyone telling you that you should stay here. For once, I agree with them,â Hoseok nudged her back, mirroring her half-smile. âIf what you recorded really was⌠something paranormal or whatever, I donât like that itâs targeting you.â
âWell, remember what Jeongguk said? It probably only said that to me because I was the one conducting the EVP session, and it could sense that I know how to banish evil spirits. Sure, itâs a scary thing to hear about oneself, though.â
âYeah, well, I donât really care what the elk has to say. Heâs self-serving,â Hoseok hissed, the mood shifting suddenly, Y/N surprised that Hoseok sounded so aggravated.Â
âThatâs not fair, Hoseok,â Y/N scolded gently, the fox hybrid standing from her bed and staring out of the window into the back yard. âJeongguk cares. Heâs experienced, too. With him there, you should feel better, not worse.â
âHeâs self-serving,â Hoseok repeated, making Y/N roll her eyes. Hoseok was like her twin; stubborn, and once he formulated an opinion, it was hard for him to let it go or see it change. âWhat are the chances I can convince you to stay?â
âSlim-to-none,â Y/N got up as well, joining the fox hybrid by her window, peering up at him curiously. His expression was stormy, his lips pressed into a thin line, and it made Y/N shiver.Â
âFantastic,â Hoseok replied flatly, narrowing his eyes at Y/N. The humor had evaporated the room at that point, Y/Nâs half-smile disappearing.Â
âHoseok,â Y/N groaned, tired of having the same conversation over and over again. âYou donât even believe in this stuff. Iâll be perfectly fine, okay?â
âOkay? And what if youâre wrong?â Hoseok shot back, hands on hips and cornering her against a wall, staring down at her beneath his nose. âWhat then?â
âWell, I guess youâll have a new reason to believe, then,â Y/N grit her teeth, entirely over the whole debate. She didnât know how many times she would have to repeat that sheâs fine, sheâll be fine, and that theyâre all suffocating her with worry. However, her usually well-received sarcasm, at least by Hoseok, did not land gracefully that time. Â
âDonât say that,â Hoseokâs voice was all gravel and menace, anger flashing in his eyes, turning the irises from caramel to mocha.Â
âSorry,â Y/N immediately apologized, her spine now flush with the wall beside her bed, Hoseok trapping her there. âIt was just a joke, I didnât mean it seriously.â
âIâm aware that we have the kind of relationship where we can joke around, but not about your safety, Y/N,â Hoseokâs tone softened, but there was a dangerous edge to it, his eyes skimming her from head to toe as she cowered in front of him, chastised. âOn my birthday. The only reason why I agreed to go to a club was because I knew all seven pairs of our eyes would be on you. You only have Namjoon and Jeongguk this time.â
âHoseokâŚâ Y/N sobered, the fox hybrid so close to her, she was drowning in his fresh, woodsy cologne. âI promised Iâd come back in one piece. For you, for all of you. I take my promises seriously.â
Hoseok paused, considering, using a forefinger and thumb to pinch the bridge of his nose. He took a deep breath, one that had his rib cage expanding quite a bit, Y/N chewing on her lip and placing a hand on the side of his neck tenderly, feeling his erratic pulse under her thumb.Â
âFighting with youâŚâ Hoseokâs throat bobbed, his shoulders sagging. âSucks. It really fuckinâ sucks.â
âThen letâs not fight. Trust me Hoseok, hmm? We still have so many places to go, you and I. Our road trip this spring to New York, going to Disney World eventually, remember? Iâm not about to let a skanky ghost prevent us from traveling the world together,â Y/N attempted to brighten the mood, stroking through the silky short-cropped hair on the nape of his neck.Â
âNo matter what, youâre always a ray of sunshine, arenât you, darling,â Hoseok chuckled, making Y/N sigh with relief, reaching up to pinch Hoseokâs cheek.Â
âNo, thatâs you,â Y/N tugged the flesh of his cheek back and forth, making him shake his head, his whole body shuddering with her touch. To her surprise, Hoseok removed her hand from his face, holding onto her wrist, his eyes skimming over the veins that mapped through the skin. âWhatâs the matter?â
Hoseok said nothing, his thumb brushing over the sensitive area, ears fluttering when Y/Nâs heart stuttered in her chest. Not realizing how close they had gotten, Hoseok essentially caging her in, Y/N murmured his name considering he was basically stuck in a trance holding her wrist.Â
âCan I?â Hoseokâs ears turned back, eyes flicking to hers, pressing his thumb firmly into her delicate wrist. âPlease. Itâll make me feel better.â
âUh-huh,â Y/N watched Hoseokâs free hand press against the wall beside her face, crowding her against the surface, leveling her a meaningful look.
âI wonât be so rough this time,â Hoseok remarked, absently, Y/N ashamed that she was somewhat disappointed by that statement. âHold onto me if you wantâŚâ
Y/N had no qualms doing so. She snaked her free arm around Hoseokâs trim waist, grabbing a fistful of his sweatshirt, watching him turn her wrist in his palm carefully. Her breath caught when he brought it to his lips, his eyes never breaking from hers when he laid a gentle kiss on her palm, Y/Nâs stomach doing somersaults. Ears twitching, catching the intake of breath she made, the corner of his mouth curled up, littering a few more kisses along the length of her wrist. Hoseok paused when goosebumps rose on her forearm when his lips brushed against a particular stretch of skin.Â
With one last butterfly wing kiss, Hoseok sunk his incisors into her wrist, Y/N wincing at the razor-sharp sensation, though she was instantly soothed when Hoseokâs free hand moved to curl around her hip, squeezing comfortingly. The sting was gone as swift as it came, Hoseokâs eyes fluttering shut as his teeth pierced her flesh, and the mind-numbing euphoria that came when her hybrids scented her had Y/Nâs head nodding into Hoseokâs toned chest. Humming from the back of his throat, he let her lean on him while he bit her, tongue peaking out to catch a droplet of blood leaking from the mark.Â
Y/N wasnât sure whether or not she was murmuring Hoseokâs name deliriously into his chest, eyes rolling to the back of her head when she felt his teeth pull out of her skin, tongue laving over the bleeding wounds methodically. Hoseok was effectively holding her up now, his arm supporting her lower back while he cleaned up his mess, cauterizing the wound as gently as he could. In stark contrast to how aggressively he scented her many months ago, this time around, he was calm, tender, and almost loving, Y/N let herself believe.Â
Before her knees could buckle and she dropped to the floor, Hoseok let go of her wrist, using two hands on her hips to hoist her up, Y/N not even making a noise of surprise as he carried her to her bed and set her down gingerly.Â
âHowâs your head? Fuzzy?â Hoseok questioned, Y/Nâs eyes heavy and lidded as she admired the new mark he gave her, already bruising but entirely painlessâ and when she prodded at it, the site tingled strangely.Â
âHuh?â Y/N didnât actually hear Hoseok, too doped up, considering postponing her shower in favor of just crawling into bed and passing out after all of that. âMy what?â
âNevermind, darling. That answers that,â Hoseok snickered, and he seemed way less jittery than he had when he first came into her bedroom, so Y/N counted that as a bonus. âWant me to have Yoongi bring your dinner in here? You look like youâre about to knock off.â
âOoh. Will you?â Y/N perked up, the fog in her brain clearing slowly, kicking off her slippers and wiggling beneath her quilt, Hoseokâs radiant smile spreading across his face. âThank you, Foxy.â
âYouâre lucky youâre cute,â Hoseok muttered to himself, and Y/N was still too fuzzy-brained to hear it. He started towards the door, knowing that Y/N would probably be asleep when Yoongi brought dinner around, her eyes almost shut completely, but something about her angelic expression had him stopping by the door and speaking up more loudly. âY/N.â
âYeah, honey?â Y/N peered at him from under her eyelashes, the fox hybrid turning a bit sly.Â
âYou owe me that trip to EPCOT, donât forget. Iâm not âdrinking around the worldâ without you, so you better come back.â
Y/Nâs eyes went wide out of pure shock, Hoseok back to his wiseass self, before she dissolved into a fit of giggles.Â
âIâm taking that as a threat. Donât come crying to me when weâre four drinks in and youâre all sunburnt.â
âI look forward to it, darling.â
Y/N pulled Yoongiâs hoodie over her head shortly after she, Jeongguk, and Namjoon entered the deserted Sandersâ home. The family themselves had been living in a hotel for the past few weeks as per Y/Nâs advice, the current state of the building uninhabitable with all of the spirits infesting it. The worn fabric, infused with Yoongiâs vanilla-and-cloves body wash, offered her somewhat of a lifeline, the home absolutely frigid and charged with thick, uncomfortable energy. Namjoon stuck close to her like an overzealous watchdog, Y/N feeling his sharp gaze on her near constantly as the two of them helped Jeongguk set up cameras. None of them spoke apart from the occasional direction from Jeongguk on where to place a piece of equipment.Â
Part of the âagreementâ Y/N had begrudgingly accepted was Namjoon taking over the EVP sessions and asking the spirits questions. Really, she was only there as some kind of equipment mule, which she supposed was more than she could ask for, at that point. At least Namjoon had taken her list of follow-up questions to use, while she monitored the computer as he asked them.Â
Burying her nose into the collar of Yoongiâs hoodie, letting his scent bathe her in comfort, she sat on one of the living room couches, in pitch-black darkness, waiting for the other two hybrids to finish setting up. The only sources of light, it being quarter past two in the morning, were the tiny lights on the cameras and the odd flash of eyeshine from one of the hybrids milling about with purpose.Â
âEverythingâs set. This was the last static night vision camera to go up,â Jeongguk broke the silence gruffly, Y/N hearing his combat boots clomping along the hardwood just a few feet away from her. âLetâs do some EVP. I donât want to be here longer than we have to; we already have plenty of evidence.â
Y/N flinched when she felt Namjoon collapse down beside her on the couch, the EVP device clutched in his hand, Y/N only able to make out the faintest shadow of his side profile. Clearing her throat, she booted up the digital audio workstation in preparation for recording, Jeongguk standing by the living room window where what the three of them called âThe Watcherâ lingered.Â
âGot the list? You two have your shields up, right?â Y/N mumbled to Namjoon, the room dropping a couple of degrees in temperature, as well as the wolf hybrid now staring daggers into the side of her face. Technically, she wasnât supposed to talk, but she wasnât about to be mute the entire time.Â
âStart up the recording, kiddo,â Jeongguk ignored her questions, his silhouette visible by the windowâ his antlers making him look like a supernatural creature, himself.Â
Sighing, shoving her face further into Yoongiâs hoodie, she did as she was told. The nickname Jeongguk used on her didnât have its usual affect, considering the elk hybrid explicitly told her and Namjoon not to use their names while in the house, for whatever reason. With a quiet grunt leaving her lips, indicating they were ready to go, Y/N clung to Namjoonâs side as close as she could as he began prattling off inquiries.Â
âWho are you watching?â After a series of unanswered questions, Namjoonâs tone was growing frustrated, his tail occasionally batting against Y/Nâs behind. Nothing was showing up on her digital audio workstation, either. Finally, however, there was a blip appearing on her computer, Y/N tensing as she actually heard the gritty response amongst the static the EVP detector was putting out.Â
âFamily.â
âWhy are you watching this family?â Namjoon brightened, shushing Jeongguk from across the room, who was tapping his foot impatiently. âHow did you get here?â
âPortal. Bedroom.â
Y/N was positive she was grinding her teeth into dust. She was dreading the EVP sessions in the bedrooms, and based on The Watcherâs response, the three of them would be heading up there sooner than she thought.Â
Namjoon asked a few more questions, but received no further responses. Sucking his teeth, Namjoon made a motion for Y/N to stop recording, switching off the device he was holding. The room was still heavy with icky energy, but quiet once Namjoon turned off the detector, Y/N expelling the breath she was holding.Â
âA portal. I should have known,â Jeongguk remarked, already dismantling a night vision camera to haul upstairs. âThatâs why thereâs so many entities here. Thereâs a portal that allows them to freely come and go, and my guess is itâs in one of the bedrooms.â
âOh! That means that I have a wayââ Y/N immediately clammed up when Namjoon pinched her thigh, whimpering at the sharpness of his fingernails. However, he was right to snap her out of itâ it wouldnât have been wise to announce that she had a way to close the portal while they were in the house.Â
With that, she silently helped the hybrids bring equipment up to the second floor, following Jeonggukâs direction to begin in Tommyâs bedroom, all while clutching onto the burning dragonâs blood incense like it was a flaming sword. Y/N had a sneaking suspicion that the portal was located in that specific bedroom due to the suffocating sensation she had in there weeks ago, one that had her head swimming and breath coming out shallowly. It was a great effort to keep her energetic shield up while in that room, imagining an impenetrable bright golden light surrounding her, and she could feel it taking a good chunk of her lucidity.Â
Stiffly, she stood by the door of the room, letting the hybrids take the lead, Jeongguk muttering something in Latinâ she assumed it was an expletive due to the acidic way he uttered it. Because she and Namjoon hadnât captured any audio in that room the last time, they focused on taking video, breaking out the thermometers, and sweeping the area for electromagnetic readings. To no oneâs surprise, the electromagnetic detector was going absolutely berserk in that room, specifically in the young boyâs closet. Jeongguk used his teeth to rip a piece of electrical tape to mark the area.Â
âI think itâs there,â he announced quietly, Namjoon taking pictures of the closet with flash, lighting up the dark room and making Y/N gnaw on her lip as she saw shadows all around her wolf hybrid. She prayed he was maintaining his shield, but she had spoken one too many times, so she couldnât mention the shadows curling around the room threateningly. âLetâs get through the girlâs room quickly and get out of here.â
Stomach turning sour, she curled her hands into fists, trying her best not to light her clothes on fire with the burning incense she was religiously replacing as soon as one stick got too low. Namjoon was too busy to hold her hand this time, so she trailed after him closely, feeling utterly sick when they entered Julieâs dark room. Y/N swore she heard growling coming from all angles, low and menacing, but if either of her hybrids noticed, they didnât say anything about it. Wafting the incense smoke around the space, Y/N concentrated on her shield, waiting for Jeongguk to prop up a single camera and Namjoon to begin the EVP session.Â
Turning, she could see outlines of her two hybrids working quickly, but what concerned her the most were the dark shadows now surrounding Jeongguk, too, not just Namjoon, and the density of the shadows were growing by the second. Perhaps Y/N didnât spend enough time teaching them how to maintain their defenses, or they had forgotten to tend to their shields in the urgency of it all. Before she could say anything, her hackles rising and sensing danger all of a sudden, Namjoon started recording audio and switched on the EVP.Â
âWho are you?â Namjoonâs first question rang out loudly, firmly, with an edge of anger to it. âWhat are you doing here?â
The shadows thickened even more, and it was getting even harder to see either of her hybrids from where she was standing, mere feet away. It was odd that something could be darker than night, like a void, but those shadows were proof in front of her. Queasy, she took a step forward, following the sound of the static coming from the EVP. She hadnât noticed that her stick of incense had gone out.Â
âDid you come from a portal within this home?â Namjoon pressed, clearly pissed he wasnât getting any answers.Â
Jeongguk was scribbling in his notebook furiously, a ballpoint pen scratching against the linen pages when the knocking on the walls started up. Icy fright washed over Y/N, but she tried to keep it together by clutching the selenite in her pocket. Just a few more minutes, a few more questions, and they could leave. And when they would return, it would be in the daylightâŚ
âGive me that shit,â Jeongguk suddenly cursed, snatching the EVP from the wolf hybrid. âAnswer us. You can threaten young girls without a problem, but youâre too much of a pussy to show yourself to us?â
Y/N stifled a gasp, definitely not prepared for Jeongguk to antagonize the entity, the shadows pressing down on him immediately in response. He didnât seem to realize that, though Namjoon certainly did, moving closer to Y/N and his eyes flashing in the darkness when the knocking on the wall turned to pounding.Â
âHybrid scum.â Came through the device Jeongguk was holding, a dry chuckle leaving Jeonggukâs lips.Â
âReal original. Iâve had old ladies at convenience stores call me worse,â Jeongguk taunted, Y/N dropping her stick of stubbed-out incense in shock. âGive me something to work with. Prove youâre here.â
The pounding on the walls cut off suddenly. All Y/N could hear besides radio static was the blood rushing in her ears. Shadows still curling around her two hybrids, Y/N really thought something was beginning to go wrong, especially with everything going quiet. Desperate to do anything of use, she squeezed her eyes shut, and with great effort, extended her mental energetic shield around not only herself, but her two hybrids as well. Picturing them in her mind, she felt something warm coasting down her face, ignoring it entirely while she focused on cloaking them all with protection.Â
âJudas,â Jeongguk barked, the camera he had set on the tripod knocked off its perch and launching clear across the room, smacking to the floor when the pounding on the walls started up again. Namjoon fumbled with a flashlight to illuminate the room.Â
âElkââ Namjoon sounded panicked, though distant, as Y/N was in a meditative trance focusing on the shield.Â
âShut up,â Jeongguk hissed, continuing with his questions. âWho the fuck are you? Tell us your name.â
Y/N had expended too much energy. It was too much; between attempting to shield three people at once, what felt like spiders crawling up her legs, and all of the noise around herâ her eyes snapped open and the shield was broken. At that same moment, two things happened.Â
âFuck!â Jeongguk shouted, pained, hunching over and dropping the EVP device. As the elk hybrid cried out, Y/Nâs knees failed her, and she collapsed to the ground in a heap, shakily and blindly trying to reach out for Jeongguk. âGet her out of here. Now.â
Y/N had tears gushing from her waterline, screaming when Namjoon sprung into action, scooping her up around the middle and hauling her over his shoulder.Â
âNooo! Jeongguk!â Y/N wailed, smacking Namjoonâs back desperately as he thundered down the stairs, through the living room, and outside into the night. âNamjoon put me DOWN! We canât leave him!â
Namjoon didnât say a word, taking her beating as she struck and pummeled his back, the wolf hybrid hastily yanking open the door to his van and carrying her inside. Fully sobbing by now, the strength she used to try and get herself out of Namjoonâs arms completely zapped, Namjoon quickly started the van to both heat and light it up. Crying brokenly, she went limp, the wolf hybrid moving to the booth in the back of the vehicle, manipulating her limbs so she sat securely on his lap, a forearm braced across her stomach to keep her in place.Â
âJ-Joon⌠Jeonggukâs hurt, why did we leave him?â Y/N whimpered, weakly trying to pry his arm off of her midsection. She might as well have been trying to pry off a metal bar on a roller coaster that was across her lap.Â
âHeâs just getting the equipment. Heâll be out in a minute,â Namjoon murmured in her ear, his free hand searching for something on the boothâs table.Â
âButââ
âHush,â Namjoon interrupted, using his thumb on her chin to tilt her head back, his eyebrows scrunched up in concern, something feathery and soft clutched in the remainder of his long fingers. âYour nose is bleeding.â
Hand trembling, Y/N touched her lips, her fingertips coming away wet and soaked with blood. Namjoonâs ears were flat when he began dabbing away at her face with the tissue, mopping up the blood first and having Y/N hold the tissue to her nose. Tears still streaming down her face, Namjoonâs chest rumbled, reaching across the table for another tissue before he began blotting those away as well.
âYou shouldnât have extended your shield to us like that. Youâre going to need a few days to recover,â Namjoon commented when Y/Nâs sobs slightly mellowed into pathetic blubbering. She was going to reply when a loud scrape against the van door had her shrieking.Â
âJust me, kiddo,â Jeongguk hauled himself into the van, his camera and the equipment bag in one hand, his complexion pale and sweaty as he dumped everything on the ground. âCameraâs fuckinâ toast. Demon prick.â
Turning into a puddle of relief against Namjoonâs chest, her eyes were watering again, thanking the moon and the stars that he made it back to the van. Somehow, the sight of the elk hybrid gave her a spark of revival, patting the back of Namjoonâs hand so heâd let her up. He did so, reluctantly, one hand on her waist as she stood.Â
âAre you okay?â Y/Nâs voice was scratchy and raw due to the screaming and crying, but Jeongguk simply nodded and looked behind her, right at Namjoon.Â
âStep on it, wolf. We need to leave, now,â Jeongguk ordered, Namjoon growling at the command but making his way to the driverâs seat anyways, releasing Y/Nâs waist in the process. âCall Seokjin, Y/N.â
âW-what?âÂ
âThe investigation is over. He told me he expects a call, so call him,â Jeongguk collapsed into the booth, wincing when his back hit the seat.Â
It dawned on her, turning her head to the kitchenette, where she left both her phone and Seokjinâs stuffed alpaca on the countertop to remind her whenever they finished. Grasping for both items, she sunk into the booth across from Jeongguk before Namjoon threw the van in drive and sped off down the street. Clutching the plushie to her chest, Seokjin picked up on the first ring.Â
âPretty girl? Is it over? What happened?â Seokjin blurted in quick succession.Â
âOn our way home,â Y/N sniffed, hugging the stuffed alpaca even closer to her chest, Seokjin releasing a shuddering exhale through the receiver.Â
âWere you crying? Love, are you hurt?â Seokjin continued, Y/N picturing his worried expression.Â
âNo, Iâm not hurt. Just shaken up, is all. But⌠Weâll be home in half an hour, so Iâll see you then and tell you all about it, honey?âÂ
There was a beat of silence on the other end of the call, Y/N feeling bad that she wasnât exactly Chatty Cathy, but Seokjin had always been understanding.Â
âIâll be waiting. Iâll make some tea, okay? I love you,â Seokjinâs smooth voice soothed her, wrapped her in warmth, and sooner than she thought she could, she smiled.Â
âThank you, I love you too, honey. And thank you for loaning me your plushie.â
She hung up from Seokjin, shooting a quick text to all of the others to give them her ETA, her fingers pausing over the keyboard when Jeongguk made an audible wince, shifting in his seat.Â
âSweets, are youâŚ?â
âY/N, get the camera, the one that has the flash,â Jeongguk was still pale, wiping sweat from his brow despite how cold it still was outside.
Eyebrow raised, she obeyed, fishing around for it in the hastily-packed equipment bag. When she turned, she squeaked; Jeongguk was in the middle of stripping his black turtleneck off, crumpling it into a ball once he untangled it from his antlers and holding it to cover his chest. Y/N stood there, stunned, both of his sleeves on display, his toned abs caved in as he slouched, biting down harshly on his lip ring.Â
âThereâs something on my back, take a picture of it,â Jeongguk, rigidly, turned in the booth, revealing the expanse of his bare back to Y/N frozen there like a garden gnome. âEvidence.â
Y/N, this time, could not stifle her gasp. It was the first time she saw the great black-and-white tattoo covering most of his back, but horrifyingly, the excitement of that was squashed by the three long, bleeding scratches across the flesh. The scratches appeared like they were made by an animal with talons, starting at one of his shoulders and ending at his opposite hip, red and inflamed, marring the elegant lines of the tattoo. Y/N couldnât even process what the tattoo depicted, her heart in her throat when she saw the scratches.Â
âHoly fuck, Jeongguk,â Y/N exclaimed, rooted to her spot behind him with the camera in one of her hands, forgotten.Â
âWhat? Whatâs wrong?â Namjoon called from the driverâs seat, trying to see what was going on by peering into the rearview mirror.Â
âJeongguk got scratched,â Y/N reported, her cadence wobbly from trying to swallow down more tears.Â
âTake the picture, Y/N,â Jeongguk spoke through his teeth, bracing his forearms on the boothâs table.Â
âJeongguk, watch your goddamn tone,â Namjoon warned, speeding onto the highway in the direction of their home. âStop ordering her around like a spoiled prince.â
For once, Jeongguk didnât have a snide remark, a bead of sweat rolling down his spine and mingling with the blood, the sting of it making him hiss and groan. Frantically, Y/N snapped several pictures from different angles, her heart clenching as she watched blood ooze from one of the deeper gashes.Â
âGood? You got them?â
âUh-huh,â Y/N said gravely, setting down the camera and reaching for her overnight bag. âNow itâs my turn to call the shots, you two. Jeongguk, youâre gonna sit still and let me bandage you, and Joon, youâre gonna slow down at least 15 miles per hour.â
She could have bet a fair sum that Namjoon chuckled from the front seat, but he heeded her request, lightly pressing the breaks and merging into the slowest lane on the highway. Jeongguk was still slouched, though uncharacteristically free of protests when Y/N sat directly behind him, setting her first-aid kit on the table with a solemn thunk.Â
âYou know, I hoped I wouldnât have to use thisâŚâ Y/N sighed, opening up the kit and rummaging through it for some alcohol wipes. Due to how long the three scratches were, sheâd probably need all of the wipes she had in the plastic box. âJeongguk, we promised Julie we wouldnât instigate the spirits. Why did you do that?â
âWe werenât going to get anywhere unless I did,â Jeongguk grunted while Y/N used her teeth to tear a wipe packet open, swiping it along his left shoulder where the scratches began.Â
âI⌠hmm. How do I put this,â Y/N methodically cleaned up Jeonggukâs wounds, starting to make out the image his tattoo depictedâ some kind of winged, cloaked figure. âI know you have lots of experience, Jeongguk. But I think, had I known that was where your thought process was leading, things could have gone a lot better. The element of surprise when it comes to these investigations, between teammates, is so, so, stupid and reckless.â
From the front seat, Namjoon hummed loudly in agreement. Jeongguk simply kept his mouth shut, Y/N not knowing whether or not he was giving her the silent treatment, jolting in his seat when she passed an alcohol wipe over a particularly deep scratch.Â
âSo next time, if you want to go Zak Bagans on the spirits, just run it by me first. Alright?â
Jeongguk grumbled in offense, Y/N too tired to scold him any further. Happy with how she cleaned the scratches, she tossed the last slightly-bloodied alcohol wipe on the table, pulling soothing and antibacterial ointment out of her kit. The cab of the van was quiet except for the folk tape Namjoon switched on, which was turned down low for ambience. Y/N had a suspicion he put it on for some comfort.Â
She had never been able to touch so much of Jeonggukâs skin. Of course, he ran hot like all of the other hybrids, Y/Nâs fingertips gingerly applying ointment to his scratches. Trying to be gentle, she cooed when Jeongguk flinched again as her fingers passed over his mid-back. As she worked, she admired not only the tattoo covering his back, but the ones wrapping around his triceps and elbows. Attempting to distract him from the pain, Y/N dared to ask him a question.Â
âSweets? Whatâs this tattoo on your back? Is it a fallen angel or something?â
âSaw it on the wall in the shop and liked it. I donât know, itâs some kind of winged grim reaper,â Jeonggukâs shoulders shrugged indifferently, Y/N taking a moment to sit back and really get a good look at it.Â
Indeed, the figure resembled a skeleton, cloaked in black, holding a scythe. Its large wings extended over Jeonggukâs shoulder blades, the tips of the wings nearly meeting at the nape of his neck, where Y/N had seen the tattoo peeking out from the backs of his shirts on one or two occasions. The tattoo was expertly done, the linework precise and bold, Y/N running a finger over one of the wings, Jeonggukâs muscles tensing.Â
âHow did you afford all of those tattoos and holes in your face and ears while on the run?â Namjoon asked, in a way that told Y/N that he had been holding onto that question for quite some time.Â
âI exorcized a tattoo shop in L.A. before I got out of that cesspool,â Jeongguk explained, Y/N resuming her task by cutting strips of gauze for his bandages. âIt was like one of my first âgigsâ or whatever. Anyways, the owner was so grateful, she pretty much gave me unlimited tattoos and piercings free of charge. And with the prices of these fucking thingsââ Jeongguk gestured to some of the ink on his biceps, âI took advantage of that free ticket.â
âThatâs a cool story,â Y/N remarked, realizing she didnât have a lot of information on Jeonggukâs past, other than how he came to Gerryâs shelter all those months ago. âThis one on your back is beautiful. She did such a nice job.â
âThanks,â Jeongguk began rubbing at his bicep, Y/N surprised he thanked her at all as she began taping gauze to his back.Â
âWhatâs this one?â Y/N poked his deltoid, unable to make it out, letting her eyes roam all over his arms indulgently. It was the first time she had an excuse to gawk at them.Â
âThatâs the moon, kiddo. What are you blind?â Jeongguk turned his face slightly, staring down at the tattoo on his shoulder, Y/N glancing at his side profile; the sharpness of his nose, the labret threaded through his eyebrow, the angle of his jaw.Â
âHow many do you think you have? Oh, it must be hard to count, considering theyâre sleeves. Do you have any on your legs? What was your most painful piercing?â Y/N rapid-fired, both unable to help herself and loving that the conversation was distracting her from the fact that her elk hybrid had gotten hurt under her watch.Â
âWhoa, slow down. What is this, twenty questions?â
âYou could at least do me the courtesy of answering one,â Y/N muttered resentfully, smoothing the last pieces of tape in place.Â
âIâm not going to tell you which piercing was the most painful, it depends on the person,â Jeongguk replied, an odd tone taking over his voiceâ awkwardness? âSo fine. No tattoos on my legs. Happy?â
âSatisfied,â Y/N confirmed, smirking. âAlright, youâre patched up. You should probably skip the salt bath until theyâre more healed. Iâll just waft some palo santo over you or something when we get home.â
Jeongguk shifted, sitting correctly in the booth now, this time not grimacing when his back hit the fabric of the booth. Y/Nâs eyes went to his black turtleneck, forgotten beside him, and before she could stop herself, her greedy gaze was on his chestâ and she was not prepared for what she saw.Â
Besides the fact that Jeongguk was well-muscled, almost like a dancer, his chest was free of any ink, but there was something that had her mouth dropping open when her eyes trailed upwards. Jeongguk had his nipples pierced, silver barbells threaded through them, which had Y/N positively reeling. She supposed she shouldnât have been so surprised, he had countless piercings in his ears and the two in his face, but the sight of the nipple piercings had her mouth watering and heat flooding her cheeks.Â
âWhat?â Jeongguk lifted his eyebrow, noticing her gaping fish mouth.Â
âNothing! Iâm gonna go sit up front!â Y/N blurted, stuffing the first-aid kit into her overnight bag and scrambling to the front of the vehicle, scooping up Seokjinâs plushie as she went.
Jeongguk snorted as she hobbled away, struggling back into his turtleneckâ even though Y/N ordered special ones that had stretchy necks to cater to hybrids with antlers, it was still a sort of gymnastics routine for him.Â
âHow are you doing?â Namjoon inquired once she buckled in beside him, never taking his eyes off the road.Â
âIâm better, but exhausted. Sorry for going postal on you. Is your back bruised?â
âPlease,â Namjoon scoffed, sucking his teeth. âIt was like someone throwing pebbles at me.â
âWay to stroke my ego, Joon Bug,â Y/N grouched, sinking into the oversized fabric of Yoongiâs sweatshirt with an exaggerated offended expression.Â
âWeâre almost back,â Namjoon commented, sneaking a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. âYou definitely need at least 10 hours of sleep. Doing what you did with the shieldââ
âWas idiotic?â Jeongguk offered from the back of the van, Y/N giving him the finger over the back of her headrest.Â
âNo, jackass. Unwise, I would say,â Namjoon bared his teeth at Jeongguk through the rearview mirror.Â
âI saw shadows around you two. I didnât know whether or not you guys were maintaining your own shields, thatâs why I did it. I only wanted to protect you,â Y/N defended her actions, pouting and cradling the alpaca plushie in her arms.Â
With that, the two hybrids stopped chiding her, the weight of her words having the both of them regretting saying anything at all. Namjoon cleared his throat, turning the volume up on his tape, Y/N giggling when she heard Jeongguk complain noisily.Â
âI get scratched by a fuckinâ demon, now I have to listen to some asshole play the spoons on a tape from 1955,â he groaned, Namjoon shaking his head while he pulled off of the highway, into their town. âI need a cigarette.â
âAre you bleeding? I can smell your blood,â Seokjin tackled her as soon as she stepped a singular toe into the foyer, a note of panic in his tone as he gathered her in his arms, frantically tracking his eyes all over her body for any sign of injury.Â
âI had a nosebleed on the way home. Iâm okay, honey,â Y/N sunk into Seokjinâs embrace, winding her arms around his neck. She was wilting with exhaustion, at that point, but she knew sheâd have to make the rounds to assure everyone she was unharmed. âI missed you bunches.â
Seokjin didnât respond with words, instead his chest vibrated with elated purrs that she was home, in his arms, safe and sound. Placing a gentle kiss between her eyebrows, Seokjin released her so she could greet everyone else lingering in the foyer, though he remained by her side. Y/N knew it would take a crowbar forged from diamonds to get the jaguar hybrid to remove himself from her proximity, at that point.Â
Jeongguk shouldered by her with the equipment bag, bidding her a goodnight, immediately blasting up the stairs to his room. Y/Nâs gaze followed him, and in consequence she caught sight of Taehyung, who was sitting on the landing with his palms on his knees. Blinking at her, she offered him a wave, one he returned timidly.Â
âCatch any ghosts?â Hoseok was leaning against the door to the basement, dark circles under his eyes from staying up so late. It was well past four in the morning, Y/N a little sheepish knowing everyone stayed awake waiting for her return.Â
âCaught more than ghosts,â Namjoon muttered from behind Y/N, rifling through her overnight bag to look for the bundles of rosemary to burn.Â
âYeah, not my department,â Hoseok shook his head, Y/N weakly snorting at the joke. âWelcome home, darling. Iâm gonna hit the hay, I can barely see you standing there.â
Jimin returned from behind the stairs where he was hanging up Y/Nâs coat in the closet, relief all over his face, seeing her very much intact and in front of him. All who was missing was Yoongi, who Y/N suspected was in the kitchen. Jimin bade her goodnight, as did Namjoon, who reminded her to cleanse herself with the rosemary before going to bed, and under her nose, Taehyung slipped away silently into his bedroom upstairs.Â
âLetâs get you some tea,â Seokjin grabbed her hand and herded her to the kitchen, Y/N wobbly on her feet as she clutched Seokjinâs plushie under her free arm. âThen youâre going to bed.â
âYes, sir,â Y/N chuckled tiredly, squeezing his palm as they entered the lowly-lit kitchen, Y/N finding her suspicion to be correctâ Yoongi was by the stove, using a pot holder to take the kettle off of the flame. âIâm backâŚâ
Yoongi turned, sparkles in his eyes as he took her in, a look of significance blossoming over his face. That time, she did come back to him.Â
âYou look like you got sucker punched,â Yoongi said, contrary to the meaningful telepathic interaction the two of them had. âWas it bad?â
âIt was pretty bad,â Y/N admitted, Seokjin humming sadly and sliding his hand down her back. âJeongguk got scratched.â
âNo shit,â Yoongiâs eyebrows shot up into his hairline, pouring her a cup of chamomile tea. âBut you werenât harmed, right?â
âNope, I just gave myself a nosebleed. Exerted too much energy,â Y/N replied, accepting the steamy mug of tea. Perhaps she should have found it odd, standing in the kitchen between two hybrids she was romantically involved with, but she found it natural instead. âI think I know how to get rid of the infestation now, though. That second investigation was necessary.â
She didnât expect Seokjin or Yoongi to reply, as the two of them werenât really into the paranormal, so she sipped her tea with a hum, watching Yoongi wash the kettle.Â
âWell, make a plan of attack later. You need to sleep,â Yoongi pointed out, his own face puffy with exhaustion. Seokjin agreed with him, already trying to drag her to her bedroom, Yoongi following close behind with some water and a packet of ibuprofen.Â
In her room, Seokjin started turning her bed down for her while Yoongi placed the water on her nightstand, Y/N shrugging and deciding to change into pajamas. Too drained to give a shit, she stripped down to her bra and panties, fishing around in her dresser for a suitable giant tee shirt to sleep in. A sharp gasp filled the room, Y/N lifting a brow and looking over her shoulder. Both of them were gawking at her state of undress, Seokjin with his hand clasped over his mouthâ probably the one that gasped, and Yoongi was frozen solid by her bed, staring at her ass. Perv.Â
âWhat? Nothing you two havenât seen,â Y/N muttered, cheeks ablaze when she shoved a shirt over her head, the material skimming the tops of her thighs.Â
Seokjinâs neck was red, averting his eyes from her scantily clothed figure in favor of straightening out her quilt. Yoongiâs ears fluttered playfully, tongue peeking out to moisten his lips, Y/N shaking her head at him.Â
âGonna brush my teeth. Want to chat for a little bit before I go to sleep?â Y/N changed the subject, addressing both of the hybrids, a small amount of shaky hope in her voice. She didnât really want to be left alone yet, truthfully. Seokjin picked up on the unsaid, nodding, and Yoongi simply collapsed heavily on her vanity chair.Â
After her teeth were brushed, she climbed into bed, Seokjin more than used to climbing in beside her, happily chattering away about his evening without her. Apparently, he and Yoongi made a new recipe for dinner, they watched a French movie Hoseok picked out, and polished off all of the ice cream. Yoongi remained seated at her vanity, occasionally joining the conversation, but Y/N could tell he was ready to pass out. She was just as ready, suddenly, Seokjinâs voice luring her into sleep, nuzzling her cheek into his shoulder.Â
âAlright, I need to sleep, sweetheart. Iâll see you in the morning, or afternoon, whenever you wake up,â Yoongi stood, running a hand through his mussed hair. Y/Nâs eyes snapped open, still tucked into Seokjinâs side, frowning deeply.Â
âJust stay here,â Y/N whined, Yoongi pausing in the doorway, looking from her to Seokjin. âThereâs room on my other side. Donât leave me.â
Yoongi appeared conflicted, weighing his options, but Y/Nâs pathetic pout is what won him over. Sighing, he rounded the bed, Seokjin helpfully scooching over, and after a few seconds, Y/N was happily sandwiched between her two feline hybrids.Â
âHope you donât talk in your sleep,â Seokjin possessively wound an arm around Y/Nâs middle while addressing Yoongi, turning on his side and pressing his chest to her back. âLike she does.â
âWhat?! I talk in my sleep?â Y/N squawked, scowling at Yoongiâs face scrunched up in laughter.Â
âYou do,â Yoongi admitted, brushing hair out of her face, his tail winding around one of her legs. She was surrounded on all sides, hiding her face in Yoongiâs neck out of embarrassmentâ and all she could think about was how much better Yoongiâs scent was straight from the source, rather than on the fabric of a hoodie. âLast time I heard you talk in your sleep, you were saying something about wanting a piĂąa colada.â
âActually, you know what? You two can leave now,â Y/N grumbled into Yoongiâs skin, both of them snickering. Seokjin simply tightened his hold on her, planting a kiss on her nape, Yoongi tracing patterns over her arm as she clutched the front of his shirt. âGoodnight.â
Y/N closed her eyes, Yoongiâs and Seokjinâs purrs mingling together and comforting her immensely. Warm, protected, and safe, she drifted off to sleep at lightning speed, her two lovers holding her close.Â
âDo you wanna finish learning âBellaâs Lullabyâ or not?â Yoongi threatened, his toes curling as Y/N peppered the side of his face with tiny kisses. She was feeling particularly clingy that Friday, after all, she had spent several days after the investigation mostly laying on the couch like a limp tube sock, eating TV dinners and watching trash reality.Â
âNo, I wanna eat you whole,â Y/N teased, lightly nipping the apple of his cheek, Yoongi rolling his eyes and removing the arm he had around her. âUgh. Can you teach me something else? Something you composed, I wanna learn something written by the great Mr. Min.âÂ
âArenât I Mr. Y/L/N now? As of August of last year?â Yoongi shot back dryly, Y/N staring at him like he grew a second head. âYou didnât know that? We all have your last name now. Theyâre printed on our IDs and credit cards for Christâs sake, silly girl!â
âI never noticed,â Y/N squeaked, fanning herself. For some reason, finding that out had her heart growing three sizes. âDonât change the subject, angel. Teach me something of yours, please?â
She drew out the syllables of please, knowing that Yoongi had a weakness for her brand of begging. It had the effect she wanted, rosiness coloring his cheeks, rolling his wrists in preparation to play.Â
âWell, you already know how to play your song,â Yoongi mumbled, flipping through his book of sheet music contemplatively. He stilled when he got to a particular page, Y/N skimming over the hand-written score with a lip tucked in between her teeth. âThis oneâŚâ
âOne of yours, right?â Y/N confirmed, squinting at the sheet music, noticing tiny lyrics written on the measures in tight, unreadable cursive.Â
âOne of my firsts,â Yoongi replied. Sighing, he began to play a few bars, the melody simple but slow and jazzy, very different from the song he composed for Y/N. âI think youâll be able to play it.â
âI love it. Teach me,â Y/N bouncing on the bench beside him, enthused. Yoongi glanced at her side profile, something unreadable in his eyes, though he indulged her anyways and helped her through the first few verses.Â
âI wish I could read the lyrics, did you write those too?âÂ
âNo, baby,â Yoongi cleared his throat, twitching uncomfortably. Frowning, Y/N nudged him with her shoulder. âMy mom did.â
âOh,â Y/N stopped fiddling with the piano keys, recalling Yoongiâs profile from the hybrid databaseâ Yoongi was born naturally, unlike most hybrids who were created from labs, and Y/N remembered that on the profile, it mentioned that his mother had passed away. âSheâs musical like you?â
âShe was,â Yoongiâs mouth flattened into a line, a pit forming in Y/Nâs stomach. âShe was a singer. We used to perform together at The Black Lodge before she died.â
âIâm sorry, YoongiâŚâ Y/N whispered, covering the back of his hand with hers. âYou wrote this with her?â
âYeah, itâs called âMoonlight Loversâ. She would only want to perform it on nights with a full moon,â Yoongi half-smiled, his eyes going far away as he relived the memory. âI havenât played it in yearsâŚâ
âWhen⌠When did she pass away?â Y/N asked gently, tangling one of her hands with his, wanting to know a little bit more about the hybrid she loved, his history before she came to know him.Â
âA little bit over three years ago. She was in a bad car accident,â Yoongi screwed up his mouth, thumb brushing over the back of Y/Nâs hand. âDrunk driver hit her while she was in a cab. The cab driver didnât make it eitherâ the entire cab burst into flames because the drunk slammed into the engine just so.â
âOh my god,â blood was draining from Y/Nâs face, horrified, watching Yoongi bitterly grimace with his ears drooping. âWhat about the drunk driver?âÂ
âAlso dead at the scene. Thankfully, or I would have fucking killed him myself,â Yoongi wrapped an arm around Y/Nâs lower waist, kissing her temple when he could scent heavy sadness coming from her. âDonât be sad. My mom⌠she lived a full life, but wild. She knew, and deep down so did I, that it would end in smoke and flames.â
âWhat do you mean, angel?â Y/N frowned, unsure what he meant by that, Yoongi using his free hand to play an absent melody on the piano.Â
âWell, she had a taste for scum-of-the-earth men that would come into the bar. Sheâd leave for days on end, and I wouldnât see her until she had to sing on the weekends. More often than not, sheâd come back drunk and high on some sort of pharmaceutical cocktail,â Yoongi continued to play the melody as he spoke, holding Y/N close and soaking in her warmth. âDonât get me wrong. She was a great mom, I adored her. But her priorities were always messed up⌠I mean, I have no idea who my father was, and I donât think she did, either. The only time she really seemed grounded was when weâd perform the songs we composed together.â
It was a lot for Y/N to process at once. Yoongi simply hummed, tracing circles with his thumb on Y/Nâs waist under her shirt, letting all of that information sink in for her. Yoongi wasnât fond of sharing personal details of his past or himself in general. But sharing it with the woman he loved turned out to not be so bad, and if anything, a great weight was lifted off his chest. The hollow misery that would fill him whenever he thought of his mother turned into bittersweet nostalgia.Â
âShe raised you, so she must have been an amazing person.â
Y/Nâs simple response stunned Yoongi completely. Out of all of the things she could have chosen to say, it was something that not only praised his mother, but complimented Yoongiâs very character. Purring, he was entirely out of a reply, watching Y/N in a daze work her way through the first measure of âMoonlight Loversâ, his heart racing.Â
âYeah, she was,â Yoongi mumbled, pulling her closer to his side. âYou play it well. When I was a kid, I begged my mom to play this song for me on my birthday.â
âAnd would she?â
âMm-hmm. Every year.â
âEven if there wasnât a full moon on your birthday?â
âEven then.â
Y/N paused her playing, expression becoming thoughtful as she scanned Yoongiâs face. He smiled at her tenderly, leaning into her touch when she tucked some inky hair behind his ear.
âYour birthday is in a couple of weeks,â Y/N pointed out, cupping the side of his face with care. âI think Iâll have to practice this piece extra hard so I can play it for you then.â
Stunned again, Yoongiâs hazel eyes glittered, turning his head slightly to brush his lips against Y/Nâs palm.
âOkay, then you better get started, sweetheart,â Yoongi tapped the sheet music, even though he wanted to melt into a puddle. Y/N saluted him, launching into the piece straight away with a concentrated pout to her lips.Â
Y/N tried, as hard as she could, not to let the tempo falter when Yoongi began to sing, softly and quietly as she played. His deep, raspy voice was surprisingly melodic and velvety at the same time, and Y/N pictured the day of his birthday coming up. The two of them âperformingâ that piece, with him singing and her accompanying himâ the first time he would get to hear the song on his birthday in three years. Y/N couldnât really think of a better gift for Yoongi. Leaning into his shoulder, Yoongi launched into the chorus.Â
âAnd we met under the moonlit skyâŚâ
Saturday morning, dreary and rainy, had Y/N leisurely stirring cream into her second cup of coffee while her and the hybrids clumped around the TV in the parlor to catch a bit of morning news. Y/N tried her best to keep herself updated, but usually could only stomach about fifteen minutes of the news before one of the hybrids changed the station to something else. Hoseok, at her feet in front of the couch, was letting her absently twist and braid his wavy auburn hair while he snacked on a breakfast sausage.Â
Not having any plans for the day, Y/N resolved to do a whole lot of nothing by having an indulgent bath with oils and ordering her favorite Thai food for dinner. She knew that Sunday sheâd be cornered by Jeongguk and Namjoon, when theyâd try to figure out how to best close the portal in the Sandersâ house. But mercifully, the two of them allowed her a lazy Saturday before diving back into the unknown.Â
âOh great. More shitty weather next week,â Hoseok complained, because even though it was the very beginning of March, winter in Massachusetts was bitterer than ever. âThis is the longest winter of my life.â
âAlright, alright. Youâll be upset about the pollen count soon enough. You can change it now,â Y/N felt around her vicinity for the remote, her hand brushing up against Taehyungâs jean-clad thigh beside her.Â
Y/N was surprised that the Kodiak hybrid even sat next to her, he had been so absent lately that she had to constantly check he was even home. Granted, many times he wasnâtâ he had been taking one of the cars out quite often to apparently snap pictures of the Boston Common or pick up more film, but Y/N felt the distance between them the most when he had his eyes glued to the screen of his phone.Â
âSeen the remote, Tae?â Y/N asked, Jimin coming up empty on her other side, Taehyung evidently not hearing her as he scratched one of his rounded, fuzzy brown ears. âTaehyung.â
Repeating his name more loudly, Taehyungâs thumbs flying over his phone screen stilled abruptly, snapping his head towards her with alarm all over his face. Y/N lifted a brow, thinking there was no way that it was a phone game capturing his attention so thoroughly, Y/N had acid roiling in her gut.Â
âWhatâ?â
Taehyung, however, was interrupted by the loud ringing and bright flashes from the TV, indicating important breaking news, which had Seokjin flinching in the leather recliner and Y/N swearing colorfully.Â
âGood morning, America. Breaking news from Congress after lengthy discussions over the past several weeks. The rumors are confirmed; a major law surrounding the hybrid species has been passed. As of today, March 4th, 2023, legally adopted hybrids may be permitted to seek legal part-time employment and various establishments. This newly-passed law indeed includes another hot-button issue: many state universities will now begin the early stages of developing academic courses for adopted hybrids. Please bear with us as we continue to collect information from Congress, and stay tuned for an in-depth debriefing from The White House later this evening.âÂ
âHuh?!â Hoseok shot up from Y/Nâs feet like a rocket, shouting and pointing at the woman reporting the news on their flatscreen. âWhat the fuck?!â
âOh my god,â Y/N slapped a hand over her mouth, unable to believe her mother was right about the rumors floating around.Â
âWait, we can get jobs now? Legally?â Jeonggukâs voice was behind Y/N, hiking the volume up on the TVâ apparently, he was the one who was hoarding it the entire time.Â
Namjoon, who was shuffling his deck of Tarot cards on the table where he and Y/N usually played chess in front of the fireplace, was still as could be. The day Y/N adopted Namjoon in August, he had lamented the fact that he could never have legal employment, so the news came out of left field for him.Â
âDid she say universities are going to take hybrid students now, too?â Jimin piped up, that look of conflicting emotions he often had written all over his handsome face.Â
âThe lady said universities are coming up with programs for hybrids, coyote. Do you need to clean out your ears?â Jeongguk crossed his arms, standing beside the couch and staring at the television. âDoes this mean you want us filling out applications for McDonaldâs, Y/N?â
Y/N extended her leg, colliding her foot against his ass to shove Jeongguk away from her line of vision with great annoyance. She groaned when the elk hybrid didnât budge an inch.Â
âNo, you can do whatever you want. They just announced this, so we donât have all the details yet. But, if one of you wants to apply for some kind of part-time work or take a university course, itâs entirely up to you,â Y/N replied when she felt several of them waiting for her to agree with Jeongguk. âUnless you actually want to work at McDonaldâs, Jeongguk, then be my guest. Just make sure you bring me some nuggets home when you clock out.â
Jimin was snickering beside her, while Taehyung was gawking at the TV, his phone forgotten in his lap for the first time in a couple of weeks. Hoseok was amped, his tail wagging as he made laps around the room, Y/N able to see the gears turning in his head. Yoongi, who wasnât in the room when the announcement came on the screen, appeared from the kitchen, shooting Y/N a very specific lookâ one that read âIâm not leaving this house more than I already have toâ.Â
âJinnie, maybe you could get a job at a restaurant! Youâd make a good host with that pretty, pretty face,â Hoseok teased on his fourth lap of the room, poking the jaguar hybrid in the shoulder. However, Seokjin didnât seem interested, much like Yoongi, rolling his eyes into the back of his head.Â
Y/N was about to persuade Hoseok to sit back down before she got dizzy watching him pace before her phone chimed, Y/N figuring it was her mother gloating that she was right all along.Â
Judy: Iâm assuming you heard the news? Tell Namjoon and Jeongguk they are now officially employed by me, that is, if theyâre up for it đŤ
Blinking at the message, she tucked it away for later, considering the room was full of overlapping conversations and excitement. It was good to know that Namjoon and Jeongguk would get paid for their hard working efforts after all, and considering Jeongguk got scratched on the job, a paycheck was the least he was due.
With that, Y/N spent much of the day clinging to the news station with the hybrids, contrary to her usual 15 minute limit. Between that, peering over Jiminâs shoulder to read the articles about hybrid academic courses he really seemed to be interested in, and finally managing to get Hoseok to sit and calm down, Y/N was dreaming of her end-of-day hot bath every time she shut her eyes to blink.Â
âOf course I heard the news, Al,â Y/N had her best friend on speaker, pouring various scented oils into her bathtub before running the tap. âHoseok already has an offer from the rec center, they want him to coach the junior track team. They contacted Yoongi, too, but I donât think heâll take them up on it.â
âOh my god. Theyâre gonna be coaching hybrid kids? Thatâs so adorable,â Alice squealed, Y/N agreeing with her.Â
âI think Taehyung got a call, too. Not overseeing the childrenâs classes, but to stay behind after his meetings and help develop pictures and organize. At least, thatâs what I could squeeze from him before he went out with Yoongi and Hoseok to get more information at the rec center.â
âStill being weird?â Aliceâs voice turned sympathetic, up-to-date on Taehyungâs strange behavior ever since they all went to the club for Hoseokâs birthday.
âYeah. I donât know whatâs going on with him. After Namjoon, Jeongguk and I wrap up the Sandersâ case, Iâm going to try and corner him for another chat. Even though the two of us royally suck at communication. I just wanna clear the air if heâs still annoyed with me or whatever.â
âOr find out whatâs keeping him so occupied on his phone,â Alice pointed out, making Y/N grunt.Â
âI guess Iâll find out soon enough. Iâm not gonna pry into his business, but I want to know why heâs been so here-but-not-there.â
âSo, where are your other boys?â Alice changed the subject, not wanting to upset her friend after such a long, crazy day.Â
âOh, uh⌠Jimin went with the other three. He seems to be more interested in the academia aspect of the newly passed law. The rec center has a bunch of pamphlets on what the universities are beginning to plan for hybrid students. Namjoon and Jeongguk went out, too. They need to replace a camera that broke during our second investigation.â
âAnd your newest beau?â Alice referred to Seokjin, since Y/N had told her about the shift in their relationship shortly after Valentineâs Day.Â
âMaking me dinner,â Y/N giggledâ Seokjin had been elated that everyone else had cleared out of the house, claiming that they could have their âsecond dateâ. âI was gonna order Thai, but he wanted to try and make it himself.â
âGod, is he romantic,â Alice swooned, happy for her best friend. âOh my god. I forgot to mention. I have a date tonight, too!â
âWhat?! Al, you didnât say you were talking to anyone! Spill!â
âWell, I wouldnât say I was talking to him. Remember me telling you about Jeremy, the guy who works at the newspaper with me? He asked me out last week. I almost died.â
Y/N cheered, considering Alice had finally scored a date with her longtime workplace crush, a young man with a preference for funky sweater vests and the tendency to show Alice videos of his cat at home. He was literally perfect for Alice.Â
âOf course I remember him! Oh my god, imagine you two fall in love? Heathcliff will have a new sibling!â Y/N thought of Aliceâs grouchy Maine Coon, snorting at the thought of having another cat in his household.Â
âNo, I know. Iâm so excited. I have to start getting ready, though, heâs picking me up at 7 and weâre going to dinner and a used bookstore.â
âSo heâs your soulmate,â Y/N gushed, ecstatic. Alice hadnât been in a relationship in years, so it was nice for her to seem so interested in pursuing one with Jeremy. âCall me tomorrow and tell me all about it, please.â
âOnly if you tell me about your stay-at-home date with Seokjin,â Alice replied, and with that, Y/N tossed her phone onto her bed with a grin.Â
Seokjin told her to take her time with her bath while he made dinner, so she did. Going all out, she lit candles, had Sade playing from the portable speaker, and relaxed in the silky hot water until it became lukewarm. Muscles loose and pliable, she sighed in bliss as she massaged lotion into her skin. Sniffing the air, the scent of lemongrass and savory sauce filling the room made her stomach growl. Y/N simply pulled on comfortable undergarments, tied the sash of her robe tightly around her waist, and slid on her slippers before she was shuffling out into the hall.Â
Both following her nose and her ears, hearing Seokjinâs voice sing along to a pop song playing on his phone, Y/N caught him sprinkling crushed peanuts over a couple of plates of homemade Pad Thai. So wrapped up in what he was doing, a satisfied smile on his face, he didnât realize Y/N was leaning against the coffee bar watching and listening.Â
âYou have such a pretty voice, Seokjinnie,â Y/N announced her arrival, Seokjin squeaking in surprise and turning on his heel to face her, sleek black tail going ramrod straight. Immediately, his neck colored red at the compliment, his eyes dropping to her bare legs, exposed by her short robe.Â
âT-thanks,â Seokjin managed, embarrassed. He promptly turned his music off, Y/N smirking wryly, approaching the breakfast nook where he set up their dinner for two. âUm, everythingâs ready. Are you hungry? How was your bath?â
âIâm starving! It was amazing, too. I needed some relaxation,â Y/N admitted, sliding into the booth, admiring the candle he lit, the perfectly set table, and the way he laid a napkin across her lap. âLook at this! Did you follow a recipe?â
Seokjin shook his head, rolling up the sleeves of his loose button down and sitting across from her, still looking bashful.Â
âNo, pretty girl, I just tried to recreate the one you always order. I kept tasting the sauce until it was right,â Seokjin smiled at her, Y/N unable to believe how romantic Seokjin truly wasâ it grew by the day. âI hope you like it.â
Instead of responding, Y/N picked up her chopsticks and dove in, not caring that Seokjin was studying her reaction carefully as she brought the noodles to her lips. Y/N was shockedâ not only had Seokjin completely nailed the sauce on the noodles, but something about it tasted even better than her tried and true order from her favorite restaurant in the center of town.Â
âHow is it?â Seokjin asked eagerly, picking up his own chopsticks and nervously prodding at a sprig of cilantro.Â
âUm, perfect. Better than the takeout I get,â Y/N could hardly answer him, stuffing more food into her mouth, so beyond caring whether or not she looked like a goober with noodles packed in her cheeks. âSeriously, itâs delicious! Try it!â
Seokjin brightened significantly, digging into his own plate, immensely pleased by Y/Nâs approval. The jaguar hybrid was the type to fully focus on the meal when he ate, so there was comfortable silence for a bit, Y/N trying her hardest not to moan and groan while tasting the delicious dish Seokjin cooked specifically for her. She felt spoiled beyond repair.Â
âSo, I take it youâre not interested in a part-time job?â Y/N broke the silence midway through the meal, taking a break from inhaling her food by taking a sip of chilled white wine Seokjin poured for her.Â
âNot particularly,â Seokjin answered after setting his own wine glass down, pursing his voluminous lips. âI like being here most of the time. The book club every week is enough for me⌠maybe if thereâs some sort of volunteer work this summer, Iâll look into that.â
Y/N was thrilled by that answer. Seokjin had made great progress with being more sure of himself, making his own decisions without Y/Nâs prompting.
âThereâs a farmerâs market that happens every weekend during the summer in the town square. Theyâre always looking for extra hands, maybe that would interest you?â
âWould you do it with me?âÂ
âAbsolutely. I usually volunteer anyways, but itâll be even better if I can do it with you.â
Seokjin nodded happily, returning to his dinner, Y/N more than okay with lapsing back into silence so he could focus on eating. Y/N finished her meal sooner than she thought, wanting to lick the plate, truthfully. When Seokjin was done, she whisked away the dirty plates, feeling Seokjin close behind her as she loaded up the dishwasher.Â
âHere you go,â the sound of a bottle cap being twisted off filled her ears, Y/Nâs empty wine glass appearing before her and Seokjin filling it, standing directly behind her. Humming, she wondered if Seokjin could feel the charged energy of the room, how enamored she was with him. âOh! I almost forgot!â
Y/N raised an eyebrow, taking a swig of her wine, Seokjin suddenly digging through the freezer for a tupperware she had never seen before. Fiddling with the sash of her robe, she took the opportunity to check him out; the billowy white button-down he was wearing hid his figure but still made him look like an off-duty model, tucked into a pair of dark jeans. Swallowing thickly, she composed herself when he turned again, presenting the tupperware proudly.Â
âWhatâs that, honey?â Y/N cocked her head, Seokjin prying the lid open and fumbling for the utensil drawer to pull out a couple of spoons.Â
âRemember that ice cream maker we found in the back of the pantry? I got it to work! I made some coconut ice cream this morning.â
Y/N stared, dumbfounded, at the ice cream. The buttery, rich scent of coconut and vanilla coming from the soft serve and making her mouth water, even if she did just gorge herself on a mountain of Pad Thai. She was gawking at the tupperware stupidly when Seokjin tapped her cheek with two fingers, Y/N finding his vibrant orange eyes focusing on her mouth.Â
âOpen up,â Seokjinâs tone turned playful, a spoonful of ice cream poised before her lips, Y/N automatically heeding his request. Mood shifting, the jaguar hybrid fed her the ice cream, the treat melting over her taste buds and cooling her rising temperature. Of course, it was luscious. âGood? I added some lime zest, andââ
Seokjin promptly shut up when Y/N was hoisting herself up onto the island, now eye-level with him, tongue passing over her lips. Gently, she took the spoon from Seokjin, scooping up some more ice cream and popping it into her mouth. Seokjin simply watched, overwhelmed; not able to decide where to look. The spoon in her mouth and the mischief in her eyes, the robe that was slipping over her shoulder, or her bare parted legs.Â
âWanna try some, Jin?â Her voice was soft, lilting, and Seokjin was melting like the ice cream. All he could do was nod.Â
Y/N took matters into her own hands, reaching out and grasping the loose collar of his shirt, yanking him forward and in between her legs. Startled, Seokjinâs pupils dilated, his hands finding purchase on the granite on either side of her thighs. Nonchalantly, Y/N scooped up another spoonful of ice cream, using her free hand to poise under Seokjinâs chin, mirroring his movements just moments ago.Â
âOpen up,â she repeated, quietly, Seokjinâs eyes flashing. Despite the strike of dominance that rocked through him, wanting to refuse to give into her demand, Seokjin found his lips parting, Y/N cooing and placing the spoon in his mouth.Â
There was a moment, brief, electric, and heavy, where all they did was stare at each other. The spell was broken when Y/N teasingly tugged at his shirt collar again, Seokjin tearing the spoon from his mouth and carelessly tossing it into the sink.Â
The jaguar hybrid crushed his lips to Y/Nâs, one hand gripping her jaw and the other resting heavily on the top of her thigh, a feral growl coming from his throat when he tasted sweet coconut on her tongue. Y/N reacted instantly, wrapping both her arms and legs around Seokjin, pulling him in close and pressing her body to his. Completely lax both from her hot bath and the delicious meal she was fed, Y/N could think of no better way to end her nightâ tangled up with Seokjin.Â
Seokjin was an amazing kisser. He tilted his head, allowing his lips to slot expertly against hers with just the right amount of pressure. Y/N released a guttural groan when his tongue was rolling into her mouth, exploring eagerly, the hand on her thigh squeezing. She tried to keep up, one hand clutching the back of his head, the other tangled in his shirt collar, wanting to close every single centimeter between the two of them.Â
Much to her displeasure, though, Seokjin released her lips with a pop, danger in his eyes. Transfixed, she observed him swipe an index finger through the container of ice cream, and holding onto her jaw again, he painted the melting dessert over her lower lip, pulling down on the flesh so he could slide the digit into the cavern of her mouth.Â
Dazzled and trapped beneath his turbulent gaze, Y/N tasted the ice cream clinging to his finger, using the tip of her tongue to clean it, a muscle in Seokjinâs jaw ticking when she hollowed out her cheeks, really laying it on thick. Some of the ice cream slipped down his wrist, Y/N whimpering when the cold droplets landed on her clavicle, a devilish grin appearing on his face when he pulled his finger from her mouth.Â
âAw, but you just got out of the bath,â Seokjin tutted, pushing the material of her robe off of her shoulders so it gathered around her biceps, assessing the mess.Â
âJinââ
The words were stolen from her when Seokjin ducked his head, tongue hot and heavy on her collarbone, collecting the cream that he spilled. Not expecting such a lewd, forward action, Y/Nâs head dropped back, a breathy whine leaving her throat, Seokjinâs hold on her waist tight. Squirming on the granite countertop, her eyes rolled back when Seokjin sucked a bruise into her skin, pressing harsh kisses to her throat while she let him have his way with her.Â
âSeokjin, oh,â Y/N clasped her ankles around his lower back, trying to press her hips into his. âThat feels so goodâŚâ
Seokjin preened at the praise, rewarding her with a nip to her earlobe, trailing his kisses along the length of her delicate jaw and back to her swollen lips. This time, she urgently met him halfway, flicking her tongue over his teeth and wanting to eat him alive. Lust was coursing through her veins with a vengeance, and she didnât care if he took her right there on the counter, at that point.Â
âYouâre too sweet,â Seokjin mumbled into her mouth, his voice strained, hands trailing to her lower back, making her spine arch into him. âI canât help myself.â
Shivering in his arms, Y/N thought she whimpered out a âpleaseâ, but she yelped when she felt his large hands gather her ass in his palms, hauling her weight onto his chest and effectively picking her up.Â
âBut S-seokjin, the ice cream!â Y/N cried when he started carrying her out of the kitchen, heat pooling in her core with the strength he demonstrated.Â
âFuck the ice cream,â Seokjin simply grunted, Y/N chuckling despite the heated mood. Busying herself while he transported her elsewhere, she pulled a few of Seokjinâs buttons loose to expose more of his chest.Â
Taking it upon herself to give Seokjin a few bites of her own, she hardly noticed him kicking her bedroom door shut and sitting on the bed with her straddling his lap. Fisting the material of his button down in her hands, she found a spot tucked beneath the curve of Seokjinâs jaw that had him tensing beneath her, Y/N grinning to herself and sucking the skin into her mouth harshly enough to bruise. Seokjin made a dark noise of pleasure, palms still resting on her ass, letting her mark him up as much as she pleased.Â
Y/N cried out when Seokjin forcibly pulled her hips down, her core meeting the hardness under his jeans. Purring, he tugged at the loose knot of her robe, which was hardly covering her up anymore, pulling the material off of her body and tossing it aside. Y/N wondered if Seokjin had some kind of thing for her being nearly naked while he was still fully clothed, but she could not deny that something about that was driving her crazy. Rocking her hips against him, Seokjin moaned, fingernails digging into the meat of her ass.Â
âWhat do you want?â Seokjin ground out, Y/N dragging her tongue underneath his jaw. Instead of answering, Y/N straightened up, biting his lower lip, relishing in the feral hiss he offered in response. âPretty girl.â
âMmm⌠what do I want?â Y/N feigned indecisiveness, trying not to tremble when Seokjinâs hands began to roam all over her exposed skin, fiddling with the straps of her bra. Staring at her gorgeous jaguar hybrid, his cheeks flushed and lips swollen, his obvious hardness pressing against her sodden underwear, she knew. âI really wanna suck you off.â
Seokjin paused, astounded by the forward response she offered, his cock throbbing beneath the rough material of his jeans. Smirking, Y/N yanked a few more buttons free on Seokjinâs shirt while he processed that, before his large hands grasped her wrists harshly.Â
âIs that right?â
âMm-hmm. Please? Can I?â Y/N nearly clawed his button down off of his broad shoulders, crumpling it into a ball and sending it sailing across the room. Lazily, she dragged her palms down the ripped expanse of his chest, the muscles tensing under her touch.Â
âYou can have anything you want, kitten,â Seokjinâs chest was heaving, unbearably turned on, hooking his hands under Y/Nâs arms so he could pull her backwards, the two of them now laying flat on her bed, Y/N on top of him. âGo ahead, take what you want.â
Nearly vibrating, Y/N leaned down for one last kiss, distractedly fumbling for the clasp of her bra. Once the pesky scrap of material was divested from her, she focused on trailing her lips down Seokjinâs body. She paid particular attention to the odd faint scar that was littered across his body, her kisses extra tender and sweet, Seokjin sighing gently and petting the top of her head.Â
âI love you,â Y/N murmured, lips skimming over the light trail of hair on his navel that led to the waistband of his jeans. Seokjinâs ears fluttered shyly, especially when she began to rid him of the denim pants, Y/N never breaking eye-contact.Â
Positioning herself between his legs, Y/Nâs gaze dropped to the intimidating bulge beneath his briefs. Surprisingly, there was a small wet patch darkening the gray fabric, something that went straight to her ego. Seokjin was patient with her, waiting for her to make the first move, no matter how badly he needed to be in her mouth. Tentatively, she cupped what she could over the fabric of his underwear, Seokjin unable to prevent his hips from jerking up to the touch with a sharp hiss.Â
âShit.â
âFeels good?â Y/N cocked her head, running her fingers over the length of him teasingly.Â
âDonât tease me,â Seokjin warned, lower lip caught between his teeth. Heeding his warning, Y/N lowered her head, mouthing over him indulgently. âF-fuckââ
There were two reasons Y/N didnât wait any longer; she was too eager, and Seokjin was pretty much bucking his hips into her face with a hard look in his eyes. Carelessly, she pulled his briefs off of his body, transfixed by the sight before her. Seokjin was achingly hard after just a bit of kissing and teasing, Y/N nearly going cross-eyed at the sheer size of himâ not that she had forgotten how blessed he was in that area.Â
âCome on, baby,â Seokjin urged her, diving his fingertips into her tresses, one hand gripping the base of his cock. âIsnât this what you wanted?â
Whimpering at the tone of dominance he was taking on, Y/N let him tap the tip of his cock against her lips, her tongue flicking out to taste the skin, making Seokjin shudder underneath her. With the size of him, her jaw would definitely be aching, but she didnât careâ only opening her mouth slowly, using a free hand to wrap around his girth, Seokjinâs touch returning to her hair.Â
Seokjin groaned when her lips wrapped around the tip of his cock, Y/Nâs mouth already feeling stuffed full, hollowing out her cheeks experimentally and watching Seokjinâs abs clench. So far gone, wanting to reduce him to a mess, Y/N let herself drool over him for more moisture, taking him deeper into her mouth and tracing a prominent vein with her tongue.Â
âYou look so pretty with your lips wrapped around me,â Seokjin commented offhand, a handful of her hair in his fist. âOhââ
Y/N was only egged on by his praise, twisting her wrist and jerking what she couldnât fit in her mouth, Seokjin beginning to whimper under her ministrations, his hips occasionally bucking up to meet her movements.Â
âF-fuck, kitten, youâre doing so well,â he gasped, Y/N taking a moment to come up for air, still steadily stroking him and kissing along his hip bones.Â
Once her lungs were filled with enough oxygen, she licked a stripe along the underside of his cock, fitting him back inside her mouth, ignoring the ache in her jaw. Whining at the taste of him, the sight of him, sweaty and flushed, eyes glassy, Y/N felt her panties sticking to her soaked folds and was itching to sneak a hand between her legs. Relaxing her throat, wanting Seokjin in her guts but wanting to pleasure him even more, Seokjin swore when she swallowed around him, yanking her hair and moaning brokenly.Â
âO-oh, just like that,â Seokjin encouraged, shallowly bucking his hips up into her, lodging his cock further down her throat and making her gag, the wet sound having his cock twitching. The scent of her arousal was thick in the room, heightening the speed at which he was hurtling towards his release, the tears streaming down her face as she stared up at him glittering in the low lamplight. âFilthy little mouth⌠fuck, Iâm gonna cum, kittenââ
Those words only determined Y/N further, momentarily pulling him from her mouth to speak, her throat raw and scraped up.Â
âCum, wanna taste you,â was all she said, and when she resumed her actions with renewed vigor, a free hand coming up to tweak one of her nipples, Seokjin was hurtling off the edge unexpectedly.Â
Y/N whimpered at his taste, Seokjin making similar noises as he came down her throat. Y/N tried her best not to choke at the volume of his release filling her mouth, slowing her movements when his hips began to jerk. Releasing him when he whined with oversensitivity, she licked her lips, satisfied she had effectively reduced him into a boneless puddle, kissing below his navel tenderly.Â
Before she could get her bearings, or perhaps massage her sore jaw, the world was turned upside-down, and suddenly her head was resting on her soft pillows and she was flat on her back, Seokjin above her. His lips were on her straight away, tongue in her mouth like he was trying to taste himself, Y/Nâs drenched panties dampening even further at that thought. His hands were all over her, heated, Y/N surprised that he was still so turned on after his release, arching into his touch with a whine.
âYouâre such a good girl,â Seokjin murmured into her ear, scraping his teeth over the bite he left on her collarbone before. âLove youâŚâ
Y/N was writhing under him, crying out when he littered kisses across her chest, his kiss-bitten lips closing around one of her erect nipples. Grappling for a hold on his biceps as he stroked patterns all over her body, Y/N pushed her chest into his face, Seokjin breathily chuckling through his nose as he laved his tongue over her sensitive nipple.Â
Wanting to worship her, but scenting her desperation for his touch and attention, Seokjin shushed her when she whined pathetically, rubbing her thighs together. Sponging kisses all over her torso, paying attention to every freckle, mole, and scar, Seokjin hooked a finger into the waistband of her panties, lovingly removing them from her body and kissing either of her hipbones.
âSeokjin⌠please, do something,â Y/N was melting into her mattress, between his hands roaming all over her skin and the hungry look in his eyes.
âSo polite,â Seokjin remarked, parting her thighs, lowly growling at the wetness that was clinging to the inside of them. âThis wet, just from sucking me off?â
âHnngh,â Y/N covered her face, embarrassed, Seokjin tapping on her thigh until she looked at him again. When she did, he was settled between her legs, Y/N reaching for one of his hands, interlocking their fingers desperately. âPlease!â
This time, Seokjin would let her order him around. Stamping a kiss over her pubic bone, he got comfortable, gliding his tongue through her slick folds and relishing in the strained moan she offered in return. Seokjin wasted no time, mouth watering at the taste of her pussy, collecting her essence on his tongue and holding her down by her hips when his lips brushed over her clit.Â
âO-oh my god,â Y/N could hardly bear it, Seokjin just as good at eating pussy as he was kissing, tears running down her face again when he used the flat of his tongue to level a harsh stripe against her clit. âJinââ
Humming, bringing a thumb to rub figure-eights on her sweet spot, his tongue dipped down to the fluttering entrance of her cunt, and when he plunged the appendage inside of her, it had her wailing, destroyed. Continuing to work her over, her juices steadily spilling into his mouth, Seokjin peered up at his lover, and surprisingly, he felt himself grow hard again at what he saw.Â
Y/N, her hair plastered over the pillows, was canting her hips into his face, and with the hand that wasnât captured by Seokjin, she was cradling one of her breasts, pulling on her sensitive bud, lips parted in bliss.Â
She felt herself humiliatingly close already, though it was hard not to be with the way Seokjin was fucking her with his tongue, relentlessly rubbing circles over her clit, and staring up at her with predatory eyes. Releasing her chest, she buried her hand in Seokjinâs hair, digging her fingertips into the base of one of his silky black ears, Seokjin groaning and grinding his hips against her mattress for friction. It was filthy, hedonistic, what they were caught in the middle ofâ neither of them could get enough.Â
âI-Iâm, ah! Gonnaââ spine contorting off of the mattress when Seokjin moaned against her cunt, she came with a wail, her legs shaking violently as stars formed in her eyes, heat reaching a boiling point in her lower abdomen.Â
Y/Nâs release didnât stop Seokjin, even when she was whining thinly from overstimulation. Instead, he switched things up, sliding two deft fingers into her spasming cunt, curling the digits up expertly and staring directly into Y/Nâs misty eyes.Â
âCome on, pretty girl, again. Cum again,â Seokjin cooed, Y/N shaking her head back and forth, saying something like she couldnâtâ but Seokjin knew she could. âOne more for me, alright, kitten?â
Dipping his head back down, Seokjin wrapped his lips around her overstimulated clit, and with a sharp suck and a well-timed curl of his fingers pistoning inside of her drenched pussy, Y/N was coming againâ this time with a silent scream. Seokjin swore, rising to his knees, gripping his cock in his fist as he continued to finger fuck Y/N through her high. Y/Nâs watery eyes went wide at the sight of him pleasuring himself, even as she continued to ride her high, gushing all over his fingers, and with a deep, feral groan, Seokjin came, hot ropes of his cum painting her lower stomach.Â
Y/N was out of body. She had never experienced something so goddamn sexy in all of her life, Seokjinâs chest heaving as he came down from his orgasm, Y/N gasping when he pulled his fingers from her cunt, spreading his cum over her skin with deep, predatory purrs. Twitching, overstimulated and reduced to a complete pile of mush, all she could do was attempt to catch her breath, Seokjin still admiring the mess he made on her stomach.Â
âPretty girl, fuck, youâre so sexy like this,â Seokjin heaved, sweat dripping down his temples, utterly spent. It was all he could do, reluctantly, to reach for a tissue on her nightstand, mopping up his cum on her abdomen. âSo perfect. I love you.â
Y/N hardly had the words to express what she was thinking. All she could do was limply lift her arms, inviting him into her embrace, Seokjin taking her up on that offer by landing heavily beside her, taking the quilt from the foot of her bed with him. She bonelessly let him manipulate her into his arms and tuck the quilt over her naked body, peppering kisses all over her sweaty, tear-stained face.Â
âYouâre gonna need another bath,â Seokjin commented, tracing her ribcage beneath the blanket, Y/N tucked under his chin.Â
âThatâs a tomorrow problem,â Y/N mumbled, knowing she wouldnât be able to move for at least a couple of hours. âI canât feel my legs.â
âNeither can I,â Seokjin snorted, shivering at the feeling of Y/Nâs eyelashes brushing against his sensitive, marked-up neck.Â
âAnother perfect date,â Y/N sighed happily, palm resting over Seokjinâs heart. âHot bath, a delicious dinner cooked by my perfect boyfriend, and two orgasms. What more can a girl ask for?â
Seokjin paused the tender tracing of her waist, registering that statement, before his chest had delirious laughter bubbling in it, shaking his head and nuzzling his nose into her hair.Â
âI think Iâve developed a thing for spoiling you,â Seokjin admitted, squeezing her waist.Â
âDonât stop anytime soon. Iâve grown accustomed to it,â Y/N shot back playfully, her words slightly warbled as she yawned. âI love you, Seokjinnie.â
Seokjin returned the sentiment quietly, seriously, pulling her even closer into his embrace if that was even possible, his tail winding around her thigh.Â
âTired? Letâs get some rest,â Seokjinâs siren-like voice always lulled her to sleep, so she was nodding sleepily against his chest like a three week old kitten.Â
âYouâre gonna take that bath with me in the morning,â Y/N slurred, Seokjin humming contentedly in response.Â
âAnything you want.â
Sunday had Y/N loading half of her witchy tools into Namjoonâs van, making trips back and forth with baskets of various herbs, incense, crystals, and whatnot. Namjoon and Jeongguk had already packed up all of the tapes and photographs the three of them collected during their two investigations, so they let Y/N select her own materials sheâd need to close the portal in the Sandersâ home. It was a sunny day, finally a bit warmer than it had been, spring definitely on the way. Songbirds began to make nests in the eaves of the roof of the house, and Yoongi had dragged the basketball hoop back outside for the nicer weather.Â
Singing a tune, Y/N organized the last bin of spell candles within Namjoonâs van, and when she was satisfied with how everything lookedâ she had brought in a few more pillows and blankets for their comfortâ Y/N hopped out of the vehicle and locked it up. Thinking of checking on Jimin in the stable, she was rounding the van in the driveway when she heard gravel crunching, the sound of a car pulling in. Turning, she saw her Land Cruiser being parked in its usual spot, Y/N unable to see who had taken it out that afternoon. Deciding to wait and greet whoever it was, she leaned against the dusty side of the van, tapping her foot.Â
The first thing she saw was a curly head of black hair as the driverâs door opened, Y/N smiling as she recognized the blue plaid flannel the hybrid was wearing. Taehyung must have gone out for more film or to shoot pictures in the park, Y/N watching as he slid his phone into his back pocket, still turned away from him.Â
âHey Tae! Youâre home!â Y/N called, the Kodiak hybrid flinching an inch into the air, her voice surprising him. He spun around, looking alarmed and like he was caught doing something he wasnât supposed to be.Â
Y/N waved him over, only able to see his head over the SUV, and Taehyung pushed a hand through his hair, squaring his shoulders. Lifting an eyebrow, about to ask what was wrong, she felt she was plunged into an icy lake when he stepped towards her.Â
Taehyung, his camera bag in his hand and eyes laser-sharp, had his clothes in disarray, and purple, splotchy love bites all over his neck.Â
Aaaahhhhh! That fucking cunt Jiyoon got what she deserves. What a bitch. Ngl, I wanna see from her pov her ruining everything or just an update on how bad things are going for her. She lied to her husband, cheated on him, continued to lie to her husband and then takes it all out on her best friend who literally wanted to do nothing but help her. She totally got what she deserves and what was her reasoning for cheating? It clearly wasnât just because MC got pregnant. How long was she cheating? And the fact that she never loved Jungkook but still trapped him in a marriage and was going to trap him with a baby thatâs not even his!
I am so glad MC and him both found out how truly terrible and vindictive she is and that theyâre together and will hopefully have a very happy life together. Meanwhile Jiyoon got everything she didnât want, not only did she actually get pregnant and ruin her perfect body but now sheâll have a grubby snot nosed brat all on her own as a single mom. Hopefully Jiyoon doesnât continue to be a problem for them but hopefully the only way she can do that is if her baby is actually Jungkookâs but even then sheâs never getting him back (I hope)
This story has been amazing and I canât wait to read whatâs next for them (if there is more to their story)
Shatter With Me | Please, Let Me
âł Model!Jungkook x Surrogate!f.Reader
⤠Surrogacy, Best Friendâs Husband
⤠Rating: MA đ
⤠WC: 28,134
â ď¸ Crass language, talk of infertility, drinking, very mild bullying and references to cruel behavior/words, BIG hurt feelings, accusations of infidelity, rejected/unwanted drunken kissing that could be viewed as dubious infidelity, lies/deceit about fertility, broken marriage, infidelity, talk of divorce/filing for divorce, legal separation, kissing, fingering, cunnilingus, mild dirty talk, mild begging, sex while pregnant, creampie
Next ChapterâžÂ (coming soon)
â˝Previous Chapter
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You should be dreaming, but an incessant sound keeps pulling you back to the surface of consciousness. Rolling over, you check your phone to see what time it isâ2 AM. It takes a moment, but you manage to blink away your sleepy fog and realize the noise is someone rapidly knocking on your door.
âTaehyung, what the hell are you doing here?â
Taehyung looks rumpled, his hair tousled and the soft skin beneath his eyes a deeper shade than usual. He sighs heavily and takes a step back from your doorway. âBecause,â he says, throwing a hand out in a gesture towards the floor.
Stepping forward, awkward with the temporary boot on your foot, you lean out into the hall to look at what heâs pointing at. âOh my god, whatâs wrong with him?â
Jungkook is slumped against the wall, his legs sprawled out in front of him. It takes you only a second to realize his shoulders are jumping in quiet, hiccuping sobs.
âCan we come in?â Taehyung asks. âItâs a long story, and Iâm tired as shit right now.â
âWell, sure, okay.â
Taehyung gratefully accepts your help, though youâre not sure how much good you do with a bum foot, getting Jungkook through the door. He flops limply on your couch when Taehyung slides his arm from around Jungkookâs waist.
âWhat the hell happened? Is he drunk?â you ask, recoiling at the stench of whiskey you catch wafting from Jungkook. âWhy did you bring him here? Whereâs Jiyoonââ
âNo!â Taehyung gasps, flailing a hand through the air to cut you off. âDonât say her name. Please, youâll set him off again.â
âToo late,â Jungkook sobs from the couch, curling in on himself.
A tug on your shirtsleeve has you turning away from Jungkook. Taehyung jerks his head toward your kitchen and you follow him in there. Worry settles in your chest with the look on his face.
âItâs not good,â he whispers.
âWhat happened?â
Keeping his voice pitched low, Taehyung fills you in the best he can. âHe knocked on my door a few hours ago, completely out of his mind. I was barely able to get him to stop screaming and crying long enough to tell me. And then he downed half my liquor cabinet in less than half an hour.â Taehyung pauses and you can tell heâs collecting himself before continuing, âJiyoon told him that her baby isnât his. Sheâs completely shattered him.â
A tightness grips your chest, your heart pounding hard. You shake your head. âNo, no. That canât be right. Jiyoon wouldnâtâsheâŚshe loves him.â
Taehyung scoffs, âShe loves what he represents. Donât pretend we both donât know all she cared about when they met was that he was a hotshot model with a bright future full of dollar signs.â
âTaehyung, no. Iâve known Jiyoon for most of my life. Weâve been friends since we were kids. She wouldnât do that.â
The pained way Taehyung says your name tugs at your heart. âIâm going to be honest here, and I need you to know what I say is coming from a place of care. Jiyoon isnât a nice person. Sheâs not a good friendâespecially not to you. Donât,â he says when you open your mouth to protest. âI know you care about her, but from what Jungkook told me, she said some really nasty things, about himâŚand you.â
âMe?â
âShe accused him of having an affair with you, that you slept together, and thatâs how you got pregnant. That was how she eventually told him about her affair, that her baby wasnât his. Itâs a fucking messâŚheâs a mess.â
You have to stifle your incredulous laughter. âYou canât be serious.â
Taehyung puts a hand on your shoulder and turns you to look at where Jungkook is still curled up on your couch, his face buried in one of your throw pillows, body steadily trembling. âIâm serious.â
His words settle like a heavy weight right over the center of your chest. That tightness that was there before increases until you feel like you can barely breathe. âI-I need to talk to Jiyoon. Thereâs been some sort of misunderstanding, a mistake.â
You go to take a step toward the hallway to retrieve your cell phone from your bedroom but Taehyungâs hand tightening on your shoulder halts your movement. âMaybe itâs best to leave it for now. At least until heâs lucid again. I donât mean to drop this on your lap, but he wouldnât stop begging to come hereâŚto come see you, see the baby.â
The baby that he knows is his. Taehyung doesnât say that, but it echoes through your mind as if heâd shouted it. Youâre not sure what to believe at this point. The only things you know for certain are your own actions. It would be easy to crumble right now, to let the weight of everything crush you. But the crying man on your sofaâthe one who is not just your client nor your friendâs husband anymore, but who has managed to become someone far more significant in your life and not just because of the baby growing inside youâreinforces the steel in your spine. There will be time to deal with everything else later.
âOkay,â you say to Taehyung. âThank you for bringing him.âÂ
After seeing Taehyung out and promising to call him if you need anything, you email Namjoon that youâll be working on a client case from home tomorrow. For obvious reasons, you intentionally leave out that the client is Jungkook and that the case is one of a broken heart instead of an ad campaign.
You told Taehyung you wouldn't reach out to Jiyoon yet, but you are curious if sheâs perhaps tried to reach out to you. The lack of messages waiting for you on your phone is another small crack in the fissures of your waning friendship with Jiyoon. What you didnât tell Taehyung is that youâve been feeling this way for a while. You know Jiyoon isnât always a nice person. But she was still your friend, someone you had spent years of your life loving and being loved by in return. Or so you thought, at least.
With a sigh, you slowly approach the couch, kneeling down beside it. Jungkook stopped crying before Taehyung left, having fallen into a fitful drunken sleep. His body is still wracked with tremors, and his breathing wheezes from between his lips, sounding labored. You gently push his hair out of his face, feeling a pang of sadness at how blotchy and puffed his eyes are even when closed. A red mark mars the side of his jaw, subtle bruising in the distinct rounded curve of small, slender fingertipsâshe hit him.
âMm,â Jungkook groans softly, your name rasping out with the sound.
âIâm here.â
His shoulders jump as the quiet sobbing returns. âIâm so sorry,â he chokes through the words. âPlease donât leave me, too!â
âHey, hey, none of that. You have nothing to be sorry for. Come here,â you coo, helping him sit up so you can sit where his head was on the couch. You open your arms to accept him into an embrace so you can try to console him in some way.
Jungkook launches himself at you. You think itâs a mistake made in haste, his lips landing on yours. But with the gentle way he cups your face and begins to move his mouth in a sensual pluck over yours, you realize whatâs happeningâwhat you canât allow to happen, not now.
âNoâuh, no. This isnâtââ You pull back from him, managing to get a hand between your mouths. âJungkook, no. We canât do this. Youâre hurting,â you say slowly, making sure to keep your eyes focused on his glassy ones. âYouâre confused right now, and youâve been drinking. This isnât what you want. This isnât you, no matter what anyone else says.â
Tears course down Jungkookâs cheeks and it breaks your heart to see him hurting like this. âSorryââ he clears his throat ââyes, youâre right. Iâm so sorry. I donât know whatâs come over me. Iâm such a fucking asshole. Jiyoon was rightââ
âNo. No, sheâs not right, Jungkook. Whatever she told you, itâs not right. Sheâs not right,â you confirm again. âYouâve done nothing wrong. No matter what, know that.â
With a choking sob, he slumps forward into your arms, and you soothe him by running a hand over his hair. Resting back as best you can, you bring your legs up on the couch alongside Jungkook, being mindful of the small boot on your foot, and help him maneuver so heâs lying down beside you, head in your lap.
âWhat am I going to do?â Jungkook whispers into the silence that follows after a few tightly strung beats.
You try to sound reassuring, but youâre not sure you sound convincing even to your own ears, âItâs going to be okay, Jungkook. I promise weâll get all of this figured out.â
Even if youâre not sure how youâll accomplish that, you know youâll do whatever you can to help Jungkook. This isnât just his problem; itâs partly yours, too. After all, heâs the father of the child growing inside you and will be a part of your life even after the birth.
âHi,â Jungkook whispers so softly that it takes you a moment to realize he spoke at all. âItâs me, your dad.â You can feel his lips brushing against your stomach through your nightshirt; heâs talking to the baby. âI love you so much already, and I swear Iâll never leave youâŚbaby boyâ
A boy.
You and Jungkook both cried happy tears at the hospital earlier after the tech swiveled the screen back around. It made everything feel that much more real. You vowed to bring life into this world for him and Jiyoon. Whether or not sheâll be in the picture further, you canât let that color your actions moving forward with Jungkook. He still wants this babyâso do youâand thatâs what matters.
Jungkook nuzzles against your hip and presses his face more fully against the side of the gentle swell of your belly. One of his arms wraps around the underside to rest on your opposite hip.
Sleep evades you long after Jungkook falls back into a less troubled slumber than before. Occasionally, he mutters under his breath and his hand flexes against your hip like heâs fighting invisible demons. You canât even begin to imagine what heâs going through, what his dreams are plagued withâŚall you can do is promise that no matter the darkness brewing, youâll remain by his side for as long as heâll let you.
You can only afford yourself the one day off of work and Jungkook assures you that he is okay on his own. Itâs still a little weird to have him staying at your place, but only because neither of you has brought up that night since it all went down. That was three days ago now and you know when you go into the office today that Jiyoon is going to be there. Itâs an inevitability of working together, crossing paths with coworkers. It was lucky that she was out of the office all day yesterday.
Taking a deep breath, you prepare yourself for the elevator doors to slide open. As soon as they do, it seems like a hush falls in the office. It feels like your first day of school or something, with the way eyes track you as you make your way to your desk. Something has changed, the atmosphere between yesterday and today is different, and you canât shake the foreboding feeling now working its way down your throat.
âHow embarrassing,â titters a familiar, snide voice from behind you. âCan you imagine showing up to work after what happened?â
Dani laughs at something Sooah, one of the other portfolio managers in the office, says. You canât quite make it out, but that doesnât stop the skin along your arms from pimpling and the hair on the nape of your neck from standing on end. Maybe if you go and ask now, feigning some pregnancy-related symptom, Namjoon will let you go home.
âCan you be a bit more professional, Dani? And you know better than to encourage her, Sooah.â The voice of Hyeonwoo from accounting chimes in as he briskly crosses the space between Sooahâs cubicle and continues past yours. âNamjoon doesnât approve of office gossip, and itâs not above me to ask if heâd care to hear the latest little bird song.â
It seems everyone knows whatâs going on, so you shouldnât be surprised. But you canât help but feel a little jolt of shock. Jiyoon shares most things with Dani, who has the biggest, loudest mouth in the office. Youâd think Jiyoon would have wanted something like her marital problems not to be aired to the entire company.
âNo clue what youâre talking about, Hyeonwoo. We were just reading this âAm I The Assholeâ thread on Reddit,â Dani sasses, grinning like a Cheshire cat when her eyes flicker to yours over the divider around your desk. ââAm I the asshole for missing my pregnant wifeâs very important doctorâs appointment because I was too busy playing hospital with her best friend, who just so happens to also be pregnant with my babyâ. Only he claims itâs ânot like thatâ.â
Sooah covers her laugh with a cough. Heat brushes up your neck, and embarrassment laced with a healthy dose of anger simmers in your stomach. Theyâre talking about you, yes, but thatâs not whatâs bothering you the most. What hurts more than anything is they seem so callous in talking about your pregnancyâthe pregnancy you have because you wanted to help your best friend.
âOh, Dani, Sooah, Hyeonwoo is right. Stop acting like children talking about things you know nothing about.â Jiyoonâs voice cuts through the uncomfortable silence. âThatâs in poor taste, and you both should apologize.â She approaches your desk with a strained smile on her face. âHey. Donât listen to them.â
You chew on the inside of your lip before quietly responding, âBecause itâs not true?â
âBecause theyâre just joking, even if theyâre not very good at it.â
Itâs impossible to know what to say. Jiyoon is talking to you as if there isnât this giant gaping chasm named Jungkook between the two of you. âA joke?â Waving a hand in the air to dismiss that line of thinking, you turn to Jiyoon and open your mouth, intent to confront her about whatâs going on or at least demanding she talks to you about it later, but she starts to speak before you can.
âWe should get lunch todayâoh, wait, I canât today. But we should do that soon, okay?â She gives you a sincere smile. âMaybe we can talk baby names.â Youâre so taken aback that all you can do is stare at her until she turns around and goes on about her morning like absolutely nothing happened. Itâs as if itâs just a normal Thursday in the office.
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Jungkook
If someone had asked Jungkook six months ago where he thought he would be, the last thing he would have said was sleeping on your couch with his marriage in shambles. Itâs been three days since he blacked out with his face pressed against your baby bump. Waking up that morning was only slightly awkward.
Heâs been keeping himself busy by checking work emails and watching parenting videos on YouTube. Taehyung stopped by the condo for him the morning after, when Jiyoon was at work, and grabbed some of his things. Apparently, Jungkookâs phone fell behind the bench when he was putting on his shoes before he left to go to the hospital to be with you. When he powered it on, he wanted to throw it against the wall and watch it shatter.
The text message he thought he sent to Jiyoon sat there, unsent, in the fucking text box. Taehyung told him that didnât excuse the way Jiyoon acted. Sure, Jungkook had missed an appointment, but she didnât even show concern for his well-being. What if Jungkook had been the one in the hospital? He said all she was doing was playing the victim.
Jungkook didnât want to continue that conversation, almost as much as he didnât want to reach out to Jiyoon. So, instead of doing either, heâs been focused on other things, like work. You did him a favor and rescheduled a shoot he had later in the week. Thankfully, the brand was willing to be flexible, though he knows not everyone will be.
Which is why he got up this morning, took a shower, and is now on his way to meet Taehyung for lunch. Jungkook needs to get back to some semblance of normality, and food with his best friend is a great place to start. Taehyung is also bringing Jimin, and itâll be nice to just have a moment of feeling like a human being again.
Taehyung chose a nice bistro just down the street, so Jungkook decided to walk. With every step he takes, he canât help but swivel his eyes and check every face that passes him. The last thing he wants to do is somehow accidentally run into Jiyoon. Knowing his luck, thatâs exactly what would happen no matter how hard he tried.
Thankfully, it seems the world has decided not to hate Jungkook that much today. Jimin and Taehyung are already there, seated at a booth in the back, when Jungkook walks through the door, the overhead bell tinkling brightly.
âHey, man!â Jimin greets him cheerfully. Jungkook is certain Jimin could field the entire Kim Exclusives brand roster on his own, with his lush lips, soft cheeks, and dark eyes. The stylishly tousled blond-dyed hair helps, too.
Jungkook slides into the seat across from them. âHowâs it going?â
âBusy!â Jimin flashes a charming smile. âI booked a brand deal with this pretty big jewelry company, and they want me to attend one of their launch parties this summer. I have five vouchers for plus ones if youâre interested. My manager, of course, gets one. Taehyung has one, and Iâve invited this guy Iâve been talking to for a while, Hoseok. That leaves two tickets unclaimed.â
Jungkook suppresses a smile at the jealous flash in Taehyungâs eyes when Jimin mentions this mysterious Hoseok. Itâs cute how Taehyung tries to hide his very obvious crush on Jimin. All it would take is for Taehyung to actually ask Jimin out, and Jungkook knows heâd say yes in an instant.
âThere will be an open bar and lots of potential connections to be made,â Taehyung adds, clearly trying to move the conversation along.
âYeah, you can bring JiâuhâŚâ Jimin stammers to a stop. The poor guy blanches, clearly worried he might have upset Jungkook by almost talking about someone in particular that theyâve all been pointedly avoiding mentioning.
âItâs okay,â Jungkook tells Jimin. âDonât worry about it.â
âYou can always bring our boss instead,â Taehyung suggests, waggling his brows at Jungkook.
Jimin pops his elbows on the table and leans toward Jungkook. âSheâs who youâre staying with right now, isnât she?â
âYeah. But, can we not talk about any of that? I just want to feel normal, please. Letâs talk about anything but my fucked up life.â
âRight, sure, of course.â
âNo problem, man.â
Jimin and Taehyung shift gears without any issue, and Jungkook is thankful for that. By the time they order food and have eaten, Jungkook is feeling so much better that it doesnât bother him that much when Taehyung asks him a question thatâs close to the taboo subject of she-who-shall-not-be-named.
âWhen do you think youâll be coming home?â
Jungkook drums his fingers on the tabletop, not having really given that much thought to it before now. âHonestly? I donât really know. The condo is in my name, but I canât just kickâŚJiyoonââ he only stumbles over her name a little ââout.â
âI mean, youâre not just going to let her have it, are you?â Taehyung takes a sip of his tea before setting it back down. âYou make good money, but youâre not made of giving away entire condos money, Jungkook. We book a lot of the same clients, I would know.â
Heâs right; Jungkook knows this. And itâs not like he can stay with you forever. He already feels like heâs invading your space, and itâs only been a few days. Perhaps itâs time for Jungkook to swallow his reservations and seek out some answers. Life isnât going to stand still for him; he needs to push through it and get to the other side.
âFuck, man. I know. Iâll contact a lawyer today and see whatâs the best course of action moving forward. Gotta start somewhere, right?â
âThatâs the spirit,â Taehyung proclaims with an enthusiastic nod. âDonât let the bitch continue to control your life!â
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Youâre not sure you can let another minute pass without confronting the giant, awkward, proverbial elephant in the room. Jiyoon has spent the entirety of the day pretending like nothing is amiss. During the weekly team meeting this afternoon, she sat beside you like she always has, a smile on her face and a hand gently draped over her baby bumpâthe baby that she told Jungkook wasnât his.
Itâs late afternoon now, and most everyone else in the office has gone home, leaving just you, Jiyoon, Hyeonwoo, and Namjoon. Hyeonwoo and Namjoon are tucked away in one of the conference rooms, going over projections and finance reports, so if you want to have a private moment with Jiyoon, now is your chance.
Her desk is close enough to yours that you donât need to cross the space, but you do anyway, the five feet feeling more like a mile with every step you take.
âHey, Jiyoon. Do you have a moment?â
âWhat?â She taps away at her computer, the screen angled in a way that you canât see. âNot really a great time. Iâm trying to submit the schedule approval for a press tour for Dohyun.â You know Dohyun is one of the high-profile actors that sheâs managed for a few years.
Thatâs not what you were expecting to hear. You were hoping for maybe a bit more receptiveness. Despite knowing that pushing her probably wonât do you any good, you know you need to try. âJiyoon, please. It will only take a moment. Itâs important.â
Jiyoon blows out a breath of irritation. Her mouse click is harsh and exaggerated, and her annoyance is palpable. âOkay, go on.â
âWhat the hell is going on with you?â you ask, choosing not to sugarcoat the situation and getting right to the point.
Her eyes bulge, clearly surprised by your approach. âExcuse me? What are you talking about?â
âDonât. You know what Iâm talking about, the fact that your husband is sleeping on my goddamn couch and that supposedly thatâs not his baby!â you whisper yell, nodding toward her maroon maxi dress-covered belly.
Jiyoon is a few inches taller than you, even more so in the short-heeled pumps sheâs wearing. But when she stands up and steps into your personal space, you refuse to back down even though the feeling of her belly pressing to the top of yours makes you want to retreat.
Moments pass in tense silence, her dark brown eyes boring into yours. Finally, she steps back with a soft laugh. âIs that what he told you?â
No. Itâs something youâve been avoiding talking to Jungkook about for obvious reasons. If he wanted to talk about it, heâd bring it up. But, you donât think Taehyung would have lied to you when he dropped a drunk Jungkook on your doorstep. Taehyung is a lot of things, as youâve learned over the years, but a liar isnât one of them.
âIt doesnât matter what he told me. Why donât you tell me whatâs going on?â Because despite how you might feel, hearing her side seems to be the least you can do at this point. Maybe sheâll provide some crucial bit of information or make any of it make sense.
Her arms cross over her chest, and one of her hips pops out in a classic Jiyoon stance when sheâs about to fight using words. âLook, Jungkook and I had an argument. It got heated. We both said some shit we didnât mean. Itâs not the first time, and it probably wonât be the last. Thatâs just how marriages go.â She says that with a look on her face that says you clearly wouldnât understand because youâve never been married. âSorry that heâs taking up space in your apartment. Tell him to go to a hotel or something if heâs bothering you.â She shrugs. âThings should blow over soon, and heâll come back home either way.â
âYouâve talked to him?â
âWell, no, but I know him. Everything will be fine. Now, I need to get back to work. You should go home. Put your feet up and rest. Itâll be good for your baby and ankle.â The tenderness and concern in her tone give you whiplash.
Part of you wants to stay and ask more questions, but youâre not sure itâll do you any good. She didnât answer your first question anywayânot really, at least. Jiyoon's answer was generic and didnât provide any sort of detailsâa half-answer at best. She didnât confirm nor deny whether what she said to Jungkook about the baby was true, and that, perhaps, should be an answer enough for you.
Your mind is still reeling by the time you get home. But the smell of grilled meat and sauteed vegetables that greets you as you open the door stops the grind wheel in its tracks. Jungkook is in the kitchen, standing at the stove, his back to you. A white shirt stretches over the broad expanse of his shoulders as they move with whatever heâs occupied with. By the sounds of it, heâs moving things around a pan.
Soft music drifts to you from the Bluetooth speaker sitting on the island that separates the living room from the kitchen. Jungkookâs voice mixes with the vocals. Itâs a beautiful tenor that could do good for him if he ever stopped modeling.
The last thing you want is to disrupt his peace. You had made up your mind as you traveled home that you would bring up everything with Jungkook tonight, wanting to get it all out in the open and addressed so you knew what to expect moving forward, knew how long heâd be staying with you.Â
Itâs a conversation that needs to happen, but maybe it can waitâŚjust a little longer.
âHey,â you call after slipping off your shoe and removing the temporary boot. You only have to wear it for a few more days and really only if youâre going to be doing a lot of walking.
Jungkook spins around, spatula in hand, with a giant grin on his face. âYouâre home! I hope you donât mind. I thought I could at least make dinner. As a thank you for letting me crash here the last few days. I feel bad for invading your space.â
âYou donât have to thank me, though I wonât say no to whatever youâre making. It smells absolutely divine. Is that garlic?â
âYes! I made some samgyeopsal and japchae. There are also some pajeon staying warm in the oven. Are you hungry? Itâs all ready.â He looks at you hopeful, hands clasped around the spatula handle.
Your stomach gives an appreciative rumble. âMost definitely. Let me go change real quick, and then we can eat.â
The domestic feel of coming home to someone making dinner for you in the kitchen sparks you as surprisingly comforting. Youâre so used to coming home to an empty space, preparing a small meal, and then spending time with your own thoughts and activities. Having Jungkook here, even for this short of a time, has made you realize how much you enjoy coming home to a space thatâs not so empty.
When you make it into your room, you notice there is a silver boutique bag sitting on your bed. Inside there is a sage-colored cashmere button-up cardigan and a pair of butter soft yoga pants with a built-in belly band.
âI thought you might like them. You mentioned last night how you needed a new pair of lounge pants and that you accidentally got sauce on your favorite sweater. I know itâs not much, but I went out to lunch with Taehyung and Jimin this afternoon and saw that cardigan in a window, and it reminded me of you.â Jungkook fills the doorway of your room, his shadow stretching long across the foot of your bed.
âJungkook, this isââ The cardigan and pants are both softer than probably anything else in your wardrobe, and itâs on the tip of your tongue to tell him itâs far too much, and you canât accept it, but you realize maybe you need this as much as he does ââwonderful. Thank you.â
There is a soft boyishness to the way he smiles, dropping his eyes from yours as he rubs the back of his neck. âWell, Iâll let you change. Iâm going to set the table.â
He disappears back down the hall, and you let out the breath you hadnât realized you were holding. Now, more than anything, you donât want to tarnish what seems to be turning into a perfect night with a conversation about Jiyoon.
Normally, you would wash clothes before wearing them, but itâs too tempting to try the pants and cardigan on. They both fit perfectly and feel like velvety hugs against your skin. When you come out of your room, Jungkook is sitting at the dining table. Steaming dishes of vegetables, noodles, meat, and onion pancakes sit beside two plates and sets of cutlery. A chilled glass of water and a set of cutlery with a folded napkin sits beside your placemat.
âIt looks amazing,â you tell Jungkook as you take your seat. âI didnât realize you could cook.â
âBecause Iâm a man?â he asks, raising a brow at you in jest.
âHa ha, youâre so funny.â You stick your tongue out at him, and he laughs. âBecause youâve never told me.â
âYouâve never asked.â Jungkook serves you first, giving you generous portions of everything.
âTouche. What other talents do you have that I donât know about?â
Jungkook looks up at the ceiling thoughtfully. âDoes being really good at video games count?â
âVideo games?â you giggle. âI guess that depends on how good weâre talking here.â
Jungkookâs eyes gleam with mischievous intent as he brings them back to yours. âPlay me some time and find out.â
You laugh again. âI donât think that would be a fair assessment at all.â
He grins, his white teeth flashing. âWhat about you? Do you have any talents I donât know about?â
There is one thing youâve never shared with anyone before, and youâre not sure what makes you want to share it with Jungkook, but you find yourself opening up regardless. âIâm not sure if it would be considered a talent. But, have you ever heard of the childrenâs book series âTales of Buttercup and Biscuitâ?â
âIsnât that the one about the cat and dog that go on secret adventures together but have to hide their friendship because cats and dogs arenât supposed to get along?â
Your teeth press into your bottom lip, a habit of yours that youâve tried and failed to break many times. âThatâs the one.â
Jungkook looks at you, waiting for you to continue, but you just let it hang there in the air, hoping heâll put the pieces together. The moment it clicks, you see a spark of surprise in his suddenly wide eyes. âWait, no. No! Thatâs you?! My little cousin loves those books. He raves about them all the time!â
âItâs nothing, really. Just something I enjoy in my spare time.â
âA published book series is not nothing,â Jungkook chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. âYouâre far too humble. Wow. Just wow. Thatâs amazing. Your secret talent is definitely way better than mine.â
The conversation continues throughout dinner and carries into a shared dessert of coffee patisseries and vanilla ice cream. Jungkook sits on one end of the couch with you on the other, your feet in his lap as he massages them. The empty dishes from dessert sit discarded on the floor beside the couch.
âThat feels good,â you sigh. âI didnât think my feet would be swelling this much this early on.â
âWhat does it feel like?â Jungkook asks, his eyes lifting to yours from under his brow as heâs bent over your feet.
âHaving swollen feet?â
âWell, not just that, but everything. Whatâs it like being pregnant?â
You think about it for a moment, wanting to give as best an answer as possible. âItâs hard to say, really. I imagine itâs different for everyone. But, for me, itâs I ate too much food for dinner, if that makes sense? Itâs not necessarily uncomfortable, but I can tell my stomach is expanding, and my body is making more room on the inside. Sometimes, I think I can feel a flutter, like movement. Right here,â you say, pressing a hand on the right side at the bottom of your bump. âBut I read online that since this is my first, it might be a few more weeks before I actually feel any movement.â
Jungkook uses the flat of his thumbs to knead the ball of your left foot. The lotion sitting on the side table has a subtle lilac scent. He squeezes a small dollop in his hand and goes back to work. You know Jungkook is particular about heavy scents, so when he asked for lotion to use while massaging your feet, you grabbed the one with the lightest scent.
âWould youâŚâ Jungkook begins but trails off, pursing his lips as if reconsidering what he was about to ask. âDo you think that when you do start to feel movementâwhat Iâm trying to say is, would you be comfortable with letting me try to feel them, too?â
âOf course. Absolutely. Why wouldnâtââ
The sound of Jungkookâs phone chiming cuts you off. You recognize the ringtone, and suddenly, a leaden weight sits in the pit of your stomach.
Jungkook licks his lips nervously, his eyes flicking between yours and where the phone is tucked into his pocket. âIâuh, I should probablyâŚget that. Iâm sorry. Do you mind?â He points down the hall, and you assume heâs asking if he can step into your room or the bathroom for some privacy.
You pull your feet off his lap and give him a quick nod, unsure you can trust yourself not to tell him not to answer it, to beg him to let this spell of peace last a little while longer. Jungkook gives you an apologetic smile before retreating down the hall, his form disappearing into the dark.
A moment later, you hear the distinct click of the bathroom closing and the lock rolling into place. You canât help but feel like things are about to change, and there isnât anything you can do to stop it.
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Jungkook
Running a hand through his hair, Jungkook pushes it back from his face before sitting on the lip of the tub and swiping to answer the call.
âJu-Jungkook?â Jiyoonâs voice cracks through the line and it tears at Jungkookâs heart. No matter how hurt he is right now, heâs never liked the sound of her crying. Itâs ingrained in his soul to immediately want to console her, to tell her not to cry and that everything will be okay. Only, any comforting words he might normally say crumble like dust on his tongue. âJungkook. Please. I canât do this. IâmâŚIâm so sorry.â
Over the last few days, when Jungkook did allow himself to think about this moment, he expected to feel some sort of relief with those words. âIâm sorryâ. Hearing them now, though, the only thing he feels is sorrow.
âI donât know that I can believe you.â Thatâs all his mind will allow him to utter in response because it is genuinely the truth.
Jungkook and Jiyoon have been together for around six years. In all those years, not a single day has been spent hating her or feeling anything less than love for her. Sure, there have been dark times, but thatâs never been able to truly overshadow his love for his wife.
When they first met, he was captivated by her headstrong and resilient nature. He was drawn to the way she seemed to take charge of a room from the moment she walked in. It wasnât hard to fall in love with her.
Despite that seemingly rock-steady exterior, Jiyoon also showed him a tender side of her nature that few got to see. She had compassion and loved helping people, volunteering in her spare time to work on humanitarian projects and hosting fundraisers. She once told him that if she didnât love marketing and media so much, sheâd probably have opened her own non-profit to raise awareness for gender inequalities.
It wasnât until a few years ago that she really started to change. There were fewer of those tender moments and more of the stone-faced, withdrawn woman he knows now. A ghost of who she once wasâŚor maybe just who she was always meant to beâwho she really was all along.
âYou have every right to say that.â Jiyoon clears her throat, and Jungkook can almost see her dabbing at her face with a tissue, blotting away smears of mascara and eyeliner. âBut I am sorry. I didnât mean all those things I said to you the other night. I was mad, hurt, and lashing out. ItâŚitâs not true, what I said about the baby.â
A twinge of something pangs in Jungkookâs chest. âWhat?â
âThe baby, it is yours, Jungkook. I know you didnât fuck my friend. God, I canât believe I accused you of that. I know youâd never do that. I justâŚI was so mad. I was so mad I couldnât think straight.â
âThatâs not a good enough excuse, Jiyoon.â Jungkook carefully considers his words, trying to be honest without being too harsh. No matter what transpired, Jiyoon is still a person and deserves to be treated as such. âWhat you saidâŚwhat you insinuated, that hurt me.â
âI know, baby. I didnât mean it. Well, I did mean it. I wanted to hurt you, wanted to make you feel like I was feeling, but only because you hurt me first. And I know thatâs silly, awful, and childish. I just couldnât stop myself once I had started.â Jiyoon sighs, the sound exhausted. âThe baby is yours, Jungkook. I swear.â
âI want to believe you, Jiyoon, I really do. Iâm just not sure you saying sorry is enough. Thatâs not just something you spout out off the handle, most lies hold a semblance of truth.â
Jiyoon hums softly, and Jungkook knows sheâs trying to collect her thoughts and form them into words. âThereâŚis some truth in what I saidââ she pauses when Jungkook lets out a heavy breath ââbut not like that, not about the baby. The truth is in the fact that I was scared, and intimidated by the way you care so much about another woman. And yes, even if that woman is my friend.â
âSheâs carrying my child, a child she agreed to carry for us. Of course, Iâm going to make sure she is taken care of and want to be a part of as much of the process as possible. I thought you were also doing that? Donât you talk to her, spend time with her, bond over pregnancy? Itâs the same thing.â
She doesnât immediately answer. Then, âProbably not as much as I should have.â
Jungkook is taken aback by this revelation. He thought surely the two of you were in constant contact and sharing the experience of it all together. You havenât brought up anything that would make Jungkook think otherwise, but then again, heâs never bothered to ask either.
âYou canât expect me to distance myself or treat her any differently when she is carrying something that is meant to be so precious to the both of us.â Jungkook means that with his entire being. If anything, he thinks he could even treat you better than he currently does, and make more of an effort in some areas.
âItâsâŚjust hard, okay? I know itâs not an excuse, but you kept missing my appointments because you were busy spending time with her instead. I know the last time it was an emergency and I take full responsibility for my actions and the words I said. But, I promise, everything I said was just out of anger. I mean,â she laughs, the sound lightly incredulous and humorless, âwhy would I accuse you of cheating and then immediately confess to cheating? Thatâs kind of silly when you think about it, right?â
Jungkook did consider it when trying to make it all make sense. But he just chalked it up to Jiyoon possibly projecting her own actions and guilt onto Jungkook when she accused him, to begin with. The fact that her tactic changed to say the worst possible thing to hurt him just seems par for the course.
âI guess, maybe.â Jungkook shrugs his shoulders even though Jiyoon canât see him. âI donât know what to think anymore, to be honest with you.â
Jiyoon sniffles, her voice rough with tears, âI understand that. I accept that. And I promise to make it up to you. Just come back home, and we can work through it.â
That would be the easy thing to doâŚbut also maybe the last thing he should do. Jungkook is aware that Jiyoon knows his weaknesses. All it would take is a few well-placed words, and heâd forgive her completely and forget that all this had even happened. Itâs happened before, perhaps more than it should have.
That is why he says, âI donât know, Jiyoon. I donât think thatâs a good ideaânot right away, at least.â
âJungkook. Please,â she cries. âPlease, I feel like Iâm losing my mind. I feel like Iâve lost you andâŚand I canât, I just canât. I love you so much. Iâm so sorry, Iâll do whatever it takes. Just, please, pleaseâŚâ Her desperate pleas turn into incoherent sobs.
âHey, hey,â Jungkook coos, his deeply ingrained instincts kicking in despite knowing he should try to hold out. âCalm down, shh, hey, deep breaths. Just like that, good. Come on, one more. Smooth, calm.â Once her cries have subsided into hiccuping spurts, Jungkook takes a deep breath and offers the only thing he can right now, âHow about we take things slow? Maybe we can meet for lunch at the end of the week if youâre not too busy with work.â
âO-okay, yeah. Yes, please. Okay, letâs do that, Iâll clear my schedule,â Jiyoon accepts quickly, voice still thick with emotion but Jungkook can hear the smallest hint of a smile in her words.
By the time Jungkook leaves the bathroom, youâre no longer sitting on the couch. The leftovers from dinner have been put away, and the kitchen has been cleaned up. A wave of guilt-laden regret washes through Jungkook. He feels bad you did all the cleanup by yourself.
Tonight had started out so promising. It would be an injustice for Jungkook not to admit he enjoyed tonight more than he has any night in the last few years. Youâre just so easy to be around, so soft and calm, your energy a pleasant buzz instead of a trumpeting cacophony like Jiyoon's. Itâs a wonder youâve been friends with her for as long as you have, being near complete opposites. YetâŚnot in a bad way.
Jungkook swallows hard at that revelation. Maybe he can blame the falling out on feeling disconnected from Jiyoon and more connected toâŚwell, to someone who isnât his wife.
Itâs a startling realizationâone that leaves him tormented with uncertainty and falling into a sleep so fitful it tempts him to knock on your door. The closest he gets is standing outside your closed bedroom door, his fist poised, hovering over the hardwood. But, in the end, he crawls back into his makeshift bed on the couch and doesnât sleep a wink.
Jungkook wants to talk with you about his conversation with Jiyoon, but there hasnât been a moment of freedom to do more than the typical day-to-day check-in. He doesnât want to just say, âOh, hey, by the way, Jiyoon said she lied, and weâre going to have lunch to talk it out in a few days.â Itâs a conversation that definitely needs more time and grace.
To make up for the shoot you rescheduled for him since heâs now feeling much better, Jungkook decided to take on a last-minute speaking engagement at the grand re-opening of a downtown shop that has a contract deal with one of his brands.
After hours of smiling and posing for pictures, Jungkook met with Taehyung for lunch and then lost himself for a few more hours at the gym of your apartment complex while he waited for you to get home. When he finally returned to your place, a covered dish of food, still warm in the oven, was waiting for him, and you were already in bed.
As Jungkook eats the food you prepared for him, he canât stop kicking himself for the opportunity lost. He really wants to talk to you before meeting with Jiyoon for lunch tomorrow. He values not only your opinion on the whole situation but also the fact that you know Jiyoon nearly as well as, if not more than, he does. So, he hopes he can catch you in the morning before you go to work. UnlessâŚyouâre intentionally avoiding him, a thought that hits deeper than maybe it should.
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You hate being late to work, but when you woke up this morning your stomach had plans you couldnât exactly foresee. In between moments of hugging the toilet, you manage to send Namjoon an email letting him know youâll be a little late this morning.
Thirty minutes later, feeling marginally better, you finish getting ready and are surprised to catch Jungkook in the kitchen making breakfast. Youâve not necessarily been avoiding him, but youâve also not not been. You might have overheard the tail-end of his conversation with Jiyoon two nights ago and havenât been able to shake this foreboding feeling ever since.
âGood morning,â you say as you slip past him and start to make a cup of tea.
Jungkook looks at you over his shoulder. âMorning. You feeling okay?â
âI just had a bit of a spell this morning. Iâm feeling much better now. I'm just going to make my tea to-go and then be on my way.âÂ
âHey, um, do you think we could talk? Iâve been meaning to bring it up since the other night, but I justâŚtiming hasnât exactly been on my side, and wellâŚâ
âI got a few minutes, sure. I already emailed Namjoon to let him know I would be coming in a bit late today.â
âGreat. Why donât you have a seat? Iâll finish your tea, and I also made some muffins,â he says, shooing you toward the dining table before turning back and opening the oven. The smell of fresh banana muffins wafts to you and makes your mouth water.
âSo, whatâs up?â you ask when Jungkook sits down.
You watch him prepare your tea, adding the perfect amount of honey and cream. Itâs such an insignificant thing, tea, but the fact Jungkook knows how you like yours, makes you feel goodâŚreally good.
âWell, we havenât exactly talked about everything that happened. Taehyung told me he filled you in on what all I told him, but I donât know if he told youâŚeverything.â
Itâs hard not to let the topic of conversation sour your mood. But this is a conversation you know has needed to happen, so you begrudgingly donât pull away from it. âHe told me that Jiyoon told youâŚabout her baby and then something about me and you.â Thatâs a very vanilla version of it, but you donât want to say any more details than necessary.
âRight. Thatâs the gist of it. She apologized to me the other night when she called. She claimed she only said those things out of anger and because she was hurt. It was her way of hurting me for hurting her. I guess I havenât exactly taken her feelings into account with some stuff lately, and when I missed her twenty-two-week appointment, she lost it and said all those things to get back at me for it.â
Jungkook makes it seem so innocent, so cut and dryâŚso, forgivable.
âI see.â
âIâm having lunch with her today, so we can talk some more. She wants to work things out and asked me to come back home.â
You bite the inside of your cheek so hard that the metallic zing of blood coats your tongue. âAnd are you?â
âGoing to lunch, yes. Back home? I donât know. I have to go home sometime, I suppose.â
The confusion on Jungkookâs face is clear to you, like he doesnât know up from down when it comes to what he wants right now. But you also see resignation, like he knows itâs inevitable that heâll be back home soon, whether or not Jiyoon is there, too.
âIâŚokay, I understand that.â Itâs not your place to beg him not to go. Jungkook is his own person and can make his own decisions. However, what you can do is tell him how it makes you feel. âJust know, youâre welcome to stay here as long as youâd like. I know sleeping on the couch probably isnât super comfortable, but Iâm just saying. You always have a place here, no matter what. Iâm sure there are a lot of things you and Jiyoon need to discuss, justââ you sigh, pressing on even though youâre not sure if Jungkook will be receptive to your criticisms ââbe careful. Donât accept something because itâs the easy way, be sure itâs something you want and that you protect yourself above all other things.â
Itâs possible youâre seeing what you want to see, or maybe itâs really there, but for a moment, youâre certain there is a flash of something more in Jungkookâs eyesâsomething that says he wishes you told him not to do it. But itâs gone before you can decide if it was there or just your imagination.
When you finally make it in, Jiyoon is floating around the office like a fairy. Her chiming laugh fills the space, and sheâs absolutely glowing in her pregnancy. Everyone in the office says so, complimenting how luminous her skin is and how shiny her long black hair looks. Youâve gotten some compliments, too, but theyâve been mixed in with whispers and office gossip.
Even before Junkook and Jiyoon had their falling out, seemingly everyone found out about what you offered to do for them. When Jiyoon first revealed that you were pregnant with a baby for her and Jungkook, one specifically composed of your DNA and his, the entire office seemed to have an opinion about itânot all positive, either.
There are quite a few different options for surrogacy available thanks to the advances of modern medicine, and the method that Jungkook presented to you is the one that he believes suits the fertility issues Jiyoon was facing the best.
When it first came out, Namjoon had taken you aside into his office to talk about the implications of having a more than professional relationship with a client and how important it is to maintain boundaries, the typical HR spiel to which you politely agreed and promised him things werenât going to interfere with work. You wonder now if you need to have another conversation with Namjoon about not being able to keep that promise, considering recent events.
Jiyoon catches your eye as she picks up a small pink bag from Daniâs desk, a bright smile on her face. âHey, you!â she calls to you.
âHey,â you mutter in response, still unsure how you feel about everything Jungkook told you this morning. You know itâs entirely possible. Blowing something out of proportion is exactly Jiyoon's thing to do. She loves to wound with words, lashing out with a viper tongue when the mood suits her.
âCan we talk for a minute?â she asks, stepping close to you and lowering her voice.
âYeah, sure.â
âGreat, let me just put this on my desk real fast.â She gives the pink gift bag she got from Dani a little shake.
You follow her to where your desks are. She drops off the pink present, and it joins a scattering of other pastel pink and yellow wrapped gifts or baggies. A sinking feeling hits you, and you mentally connect the dots to what that could possibly mean.
âA girl?â
Her eyes are vibrant when they meet yours. âYeah, isnât it exciting? A daughter.â
A sister.
Knowing your son could possibly have a sister should be exciting. YetâŚif itâs supposed to be exciting, then why do you suddenly desire to run away and hide to protect your son? Also, since when did you start thinking of the baby as yours? You shake away that thought, clear your throat, and plaster on a strained smile.
âExciting, yeah. Congratulations. If I had known we were bringing gifts today, I would have grabbed something.â
âOh, nonsense. But, about what I wanted to talk to you about,â she says, waving a hand to dismiss what you said about the gift.
You wait for her to go on, but she glances around and then takes your arm and tugs you closer to the supply closet on this side of the office, notably as far away from your coworkers as you can get without going to the restroom or Namjoonâs personal office.
âWhat is it?â you ask, crossing your arms under your breasts. It breaks her hold on your arm, but the tightening feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach says you also feel like you need a hug, and your own arms are the best you have right now.
Her voice is pitched low, her body angled so her back is more to the office space and any curious eyes. âI just wanted to say Iâm sorry. Genuinely, and truly. You are my best friend, and I know Iâve been less than stellar with you for a while now. Everything got away from me, and I was acting out, being a bully, and just a horrible person all around. Then everything with the babies and all the issues between Jungkook and I, and wellâŚI know that doesnât justify how I acted, but now Jungkook is upset with me, and I donât know what to do. I just thought that maybeâwell, if things were okay between us, then maybe heâd come home. I didnât realize what I said to him would hurt you, too. I thought you would have known better since weâve been friends for so long.â
Once upon a time, you would have said without a doubt that you could tell when Jiyoon was being dishonest with you or not. Now, however, youâre not so sure. You wish Jungkook were here so you could look to him for his opinion, which has been something youâve come to greatly appreciate.
âOkay, I guess. Thanks for apologizing.â This comes out more as a question than a statement, but it seems to satisfy Jiyoon.
âGreat! Iâm glad you understand and that weâre on the same page. So, youâll tell him to come home? Oh, and I meant what I said the other day. We should have lunch sometime soon. Iâd love to chat about how the next few months are going to go. Weâll have to figure out how to coordinate bringing my babies home. Canât be too prepared, right? Plus, itâll be here before we know it.â
Your spine straightens, and your muscles tense as Jiyoon throws her arms around your neck and hugs you. For the second time in a matter of days, the press of her stomach against yours makes you uncomfortable. Something isnât sitting right with you, this whole interaction feels off, and you just canât put your finger on why.
Patting her on the back lightly, you disengage and give her what you hope is a polite smile before telling her you need to get some work done. There is something about this interaction, something about Jiyoon, that justâŚhas your alarm bells going off. Everything about the last few months has you rethinking a lot of thingsâŚand perhaps the first thing on that list should be your friendship with Jiyoon.
As soon as you sit at your desk, your first reaction is to pull out your phone and text Jungkook. But, you stop yourself, leaving the device in your bag. Jungkook told you he was having lunch with Jiyoon today, and you donât want to bother him with something that is probably nothing.
If, by the end of the day, you still canât shake this unsteady feeling, then you vow to allow yourself the grace to bring your feelings and concerns to Jungkook. Not in the hopes of persuading him in any way, but to hopefully have an outside perspective on whether or not youâre reaching here.
Something does feel off. But maybe that something is you and what is turning out to be the not-so-tiny, very significant, completely not-harmless crush you have on Jungkook. The fact that you donât even want to think of him as your friendâs husband anymore is quite telling in and of itself.
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Jungkook
There have been times in Jungkookâs life when he wished he could go back in time and change things. It hasnât happened often, but when it does, the thing he would change is always life-altering in some way.
For instance, he would go back in time and change the way he approached the subject of wanting to have children with Jiyoon. Or, rather, he might even go back to before they got engagedâwhich was maybe too soon itself, considering they got engaged and married within a year of first meetingâand insist they talk about their future wants and desires to make sure that they aligned.
Jungkook isnât sure why it took him so long to think about it, but with everything that has happened in the last few months, he canât help but look back on it now. Heâs sitting in his car, waiting for Jiyoon to arrive at the BBQ place she chose for lunch. It was still thirty minutes until their agreed-upon time, but Jungkook had nothing else to do.
So, here he is, with his thoughts. Jungkook brought up the desire of wanting to have children four years into their marriage, which was two years ago now. Two years, that feel like two decades, of an uphill battle in which Jungkook thought he and Jiyoon were on the same page. Only, that wasnât always the case.
It seems so vague a memory now, but itâs there nonetheless. Jiyoon expressed her own thoughts about children; she didnât want them. At least, not so soon. Heâs not sure if he can place the moment in their marriage when she changed her mind, because it all feels so seamless to Jungkook.
Thinking back on their journey, Jiyoon suggested they start trying more often. However, Jiyoon also took their passionate moments of indulgence and made them into robotic meetings of anatomy. Jungkook definitely remembers that pivotal moment in their relationship.
Perhaps that is something else he would go back and change. Heâd approach the idea of seeking medical assistance differently. He wouldnât have gone behind Jiyoonâs back and sought answers she wasnât ready to have. Maybe if heâd have been more delicate about it, the schedule would have never come into play.
As with all thoughts about changing the past, he canât help but wonder whether what happened was a good thing. After all, if the child Jiyoon is carrying is indeed his, maybe it was the schedule that helped in the end anyway.
With so many thoughts, Jungkook feels like he might drown if he continues with all the what-ifs and whys of it all. Turning on his radio, he reclines his seat and brings up the camera roll on his phone. This has turned into one of his favorite pastimes, scrolling through all the happy images and memories he has saved here.
His thumb pauses, hovering over one of the more recent shots. The day he found out he was having a son, the day his world upended just a few hours later. Your smiling face, unshed tears in your eyes, pressed close to his, the ultrasound tech having insisted on capturing the delicate moment of pure rapture when you and Jungkook got to see that you were growing his son inside of you.
There are a few other shots of you, candid moments Jungkook captured because one day, no matter what anyone else thinks, heâs going to tell his son where he came from and show him the beautiful, thoughtful, and selfless woman who helped Jungkook create him. What better way to do that than through moments forever rendered in technicolor? Just to be safe, Jungkook clicks through and adds them all to his cloud.
Jungkook notices with a bitter pang of disappointment that he has so few pictures of Jiyoon pregnant. Anytime she catches him trying to take one, she gets really upset. The last time it happened, she cried, locked herself in the bathroom, and wouldnât come out no matter how much Jungkook apologized. He didnât see her until the next morning.Â
He nearly drops his phone as it chimes with an incoming text message from Jiyoon. She is inside and waiting for him, it says. Knowing this is the right step forward, Jungkook rights his seat and climbs out of the car, heading inside.
âHey, over here!â Jiyoon calls to him as soon as he steps past the host stand.
As always, she looks gorgeous. The plum-colored off-the-shoulder cable-knit sweater compliments the soft flush in her cheeks, and the black slacks accentuate her long legs. Itâs hard to see her bump through the sweater, the fabric chunky in an intentional way.
She resumes her seat when he starts her way. âHey,â Jungkook replies, taking the seat across from her.
âI went ahead and put in an order for the honey pork and beef. I hope thatâs okay.â
âSure, sounds great.â Jungkook clears his throat a few times, not sure what else to say. He pours himself a glass of water and begins to pour Jiyoon one before he even realizes it. Itâs just so natural for him to do so.
âThanks.â She gives him a smile as she accepts the glass. âAnd thanks for agreeing to meet with me.â
One of Jungkookâs shoulders kicks up in a half-shrug. âWe have to talk sometime. And sooner is probably better than later.â A muscle feathers along his jaw as he clenches it. âWhere would you like to begin?â
Jungkook feels like maybe heâs being a bit too cold or standoffish to Jiyoon, considering their near seven year history and the fact sheâs his wife, for crying out loud. But, if heâs being honest, heâs still not over all the bullshit she said and the way she acted.
âWould you like to know the gender?â she asks hesitantly. Her right hand comes down and forms the front of her sweater over her belly, making it stand out.
Does he want to know? Yes. Of course, he does. No matter what has transpired, whether true or not, the baby is innocent in this.
âI would.â
The prominent thump of his heart echoes in his ears as Jiyoon slides a small, facedown picture across the table. âYou can keep it if you wantâŚI have a copy.â
With a slow exhale, Jungkook pinches the corner of the photo and turns it over. Itâs so similar to many of the other grainy, black-and-white ultrasound images heâs seen over the last several weeks. But right there, toward the top right corner, is a single word, white text floating in the abyss of the static-like scan.
Girl.
âA girl,â Jungkook whispers, the word rushing from his mouth like he caught a fist in the gut. That fist moves up and takes a stranglehold on his heart next. Itâs almost painful to breathe. Everything that was before, seems so much less significant now.
âOur daughter,â Jiyoon confirms, reaching out and gripping his free hand that was trembling on the table.
Tears sting Jungkookâs eyes, and he has to blink several times before heâs certain they wonât drip onto the photo. The first thought he has when everything comes rushing back in is that he needs to tell you, and wants to share in this joy with you. âMy son is going to have a sister.â
He must have spoken aloud because Jiyoon lets out a startled gasp. âYour son? You mean the other baby is a boy?â
âWhat? Oh, yeah. Didnât you know? I just thought maybeâŚâ Jungkook trails off because heâs come to learn better that Jiyoon isnât quite the friend he thought she was to you. It wouldnât surprise him one bit if Jiyoon hadnât spoken to you at all in the last week since everything went to shit.
Jiyoon sighs. âI did talk to her todayâearlier, in fact. But we didnât talk about the babies, not really. IâŚuh, I apologized to her for what I said and how Iâve been acting.â Her nose twitches as she sniffs, averting her gaze from Jungkookâs. âIâve been such a shit friend lately, and after everything with you, I knew I needed to make it right. Or at least start trying to make it right. Everything has just happened so quickly, I feel like Iâm drowning sometimes. AndâŚa-and when my life preserverââ her eyes flick back to his for a moment, and he knows she means him ââisnât there, I panic, and I guess that means I try to bring the whole ship down with me. I meant what I said, Jungkook, I am sorry about everything. What I said was awful, and thatâs not the kind of person I want to be, not the kind of mother I want to be for our children. Will you come home? Please? I donât want to spend another night alone in our home.â
âMaybeâŚI guess I can sleep in the guest room for a while? You know, just until I can get my head back on straight.â
âYou mean that?â she asks, her grip tightening on his hand.
Looking back down at the photo still pinched between his fingers, he knows what the right thing to do is. There might still be a small sliver of doubt, but this babyâthis little girlâdeserves for him to give her a chance.
âYeah, I mean that.â
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When Jiyoon returns to work after her lunch with Jungkook, that intense feeling from before increases. Sheâs far too happy right now for having just had lunch with the husband she shattered less than a week ago. You tap the screen on your phone, which sits on your desk, and youâre tempted to text Jungkook and ask him how it went. But a shadow falling over your desk draws your attention away.
âI brought you back something,â Jiyoon says with a smile, offering you a white paper bag.
You catch the scent of cinnamon and sugar as you accept the bag. A peek inside reveals a large pinwheel wrapped in wax paper, the bottom of the bag is warm, so you know itâs fresh.
âUm, okay. Thanks.â
âJungkook mentioned that youâve developed a bit of a sweet tooth thanks to Little Man. Itâs probably not as good as his homemade banana bread, but I know you like cinnamon rolls, so I thought you might enjoy a treat.â She leans against the wall partition that separates your desk from hers. âI know I canât seem to stop snacking on pretzels. Cute, right? Salty and sweet, already the perfect duo.â
Of course Jungkook would have told her the gender of the baby. You may not have signed the legal papers just yet, but there is no way you can even begin to think about keeping this baby from Jungkook. So, if with Jungkook comes Jiyoon, then youâre going to have to try to come to terms with some things or at least have a very open and meaningful conversation with them both. Thatâs something that strikes you suddenly, realizing that not once since you agreed to do surrogacy for them have all three of you sat down together to talk.
âSo, lunch went okay?â You canât help but ask. The need to know is far too great. This is a good segue into hopefully asking if the next lunch can include all three of you.
Jiyoon presses the tips of her fingers to her forehead. âThankfully, yes. Youâll be happy to hear Jungkook is coming back home tonight, so heâll be out of your hair soon. I, um, I hope things are okay between you and me. I know an apology doesnât really do much, but I have another peace offering to go with the gooey goodness in that wrapper,â she beams, tapping the bag sitting on your desk.
Another peace offering? You have no idea what that could possibly be. âYou have something else?â
Jiyoon leans toward her desk, and you hear the sound of papers shuffling before she produces a sheaf of papers. âItâs a birthing plan! I thought maybe making up your plan would help take that stress off of you. Especially considering our situation is a pretty special one. Everything there is what I would like to happen, but of course, if you need to add anything, thatâs fine, too.â
There are easily a dozen papers stapled together here. Itâs a detailed, bulleted list of requests. It covers everything from who is allowed in the birthing room and who cuts the cord to whether or not you can have an epidural and if you can hold the baby right after birth.
You scan the pages, your eyes snagging on at least every other word. Jiyoon wants Dani in the birthing room? She wants a doctor to cut the cord so the baby can be immediately given to her for skin-to-skin contact. Jungkook is allowed in the room, but only if heâs standing where he canât see the birth. In parentheses beside that, there is âbecause itâll be weird if he watches the baby come outâ.
No epidural and only a heparin or saline lock for administering fluids if necessary. She wants you to be able to move around while in labor, but itâs listed that youâre only allowed to labor on your back so Jiyoon can watch her son being born. Youâre only allowed to use a birthing ball, and absolutely no warm baths or showers.
In the event of a cesarean, Jiyoon will be the only one allowed into the operating room for support. The baby is to be fed exclusively breast milk but not directly from the breast. Below that is a list of top-of-the-line breast pumps and where to order them.
âJiyoon. Are you serious?â
âWhat is it? Whatâs wrong with that? Do you not like it? Like I said, you can add things if you want. But, it would be nice if you let me know before you did. This is really the perfect plan and exactly what I want for my baby.â
Jiyoon huffs, her bottom lip poking out as she frowns at you shaking your head slowly.Â
âNo epidural?â
âIâve read that they can have some complications. Do you really want to take that risk?â
You poke the paper, your finger jabbing at one of the other things listed. âYou want Dani in the room? She and I arenât even friends.â
âWell, sheâs my friend. Itâs not like sheâs going to be all up in your vagina. Sheâll just be there to support me.â
âSupport you?! Jiyoon, I get that this would be a special day for you, but Iâll be the one giving birthâwhich I see here you have it listed that you want me to try and get induced two weeks early? Why would I do that? My doctor says the only time we would want to induce early is if something is going on or, in some cases, of gestational diabetes, and my glucose test isnât for another month.â
Jiyoon looks at you like you just grew a second head. âI thought I was doing you a favor!â
âJiyoon, this isnât doing me a favor. T-thisâŚthis isnât a favor. This is you trying to control things that should at least be something we both consider. What if I donât want any of this? Shouldnât what I want matter, too?â
This has to be a joke.
âI thought what you wanted was to have a baby for me?â
You push back from your desk, tired of literally sitting here and taking this. âYou could have talked to me about this. But it sounds like youâre not wanting to give me a choice. You said I could add things, not that I could take them away, too. Is that it?â
âLook, thereâs a certain way I want my son to be brought into this world! Is that so bad? Youâre acting like Iâm asking you to do something insane.â
The heat licking its way across your cheeks is a product of pure anger. Maybe you shouldnât be getting this bent out of shape over this. Jiyoon seems to have the best intentions with her list, but you canât help but think that not once in this entire process has she asked what you want. In the beginning, you were constantly trying to talk to her and include her. Even if it was just a text message since she was so busy. Yet, she hasnât once returned that in kind. Now this? You canât do it.
âLadies, is everything okay?â Namjoonâs baritone breaks through the silence that had fallen between you and Jiyoon.
You only realize now that the entire office is quiet, listening to you and Jiyoon volley words back and forth. A few throats clear, and people resume pretending to ignore the two of you, but itâs clear anyone within a twenty-foot radius was just eavesdropping in on the drama.
âItâs fine, Namjoon,â you say, meeting his eyes before turning back to Jiyoon. âMaybe we can talk more about this when weâre not at work?â
Jiyoon purses her lips, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she nods. âSure, yeah. We can do that.â
No further opportunity presents itself for you and Jiyoon to talk. Not today, at least. It also could be that you werenât exactly looking for an opportunity to do so. You havenât been able to stop thinking about that stupid list.
Even now, you clutch it in one of your hands as you unlock your apartment door with the other. You donât necessarily want to cry to Jungkook about it, more just have a conversation with him. Find out whether or not heâs aware of everything Jiyoon wants to impose on you.
Because thatâs exactly what it is, what it feels like. This isnât a birth plan, itâs a list of demands that do not take your wants or needs into consideration in the slightest.
âEverything okay?â Jungkookâs voice breaks through your mental tirade.
You stop in your tracks, eyes snapping up to meet his. Jungkook is standing in your living room, a small pile of laundry sitting on the couch that he seems to be in the middle of folding.
It takes you a moment to decide how to answer him. All the while, his eyes remain open and vulnerable on yours. You chew your lip, feeling angry tears prick at the backs of your eyes.
âNo.â
The moment that word is out of your mouth, tears follow it, coursing down your cheeks in hot, twin streaks. Jungkook abandons the shirt in his hands and crosses the living room to you in an instant. His hands land on your shoulders, and his eyes flick over your face and body, searching for signs of anything physically wrong.
âTalk to me. Whatâs going on?â
Your fist tightens around the list before you hold it up and offer it to him. âHave you seen this?â
Jungkook takes the sheaf of paper and quickly scans the first page before flipping through the others. âA birth plan? Did you make this?â
âJiyoon did. Apparently, these are the things she wantsâno, demandsâfor when I give birth.â
âWhat?â His eyes come up to meet yours. âSome of this stuff is kind ofâŚI donât know, like this,â he says, pointing to the fifth bullet on the page. âGetting induced two weeks early? Shouldnât that be a decision your doctor talks to you about? Also, support persons who are allowed in the room. I can understand Jiyoon and me, maybe her parents, sure. But Dani? I didnât even think you and Dani were friends like that.â
âBecause weâre not. This entire list is everything she wants, her support people, her wishes for how things go, and not once has she asked me what I want.â Your voice rises in pitch as you plow on, âI guess it doesnât matter, though, does it? Because, as sheâs made it clear, itâs not my baby, after all.â
Jungkook shakes his head, a muscle along his jaw ticking as he presses his lips into a thin line. âDonât say it like that. You matter. This matters. You need bodily autonomy over a lot of these decisions. And if you donât want someone in the room, they wonât be. If you want an epidural, as long as the doctor says itâs okay, then itâs okay. Thatâs whatâs important. What you want and what the doctor says is okay. Iâm sorry she did this. Iâll talk to her about it.â
âBecause youâre going home, right?â You donât mean to sound so sad when you say it, but it slips out before you can control your emotions. Maybe itâs the hormones, but the swinging from hot to cold makes you want to scream. Youâre usually such a well-collected person.
âIââ Jungkook hesitates, his eyes searching yours ââI need to. What Jiyoon did isnât right, and going home isnât me accepting her apology and forgiving her. But I canât keep sleeping on your couch. Iâm going to stay in our guest room as I work through the mess inside my head.â
You know he can hear the resignation in your voice. âOkay, if thatâs what you think is best.â
âI think I do. ButâŚthere is only one way to be certain, right? Clearly things have been coming to a head between Jiyoon and me for a while now. Iâm sorry youâre now in the middle of this. Thatâs the last thing I wanted when I asked you to be our surrogate. I canât say that enough, this was never how it was supposed to be.â To your surprise, Jungkook slowly wraps his arms around you. âIs this okay?â
âYeah, Jungkook, thatâs okay. Thank you.â
âI promise Iâm going to talk to Jiyoon about that birthing plan. Itâs unacceptable. You matter, okay? Youâre important.â
Maybe to him, you are. But to Jiyoon? Youâve never been more unsure of where you stand. The friend you once knew is not the same woman who has been parading around in the guise of your best friend. Youâre not sure who she is anymoreâŚor if you want to give her your baby.
âAnd Jungkook?â you say as he turns away to go back to his laundry. âBe careful, okay?â You allow yourself a moment of vulnerability, brushing your fingers across the cut of his jaw, where just a week ago, there rested another reason for your uncertainty.
Your heart stutters in your chest at his small nod of acknowledgement. A truth, one you had hoped would remain speculation, reflects in his wide, doe eyes. An uncertainty now confirmed, another crack in the foundationâŚyouâve never been more scared to shatter.
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Jungkook
Moving back home might have been a mistake. Jiyoon is clingier than ever, but itâs not in a way that feels natural to Jungkook. He once found so much joy in her tender affection and gentle touches. Now, however, he canât help but pull away, giving her as polite a smile as he can.
There is something that has been bothering him that he canât seem to make sense of. Ever since he moved back home a week ago, Jiyoon has completely and utterly changed her tune. Not once has she said a biting remark or yelled at him. Not that heâs complaining, per se. Itâs just completely thrown him, heâs not sure how to process it. Sheâs almost being too nice.
Hell, she even gracefully accepted his explanation as to why the birthing plan she made was unacceptable. Jungkook tried to keep a level head when you showed him that ridiculous list, but he was so mad he could hardly think. The only thing that kept him from losing his mind was the fact he knew you needed him more than he needed to be mad. Heâs still not sure what the hell Jiyoon was thinking when she made it. But, she didnât so much as try to counter his argument when he confronted her about it. She just agreed with him and promised sheâd make it right with you.
Thatâs another thing he canât seem to stop thinking about. Youâve also been different the last week, only in the opposite way Jiyoon has. Youâve not berated him, but youâve suddenly become more standoffish and distant. Maybe itâs because heâs not spending every night eating dinner with you or watching movies while he massages your feet, but even before all that you were warmer than you are now.
Which is why heâs trying to corner Taehyung right now before he goes back for hair and makeup. He needs to talk to someone who is relatively unbiased and can maybe help him sort his thoughts properly.
âTaehyung, hey, wait up a second.â
âYo, JK, whatâs up?â Taehyung spins on his heel, catching himself on the doorframe to the dressing room.
âCan we talk for a minute?â
Taehyung pokes his head inside the room, and Jungkook can hear his muffled voice as he talks to the staff. âYep, itâll just take a moment. I promise I wonât touch the clip,â he says, turning back towards Jungkook. âYouâve got me for ten minutes.â
Jungkook lets out a breath of relief. He feels like he might explode if he doesnât get all of this off his chest soon. Taehyung is already wearing a dark pin-stripped suit with a deep v and no shirt underneath. A gold chain and pendant sit perfectly in the open front, complementing the ochre thick-strapped sandals on his feet. There is a small hairpin holding the front of his hair into a suave coif that he, despite saying he wouldnât, pokes at before following Jungkook to a small seating area across the space.
Theyâre shooting at an old estate today, styling and posing for various fashion items. Jungkook already went through hair and makeup and his first round of photos. Heâs just waiting now for his wardrobe change and his cue to be back with the photographer.
âDo you think it was a bad idea for me to have gone back home?â
Taehyung taps his bottom lip thoughtfully. âWhy are you asking?â
âIâŚI donât know.â And thatâs the truth of it. âThings just have been weird since we had that one big argument. Itâs like no matter what I do or tell myself, she makes me feel like Iâm walking on eggshells.â
âOr is it that you realize you might have enjoyed staying with a certain manager more than you thought you would?â Taehyung raises a brow, and Jungkook scowls at him.
âDonât even start on that. Of course I would feel comfortable there. It wasnât a hostile environment.â
âSo you agree that the environment where Jiyoon is concerned is a hostile one.â
âThatâs not what I said,â Jungkook groans. âIs it?â
âSounds like it to me.â Taehyung shrugs. Jungkook values Taehyung for his brutal honesty, so instead of insisting his friend stop, he lets him continue. âLook, you know I love you and just want you to be happy. But, if Jiyoon is telling the truth and that baby is yours, then you have two kids coming into this world, and you really need to get your shit figured out.â
âI know.â
âNo, I donât think you do, JK. Those babies arenât going to wait for you to get your shit together. Theyâre coming in a matter of weeks, whether youâve got it all figured out or not. I know you and Jiyoon have had a long go at it. Youâve been together for longer than anyone else we know. But, you need to ask yourself if she is the kind of mother you want for your kids. And before you insist she is, I want you to truly think about everything that has transpired. I mean, look at what she said about you and someone who is supposedly her best friend. Someone doesnât just say that shit because theyâre mad. They sure as hell shouldnât hit anyone because of it, either. There is something going on with Jiyoonââ he taps the side of his head ââup here. And there isnât a single person who wouldnât agree that no kid deserves to be brought into a volatile environment. I know thatâs not what you had envisioned when you first brought up wanting to have a family.â
âYouâre right. ButâŚthereâs something else. Something that is maybe making all of this so much worse.â
Jungkookâs knee bounces, nerves wholly consuming him as he prepares to tell Taehyung something heâs only thought about until now. Heâs been worried that if he put words to it then it would make it real, but he knows it already is.
Taehyung grins knowingly, the curve of his lips soft and not as teasing as it might usually be. âThis should be good. Letâs hear it.â
Your name comes out in a hushed whisper. âI feel like sheâs been avoiding me, and itâs driving me crazy. Ever since I went back home, sheâs been so distant. Iâm worried that sheâs upset or something.â
âWell, there is this thing we like to call communication. Have you tried it?â
Jungkook rubs his hands over his face, heedless of messing up his makeup. âI have tried, but it seems like the only thing she wants to talk about is work or baby appointments. Itâs like sheâs fully in surrogate mode, and thatâs all I get.â
âAnd do you want more?â Taehyung asks, clearly probing to help Jungkook process his thoughts.
âI want herâI wantâŚI donât know. I care about her. I want her to at least act like my friend,â Jungkook says lamely. Because if there is one thing heâs not sure heâs ready to touch with a twenty-foot pole, itâs the complicated feelings heâs trying to figure out when it comes to youâfeelings heâs not sure are real or just a trauma-coping mechanism resulting from his discourse with Jiyoon.
Taehyung claps Jungkook on the shoulder as he stands up. âI need to get in there, but maybe you should ask her to meet up with you. Something strictly not work-related. Maybe get ice cream, or whatever it is pregnant women crave these days. See if you can sus out some more of those feelings I know you got clanging around in there.â His hand moves up from Jungkookâs shoulder to poke the side of his head. âGet all those thoughts out in the open before you go crazy, my friend.â
You agree to meet him for ice cream the next day, provided Jungkook agrees to make an appointment to get new headshots done. With the haircut he got weeks back, itâs needed anyway, so it was easy to accept.
The weather is warming up, and it feels good standing in the sun. Itâs been so long since Jungkook allowed himself a moment to breathe and enjoy something so mundane, like the feeling of the sun warming his cheeks.
Heâs waiting outside the small walk-up ice cream shop thatâs situated in the middle of the park. You agreed to meet him here before an appointment you have with Taehyung. Heâs working on some cover spread for a magazine or something like that.
âSunâs nice, huh?â
Jungkookâs eyes pop open, and he glances back over his shoulder. The sight of you would bring any man to his knees, Jungkook thinks, his own legs giving a little wobble. The floral sundress paired with the sage cardigan Jungkook bought you makes you look like you just stepped off the pages of a romance novel. The wind catches a few stray lengths of your hair and tosses it across your face, drawing Jungkookâs attention to your smile.
âYouâre beautiful. Um, I mean, the sun. Itâs beautiful. Such a nice day out. Perfect for ice cream.â
You press your fingers against your lips, suppressing a giggle that Jungkook wishes youâd let him hear. âShall we?â Those same fingers flick in the direction of the ice cream shop.
Jungkook leads the way to the window. âMint chocolate chip? Cookies and cream?â he asks, trying to think of the different ice cream flavors heâs seen in your freezer.
âMmm,â you hum, your hand resting over your belly in an absentminded fashion. âI actually think I want a strawberry bungeoppang ice cream.
Chuckling, Jungkook nods. âYou read my mind.â He orders two of the fish-shaped ice creams and opens one of the packages before handing it to you.
âI havenât had one of these in forever,â you say, taking a bite and making a sound of delight.
âReally? Thatâs sad,â Jungkook teases. âNext time Iâm at the grocery store, Iâll grab you a box.â
âIâll hold you to that.â There is a twinkle of mischief in your eyes as you glance sideways at Jungkook and he wants to capture this moment and never let it go.
So, he does just that, slipping his phone from his pocket and snapping a picture.
The smile slowly disappears from your face. âWhat?â he asks, looking at you over the top edge of his screen.
âWhy are you doing that?â
Jungkook takes another photo, this one with your face more stoic but your eyes no less full of emotion. You donât exactly look sad, but there is a hint of sadness there, drifting along with the uncertainty in your eyes.
Jungkook looks down at his phone, ice cream forgotten in his other hand. âBecause these are important moments that I want to share with my son one day.â
âCan I ask you something?â
Slipping his phone back into his pocket, Jungkook nods to a park bench. âOf course. Want to sit?â
It feels like forever passes in silence. You sit there and nibble at your ice cream, and Jungkook finally opens his and finishes it in three bites, not wanting to have any sort of distraction. This is supposed to be his time to talk to you, to see whatâs going on and figure out why youâve been acting so weird toward him. He hopes thatâs what you want to ask him about.
âWhatâs going to happen after?â
âAfter?â
âOnce the baby is born. Then what? When I first agreed to do this, the only thing I thought about was the happiness it would bring to you and Jiyoon. Butâbut the further along this goes, the more shit that happensâŚthe more I canât stop thinking about how hard itâs going to be to give him up. And I know thatâs probably the last thing you want to hear, and please, I swear Iâm not going to change my mind about giving you the baby. But, I donât know that I really thought about the fact that Iâm going to be growing a life, spending almost ten months loving this life, to then give them away and pretend like nothing happened.â
âIs that what you think? That as soon as we have the baby, weâre just going to pretend like nothing happened? Is that why youâve been so withdrawn lately?â Jungkook turns on the bench, drawing one of his knees up so he can look at you fully. âThat is not going to happen. This baby, my son, is going to know who you are and what you did for him.â
He can tell you donât really believe that. âNo offense, Jungkook, but I donât exactly see Jiyoon being okay with that. Thereâs something going on with her lately, and I donât even know if our friendship is going to survive this.â
Jungkook takes a deep breath. âWeâll make it all work out. I know we can. You guys have been friends for practically your entire lives. This is just a bump in the road, right? Weâll figure it out, togetherâŚall three of us. And, um, there was actually something I wanted to talk to you about, too. Now that weâre on the subject of the babies and what comes after.â
âWhat is it?â You put the last bite of your bungeoppang in your mouth and chew it slowly as you wait for him to continue.
Maybe heâs jumping the gun in this, but he thinks it might help you with what youâre feeling right now. And besides, he has talked to Jiyoon about it, and even if she was adamantly against it, heâs certain sheâll come around eventually.
âHow would you feel about being the babiesâ guardian? Like if something were to ever happen to me or Jiyoon, they would both come to you. If youâd want that, that is. I know two kids would be a lot for someone to take on, but I think if I could choose anyone to raise my kids if I couldnât, it would be you. Youâre already doing such a good job with my son,â Jungkook says with a loving inflection in his tone.
âYou mean that?â
âOf course I do.â
And no matter what, heâll make that happen because the smile thatâs now gracing your face is worth any amount of arguing with Jiyoon over it. You deserve so much more from this whole fucked up situation.
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âYou look like you could use a hug.â Taehyung startles you with an arm across your shoulders, giving you half of said hug. âWhatâs got you looking so blue, boss?â
You hurried from your impromptu ice cream meetup with Jungkook and went straight to the spread shoot for Taehyung, meaning you havenât had much time to process everything Jungkook said.
âThere arenât enough minutes left in the day to even begin,â you mutter, vigorously clicking through files on your tablet. âThis agreement is a fucking mile long. How do they expect me to read it all and get it back to them in a timely manner?â
ââFuckingâ?â Taehyung says, amused. âSomething must be up if youâre dropping words like that. Come on, we have a few minutes, you can at least give me the footnotes. My agreement with that cologne brand can wait.â His long fingers pinch the tablet from your hands and bring it to rest against his chest. âOut with it.â
You twist your fingers in the skirt of your dress as you try to decide where to begin. Taehyung isnât just your client. You consider him a friend as well. And maybe getting an outside perspective is exactly what you need right now.
âDo you think Iâm crazy for doing this?â you ask, moving one of your hands to rest over your belly. âYouâre the one that brought it up, to begin with, after all.â You add on that last part, recalling the night of your birthday when Taehyung instigated the entire surrogacy conversation.
Taehyung winces. âI did do that, didnât I? As far as you being crazy? No, I wouldnât say crazy. Maybe just far too kind for your own good. If I had known youâd actually go along with it, I might not have brought it up that night.â
âReally?â
âMmhm,â he makes an agreeable sound. âDo you feel crazy?â
You let out a nervous laugh. âUnderstatement of the year. I feel like Iâm losing it, I have no idea what Iâm doingâŚhow I ended up six months pregnant with not a clue what the future holds and feelings I canâtââ You cut yourself off before you say something youâre going to regret.
âFeelings?â Taehyung prods, not letting you get away with that near slip-up.
âIt doesnât matter. Just drop it.â
Taehyung raises a hand. âNo, no. You canât say that and then not explain. I promise youâll feel better once itâs out in the open.â
âI donât know about that. Feelings are messy and have never done me any good anyway.â You take your tablet back from Taehyung. âI need to get this offer submitted and youâll be needed back on set soon.â
âFeelings may be messy, but they are valid. Donât keep them hidden away in that pretty head of yours. Thatâll do nobody any good.â
You tuck your bottom lip between your teeth before forcing yourself to let it go, along with the hold on your emotions. âThese feelings wonât do anyone any good, Taehyung. Because theyâre feelings that canât mean anything. Not without completely destroying everything.â
There is a moment where Taehyung considers you, his eyes flicking over your figure before landing back on your eyes. All you see there is empathy and understanding.
âThis is about Jungkook, isnât it?â
Itâs not worth the effort to argue with Taehyung or convince him otherwise. So, you shrug. âIs it that obvious?â
âAs obvious as it is that he shares the same sentiment.â
âDonât be crazy,â you laugh. âThatâs notââ
âThatâs not as crazy as you think it is. Youâve both always danced around one another, even back before Jiyoon came into the picture.â
âBut, she did, and thatâs what matters, Taehyung. Now, forget about this nonsense and keep your mouth shut, okay? Get back to makeup, you smudged your eyeliner.â
As Taehyung walks away, you canât shake what he said. Jungkook is feeling as conflicted as you are? Thatâs not possible. He moved back home so he and Jiyoon could work things out. There is no room for you and whatâs going on in your head in that equation. You might be on the outs with Jiyoon, but that doesnât give you the right to let your âfeelingsâ get in the way of Jungkookâs happiness.
Right?
You puff out your cheeks, trying not to voice another complaint as you follow along the dirt path behind Jungkook. He wouldnât tell you more than to meet him at the park and wear something cute. So, here you are, another day and in another sundress, this one a solid turquoise color with a scalloped neckline.
âHow much farther are we going? Iâm six months pregnant, and if I walk much farther, youâre going to owe me a foot massage.â
Jungkook laughs, tossing a look of pure carefree delight over his shoulder at you. âI promise itâs not much farther, just over this rise. And if you want a foot massage, all you have to do is ask.â
âYouâll owe me two, then,â you grumble to yourself.
All your complaints dry to dust on your tongue as you finally crest the top of the rise in the path, coming to stand beside Jungkook. Spread out before you is an entire field of wildflowers. All of varying colors, their stalks long and willowy in the light breeze blowing off the ocean beyond.
The deep blue water laps and kisses at the distant shoreline, the roar of the surf soft from this distance. Itâs a breathtaking sight, the sun bright and warm overhead, glittering along the glassy surface before scattering into a dance as the waves break on the golden sand. The wildflowers wave in the wind as if to cheer on the wavesâ dance of the tides.
âDo you want that foot massage now or later? Jungkook asks, his voice soft with his own awe.
You turn to him, forcing your eyes away from one dazzling sight to focus on another. His hair feathers across his forehead, tossed about by the intermittent ocean breeze. A hint of salt licks along your senses, carrying with it the soft, fragrant notes of the wildflowers.
âWhat are we doing here?â
His eyes meet yours, and his mouth tilts in a smile. âI thought it might be nice to take some pictures. If youâre okay with that, that is. Dani is planning some elaborate maternity shoot for Jiyoon this weekend, and itâs apparently girls only. She wants to do a second one with me when sheâs further along. But, that doesnât matter right now, I just thoughtâŚwell, we could do a maternity shoot for you. If you want. No pressure, we can just enjoy the view if youâd rather not.â
That conversation you had with Taehyung a week ago threatens to spill out. Is Jungkook feeling as conflicted as you are right now? If you say yes to the maternity shoot, does that mean youâd rather not just spend the time with him? If you say no to the maternity shoot, does that mean you only want to spend the time with him and, therefore, might be crossing some sort of invisible line in the sand?
Is it possible to do both? You wait for the wave of guilt to hit at having such a thought about Jiyoonâs husband. But, it doesnât come. If anything, you feel a light giddiness at the fact Jungkook thought of all of this for you.
âWe can always take some photos and then enjoy the view?â you offer, trying to seem as nonchalant as possible.
Jungkook swings the bag he was carrying off his shoulder. âI think my view will be good either way,â he counters with a pleasant, teasing tone.
Did he just call you a good view? You try to not let that go to your head. Clearly, heâs just being polite to the woman carrying one of his babies.
âSure,â you laugh, playing it off. âWhat do you want me to do?â
He pulls out a large DSLR camera and a tripod which he sets on the ground beside his bag. âJust act natural. Pretend the camera isnât here.â You catch his smirk behind the camera before you roll your eyes, trying to suppress your own smile. The sound of the shutter clicks, and you try to push everything else out of your mind.
Jungkook moves like a natural with the camera, crouching and turning this way and that in order to capture the best angles as he follows you through the meadow of wildflowers, the ocean at your side in the distance.
âThe golden hour is coming.â You glance back at him over your shoulder and see the absolute adoration in his eyes as you know the sun is silhouetting your body, accentuating your bump. The shutter clicks in quick succession.
Jungkook lowers the camera, and the adoration that was there moments ago turns into what you can only describe as uncertainty. âWould you be okay taking some with me?â
âLike, with you in them?â
âYeah, but only if youâre comfortable with that.â
His consideration really knows no bounds. âOf course, Iâm okay with that. Heâs your baby, after all.â
âBut itâs your body,â he says pointedly. All you can do is nod, watching as he returns to his bag and retrieves the tripod.
Jungkook sets up the stand, screwing the base holder into his camera before snapping it in place atop the tripod. He plays with the angles and height before nodding to himself, satisfied.
âI didnât realize you knew so much about photography.â It shouldnât surprise you, but Jungkook spends most of his time in front of a camera and not behind one, so it never clicked before.
He approaches you. The casual white button-down he is wearing open over a light blue tank top is a nice coincidenceâa perfect match to your dress. At least, you think itâs a coincidence. Itâs not like Jungkook knew you were going to wear this dress today. He plucks one of the wildflowers before tucking it in behind your ear, the feather-soft petals tickling your temple.
âI guess you can add it to my list of secret talents.â
âJust how many hidden talents do you have?â One of your brows rises, and a cheeky smile slants your lips.
His eyes hold yours as he sinks down to his knees in front of you, causing your smile to slip and your teasing cheek to be replaced with mild alarm.
âThey wouldnât be secret if I shared them all with you just yet.â One of his hands comes up to cup the side of your belly. âIs this okay?â he asks, completely throwing you off with the sudden change in subject.
You have to work your tongue inside your mouth to gather enough moisture so you can swallow before answering. âThatâs fine.â
âRelax. Act natural, remember?â
Sure. Only thereâs nothing natural about whatâs happening. No matter where you stand with Jiyoon right now, you know for a guaranteed fact that she would have a problem with this. The way Jungkook looks like heâs worshipping at your feet, the fervent love shining in his eyes as they trace the contours of your belly.
You clear your throat. âDo you have the camera on a timer?â
âItâs set to take a photo every few seconds for the next ten minutes. Tell me if any of this makes you uncomfortable.âÂ
His other hand presses to the other side of your belly, and his forehead comes to rest right below your navel. âItâs not uncomâoh,â you laugh, the action shaking your body slightly.
Jungkook peers up at you with eyes wider than youâve ever seen before. âWas thatâŚwhat I think it was?â The bump comes again, and he snaps his eyes to your belly, his mouth forming a giant smile. âIt was, wasnât it?â
âHeâs saying hi to his father,â you murmur softly, heart melting at the pure elation on Jungkookâs face.
âHi, baby,â Jungkook coos, and the little one moves again, making you mirror Jungkookâs smile. Your heart jerks in your chest when Jungkook presses his lips to your belly, planting a kiss where his forehead once rested.
You know itâs probably wrong, and you should ask him to stop, but you canât bring yourself to break this spellânot yet, at least. If this is something you can give Jungkook, then youâll let him have it. Itâs not like anyone else is going to see these photos, anyway. This pregnancy isnât really yours to celebrate, not like this.
But you decide to enjoy it for as long as you canâyour own private celebration. Jungkook might not belong to you, and thatâs something you accepted a long time ago, but these moments will be yours to hold foreverâeven if the baby wonât be.
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Jungkook
The weeks following moving back in have Jungkook questioning so much about his life. Maybe itâs just the raw vulnerability of what happened between him and Jiyoon, but Jungkook feels like heâs been living on the edge of sanity. Even if it was a lie, it still planted a small seed of doubt in his mind. One that he whole-heartedly feels guilty for and wishes would go the fuck away.
He blames it for the way he eyes Jiyoonâs phone any time it chimes or the way heâs tempted to pick it up when sheâs in the shower. Itâs not that he wants to go through it, not reallyâŚonly, actually, he does. He wants to give himself assurances, confirm that there is nothing on there that sheâs hiding.
Jungkook knows Jiyoon has many clients who constantly need her attention. Itâs no different than you; he knows that. You seem to always be getting a stream of messages, emails, or phone calls whenever heâs around you. Thatâs just part of the job. YetâŚyet, Jungkook canât seem to shake the desire to just check, to be certain.
It doesnât help that heâs caught Jiyoon on the phone in the middle of the night. He never let her know he saw her or heard her girlish giggles. But each instance has only added to his mounting paranoia, to the point that he does what heâs promised himself heâd never do.
He looks through her phone.
And the guilt that consumes him tenfold when he finds nothing incriminating at all has him knocking on the door across the hall in an effort not to lose his mind completely.
âHey, man, whatâs up?â Jimin answers the door in a pair of low-slung silk pants and no shirt. His hair is mussed, but if the equally shirtless man standing behind him is any indicator, itâs not from sleep.
âIs Taehyung here?â
Jimin gestures for Jungkook to come in. âYeah, heâs in his studio. This is my friend, Hoseok. Hoseok, this is Jungkook. Heâs one of the OG models from Kim Exclusives.â
âHowâs it going?â Hoseok says, a smirk tugging at his lips as Jimin palms his hip.
Jungkook just nods, skirting around them and heading down the hall to Taehyung's studio. Itâs one of the spare rooms turned into an art space where Taehyung likes to lose himself in his spare time.
After a few moments, his knock on the door is answered. Taehyung is wearing a linen smock, the front of which is splattered with paint of varying degrees of drying.
âJungkook.â Taehyungâs brow pinches. âWhat are you doing here?â
âIâm about to go fucking crazy is what Iâm doing here.â
Giving him a once over, Taehyung lets Jungkook into the room and flicks his hand at an empty stool. âI should start charging you by the hour. Whatâs the going rate of therapists these days?â
âIâll buy you one of those fancy bottles of soju that you like so much,â Jungkook sighs, dropping onto the hard surface of the stool.
âDeal. Now, out with it, before you ruin my groove here.â
Taehyung sprawls out on a worn-out leather chaise, the edges cracked and dappled in paint. His eyes remain on Jungkook. Despite looking like he could care less, Jungkook knows Taehyung is being attentive, and a better friend than he probably deserves.
âI think something is going on with Jiyoon.â
âSuch as?â
âI donât know. Iâm not sure if itâs just my paranoia because of what she said all those weeks ago, or if Iâm just seeing things where I want to see them and turning innocent shit into malicious thingsâŚI feel like Iâm going insane.â
âContinue,â Taehyung encourages, making a âcome onâ motion with his hand.
Jungkook takes a slow breath, using the moment to collect his thoughts. âIâve found Jiyoon on the phone at weird hours, in the middle of the night. I would think sheâs just talking to a client, and maybe she is, but the way she giggles and talksâŚit just sounds like, fuck, like the way she used to talk to me. And I know that sounds insane, and Iâm probably making something out of nothing, but itâs just so weird. Maybe I never noticed it before, but itâs happening all the time.â
âHmm.â Taehyung makes a thoughtful sound before gesturing for Jungkook to keep going.
âHer phone is constantly going off, and I keep seeing the same name pop up: Dohyun Kim. I know heâs an actor, and heâs contracted under Kim Exclusives, but I donât know much else. Iâm not really part of the actor's circle. And he could be her client. In fact, Iâm pretty sure he is. I justâŚwhy is she on the phone with him at 2 AM giggling like she has a crush?â
âIs that all thatâs bothering you?â Taehyung asks in a way that tells Jungkook he wants to hear everything before giving his opinion or any advice.
Jungkook rubs the heels of his palms over his eyes before giving Taehyung a tired look. âNo,â he says so softly that Taehyung has to lean forward to hear him. âIâve been experiencing these feelingsâŚand it makes me feel like such a hypocrite. Iâm such a fucking asshole, worried that Jiyoon is lying to me when I might as well be lying to her.â
âAbout?â Taehyung prompts.
âI canât stop thinking about her,â Jungkook confesses, his voice even softer than before.
âA certain manager who is carrying your baby?â
âYeah. Dammit, Taehyung. What am I doing? Iâm married, for fucks sake!â
Taehyung leans back and crosses an ankle over his knee. âYou realize youâre just human, right? You just spent several days thinking the woman youâve been in love with and shared a life with for over six years had betrayed you. Even if it was a lie, that shit still hurts and is going to leave a lasting mark, man. You canât be expected to simply shrug it off and continue like life is normal. Your life is anything but normal. For one, your wife, who supposedly has been unable to have kids for years, suddenly pops up pregnant just weeks after you impregnate her best friend. I donât know about you, Jungkook, and Iâm no genius with numbers, but the math isnât mathing. And for two, it doesnât surprise me if youâre feeling a bit more connected to the one woman who hasnât lied to you about a baby.â
âJiyoon didnât lie, thoughââ
Taehyung cuts off Jungkookâs rebuttal. âShe did lie. At least, if the baby is yours, then what she said about it not being was a lie, right?â
Jungkook presses his lips into a thin line because he canât argue with that. Technically it was a lie, ifâŚ
âWhat do you mean âif the baby is mineâ?â
Leaning forward, Taehyung drops his foot back to the floor and rests his elbows on his knees. âIâm going to say this in the nicest way I possibly can. Married women donât giggle on the phone with a client at 2 AM. If sheâs on the phone with her mom, sure. Her sister? Absolutely. Dani? Iâd believe it. But, if youâre telling me sheâs on the phone giggling with Dohyun Kim, a client, at 2 AMâŚIâd say it sounds like you have a problem.â
Cold chills pop up along Jungkookâs arms and down the back of his neck. âOkay,â he says slowly, trying to let his brain process everything Taehyung just said.
âAnd then there is the issue with your boss,â Taehyung continues as if he didnât just drop a bomb of realization on Jungkook. âYouâre clearly into her, and donât give me that look. Youâre acting the same way you did when you first got signed on with Kim Exclusives. In case youâve forgotten, you were so smitten with your new manager that you made the rookie mistake of talking to her boss about your crush and nearly got released from your contract. It was only because Namjoon added Jiyoon to your management profile that you were allowed to stay on with them. Jiyoon knew you had a thing for her friend, so she did her best to weasel her way into your heart. Perhaps she wasnât as successful as she might have thought, it seems.â Taehyungâs eyes flick over Jungkook in silent appraisal. âYeah, not all that successful at all. Looks like you got a lot to think about, my friend.â
Sighing, Jungkook pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. âYou know, I came over here to get your help, not have you complicate it even more.â
âIt doesnât seem all that complicated if you ask me. In fact, it all seems pretty clear to meâŚyou just have to want to see it.â
Thatâs it, though, isnât it? Jungkook is afraid he already can see itâŚthe light you provide reveals a lot about the darkness heâs been blinded by. He canât help but think back to the night he held your hand as you lay there on your bathroom floor, having just done one of the most selfless things any one person could do for another.
Some might say thatâs a different kind of love, a different kind of affectionâŚbut what if it isnât? What if it was just pulling back the curtain on something that was always meant to be?
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A shadow falls across your desk, causing you to pause in responding to the text message you just received from Jungkook confirming that heâll be able to attend your thirty-week appointment thatâs coming up.
You look up, meeting the cold gaze of your once best friend. Things have been cordial between you and Jiyoon, but neither of you has exactly made much of an effort to actually patch things up. If it wasnât for Jungkookâif it wasnât for the baby in your belly thatâs growing for herâyouâd probably have washed yourself of her friendship completely.
The conversation you had with Jungkook last night still hangs over you like a raincloud. You talked about the legal papers that youâve yet to sign. The ones that would give all legal rights over to Jungkook and Jiyoon. He wants you to wait to sign them only after the baby is born, just in case. Just in case of what, he didnât elaborate on. But, itâs becoming clearer to you that despite Jungkook attempting to mend their relationship, not everything is as pretty as it may seem on the outside when it comes to them.
âIs there something I can do for you?â you ask, setting your phone down on your desk. Jiyoonâs eyes follow the device, narrowing slightly before you click the power button to turn off the display. Maybe it was a mistake to make your phone background one of the few maternity photos Jungkook sent you as a taste of what was to come, the rest waiting for him to finish editing them.
You expect her to comment on the photo, but instead, she asks, âAre you really having a baby shower?â
âWhat are you talking about?â
âWhatâs this?â she asks, handing you a small folded card.
You take it. Itâs white on the back and blue on the front with a small carriage with a bear inside of it. At the top, in silver lettering, it says âJoin Usâ. The inside boasts a small message with a time and date.
While you donât want to throw Jungkook under the bus on this one, it was technically his idea. You tell Jiyoon as much. âJungkook thought it would be a good idea. Just some clients and close friendsââ
âBut, what do you need a baby shower for? Itâs not even your baby.â
You let out a humorless laugh. âYou act like Iâm not aware of that. You realize that anything I get is going to be for the baby, regardless of where he ends up living. But, this isnât even really a baby showerââ you shake the folded invitation ââitâs just a pregnancy shower. As in, an opportunity for people to maybe gift me the things Iâm going to need during recovery after I have him.â
Anger twists her lips, and her nostrils flare as she stares down at you. âYou didnât think to maybe include me in this?â
Shoving the invitation back at her, you throw your hands up. âIâm not the one who planned it. Take that up with your husband, Jiyoon. This was all his idea. So, if you want to squawk and fume at someone, itâs not me. Now, if you please, I have some work to do.â
âSure, okay. Blame Jungkook for this. Thatâs so like you, putting the blame off on someone else.â
Jiyoon takes a startled step backward as you shoot up from your seat. âYou need to back off and leave me alone.â
Not wanting to face this any longer, for the good of your own mental health, you skirt around her and head to the breakroom. You occupy your hands by mixing a flavor packet into a bottle of water you grab from the fridge.
You should have known better, though, that you could escape this without actually leaving the entire building because you feel her presence behind you before her words slice right into your soul.
âIâll back off when you stop trying to make everything about you! You donât need a party for people to bring you things. Youâre just using my baby to fill the void in your life. I knew it from the day you agreed to this nonsense with Jungkook. Youâre so desperate for something that you were willing to get fucking pregnant, by my husbandâŚdo you realize how stupid that is? Youâre a fucking joke, and I canât wait for you to have that baby so I can make sure heâs not raised by some pathetic little girl.â
The ringing in your ears intensifies as seconds pass, stretching the silence in the breakroom. Daniâs tittering laugh breaks the dam holding back your tears as she saunters into the room.
âAw, Jiyoon, you made her cry.â Daniâs words follow you out the door and to the elevator.
You barely register passing by Taehyung as you enter the elevator. His eyes meet yours, and you see his lips moving, but the door closes before your brain can comprehend what he may have said.
This is it, the moment youâve been trying to avoid for so longâthe moment you shatter into oblivion.
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Jungkook
Taehyung said it was an emergency, and that Jungkook needed to meet with him immediately when he called a few minutes ago. Jimin let Jungkook into their condo, and now heâs waiting for Taehyung in his studio. There wasnât much Taehyung would say over the phone, but by the tone of his voice, Jungkook knows itâs bad.
Jungkook is tempted to text you again, just to check in to see how youâre doing and if youâre free after work, even though he texted you only an hour or so ago. He finished editing the maternity photos this morning, and heâs excited to show them to you. But heâs waiting for the right time to do that. Jiyoon texted him not long ago to let him know that sheâll be home for dinner, but maybe if he plays his cards right, he can meet with you before that.
Just as he pulls out his phone to send you the text, the studio door swings open, and a wild-eyed Taehyung storms in, chest huffing.
âHey, whatâs going on?â Jungkook asks, standing up from the stool he was sitting on.
âNope, sit back down. You need to be seated for this. Fucking hell, this is a mess.â Taehyung paces in front of Jungkook, periodically gripping fistfuls of his hair, making the thick chestnut waves go wild. âI need a drink,â Taehyung mutters under his breath before making a beeline for the small bottle of bourbon he keeps tucked behind some of his paint supplies in a cabinet.
âTae, youâre starting to scare me. Whatâs wrong?â
Taehyung takes a deep swill straight from the bottle before shoving it at Jungkook. âYouâll want some, too.â
Jungkook slowly takes the bottle, but instead of drinking, he sets it off to the side. âSeriously, Taehyung. Whatâs going on?â
Throwing his hands up, Taehyung rounds on Jungkook. âItâs your goddamn wife, JK.â
âMy wife? What are you talking about?â
âJungkook. Okayââ Taehyung rubs a hand over his mouth and drops onto the stool beside the one Jungkook is sitting on. âLook. Iâm going to tell you somethingâI seem to be doing that a lot latelyâand your first instinct is going to be to not believe meâI know that. But I really need you to listen and know that I wouldnât be telling you this if I hadnât heard it directly from her mouth.â
âUmmâŚokay.â
âPromise me that youâll listen.â
The look of pure devastation on Taehyungâs face has Jungkook nodding. âOkay, I promise to listen.â
In a whisper so soft Jungkook isnât sure he hears him correctly, Taehyung says, âThe babyâŚit isnât yours. She wasnât lying about that, apparently.â
âYou canât be serious,â Jungkook balks, feeling instantly incensed. Though, whether his anger is at Taehyung or not, heâs not sure.
âYou promised you would listen. Now, listen to me. I went by the office today after lunch, and as I was leaving, I could tell something had happened.â He sighs your name, âI passed her as I was getting off the elevator and it was clear she was upset over something. I overheard that bitch Dani laughing in the breakroom, so I went in that direction, knowing she probably had something to do with it. ButâŚI didnât expectâwhat I didnât expect was that Iâd catch the tail end of a whispered conversation between Dani and Jiyoon. Their heads were pressed together, but Daniâs big mouth is loud even when sheâs whispering. She was asking Jiyoon if she had told that fucker Dohyun that the baby was his or not. From what I could piece together from the rest of what I heard, Jiyoonâs baby is his, but he doesnât want anything to do with it because heâs married with two kids of his own already! I knew you were on to something with your suspicions, but fuck.â
Jungkook knows he should react a certain way right now. Yet, he canât seem to muster up the anger and indignation that should be swallowing him whole. If anythingâŚif anything, what he feels is something akin to relief. He canât help but wonder if that makes him a bad person.
If Taehyung had told him this months ago, Jungkook would have probably punched his best friend in the face and called him every name in the book. But nowâhe almost feels numb when he considers the fact that Jiyoon was telling the truth a few weeks ago. Maybe itâs because he used up all of his anger and resentment then that there is none left now, when it seems to matter the most.
It doesnât help that Jungkookâs felt like he was on the outside looking in ever since he moved back home. Jiyoon might have been overly enthusiastic, but she was still firmly on the other side of the invisible line that Jungkook only realizes now that he drew for himself.
âI need to go,â Jungkook says quietly.
âHey.â Taehyung grabs Jungkookâs arm as he slips off his stool. âYou call me if you need me, okay?â
âThanks.â
Jungkook moves swiftly, almost blindly. He goes across the hall, throws some clothes in a bag, and collects his toothbrush from the bathroom before heâs on the move again.
âHello?â At the first sound of your scratchy voice, Jungkookâs mind instantly switches gears. His problems are immediately inconsequential to whatever is ailing you.
âWhere are you right now?â
You sniffle and clear your throat before answering. âI went home early. Why? Is everything okay?â Youâve been crying. Clearly, things are not okay, and Jungkook wonât be able to deal with his issues until he takes care of you first.
âNo, everything is not okay. Iâll be there in a few minutes.â
Jungkook is out of breath by the time heâs knocking on your door, having sprinted from his car straight up the stairs of your building because the elevator was taking too long.
The door swings open before Jungkook can bring his knuckles forward to knock a second time. You donât protest when he wraps his arms around you and ushers you back so he can close the door.
âYou said everything wasnât okay.â Your voice is muffled by your face pressed against his chest. âWhatâs going on?â
âThatâs not important right now. Tell me whatâs got you so upset,â Jungkook urges, releasing you just enough that you can look up and meet his worried gaze.
You shake your head, more tears finding their way onto your cheeks. âI donât want to talk about it.â
Jungkook moves you over to the couch and helps you sit down, kneeling at your feet with your hands clasped in his. âPlease, tell me.â
He hates the way your shoulders tremble, and every tear that tracks down your cheeks is another blow to his chest. Heâs never seen you this upset before, so he knows itâs something badâŚsomething that Jiyoon caused if what Taehyung said was any indicator. But he needs you to tell him; needs you to open up and say it.
âI donât want to upset you,â you whisper, the words breaking Jungkookâs heart because, of course, you would try to put his feelings before your own wellbeing. Youâre far too good for him, for any of them, really.
He squeezes your hands. âI promise, you can say whatever it is you need to say, and itâll be okay.â
Jungkook listens to you, his anger and horror at such vile things growing with every confession you release. Once you finish explaining what happened at the office today, you surprise him by including other incidents that he wasnât aware of, like that one lunch youâve tried so hard to forget.
âI donât know why I didnât reach out to you then, see if you were actually going along with the whole âthere are optionsâ thing. I mean, an abortion? Why the fuck would I abort this baby just because Jiyoon so happened to get pregnant. It was something I had completely forgotten about, or maybe just intentionally blocked out, until today. Fucking hell, Jungkook, she practically told me to get rid of it because it wasnât needed since sheâs pregnantâŚwho does that? Iâm sorry. I know sheâs your wife, and you love herâŚbut I canât do this. I canât, in good faith, have this baby and let her take him.â You begin to sob in earnest, your words turning into barely coherent pleas and apologies.
If his heart wasnât broken before, itâs completely fissured through now. âHey, itâs okay, â he tries to soothe you, sliding onto the couch beside you and gathering you into his arms.
Jungkook wants to scream, rant, and rave at the world for how cruel and unfair life can be sometimes. But, mostly, he feels a deep sense of guilt in having been the one to start this whole thing. If it wasnât for him, youâd not be pregnant right now. If it wasnât for him, Jiyoon might not be the raging bitch she has seemingly become. MaybeâŚjust maybeâ
âStop,â you whisper. âStop blaming yourself, I can hear the guilt in your head. None of this is your fault, Jungkook.â
He knows thatâs not true, but also that there is no sense in trying to explain how much it is his fault. The best he can do right now is try to make it hurt less. âIâll be right back,â he tells you, soothing a hand over your hair and down your back. âYour hands are freezing, Iâm going to grab a blanket.â
You nod against his shoulder and relax your arms as he pulls away. The sobs have mostly subsided, but Jungkook can tell youâre far from being okay. Not wanting to waste another moment, he disappears down the hall and into your room to retrieve some comfort items and the fuzzy blanket you keep folded over the end of your bed.
When he turns, items in hand, to go back to you, he stops just short of the doorway. The sound of a familiar voice drifts to him from down the hall. Dread pours down his spine and prickles over his skin in a thin sheen of sweat.
Jiyoon is here.
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âWhere is he? I know heâs here!â
Itâs like watching a sitcom. The timingâs far too impeccable, and all thatâs missing is the background laugh track. As soon as Jungkook disappears into your room, thereâs a knock on the front door. Jiyoonâs the last person you expect to be standing there. Yet, here she is, her hands firmly planted on her hips and her enraged eyes slicing you from head to toe.
âIt might help if you explained who you are looking for.â You know who she means, but you canât help being purposely obtuse out of sheer spite.
She raises her hand and jabs her forefinger in your face. âDonât play stupid with me. You know who! Jungkook. My husband.â
You take a slow breath, your eyes barely cutting to the side and beyond Jiyoon. Jungkook is peeking through your doorway, and you know heâs about to make himself known to her. His eyes meet yours, and you shake your head subtly, hoping he understands.
âIf he is your husband, then why would he be here at my home?â
Jiyoon sneers. âYou think youâre so goddamn cute, donât you? I know what the two of you have been up to. I found the proof of your little love affair on his laptop, so donât even try me. Tell me where he is, and I wonât have to make you cry again.â
You have absolutely no idea what kind of proof Jiyoon thinks she has found, but seemingly, there is something lost in translation somewhere. âProof? What the hell are you talking about? Iâve done nothing with your husband that you, yourself, didnât approve of.â
âThatâs hilarious,â Jiyoon laughs mockingly. âBecause I never wanted any of this to happen! I never wanted fucking kids to begin with! I only went along with it because it was what Jungkook wanted, and I knew heâd leave me if I told him the truth!â Her voice comes out loud and shrill, the words taking you by surprise. âBut, obviously, heâs not the one I have to worry about, is he? I should have known from the moment you agreed to this nonsense that you were trying to worm your way into his life. How dare you try to ruin my marriage!â
âYouâŚwhat? You never wanted kids? Jungkook wouldnât leave you over that! He loves you, even when youâre being a complete and utter crazy person! You think Iâm trying to break up your marriage? What the hell?â
She throws her hands up. âAnd you call yourself my best friend! What a fucking joke. No, I never wanted kids! Why would I want to give up my perfect body and my perfect life to raise some snot-nosed, grubby-handed, little brats?! I only ever went along with it because thatâs what Jungkook wanted, what he begged for like a sad little puppy! Though I guess he didnât have to beg you much, did he? You willingly went to him like a bitch in heat.â
âJiyoon, what the hell are you even talking about?!â
She continues on as if you havenât spoken, âI bet you feel so high and mighty, having given him exactly what he wants. That was the start of your whole plan, right? How youâve plotted to get him to leave me? I should have just saved you the trouble and told him myself. Though, maybe heâs just too dense to realize it, because, I mean, come on. Years of supposed infertility?â she laughs again, completely humorless. âAm I just surrounded by idiots?â
There isnât enough moisture in your mouth to speak comfortably, but you force the words out anyway, âBut, youâre pregnant now. How can you say thatââ
âAccidents happen! If I had known Iâd get so shit-faced the weekend I found out that you were pregnant that Iâd forget to take my pills on time, Iâd not have let Dohyun touch me!â
You rock back on your heels, completely thrown off by her blatant admission. âDohyun? What the hell did you do, Jiyoon? What the hell are you talking about?â
The person you once considered your closest friend throws her head back and laughs, the sound echoing from the ceiling. Itâs not a humorless laugh like before, itâs full of incredulity and surprise.
âI did what any miserable woman does when their husband spends more time dreaming about babies than he does about his own wife. I found my own happiness!â
âIâI donât understandâŚyou love Jungkook!â
Jiyoon titters, clicking her tongue at you. âYouâre so naive. Love is not real. Whatever fucked up little fantasy you have in your head about Jungkook, itâs not real. He doesnât love you, just the same as he doesnât love me. How I ever was friends with you, Iâll never understand. Youâre so pathetic. Your delusions about Jungkook come from the fact he put a baby in you on the goddamn floor of your bathroom! I mean, come on, where is your self-respect?! If you think just because youâre birthing a child for him that it means something more, then youâre far dumber than Iâve ever given you credit for. Look at you, just look at you! Never in a million years would someone like Jungkook want someone like you if there wasnât some sort of transaction involved! Heâs mine and heâs so far gone for this babyââ she gestures to her stomach ââthat heâll never leave me no matter what. And if you think to keep that baby from himââ her hand flicks to your stomach ââyou and I both know heâll hate you forever.â
âYouâre wrong, Jiyoon.â Whether Jungkook has feelings for you or not, you know nothing has happened between the two of you. And you sure as hell know that Jungkook doesnât just care about the babyâŚat least, you donât think itâs just that. âYouâre not going to get away with this. Jungkook will see through your lies!â
You have to take several steps back as Jiyoon crowds into your space. âIf you even think to say anything to him or to anyone else, for that matter, I will ruin you. You know I have friends in high places, far more than you do. I will make you regret every decision youâve ever made. Now, Iâm going to leave here, and if you see my husband, be a good girl and tell him to come home. Got it?â
âWhy donât you tell me yourself?â
Jungkookâs voice startles both of you, and you watch as the color drains from Jiyoonâs face. Her pouty lips open in horror. She turns slowly away from you to face Jungkook, who is now standing on the other side of the living room, his arms crossed and his eyes laser-focused on her.
âW-what are you doing here?â she asks, her body language morphing from surprise to defensive right before your eyes. âI knew he was here! You lying bitch, how dare you?!â
Before she can round on you and change the narrative once more, Jungkook quickly moves into the room and steps in front of you. âI think you need to leave,â he tells her. âNow, before you say anything else to dig your hole even deeper.â
âI donât know what you think you heardââ
âI heard enough, Jiyoon. We both did. Leave while you have some dignity still intact, lest you forget those friends that you have in high places are really mine.â
Jiyoon at least has the grace to allow her tears to fall, showing the first sign of a genuine emotion other than rage since she stepped foot into your apartment.
âIf youâd just let me explaââ
âJiyoon,â you cut her off this time. âLeave before I call the police. Please.â
Her eyes flick between you and Jungkook. Without another word, she turns and leaves. Jiyoon might have hurt you, but you still feel the sting of your friendship crumbling. She wasnât always good to you, may have even been downright terrible, but she was still someone you cared about for a very long time.
And you know if youâre feeling like this, Jungkook must be having it even worse. All those things she said, the liesâŚthe deceitâŚdear god, everything.
âJungkook,â you hesitate. âAre you okay?â
He blinks a few times and turns back to look at you. There are unshed tears in his eyes that give you a glimpse into what he might be feeling, but other than that, his face is completely unreadable.
âIâm not the one Iâm worried about,â he tells you. âI need to know if youâre okay. Everything she said about youâŚabout me, you have to know that none of it is true.â
Youâd be lying if you said you didnât somewhat believe her. Ever since she said what she did at the office, about you being so desperate to fill the void in your life that you agreed to carry a babyâyour first and maybe only babyâfor someone else. Someone that you care about, sure, but not for yourselfâŚyou had absolutely no thought or concern for yourself. It was all about making Jiyoon and Jungkook happy. And in that moment, you realized she was right about at least one thing; you were desperate enough to give away something so sacred forâŚthe chance at feeling something? Pathetic.
âIâŚI donât know.â
Jungkookâs arms catch you around the waist, and you realize your knees have given out. âWhoa, letâs get you on the couch.â He takes up the same position he had earlier, kneeling at your feet after youâve sat. The touch of his skin against yours is soothing, and comforting, as he cups your face and lets his eyes roam over your features. âTell me whatâs going on in your head.â
The last thing you want to do right now is tell Jungkook your thoughts, but you find yourself opening up to him, letting your torrential feelings bubble out in what youâre not sure are even coherent words.
âI agreed to have this baby without thinking of myself. This is my first babyâŚand I was completely okay with giving it away. What kind of person does that make me? Desperate? Pathetic? Was I really just so starved for a connection that I agreed to do thatâŚ? Am I a homewrecker? Did I let your kindness color my perception and create this elaborate delusion that maybe there was something more between us? Or is it just the stupid crush Iâve had on you for years now that is making me think maybe, in the end, things would have been okay and that somehow by choosing my baby, youâd be choosing me, too? No. No, that canât be it. You donât feel that way about me. Youâre married! OrâŚat least, you were, or well, still areâŚto my bestâex-bestâfriend. And, of course, the only way I could get a guy to notice me was to be laid out on my bathroom floor, willing to have a babyââ
âIâm going to stop you there,â Jungkook says, lightly pressing a finger against your lips. âIâm not saying that what youâre feeling isnât valid, because you have every right to feel however you feel about things. But, I need to set some things straight, and maybe that will help. Okay?â
Heâs talking to you slowly, clearly, and with so much openness in his eyes now that you just want to dive right into them and float away into their espresso-colored abyss.
âOkay.â You swallow hard against the choking feeling in your throat, knowing you need to hear him out before you spiral further.
Jungkook settles on his heels, absently letting his hands, now engulfing yours, gently press against the underside of your belly.
âYou,â he pauses to take a deep breath. âYou are the most selfless and beautiful person Iâve ever met. I am so sorry that I did not make that clear in the beginning. Even before all of this started, thatâs what I thought, and how I felt, and everything in the last seven months has just made me see and feel that even more. I know things are confusing right now, and there is a lot we need to talk about, but I need to make it clear to youâŚmake you understand that you are far more than just this precious baby to me.â Jungkook leans forward and presses a light kiss to your stomach, keeping his eyes on yours. âYou mean more to me than that, I justâŚI was scared to admit that, and we both know things have been crazy lately. Iâll forever be sorry for not saying all that sooner.â
âButâŚwhat? Iâm confused. Are you thinking straight right now? I mean, that babyâŚJungkook, donât worry about me. I canât imagine whatâs going through your head right now. You can talk to me. Or I can call Taehyung?â
Jungkook chuckles, the sound low and almost sad. âThis is exactly what I mean. Youâre trying to put me first, worrying about me. Maybe I should be broken up about all of this, butâŚif Iâm being honest, I knew deep down that something was off. Jiyoon has been acting weird, and then Taehyung overheard her and Dani today in the breakroom at the office. It all but confirmed it. But then she had to go and be veryâŚJiyoon and come over here to point fingers and lay blame, all so she could justify her own guilt over what sheâs been doing to meâto us.â
âOh, Jungkook.â The memory of passing Taehyung on the elevator comes back to you, and the pieces start to fit together. âIâm so sorry.â
âDonât be. You have nothing to be sorry for. Please donât feel bad for me. I donât want to be a victim in this, I donât want either of us to be. Things might not be perfect, butâŚI-I donât regret any of this. I care about you, and if it wasnât for all of thisâŚâ Jungkook trails off, but you think you know what heâs trying to say.
Regardless of how fucked up things are right now, if the world as you know it wasnât shattered into a million pieces, you might not be able to see the possibilities laid out before you. The possibilities that are right in front of you.
You lean forward and hesitate, poised with your lips a breath's width from Jungkookâs. All you need is a moment to feel that itâs real, that not everything is broken beyond repair. Whether he closes the distance or you do, youâre not sure. But, the tender press of his lips against yours is all the confirmation you need.
In fairytales, a moment like this would be punctuated with fireworks or banding trumpets and beating drums. But, for you, itâs the rapid thumping of your heart and the frisson of butterflies that take flight low in your belly that let you know this is real; that this isnât broken.
âNo matter what happens, weâre in this together,â Jungkook breathes, his words caressing your lips before he moves his mouth against yours again. âIâm here and Iâm not going anywhere, not unless you tell me to.â
âAre you sure you want me to be there?â you ask for maybe the third time since Jungkook helped you into his car.
His eyes flick from the road to yours before focusing back. âYes. I want you there, more than anyone else. Today is a big day, what if I need an emotional support hug or something?â
Heâs teasing you, you can tell. But it still makes you smile and swoon a little. Itâs been a couple of weeks since what could easily be described as one of the darkest days of your life transpired. And things are finally starting to feel normal again; or as normal as it can be to have your supposed best friend nearly rip your world apart and come out on the other side with her husband by your side instead of hers.
Another few weeks have managed to fly by before you know it. And in that time, youâve done a lot of soul-searching and talkingâspecifically, talking to Jungkook. There has been so much the two of you needed to talk about, both relating to Jiyoon and not. Because, somehow, despiteâor maybe in spite ofâall the things that have gone wrong, you and Jungkook have found yourselves drawn together closer than ever.
Things have been just a smidge more than casual between you and Jungkook. Itâs like a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders and you are able to breathe deeply for the first time in a long time. Jungkook is with you and seems to be doing much better as well, the perpetual tension around him dissipating more with each passing day.
You feel like maybe youâre both toeing the same blurred line of figuring out exactly what you are to each other. The feelings are there, thereâs no doubting that. Itâs just working through it all to ensure youâre both making conscious decisions instead of rash ones that may be influenced by the emotion of it all.
âAn emotional support hug or a freedom kiss?â
Jungkook hums thoughtfully, like heâs truly considering your question. Youâve only shared a few more kisses since the one that took place on your couch that night. But Jungkook is not afraid to shower you with affection in other ways, ways that youâre both comfortable with right now. Like how his fingers thread through your hair while you use his tummy as a pillow as you watch a movie on the couch. Or the way he helps you put on your shoes whenever you go out because he knows bending over too far can sometimes make you dizzy.
Sometimes you find yourself wanting to ask him for more, but unsure if heâll be as open and receptive. You both agreed to not push anything and to allow it to all naturally occur, and develop on its own in a healthy way. Youâre fairly certain that you both donât want to accidentally ruin this before it has a chance to even begin.
âHow much would it take for me to get both the hug and the kiss?â
It feels good to laugh, even as Jungkook pulls into the parking lot of his lawyerâs office and the mood grows more somber. There is a reason heâs here, and seemingly a reason youâre here, too.
âYou can have both,â you concede with a soft smile. Because, deep down, you know heâll probably need it; legal separation and then divorce is a nasty process, after all.
Hours and several signatures later, Jungkook looks lighter. There is a bit more bounce in his step as he takes your hand and walks you back outside. The sun is shining and you wouldnât be surprised to see a rainbow pop up somewhere after the raincloud that just disappeared from over him.
âWell, Iâm officially single now. Want to be my girlfriend?â
You can hear the teasing tone in his voice, which makes the surprised look on his face even better when you say, âOf course I would.âÂ
âWait. Really? Youâre being serious?â
âAs long as you are.â
Jungkook laughs, the sound like music to your ears after so much turmoil has passed. âYou know what? I think I am. I want this,â he says, giving your hand in his a light squeeze. âIâve wanted you for a while now.â
That light fluttering feeling in your belly that youâve come to associate with Jungkook swoops in and you swear you can hear those fairytale romance fireworks going off somewhere in the distance as you press up onto your toes and cover his lips with yours.Â
âIâve wanted you, too.â
Baby time is swiftly approaching, and with Namjoonâs blessing, youâre taking some time off of work. Or rather, time away from the office. Youâve been working at home, something that was agreed might be best until you come back from maternity leave.
On your last day in the office, it was mentioned by Hyeonwoo that he saw Jiyoon leaving Namjoonâs office, her eyes red and cheeks blotchy. Later, you were told in a private meeting that Jiyoon has been given the same extension of time out of the office, except instead of coming back after maternity leave, she is going to need to find a new place of employment. All things considered, Namjoon hated to have to let her go, but with everything that went down, he had no choice in the end.
You havenât seen nor spoken with Jiyoon since that day in your apartment. Jungkook has, but only a few times, to take care of legal things. The divorce should be finalized in a few months after Jiyoonâs baby is born. Even though she claims the baby is not his, Jungkook told you that he knows itâs possible. If she could have gotten pregnant by Dohyun, then there might be even the smallest possibility that she could have gotten pregnant by Jungkook instead.
So, with that, heâs requested a paternity test after the baby is born and has also extended some grace to Jiyoon. Heâs allowing her to live in the condo until she has the baby, time sheâs using to find a new place. Because once her baby is born, the condo will be sold. Which is why you have a stack of emails with more real estate listings waiting for you to have a moment to look through them.
Jungkook presented you with the idea of moving in together about a week ago. Heâs already been on a few toursâwith you on video chat so you can see, tooâand you both know exactly what you want in a homeâthe place where your son will grow up.
âHey!â Jungkook calls from the living room. âIâm back.â
You close your laptop and set it off on the bedside table before easing forward on the pillows to sit up straighter. Laying back in bed with your feet propped up tends to help with the swelling, so youâve been spending some time lounging in bed when you can.
âIn here,â you say.
You hear Jungkookâs feet pattering down the hall for a second before his head pops through the doorway, followed by his large frame. âHowâs your day been? Just been relaxing?â He comes to sit on the other side of the bed, the side heâs been sleeping on for the last two weeks.
âAs much as I can relax,â you sigh, rubbing a hand over your belly. âHeâs finally settled down.â
Youâre not sure youâll ever get over the way Jungkookâs face lights up when his eyes sweep over where his son is steadily growing in your body.
âI want to take you to dinner,â Jungkook announces, sliding closer to you.
One of your eyebrows quirks up because clearly heâs excited about something but is trying to keep it to himself by the vibrating energy you can feel emanating from him. âWhatâs the occasion?â
âOccasion? Do I need an occasion to want to take you out?â His tone speaks volumes.
You give him a playful poke in the ribs, which earns you a lopsided grin, his nose scrunching in that adorable way. âYou can take me to dinner on one condition.â
âAnything! Name it.â Jungkook bounces up onto his knees, hands planted on the bed beside you.
With a finger under his chin, you turn his face toward the end of the bed, where your toes are wiggling in invitation. âPlease, if you expect me to get out of this bed.â
âOh-ho, you drive a hard bargain!â he teases. âIt would be my absolute pleasure.â
Jungkook crawls down the bed and takes up a position so your feet rest on the tops of his thighs. The instant his thumbs roll across the ball of your left foot, you let out a low groan.
âThat feels so good. Now, if only you could do the same to my lower back.â You let out another breathy sound, eyes fluttering shut as Jungkook slowly eases away the ache.
âYour lower back bothering you?â
You nod. âJust a bit.â
Jungkook hums softly, thoughtfully. âI think I have an idea, if youâre okay with trying.â
One of your eyes pops open, and you look at him curiously. âDoes it involve getting on the floor with the yoga mat like last time? Because I donât know if I want to roll around on the floor again.â
âNo, no,â Jungkook chuckles. He switches to massaging your other foot. âItâll be a massage, I swear.â
âNo offense, Jungkook, but Iâm not sure how you can massage my lower back without me laying flat on my stomach, and wellââ you gesture down at your prominent baby bump âânot exactly comfortably possible.â
One of his fingers comes up in the air. âThatâs where my idea comes into play. Come on, the worst that can happen is it doesnât work. What do you say?â
âI say, what the hell, why not? But, if it doesnât work, you owe me dinner and ice cream.â
âI think I can handle that.â Jungkookâs tone is light and teasing, it almost feels like this is what youâve always done. Like this delicate, flirty exchange has been a part of your dynamic from the start. What has been mere weeks, feels like yearsâŚand you donât mind that, not one bit.
It helps to thwart any awkward tension as Jungkook helps you up onto your knees with your back to him. His hands are gentle, yet firm, on your hips as he guides them back until youâre practically sitting on top of his thighs.
âIf you wanted me to sit in your lap, you know you could just ask, right?â The sassy comment is out of your mouth before you can stop it, earning you a shocked laugh from Jungkook.
His hands give your hips a generous squeeze, thumbs dimpling the curvy skin right above your ass. âIâm trying to remain somewhat of a gentleman here.â
âYou may continue,â you say, fully relaxing into his grip.
âLean forward, just a little, hands on the bed. Keep your back as relaxed as you possibly can.â
To lean forward the way Jungkook wants you to, you have to spread your knees apart so your belly can fit into the space between them. The cotton babydoll dress youâre wearing is probably not the best for this, as the fabric pulls and slips dangerously high.
But the moment Jungkookâs thumbs slide up and begin to press into the sore muscles of your lower back, youâll do just about anything, as long as he doesn't stop. The flats of his fingers cup your sides, toying along the line of your ribs as his thumbs continue to work up through your mid-back and then back down again.
You let your head hang forward between your shoulders. A low whine gets caught in your throat. âThatâŚis easily the best thing Iâve ever felt.â
Jungkook snorts a laugh. âAnd you havenât even experienced all that I have to offer yet.â It almost sounds conversational, but if you didnât know any better, youâd mistake the underlying heat of his words for something else.
âNo,â you agree. âI donât suppose I haveâŚyet.âÂ
His thumbs pause for a moment, and you can feel the warmth of his breath brush across your shoulders as he exhales heavily. âAh-um, does that feel better?â
You can tell heâs pulling back, intentionally not taking the bait. But, itâs so hard to tell if itâs because he doesnât want to or if heâs just trying to respect you and that seemingly invisible line that the both of you have been toeing recently.
âIt does.�� You push your hips back ever so slightly into his touch. âBut, I think it could feel better.â
âYeah? How so?â Jungkook asks, voice low and full of barely restrained heat.
âYou can stop trying to be a gentleman and show me how you really feel about me,â you suggest, peeking at him over your shoulder.
Jungkook looks like a man starved. His eyes are downcast, intent on the way his thumbs are now tracing lazy patterns across the top of your ass and over the curves of your hips. Slowly, his eyes slide up to yours, and the look there makes your heart launch into a frenzy of staccato beats.
One of his hands glides up your spine and comes around to cup your chin, turning your face even further to the side so that when he presses his body against yours, your lips are right there for his.
The kiss starts gently, like all the previous ones youâve shared. But, soon, that isnât enough, and you find yourself urging him for more. His tongue slides against yours as you part your lips, welcoming the wet heat of him inside your mouth.
His hands, once so restrained on your hips and lower back, map over every inch of your body that they can reach. Jungkook traces the lines of your shoulders, fingers feather-light as they pinch and pluck over the mounds of your breasts. Your dress rises and bunches as he contours his palms across your thighs and along your sides.
By the time you come up for air, your lips are tingling, and your entire body is alight. âThere are many ways I feel about you,â he whispers, lips grazing along your cheek until heâs speaking into your ear. âYou make me want to break the world and, in the same breath, remake it in ways inspired by the light you have given me because everyone should experience thisâthis beauty that you have brought to my life.â
âWords are wonderful,â you tell him, breathless and bold. âBut I said show me.â
Jungkook hesitates only a moment, his eyes searching yours, looking forâŚsomething. You look at him with everything that you can, hoping he can see the joys and affirmations you have for him.
âOnly if youâre certain.â The words drip honey, sweet, and tantalizing. All you have to do is say yes, and you know heâll hold nothing back.
Gripping the bottom of your dress, you bring it up and over your head before tossing it to the side. âIâm certain.â
Your nipples draw tight, just like the coil in your belly, as you wait with bated breath for Jungkook to react. He doesnât leave you waiting long, his hands coming around to cup you, toying with the tips of your breasts. Your entire body shudders as he rolls your nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.
âYou are so beautiful,â Jungkook praises in a robust, husky tone. âI wonder if you taste as good as you look.â
Your body bends to his will, pliant as he supplicates you before him with your ass in the air. Jungkook slowly peels your panties down, and strings of your wetness cling to the fabric until it pops and leaves streaks of arousal webbing across your thighs. You canât remember the last time you were this turned on just from kissing and being touched by someone.
However, the way Jungkook tenderly soothes his hands over your body is different from anything youâve ever experienced. There is a heightened sense of connection and awareness. He ensures you know exactly where he is and how hungry and eager he is to know your body.
âJungkook,â you draw his name out, the syllables lingering on your lips as Jungkook moves his grip to your ass and squeezes. The pressure pulls at your body, opening you to him.
An appreciative hum sounds from behind you. âI want to make you feel good, but youâre in control, okay?â
You nod against the cool, soft surface of the duvet. âOkay,â you say, knowing Jungkook prefers when you vocalize your understanding when he talks to you, and you hope that carries over even into such an intimate setting.
It seems it does when he groans and whispers, âGood girl.â You only have a moment to smile to yourself at eliciting such a response before all thoughts completely empty from your head when Jungkook licks a thick stripe through your pussy.
âJungkook!â His name is a moaned prayer, and youâre simply a mortal on her knees, ready to pay any tithe he demands as long as he doesnât stop.
Youâre rewarded with another lick. His nose presses against your body as his lips pluck in tandem with his tongue against your clit, drawing obscene noises from deep in your body.
Everything tingles, and you feel like youâre teetering on the edge almost instantly. Your body is primed and aching for more, having been starved of such pleasure for so long.
âShh,â he soothes when you whimper at the loss of his mouth against you. âI want this to last.â
âNo,â you moan. âPlease. Please, fuck me. Please, Jungkook! I want to feel you, I donât want to wait.â
Tears prick at your lashline, and you think you really might cry if he doesnât put you out of your misery soon. âThen I wonât make you wait. Iâm yours, Iâm here, I promise.â
You listen to the sound of Jungkookâs belt clinking and the distinct brush of fabric as he pulls off his shirt and works his pants off. Curling to the side, you press your cheek into the mattress and let your eyes drink in his form in all its glory.
Jungkookâs tattoos are something youâve seen many times; itâs not like heâs never been shirtless for a photo shoot or during wardrobe changes. But seeing them displayed like this? Itâs wholly different. He looks like a god, chiseled from marble and lust.
The breath in your chest catches when your eyes slide down. His cock is hard and leaking, bobbing in the air so close to your body. All it would take is for you to rock back on your hips, and youâre certain you could take him into your depths.
As if sensing your intention, Jungkook palms the generous curves of your ass and keeps you firmly in place. âWe are going to take this slow. I want to feel every inch of you taking me in. I want to feel the way your body squeezes and flutters as you adjust. And then Iâm going to fuck you nice and slow, the way you deserve to be.â
âWhat I deserve is for you to shut up and fuâuhhh,â your curse turns into a throaty moan when he gives you exactly what you asked for.
The swell of him is decadent, the stretch enough for you to feel it but remaining on just the cusp of pain. Itâs the perfect mix of pleasure, making you needy for more.
Jungkookâs whole body shudders against yours. He wraps his arms around you, one across your chest and the other clasped in the dip of your thigh, where his long fingers return to toying over your clit. Your back presses to his chest, leveraging your body in a way that seats you further onto his thick cock.
âPerfect,â he growls in your ear. âYouâre fucking perfect. Goddamn, I could cum just feeling you around me.â
You move with him, letting your body rise and fall in sync with his shallow thrusts. It puts pressure in all the right places, and with his fingers still strumming over your clit, your body responds in kind.
âYouâre going to make meââ Jungkook swallows your words, devouring you with tongue and teeth as your body succumbs to the pleasure coursing through it.
His grip on you tightens, and you can feel the moment he follows you into the embrace of ecstasy. Jungkookâs moan vibrates through your whole body, his tongue lazily dancing over yours as you both try to regain your bearings.
Somewhere between the foot massage and the orgasm, something clicked. No matter how messy life might be, nothing can take away this feeling of rightnessâthis feeling that the future is full of healing. For both you and Jungkook. Because perhaps once someone is shattered, the pieces might not quite fit back together as they once were, but they can still be made into something beautiful.
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ÂŠď¸ 2024-05-06 ColorMePurplex2
Thereâs something very nice about remembering fics you read years ago. Maybe you remember the plot perfectly, maybe the rest of the fic is only a blur aside from a handful of vivid scenes, but you remember the way it made you feel. And sometimes you dredge up the memory - the premise or a favourite scene or a few lines that stayed with you -Â and your heart aches a little bit, the way it does when you think about books you enjoyed as a child.
To all the fanfiction writers out there: your work is beautiful and meaningful and it leaves an impact. I promise.
I hope every writer who sees this writes LOADS the next few months. Like freetime opens up, no writers block, the ability to focus, etc etc you're able to write loads & make lots of progress <3
AGUST D - D-DAY (Apr. 21, 2023)
I think that if it can comfort you all even for a moment, that, by itself, is enough of a reason for this album to exist.
Sleeping Beauty AU where the princess was born on a Leap Day, so when the evil fairy curses her to prick her finger âon her 16th birthdayâ, her family realizes thatâs not the same thing as her 16th year of life and sheâll actually be in her 60â˛s when it happens.
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