#🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾

[demigods-posts]

if luke had succeeded in recruiting percy. the best role percy could have been was the spy. going on a quests under the guise of a hero. sabotaging collective plans under the guise of impulsiveness. sending information back to luke through IM. relishing in the naievity of his peers that they'll win the soon-to-come war. and he's sure he's making the right decision. until bianca dies. until the one thing luke promised him would never happen happens. and just as the tides of the battle changes. just as the heroes see that luke is willing to kill. percy faith in luke begins to waver.

[wordssoonforgotten]

I was wondering if you could do a jinx x either piltie reader or a reader that works for silco too where jinx falls HARD for this girl but readers oblivious so jinx has to make it very very obvious just some cutesyness

Jinx x Piltoveran!reader. Hope you like! Honestly one of my favorite things I’ve written so far. No content warnings. 735 words.

Jinx is so over Piltoverans.

In all honestly, she'd been over them since birth. It was simply the Zaunite way; but there was one she simply couldn't manage to hate with rest. You were like a guilty pleasure, except there was no guilt concerning how she felt at all. The pleasure you gave her was more rebellious than anything. However, that doesn't mean you didn't get on every single one of her nerves.

Jinx has been sneaking to see you for a year. It started as cat-like curiosity turned infatuation, but now, every time you so much as look at her a certain way, she feels herself teetering closer and closer to the edge; dangerously close to falling in love. It's new, exciting, and gives her that rush she thought was only possible from watching something explode. (It almost makes her wants to jump right off, just to see if you catch her.) Much to her annoyance, she wasn't sure if you felt the same way she did.

She likes to think she's making it stupid obvious; laying it on thick every time she comes to see you. With the way you just laugh at her, or simply don't pick up what she puts down, she's beginning to think she's not so good at all. It's either that, or you're infuriatingly slow for someone so smart.

For the second time this week, Jinx has weaseled her way through your window and made herself comfortable in your silky sheets. The two of you sit closely together on the bed as you recount every event of your day to her. You speak so softly that your voice almost gets lost with the wind. She uses it as an excuse to lean closer. Every few sentences, your eyes drift to your bedroom door, as if you expect someone to knocking it down any moment. Despite how long the two of you have gotten away with your late-night-rendezvous, you still get nervous. She tilts her mischievously. Her fingers crawl up shoulder and stop on your chin, turning your head to face her. You blush; but continue talking like normal.

That was her very last straw. She deserved more than simple a blush.

"Soooo….princess. Still not seeing anyone?" She keeps her voice light. Like she doesn't care about the answer at all. You raise your eyebrow at the seemingly out-of-the-blue question. "Not currently. Why?" Jinx smiles with false nonchalance

"Just kinda seemed like you would be by now."

"…Well I'm not."

"Are you interested in seeing someone?"

You snort and shrug your shoulders hopelessly. "Who would I even see?"

"Me." She answers immediately. Your brain short circuits and you just stare at her. For a second she thinks she's broken you, but then you very hesitantly narrow your eyes. "Are you..serious?" She barely manages to hold back a loud snort, but she nods quickly. "Very serious. Most serious I've ever been, actually." You nod slowly as if you're still processing her words so she continues. "I've been serious for a while now, you've just been too dense to notice." Playful frustration fills her tone as you suddenly become more alert. "A while!? How long is a while!?" She doesn't stop the chortle that erupts from her.

"Months."

"Months?!" You shout before quickly covering your mouth and glancing at the door. Once You're sure no one heard, you turn a fierce glare at her. "Why didn't you say anything?!" Now her brain short circuits. She looks at you in hysterical exasperation, shaking her head so quickly you're scared she'll get dizzy. "I've been very-obviously flirting for—this whole time!" You roll your eyes as your face begins to heat up. "Well you should've been clearer."

"I couldn't have been any clearer without tattooing it on my forehead!" She scoffs. "Typical dense, unaware pilties. Never noticing the extremely obvious truths right in front of their dumb faces—" She's cut off by your lips crashing into hers mid Piltover hating tirade. It doesn't take much for her to lean into it, her hands coming up to grip your hair. After a full minute of all but inhaling each other, she comes up for air. "Guess that means the feelings' mutual, huh?" You huff and give her a cheeky smirk.

"See how I made that obvious?"

She flips you off before pulling you back into another, harder kiss.

"I'll work on it."

[andpeggyschuyler101]

This🤏🏾!!!

Me trying to choose one of my fictional crushes for my fake scenarios before falling asleep

[bballlvr8]

[idkwhatimdoingbutslay]

Caitvi professing their love for each other without words in s1 with the bedroom scene, Caitlyn brushing her hand in Vi’s cheek and Vi holding on, and in s2 with the sex scene, giving and taking as much as they can.

Caitlyn and Vi aren’t necessarily bad with their words, Vi is a waxing poet herself (ie “oil and water” & “the dirt under your nails”), but the way their actions say so much more than any words they could manage is just *chefs kiss*.

[bebe-ghel]

MINGIIII IS THE SECRET MESSENGER??? WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK!? 😭😭🙆🏾‍♀️

Oh my goodness you GAGGED me ✋🏾😭 I'm dzzoonnneee! Nevaaaa expected it to be Mingi.

😀😭 Yeah we have to talk about Tori. She might just be a problem. What do you meeaaan all of this chaos excites you?? Ma'am? 😀😀😀

Mingi you smart boyfriend you 😭😭 I will never get over this- oh you got me gworl ✋🏾😭🤚🏾

Jeongseob is MESSYYYY 🤣😭 THIS WHOLE PARTY WAS MESSY! Whole chapter cracked me UP 😭

😏 Matz, we see you

✋🏾✋🏾✋🏾✋🏾😭😭 The plus line gagged me as well! I might need to go back to the masterlist for that one. Agh, Tori is a bad friend. I need her taste loneliness

🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ you ate with this chapter!

gimme gimme gimme 7 -> mingi x fem!reader -> nice for what

wc: 12k ( i'm sorry ?! ) warnings: 18+, sexual content and alcohol consumption in every part, infidelity themes... if i missed anything please let me know! posted: 2/27/25 8:16 pm est.

masterlist ~ <- previous part - next part ->

Hongjoong circled around the coffee table in the middle of the couches, a wine glass dangling between his fingers adorned with silver rings. Sinking onto a cushion beside Seonghwa, he curled his legs beneath him, the Gucci socks getting lost beneath the silk hanging off of his lower half. Inches of space kept between the two did nothing to deter the sexual magnetism radiating off of them.

Stretching an arm along the back of the sofa, behind Hongjoongs back, careful not to actually touch him- none of you have seen them do so- Seonghwa kicked his legs out in front of him, bare olive skin in little loose fitted shorts, crossing his ankles. 

Gentle music pulsed through the room, a soft R&B playlist off of Mingi’s phone, one that heated your cheeks, your toes longing to curl as each song changed into one that brought back a plethora of memories. Catching his half smirk across the room with each new beat, hanging around opposite sides of the house for the evening, he knew what he was doing to you.

He sat on the couch to the left of Seonghwa and Hongjoong, Jongho also in the mix sitting beside your boyfriend. Beer cans in hand, they spoke covertly with their leaders, hushed voices like gentle lullabies sneaking over to where you stood with the girls around the kitchen island, the girls and Yeosang. He bounced back and forth, a few minutes with the boys, a few minutes with you girls, which meant a few minutes with his girl. 

You’re certain you’ll all be receiving save the dates in the mail sometime next year.

Yeosang had no other reason to hang around the guys aside from spending genuine time with them. Nasara is his past, Keni is his future. Balancing the two now, watching him wander from couch to counter, from leaning over a sofa to wrapping an arm around her waist, checking in on her without a word, without interrupting her aside from the tiniest kiss to her cheek, it’s like his life went unchanged.

Like graduating hadn’t affected him in the slightest. He’s ready to move on, he wants what comes next, he’s leaving all of you, this life, behind. 

Much like Ryujin and Jeongyeon, not one of them questioned what came next for the sorority, the fraternity. The three of them, they didn’t need to know. Sure, if it came up in conversation they cared, they listened, they watched with gleaming eyes as the rest of you talked plans, talked details. But, they didn’t contribute. Nor did they have any opinions. They had nothing to say.

Even now, as the song changed into one more upbeat now that the night progressed later and Mingi shifted the vibes, Yuna ran her mouth a mile a minute, eyes wide, hands flying as she expressed her ideas for fundraisers and for recruiting new girls, letting the underclassmen shadow their seniors with the specific positions they’d want in the future… Ryujin blinked. Her gaze traveled out toward the living room. She rested her elbows on the counter and laid her head on Jeongyeons shoulder, and they whispered to each other.

She didn’t pay attention.

She’d rather talk to her girlfriend. She’d rather move up to Iloa, rent an apartment with her, call you guys occasionally, slum it through these weeks with all of you, then go back to her separate life with Jeongyeon like the last four years of her life never happened.

Personally, I don’t wanna stay stuck in a place that made me miserable.

That’s what she told you that night in Cheers. That this chapter has closed, that if she wants to feel better, if she wants to get better, she has to move on.

It must be the same for Yeosang.

I’m willing to make sacrifices for the people I love.

Your eyes found Mingi. Leaning over his knees covered in baggy denim, his black button down exposed his golden chest, a few silver chains dangling around his neck, contrasting against his skin. He wore his black, square, chunky glasses tonight, they sat on the edge of his nose. You don’t know how many times you have to tell him that if he doesn’t wear them right he’ll have a headache within the hour, but he’ll defend himself, Tori, if I push them back they don’t look right, they have to look right.

Not paying attention to you, he listened to Seonghwa who hadn’t moved from Hongjoongs side. The president, with his head softly bobbing around, spoke like Yuna, a mile a minute, just much quieter. It gave you insight to how the house was run behind closed doors. You’ve shared with Mingi what the sorority was like, and he’s told you just as much about ATZ, but to see it happening in real time, right in front of you, so compelling.

Hongjoong had minute things to add, his eyes on Seonghwa, a gaze that’d drop to his lips occasionally. After a small sip from his glass, swirling the wine around before another, he’d speak, and after a few times, it happened.

Seonghwa’s hand gripped the back of his neck, thumb and fingers on either side, squeezing him. Turning his head, his glare blazing like Hongjoong had said something wrong, neither of them faltered. Where Seonghwa’s eyes were hot, almost angry, Hongjoongs were alight with mischief. Both Mingi and Jongho glanced away the second Seonghwa pulled Hongjoong closer by his neck. His lips found his ear, a whisper shared, one no one needed to know.

Seonghwa released him and Hongjoong fell back into place with a smile on his face.

Wandering over to the fridge, leaving Yuna and Keni to discuss Iloa with Ryujin and Jeongyeon, you pulled a seltzer off the shelf and cracked it open, swinging the door shut with a slam. Facing the living room, downing half your drink in a few gulps, you watched the front door open a crack, Yunho slipping inside on alert, scanning the room before closing the door behind him. 

Spotting you, he lifted his hand with the smallest wave, then tried to make his six foot self smaller, planting himself on the couch opposite Mingi, next to Yeosang. The boys acknowledged his appearance, but didn’t let it deter them from discussion. Yunho fell right in without missing a beat.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Ryujin said, spawning beside you, grabbing herself a new drink. 

Giving her a shrug, glancing down at her, you pursed your glossed lips. “Lots to think about.”

“You still having trouble adjusting?” she asked, eyeing the scene beneath her shaggy bangs parted in the center. Looking up at you, she read your gaze and laughed. “Damn, Tor. Maybe you need to talk to someone.”

The words stung. “I don’t need to talk to anyone,” you snapped. “I need people to stop being assholes.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Who’s being an asshole?” There wasn’t a single infliction in her tone. She remained utterly calm, her inner lion always asleep until it was necessary for it to wake up. “As far as I know, everyone’s chill.”

“Everyone is not chill.”

“Like who?” she asked, bobbing her chin. “Aurora? You guys haven’t spoken in, like, two days, Tor.”

“‘Cause she’s wrapped up in her life, Rio,” you sneered, both of your gazes heating up. “Everybody thinks they’re so adorable, they’re so cute, but no one is looking at it.”

Ryujin tightened her jaw. “When was the last time you went out of your way to ask her about it? About him? Have you even talked to her about it, and listened?”

“When’s the last time she’s asked me about me?” 

Your voices were raised, the only indicator being Mingi’s attention turned to you from the living room.

Ryujin’s entire demeanor changed, like she took an entire mental step backward. “She’s tried. You won’t talk to her. She’s been asking us all to look out for you, to make sure you’re okay, that you have a good time while we’re here.”

Your heart sank into your stomach. “You told her what we talked about? She told you stuff, too?”

“She hasn’t said shit, Tor,” she shook her head, “And I didn’t tell her a thing. She knows you, you think she can’t tell that something’s off? That something between the two of you is wrong?”

You couldn’t even hide it. Distorting your face into something of a frown, you scoffed, then groaned. “I tried to talk to her after we got into it, but she ignored me.” Ryujin tilted her head. “I haven’t tried again since.”

“Okay, she may have told me something,” she said after a couple blinks. Your cheeks warmed. “We’ve been out the last two nights, right?” You nodded. Everyone’s been spending time at Cheers together, drinking, dancing, but just the main group of you all, the people in the house right now. “She told me she’s staying out of your way.” You parted your lips, but she continued on. “And that she wanted me to help keep you away from her. For your sake. Not hers.”

Feet thundered down the stairs behind you, San whooping, leaping over the back of the couch Mingi and Jongho sat on, wedging himself in the middle of the two. Taking Mingi’s chin in his hand after nearly knocking the two boys out with his knees, he tugged your boyfriend closer and smacked a thick, wet kiss to his cheek before he tried to do the same to Jongho, but the boy held up a hand and San retreated with a smirk.

The room grew louder. Especially once San caught a glimpse of Yunho sitting across from him.

“She told me that she thinks she bothers you,” Ryujin said, taking your attention back. “And, she doesn’t know why. She doesn’t know what she’s done, she doesn’t know how to fix it, and she feels bad for putting you through a hard time without realizing it.”

The tiniest laugh sparked at your lips. Shaking your head, letting her words sink in, mess with your heart, mess with your head, you sent her a glare. “Of course,” you lowered your voice, hearing footsteps on the stairsteps. “Of course she’d think that. That it’s because of her. No one fucking gets it.” 

Pressing your can to your lips you spun away from her and started around the counters, heading for Mingi. Ryujin threw her arms out and shook her hair around.

“We’re trying to!” she shouted.

Aurora and Wooyoung had come downstairs. Wrapped up in one another, Aurora pressed to his chest, her arms slung around his back like they usually were, they stood behind San, Wooyoung toying with the short black hair tousled atop his head. Cracking jokes, all the boys laughing with one another aside from Mingi and Yunho, no one seemed to notice the way Aurora stared across the room. No one except the boy she stared at.

He fought to look elsewhere, fidgeting in his seat, only uncomfortable because she held onto Wooyoung at the same time, Yunho didn’t know what to do. Yeosang slid a hand over his knee, calming him. Yunho gave him a look, but he didn’t return it, his focus laid upon his girlfriend who joined the group in the living room, as did Yuna. 

Sinking onto Mingi’s lap without sparing Aurora a look, not that she’d dare look away from her soulmate to acknowledge you, you wrapped an arm around his shoulder and kissed his cheek, the one San didn’t. Sliding his phone into his pocket in a hurry when you appeared in front of him, he smiled up at you and sat backward, inviting you in. One of his hands rested around your waist and the high waisted denim skirt hugging your hips. The other reached up to tuck some of your hair behind your ear, his fingertips dancing along the golden earrings hanging from your lobes. 

“Hi pretty girl.” Voice low, gravely, just for you, he coerced you closer for a real kiss, one gentle and slow. “You okay?” he asked through a breath. A shake of your head was enough for him. Anyone could feel the tension in the air, sprouting from a thousand places other than just your own heart. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, blinking his big brown eyes up at you behind his frames.

“It’s okay,” you whispered back, dragging your fingers through his hair. “I’ll just stay right here all night, and everything will be fine.”

Mingi squeezed your curves and smized. “Fine by me.”

“Hey, Tori?” Yunho’s voice sounded beside you. He left his spot on the couch to crouch next to the one the two of you sat on. Turning your head, ghosting Mingi’s kiss, you questioned him with a brow. “Can I talk to you for a second?” 

“Sure,” you said quietly, turning to Mingi who nodded at you and helped you off of his lap. Yunho lead you into the kitchen, out of earshot of everyone else. Towering above you, an inch taller than your boyfriend, he flickered his eyes in and out of the living room. “What’s up, Yo?”

He paced a bit, slowly, yet obvious his nervous system had been overloaded. He was going to talk about Aurora. And you were going to have to endure it.

“I don’t know what to do,” he sucked in a breath, shaking his head in tiny, a trillion times. “Up until the other night, no, until that party, no.” He paused, turning toward you. “The other night, the night at Wave, what the fuck.” 

“Words, Yunho,” you said gently, resting a hand on a counter.

He drug his hands through his hair and tried to take another deep breath, but it was as if his lungs had forgotten how to work. “I was fine. I could do this.”

“Do what?”

He grit his teeth, dropping his hands at his side. “Watch them. Be around them. Encounter them in the wild and not have it affect me so awfully terribly. But, now that she knows something, now that I know a lot of something, I can’t.” He gulped. He spun around once to catch a glimpse of the couple now sitting on the back of the sofa behind San, then faced you. “I just don’t know how I’m supposed to-”

“Then, go home,” you said. Shock slapped him across the face. “You can’t handle it, then leave. What else do you want me to say?”

Dropping his eyes, taking all of you in, as if to double check who he was speaking to, he said within a breath, “What?”

You shrugged. “You heard me.”

“Tor, I thought-”

“She’s not speaking to me anymore,” you said, and his face went blank. “Somehow, right now, I might be okay with that. If you want Aurora, you go get Aurora. I don’t want to help anymore.”

Leaving him in the kitchen, you backed away a few steps and started yourself toward Mingi. He followed you.

“Can you at least tell me why Mingi was so quick to defend Hwa that night?” he asked.

Facing him one last time, you sipped your drink and looked him in the eye. “You distanced yourself. From everyone. Is it so criminal they’ve grown closer? You’re no longer in the middle of them, they have a friendship of their own now.” He glanced over your head at the boys laughing together. “You want to know why, you ask him.”

You stepped away, but he took one step closer. 

“But, I thought we-”

“No,” you said, whipping your head toward him one last time. “Whatever you’re thinking, no. I don’t wanna be involved. You wanna play your games with her? Go ahead. You wanna pull my boyfriend through months of hell again, make him not speak to you? Go ahead. You did this. It’s your fault, Yunho.”

Turning from him, you didn’t let anything stop you this time, not Mingi’s attention, not Yunho’s shout of your name, nothing. Crinkling the can in your hand, you threw it to the hardwood and hurried for the front door, yanking it open, slamming it shut behind you without a care for the houses wellbeing or the people inside of it. Wandering over the porch to the front stairs, you took a couple down toward the sand in the yard and paused. 

Closing your eyes in the night air, taking a deep breath, planting your hand on one of the railings, you let the breeze ease the heat beneath your skin. Let it partially clear your head from all thoughts of the people in the living room, though the buzz of them could still be heard where you stood.

Everything you once wanted, everything that brought you down, the weighted thoughts, the heavy words, the awful feelings… It all came from them.

Everyone in the house.

A family you so desperately yearned to keep together.

Immovable forces, every single one of them. Beings full of freewill. In no way can you force them back where you wanted them. In no way can you make them feel how you want them to feel.

There was no putting them back together, they moved against you. Opposed to you.

Pulling your phone from the back pocket of your skirt, you tapped on your messages and sent one off to your father.

[you]: what if i dropped out of ITZ

The thought nauseated you, but it was the first thing to pop into your head as you stood out here without them. 

There were two unread messages from ITZ. One sent earlier, and the other sent about a minute ago.

[ITZ]: hi sexy. whats this night gonna be like :) 

[ITZ]: are you okay??

Sighing heavily, you sat down on the step you stood on and rolled your head backward. Tilting it side to side, looking either way into the shadows that bounced off of other houses, your eye caught a five foot something shaped shadow wandering closer to your porch.

“Tori?” he asked, and you groaned internally.

Jongseob appeared in the light pouring from the windows of your house, mere feet from where you sat on the step. His hands were in his dark denim pockets, his matching dark tee hanging over his waist. Dirty blonde hair fluffed on his head, he wore a pout and concern in his eyes.

“What do you want?” you grumbled.

He glanced back toward his house, where distant noise and commotion came from. “We’re smoking, I heard the door slam and saw you come out here. Just didn’t sound good.”

“So, you’re here to check on me?” you sneered, and he nodded, unaffected by your venom. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

He took a step closer to the stairs. “Are you?”

“Yes,” you snapped. “Now leave me alone.”

A smirk found his lips, a flash of his teeth peeking between them. Tilting his chin back, he laughed. “This the thanks I get for exterminating your house?”

Narrowing your eyes, you shook your head. “What are you talking about?”

He glanced toward his porch, then lifted a brow. “I took care of your little Soul problem, didn’t I?”

Your stomach flipped. “That was you?”

“Yeah,” he shrugged. “It was obvious he bothered you. We’ve got a lot out of him since he’s been back, you’re friends with some freaks.”

Groaning aloud this time, you squeezed your eyes shut. “I know, I know!” 

“Surprised no party has ever turned into something more,” he said, lifting a foot to place it on the bottom stair. “Or does something like that happen tonight, when we aren’t invited.”

Shooting him a glare, you said, “Does it look like we’re in the middle of an orgy!?”

His eyes drew up and down your body. “Could be, I dunno. You’re unpredictable, Tori.”

A breath corrupted your lungs, and it shouldn’t have. His words, his stare, his intent. “You’ll say anything, won’t you?”

“I mean it,” he whispered, meeting your eyes with such ferocity. “There’s a lot I don’t know about you, a lot so many of us don’t know about you. You keep it hidden. But, I see it.” His eyes flashed to the door behind you. “I could look at every girl in there and know exactly who they are, know exactly how they work. Yuna, she needs someone to take care of her. Keni, she needs someone to control. Aurora, a slut.”

“Watch your mouth.”

He stepped up onto the stair, looking down at you now. “It’s the truth is it not? You know it, everyone knows it, no one speaks of it. How come?” 

Leaning down over you, his face inches from your own, his smile sparked something within you, it fueled your frustration for everyone in that living room, it gave you an excitement you hadn’t felt in months.

“I’m exactly like that son of a bitch in there, the one wearing Aurora. I see everything, I pick up on it all, I can figure out why these people work the way that they work, and I know how to take what they give me unknowingly, twist it up, and spit it back out at them.” 

You watched him in awe. 

“Wooyoung is quick, but I am quicker. They think Soul’s been rogue since he left with me from that last party?” 

You nodded. 

“He’s been drinking on my couch and passing a girl back and forth with Intak for days before he passes out in my bed for hours just to wake up and do it all over again. He’s twenty. What the fuck do they think he’s gonna do?”

“They say you guys take advantage of him,” you said quietly, and he scoffed.

“Advantage of what? What can Soul do?” He laughed. “He barely knows his right from his left, do they think he’s walking around telling people off, getting in fistfights, causing problems?” You shrugged. “He’s not,” he said with a wink. “That’s Wooyoung.”

“I dunno, they just-”

“Talk?” His smirk made you feel something you shouldn’t, but after a few drinks you couldn’t help yourself. “That’s all they ever do, isn’t it? Take it from me, as someone on the outside of it, Tor. Who are all of those people without this drama? All of your friends in there, what are they without something to talk about? Someone to do dirty? A plot to scheme up and pursue?”

Brainless, his pink lips knocked every thought from your head.

“Exactly,” he said softly, releasing a breath, one grazing your skin. “It’s all a game to them.” He reached out a hand and moved a strand of hair from your cheek. Your breath caught in your lungs. “And you’re another pawn, aren’t you?” He crouched down in front of you, his head between your legs if you were to part them. “Want some help?” he asked in a whisper, flashing you caramel doe eyes. “Mind if we come play?”

Their peace had been disturbed.

Giving Jongseob ten minutes to collect his friends, his groupies, you scurried back inside the house, bolting for the fridge for another drink to enjoy while the boys walked themselves in the house and everybody lounging around on the couches watched it happen. Mingi, with his eyes on you, gave you a smile, one small, loving, just enough to warm the edges of your heart hanging cold in your chest.

Standing behind the island counter, drink in hand, sipping in delicately, you returned it to him, but he didn’t believe you. Rising from the couch, giving Aurora and Wooyoung more space to spread out beside San, he joined you in the kitchen, a hand sliding around your shoulder.

The only acknowledgement of you returning inside, Yuna’s glance from where she sat on top of Jongho. Her always wide eyes met yours, full of worry, and they asked you questions, ones you couldn’t answer at the moment.

“What happened, Tor?” Mingi asked from your side, stepping closer to press his chest to your shoulder. His other hand squeezed you, fingers digging into muscle. “With Ryujin? With Yunho?”

Looking up at him, tipping your chin backward almost all the way, you planted a smile on your lips. “I’m over it.”

“Over what?” His brows furrowed.

“All of this.”

The front door swung open, the handle hitting the wall it slammed into as Jongseob stepped over the threshold with Soul wobbling under his arm, a big smile on both their faces. Behind them, Jiung, Intak, and a few other boys who’ve shown up to parties, are a part of ATZ, and have definitely heard plenty about you with how they grinned over Jongseob’s shoulder.

“Tori.” Mingi’s tone fell flat. Smiling, you glanced at him and stood to your tiptoes to plant a kiss to his cheek. He stared at the boys wandering in, one of them closing the door. “What the fuck?”

Taking sips of your drink, you stationed yourself here for the time being, watching it all play out before your eyes.

Confused, every single one of them, no one knew what to do, things for the most part fell silent aside from the boys' remarks about not being invited and what a way to welcome Soul home. Aurora didn’t look at him. Focused on Wooyoung who, what it seemed, tried to kill Intak with a glare, she pressed herself closer to him and toyed with the chain around his neck. 

Seonghwa was the only one to stand up, extending a hand toward the underclassmen, welcoming them in after Hongjoong finally whispered something to him and shoved him off the sofa. Pointing them around in the direction of things they’d need, drinks, bathroom, back patio, Jongseob took the president by the shoulder with a grin and thanked him. 

“All my shit still upstairs?” Soul asked him, his hand holding the back of Jongseob’s tee with a nasty grip. Seob did say they’d been smoking, you wouldn’t be surprised if any of them were doing both, furthering your interest in the rest of this night. 

Seonghwa clenched his jaw. “Yeah, your shit’s still upstairs. We didn’t touch anything.” 

Soul shot a look toward Aurora paying no mind to him and shouted, “That’s a shock!“

Both Intak and Jiung laughed, making their way past the couch the couples sat on, Intak sure to get his own death glare toward Wooyoung in before shaking Seonghwa’s hand.

Jiung pouted and nudged Soul's shoulder in a way that would’ve sent him to the floor if he wasn’t clinging to Jongseob. “Mommy didn’t touch your stuff?”

“Mommy hasn’t touched his stuff in a while,” Jongseob smized, and Wooyoung nearly leapt off of the couch. 

“This is not good,” Mingi mumbled beside you. He turned to you and your soft smile, scoffing at you in disbelief. “Are you enjoying this?”

You spared him a glance. “No, I, uh…”

“Come on,” Jongseob sang out, his head tipping backward as the boys laughed at something you missed. Aurora whispered to Wooyoung, you figured it was another comment about them. “Can we party, we came here to party!” Seob looked around for you, then pointed a finger in your direction. “You,” he winked. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Mingi asked behind his teeth just for you to hear. The boys whirled away as the music grew in volume, Mingi facing you completely. “Tori. What is he thanking you for?”

Pursing your lips, you took another sip of your drink. “Inviting them into my house.”

Within the hour the lights had dimmed, the amount of people doubled, and so did your consumption of drinks. Wedged between Jongseob and Jiung in the game room, the two of them shooting pool and blowing weed smoke in your face, you listened to them blab on and on about underground rappers they loved and what they were going to do when you and your friends left Haos. Intoxicated enough to not care that they were smoking inside, in a house you were renting that would most likely charge you for smoking inside, you bounced from one of their shoulders to the other sipping your umpteenth drink.

Bodies moved around you, other people the boys played with, faces unrecognizable, but fuck it, if Seob knew them then they were okay in your book tonight. 

“What are you on, baby girl?” Jongseob asked after his turn, balls clacking against one another, Jiung and the other players witnessing Seob’s almost victory, but he was too engrossed in you to realize. He touched the bottom of your can and you shrugged. Blinking through dazed eyes, he laughed at you. “Oh, you’re fucked up.”

Taking a hand to his shoulder, you squeezed him and laughed with him. “Nooo, no, no, M’not.”

Jongseob raised a brow and brought his hand to yours where it rested on him. “Baby, you can’t even speak full words.” 

Stepping closer to him, Jongseob ignored the joint between Jiung’s fingers hanging over his shoulder and let you move into him. “I can speak full words, Jongseob… Seob… Seobie.” Giggling, you leaned into him, but he didn’t move.

“Seobie, huh?” he questioned, smiling at you. “What about Mingi?” 

Your eyes widened and he winked. “Mingi,” you parroted. He bobbed his head.

“The boyfriend,” he said. “Where is he?”

“I dunno, I been with you this whole time.”

Jongseobs smile went crooked. “Yeah, you have. How come?”

Both of your hands found his chest. “Because…”

“Seob, you're up!” Jiung shouted from the opposite corner of the table. Jongseob shot him a glare and waved him off.

“…Are you the one who’s texting me?” you asked, and his head tilted, and his eyes widened a bit. Dirty blonde hair framed his face, his round cheeks, his charismatic aura.

“Am I texting you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you said, leaning into him so much now that your chests were brushing. “I have this unknown number texting me, since we got here, I can’t figure out who it is… At first I thought it was you, but then I thought it was Yunho… But, it can’t be Yunho ‘cause he loves Ror, so, it’s gotta be you.”

Jongseob glanced over your shoulder, his lips parted in surprise. Meeting eyes with someone, he laughed aloud. 

“What’s this person saying to you?” It was Intak behind you. Short, black hair moved in your peripheral, but you focused on Jongseob. The edges of your vision were blurry.

“Sex stuff,” you said, and they both gasped, laughing together. “They’re saying I should tell Mingi, and we can have a threesome.”

“Sounds like you,” Intak said to Jongseob who gleamed with pride. “Is it?”

“I wish,” he spat. “That’s fuckin’ smart. Leading you on for this long, knowing you…”

“Knowing me?” you asked, shaking your head. The boys shared a look. 

“You aren’t gonna leave him alone,” Jongseob said, lowering his hands on your back. “You’re gonna keep pushing ‘till you figure out who it is.”

A pout formed on your lips. Your hands fisted his t-shirt into clumps. “Oh, c’mon, it’s not you?”

“Nah,” he shook his head, then his hands slipped even lower, feeling you up, searching for your phone. Ignoring how your breath stifled when his fingers grazed over your ass to pull it from your back pocket, you barely had time to react to anything at all. “Lemme see what y’all are talking about.”

“Seob, wait,” you breathed, moving to snatch it from him, but he was a little more sober than you were at the moment. Using your face ID to get into it, holding it up in front of you, you still weren’t quick enough to catch it. “Hang on!”

Intak watched over his shoulder, both boys snickering at the messages as they scrolled. Whining, shaking Seob’s arm around, not really doing much, you had to wait until they handed it back over.

“You faked an orgasm?” Jongseob shot you a look so disgusted you wanted to smack it off of his face. Lunging for the phone, he moved swiftly. “Oh, baby, come on. I think that would ruin my life,” he said to Intak, and his friend agreed, “If a girl faked it ‘cause of me, and told people about it, goodbye world.” 

“Nah, same, bro,” Intak groaned. “And I’ve got a rep now?! If a girl ever… Christ, man.” He looked you over and shrugged. “He’s lucky you’ve been together for ages, imagine if that was one hook up? Bro would be cooked.”

Bro. 

His name is Mingi.

“His name is Mingi,” you attempted to scoff, and they both snickered. Jongseob typed away at your phone before locking it and slapping it into your hand. 

“Don’t get defensive now, babe, it won’t do much, I can smell it from here.”

Pushing by you, gripping the back of your neck, Jongseob, followed by Intak and Jiung, moved you out of the game room and into the dark living room lit up by phone screens and the dim kitchen light. 

“Where are we going?” you asked, watching how he and his friends seemed to scour the place for familiar faces. 

“To find your friends,” he mumbled over the music. 

A boy passed by, the one from the other party, taking note of how Jongseob held onto you. “It’s your night Seob,” he cheered, tapping him on the shoulder with a fist. 

You raised a brow. “Your night?”

Jongseob touched a finger under your chin, giving you a smile. “Don’t worry about it.” His eye caught something on the second floor, from the balcony edge just after the staircase where the bar lived. “Find Soul,” he muttered to Intak and Jiung, “Let’s go.”

Yunho and Mingi sat at the bar. Facing their backs to the marble, leaning against it, their legs were hooked onto the rungs of the cushioned stools they were perched upon. Sipping from cocktail glasses, elbows nudging together every now and again, they spoke quietly to one another, eyes scoping the scene of their friends before them. 

Wooyoung in a lounge chair, Aurora on his lap. Jongho on the slender leather sofa pushed to the wall, Yuna smushed into his side, his arm around her. Yeosang and Keni relaxed into the other end of the couch, hands intertwined. San wandered about the circle, talking to someone new every five minutes. Ryujin and Jeongyeon sat on the floor in front of the couch. Seonghwa sat on the other lounge chair, Hongjoong either hovering behind him or sitting on the floor between his legs in front of the glass table that lived in the center on top of the blue patterned rug draped along the floor.

Other people teetered by occasionally, simply wandering from floor to floor, stopping by the group to say hi, to try to get on the inside, to earn their points as members of ATZ and ITZ. Neither Seonghwa nor Aurora paid much attention aside from a hi, this vacation wasn’t meant to turn into a Greek Life event.

They sat up here for comfort, to stay away from the younger crowd, to keep to themselves like the night was meant to be spent, just the core group. Not the incels down the street.

The ones you waddled up the stairs with.

The ones met with almost eleven complete death glares as you stepped up onto the second floor and expressed your excitement for finding everyone.

“You knew they were up here,” you said to Jongseob, hitting him with an elbow before teetering toward Mingi and Yunho. Both boys raised a brow, their eyes shifting between you and Jongseob. “Mingi,” you sighed with a smile, reaching for his arm. You were intoxicated enough to not notice him move away from you, leaning into Yunho.

“Where’ve you been?” he asked. 

You tried to reach for him again. Tilting your head, you laughed. “Whadda you mean? I’ve been here, downstairs, we were playing pool.”

“You don’t know how to play pool, Tor,” he said. Yunho pressed his lips together to hide his smile and turned away. “We moved up here and you said you’d come with us.”

Glancing around the space, the underclassmen now integrated with your friends, every exchange dripping with some sort of intended malice, you shook your shoulders in a little shimmy and gave him another smile. “I’m here now,” you said. “And they aren’t so bad.” Gesturing toward the younger boys standing over their elders, talking down to them, both Mingi and Yunho let out a quiet snicker. Mingi’s ended with a groan.

“You’re pushing all of us away,” Mingi said, just to you. “None of this is you, Torilynn. I thought we were moving past things, I thought we were getting through these things together, but I can’t…” he paused, shaking his head, “I don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing. And that hurts me, because I used to know why you did every little thing, why every single detail of every single thing mattered.” 

You blinked at him. Unfortunately you processed every other word. 

“Doing this? Bringing them here when you know they cause problems? Bringing them here to, I dunno, maybe cause problems? ‘Cause you know how we all feel about them, you know what they do to Rora, you know how they look at me. You know it, Tori. And you did it anyway.”

Soul hurried around the bar with the biggest smile on his face, his black eyes alight with excitement. Watching him push around bottles of liquor and tiny glasses while the other boys shouted at him, you dropped your jaw, searching your mind for something to say to Mingi, but you couldn’t find a word. 

He was right.

Clenching his jaw, staring at you, waiting for you to speak, he shook his head and sipped his drink realizing he wasn’t going to get anything out of you. 

“Come on,” Soul said to you, bumping into your shoulder, inches taller than you were. He nodded toward the group forming a circle around the glass table. The younger boys coerced everyone closer, the circle tightening with sighs and groans and rolls of eyes. Holding up a bottle of vodka, Soul laughed. “Let’s play.”

Meeting Jongseob’s gaze from across the room, his smirk drilled beneath your skin, warming you, yet filling you with some kind of unease you couldn’t quite place. Jongho waved Mingi over before you had the chance to grab onto him, your titan of a boyfriend strolling toward the couple on the couch, perching himself on the arm of the leather next to his friend. Yunho joined the group as well, keeping himself still on the outskirts of it all, sitting down on the floor beside Seonghwa and Hongjoong, Mingi on the couch on the other side of him.

With every reluctant step toward them the tension seemed to ease. Everyone focused on Soul handing out shot glasses, wanting them full, some of your friends knocking them back before any game actually began. Stepping over legs, brushing past faces you didn’t dare look at, you ended up between Ryujin and Jeongyeon on the floor, stretching your legs out under the glass, letting them fix your hair and fawn over you for a few seconds.

“You okay?” Ryujin asked, but the look you gave her made her frown. “It’s okay,” she mumbled, acknowledging the moment you shared earlier. Acknowledging everything actually it seemed. Squeezing your shoulder, she smiled. “Stay right here,” she handed you a shot, “Drink, play games, just chill, okay?” You nodded, taking the shot, adding more fuel to the fire. “This night’ll be over before you know it. Tomorrow I’ll help you fix whatever you gotta fix.”

“Thanks,” you whispered, leaning into her, feeling Jeongyeon’s gentle eyes watching over the two of you. 

Glancing toward Mingi, he talked with Seonghwa and Hongjoong. Glancing toward Aurora, she held Wooyoung tight around the neck, her eyes pointed toward Soul on his knees opposite you at the table, filling up the glasses as Jiung and Intak on either side cheered him on. Wooyoung smoothed a hand over her thigh, his arm wrapped around her back. Yunho watched that hand and took his shot, slamming it down on the table for more. Soul obliged, his own eyes shifting from Yunho to Aurora.

Sliding one of the glasses to the end of the table, Soul said, “Aurora.” She faced Wooyoung immediately, the two gazing at one another, Wooyoung whispering something to her. Soul’s brow furrowed slightly, his eyes flickering to the glass. Fingers splayed out on the table, he drummed them once, licked his lips, finally blinked, then took the glass and poured the liquor down his own throat. 

“What are we playing?” Yeosang called out, twirling the glass in his hand, his other arm wrapped around Keni. 

San, on the arm rest beside him, emphasized his question with a, “Yeah! Let me show you boys how it’s done, I’ll outdrink every single one of you.”

Jongseob, who stood on his feet, positioned himself between Seonghwa on the chair and Jiung on the floor. “Not that kinda game,” he grinned, lifting his full glass with a cheers before knocking it back.

Yuna, leaning forward onto her knees, gave him a curious look. “What is it?”

Jongseob beamed. “Truth or Dare.”

A chorus of groans erupted amongst crackles of laughter, both intrigued and degrading. 

“I need everyone to take three more shots,” Jongseob demanded, eyebrows raised to his hairline. 

With giggles they listened, even you, taking the glass from Ryujin after it’d been filled again. The only two to not move, Wooyoung and Aurora. As your friends, your boyfriend, and the other boys chattered happily amongst themselves, the tension finally easing with every shot taken, you eyed Jongseob and the way he studied your best friend and her boyfriend. He waltzed over to them, behind the lounge chair they sat upon, and shoved his head in between theirs. 

“Three more,” he smiled, making sure to look in both their eyes, noses centimeters apart. “Or you’re not playing.”

Aurora curled her lip. “Then we’re not playing.”

Jongseob narrowed his eyes. “Then, I need you to leave the room.”  

“Who the fuck do you-”

Jongseob cut Wooyoung off before he had the chance to say more.

“Last I checked, you have no authority to talk shit,” he spat. “You think you belong here, but do you?” Wooyoung tightened his jaw. Jongseob turned to Aurora, looked her up and down, drew his tongue over his lips, then shot his glare back toward Wooyoung. “She’s the only one who cares by the way. They don’t give a fuck. No one else would miss you if you weren’t here.”

“Hey,” San spoke up from the couch to the right of Aurora, tuning into the exchange too late. “The fuck did you just say?”

Jongseob stood up straight, his chin lifted a smidge. Giving San a smile and the subtlest wink, he said, “Don’t worry ‘bout it, pretty boy.” 

Wooyoung leaned forward, taking Aurora with him. Snatching two glasses from the table he took them both, placed them back down for Soul to refill them, then lifted them to Aurora’s lips for her to drink.

Jongseob smacked a hand to his head and ruffled his black waves. “Good,” he snickered. “Everyone have three?” A chorus of yes’s showered over him, even yours. Making his way back to the other side of Jiung, his eyes locked on you, he grinned. “Perfect.” Picking up the bottle of vodka off the table by the handle, he held it in the air before he dropped it into Seonghwa’s lap. The president jumped, legs squeezing together, capturing both Hongjoong and the bottle between them. 

“It goes in a circle. You have the bottle, you can ask one person, truth or dare, but you can only ask once.” Jongseob’s gaze traveled around the circle, everyone's attention glued to him. “Nothing is off limits. Every truth must be answered, every dare must be completed.”

Ryujin scoffed. “What if it’s completely inappropriate, I don’t think that’s fair at all. You’re in a room full of couples.”

Jongseob’s eyes sparkled. He glanced toward Aurora and Wooyoung, then Soul, then Yunho, then you. “Don’t take it too seriously,” he said softly. “It’s just a game.”

All eyes pointed to Seonghwa, the air growing thicker as silence ensued.

“Uh,” he sang, bouncing the bottle in his hands. Searching the room for a face, he chose to stare down at the bottle as a tiny smile found his lips. “Hey, H.”

Hongjoong froze on the floor in front of him. A giggle came out of Yuna, and though the rest of you kept quiet, more than half of you wore a smile. This game, so childish, yet so invigorating.

Seonghwa cleared his throat. “Truth or dare?”

Hongjoong sighed. It took him a few seconds to answer him. They weren’t even looking at each other. The vice president lived between his knees on the floor, fondling a shot glass between his ring wearing fingers. 

“Truth,” he said, rushed.

Seonghwa held in a laugh, something you all witnessed but Hongjoong missed. His voice came out quiet, with a hint of humor, but completely serious. “You really like that thing I do with my tongue?”

Giggles poured from more of you than just Yuna this time. Jongho squeezed his eyes shut with a smile, Mingi’s melody filled the air, and Yeosang and Keni both loosed quiet laughs in the form of breath. San’s jaw dropped, the sophomores nibbled at their nails furiously, grins behind their hands, and Aurora and Wooyoung, they didn’t move.

Whirling around, jumping onto his knees on the floor, Hongjoong slapped one of Seonghwa’s thighs, making the president laugh. “Bastard!”

“Answer it,” Jongseob said, one of the only ones with a steady face.

Dropping his chin, Seonghwa raised a brow. Hongjoong took a deep breath.

“Sorry,” Seonghwa whispered, his smile never leaving his lips.

Hongjoong shook his head. “I do,” he forced out of him, and the room erupted with cheers. Ryujin slapped her hands to the table, San took another shot and threw his arms out with a shout of when’s it my turn, and the sophomores shared glances with one another. 

Seonghwa, after winking at Hongjoong, looked to Jongseob and held up the bottle. 

“Pass it,” he gestured to Hongjoong, and the vice president took the bottle into his hands, situating himself back on the floor between Seonghwa’s knees.

Cheeks pink, unable to look at anyone, he rolled his eyes and groaned at once. “San,” he grumbled, and the boy on the end of the couch perked up. You could feel his excitement.

“Hongjoong,” he said with all of his chest.

“Truth or da-”

“Dare.”

You giggled with the girls around you, all of you leaning forward to catch a glimpse of him riding the edge of the arm rest, buzzing with adrenaline. Heart pounding in your own chest, knowing that many of your friends felt the same, you waited with baited breath. San would do anything. Twice. Even Aurora finally broke into a smile, gazing over at him.

Hongjoong’s eyes traveled from San to Wooyoung. The corners of his lips tipped up, his wicked smile cracking onto his cheeks pairing with his sharp eyes, the devil personified. “I dare you…” San gulped, eyes growing wider as Hongjoong paused. Like a dog being taunted with ribeye. “To swap places with Wooyoung.” 

Snapping his head to the side, they looked at each other, the three of them. Sighing, Aurora gave a look to Wooyoung and reluctantly slid off of his lap. San hadn’t even accepted and she was already moving. Intak and Jiung both snickered under their breath. 

“Done,” San said, and everyone egged them on. Meaningless words and sounds they didn’t even pay attention to. Wooyoung moved around him, the two sharing a look and a quick slip of their hands over each other before assuming their new positions.  Flopping down in the lounge chair, soft smile on his face, he glanced up at Aurora and tapped his lap a few times. “Don’t be shy.”

Intak muttered, “When is she ever,” and Jiung and Seob nearly choked on their laughter. Soul’s face rendered unreadable.

Wooyoung’s glare across the room held zero power anymore. The sophomores teased him with pouty faces. 

Hongjoong passed the bottle to Yunho. Barely able to look up at the group, paralyzed where he sat on the floor, he studied the glass and shrugged. 

“Uh, Tori,” he mumbled, and your stomach flipped. “Truth or dare?”

“Why her?” Jiung whispered to his friends. 

Intak gave him a look. “Are we surprised? He don’t talk to these people no more.”

Taking a breath, you sat forward and focused on him. “Truth,” you sighed, giving a quick look to Mingi who found interest in the chandelier hanging above your heads.

Yunho pursed his lips and looked at you. “Make any new friends since you’ve been here?” 

The attention was on you now, everyones curious gazes pointed toward you, wondering why he would ask such a question.

“Uh,” you drug out, half racking your brain for an answer, also wondering why he’d ask such a question. All thoughts of why were wiped away when Intak opened his mouth.

“Oh, I get why,” he said entirely too loud to Jiung, catching the room's attention. Mingi stared at him for many seconds before his eyes ripped toward you. Seob smized. Your body filled with heat, and not the good kind.

“No, I haven’t,” you said to Yunho. “But, thanks for asking.”

His glare burned into yours. Thrusting the bottle toward Mingi, after your boyfriend took it he tucked his knees into his chest, wrapping his arms around them, averting his glare to the floor. 

“Yeosang,” Mingi called out with a shrug. 

His arm not wrapped around Keni shot in the air. “Me!”

Mingi smiled and nudged his glasses up his nose. “Truth or dare?”

Consulting with his girlfriend, Yeosang tipped his chin back with a grin. “Truth, why not.”

“Oh god, I don’t know what to ask,” Mingi laughed, and half the room laughed with him with hearty encouragement thrown toward him, mumbles of it doesn’t have to be insane comforting to his ears, and Yeosang’s too. Jongseob rolled his eyes. “Uh, how… How are you guys?” Your boyfriend gestured to Keni with a nod of his head, and the couple smiled together.

The sophomores across the table groaned, giving him looks of disbelief that your friends kept to themselves. Half the room disappointed with the innocent question, the other half admiring him for it. You think you stood right in the middle. Where you wanted the taboo, the questions that should be saved for privacy, for the couple only, this question was entirely Mingi and everything he stood for. 

“We’re fantastic,” Yeosang said with his chest, pulling Keni closer to him. “Thank you for asking, Mingi.” 

Your boyfriend shot him a lopsided smile and a shrug, brushing off his thanks. “Sure,” he said, handing the bottle to Jongho.

“Truth or dare,” he said to Yuna quickly.

Taken aback, she faced him and laughed. “Dare,” she whispered, and you and Ryujin glimmering on the floor with oo’s and giggles.

Jongho smirked. “Dare you to show them how you kissed me last night.”

Now the room erupted in oo’s and giggles. Soul refilled shot glasses as everyone shifted, laughing as Yuna gave everyone a look of dismay, calling out for her to do it, do it, do it!

Reaching for a shot glass, everyone shouting louder and louder, Yuna knocked the liquor back and flung herself onto Jongho’s lap, engulfing his lips with her own, but she didn’t stop there. Her tongue slipped out from her lips, meeting Jongho’s in the middle of it all, the two pressing together before she welcomed it into her mouth, wrapping her lips around it. His hands slipped around her ass and Ryujin grabbed onto you, the two of you screeching aloud as the others cheered for them. 

Glancing over to Aurora, you found her watching Yuna with a proud smile, and it pulled at your heart. She should be here on the floor with you and Ryujin. San cheered behind her, his crude comments showering over the couple grinding on the couch like dirty rainfall, but she didn’t say much. She simply smiled. 

Yuna pulled back from Jongho with a smack of their lips and the room audibly expressed their disappointment. Laughing, she tried to slide off of his lap, but he held her in place.

“You have to stay right here,” he mumbled, trying to keep it quiet, but you all caught it. 

Yeosang deepened his voice and called out, “Jjong’s got a boner!”

San leaned forward, holding onto Aurora as he moved, and said to Yeosang, “Are we surprised?”

Jongho shot him a glare. San simply smiled back at him.

Yuna, staying on top of her boyfriend, twisted herself around and faced the group, taking the bottle of vodka in her hands. “Sheesh,” she sighed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Looking at Aurora she uttered a quiet, “I think I get it,” and took a deep breath. Jongho smirked behind her, side eyeing Wooyoung. You turned to catch his reaction, but found him looking down at his shoes where he sat on the arm rest.

Twisting the lid off the bottle, Yuna took a swig, some of the boys exclaiming in surprise, clapping their hands together. The sophomores, except Jongseob, leaned over the table, their wide eyes glued to Yuna. Gulping some of the alcohol down, with furrowed brows she fumbled to put the lid back on. Jongho took it from her and fixed it as she shot a hand toward Soul.

“You,” she said. Intak and Jiung whipped their heads toward him, lips parted in shock. “Truth or…” she hiccuped and giggled, “Truth or dare?”

Soul, blinking up at her, muttered, “Truth.”

She hesitated, looking at him with such intrigue that the room fell quiet. When she spoke, she gagged you all.

“How many times did you hook up with Aurora and Wooyoung?”

Intak, Jiung, and Jongseob lost their absolute shit. Hands flying to their faces, smacking each other, laughter ringing and echoing into the high ceiling and likely over the first floor. Ryujin, jaw agape, eyes wide, glanced around because this was the first her and Jeongyeon had heard of this. Jongho, keeping a laugh inside, jokingly placed a hand over his girlfriend's mouth making Seonghwa and Hongjoong snicker.

“What?” Ryujin shouted amidst the noise, looking up at Aurora who wore nothing on her face. San rubbed a hand into her shoulder as he and Wooyoung looked at one another. 

Yunho didn’t move, but his eyes studied everyone.

Soul, unable to acknowledge anyone, even his friends, he flattened out his brows and said, “Together or separate?” 

Everyone lost their shit.

Except you. Except Aurora and Wooyoung. Except Yunho.

Yuna, distracted by the shouts, the shoves towards her, she blinked about the room and said, “Both.”

Souls lips perked into a small smile as he glanced away from her. “Mm,” he hummed, “Six times together? A lot of times separate…”

San lurched forward, both of his arms snatching Aurora by the waist, holding him against her as he shouted at Soul, “Six?!” Wooyoung gave him a glare.

“How many times separate?” Yuna asked.

Ryujin, reading the room much faster than anyone else, smacked Yuna on the thigh. “Shut up.” She looked over to Jongseob laughing with Jiung. “Thought we could only ask once?”

He assumed his game master role and cleared his throat, his smile dying down, the occasional snicker sneaking out. “Right, right, you can’t ask multiple questions, my bad,” he said, half assed. 

Reluctantly, you turned toward Mingi. You could feel someone’s eyes on you, and lo and behold, it was your boyfriend. His heavy stare spoke to you. If you hadn’t opened your mouth, if you hadn’t said anything, she would’ve never asked Soul that question. You knew that. His glare didn’t help, it made you feel worse. Whirling away from him, you looked toward Aurora and swallowed hard. Stone faced, she sat on San’s lap looking out at the rowdy bunch before her on the floor with a distaste pulling at her lips. 

As if she were better than all of them. All of you.

Your guilt disappeared in seconds.

The game moved along, the bottle passed from Ryujin to you after another innocent question for Keni about Yeosang. With the glass in hand, you spun it around and debated gulping some of it down like Yuna did, but your head already spun and your vision blurred more than it was when you were downstairs. The glass in your hands, utter power. You could ask anyone anything, you could make anyone do anything you wanted, and they had to do it. 

Meeting Jongseob’s eyes, his expression shifted into one that shot through you down to between your legs. He wanted you to ask anyone anything, he wanted you to make someone do something… Anything and something that would create waves and cause problems. 

“Yunho,” you said, and like when he chose you, some of your friends wore confusion on their faces. He didn’t move his eyes from the floor. With a single raise of a brow he bobbed his head, wanting to be anywhere but here. “Truth or dare?”

He lifted his hardened gaze. “Dare,” he spat, and a few exclaims of interest sounded around you.

“I dare you to kiss the prettiest person in the room,” you said without taking a breath, and watched as he clenched his jaw and tightened his fists around his knees. This could be it. This could be the moment shit went down. You wanted it to be.

“Really?” he sneered. “You got that from that Perks movie, care to be a little more original?”

You smiled. “Do it.”

“Fine,” he sighed and leapt onto his feet. Aurora reacted behind you, sinking further into San’s hold, back into his chest. Staring at you until he took a few steps over toward your boyfriend and grabbed his face, he squeezed his eyes shut and planted his lips on Mingi’s, shouts and screams breaking out over the plot twist tainting your master plan.  “There,” he said, letting your boyfriend go. Tapping his cheek with his slender fingers, Yunho nodded once and sat back down on the floor.

Mingi, dumbfounded, drug his fingers over his lips and glanced around the room, Jongho laughing at him, swatting at his arm. 

Rolling your eyes, you ignored Yunho’s smug little grin and handed the bottle over to Keni.

From Keni, to Yeosang, to Wooyoung, to Aurora, the four of them kept it less exciting than the first half of the circle, a whole bunch of truth’s all of you already knew of happening at once. The moment Aurora passed the vodka to San, everyone perked up.

With a charming smile, he shouted, “Yuna!”

Jongho groaned as his girlfriend sprung up straight.

“Truth or dare, sweetie,” San cooed.

She smiled and bit down on her lip. “Dare!” The energy in the room woke back up, the sophomores leaning over the table toward her again, their eager eyes darting from San to Yuna in anticipation. 

Wiggling his finger, signaling for her to spin around on Jongho’s lap, he said softly, “Dare you to show us that lil kiss again, please.” 

“Fuck yes,” Jiung muttered.

It didn’t take much more convincing. Yunal, clearly plastered, scrambled to straddle her boyfriend and deep throat his tongue.

“Oh my god,” Ryujin groaned with a smile, shaking her head toward the boys. “You guys are gross.”

“It’s hot,” Intak said, jaw slack, eyes on Yuna. 

“Moving on!” Ryujin shouted, waving her hand at San to pass the bottle along. Yuna fell backward, her and Jongho giggling together. “No one can ask them to do that again!”

Intak shot her a look. “Then I’ll ask you two to do what I really wanna watch,” he said, making sure Jeongyeon was looking at him. You kicked your foot into his thigh under the table. “Ah!” he cringed.

“Don’t be a perv,” you snapped.

Intak leaned over the glass. “Would you prefer I ask you and Aurora?” 

Jongseob appeared behind him and dug his fingers into his friend's hair, yanking his head backward. “Enough,” he eyed the bottle of vodka and cocked his chin. “Keep going.”

The bottle passed through Soul, over to Intak who didn’t ask what you thought he would ask, both boys keeping it light, asking one of their seniors about their first time, targeting both Seonghwa and Yeosang, like they planned to ask them both. When Jiung held the vodka, he pursed his lips and glanced around, everyone seeming like an excellent target, until he landed on you.

“Tori,” he smiled. You rolled your eyes. “Truth or dare?”

Sighing, you settled against Ryujin and shrugged. “Dare, I guess.”

Jiung blinked and his eyes went dark. “I dare you to kiss Jongseob.”

All of the air had been sucked out of the room. Blood running cold, your throat tightened and panic set in fast. Ryujin gripped onto your knee. No one moved. For the first time, no one had anything to say aside from Yeosang who let out a disapproving hum, shaking his head toward Jiung.

Jongseob raised his hand, taking the attention off of you, off of his friend. Wearing compassion on his cheeks, he gestured toward Mingi, then you. “I just… No.”

Jiung whipped his head around. “You said nothing was off limits.”

“I know,” Seob chuckled, placing his hand to his chest. “But, that feels really wrong. I can’t do that. We can’t have her do that.”

“Do it,” Mingi said without an ounce of aggression in his tone.

Every being in the room stared at him, eyes wide, surprise between their teeth, even yours. Aurora, brows flipped to oblivion, sat forward off of San’s lap, eyes bouncing from you, to Mingi, to Jongseob, to Jiung, and back. 

Your boyfriend shrugged. “What? It’s a game, right?” He aimed his question at Jongseob who feigned his own shock. 

“Course,” the boy nodded. “It’s a game, but… I’ll let her pass this once.”

You exchanged a glance with Mingi, one you absolutely could not read. Whatever went through his head, you couldn’t figure it out. You couldn’t see it, you couldn’t place it.

“Do it,” he shrugged again, gesturing to Jongseob.

“Tori,” Aurora said from San’s lap, the sound of her voice and your name jarring. With a snap of your neck you shot her a bewildered look, and her don’t do this expression aided you in your decision.

Without acknowledging Mingi one last time, using Aurora and her plea to get you off your ass, onto your feet, and over to Jongseob, you grabbed him by the neck, ignored the gasps behind you and his fake ass shock he wore on his face, you yanked him into you and kissed him.

You kissed Jongseob.

In front of the entire room. In front of your boyfriend.

Alcohol driving this bus, you dug your fingers into his neck and parted your lips to deepen the kiss, giving Jiung exactly what he wanted, exactly what Jongseob wanted. His lips, warm and full, they knew how to work, and they knew how to work with you, even for your first kiss, he already knew how to work you. Tasting of alcohol and adultery, your heart ignited in your chest, flames engulfing your inhibitions, moving your hands up into his hair, tugging at the dirty blonde shag that drove you insane.

It didn’t have to be this way. You’d been dared to kiss him, not swallow him whole.

But, this could be your only chance. To kiss him. To touch him. 

The moment your hips wanted to grind into him you pushed him away, and the stifled laughter and gasps that had continued around you bled back into your ears. Jongseob, cheeks pink and lips wet, he cleared his throat and looked away from you. Narrowing your eyes at the pretender, you took a deep breath, mustered up the courage to turn around and wedge yourself back between your friends, and did just that. 

You didn’t dare look at Mingi.

Your adrenaline, your excitement, your arousal, it outweighed your guilt.

The game moved on.

Seonghwa, bottle in hand, looked over at Yunho, and the giant curled up into a ball sighed heavily and shook his head. “Truth or dare?”

Yunho blinked blankly. “Truth.”

“When was the last time you spoke to Mina?” Seonghwa asked, tone dripping in utter sincerity, genuine curiosity. The name sent a chill through the room. Peeking at Aurora, her eyes were sharp, staring at him.

Reaching into his pocket, Yunho pulled out his phone and scrolled, and scrolled. “Uh, when school ended. Little over a month ago.” He spoke quietly. He was afraid to say it. 

And the game moved on.

The bottle rounded the circle, the bottle made everyone laugh, made everyone answer ridiculous questions, say absurd things, and then Aurora got it in her hands, her eyes having barely left Yunho since he answered Seonghwa’s question.

“Truth or dare?” she asked, and Yunho gulped.

“Me?”

Aurora nodded.

“Uh,” he stammered, sparing Wooyoung a glance. “T- D- Truth.” 

She didn’t miss a beat. Sitting forward on San, she clutched the bottle with a glare and perfect posture. “Why’d you text her?” 

Yunho’s eyes bugged out of his head. “I- I- I didn’t,” he said, folding his legs beneath him and his hands onto his middle. You peeked at his fingers. He was trembling. “She texted me.” Everyone watched them like ping pong.

“Why?” Aurora asked, and just as Yunho parted his lips to speak, Jongseob cut them off.

“Gotta wait your turn again,” he policed, and a majority of the room groaned to themselves, as if he’d just shut off the television in the middle of a crucial episode. 

Sitting back against San, settling back into his touch, she lobbed the bottle behind her and he took it. Disappointment washed over her as her eyes dropped to the floor, and you couldn’t help the laugh that escaped you. Accidental, you think, but it made her lips pull into a frown, her eyes glossing over. She held back tears. Soul watched her with broken hearts flowing out of him toward her. 

And the game moved on.

The bottle rounded the circle, and it ended up in Jiung’s hands once more.

“Tori,” he said, and the room groaned. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” you said, sitting up straight.

Jiung tilted his head, toying with his ginger curls for a moment. “Why did you think Seob was the ITZ texter? The number you don’t know?”

Now immediate panic set it. Confused looks faced you, mumbled questions of what the fuck is he talking about. Mouth gone dry, you shook your head.

“What ITZ number?” Ryujin asked from beside you, trying to catch your eye, but you could only focus on Jiung. Not an ounce of malice lived within the question. He asked you genuinely.

Looking at Ryujin, he blinked, then turned to you. “The one texting you about sex stuff?”

Yunho sat forward. “You thought it was him?” He threw a hand toward Seob where he stood.

Mingi shot a look toward his best friend. “You knew?”

“What ITZ number are we talking about?” Yuna asked, glimpsing in a million directions at once, unable to keep up with the commotion.

“Wait,” Aurora said, strength in her tone, raising her voice. The room quieted some. “The ITZ phone number?” Glaring at her, she glared right back. 

Yes, the ITZ phone number, the texts you read at the bar when you did drugs and couldn’t stand up on your own.

“It’s been texting her since you all got here. Juicy messages, too.” Jiung turned to Yunho. “She thought it was you, but she just asked Seob if it was him downstairs.”

Aurora let a singular laugh tumble from her chest. “You thought Yunho was sending you sex stuff?”

Holding up a hand, you started, “I realized it wasn’t him before-”

“This number, ITZ, I’ve been thinking is some secret group chat with all of you in it,” she pointed at each of your friends, “You thought it was Yunho?” 

Ryujin and Yuna, they shook their heads, they didn’t speak, they waited.

The chill of being found out had flushed through you, now your blood ran red hot. “Why do you care if it was, Aurora? You only care about one thing now!” You tossed a hand over Jeongyeon toward Wooyoung who gave you his infamous grimace. 

Aurora slapped her hand to her chest. “You kept it from me.”

Because Aurora needs to know everything.

Groaning aloud, wanting to tear your hands through your hair, wanting to throw the shot glasses off of the table and flip it as well, you sat up to your knees. “Why do you care! Because you still love him? Because you miss him? Because if that test gave you a plus instead you’d be pushing out his kid right now?” Ryujin latched a hand onto your arm, and Yuna gasped, both of her hands squishing her cheeks together. 

Nobody moved. On the edge of their seats, every single one of them.

“Tori, shut up,” Ryujin demanded.

You flung her arm off of you. “No!”

Yunho stood to his feet, his cheeks flushed of all color. If you didn’t notice him trembling before, it stood out now. “What?”

Aurora released a shaky breath. “Yunho, I-”

He never raised his voice. Sure, a passionate man, a loud man, his volume often grew out of control, but never through anger. Never through pure frustration. He never scared you, but in this moment, he did.

“You couldn’t have broken your stupid ass rule to at least tell me that?!”

His voice echoed, ringing against the glass in the room, the bottles, the table, the shot glasses. His voice struck not only you, but everyone in the room. Aurora. 

He fled the scene, his long legs removing him from any and all narratives in seconds. Aurora stumbled off of San’s lap, a sob escaping her as she chased him down the stairs. Wooyoung sprung to his feet, his grimace upon you once more.

“That’s your girl for you, Wooyoung,” you sneered, and he scoffed.

“You think she didn’t tell me?” His words pointed a gun to your heart and pulled the trigger. “News flash to you Tor, and anyone, since you’re all invested when it’s none of your business- Ro and I weren’t anything until we went home for winter break. Before any of it, we were friends.”

Curling your lip, you spat, “You’re her therapist.”

Wooyoung settled his jaw. “We communicate, Tori. Not shocked you don’t know what that looks like.”

Silence followed as he took himself out of the room and down the stairs. 

Intak, with a rich smile pulling at his lips, he took the bottle of vodka from Jiung and filled up the shot glasses. Each sophomore took one, even Soul. Hongjoong reached for two and handed one back to Seonghwa who avoided eye contact with anybody. San took a glass as well, holding it up toward his president before gulping it down.

Jongseob, licking his lips, eyed you where you sat as he wandered behind Intak, taking the bottle from his hands. Just like you, everyone on the couch behind you, the girls beside you, you sighed, silent plea’s for this to be over.

He looked at Mingi and gestured toward him with the bottle.

“Truth or dare.”

Glancing toward your boyfriend, he gave you a side eye, then answered, “Dare.”

Jongseob smirked. “I dare you to read the last text you received out loud.”

Taking his time, Mingi wiggled out his phone. Popping open his messages, he took a deep breath and released it with a ragged sigh. Blinking fervently, he read it aloud, and you wanted to be sick.

“Forgive me,” he started, and Jongseob smiled. “I’ll do anything you want me to do, I’ll be your good girl,” he paused to gulp, not letting sounds from anyone deter him from finishing reading, “I know who I wanna play with. Let’s play, I’ll be so good for you.” He slapped his phone to his thigh.

“Goddamn,” Jongho laughed, nudging him with his elbow, nearly pushing him off the edge of the arm rest. 

A lump lodged into your throat. Bile rose within you, you wanted to scream, but could only manage to whisper, “Who the fuck sent that?” 

“Oh my god,” Yuna mumbled, covering her mouth, and everyone seemed to react just the same.

Everyone had thought that message came from you. They assumed it came from you.

Mingi narrowed his eyes, they drew all over you, then met your glare. “Tori…”

“Mingi,” you said louder, standing up, hands balling into fists. “Who the fuck sent that message?”

Your boyfriend stood to his feet, sliding his phone back into his pocket. Confusion warped through him, and it lingered. “You did.”

“No the fuck I didn’t?!” you shouted, scrambling to get a hold of your phone.

Tilting his head, he froze, looking you over. Then, he looked at Jongseob and his shit eating grin.

“Tori, check your fucking phone,” he grumbled, every muscle in his body tensing, his ears turning red, the color bleeding into his cheeks.

Swiping through apps, you landed on messages and tapped through them. It didn’t live in his thread, the last messages you sent to one another were from yesterday and what snacks he wanted you to bring to the beach.

“Mingi, I didn’t send that fucking message, I-”

Breath caught in your throat.

Tapping onto the thread with ITZ, that message resided there. Sent over an hour ago, just after the are you okay message from ITZ themself.

Looking up at him, you found him walking toward Jongseob, his fists tight at his side.

It was Mingi.

It’d been Mingi this whole time.

ITZ, the unknown number, belonged to your very own boyfriend.

Frozen in shock, in subtle betrayal, in amazement that he’d been able to pull this off, you couldn’t stop him from grabbing Jongseob by the collar of his shirt, one of his fists hauling backward before he launched it into his jaw. Every other person in the room leapt to their feet, the boys rushing in to pull the two apart, shouts echoing through the air, but never penetrating your ears.

Jongseob sent the text.

And Mingi received it.

Mingi, who through anonymous text message, told you he wanted to set up… a threesome. 

And Jongseob read that.

Jongseob who curated that message, had known Mingi would read it, played innocent throughout this game of truth or dare so that when the opportunity arose for one of his friends to dare you to kiss him, Mingi would allow it. 

Because he was under the impression you’d chosen Jongseob.

Wooyoung is quick, but I am quicker.

Mind if we come play?

Checkmate. 

Unsure about some things they've talked about? home;run might answer some quetions <3 Pop into my inbox and I can pinpoint where you need to go! <3

read it on ao3 | talk to me | my masterlist

you do not have permission to copy or translate my works without my consent.

[beomie-rabbit]

HELP HES JUST SO ADORABLE!!!!!🫠🫠🫠🫠

Credits: Jay B Live on b.stage, gifs made by me -A🐰💜

[chrollohearttags]

so I’m actually making progress on the next chapter of reverb lmao. might give a lil excerpt or sum.

[slippinninque]

🖼️Heading Out🌌

Your ride comes just in time

Fontaine x blackfemreader

Warnings: none! Fluff and nostalgic, walking down memory lane, mentions of smoking, may need some edits, before work drop🫣

When you woke up, you felt excited. You didn’t remember exactly why, but it made you rise from bed all the same.

You stepped into your slippers and tied your robe about you, pulling your sleeping bonnet off and scratching at the new growth of your locs. After staring at your cane for a long while, you sighed and took it anyway.

Baby’s ears perked and she was beside you on the way to the living room. One ear was flipped and the furr around her mouth was smooshed by her trusty pillow.

The night was deep through the windows, the moon peeked at you from the open kitchen window as it listened to the crickets' song. There couldn't have been a soul awake on the block.

Standing there, you recalled the calls of names and laughter. Frustrations expressed, joyous exclamations. Holidays, birthdays, hard times—the memories swirled about the room. The babies that walked all the way to the door, suddenly grown enough to go walking elsewhere without holding your hand.

Around the room you went, touching the frames and trinkets given to you to be kept safe. You smiled at the teddy bear won for you by your eldest boy, it’s fur turned wispy with time. Then, there was the lopsided ceramic mug your daughter gifted to you only a summer ago. It was chipped from a bad paint job but all you could remember was the laughter as it was presented to you.

Beside you, Baby released a pointed sigh as you lingered a bit too long for her liking.

“Yes, ma’am. I’m goin’ over to that chair right now.” You said reassuringly. Slowly you went to the curio cabinet, reaching down into its lower shelf for the photo albums there.

Baby lent her weight to help you back up and you ended up leaving the cane behind.

Going over to the recliner to have a seat, you took a breath. Laughter bubbled up and though you aren’t sure why, laughing felt good. Remembering felt good when it came so easy.

“Baby, go get Mama’s treat.”

Baby loped away and you took in the picture frame settled on your side table. It was Junebug’s college graduation and Fontaine couldn’t hide his wettened face in time for the picture. You were pregnant for the second time but that wasn’t discovered until the following month.

Baby returned with your stash pouch and, just as you hoped, there was a pre-roll with a lighter waiting. Opening the first album, you lost yourself in the memories. Baby laid at your feet, dozing as you journeyed.

Attwell, your oldest boy, from his tiniest frame to the absolute tree he grew into. While he favored his father more, you both were similar to a comical amount of funny faces pulled for the camera. Attwell was doing more than well for himself, now that he’s found his niche.

The baby girl, Florence? Was Fontaine through and through. Her passion lies in the garage you both started, honing in on the joined love of cars and customization. You felt nothing but confidence that Florence would tear up the road with those flashy creations she drafted up.

Handfuls of years filled with joyous life, smiles and tears protected beneath plastic film and your fondness. You ran your thumb along old school ribbons, concert tickets, and fading stickers. Watching yourself become a woman all over again from that unsure, curious girl into a…bit of everything. Except you beat the old-cat lady allegations, so there…

At some point, you grabbed your trusty pen and notepad from the side table and wrote a few notes to tuck between the pages of the photos that stuck out to you the most. The memories were pouring in and maybe the weed helped a lot, but you never felt more like yourself than when a pen was in your hand. Especially the photo of you kicked back on your suped up 1965 Shelby GT350R. Boy, was that a time...

When you reach the modestly sized album, deep green leather that’s been worn both by grief and love. You ran a finger over the initials embolden on the front then flipped it open.

First thing you saw was his smile. He had turned to say something but you were already admiring him and had an itchy finger when it came to polaroids.

You smoked and giggled to yourself as you found old love letters, printed screenshots of devotions and promises–good lord were you down bad–that handsome smile dipped in gold.

Fontaine chased you from all sides of the Glen. Let him tell it, he loved you from the moment he heard your tires squeal at the races. He let it be known until his last day with you that there was no one else for him.

Despite what he liked to say, Fontaine was as romantic as they came. The proof was in your lap in the way he looked at you, how much love was on your face when you looked back. You felt his need for your wellbeing in every action he took, every decision he made was for the family and for you.

‘You did just fine, baby.’ You said it to the photo beside your nightstand every night before bed. Fontaine’s wish lived on. Junebug and the kids were thriving, you needed for nothing and you still felt his love.

Turning the album around, you started back down memory lane once more.

-----

You heard the car-horn, cursing and hurrying to close the albums. How long have you been dozing? You left the albums where they were and Baby met you at the door. You hushed her soft whine, scratching at her ears. Bending down you hugged her to you, feeling her tremble.

“Be good, sweet girl. I’ll see you soon.”

Baby licked your face, sneaking you entirely, before going to her bed on the other side of your recliner. Brushing out the wrinkles of your sundress, you grabbed a jacket and then your keys.

Stepping out the front door, you grinned at the sight of who was waiting for you.

“Did you wait long?” You asked, coming to where he held a hand out for you.

“No such thing, you know that…”

Fontaine kissed you deeply, one hand running up your back and into your hair while the other went to your waist, pulling you closer. Tears sprang to your eyes and you giggled when he lifted you briefly off the ground.

Pulling away enough to take him in, you saw that slanted grin and dark eyes. His soft mouth filled with gold, his strong arms keeping you close. It’s been forever and a lifetime but there, in his arms, that passed time only felt like phone tag.

“You ready?” He asked quietly, “I got a lot of stuff to show you.”

Looking up at the stars, they seemed so close. Like they all gathered to hear your response. The air was clear and the breeze playful, you could smell apple blossoms in the wind. Excitement was all through Fontaine’s voice and it was contagious. For a moment more, you relished how free you felt.

“I’m ready.” You kissed the back of Fontaine's hands, “Let’s go.”

He opened up the Grand Prix’s passenger side door and once you were settled inside, he shut it gently. You looked up at the strong stance of your home and felt so much pride in its beauty against the dark sky. You were ready.

Fontaine’s hand settled on your thigh as he pulled off. He honked the horn twice before throttling the engine a short space, just to see you yelp. He laughed and did it again just to feel you reach out to grab hold of him. On the end of the last, long rev, the two of you sped off down the street.

Your cheeks hurt from how hard you were smiling, reaching out to turn up the dial on the radio as Fontaine rolled down your window with a knowing grin on his face.

You breathed in deep, hitchless and without pain, and let the air rush through your locs as the burdens and age lifted from your shoulders. With a new focus, your eyes took in the majesty of the nighttime swishing past you. The joy in your heart swelled, embracing the surety that everything behind you will be alright right and nudging awake your excitement at a new adventure.

The night was so beautiful. Leaning out until you sat on the sill, you felt Fontaine keep hold of you as you held onto the roof of the Pontiac.

Fontaine turned off your street and you gasped. The block was lit up with folks you haven’t seen in a long while. There was your girlfriend! Maeve! Her silver Afro gleamed the way it did the last day you saw her, but there wasn't that stoop to her back or a wrinkle on her face. Maeve headed out a bit before you but you were glad to see her stopping by to have a smoke on her daughter’s front porch. Maeve waved back at you from where she sat, peaceful and vigilant.

Apparently tonight was a good night to head on out.

The streets were clear aside from the prowl of engines and the thump of flowing music. There wasn’t a red light as Fontaine drove fast enough to blend one light into another, floating the Pontiac towards the highway.

With his hand on you, the wind kissing your face, you couldn’t help the whoop of pure joy that left your lips.

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

✨Ending notes✨: Oh, all my roads always lead to Fontaine lmao! Whenever I’m stuck, I end up writing a Fontaine fic and I’m back in action🤣! I ain’t gonna lie, I kinda made myself sad with this one lmao! Tell me what you think and thank you so much for reading to the end. ��💕✨💓💕✨✨

💓Taglist💓: @megamindsecretlair @sageispunk @miyuhpapayuh @cardierreh15

@mcondance @thadelightfulone @mag1calenchantr3ss @cocoeffects @wide-nose-and-wonderful

@8ttached @thadelightfulone @hobiesmain @thickeeparker

@longpause-awkwardsmile @ms-angiealsina @harmshake @notapradagurl7 @kindofaintrovert

@theereina

[ackee]

walter done messed jesse's life up and its like episode 2. i think walt needs to die.

[motziedapul]

She's 10 apples tall, she's peak Filipino representation

🤏🏾

2025 Sexiest Podcast Character Round Robin Day 3 Poll 14

Mari Datuin — Hi Nay

Husky — Hope's Hearth

[bebe-ghel]

Yepp! That's what I like to see. Everyone just needs to talk everything out. Simple 🥹 Aghh, I hope RorTor becomes unstoppable again. They truly care for each other

Mingles, you atee dzown! 🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾 Correct your partner in private, very gooodttt

Wooyoung read her down. Tbh it all makes sense now. It was all still horrible but it makes sense. She definitely needs to face that trauma head on.

Why are we calling Yunho now??? 😀 WHEN WILL SHE LEARN

gimme gimme gimme 8 -> mingi x fem!reader -> nice for what

wc: 8k warnings: 18+, sexual content and alcohol consumption in every part, infidelity themes... if i missed anything please let me know! posted: 3/9/25 8:08 pm est.

masterlist ~ <- previous part - <3

The party ended.

Or, at least your friends attempted to end it.

While you sat at the dining table on the back deck with Mingi after having drug him down the stairs after his fist drove into Jongseob’s jaw, the rest of your friends kicked everybody out. All of the underclassmen, all of their friends, the sophomores, they were cut off and thrown out. A lot of them lingered, your friends, drunk themselves, trying to usher other drunk people out of the house was taking a lot longer than expected.

Gripping his wrist, digging his fingers into the bone, the muscle, stretching his fingers backward with a wince, Mingi paced the boards in front of you, the moonlight hitting his tanned skin, illuminating his blonde locks. He’d thrown off his glasses the moment you shoved him out of the sliding glass door, somewhere on the sand most likely. You’d buy him another pair tomorrow, expedite shipping, and they’d be here within the day. 

Words had been thrown at one another, starting with the punching you couldn’t praise him for but wanted to, leading into the phone and the unknown number and how he’d done it and why, winding you up here, yelling at one another about the game.

“I kissed him because you said to do it,” you cried out, hands palming your cheeks, wiping your tears then wiping your hands on your skirt.

Whirling around, marching back in front of you, Mingi shouted, “That’s because I was under the impression you wanted to bring him into bed!”

The door slid open, both of your attentions turning toward it. Ryujin scurried out with a water bottle and an ice pack.

“Ignore me,” she breathed, “I’m not listening.”

Focusing on Mingi, you continued. “Then, you can’t be mad at me!”

She put the water bottle on the table beside you, pointed to it with a quiet, “Drink this,” then handed Mingi the ice pack and muttered, “Use this.” Turning to hurry back into the house before she heard anything else, she gave you a tight lipped smile.

“Where’s Aurora?” you asked her, and she paused. 

Tightening her palms into fists, she shrugged. “We don’t know,” she said. “Yeosang and Ken are going to their place to check.” 

“Fuck,” you mumbled, grabbing onto the water bottle she gestured toward once more before she took herself back into the house.

Mingi, icing his knuckles, staring down at the blue pack Ryujin had brought him, clicked his tongue, scoffed, and rolled his head back all within three seconds. “You kissed him, Tori, like, fully, like, kissed him.”

Sipping the water while he spoke, you nearly choked. “I did, Mingi, okay!? But, I did it because you said so. It’s a game.”

“Yeah, but-”

“What about you?” you questioned, sitting up straight, tilting your head aside. He met your eyes and you smiled maniacally. “Texting me? You know those texts drove me to talk to him?!”

He sighed. “They weren’t supposed to.”

“What else was I meant to think?” Narrowing your eyes, you capped the water and tossed it onto the table. It rolled and hit the ground. Mingi watched it, then shot you a look.

“It was obvious it was me,” he muttered.

You shifted into a more gentle smile. “No, it wasn’t.”

He took two steps toward you and you sat backward, the power of his voice nearly forcing you against the chair. “You thought it was Yunho, isn’t that close enough!?”

Springing back up, you pointed at him, stabbing your finger between his ribs. “You kissed Yunho!”

“Now you know that’s different,” he said with a squint. “He kissed me for your dare so he didn’t have to kiss Rora.”

Looking up at him, hands dropping into your lap, your beautiful boyfriend staring down back at you, you took a deep, shaking breath, and released it with a sigh. For weeks now he’d been masked as someone else, texting you like some complete stranger. Acting as if he knew nothing, he waited for you to tell him, he attempted to persuade you, through this alias, to say something.

Mingi. Your sweet, kind, loving Mingi who tries his utmost best to give you everything you need, everything you deserve… He held a secret from you, for weeks. A part of you felt proud, that he grew a pair and wanted to get a little sneaky, wanted to try some other outlet for a rush, and for your sake, but deep down you can’t seem to shake the guilt that grew around it. It wasn’t Mingi, this wasn’t Mingi. 

As much as you longed for the unknown, the uncertainty, the unpredictable, the moving on a whim- it wasn’t Mingi. It wasn’t you. It’s not how the two of you work. Your relationship is stability, comfort, a rock the size of a mountain that cannot be moved, and now that you’ve gotten a taste of sneaky, it repulses you.

“Mingi,” you whispered. He took another step closer to you, now standing directly in front of you. “Why did you do this to me?”

He loosed a breath. “Because…” Shaking his head, he spun around and wandered toward the railing facing the beach before looking at you once more. “Ugh,” he groaned, tipping his head backward, “Because I know I’m losing you.”

“What?”

“You don’t see it yet,” he said, keeping his voice steady, though you could hear how his throat tightened. “But, I feel it.”

Standing up, you placed yourself in front of him, big, pleading eyes gazing up at him.

He sighed, staring down at you, his fist still in his hand. “Maybe we’re too drunk for this right now.”

“Please-tell-me,” you spoke all too fast.

Pressing his lips together he glanced away, then met you with another headshake. “It’s what I said before,” he mumbled, blinking a billion times in one second. You’ve both been drinking, you’d be shocked if this didn’t end in tears. You may be the crier, but an intoxicated Mingi is a wildcard. It’s either tears or the zoomies. “You’re pushing us all away. And everyone has been trying to tell you, has been trying to pull you back in, but…”

Tears brimmed his eyes. Tonight it was tears.

“Each time you fight back, and it hurts more and more. Things feel okay for an hour,” he half rolled his eyes, “And then they’re right back where they were, and you feel another mile away from me. At this point no one knows what to do, or what to say, that we’re asking you for help. We need you to help us help you.” He used the back of his injured hand to wipe his cheeks. Gulping, all you could do was watch. “This phone thing… Wooyoung helped me with it.”

A scoff tumbled out of you before you could stop it, your head rolling backward as a grin broke out onto your cheeks. “Of course he’d help you sneak-”

“Tori,” Mingi said, as calm as ever, making you snap your neck back to focus on him, all emotion wiping from your face. “Listen to me, for one minute, please.” 

Your cheeks heated. “Okay,” you whispered.

“Wooyoung helped me with it,” he repeated himself, not breaking his gaze from yours. “I wasn’t talking to Yunho, I had no one else to go to, this isn’t something I can talk about with Jongho, he doesn't get it. Neither does Seonghwa, and lord knows I am not talking about anything with Hongjoong. I wasn’t about to trouble Yeosang with it either, he’s got too much on his plate, and he’s happy, I didn’t wanna bother him.” He took a breath, releasing it with a sigh. “Wooyoung, he’s a good dude. He cares, and I know you feel some type of way about him, so that’ll piss you off to hear that, but… It’s true.”

You swallowed your rage that wanted to pour out of you. From the way he’s been treating you all week, to how he popped off on you at the end of the game. Wooyoung caring, it didn’t sit right in you.

“He listened to me when I needed someone to talk to, and he gave really good advice. He’s logical, so even though my feelings were everywhere and I wanted him to tell me what I wanted to hear, he gave me the whole truth, and he helped me work through some things, and eventually we came up with a plan together to try to…” he glanced to his hands, shifting the now melted ice around his knuckles, “I dunno, to make sure you didn’t break up with me.”

“How did it work?” you asked, furrowing your brows.

“There’s an app,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s so high school, but it worked. I text you off of that.” Meeting your eyes, he wore pure sorrow in his. “I thought it would excite you. I knew what was happening with Wooyoung and Aurora, I saw how it affected you. Even if that’s not the whole problem, I know how you felt about it, and I guess I thought… You wanted to try that. Or, you wanted something like that to happen, or maybe we would explore something together. So, using this number, I thought you’d tell me about it, maybe a day or so after texting each other. And that would open up a conversation.”

“Then, our… issue happened, we landed here, and it turned into something entirely different,” he said. “Something was going on, and you weren’t telling me. Even if you didn’t know what was going on, if you were just… going through it, you weren’t telling me. You wouldn’t talk to me. Then, you started telling this number about stuff that was bothering you, and I wanted to tell you it was me, but I was finally hearing about things and I didn’t wanna stop you. I also figured, if you were telling me these things and not someone else,” he shrugged, “Okay, I can forgive you thinking you were telling someone else. Because it was me behind the number and I felt guilty about that.”

“But, it got to the point of your hard assumption that it was someone else,” his lips pressed together, “And what I was offering as this other guy, you thought it was him.”

You asked within a whisper, “Who else would I assume it be, Mingi? You were talking like someone else.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re gonna tell me there wasn’t more behind that kiss? Be honest with me, please, just say it so I know I’m not crazy.” “Maybe,” you answered without an ounce of hesitation, and he nodded.

“See, Tor, that’s it. Just tell me.”

“I’m supposed to tell you when I’m attracted to someone else?”

His lips propped up in some sort of smile. “Look at what it’s been doing to us.”

“He’s a jackass,” you spat. “Yeah,” Mingi raised his brows, “Clearly, but you like him.”

“I don’t like him,” you whispered.

He narrowed his eyes, his lips still resting in that smile. “You want him.”

“Is that what those texts were about?” You put on your best Mingi voice, “Talk to your boyfriend and we can set up…” Your voice trailed off, your face warping with subtle shock. “Mingi?”

Licking his lips, his confidence dropped and he retreated within himself some. “Hm?” he hummed, tilting his head, his shyness beginning to consume him.

From what he said of your friends, to the reason he’d been texting you from another number, to now Jongseob…

“Have you been thinking about having a threesome?” you asked, and the most bashful laugh sparked at his lips. 

“Um,” he swallowed hard, composing himself, “No, not uh…” He shook his head, looking everywhere but at you for a moment. “Not completely, but I know you, I watch you, and it seems like maybe you might be interested, so I… I’ve been trying to be more open to the idea…”

Tilting your head aside, you said, “So you secretly text me to ask me.”

“Kinda?” he shrugged for the umpteenth time. “I didn’t know how to talk about it, how to ask, how to bring it up, I just-”

Throwing your arms around him, squishing his hands between your chests, you shot to your tiptoes and yanked him closer, smushing your lips to his, his words getting lost in mumbles before he was kissing you back. Knotting your hands in his hair, you deepened the kiss, then pulled back from him, keeping yourself dangling on the front of him. 

“I’m still mad at you,” he mumbled.

“I love you,” you whispered. “And, I’m sorry, but I was listening to you.”

Clenching his jaw, his eyes drew all over your face. You could see every heavy emotion he kept within. As much as it killed him, he asked, “Do you wanna sleep with him?”

You sighed. “You would really do that for me if I wanted that?”

“Maybe,” he answered all too fast, “I think so, I dunno. Possibly. If it’s… If it’s what you need.”

Tears brimmed your eyes. “Mingi, I don’t know what I need, but it’s definitely not Jongseob.” He tried to hide it, but the breath he let out expressed his relief. “I know I need you, and I’m sorry. It’s empty now, my apologies, but… I am, I’m sorry. You’re so good to me, and I… I took advantage of it all and I can’t even tell you why.”

Lifting a hand between you, he brushed tears from your cheek. “You helped me and Yunho, and you… You were having fun tonight. When the questions weren’t about us. You… You try to fix things even if they aren’t totally yours to fix, but because you care.”

“Problem solver,” you muttered.

He took both hands to your cheeks now, dropping the bag of melted ice to the deck. Squishing your cheeks, he smiled. “My big brained girl,” he said. “You get stuck in there, it’s so big. You’ve been lost. I’m here for you if you can find your way out, but until-”

Cutting him clean off, stumbling forward into him, you spewed from your lips, “You are not breaking with me, Song Mingi.”

“I’m not,” he cringed. “Jesus, Tor. You think I’m gonna leave you over these things? Unfortunately I’m a problem solver too. I want you to be happy, I want to make you happy. Forever.”

Your heart lurched. “Mingi-”

“Not proposing either,” he smiled. “Deep breath.” You listened. “You told me before, you’re struggling. We can do something about that.”

“You thought a threesome was the answer?” you asked, and he laughed.

“Couldn’t hurt, right?”

“I dunno,” you mumbled, and his smile fell just as your eyes did. “After seeing Aurora, I… damn.” She wasn’t in the house. She’d run after Yunho.

As if he read your mind, he lifted your chin and brought your focus back. “They’ll find her,” he said softly, “Wooyoung was right behind her, she can’t be alone, he’s definitely with her.”

“I fucked up,” you whispered, and he listened, his thumbs brushing over your cheekbones, beneath your lashes. “She tried to be a friend to me, and I… Acted like every person who’s hurt her.”

“You’re going through something too, Tor,” he reassured you, “Don’t beat yourself up. It doesn’t excuse anything, but…”

“She tried,” you said, tears falling down to meet Mingi’s fingertips. “And, I don’t know why I didn’t let her. “

Mingi took a deep breath, hoping you would take it with him, but you didn’t. “There’s a lot of big feelings. You guys went through a lot together, it hasn’t even been a year yet. Yeji tried to divide you, she tried to isolate Aurora from everybody. Wooyoung did something major for her, I don’t think I blame her for clinging to him.”

Blinking, your brows straightened over your eyes as you stared at him. “What has he told you?”

“That Aurora is literally clinging to him. Because Yeji isolated her. He did what he did, exposed himself, their whole plan, got kicked out of his frat, for her, and now her subconscious is tethered to him for the time being.”

Blinking again, you let out half of a laugh. “You spend too much time with him.”

He nodded his head side to side, curling his lips. “It makes sense, and it’s interesting. They have feelings for each other, but Wooyoung doesn’t think this kind of relationship is long lasting for either of them.”

“What the fuck,” you sighed, “You knew all of this?

“Yeah,” he said simply, “Wasn’t mine to tell though, you could’ve asked her about it.”

That stung.

“Ouch,” you muttered.

He squeezed your cheeks, popping a kiss to the tip of your nose. “I’m being honest, Tori. Head out of the clouds, Miss Song. Your friends love you. They have their own shit going on, but that doesn’t make you, or your life, or your shit any less important or valuable. You matter, to all of us. In fact, Rora might love you more than I do. When you kissed him, San had to hold her back from running over to you.”

You rolled your eyes. “Why didn’t he let her go?”

Mingi smiled and shook his head. “It’s not alway malicious, baby,” he said, his gentle tone washing you with comfort. “We were all drinking, who knows, she told you to stop and I told you to go.”

“He should’ve let her go,” you whispered.

“So, what?” he scrunched up his face, “You could fist fight and yell at her? You didn’t know any of this half an hour ago, you really think you guys were gonna kiss and make up if she pulled you off of him?”

Making a face, you looked away from him and groaned. “She’s avoiding me because she thinks she’s bothering me.”

“Gee,” he said without an ounce of sarcasm, “I wonder what gave her that impression.”

“Mingi,” you whined, bouncing on your knees. He smiled and held you closer.

“Tor, I have your back. In front of them, always. If two plus two is six, hell yeah it is! But, baby, I have to do this and tell you it’s four. You’re short tempered with her, you’ve snapped at her more than once, you’ve insinuated the same thing again, and again.”

Taking a deep breath, you let it out with a whisper. “Aurora’s world.”

“And then you get upset because he’s silencing her? That other people are tainting her spirit when her very own best friend is saying those words to her face?” 

Tears spilled over, a sob heaving from your chest. Mingi slid his arms around your shoulders bringing you into his chest.

“She’s not the good guy here either, trust me,” he said, dragging a hand over your head, through your hair to soothe you while you cried. “I guarantee you Wooyoung has had to do this too.” It’s quiet for a moment, your cries slowing down until nothing but the breeze and crashing waves could be heard. “Seonghwa has tried to talk to her,” he continued. “President to president, about Nasara stuff, things we want to present to you guys. They need to talk about it first though, and she won’t do it. Hwa says she declines every chance he gets to talk to her.”

“It’s like she’s running,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “From what, we don’t know. But, I do know she needs her Vice President to help her. Her best friend. Her sister. You both have shit to talk out, and it needs to happen, and you need to work it out. I know none of us wanted to talk school while we were here, but unfortunately it’s all we can do. We have one more year together, Tori.”

One more year until everything changes for all of you, like it did this year for Ryujin and Yeosang. Something you were keeping far far away until it happened to appear right in front of you. It made you sick to your stomach.

“And I know that thought does nothing to help you,” he said, reading your mind, “But, this year is supposed to be one of the best for us. You’re starting the year as the board, it’s completely, entirely yours. You guys need each other. You can fix this. You can get her back. You said that she said it, she misses you,” he paused. Taking a slow breath, he said, “It’s likely she still does. Talk to her.”

Waking up beside Mingi, pressed into his side with one arm slung over his chest, he laid on his back with an arm snaked beneath you, the two of you finally waking up closer than you have since you’ve left for this vacation. Blinking the hangover away, the ache in your head and dreariness in your eyes, you drank up his lazy smile and lifted your chin to press a kiss to his cheek, letting him catch your lips for all of two seconds before his own head and messy blonde hair flopped back onto the pillow. 

At some point in the night Ryujin came out to let you know the house was clear, that all the kids were gone, and that you could come back in when you were ready. Holding onto Mingi, the two of you mumbling things to one another, endless apologies, you wandered back inside and up the stairs hand in hand. Through the second floor, past the couches you all sat around not too long ago, and straight up to your bedroom where you dressed each other for bed and curled up beneath the sheets together.

No sign of Aurora. Ryujin and Jeongyeon were straightening up as you walked through the house, the two of them sparing you a small smile. On the second floor Yuna and Jongho were doing the same, throwing trash away, pushing furniture back to where it should be, and appearing every now and again, you only saw him once, was San, quieter than usual, his chin down as he carried glasses down to the kitchen.

Seonghwa likely took Hongjoong home, neither of them were around, and like Ryujin told you, Yeosang and Keni went back to their house to check if the rogue couple were there. 

It had turned into a quiet night.

A quiet night that turned into a quiet morning.

As much as the energy had shifted, a tension now lingering amongst everyone somehow, there was peace right here in bed with him. Against his bare chest, the rise and fall of each of his breaths, the steady beating of his heart, he was yours. And he was here. And he wouldn’t leave you. You wouldn’t lose him. What should’ve broken the two of you, it’d be used to make you stronger, strengthen your relationship. 

Given a taste of what you thought you wanted, what you thought you needed… This was it.

This is how it should be, you and Mingi, together, with no one between you.

Sticking with you after last night should be enough of a sign for you to realize that, yes, he wasn’t going anywhere, but, no, you didn’t need anything more. The two of you weren’t missing anything, your relationship didn’t lack anything, if you needed a change, if you needed something new, you could tell each other. 

Mingi’s thought, his offer, he didn’t take it off the table, it still lingered in the air somewhere, but you were both too fragile right now to explore that. You’d get yourselves back to where there were no questions in your collective loyalty, trust would become the utmost focus, and then you could open that door.

“Good morning,” he grumbled, his gruff morning voice like music to your ears.

Giving him a smile, you said, “If it was a good morning I wouldn’t have to talk to Aurora today.”

He sighed and stretched his legs out, slipping his arm out from under to you to stretch them over his head, his hands pressing against the headboard. “Do it and get it over with, rip off the bandaid,” he muttered, rolling onto his side, facing you, tucking his hands under his cheek and his knees into his chest. 

Giggling when he fluttered his eyes shut, you took hand to his cheek and messed with his hair, twirling a few strands around your pinky finger. “You’re so cute.”

“Mm,” he hummed, smiling, nuzzling into your touch. “Don’t talk to me like that if you’re gonna get up.” Opening his eyes, he fluttered you his lashes.

Kissing his forehead, you mumbled against his skin, “I’m gonna go get us some water, and then I won’t get up again, and you can keep me here all day.”

His pupils doubled in size. “Go,” he whispered, rolling onto his back, pushing you away with a smile. “Go, the faster you go the faster you come back.” 

You kissed him one more time, letting your lips linger on his a little longer than they should. He lifted his head to keep his pressed to yours, but when you got too far from him he fell back to the pillows with a sigh and a lazy smile. 

“I love you,” you whispered, ruffling his hair before you moved off the bed and slipped into a pair of his sweatpants that hung off of you, the band low on your tanned hips.

Rolling onto his side, his eyes unable to leave you, he watched you start for the door, and whispered, “I love you.”

Out in the hall, like the aftermath of every party, mess lingered, but you couldn’t be bothered. Your friends took care of most of it last night, at some point you’d get to it and recruit Mingi in the process. Light mumbles carried up from the first floor, guiding you through the hall of the third to the stairs, familiar hums of voices you knew, voices that invaded the peace you’ve curated within the last few hours.

Heart rate picking up, palms growing sweaty, you flew down both flights of stairs and nearly stumbled into the kitchen. Eyes wide, jaw clenched, hands pressed to your middle, you glanced about the space as confusion warped your senses, taking away some of the anxiety of having to face her. 

Standing between the couches, Wooyoung spoke to Seonghwa, the boys murmuring to one another broken words you could barely make out. Beside them, rifling through her carry on bag on the couch, sat Aurora. Hair thrown up messily, makeup on her face from last night still half decent, she looked tired. Heavy eyes, she’d definitely been crying, whether last night or this morning, you didn’t know, you couldn’t tell. She rummaged for something, and when she found it she pulled it out and stood up, zipping her bag shut.

Fumbling with the tiny paper in her hands she read over it and moved to slip it into the pocket of the sweats she wore, but in doing so she looked out into the kitchen, and she found you. Freezing for a moment, she folded the paper in her palm, closing her fingers around it.

Wooyoung, his lips still moving a mile a minute for Seonghwa who nodded along, the president's eyebrows low, his entire being on alert, he glanced at Aurora, then you, his expression not changing. Talking to Seonghwa, he watched her wander around the couches and into the kitchen.

Your stomach rolled, cartwheels in your gut, worry building up in your throat, every muscle tightening because you did not know what was coming.

Their suitcases lived by the door, hers and Wooyoungs. Her carry on sat on the sofa, his had to be nearby. They were both dressed in sweats, comfy clothes, in shoes they could easily slip out of. They were dressed for a flight, the airport, and they were packed for one too.

“Are you leaving?” you asked within a breath as she approached you. 

She stood about two feet away from you, stopping there, planting her feet into the floor. Nodding, she said, “We have to go.”

Lowering your brows, but not enough to seem upset, you said, “We have another two weeks, Ror.”

“I know,” she said, lowering her voice. “I’m sorry.” Bobbing her head she let the words marinate for a second. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, holding out her hand, “Here,” she shook it a bit and you held out your own. She dropped that piece of paper into your palm. Giving her a look you unfolded it, looked it over, and immediately shook your head.

“Aurora, no, this is not-”

“Take it,” she said, looking at the check you held. “It doesn’t completely cover two weeks for the house, but… I’ll find a way to get you the rest somehow.”

Dumbfounded, unable to do anything but shake your head, you whispered, “Where did you get this?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it.”

Dropping your hands at your sides, you gaped at her. “Aurora, I’m going to worry about it.”

“Wooyoung,” she said quickly, tossing a hand toward where he stood with Seonghwa, now listening to him mumble. You glanced his way, he wasn’t paying attention. “He’s just spotting me for now, I’ll pay him back.”

Your eyes drifted back over to her. “And somehow you’re gonna do that, and give me the rest to cover two weeks here?” She took a deep breath, her hands smoothing against her thighs. “Ror, I don’t ask that in a bad way, you know that, it’s just… Don’t do this, don’t give this to me.”

You held out the check, and all she could do was look at it.

“My dad’s in the hospital,” she said, sucking down a shaking breath. Brows flipping over, you let her speak. “My uncle called me this morning, I didn’t even sleep, but whatever, he was at their house and… He wasn’t feeling right for hours, he said. They weren’t doing anything crazy, they had dinner, they were drinking, and when they were in his garage smoking, he collapsed.”

“Ror,” you whispered, taking a step toward her. “I’m so sorry, what did they say happened?”

She looked at you and pressed her lips together. “Heart attack,” she shrugged, “We just don’t know how bad yet. Last I talked to Yoongi he said they were still running tests, but… he lost, like, the brain oxygen, I dunno, I just, I have to go.”

Nodding, you took another step closer to her. You wanted to throw your arms around her, hug her tight, but there was still too much left unsaid, too much unspoken shit between you that needed to come undone, that needed to be spoken. Seeming to want to do the same, she gave you a glance as you came closer, but she looked away just as fast. 

“Go,” you said gently, thrusting the check toward her. “Don’t leave me with this, not now. I don’t need it. Go home to your dad and be with him, hug him, and make sure to tell him I still think he’s the hottest drug dealer ever. But, don’t leave this with me, I promise you, you don’t-”

“Take it,” she said, pressing her hands to her cheeks. Squeezing her eyes shut, tears slipping out of them, she blinked them away, breathed through a sob, and gestured toward you. “Take it, keep it, let me do this, please. I owe you, I’ve owed you a lot for a long time, let me start getting my shit together, okay? One day I’m gonna be left with just me, and it was almost last night, and now it could be any day, I can’t keep doing this. I owe you, Tori.” She looked up at you and shook her head. “Thank you, for everything, for all of this, for bringing us here. For everything you’ve done for me, thank you.” Gulping, she held in a cry, but her tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m sorry things got so messy, I didn’t wanna say this and cry, but now with my dad, don’t take these tears as anything else. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you, I’m sorry for Wave and what I did that night, and I’m sorry you couldn’t talk to me, about anything. I never want you to feel like you can’t, but somehow I did, and I don’t know why yet, but I hope you’ll tell me, but I know you don’t owe me that.”

“Aurora, it’s-”

“No, you don’t have to say anything right now,” she sighed, wiping her cheeks clean. “I just dropped a bomb, and whatever you’re gonna say is gonna try to make me feel better and I don’t deserve that.” Taking a breath, she folded her arms over her chest and glanced to Wooyoung who now sat alone on a couch tapping at his phone. Seonghwa had snuck away at some point. “I’ll let you know when I’m home, if you wanna know,” she shrugged, “Or, if you don’t just tell me. I’m gonna get out of the way. Tell Mingi I said bye.”

“Tell me yourself,” he said from the staircase, sending the two of you and Wooyoung’s head whirling around. With furrowed brows Mingi stepped onto the floor and wandered closer to you. “You’re leaving?” 

“What are you doing down here?” you asked him, and he gave you a look.

“I heard everybody talking,” he said, acknowledging Wooyoung with a wave, “I got FOMO.” 

It took everything in you not to laugh. Taking a hand to his arm, you smoothed it over his skin. “I’ll tell you later. They are gonna go, though.”

Mingi shared a look with you, then shifted it over to Aurora. “Damn, okay. You fly soon?”

“Two hours,” Wooyoung said from the couch, now facing the three of you. “We’ve got a car coming soon, then we’re heading straight to the airport. One way to Iloa.”

“My dad’s in the hospital,” Aurora said, and Mingi gasped.

Thinning your lips, meeting eyes with Wooyoung, you stepped away from your boyfriend and best friend, leaving her to tell him the story she told you, hoping she’d give him some more details she seemed to be sparing you, still in her avoidance mentality. 

You didn’t want to, but you were drawn to his side. Something in the way he looked at you, in the way he sat there knowing, like he pulled you toward him with his mind and you walked over and sat down beside him involuntarily.

His presence wasn’t awful. It never has been. Now that you know what you know, he’s almost tolerable.

“Hi, Tori,” he spoke gently, like each word held value.

Shifting on the couch, shoving your hands in your lap, you nodded once. “Hi.”

“Take the money,” he whispered, and you frowned. “No,” he smiled with a little shake of his head, “Don’t, I know, trust me, but, do that for her and take it.” He glanced toward his lap. “She’s very mad at herself,” he mumbled, looking up at you with just his eyes, “I don’t mean to speak for her, but she is sorry.” Pursing his lips, he squished them around before smacking them open. “I think you and I can both agree she’s not the easiest girl to deal with.”

You lowered your brows, sitting up a little straighter. “What do you mean by that?”

Assessing you, he smiled. “Exactly that,” he nodded. “She’ll drive us crazy, but we’ll protect her no matter what. I can see what you’ve been trying to do, extending a hand after shit hits the fan, but it somehow gets worse and worse each time?” He pulled a nod from you. “You can’t control her, none of us can. I don’t know how she’s gonna wake up in the morning, but once I know, I roll with it. Her mind changes constantly, always craving something else, and I don’t know why, but… It’s amazing to watch.”

“Dealing with her high at the bar was not amazing to watch,” you muttered, and he laughed through a breath. “I don’t know what you get, but that was not fun. Sometimes she moves for herself, and herself only, it feels like she doesn’t think twice about other people before she makes decisions sometimes.”

Wooyoung studied you, bobbing his head while you spoke. “She’s got quick triggers,” he said, keeping his voice between the two of you. “She learned from a young age that she can only rely on herself, even if that isn’t the whole truth. In the same way you crave stability and a constant, so does she.”

You held up a hand, then slapped it to your chest. “How do you know what I crave?”

He didn’t move. “Mingi has become a constant for you. Aurora has become a constant for you. You were set in your ways for a long time, it became normal, it became comfortable. When everything was shaken, when everything got messed up, you both… lost it a little.” You soaked in his words, half amazed at what he was able to do. “Ro is moving with the instability because that’s what she knows, she has to ride it out, remove herself from places she thinks she’s causing problems in, she has to run away from it. You, on the other hand, Tori, you go against it.”

“You fight it. And I commend you for that, for fighting for things you love and care about, but when that grows too strong it can turn to resentment, because everyone else is moving differently and not like you. Growing up, did you feel like you weren’t somewhere safe? Were you put in any situations that made you feel… alone?” 

He asked genuinely. Now sitting over his own lap, his elbows on his knees, he spoke with care, and his eyes did the same.

To answer his question, yes.

And hearing him ask it drove a dagger through your heart.

“I… I have a sister,” you started, and he nodded, encouraging you to continue. “Sitara. She, uh, got a lot of my parents attention, I guess. You know, the whole thing of ‘siblings having different parents’ thing?”

“I know all about it.”

“Right,” you sighed, averting your eyes to your lap. “I don’t know. Some days were fine, I guess, you know my dad is always there for me as much as he can be. Sometimes we would go behind my mother and Sitara’s backs and have days to ourselves, and he’d joke with me about them. He’s the only one who reaches out regularly when I’m not home, but Sitara’s busy with her career and my mom is busy riding on her success, so…”

Wooyoung blinked. “What happened when the time you spent with your dad was over?”

You shrugged. “He’d have to travel with Sitara, or spend his time with her and my mom because of work. Sitara’s been doing what she’s doing since she was a kid, so this has been going on for as long as I can remember. It was not easy being the little sister of the girl who was the face of every kid’s show, and it sure as hell isn’t easy being the little sister of the girl who, very soon, is probably going to be the face of every blockbuster film in Hollywood.”

“Tori, Aurora’s not going to leave you behind,” he said, sitting backward against the couch. 

You felt like you could be sick. “I’m not worried about that, I-”

“But, you are,” he gave you a soft smile, “And, it might be why you feel the need to sabotage relationships sometimes. When things seem hard, when things seem rocky, it’s easier to just throw them away before they throw you away first, right? It felt better to decline spending time with your dad, your family, because you knew if you spent time with him, with them, it would end and they’d leave you for an unbeknownst amount of time, right?” He tilted his head to the side. “Better to be the one squashing hearts than to have yours squashed by someone else, am I right?”

“It gets squashed either way,” you mumbled, and he smiled.

“None of it feels good,” he agreed with you, “But, we do it anyway.” His gaze drifted over to Aurora and Mingi, both of them babbling away at the kitchen counters, the two of them leaning over the edges like they’ve been best girlfriends for years.

Messing with your hands, tangling your fingers together, you twisted up your brows and shook your head. “Then, what happened with Mingi,” you whispered, “Was all just me subconsciously afraid that he was going to break up with me first?”

Wooyoung rubbed a hand along his chin, his eyes on his girl. “Something like that, it seems. Sabotaging it before anything even happened.”

“That’s awful,” you breathed, thinking it over. Giving you a look, Wooyoung smiled. A parent wound, a family wound, one you didn’t even think twice about before, it’d been woken up by the events of last year at Nasara. The loss of your core four friend group, Yeji isolating Aurora, pulling her from you, and then the simple act of friends graduating- That’s why it all felt so large and detrimental. 

Even small changes now felt catastrophic.

“I compared her to my sister,” you whispered, looking him dead in the eyes. “That’s why I’ve been saying what I have to her. To anyone, really. I compared her to… To Sitara.”

Narrowing his eyes, giving you a once over, he said, “I can see why. Especially now that she’s got… the title. You’re no longer equals, though, if we think about it, you had a position first last year.” You were on the board before Aurora, whether or not she’d been bought out of her rightful position or not. “It comes down to the title, I believe. You’re the little sister, Tori. Now you’re the Vice President. I’m not saying those two go hand in hand, I’m not saying that makes you inferior, or unimportant, because you’re very important, but if we’re talking about what triggers what…” He gestured his hands around a bit to put the pieces together.

Mouth parted, slouching over slightly, drawn into him, his words, his aura, you couldn’t move. For many seconds you sat and stared. “You’re like… Lawful chaotic. Or, no, lawful good… Chaotic good? I dunno which one, but you fall somewhere in there. Jongseob, he’s… Chaotic evil. Lawful evil.”

Wooyoung scrunched up his face, then let it fall with a shake. “Jongseob’s just evil. Stop messing with him.”

“He messed with me first!” you shouted, leaning toward him, silencing the room. Glancing behind you, Aurora and Mingi were looking to you with wide eyes. “Sorry,” you mumbled.

“Why bring him up?” Wooyoung asked when you turned back toward him. 

“‘Cause he said something to me last night, before he came in,” you shook your head, placing your fingers over the bridge of your nose before twisting one of your piercings around. “How you are quick, but he is quicker, or something.” When you met his eyes, his told you what he said was the truth.

“He’s taking all the classes I took when I was in his year,” he nodded, “He’s gonna be a finance bro,” he said in a funny voice to make you laugh, and it worked, “So, don’t worry, but he takes all these extra classes. He’s insanely smart, and scary. All of his friends, he’s manipulated them into sticking with him, and we almost had Soul out of it, but…”

Your heart sank. “He pulled him right back in.”

“Yep,” he said with a pop of the P.

“Damn,” you sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said with a furrow of his brow as he reached for his phone that vibrated on his lap. Tapping at the screen he answered the phone call, it was their ride. They had to leave.

They were really leaving.

Wooyoung just therapized you, Aurora’s dad was in the hospital, you and Mingi were going to be okay, you and Aurora were up in the air, and you still had no clue what happened with Yunho last night. Everyone moved at once, too quick for your liking, but you took what Wooyoung said and you let it happen. 

It had to happen. 

Helping them with their suitcases out the door, sharing small looks with Aurora, letting her know you still held onto the check she gave you, when Wooyoung slapped a half hug around Mingi’s back and slid into the backseat of the SUV, you and Aurora spared one last look at one another.

“Thank you,” she whispered one last time.

Space stood between you. Space neither of you liked. 

She’s the girl you walked into ITZ with, hand in hand, after barely knowing each other for a couple weeks. You stood next to one another when you met Yeji, when you whispered about her in awe after she walked away to greet the seniors. For every fundraiser that first year, somehow, RorTor were put together, and you were stuck to one another from the very start. That first visit to ATZ, that very first party you walked into, your arms stayed linked for hours, giggling at every older boy who glanced your way. Your roommate of three years, hopefully now going on four, you’ve seen each other at your absolute worst, you’ve taken care of each other when you got sick, when you needed to vent about family or lack of, every secret, every whisper, you knew.

It’s supposed to be RorTor until the end, a promise made at the recruitment dinner freshman year, locked in with a hooked pinky and a kiss to the thumb. 

Sisters from the start.

Deeper than any sorority title given or taken away.

You both spoke at once.

“I’m sorry.”

And a laugh threatened to come out of both of your mouths, but it didn’t.

Reaching out a hand, you placed it to her shoulder and gave her a shake. “Take care of him, be with him. We’ll talk later. Promise.”

Her lip crinkled. Grabbing onto your arm she yanked you closer and wrapped her arms around your back, hugging you tight, crying into your shoulder. Your own tears spilled over as you slid your arms around her shoulders, laying your cheek over her messy hair. Keeping your cries quiet, you drug a hand over her back.

“Take time, okay,” you said as she started to pull away. Wiping your cheeks, she did the same. “And take care of yourself.”

She released a shaking breath, nodding as she adjusted her clothes. “You too,” she whispered, locking eyes with you for a few more seconds, then she jumped up into the car, settling beside Wooyoung, clinging to his side. Everything Mingi told you last night about their relationship popped back into your mind.

It made sense.

Wooyoung gave you a smile, letting you know they were good, that they would be okay, and you shut the door, the couple disappearing behind the tinted windows. Joining you at your side, leaving Wooyoung’s window, Mingi slipped an arm around your back and pulled you into him. He lifted a hand to wave as the car pulled away, leaving you both in a beautiful, calm, sunshine blazed silence. 

Mingi’s fingers tickled your side, making you squirm. Looking down at you, he asked, “Now what?”

Pursing your lips, squinting your eyes, you shot a look down the street to Jongseob’s house that stood in silence. Snapping your neck to look up to your boyfriend, knowing you wanted and needed to unpack everything Wooyoung had discussed with you, you set your mind on another mission. That problem solver, fixer attitude, that may or may not be a trauma response- you’d discuss it again with Wooyoung when given the chance- it woke right up.

“We need to call Yunho.”

the story continues on... season 3, coming soon <3

read it on ao3 | talk to me | my masterlist

you do not have permission to copy or translate my works without my consent.

[ap0llx]

while I won't say a lot yet abt the au im working on over on patreon, I will show you this sketch, because I like it a lot

[pvnks0ul]

ohhhh my mfkn god

[evilwoman18]

Work got me like this right now.

[sunsetsandsunshine]

My Ler mood is hitting fucking HARD today 😭🤌🏾