#(..and sawing off branches with my tiny folding hand saw)

[kitten4sannie]

21 - ᴠᴏʏᴇᴜʀɪꜱᴍ -

ꜱᴀɴ/ᴡᴏᴏʏᴏᴜɴɢ

ʟɪɢʜᴛꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴀ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

pairing: pornstar! wooyoung x pornstar! reader (fem) x older pornstar! san

summary: you star in the tenth installment of “Stepdad Fucks Stepson’s Slutty Girlfriend.”

w.c: 3.3k

warnings: aged up! san, hard dom! san, dom! wooyoung, sub! reader, there’s a whole stepdad/stepson theme that’s alluded to but it’s a porn setting so it’s not actually real, daddy kink, pet names, name calling, voyeurism, oral (receiving), squirting, two spanks, humiliation (m receiving), unprotected sex, cumshot

a/n: dilf pornstar san <3 that's it. that's my entire note <3 also yes this is just me simping over san for an hour straight leave me aloneeee

FFF Masterlist

✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖

On your way to your next shoot, you sat in the backseat of your driver’s car, staring off into space. It wasn’t until you felt your phone vibrate on your lap that you looked down at it, reading the text you received from the intern at the company you worked for. They sent you a link to the script, which you promptly opened. They usually just consisted of a really vague explanation of scenes, along with some basic dialogue. It was relatively easy to remember. Reading the small text on the first page, you realized that you’d be working with someone else besides your friend and coworker Wooyoung. It was Choi San. The Choi San. Not only was he aging like the finest wine available at a Michelin restaurant, he was quite the celebrity in the industry, known mainly for his stamina, his ability to stay hard for a prolonged amount of time, and the thing that initially got him noticed back in the 80s — his ability to pump out endless cumshots. Despite being older, he was still able to keep up with the younger men and even surpass them, able to work for hours with few breaks in between, and always having a lot of enthusiasm. Needless to say, he was a very, very busy man.

“Hey, Woo,” you spoke, turning your head to look at your coworker sitting in the seat beside you, admiring his shiny dark brown hair, watching it bounce slightly as the car drove over a particularly rough road. “Did you know we’re working with Choi San? He’s going to wreck us!”

“He’s going to wreck you. It’s a straight person porn.” Wooyoung looked up from the game he was playing on his phone, blowing a bubble with the strawberry gum he was chewing. “And yeah, they told us before we got in the car back at the studio. Were you not listening?”

“I mean, I heard that we’re playing a couple that gets caught or whatever...” You pursed your glossy lips, idly watching Wooyoung continue to play an RPG game you weren’t familiar with, before gasping, “Oh my god, is San going to play the step dad role? That’s actually everything.”

Wooyoung paused the game, unable to focus on the battle that was taking place on the screen. “Y/N,” he started with an attitude, brushing a bit of perfectly-styled hair out of his line of sight. “Do you even watch his films? He always plays the step dad.”

“Not always.” You sucked your teeth, your lips forming a slight pout. “He’s done a ton of solo stuff. And I also saw one where he played a professor cheating on his wife.”

Wooyoung chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle your hair, not wanting you to get pouty because you were upset. He’d rather see you be like that when you were begging for cock onset. “You’re right, Y/N. My bad…though in that one the husband was cheating on the wife with his stepdaughter.”

“Oh, yeah…” You looked down at Wooyoung’s hand when he lowered it to hold his phone again, your eyes slowly following a prominent vein that tracked up his forearm and eventually branched off in different directions, feeling a very familiar twinge of heat form inside your core. “Are you more excited about working with me or San?”

He didn’t bother looking up from his game, answering right away, “San.” In turn, you made a tiny hmph sound, unconsciously folding your arms across your chest.

Wooyoung smiled to himself, tapping and swiping his phone screen to wear down the enemy in his game, until he won. After emitting a small ‘yes’, he glanced over at you. “Come on, Y/N. I’m just kidding.”

“You’re not funny,” you mumbled in a pouty voice, suddenly caught off guard when he grabbed your chin and pulled you in closer. “What?”

He ran his thumb over your bottom lip, gazing at you with half-closed eyes, the tip of his tongue swiping near the beauty mark on his lower lip. “You don’t need to ask that every time we film with someone else, you know. The answer’s always you." Seeing your sheepish smile made his heart melt, though he had to be honest this time around. "But I think it might actually be San this time. I mean, just look at him," he sighed, already playing one of the man's latest films on his phone, sighing longingly at the sight of San pounding himself into a guy's ass, while his fingers were buried inside a woman's cunt.

"Wooyoung!" you whined, pushing on his shoulder. You stared at the clip, studying his intense, lust-filled facial expressions, and admiring the way he just kept going and going, not showing any signs of exhaustion. "No, you're right. I'm with you on this."

Wooyoung smirked, gently resting his head on your shoulder. "Thought so."

-

San was even more attractive in person. His angular face and sharp, chiseled jaw distracted you first, especially his Adam’s apple, watching it bob up and down as he took a few drinks from a glass water bottle that probably cost at least a few hundred dollars. A few drops trickled down his freckled neck, disappearing inside his plain white button-up shirt. The one that was clinging to his broad upper body and becoming a little loose near his slim waist, though his Gucci belt kept it tucked in. He was expensive, and he didn't mind if everyone knew it, too. In fact, he preferred it when eyes were on him.

Wooyoung stood near you, sipping on a Red Bull through a bendy straw. “Y/N, are you just going to stare at him like that, or say hi?”

You put a hand up in front of his face, murmuring, “Shhh, I’m concentrating.” You were, to be fair, but you were also thinking about all the ways San could probably destroy you.

Zoning back in on the man, you focused on his striking dark eyes that gazed intensely through a pair of sleek black glasses, as he was entirely focused on the film crew member that was now speaking to him. Jesus, he was fine. You licked your lips at the sight of the crow’s feet that appeared underneath San’s eyes when he smiled at them. You needed him inside you sooner rather than later.

“Jesus Christ, I can’t watch this anymore,” Wooyoung announced exasperatedly, walking past you and up to San when he was done talking, tucking some hair behind his ear and pushing on the older man’s chest. After a few moments, he motioned to you and beckoned you in their direction.

San greeted you with a warm smile, slowly running his thumb around the lid of his water bottle. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you from Wooyoung, Miss Y/N.”

“Oh, did you now?” you returned, giggling softly, placing a hand on your hip and trying not to smile too hard back. “What’d you hear about me?”

The man’s once friendly eyes darkened in front of you, his tongue rubbing over his bottom lip. “I heard you squirt a lot. I really want to see.” The polite image he portrayed just a second ago disappeared all together. It was so jarring that it made your knees feel a bit weak. “You’ll let me see that, won’t you?”

“Uh-huh,” you nodded almost right away, not even noticing that you were starting to drool when Wooyoung put an arm around you and quickly wiped it away with his thumb, distracting San when he asked, “Is it true that you once came for 2 minutes straight?”

-

Once someone counted down from five and gave you all the thumbs up, the camera framed the shot, capturing you and Wooyoung sitting on a leather couch in a living room, pretending to watch the TV that was playing a rerun of a past football game. San sat in a recliner with an empty beer in his hand, not able to see the two of you unless he turned his head back.

With his arm around you, Wooyoung began to slowly pull down the thin strap of your tank top. “Baby, I’m so horny,” he complained, glancing down at your tits, idly flicking one of your nipples to make it stiff.

“Your stepdad’s right there…” You feigned embarrassment, pushing his hand away, only for him to position you so that you were sitting against his chest with the two of his hands working on your tits, kneading then in circles and rubbing your nipples with the pads of his thumbs. “Babyyyy, he’s going to hear us…”

Wooyoung pressed his lips to your ear, whispering loud enough so that the boom mic captured his low voice, “He’ll only hear if you’re too loud, you know? Try to keep your voice down.” He slipped one hand into your loose, non-existent athletic shorts, rubbing circles around your clit, his other hand pushing up underneath your tank top to grab at your tit directly, continuing to tweak your nipple. Delighted by your small, breathy moans, he rubbed his fingers rapidly up and down your dripping cunt, teasing your hole more and more, until he couldn’t help but fill you up with them, delighted with how soaked you were. “Fuck, you’re so wet already, babygirl…”

Soon enough, Wooyoung was on his knees with his face in between your legs, three fingers deep in your cunt, and slurping on your clit like it was his life mission. The cameraman positioned himself in front of San, who was watching the both of you over his shoulder and fisting his cock, still able to capture the two of you behind him.

“It’s so good, you’re stretching me out so good,” you panted, going between gazing down at Wooyoung and up at San, making sure not to acknowledge the camera at all. You fucked yourself on Wooyoung’s slender fingers the best you could, sinking further and further down the couch cushion behind you, your shorts hanging off one of your ankles and your top rolled up over your tits, all while you panted and moaned like a bitch in heat.

“Cum, baby, come on, you can do it,” Wooyoung encouraged in a muffled voice, dragging his tongue up and down your pulsing clit, rubbing your g-spot in just the right way to make your hips stutter and your moans to raise in pitch. As soon as your warm arousal began to drip out, he moved his fingers rapidly across your clit instead, shoving his tongue inside you to fuck the cum out of you. “That’s it, that’s it, baby. Good girl. Gooood girl.”

Your coworker’s praise caused you to barrel over the edge, your orgasm so intense you let out a desperate, almost sob-like cry, seeing stars. You painted Wooyoung’s mouth and face with your squirt, some of the tiny clear droplets hanging onto his long lashes.

“You got a slutty little girlfriend there, son.” The older man finally stood up and walked over to the couch, sitting on his knees beside you, his hand still idly stroking his long, veiny length. “But she looks like she wants something more than just your fingers and tongue.”

Wooyoung gave your cunt one nice, long lick, before looking up at San with a curious expression, despite knowing what he’d say. “What’s that?”

“A nice, big cock,” San replied, letting go of his own and letting it slap up into his abdomen, waiting for the cameraman to zoom in before he ran a thick finger up from the bottom of his shaft and along one of his prominent veins, smirking as the camera rose upwards to capture your overly surprised, but enticed face. “You want Daddy’s cock instead of your boyfriend’s, huh?” He slipped his fingers into your hair and brought your face closer to his cockhead, slapping it down onto your tongue a few times when you opened up. “Mm, I’ll take that as a yes. Now, open wide and show me what you’re made of.”

-

San’s stamina was no joke. It was well over two hours and you already filmed two deepthroat scenes, having to redo it after he pinched your nose for too long and you almost died tragically from choking on his cum, another solo jerk off scene for a separate catalog, and then he had to enter you in various positions, having to go slow, but stay hard, so that the photographer could take pictures for another catalog. Now, he was fucking you into next week for the camera. All the while, Wooyoung was able to cum a couple times, mostly on his own, but you were so gracious enough to lend a hand even when you were getting face-fucked.

Though, Wooyoung didn’t even bother jerking off himself at the point, knowing the camera wasn’t even on him anymore. He sighed to himself, idly running his hand up and down his abdomen, watching San fuck the shit out of you right next to him. He couldn’t be too upset. He already knew that the studio you were filming for was made for men who almost couldn’t even handle seeing him naked on their cum-stained computer screens, their fragile masculinity convincing them it was gay to do so.

Personally, you could hardly think straight, unable to even acknowledge Wooyoung sulking on the couch nearby. It wasn’t your fault, though. San was showing you what it really meant to get dicked-down. The man was like a well-oiled machine, pistoning his cock in and out of you like he was built for it. In fact, his cock was buried so deep inside you, you swore he was going to quite literally rearrange your guts. You wanted to tell the man all of that, but instead you spoke how you usually did during your films, “It’s so good, Daddy. You’re making me feel so full with your big cock in my tiny little pussy.”

“Mm-hmmm,” San nodded his head in agreement, pushed you further down into the couch, his solid body flush against yours. “Daddy’s fucking you good, huh? Much better than your pathetic little boyfriend. You want Daddy’s dick from now on instead?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” you chanted in an obnoxiously whiny voice, each time he pounded into you, hooking your feet together around his slim waist, locking him in place. When the cameraman zoomed in on your face specifically, you emitted a few small whining sounds, making a small ‘o’ with your swollen lips, gazing at the older man with glossy eyes, your eyebrows drawn.

“Baby girl’s so fucked out for Daddy already…” San reached down in between your bodies to rub your clit, the camera now following his movements. The older man pulled his body back slightly, giving the camera a good view of him pounding into you so brutally fast and hard that you’d have no choice but to squirt for him. He knew it’d make a nice money shot.

“Fuck, Daddy, it’s so fucking good!” you yelled, almost growling the last few words out, digging your manicured nails into his broad back and scraping them downwards, making the man groan. This happened sometimes. You got so lost in the pleasure that it made you aggressive. Made you want to cum so badly that if you didn’t get to, you’d throw a fit. “Don’t you fucking stop!”

“I’m not going to stop until I made you squirt, princess.” San ran his tongue across his bottom lip, squeezing and thumbing your throbbing clit, shoving his cock into your aching cunt so viciously that he couldn’t help but let a loud grunting sound each time. “Squirt all over Daddy’s cock. Come on. Fucking do it."

Two rough slaps to your ass and one brutal thrust later, you tossed your head back into the couch, your face contorting like you were in pain, your jaw tensing up as you moaned, “Oh my fucking god.” San pulled out and moved out of the way, holding one of your legs up so that the cameramen could get in there, allowing him to catch a crystal clear view of your dripping hole clenching around nothing until a small amount of liquid began squirting out of you. “Oh my goddddd…”

To make you squirt as much as possible, San hunched over the couch and brought two fingers onto your extremely sensitive clit, rubbing it so quickly, your hips jolted away from his touch, encouraging him to hold you down with one strong hand on your nearest hip.

“Saaaan,” you choked out, tears spilling out of your eyes from how insanely good it felt. Your arousal started to spray out of you instead, covering your cunt and inner thighs, getting onto the leather couch, and of course, even wetting the cameraman himself.

San sighed to himself, admiring such a beautiful sight. “Fucking hell, you’re making such a mess, baby. Look at you.” Without wasting a single second, he got back onto the couch and sat on his knees, using your slick and his dripping pre-cum to lube his cock, jerking off so fast his shoulders were starting to tremble. “Gonna cum all over you, kitten. You want Daddy’s milk, yeah?”

“Yes, Daddy,” you nodded, gazing up at his dimpled smile, the small wrinkles underneath his upturned eyes, the pretty moles that decorated his strained neck. You couldn’t help but reach in between your legs to play with your pulsing cunt, rubbing the wetness around, making sure to spread your legs to give the camera a good view.

“Here it comes, baby,” San grunted huskily, pumping his hand slowly up and down his veiny shaft. “Oh, yeah that’s it…” He leaned his head down to look at your lewd face, forcing a long, thick rope of cum out onto your tits at first, making sure he covered the majority of your face in it, until he began working his way down your body. “Take Daddy’s load, kitten. Take all of it.” He continued to stroke the base of his twitching cock, the milky liquid splattering all over your tits and abdomen, some even landing on your mound and sliding down to your hole.

“Thank you, Daddy,” you purred, swiping your fingers through the vast amount of cum on your sweaty body and popping them into your mouth to suck on them.

“You’re very welcome, baby girl.” He admired the messy painting he made on his pretty canvas, taking in deep breaths to slow down his racing heart.

Once you relaxed and melted into the couch, San grabbed your chin and pressed his lips to your cheek, then made you face Wooyoung who sat up straight and gave you his best pouty face now that the camera was on him. “Tell my pathetic stepson that you’ll come to me when he can’t fuck you right.”

“I’m going to let Daddy fuck me whenever your cock doesn’t satisfy me, baby,” you told your scene partner, reaching over to caress his cheek. “That’s alright with you, yeah?”

Wooyoung nuzzled your hand, nodding his head sadly. Even though he was acting, you still felt a twinge of guilt inside your chest. He was good. The cameraman zoomed out slowly, then lowered it and gave a thumbs up to the other staff in the room, causing them to sigh and split apart in their own directions.

San patted your head and gave you a bright smile, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "Great job, Y/N. You really gave it your all." When you gave him an uncharacteristically shy smile, he leaned in, adding in a low voice, "It was fun watching you squirt. Maybe I can see it again sometime."

"Uh-huh!" you answered a little too quickly, your cheeks burning, making Wooyoung roll his eyes and let out a small chuckle at your reaction.

San turned to Wooyoung, pushing some of his damp raven hair back and fixing his glasses. "Maybe we can get a bit more involved next time. You seem like a brat. Makes me want to put you in your place."

Blushing, Wooyoung couldn't even form a sentence, too caught off guard by the older man's words. You shoved Wooyoung's shoulder a bit, knowing he was just as whipped for San as you were.

San found you both to be quite cute, but preferred to keep it to himself for now. "Mm, anyway, it was nice working with you two! Bye for now." He showed off his charming smile, accompanied by the dimples that he was known for, before walking off to find his clothes.

Once you both got cleaned up and dressed, you stood near Wooyoung who was checking his phone game, leaning on him, periodically looking over at San, watching him pop a few white tablets into his mouth and swallowing them down with water. "So, it's Viagra..."

"Huh?" Wooyoung mumbled, glancing up at you for a second.

"Why he's able to stay hard for so long, you know." You sighed, missing the feeling of being stretched out by him.

"That still doesn't answer why he's able to cum so goddamn much." Wooyoung paused his game, putting an arm around you, joining in on the fuck-me eyes you were giving San. "Ugh, I really wanted him in my ass. It's not fair."

"Why don't we try to get him to join us for that one upcoming shoot?" you suggested, nudging Wooyoung's ribs with your elbow.

"Are you talking about '2 Sluts 1 Cock?' " he asked nonchalantly, turning to look at you, idly licking his lips.

"That's the one," you chimed, your eyelids lowering slightly, gazing at Wooyoung for a while, until the two of you went back to eye-fucking San across the room, letting out long, lovesick sighs.

✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖✖

FFF: @hwalysm @scuzmunkie @creativechaoticloner @dilucpegg3r @yeosxxx @gemjimin @wonwowzers @sanjoongie @manipulatedstars @k-drizzle 

Apply for the taglist here ⇢ ♡

© toxicccred, 2023.

[pinkhairandpokemon]

↕ - a memory that may or may not have happened

---

...

Slowly, Blake opened their eyes.

They were met with the soft glow of the distant waxing gibbous moon, shining on them from behind a thin veil of clouds and the barren branches of the tree that they laid beneath.

Where... were they? Had they fallen asleep?

In their freshly awoken haze, they tried to recollect their memory on whatever they'd been doing before. Weren't they just making their way to Laverre CIty to get the next badge? They didn't remember stopping to rest. They had just been trudging through the grass and the swamp water, and then...

From there, they drew a total blank. What the fuck? Why can't I remember how I got here?

They sat up, groaning and placing a hand atop their hair. Did I slip and fall? My head hurts like a bitch...

"Auberi? Shauna?" They called out into the dark. They'd been traveling alone before, but they were sure the others couldn't have been far. They had just left that "scary house" place after listening to that old man's story with their group of friends.

When they received no reply, they called out again. "Tierno? Trevor? Anyone?"

...Nothing.

"Dammit," Blake grumbled under their breath as they brushed the dirt off their jeans. "I hope I didn't end up too far off the path..."

Looking ahead, all they saw waiting ahead of them was a stretch of murky swamp water weaving between the trees, with little to no pieces of dry land to find refuge on.

"Great..." They huffed, face already twisting in disgust at the thought of mud filling up their sneakers and coating their ankles. It was the only clear way ahead, though, so it seemed like there wasn't much other choice unless they wanted to dawdle around here forever waiting for someone to find them. An effort that might prove fruitless, they weren't sure how far into the forest they were.

Before they began the long trek back to the main path, though, they reached for their belt and unclipped a Pokeball, tossing it up into the air. Out of the ball emerged a scruffy looking Braixen, about half their height.

"Hey Red, mind giving me some light?" They asked as the bipedal fox turned to face them. Red twitched his ear, turning his eyes towards the ground, only for his mouth to curl back in displeasure at the sight of the wet muck beneath his paws.

He let out a bark of protest, and Blake sighed. "I know, I know, but it's dark out! I'll never be able to find my way through this place by myself. Plus I think my phone's out of battery..." They took their phone out of their pocket to check if that was the case, and proved their guess right when the screen didn't respond to them pressing the power button. "Look, I'll give you a bath once we get to the next Pokemon Center, alright?"

Red still didn't seem convinced, his ears folding back as he glared up at his trainer with annoyance. Still, he begrudgingly plucked a twig out of his bushy tail, and ignited it with a small burst of flame from his mouth.

"Thanks buddy!" Blake gave the fox's head an affectionate ruffle. "Keep an ear out for any danger, alright? I'd like to avoid getting jumped by another Haunter, haha."

And so, the pair began their long hike back to the main route, plodding through the murky water. It wasn't long before they reached a patch of dry land, but... something seemed off about it.

It definitely didn't look like the route Blake had been on before. In fact, it kind of stood out in the landscape of swamp lands. The grass was lush and an almost unnatural looking green, so tidy-looking to the point that it bordered on artificial. Scattered across it were tiny mushrooms sprouting out from the dirt, aglow with colorful hues of pink, blue, purple, and green.

This place... almost looked like...

The name was on the tip of their tongue, but they just couldn't recall the location they were thinking of as they stepped up onto the grass. Red followed close behind, cautiously clutching his makeshift torch close to his chest as he eyed the surroundings suspiciously.

"I feel like I've... been here before-"

Squish.

Blake knitted their brows and looked down. There, they saw a cluster of mushrooms at their feet, all neatly aligned in a perfect circle. Besides the one currently squashed under the sole of their shoe.

"Oh, oops..." They quickly stepped off, feeling a pit of unease begin to form in their gut. "Wait, what is th-?"

"Hey!"

They jumped at the sound of a high-pitched voice behind them, and whirled around. They recoiled at the sight of a tiny ball of pink light hovering just inches in front of their face, yelping and stumbling backwards into the grass.

The orb flickered angrily, like a tiny floating candlelight. "Watch where you're stepping, you bumbling idiot!"

"Wh-what the-?" Did they just hear that thing talk? Were they imagining things? Maybe they hit their head harder than they'd thought.

The ball let out a disgruntled sigh, before emitting a large flash that forced Blake to shield their eyes. When the blinding light subsided, they lowered their arm and looked up- only for their jaw to nearly drop to the floor.

"What the- Bede?!"

Standing there before them was none other than the curly-haired rival from their past gym challenge, and the current leader of Ballonlea Gym. Except he looked... different, now. His ears were much pointier than Blake remembered them being, and he was dressed in a velvet, light pink suit with frills around the collar and sleeves. Probably the most noticeable thing, though, was the fact that he was hovering almost a foot off the ground with the help of a pair of sparkly, insect-like wings that now sprouted from his back.

"Do you know how long it takes to make fairy rings?!" He fumed, waving a hand towards the circle of mushrooms Blake had just unintentionally destroyed. "It took weeks for me to grow this one alone! And then here you come stomping along, carelessly crushing my lawn beneath your ugly, grimy boots! I swear, the lack of respect you humans have for nature is appalling!"

"I- I'm sorry-" Blake sputtered, barely processing any of their old friend's ranting and raving as their baffled mind struggled to keep up. "I- Bede, what are you even doing here?! I thought you were back in Gal-"

"What am I doing here?" The gym leader scoffed, sounding almost offended at the question. "That's what I should be asking you! These woods are hardly any place for a traveler, let alone in the middle of the night."

"Traveler-?" Blake seemed a bit confused at his wording, but that thought was quickly dispelled as they looked down and noticed their own sudden change of clothing. Replacing their cropped hoodie was a maroon cloak, with a black undershirt and baggy brown trousers. Their muddy sneakers were gone, a pair of polished leather boots now protecting their feet instead.

"Woah..." Blake muttered, taking in their new outfit. They looked towards Red, who now wore a ragged purple scarf hanging loosely around his neck, and a pair of silver bracers around his wrists. The Fire-type gave a confused whine, pinching the material of his scarf between his paw pads.

Blake scratched the side of their head, the memory of putting these articles on escaping them. "When on earth did we-?"

"Fairy Prince!"

The sound of another new voice made them turn. Two new arrivals entered the clearing- the first, a girl in pigtails clad in a sooty black dress, with a pointed brimmed hat sat atop her head. Perched on her shoulder was a Morpeko, the little electric rodent nibbling away at a berry clutched tightly between its paws. The second, a boy with spiked violet hair, wearing a leather vest over a blue undershirt adorned with intricate patterns stitched into the fabric. In his left hand, he carried a wooden staff formed of tree roots, wounding around a pale crystal ball at the top.

Both of them looked... unmistakably familiar. Still, Blake couldn't for the life of themself figure out where they'd seen the two before. To be honest, the longer this bewildering encounter dragged on, the harder it was getting for them to recall much of anything.

"There you both are," Bede huffed, giving Blake the impression that he knew the pair. "Took you long enough to arrive. If you could give me a moment, I was just reprimanding this trespasser here for desecrating my hard work!"

"Uh-" Blake winced back when the fairy shot them a sharp glare that reeked of resentment. His two new friends exchanged a bemused look, before chuckling and shaking their heads.

"C'mon prince, lighten up!" said the girl. "It was just one tiny mushroom."

"Yeah, I'm sure this adventurer here meant no harm." The boy agreed. "It's pretty dark out tonight! They probably just didn't see where they were going."

"Tch..." Bede gritted his teeth, crossing his arms and turning his nose up. "I'll have you know that everything in this forest, from the tiniest petal on a flower to the greatest of oaks, took significant effort for me and my kin to grow into the landscape you see today. But..."

He let out a sigh, looking down at Blake with a twinge less disdain. "I suppose I'll oversee this transgression just this once. But I better not catch you making an error like this in the future, understand?"

"Y-yep," Blake nodded swiftly, swallowing the nervous lump in their throat.

"Sorry about our friend," the boy with the staff stepped closer, grinning a bit sheepishly. "He can be... a bit uptight."

"But it's only because of all the work he puts into protecting the forest," the girl with the pigtails elaborated. "He's a lot nicer when you get to know him!"

"Hmph." Bede rolled his eyes, turning away from the group.

"Anyways," the boy continued. "What brings you out here? It's quite late. We weren't expecting there to be anyone but us to be out here!"

"I..." Blake took a moment to think, scratching the side of their face. "I'm not sure, actually? I think we were headed somewhere?"

"To where?' Questioned the girl.

"To..." Blake squeezed their eyes shut, digging through their memories. To their surprise, the answer to her question actually surfaced. "Oh! I was heading to Laverre City. I can't really remember why, but I think I was supposed to meet with someone?"

"Awfully vague," Bede murmured, seeming a bit perplexed at their explanation. "But, you're in luck. We just so happen to have the same destination."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Didn't you hear? There's a huge party being held there tonight!" The boy said, a spark of excitement glittering in his golden eyes. "A magnificent ball hosted by the Baron- my brother- for magic users from all over to attend! Me and my friends here were planning to go, and the Prince here is our escort."

"Maybe that's where whoever you're looking for is waiting?" The girl in black suggested.

"I doubt it," Bede chimed in before Blake could even answer. "This traveler doesn't look like a magic user."

"W-well, I'm not..." Blake admitted, but then pointed a thumb towards Red. "But my Braixen here is good with fire!"

The trio's heads turned towards him, and Red's ears flattened back a bit under the eyes of so many. The girl approached first, placing a finger to her chin as she marveled at the Pokemon like he was something alien to her. "Ohh. Is he your familiar?"

"In a way, I guess." Blake shrugged, reaching out to give the fox a reassuring pat between the ears. "I surely wouldn't have gotten this far into the woods without him protecting me."

"Well..." Bede drummed a finger against his arm thoughtfully. "While you may be careless, you folk don't appear to be bandits or anything of the like. You may ride with us to the city."

"Really?" Blake face lit up with relief. "Oh, thank you! I don't know if Red and I would've lasted much longer out here... Wait, do you need any payment, though?"

"Not necessary." The prince raised a hand in polite refusal. "There's not much a human could give in payment that would be of much value to me."

"I have an idea," said the boy with the staff, leaning an arm on Blake's shoulder. "You seem like a seasoned adventurer! How about in exchange for the lift, you share a few tales of your exploits?"

"Yeah!" The girl nodded eagerly in agreement. "Surely you have a story or two that can keep us entertained on the way to the city, yes?"

"Pfft, a story or two?" Blake chuckled, puffing their chest out a bit in pride. "I'll have you know I've gone through enough adventures to fill an entire saga, and then some! I... can't exactly remember them all right now, but- I'm sure they'll come to me once my head's cleared a bit, haha."

"Great!" The boy said with a grin. "It's a deal, then."

"If that's all settled, let us be off!" The girl declared. "Prince, if you will?"

Bede raised a brow towards Blake, questioning how they claimed to be such a renowned explorer yet couldn't recall any memory of their past endeavors up until now. Still, the prince brushed the suspicion off, and turned away as he began to stretch out his hands.

He fixed his gaze onto a small flower bud just barely poking above the grass, one so small that it went completely unnoticed by the rest of his companions. He drew a deep breath, and as he did, the woods seemed to fall quiet.

It wasn't an unsettling silence, though. Blake looked around, taking notice to how everything appeared to still- the leaves, the grass, the wind. It was like the forest itself was concentrating deeply along with Bede. Soon enough, their eyes found the flower bud at the prince's feet, just as it began to glow with a strange golden light building up from within its bulb.

Before long, it burst with a massive explosion of sparkling light, one that startled Blake so badly they swear their heart was going to leap straight out of their chest. Thankfully, they managed to stay on their feet this time, and watched with awe as the tiny bud blossomed into a massive flower with multicolored-petals as big as tree trunks. Standing at its center was a magnificent carriage, already prepared with two Galarian Rapidash steeds to pull it.

"Wow..." Blake stared at the Fairy Prince's creation slack-jawed. "You- how-?"

"Alright everyone, get in." Bede said before he could give Blake a chance to get their thoughts straight. He walked over to give one of the pulling Rapidash a gentle pat on the side, before climbing up into the driver's seat and taking hold of the reins.

The pointy-hat girl was the first to get inside, seeming unfazed about an entire carriage materializing out of thin air. It made Blake wonder if perhaps she and that boy had seen this plenty of times before.

"Oh, right!" The girl stopped as she began to climb up through the side of the caravan, quickly turning back to Blake and Red. "I completely forgot to introduce myself! I'm Marnie, the witch." She reached up to give the Morpeko on her shoulder a scratch under the chin. "This little one here is Biscuit, my familiar!"

Then, she extended a finger towards the boy with the staff, and then the prince. "That's Hop, the mage, and you've already met Bede, the fairy prince. Me and Hop are magic students, and Bede rules over these woods. He lets us in here to come train from time to time, though."

"Oh!" Blake seemed a bit embarrassed for forgetting to ask for the kind strangers' names themself. Well, aside from Bede. They couldn't really recall asking for his name, but they must've at some point within the last few minutes if they knew it before Marnie told them. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. Th-thanks again, for helping me and my buddy here."

"Not at all! It's no trouble, really. We're always glad to meet a new friendly face!" Hop said with a bright grin that seemed to be signature to him. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your name?"

The three waited, looking and smiling at the adventurer expectantly.

Blake opened their mouth to answer them, but stopped when they felt a tug at their sleeve. They looked down, and were confused to find their Braixen looking up at them with an nervous frown.

"Brai..." Red whimpered nervously, flicking an apprehensive glance Blake's three temporary traveling companions like they were some kind of threat.

"Woah, buddy, it's okay..." Blake rested their hand over their Pokemon's paw to comfort him. Why was he acting so anxious all of a sudden? He wasn't the excitable, friendly ball of fluff he usually was when meeting new people.

Maybe it was just the vibe of the forest setting him off... Blake thought, turning back to the trio.

"Sorry," they apologized for the short delay. "My name's Blake!"

"Blake, eh?" Hop repeated the name, as if sounding it out. "Well, Blake, it's been a true honor meeting you! We don't get many outsiders around these parts."

"Yeah, it almost gets kind of lonely!" Marnie giggled, but then waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, not really. But we're kind of just around the same people all the time, so it's nice to see someone else for a change."

"You'll be able to meet everyone else once we get to the party, too!" said Hop, as he climbed in after Marnie and took the seat next to her.

"You'd all better hurry and get settled in, then, because if we linger here too much longer we'll be late!" shouted Bede from the driver's seat, seeming to get a bit impatient.

"R-right, sorry!" Blake fumbled out another apology, clambering up into the carriage and extending a hand out to help Red up.

As they pulled him into the caravan with them, though, something uneasy began to bubble inside their gut. The unshakable feeling that they were doing something... wrong.

Why? They were just getting a ride to the next town from some friendly locals. Some... interesting individuals, sure, but there was nothing dubious about the three from what Blake could tell. If anything, there was something comfortingly familiar about their friendliness. Blake couldn't place it, but something about the trio reminded them of someone. Perhaps multiple someones? They weren't sure.

"Blake?" Marnie's voice pulled them out of their thoughts. "You alright?"

"Huh?"

"You spaced out there..." said Hop, frowning in concern.

"Oh!" Blake shook their head, successfully shaking off that weird feeling of not being safe. "Sorry, I just- I've never ridden in a carriage before. Not... that I can remember, anyway."

"If you're worried I'm a bad driver, I assure you that's not the case," called Bede from the front.

"N-no! That's not what I-"

"He's just kidding," Marnie snickered. "Don't worry, it's safe. We've ridden with Bede plenty of times! He knows the way around here."

"Alright," Blake sighed a bit in relief as they took their seat. "I'll let you know if I begin to remember anything about my travels, alright? I know I have a lotta good stories to tell, I just need to let my brain catch up with me, ha."

With that, the trio were off into the night. The Rapidash trotted down from the giant flower and made their way along a dirt road leading through the woods, the sound of their hooves beating against the dirt and the wooden wheels rolling providing a calming ambience that went along perfectly with the natural one of the surrounding forest.

Blake leaned back in their seat, trying to recall first and foremost how exactly they ended up here again to begin with. I can't remember entering the forest, but I think I woke up not too long before I ran into Bede? All I know is that I need to get to Laverre City for some reason...

Their eyes shifted towards the window, silently watching the trees go by as they let their mind wander. Occasionally, they'd spot a the shadow of a wild Pokemon go by, or a few wisps of light dancing about in the air.

Whatever the reason... I'm sure it's not that important.

---

[wordstrings]

Understanding Harmony

Critical Role: Bell’s Hells. Ashton and Imogen take a watch after the events of episodes 33–38. Written for @feather-aesthetic for the Squealing Santa 2k22 fic exchange. Prompt: playful/bonding situations. Words: 1,500

—

“I just…” Imogen’s voice hitches with a tiny, incredulous laugh that lilts and wilts into something almost sad. “Just can’t believe she’s back.”

Ashton stares into the fire for another moment before dropping their eyes to the twig they’ve been fiddling with between their knees. 

“Crazy, huh?” they say, for lack of anything more intelligent to add. 

Imogen twists her fingers into a loose fold of her skirt. The fabric tightens across her hands, a smart pair to the tension still visibly lingering in her body. 

“It’s not supposed to happen. Bringin’ someone back from the dead. Though, I guess, for Laudna… maybe it’s not so strange. I don’t know.”

“No, it’s weird,” Ashton assures her. The nubby end of one toothpick-thin branch snaps under their thumb. They roll the broken bit between their fingers. The tiny splintered end is sharp. 

“I never… never would’ve thought I’d see somethin’ like that. That I’d be part of that. Y’know? Heck, I just thought I’d be spending the rest of my life staring at fields and feeling alone. It’s just… a lot,” she finishes quietly. 

“Being alone isn’t so bad.” Saying it is almost habit. It’s true enough. 

The firelight catches in the glance Imogen darts their way. “Feeling alone, though. It’s different when you don’t really have a choice.” 

Ashton shrugs. “Not much different, in my experience.”

There’s a gentle scoff in Imogen’s voice when she says, “Then why’re you stickin’ around with us, huh?”

“Because Letters needs people.” It’s just as quick to surface, just as habitual. 

“But you don’t.”

Ashton knows a jab, even in the dark. The retort is already in their throat, clambering on the back of their tongue. But they swallow it, because Imogen isn’t coming after them, not really. They don’t have a ready-made alternative response, though, so they focus on the splintered nub, trying to crush it between their fingertips. It’s too small and just digs in, a tiny hard granule of dead wood.

A soft glow leans toward their mind but doesn’t quite enter. Ashton braces internally anyway.

“They’re pretty important to you,” Imogen says aloud, instead.

Having someone important is dangerous. That’s how stupid decisions get made. Case in point: letting a complete stranger put them all under so they can go fight the spirit of a necromancer in order to yank a not-quite-living, not-quite-not woman out of a tree-shaped manifestation of her trauma, or some shit. 

But then Ashton is caught completely off-kilter when Imogen continues: “What the fuck is up with that?”

Ah, fuck them, but it works. They crack a laugh.

Imogen laughs quietly along, too. It’s something shared, and it evaporates the murk that’s been crowding Ashton’s throat. 

“Somebody’s gotta look out for ‘em,” they say with half a smile. “Otherwise Letters would end up trusting some pack of fools hell-bent on getting dead for each other out of some poorly-advised sense of integrity.”

“Out of all of us, I think FCG is the only one with integrity, sometimes.” Imogen’s grin has seemed to soften her, as well. “They take good care of us. So do you, y’know. You both make a good team.”

Ashton does their best to skirt the compliment, but there’s still some warmth that surges up unattributable to the campfire. Riposte. “Can’t talk about a ‘team’ without looking at you two.” They tip their chin toward the sleeping form that is Laudna, with an empty gap at her side for only as long as Imogen’s on watch. “Closest I’ve ever seen two folks who aren’t in each other’s pants.”

Imogen huffs softly. She rubs her forearm with one distracted hand. “Lotta people don’t get it. That’s fine, I guess. But she just… she saw me when nobody else really did. She knew what it was like. Keeping away from people, feeling like connections were impossible. Laudna was the first new person I got physically close enough to touch in… god, in years. That kinda messes you up after a while, doesn’t it?”

It’s said rhetorically, but her tone clearly expects agreement, and Ashton isn’t inclined to agree. Being messed up: sure. One hundred percent, all day every day. Being messed up because nobody’s holding your hand, or lying close while you sleep, or filling some sort of sappy hug quota: nah. 

They settle for responding with a noncommittal grunt. 

“It was the simplest thing,” Imogen continues, smiling wistfully down at her hands. “Just touching my elbow to draw my attention to a flower. Handing me an acorn cap or a dead worm or whatever she was decorating her next little doll with. Her hands were always a bit cold but it was still soothing when she’d hum to me, like this.”

Imogen side-leans in just a bit, and it’s a testament to how far Ashton has relaxed with this group – for good or for ill – that they don’t duck away from her approaching hand. Her fingers alight on the back of their neck, gentle as a songbird, as she begins to hum a folksy, unhurried tune.

The touch on their nape drifts back and forth with the cadence of the song. Ashton doesn’t recognize the melody, but it’s easy to imagine it tells a story of land remembered or beauty witnessed. Imogen’s fingertips are… fine. Ashton wouldn’t call them soothing. Wouldn’t really call them anything. Their skin doesn’t register much of anything duller than a slap, so the fire-heated warmth and pressure of her hand is barely notable. But, they suppose, it could be nice – for a person whose body is not constantly, quietly ringing with the ache of pain. It’s yet one more luxury that Ashton is not permitted to experience. It would feel unfair, if they weren’t just used to it.

Imogen’s humming trots up and down in scale as she reaches some chorus line. Her fingers shift, tapping nails in staccato on the back of Ashton’s neck with the time.

Ashton’s shoulders pull slightly inward. Okay, they can feel that a bit more than the softness of fingertips. Kind of itchy.

Doesn’t seem like Imogen is paying any close mind, though. She’s gazing into the campfire again, her head canted gently in unseeing reminiscence. The chorus ends and her fingers fall back into drifting touches with the next wordless verse.

This is so foreign. 

Not hanging out with a group, or even having a low conversation in the night; it’s this kind of interaction, this connection, with someone who’s sharing something beyond job-related banter or a clipped story. Apparently Ashton is going to be treated to a full song with tactile accompaniment for no reason except Imogen wanting to give it.

The second verse ends. The chorus picks up again.

Shit, that really does itch when she does that with her fingernails. But, like, a shivery itchiness. It makes Ashton’s belly clench up a little. Especially when the nail tips drag short little lines in a wave pattern up and down their nape. An involuntary shudder trembles through Ashton’s neck and shoulders, but what’s so remarkable is that they don’t want it to stop. 

Imogen must notice, because her humming bobs with a light chuckle. But she doesn’t stop the song. She carries into a third verse, this time keeping her nails gliding. 

Ashton would feel teased, except for that glow leaning against their mind again. It still doesn’t push in. Rather, it rests against the doorframe, watching kindly from just outside; a sentinel, careful and attentive. 

This is so, so foreign.

But fuck it feels… good. And that’s a revelation as much as everything else about this interplay. Ashton’s not thinking about the ever-present, spine-deep ache in their body. Not thinking about when the enjoyment might be soured. Just listening to a friend’s gentle music while fingernails dust sparks of static across their skin.

The hummed song dances off its by-now predictable path into a melodic bridge. Imogen’s nails skitter up and down with the notes, out in wider arcs and spirals, tapping and scraping along Ashton’s scarred, calloused skin, and it’s just– fucking hell, it tickles. 

Ashton can’t help the way they hunch even further at that realization. They’re fracturing into laughter before they have any hope of getting a grip on themself.

Imogen’s mental glow warms. It’s okay. It’s okay to sit here and snicker, to crane up one shoulder and then the other in conflicted attempts at protection, to grin and squint and squeeze their fists between their knees and just feel something good for once.

It’s okay.

The tune winds its way back to the notes Ashton now knows by heart, turning reflective and peaceful. Imogen’s humming slows, as do her fingers. She caresses long, gentle lines with the edges of her nails. Ashton’s eyes fall closed, though they still chuckle and shiver through their sighs. 

Maybe this is soothing, after all.

[madphantom]

Another day another Sarah snippet under the cut

We did not have much for dinner, just the soup I had cooked earlier from the vegetables we had grown in the yard. A few candles illuminated the kitchen and turned the swaying branches outside the window into looming shadows.

The storyteller sat by the table like a gaunt deadman, a smile playing on their thin lips. In the flickering light I got a somewhat better look at them, but my observations still did not help me to determine the age or gender of our mysterious visitor.

They had taken their waistcoat off, revealing a richly embroidered forest green shirt that seemed oddly out of the time and place and hung on their twig thin frame like a potato sack. I couldn't help noticing that they were wearing two old silver rings with rose quartz glass eyes instead of gems. I felt oddly followed by them.

"So," they said eventually, leaning forward and playing with the ring on their right hand. They moved with the precision of something that was almost human, but not quite. I could not put my finger on what exactly about them unnerved me, but something uncanny was there and raised the hairs on my arms. "What led you two to live out here all alone?"

"That is a long story," I responded, treading lightly.

The stranger smiled, a toothy grin. "That's quite alright. I enjoy stories. The longer the better."

Sarah and I exchanged glances.

"We both ran away from our homes in spring, as our parents would not have approved of our relationship. We secretly lived in a blind old woman's barn throughout late March and April before we relocated here," Sarah admitted, her cheeks glowing red, a tiny smile on her lips, like a famous master's painting.

"I see. Quite the wanderers." The storyteller tilted their head. "How come you left?"

"She was murdered one night," I explained. "Someone came to her in her sleep and beheaded her. We did not want to get caught sneaking around the house, seeing as we would surely be suspects due to our status as runaways, so we left as soon as we found out."

The storyteller nodded. The flickering candle painted shadows on their face. "Quite wise of you two."

"How about you?", Sarah asked. "Where are you traveling to?"

"Oh, well…" The storyteller chuckled. "Nowhere, really. I just wanted to get around a bit. Not stay in one place for too long."

"But isn't that dangerous?", Sarah inquired.

"Dangerous?" They raised their eyebrows. "Why…ohh, right. Pardon me, I forgot." A grin. "No, not so far. And even if it were, danger is a small price to pay for being what I want to be." They suddenly leaned forward and tilted their head. "You understand that, don't you?"

Sarah and I exchanged a glance of which we were glad the storyteller did not see it. They folded their hands.

"You call yourself a storyteller," Sarah finally said, opening a new topic. "Can you tell us a story?"

They tilted their head and leaned back, crossing their legs. "Naturally. What kind of story do you want to hear?"

"Tell us a ghost story." Sarah smiled mischievously.

"I would rather hear a love story," I noted.

A sharp-fanged grin. "All right. I shall do both.

Once upon a time there were a man and a woman who lived together in a house with an apple tree in the yard. They were a hard-working, honest couple, and they loved each other sincerely since their youth.

One day, like many other days before, the husband kissed his wife goodbye and went out into the woods to hunt, with his great hunting knife and a bag of apples for the way. And like many days before, his wife waited for him when the sun began setting above the birch trees and turning the sky a summery red.

But her husband did not show up.

When the moon began to rise the despondent wife called all the neighbors. With torches and echoing calls they searched the entire forest and when the morning star stood above the fog-blue marshes a man saw a mossy creek flowing red like the setting sun, and upon following it, discovered the husband lying face down in the water, the bloody knife still in his hand, side by side with a great hog. They had both died in that final battle and taken each other with them.

The husband was buried and his widow began to live alone in the house with the apple tree. Soon, she began to awake at night, hearing fingers tapping on the window, as if someone was pleading to be let in. Many times she rose with a candle and opened the door, and many times a cold wind entered the house and made the curtains dance. She found rotten apples on the doorstep too, half eaten, as if her husband had gnawed on them on his way home. With time, she grew fearful of the night and her face became sunken with weariness. Every sound seemed like her husband to her, and oftentimes, when she did not lay awake with wide open eyes, waiting for the tap on the window or the sudden thud of apples thrown against the door, she dreamed of a great dark shadow walking through the house, a shadow with a hunting knife.

For three months she lived this way, and she went to the priest and begged him to bless the house. And the priest blessed the house, but even with his blessing, the haunting continued. So she went to an old woman who lived in the marshes, a woman in red who was said to be a witch, and she begged her to lift the curse upon the house. And the woman in red sent her spells upon the house, but even with her white magic, the haunting continued. Nothing, no prayers and no crucifixes, no herbs and incantations, could bring peace upon the widow's home.

And eventually, she realized that the thing stalking her in her home was not her husband having come back wrong. It was not a creature of the dark either. It was her own feelings and the knife was her grief.

And when she realized this, she stopped leaving flowers on his grave every day and began to go there every month. And eventually, the house was just a house and she began to sleep all by herself. The tap against the window was nothing but the apple tree's branches, the breeze that made the curtains flutter nothing but a draft. Time heals all wounds and slays all demons. And with time, she began to miss the haunt, for the beating of her heart when she had thought a deadman's fingers were tapping against the window was the same as when she heard her husband's footsteps in the hallway after a long day of work.

Lord, she prayed after a year. Let me be haunted all you want, but let me be haunted by him.

But there was no ghost. There never had been. There had only been love and what it had left behind."

Sarah's eyes shimmered in the candlelight. "That was beautiful. And both a ghost story and a love story, what a feat!"

The storyteller smiled. "What is a ghost story if not a love story in a different tone of voice?"

[wakeupshadow]

prologue:

The summer breeze whistled through the tree branches, carrying along with it, pink petals from the trees nearby. Butterflies would try to come close to the beautiful flowers that bloomed nearby, only to be scared away, unintentionally, by Kuroo's missed sets.  

"Higher Kenma!" Kuroo said running back to his starting position. He knew he had to learn how to spike the ball correctly. 

"But you said that would be the last one..." Kenma mumbled picking up the volleyball and heading back beside the net they had managed to put up between two adjacent trees. He was thankful for at least having the shed of the trees to keep them a bit cooler. Kuroo certainly didn't care. All he cared for was to learn the spike he saw on television a week back, before the new term of elementary school started for them. 

"Come on just once more." Kuroo pleaded. 

Just where did all of his energy come from? I am pretty sure we had the same thing for lunch today. Kenma thought before he shrugged it off and tossed the ball to Kuroo. Kuroo grinned as he threw the ball up, towards Kenma, who set it for him. 

The set was perfect and so was Kuroo's spike, for the first time in all of last week. But once misery finds herself at a blind lane she doesn't stop. She transfigures it into a new path altogether. While Kuroo replayed his own shot in his mind, unable to believe how he did it, the ball went bouncing and rolling towards the river nearby. If they weren't quick...

"Kuroo..." Kenma pointed his tiny hand towards the ball which was rolling away like it had been finally set free. Kuroo's excitement died down as he turned to look at what Kenma was pointing to. 

Kuroo sprang forward, Kenma trailing behind,  unable to keep up. "Quick! It's gonna fall!"

Their little feet only managed to take them half way through when the ball fell into the river with a splash. The two boys watched their prized possession get carried away with the flow. 

Tears welled up in Kuroo's eyes and Kenma pretended not to notice.

"Want to go home?"

Kuroo got up without saying a word and walked back to the trees where they were practicing earlier. He lied down, arms folded under his head as he looked up at the blue sky blotched with small clouds moving in clusters. Kenma quietly lied down beside him and glanced at him before looking up. 

"It is getting warm nowadays." Kuroo said and Kenma hummed in response. It really was warmer than usual. "I lost my volleyball." Kuroo followed up his own words. He was facing away from Kenma.

"But.." Kenma took a moment before continuing. "But we leveled up."

Kuroo quickly turned his head and Kenma noticed his eyes glistening. "What?"

"We leveled up." Kenma repeated slowly. "Like my Video Games..."

Kuroo's face lit up with a sudden brightness as he sat up. "Right! We leveled up Kenma! I can spike!" As much as Kenma was happy to see his only friend cheered up, he wished he was not as loud. Kuroo pulled Kenma up by his arms, Kenma unable to keep up due to his lack in strength. 

"Get up! Let's go run two laps!"

"Kuroo, I can't.." 

Kuroo was far to elated to listen and soon he was running with the wind, taking Kenma along with him, promising him he would play his favorite game the next day, their voices slowly fading into the distance. Both of them knew, they would be here again the next day, back on another afternoon, with a new volleyball and a new stream of motivation. 

Sure, Kenma was annoyed at times. He didn't have the stamina that Kuroo had and he wanted nothing more than to stay home and play his video games all day. But he would come out of his room, into the sunlight and play with Kuroo till the Sun set. It was only Kuroo, who never left him alone for once. 

________________________________________________________________________________

This was the Dragon's Den. The fighter approached the Dragon, the new Boss in game. Even after masterfully avoiding and dodging all of it's attack in the first phase, the fighter couldn't keep up. He was knocked out with an AoE attack. The Screen flashed - "DEFEAT". 

Kenma clicked his tounge. The game was getting on his nerves now. The screen had flashed the same message of defeat at least ten times now. It irritated Kenma to be unable to figure out the strategy to this new challenge. If there was something Kenma hated with all his heart, even more than moving around, it was losing. 

Kuroo could feel his frustration sitting beside him in the train. He closed the book he was reading to take a look at the screen. It was Kenma's eleventh attempt since the day before. 

"We will be there soon, you are still playing?" Kuroo asked, watching him swiftly place two critical strikes on the Boss, in game. 

"This one is a little challenging..." Kenma replied.

"Well, I though you would have noticed but look there, the Dragon's tail lit up the last time it attacked. Maybe try preparing yourself with a shield when you see it?" 

Kenma's eyes widened. Why hadn't he noticed that? Was it because of his frustration? Whatever it was, he wouldn't miss it this time. He concentrated and activated the temporary shield right when the Dragon's tail began to glow. With a blast, the Dragon released its attack, and there stood Kenma's character in the Arena, undefeated. He finished the challenge with  his best attack and a message flashed on his screen - "WIN".

Kenma sighed and put his PlayStation away into his backpack.

"Good job" Kuroo said, smiling softly.  

They walked to their school from the station and as they stood in front of the building, Kuroo looked proudly at the campus. 

"Welcome to Nekoma High School, Kenma."

Kenma stood there, his slightly long hair dancing about in rhythm with the wind, an unnoticeable smile formed on his lips. 

Kuroo could only hope the smile was there to last. 

________________________________________________________________________________

[thesongkeeperproject]

Track 1: Birth

Sonata ran faster and faster deep into the thicket. Where she was running to, she had no idea, she just needed to. The nightmares were too much for her tonight. Ducking under low branches and leaping over large rocks, she felt she could run forever, like she could just take off and fly. The monsters would never catch her if she took off right here and now. Maybe she could even escape. 

As Sonata ran, tiny spirits sleeping in the trees were just starting to wake up and start the night. These beings were better known by the nearby townsfolk as the Dimi; peaceful, sometimes mischievous spirits that lived in thick forests and other secluded areas. They're very shy towards humans but have been known to guide lost travelers using their soft, whispery voices.

As the Dimi were playing and dancing about, one of these spirits took notice of a light blue choir dress darting by and curiously started following it. It felt like it had seen her before and wondered what she was doing here. The others quickly noticed one of their own was missing. Another Dimi caught a glimpse of the missing spirit and alerted the others, immediately following. 

Images of Sonata's dream flashed in her head as she ran, sometimes the images became one with what she saw, like a monster's face blending into a tree, or a pair of red eyes piercing the dark. Sonata tried her hardest to ignore her deranged imagination, but it was no use, she only ran harder and faster. The tiny fairies were hot on her trail and their curiosity burned as brightly as they did.

She thought about how she could make it to the center of the forest where she could contact the goddess of music herself and ask for her help. What are these nightmares, and why is she having them? The sky quickly turned on its head as the girl's foot got tangled with a tree root and tumbled straight into a ditch. She landed on her side ramming right into a wall of leaves. After sitting in shock for a moment and having realized what happened, the girl began to sob. She didn't know if she was crying from her nightmare or her wounds. But what did it matter? She needed help, but all she found was herself, lost in the Serenade Forest.

The Dimi had finally caught up with Sonata only to see her in tears. They were stunned as to what to do and even felt sorry for her, looking on in silence. They have never seen the little Empress cry before. They didn't know what to do and were too scared to do so. Only the sound of her muffled sobbing lingered in the air.

Until a small Dimi came up to Sonata. It was a rather timid little thing, but something inside told it that it needed to do something. Sonata didn't notice it was there, her face buried in her wet hands. Gathering up whatever courage it had, the little Dimi began to sing a lighthearted song.

The Dimi tried its hardest to comfort the poor girl with its gentle melody, despite the song having no lyrics. She finally looked up to see who was singing. She wiped her tears and cracked a small smile. To see somebody, even the tiniest living being, care about her well-being ignited a small spark of hope buried deep inside.

Another Dimi joined in for a duet. Then another chimed in. Then another. Soon the entire forest was illuminated with the chorus of their song. As they sang, all of Sonata's fears melted away. She was safe with her newfound friends. However, a small feeling of concern remained in her heart. That concern she needed to put to rest immediately. As the chorus died down, she folded her hands, bowed her head and began to pray.

"O Aoide, Goddess of Music, I need your help. I've been having these terrible dreams and I'm scared. I don't know what they mean, IF they mean anything, and I'm afraid for my kingdom, my home. Please, I'm absolutely lost, and I don't know where to go!"

A great gush of wind swept around Sonata as soon as she finished her words. The Dimi also noticed the powerful winds. The smallest Dimi didn't know what was going on and hid in a nearby bush. A booming, yet soothing voice behind Sonata spoke, "Then I'll help you and give you a guide."

The voice belonged to a tall woman with long white hair and beautiful brown skin. She wore a long, intricately detailed silver dress, with her oversized wings folded to her sides, completing her attire with winged headphones and a halo with soundbars. Her whole body was faintly glowing a hint of white. Immediately, all the Dimi circled around her, embracing her arrival. Even the Dimi that sang to Sonata peeked from under the bush. Sonata recognized who she was; she was Aoide, Goddess of Music.

"A-Aoide, your holiness! But...I-I don't understand. You never appear before the people of Shir, much less me!"

"Well, almost never? What was I supposed to do, not show up in my faithful servant's darkest hour? Tell me what's wrong. I'll help you and make sure everything's ok again."

On the rare occasion Aoide did come to Shir, she was always really good at comforting people, almost like a mother with her child. Even if it's as small as a paper cut, she made sure to disinfect it and get a smiley face Band-Aid for it. Sonata looked at her with a glint of hope in her eyes, as if her own mother was smiling down at her. Collecting her thoughts, Sonata told her.

"I had this horrible dream tonight. I had a dream that the world ended. And I know I'm supposed to be the Songkeeper. I'm supposed to collect music from all over Earth so that our own planet can stay alive," she paused.

"But I'm not sure if I'm even fit for this role. In my dreams, every song ever collected was destroyed, everything was up in flames and dead. In front of me was this woman in a black tutu giving me this cold stare. She told me Shir deserved it's horrible demise and that it was all my fault. Her voice slowly turned demonic when she said that, it was terrifying. I tried to reason with her, but then the earth started to shake. She made loud crescendos using her symphony magic and summoned this black liquid from underground. The woman then came up to me and told me she was erasing all compositions away and reverting them back to the ink they once were. Then she shoved me into a giant pool of ink where all these monsters were trying to eat me. The last thing I remember was that horrific smirk on her face before I fell to my doom. And that's when I woke up and ran here. Like a child. I don't know if this dream means anything, but I'm scared. What if something like this happens in real life? Am I going to fail as a Songkeeper?"

"Whoa, take a breather, sweetie. I'm sure the dream was nothing more than a dream," Aoide tried to calm Sonata down, patting her head.

"But my dreams are never this specific! I’ve been having this same dream for eight days now! They mean something. You and I both know. So, tell me: what does it mean?"

Aoide tried to avoid the question by changing the subject. "Who cares if it's oddly specific? You've probably been going through some stress lately."

"Quit bullshitting me!” Sonata cried. The goddess gave her a concerned look. Sonata cleared her throat after realizing what she said, her face flushed. “Ahem, pardon my language. The point is this dream is a sign; an omen."

"Are you sure it's not something you ate? I get weird dreams all the time,"

"Aoide, I've been worshipping you since I was four years old. You gave me the blessing to become a Songkeeper when the last one disappeared. I was only seven, but I loved music so much, I still do now. You knew I could be the one for the job, you had a plan for me. I have my full trust in you and whatever terrible things come at me, you would get me out of it. Tell me, what does it mean?"

Aoide bit her lip. She knew exactly what the dream meant; she knew it would only break Sonata's heart even if she did tell her. She couldn’t hide her from the truth, no matter how hard she tried. So, she told her in a calm and serious manner. 

"Your dream isn't from stress or eating or some bad memory. It's a prophecy. It's about the end of the world; the 'Lacrimosa,' as the prophets said. The woman in your dream wants to destroy all of music and leave nothing but a dark, eternal era of silence. She wants music dead. She wants all of Shir dead. The worst part is, only you can defeat her. You'll have to use 'The Forte of All Music,' the most powerful song in all of music's history to defeat her, but it'll cost you your life and even if you manage to survive, you'll never be able to sing again."

The poor girl was close to crying again at this point. She hugged the goddess tightly, trying her best not to believe what she just heard. Aoide felt bad for her. For the first time in her long existence, she didn't know what to say to comfort the crying girl. The Dimi that sang to Sonata earlier came out from under the bush. It hated seeing her all sad like that again, so it also tried again to sing its peaceful melody. 

Sonata glanced over to see her little friend singing for her. She smiled and wiped away her tears once more. This time Aoide noticed the Dimi as it continued to sing. She noticed the way it was singing seemed to help Sonata a lot, almost like it was healing her. That was when she had an idea. A brilliant idea. She coaxed the sprite into her hands and began to sing a new song. The Dimi stopped its own singing and got distracted by Aoide's melody, trying to sing along. She continued to sing her sweet lullaby and the spirit's own singing started to slow. It kept slowing down until it fell into a deep enchanted sleep, resting in her hands.

"What are you doing to it?" asked a concerned Sonata.

"I'm going to make it stronger," Aoide replied vaguely. The other sprites watched in curiosity. The goddess began to sing a new song; a song no one had ever heard before in a tongue no one understood. The winds picked up again even stronger than before. They were howling and swirling, harmonizing with the goddess's ethereal melody. She stood up and walked to a nearby open field, with Sonata and the other Dimi following closely behind. She stepped into the center of the field and gently lifted the sleeping spirit into the sky. It started to float upwards, still soundly asleep. 

As the song began to progress, the spirit grew as well. It kept growing and was starting to take on a different form. It started to grow a torso with tiny limbs and a thin neck. The body began to grow larger as song was building up. The neck grew longer and thicker, and the limbs started to form. The shifting sprite had grown into a figure the size of a person. When the song hit its climax, an explosion of intense light came out from the figure, illuminating the entire forest. Sonata covered her eyes and the Dimi hid behind the trees. As soon as the light flooded the forest, it had dimmed to that of a single candle. Its aftermath left behind the body of a girl, still unconscious from the sleeping spell.

As the song was drawing to a close, the girl started to float back to the earth. Aoide reached out and the girl gently landed into her arms. The song has ended now. Sonata was stunned and wasn't sure how to react. The Dimi came out from their hiding spots to see what happened to their friend.

"How did you do that? Why did you do that? What was that song you just sang? What did you do to that poor thing?! Is she dead?!" 

"Shh..." Aoide hushed Sonata and smiled, cradling the girl. "She's sleeping."

Sonata only rolled her eyes. She came up to the two and hissed, "Explain. Now!"

"It's simple, really. When the Dimi was singing to you, it was forming a connection with you. It was helping you heal. Its symphony magic was not very strong, so I thought I could make it stronger by turning it--well, her--into something else. She isn’t a hundred percent human though, she still has some Dimi traits in her, but it should be enough. You need all the help you can get to save Shir, and I'll be there for you every step of the way. I know your fate is inevitable. So, in case anything happens to you, she can take on the crown and someday become the next Songkeeper."

"But why didn't you just bless an ordinary human like you did with me?" Sonata asked.

"Sadly, the humans aren't as faithful as they used to be. Then again, were they really that faithful in the first place? I was lucky to find you and take you under my wing back then. I don't think I'll have that much luck this time 'round."

The goddess knelt down and passed the girl's body into Sonata's arms. The body was heavy so she rested the girl's head on her lap. Aoide took off her headphones and placed them on the sleeping girl's head.

"Take good care of her. Teach her everything you know. And most importantly, return the gift that she gave to you."

Sonata looked down at the girl with concern. Aoide had a point. If something were to happen to her or the library of music she protected, the whole planet would fall into chaos. No, both Shir and Earth would fall. She looked back up at Aoide and nodded with affirmation. She knew her fate would be bleak, and she didn't know when the Lacrimosa would happen, but it was all to save the world and that she would leave her legacy behind in a new Songkeeper. She glanced back down at the sleeping girl and felt a fragment of hope in her heart.

"So, what would you like to name her?" Aoide asked. Sonata jumped up, not paying attention.

"Huh? A name?" Sonata thought for a bit trying to come up with a name. Maybe it should be something symbolic, like Fantasia or Timbre. Or perhaps a name that fits her appearance, like Harmony or Cadence. Then it came to her. It was the perfect name.

"How about Aria?"

"Aria. That's a beautiful name," Aoide smiled. "But may I ask, why Aria of all names? It’s a pretty popular one,"

Sonata looked up to the goddess with reassurance,

"Because an aria is a song for a solo singer in an opera. Someday, when she becomes the next Songkeeper, she'll be leading Shir with a strong and powerful voice. Just like me."

♪♪♪

To be continued...

[loumauve]

a very short list of things I'm gonna miss about work:

that's it. the climbing (that was against safety protocols but we didn't have a ladder and the tree was growing crooked af and I felt bad for it)

[heliads]

Crows

Everyone has a symbol on their palm that somehow relates to your soulmate. You have a crow, which led to you joining the Dregs in Ketterdam. Every Dreg has a soulmate symbol that in no way relates to you- except Kaz Brekker, as no one has seen his palm at all.

masterlist

You stare at the crow inked into your palm. It stares back at you.

You hesitate for a second longer, then snap your hand shut, letting the unblinking eyes of the black bird disappear back behind your fingers. This is the price of a soulmate, of wandering too far from your home and never finding the one person you were meant to belong to. This is the price of being a canal rat, a Grisha, of being anybody still foolish enough to believe in a soulmate in the midst of all this darkness.

Soulmates may technically be real, but people only believe in them as much as they do Inej’s Saints, or anybody else’s long-held dreams. Between the wars and Shadow Folds springing up across the world, it’s getting pretty hard for anyone to find their soulmate at all. It’s supposed to be simple- one mark on each person’s palm to designate their soulmate, a mark that will disappear at the first touch of their hand on yours. Sometimes, you wonder what mark would be on your soulmate’s skin: a flame or sparking coal, maybe, for your branch of the Small Science, or a skull, for all the death that seems to shadow your path.

The crow has been on your palm for as long as you can remember, as long as anyone has ever had a soulmate. It was there when you were born, but judging by your trend in luck, it’ll probably be there until the day you die. Soulmates aren’t for girls like you, girls who flee their homes to trade a life amongst the Grisha for a death in the gray-streaked streets of Ketterdam.

You were born an Inferni, that much is true. You witnessed the Ravkan civil war, and you were there to flee it for safer tides. You weren’t sure what cruel twist of fate landed you in Ketterdam, one of the worst places for a Grisha, but you were at least able to keep your identity a secret. You’d seen what happened to the luckless Grisha trapped inside neverending indentures, and you know what tortures would await you if word of your firestarting habit got out. So, you never spoke a word, and pretended you were just another otkazat’sya traveler in need of safe harbors.

You hadn’t been wandering the canals long before your path turned into the Barrel. It wasn’t an intentional choice, just an eventual fate that you would end up in the worst part of the twisting sidestreets. There was no escaping the Barrel, not unless you were a wealthy mercher or some other lucky sap who the Saints blessed with the ability to avoid getting dragged down into the muck like everyone else. You learned the names and locations of all the gangs like everyone else: Black Tips, Dime Lions, and most notably, the Dregs.

Your breath had caught in your chest when you heard of them. They frequented the Crow Club, some were called the crows themselves, their leader had a crow on his cane. Everything seemed to point in a glaringly obvious arrow towards your soulmate mark: a crow for a crow. Where else could you have ended up?

You knew better now. You had met Kaz Brekker, the boy with the crow cane, and you knew that any chance of finding a soulmate among his crew was near impossible. You had been walking home after dark one night when you found yourself set upon by a duo of thugs. Not Dregs, possibly Dime Lions with a bone to pick, angry that the Dregs had such control over the pigeons of Fifth Harbor. They had been expecting an easy mark, somebody they could thunk over the head with a pair of brass knuckles and walk away without a scratch. They weren’t expecting you to beat them into the dust in a matter of seconds.

No matter your status or location, you were still a Grisha, and you’d been trained by Botkin long enough to be able to defend yourself. When the goons were finally laid at your feet, unconscious, you had allowed yourself a moment to smile. It was easy to feel low, a gutter rat in the canals of Ketterdam, but being able to use your fists again almost reminded you of the training halls at the Little Palace.

Enjoying this one brief memory, though, was a slip that you shouldn’t have made. When you looked up, you weren’t alone- a boy stood before you, gloved hands clasped over a crow’s head cane. You didn’t particularly know who he was, or make the connection between him and the Dregs, and moved to get out of the alleyway before he decided to make the same mistake as the thugs. He had slid his cane in front of you, fast as lightning, stopping you in your place. “I think we should speak about your future in Ketterdam.”

You were annoyed at this sudden interruption. “I think you should leave me alone.” You had retorted, using your hand to move his cane back in front of him. You had also been irritated, both by the fight and this boy’s brashness, and slipped your hand into his pocket for just a second to retrieve a newly shined pocketwatch. No one could have possibly seen it, this tiny movement, and the boy certainly didn’t, as he let you pass without another word.

You were still grumbling when you got back to the ramshackle building you called an apartment complex, and your landlady had raised an eyebrow when she saw you. “What, have you finally realized that it was a fool’s errand to come here?” She asked, and you shook your head. “No, just bothered by some guy with a crow’s head cane. Weird prop to carry around.” The woman had blanched, face suddenly seeming to age a decade in a second.

She had bustled over to you, voice low as if terrified that the boy might be able to hear her. “That’s Kaz Brekker, you fool. He runs the Dregs. Saints, he might even run this city.” She had hurried away from you then, forcing herself back to her work. Even then, you had known she was wrong. There was nothing the Saints could know about Kaz Brekker, nothing they could even hope to involve themselves in.

You had shaken the experience away, climbing up the stairs to your apartment. When you pushed open the door, however, you saw that you were not alone. The boy from earlier was back, this time leaning against the far wall. He gestured for you to close the door, which you did, albeit hesitantly. You had no idea how he got in- you had changed the locks when you first arrived at the apartment all those weeks ago, barred the windows, made it impossible for anyone except you to make their way inside. Yet here he stood, with knowledge of both where you lived and how to get there before you. It was impossible. Well, impossible for anyone except Kaz. The Barrel was his home, after all, and you doubt Dirtyhands had ever bothered to knock.

His fingers tapped the crow’s head of his cane. “I don’t think we quite finished our conversation. You could do more than just wash dishes, you know. The Dregs could always use a new member. That, and I’d like you to return what you stole from me. I’m impressed, actually. No one is that good at pickpocketing except me, and no one would try something that daring except for, well, me. I think you’d fit in nicely with my gang.”

You had folded your arms across your chest. “And I’m meant to believe that my pickpocketing was impressive enough to warrant a visit from Dirtyhands himself?” Kaz had shrugged, the movement stiff in the darkness. “You can believe whatever you want. I just want to see if you’ll take a good offer when you see one.” After a while, you had accepted, and Kaz had left, but not before whispering something in your ear. “If you steal from me again, I will cut off both of your hands. I don’t tolerate theft, not from me.”

You had heard enough threats to know that he meant good on this one. As it turned out, however, Kaz would not have to fear theft from you again. You found a home amongst the Dregs, a home you weren’t likely to give up due to the thrill of pickpocketing Kaz Brekker. You had a room at the Slat, a place at the table, a voice in the masses. It was something you weren’t willing to trade away.

Even amongst the many crows of Kaz Brekker’s gang, however, you still couldn’t let the issue of your soulmate go. You can remember one night, late into the night’s bells when you, Inej, Jesper, Matthias, and Nina had all made the journey up to Kaz’s office, slumped against chairs and floorboards and chatting the night away. Kaz was sitting at his desk, apparently doing paperwork, but you did notice that he kept coincidentally chiming into conversations even when he said he wasn’t paying attention.

At some point, Nina steered the conversation to soulmates. She held up her now blank palm, proclaiming that at some point it had held a wolf’s head. She had been terrified, she said, terrified that she would have a drüskelle or some other weirdo for a soulmate. Matthias had acted affronted at that, but if he was feeling particularly charitable he might relent and tell the gathered Crows about how he’d had a heart on his hand, and how frustrated he’d been when it had disappeared the second he’d locked Nina away on that slaver’s ship.

Nina had turned to Kaz then, intent on poking the bear and having some sort of fun that night. “So, Brekker, what’s your soulmate mark? Or do you not do that sort of zealot human thing we call soulmates?” Kaz had raised his eyebrows, looking distinctly bored. Of everyone in the room, you’re pretty sure that only you and Inej would be able to tell that he was holding back a smile.

“I’m not entirely a monster, Zenik. I do have a soulmate.” Nina had leaned forward, intent on clarification. “Then what’s the mark? We can’t just take a gander at your palm, remember? They’re hidden by your gloves.” Kaz had let his papers fall back to the desk with a thunk, turning to her with an expression laced with both exasperation and studied disinterest. “It’s a fire. A small flame. Happy?”

Nina had looked fascinated. “Beatific. I wonder what that means. An Inferni, maybe?” She wiggled her eyebrows at Kaz. “Maybe it’s supposed to show that they’re devilishly attractive. Really hot, get it?” Kaz had made a sound that was either a dry cough or his best attempt at a laugh. “Hilarious, Nina. I see why you’re a Heartrender- you could make a person want to die based on your jokes alone.”

Nina had acted affronted, making sure everybody knew that her jokes were hilarious, thank you very much, but you couldn’t help but think about the repercussions of this. What if Nina’s first guess was right, and Kaz’s soulmate was an Inferni, like you? If your tattoo was of a crow, and Kaz’s was of flames, then surely it was too much to just be a coincidence. You’d never know, anyway, because soulmate marks only disappeared on flesh to flesh contact. Kaz always wore gloves, so you’d never find out the truth. Besides, you remind yourself, the chances of this were superbly unlikely. A crow could mean anything, so could a flame. You need to stop getting your hopes up.

Despite the possibilities and impossibilities, you’ve still been running with the canal rats long enough to know that you can’t dwell forever on what might have been. You’re a Dreg now and you need to focus on that instead. When Kaz announces an upcoming settlement with the Razorgulls, yet another one of the gangs that roam the streets of Ketterdam, you’re eager for a chance at something entertaining after a long while of nothing. Kaz will meet with the leader to negotiate their way through a claim on the various pigeons coming and going from the harbors, and that will be that.

However, this is the Barrel. Negotiations are rarely easy. This is why, when Jesper arrives as Kaz’s second, he’s shunted aside to a separate room to stay out the duration of the meeting. Kaz and the leader of the Razorgulls are on the opposite side of the street in an empty courtyard, far away from any help should they need it. Kaz was prepared for this, as always, and set up a plan. Inej will shadow Jesper, making sure that he’ll have a way out if he needs it, and you’ll be shadowing Kaz himself. You’re not sure why Kaz chose you instead of his faithful Wraith, only that he rarely makes decisions based on nothing and you would do best to follow his judgement. The times he’s let you down are few and far between.

You and Inej split up, staying amongst the rooftops to avoid detection. She follows Jesper and the Razorgulls’ second into a crowded tavern, and you head towards the abandoned courtyard. Ahead of you, Kaz’s cane taps against the crooked cobblestones as he wends through desiccated hedges and marble statues severely lashed by time. The Razorgulls’ leader is waiting for him there, but you can’t follow now. Instead, you stick to the edges, climbing stairs and making your way into the empty buildings that watch over the courtyard like silent sentries.

You’re not sure what trouble you’ll be walking into, only that it will exist in some crooked form. There’s no logical reason the Razorgulls would want the seconds in another building unless they were planning something, and no reason Kaz would agree to this at all if he wasn’t sure you could have his back when he needed it. As you creep along the buildings, keeping a careful eye on the proceedings through the few broken windows, you notice that the two gang leaders have begun to speak. You can’t quite hear what they’re saying, only a few whispers here and there.

You’re just rounding a corner, ready to make your way into a neighbouring building, when the lights flash off, landing you in darkness. Instantly, you panic. Lighting is scarce here, only the moonbeams and a couple of oil lamps, but there’s no reason they should have shut down this quickly. You hear footsteps on the stairs, along with two pairs of voices: Razorgulls, discussing how important it is to stick to the shadows so Brekker can’t see them.

Your heartbeat thuds in the dark as you realize they haven’t spotted you yet. In fact, they have no idea you’re there at all. When Kaz was giving directions for the negotiations, he specifically told you to make sure that you weren’t seen, even if rival gang members showed up. If you want to go along with his plan and make sure he lives to see the end of this shoddy deal, you’ll have to stay in hiding.

This, however, is easier said than done. If the lights were on, you would be able to see the wooden beams of the floor and tell which ones would creak and which wouldn’t, which large shapes of furniture to avoid and which holes in the floorboards you should step over. A chill washes over you as you realize what you’ll have to do. You move your fingers together, quick as scraping flint against steel, and a small flame materializes at the pad of your index finger. It’s small, barely visible to anyone except you, but it’s enough to help you get out of the room before the Razorgulls notice you.

Even as the thrill of using your Grisha power after so long sends a charge of energy through your veins, you can’t help but feel uneasy. The only reason you’ve been able to survive in the Barrel and avoid unwholesome indentures is because you never used your power, not once. Even if it was necessary, this still feels bad.

You’ve found a new hiding place in the corner of the room and move to extinguish your flame now that it’s no longer useful. However, it’s been too long since you last used your powers as an Inferni, and your concentration wavers. The flame grows brighter and you start to panic, eventually clamping down your mind and forcing the fire to disappear.

The disappearance comes too late. The Razorgulls have seen some light in the shadow that wasn’t supposed to be there and are now edging your way, careful not to let you out of their sight. You have no choice but to take them down, standing over their unconscious bodies and feeling a wave of nerves crest over you. Kaz specifically said not to mess with the gangs, but you had no choice. You can only hope that this won’t ruin his plan too much.

Quietly, you step through the room and unlock a window, letting the panes move open in the wind. Now, you can hear the voices echoing up from the courtyard, and your heart sinks as you realize that things aren’t going well. The leader of the Razorgulls has revealed his ace in the hole, that he’s got guns trained on Kaz right now. Kaz just laughs, the sound as cold as rocks scraping against a ship’s hull, ready to damn a hundred men to the depths of the ocean.

“Do you, though? Who are the men you sent up- Dirk Struik and Niels ter Avest? Your coffers may be deep, but mine are more extensive. Gentlemen, take down this man, if you please.” Your stomach twists as you realize Kaz was counting on the men you just knocked out. Without them, he’s alone with a man pointing a gun at his skull. There’s no way around this- you’re going to have to break your most cherished rule again.

You thrust your palms out in front of you, letting tendrils of flame arc out of your hands and cascade onto the leader of the Razorgulls. He twists in agony, burns appearing on his skin. He only suffers for a moment or two, however, until he becomes unconscious due to the pain. Kaz’s head jerks up, staring at you. You don’t think you’ve ever seen Kaz Brekker truly surprised, but he most certainly was not expecting this.

You don’t think there’s anything you can do except try to explain yourself. You jump down from the open window, letting your heels land lightly on the stones of the courtyard. Kaz seems frozen in place for a second, then moves forward until you’re standing only a few feet apart. Your breath comes wild in your chest. Kaz speaks after the longest of moments. “Where were the guards?”

You hold up your hands uselessly. “They saw me. I had to take them out.” Kaz’s eyes dart to your palms, faster than a sharpshooter pulling the trigger. He takes in the smoke still curling around your fingers, then the crow mark in the middle of your hand. When he speaks again, his voice has lost its icy edge. He just sounds like a boy again, young and confused.

“You never told me you were an Inferni.” You sigh. “It was a secret I needed to keep. You know what happens in the Barrel, the indentures and the tortures. If I used my powers, I would have died a long time ago.” Kaz jerks his head in a harsh nod. “I don’t blame you for surviving. We have all committed worse crimes to live” Your voice gains a confidence it didn’t have before. “Then what do you blame me for? You’re upset, anyone could tell that. If it’s not with me keeping my Grisha abilities a secret, then what is it?”

Kaz hesitates, as if pulling himself back from a yawning chasm. “Me.” You stare at him, at the indecision wracking his brow, then at the way he’s pulling at the glove at his palm. His hands almost seem to shake, like he’s still not sure that he’s doing the right thing. He pulls the glove off, inch by inch, seeming to dread every second that his hands aren’t covered by the black leather. At last, you see it- the mark on his palm, the flame sparking into being right there on his hand.

He reaches out tentatively. “I need to know.” He manages, and at last you understand. You move your own hand slowly, stopping when it’s only a few inches away from his. Kaz squares his shoulders, as if preparing to jump from another broken building, then closes the distance and lets his hand rest lightly on yours. As you watch, your soulmate tattoos shimmer for a second and then vanish, erasing from your skin as if they’d never been there at all.

Kaz lets his gaze linger on the empty skin of your palm, and then he seems to come back into himself, snatching his hand away like he’s flinching from a blow. You can see it in his eyes that he regrets this, that he can’t keep his hand there, but you understand. You can understand quite a lot from him.

Kaz’s voice is like the grating of metal. “I’m not somebody you want as a soulmate. It won’t be easy. It won’t be good.” You laugh quietly in the night. “If I wanted something easy, I would have never come to Ketterdam.” Kaz nods at this, something almost like relief in his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere.” You manage. Something almost like a smile flits across Kaz’s face. “Good. We have much to discuss.”

[floralseokjin]

⊶ final sleigh (m). ⊷

You took an (almost) immediate dislike to Seokjin during his first week at the office and six months later that distaste is not only still going strong, but also mutual. Working in sales, you view one another as competition, so what happens when you’re forced to organise the Christmas office party together? It’s a recipe for disaster, but one thing’s for sure, it doesn’t end the way you imagined it...

(Spoiler alert: you don’t wind up murdering him.)  

pairing; kim seokjin x reader  au/genre/warnings; workplace/office au, enemies/rivals to lovers, starts off as a holiday au but drabbles further develop the story, rom-com, hoseok, namjoon, jungkook and yoongi make appearances, smut; drunk grinding, drunk kissing, workplace (oral) sex, storeroom (oral) sex, oral sex (male & female receiving), fingering, dirty talk, jin has a big dick (obv) words; 23,363 

continuing drabbles found here

Every year without fail you organised the office Christmas party at Jung&Co. As part of the office party committee it was of course a given. There were only two of you but as a workplace of just 12 that was ample enough. This year however, things were a little different, no matter how marginally. Joy was on maternity leave so you were now on your own this time around. Not that you minded. You could hold the fort no problem until she came back in January and you had to plan Creed, the quality assurance director’s birthday party. 

Only Hoseok, your manager didn’t see it that simple. Insisted you needed an extra set of helping hands. Who? Was your first thought. No one had ever offered to help in the past three years and why would they start now? However, you were forgetting something… or should you say, someone. A new someone who you were sure had been transferred here to make your life a total misery. It was like someone up there had it in for you, and you couldn’t think of one explanation why. You were a good person; you donated to a cat shelter every month, you paid your taxes, you were always helpful and friendly, amazing at your job… The list went on. In fact, you were the best damn sales rep at this branch, high above the rest – Well… That was until he showed up. 

“I’ll do it.” You heard Seokjin offer indifferently, as if he didn’t care a damn about the Christmas party. You knew he didn’t. 

You swung around immediately, your chair squeaking against the wooden flooring with the force. You scoffed patronisingly. “Pfft. You?” You had never heard anything so unbelievable in your whole life. 

Seokjin regarded you from where he sat in the back row. Hoseok had called a meeting this morning, needing to find a replacement for Joy as time was creeping up. it was a month until Christmas closure. The day the party was held, and he knew how much you liked to keep on top of things. You weren’t to be rushed. 

“Yes. Me.” Of course he was smirking. “Why? Got a problem?”

Beside him, Jungkook the intern, looked between you both unsurely. No doubt the rest of your co-workers were too. This had become the norm now. They stayed silent every time you and he started squabbling. The past few months had been one big whirlwind of bickering and rivalry. Seokjin was your biggest competition. He was also the thorn in your side. Ever since he’d transferred branches from his hometown six months ago life in the office hadn’t been the same for you. It didn’t help that your desks were also situated next to one another. You had to sit opposite his annoying face 8 hours a day, five days a week. It was a living hell. And now you’d be forced to spend even more time with him? Over your dead body. 

“No.” You folded your arms, still looking over at him from where you sat in the front. He wouldn’t win. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he was successfully getting to you. “You want to organise the office Christmas party?”

Of course you were calling his bluff. He was 100% doing this to piss you off. You were certain. 

He chuckled. “I don’t know why it’s so unbelievable.”

You scoffed, growing frustrated. “You’re a guy!”

He raised one of his eyebrows. “Excuse me? Is that sexism I detect?” One corner of his mouth twitched. “Do I have to report you to Tim?”

Tim, the HR rep went to speak up, no doubt trying to pacify the situation, but already out of hand, you spoke over him, voice shrill. “Oh shut up, Seokjin.” Damn it, you’d bitten, hadn’t you? He was holding back his laughter. He knew what you meant. Your wording came out wrong, so you needed to correct yourself. 

“I’m just saying, you don’t seem like a guy who loves to party plan in his spare time.”

He grinned widely, as smug as ever. “Well, I’m full of surprises, baby.” 

Unimpressed you stared him down. “Do I need to report you to Tim for harassment?” 

You weren’t paying attention to Tim this time around but no doubt he looked lost. He was an older, quiet man who seemed unsure what he was doing here most of the time. Seokjin didn’t help matters. 

“For what?” He exclaimed. “Calling you baby? It’s a term of endearment.” 

“Not from you it isn’t.” 

Jungkook sniggered at that and you felt a little smug. Seokjin went to open his mouth, no doubt a clever comeback hot on his tongue, but Hoseok interrupted. 

“Guys. Stop bickering or neither of you will be planning this party.” 

You immediately spun around, facing the front. Seokjin wasn’t fucking this up for you. Although you didn’t think Hoseok would ever take that role away from you. He might have been your manager – and the CEO’s son – but you saw him as a friend. He never threw his authority around. 

You crossed your arms as his attention fell to Seokjin, silently huffing. “Jin, please tell us why you nominated yourself.” 

“Well,” he started his spiel, laying it on thick. You refused to look his way, even as everyone else in the conference room gave him their attention. “I love Christmas and I love organising things.” He made it sound so simple. Infuriating bastard. “I was always the person they counted on back home. I know how to throw a paaar-tayyyy!” 

At his holler, he and Jungkook gave one another a high five, whooping at each other like a pair of idiots. It was impossible to think that Seokjin was the same age as you, a whole five years older than Jungkook. They obviously shared the same mental age. 

“Well you’re not back home now.” You couldn’t help yourself, whipping around to tell him what was what. “I’m the one in charge here. I have the final say.” Sneering, you added, “You’d just be the help.”

Seokjin’s jaw twitched. You were irritating him now. You took great joy in that. “Hoseok said it was 50/50.” 

“More like 75/25 where you’re concerned.” 

“In my favour, yes.”

You felt your anger flare. “Hoseokkk,” you whined, turning your back to Seokjerk. “You can’t be serious letting him join the party planning committee?” 

You knew he was doing it on purpose. He had no interest in helping you – he just wanted to annoy you, to take over. 

Hoseok looked at you sympathetically. “Do you see anyone else offering to help, Y/N? Besides, it’s just for Christmas.” When you didn’t relent, he sighed. “You can’t do it all on your own.” 

You held your arms tight across your chest, pouting like a big kid. “Watch me.” 

“Impossible,” he chuckled softly. “You should be thanking Seokjin for being so helpful.” 

Men. They were all traitors. Of course Hoseok would be in Seokjin’s favour, they once worked together back at the other branch just before Hoseok became manager here. 

“Yeah, Y/N,” Seokjin called. You just knew he had that shit eating grin spread across his face, the one that plagued your nightmares – You could hear it in his tone. “You should be thanking me. But take your time, I know admitting defeat is hard for you.” 

You breathed deeply through your nose, reminding yourself to stay calm, else he’d end up throttled by the time this party rolled around… 

“Chop, chop!” 

From your peripheral you could see Seokjin stood over you, clapping his hands, his crotch obscenely eye level. You pursed your mouth and continued typing up your report that needed to be in by today. You couldn’t bear to look at him, still mad from yesterday, and no doubt he just wanted to annoy you some more – his sole purpose it seemed. What a sad little life he lived. 

“Y/N,” he prompted. You bit the inside of your cheek, exhaling through your nose. He wasn’t relenting, but lucky for you, lunch was in just over an hour. You could grin and bear him until then, surely? 

“What?” You snapped, beginning to turn your head. 

“We have our first meeting in five.” 

You mouth grew dry as you made eye contact, but it wasn’t because of what he said, actually you barely had time to register it, his pearly whites pretty much dazzling you as he grinned. 

You might have forgotten to mention a tiny detail about Seokjin, one you tried your best to forget, and tiny it was because it barely had an effect on you… Begrudgingly, you had to admit he was objectively handsome. Before you had taken that almost instantaneous dislike to him six months ago, you will confess that the first sighting of him had turned you a little weak at the knees. You were only human after all and you could appreciate a good looking face when you saw one. He even made Beryl and Michelle, who well into their sixties, giddy with a simple Good Morning – and he knew it. He knew how hot he was, which for you, just added to his overall lack of appeal. 

However, sometimes he caught you off guard. 

Like now. 

You swallowed with some difficulty, willing saliva to coat the inside of your mouth, and ignoring the way the crisp white dress shirt hugged his waist, tucked into those very well fitting black pants of his (maybe too well fitting…), you let his words piece together. 

“…Meeting?” 

You furrowed your eyebrows slightly, what was he talking about? Hoseok hadn’t announced anything this morning. Was he just messing with you? You weren’t Jungkook. Those two might love playing pranks on one another, but you were actually mature in the workplace.

At the thought of Jungkook, you could hear him giggling up at the front of the office with the receptionist, Mina. How Hoseok hadn’t gathered they were sleeping together yet was beyond you. Actually, you were sure the rest of the office were slow to catch on too, but you maybe you had a clear (dis)advantage. You had to hear him and Seokjin discussing it more or less every single day – because men were dense and didn’t realise that no matter how low they spoke, a metre distance would not stop you from overhearing. 

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the Christmas party already?” Seokjin continued to grin – and that’s when you realised it wasn’t of the friendly kind. It was of the provoking kind, because he wanted to piss you off. “I thought this was your area of expertise.” 

You could feel your blood beginning to boil, your work forgotten on the screen. “You called a meeting without telling me?” 

He shrugged. “What am I doing right now?” What, mere seconds before it started? You really were going to end up killing him one of these days. “I booked the conference room this morning.” 

You grit your teeth together. “I organise the meetings.” 

“Get a life.” He scoffed, judging you hard. “Besides, you’re a bit slow on the ball, aren’t you?” 

“The party isn’t for another month.” 

“Three weeks and 6 days actually,” he corrected. Then with a wink, he added, “I like being on top of things.” 

You ignored his shitty (and inappropriate) innuendo with a roll of your eyes. “I was going to wait until Monday.” How dare he suggest you were unorganised. 

With another lazy roll of his shoulders, he started to walk off, towards the small conference room situated in the office. “You snooze you lose.” Turning back casually, he pointed a finger to your desk. “Bring a notebook.” 

Trying to laser through him with your best death glare you grabbed your notebook and stood up. He was treading on thin ice. 

.

.

“This thing sounds dry as the Sahara,” Seokjin wailed loudly, hanging his head towards his (blank) notebook on the desk. 

“Well you know where the door is,” you smiled. “I’m perfectly capable of organising this party on my own.” 

Actually, if he didn’t like how you celebrated Christmas here, he could leave entirely. You wouldn’t miss him, and the others would surely get over it. You didn’t understand why they thought he was so amazing anyway. His sense of humour was grating to say the least – as well as his overall personality. He was nothing but a glorified salesman who walked the walk and talked the talk. You actually cared about your clients. All he cared about was numbers to help him boast, even if that meant stealing –

Never mind. That was in the past. You were the bigger person, you reminded yourself. 

“I’m not going anywhere,” Seokjin scoffed, turning to look at you. He’d insisted you sat next to him even though you had been quite happy to sit at the furthest end of the table. “This place needs some Seokjin zest. Add a little flavour – a little spice.” 

You dropped your head, muttering arrogant bastard under your breath as you picked up your pen to start brainstorming some ideas. 

“What was that?” He asked, obviously hearing you. 

You played dumb. “What was what?”

Thankfully, for the next ten minutes a very much welcomed silence fell over you as you both jotted down some ideas, although you were pretty sure Seokjin was just doodling at this point. Probably stickmen like the five year old he was. In between planning you threw a few texts your best friend’s way. 

(12:14pm) You: Remind me why we tolerate men again?  (12:15pm) Ana: For their dicks  (12:15pm) Ana: But only if they’re pretty and they know how to use it  (12:15pm) Ana: What’s up? (12:17pm) You: Guess who organised the first Christmas party meeting without telling me first 🙂 (12:18pm) Ana: Oh (12:19pm) You: Exactly  (12:19pm) Ana: Dick cheese   (12:20pm) Ana: Definitely not tolerable

You snorted at the mention of Seokjin’s nickname. Ana knew all about your very vocal disdain for the guy – in fact, she’d had to hear it all over again last night when you’d called her to complain about the very unfortunate turn in Christmas party planning events. 

“Is that work or party related?”

Frustratingly, your obvious amusement had caught Dick cheese’s attention. “Shut up,” you muttered, but you did hide your phone from view, placing it screen down on the table. Hopefully he hadn’t caught a glimpse at anything dick and cheese related. He was definitely the type to report you to Tim for workplace bullying. 

You turned to look at him, childishly taking great pleasure in the way a piece of his brown hair had bunched up on top of his head – probably from where’d he’d been itching, racking his pea-sized brain for ideas. He hadn’t noticed, and you weren’t going to point it out. He’d realise soon enough when he had to use the restroom – unless he didn’t wash his hands afterwards, which wouldn’t surprise you. 

“We’re in a meeting, save texting your boyfriend for lunch.” 

“I’m not texting – never mind.” You stopped yourself. There was no point biting. He wanted you to do that, knowing the insinuating tone he’d used would surely get you mad. As if you’d ever have a boyfriend, ha ha, very funny and original – NOT. He needed better jokes. 

“If you were actually bringing something to the table I wouldn’t be bored enough to get distracted,” you shot instead. 

He looked wholeheartedly offended. “I’m not the only one involved in this. You think of some ideas.” 

“I have been.” You replied loudly. “It’s the same process every year, okay? Theme, food and Secret Santa. That’s all we need to organise.” You’d already been through this. 

“So fucking boring,” he groaned slowly. 

“You’re wrong.” 

He snorted, visibly amused by your insistence. “And that Y/N, is why you are a square.” 

“You don’t even know me!” You exclaimed. 

“I know enough. I’ve sat opposite you for the past six months.” 

“Yeah, and don’t I know it,” you muttered. You had not known peace since. 

He laughed then, surprising you enough to make you jump a little. “Babe, are you ever going to forgive me for Rosal & Steinar?”

You glared at him. How dare he bring that up. It was a very sensitive topic, one you wanted to forget about because each time it popped up inside your brain you wanted to kick him – aggressively and relentlessly. 

Seokjin’s first week here had not been good for you. First, he had made you weak at the knees by just casually existing, then, Hoseok had introduced him as Jung&Co.’s best salesperson, and lastly, after being struck down with a terrible cold, you’d been sent home from work on the morning of your biggest client’s renewal day. Hoseok had insisted that you couldn’t sell stationary without a voice. You had claimed you could, but it wasn’t good enough. You were sick and needed to go before you infected anyone else. 

The following Monday, still snorting sinus spray like it was cocaine, you’d arrived at work to find out that Rosal & Steinar had renewed their contract… with Seokjin. Life couldn’t have been going anymore wrong. In the past month you’d had to deal with the guilt of breaking off a two year relationship, acquiring a new competition in your place of work that had ultimately already lost you your best client, and you’d gotten sick for the first time in four years. 

You blamed Seokjin. He’d been sent to curse you. (Although, admittedly the breakup had happened before you’d known of his existence… Not that it mattered.) 

That’s why it was now your life’s goal to become Jung&Co.’s best salesperson, because Hoseok’s opinion didn’t mean shit, and one way or another you were going to take down Seokjin. 

So yeah, no matter how much you insisted that the past was in the past, it obviously wasn’t. 

You raised an eyebrow, choosing to ignore his question. “What did I say about reporting you?” You weren’t his babe. Or baby. Or whatever else he liked to use. 

“Sorry,” he apologised, rather genuinely at that, which was surprising. “It was a slip of the tongue.”

You let out a short sigh. “Let’s just get on with this. There’s half an hour until lunch and I need to leave on time to meet my friend.” Neither of you had thought of anything solid yet. 

“Is that who you were messaging?” 

Seokjin seemed curious – interested? You couldn’t think of the correct word. Either way he was getting too friendly and pushing boundaries you’d rather not have him cross. “Is that any of your business?”

He shrugged, unaffected, and got back down to business. “Why can’t we just rent out a venue? Nothing is fun without any booze.” 

“We don’t do that anymore,” you answered. 

“How come?” 

You inwardly groaned. You didn’t really want to get into it, this meeting had already been a complete and utter flop, but you guessed if you told him why you no longer celebrated outside of office hours he’d understand and shut up about the damn office party. 

“It was a while ago. Before Hoseok was manager.” You began. “We used to all have Christmas lunch and then go out for drinks… and it was fun, don’t get me wrong,” you emphasised, knowing that he was just itching to call you boring. “But the last time we did it, our manager at the time ended up sleeping with the married receptionist and –”

“Mina?!” Seokjin exclaimed, interrupting story time. 

“No, not Mina,” you cried. As if Jungkook would be oblivious to the fact she was married, but then again, he was pretty dumb. He’d been here eight months already and still didn’t know how to photocopy properly. 

“Before her.” You stressed, noticing the shock on Seokjin’s face disappear. “They were both wasted but it was still no excuse. Her husband found out, charged into the office Monday morning.” 

“Oh, fuck.” Seokjin chuckled, obviously enjoying the drama. 

“He was ready to fight but it didn’t end well, because… our manager was a black belt.” 

You winced at the memory, remembering that morning very well. The initial shock, the screams, your manager morphing into the Hulk… the punches… the blood… It was crazy to say the least, and after Christmas you never saw the man again. Devin, the CFO, informed you he’d “moved on” by his own willing but you didn’t really believe that. Hoseok was his replacement. Mina was hired shortly after when Kevin couldn’t handle the stress of being an accountant and a receptionist on the side. 

“Brilliant,” Seokjin laughed, clapping his hands together. “So, the guy who’d gotten cheated on had the shit kicked out of him in front of the whole office?”

“Pretty much,” you nodded, still feeling a little sad for the man even though it was three years ago now – and you didn’t even know his name. “Ever since then it’s been a buffet in the conference room kind of thing.” 

Looking over at Seokjin then, you suddenly had the urge to add, “It’s safer. No one ends up fucking that way.” 

His eyes bulged and he broke into a little cough at the shock of the word falling from your mouth so easily, choking on his own laugh. “Fuck…” He went to repeat, only petering off last minute, shaking his head in disbelief.

You tried not to feel smug about it but you couldn’t help it. Lame, yes you were. 

“Fine,” Seokjin sighed, resignation in his tone. “Stupid fricking office party it is.” 

“I’m glad that we finally agree on something.” 

He just rolled his eyes at you. 

The next couple of weeks went by quite fast and slowly, in between work, you and Seokjin actually got somewhere with the party planning – surprisingly. At first he’d been adamant to separate each job between you, but that was only because he wanted to be in charge of the theme. You’d point-blank refused. As much as you hated it, you needed to work together as a team, so that meant making decisions together. Star Wars at Christmas wasn’t exactly something you agreed on, but neither was Christmas cats. (“You need to get laid ASAP”, had been his words when you’d suggested such an idea… but he didn’t really have a leg to stand on as a Star Wars fan, so…). 

Finally, after just over a week of brainstorming (and bickering), you decided on something: Family Christmas. It wasn’t the most original idea, but it was something, and you’d already thought of a bunch of things to do ready for it, which involved Jungkook getting his camera out and everyone dressing up in their holiday pyjamas. 

It was a Monday afternoon right now, an hour until you went home for the day, and you and he were making use of some spare time you had – making a list of all the decorations you needed to purchase. He’d dragged his chair over to your desk which you weren’t very happy about but what could you do? Sometimes sacrifices had to be made, especially when it came down to Christmas. 

“It was my birthday over the weekend,” Seokjin told you casually. 

“Oh, was it?” 

You could feel his gaze on your face as you scribbled down in your notebook. “Didn’t you see on Facebook? Everyone was wishing me happy birthday.” 

“Were they?” You said impassively, now aware he was itching for some attention. “I don’t go on there that much.” Why you’d accepted his friend request still baffled you, but you were always the bigger, better person in life. Plus, you’d stopped logging in months ago. 

There was a pause. Ahh, lovely, silence. What bliss –

“I mentioned it Friday too.” 

You sighed, turning to look at him. “Happy belated birthday, Seokjin. I hope you had a good day.” 

He grinned. There it was, what he’d been after. He was such a kid. “Thanks. I did actually, I went –”

“Is Hoseok around?” 

Your attention was stolen by the sound of someone’s voice – Namjoon’s voice, and you looked to the reception desk to see him stood beside it. You swooned a little at the sight of him; legs long enough to climb, a butt hard enough to crack walnuts with – chest too. Namjoon was the foreman of the warehouse on the ground floor. He was handsome, charming, and genuinely a nice person. You hadn’t seen him for a while, so you were definitely caught by surprise.  

“Yeah, he’s in his office,” Mina replied with a smile, watching his ass as he turned and started walking away. You didn’t blame her. 

“Hi, Y/N.” He gave you a dazzling smile as he noticed you, bypassing your boss’ office to make his way over. 

“Hi, Joon.” You greeted, unable to stop smiling like an idiot. “How are you?”

“Busy, he shrugged. Leaning in, you felt your pulse begin to quicken. “You don’t go clubbing anymore? I haven’t seen you around.” 

“Ana got pretty bored of it.” 

That was a lie actually. One you’d thought of on the spot. It wasn’t that you disliked going out, although you did feel too old for it now – the hangovers just kept getting worse – but when you’d started meeting up with Namjoon and his friends in the summer you’d been on a little Quest for Fun. You blamed it on the breakup. Now that you were over it, and had been for quite some time, clubbing wasn’t near as appealing as it used to be. You much preferred staying in and sitting in front of the television. 

“That shouldn’t stop you. I can always be your company if you’re lonely,” he smirked, that pesky dimple sending your heart a flutter. He always did this. Flirting came so natural to him, he was great at it. 

You heard someone clearing their throat to the side of you. Namjoon and you both looked over at the same time. Oh, right… Seokjin was here. You’d actually forgotten about him. 

“Hey, man,” Namjoon smiled politely. They didn’t know each other too well, but that didn’t stop Namjoon from being friendly. He looked down at your notebook. “What are you guys up to?” 

The question was definitely directed to you but Seokjin answered anyway. “Organising the office Christmas party.” 

“Ahhh.” Namjoon nodded, smirking your way, Seokjin once again forgotten. “Do I get an invite?” 

You smiled, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t you always?” He and the guys downstairs always popped up and joined in on the celebrations, but yes, okay, maybe you were flirting too… You couldn’t help it, not after what happened last –

“Namjoon?”

Hoseok’s voice interrupted your thoughts and you looked over Namjoon’s shoulder, seeing him stood in his doorway. 

Namjoon sighed, taking a step backwards. “I gotta go, business calls, beautiful. See you around.” Turning his back to you he started to walk off, only to glance over his shoulder last minute, shooting you a wink. “Remember, if you’re ever feeling lonely…” 

You giggled, giving him a wave and watched him follow Hoseok into his office. 

“What was that?” Seokjin asked, sounding absolutely baffled. 

“What was what?” You shot, now realising you’d turned to mush right in front of him. 

“That,” he exclaimed. “You and Namjoon all over one another.” He paused to pull a face. “I’ve come all over all queasy.”

“Shut up,” you brushed off. “We weren’t.” 

He looked at you as if you’d gone mad. “The looks! The winking. The way your voice went all high-pitched… Do you like him?”

“As a friend,” you stressed. Although, what was it to him?! 

He stared at you. “So nothing’s going on between the two of you?”

“No.” 

“You expect me to believe that?”

“I don’t expect you to do anything,” you shook your head, laughing in confusion. “I don’t care if you believe me or not.” 

Seokjin dropped it thankfully and you got back to your list, jotting down a few more things you needed. It was until Namjoon reappeared from Hoseok’s office and waved goodbye to you that Seokjin couldn’t contain himself any longer. 

“What?” You demanded when you heard him scoff to himself. 

“He definitely wants to fuck you.” He shook his head. “Trust me. I have a males sixth sense when it comes to that.” 

You could feel yourself growing mad. That’s why you ultimately ended up spilling. As stupid as it was. “Maybe he already has…”

It took a moment for Seokjin to make sense of your words. “W-what?” You could physically see when the penny dropped, it was actually quite amusing. You liked making him speechless. “You and Namjoon already… When?!”

You shrugged, feeling mildly embarrassed. “It was during the summer.” You tried to think of more things you’d need for this party but your mind was now a blur and Seokjin wouldn’t let you anyway.  

“You can’t just drop that and not give me details,” he cried. 

“Keep your voice down,” you hissed. Nobody knew bar Ana. Who had been the with you the night you and Namjoon had hooked up. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but you didn’t want the whole office knowing your business. 

Seokjin looked at you wide-eyed, patiently – or not so – waiting for you to explain yourself. You grumbled, not quite believing you were about to tell him, you didn’t want him knowing your business, but then again, it was a great feeling knowing that you’d shocked him. “I’d just… I’d just broken up with my boyfriend and I wanted to… let loose a little. It was just a one time thing.” 

But it had been good – amazing, actually. A repeat had never shown itself, but you were happy enough for it to be a onetime thing. 

“You have one night stands?” Seokjin asked, although you were sure it was rhetorical. 

“It happened once.” 

He wasn’t listening. “And here I was thinking you were a prude.” 

“Like I said before, you don’t know me.” 

Seokjin chuckled, amused by your attitude. It sent your insides a little jittery – but only for a split second – and it could’ve very well been annoyance. “So… How was it?”

“Excuse me?”

“How was the sex?”

“I’m not answering that,” you refused. 

“Why not?” He looked puzzled. “What’s a bit of hook up talk amongst friends?”

“Friends?” You repeated with a chortle. “Good one.” 

He ignored you. “Come on. I’ll tell you about the sex I had over the weekend. Birthday sex is always the best. One hook up story for another.” 

You pulled a face, unsure why the idea of Seokjin getting in on was so unpleasant, but then he laughed. It was loud, and partly squeaky. Contagious too. You couldn’t help but join in. “Go away.” You whined, pushing at his shoulder. You were not going into detail, palming him off. “I can’t even remember it.”

“Ouch.” Seokjin sniggered. “Don’t tell him that. It seems like he thinks about it every goddamn night.”

Pfftt. You doubted that. “I mean, it was ages ago.” 

“That shouldn’t matter, babe,” Seokjin tutted. “You never forget a good time.” 

“Are you purposely trying to be an asshole?” If he called you babe one more time, you swore to God…

“I’m not trying.” He smirked, face falling as he realised that hadn’t been worded correctly. “…Wait.” 

Okay then, he was just a natural asshole. Good to know. 

Begrudgingly, you had to admit you and Seokjin made a pretty good team once you put aside your issues with one another. With the theme decided, it was easy enough to get everything in place. Jungkook took the “family” photos you needed of the staff and you went to get them professionally printed, shoving them in frames ready to place around the office in preparation. Seokjin found a lot of the decorations needed, which was actually very helpful of him. You were so impressed you even agreed to let him decorate the conference room all by himself when the time came. The office was already overflowing with tinsel, the Christmas tree up, but the conference room was always left for the day of the party, the last Friday before the company closed for Christmas. 

Secret Santa had been organised too. Quite unfortunately you’d pulled out Seokjin’s name (see, you were cursed,) but you’d bought the first pair of cufflinks you’d found in the department store last week, so you didn’t have to worry about that for long. All that was left now was the buffet. And that’s how you found yourself sat in Seokjin’s kitchen on a Friday night, a week to go until D-Day… 

There hadn’t been time to look over the restaurant’s menu in work hours, and you’d given up trying to organise things over Skype with him. The first and last time you’d tried that, Seokjin had added Jungkook into the call, both of them getting ready to game. It had been a mess to say the least, so the only other option was to meet up after work. Seokjin had been the first to invite you over, so here you were. It wasn’t as if you purposely didn’t want him to step foot inside your home. He wasn’t that bad. 

His apartment wasn’t either… He lived with his best friend, an interior architect, which made a lot of sense once Seokjin told you. Unless you were confusing it for an interior designer, which you probably were – either way, this place was cool. And spotless. It smelt nice too. Always a plus. 

You were halfway done picking through the menu when his phone started ringing. You noticed him hesitate, as if he wondering if he should pick up but ultimately decided to after a few rings. 

“Hey mom,” he greeted, glancing over at you to mouth sorry. 

You shook your head to tell him it was okay and pulled out your phone from your hoody pocket, taking the break to scroll through social media. A text pinged through from Ana, wondering what dress she should wear tomorrow night when you went out for drinks. Every year you went out just before Christmas, despite how much you complained. It was mandatory now, but undeniably Ana took it a lot more serious than you. You had no idea what you’d be wearing tomorrow and wouldn’t until an hour before the Uber came to get you. 

“I know that, but I just can’t leave him,” Seokjin sighed beside you. You paused, having never heard him sound quite like that before. He sounded… serious for one. And frustrated. You replied to Ana quickly, trying your best not to overhear anymore – which was difficult. You were practically brushing shoulders at the kitchen table. 

“I don’t think he wants to come. He said he doesn’t even want to celebrate this year.” 

Again, you were doing a terrible job at this. Whatever this was about, you were beginning to feel rude listening in. But then again, if Seokjin didn’t want you to hear then surely he would’ve stepped into the living room. You were being a goddamn worrier. 

“Okay, I’ll speak to you soon, bye. Love you.”

Love you? Seokjin told his mom he loved her? The revelation caught you off guard, forgetting that he was off the phone now and as you heard him clear his throat, shoving the device into his sweatpants pocket, you jumped, copying and slipping yours back inside your hoody. 

“Sorry about that,” he apologised. “It was my mom.” 

“It’s fine.” You reassured. He sounded a little dejected all of a sudden, a far cry from ten minutes ago when he’d been laughing over the word vol-au-vent. You hesitated, wondering if you should ask if everything was okay? You felt a little awkward, as if you were pushing boundaries, but surprisingly he told you himself without any prompting. 

“She really wants me to come home for Christmas but I can’t leave Yoongi.” He definitely sounded exasperated now. 

“Yoongi?” You repeated, a little lost. 

Seokjin glanced at you, narrowing his eyes as if he was trying to guess if you were messing around or not. “My best friend…” He said slowly. “Y’know, the one I live with…” 

“Oh.” 

You fool. Now it looked like you hadn’t been listening to him. You had been, you really had, the name just slipped your mind momentarily. After only an hour… “Sorry,” you murmured. 

He shrugged, carrying on. “I kinda owe him one.” 

“How come?” The menu now laid forgotten. 

Seokjin sighed. “It’s kind of a long story.” You waited to see if he’d care to explain, although of course he didn’t have to if he didn’t want to. “His girlfriend broke up with him about a month ago and he’s been pretty cut up ever since.” 

He wanted to. You listened politely, aware this was the first time either of you’d had a conversation very much deemed as serious.   

“I’m going to stay here with him because well,” he hesitated, glancing at you briefly. He seemed a little embarrassed but decided to continue. “He let me move in with him after my ex and I split up. He was there for me so it’s only fair that I’m there for him.” He finished with a rushed smile, reaching to rub the back of his neck bashfully.

The action was pretty endearing. 

“Is that why you transferred?” You asked, aware the conversation was straying but you couldn’t help it. The surprise of finding out he’d moved here after the breakdown of his relationship was distracting to say the least. You’d always pegged Seokjin as a guy who’d never been in a serious relationship – judgemental, yes, but they were the type of vibes he gave out. Maybe you just couldn’t imagine him settled down and in love. He was such a free spirit, never serious enough – although, right now he was... 

Possibly, you didn’t know him at all…

Seokjin nodded. “Yeah, I wanted a fresh start. Yoongi said this city was nice, so.” 

There was a beat of silence and afraid it would become awkward you rushed to say something of worth. “Break ups are tough.” 

God, that sounded a lot cheesier than you intended. 

“They are,” he agreed. “Although... I don’t know how yours went – mine was okay, sad but mutual. We just didn’t love each other anymore. Yoongi’s on the other had… He got cheated on.” 

“That sucks.” You empathised, before shrugging softly. “Mine was okay too. As break ups go.” 

Were you bonding? Bonding with Seokjin? Ludicrous. However, what was even more unbelievable was how normal and comfortable it felt… 

“How are you spending Christmas this year?” He asked, continuing to make conversation. 

“Well, I usually visit my parents too but they’re going to be abroad this year so I’ll just spend it with my friend Ana’s family.” It was all planned, they lived super close by so at least this year would be easy. 

He sniggered, eyes twinkling as opened his mouth to tease you. “Ditched by your own parents, embarrassing.” 

“Hey,” you exclaimed, whacking his arm just before you burst into laughter. 

He laughed along for a moment before growing semi-serious again. But just for a moment. “It’s actually going to be my first Christmas away from my family. It feels kind of weird but I can’t bring Yoongi along, he’ll bum out the atmosphere.”

You scoffed, voice filled with sarcasm. “You’re such a great friend, Seokjin.” 

He chuckled, opening his mouth to reply, but just as he did you both heard the door in the entry way opening, footsteps sounding. You guessed Yoongi was back home. Not long after, a black haired man came into view and Seokjin moved, cool air filling the gap. You realised just how close you’d been sat together. When had that happened? 

“Hey Yoongi,” Seokjin smiled. Yoongi raised a hand. “This is Y/N, my co-worker. You’ve heard me talk about her before, right?” 

Huh? Whining about you, no doubt… 

“Oh... yeah.” Yoongi’s eyes travelled to yours, a small smile upturning one corner of his mouth. “Hey, how’s it going?” 

“Hey,” you returned his smile. “Nice to meet you.” 

“How was work?” Seokjin asked. He sounded… concerned? That was sweet. 

Yoongi shrugged. “Fine. Had an appointment with a client.” Silence. He was a man of very few words. You liked it. “I’m going to my room, have fun planning that Christmas party.” 

Of course. That’s why Yoongi knew about you, Seokjin had told him about the party planning… 

You waved him bye, and then, once you’d heard him make his way upstairs, Seokjin turned to you. “See? Bums out the atmosphere.” 

“What atmosphere?” You joked. “No, but he seemed okay, considering…” Yes, his shoulders were a little slumped, as if he was carrying the whole world on them, but who knows, that could’ve been a thing before the breakup… He had sort of smiled at you… 

“Yeah…” Seokjin agreed, before pausing and raising an eyebrow. “Maybe he liked what he saw. You could always do me a solid and try to cheer him up for me.” 

You puzzled, unsure what he was getting at. 

“You know, like Namjoon did for you…” 

“SEOKJIN,” you yelled, jaw dropping in shock. “What the hell is wrong with you?” It wasn’t funny. 

He squeaked a laugh. “I’m just messing around, don’t worry. I don’t want you to sleep with Yoongi. That would just be weird. Besides,” he added as an afterthought, smirking mischievously. “You’re too boring.” 

He was trying to tease you again, wanting you to bite. Well, it wasn’t going to happen. 

“I wouldn’t touch any of your friends,” you shot instead. “They’re tainted by default.” 

Seokjin chuckled softly, shaking his head from side to side as he began to study the menu again. 

“You ladies have a couple of admirers,” the waiter grinned as he placed two white wine spritzers on your table. 

Ana squealed, taking one of the glasses immediately. “Where?” 

You’d only been out barely an hour, already in your second bar, but even you had to admit the thought of someone buying you a drink was a little exciting. You followed the waiter’s hand to a booth across the floor, anticipation pumping through your veins only to be thoroughly disappointed when you recognised one of the faces – well, both faces actually, but you’d only been acquainted with the second yesterday…

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” you groaned. 

“What?” Ana asked mildly confused, waving off the waiter with a thanks. “What’s wrong? They are so hot!”

“That’s dick cheese and his friend!”

“Wha–The guy you work with?” Your best friend sounded flabbergasted. “Which one is dick cheese? Although I wouldn’t kick either out of bed…” 

“Ana!” You hissed, taking another glance at the booth. Seokjin waved at you wildly, an obnoxious grin on his face. You grumbled. “He’s the one on the left.” 

“Oh, fuck.” She waved back, much to your annoyance. “No wonder he gets you so angry.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You were confused. Enough to not realise when she stood up, making a beeline for their booth. “Wait–Ana! Where are you going?!”

She didn’t bother to look back as she replied. “I’m going to say thanks, duh.” 

.

.

And that’s how you found yourself well on the way to Drunksville. You were only supposed to get tipsy tonight, knowing you’d pay for anything more in the morning, but well, you’d moved onto a club down the road and the drinks kept coming, and as much as you hated to admit it, hanging out with Seokjin and Yoongi was actually pretty enjoyable. Although, no matter how much fun you were having, it wasn’t enough to stay on the dancefloor for too long. 

“Hey,” you greeted Yoongi, slipping inside and around the booth to slump down next to him. Dancing couldn’t have been his cup of tea either because he’d given up way before you had. Seokjin and Ana were still going strong out there. 

You downed what was left of your drink, willing yourself to cool down as you huffed and puffed. God, you were drunk. 

“Are you okay?” He chuckled. 

You smiled. You liked Yoongi. He was nice, quiet – you liked quiet. “So, tell me,” you wondered, eager to understand something.  “How’s a guy like you friends with Seokjin?”

Yoongi’s forehead creased. “What do you mean?” 

Shrugging, you bit back a hiccup. “You seem normal, he’s…” What was Seokjin again? You could usually come up with a million and one (not so nice) words to describe him but the room was slightly spinning and your brain came up blank. 

Yoongi understood you anyway, laughing as he replied.   “He can just seem that way at first, it’s the nerves. They make him act up.” 

You narrowed your eyes. “Nerves?” What did that mean? You could never imagine a nervous Seokjin. He was always so sure of himself. 

Yoongi didn’t clarify. “Me and him are actually very similar. Annoying little shits when we want to be,” he laughed, before hesitating, “I’m…I’m a little injured right now, that’s why I seem a lot more subdued.”

“Oh,” you murmured, hoping you didn’t come off as condescending. “Yeah, Seokjin told me about your breakup. I’m sorry.” 

“It’s fine.”

“You seem a lot happier tonight though,” you offered. Happier than yesterday evening.  

“It’s called alcohol,” he grinned, bringing his glass up to his lips. He paused. “Y’know, he’s pretty cool once you get to know him.” It took you a second to realise he was talking about Seokjin. “He’s a great person.”

You shrugged slightly. “He’s okay.” What did it matter what you thought anyway? Seokjin definitely didn’t care. 

“He likes to joke around, I admit, but it seems to make you laugh, so.” Yoongi smirked slightly and tilted his head, taking a took a sip of his beer. 

Taken aback, you tried to think. Had you been laughing with Seokjin all night? Maybe laughing at him was a better way to describe it… 

“What are you guys talking about?”

You jumped when you heard a familiar loud voice and looked up to see Seokjin leaning over the table, four shots balanced between the fingers of both hands – two in each. His face was flushed, redder than you’d ever seen it – he’d obviously had enough of dancing too.  

“Nothing,” Yoongi replied smoothly. He stood up, finishing his drink. “I’m uh, I’m going outside for some fresh air.” 

“But I got us shots,” Seokjin complained. 

Yoongi looked over at you and smiled before tapping Seokjin on the shoulder. “I’m sure you and Y/N will make good use of them.” 

Hm… Everyone was drunk and acting weird. Not that you had time to contemplate it because immediately Yoongi had gone and Seokjin was taking his seat next to you. His cologne hit you. It was different to usual, you’d realised instantly earlier in the night. 

“Where’s Ana?” You asked. They’d both been dancing together when you’d left them. 

He shrugged as he handed you a shot. “I don’t know, lost her on the dancefloor.”

You hesitated. Should you have more to drink? The shots might push you over the edge. But… you were having fun. It was one night out, you might as well do it properly. So quickly you downed the shot, smirking Seokjin’s way as you picked up another. “I’ll have hers then.” 

He grinned slowly before scoffing as you choked. That shit burned, and you might have been able to handle the first shot no problem but this time your eyes watered and your throat screamed. 

“Seems like you’re trying to prove a point,” he laughed.

“What do you mean?” You demanded, already feeling more lightheaded. 

He didn’t care to explain, instead doing his two shots straight after the other, able to handle them with just a wince. “What do you think of Yoongi?” He asked, barely giving the liquid time to slip down his throat. 

“Huh?”

“Do you like him?”

You shrugged, confused as to why he was asking you. “He seems nice, yeah.”

“So, you like him?”

You froze. “Are you still trying to hook us up? I don’t like him like that.” You didn’t even know him. 

“No, no,” Seokjin rushed. “I wasn’t trying to… never mind.” He shook his head, changing the subject. “So who did you get for Secret Santa?”

“I’m not telling you,” you huffed, pushing his shoulder. 

“That means it’s me.” 

“Seokjiiin,” you whined, leaning into him as you nudged him once more. 

He laughed, looking a little surprised by your sudden affection – however unintentional. “I think you’re drunk.” 

…Maybe those shots were a bad idea, you’d only get worse… 

.

.

“Should we go and look for Yoongi and Ana?” Seokjin asked, checking his watch. 

You’d been sat together for a while now, conversation coming surprisingly easy. It was nonsense mostly – you might or might not have helped Seokjin with some festive ideas to prank Jungkook with – but Ana hadn’t come back from the dancing yet, and Yoongi was still outside – unless he’d done a runner, which was highly probable according to Seokjin. So it was probably best you both went to look for your friends. 

You followed closely behind Seokjin as you searched through the club and at one point he reached for your hand, helping you through a large group of people. His grip was warm and oddly gentle, but you didn’t have time to think about it too much as he’d already let go. He waited for you as you checked the restroom, but your best friend was nowhere to be found. It was probably the alcohol in your system but you started to get a little worried, especially when your text went ignored. Seokjin seemed to notice. 

“Stay here, okay? I’m going to check outside. I don’t want you to freeze to death.” He told you, having to practically shout in your ear the music was so loud in this area. 

You found yourself a little touched by his concern, no matter how small it was and listened, clutching your purse to your middle. You were in a black mini dress after all, your arms barely covered. You still had the perfect view of him though, able to watch him step out the building and look down the road. You noticed the concern on his features slowly turn into shock, his mouth dropping open, and you frowned. What the hell had he seen?

“Seokjin!” You called, which was pretty useless. He couldn’t hear a damn thing. You could barely hear yourself. You rushed forward. “Seokjin?” You pushed your way past some people who had clogged up the entry way and dashed down the stone steps. “What is it?”

The winter air hit you instantly. It was fucking freezing. Seokjin still looked in shock, glued to the spot and you grew frustrated, stopping right beside him. “What?” You demanded. “What’s going on?!” 

You followed his line of vision, and immediately you were positive your expression matched his. A little down the road, up against the wall, Yoongi and Ana were wrapped around one another, attached at the mouth. You were speechless, the cold no longer a problem. 

“Let’s not interrupt them,” Seokjin said suddenly, taking you by the hand once again to drag you back inside. (Your feet honestly wouldn’t work.) 

The instant heat got your blood pumping again, although the music did nothing for your whirring head. “What did we just witness?” You turned to him and asked (shouted). 

Seokjin still looked just as shocked, but he managed a joke, wrinkling his nose up. “Ew, what if our friends start dating? I’ll be stuck with you forever.” 

“Grow up,” you rolled your eyes, before randomly taking in the sight of him. How wasn’t he melting to death? The guy was in a fuzzy Christmas sweater. Actually, an even more important question; how hadn’t he electrocuted himself? The reindeer on his chest lit up. If one drop of sweat got into that hidden battery pack he was done for, surely?

“I thought you’d be saving that jumper for Friday,” you commented (yelled), quite honestly in a daze. You were drunk, in absolute shock, toes frozen, and somehow you were stood with Seokjin making conversation about Christmas jumpers. 

“Who says I don’t have a whole drawer full of the festive fuckers. I did say I loved Christmas, no?” He laughed.

You joined in. “I thought you were bullshitting.” 

“Of course you did.” He said with a small smile, shaking his head a little. 

“I can’t believe we caught them kissing.” You couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

Seokjin wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “They’re probably doing more than that by now.”

“Shut up.” You whined. “Wait. Do you think he told her about the breakup?”

“What?” Seokjin asked you to repeat, leaning in slightly, unable to hear you properly above the music. 

“Do you think she knows he’s on the rebound?”

Seokjin shrugged. “Maybe. Who cares.” 

“I care!” You exclaimed causing him to wince because you’d accidentally shouted in his ear. “Ana’s my best friend!”

Seokjin rolled his eyes slightly. “I thought you of all people would know people can just fuck with no strings attached.” 

“Will you ever drop that,” you deadpanned. Your hook up with Namjoon happened so long ago now, you barely even thought about it unless you saw him at work, which was pretty rare anyway. 

“Nope.” The way the sound of the p popped off his lips annoyed you. 

“What about you?” You asked, changing the subject from you. “No getting lucky tonight? Is Christmas sex not on par with birthday sex?” 

He burst out laughing. “I’d say it is, yeah, but I still have a couple of weeks to make it happen, so ask me then.” 

His answer almost annoyed you more and you couldn’t place why. He was just being stupid, classic old Seokjin. You should be used to it by now. 

“Come on,” he winked, stepping forward, towards the middle of the club and his hand cupped your elbow. “Let’s dance!” 

“No, no, no,” you immediately refused, grabbing his hand to stop him. 

“Pleaseee,” he pleaded, eyes wide. “I want to dance with you. You’ve hardly been on the floor all night.” 

Oh. Your heart did a little flip inside your chest. Maybe it was the tequila making its way back up your body… 

“Come on,” he chuckled, not giving up. “It’ll warm you up.” On cue both of his hands lifted and he started rubbing your shoulders. “I told you not to come outside. Now we both have the mental image of Yoongi sucking face stuck behind our eyelids and you’ve got frost bite.” 

You giggled, but still wouldn’t relent. He could stay here warming you up for the rest of the night if he wanted… Dancing made you sweaty. 

He tilted his head, giving you a look. “Y/N, do you want me to call you boring again?”

And just like that you wanted to prove him wrong… You were a sucker. He knew what he was doing. 

Only, the second round of shots for some Dutch courage were probably a bad idea. Your idea, but a very bad one, nevertheless. The dancefloor seemed to be stickier than it was an hour ago – and busier. It was packed and loud, which worked to distract you from how drunk you were. 

Seokjin could move. You hadn’t realised earlier, not really paying attention as you’d danced with Ana instead, but with just the two of you left you let him embarrass the hell out of you on the floor. At first it was definitely on purpose; he pulled the largest, wackiest moves that you begged him to stop, but soon enough he had you dying of laughter, so he continued, your amusement spurring him on. And then drunk you had to join in… 

“You know what? You’re actually pretty fun once you loosen up,” Seokjin yelled above the music, his hands somehow having found their way to your hips as you both snaked them to the beat. 

“I’m always fun,” you informed him, your breath fanning across his face as you lifted your arms in the air. “You just only know work me.” 

He smiled. “Well, I don’t know, I think I’m getting to know normal you lately…” 

You snorted some type of noise. “That’s what you think!” 

He went to open his mouth to argue but you spun around, your back pressed to him as you continued to sway. Your skin was hot to the touch, too many bodies cramped in this small space, but you loved the feeling of Seokjin’s hands on your hips, even more so when they slowly inched up your waist. You flung your arms back, looping them around his neck to pull him closer. It had been a long time since you’d danced with a guy like this. Not even Namjoon. Not even your ex. 

You could feel how boiling he was too, a thin layer of sweat coating the back of his neck, and as you ran your fingers through his slightly wavy hair he let out a little groan. It was extremely quiet, would’ve gone unnoticed if his mouth wasn’t hovering by your ear, but now you’d heard it and it changed everything. Something exploded inside your chest, fresh heat prickling your skin and you found yourself pushing into him further, grinding in a small circle. 

The dancefloor was full of couples like this so no one took any notice. But Seokjin did. He froze, as if he was sure he’d imagined it, so ever so carefully you did it again. This time he knew his drunk mind wasn’t playing tricks on him and after a slight hesitation his hands slid to your hips again, gripping them tighter. He let you grind against him, but didn’t reciprocate, he just kept dancing to the music, which seemed to turn you even braver. 

With the bass of the music pumping through your body you moved back and forth against his crotch, hearing his breath get shallower and shallower. It was addictive and you were chasing the feeling before you knew it, bold and finding yourself getting more turned on by the second. It wasn’t long before you began to feel him grow hard against your ass, and even though surprised, you still carried on, loving it. 

“Y/N,” he murmured against your ear, sounding out of breath. You circled your hips again. This time he couldn’t help but push back. “It’s getting late.” His voice faltered. “You’re drunk. I’m drunk.” 

You frowned to yourself. What was he trying to say? You felt his hands leave your hips, reaching for your arms around his neck to slide them away. He was trying to get you to face him. He was still half hard in his pants but he ignored it. 

“You’re drunk,” he repeated, as if it was some sort of answer, some sort of reason. He started to twist you his way but you tripped, falling into him. “Definitely drunk,” he chuckled, tugging his hands off your waist from where he’d caught you. “It’s time to go home.” 

“I don’t want to go home,” you pouted, wrapping your arms around his neck. You went to push your body into him but he angled away from you, creating distance. 

“You need to go home,” he laughed. It sounded awkward. “Think of that hangover tomorrow.” 

“I will,” you shrugged, “tomorrow.” 

Seokjin stared at you, his brown eyes wavering slightly. They were darker than usual, swimming with something that made your belly flip, but he steeled himself, holding strong. “Come on,” he pressed. “We can share an Uber.” 

“It’s fine.” You muttered, disappointed for some reason. You were unsure how he could hear you above the music, but he did. “I’ll find Ana.” 

He chuckled. “Ana’s definitely gone by now. Don’t you remember what we caught her doing?”

Oh. 

He was right. 

Damn your best friend. 

.

.

You didn’t remember much of the Uber ride home, the sudden departure from the club had brought deafening silence and you were now very aware of how much your head was spinning. Your bed was calling you – your warm, cosy, king sized bed… However, you took one look at Seokjin as he helped you out of the car and all that became forgotten. 

You clung to his jumper, voice still loud despite there being no music now. “Do you want to come in?” 

“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” He replied carefully, chuckling. “Sober you definitely doesn’t want me in your apartment.”  

You reached forward, brushing a strand of hair out of his eyes and giving him what you hoped was your best smile. “Drunk me does.” 

He held your stare for a moment, searching long enough to see something that made him make up his mind. “Fine,” he sighed lightly, bending down into the car to talk to the driver. You were barely listening, looking up at the stars, but Seokjin held your hand tightly, keeping your heels rooted to the ground. 

“Keep this thing running, I’ll be back in five.”

“That’s gonna cost you, my friend.” 

“It’s fine.” Another sigh. “Just– stay? I won’t be long.” 

It took you a couple of minutes to get through your door, Seokjin had to open it in the end, and he followed you in, a respectable distance behind you. He closed the door quietly, smiling when you turned back to look at him as you kicked off your shoes. 

“Okay, you’re home safe now. I’m just going to go, see you Monday, okay?” 

“No, don’t go,” you bemoaned, closing the distance to cling to him once again. In your drunken state you couldn’t place why you wanted him to stay so bad. All you knew was that you did. 

He sighed again, lifting his hands to clasp over your wrists in an attempt to move you away. He looked and sounded torn. “Y/N, the Uber’s running. I’m going to end up paying double to get home.” 

You shrugged. “Tell him to leave then.” 

He closed his eyes and exhaled, it sounded like a whimper. “What are you doing to me?” He murmured, but you were barely paying attention, swaying where you stood. He noticed and groaned. “You’re so drunk!” 

“Am not.” 

He laughed, genuinely amused, and if your drunk mind didn’t know any better it sounded as if he was endeared by you. He shook your shoulders lightly. “Look at me.” You couldn’t quite focus. He cupped your face instead, laughing louder as he angled you to stare straight into his eyes. “Look at me. You are so out of it.”

You just grumbled, but warmth fluttered through your body. It felt good to be touched by him. You thought back to the dancefloor, the way you’d been pressed up against his body. Your mouth parted, suddenly thirsty. Really thirsty. But for what? 

“Can you even make out my face?” Seokjin asked, continuing to be amused. 

“Of course,” you snapped, fingers reaching for him. “There’s your hair,” – You ran your fingers through the dark brown locks – “your eyes... nose…” He let you poke his eyelids gently and then you bopped his nose.

“Get offf.” He snorted softly. 

And then your attention fell to his mouth. Those plump, deep pink lips that were opened and slightly wet from where he’d been swiping his tongue across them. You swallowed, hands cupping his jaw. “Your lips –” 

You dove before you knew what you were really doing, pressing your mouth to his, taking him by surprise. Not a second later he was pulling back, holding you at arm’s length. “Woah, woah.” He chuckled in surprise, but his voice wavered. “Not the time, Y/N. Trust me.” 

You frowned, annoyance spiking and you shook him off. “What? So you’ve suddenly turned chivalrous now?” Scoffing, you felt like an idiot – upset and embarrassed, you spoke without thinking. “Or do you just not want me?”

Something flashed across Seokjin’s face. He looked irritated. Sounded it too when he replied. “Of course I fucking want you.” You froze. Huh? However, you didn’t have time to think about what he’d said before he was striding towards you, backing you up against the wall.  You gripped the tops of his arms on instinct, looking up at him as he loomed over you, hair falling into his dark eyes. They were the same colour as they had been back at the club – when you’d been grinding all over him. Your breath caught. 

“Ever wondered why you frustrate me so much?” He rasped. 

Something inside you screamed. Not that you had time to realise because immediately his mouth was on yours. Each press of his lips was rushed, as if he was acting on instinct and all you could do was cling to him and try to keep up. You let out a moan when you felt his tongue attempt to push past the seam of your lips and you let him in, moaning louder when the wet muscles clashed together, the dam now broken. 

It was contagious. Seokjin grunted against you, throatier than you were expecting, noises so unlike him your whole body burned in desire. Actually, it was on fire. It started to crave him, the feeling so strong all you could do was let it take you. You yelped when his hands curled around your ass, giving you one strong push and you promptly jumped into his arms. He caught you effortlessly and you wrapped your legs around him. 

By God, he was strong. He crashed you into the wall, mouth still hungry as he ground his crotch into yours. The skirt of your dress had ridden up to your waist, your underwear the only thing protecting you as he rubbed you against his dick. Which was hard again – very hard. Maybe he’d had a semi the whole car ride home, which was a thought that got you moaning louder inside his mouth, your tongues getting messy, your teeth clashing. 

“Seok-jin,” you whimpered. Your core tingled, hot to the touch and you could feel your arousal beginning to pool against the lace of your thong. You wanted him – no, you needed him. “Pleaseee. Please.”

He grunted, your begging fucking with his head and you felt his arms give way. He stumbled forward, no other option but to ease you down to the floor, but his mouth didn’t relent; he kissed you just as needy as before, sliding down your chin to make his way to your throat. 

You gasped at the new sensation, his tongue licking strips up your skin, his teeth nipping. Your legs shook under you, nothing to do with the alcohol you’d consumed, it was all him. He was driving you wild, and you needed him to fuck you. You knew that much. 

Your hand reached between your bodies, loving the sound of Seokjin heavy breathing against your ear as he now sucked on your lobe, and you wrapped your palm around his clothed cock. He was solid. Rock hard.. It had to be painful, surely? You got to work, rubbing him back and forth in an attempt to relieve some of his discomfort. 

“Fuck,” he muttered, and you jutted your hips into him too, mistaking the cursing for his enjoyment. “Y/N, wait,” he said, pulling back and stopping the movements of your hand, his long fingers circling your wrist. You tried reaching for his mouth again, still oblivious to his sudden change in demeaner.  

“Not like this,” he murmured, trying his best not to kiss you back, no matter how hard you pecked his mouth. 

“Why?” You asked, giving up. Your lips were wet and swollen. They prickled. God, you were so turned on your voice shook. His too. 

“Do you even know what you’re doing right now?” He sounded uncertain, looking you in the eyes as he chuckled bitterly. “You hate my guts. You don’t want my dick.” 

You frowned. What was he talking about? You’d been practically dry humping him. Of course you wanted his dick. “I do,” you insisted, leaning into him to tug at his belt. He didn’t give in. “Seokjin, just give me your dick.” 

He stared down at you, his hand still clutching your wrist, breathing still ragged, his eyes still black… but despite how much he obviously wanted this, he composed himself, his expression softening. You felt him reach behind you and gently pull your dress down over your ass. 

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow, okay?” He hummed softly, voice still visibly affected by you. “When you’re sober. When we’re both sober…”

.

.

You awoke suddenly, peaceful and serene for all of two seconds before you groaned, burrowing your face into your pillow. It felt as if someone was stomping on top of your head. What the hell happened last night? Wait… How had you even gotten home? Why couldn’t you remember anything?!

You blindly reached for your nightstand, praying your cell phone was there, fingers stretched as far as they would allow until you felt the familiar belonging. You grabbed it and burrowed further under the covers. You needed to call Ana. She’d fill you in – make you remember. 

Wait –

At the thought of your best friend you suddenly remembered a few things. Seokjin and Yoongi had been at the club too. They’d bought you drinks, you’d sat at their table, drunk more. Tequila must have been involved for you to be this clueless. Enough of it and you could forget your own name come morning. You’d always been the same since college. Squinting at the brightness of the screen, your head throbbing even harder if that was possible, you started to call Ana. It rang and rang… Frustrated you gave up. She could sleep through the end of the world so why were you surprised. You hoped she woke up with the world’s largest and longest hangover, serves her right for not – Oh. OH. 

You shot up, in immediate regret when the entirety of your head spasmed. Groaning you tried to fight through the pain, wishing you had some calm so you could actually piece together your memories. Ana and Yoongi. Outside. All over one another. Making out against the wall. 

What. The. Fuck. 

No wonder why she wasn’t picking up. 

The memories were hazy, but it was something. You continued to wrack your brain… You and Seokjin had found them, but they hadn’t been aware and then you’d gone back inside. He asked you to dance and that’s when you’d suggested more shot… Shots. Tequila shots. You were an idiot. Try as you might you couldn’t remember anything after that. It was all one big blur. How had you gotten from the club to your apartment? 

You moved to sit on the side of your bed, soles of your feet pressing into the carpet. Your stomach churned a little. No, you couldn’t be sick. You hated being sick. Rubbing your stomach in an attempt to soothe it you looked down and realised you were still wearing your dress. Gross. You’d gotten into bed with your clothes on? You groaned weakly. You better have washed your hands before knocking out… although, you highly doubted it. 

Looking at your phone again, you knew there was only one thing you could do. If you wanted answers you needed to ask the right person… 

(10:34am) You: How the hell did I get home last night?

No more than a minute later three dots appeared on the screen, signalling Seokjin’s reply. But he was taking his time with it. Jesus. They kept disappearing for a few moments just to pop up again. Why was it such a hard question?! 

(10:37am) Seokjin: You can’t remember? 

Really? Three minutes to type three words? 

(10:37am) You: Obviously not I wouldn’t be asking you otherwise  (10:38am) You: We saw Ana and Yoongi kissing... We had shots... We danced

You talked him through what you did recall, and once again, he played that irritating game with those three dots. You knew he wasn’t typing up an essay. 

(10:41am) Seokjin: And then I took you home

You raised both your eyebrows. He took you home? Why did that surprise you so much? 

(10:41am) You: Thanks (10:42am) Seokjin: How’s your head?  (10:43am) You: Hurts  (10:43am) You: Everything hurts  (10:43am) Seokjin: 🤣 

Rolling your eyes, you threw your phone on the bed and managed to stand up. You were done talking to him of he was just going to laugh at your misery. Besides, he’d told you all you needed to know. The mystery was solved. Next, you needed to shower. 

Immediately. 

You were still feeling extremely fragile the next morning but managed to get into the office at 9am sharp with the help of coffee. You’d spent the night on the phone to Ana, getting all the nitty gritty details about her hook up with Yoongi. Apparently, they’d bumped into each other outside after she’d slipped out for some fresh air and had gotten talking. He’d told her about his recent breakup, and having been cheated on before, naturally Ana and he had bonded, and said bonding had led to kissing. Lots of it. Which had then led to lots of sex back at her apartment. (Yes, he did know how to use his dick if anyone was curious, and yes, it was very pretty.)

You’d expected to hear about it from Seokjin this morning but he was actually uncharacteristically quiet. Although, it might have been because he was partially blindsided when he got into the office. First, he was late, which had never happened before. No matter what you thought of Seokjin, he was always punctual and professional (when it was called for). And second, there was a surprise waiting for him. 

Jungkook had draped his entire desk and chair in strings of fairy lights. Everything was lit up. It was a lot, but even you had to admit it was funny, and you hated their pranking war with a burning passion. Mainly because you were always caught in the middle. Seokjin however, seemed a little out of it. You mean, he still laughed, tried to wrestle Jungkook in the middle of Hoseok’s good morning greeting, but something about him seemed off. You couldn’t put a finger on it, it was almost like he was forcing it. 

He hardly looked at you when you asked him what he had planned for payback. Shrugging his shoulders as he rolled his chair out and slumped in it – lights still twinkling. “Who knows.” 

“I thought you had a bunch of ideas up your sleeve?” You’d spent a good half an hour discussing them Saturday night. 

That got his attention. He raised an eyebrow as he stared at you. “You remember that? I thought everything was a blur?” 

“Yeah, anything after we caught our best friends getting freaky on the streets.” You chuckled, feeling a little uneasy by the way he was still looking at you, as if he was suspicious of something. 

After a moment he gave up…Possibly? Upturning his shoulder he gave you a small smile. “Lightweight.” He didn’t meet your eyes though and leaned over to start pulling at a string of lights that laid between your desks. 

You reached over on instinct, placing your hand over his to stop him. He recoiled a little and you pulled back. What was that reaction for? “Keep them up,” you told him, choosing to ignore whatever had just happened. “It’s Christmas after all.” 

You dropped your hand under the desk, it tingled a little. Seokjin’s hand had felt warm, familiar? The inklings of something floated around the sides of your brain but you couldn’t place your finger on it. 

“Just don’t blow us up,” you joked. 

Wait. Seokjin’s stupid Christmas jumper from Saturday night. You remembered now. It had lit up and you’d wondered how he hadn’t set himself on fire yet. That was it. What was trying to seep into your brain just now. Hopefully things were coming back to you slowly… You’d remember everything in no time, you were sure of it. 

Meanwhile Seokjin nodded slowly, retreating his hand as he smiled at you slightly. 

Was he feeling okay? You thought about asking him. Maybe his mom was still taking it bad that he wouldn’t make Christmas this year? You opened your mouth, full intentions to check in on him, but stopped yourself. It wasn’t really your place. You didn’t know his personal life all too well. You mean, yeah, he’d told you some things lately, but you didn’t want to overstep the mark. He was probably just having a bad day. Everyone had them. 

However, you had to admit there was something quite unnerving about seeing him so downcast. It didn’t suit him. 

What on earth could have happened? 

.

.

The last week of work flew by. It was always the same, the office in a rush to finish up all loose ends before the two week holiday. You and Seokjin had one last meeting on Wednesday morning, just to check in and make sure everything was ready for Friday. The buffet was getting delivered the morning of and that’s when Seokjin was going to decorate the conference room. You’d been in charge of the Christmas playlist but he didn’t seem to have much interest when you’d shown him your choices. In fact, he was still acting a little strange. 

He was quiet, not his usual self, as in, he wasn’t constantly finding ways to annoy you. In fact, you barely spoke unless you had to, which before this Christmas party would’ve been great – the norm actually. However now, things were different. Had you done something to upset him? You couldn’t think what. Maybe you’d offended him when you were drunk and couldn’t remember? You thought about asking him but couldn’t find the nerve. Besides, Seokjin didn’t seem the type to get offended by trivial things. You and he tended to be at one another’s throats most (all) of the time, but it was all done in jest. You didn’t despise him, he just got on your nerves – like you got on his. You couldn’t imagine yourself saying anything terrible to him, especially because from what you could remember of that night, you’d both had fun… Hanging out with Seokjin wasn’t too bad, drunk or sober. 

So, things continued to remain a mystery, until that was, the next day… 

.

.

“Here, I got you something.”

You looked away from your computer at the sound of Seokjin’s voice, finding him stood above you, his winter coat nearly buttoned all the way up. It was just after lunch on Thursday but Seokjin and Hoseok had to head off for an emergency meeting with a client who wanted to discuss something before Christmas. 

Your forehead furrowed when you saw he was holding out a small glittery gift bag and when you took too long to take it he shook it. You reacted, taking it from him but still questioning him with your eyes. “Seokjin, Secret Santa is tomorrow.” 

“No, it’s not for that,” he informed you, his voice oddly quiet. Now you were even more confused. Why had he gotten you a gift? You felt oddly embarrassed as you played with the ribbon handles nervously. 

“I got Beryl,” he grumbled, easily making you ease up and chuckle. You couldn’t even begin to imagine what he’d purchased a sixty year old grandma… A bar of soap probably. 

As if you couldn’t stop it, your fingers were opening up the gift. Seokjin noticed and started babbling immediately. “I saw it when I was out shopping for decorations and it made me think of you… I hope you like it. Sorry if you don’t.” 

You awed as you pulled out a small Christmas bauble, green and gold in colour with the painting of a black cat in the centre, complete with a Christmas hat between its ears. It was beautiful and quirky – and totally unexpected. You’d gotten him a damn pair of lame ass cufflinks. 

“You can hang it on your tree at home or something,” you heard him suggest. 

You looked up at him, still a little speechless but you managed to get something out. “Thank you, Seokjin. I love it.” 

His face lit up at that. The first time you’d seen him genuinely smile all week. “You do?” 

You nodded, finding yourself unable to otherwise reply. Your heart felt a little funny. It was good to see him a cheerful, you’d missed it. He always looked good when he smiled… 

He was looking at you, and you didn’t know whether you’d been staring first, but he was watching you carefully now, gaze slightly intense, as if he was trying to work something out, to find something. You dropped your chin, feeling embarrassed, cheeks hot. Why did you feel so strange? You were making it obvious. 

“You really don’t remember Saturday night?” He spoke suddenly, tone soft, careful. 

You froze. Straitening to look at him again you shook your head. “Nope.” You forced out a laugh. “It’s still a total blank. Can you believe it? Tequila is my mortal enemy.” 

One side of Seokjin’s mouth raised into a half smile, but he didn’t look too amused. You felt something trickle down your spine – a bad feeling. “Seokjin?” You questioned, finding courage. “Why? What happened?” You needed to know. 

“Hm?” He hummed, lost in thought. His face was serious once again. 

“What happened Saturday night?” 

He shook his head, squeezing out a small chuckle. It had fake written all over it. “Nothing.” 

“Something must’ve happened,” you insisted, growing a little frustrated. Whatever it was  had something to do with his odd behaviour. 

He shrugged, hands in his pockets. His cheeks were growing flushed but that just annoyed you. “It’s nothing. You were just wasted.” 

“Tell me now!” You hissed, careful to keep your voice down. The office was pretty empty at the moment, some still in the staffroom, others busy around the building, but you still didn’t want anyone overhearing something personal. 

“No.” He refused. He looked stressed out. 

“Seokjin!” He was stressing you out now. What the hell had you done that night?! 

“I don’t want to.” 

“Why?” You practically wailed. 

“It’s embarrassing.” 

“What happened?” You were losing it now, thinking the worst. “What did I do?” 

He sighed loudly, finally giving in. “You kissed me.”

Silence. 

The colour drained from your face at his revelation, dread instantly filling you. What? You hadn’t been expecting that. Whatever your mind had thought up, it definitely wasn’t that.

“We kissed, okay?” He continued. “I took you home, you practically begged me to come inside and we kissed.” 

“Oh, my god,” you replied weakly, head now in your hands. You took a deep breath, trying to wrack your brains for any memories. How could you have forgotten such a major thing?! You invited Seokjin into your apartment? You kissed him? No wonder he’d been acting so strange this past week. You’d put him in such an awkward position. He was embarrassed and now so were you… 

“I’m sorry,” Seokjin apologised, down to a whisper. “I should’ve told you but I just didn’t know how. I wasn’t expecting you to forget everything and I didn’t know how to –” He stopped himself with a groan, going around in circles. 

Meanwhile, things were coming back to you. Not memories as such, more like hazy images and the faintest of sensations. His words had dislodged something. Dancing together, his hands on your body, his breath on your neck. The uber ride home. Stood in your entry way. Your hands on his arms. The feeling of his body pressed into yours. Your mouths attached and hungry. You felt yourself burn, unclear recollections stirring something hidden inside of you. 

“…Y/N?” Seokjin prompted. You managed to look at him but that was it. You mouth wouldn’t work, and what could you say anyway? How could you explain yourself when you couldn’t remember all the details? 

“It’s fine.” He told you suddenly, thinking he was reassuring you. “Don’t worry about it, okay?” 

“Seokjin, you ready?” 

You both startled at the sound of Hoseok’s voice and looked up to see him stood in his office doorway, buttoning up his coat. 

Seokjin nodded, a little dazed. “Uh, yeah, coming. Won’t be a minute.” 

“Last minute party planning, huh?” Hoseok grinned. “I’ll meet you in the car.” 

“Look, I gotta go,” Seokjin told you once Hoseok had strolled off. “You’ll probably be gone by the time I get back, so I’ll see you tomorrow.” He spoke in a rush, not giving you time to respond. Your mouth opened, but he cut in. “It’s fine, Y/N. Trust me.” 

And then he was gone. 

You looked down at the Christmas bauble on your desk, so mortified you felt like crying.  

Crying might have been a tad dramatic, you admit. So you didn’t. You were a mixture of embarrassed and confused, unable to concentrate properly the rest of the afternoon. How had you kissed Seokjin and just forgotten about it? It was scary to think something like that could happen, a blind spot in your memory. His revelation had helped you remember some bits but there was nothing concrete. You spent your evening forcing yourself to recall more details, talking things over with Ana on the phone. You couldn’t not tell her. Not when you were in the middle of having a mini breakdown. 

She was interested in a lot more than just remembering the kiss though… 

“So if you remember him kissing you back what does that mean?” She demanded. 

You groaned. “I don’t even know if I’m remembering it correctly.” But why would your mind play tricks on you? Although, false memories were a thing… 

“Of course you are! Dick cheese likes you. It’s obvious! Classic high school bullshit.” 

“Ana, please,” you sighed. Now wasn’t the time for her theories. “He was drunk too,” you reasoned. “Just because we kissed doesn’t mean he likes me. I don’t like him, do I?” Yet, you’d grinded all over him on the dancefloor. (The memories of that were now clearer, and they made your cheeks burn…)

“Hmm.” She didn’t sound too convinced. 

“Ana, come on!” You cried. “It was a stupid mistake, and now I’ve just made things super awkward between us.” 

No wonder Seokjin had been acting weird all week, and there you’d been completely oblivious! The thought was enough to make you groan out loud. How could you go to work tomorrow? Host a party with him when things were so awkward?!

“I mean… You two need to talk about it properly. Make sure there’s no crossed wires. If you’re both on the same page then there’s no need for things to be awkward between you.” 

You rolled your eyes. She made it seem so easy. She wasn’t the one who’d made out with her co-worker. She never had to see her hook up ever again. While you had to look yours in the eye five days a week for the rest of your life quite possibly.

“You guys didn’t even hook up,” Ana screeched when you told her just that. “A slight fumble in your hallway isn’t exactly something you need to relocate for. Just talk to him.” 

Simple, right?  

But nothing ever was... 

“Let’s just forget about it,” Seokjin smiled your way as you both helped carry in the buffet food the next morning. He was holding the building’s door open for you with his back, letting you slip in first as you cradled the cardboard box filled with things you couldn’t even remember ordering. Too preoccupied with trying to bring up yesterday. 

You paused, not expecting him to shrug it off like that. In fact, it got you pretty speechless. Were you hurt? As much as Ana’s idea had made you want the earth to open up and swallow you, it made sense to talk things out with him. 

This morning you’d remembered even more while you’d brushed your teeth… Seokjin helping you slip the skirt of your dress down, finding your kitchen to get you some water… You were slowly piecing things together and it was confusing the hell out of you… You wished more than anything you could remember the whole thing. To know what was going on inside your head at the time, because right now you were a mess. 

But hearing Seokjin sound so flippant, so unfazed made you a little deflated… What if you didn’t want to forget about it? 

“I mean, you did already, so,” he gave a shrug and you followed him into the elevator in a daze. 

“Oh, yeah, okay,” you forced yourself to say, hitting the third floor button. You turned to look at him and plastered a smile onto your face. It hurt. “Good idea.” 

.

.

“Where is he?” Jungkook whined like a big kid. (The Christmas jumper he was wearing with a giant teddy bear in the centre didn’t help things…) “He knows I’m starving. Been saving myself all day for this.”

You raised a judgemental eyebrow. “You didn’t even have breakfast?” 

He looked at you, shooting you a quick wink. “I’m treating this buffet like it deserves to be treated. Like it’s my one and only.” At his side, Mina giggled. 

“Let’s just open up,” Hoseok suggested, reaching for the handle of the conference door. 

“No!” You exclaimed, standing in front of it. 

You were all waiting around like a bunch of lemons, Seokjin having done a disappearing act just before the party was due to start. Jungkook had already tried to call him three times but his phone was engaged. Everyone was getting impatient, but he needed to be here to see everyone’s reactions to his decorating. He’d been in there all morning, blinds closed, not even you knew what it looked like in there. 

“Y/N, come on,” Jungkook cried dramatically. “He won’t mind, let’s just get in there!”

“Fine,” you gave in, turning around to open up. You didn’t really have a choice, everyone was gearing up to trample you… 

One look inside had you a little speechless. It was beautiful, the room decorated like Santa’s Grotto. Seokjin had done an amazing job, and you felt bad for ever doubting his skill. For ever doubting his sincerity when it came to planning this entire party… 

“Oh, whoa,” Jungkook gasped behind you, sounding wholly surprised. “Jin did so well on the decorations.” You turned back to agree but saw him smirking. “You must be pissed.” 

“Shut up,” you scoffed and immediately swatted his hand away from a tray of sandwiches. “No! You have to wait!” 

Jungkook made a noise of agony, practically flaking out in one of the chairs. “I’m this close to passing out!”

You sighed at his dramatics. “I’ll go and look for him.” He can’t have gone far, surely? You pointed at everyone as you stepped out, expression stern. “No starting this party until I find him – and no eating food.” 

Jungkook whimpered. 

As you walked out of the office and down one flight of stairs you started to grow worried. What if something was wrong? Maybe there’d been an emergency and he’d had to leave…? Only, those thoughts didn’t have a chance to go too far as you spotted him almost immediately a little down the hallway. The second floor was unoccupied, most of the rooms either used for storage or ominously locked. He was stood with a shoulder against the wall, his back to you. The Santa’s hat he’d been wearing earlier was shoved into his back pocket. You’d caught him just in time, he was finishing up a phone call before staring at the screen, deep in thought it seemed. 

You suddenly felt nervous… You hadn’t been alone together at all since this morning and you’d been slightly miserable ever since then. Ever since he’d shut down the conversation you so badly wanted. You caught him staring your way a few times, when he was coming in and out of the conference room mid decorating – or maybe he was catching you staring. Who knew anymore. Your head was a mess, confused and unexplainably disappointed. 

But you needed to suck it up. There was a Christmas party to pull off, and it needed both its hosts…

“Seokjin?” You called, walking closer. 

He turned around with a start, shoving his phone into his jeans pocket. “Oh, hey.”

You took a moment to admire his Christmas jumper – a dabbing Santa Claus, which was pretty 2016 now, but whatever. You were wearing one similar to the bauble he’d gifted you yesterday, a cat wearing a Christmas hat, but you’d paired it with a Mrs. Claus skirt you wore every year without fail. Oh. You suddenly remembered something. Seokjin telling you he had a whole drawer full of Christmas sweaters. The thought should’ve made you laugh but you were still so nervous. You heart felt a little funny as you stared up at him. 

One thing was for certain, you didn’t think you could forget about the kiss. 

Could you excuse yourself to run away and call Ana? But then there’d be zero hosts at the party and Jungkook would disintegrate from hunger… You needed to power on. 

“Everyone’s wondering where you went,” you said, voice sounding strange as you spoke into the unsettling silence. 

You really didn’t want things to be awkward. You would hate it so much. You understood you didn’t have the best of relationships, but it worked for you both. Now it could all be ruined, and you didn’t want that. You didn’t know what you wanted…

Seokjin hesitated before tapping his pocket. “Sorry, phone call. Some type of insurance sales shit.” 

You nodded, unsure why you didn’t quite believe him, but chose to ignore it, giving him a short smile. “We should hurry up. Jungkook is salivating in there. He’s two seconds away from devouring the whole buffet.” 

Seokjin chuckled lightly at that. “Expected. He’s been fasting since 7pm last night.” 

Why didn’t that surprise you? 

“He’s already forced his way inside. Sorry. I tried to hold them off for as long as possible.”

“That’s my own fault.” He shrugged, then gave you a gentle smile. “Thanks for trying.” 

Your heart did a little flip. You tried to ignore it. “You did a great job on decorating by the way.” 

“You sound surprised,” he teased. “How many times do I have to say I lo– 

“You love Christmas, yes, okay, I believe you now.” You interrupted with a laugh. You remembered that from Saturday night, but you wanted to remember all of it. 

You opened your mouth, you needed to tell him. You needed to tell him you didn’t want to forget. “Seokjin,” you began, unsure how to continue. You didn’t want to make a fool of yourself. However it seemed he had things to say himself…

“I lied.”

Huh? 

His admission caught you off guard. He could probably tell by your face. He lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck, looking awkward. “I lied about the phone call. It was Yoongi. He was giving me a pep talk.” 

“A pep talk?” You repeated, now aware you could hear your own heartbeat. 

He took a step forward and let out a deep breath, gearing himself up. “I can’t stop thinking about last weekend, Y/N.” Your heart was thudding now. “I know I said we should forget about it but I can’t. You don’t remember it and I know you regret it and I’m sorry for,” he stopped to sigh in frustration. “I don’t know, I just feel really guilty. Because I really enjoyed kissing you.” 

He was staring straight into your eyes, no more than a foot between you. He looked nervous and remorseful. You didn’t like it. 

Firm, you held his gaze. “I don’t regret it.” That thought had never crossed your mind. Even through all the shock and mortification. Yes, your memories were extremely vague, but you didn’t regret the kiss. If anything you were curious. Even more curious now. 

Seokjin paused, not expecting your reply, but he sounded hopeful. “You don’t?” 

You shook your head. “I was embarrassed when you told me, yes, but that was because I thought I’d made a fool of myself – I mean, I still did, but if you enjoyed kissing me I guess it was worth it.” 

Seokjin had enjoyed kissing you, and from your foggy memories, you’d enjoyed kissing him too. You smiled. It was contagious as he grinned your way too. 

“You didn’t make a fool of yourself. At all.” He stressed. “Do you remember anything now?” He sounded concerned, still unsure how to go about this. 

“Bits and pieces, yeah.” You admitted. “You got me a glass of water and then left…” 

He looked guilty. “I lost myself a little, I admit, but I couldn’t let it happen. I couldn’t go through with it because you were so drunk and I was pretty sure you hated me and I could never take advantage of you like that.” 

Your heart fluttered. Genuine Seokjin was dangerous for you. “I don’t hate you,” you told him pointedly, crossing your arms across your chest, the beginnings of a smirk itching to appear. “You annoy me to no end but that’s sort of your charm, I guess.” 

He cocked an eyebrow, sensing the change in atmosphere as he asked smugly, “My charm?”

“Don’t ruin it,” you snipped, feeling brave as you stepped closer to him to tilt your head and run a hand down his chest – down the dabbing Santa… “So, you liked kissing me?” 

He nodded enthusiastically, curiously watching your movements. “It felt good. And not just in my dick but like, everywhere.” 

“Seokjin!” You exclaimed, rendered speechless. 

“What?” He asked, eyes wide. He grabbed your hips pulling you closer and you couldn’t help but squeal, reaching for his shoulders. He felt good. Big and warm and familiar. “I’m trying to talk about my feelings here.” 

He was teasing you, sure, but he was also telling the truth. You knew that. Feelings was a scary word, an uncertain word, but you thought you liked the way it made you feel. Maybe Ana was correct… Maybe a part of you did like Seokjin. It sure felt like it right now…

“Kiss me,” you whispered, gaze on his mouth before it flickered to his eyes. “I’m sober now and I want to see if I like it too.” 

You already knew the answer. He did too by the smirk on his face, but he listened anyway, closing the distance between your mouths. His lips felt instantly familiar, making you feel at ease as they pressed into yours. Fluttering his eyes closed you followed suit and he moved gently, tentatively, as if he couldn’t believe it – as if he didn’t want to ruin anything. From the back of your mind vague memories started to wind their way forward, his kiss drawing them out. 

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your body into his ever so slightly with a soft sigh. The tip of his tongue found yours, hints of it joining each drag of his mouth and something lit up inside of you. So you were inevitably disappointed when he pulled back, giving your hips a soft squeeze.

“So?” He grinned. 

You hummed out loud, running your fingers through the hair against the nape of his neck. He liked that. You remembered running them through his hair on the dancefloor, his hands on your body. Stomach doing somersaults, you wanted more – needed more. “Maybe a bit more tongue and I’ll give you an answer…” 

He breathed out a shaky laugh and you thought he might hit back with something but there was no time for talking, not when he couldn’t bear to be away from your lips. Listening, he licked into your mouth, moving with a lot more confidence now. He held you tight before one of his hands came up to softly cup your cheek, the quietest of noises escaping his throat – showing just how much he was enjoying himself. You joined him, moaning gently into the kiss, your tongues untiring as the air around you shifted. 

It was when your back hit the wall did you truly let yourself leave go, hands exploring the expanse of his back as he crowded you, humming greedily against your lips, his hands holding your face as if he couldn’t bear to leave you and come up for air. More memories fluttered their way past your eyelids, a lot more vivid now, Seokjin’s tongue beckoning them  to the forefront of your mind. 

You remembered your kiss was hot and heavy, up against your entry way wall. You had wanted him so bad in that moment and here wasn’t much different. It was like you had been thrown right back there – that eagerness, that want. The only reason you pulled away eventually was because you literally needed to breath. You didn’t fancy passing out, enjoying yourself way too much… 

“I can’t believe you said to forget about this,” you managed to speak, breathless, lips wet and flush as you ran your hands across the broadness of his shoulders. God. You couldn’t stop touching him. 

“I can’t believe you did forget about this,” he exclaimed. He was breathing heavy, just like at the club when you’d grinded all over him. Your memory was on your side now. All it had needed was a prod.   

He did have you there. Your bad. But – “In my defence you supplied the tequila shots.” Although, you had suggested a second round… 

He chuckled, leaning down to nip at your bottom lip. “Stop giving me attitude. It’s turning me on.” 

You stomach flipped, your fingernails digging into the wool blend of his jumper as you held him to you. You wanted to kiss him for hours, because now that you’d started you didn’t want to stop. 

“Should we head back now?” Seokjin asked against a curl of your tongue, one hand against the wall, the other stroking your jaw line. “They’re probably wondering where we both are.” 

“In a moment,” you murmured, a hand of yours bravely dragging down his side. You hit the waistband of his jeans and curled a finger through a belt loop, nudging his crotch flush to yours. Your mouth did the rest of the talking. Sober you wanted what drunk you had missed out on. 

“Fuck,” you heard him mutter, immediately understanding where you wanted this to lead. “Or we can just ditch those losers and go to my place?” He drew back to catch your reaction. “Your place?”

“We can’t do that.” As tempting as that sounded, you couldn’t not attend your own Christmas party you’d spent weeks organising. Seokjin was hot, but he wasn’t that hot. Plus, it would way too suspicious if you both just disappeared… 

Seokjin agreed with a little sigh. “Yeah, you’re right.” 

That didn’t mean you couldn’t think of other ideas though…

“What are you doing?” Seokjin asked, moving back slightly as you wrestled for your phone in your skirt pocket. He watched you search for Jungkook’s name in your phonebook – you were sure you still had his number from when you’d had to “mentor” him the first week he’d arrived. Success! You did! You hurriedly text him. 

(13:31pm) You: I can’t find him. Start without us but LEAVE me some food

He replied immediately. He was probably withering away by now, the poor boy. 

(13:32pm) Jungkook: Oh man Jin is so fucking dead  (13:32pm) Jungkook: Tell him I love him before you stick the knife in 🤪 (13:32pm) You: Sure thing 

You looked up at Seokjin and grinned. “Just bought us half an hour.”

He looked impressed, an eyebrow cocked as he regarded you. “What are we going to do in half hour? – and please don’t say kill me.” 

You giggled – actually giggled. Damn him. You reached for his belt loop again, tugging it gently. “Whatever it is, we can’t do it out in the hallway.” 

You were playing a very dangerous game here. Out in the open, at your place of work. The storeroom was probably an even sillier idea – but that’s where you ended up dragging him into, flipping on the light to save being surrounded in darkness. You were 99% sure the surveillance cameras didn’t work on this floor anyway, so…

“You’re crazy,” he laughed weakly in disbelief, stumbling over an (empty) mop bucket as he went to reach for you. 

“And you love it,” you smirked against his mouth, your arms wrapping around his neck. 

The urge took over again, now in the privacy of the storage cupboard you were free to do whatever you liked. Seokjin grew hard against you quickly, your mouths locked together in haste as his palms felt up your ass. It wasn’t long before he picked you up, your legs wrapping around his middle as he continued to kiss you greedily against the wall. His hands slipped  under your skirt, cupping your ass and you tried to circle your hips as best you could, feeling his erection through the layers of your tights and underwear, both of you straining out moans and grunts. 

“I’m having déjà vu,” he grinned, lowering his mouth to nip at your neck. You gasped, pushing into him and he took the opportunity to begin to kiss your throat. Just like last time… Déjà vu, indeed. 

Breaking away he looked between your bodies, the band of white wool along your skirt protecting your modesty, but only just. “You weren’t dressed as Mrs. Claus though.” He sunk his teeth into your neck once more, a little harder this time and you jerked, yelping as you squeezed the tops of his arms. He liked that reaction, licking a broad strip up the column of your throat, getting you all kinds of wet and sticky. 

No doubt between your legs matched. You were hot, and impatient, and Seokjin’s mouth was evil. Especially when he lifted his head, dark fringe in his eyes, and smirked at you. Fuck, you really wanted him. Your heart was doing somersaults. 

“A fucking sexy Mrs. Claus.” 

You immediately rolled your eyes. Why was he ruining it? You were not about to partake in some sordid Christmas roleplay fantasy of his… “Just shut up and kiss me.” 

He didn’t really feel like answering back. 

A few minutes later you were placed back on the floor, your legs a little shaky as you clung to him, mouths still unrelenting. You were both heavy breathed and burning with desire. He pinned you to the wall with his thigh, separating your legs and giving you something else to grind against as his lips trailed the expanse of your throat, his fingers digging into the meat of your ass so hard you wouldn’t be surprised if he teared your hosiery. 

You were weak, slick against your underwear and desperate for some sort of release. Seokjin panted against your ear. “Do you remember what you said that night?” Moaning was all you could give in reply. “You wanted my dick. You were begging for it.” 

Hearing him speak like that drove you wild. “Mmhm. Remind me.” You could vaguely remember, too pent up to get embarrassed. 

He moved his thigh, pressing his crotch flush to yours and hooked a finger under your chin, lifting your face so he could kiss you again. You could feel his erection and unable to hold off any longer you reached between you and wrapped your hand around him. You could recall doing this before, Seokjin stopping you, but this time he did no such thing. Instead, he pushed into your touch, his voice thick with something that made you shiver as he spoke. 

“You drive me crazy… Every god damn day…” 

Your mind was a little too preoccupied to truly concentrate on his words but they seemed to stir something inside of you. Nudge something that had been forgotten. You couldn’t place it, but it had to do with last weekend. Something he’d said to you… before he’d kissed you… You couldn’t remember but the faintest of memories made you glow. 

“W-we should really just head to my place,” Seokjin stammered slightly, keening into your touch. You were sure his thighs were trembling, all the blood in his dick turning him weak. 

“There’s no need,” you breezed, and before you could take a moment to reconsider you were dropping to your knees. 

“Fuck, what are you doing?” He was practically beside himself, fingers digging into your shoulders as he watched you reach for the buttons on his jeans. 

“What do you think?” 

He sighed exhaustedly, a red flush beginning to travel its way up his neck, peeking above the collar of his sweater. “You’re trying to kill me.” 

Whatever he’d been expecting to happen in here hadn’t been you sucking his dick, you could tell. You took great pleasure in that. It was fun getting this kind of reaction from him. Truth was, when the mood struck, the mood struck, and you wanted him – badly. 

He watched you unbutton him, his black underwear coming into view – Calvin Klein, the band told you, and above that, where his jumper had ridden up, you could see a sliver of smooth tan skin – You just knew he was hiding a great body under there, but now wasn’t the time for stripping. You needed to be quick. 

You tugged his jeans down a little past his hips, enough for easy access. “You really want to kill–ughgh –!” 

He broke off with a surprised moan, your hand reaching inside his boxers to pull out his dick. Wrapping your palm around the base you gripped automatically, staring at what you could only describe as his third leg, with a slack jaw. “Of course you have a fucking massive dick,” you muttered, feeling a little unnerved. 

Surprise immediately dissipating, Seokjin gave you a smirk. “That obvious, huh?”

You breathed heavily through your nose, beginning to run your fist along his length on instinct. It was a good looking dick, you’d give him that. Tense at your sudden movements, Seokjin soon eased up, watching you carefully. You looked up at him, giving him a tiny, slightly shy smile… There really was no going back now. Not that you wanted to. Things had changed and they were going to change even more after this… 

“Come on,” he murmured, a hand reaching out to stroke your cheek. His voice sounded dangerous, low and honeyed as he gazed at you on your knees for him. “Suck it like I know you want to…” 

You scoffed, although surely he could see the effect he had on you. You weren’t bluffing anybody, not even yourself. “Don’t rush me.” 

Seokjin looked amused, but that soon changed when you swiped your tongue across the head of his cock in one fluid and determined motion. His knees pretty much buckled, a hand reaching for the side of your head, his fingers weaving into your hair. You chuckled a little mischievously, your lips wrapped around him, knowing the vibrations would fuck with his head some more. Seokjin laughed stiffly along, knowing what you were up to – knowing you loved having this sort of effect on him – but it sounded strained, wavering in the middle as his eyes locked with yours, the veins in his neck beginning to bulge with the strain. 

You moved, wrapping your lips around him further, your tongue washing against the hot skin and he stumbled forward a little, a grunt slipping from his mouth. That fuelled you, slipping him deeper, your tongue tracing patterns along the underside before you pulled back and repeated. You weren’t kidding when you said he had a massive dick, it was almost daunting, but you found a way around it, massaging your fist along the base of him in time with your mouth until you found a confident rhythm. 

“Oh, fuck.” 

That boosted your ego too, taking great pleasure in the way you seemed to have stunned Seokjin into more or less complete silence. He wasn’t very cocky right now, was he? If you had known sucking his dick would shut him up, you’d have done it long ago – or maybe that was your own horniness talking… Who knew right now. 

You popped off him, running your palm wider, further along to circle over the head, your saliva acting as lubrication, quiet squelching noises slipping from between your fingers. You smirked up at him, “Am I still boring?”

It took him a moment to process your question, his body hunched, surrendering to the pleasure, and you admired the way his lips parted, each breath audible as he stared down at you, dark eyes glazed over. God, he was hot. How had you been so unbothered by him for so long? 

Shaking his head, he halfway came to. “Sucking my dick in a storeroom, can’t get any wilder than this. Well done, you proved me wrong.” 

That was nice to hear. You liked it when he was wrong, mainly because you loved being right. You wrapped your free hand around the top of his thigh, needing the support as you took his dick in your mouth again. Feeling ambitious you willed yourself to relax as you eased along him, taking him deeper, beginning to bob back and forth, the faintest of noises escaping the back of your throat. 

It drove him crazy, his head falling back as he whined. “If this is all just to prove a point and you stop before I cum, I’m going to cry like a motherfucking baby.” 

You tried to laugh but ended up choking, gagging on his cock – unflattering surely, but he seemed to love it, his eyes flashing as he cupped your hand that gripped his girth, gently pulling it away to place on his other thigh. He didn’t want his view obstructed he watched. Besides, you didn’t need your hand as a safety net anymore anyway…

“Fu-ck, you look so good sucking my dick,” he awed, his voice hoarse. He tightened the hold he had on your hair, the fingers of his other hand brushing rouge strands out of your face. You looked up at him, mouth stuffed and he smirked. It made your core pulse. “On your knees. You couldn’t get down there quick enough.” 

A moan slipped from your throat, pulsating against his cock. Of course the guy had a filthy mouth, it should’ve been obvious. What was shocking though, was the effect it had on you. Dirty talk was cringeworthy in your eyes, not many men could pull it off – not even Namjoon – but words like that coming from Seokjin?! You were sure you’d just freshly drenched your underwear. It would surely be a slip ‘n’ slide down there when he finally got his hands on you – If he got his hands on you. Fuck, he better. 

A nudge of his hips cut short your momentary distraction, realising that Seokjin was beginning to thrust ever so slightly into your mouth. He noticed your attention on him and asked hesitantly, “This okay?” 

“Mhmmhmm,” you hummed, gurgling a little which seemed to drive him a little crazy. You let him take control, concentrating on breathing through your nose and pleasuring him with your tongue as he gently fucked your mouth. 

You were losing your mind, hazy pleasure blurring your vision and clouding your thoughts.  Rationality was out the window long ago, all that you knew was the red, hot want you had for him. The Christmas party and the fact you were risking your job right now didn’t come into play, all you cared about was chasing that desire. 

Looking up at Seokjin you noticed his eyes were closed now, his chin tilted towards the ceiling, expression contorted with pleasure as the quietest of moans escaped his throat with each rugged breath he took. You pulsed down below, only this time the urge burned its way up your body, getting hotter as he quickened his motions, seemingly losing himself, seemingly pursuing his end. 

He pulled back abruptly during one withdraw, breath shaky as he kept the tip of his cock inside your mouth, as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from the warm wetness. You sucked firmly, catching his gaze and he just about lost it, eyes rolling into the back of his skull. 

“Shit,” he cursed, ever so slightly nudging further into you, edging himself almost. You darted the tip of your tongue along his slit, earning yourself a soft hiss. His thighs were trembling, you could feel the vibrations under your palm and his neck was thick and tense with strain, patched red, as he tried his might to gain some control over the pleasure you were giving him. “J-Just checking, there’s no chance we’ll have sex in here, right?” 

His voice trembled too, all light and airy and so unlike his voice that you were familiar with. His eyes were blow wide as he gaped down at you, his lips plumper than you’d ever seen them before. He was beautiful. Damn, you really wanted to kiss him again… 

You slid away, cupping your hand around his dick to jerk him off ever so slowly, a couple of inches along the base. He was more than slick now, coated in your spit, flesh veiny and angry red. Shifting on your knees, ignoring the cricks to power on through, you shrugged. “Not unless you carry condoms with you at work.” 

He pondered for a moment. “I can’t say I do.” That caused you to chuckle, leaning in to curl your tongue against the side of his cock. He startled, a loud moan escaping that was surely unnecessary, but it did wonders for your ego. 

He tightened his hold on your head, angling you to the tip of his dick, desperate to get back into your warmth. “So you won’t be disappointed when I inevitably bust a nut?” 

You raised an eyebrow, his cock drawing translucent patterns against your lips as you replied. “That’s why I’m down here.” 

He whimpered, the sheer thought of coming exciting him further. You slipped him back inside, feeling him grip his fingers into your hair, anchoring himself – and you, in preparation. 

“Oh, ffuck,” he muttered, watching you begin to meet every thrust his hips gave you. You were determined, eager for him to cum. You hadn’t sucked dick in so long but now you were in your element, each reaction from Seokjin, no matter how small, encouraging you. The fact he was hiding a foot long in his pants was now no issue at all. You were a pro, just like in all aspects of life. 

A strange sound left the back of Seokjin’s throat, almost as if he was getting strangled and his shoulders slumped, the rest of him growing stiff. “Where am I doing this?” He asked weakly. “Y/N?” He demanded pretty shrilly when you didn’t reply. 

You weren’t relenting, somehow pushing him deeper into your mouth and down your throat and he groaned loudly, blunt nails digging into your scalp. “You want me to cum down your throat?” 

Ding Ding. Clever Seokjin. 

You nodded widely around his girth, gagging a little a process, but this time you owned it. He loved it. 

“Fuck.” He grunted, spreading his feet a little, planting himself to the tiles. “You really want my fucking cum.” 

You moaned, sending a fire of vibrations up his dick and you knew you had him. His hips stilled almost instantly, his cock rammed inside your mouth and you readjusted, using your tongue to coax his release. He came with a deep exhale like moan, stumbling forward with a surprised grunt as one of his hands reached out to slam into the wall behind you. You held him steady with your hands flat against his thighs, swallowing his cum down quickly because you definitely had a love hate relationship with the stuff. Dealt with swiftly, you more than welcomed it. 

Seokjin softly chuckled down at you as he fell from your mouth, now well on his way to growing flaccid and eased off as you straightened your back and made motions to stand (on shaky legs). He tucked himself back inside his underwear, the snap of the waistband making you flutter. Flutter where you wanted him to touch the most. 

You felt warmth as he hooked a hand around your hip, pulling you to him with a bashful grin. “That was worth getting fired for.” 

You giggled, wiping the sides of your mouth with the back of your hand before cupping the back of his neck, dragging him closer as you backed up against the wall. You liked when he crowded around you, liked feeling him against your body. Your body that was screaming for him right now… 

“No one’s getting fired,” you reassured, voice a murmur and then either you or he connected your mouths again. Couldn’t tell who – it was probably both of you. It was amusing that you were the one assuring him, Miss. Uptight who worried about every single little thing. He was the one was supposed to be carefree, yet this had all been your idea. 

Your hand dragged down his chest, feeling the hardness of his pecs, and for a split second you thought about taking him up on the offer of ditching the party and driving to his place. You wanted to get him naked, wanted to see what you could feel, and you really wanted to fuck him. Yet, you knew it was a bad idea. Even worse than sucking dick on the second floor of the office building. Possibly. 

“How long do you think we have before they throw a search party?” Seokjin asked, cupping your face with one hand as the other snaked down to your ass. 

“We still have time.” 

You and Seokjin were always at one another’s throats, no one would guess you were actually getting it on directly underneath them… You were positive. 

“Hm. Enough for me to return the favour?” He contemplated. 

You made a noise of agreement, nodding eagerly as you stretched for his mouth, unable to just. Stop. Kissing. Him. 

It turned hot and heavy immediately, decision now made, and you grasped at one another, kissing wildly. “I love touching you,” he grunted against your tongue, hands gripping anything he could. You had to agree, especially his shoulders. You’d never felt anything like them in your entire life, no wonder he had the upper body strength to hold you up. He was big. Big big, and it was driving you crazy. 

“This ass,” he growled, pulling away from your lips as both hands cupped the rounds of flesh, giving them a very keen and firm squeeze. Skirt bunched up at your hips he had the perfect access. You moaned, the heat between your bodies becoming unbearable and you nearly collapsed into him when one of his hands found its way to your core, cupping the sensitive flesh hesitantly. That was until he felt how soaked you were. It had seeped through your underwear, dampening your tights. It felt heavy and uncomfortable but you guessed that was soon to change now that he’d gotten his hands on you… 

“So fucking wet,” he purred, dropping his height a little to meet your eyes. His fingers slipped inside your panties, his index and middle finger running along your folds before a knuckle found your clit, your hips bucking. He rubbed the bundle of nerves rather lightly, but it was enough. You were beside yourself, any pleasure, however slight, blowing your mind. You moaned sweetly, hot air puffing against Seokjin’s lips. He smirked. “Someone’s very responsive.”

“Please,” you moaned, however you weren’t too sure what you needed to beg for. 

He loved it though, smirking wider. “There she is.” 

“Please, Seokjin,” you repeated, clutching to the neck of his sweater. Hazy memories of last weekend drifted into the forefront of your mind. Begging him for his dick. Sadly, you couldn’t have that right now, but there was always second best. 

Leaning in as if to kiss you he pulled back last minute, a teasing lilt to his tone as he asked you a question. “What do you want, baby?” 

You moaned again, the pet name not so bad after all and pressed into his touch, the headiness in his voice making you tremble with need. Your answer was simple. “Your fingers.”  

Seokjin wasted no time, yanking his hand away to tug at your hosiery. They didn’t budge, so he moved his other hand from your ass to help. Maybe the light sheen of sweat that painted your skin had stuck tight the nylon – or maybe he was just useless… 

“What the hell are these?” He huffed, clearly impatient. 

“Stop, you’re going to rip them,” you told him off. All you needed was to walk back inside the office with laddered tights… How very unsuspicious… 

“They’re dumb.” 

“I’m sorry,” you exclaimed, “wasn’t expecting us to be getting it on today.”

Seokjin paused what he was doing to shoot you a look of sheer judgement. “Getting it on?”

“Shut up,” you grumbled. Yes, maybe your choice of words were lame, but it still stood. You were getting it on right now!

He laughed and tugged at the waistband one last time, finally succeeding but also yanking down your underwear in the process. 

“Let me see you,” he strained out, gripping your hips and you had no time to feel embarrassed by your sudden waist-down nakedness. His eyes drunk up your soaked core, before he looked up at your face again, his right hand reaching for you, each brush of his fingertips turning you boneless. “Fuck. You have the best pussy I’ve ever seen.” 

He was kissing you again, pushing you further into the wall. Pussy. Under all circumstances that word was just yuck, but once again, coming from Seokjin it didn’t seem so bad anymore. It made your core leap, but that might have been something to do with the way he was nestling a deft, long finger inside of you. Your walls clenched around the intrusion as you moaned into his mouth and you gripped at his shoulders, rolling your hips as he started to curl the digit against your warmth. 

Ever so carefully he added a second finger, the burn easing quickly as pleasure took over. His thumb rubbed messy circles against your clit, your arousal beginning to squelch audibly inside the small room. You hooked your arms around his neck instead, pulling him closer and he grunted into your mouth, sounding unlike himself. 

“Seokjin–!” You mewled, falling from his mouth to catch your breath.

“Yeah, me,” he smirked, his free had rubbing small circles into your hip as he continued to give you what you wanted. “I love it when you say my name.” His lips landed on your throat and you pushed your head to the side, pretty sure you were moaning too loudly now but the stimulation was too good to ignore. You grew wetter. His fingers easily sliding in and out of you as he started to finger you quicker, the lewd squelching sticking inside your ears. 

“You’re soaked, Y/N. Did I do this?” He murmured against your ear before nibbling your lobe. You shuddered. “Sucking my dick made you so horny.” The hand on your hip slid to your ass, and he squeezed the meat hard, using it as leverage to go even faster. You squeezed around his fingers tightly, crying out. 

But then there was nothing but emptiness as he pulled them out, making you gasp out in shock. He looked playfully smug. “What’s up? Lost your voice?”

This fucker. Jungkook was right, you were going to murder him. Only not for going AWOL but for not giving you the orgasm you craved. Seokjin’s wet hand massaged the inside of your thigh, and you squeezed your legs together trying your best to ease the tension that was building up. 

“Seokjin, don’t fuck around.” You told him sternly, although your voice was anything but calm. 

“Am I fucking around?” He asked, grinning from ear to ear as he lowered his shoulders and stole another look at your needy heat. Something inside him changed then, as he let out a curse. “Shit. I wanna taste you.” His eyes pleaded with you. “Can taste you?” 

You were nodding before you realised, although you weren’t about to say please again – 

you didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Instead you exhaled out a shaky yes. 

Squatting immediately he pulled the nylon passed your knees, lifting a foot to slip off one of your heels, the leg of your hosiery following soon after. You wobbled as he raised your foot higher and you reached out for his shoulders to steady yourself. 

“I got you,” he reassured. “I just need to spread you a little.” Hooking your foot on the bottom shelf of the cabinet next to you, your legs widened, giving him perfect access to where you needed him the most. “There,” he said, looking pleased with himself. 

His gaze soon darkened when he got a look at you and you braced yourself against the wall as he stalked nearer, a palm cupping your thigh before he followed the curve with his mouth, kissing his way closer and closer to your core. You groaned softly when his lips parted around your clit, warmth flooding you, slowly inking its way through your veins and darting his tongue out he brushed it against you slowly, repeating with the same rhythm until you were squirming, a hand reaching for his hair just for something to grip. 

He sped up, learning what your body liked quickly, dropping to one knee to sink further into you. You moaned pretty loudly when you felt his fingers press against your entrance, slipping inside, and you took him greedily and nosily, pushing into his tongue that had now curled around your clit as he sucked softly. 

You fell to pieces. Fingernails dragging along his scalp as you tugged at his hair. Which he seemed to love, by the way. If his grunting was anything to go by, his movements more determined, firmer. Each time he sucked, point of his tongue flicking against you, you lost it a bit more, gasping out in pleasure. Boy knew how to use his mouth, you were pleasantly surprised. 

He pulled back, his breath a little ragged and replaced his tongue with the pad of his thumb, rubbing tight, firm circles against your sticky clit. “You like getting your clit sucked. Noted.” He grinned, sending your stomach flipping. His mouth and chin were covered in your arousal, which he made no attempt to clean off. In fact, he went immediately back for seconds, licking a wide strip up your whole core, noises of satisfaction leaving him. 

“God, Seokjin,” you murmured weakly, dizzy and trembling. If he kept this up you were going to cum very soon. Especially with the way his fingers caressed your insides, pressing deep until he hit something that had you yelping. 

He looked triumphant as he dropped to both knees now, looking up at you, watching your reaction as he repeatedly curled against your g-spot. You squirmed around, pleasure becoming a little unbearable but oh, so addictive. 

“So, no one ends up fucking at the office Christmas party, huh?” He asked nonchalantly. This fucker was really having a casual conversation with you as he tried to bring you to your knees. By his smug grin, he knew what he was doing. 

Well, not on your watch. 

You bit back a moan, and shrugged, trying your best to sound normal. “We’re not going all the way so technically, that still stands.” 

He laughed loudly, genuinely amused, but his fingers had other ideas. He pulled out halfway, straightening his digits to fuck into you – hard. You choked out, feeling him slowly withdraw, letting you catch your breath before he repeated. And repeated. And repeated…

You were close to seeing stars, the moans rolling freely from your mouth as you clung to his hair. He was evil. “Seok–oh, shit,” you cursed, feeling him deep inside you yet again. “Seokjinnn.” 

“What is it, babe?” He asked, acting oblivious. At the name you clenched around his soaked fingers. “I knew you loved it when I called you that.” You didn’t have time to chew him out because his tongue was washing against your clit again, curling around it, prodding it, sucking it… Your eyes rolled back, a thin sheen of sweat coating your neck and chest, and you knew you weren’t long for this world. You were ten seconds away from becoming a puddle on the floor. 

“Gonna cum, baby?” You squeezed around his fingers again, clit pulsing against his tongue. “You love that too.” You could feel his shit eating grin against you but didn’t care.  

“Don’t stop,” you demanded, out of breath. 

“Not planning on it,” he affronted, licking up your folds once again. You gasped loudly, clenching your eyes tightly closed. You were hanging over the pinnacle, just a little more and you’d fall. You were this close to coming and you might explode in the process. 

“I’m going to make this pussy cum so good. So fucking good,” Seokjin almost goaded, which was in fact, what pushed you over the edge. You came with a loud, strained cry, white hot pleasure that exploded behind your eyelids. 

He made sure to rinse you for all you were worth, until you were writhing out of his grip, your grasp on his hair easing and then he was jumping to his feet, his mouth suddenly on yours with a grunt, kissing you like crazy. You couldn’t tell who was out of breath more.

“Tonight.” He announced ferociously. “Tonight. Please come over and let me fuck you.” 

You moaned at the thought, your tongues turning messy as you tried to concentrate and form words. “My place. I live alone. We can be as loud as we like.” 

.

.

Five minutes later you were back in your tights, knees wobbling together as you tried to slip into your shoe. There wasn’t time for more chitchat – or kissing, you needed to get back to the office before someone came looking for you both. 

“So does that mean you forgive me over Rosal & Steinar?” Seokjin asked curiously, still fairly out of breath. He’d wiped his mouth now, in attempt to clean himself up, but his bangs were slightly kinked, forehead shiny and his cheeks were very much still red. 

You turned to him and smirked. “Another orgasm and maybe.” 

He chuckled. “I’m positive that can be arranged.” You didn’t doubt it. “No, but really,” he carried on, taking you by surprise when he clasped your hand, rooting you to the spot. “You know I had to do it, right? I felt terrible but there weren’t many options.” 

His eyes pooled with sincerity and you found yourself softening, growing touched. It was nice to know he hadn’t done it out of spite – although why he would have seemed pretty ludicrous to believe now… No, you’d just been bitter. 

“I know, Seokjin,” you smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ve forgotten about it.” He looked a little sceptical. “I forgive you,” you insisted with a laugh. It was either he closed the deal or they found another company… They were legitimately the only two options. You got it. 

He returned your smile, finally accepting your reassurance, and you tugged at his hand, opening the storeroom door. You needed to leave. Now. 

But –

Turning back at him over your shoulder, you shot him a playful grin. “Doesn’t mean I won’t steal them back next year though.” 

His eyes widened in surprise before they lit up, his laughter loud down the empty hallway.

“Game on, baby.”

.

.

“Do I look acceptable?” 

You and Seokjin were mere inches from the door leading into the office, your whispers nervous as you hesitated about going inside. You needed to get your best lying face on. ASAP.

“Hang on,” you said, reaching up to adjust his Santa’s hat. The flush on his face had paled, thankfully. “There we go. What about me?”

“Hm.” He pondered, cupping your face to stare down at you, worrying you actually. “I still think we look like we were giving mad head in the storeroom.” 

“Stop,” you groaned, pulling away from him as you realised he was only teasing. You were still pretty sticky downstairs, but you were sure you looked visibly presentable. “You’re going to make it obvious.” 

Finally plucking up the courage, you pushed the door open and stepped inside, Seokjin following. Your Christmas playlist grew louder instantly and of course, the first person you saw was Jungkook, ass perched on your desk for some reason, snacking on a bowl of olives. He popped them like they were grapes. He better not have dripped olive oil over your keyboard, you’d kill him. 

“Ah, look who turned up to their own party,” he exclaimed, standing up. He dropped the bowl right next to your desktop and wiped his fingers into his jeans, striding towards you both. 

You took a deep breath and went for that Oscar. “Blame Seokjin,” you fumed. 

“Where the hell did you disappear to?” He laughed, directing his question to Seokjin who stood behind you still. 

“I, uh... I...” 

You rolled your eyes inwardly. If he fucked this up, well then, he wasn’t fucking you tonight…

“I went to grab a cake.” 

A fucking cake. He’d walked in empty handed. Great white lie there, Seokjin… 

Jungkook looked back and forth between you, his face contorting in confusion. “So... Where is the cake?” 

“Uh.” 

You needed to save this idiot. “Dummy forgot to order it,” you sneered, walking past Jungkook to grab the bowl of olives. 

“Hey,” Seokjin exclaimed, sounding way too offended for it to be acting, just as Jungkook burst into laughter. You didn’t know what Seokjin expected, he’d walked straight into that one. 

“I really thought she’d killed you,” Jungkook told his friend, whacking his shoulder. Seokjin’s eyes widened in warning, a hand coming out to karate slice the younger guy’s neck. 

“I went easy on him,” you grinned, stopping them before they started wrestling for real. “– Y’know, Christmas spirit and all that.” 

That caught Seokjin’s attention. You looked at one another properly for the first time since you’d stepped inside. Eyebrows raised he looked entertained. “You went easy on me?” 

“Yup,” you nodded, unable to hide your smirk.

His expression changed for a split second, a glimmer in his eyes that made you mildly feverish at the thought of him getting his hands on you later on. 

“Duly noted,” was all he replied, and you shared a smile before Jungkook interrupted. 

“I saved you both some food. Come on,” he motioned with his hand. 

“Thanks, JK,” Seokjin bellowed, clapping his back. 

You followed behind them, nerves easing up. “Yeah, thanks, Jungkook.” 

.

.

If anything, Seokjin was the one who got grilled the most during the rest of the party, he had been the one to disappear after all, so it was fun watching him squirm as Hoseok demanded answers. He looked a right fool for “forgetting” to order a cake, but he’d brought it all on himself so you couldn’t feel too sorry for him… 

He was also risking a lot when he felt up your ass as you were finding his stupid Secret Santa gift in your desk drawer, ready to exchange with everyone. You straightened up immediately, pushing his hand away just in case anyone noticed – Mina was literally a desk away from you, although she was too busy giggling at Jungkook who was acting up on the karaoke machine to notice anything. 

Seokjin winked as you glared at him. “Can’t wait for tonight.” 

You pointed your index finger between his eyes. “Behave or I’ll cancel.” 

But, you both knew you were just talking shit… 

Written 2020 - 2021.  Please refrain from posting my work elsewhere. No translations allowed. © floralseokjin 2021

[starrysnowdrop]

FFXIVWrite 2022

#5: Cutting Corners

Idiom: to undertake something in what appears to be the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, especially by omitting to do something important or ignoring rules.

When Cid runs into G’raha at the market, he realizes that it’s too late to get a proper gift for his new girlfriend for a holiday that he’s never even heard of.

“Oh Cid, good morning!” Cid heard a familiar masculine voice call out to him, and when he turned around, he saw a shorter, redheaded miqo’te with his heterochromatic eyes smiling back at him with something in his hands.

“Good morning G’raha!” Cid replied, though his mind was busy swimming with all of the tasks that the Ironworks had planned for the day.

“Didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you’d go straight to St. Coinach’s Find.”

Cid shrugged. “I was picking up a shipment of supplies from the Goldsmith’s Guild in Ul’dah that we might need in the workshop. Don’t want to be out of nuts and bolts!”

“Yes, don’t want to put yourself in a bind!”

G’raha lifted his arm to gesture while he spoke, and Cid saw a bit clearer that the miqo’te had what appeared to be a small box wrapped in delicate pink silk with a tiny, blue flowers attached on top with a thin, pink and white ribbon.

Though Cid knew that it wasn’t any of his business, curiosity got the best of him, as he feared who the recipient of said intricately wrapped gift was. “Hmmm, what’s that you’ve got there?”

G’raha’s mismatched eyes widened suddenly, but he quickly smiled again. “Oh, it’s my White Day present for Yume, of course.”

The miqo’te answered so abruptly, so matter-of-factly, as if it was completely obvious to anyone with a brain what he was talking about. It irritated Cid to his very core, and him mentioning his own girlfriend’s name in that manner also made him want to grind his teeth. Instead, he was forced to ask.

“Wait, what are you talking about? The hells is White Day?”

“You mean you don’t know? I thought that you would’ve known about it already. Since well–“

“Well, I don’t know, alright?! What in the seven hells is White Day?” Cid had interrupted G’raha, and his tone was rather brusque, but he was getting more annoyed by the minute, and he was close to outright demanding the miqo’te tell him why he was giving his girlfriend such a beautiful gift.

With a sigh, G’raha explained, “White Day is a Hingan tradition, where a woman gives a man chocolates in the First Umbral Moon, and in the Second Astral Moon, the men who were given chocolates by women will give them sweets in return.”

Cid folded his arms. “Alright… but Yume gave us all chocolates for Valentione’s Day, but that was only for that one day.”

“In Eorzea yes, but not in Hingashi… and I just wanted her to experience the holiday, to give her something that reminded her of home,” G’raha looked down at the box in his hands, with a gleam in his eyes.

“May I ask what you are giving her?” Cid questioned.

G’raha perked up his ears and his tail swished in joy. “Oh, certainly! It’s matcha green tea mochi that I made myself, though I’m not sure how well I did. I found the recipe in a Far Eastern cookbook. I wrapped them in some Doman silk that I bought from the Doman refugees here in Revenant’s Toll. I then tried asking for a small branch off of one of the cherry blossom trees that are in bloom for Little Ladies Day in Ul’dah, but they flat out refused. So instead, I found some Forget-Me-Nots, as they are small flowers that look similar enough to cherry blossoms, except for the color of course.”

Cid sighed in defeat. “That’s impressive, and it certainly must’ve took you a fair bit of time and effort to put it all together.”

“Well, it wasn’t easy, as I didn’t want to cut corners and not do it just right, but it will all be worth it to see the smile on Yume’s face.”

G’raha smiled warmly at the Garlean, but Cid could only give a small smirk in return. His heart was threatening to beat out of his chest, but he also had to restrain himself from punching G’raha in the face. Though it appeared that the miqo’te was not trying to be malicious and one up him, that was exactly how Cid felt. Cid was sure that Yume would kindly tell him that there was no need to give her a gift in return, as she had never mentioned the holiday to him at all, but deep down, he knew that Yume was going to be over the moon with G’raha’s thoughtful and incredibly meaningful gift. Cid also was not one to cut corners and run out to buy a cheap box of chocolates at the very last minute, but his only choices were the fast and cheap route, or not to give her anything at all.

Cid closed his eyes and rubbed his beard, struggling to decide just what to do. “Yes… I suppose it will.”

[lavendereyedassassin]

Cursed Kisses- Chapter 3

A/N: Thank you Sommernacht for being my beta this chapter! You’re such a rockstar.

Check out her fic “The Cracks In My Mind” on FanFiction.net. 😊 Extreme fluffiness ahead. Enjoy!

 Chapter 3: The Journey

~~~

Metanoia (Greek): “A journey that changes the heart, the mind, the self, or the way of life.”

SH Month Day 15 Prompt

~~~

One small step. Then two.

A lingering look from dark eyes. A hand held out in offering.

Hinata took the hand tentatively. When the portal appeared at Sasuke’s back, her face lit up like fireworks on a new year.

Sasuke felt his heart tug at her wondrous gaze that was filled with the promise of hope and adventure. Her pure enthusiasm and unrestrained optimism were contagious, and he could not stop the grin from spreading across his noble countenance.

“Ready?” he asked.

She stared with large eyes at the circular opening that rippled at the edges with a bright, crystalline luminosity. Fascination painted clearly on her face, she pondered, “Will it hurt?”

To her surprise and embarrassment, he winked and pulled her close with his arm wrapped low around her waist. Lowering his head to her ear, he whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll be gentle.”

Her sharp gasp forced a breathy chuckle out of him, and without warning they were sucked into the interdimensional gateway. Other than the brief change in pressure and a small tickle in her tummy that felt like falling, the jump was seamless.

.

.

.

The lush and green Land of Ire was damp with low-settling fog that made the air feel heavy. At this early hour, the warmth was not yet strong enough to pierce through the morning clouds.

As soon as their nimble feet touched the ground, Sasuke relaxed his grip on Hinata’s waist, allowing her to move around freely. The wind kicked up. The invigorating earthly scents around them filled their nostrils, fresh and cool. Murky waves beat against the rocky cliffside at one end of the open field of never-ending clovers.

Long locks twisted and twirled with the breeze like fingers combing through her hair. Hinata giggled at the mess her hair had become and pulled it into a high bun. Sasuke watched silently. Admiring her long graceful neck, and the tiny hairs that escaped their hold. The sight was breathtaking. Looking away with pink-tinged ears, he acknowledged the scenery was also nice.

Detecting a change in movement, he folded his arms and lifted his eyes back to Hinata. She was climbing one of the sparse growing ash trees nearby with chakra laden feet. Locating a sturdy branch, she leaned against the trunk and sat in a meditative pose.

“Would you like my help?” Sasuke asked, squinting to see her through the leaves. He realized this objective was literally like looking for a needle in a haystack. With the fog, he may as well be wearing a blindfold.

“No,” she assured, and added in hindsight, “Thank you.”

“Hn.” He hummed his understanding, and resolved to stand guard. This foreign land could have anything from yokai to giant monsters. Whatever it was, he was prepared to face it head on- and protect Hinata.

Bulging veins crept out from the sides of Hinata’s closed eyes and down to her jawline. Her search began in earnest.

Approximately ten minutes into his vigilant watch, standing with his back pressed against the base of Hinata’s tree, he felt a light tap against his shoe. He looked down and saw nothing out of the ordinary- a few pebbles, dirt and clovers. Ever cautious, he peered through the haze of their immediate vicinity where only the vast openness greeted him.

Shrugging it off as the wind, he allowed his lids to shut when he felt another tap. Directing his attention to his boots, his photographic memory effortlessly picked up on something novel- a pebble that wasn’t there before.

Coming to an upright and defensive position, he was now on full alert.

“Is everything alright, Sasuke?” Hinata’s light voice floated to his awareness.

“Did you notice anything?” he quickly asked.

“Hmmm. My focus was on the ground, but there are indigenous species of wildlife in the area, naturally,” she commented.

He glared in her direction wearing an obvious smile of false gratitude. “Naturally.”

His words and demeanor brushed over her like a weightless feather. Her focus already on her task while he started his.

Stepping further into the curtain of moisture, sharingan blazing and analyzing every shift and shadow, he felt another tap. This time against his shin. After a few more steps, he saw it.

Perched on a cliffside rock, a tiny creature, no larger than his fist, blinked its large round eyes at him curiously. It was greenish, stout and humanoid in shape, with delicate fur covering its small body.

Sasuke reluctantly admitted to himself that the infantile creature was kind of cute.

With a small squeak, the green tiny attacker launched itself towards the shiny hilt of his sword, but Sasuke was neither tolerant nor eager to forfeit his blade. With lightning quick speed, he snatched the assailant by its little legs, allowing it to dangle upside down from his hold. Giving it a little shake, Sasuke eyed his captive closely and inquired, “What do you think you’re doing, little hobbit?”

The affectionately dubbed ‘hobbit’ began writhing and squealing its pitiful wails at the relatively rough treatment.

With a huff, Sasuke attempted to pacify the creature with a soothing tone, “Calm down. I’ll put you back on your rock. Just behave your-”

SCRREEEEEEEEEECCHH!!!

A loud, echoing wail boomed from over the canyon steps away. The ground shook with a deep rumbling like the land itself split apart. Sasuke knew better. This wasn’t an earthquake. Either some large beast had awoken from its den or it was a stampede.

Quickly placing ‘little hobbit’ back on its rock, he drew his sword towards the water, waiting for the threat to appear.

“Hinata?” he feigned calm as he called out her name, his worry evident.

“I’m fine. I need more time,” she casually responded.

Before he could ask what she saw, the shrieking was upon him. It was not a beast. It was several tens of tiny beasts, crawling over the cliff’s edge and racing towards Sasuke. Adult versions of ‘little hobbit.’

Little hobbit was screeching and jumping up and down excitedly on his perch like a monkey.

“Hinata, we have to go!” Sasuke yelled, darting out of reach of the first dozen hurling their bodies at him- claws and fangs bared.

“A little more time!”

Sasuke swatted away one that leapt at his face, catching it squarely in the chest. The event spurred the herd into a wild frenzy.

“Don’t hurt them,” Hinata instructed with a chirp from her hidden location.

Resisting the urge to scowl, he put away his sword, and grumbled under his breath, “Easy for you to say.”

Hinata couldn’t help the small giggle that escaped from her when she witnessed Sasuke go down in a heap after the tiny tyrants surrounded and dragged him down. She read about the flora and fauna of each region of their tour. The leprechauns of the Land of Ire were mischievous and fiercely protective, but relatively harmless. They had no poisons or natural defenses other than their sheer numbers. They weren’t particularly strong and their nails and teeth were not even sharp. He was basically engaging with a group of grumpy toddlers.

She continued her search, watching Sasuke teleport, flicker and arm himself with various pieces of his Susanoo from the corner of her almost three-hundred-sixty-degree vision. Sometimes she would see him scoop up a small flock in his arm to (gently) restrain them, or pick one up by its hind quarters and (gently) fling it a short distance away, only to have them get back up and attempt to climb on him again. It was not lost on her that he never strayed more than a two-second sprint away from her at his top speed.

“Where are you…” she muttered to herself, seeking their objective. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted what she hoped to find. Excitedly, she narrowed her gaze and counted internally.

One, two, three, four! Four! A four-leaf clover!

Overcome with jubilation, she stood from her spot on the branch and yelled with an exuberance neither were expecting, “Sasuke, I found it!”

“I’m heading over to you!” The Uchiha teleported to the base of the tree just as Hinata began to climb down.

ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!

Sasuke turned his head towards the beastly bellow, the ground quivering as if it was afraid.

Startled by the booming rumble from both the beast and the tree, Hinata lost concentration of her chakra and her footing slipped. “SASUKE!”

Swiveling his head back to his partner, he broke her fall in a lip-locked bundle on a bed of clovers.

Since they began exchanging- or he began stealing- kisses, this was the first time he felt shy. His modesty was evident in his bright eyes and the rosy hue of his cheeks that matched hers. With her in this position- resting atop, gazing at him with her all-seeing eyes like she could even see past everything the world labeled him- his chest was constricted by a downy fullness he’d never experienced.

ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!

Simultaneously, their heads snapped in the direction of the invisible threat.

“Time to go,” he quickly stated while they fumbled around each other to get to a standing position.

The leprechauns were running around in a frenzy. Some attempting to hide up trees, within tall blades of foliage, and some scurrying back down the cliffside. Little hobbit had been scooped up by his parents and found safety in an underground tunnel.

Suddenly a dark shadow blocked the weak sunlight, cloaking them in darkness. The vast darkness was a mammoth winged-serpent, with a head of a snake and body of a dragon.

“W-water dragon,” Hinata stammered, with wide-eyes trained on the ancient leviathan that hovered over them like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.

“Run,” Sasuke whispered.

Hinata took off in the direction of the totem and Sasuke swiftly followed at her heels after sending a couple of clones in the opposite directly and throwing a smoke bomb for cover.

“Where is it, Hinata?” Sasuke rattled out.

She pointed ahead of them with a finger, and panted, “Ahead by about 350 meters.”

The water dragon had quickly changed course and was upon them again. It opened its terrifying jaws at their backs and snapped at empty air.

Not a moment too soon, Sasuke had teleported them both to the place Hinata identified.

Eyes activated, she walked a few feet out, bent at the waist and plucked the tiny green clover.

The irate serpent had not given up chase and was fast approaching.

Hinata was sealing the item in a scroll while Sasuke opened a portal to their next destination. Tugging her with a large coarse hand, he embraced the petite female and jumped in. The dragon wailed and flew off to its watery den.

.

.

.

Portal hopping through dimensions like seasoned globe trotters, they traveled to destinations far and wide. Gathering and checking off items on her list. A horseshoe, a figure of an elephant with its trunk lifted, a talisman shaped like a hand with an open eye on the palm, a small satchel filled with herbs, a bundle of bamboo stalk.

Each destination a different tribulation.

In the Land of Wind, locating a true religious charm was fruitless. Until they found one hanging around the neck of a man walking into a brothel. Steeling her nerves, Hinata prepared to play the role of a consort to covertly “borrow” the dove carved trinket.

Sasuke, however, refused to allow her to demean herself for anyone- except him. So, he took her place.

In full makeup, courtesy of Hinata, and wearing a long-ruffled gown, he approached the hairy gentleman and batted his generously long lashes that made Hinata envious.

When the pervert tried to get handsy with Sasuke’s cotton chest, Sasuke’s knee-jerk reaction was to deck him. It was lights out for the unsuspecting man. Hinata gave Sasuke a reproachful look while helping herself to his precious token.

With a pat on the head, Hinata dropped a small fortune on the sleeping man’s lap and they took off.

In the land of Porcelain, they snuck into a monastery to steal a golden toad statue from a holy well. They were spotted in the middle of their retrieval. Surrounded by monks, they jumped into the well, snatching the frog on their descent. Their feet neither touched water, rock or soil.

They stood on plumes of white clouds, completely unharmed, before a woman in an extravagant white gown. She tilted her head with curious observation, making the dangling pins in her high bun sway and sparkle, and decided to examine the ideal male specimen before her.

Sasuke’s singularly focused mind noticed the sashay of her hips and the intrigue in her eyes, and immediately pulled Hinata into his arms and dipped her low in a romantic flourish, stealing another kiss.

Hinata appeared flustered by the unexpected and public display of affection.

The lady in white laughed heartily and waved her hands. In the next moment, they found themselves in a remote garden outside of the monastery, golden toad secured.

Each adventure, each folly, each caress and light touch, bringing them closer to their goals- both known and unknown.  

.

.

.

Finally, they were on the last leg of their journey. Giving in to exhaustion, they settled at an inn in the Village of Roma. Placing the clerk at the front desk in a genjutsu, Sasuke was able to learn the basics of the local language and customs within minutes, which came in handy when they wanted to eat.

At the adjacent café, Hinata ordered something called bruschetta and pasta for them to share. Hinata said that dignitaries from this land had once visited the Hyuga and shared these dishes. Sasuke stared warily at them for a moment, never having been introduced to such delicacies, but in the end, he would never turn down a good meal.

Taking his first bite of the crispy slice of bread with a medley of toppings, he realized the seasoned vegetables were primarily tomatoes! He finished the rest of his serving in one bite and went for another. And another.

Their hands brushed against each other over the dish, and he realized there was one piece left.

Hinata smiled knowingly and said, “You can have it, Sasuke.”

Still chewing on his previous helping, he swallowed and asked, “Have you had any yet?”

She giggled lightly, her eyes full of mirth, and responded, “No, but you seem to really like it. It’s yours.”

Sasuke picked up the last one, and placed it to her lips. With a slow grin, he offered, “Have a bite. I insist.”

Resisting the urge to tap her fingers against each other as she thought, she realized that to onlookers, and even to herself, this felt very intimate. Meeting his stare, she laughed loudly when she realized he was pouting and giving her the cutest pair of puppy-dog eyes she’d ever seen. She surmised that he probably did not comprehend his actions, or the effect they were having on her. “Okay, one bite.”

Parting her lips, she took a demure bite from the delight in his fingers with as much poise as she was capable.

Satisfied with her obedience, he put the rest of the bruschetta in his mouth.

Her cheeks burned crimson with the indirect kiss, bringing a smile to his lips. Unable to help himself he said, “Hn. It’s tasty.”

She wanted to faint.

.

.

.

The next morning, they set off for Lake Trevoli for the last item. The lake was more of a large natural spring in the mountain. It was a journey and a trial to get there, making it rarely frequented by people unless they wanted to make a wish.

According to the lore of the people, you could make a wish by tossing a coin into the spring. The more expensive and rare the coin, the higher the likelihood of your request coming true. However, regardless of the value, it was heaven’s ultimately benevolence that would decide which wishes would be granted.

Although Sasuke had the rinnegan, it was difficult to use his teleportation powers in areas in which he was not familiar. He could bring them to a general location based on estimates, but he’d never been to the lake so he would be guessing. Further, there was the possibility that he’d accidentally transport them into the mountain face or a tree. It was not a chance worth taking.

Unlike their previous barren destination, the foliage here was thick and leafy. The sun beat down on the tree tops, the wind barely stirred a leaf, trapping heat and leaving the forest sweltering and humid.  

By the time the two weary travellers made it to their destination in the late afternoon- a tenth of the time it would take a person without special powers- they were ready to dive into the waters. Both thirsty and sweaty, all decorum was quickly tossed aside- along with the outer layers of their clothes.

Sasuke wore only his briefs, the rest of his garments lying in a heap. He dove in without hesitation.

Hinata, using more patience and care, prudently removed her top, folded it and placed it in her pouch. Her shorts were next, followed by her shinobi boots and her leggings. The boots were left near the lake’s edge. Shyly, she tied her multi-purpose obi containing her belongings to a hanging branch, and then dipped her foot into the cooling waters. Attempting a slow descent into the spring, wearing only her chest bindings and underwear, she was foiled by a tsunami of water that soaked her from head to foot.

Gasping at the shock, her skin prickled with goosebumps.

Sasuke pointed at the miserable look on her face. He laughed so hard that his eyes were forced shut and he keeled over. Before he knew it, Hinata launched a frontal assault. Together they crashed against the sunlit surface, falling into the blue depth. Their arms clung to each other as they swirled around the pristine waters harmoniously, like yin and yang.

When the bubbles cleared, Hinata was stunned into stillness by the soft gaze mere inches from her face. He stared at her like the most fascinating and beautiful thing in existence. Right now, they were the only things in their watery existence. Her heart leapt up to her throat at the thought. Her eyes roamed greedily to capture this moment for days she would need it. The perfect symmetry of his features, the sharp contrast between his smooth, pale skin and his penetratingly dark eyes and hair.

In the dark water, with the sun filtering through the dappled surface, his eyes reflected back the glow of the heavens in his stare. All her life she had been chasing the sun. She never would have guessed that the light she was after, had always been in him.

An invisible force drew them nearer, inches turning into centimeters, centimeters turning into nothing. Their bodies pressed against each other. He held her with the tenderness of worship, but with the ferocity of passion.

Abruptly, Hinata felt a sharp tug at her ankle. Shock overcame them both, as Sasuke was roughly pulled from her grasp. They were being yanked in opposite directions by something infernal.

Sasuke was incredibly annoyed at whatever foolish creatures thought it a good idea to interrupt this perfect moment. Glimmering rainbow arms and scaly hands groped his chest. He blocked the attempted fondling of his manhood and dodged the kisses to his face and mouth. Such impudence.

Anger suffused throughout his chest and he directed it at the two figures pulling on him. With rotating red pinwheels in his eyes, he ensnared the two mermaids in mental traps of his making, and swam off to save Hinata.

He paused and raised his brows at the glorious sight.

Hinata had just finished performing a thirty-two-palm strike using water needles. She turned in time to see Sasuke’s face go from pleasant shock to awe and admiration, painting a pretty blush over the bridge of her nose and cheeks.

It was a good thing they were trained to have a large lung capacity, effective oxygen use, and chakra. However, even shinobi need regular oxygen.

Taking her hand in his, they broke through the surface with their internal force with a dramatic upheaval of water. The crystal drops fell around them like liquid sunshine, glimmering and throwing sparkles all around. With power concentrated on the bottoms of their feet, they stood on the lake facing each other. Hinata opened her free palm and showed him an antique gold coin.

She smiled at him. She had recovered what she needed.

He smiled back at her triumph. Before anything else could go wrong, he lowered his head for a deep, requited kiss.

***

To be continued...

[rainydaydream-gal18]

(The Bad Batch) Camping: Tech's Ending

 Intro

“I guess I’ll go to the lake with Tech,” you said. Tech glanced up from the holopad at the sound of his name. You suddenly felt bashful as Omega nudged you. “Unless you mind the company?”

   “No, not at all,” he replied. The corners of his lips turned up in a small smile. “As a matter of fact, I’d like the company very much.”

   “Well then,” Omega said with a satisfied look. “You two have fun. I’m going to catch up with Hunter. Bye!” She waved and hurried away before you could even shoot her a warning glance. Tech was at your side, holopad tucked under his arm, and watching her go.

   “She seems excited.”

   “Yeah, it’s her first time camping and all,” you said. “The galaxy seemed enormous when I started traveling with you guys. I can’t imagine how big it must seem to her.”

   He nodded. “Indeed.”

   “So, the lake is that way?” You gestured before pulling your shoes on and tried to remember how the area looked from the ship. Tech confirmed your guess with a hum and started walking in that direction. Your eyes followed him, still getting adjusted to the sight of him in civies. You were used to seeing him in armor or his blacks, though you had to admit that the gray cargo shorts and blue button-down t-shirt suited him. A few buttons were left undone to show a white shirt underneath It really was a good look for him.

   The walk to the lake was pleasant. You and Tech maneuvered the forest plants together, and on occasion he’d hold a branch aside for you to pass by. There wasn’t a rush, but the pace was a little quicker since Tech had a task to do. Both of you talked about some of the things you saw on the way. He identified quite a few plants and animals.

   “Ah, careful,” he warned, resting a hand on your shoulder to keep you from taking another step. “Poison.” You followed his gaze to a lone green plant with purple leaf tips. “Let’s go around.”

   “Thanks,” you said gratefully. He was the first to step around the plant and then wait for you to follow. “How much farther?”

   “The lake is just ahead.”

   You emerged from the woods, face met with the warm sun right away. The grass in front of you sloped down toward the sparkling lake that rippled with blurry reflections of the blue sky above. “Wow, it’s so beautiful,” you sighed.

   Tech smiled. “It is, isn’t it?”

   As the two of you neared the water, you could hear the tiny waves lapping at the sandy shore. It was a rhythmic sound, and so inviting. Still, you remained on the sand while Tech detached a few devices from his holopad and put them together. Then, he took out a small test tube from his pocket and knelt down at the water’s edge to take a sample.

   “How long will it take to find out if the water’s okay?” you asked, kneeling down beside him.

   “Not long. A good two or three minutes,” he replied, swirling the sample around.

   “Oh, nice.”

   Neither of you spoke for a minute. Tech’s attention remained focused on the sample that he had hooked up to his holopad devices, and your eyes wandered to his hands which were occupied with the task. You marveled at every line and crease of those hands that could fix just about anything.

   “See something you like?”

   Your eyes snapped back up to his profile. “W-what?”

   He adjusted his goggles and met your mortified gaze. “You seem intrigued with the device. Did you want to know how it worked?”

   Of course he hadn’t meant it that way. Tech could be so oblivious, after all. Strangely enough, it made him all the more endearing to you. You wondered how many ladies have tried to hit on the trooper only to leave in disappointment when he didn’t catch on.

   You chuckled out loud at the thought.

   “Just thinking. I hope the water is alright to swim in. I was looking forward to that.”

   His brows rose as he gladly announced, “you’ll be happy about these results then. The water is in no way harmful to us.”

   “Really?” You immediately reached out a hand to scoop some of the lake water up and let it splash out between your fingers. “That’s great!” You stood to your feet, pulling your shirt off to reveal the swimsuit underneath. “Are you coming?”

   His lips pressed together as you discarded your shorts and kicked off your shoes. “I’m not wearing my swimsuit.”

   “Oh,” you paused. “Want me to wait for you?”

   “No, thank you.” He adjusted his goggles again. “You go ahead.”

   You gave a shrug and waded into the water, halting ankle-deep to admire the feeling of warm sun on your face and cool water on your feet before going in farther. By the time you were waist-deep, you turned around to see Tech kicking off his own shoes. He glanced up to meet your curious gaze, smiling hesitantly before unbuttoning the rest of his overshirt and folding it up to set it beside his shoes.

   “Changed your mind?” you called.

   “You could say that.” He waded in until he was only a few feet away. “Swimsuit or not, I refuse to let you have all the fun.”

   “Wrecker would be proud.” You grinned. “Just wait until he finds out we were the first ones in the water.” You relaxed your arms, letting the water ripple over them as you tipped your head back.

   “Oh yes, I’m sure we’ll never hear the end of it.” He sighed. “Perhaps it’ll be our little secret.”

   “Perhaps it will. Then again, perhaps not!” You splashed a little water in his direction and scurried away.

   Tech swiped the back of his hand across his lenses and shook his head. The tiny smirk on his face as his eyes locked with yours through the smeared droplets on his goggles made your heart skip a beat.

   “You shouldn’t have done that, _________.”

   You shrieked as he moved toward you, surprisingly quick, and tried to outrun him in the water. It wasn’t long until he caught up to you and scooped a handful of water in your direction, making you gasp. “Oh, it’s on!” You splashed again and swam away again. It was an effective strategy, to strike and retreat. Plus, it was admittedly fun to have Tech chase after you.

   The water fight came to an end when Tech could barely see through his goggles. He took them off for a quick cleaning, though his damp shirt didn’t completely wipe the drops away.

   You watched him put them back on. They weren’t perfect, but at least he could see better after the cleaning. You held his gaze until movement in the water beside you made you jump. Your hand gripped Tech’s arm as you pressed yourself closer to him, eyes wide.

   His other hand came up to rest over yours, concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong?”

   “Something brushed up against my leg. It startled me.”

   “I’d say it was most likely a fish.”

   “As long as it isn’t some weird creature,” you mumbled back, squinting at the water. One of the downsides of the lake was the inability to see very far into it. Tech’s hand moved from yours as his arm went around your form in a comforting gesture, and you were suddenly aware of how close you were. Suddenly aware of how your side was pressed into his, with one of your hands gripping the soaked shirt he wore. Suddenly aware of how soft his gaze was, even if it was only a fish that startled you.

   The warmth in your chest flared up and consumed your train of thought. It consumed your ability to think clearly, or else you might not have leaned in a few inches to capture his lips in a kiss. They were warm and still wet with lake water, molding blissfully against yours. Tech remained still as you explored those lips for a moment. You started to feel the subtle pressure of him returning the kiss ever-so-gently, uncertain, as if he were testing the waters. You paused, and he seemed to gain some confidence as he took the lead a little. Both of you pulled apart, you burying your face in his shoulder while he wrapped both arms around you.

   Neither of you spoke. Only the musical sound of the lake’s tiny waves turning in the breeze filled the air. The cool wind nipped your damp skin, and you hung onto Tech a little tighter as a shiver ran down your spine.

   “Maybe we should dry off,” he spoke quietly.

   “Yeah, maybe.” You pulled back to smile at him. His eyes fell to your mouth in consideration for a moment before he stopped the quiver of your lips with another soft kiss. “Hm, I could get used to that.”

   “Believe me, so could I.” Tech took your hand and began leading you to the shore. That was when you realized you hadn’t brought towels. He unfolded his shirt and placed it over your shoulders. “The others will be back soon.”

   “Yeah, everyone’s probably hungry by now,” you agreed. “We need to get a fire going.” his fingers laced through yours as the two of you headed back up the slope of grass towards the woods. There hadn’t been a rush on the way down to the lake, and there certainly wouldn’t be one on the way back. Not with Tech’s hand in yours, the smiles and chuckles you exchanged, and the way the sun shone through the canopy of trees above, creating golden rays that touched the forest floor.

   No, you’d take your time.

[binniedeactivated]

Little¡!  || txt 🍼

✎𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫!𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧 𝐱 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲

✎ 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞

✎ 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕; 1.3k

𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺; 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆!𝒕𝒙𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑴𝑫𝑳𝑩, 𝑨𝑩𝑭, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔. 𝑰𝒇 𝒔𝒎𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆. 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕.

𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕; I was thinking of this one request i had for a little!txt request (again, not sure if I sent this in or not ashnn): it’s more of a baby! or toddler!txt x mommy! reader (but you can change it to little! x caregiver! if you like!) so it’s basically where taehyun is scared of thunderstorms but wants to be a big boy and show his older brothers he can sleep on his own. but obviously he can’t 🥺 so he uses his baby brother Kai as an excuse to sneak into his mom’s room for cuddles?

❝ [ @𝒃𝒖𝒈𝒔𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆] 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇𝒇...

it was that kind of night again.

the nights that taehyun hated. It was storming outside and the rain was beating the glass of his bedroom window. He swallows watching a flash of lightening streak across the darkened sky. With a flash came a loud clap and a roar that was loud enough to make taehyun shrivel underneath his blankets.

it's going to be okay. it's okay. taehyun tried his best to assure himself but his nervousness was raising his body temperature thus making the air underneath the blankets hot and thicker than he expected. He could barely breath under there but it was the closest to the feeling of safety that his mommy gave him.

"tyun you aren't scared are you?". yeonjun teases with his arms folded behind his head. his bed was across from tyun's like how soobin's was across from gyu's. Kai's bed was right beside tyun's but his bed was also vacant, as kai often made it his duty to cuddle with his mommy on nights like this.

something tyun wished he could do.

"Of course he is, look at him. he's hiding!". soobin chimes in. he smirks a little when he sees the small boy peaking from the blankets trying to mask his fear as best as he could. "you know if you're scared you can go in mommy's bed with kai. the hyung's are okay in here". yeonjun adds knowing full well tyun was scared shitless. Yeonjun's comment left a feeling of distress washing over his younger brother's small frame. Thunder rolled across the sky yet again and he trembled at the sound feeling his bladder become weak. "hey! I'm a hyung too. I don't need to be in mommy's bed". he lied. He swallows at the sound of the rain coming down much harder this time around. The splatter of water made him squeeze his legs together tightly, the last thing he wanted was to ruin his bedsheets and pajama shorts over this. "oh because if you need mommy's bed you're not a big boy. that makes you a baby". gyu responds, joining in on the teasing from his own bed. "I am a big boy! I'm in my own bed aren't I?".

"barely. your head isn't even out of your covers all the way". soobin points out. taehyun hesitantly sticks his head out a bit more, not even realizing that himself. His grips his blanket firmly with his clammy fists. "Leave me alone hyung. I can sleep in my own bed. You guys stop messing with me!". they all snicker in laughter at his sudden outburst. Each of them turn over, getting comfortable. "yeah who are we kidding?". yeonjun teases, "taehyun is a big boy like us". watching each of them get comfortable was like a nightmare for taehyun who usually had kai to talk to him throughout his nightly endeavors. Call him a loser all you wanted but he enjoyed conversing with his baby brother. He was precious and he always tried to protect taehyun even if he was younger. But if this is what being a big boy meant, learning to sleep alone then he would have to learn to adjust.

He settled in his blankets watching the silhouettes of his older brothers drift off into their own slumber. Taehyun found the concept insane, being able to sleep comfortably with thunder and lightening flashing through the bedroom windows. It was scary to watch, especially with the weeping willow tree grazing his window. In the daytime, the tree was his friend. he often sat under it to read, climbed up it with kai on sunny days and eat ice cream, and if it's safe to tell you, sometimes he talked to it when he had troubles that he didn't want tell his brothers about. He imagined it was like a grandpa, listening and nodding wisely whenever he expressed his feelings. At night though, and especially during storms he grew scared of the papa willow tree he often found comfort in. It looked angry when it was waving like that in the thunderous breeze, like the branches was reaching out to grab him at any given moment. The thought alone made his heart tank.

you can do this tyunnie. you can sleep. nothing is going to hurt you.

try telling that to the sky, taehyun thought. The thunder rumbled above him and surges of lightening fell across it in his wake. The breeze whirled, so much that the tree actually looked like it was winding back this time. Taehyun felt his heart stop at the sight, each of the branches waiving back long and thin in the light blue void. Taehyun braced himself allowing his conscience to draw a face on the tree bark, one that scared him enough to where his bladder let loose. One by one the branches were coming towards him which led him scurrying out of his bed and into the hallway with a high pitched whine.

tyun couldn't help himself anymore, he was a wimp. Not just that, he just peed himself. The warmth of his fresh tears made his cheeks rosy, his face flushed a cherry red as he cried right in the hallway. Right in the middle of the puddle he was making beneath his feet.

great. just great. he thought.

"tyunnie? what's the matter what happened?". his mommy saw her little boy with his arms over his small face crying, his black shiny strands covering his forehead. he tries his best to look at her with clear eyes but every single time he spoke a knot would form in his throat and he would start crying again. He hated this. He hated feeling like a baby but he was scared. She took her thumbs and dried his tears from his cheeks. she could tell that whatever the problem was, taehyun didn't want to talk about it.

"How about we get you cleaned up okay?".

taehyun was grateful for that, grateful for her. grateful that she gave him a bath that night and told him stories about the things she used to do during thunder storms when she was his age, like read books and play outside. taehyun thought it was crazy that she even left the house during a time like that but that's one thing he loved about her. she was fearless. "you were never afraid of thunderstorms mommy?". taehyun asks while she washes around his ears. "nope, never. I never thought of it as something to be scared of. It was interesting to me". taehyun nodded to himself. "why tyunnie? are you scared of thunderstorms?". he quickly shook his head. "no never! I was just curious that's all". she smiled to herself, finishing up washing his face.

when he was all dry and now in clean clothes she bends to kiss him on his cheeks. the softness of her lips always made him blush. It was obvious whenever taehyun blushed, his dimples waded deep in his cheeks. "I love you tyun. I want you to sleep well okay?". sensing that she was about to leave he clamps his tiny hands around her wrists. "mommy is it okay if I sleep with you tonight? I like talking to kai kai before bed". he lied, well kind of. He liked talking to kai but he was also afraid to sleep alone. She obliged, taking his hand and leading him to her room.

Words couldn't describe how safe he felt within the comfort of his mommy and heuning kai on her huge bed and fluffy blankets. "Hi hyung! are you sleeping with us tonight?". kai smiled brightly in his pink onesie, more than happy to see his brother. Tyun nods with a small smile. His mommy cuddled them both, allowing their heads to sink onto her chest. She had put on a cartoon for them to watch and all of tyun's fear and anxiety left his tiny little heart. He heard thunder and saw all kinds of lightening but it no longer phased him.

If this made him a baby, maybe tyun didn't want to be a big boy after all.

[cuptalecupheadxundertale]

CupTale (CupheadxUndertale) Ch7: Home

Chapter 7 “Home”

The ruins seemed to go on and on endlessly and were beginning to be a little monotonous for Cuphead and Mugman, but what always distracted them were some of the new sights and new things they would see. Such was this…

A dark brown leafless tree stood far ahead beyond the mouth of the narrow corridor, and the boys’ eyes glimmered to see such an enchanting tree that they ran to it. As they exited the hallway mouth, they stopped and watched the tree from top to bottom with their glimmering eyes while their hands glided behind them.

The tree had about eight branches radiating from the center and there were barely any leaves on them, just some tiny ones and some big ones which would eventually fall off swaying down to the bed of vibrant and healthy-looking red leaves on its roots.

Cuphead and Mugman took an awe-inspired deep breath. “Wwoooowww…” They smiled in awe as their glossy eyes reflected the image of the tree.

“Oh dear…. That took longer than I thought it would…“ Toriel’s distant worried voice said.

Cuphead and Mugman blinked, noticing Toriel’s voice was in earshot. They peeked to the right, looking beyond the tree, and saw worried Toriel walking hurriedly from a castle doorway towards a spot on the right side of the tree. Cuphead snickered while Mugman smiled warmly. She stopped there, picked up her phone from her right pocket, pushed a button with her left index finger, and then placed the phone under her fluffy right ear.

“Oh… I hope you are alright my children…” Toriel said worriedly to herself.

She then looked to her right… then her eyes widened as she saw Mugman and Cuphead, leaning on their right watching her, and as they were noticed, they stood normally, smiled, and waved.

“Children!!” She raised her voice as she ran towards the boys and put her phone back in her pocket.

Toriel and Mugman & Cuphead ran towards each other. She knelt down and placed her hands on their shoulders, and they smiled comfortably in return.

“You’re okay!!” Mugman looked up at Toriel with his kind eyes while gliding his hands backward.

Eyes closed, Toriel chuckled, then she opened her eyes. “Of course, I am alright my child! How about you? How did you get here?”

“Duh, we walked.” Cuphead snarkily smiled as he folded his arms.

An irritated exhale puffed from Toriel’s nostrils as she looked annoyed at Cuphead. “I mean, how did you get here in one piece? Are you hurt?”

Cuphead tsked. “Nah!” He flicked his hand down. “We’re A-okay. Right Mugsy?” He looked at his brother but then gasped as he noticed a few cracks on the side of his head right and a few bite holes on Mugman's black turtleneck before Mugman turned to look back at him. Mugman gasped and saw some cracks on Cuphead’s head and bite marks on his turtleneck as well.

Mugman nervously chuckled, touched his index fingers repeatedly, and looked at Toriel. “Just a few cracks here and there.”

“Oh you poor boys. Come here and let me heal you.” Toriel showed her hands which both glowed leaf green.

After a momentary look at each other, and then a smile each, Cuphead and Mugman stepped forward and let Toriel’s embrace wrap around them, and Toriel’s glowing leaf green hands glowed brighter accompanied by a low humming of power. The leaf green aura wisped and chimed from her hands, they twirled around the air like ribbons, and then the aura wrapped around the two brothers starting from their heads down to their arms, to their fingertips, bodies, stomachs, hips, legs, and finally to their feet inside their shoes. Soon, the pain on Cuphead and Mugman’s heads was receding, making them sigh in relief, and they watched the cracks on each other's heads fade and recede ‘til it was just smooth and shiny porcelain, and the holes on their clothes repair and weave together, all while their full bodies were layered within a green aura. Toriel let go of her embrace, and the last leaf green aurorean light ribbons of the green aura seeped into the bodies of Cuphead and Mugman ‘til there was nothing but two clean and shiny good-looking boys. Cuphead and Mugman began to pat, rub and turn each other’s squeaky clean heads as they inspected them with such curiosity… and they smiled, but then Cuphead roughly and playfully hit Mugman’s head with his hand.

“Hey!!” With a playful smile, and with his right hand, Mugman hit back on Cuphead’s head, and the latter just bubbly laughed.

Toriel groaned and rolled her eyes. “Please don’t hurt yourselves after I’ve just healed you my children.” She looked at them strictly. “This is exactly why I told you to stay in that room! So that you wouldn’t get hurt! Why didn’t you listen?!”

Mugman frowned, looked at Toriel, started to shiver, and started to touch his index fingers. “I-I-!”

“Hey!” Cuphead put his hands on his hips as he looked defensively at Toriel. “We heard you were in trouble so we went lookin’ for ya. It was Mugs’ idea!” He splayed his showing hand at Mugman who gasped.

“Oh my…” Toriel covered her mouth, and then looked at Mugman. “Did you now my child?”

“Oh! Y-yeah! I did!” Mugman beamed as he placed his fists on his hips proudly like a hero.

“And even if we stayed put, brawls were brewin’ once them monsters started comin’” Cuphead jabbed the air with his fists a few times. “So we figyad, since ya said you were comin’, we’d meet ya halfway!” He splayed his hands in explanation.

“Oh I see…” Toriel said as she bit her lower lip and held her right fist close to her chin. “And… what about the puzzles?”

Cuphead made raspberry sounds (which Mugman giggled to) as he flicked his hand down. “Pisacake.”

Mugman looked at Cuphead in shock. “Wh-what didja just say?” He giggled.

Cuphead held his hands on his hips proudly. “Pisacake.”

Looking away, Mugman squiggled a very big smile and he bit his lower lip trying to hold back laughter, while Cuphead raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Toriel glared strictly… but also clamped her mouth shut, trembling and fighting to hold back her laughter. “Mugman no!”

With one last snicker, Mugman gulped down his laughter and then rested his left hand on Cuphead’s right shoulder. “It’s piece of cake.” He giggled. “And hey! I’m the one who solved em!” He pointed his thumb at himself.

Cuphead snickered. “Bro, some of em we just had to push rocks.” He folded his arms.

“Oh yeah…” Mugman put the knuckle of his finger on his mouth in thought.

Toriel sighed. “I suppose… none of this would’ve happened if I was a lot more responsible… instead of making you wait for so long while I prepared this surprise…” She looked at the corner of her eyes in thought.

Cuphead and Mugman gasped. “Surprise?!” Their eyes glimmered in excitement.

“Wait let me guess…” Cuphead tapped his tinking chin three times. “Does the surprise have a bag of flour?” He raised an eyebrow and looked at Mugman.

“Butterscotch?” Mugman giggled and looked at Cuphead.

“AND Cinnamon?!” They both said in sync as they looked at Toriel. Without looking, they both bumped their closest fists at each other.

Smiling, sighing, and rolling her eyes, Toriel looked at the boys. "Why don’t you boys come inside and see for yourself… before any one of you begin to spoil it.” She chuckled.

Toriel stood up. “Come along children.” She turned around and walked towards the direction she came from behind the tree.

The boys watched her go, then they looked at each other smiling, but then Cuphead raised an eyebrow.

“Uhh, what did I say?” Cuphead held his hands on his hips.

Mugman cupped his right hand on his own mouth and leaned closer to Cuphead’s right imaginary ear to whisper. Cuphead’s eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped with a big smile on his face at what he understood. Tears started to form on Cuphead’s face and he started to wheeze in laughter, while Mugman just covered his big smile with his two hands and he looked back at Cuphead with teary eyes as well.

Still with the jaw of his big teary smile dropped, Cuphead pointed his finger at Mugman and he spoke in a wheezing voice. “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” He cackled.

Mugman wheezed a few laughs of his own. “No they ain’t bro! Even Toriel-!” He pointed his left thumb at the direction Toriel went… but then…

Cuphead and Mugman bit their lower lips as they tried to contain their big laughs within their bloated cheeks, realizing that even Toriel knew what they were talking about. They looked at each other, saw their goofy bloated faces, and finally unleashed their loudest laughter bottled up from their diaphragms all erupting to the ceiling. The laughter bounced and echoed across the halls making the laugh louder than it was supposed to be, and the boys didn’t care. They both buddy hugged, leaned on each other for support, and let their arms and legs fall like jelly as they cried in laughter; they looked like a goofy upside-down V of two idiots slumped together with three waterfalls of tears (two waterfalls from their closest eyes mixed into one) and two gaped-open mouths twice the size of their face and the equal force of their leans balanced each other that they were able to keep standing. During this laugh, a yellow star glowed between their cheeks.

They laughed and laughed even as their stomachs started to hurt, then they started to cough and then breathe in between laughter ‘til they could not laugh anymore and instead cough and cough while crying with tears. For a good few minutes this mix of coughing, breathing, panting, crying, and a few bits of laughing went on… until finally they both sighed with satisfaction and opened their eyes.

They both looked at each other with satisfied smiles, and then suddenly with closed eyes, Cuphead raised his right hand for a high-five.

“What?” Mugman raised an eyebrow.

“Yer not in trouble.” Cuphead opened his eyes and grinned with his sparkly smile. “Yer welcome.” He closed his eyes again, waiting for his high-five.

Mugman’s eyes widened in realization, and then he smirked with a mischievous idea. He high-fived Cuphead’s face, and the latter recoiled, widened his eyes, and gaped his mouth open in amused shock.

Mugman began bubbly giggling and started to run towards the direction Toriel went to, but Cuphead, as he fell forward due to Mugman leaving, caught Mugman’s head handle, yanked bubbly squealing Mugman back to him (which also helped pull himself to a stand) and he sandwiched Mugman between a noogie on his right cheek, and a cheek-to-cheek rub cuddle on the other.

“Who’s the best bro?” Cuphead teased.

“YOU! YOUUHUHUHAHA!” Mugman squealed as he kept laughing and struggling.

Cuphead giggled. “Nah.” He turned his noogie into a hug that had one arm each buddy hugging the other and the other hand holding the other’s hand. “You’re the best bro.”

“Awwww…” Mugman smiled warmly, closed his eyes, and folded his fingers on Cuphead’s backhand. With a deep breath, Mugman took his time to enjoy the hug… but then he snickered at an idea. “Well duh, I’m still the one who solved most of ‘em puzzles.” He opened one eye to Cuphead and pointed his thumb at himself.

Cuphead’s mouth gaped open. “Ohoho you wanna RUB it in?!” He began to give Mugman a noogie again as he said ‘RUB’, and the latter began laughing and squealing again. “You wanna RUB it in?!” He pressed his noogie even harder and then carried him with that noogie.

Mugman squealed in laughter and failed his arms around as he was carried. “CUPHEAD! PUT ME DOWN! PUT ME DOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Giggling, Cuphead continued to happily noogie hysterically laughing Mugman while he walked around the tree towards the direction Toriel went… but then Cuphead stopped to a standstill, and curious Mugman gently stopped laughing and opened his eyes.

A small rectangular castle-like house stood in front of them; It had a doorless castle doorway with large cubes of rocks lining the arch, crenels lining the borders of the roof, and two long red beds of leaves flanking the left and right of the doorway.

“Is that Toriel’s home?” Smiling Mugman looked at Cuphead as he pointed to the house.

“Oh wouldn’t YOU like to know!” Cuphead smirked and noogied Mugman a little faster while he walked to the entrance.

“HEY-! HAAHAHA!” Mugman tried to push Cuphead away.

“Wouldn’t YOU like to know!” Cuphead carried Mugman higher as he noogied him harder.

“STAHAHAHAHAP! CUPHEAHAHAHAHA!” Mugman tried to push himself away from Cuphead but he was being pushed back by the noogie on the other side of his face that pressed on him mildly painfully. “OW!”

Cuphead laughed. “That’s what happens when you fight the looove bro.” He said as he entered the castle doorway that had a wooden door being held open by patiently-waiting Toriel.

“NO!” Mugman continued to laugh while trying to get away from Cuphead. "I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THIS IS LO-...." But then…

As they passed through the door, Mugman began to sniff something sweet and buttery (and Cuphead watched curiously). Soon after, Cuphead was sniffing the air too. As they took a synchronized deep breath, there were two strings of brown buttery air that entered both their big nostrils. With their backs goofily bent backward (with their butts pointing up), they began floating in the air as they were sniffing and their floating bodies followed the scent trail.

Toriel giggled. “I am glad you loooove the surprise my children! Oh that reminds me!” She closed the front door, closed her eyes, turned towards Cuphead and Mugman, and then spread her hands. “SURPRISE!”

A few seconds of silence went on with no response.

Toriel opened her eyes, and they widened in shock as she saw they were not there. She ran to the hall to the left, where the dining room/living room was, and she saw Cuphead and Mugman floating side by side in the middle of the room; the room had a long rectangular table on the left with three chairs of varying sizes, a big brown sofa (one as big as Toriel), next to it a fireplace, a small two-foot tall bookshelf to the right of the fireplace, and a fireplace tool stand with four tools hanging in a circle (one tool resembled a shovel, one resembled a pike pole, and the other two were being shadowed by the aforementioned two at the front).

Dreamily sighing and sniffing, Cuphead and Mugman floated and followed the two strings of brown buttery scents which formed into two very thin gas hands that were flirtatiously rubbing the middle underside of their small and big noses respectively with their gaseous index fingers. The scent trail led to a hallway to the right… to a kitchen.

It had a light brown refrigerator on the leftmost, then a sink next to it, then a counter with a white chopping board, then the pie… Mmmm the pie.

The boys floated closer to the pie and as they were next to it, their sniffing sniffed faster. They opened their eyes, and they each made a big smile while their eyes reflected the image of the pie… but then, because they were conscious already, they fell down facedown to the floor. They pulled themselves up with the help of the counter ledge, stared at the pie with their butterscotch pie-shaped eyes and salivary tongues dangling and dripping from their mouths, and then licked one full clockwise round of their faces each like dogs. One more time, they sniffed the pie, and the brown buttery scent was then vacuumed into both their big nostrils.

With a big smile, Cuphead grabbed Mugman’s blue tennis ball of a nose with his right hand and pulled it off of his face with a ‘pop’, and Mugman was surprised.

“Nhey!” Mugman glared at Cuphead annoyed, his voice changed as if his nose was being pinched.

Cuphead pinch-pulled off his own tiny nose and then pinned it to Mugman’s face like it was a corkboard, while the latter reacted in surprise, but then smiled at the idea his brother was getting. Cuphead attached the big blue nose to his own face and Mugman giggled as he watched. In sync, they sniffed the pie once more, and the brown buttery scent was vacuumed to their nostrils.

“Ya know…” Mugman smirked; his voice turned squeaky and high-pitched, slightly like Cuphead’s, but he still had his signature low voice. “Ya could’ve asked before ya yanked my snoot off.”

“Aw come on pal!” Cuphead winked and gently elbowed Mugman’s closest elbow; his voice turned nasally and slightly lower-pitched, but he still had his evidently squeaky voice. “Ya were thinkin’ the same thing.”

Mugman giggled. “Ya thinkin’ what I’m thinkin?” He buddy hugged Cuphead while raising an eyebrow to him in suggestion.

“OHHH YEAH!” Cuphead firmly buddy hugged Mugman

They each reached out a free hand towards the pie.

“CHILDREN!” Toriel yelled from behind.

Toriel rushed in and gently caught Cuphead and Mugman’s reaching hands.

Toriel sighed in relief. “That was close! Better to wait for it to cool my chi…” Slowly, Her eyes grew shocked and confused.

Cuphead with a big blue nose and Mugman with a tiny red nose were looking back at her attentively as if there was nothing wrong.

“Oh my! What happened to your noses?!” Toriel backed off slowly a bit.

Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other and then gasped. “Ohhh!” They giggled, detached their noses, and put them back to their appropriate faces.

“We just did the old switcheroo!” Cuphead switched the positions of his pointed-up index fingers.

“More like a-!” Mugman snickered. “Switch-a-snoot!” He goofily booped his own nose.

Cuphead gasped and his eyes turned into stars. “EYY! OKAY WE’RE OFFICIALLY CALLING IT THAT!” He tightened his buddy hug that they clinked.

They shared a laugh together mixed with Cuphead's squeaky hiccups and Mugman's pig snorts.

Toriel continued to stare at them shocked and confused. Cuphead and Mugman looked at her and noticed.

“Oh! Before ya blow your wig…” Mugman raised his right index finger in explanation.

In sync, they grasped their head handles with their left hands, looked at each other with a smile, then nodded.

“Blow my...” Toriel glared at them offended and covered her ears. “THIS NOT A WI-!”

Suddenly they pulled their heads up 'popping' them from their necks.

“OH MY GOODNESS!” Toriel backed off, hands clinging to the walls.

Cuphead cackled and slapped his left knee. “That prank never gets old!”

They clinked their heads together happily like a drinking toast.

Mugman giggled. “We’re okay by the way. It’s just a thing me and my bro could do.” Mugman shrugged his shoulders as he smiled apologetically at Toriel.

“It’s great for stacking too!” Cuphead scooped up Mugman’s head with his own, causing the latter to squeal.

They laughed together as they enjoyed a moment of being stacked together.

Toriel was holding her chest as she panted, but then she let out a big exhale to relax and then smiled intrigued at what she had learned.

“Well… You certainly did surprise me.” Toriel chuckled nervously, but then covered her head and looked at the corner of her eyes. “I do not have a wig…” She said to herself saddened.

“No no!” Cuphead wiped his free right hand left and right as if he was erasing something. “’Blow your wig’ meaning ya… ya just… uhh, what does it mean?” He looked above him where Mugman’s stacked head was smirking back at him.

Mugman giggled. “Get excited.”

“Yeah, what he said.” Cuphead smiled in relaxation.

“He has bad comblahblahsion.” Mugman grinned cheekily while his body pointed its thumb to Cuphead.

“Gee!” Cuphead folded his arms and glared annoyed at Mugman. “You wanna announce that on the radio pal?”

Mugman cleared his throat, then stretched out his straw which turned into a gloved hand, and turned the mouth of Cuphead’s red-striped bendy straw towards him. “Stay tuned to Cuphead radio for more dum-dum comblahblahsion of my best friend.” He said in his radio announcer voice.

Smirking, Cuphead hit Mugman’s side head with his right palm, causing him to laugh bubbly. “Get outta here!”

Playfully and roughly, Cuphead lifted bubbly laughing Mugman’s head from his own and tried to shove him back onto Mugman’s neck, but then Mugman’s straw gloved hand gripped hard onto Cuphead’s bendy straw.

“REMEMBER ME FANS!” Squeaky and bubbly Mugman spoke to Cuphead’s straw like it was a mic that his bendy straw desperately clung to. “REMEMBER WHO TOLD YOU OF THE TRUTH ABOUT CUPHEAD!”

Cuphead giggled. “LET GO!” He tried to yank Mugman’s head away.

“NO!” Mugman giggled as he continued to cling to Cuphead’s bendy straw.

Toriel's gentle smile widened with her left side teeth showing as she watched snarky Cuphead try to pull Mugman off of his straw while teasing him, and Mugman kept squealing and laughing with such thrill while continuously talking about Cuphead being a dum dum, and then soon Cuphead challenges about how much of a dum dum Mugman is as well.

“They’re definitely not them… but…” Toriel’s smile closed and tears began to form in her eyes.

Finally, Mugman’s grip on Cuphead’s straw slipped through, and the former’s head was put back on his respective neck. Cuphead wrapped his arm around Mugman’s neck trapping the latter, grabbed the latter’s blue straw, and, like it was a mic, spoke through it repeatedly “Mugman is a dum dum! Mugman is a dum dum!” all while Mugman struggled and whined “Cuphead stop! Quit it already!”

“Children!” Toriel gently called.

Cuphead and Mugman looked at Toriel in a pose of Cuphead pausing from talking to Mugman’s straw and the latter pushing Cuphead’s face away to the point he was squishing his face.

“I have another surprise for you.” Toriel tilted her head to the right, raised her eyebrow, and smiled. “If you become best friends again that is.”

The boys both gasped and smiled at the same time. They let go of each other, and Cuphead held out his hand for a handshake.

“Let’s call it a dum-dum truce!” Cuphead said, closed eyes and smiling.

Mugman giggled. “Yeah!” He takes Cuphead’s hand. “Dum-dum truce!”

They shook their hands once… but then, with those same hands, they high-fived each other, then low-fived, high-fived their straw hands together, and then clinked their heads together.

“Bro!” They said as they winked at each other.

Cuphead and Mugman both shared a moment of laughter, and soon Toriel laughed along. She took both their hands, walked them out of the kitchen, then back to the main entrance hall, and then towards an unfamiliar long hallway where three doors about three-four feet apart stood on the left wall; the hallway in order was a light torch, the first room door, a tall flower vase with reeds, a side table with a small flower vase with a six-petalled red flower, and an empty long frame behind the red flower (Cuphead and Mugman could not see clearly what the rest of the hallway comprised of). They approached the first door on the left.

“Well… This is it!” Toriel said happily as they approached the first door on the left.

All three of them, Cuphead, Toriel, and Mugman, stood looking at the door.

“It’s a room for the both of you!” Toriel rubbed her hands on the front rims of their heads. “I hope you like it.”

Mugman and Cuphead gasped, looked at each other with smiles, and they both opened the door together (Mugman twisted the handle while Cuphead pushed the door).

The walls were painted cozy red, and the floors were lined with light brown planks with lots of perpendicular crosses. There was a large lamp on the left, a flower crayon drawing attached to the wall, a chest, a shelf full of shoes with some papers and an empty photo frame on top of the shelf, a wardrobe, a bed, two goat-shaped stuffed animals on the right of the bed, and an open chest full of toys down of the bed.

“Wwwowww…” Cuphead and Mugman said as they scanned the room, but then frowned at the bed which looked fit for only one.

Toriel gasped. “Oh my!” She covered her mouth and shook her head. “I’m terribly sorry, I only prepared a room for one!” She facepalmed herself and breathed through her teeth. “I’ll be right back, I’ll see if I can find another bed.”

Toriel rushed to the right along the long hallway, and Cuphead and Mugman smiled gratefully as they watched her go.

“So…” Cuphead placed his hands on his hips and smirked at Mugman. “Wanna call the truce off and wrestle? Winnah gets the beeed!” He sang a tune as he said 'beeed', held his hands up and wiggled his fingers at the ready.

Mugman squiggle-smiled in excitement and reflexively covered his side stomachs with his hands at what those wiggly fingers meant... but then shyly looked at the lower left corners of his eyes and began touching his index fingers together. “I-I was thinkin'…. I was thinkin' that we could…” He smiled sheepishly, looked at Cuphead, and raised his palms face-up. “Share it?”

“Share it?!” Cuphead snickered. “We’d hardly fit!” He raised an eyebrow and placed his hands on his hips.

Frowning, Mugman rubbed his left elbow and looked away shyly. “M-mmoow waisins tu mmmmdlllee.”

Cuphead blinked confused but then smirked. “Speak up bro.”

Mugman let out a big sigh. “You’d laugh…” Head-turned to his left, He looked at Cuphead by the upper right corners of his eyes.

“Yeah, so?” Cuphead raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. “I still wanna hear ya, don’t leave me hangin’.”

Head still left-turned, Mugman glared. “Now that’s just mean…”

“What?!” Cuphead stared shocked but then sighed as he dropped his arms. “Well... I can’t promise I won’t laugh…” He walked towards Mugman and held his shoulders. “But I’ll be honest.“

Mugman grunted and turned his eyes away towards the left. “I know, that’s why you’re the worst.”

“Aw come on! You’re my best pal!” Cuphead gave a big grin and raised his shoulders for a moment. “Whatever it is I’ll lend ear to ya… if I had one that is.” He giggled at his own pun.

Mugman smiled, turned his head to Cuphead, and then shyly rubbed his arm. “I said…” He looked at the lower left corner of his eyes. “…more reasons to… to cuddle?” He tilted his head to normal and grinned.

Cuphead glared in shocked confusion and let go of Mugman’s shoulders… and then his eyes turned bored and unamused.

Mugman’s smile grew forceful and bigger. “I-it’s a good ol’ manly brotherly cuddle o ‘course!” He chuckled nervously as he raised his shy and shivering left index finger in explanation. “Y-ya know… the brawlin’…” He gently punched the air twice. “The wrestlin’” He lunged his chest forward like he was doing a body slam. “The huggin’” He hugged and swayed himself twice. “And uhh Elder Kettle singin’ ‘til we’re snoozin’…” He looked at the ceiling with a dreamy smile… but then shook himself awake. “B-but I-I can do the singin’ ‘stead!” He looked at Cuphead… but was surprised to see he wasn’t there anymore.

Mugman looked to the right and saw Cuphead was already climbing up the bed.

As he watched, Mugman’s eyes became glossy and watery, and he closed his eyes as he sighed in disappointment. “I-it….”  He sniffed and wiped a tear. “I-it’s okay… y-you can take it, I-I’ll j-just…” He started walking toward the right.

“Hey! Where’re ya goin'?” Cuphead called out.

Mugman stopped, confused about why he was called, and then he turned to look at Cuphead.

Cuphead was sitting on the bed, smiling warmly and spreading his arms wide. “I thought ya said ya wanna cuddle?” He raised an eyebrow… But then he widened his eyes realizing what he said, and then cleared his throat loudly. “I MEAN-!” He cleared it again loudly. “Manly bro cuddle?” He warmly smiled and spread his arms again.

(Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IotSCSLOKnc)

From a devastated frown, Mugman slow-gasped ‘til his eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped surprised… and then… he slow-exhaled with a dreamy “Haaaaaaa…” accompanied with the happiest and purest open-mouth smile, knuckles squeezing his base (chin), and twinkling eyes of a wish coming true.

Cuphead blushed, surprised at how cute Mugman looked. He quickly shut his eyes and looked away “MUGS!” He sighed. “Oh brother…” He thought as he opened and rolled his eyes, and smiled on his hidden left lip. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Starting with a bubbly giggle, arms forward and open for a hug, Mugman jumped to the air, pedalled his legs as if they were windmills, laughed louder as he looked at Cuphead (who smiled and kept his arms open at the ready) and tackled him with a big bubbly laugh. Cuphead caught Mugman, and they giggled together as they crashed onto the soft cushy pillow on their heads.

Cuphead closed his eyes and sighed half-dreamily and half-wishful of something manlier. “You are such a baby bro.”

From his closed-eyes wish come true indulging the cuddle, Mugman’s eyes burst open. “BABY BRO?!” He glared confidently at Cuphead.

With one big battle grunt, Mugman rolled Cuphead over behind him, spun him to his back, and kicked his butt off the bed.

Upon landing his bum on the floor, Cuphead’s eyes widened in surprise at what just happened.

Meanwhile, Mugman was bubbly giggling, kicking off his shoes, and then digging his feet under the covers of the soft blanket until…

“HEY!” Cuphead sprung standing, glaring with his big villainous smile at Mugman who jolted bubbly screaming, and cowering while trying to sink his body as far as the bed can sink.

“NGGAAH!” Cuphead grabbed hold of Mugman’s body and tried to yank him out, but Mugman had his fingers and toes clawed to the sides of the bed that he was clinging to it with bubbly screaming and laughter.

“NOOOOHOHOHO!! NOOOOOHAHAHOHOHO!” Mugman screamed with tears splashing out of his eyes each time he was being pulled from the bed but it was failing.

“YA DON’T WANNA LET GO?!” As he yanked, Cuphead towered his face over Mugman’s squiggly smiling, shivering, and thrilled face.

“NOOOHOHOHOHO!” Mugman shook his head more intensely.

Cuphead let go of Mugman, raised his wiggly fingers high “YA DON’T WANNA LET GO?!” AND DARTED HIS FINGERS TO MUGMAN’S SIDE STOMACHS.

Bursting out in the loudest laughter and the loudest snorts, Mugman buckled his arms and legs and wiggled his body all over the bed trying to avoid the tickly wiggly fingers drabbling on his side stomachs. Cuphead giggled and moved his wiggly tickly fingers up to Mugman’s armpits, and back down to his side stomachs, and Mugman’s laughter loudened and softened depending on Cuphead's finger pressure. Cuphead kept wiggling his fingers, reveling at Mugman’s bubbly laughter with evil laughter of his own… until Mugman started to kick the air.

“AH! FOUL, YOU DON’T KICK ME IN THE FACE!” With that, Cuphead rolled up Mugman with the blanket he was under, and carried him above his head as if he was about to throw him.

“NOOOO!” Mugman said joyfully screaming, laughing, snorting, and wriggling to break free of his cocoon blanket. “NOOOHOHOHOHAHAHA!”

Cuphead threw Mugman down the bed and he bounced up to the wall, which then bounced back to Cuphead and he caught hysterically laughing Mugman with his hands like a ball (Mugman didn’t feel pain because the blanket cushioned the hits). He threw Mugman down to the bed again, and he bounced up to the wall and then bounced back to Cuphead who then caught Mugman on his chest, and then, on the floor behind him, body slammed him down like a wrestler, causing the room to shake. Mugman kept laughing hysterically while snorting and crying his bubbly heart out. Cuphead grabbed the blanket and pulled it sending Mugman spinning so fast like a top that it caused the latter’s laughter to spin as well like he was in a spinning ride. After like 10 super-fast spins, Mugman landed face down on the floor pounding and kicking the floor with his fists and feet while his eyes were spinning and he was still laughing.

Meanwhile, Cuphead got on the bed, kicked off his shoes, whipped the blanket in the air, and held his hands open as he let the blanket fall gently onto his body… and then suddenly Mugman playfully snarled like a monster with his ‘RAAAR!’ and tried to pounce on Cuphead, but Cuphead’s reflexes caught Mugman’s wrists before the latter’s fingers could touch him. They bubbly laughed as Cuphead struggled to keep the latter at bay while Mugman kept pressing his hands forward to get a hold of him.

“IIIII’M GONNA GET YA!” Mugman said playfully as he tried to push his hands towards Cuphead.

Cuphead giggled. “Huh? Whatcha say Mugsy?” He raised an eyebrow

“IIII’M GONNA GET YA!” Mugman said louder and pushed his hands harder, but Cuphead’s grip was too strong.

Cuphead giggled. “Oh? How are ya gonna get me?” He said as he drabbled his fingers teasingly onto Mugman’s hands he caught.

Mugman leaned back as far as he could, and then bumped his forehead onto Cuphead’s forehead with a loud clink and an "EGH!”.

Cuphead laughed out loud at the silly forehead clink. Mugman pushed his forehead and nose against Cuphead’s forehead and nose, and the latter pushed back as they play some sort of face forehead-nose push-o-war. They were squishing their noses against each other, pushing their foreheads so hard it hurt, and playfully growling their voices out…

“I’M GONNA GET YAAAAAAAAAA…….!!!!!!” Mugman kept yelling his battle cry on and on

“NO YOU’RE NAAAHAHAHAHAAAA……!!!!” Cuphead yelled his own battle cry on and on.

Their voices clashed and they kept yelling on and on and on as if it was a contest on whose voice would tire out first, all while Mugman kept pressing his hands forward while Cuphead kept holding them back, and they pressed their foreheads and noses together with all their strength… until Cuphead broke into laughter with harmless ticklish squeaky hiccups in between because of such fun he had, and it caused his grip on Mugman’s wrists to loosen.

Mugman laughed as well at the victory he won, feeling a bit ticklish as Cuphead’s nose was wiggling on his nose... and remembered how Elder Kettle used to wiggle his nose spout onto Mugman’s big baby nose years ago… but also because of Cuphead’s infectious laughter. His evil smile grew as he looked at Cuphead who was just laughing there wide-open for him to be tickled back… but then his evil eyes gently melted into

warm endearing ones.

Cuphead kept laughing and laughing, not caring about what was gonna happen anymore nor about his in-between squeaky hiccups that he found slightly annoying, he knew he had lost and was okay with it… but then he was hugged and clinked on his right face, and he gasped and stopped laughing in surprise. When Cuphead looked, it was closed-eyes Mugman smiling and snuggling on his face like he was his favorite teddy bear.

“Good night buddy.” Mugman gently said as he squeezed his hug a little.

Cuphead’s heart melted so much that he just smiled, but that smile smirked a bit, half-wishing he got some tickles as well. He one arm hugged Mugman closer to him, gently laid him to the right on the bed, and closed his eyes. “Good night pal.”

They both moved and wiggled their bodies ‘til they were both under the cover of their one blanket, and both within the tiny bed they were sleeping on, without breaking their hug. In sync, they took a deep breath each and sighed it out dreamily as they slept into their own dreams.

From outside the room, Toriel sighed. “I suppose I will just have to sleep on the couch for… a very long time.” She entered the open room and smiled. “Good news! I found an extra b-“

Mugman and Cuphead were peacefully snuggled in the tiny bed for one; Mugman was tightly hugging Cuphead, while the latter was one-arm buddy hugging him, but soon he hugged Mugman with his other arm as well, mimicking Mugman's teddy bear hug. Bubbles soon floated up from their heads as they entered into dreaming.

Toriel smiled warmly and chuckled to herself. She walked over to the lamp and switched it off with a ‘CLICK!’. Then, the sound of clockwork being winded up turned once... twice... thrice… frice (four times)… five times… then it paused… then played into a gentle music box melody.

Music Box Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyT-EqLNJ_M

Toriel walked back to the door… but stopped halfway to the center of the room. She smiled, letting her tears fall on her face… and after a moment’s thought, she turned to the boys.

She walked over to them, gazed at their gentle and pure sleeping smiles, then kissed Mugman’s forehead, and then kissed Cuphead’s.

Toriel stood there, watching them. “A second chance… thank you.”

She walked to the door, leaving Cuphead and Mugman to sleep with the music box melody.

To the boys, it was a sweet gentle melody… to Toriel… she smiled very wide, as it reminded her of…

“Home…” Toriel turned to the boys from the half-closed door (tears whipped from her eyes as she turned). “Welcome home… my children.”

With that, she closed the door, and the room was dark.

-End of Chapter 7-

Speaking of music, I forgot to add this in Chapter 4 “Not Feeling Up to It right now sorry”

Napstablook Music (Recommended: Play 2x Speed):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeJx04_47Lc

Will be pasting it on the chapter, but in case I do not, just play it as soon as the Napstablook fight starts.

This was absolutely heart-warming and fluffy to write, I couldn’t stop smiling every time I kept on fiddling and editing this chapter. I hope you love it as much as I do! I’m going to be posting my September plans this weekend. I’ll leave in fluffy heaven for now. Please enjoy this picture as I close the story.

[euphoriyoongi]

♥︎ So this is Love ♥︎ k.s.j

A Cinderella Story

Requested by: @baby-mochi123

♥︎ Summary:

As an orphan living with your late fathers disgrace of a wife and two step sisters, you’re hidden away from the world. That is, until the King gets inpatient for grandchildren, and invites all maidens to the royal ball.

♥︎ Genre: royalty au, Cinderella-themed, love at first sight, comedy

♥︎ Word count: 5.6k

♥︎ Warnings: none

m.list

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once upon a time in a far away land, there was tiny kingdom…

~

Ever since your father died, life has been rough.

You could barely remember the times you used to play in the grass fields with your mother, or the time you ripped the bottom of your dress as you fell.

Those memories were distant. Nearly gone. Your father remarried after your mother died, and the woman he married was more of a devil than anything. She would act all sweet to you when your father was around, but behind closed doors she disgraced and belittled you.

When your father passed away, she became more evil than before, which was hard to imagine. She was already so terrifying, but now it seemed as though she had something against you.

You were fully grown now, able to do everything for yourself. But yet, you were forced to like in a crammed attic of their home, while your two step sisters enjoyed lavish rooms and jewelry. It was unfair, but you made yourself worth living. With all of the chores and the dust and dirt you'd have to clean up every day, you still had your pride.

You lived in solidarity up and away from the vicious people you could never call family, and the only friends you could call your own were the rats that populated the walls.

The terribly loud clock broke you away from your slumber and bells began to ding, signaling it was time to make breakfast. They forced to go serve them as they lay in bed, and all you wanted was to be able to eat what you made. There would only ever be enough for the three of them and their cat—which was fittingly named Lucifer—and never any for you. That was probably why you were so thin.

"Y/n!!" Your stepmother's voice bellowed through the walls continuously, hailing you to begin her breakfast. She always yelled like she was going to starve if you didn't get it to her in time which wasn't true. She was bigger-boned and had plenty of meat on her bones, and always concealed it with a super tight corset that she would claim her real waist.

"Y/n?! Where's breakfast?" Your step sister screeched at you from her bedroom as you walked by. You ignored her and continued to walk to the kitchen. "Hey! Don't ignore me! Mother, Y/N is ignoring me again!"

You continued to walk to the kitchen and once you got there you began to prepare breakfast. You scrambled up the food and poured tea, and then placed it on 3 plates to bring to them.

As you brought them all their breakfast, your stepmother beckoned you to come into her room. Before you entered, your two ugly step sisters blocked the door. "You're gonna get it bad, Y/N."

You brushed them off again and made your way through the double doors or your stepmother's room, the cat following you in.

The cat glided it's way through the dark room and jumped onto the large bed, curling up into the arms of a dark looking figure. She didn't speak.

"Stepmother—"

"Shut it." She hissed as she pet her cat, who was as dark as the room. His eyes were the only visible part of him. "Seems like you have a lot of time on your hands. Let's put it to good use."

You stayed silent and listened to what she had to say. You knew it was going to be chores, and you just wished you could have some alone time to yourself.

"You have full chore duty today. That includes folding the laundry, washing dishes, scrubbing to floors, sewing your step sisters' dresses and oh—don't forget the garden."

You sighed. "Yes Step-mother."

You had no way out of it. It was all you could do to respect your father.

You could've swore you saw the cat smirk. "Oh yes, one more thing. Don't forget to bathe the cat."

Over the hill was the large grandeur of a palace, where the king and his son lived.

The king was getting impatient, wondering when his son would give him grandchildren. He wasn't getting any younger, and wished to see children before he passed.

Kim Seokjin, the only prince of the kingdom, hasn't even had the thought of settling down yet. He wasn't as young as he used to be, but he thought no one could be his match. The prince was away on business, but was coming home tonight.

His father decided to send out invitations to every eligible maiden in the kingdom to a royal ball, hoping at least one of them will catch his eye.

So it wouldn't seem suspicious, he figured he could plan this ball for his return, and have all the women there for him.

Tonight was the night he planned for the ball. He then sent out all the invitations, hoping for the best.

As you were scrubbing the floor, a thin piece of paper slid through the mail slot on the door and landed right at your feet. You picked it up and didn't bother reading it, you weren't the best at reading anyway. You did notice it was from the palace.

Your step family was upstairs as they were practicing their music skills and you walked up the stairs to interrupt.

You knocked softly, but your step mother screamed as you entered. "Y/n! What did I say about interrupting—"

"This just came from the palace!" You excitedly murmured, and held your hand out for your step mother to grab it.

"There's to be a ball...every eligible maiden is to attend!" She cried out and looked to her daughter's who were jumping up and down.

"We're both eligible!!" They screamed simultaneously, happily shaking the floorboards.

Your eyes lit up when you heard what she said. "That means I can go, too!" You said, covering your mouth with your hand in excitement.

One of your step sisters snickered. "Yeah, right! Her dancing with our prince! That's impossible.

"Greetings your highness, would you mind holding my broom." The other sister giggled as she mocked you.

After their laughs ended, you spoke up again. "Well, why not? I am part of the family. And it says by royal command..."

The sisters looked at each other and then at their mom. "Well...I can't see why you couldn't go..." she stared down at the piece of paper. "If you get all your work done and find something suitable to wear.."

"Yes step mother I sure will!" You smiled as you made your way out. "Thank you."

You ran as fast as you could up the steps to plan your outfit, knowing you have your mothers old dress locked away in a chest.

You noticed it was a bit outdated, so you looked through your sewing book to see any changes you could make to it.

Just as you finally thought you reached happiness it faded away just as quickly as it happened. You were beckoned again to start your chores and now you wouldn't have nearly enough time to sew the dress.

As you worked your ass off to clean and get things done, time flew. You thought you didn't have a change at going to the ball now, especially when you heard the carriage reach the chateau. You sighed. As if your day couldn't get any worse. Your step mother opened her door when she heard you walk by. "Y/nN my dear, why aren't you dressed?"

Your two step sisters peaked out of the doorframe, awaiting your answer. "Ah, I'm not going."

They all smirked, but tried to cover it. "That's too bad. Maybe next time." She cooed and shut the door to get her daughters ready.

You made your way back up to your humble living space, and your shoulders were hunched as you walked up the stairs. You really thought you had a chance for yourself this time. You hated being someone's maid, and you wished things would be different. You had hoped this was the chance to break out of your shell and this house and follow your dreams. Dreams of meeting your one and only true love.

As you entered your room you peered out the window, staining at the tree branches that blocked the moonlight. You sighed, deep in thought.

A sudden creek came from your closet, and the door began to open slowly. You nearly screeched when you saw a dozen rats run out of it, but when your eyes landed on the gorgeous dress that was hung up, you glanced at the little rodents.

"How the hell did you do that? Was that some kind of sorcery?" You stared at the dress with wide eyes, trying to figure out how tiny rats were able to stitch and sew. Maybe you were going crazy. "Thank you..I guess." You said sincerely, but still couldn't wrap your mind around it all.

You rushed to get ready and tossed on all your accessories, including a beautiful jade necklace that sat on the corner of your desk. You were unsure about how it got there, but figured it was the rats with superpowers and carried on with your plans.

You rushed down the stairs as you noticed that they were about to open the door to leave. "Wait for me!" You yelled as you ran, hoping they wouldn't give you any trouble. "I'm ready."

"Mother you can't let her go! It's not fair!" The ugliest sister growled as she tossed her hands in the air.

The other sister huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is disgraceful!"

"Now girls...a promise is a promise." Your step mother smirked as she neared you, reaching a hand out to cradle your jade necklace. "Isn't this beautiful, what do you think—"

"No it's ugly—wait! That's my necklace! She stole it!" She hissed reaching out towards it. "Gimme that!" As she grabbed onto it she yanked it, and the necklace broke, sending all the beads to dance across the floor.

You gasped as that happened, and the other sister barely gave you enough time to get a grip when she began to tear your dress from bottom to top. They both  aggressively tried to tear it apart, not a care in the world about how you felt about it. It was your mothers dress after all, and now all that's left is the torn fabric that fell from your shoulder.

"Girls, girls. Let's not be too hasty. I don't want you upsetting yourselves." Your stepmother softly spoke, side-eying you as if she didn't see the whole debacle. "Let's go, we'll be late." She said, leaving you all alone in the large empty house, torn to pieces.

You couldn't help but start to cry. You tried your best to be able to go, even trusted rats to fix up your dress. But now your dress was ruined and you were crying, subconsciously finding yourself in the garden under your favorite willow tree.

"It's just no use at all.." you cried out as you laid your head down onto the bench, kneeling. "There's nothing left to believe in anymore."

You let your tears fall, completely oblivious to the bench that somehow turned into the lap of a man. His hand softly stroke your head, listening to you cry.

"Nothing? You don't really mean that, right?" His soothing voice spoke out, and you'd think it would've broke you out of your funk, but it didn't. You still sat there with your head in his lap and cried.

"Yeah, I do mean that—"

"No you don't, or I wouldn't be here." He shrugged and you finally realized something wasn't normal. You sat yourself back and gasped at the boy in front of you. He had dazzling blue hair and eyes to match, with a beautiful pink gown on. He looked very feminine and approachable. Sparkles danced around his figure and he held something that looked like a wand in his right hand.

"Wha—" you rubbed your eyes, trying to understand was was in front of you. First it was artsy rats, now...a fairy?!

He reached around your arms and slowly lifted you up. "Okay, you definitely can't go to the ball looking like...that." He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "We have to hurry."

He glanced around, almost as if he was trying to find something. "Now what did I do with that damn wand, I swear I lose it every time.."

Your eyes widened. "Wand? Then you must be—"

"Your fairy godfather—god that's so strange to say. How bout your god-daddy" he shook his head as he covered his mouth. "Wait no that sounds to provocative. Just call me Jimin." He smiled, and then continued to look for his wand.

You glanced at his right hand, which held a long stick-like thing. "Uh...is that it? In your hand?"

"Now who do you take me for? Im not that dumb I—wait, you're right. I guess I am that dumb." He scratched his head in embarrassment and shook it off. "Okay. I say the first thing you need is a pumpkin."

"A..pumpkin?" You questioned, glancing over at the pumpkin patch that was part of the garden.

"Yes. Now what we're the magic words?" He wondered out loud, scratching his chin. "Ah! Bippity boppity boo bitch!"

And just as ridiculous as the magic words were, a grand carriage blossomed from the pumpkin. You were at a loss for words as you glanced from the carriage to Jimin, shaking your head in astonishment. "How'd  you do that?"

He smiled. "Magic, I guess." He said not too confidently, looking from you to the little rats around your feet. "Now you need horses."

You looked down and the rats and giggled. You could've sworn you were in a fever dream right now. How was all of this possible?

With the flick of his wrist, Jimin turned the cute little rats into large white horses, standing high and mighty as they were ready to pull the carriage.

You didn't even take notice to an actual horse that stood next to Jimin, patiently waiting to have his turn with magic. "Now you need a coachman.." he muttered and waved his wand at the horse, transforming it into a human man. He sat at the reins of the horses, ready to go.

"Okay what the hell is going on here?" You blinked frantically as you tried to understand what was happening in front of you. How could such a gorgeous man be a fairy, and how could said gorgeous man turn a horse into a person?

Maybe you were high or something.

"Aha. Now, it's your turn." He turned to you with his wand and winked. He looked you up and down and bit his lip, then looked into your eyes. "You're super hot and all, but that dress is a no no."

He waved his wand up to the sky and did a little twirl, and you couldn't help but chuckle at how ridiculous he looked. But all of a sudden a large wave of sparkles encased your body, spiraling around you with high speed. You looked down in confusion, then when it all stopped, what was left was a beautiful silvery-blue dress that sparkled as much as the stars.

"Woah..." you breathed, spinning around in it. It was absolutely stunning, you didn't even want to question how he did it. He then fixed up your hair and makeup, and last but not least, your shoes.

You had a weird shoe size. It was a bit too small for your body, so most of the time it was hard to find ones that fit. So when Jimin magically put sparkling glass heels onto you, you gasped in disbelief.

They sparkled even more than the dress, but all in all you sparkled more than the night sky. "This is like a dream.." you murmured in awe.

"Okay, I'm done." He chuckled, crossing his hands across his chest. "Just one more thing."

"What is it?" You asked him, on edge to go to the palace.

"This is all a façade, okay? Just like all dreams, it won't last forever." He looked into your eyes. "It won't last after midnight. Everything will go back to how it was before."

You nodded. At least that gave you enough time to try to meet the prince. "Okay. I'll be out of the palace before that."

He nodded, then gasped and it nearly scared you. "Okay, you gotta go or you'll be late."

He shooed you into the carriage and as you sat down, the horses that were once rats took off, leaving Jimin in the dust. When you looked back you noticed his little wave, then all of a sudden he disappeared into thin air, making this whole situation even weirder.

When you approached the castle, you noticed how grand it was. With it standing so tall it looked like it hit the clouds, and the beautiful stones that held it all together. This was a dream in life itself that sadly had to end, but you were going to make the most of it.

Currently inside the palace, the king organized all of the women to be introduced to the prince one by one. But everytime a promising woman would walk up, it was almost as if he would yawn at the sight of them.

The prince stood tall in the great hall, barely giving any women a second glance. He didn't want any of them, and just wanted to find someone himself. His father and the arch duke sat up high on the balcony, looking down on the scene. Seokjin looked up, noticing how aggravated his father looked.

You approached the grand steps to enter the ballroom, the sides lined with guards. You looked over at them when you noticed they were looking at you, and continued your walk up a hundred red-velvet covered stairs.

Your step sisters were currently being introduced, you took notice to that as you walked into the room. The far side wall was open, leaving only the beautiful night sky to be viewed. What you didn't take notice of was that the prince stopped in his tracks and was standing at you wide eyed.

Seokjin couldn't help himself. The two girls that were in front of him were such a bore. When he bowed respectfully to them and straightened up he noticed you, where you were directly in his line of vision with the dark sky surrounding you, making it seem like you were sparkling.

He had to meet you. The way you spun around to music that wasn't even being played or the way he just glanced at you once and could've sworn he fell in love, he knew he had to at least know your name.

He pushed past the two sisters and stepped toward you, determined to make you his bride.

He reached out a hand towards your shoulder. "Hello, miss?" Jin said politely, his dark hair pushed up to reveal his forehead. "How come I don't know who you are?"

His father took notice to his interest, and hurriedly signaled the band to play the waltz.

When the music ran through the room, you didn't even have time to answer him. He was breathtakingly beautiful, almost like a prince. Little did you know that he was one.

"Would you like to dance with me?" He asked you and held onto you hand, raising it to kiss the back of it.

You shivered in delight, knowing you fell for him at first sight. It seemed like he did, too. So much for marrying a prince, you didn't care who this guy was at this moment. "I'd love to."

He held your hand as you both made your way to the center of the ballroom, watching all of the women cry in disbelief.

He slid his hands down to your waist and you held your hands onto his shoulders. You moved in sync, your lips just a few inches away from his. His eyes were stunningly dark and mysterious with hair to match. His lips were plump, almost pillow-like and you wondered how they would feel against yours.

You couldn't get enough of him, you were lost in him. In his touch, in his eyes, in his heart. He was also captivated by you and had no doubt you were the one out of all these women.

"Who is she, mother? I've never seen her before." The step sister asked as she tried to get a good look of you from the crowd.

"We'll Ive never—wait a minute...something is familiar about her." Your stepmother wondered, but before she could get a good look, they moved their way out onto the terrace, now all alone without anyone watching.

After the dance was over he held you in his arms, brushing a stray strand away from your face. He smiled at you when he noticed your blush.

He grabbed your hand, holding onto it tightly as he took you into the garden, both of you in bliss.

You both sat down on the edge of a large fountain, not taking notice to the clock behind it. It was nearing midnight, but you were so lost in his charm that you didn't even pay attention.

He sat next you you closely, and looked from your eyes to your lips. "You're beautiful. I hope you know that." He said to you as he leaned in farther. "So, so beautiful."

His lips grazed yours softly, but before it could turn into a kiss, the clock struck twelve behind you, bellowing a loud noise. You whipped your head around and noticed the time. "Oh my god!"

You stood up abruptly, and his hand that was on your thigh flew up as you stood. "What's wrong?" He wondered with worry, noticing how frantic you were.

"It's midnight!" You cried, holding onto your dress like it was going to disappear.

"Yeah..so.." he trailed off, hoping that this night would go farther.

You shook your head and turned to leave. "I have to go." You said sadly, but his hand grabbed yours before you could run off.

"You can't leave now—"

"I have to!" You said as you looked frantically back and forth, hoping nothing would disappear right now.

"But why?" He asked softly. He didn't want you to leave. He had so much more he wanted to say to you, he didn't even know your name.

You had to make up an excuse. "I—uh...the prince! I haven't met the prince yet!" You said and nodded. "Yeah, that's right."

"The..prince?" He asked. Didn't she know it was him? "But didn't you know that I—"

The clock bellowed again, sending you hurriedly looking for the way out. "Goodbye!" You said and bowed, and ran off back into the palace to find your way down those beautiful velvet steps.

"Wait! I don't even know your..." he trailed off as he ran after you. "Name.."

Before he could catch you, all the women blocked his leave and surrounded him, all blabbing something he wasn't paying attention to. All he saw was the beautiful girl he fell in love with run down the stairs, only leaving a glass heel behind.

You ran out of the palace and jumped into your carriage which was thankfully still intact. It rode off and it started to slowly change.

The carriage began to soften like how it was before and transitioned into a large pumpkin, and the horses morphed back into the small rats they once were. Everything was a blur and all of a sudden you fell to the ground with a thud, picking yourself up and scurried with the animals to hide in the forest as the palace guards ran straight, smashing the pumpkin that was once a carriage.

It was quiet now, you stared down at your tattered dress. The cute little rats stood by your feet, trying to get you to notice that you still had one glass slipper. It didn't disappear with the rest of it.

That was all you had left of that night, and you went back home holding it tightly, dreaming about the man you nearly kissed.

The next morning the prince paced back and forth in his room, trying to figure out a way to find her.

Seokjin was never like this. He was always calm and collected, but something ticked in his mind when he met you. He needed to find a way to get you back into his arms. He didn't even get to kiss you.

He held the heel you left behind in his hand and came up with a great idea. He needed to have this heel reach every maiden's household to see if it fit. The problem is, it could fit any number of the girls. He’d just have to wish for the best. His father would never let him out of the palace to do it himself though.

The grand duke was willing. After figuring out the plans, the duke took off to find the girl of the prince's dreams.

“Y/N!” Your stepmother cried out angrily. “Where are you?” She paced up the stairs but stopped as soon as she heard you.

“I’m right here.” She spoke out as you exited one of the rooms downstairs. She always seemed to rush you even if you were doing a great job.

“Where are the girls?” The looked anywhere but you as she asked this, only ever worrying about her own daughters.

You set down the broom you had in your hand and sighed. “They’re still sleeping.”

She rushed up the steps in anxiousness and you wondered what was the matter. You walked into the kitchen and grabbed the tea for them quickly and ran upstairs, only to overhear their conversation.

“What’s wrong, mother?” Both the sisters were in the same room, both tired and yawning up a storm.

“He’ll be here any minute!” She rushed, pulling back the curtains to bring light inside the room.

“Who?” They asked simultaneously with a yawn.

“The grand duke. He’s been hunting all night.” She rooted through her daughter’s wardrobe. “For that girl! The one that lost her slipper at the ball last night. Apparently he’s madly in love with her.”

“The duke?” One of them asked, only to be interrupted loudly.

You walked into the doorway at this moment, looking back and forth at the sisters and your stepmother.

“No, the prince!”

You stopped in your tracks. So that man you met—the man you nearly kissed—was the prince?

You gasped. “The prince?” The glass teapot that was in your hands slipped through your fingers, sending shards all over the floor.

“You clumsy fool! Clean that up!”

You couldn’t even pay attention or acknowledge the fact that you were spoken to. The only thing you did was slowly fall to the floor and clean it it without paying close attention. You couldn’t believe it. You…met the prince?

“Why are you telling us this then? If he’s so in love with that other girl?”

Your stepmother side glanced you and continued to root through the wardrobe. “Because not even the prince knows who she is. The glass slipper is the only clue. So one of you must fit into it.”

You glanced up as you cleaned the mess, listening intently to what was going on. “The grand duke was ordered to try it on every maiden in the kingdom. If the shoe fits, that girl will be the prince’s bride by order of the king!”

“Bride?” You whispered in shock, still unable to wrap this around your head.

As the sisters clashed together in search for clothing you saw yourself out, blissfully dancing to the door to your room.

Your stepmother watched you as you swayed, and she narrowed her eyes. Something was certainly fishy about you, and she didn’t have the time to let you become someone better than her daughters. She sneaked up the stairs and peaked through the door, watching you as you sang lovingly in the mirror.

You coughed of glimpse of her in the corner of your eye and turned around, only to see her slide the key into her pocket and lock the door, slamming it.

“No no no!” You cried out, running to the door. “You can’t leave me in here!” You banged on it with your fists as hard as you can, only to hear her footsteps slowly disappear.

You set your back against the door and slid down to the floor. How were you supposed to meet the prince now? How would he ever find you?

You lost all your hope. When you heard the trumpets sound that the duke was here, your heart dropped to your stomach. You let a few tears fall, upset that no one here would even care enough about you. It spoke a thousand words when your step mother locked the door on you, not caring if you needed anything, or to be happy for you if it was your slipper.

The duke came into the house and glanced down at the two sisters who definitely weren’t the prince’s cup of tea. He still had to do his job anyway. He read out the decree and told the older sister to sit down first to try it on. When the glass slipper seemed like it fit like a glove he stood back in awe, that is, until she lifted her foot up and it was only covering half of it.

Meanwhile, the magic rats were up to something. The smallest one was able to gently slide into your stepmother’s pocket. The others stood by and were able to reach it when the small rat lifted it up. They hurriedly rushed the key up the stairs, but it was a bit heavy for them. This was going to take a while.

The duke sighed and shook his head. “Let’s try the next young lady.”

The next sister tried to forcibly squeeze her way into it. She kept complaining that her foot was just swollen today and kept trying. The duke sat there with a frown, knowing that it wasn’t either of these girls. “Are you sure there isn’t another maiden in this household?” He asked you stepmother, grabbing onto the heel and keeping it safe.

The rats were tired, but were able to reach the top of the steps. Now it was time for you to shine.

“No, there’s no one else here—“

“Your grace! Wait!” You cried and rushed down the grand steps of the chateau. “May I try it on?”

The duke’s eyes widened as he took notice to your appearance and smiled. He signaled his servant forward as you reached the bottom of the stairwell.

Your stepmother rolled her eyes. “Don’t pay attention to her.”

“She’s just y/n! A nobody!”

“Madam.” He stood sternly next to your stepmother. “My orders were every maiden. Now if you would excuse me.”

He motioned you to sit down in the chair and beckoned his servant to bring the glass slipper towards you. As he came closer, your stepmother stuck her foot out, only to come to the servant tripping, which sent the glass slipper flying through the air until it smashed right before your feet.

You weren’t too worried about it—since you had the other slipper—but the duke nearly cried and he tried to piece it together. “No no no, this is terrible!” He cried out. “What could we do?”

You smiled at him and then glanced to your stepmother, who was smirking. You always new she was no good for you. But now you were done. “Perhaps..if it would help?” You slid the other slipper out from behind you. “The other slipper?”

He gasped and grabbed ahold of it excitedly. He reached down to slide it onto your foot, and when it fit, he breathed a sigh of relief. The prince could finally be happy.

~

Bells chimed and people cried out as you rushed down the stairs of the palace in your grand wedding Dress, holding onto Seokjin’s hand tightly with a smile. This was a dream come true. A fairy tale. Everything worked out for you at the end of it.

Here you were in the back of a carriage taking you both somewhere for alone time, but you couldn’t help but blush as his hands cradled your face. “I’m so glad I found you, y/n.”

You stared lovingly into his eyes, glancing down at his lips slightly. “I’m so glad you wanted to find me, Seokjin.”

He stared at you like no one has ever before. He looked at you with such intent it nearly made you melt. His eyes glanced from your eyes to your lips and once again he leaned it for a kiss, this time actually happening.

His lips softly touched yours, slowly moving into you as his hands cradled your face like you were glass. You wrapped your arms around his neck to deepen this kiss, so in love with each other.

All this struggle, and now here you were in each others arms, happily in love and wishing it would never end.

And they lived happily ever after.

[mimik-u]

Togetherness

Summary: The aftermath of Steven transforming into a huge reptilian monster brings back old memories for Pearl, who remembers another time Steven was scared so many years ago.

A/N: This piece was written for the Pearl-focused I am a Pearl! mini-zine a couple of months ago! It was a great opportunity to get to explore Pearl's mind space after the events of "I am My Monster" and how her friendship with Greg has evolved over the years. ;w; Thanks to the mods for a great zine experience! <3

AO3 Link / Zine Tumblr Link / @iamapearlzine

—

Steven is sixteen years old when he erupts into a scaly, pink monster—fifty-foot tall and inconsolable.

Everyone tells him that they love him, but because words are rarely ever enough, they show him that they do; they embrace him; they hold him; they press their fingertips into his reptilian skin. His scales are cold and sharp against Pearl’s palms, keratin hard and impenetrable. She tells him that he shouldn’t have to keep anything from her, all the while burning with shame that he’s kept so much from her.

He’s felt responsible for her fragility and loved her enough to tiptoe around the Diamond in the room.

His mother.

His mother and the complicated history between them.

The love.

The torture.

The grief.

The love.

(Because what is grief after all but a manifestation of love? A reminder, its echo, and its painful, lingering, lovely ghost.)

Connie kisses Steven, very lightly, very softly, and he falls from the sky, a boy again. 

Pearl wraps him in a blanket.

Garnet carries him into the wreckage of their home.

And approximately one hour later, they’re all standing on the deck, waiting for Priyanka Maheswaran to finish her professional assessment of him as the sun sinks into a honey-colored sea.

Pearl cradles her face in her hands, elbows sinking into the railing, trying to retrace every missed sign in the blackness of her own head. She sees his skin glowing pink in the darkness—at the Reef, in Little Homeworld, just moments ago in the living room…

So many flares in the night.

And Pearl had watched them all fizzle.

—

Steven is six years old when he moves into the newly minted beach house, and he tells Greg that he’s afraid of the silence. Nearly all of his life, he’s been surrounded by noise—the gentle rumble of the van’s motor, the susurrant murmur of the sea, wind, rain, buskers playing guitars on the Boardwalk, the whoosh of the rollercoasters at Funland. 

His dad’s snores echoing off the tin ceiling.

His dad’s laughter.

His softly-sung lullabies, too.

The beach house is really quiet at night, Steven tells Greg who tells the Gems, and he doesn’t like that…

He’s trying really hard to like it, though.

Maybe things’ll get better next week.

Pearl never looks at Greg as he delivers this news, tapping her fingers against the side of her leg as she sits at the kitchen table, ankles primly crossed. He stands in the doorway—right beneath Rose’s painted image—wringing his hands and looking too awkward to be allowed. She resents him for this—for his awkwardness, for his intrusion into their lives, and for everything else, too. 

(Namely for Rose.)

She inwardly knows that she’s being unfair. 

That loathing a person on the basis of his existence is morally suspect.

Wrong.

But what are rightness and wrongness to emotions? To the sheer primality of grief?

Grief is irrational, she rationalizes to herself—she self-justifies; it knows nothing of ethicality.

“Why didn’t Steman tell us this?” Amethyst asks, absently scratching her nose. “If it’s noise he wants, I got an old drum set he can knock himself out on.”

Pearl frowns, well-remembering the ten straight years Amethyst played the drums through the nineties. Rose loved it; Pearl spent many hours alone in her room to decompress. 

“He’s still intimidated by you three,” Greg shrugs kindly. “And shy. You just have to give him reason enough to trust ya with stuff like this. Tucking him in at bed at night, y’know. Checking under the bed for monsters.”

“There aren’t monsters under his bed,” Garnet says, practical as ever. “They wouldn’t fit.”

Greg chuckles, running a flat hand across the back of his neck as he peers between the three gems. When he and Pearl lock eyes, she meets his stare coldly, her mouth pressed into a thin line.

“But Steven doesn’t know that,” he mumbles, glancing away, his cheeks flushing. “You gotta shine a flashlight down there and show him there’s nothing there.”

“Doesn’t that seem patronizing to you?” Pearl asks, taking little care to disguise the condescension in her voice. Across the room, Garnet’s visored stare finds her—blank, inscrutable, and arcane—but Pearl knows her fellow gem well enough to understand that this is chastisement, silent and brutal.

Arching a thin brow, she ignores Garnet.

She demands an answer from Greg.

“Maybe,” the man concedes, but when he acknowledges her gaze again, there’s a little defiance in his eyes, an edge in his scratchy voice. “But maybe not. That’s what being a parent is sometimes. Patronizing the kid! Playing along. Showing him that you’re listening to what he needs. Letting him know that you’re there… haven’t you ever been afraid before, Pearl?”

“No,” she protests immediately, bristling.

“Pssh,” Amethyst snorts. “Last week, you jumped ten feet in the air ‘cuz you saw a snake.”

“You did,” Garnet smiles wryly. “I was there.”

Pearl scoffs, trying and failing to ignore that her cheeks are suffused with blue blush…

… and that Greg is staring at her with an almost distinguishable emotion in his eyes.

If she didn’t know better, she would say it was pity.

—

Dr. Maheswaran tells them that Steven is okay; he’s tired and sore—transforming expended a lot of his energy—but he’s ready to see everyone now. She tells them to be quiet and to maybe go in one by one, so he doesn’t get too overwhelmed.

Firmly, she warns them that it’ll take more than a good night’s sleep for him to heal .

And she doesn’t mean physically.

“Here’s a number of a good therapist I know,” she says, placing a card in Pearl’s hand. “Her office opens at nine.”

Pearl folds her fingertips over the edges of the glossy card stock but doesn’t quite glance down to look at the name—too fixated on watching Greg stand in front of the doorway, palming the screen door as he seemingly steels himself to go in. 

He’s aged so much in the twenty-something years that Pearl has known him—from his nearly bald head to the branching lines creasing the corners of his eyes—but for some reason, it is only now, in this ephemeral moment, that she realizes how old he is.

She doesn’t mean physically either.

As the others gather around Dr. Maheswaran, asking her questions, voicing their concerns, Pearl takes one deliberate step and then another.

—

Garnet tells Steven that it’s okay—there are no monsters under the bed—and when she shines a flashlight beneath the mattress, Amethyst is there, shapeshifted into a tiny kitten, purring at the child sweetly.

“See, dude?” She laughs, bounding out from beneath the bed. In an instant of blurred matter and color, she becomes herself again, her bangs sweeping inelegantly over her eye. “No monsters under the bed, only cute kittens.”

“Only kittens?” He repeats, grinning that famous gap-toothed smile that everyone adores. His legs are nearly swallowed by his oversized shirt.

“Kittens and dust bunnies,” Amethyst confirms, knuckling his curls playfully and smiling broadly when he laughs. “G’night, Steman.”

“Night, Amethyst!”

“Goodnight, Steven,” Garnet murmurs, lifting the six-year old into her arms and gently placing him onto the bed. She tucks him beneath the covers. She tenderly kisses him on the head.

“Nighty night, Garnet.”

And then it’s Pearl’s turn. Garnet and Amethyst head towards their temple rooms, and Pearl settles down on the edge of the comforter, balancing her left ankle on top of her right knee.

“Don’t forget about M.C. Bear Bear!” She teases softly, reaching over and placing the stuffed animal next to Steven’s arm. “He needs a snuggle buddy.”

Steven nods in agreement, his brow furrowed seriously over his eyes.

“Yep,” he says importantly. “I’ll be sure to hug him tight.”

“Excellent,” she says primly.

“Excellent,” he echoes playfully.

She lightly skims her knuckles across his soft cheek, smiling when he giggles a little, always ticklish…

… but then, when she withdraws her hand, letting it fall away from his face, the moment that immediately follows is quiet.

Too much so.

So quiet that Pearl can hear the softness of Steven’s breath, quiet enough that Greg’s words from earlier haunt her in the absence of noise.

Haven’t you ever been afraid before, Pearl?

Contrary to what Garnet and Amethyst may believe, she isn’t afraid of snakes —pestilent creatures though they are.

She’s surprised by snakes.

And afraid of much bigger things—five-thousand-year old secrets and equally ancient insecurities, for instance.

Six thousand years ago, after all, she was coded to believe that her highest order in life was to be a slave.

And sometimes—if only sometimes—she fears that her weaknesses were ingrained then, in the very moment she emerged from a shell and was called a pearl

One of so many.

Disposable.

Programmable.

Objectified.

Sometimes, she barely knows what it means to be herself, much less what it means to be a parent .

Indeed, Greg Universe of all people seems to have the idea down better than she ever could.

So, yes, Greg, she is afraid.

(Afraid of failing Steven.)

(Terrified that she’s already failed her. )

Patronize him, Greg suggested.

Play with him.

Show him that you’re listening.

Let him know that you’re there.

—

“Greg?”

Pearl places a light hand on Greg’s arm, startling him from his trance as he turns around to face her.

“Pearl!” He exhales, his breath coming in short bursts. “Y’scared me!”

“I’m sorry,” she says sincerely, not quite moving her hand away yet. His skin is warm beneath her fingertips, soft like wave-washed sand. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Yes,” he returns immediately, and then—taking one look at her imperiously raised brow—just as quickly rectifies himself. “No. I don’t know. I’m freakin’ terrified, Pearl. I feel like a failure of a parent. I don’t know what to tell him. But I gotta go in there anyway.”

He says it all very rapidly, as though he’s talking to himself.

Encouraging himself.

And putting himself down to do it.

“I’m his dad,” he concludes, his voice breaking, tears standing in his dark eyes. “I’m his dad, and I didn’t… I wasn’t there for him, and I should have—“

“ Shh, ” Pearl cuts across him gently, patting his arm as tears threaten to slide down her own face. “Shh. There are so many hypothetical should haves that we’ll all have to face soon when it comes to Steven. But not today, Greg .”

With her free hand, she conjures a tissue from her gem and hands it to him, unflinching and kind, even when he needs to wipe his nose.

“Today,” she murmurs, her voice inhibited, a hundred emotions thick, “we just let him know that we’re here.”

—

“Pearl?” Steven asks.

Pearl blinks rapidly, coming back to herself; she’d been lost in her own thoughts, nearly consumed.

“Hey,” she smiles, placing her hand on top of Steven’s own. His skin is so warm and soft; she absently wonders if her alienness feels sharp to him… hard… cold… “Here’s an idea—how about I sing you a lullaby before you go to sleep?”

“You know how to sing?” Steven’s eyes widen incredulously, his mouth shaping itself into a delighted smile.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she laughs playfully. “When we were younger, your mother and I used to sing all the time—hymns from our home planet and the like…”

A pause, infinitesimal, hesitant. 

“...I could sing one for you if you’d like?”

“You could?” The child dares to be hopeful; the very emotion shapes the pitch of his question, the light in his eyes.

He has his mother’s eyes.

Dark and full of stars.

“I could,” Pearl repeats. “I’d sing as long as you wanted me to.”

“How about fooooorever?” 

“Let’s just start with until you fall asleep,” Pearl laughs. “That’s a part of forever, yes? This moment?”

“If you say so, Pearl,” he wrinkles his nose skeptically.

“I know so, Steven.”

As she sings him to sleep in her mother tongue, Pearl admits that this must be something that Greg knows, too.

The importance of hereness to a child.

Togetherness on scary nights.