What do the dorm leaders + a few more students do when you leave them without saying goodbye / you go missing? (Series: Part 2)
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Genre: Fluff/ Angst
Pairing: Leona x Gn Reader
A/n: Ooh It took me a while to create an update of this, I’m still in my second semester hell but I got a bit of time! So, I decided to write something for our dearest Lion, also I wanted to note that I’ll be doing this based on the book chapters, for example, Riddle First, Leona Second, Azul Third, and so on… I hope you like this part! I loved writing every part of it.
Credits: The design was made by me in Canva and the art that was used is all from the Official Twisted Wonderland Cards.
Warning: Cussing, OOC Crowley (lmao), smitten Leona, slight blood mention
Masterlist
Part one (Riddle x Gn Reader)
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Sypnosis: You went off already, actually, they didn’t even know where you were right now, Grimm was worried about you, where have you gone? You just vanished into the mirror that you were talking to every midnight, he knew that he should have listened to his gut feeling when he realized that you were warning him about your sudden disappearance. The moment he went dashing out of Ramshackle, paws cold from the snow that he stepped on and it was really bad that when he needed Hornton he wasn’t there.
Savanaclaw:
Leona: He was annoyed when Grim started screaming outside of his dorm in the middle of the night causing all beastmen to wake up due to his ruckus, but his annoyance vanished when he realized what the furball was saying. You were gone, while he looked indifferent outside, telling Grim to calm the fuck down because he can easily hear him without him screaming in his ears, he was a bit worried. (Just a bit)
“Oi, can you tone down your screaming?” he grabbed Grim by the collar as the kitty sobbed, “Calm down, we’ll help” He sighed, causing Ruggie to stare at him surprised, “What do you mean we?” Leona scoffed before he threw Grim at him.
“This furball will just keep on screaming if we leave him” He sighed, scratching the back of his neck. Ruggie huffed “Well, it’s surprising for you to immediately agree to help though” he whispered to himself, Leona could clearly hear him, but he ignored what the other said. It was rare for you to leave Grim all alone, you two were practically attached to the hip, so you vanishing out of nowhere was odd, did you finally get back to your homeland? You didn’t talk about it, but he can see how you look at others when they’re with their families and he knows that look. It was a look he had when he was younger, when Farena was the golden child, and he was the black sheep.
He wanted that kind of familial love from his parents before, but they never gave it to him. You probably missed your family in your original world, he understands the feeling, but he can’t help but feel a bitter ache in his heart. Did he and the others not make you feel at home here? Sure, they overblotted and probably could have killed an herbivore like you, but he’s a changed man, surely you didn’t leave because you got sick of him or the others, right?
Of course, he went to interrogate Grim, asking him various questions, and after a few hours of barking orders to his fellow beastmen, he went to Crowley personally to ask, he was running out of options, and he was starting to feel that his theory that you went home was right. The last time Grim saw you was you got sucked in the mirror that was inside your bedroom. He tried to check on that mirror too, he didn’t feel any type of magic in it, it was just an ordinary mirror. You’d know he’s already at the edge of his seat trying to find you when he asked Crowley out of all people for help, denying the feeling in his gut that you were truly wiped out of this world.
“You’re saying that the prefect vanished?” Crowley put his hand on his chin, he was a bit annoyed about how calm Crowley was, and he crossed his arms glaring at the guy. “Did you send them home?” He questioned, getting straight to the point, which made Crowley shake his head “No, I didn’t, I have yet to find the portal back to their homeland, but this is certainly worrisome, I’ll try to help you find them, and can you summon the other head wardens for a meeting?” Crowley walked past him, Leona’s eyes following him. “I’ll be getting the teachers involved, this is a missing student case after all” He murmured, now that’s the sight he likes to see, somehow his opinion of Crowley increased. He guessed Mc became important to him as well.
However, despite the ton of effort to find you, none of them got any leads, the ache he was feeling from before got worse, he found himself awake than asleep most of the time, his head was aching, it was affecting his health too. When the housewarden meeting along with the teachers happened, of course, the majority of them volunteered to have their housemates search for you outside and inside, Crowley couldn’t get any officers involved since you weren’t officially in Twisted Wonderland, you were a walking unregistered herbivore; it was dangerous, it could get the school closed so he had to ask his staffs and students to help around, which no one complained. Everyone cared for you, you helped them one way or another; helped them grow as a person and as a mage, it made him fascinated that you get to change almost everyone in this school in just a few months of your presence, and you’re magicless even.
The improvement of the school happened because of you, and you just vanished out of thin air just like that, like some God who graced everyone with their presence only to leave once everything was sorted out. What about him?
Leona couldn’t help but feel numb, eyebags evident on his face, it was so unlike him to be overworking trying to find you, you were just a herbivore to him, someone who had the audacity to annoy him before just to gain his help. Ruggie was worried about him too, the guy tried to ease him into that he would try to use his “connections” to gain more manpower to search the whole twisted wonderland, it made him laugh, he was a second prince, he had more connections that can help with the search than Ruggie, plus he knew that you weren’t here anymore. He couldn’t accept it at first, it was just slapped on his face multiple times.
Your scent continued to fade as the days continued, he didn’t have any motivation to do anything else but try to find you, find you, and find you for the first few weeks health be damned, but when you manifested in his mind, festering him to do something else, to try to finish third year, then maybe during internship he can find leads to you. He decided that if he plans to continue to persevere, then he will. After all, he was known for his tenacity before.
Ruggie was surprised when one day, Leona started to become focus on his studies, Leona was sometimes going to class, just enough to the point he could be promoted to 4th year, where he could do internships. He thought that Leona might have forgotten about you, which kind of annoyed him, was Leona only good at doing stuff in the first place and abandoning it once he realized it was futile? Of course not! Ruggie slapped his cheeks and shook his head, Leona could never, he’s mischaracterizing his Housewarden.
While the search died down, plenty of students gave up because they kept reaching dead end after dead end in their search. Grim was often with Ace and Deuce, he noticed that the furball lost a lot of weight and he often seemed out of it. Most of the students who knew Grim understood the devastation of losing someone whom he treated as family. They try to get Grim to eat more, but he always ends up either overeating or not eating at all, the only housewardens who get him to eat normally are Vil and Riddle who have strict diets for him. Riddle is more lenient due to knowing Grim longer than Vil.
The housewardens get split custody of the Cat, and the main custody being with Riddle, Ace, and Deuce. Leona barely gets any time with Grim, and when he does, he usually just gives him to Ruggie. One time, Grim got really upset at him though.
Leona flinched in pain, blood seeping out of his arm, a scratch mark forming on it. Jack jolted and grabbed Grim’s arms, subduing him immediately. “Grim! What are you doing!?” Jack yelled out, gripping on the squirming cat.
“You! Out of everyone here, you’re the one who’s always so calm and relaxed!” Grim cried out, glaring at the Lion. Leona glared at him as he used his magic to heal his arm. “Do you even care! You just gave up after a few months!” He continued, biting Jack making Jack let go out of pain, and when Grim jumped on Leona. He got grabbed by the scuffle.
“What makes you think I stopped trying to find them?!” Leona snapped, gripping on the cat, as if he’s a cub misbehaving, this was annoying, people thinking that he doesn’t do a lot when in fact he’s been giving more than just effort “You think I’m not trying my best here!?” He lets Grim go who is surprised at his outburst. “Shit” He pinched the bridge of his nose, Jack carrying Grim again. “I’m really sorry Leona” He apologized on Grim’s behalf, but Leona just waved him off. “It’s fine,” he said, looking down at the cat. “But I want you to understand that some people just prefer doing work behind the scenes, just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean they’re not trying.”
He really was trying. The you that was cuddling him in his dreams, playing with his hair and kissing him, telling him to do his best. That had kept him sane while trying to find you. It was stupid and pathetic, but at least he knew that somehow, he never forgot your face, your scent, and your voice even if it took years. Even once he graduated, even if Falena tried to set him up with other Beastwomen or some high-ranking princess. He rejected them all, in favor of waiting for you, despite not knowing if you’ll ever come back.
He never even got to tell you his feelings before you vanished, if he did would that make you not go back to your own world? Even after a few years, your friends had already graduated, he was working in Sunset Savanna, temporarily because his brother asked him for help, he was busy jumping from place to place to maintain connections and build new ones so while his brother is gone, he was the one in charge, Cheka was already in Junior High school dreaming of getting inside Royal Sword Academy where his friends would be around as well as his father encouraging him to enroll there due to being an alumni, and his sister in law kept festering Leona about mates and stuff.
Right, did he tell you that he kept the mirror that you vanished from to his room? When he finally graduated, he felt that he needed the mirror, so he decided to buy it from Crowley, who graciously gave him the mirror without any complaints. Sometimes, he looks at himself in the mirror, hoping to see you behind it. He really wishes you would come back.
He went to sit down on the edge of his bed, sliding himself into the covers, his bed feeling cold and needing another, he stared at the ceiling, wishing in his mind that when he woke up, you’d be there, touching his cheek.
Drifting into sleep, he dreamt of you again, a dream that he saw multiple times after you vanished, his head laying on the soft plush of your thighs, he stared up at you, who was looking down at him with a soft smile, he nuzzled the hand that you placed on his cheek, placing his hand on it as he guides your hand to his lips, kissing it.
“I miss you” he murmured in his dream, your hand felt incredibly warm and soft right now, it felt… real. Maybe whatever Deity from above decided to pity him today and give him your touch that he was constantly seeking.
He didn’t want to wake up, the warmth of the sun hitting his body except for his face which you were shielding it from. The moment he lifted himself up, to go nearer your face, he wanted to kiss you now or else he might never feel this surreal experience ever again, a blinding light suddenly flashed in his vision, causing him to flinch.
“Oh, sorry Leona” a familiar voice apologized, making him groan and blink a few times, was he still dreaming? He felt his head resting on something else and not his pillow, it felt softer. When he finally was fully awake, he realized that he was in fact, not dreaming anymore. He looked up only to see you, in the same position as you did in his dream.
“Herbivore…” he froze as you rubbed his cheek gently. “Yes, I’m here” You hummed as you pushed away a bit of his hair just to see his face better. “Oh wow, Leona you became prettier!” you giggled, causing him to sit up, grabbing your cheeks, he examined you. He can’t believe it, it really is you, he’s not dreaming anymore.
“How? What?” he questioned, glaring at you maybe this was a trap, if this was some doppelganger or some shapeshifter, he’d turn you to dust, but the way you weren’t scared of his glare made his will falter, you were warm, you were there, your scent was there too, nobody can replicate that. “Herbivore you’re back” he finally caved in, pulling you into a crushing hug, which you gave back happily. “I’m back Leona, I’m sorry I vanished,” you said, burying your face into his shoulder. “You idiot, I definitely deserve an explanation for this” He growled out, not letting you go at all.
Word Count: 2,359
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To What We Were Before, And All The Things After | JJK | Ch. 4
Title: Sunday Nights and Lost Memories
Pairing: Prince!College Student!JK x Fine Arts Major!(F)!Reader
Series Rating//Genre: (M) | College AU, Mild Royalty AU, Smut, Angst, Fluff, S2F2L, Indiffernce to lovers, sloooowwww ass burn
Summary: Yuri’s mad at you, you agreed to be friends with the prince and now it’s...movie night?
Warnings: PG18, fluff, swearing, touch of angst, banter, lots of texting!!, nothing too drastic, just them <3, mentions of nudes, reader eats cheese - up to you whether or not it's dairy cheese or not, same goes for the meat. I didn't specify if it's veg or animal based | * there is a part where JK lifts reader. For all you readers out there, big, little, small, tall, cute, beautiful, handsome, adorable, wonderful, perfect the way you are readers. I say my JK can lift you, okay? He’s strong and able enough to because I say so *
Word Count: 9062
Release Date: May 19, 2023, 8:00pm
A/N 1: she’s heeeereeee
Series: Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three
Three weeks.
Yuri’d given you the cold shoulder for the better part of three weeks.
And you’d let her, more impressed than anything she stuck to it. She’d never been mad at you for that long before and it made for a few awkward encounters—but it’s nothing you wouldn’t survive knowing what was coming.
Jungkook telling her to back off.
He’d asked you a few times, about ways to create some boundaries with her. Light ones, like not always walking with her on his arm or not discussing very personal topics such as grooming habits.
But no matter what you suggested, no matter what he tried or said, Yuri was always somehow able to make it into something else.
Every new ‘boundary’ of his became a way for him to keep her closer instead of pushing her away.
Not walking on his arm was his way of letting her keep her independence. Not discussing grooming habits was his way of keeping the spark and mystery alive.
You don’t know how she did it. How she kept doing it to herself, finding ways to spin things in her favour, completely ignoring the rationality and reality of the situation.
Therefore, you decided that it was just going to have to be a hard lesson she’d learn in time.
And in time did she ever.
When Jungkook finally did tell her outright, it was a last resort made after his several attempts at trying to convince her of their strictly platonic friendship, of trying to enforce his boundaries and be gentlemanly about the situation.
It wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so he wasn’t unfamiliar with this kind of behaviour from women.
But much to his regret, he was only able to tell her after she tried to kiss him.
One afternoon, they were sitting on a bench in one of the school's lesser traveled courtyards, a respectable distance apart from one another, sipping on coffee he’d offered to pay for.
He kept buying her coffees, kept occasionally complimenting her outfits, he was kind to her, and communicated his needs in their ‘relationship.’
It was the final nail in the coffin for her.
She’d been debating it for a while, wondering if she should make the first move or wait until he did, but she wasn’t completely sure he felt the same.
So, Yuri’d taken this final declaration of affection as the confirmation she needed, and leaned in.
Meanwhile, Jungkook didn’t think much of treating her. It had always been his way of saying thank you for all the help around campus. In fact he’d done it more than once, really hoping she could see how grateful he was to her.
She’d shown him the best places to eat and study in their building, showed him the fastest routes to his classes and the ones that would offer him the most privacy for him.
She introduced you to him.
He was grateful to her.
But then he saw her eyes closing, and puckered lips moving closer and closer and closer and—in a not very princely, but very Jungkook way—panicked.
He caught her shoulder with a hand to stop her advance and hoped that while doing so he was somehow wondrously mistaken and he was saving her from fainting or falling or literally anything else.
However, reality quickly derailed the nice thought.
It took a second for Yuri to register the hold was meant to halt rather than control, and opened her eyes, mortified.
No.
Worse. So much worse.
Horribly, stomach dropping, gut twisting, face heating, all-encompassingly embarrassing.
She just tried to kiss the prince.
She just tried to kiss the prince??!!
And he stopped her. Almost pushed her away because he was so against the idea.
She tried to kis—
Oh no.
Oh no no no.
No no no!
Fuck!
What the hell is wrong with her?! Why was she so stupid? She should have just listened to you.
Why didn’t she listen to you!!??
Jungkook felt horrible for Yuri as he watched her process her emotions. Felt angry with himself.
Horrible to have caused this and angry that he was unable to be honest with her about how he felt from the get go and save them both from this situation.
But he didn’t. And now he has to.
And she looks like she wants to be half way across campus right boss.
So Jungkook, as kindly as he could, informed Yuri that while he was incredibly thankful for all of her help with everything over the past month, he didn’t feel the same way she did. And that he was very sorry if he’d ever done anything to make her think he did. He truly didn’t mean to, and apologized again that the boundaries he tried to set weren’t clear enough to signal that to her.
And from the water that began to swim over her irises to her hands that shook as he spoke, he could see it went over about as well as he expected.
Meanwhile, Yuri’d never left a situation so quickly in her life.
Jacket thrown over an arm, half open purse hastily grabbed, Yuri’d scrambled to be literally anywhere that he wasn’t. The held back tears freeing themselves from the confines of her lashes as she went.
The second she was out of his sight you received a heads up text, informing that a very distraught Yuri was most likely on her way to you, to please be gentle with her, and that he was extremely sorry to have caused this.
Not two minutes later did a mascara stained Yuri burst through your shared door apologizing for being so stupid. Rambling on about how you were right and he didn’t want her. That she read all of his signs wrong and frantic over the thought that her dreams of their future were crushed.
You held her as she cried her heart out, verbally bashing the prince for ‘being an asshole’ and ‘leading her on.’ Allowing her to process and get all of her feelings out.
He didn’t lead her on and you knew that. And you’re pretty sure she knew it too. But you weren’t going to call her on it. Instead, you agreed with every word she said and offered up a few choice ones of your own. In particular, ‘that asshole doesn’t know what he had.’
Your comfort seemed to make her feel better and you were glad because wanted to support her. To let her know she could always come back to you no matter what. That friends are forever even if there are bumps in the road, and you’ll always be there for her.
She made a promise that night to never let a guy come between you two ever again.
That was a month ago, and little to her knowledge, your friendship with Jungkook is flourishing with every passing week.
After having a mini meltdown about the realization of what you agreed to, you rationalized, and decided you didn’t think saying yes would really amount to much. Fully expecting him to text you maybe once a week about something school related or send you funny pictures on social media every now and then—not that you followed one another.
But it hasn’t been anything like that at all.
He messages you everyday.
At first it was just random things, like a picture of a rabbit nibbling on some grass by the greenhouse one morning.
PJK [6:23am]: *see attached: 1 image*
PJK [6:23am]: I’m gonna name him floppy, I’ve seen him out here like 3 times now
You don’t reply until your morning alarm goes off at 6:45am, finding the messages when you go to snooze it.
Eyes still heavy with sleep and half closed, you type out your reply.
You [6:45am]: Junfgkook itsnot eben sevem in teh morninf, what thefcuk are yiu doing up, let alione out
Jungkook snorts at your text.
PJK [6:47am]: okay so clearly someonnneees definitely not a morning person, Miss Typos.
PJK [6:48am]: But to answer your question: morning workout followed by homework. I prefer to get both out of the way before the day starts.
PJK [6:48am]: Plus I like the greenhouse in the morning, it opens early so I get breakfast and a nice view while getting to work in peace
You scoff with a quirked smile.
Of course.
You [6:50am]: Camt realte, I’ll be a mornig pesron once im outof bed, its teh period of time betwenn nowanf then taht im not
And that’s true. Once you’re up, you’re up. No caffeine or food needed. Your brain goes “up now? Okay.” But that little period of time between waking up and getting out of bed?
You’re a zombie.
Jungkook laughs to himself at your butchered words, sitting in his newly decided seat outside the cafe—the one next to yours—before replying.
PJK [6:51am]: noted. don’t message YN before 7am or fear her wrath
You drag a pillow over your head, groaning. Guess you’re ‘up’ now.
You [6:53am]: damn straight
You [6:54am]: the bunny’s cute tho
You [6:54am]: hi floppy
That’s how you learned that he’s a morning person.
Random texts aside?
Jungkook’s also genuinely trying to get to know you while letting you learn about him too, and you really weren’t expecting just how… normal he is.
PJK [4:28pm]: What’s your favourite drink?
You [4:30pm]: Like alcohol wise or in general? Cuz if in general its a 3 way tie between OJ, apple juice and fruit punch, but if it’s alcohol?
You [4:31pm]: I like wine I guess, the fruity kind. Dont really care what brand, but I also dont drink all that often so make of that what you will
PJK [4:32pm]: I meant in general but I’ll take that answer too. Mines milk or beer
PJK [4:33pm]: wine’s delicious though. And a 3way tie between juices? I worry for your sugar intake
You [4:34pm]: haha. my sugar intake’s just fine thanks
PJK [4:35pm]: lol.
A weird quirk of yours is that you never use ‘lol’. Something deep inside you just hates it, maybe because of how overused it is. You’ve always used a version of ‘haha’ or ‘hehe’ or one of the various laughing emoticons. But naturally, when he found out about this little aversion, Jungkook seemed to use it more and more around you just to get a rise.
PJK [4:35pm]: whatever you say, Rembrandt
A smile finds your lips at that.
You don’t know how it started really, but sometime between that Monday in September and now, halfway through October, Jungkook started to refer to you almost exclusively by a number of old artist themed nicknames.
And they have, so far, never once been repeated. You're starting to wonder if he searches up new ones because of how many he’s donned you without duplication.
Ding.
PJK [4:49pm]: what are we feeling for Sunday? Action? Thriller? Mystery? What’s on the menu? Is there a dress code?
Another tradition that’s somehow worked its way into your life; Sunday movie nights at Jungkook’s.
He lives in a single dorm so you never have to worry about prying eyes or noisy roommates. Plus he always has the best snacks so you can never say no.
And, well…You love them.
You love having dedicated time to relaxing and being social in an environment where you feel safe and not overwhelmed. Where you feel comfortable getting out of your academic head for a few hours with someone you’re learning to trust and know, whose company you genuinely enjoy.
They’re something you didn’t know you needed so badly until they became routine. Three to five hours a week of nothing but relaxing and fun. A break from the chaos your life has always been.
No painting or drawing or studying or catching up on anything you’re behind on. No preparing yourself for the next day's lessons or keeping up with your practice schedule.
Just a few blissful hours of complete peaceful nothing where your brain can turn to mush before coming back stronger than before. Like a caterpillar needs to do in order to become a butterfly.
You tell Yuri you’re doing individual studies in the school during them. And in true Yuri fashion, says; “Only crazy people study all night before the week starts up again, but you do you Sweets,” or something along those lines every time.
She knows not to get in your way when it comes to your academics, and does her best to support you from afar.
It makes the night that much sweeter knowing you won’t be interrupted.
But right now, it’s barely Wednesday evening. You haven’t thought that far ahead yet. And for good reason.
You [4:55pm]: all I ask is a comfy dress code please, like PJ level comfy and no horror movies. I’m going to be so dead this weekend. Expect no makeup and minimal effort
You have an early mid-term on Friday, and already know you’re going to be so wiped for the days following. Your study habits aren’t exactly healthy, but they work, and that’s all you care about.
Who needs sleep or food when you’re top of your class and have a scholarship to keep from the top university in the nation?
PJK [4:57pm]: so what I’m hearing is I get free reign over choice of movie and snacks as long as I follow the two requests of casual wear and nothing scary?
You [4:59pm]: well considering that you always eat 90% of the snacks and whine until we settle on a movie you like then talk through anyways?
You [4:59pm]: sure
He ignores your playful jab, and instead tries out one of his own. To see if you’ll budge.
He’s been testing the limits of your humor lately, to see if yours and his match up at all.
PJK [5:01pm]: But what if I sleep naked and have no Pj’s? Hmmm?? What would you do then???
You [5:01pm] take pictures and sell them to the highest bidder.
You [5:02pm] How much do you think I could get for leaking the first pictures of the prince's dick to the public?
You think twice after sending that message, maybe a bit too bold.
But he takes it in stride, is a little proud even.
Not many would speak to him that bluntly, especially not with a ‘threat’. It seems your senses of humor line up quite well.
PJK [5:02pm]: ok damn. I have PJ’s, no need to go there so quickly. lol
PJK [5:03pm]: i don’t need my dick on the cover of every news outlet thanks. my dad would literally kill me
It makes you snort how he refers to the king as his dad. Because on one hand, yeah. But on the other, it seems like such a mundane title for the most powerful man within 5000 miles in any direction. The monarch. The one who can command armies with the flick of an eyebrow or quirk of the finger.
You [5:03pm]: you literally asked for it.
Also, how in the fuck did you manage to get yourself into talking about the princes dick? That’s definitely not a safe topic by any means.
And yet… it didn’t stop you from doing so.
Stupid brain always needing to win.
PJK [5:04pm]: yeah… guess I did. Allow me to make up for it:
PJK [5:04pm]: you can ask for one snack and I will guarantee its presence on Sunday
You [5:05pm]: ahhhh. i love your princely power sometimes. being able to ~guarantee~ me anything my heart desires.
You [5:05pm]: A true friend indeed.
Jungkook laughs at that.
You [5:07pm]: blue raspberry sour drops, the small ones
PJK [5:09pm]: done.
PJK [5:09pm]: see you at mine then? with Pj’s on, of course.
You [5:10pm]: yeah, sounds good
But you add in, simply because you cannot help but drive the point home.
You [5:10pm]: and shame, I was really looking forward to the payday your nudes could get me. multiple zeros, meet my bank account
He doesn’t deign you with a response, but you know he saw the joke in your words.
He always does.
You put your phone down to get back to studying, but a memory of Yuri saying she was going out Sunday night pops into your head. Something about a duke asking her out but he was only able to go out on a Sunday night due to his schedule.
She, being Yuri, obviously jumped at the chance, thrilled to put the embarrassment of the Jungkook incident far, far, far behind her.
“And don’t wait up for me, I don’t plan on coming home until the morning,” she told you with a wink.
You held up your hand, and she smacked it.
“Go get’em tiger,” you encouraged in what you hoped was your most suave voice. But you cracked a giant grin before you could finish and you both broke out laughing.
With that thought in mind, you grab your phone again.
You [5:15pm]: oh wait actually
You [5:15pm]: up to you, but Yuri’s gunna be gone Sunday night if you wanna finally check out casa de Rembrandt
You [5:16pm]: seeing as you’ve been asking for literally forever
More like two weeks, but what’s the point of being accurate when you can be dramatic. Plus, it would be safe with no Yuri. You were on the first floor, quick and easy to get to without anyone seeing.
You [5:17pm]: gotta come in incognito mode tho, cant have that famous mug of yours filling up my security cameras
You don’t want to even imagine what would happen if security found out that the prince was entering the girls dorm.
Front page news on every gossip magazine to start.
Maybe you shouldn’t hav—Ding.
PJK [5:20pm]: absolutely 100% yes. I’ve been dying to raid your fridge of all things boring and unhealthy. I swear your diet only consists of bread, hot chocolate, cheese and egg tarts.
PJK [5:20pm} And juice. Way too much juice.
You [5:21pm]: hey you leave my juice out of this Jeon. Not everyone can have a personal chef and nutritionist 😅
You don’t know that Jungkook doesn’t have either of those. That he cooks everything he eats himself.
Hey—Everyone’s gotta have hobbies. And half his friends back home are the sons of palace chefs.
You learn things when you hang out in kitchen’s all day.
PJK [5:22pm]: no one should be able to survive off of what you do, so I’ll go after your insane juice habits if I want to
PJK [5:22pm]: lol
You roll your eyes. This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last time he’s going to bug you about this.
You [5:23pm]: Thin ice, Jeon. Thin fucking ice.
You [5:23pm]: In fact, I think the only thing that will thicken it again is the addition of chocolate at movie night on your dime
PJK [5:24pm]: we’ll see about that, Cézanne. We’ll see.
Friday comes and goes way too quickly, and you were right. Your study habits are insane—but they always pay off. You knew every single answer on your mid-term and have no doubt you’ll pass with flying colours.
And just like you were right about that you were also right about being totally wiped for the following days. All that build up had to come crashing down at some point.
It’s finally Sunday evening and Yuri’s about to leave for her date, currently busy applying mascara in your shared washroom.
She already knows you’re going to skip your regularly scheduled “Sunday night study session” in favour of a night in with your bed, a movie and junkfood.
Not a lie, you tell yourself, just not the whole truth.
Not a lie, not a lie, not a lie.
“I’m glad you're finally listening to your body and resting, Sweets. Gods know you work too hard in the first place,” she says, sliding the mascara wand back into the tube and doing final checks in the mirror. “A night in will do you some good. You look exhausted.”
She’s wearing a tight little black dress and matching heels with red bottoms. Her hair’s up in an intentionally messy updo, with a smokey eye, and a lipstick that matches the soles of her shoes perfectly.
In short, she looks hot.
“I feel exhausted,” you admit, leaning against the dining room table. You’re wearing a tank and pj pants paired with your favourite bunny slippers. “But I aced that exam soooo… worth it. You have fun though! And go get that dick yeah? Let me live vicariously through you, considering mine lives on the other side of the planet right now.”
The sad smile she begins to give you gets replaced by a wider, much more mischievous one, “I’ll be sure to fill you in on every detail. I need to know your opinions, you’re clearly better at this whole thing—five year relationship still going strong and all. I need to know if this one’s a keeper.”
“First opinion: if he can’t find the clit, dump him.”
She gives you a look. “That one’s obvious, YN. I’m not completely hopeless.”
You plaster your face with her mischievous grin from earlier and mutter, “could’ve fooled me,” under your breath.
You’re met with a towel to the face as you laugh. Removing it from its current rental space on your face, you place it on the back of a chair and continue to mock, eyes catching on the clock in your room while doing so.
“Aren’t you going to be late? It’s like 6:15.”
“Shit! Yes. Thank you,” she says, grabbing her handbag off the door handle and stuffing it with makeup and condoms. She knows better than to trust the guy to have them.
Shuffling out, she takes her jacket off the coat hooks by the door and puts it on.
“Okay byeeeeeee, don’t wait up, I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon and let you in on all things dirty!”
You wave goodbye. “I’m looking forward to it, be safe!”
“Always am,” she says as she closes the door, and you go back to your room once it clicks shut.
You’d spent the afternoon tidying, not that you were messy, but you were raised to clean before company came over because apparently you can’t have people knowing you actually live in your place of residence.
Stupid made up rule. But it’s ingrained into you at this point.
Plopping down on your bed, you scroll through your phone waiting on a text from Jungkook to signal his arrival. But before one ever comes, a knock sounds at your door.
It’s probably Yuri. She forgets her keys all the time and no matter how much you hound her for it, the problem never seems to resolve.
Getting up, you don’t hold back your scolding, “Yuri how many times have I told you to just keep your damn keys in your ba—oh,” shock cutting you off as you open the door.
Jungkook’s standing in your entryway wearing flannel PJ pants and white tee under his normal hat, mask and jacket combo.
He looks so completely different to what you’re used to seeing on TV, in magazines and on campus.
No formal wear or designer labels. Just a loose shift and brandless pants.
So normal. Like anyone else.
You think you’d be used to it after a month and half. But you’re still slightly jarred every time you see him so ordinarily dressed.
And as much as you practice what you preach about not giving a shit about his social status, there’s always that underlying expectation of what and how a prince is supposed to look. Regal, royal, not like an entirely regular university student.
He looks comfortable, and his arms are full of plastic bags that likely hold the snacks he promised for tonight.
And while you’re taking him in, you don’t see him staring at you, unable to speak.
He’s looking at you, at your cute shirt and pants, at the most adorable pair of slippers he’s ever seen. But also at your nervous expression, and how tired you seem.
You break the silence, moving past him to peek down the hallway.
“Hey, I thought you were going to text me you were here so I could come get you. Did Yuri see you? She just left,” you ramble, happy to see it’s empty before moving out of the way to let him in.
“Nice pajamas,” is all he manages.
You look down at his compliment, eyeing your slippers. Yikes… That's only slightly embarrassing. “Uh… thanks.”
Your confusion snaps him out of his daze.
“I saw Yuri on my way in, but she didn’t recognize me, don’t worry.”
“Oh that’s good. No text though? You didn’t get lost trying to get here?”
“Hands were full,” he says, lifting his arms. “Plus you’re on the first floor and your building isn’t that hard to navigate. It has signs and I have eyes. I worked it out.”
Closing the door, you turn to help with the bags but immediately pause.
Oh.
You didn’t think prior to his arrival about just how much space he was going to take up in your dorm.
Jungkook’s place is bigger than yours, it feels comfortably large. Has more than enough room to go around.
And your dorm isn’t tiny by any means—when it’s just you and Yuri.
It has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a small kitchenette, a dining room. Lots of room for you two.
But Jungkook, he’s…very large. He takes up a lot of space you aren’t used to having filled.
And you know that, you have to remind yourself. You know he’s taller than you by a good couple inches and that he works out regularly.
You know he isn’t small by any definition of the word.
So why does it still bring such a surprise to have him take up so much of your space.
Gulp.
“Eyes and signs are convenient like that I guess,” you respond dumbly, looking to your room where movie night will be held.
It’s even smaller than the dining space.
You really really didn’t think this through.
“Where can I put these?” he asks, holding up his bag clad arms.
“In there,” you gesture to the room that’s starting to leech the air from your lungs despite the fact you aren’t even occupying it yet.
Jungkook takes his shoes off by the door and heads to your room. He has to turn sideways to get through your door with all of his bags.
“Did you have to buy the whole store?”
“Yes.”
You scoff but follow. He steps between the two bean bag chairs at the side of the bed, and firstly sets the bags down on the floor in front of them before secondly shedding himself of his disguise, leaving the mask and hat on your desk, his jacket on the neatly tucked in desk chair.
And with its removal, tattoos you’re not used to seeing are now on full display as what you thought was a t-shirt is actually a muscle shirt.
His forearm and bicep are covered, the ink continuing to crawl up and over his shoulder and under his shirt.
There’s barely a patch of untouched skin left.
And you try not to stare. You really do, even though all you want to do is stare. Up close. Too close. For hours.
You want to study every line and bit of shading. Every colour gradient and scrawl of text. Every design and hidden meaning.
Damn your love of art.
Reaching into the discarded bags, he pulls out three bags of chips, far too many drinks, two packs of candy—one of which is a massive pack of blue raspberry sour drops—two chocolate bars, and to your surprise, some fruit and vegetable trays and a charcuterie board.
You raise an eyebrow at those last three as your movie nights have almost always exclusively had shitty junk food. Jungkook notices your quizzical expression instantly.
He’s been noticing a lot about you lately.
“Gotta make sure you eat more than junk, your body needs healthy foods too you know.”
“I see cheese, so I am content.”
“Michelangelo, I swear to god if all you eat is the candy, chocolate and cheese I will hire you a personal chef to make sure you eat better. And yes that is a threat.”
He’s setting everything out on your twin bed so you’re both able to reach back to grab what you want, pointing as he lists, “There’s strawberries, tangerine slices, grapes, peaches, bean sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, radish, sesame dip, seaweed, kimchi, meat and crackers here on top of the cheese and junk food. All pre-made and ready to go. So you better shove them in your mouth and thank me later.”
You raise your hands in defeat. He wasn’t mean or rude in his tone, clearly just passionate about healthy eating. And since it’s all here and free and will make him happy, who are you to deny him?
Though that doesn’t mean you’ll accept without giving him a hard time about it.
“Alright, alright your majesty, I concede, your wish is my command.”
He gives you a look you wholly ignore as you head to the computer you have set up on a little stand in front of the bean bag chairs. Not nearly as nice as the couch and flatscreen at Jungkook's place, but he doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest.
“What am I cuing up?”
He tells you the movie he’s selected for the night, and you’re not surprised. It’s an action thriller, something with car chases and explosions. You’re too tired to argue, so you don’t, instead clicking into your streaming app and loading the movie.
“Plates?” he asks, not paying attention to if you're listening or not, still busy setting the food up.
Yeah, you guess plates could be useful. And maybe cups too.
By the time you return from the kitchen with two plates, two bowls, some cutlery and cups, Jungkook’s already settled into the chair on the right; himself and the food ready to go.
Flicking the lights off on the way to your seat, you give him his share of dishes, and both of you fill them as much as you can.
Yours is stacked with a bit of everything, to which Jungkook gives a nod that you know means ‘good.’
A single butterfly flaps its wings in your stomach.
Leaning forward, you hit the space button to play, and grab a bite of cured meat with a cracker and cheese.
—Oh! Wait, that's actually really yummy.
Munching away, you credit him for making it past the title sequence before starting to talk. It’s further than you usually get.
“How was your exam?” he asks, mouth half full of chips but that never seems to stop him.
For someone raised in a palace you thought he’d have more manners drilled into him.
You don’t mind though, when he was like this it was easier to forget he was the second most important person on the continent.
“Great,” you answer, another small piece of cheese making its way to your belly. “Nailed it actually, just waiting on the professor to confirm.”
Jungkook’s subtly watching you eat from the corner of his eye while you pretend to focus on the movie. You haven't touched any of the fruit or vegetables on your plate. Slightly perturbed, he replies, “That’s great Botticelli, you’ll have to teach me your study methods one day. It’s getting harder and harder to keep up.”
“You couldn’t handle my methods,” you joke. But if you really thought about it, he was probably one of the only people that could.
You can’t imagine the pressure and discipline he put on himself growing up, let alone what his father put from the little he’s told you about him.
“You know, I think you’re right,” he says, still observing because most of the cheese and chocolate are gone while the healthy foods remain untouched.
—But that’s because you liked eating cheese and chocolate together! They complement one another on your palette. You’ll get to the fruits and vegetables… eventually.
He continues, “But it was worth a shot.”
You hum, finishing your mouthful of cheesy-chocolatey goodness, and go to grab another, but he picks up a baby carrot from his plate and places it at your lips.
Your eyebrows knit together in confusion.
“Open,” he says firmly.
Jungkook really wasn’t kidding with all the healthy food talk, or maybe he just doesn’t want his money to go to waste. It isn’t like you weren’t going to eat it.
But you do as instructed, teeth gently taking the carrot from his fingers. A very satisfying crunch sounding from your bite.
His eyes linger for a second before going back to watching the movie, as if he didn’t just feed you.
There’s a feeling in your stomach you don’t want to recognize, so you push it down, and decide not to unintentionally provoke him again by beginning to eat the healthy foods on your plate. Abandoning the rest of your cheese, chocolate and blue raspberry drops.
For now.
Your phone dings from its place on your thigh, a notification from Nel popping up.
Nelly <3 [7:10pm]: hey babe, just got my ticket. I’ll see you in a few 😘
A smile plasters its way to your face immediately, cheeks almost hurting from how wide.
Nel comes over every fall reading week. You look forward to it every single year.
You [7:11pm]: I’ll see you in a few Smoosh, I love you❤️
Nelly <3 [7:11pm]: love you too x
Nelly <3 [7:12pm]: what’re you up too?
You [7:15pm]: movie night with snacks
Not a lie. Not a lie. Not a lie.
Nelly <3 [7:15pm]: Yuri with you?
You [7:16pm]: nope, she’s on a date
Nelly <3 [7:16pm]: ah, hope that goes well for her
Nelly <3 [7:16pm]: I won’t bug anymore though. enjoy your movie
You [7:17pm]: thanks baby, I will ❤️
It only burns a little bit to omit the fact that you have another man in your room. That while no, Yuri isn’t with you, someone else is. Not that you aren’t allowed to have guy friends, half your friends back home are, and Nel doesn’t care, he trusts you.
Also, it’s not like anything will ever happen. You two are friends and you’re quite content in your relationship.
It just feels a little too much like lying—But it’s not.
And keeping it a secret was your decision. You have to stick with it.
“Who beckons?” Jungkook asks, eyes on the screen. A car chase currently capturing his attention.
“Just Nel letting me know he got his ticket for fall break,” a strawberry meets your tongue, mmm. “I’m so excited to have him for a whole eight days.”
It’d taken you a minute to tell Jungkook about Nel, primarily because the topic never really came up and because you thought going “Oh by the way I have a boyfriend” randomly might’ve made Jungkook think you thought he was trying to flirt or get with you, even though you knew that wasn’t the case. It was just an awkward situation you didn’t know how to properly approach.
But conveniently, just as he got your number in the first place, Jungkook saw ‘Nelly <3’ pop up on your phone screen one day while you were at the greenhouse.
“Hey, YN, you have a text from a ‘Nelly heart emoticon’?” He calls to you.
You were walking out of the cafe, hot chocolate with mini marshmallows in hand. “Oh, that’s Nel, well, Cornelius, but he hates his full name so I just call him Nel. He’s my boyfriend.”
You swear Jungkook stiffens at the word boyfriend, but it’s such a small change you can't tell if it actually happened or if you imagined it. You decide it was the latter as his reply is normal.
Well…normal for him at least.
“Boyfriend, hmmmm? Since when? You never told me about a boyfriend. Would I approve? Does he treat you well? He showers right? Some guys say they do and then wear too much cologne to cover up the fact that they don’t,” Jungkook’s leaning in now, like a detective conducting an interview. His only tell that he’s joking, a quirked lip. His eyes on the other hand…
You indulge him. “Since the end of 10th grade, I never told because you never asked, I think you two would get along actually, and yes he does. To both.”
Jungkook stares, squinting at—no—into you. Trying to decide if you’re lying about that last part. “Damn,” and you thought you detected a hint of defeat in his voice. But if there was, he recovered fast.
“That’s a long time, I’m glad you’re with someone who treats you well, and showers,” honing in on you again, he looks like he’s mentally deciding something, then nods. “Fine, you’re forgiven.”
“But I’m not sorry?”
“You’re still forgiven.”
Back in the present, Jungkook asks with wider eyes than normal, “Does that mean I won’t see or hear from you for a week?”
Jungkook isn’t leaving campus for fall break. His family will be in another country then—a regularly scheduled trip from the middle of October to the second week of November. This is the first year he won’t be going.
“Uhm.. yeah probably. I only get to see Nel in the summer, a day during Solstice break if I’m lucky, and fall reading week, so I try to maximize my time when I’m with him.”
You and Nel are both always too busy to do anything for the spring reading week because you’re trying to wrap up your school years. Nel is only able to come your way during the fall because he isn’t at his school on scholarship, and doesn’t rely on being a top student to be there. Though he’s still brilliant.
He’s studying architecture at the Eastern College of Architecture and Design and is proudly ranked somewhere in the middle to higher area of his class.
Unfortunately, his program also requires him to stay longer during the Solstice break, so anytime he does have during it, he wants to spend with his family—which you understand. Solstice is important to your mother too, so it works out that you spend that time with her.
Therefore, summer and fall break are your favourite times of the year. Your Nel Time.
Long distance is hard, and you plan out this week with Nel in the summer to maximize every second you have with him.
Every single precious second.
“Oh… okay,” Jungkook looks back to the movie, focusing hard on the explosions. But pipes up again after a minute. “What about your study times? I thought you mentioned a while ago that you always study through breaks.”
“I do. We do. Nel studies with me, we go to the greenhouse cafe or the library or wherever. He understands that my education has to come first for now. He’s always said my dedication to my future was one of the first things that attracted him to me in the first place.”
You're smiling again, recalling the memory.
You and Nel met at an art show your high school put on; you displaying your paintings and him his architectural drawings. Barely sixteen and seventeen back then.
You were making the rounds, looking at all the other pieces submitted by students, when his drawings caught your eye.
They were of a very futuristic looking house that was built into the side of a mountain. It was made of glass, wood and a dark material you didn’t know the name of.
It was beautiful. You wanted to live somewhere like that someday.
He saw you staring and struck up a conversation, complimenting your work when he asked if you were in the gallery too and you pointed your section out to him.
That night he asked for your number, and here you were, five years later at twenty-one and twenty-two.
Nel being older by a year.
That was something else you’d noticed a while ago too; that you almost always had older guys around compared to younger.
You guessed something in you subconsciously preferred that. Not having the energy to deal with the hormone induced insanity younger guys tend to have. All of them more than happy to prove themselves the biggest asshole in the room.
Nor did you like the odors and cockiness that oozed from them. Jungkook had a point about guys showering habits.
Older guys always seemed more mature, not in a literal sense, you know most men are children when given the right topic. It was more of a they didn't care what people thought, they were more polite, knew what they wanted and what personal hygiene was.
Though once you were considered ‘one of the guys’ that last one changed really quickly. They just got better at hiding it. Again, Jungkook had a point.
But…well, Nel was older, and Hobi—one of your best friends from back home—was older by a few years too. Most if not all of your guy friends from school were, not one from your grade ever making their way into your social circle.
Even Jungkook’s older by three years. Having turned twenty four about a week before you met him.
The twenty four year old in question has the smallest pout when he asks, “Does that mean I can’t go to the greenhouse for a week?”
You’re quick to clarify. “No, you can do whatever you like. But if I see you, I’ll have to pretend I don’t know you. It’s easier for everyone that way.” You yawn, the repercussions of your actions from earlier in the week coming back in full force. You’re only a half hour or so into the movie. “I’m sorry.”
Jungkook is silent for a minute, in what you assume to be a processing moment. Then,
“When do I get you back?”
Odd phrasing, but you’re one of his only friends on campus, so it makes sense that not speaking or seeing you for a week may feel like you’re being ‘taken away.’
“Nel leaves the following Sunday night, so I’ll have to miss movie night twice—sorry again. Maybe you can use that freed up time for yourself and just relax? Midterms are coming up and you don’t want to burn yourself out. Or maybe you could ask some other friends over those nights?”
Jungkook doesn’t want to tell you he hasn't made any other friends yet. That even after almost two months, you‘re still the only person he’s met that treats him how he’d requested on his first day. The only person he enjoys being around.
Everyone else still looks at him and only sees opportunity for them.
Not him.
Nobody ever saw him.
He didn’t know that being out on his own for the first time would be so isolating. Lonely.
He’d gotten used to having people who were used to him being around them. Whether they were his security—who aren’t scared to make jokes at his expense, having seen him as a teenager and growing up—but they’re here to do a job, not hang out. Or the couple of servants kids he’d grown up with who he considers his true friends.
People he didn’t have to hide around. Wear the mask of ‘prince’ around.
But they were back home at the palace. He doesn’t have them here.
He’d been looking forward to university for almost five years, to have his first and last taste of freedom before signing his life away to kingdom and crown. And he isn’t upset with his experience so far, but at the same time, Jungkook feels like he’s missing out.
Making lifetime friends is supposed to be a part of the experience, isn't it?
He’d made a few predictions about how his university experience would go prior to actually being here. So far, the only things he’s gotten right was where his grades sat, his love for what he was studying and, regrettably, the fact that no one could get over the stupid word that’s been in front of his name since birth. The one that separates him from everyone else.
A small part of him foolishly hoped it wouldn't change anything.
But it did, because it always does, because everyone cares. Everyone wants something from him.
Everyone except you.
You don’t care that he’s The Prince. You call him on his shit, and threaten to send his fictional nudes to media outlets for a laugh. You let him borrow you for some of his homework assignments when he needs a model, and he tries to return the favour whenever you need one for a figure study.
You buy his coffee when you get to the cafe before him, even though he knows you know he doesn’t need you too. Even when he has all the money in the world, and you’re on a tight budget.
But you know his coffee order, and you are kind.
You’re kind to him because you want to be and not because you think it will get you something from him.
You’re kind because it is innate to you. Because you’re different from most people, unintentionally so. You’re not kind to gain recognition or to stand out.
You see the world around you and feel inspired to create beautiful things, both on and off the canvas.
In life and in feelings and friendships.
So you are the only one he’s befriended. And that’s been enough for him.
You’re enough.
But you’re not his. You’re someone else’s.
Someone who was smart enough to get to you first.
He can’t have you. He’ll never come first.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll have a guys night,” he brushes off with a white lie. The first he’s ever told you. And a part of him hates himself for it.
He’s come to love movie night too. And to miss one, let alone two feels…wrong.
He likes having a tradition of his own making. One that doesn’t come from anything calendar related or of his family’s making. One that he doesn’t ever want to give up.
He likes spending that time with you.
You, snuggled up in too many blankets on his couch, or resting into the bean bag chairs on your floor, munching away and watching whatever movie. Talking about nothing and everything all night.
Laughing together. Joking together. Being present together and simply enjoying one another’s company.
But Jungkook understands that Nel comes first.
Jungkook understands that it would be selfish of him to expect you to spend some of your only time that you get with Nel, with him instead.
Because Nel is your boyfriend, and Jungkook is just your…friend.
“Thanks for understanding Jungkook.”
“Of course.”
Jungkook looks at you when the movie ends.
You’re sleeping.
Silently in your bean bag chair, your head leaning to the side, mouth open a little.
He doesn’t know when you fell asleep.
Conversation dwindled after your text from Nel, and he’d focused mostly on the movie after that to distract himself.
He sees your plate is empty of all foods, healthy and unhealthy alike, and a side-mouthed smile lifts his cheek.
You’d listened to him.
For once.
You look so peaceful, like you’re dreaming.
He hopes it’s a good dream.
You warned him that your study habits before exams aren’t the healthiest but that they worked, and that you just needed a bit of recovery time afterward. He knew you were tired the second you opened the door in the cutest pajamas and bunny slippers he’s ever seen.
But there were dark circles under your eyes, and he could see your energy levels weren’t the same as they usually were.
That’s why he brought the fruit and vegetable trays and charcuterie board. He had a feeling you needed to get some real food into you to help with your current state. That it would bring some nourishment back into your body, help you feel better.
And by the looks of the quiet, rhythmic breaths leaving you, they did their job. Your dark circles disappearing, cheeks regaining some colour.
He thinks about waking you for a second, before deciding against it. He doesn’t want to disturb you finally getting the rest you so clearly need.
Instead, he gets up from his seat and moves the remaining food to the ground, pulls the blankets of your bed back and gently slides his arms under your knees and back, lifting.
In your semi-unconscious state from being moved, you slide your arms around his neck and nuzzle your head into the junction where his shoulder meets his neck.
Jungkook’s heart thumps, and for reasons he doesn’t know and doesn’t want to uncover, stands just a second longer with you in his arms, as you clutch yourself to him.
Your skin under his fingertips, and lips resting near his neck.
Warm.
He takes a small breath before placing you down on your bed with the utmost care, and tucking you in.
There’s a fleeting thought of lips meeting forehead, but it’s gone before it ever arrives.
Jungkook turns to shut down the computer, then plugs your phone into its charger on your night stand and gathers the leftover food and drinks. He brings them to your kitchen and puts them away neatly into your fridge.
While doing so he notices all of the juices on the shelf and has to hold back a laugh.
You really weren’t kidding.
Silently retrieving his hat, mask and jacket silently from your room, Jungkook’s mind is reeling as he takes one last look at your sleeping form, before slipping from your room and sliding his shoes on by the door.
He exits your building, entering into the cool night with three things unable to leave his mind.
1. The feeling of your arms around his neck, holding tightly. Refusing to let go.
2. Your hair smells like apples. Sweet ones. The ones that the castle's orchard produces for his family only. Like a piece of home.
And,
3. That in order to save whatever this friendship you two have is, he’s going to have to listen to his father’s only advice before sending him off to university. A piece of advice he never intended on listening to, until now.
To save this before he ruined it.
“While you’re at that school you need to look for a future wife. You’re going to be 24 soon enough, and you’ll be 28 by the time that you finish. The Royal Academy has all of your generation's most eligible women. Find the best one, and pick her. She’d be a fool to say no.
“And If you want my opinion,” Jungkook doesn’t but he knows his father is going to tell him whether he wants to know or not, “There’s a girl there named Adaline Dupree, she’s twenty-one, from a well bred family, of high social standing, and beautiful. She’s been on my radar for potential matches for you since you were young.
“Start with her.”
Jungkook gulps, getting into the black sedan that’s waiting for him outside.
You wake up in your bed.
You wake up in your bed?
How did you get in your bed? Weren’t you just—?
You look for your phone, and in your search see that the computer is closed, your phone is plugged in and that the food and Jungkook are gone.
Fuck.
Did you fall asleep during the movie?
You can’t remember.
Fuck!
Morning light is slowly crawling up your walls like ivy, the sun just barely creeping over the horizon. And you jolt in panic.
It’s Monday. Did you set your alarms last night? How early is it?
Scrambling for your phone, you read 7:43am and exhale a dramatic breath.
Your first class isn’t till nine.
Heart rate decelerating, you fall back onto your pillow. You feel rested, like you got a full night's sleep and then some. Like you’re finally recovered from the hell you put yourself through to thrive academically.
That’s the fastest you’ve done that since highschool. Only two days?
What changed this time?
Pulling the blankets back over you, the question of ‘how did you get into your bed?’ returns.
Did you wake up by yourself at some point during the night and get yourself there? Did you stay awake for the movie and slither in after Jungkook left? Or did Jungkook have to wake you up to tell you he was leaving?
You cringe, hoping it isn’t that one.
And if it is, you’re glad you don’t remember.
But with that troubling thought and a yawn, you know you won’t be able to go back to sleep, so you yank your sheets off and walk to the bathroom to brush your teeth. You can feel with a run of your tongue over them that you forgot too last night, and you need to get all of yesterday's grime off.
Half way through brushing, you quickly check the fridge for your usual morning breakfast items, only to find all of last night's uneaten snacks inside. There’s still a decent amount of fruits and vegetables left, and you decide that instead of your usual toast, jam and juice, you would use the fruit and borrow a little bit of Yuri’s yogurt for your first meal of the day. Considering it a consultation fee for the inevitable conversation about the duke later, where you will most definitely be asked for your opinion on many things.
After a return to the bathroom to spit and wash, you make a mental note to thank Jungkook for the brain food. You’re going to need it.
You [7:54am]: thanks
You [7:55am]: for the food.
You [7:55am]: It helped
Chapter 5: Shocking Announcements and Camouflaged Expectations
A/N 2: Thanks for waiting for her <3
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