#But hopefully now as long as this one took ^^;

[fangirlmermaid]

You got me, you got me good

Summary: Brothers share things, right? So why not share the same girl?

Pairing: Dark!Quinn x Dark!Luke x Dark!Jack x Fem!reader

Warning: Foursome, dark themes, pet names, why choose, breeding kink, baby trapping, the word daddy (I"M SORRY!), choking, hair pulling, P in V, no protection (wrap it before you tap it!!), manipulation, little aftercare, lightly proofread, grammar, and spelling mistakes.

Taking three hockey players at once? RIP to your pussy girl!

This is long.

Also, Sorry that this took forever to upload.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You made the mistake of following Quinn into his room. Now you're tied to the bed, stripped naked, all three brothers at the foot of the bed with darkness in their eyes and their dicks standing up leaking with precum.

They’ve been dreaming of this exact moment since they first saw you. It was during the First Hughes Bowl, and you were the newest social media member for the New Jersey Devils. All three of them wanted you to be theirs.

Then the brothers noticed the hint of desire in their eyes. Instead of fighting over who could own you, they devised a better idea.

They get to share you. 

Before the off-season, they invited you to their lake house. Seeing you strut around in your bathing suit made it harder for them not to destroy you. Claim you.

They couldn’t let you get away. They would die without you in their lives. They had to do something that strips you of freedom—a way for you to be theirs forever.       

They hatched a plan.

Quinn sat on his knees at the end of the bed, Luke was on the left side, and Jack was on the right. You felt small under the Hughes brothers' gaze, squirming slightly.

“Haven’t touched you and your already soaked for us” Quinn Smirked his dark eyes gazing at your dripping cunt. “She looks so fucking pretty like this” Luke grinned, he could cum just from the sight of you. “Enough talking,” Jack muttered before smashing his lips against yours. 

Jack was the impatience one between the three of them, there were times Jack almost messed up switching your birth control with the fertility pills because his mind was flooding with thoughts of your swollen tits, your big stomach carrying his kid. Well, hopefully with these pills, one of the three kids you will be carrying will belong to him.  

Luke latched onto your neck sucking and biting your neck leaving hickies, he sucked on your pulse on your causing you to moan into Jack’s mouth. Your teeth and tongue are rubbing against one another.

Quinn gave himself a few strokes before lining himself up to your entrance. You gasped when Quinn pushed his length in, giving Jack the perfect opportunity to move his tongue in. Both of your tongues danced around one another.

Quinn gave you few seconds to adjust to his massive length, his movement rough but gentle, bucking his hips thrusting his cock deeper inside your walls that hugged him tightly. Quinn’s grip on your hips was going to leave bruises “You’re pussy feels amazing pretty girl, so fucking tight Quinn moaned throwing his head back.   

Jack pulled away, and you tried to chase after his lips. “You want more of my kisses, princess?” Jack teased you, his pupils swallowing his iris. You tried to nod your head, but Luke held your jaw. “Stay still for me, angel,” Luke ordered. You shivered from his hot breath.

Jack latched onto your breast closest. He closed his eyes as he lightly bit your nipple, and your back arched. A gasp slipped out of your lips when Jack's tongue swirled around the sensitive bud. Jack moaned.

Your body felt like it was on fire. “Please,” you whined, not really sure who you were begging for specifically. The Hughes brothers shared a dark chuckle. Luke pulled away from your neck, and his blown-out eyes gazed down at you. 

“Don’t worry, angel. You’ll have us in you soon. Think you can be patient for us?”  

“Y-Yes”

“Good girl,” Luke smirked.

 Quinn grew sloppy as he rode you through your second orgasm from him, then the image of you popped into his head, where you’re wearing a bikini while 9 months pregnant. Quinn’s warmth spilled into you. Quinn pulled out, making you feel empty. 

Quinn lifted your shaky legs, trying to keep his cum inside of you. Quinn’s eyes landed on Jack. “Jacky” Quinn called, the middle Hughes pulled away from your tit, a trail of saliva was connecting the two of you. Jack looked at his big brother with glee.

When the older Hughes brothers switched places, Luke’s thumb dragged your bottom lip, parting your lips. The youngest brother opened his mouth, letting a thin string of saliva fall from his plump lips and into your mouth. Luke gazed down at you. “Swallow, pretty girl,” Luke ordered. You did as you were told, groaning. Seeing that was making Luke grow impatient, he wanted Jack to hurry up so it would be his turn to be buried in you. 

Quinn brushed a bead of sweat off your forehead “You took my cock so well, pretty girl” Quinn mumbled, then he pressed his lips near your ear “Daddy is proud of you” Quinn whispered low enough that only you could hear. Your breathing hitched, Quinn smirked at you before littering your chest with his wet kisses. He bit down on a piece of your skin, and you threw your head back, groaning. Quinn was slowly losing self-control, he wanted to suck his name onto your chest, showing the whole world the claim he finally made on you. He was pulled back when he saw Luke’s hand wrapped around your throat.

Luke Squeezed, making your brain foggy, Luke pulled you into a zealous kiss. You released a satisfied hum as Luke licked your bottom lip, asking for permission. You opened your mouth, and Luke slipped his tongue in, dancing with yours.

Jack was drooling at the sight of your soaping cunt. Jack smeared his length with precum and, without warning, slid himself into you. “Fuck, princess” Jack hissed as you sqeezed his giant length. Jack's movements were rougher than Quinn’s…more possessive. Luke muffled your gasps.

Luke, bite your bottom lip, tugging on it. A groan vibrated through your chest. Luke turned his attention to your boob, he took his hand off your throat causing you to whine “No, Angel” Luke warned with venom. Luke brought his index and middle finger to your sensitive nipple, and he began twisting and pinching. You threw your head back, gasping, arching your back.

You tugged on your restraints, wanting…desperate to touch them anyway you could. Quinn released a sinister laugh. He pulled away from your hickey covered chest and brushed his nose against yours. “Pretty girl,”  The eldest boy warned, causing a pathetic whine to escape your lips. Quinn only smirked at you trying to ignore his dick hardening. You're begging Quinn to untie you so you can touch them…to please them. Quinn kissed your jaw. “Just relax, pretty girl. Let us take care of you,” Quinn mumbled before pulling you into an open-mouth kiss. 

Jack was driving his hips into your pussy in a intense movement,  a grin crept onto his face everytime you gasp. His cock hits deep inside your cervix, “close” you were only able to whimper as you were about to reach your fourth orgasm of the night. Jack’s thumb circled your sensitive clit making you whine “Let go for me, princess” Jack moaned, you did. Jack wasn’t far behind you; his warmth spilled into you. 

You whimpered when Jack pulled his softened dick out of your sensitive cunt. Jack held up your numb legs, also trying to keep his load in you. Jack drooled at the sight of your cum mixed. 

Jack whistled Luke over.

The second Luke grabbed your legs, you started to cry, “Empty…sensitive,” you managed to whimper. Quinn kissed your wet cheeks. “We know you have one more in you, princess. We don’t want Lukey to feel left out,” Jack pouted, making his way to your left side. Quinn brushed a bead of sweat off your forehead. “Where did our good girl go?”Quinn mumbled, his eyes growing sad. You glanced at the three boys. “I-I’m right here.” You hiccuped, looking up at the oldest brother, “Well, I don’t see her. I thought you were going to be good for us,” Quinn pouted. You felt tears run down your cheek, but you couldn’t tell if it was being overstimulated or them not seeing you as their good girl anymore. Luke gazed at you with puppy eyes “please, Angel” Luke pouted sucking and nipping your inner thigh, your breathing hitched.

Luke smiled at your cunt which you knew mean you were wet again, then what’s the point of arguing just give in “o-okay” You sniffled, Luke flashed you his crooked smirk knowing how much you love it “Thank you, Angel. Thank you,” Luke mumbled, lowering your legs back down onto the bed.

You bit down your lip when Luke slid his huge length into you. Nothing could prepare you for Luke; he was bigger than both his brothers. Your face scrunched up when Luke thrust his hips deep. At first, he was trying to be as gentle as possible, but finally being inside you after dreaming about it for so long…feeling you squeeze around his length, he started to lose himself. He thrust deeper inside you, hitting your cervix, his heart tugged when he heard you whimper an oh with each thrust, but he knew it would be worth it once he held the baby the two of you made together.

Jack kissed the spot below your ear, causing you to shiver. He trailed your hickey covered neck before reaching your blank chest close to him. You already had a feeling that you looked like you got mauled by vampires, but you don’t care…you just want them. Jack smiled at your desperation “You look so fucking beautiful, princess” Jack whispered, before his swollen pink lips found their way to your chest. Jack licked and sucked a small heart above your real one, there’s a reason why he’s popular with the ladies.  

You looked at Quinn's pleading eyes. “What, pretty girl?” Quinn teased, knitting his eyebrows together. Unable to find your voice, you glance at his plump pink lips, hoping he would understand what you wanted. Of course, Quinn knew what you wanted; your lust-filled puppy dog eyes gave it away. Quinn's lips grazed the shell of your ear. “Tell Daddy what you want.” Quinn’s hot breath formed goosebumps on your skin. You turn your head towards Quinn, “K-kiss, Daddy. P-please,” Your tiny voice wavered. Quinn gave you a small smile, happy that you remembered your manners. Your nose brushed against his driving Quinn insane, “anything for the prettiest girl,” Quinn assured before grabbing the back of your neck and pulling you into a mind-numbing kiss. Quinn’s hand grabbed the hair from the back of your head and pulled it. Your gasp soon became a moan when Quinn slipped his tongue into your mouth.

“Shit, Angel! You feel so good!” Luke moaned, his grip tightening on your bruised hips. You felt your sixth orgasm coming, your bucking your hips meeting Luke “that’s it angel” Luke smiled his thumb played with your puffy clit you groaned into Quinn’s mouth. Luke chuckled as he saw your stomach tensing up. “Let go, angel,” Luke huffed. You did as you were told. Luke wasn’t far behind you, his rhythm slowed down, performed his thick white rope painted inside you. 

All three boys looked at you as you melted into the mattress in complete bliss.   

Luke replaced his softened dick with three of his long fingers “Ooow” you cried throwing your head back into your pillow squeezing your eyes shut. Quinn and Jack pet your hair shushing you to calm you down “Lukey is just making sure we don’t waste any one our cum” Quinn assured with a small smile. Jack nodded. “We want you to stay nice and full of us, okay?” Jack whispered, pressing a soft, gentle kiss to your tear-stained cheek, “O-okay,” you mumbled, nodding your head.

Jack and Quinn untied your wrists. “Oh, princess,” Jack cooed, looking at your red wrists. Quinn, who always thinks ahead, grabbed your favorite vanilla lotion he stashed in his nightstand. The older brother squeezed some into their hand and rubbed it onto your wrist. You hummed in delight. 

Your doe-like eyes gazed at the brothers in front of you. “Good girl?” You mumbled, hoping that you reclaimed that status. The boys smiled at each other before gazing down at you with their heart eyes, “The best girl,” they reassured. Their smile widened, and you felt a flush of warmth through your body.  

Your eyelids grew heavy. “Get some sleep, pretty girl,” Quinn whispered, pressing a delicate kiss onto your forehead. Jack pressed a soft kiss to your jaw. “We’ll be here when you wake up. Promise, princess,” Jack assured. Luke pressed a gentle kiss onto your abdomen, “Night, angel.” Luke smiled. Just like that, you drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Jack and Quinn sat on their knees at the end of the bed next to Luke. The sight of you being marked up from them, the sight of your mixed cum that was speared on your thighs made all their dicks twitch. If you weren’t pregnant after this, then they have all summer to make sure that you are truly theirs forever. Quinn just needs to be a part of the Devils, so the four-hopefully seven-of you can be together forever.

Luke slipped out two of his fingers so his brothers could also put a finger in you. They all looked at your sleeping figure with a wicked grin painted on their lips.

[seungcheorry]

happy burstday to you - cherry version 🍒⚡ | 04. wen junhui - svt anniversary

wen junhui as the guy who used to work two floors down from you;

"oh my gosh", you hear someone say behind you. there's only so many people that could have that reaction, but the one you weren't expecting is-

"jun?"

he politely bows to you, offering his right hand for you to shake. jun is dressed in a fancy suit, a shining bracelet on his wrist and his blonde, long locks tucked behind his ears. he looks nothing like the young, skinny dude you used to meet daily at the building you two used to work on. back then, jun had an internship at a random marketing agency - you didn't know much about it, just that he used to help with how the agency could present itself to the public eye, and that he was very good at it.

you, on the other hand, was a secretary at the law office two floors up from his office. not the best thing in the world, but it was enough to allow you to learn what you wanted to. and, of course, that job brought you jun.

you two used to have lunch break around the same time, arrive at the same time, so the elevator you took to your floor looked empty when jun wasn't around, making small talk. there was this one time, when jun got sick, that you didn't see him for a week and a half; it made you knock on his agency's door, asking about him with the excuse of "oh, he's a friend of mine".

and that's what jun considered you to be, a friend of his. he could not say a word inside that elevator, and you would get it; he could playfully pretend that he would bang his head against the wall, and you would get it; he could push the stop button, just so you two could chat for about 15 minutes more, and you would get it.

so to see you now, after 10 years, feels somehow like going back to his roots.

"what are you doing here? it's been so long!"

"i, um… i got a job here", you say with a smile.

"you what?! we're gonna work together?"

that's how you learn what jun has been up to. he's successful now, as the marketing director of the same company you just signed a contract to. he learns about you too, hanging on your every word as you tell him about your career, and how you're now in the law team of that company.

"you two know each other?", the guy who's been showing you around, boo seungkwan, gives you a look.

"yeah", jun smiles at you, and it looks so much with the same teen guy you met all those years back, but somehow his eyes are different - they're more mature, more happy. "we're friends, really good friends."

and you don't wanna blush, but you do. you know boo seungkwan can't read your mind, but still you hope he doesn't, so he won't catch you thinking about the day jun kissed you before going home, after he quitted his internship; the last time you two saw each other.

"oh, great! so you can show them around, maybe?", boo seungkwan, from the hr, says hopefully. "i have like… tons of papers to work on, i am so sorry."

jun agrees to immediatelly, shushing seungkwan away with claims of 'i got this' and 'don't worry, i can do this'. it makes you laugh, how playfully he is with his coworkers - it didn't change a bit, you see.

once seungkwan is out of sight, jun turns to you again. he sighs, like fully sighs, as if he's seeing the prettiest view in front of him (and maybe he is).

"i don't know where to begin, we have like… seventeen floors?"

you laugh. "yeah, you can start from wherever you want. i actually only know boo seungkwan and my new boss."

"lee jihoon?"

"lee jihoon."

"he'll be the last one, then. we're skipping your floor", jun decides, mentioning for you to follow him to, well, an elevator.

as you two wait for it, you tell jun you don't wanna mess up his schedule, and that he can go whenever he needs to; jun waves you off, a smirk on his face as he brags that 'i'm the boss now, no one can scold me… well, maybe our ceo'.

as you two get in, just like years ago, jun is the one to push the button to the destined floor. he looks at you, a sincere happiness on his eyes.

"look at us", you joke. "back to where we began."

"yeah. look at us."

10 years, but the same old crush.

have you considered tipping me? | ko-fi 🍒

a/n: happy birthday, moon junhui~ hope you had the best day ever, my dude, i wish you everything good that this world has to offer. thank you for taking care of svt and being part of it. i love you, i love your talent, and i can't express how much i care for you. please, always be happy. ❤️🍒

taglist: @babycaratdeul @goodbyetwenty @seungcheolsblackcard @xxr0ck-stxrxx @hazeljisulatte @worldpeaceforyoongi @lixisoul99 @elieanana @supi-wupi @4shypotato @reiofsuns2001 @gohyemi @edwinawrites @dinossaurz @dy-kyeom @cristy-101 @karynnoona @sarabencze @princessjazzyjazz

[mandoalorian]

multiverse on fire, and you in my arms [bucky barnes x f!reader]

pairing: new avenger!bucky barnes x f!reader

synopsis: with the threat of victor von doom confirmed — and his uncanny resemblance to tony stark haunting bucky’s every thought — you and bucky retreat for one night of stolen peace. he makes good on a promise: extra cheese, chocolate, and a moment of quiet in your room, away from multiversal collapse and cosmic war.

word count: 7860

rating/warnings: 18+ explicit content, avengers tower fic, canon typical violence, canon typical fantasy/horror elements, end-of-the-world discussion, tooth rotting fluff, bucky has a ptsd episode

masterlist

previous chapter | current | next chapter [coming soon]

The photo still trembled slightly between Bucky’s fingers, its edges creased from how tightly he gripped it. The black-and-white image of Victor Von Doom—young, sharp-jawed, cold-eyed—looked like it had been pulled from a history book. But the likeness… it wasn’t possible.

Your gaze flicked between him and the photo again, your own breath catching in your throat. “He looks like Stark,” you whispered.

Bucky didn’t answer.

He just stared at the picture, unblinking, like it was going to burst into flames in his hands. His face had gone pale. His jaw clenched tight enough that a muscle ticked in his cheek. He didn’t seem to be breathing, not really. A long silence stretched between you.

“Bucky,” you said softly, stepping toward him.

His chest rose sharply—finally drawing in air—but when he looked at you, it was like he wasn’t seeing you. His pupils were blown wide, rimmed with panic. Not the good kind. The kind that came before a storm.

“James,” you tried again, slower, closer now. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

He took a step back. Another.

His left hand dropped the photo. It fluttered to the floor like ash. His metal hand came up to his face, rubbing at his temple like he was trying to erase something from memory.

“I—I can’t…” he muttered under his breath, retreating until his back hit the wall. He slid down it slowly, knees drawn up like a child trying to make himself small. “I can’t do this right now.”

The sight of him—coiled and unraveling all at once—stirred something deep in your chest. You’d never seen Bucky like this before. Quiet, yes. Moody, definitely. Closed off and sharp around the edges. But this? This was something else entirely. Something raw.

He dragged in a shaky breath. “They don’t tell you what it’s like… when your brain starts screaming before your body even knows what it’s reacting to.”

You crouched down next to him, not touching, just waiting.

“It’s him,” he finally said. “But it’s not. It can’t be. Stark is dead. I saw him die.” His voice cracked at the edges, hoarse and low. “But that face…”

“Yeah,” you murmured, eyes soft, scanning him carefully. “It shook you.”

He gave a bitter huff. “That’s one word for it.”

You sighed, a long and sad sigh, as you tried to piece this together for Bucky’s sake. “Did Tony have any relatives? Maybe a twin brother?” You asked hopefully. 

“No, he was an only child.” Then, almost reluctantly, he looked at you. “You know what I did, right? To his parents?”

You blinked. “Tony’s parents?”

He nodded.

The confession came out slow, like he was peeling skin from bone. “Winter Soldier killed them. In a goddamn car. I remember all of it. I was just a weapon then, programmed. And he—Tony—he found out. Almost killed me. Steve… he tried to stop him, but it broke everything. The Avengers were never the same again.”

You didn’t say anything. Just watched as he dug deeper into himself, into the pain.

“God, Tony couldn’t forgive me,” His voice was tight. “He didn’t trust me, and by extension, he didn’t trust Steve. Not really. Not after that. Can’t blame him.”

“But that wasn’t you,” you reminded Bucky softly, bringing your hand to his arm, offering comfort. “It was another life.”

He stilled, and so did you. “What difference does it make?” The scoff that came from his mouth was almost incredulous and he closed his eyes, trying to wash away the memories. “It was still me. You should understand that more than anyone else.”

And God, you did. The journey to forgiveness was not an easy one. You tried to change the subject, the reminder of what the Winter Soldier did to your brother that night creeping up on you like a haunted shadow. The emptiness in his eyes and the way he moved like a machine. You saw that in him again, the unmistakable look in his eyes, when he fought Shane, and it terrified you. It made you wonder if part of the Winter Soldier was still lived in him.

“But this guy,” you said gently, “Victor. He’s not Tony.”

“No. But it’s enough to make everything crawl up my spine again. Enough to throw me back into the past like it’s a trap I never escaped.”

Silence returned between you both—thick and heavy and hard to swallow.

You shifted closer, resting your hand carefully over his. “You’re not the Winter Soldier anymore.”

He opened his eyes again, and for once, didn’t look away. “Doesn’t matter. Every now and then, I still feel him there. Underneath. Breathing down my neck.”

You squeezed his hand. “Well… I don’t. I just see you. And I don’t know exactly what that means yet. But I see you.”

The look he gave you then wasn’t grateful. It wasn’t warm. It wasn’t romantic.

It was devastated.

Because somehow, your forgiveness—or whatever glimmer of it he felt coming—hurt more than your hatred ever had.

“I don’t deserve that,” he said.

You took a deep breath. “That’s not your decision to make.”

He blinked slowly, his fingers curling around yours.

“Come on,” you said softly, standing and offering your hand. “We both need rest.”

He hesitated, but eventually he took it. You helped him up carefully—gently, as if any sudden movement might break the moment—and you didn’t miss the way his shoulders hunched under the weight of memory, how close he teetered on the edge.

But he followed you anyway, back into the quiet of the safe house.

You’d both retreated to the centre of the room, side by side, backs against the chipped paint of the cold cement wall, neither of you saying a word for what felt like an hour. Bucky had barely moved. The photo of Doom—of Stark—was stuffed in your pocket, and you felt the weight of it with every movement. The weight of Bucky’s truth.

You started to drift, exhaustion tugging at your bones, when a strange hum filled the air. Low. Mechanical. You sat up straighter. Bucky’s head snapped toward the sound, instantly alert, his instincts already flaring hot and sharp.

The floor under your feet gave a tremor. Then another. Then a soft, barely audible chirring—not like metal groaning, but something... alive.

You looked at Bucky. “That wasn’t you, right?”

He was already standing, reaching for his sidearm and wincing as the strain tugged at his half-stitched wounds. “No.”

You didn’t have time to respond.

The wall to the left groaned. A hairline crack split across it with a hiss of steam and a faint green glow. You leapt to your feet, aura flickering instinctively around your palms.

Then the wall burst inward.

Alien tech—gleaming obsidian exoskeletons with pulsing green lines—poured into the safe house like cockroaches flooding light. Half-drone, half-biotech, they moved like they had minds of their own. Six total. Slender limbs. Razor-sharp appendages. Spinal cords glowing with plasma. Each one emitted a distorted static sound that grated in your skull.

“Back,” Bucky growled, arm flinging in front of you.

“Don’t—”

But he was already moving, stepping in front of you, shielding you completely, almost recklessly. He tore into the closest machine with a guttural roar, ripping its head clean off with his metal arm and slamming it into the wall so hard it cratered.

“Don’t leave yourself open!” you shouted, charging your aura and sending a blast into another bot.

“I won’t if you stay back!”

You wanted to argue but the truth hit you all at once—he was taking every single hit. Intercepting them. Keeping you out of the way. The way he moved was calculated, furious, deliberate. He used the environment like a soldier—flipping one bot into the ceiling, crushing another with the fridge, blasting one point-blank with the last of his ammo before it could reach you.

You sent out aura waves, trying to slow them down. One managed to grab your ankle and yank you off your feet—but Bucky was there in an instant. He tore the arm off and crushed its head with the heel of his boot.

“I told you,” he hissed, panting, “I’m not letting anything happen to you.”

It wasn’t just instinct. It was desperation.

The last drone crumpled under a final hit from your aura. But instead of collapsing, it twitched—and began to speak in a distorted, corrupted voice.

“⁂⚠... Warning. Doom protocol... multiverse decay... timeline fracture pending... complete dissolution in 8.7 cycles... find Richards... find Reed Richards... ⚠⁂—”

It collapsed into smoking pieces.

The silence that followed was deafening. Your aura slowly flickered off. Bucky was breathing hard, blood dripping from a fresh tear in his stitches.

Your eyes met across the wreckage.

“Doom protocol?” you asked. “Multiverse decay?”

“And Richards,” Bucky muttered, kicking at one of the twitching pieces. “He has something to do with this. He must know something.”

You swallowed hard. “We need to get back to the tower. Bring this intel to Valentina. We have got to talk with Richards and find out what he knows.”

Bucky didn’t answer. He was still staring at you—something distant, unreadable in his expression. Blood, dust, and exhaustion clung to every inch of him, but his eyes were soft.

“You okay?” you asked quietly.

He looked at you, lips parting like he was about to lie.

But he didn’t.

“No,” he said. “But I will be. If you are.”

You stepped closer and placed your hand over his chest, right over his racing heart.

“We’re both still here,” you whispered.

He nodded.

You gathered the fragments of the destroyed drone, wrapping them in a cloth from the counter. He helped, moving slowly. And when you both stepped back into the centre of the now-destroyed safe house, he looked at you like he wanted to say something more.

But he didn’t.

────✪────

The hum of the car engine filled the air like a lullaby. Soft. Constant. Almost soothing.

The sky outside was grey, still dusted with early morning haze. Pockets of light bled through the clouds, casting a silver glow on the empty road ahead. You sat in the passenger seat, your legs curled under you, arms folded over your chest as you stared out the window. The tension from last night hadn’t fully faded, but the adrenaline had. Now there was only exhaustion, and the strange thrum of contentment still lingering in your chest.

Bucky was behind the wheel, silent. He hadn’t said much since they’d left the safe house an hour ago — not unless you counted his grunted disapproval when you’d tried to take the driver’s seat.

Of course he didn’t allow it. Typical 1940s chivalry. 

The air in the car was warmer now, tinged with the smell of motor oil and something pine-scented from the old air freshener clipped to the vent. The silence stretched.

And then you reached for the comms.

“Sam?” you said, tapping your earpiece. “You copy?”

A second passed before static crackled and then: “Loud and clear. You two alive?”

You smiled. “Barely. The safe house got hit.”

“What?”

Bucky glanced at you, brow furrowing, but said nothing.

“Some kind of alien tech. Deployed drones. We fought them off, but they were sent by Doom.”

“Shit,” Sam muttered. “Anyone hurt?”

“We’re fine. Mostly. Bucky’s not allowed to do any stunts for at least 48 hours.”

Bucky grunted under his breath. “I’m right here, y’know.”

“Noted,” Sam replied dryly. “What’d you find?”

You leaned forward, your voice dropping. “A photo. Victor Von Doom.”

Silence on the line. Then: “…You sure?”

“I—yes, we think so, but it’s better if you see for yourself,” you said.

Bucky’s grip on the wheel tightened, knuckles white, but he didn’t say anything. You reached out gently, resting your hand on his knee. His shoulders eased.

“I think Reed Richards knows something,” you continued. “This tech, the multiverse collapse message… it’s all connected.”

Sam exhaled. “Richards’ is still secured in the lower levels of the tower. I’ll make sure the team is briefed and start drafting questions.”

“Good,” you murmured. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”

“I’ll have med on standby. And coffee. You sound wrecked.”

“Appreciate you,” you said, signing off.

You let out a breath as the comms cut out and sagged back into your seat.

Bucky broke the silence first. “So. Stark.”

You glanced over. “You okay?”

He gave a noncommittal shrug, eyes still on the road. “Not really. But I will be.”

The weight of that lingered, but neither of you pushed further.

You reached for the console. “We need something to listen to. You’re not making me ride in silence for three hours.”

“Not silence,” he said, deadpan. “Engine’s running.”

You rolled your eyes and flicked on the car’s outdated media system. The radio crackled before your playlist kicked in — something upbeat, something poppy and modern with a bass line that rattled the floor.

Bucky blinked.

“What the hell is this?” he said, scrunching his nose.

“It’s music,” you said sweetly. “You know, the thing people listen to for joy?”

He looked actually offended. “This isn’t music. It’s noise.”

“Says the guy whose taste stopped evolving in the 1940s.”

“I like rhythm. Harmony. Lyrics you can understand.”

You raised your brows. “Oh, I’m sorry, should I put on some Bing Crosby?”

“Don’t insult Bing.”

You laughed, genuinely. “God, you’re like an old man yelling at the clouds.”

“I am an old man,” he muttered.

You switched the track to something newer — more synth-heavy, experimental. The vocals distorted in a way you liked. Bucky winced again.

“Now you’re just trying to piss me off.”

“I call it cultural expansion.”

He reached over — slowly, exaggeratedly — and changed the song.

Frank Sinatra.

You groaned. “You did not just override me with Frank.”

“I could do Glenn Miller,” he said.

You snorted. “What’s next, the Andrews Sisters?”

“Don’t tempt me.”

The playful fire between you sparked to life like it always did — only now it had new undercurrents. A different flavour. The teasing came with heat, with the memory of lips pressed to yours, of hands skimming over clothes, of quiet little gasps in the dark of Shane’s apartment. It made every look linger a little longer. Every word seem like a dare.

“Fine,” you muttered, folding your arms. “But I’m putting on my playlist the second you blink.”

“You think I’ll blink?”

“You need to blink, Barnes. You’re human.”

“Debatable,” he muttered under his breath. “No one can stare better than me, ask Sam.”

You huffed. “Robot grandpa.”

“Pop princess.”

You smiled. The road ahead stretched long and winding, but for once, it didn’t feel heavy. Not with him beside you. Not with the tension softened into something familiar, something warm.

Maybe it wasn’t silence that made the drive bearable.

Maybe it was this.

────✪────

The elevator hummed as it ascended through the fortified layers of Avengers Tower, the lights above casting a sterile glow across the metallic walls. You leaned back against the panel, arms folded across your chest, your expression tight and unreadable. Sam stood beside you, quiet, the tension in his jaw betraying his calm exterior.

You were back.

But it didn’t feel like safety.

Not with the weight of what you’d seen still pressing against your ribs. Not with the memory of Doom’s face — Tony’s face — burned into your brain.

And not with Bucky in the med bay, somewhere beneath you.

You tried not to think about him sprawled on an exam table, blood still caked around the fresh bandages you’d so carefully wrapped, pain swimming behind those steel-blue eyes. Bob had insisted on taking him to the med wing the moment he stepped out of the car. Bucky didn’t argue — just gave you a small, almost imperceptible nod before disappearing down the hall without a word.

Now, the elevator dinged.

Sam stepped out first.

The security doors hissed open to a private sub-level lined with reinforced titanium walls and biometric scanners. Inside, the room was sparse — just one thick glass cell in the centre, more of a high-tech apartment than a cage. A bed, a desk, a sink, all clean and clinical.

Inside sat Reed Richards.

He looked up at your arrival, his hair slightly unkempt, streaks of gray at his temples. His lab coat was wrinkled, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a dozen holographic projections danced in the air around him, flickering with data and diagrams you couldn’t even begin to understand.

“Ah,” he said mildly. “The cavalry.”

You stepped forward with Sam at your side. “We found something.”

Reed’s expression sharpened. “Go on.”

You explained everything. The safe house. The photo of Doom. The drones. The message about multiverse collapse. Reed listened in complete silence, his hands laced together, fingers pressed against his lips in thought.

When you finished, the silence stretched.

“Doom,” he said finally, almost reverently. “Victor Von Doom.”

“You know him?” Sam asked.

“I’ve studied the multiverse,” Reed said. “And beyond it. I’ve theorized about variants of us — echoes of our choices, versions of ourselves split by quantum inflection points. Doom… he exists across more of those realities than I care to admit.”

You swallowed hard. “But the one we saw… he looked like Tony Stark.”

Reed looked up at you, his brow furrowed. “Then this is worse than I thought.”

Sam crossed his arms. “You’ve got to tell us everything you know.”

Reed stood slowly, stepping toward the glass. “I will. But not like this. I’m not your enemy. Neither is my family. We have been treated like prisoners since we arrived — scans, locked doors, daily interrogations.”

Sam’s gaze didn’t waver. “You’ve crossed lines. The world’s scared.”

“Then help them understand,” Reed said. “Let us out. Let us help.”

There was a long pause. Sam exhaled through his nose, glancing at you. You nodded once.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll talk to the others. We’ll clear space upstairs. But you play nice, Richards.”

“I always do.”

Sam tapped his comms. “I’ll start prepping the debrief with the team,” he said to you. “Come find me when you’re done here.”

You waited until the doors closed behind him.

The hum of the glass cell remained. Reed watched you carefully as you stepped closer, alone now, your arms loose at your sides.

“Tony Stark is dead,” you said quietly. “The world knows all about his sacrifice. But this… this thing we saw…”

You trailed off.

Reed’s eyes softened. “He looked like him?”

“Exactly like him.”

You hated how your voice broke on the words. Hated how small you suddenly felt. Not because of the fear. Not even because of Tony. But because the image had gutted Bucky. And you hadn’t known how to protect him from it.

Reed was silent for a moment. Then: “There are doppelgängers. Not just versions of us — actual genetic twins born in separate timelines. It’s rare, but not unheard of. If Doom is carrying Tony Stark’s face, it means he’s either a variant born of the same cosmic signature… or he took it.”

“Took it?”

“Some versions of Doom collect power. Faces. Identities. I’ve seen records of variants that steal personas from the greatest minds in their reality. Stark was an apex innovator. It’s possible this Doom—” He hesitated. “—became him, in a way.”

You swallowed. “That would destroy Bucky.”

Reed’s brow lifted. “Barnes?”

You looked down. “He and Stark didn’t exactly have a great history. Winter Soldier—he—” You shook your head. “It’s not my story to tell. But this… this just ripped open wounds I don’t think he’s ready to face.”

Reed studied you for a long moment. “You care about him.”

The words hung between you, simple and sharp.

You didn’t deny them.

Instead, you nodded.

“I care a lot,” you said softly. “And I’m scared he won’t survive this if he has to face Stark’s ghost. Not again.”

Reed’s face shifted — less aloof, more human. “Then we’ll face it together. You’ve seen enough to know this isn’t a single-player game anymore.”

You nodded, grateful, but your heart was still heavy as you turned back toward the elevator. Your mind already drifting — not to Doom, or Stark, or Reed’s warnings.

But to Bucky.

And how badly you needed to see him again.

────✪────

The door to the med bay slid open with a low hiss, and the scent of antiseptic hit you immediately — sterile, clean, too bright for how heavy you felt inside.

You stepped in cautiously, eyes scanning the space until they landed on him.

Bucky sat on the edge of a padded exam table, shirtless again, long torso stitched and freshly cleaned, glinting in the clinical light. His vibranium arm rested at his side, while Bob gently pressed gauze against his bruised ribs. He wasn’t looking at him.

He was looking at you.

The moment your eyes met, the room blurred. It felt like the breath had been punched out of you, like the sterile hum of machinery around you went underwater.

“Give us a minute,” Bucky said, voice low.

Bob gave him a look, then nodded and left without a word, letting the doors swish shut behind him.

It was just the two of you again.

He hadn’t looked this rough since the void.

You crossed the room slowly, your boots quiet against the floor. “How bad is it?”

He offered you a half-smile. “I’ve had worse.”

“Not exactly comforting, Barnes.”

“I didn’t mean it to be.”

Your lips twitched, despite yourself.

You reached him and stood between his knees without thinking. He was sitting high on the table and you weren’t close — not touching — but there was something about the way his legs bracketed yours that made your body suddenly hyper-aware of the space you shared.

He didn’t look away. “You okay?”

“No,” you admitted. “But I will be.”

He nodded like he understood — because he did. Of course he did.

You glanced at his stitched shoulder. “Bob said you needed twelve stitches.”

“Thirteen, actually. Lucky number.”

“Don’t joke,” you said, voice soft. “I hated watching you get hurt.”

There was a long pause.

“Did you?” he asked.

You looked up at him, your throat tight. “Of course I did.”

Bucky exhaled like that meant more to him than he could handle. His eyes moved over your face like he was memorising it, like maybe seeing you here — whole, alive, speaking softly in a white room — was the only thing anchoring him.

“I spoke to Reed,” you said after a beat. “He’s going to help us. He knows about Doom, knows about the multiverse. It’s real. All of it.”

He was quiet for a long moment.

“You told him?” he asked.

You nodded. “About what we saw. About the photo. About… how much he looked like Stark.”

The name alone seemed to dig into him like a splinter. You saw it — the flinch in his jaw, the slight roll of his shoulders like he was bracing for a punch.

You reached up, barely touching his vibranium hand where it sat, cold and still, against the exam table. “Do you think Tony would want this? For you to punish yourself forever?”

“I don’t know what he’d want,” Bucky admitted. “But seeing that face again…” He trailed off. “It’s like it cracked something open inside me. Like I was right back there. Siberia. His voice. His fists. His grief.”

He inhaled a sharp breath — not dramatic, just real. A quiet unraveling.

And it broke something in you.

“Come here,” you whispered.

He hesitated.

So you stepped into him.

Your arms wrapped carefully around his shoulders, gentle but firm. You leaned into him, let your cheek press to the side of his head, and you felt his breath stutter.

He didn’t move at first.

Then slowly — like it physically hurt to let go — he folded his arms around your waist, careful not to tug too hard, but you felt it anyway. The way he clung. The way he exhaled like your skin was the first air he’d breathed in hours.

You let your fingers thread through his hair, brushing back strands from his temple, soft and soothing.

“I’ve got you,” you said. “You’re safe. With me.”

The silence that followed was warm, humming with emotion. And underneath it, something else. Something older. Deeper. That pulse between you neither of you would name just yet. Eventually, he pulled back, just enough to look at you.

“I think I need to sleep for a week.”

You offered a small smile. “Me too.”

His eyes moved over your face again, slower now, gentler. He didn’t smile, but something settled in his features — like he was letting himself feel peace again, if only for a moment.

The med bay had quieted down for the night.

You’d left Bucky’s room with a gentle squeeze to his shoulder, promising you'd get a few hours of rest before regrouping with the others. But your legs hadn’t taken you far — just to the windowed corridor that overlooked the glimmering skyline. Somewhere in the distance, clouds rolled in low and slow, smothering the city in soft grays.

You were lost in thought when you heard the door hiss open behind you.

You didn’t need to turn around to know it was him.

“I thought you were resting,” you said, not looking back.

“I was,” came Bucky’s voice. Closer now. “Didn’t take.”

You exhaled through your nose, half a smile tugging at your lips. “You ever think maybe your body would like you more if you stopped treating it like a machine?”

He stepped up beside you, the silence stretching, thick and familiar. The tension that once existed between you had shifted again — it had been tension made of rage once, then grief, then reluctant respect.

Now, it was something far more dangerous. It was intimacy. It was need.

“I’ve been thinking,” Bucky said, breaking the quiet.

You raised a brow. “That’s usually dangerous.”

His lips quirked. “You ever consider moving in?”

You blinked. “What?”

“Here. To the Tower.”

You turned toward him slowly, arms folding across your chest. “You mean, like, into a room?”

“No, I mean into the janitor’s closet,” he said, dryly. “Yes. A room. One’s right across from mine. It’s quiet, secure, and it’d make missions easier. Less back and forth. More time for you to rest.”

Your heart kicked in your chest, confused, thrilled, cautious.

You studied his face. “Is this about convenience?”

“Partially.” His eyes flicked up to meet yours. “But not entirely.”

The silence between you hummed.

You hesitated. “Sam and Joaquin…”

“Can come too,” he said without pause. “I want them here.”

That surprised you. Bucky’s rivalry with Sam had recently felt so volatile — they were two tectonic plates forced to share a mantle. It hadn’t been easy.

“You do?” you asked softly.

Bucky nodded. “I think if you’re here, Sam will follow. And if Sam follows, Joaquin will too. He’s his shadow.”

You tried not to let your surprise show — or how moved you were that Bucky had thought this through. That he’d not only accounted for your comfort but for your people. For your makeshift family.

“And you’re okay with that?” you asked, still testing the waters. “Sharing space with Sam Wilson, after everything?”

He gave you a look — one that was tired but honest. “Sam and I… we’re not the same men we were a year and a half ago. I still don’t agree with him on everything, but I trust him. I’ve always trusted him. He’s my brother.”

You went quiet but smiled, remembering the conversation you’d had with Sam, where he’d said more or less the exact same thing about Bucky. The pair of them felt like platonic soulmates, and even though things had been hard, you had faith that they’d work it out eventually. They had to. 

────✪────

The Tower felt so huge, so metallic and echoing — and yet, with him beside you, it didn’t feel as cold. The idea of being nearby, of waking up and knowing he was just down the hall, made something settle in your chest. Like you could exhale for once.

“I’ve never lived anywhere like this before,” you admitted.

Bucky shrugged. “Neither have I. Technically I’ve squatted in more warehouses than apartments.”

That made you laugh — and he smiled, watching you, like your laughter was something he wanted to bottle and keep close.

“So?” he asked, softly. “What do you think?”

You looked up at him. The man who once terrified you. The man you once swore you’d never trust. The man you’d kissed. The man whose arms you fell asleep in last night.

You nodded.

“Okay,” you said. “I’ll move in.”

He didn’t grin — Bucky didn’t grin — but his mouth softened in a way that made your knees feel a little weak. He looked… relieved. Like this meant more than he’d let himself say.

You weren’t just another teammate to him anymore. You weren’t a mission or a liability or even a puzzle to solve. You were something else now. A presence he wanted close. A comfort he didn’t want to lose.

“Good,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “I’ll help you move your stuff.”

And just like that, you felt your chest crack open to the warmth of something you hadn’t let yourself feel in a long time.

Hope.

The hallway outside the suite was dim, buzzing faintly with the low hum of security lights. You hesitated at the door, palm resting against the metal panel. There was a nervous flutter in your stomach—not from fear, but from something softer, more uncertain.

You were about to change things. Again.

The door slid open and revealed the familiar sight of Sam and Joaquin sprawled across mismatched furniture. Joaquin had half his torso hanging off the couch, a bag of cheese puffs on his chest. Sam was leaned back in an armchair with a tablet in hand, squinting at something serious—probably mission schematics.

They both looked up the second you walked in.

“You good?” Sam asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, scanning you for signs of trouble.

“Yeah,” you said, dropping your bag near the door. “I mean… mostly.”

Joaquin straightened up a little. “You look like someone just offered you a job in Hell.”

You let out a short laugh. “Close.”

You moved across the room and sat on the edge of the coffee table, facing them both, fingers laced tightly in your lap.

“So… Bucky offered me a room in the Tower.”

Sam’s brows ticked up. Joaquin’s bag of snacks rustled as he sat upright.

“Wait. Offered?” Sam echoed, suspicious.

“Yeah. He said it’d make missions easier. More secure. Less travel time. We’d all be together, ready to go at any moment.”

“Mm-hmm.” Sam crossed his arms. “That sounds very efficient of him.”

You gave him a look. “You don’t like it.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

There was a pause. Joaquin looked between the two of you with the kind of neutral expression only someone younger and wiser could pull off. Then he asked, “Did he offer just you?”

You shook your head. “He actually wants you both there too. Said if I moved in, Sam would follow, and Joaquin would follow Sam.”

Joaquin gave a low whistle. “Man’s got us figured out.”

You looked at Sam again, your voice softening. “He wants us there. All three of us. As a unit.”

Sam said nothing for a long moment. Then he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, brow furrowed.

“I don’t know what it is with him,” he said, voice quiet. “He’s so hard to understand.”

You swallowed hard. “I know. I get that.”

“I’ve tried to hate him,” Sam admitted. “God knows I had reason. But the truth is… I never hated him really, I was just holding on to this anger.”

That admission surprised even him.

Joaquin gave a half-smile. “So we’re moving in with the grumpiest man in America?”

You laughed. “Looks like it.”

Sam leaned back, sighing deeply. “If he messes with my playlists, I’m sleeping in the Quinjet.”

“I think you’d miss us too much,” you teased.

He gave you a dry look. “You’re right. I’d miss Joaquin’s cereal-stealing and your late-night panic pacing.”

“Hey,” you said with mock indignation. “That’s therapeutic pacing.”

Joaquin raised a hand. “For the record, I’m totally in. I’ve never lived in a tower before. Kinda makes me feel like a superhero.”

You smiled.

Sam stood slowly, stretching, and gave you a look that held equal parts warmth and warning. “You’re sure about this? About living under the same roof as him?”

You nodded. “I’m not saying it’ll be easy. But I’m sure.”

Sam’s eyes lingered on you a moment longer, then he nodded. “Alright then. Let’s go find our floors.”

He stepped toward the door and paused just before it opened. “But if Bob starts alphabetizing the fridge, I’m out.”

“Yeah, Bob has way too much free time…” Joaquin laughed.

You grinned, heart swelling with a strange, fierce affection. Not just for Bucky—but for these two men. Your team. Your family.

Together, you’d survived too much to fall apart now.

The towering glass and steel of Avengers Tower gleamed under the afternoon sun, a modern fortress rising proudly against the skyline. You stood at the entrance, breathing in the familiar scent of clean metal and polished stone—a strange comfort in the chaos that had become your life.

Sam and Joaquin flanked you, each carrying their bags. Bucky was a few steps ahead, his broad shoulders squared and steady, leading the way with quiet confidence. You felt a flutter in your chest just watching him.

Inside, the lobby buzzed softly with the hum of high-tech security and distant chatter of other Avengers moving through the vast corridors. The elevator chimed open, and Bucky stepped inside, pressing the button for the upper floors without hesitation.

As the elevator rose, you caught Sam’s eye, and he gave you a small, encouraging smile. Joaquin grinned beside you, looking positively thrilled.

The doors opened to reveal the hallways you’d soon call home. Each floor was sleek and functional, designed for efficiency and comfort. Bucky’s room was just down the hall—a simple but spacious suite with muted colors and minimal decoration, a clear reflection of him.

He pushed the door open and gestured for you to enter first.

“Welcome home,” he said quietly.

You stepped inside, looking around. The bed was made, a stack of fresh towels folded neatly on the dresser. A small window offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, stretching far beyond.

It was… nice. Familiar, in a way, but also new. A chance to build something steady.

Bucky watched you closely, his dark eyes softening. You caught his gaze and felt a warmth spread through your chest. Then reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from your face. The simple gesture sent a shiver down your spine.

Behind you, the door opened again, and Sam and Joaquin appeared, their bags slung over their shoulders.

“So, what’s the verdict? Are we officially Avengers Tower residents?” Sam asked with a teasing grin.

You laughed, the tension breaking. “Looks like it.”

Joaquin spun around once, arms outstretched as if taking in the possibilities. “This place is going to be awesome.”

Bucky smirked. “Yeah, just wait until you see the kitchen. I’m making sure they stock it with decent coffee.”

You glanced back at Bucky, eyes sparkling. “I’ll hold you to that.”

As the four of you started unpacking, the weight of the past weeks began to lift. The Tower was more than just a building—it was a fresh start, a home where you could all fight together, live together, and maybe, just maybe, find peace together.

And through it all, Bucky’s presence beside you was a quiet reminder that you weren’t alone anymore.

────✪────

The smell of garlic and melted cheese hit you before Bucky even opened the door.

He nudged it open with his shoulder, a stack of pizza boxes balanced in one hand and a crinkly brown paper bag in the other. “I come bearing sustenance,” he announced dramatically.

You sat up on your bed, eyes lighting up instantly at the sight. “Is that—?”

“Double cheese. Garlic crust. And…” He shook the paper bag for emphasis, “something sweet for dessert.”

Your stomach growled on cue, loud and shameless.

“Okay, I take back every threat I’ve ever made against your life,” you said, scooting over so he could set the food down.

Bucky grinned and set everything up on the bed, climbing in next to you with easy familiarity. “That’s a big turnaround for a few slices of pizza.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of real food,” you said, already peeling the box open and nearly moaning at the sight. “I have trauma from that ration pack dinner. Actual trauma.”

“Gourmet combat cuisine,” he teased, picking up a slice for himself. “You didn’t appreciate the protein bar with a hint of chalk?”

You made a face. “I will never forgive whoever approved that menu.”

He laughed, biting into his slice. “You sound like Sam.”

You glanced at him, softening. “I’m so glad Sam is here too.”

“Me too,” Bucky said, his voice gentler now. “I uh— invited him out for coffee tomorrow. Figured we should talk properly.”

“That sounds good.” You replied, your eyes sparkling. Finally everything felt like it was falling into place. 

You chewed in thoughtful silence, the comforting quiet only interrupted by the sound of your chewing and the distant city noises outside the window.

Then, a beat later, you reached for the paper bag he’d brought and peeked inside. Your eyes widened.

“Wait… are these all my favorites?”

He leaned back, feigning casual. “Figured you might need backup.”

There were chocolate bars—dark, milk, the kind with hazelnuts, the kind you’d once mentioned in passing weeks ago. You looked at him.

“You remembered?”

He shrugged, but his ears went pink. “I remember everything when it comes to you.”

Your heart squeezed.

“You know,” you said after a moment, your tone playfully teasing, “between the pizza and the chocolate and the locking the door behind you… this kind of feels like a date.”

Bucky blinked, mid-chew. He swallowed, licking a smudge of cheese from his lip. “It’s not a date.”

“Oh,” you said, trying to sound casual, though something in your chest tugged a little.

He looked over at you, eyes dancing. “A real date would involve me taking you out. You know… somewhere nice. Dinner. Maybe dancing.”

You blinked, surprised. “Dancing?”

“Yeah. That’s what people used to do back in my day. You take a girl out, you buy her a soda, you spin her around a floor a few times.”

You laughed, mouth full of pizza. “God, you’re so old-fashioned.”

“Excuse me,” he said, mock offended. “I’ll have you know, I was quite the catch back then.”

You smirked at him. “I don’t doubt it. But to me? This kind of is a date.”

He looked at you for a long moment, the smile fading into something softer. “Yeah?”

You nodded. “Pizza. Chocolate. A guy showing up at my door, remembering everything I like… it counts.”

His voice dipped lower. “Alright. Then it’s a date. But—only if you agree to go dancing with me sometime.”

You snorted. “You’re joking.”

“I’m serious,” he said, grinning now. “I’m gonna take you dancing.”

“I don’t dance, Bucky.”

He tilted his head. “Why not?”

You shrugged, reaching for another slice. “I suck at it.”

“I’ll teach you.”

You gave him a look. “You’re not being serious.”

“I am,” he said, voice quiet now. “I think you’d like it. When it’s with the right person… dancing feels like flying.”

You stilled at that, caught off guard by the sudden sincerity.

After a moment, you smiled. “If you promise not to laugh at me…”

“I would never.”

“Then maybe,” you said softly, “I’ll let you teach me.”

He smiled, and it was the kind that reached all the way to his eyes.

You both ate in silence for a while, the kind of silence that felt full and warm and slow. You leaned back against the headboard beside him, licking chocolate from your thumb, catching his gaze locked on your mouth.

You had just finished licking the chocolate off the rest of your fingers when Bucky stood up from your bed and held his hand out toward you.

You blinked. “What?”

He wiggled his fingers. “Come on.”

You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. “Why do I feel like you’re about to ask me to do something embarrassing?”

“That’s because I am.” His smile was maddening. “I’m cashing in on your promise.”

You tilted your head. “What promise?”

“To dance with me.”

Your mouth dropped open in a soft laugh. “Right now? There’s not even music playing.”

“There’s music in my head,” he said simply. “Good enough.”

You hesitated for a second, then placed your hand in his. “This is so stupid.”

He tugged you gently to your feet. “Probably. But let’s do it anyway.”

The room was dim, lit only by the soft lamp on your nightstand and the golden flicker of the city bleeding in through the window. You stood in the centre of your bedroom, half-laughing already as Bucky placed one hand on your waist and guided your other to his shoulder.

“I don’t know what to do,” you admitted, already stepping on his foot.

He winced, but chuckled. “I noticed.”

You smacked his chest, and he smiled, that rare, slow smile that made your breath catch in your throat.

“Just follow me,” he said, swaying the both of you in a slow circle. “You don’t need to think.”

“No, seriously, I’m awful at this. You’re going to regret this decision.”

“You think this is the worst decision I’ve ever made?” he deadpanned.

You snorted, then laughed harder when you tried to mimic his step and stomped on his foot again.

“Ow—okay, maybe I do regret it a little,” he said, barely dodging another misstep.

“You’re the worst teacher.”

“I’m a great dancer,” he protested, twirling you without warning and catching you like something out of a black-and-white movie. “You’re just a terrible student.”

Your laughter faded a little as you looked up at him — his face close, eyes soft, lips parted slightly with the ghost of a smile.

The air shifted.

“I didn’t know you could move like that,” you murmured.

“I told you,” he said, voice low, “I used to go dancing all the time. Back when the world made more sense.”

Your hand curled a little tighter at his shoulder. “What did it feel like?”

He didn’t break eye contact. “Safe.”

You swallowed, your heart doing something strange in your chest. “Is that how you feel now?”

He didn’t answer at first. Just looked at you for a long time, his thumb brushing gently over the side of your waist, his steps slowing to a gentle sway. The room went still. The city outside faded. It was just the two of you in a moment suspended in time.

“Only when I’m with you,” he said quietly.

Your heart cracked wide open.

He pulled you a little closer — one step, two — until there was no space between you at all. His hand at your waist slid higher, fingers curling slightly. Your nose brushed his. His breath caught.

He kissed you.

There was no hesitation, no build-up. Just the heat of his breath, the weight of his hand on your back, the moment where his lips met yours like he’d been waiting forever.

He sighed into you, his mouth opening softly as yours molded to his, as your hands slid up into his hair. His other arm circled around your lower back, pulling you impossibly closer, like he was afraid you'd disappear.

The kiss was slower this time. Deeper. Sweeter. You felt every bit of him in the way he moved — in the way he groaned softly when your hands slid down the back of his neck, in the way he gently tilted your head to get a better angle, like memorising your mouth.

When you finally pulled away, your foreheads stayed pressed together, both of you catching your breath.

“So,” you whispered, lips brushing his, “still not a date?”

He smiled against your mouth. “It is now.”

And then he kissed you again, arms wrapping around your waist, swaying the both of you to a rhythm only he could hear.

The quiet between you was easy now. Comfortable. You hadn’t stopped smiling since he kissed you — properly kissed you — and stayed close for hours, talking and laughing and dancing like no one was watching.

Eventually, the night wore down. The city lights outside blinked lazily, the kind of quiet that only came after midnight settling into the tower like a soft blanket.

Bucky looked at the clock on your wall — then at the rumpled bed behind you, your empty pizza box and empty chocolate wrappers scattered across the duvet like confetti.

“I should probably go back to my room,” he murmured.

You tried not to frown. “Yeah, it’s late.”

He lingered in your doorway after unlocking it, his hand on the frame. “Tonight was… nice.”

You gave him a gentle smile. “It was.”

“I haven’t…” he rubbed the back of his neck, eyes dropping shyly to the floor. “I haven’t felt that light in a long time. Like I could just be, y’know?”

Your heart softened. “You can always be yourself with me, Bucky. You know that.”

He nodded slowly. “I’m starting to.”

He took a step back, and your stomach flipped. But he paused, looking at you one last time like he didn’t want to go.

“Goodnight,” he said quietly. “And… thank you. For everything. For tonight.”

“Goodnight, soldier,” you teased gently, voice soft.

And then he was gone.

You let out a quiet breath, your body still humming from every touch, every kiss, every laugh. You cleaned up the chocolate wrappers, threw the pizza box in the trash — and flopped back onto your bed with a ridiculous grin on your face.

Your body sank into the mattress. Still warm where he’d held you. Still buzzing from the memory of him swaying you around your bedroom with no music at all.

Your eyes fluttered shut, lips curved in a soft smile.

For the first time in what felt like years, you fell asleep happy.

Elsewhere in the tower, under the flicker of low, sterile lights, Bob stood alone.

He stared into the mirror of the med bay’s private recovery room. His face was pale. His hands were shaking.

He held them out in front of him — palms trembling, fingertips twitching.

Something pulsed beneath his skin.

Golden. Flickering. Alive.

He blinked. And for just a second, his reflection looked back at him not with fear — but with glow.

He could feel it. In his chest. In his skull. In his very soul.

He whispered to himself, barely breathing.

“…Something’s happening to me.”

────✪────

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[seungsoftly]

asking you out while in college ― enha hyung line

୨୧ genre: drabble/fluff ୨୧ wc: 4.53k ୨୧ contains mentions of drinking, partying, and taking painkillers (a safe dosage)

livi's note ♡ i'm so stoked to be posting my first fic on this blog! i really enjoyed writing this, and i hope you guys enjoy it as well! this is only part one of this drabble, so i'll hopefully have the second part with the maknae line up soon! reblogs, likes, and comments are greatly appreciated, and i wish you guys happy reading!

divider credits to @uzmacchiato

→ lee heeseung

even though you now know that he can get really loud and bold with his words when he’s gaming, you would have never thought heeseung spoke louder than a hesitant whisper before he asked you out.

you’d always notice him passing by you when you were sitting in the quad, studying with you friends because you wouldn’t do so otherwise. he had a shy habit of keeping his head tipped towards the ground as he walked alongside some of his own friends, adding a few words to their conversations occasionally.

sometimes you wondered whether he was just that quiet or if he simply preferred to do most of his talking somewhere private where nobody except those close to him could hear what he had to say.

either way, heeseung was pretty cute. he always wore some worn pair of jeans with holes beginning to wear into them and the edges fraying almost out of control. but nothing was more out of control than his growing feelings for you.

little did you know, heeseung barely managed to keep himself walking upright every time he walked even in the same vicinity as you. you were fifteen feet away in the quad, sitting on your little picnic blanket and wearing a cute top and skirt for the weather that came at the end of spring, he was staring at his feet as he walked past, willing them to just please not jumble into each other and embarrass him in front of you

he truly longed to have the confidence to ask you out on a date. if he’d just been bold enough to do so when you two first met, heeseung honestly thought that he might have been near to proposing to you by now. only in his dreams did you wear a ring that he’d given to you while on one knee, asking if you’d be his wife.

but his friends were so ready to be done with heeseung staring off into space where you’d walked past minutes ago, not even bothering to pretend just a little bit that he was paying attention to what they were saying. they nagged him for months about whether or not he’d gotten the girl yet, groaning when he denied. in their minds, it was time that he stepped up and was a man about it.

so they did their best to throw heeseung straight into just doing what he’d been avoiding. he was given a shot glass full of liquor and told to take it, suspicious of what they could possibly want him to be doing afterwards but still following through with drinking the whole thing down with only a minor facial expression.

“cmon man,” jay said to heeseung as he and a few of the other guys guided him along the sidewalk. heeseung didn’t realize until the whole group had stopped in front of a very familiar courtyard that the boys had brought him right to you.

“now go get her,” jake said to him with that charming smile of his. the rest of his friends offered some silent cheers and the alcohol seemed to have worked with the purpose that they’d wanted it to.

heeseung took several confident steps, his brain fogging up a little bit, but it only kept the doubt from the front of his mind. he could do this. he’d dreamed of saying these words to you. now all he had to do was speak them.

you weren’t expecting him to walk up to you with the air of confidence that was currently floating around him, but you honestly loved it. you’d never seen heeseung like this, and it was really a good change for him. he matched the shy, clumsy person that he’d been around you previously, but this was a much better fit for him.

“hey y/n! how are you on this gorgeous day?” heeseung asked with a very forward look on his face. bless his heart. you could see right through him, but you were still going to play along if he’d done all of this just for you.

you responded with a bright smile and a giggle, “i’m wonderful! might i ask what sparked you to come talk to me now of all times?”

to make it even better (and heeseung even cuter), a slight blush bloomed across his cheeks as his face twitched back to that shy boy before returning right back to his now confident attitude. “well i think you might have caught me then. i’ve been meaning to ask you this for a long time, but will you go out with me?”

your smile grew even wider despite expecting something along the lines of this. “hmm, i think i will.”

an almost identical smile appeared on heeseung’s face, his shoulders drooping as if he’d just stopped holding his breath about something. “that’s great!” he exclaimed, not processing that he’d just said that for a few seconds until he clapped his hands over his mouth with a shocked look on his face. “i didn’t mean to say that out loud,” he mumbled, embarrassed yet again in front of you.

grabbing onto his arm, you giggled once again and reassured him, “oh please, it’s fine heeseung. i know you’ve been working yourself up to this for a while.”

the man flushed again. “wait, how did you know that?”

“well, i always see you avoiding eye contact when you think i’m looking and then you stare when i’m not, plus i’ve never seen you so awkward around anyone but me. it also doesn’t help that all of your friends are over there peeking over the wall trying to see if you succeeded or not.”

→ park jongseong

the first thing you noticed about jay was that everything about him screamed wealth. his clothes, his car, even the way he carried himself day by day. he didn’t flaunt it like some other people that attended the same college as you both. rather, it was almost like his money flaunted him.

for the first few months, it was all just hearing about him and being both skeptical and stunned at the fact that someone with his reputation was even on the same campus as you. the girls would always gush about how handsome he was, but how aloof at the same time. according to their hushed whispers, he’d never spoken to a single one of them before and that was exactly the allure of him.

if any one of them would ever manage to get him to speak even a word to them, it would become the talk of the century, almost a present time myth. you just scoffed whenever it was brought up among your own friend group, not quite understanding why they were still obsessing over a man that clearly didn’t want anyone within your college.

the first time you truly saw him up close and in person was about three months into your sophomore year. jay was a junior, but was on a slightly different class track as he was a business major and you were an english major. it was midterm season, and you two had one class together so he first caught your eye when he entered the exam room to take his midterm for the class.

for a second you could’ve sworn that he looked right at you, cold eyes warming a touch in your gaze. but the moment was over quicker than it started and you two, along with the rest of your class, were then starting the exam. the only reason that you two hadn’t seen each other up close yet was because all of the seminars for this particular class were online and nobody had to come in person until midterms.

jay was well aware of his influence among his peers, along with the reputation that they’d come up with for him. it wasn’t that it was bad. in fact it was actually really good, which made it a lot to live up to. to them, he was perfect and cold and handsome, denying every girl and only really talking with his small friend group.

sometimes it got exhausting keeping up that image that everyone had of him, but he’d gladly do it just to be the best in your eyes. you were the one person that wasn’t constantly trying to chase him or get him to talk to you, and it had resonated within him a lot harder than he’d originally thought.

jay would love to just be able to walk up to you and ask you out, but as life was always difficult, things were not going to be that simple for him. you two would be instantly surrounded by a mob of jealous and crazed girls, and that wasn’t how he wanted you to remember the first time he asked you on a date.

instead, jay was going to try his best to make this as private as he could, for both his sake and your sake. but don’t get him wrong, this wasn’t to undermine the feelings he had for you. this was to avoid all of the things that you clearly didn’t want to get involved in since you were never a part of the crowd that loved to follow him around campus.

his first step to this was a little unconventional. he cashed in a favor that heeseung owed him, being his friend of course he agreed. it was a fairly simple task anyways so he really didn’t question it. jay was glad. the thing was, heeseung actually shared an in person class with you, which made him a good messenger.

so, one sunny morning when you’d just taken your seat in that class, you were surprised when heeseung deliberately walked by your desk because his seat was on the other side of the room. it didn’t require him to come this way to get to it. there was even more shock resonating through you when he pulled a single red rose out of his jacket and set it gently in front of you.

originally, heeseung was planning on winking and whispering something to you about it, but he’d decided against it knowing jay’s tendency to use his anger before his actual thoughts. at least there was a note attached to it signed with a “j” that prevented you from getting the wrong ideas. he didn’t want the girl that jay wanted thinking that he had feelings for her when it was actually his friend that did.

you had a few minutes before class started to fully process what happened, but you were still a bit confused until you noticed the crisply folded note attached to the beautiful flower.

unfolding it, you read, “i have my eye on you. would you maybe tell me yes? - j”

so it wasn’t heeseung that held feelings for you. it was someone whose name started with the letter j. there was really only one name that stuck out to you, and that was jay himself. but there was no way he would have sent you this, right? the red rose did scream his level of luxury, but why would he give it to you?

he could have picked anyone at this college, but he chose to send a flower to you. it seemed odd, but you didn’t think too much more into it until the second delivery was made.

you didn’t even hear about the flowers first. not before hearing your roommate literally talk up a storm about how the jay park had spoken to her. about what? quite literally one sentence that was only five words long. “your roommate is y/n y/l/n?”

he’d asked a question about you, and your roommate was still freaking out about him speaking to her. that clearly established her priorities in your friendship. and what clearly outlined them even more was her obvious jealousy about the full bouquet of red roses that were delivered to your door with instructions to give them to you.

she was so upset that she didn’t speak to you for hours, leaving the dorm and not returning until late that night. clearly it was over the fact that her so-called idol only talked to her to try and get with her roommate.

you weren’t sure whether or not you felt touched or something else. jay was obviously putting in the effort to get with you, but on a personal level and not just walking over to you and getting the both of you mobbed. it was an aspect of consideration that really hit deep within you. you weren’t going to deny that he wasn’t handsome and attractive, and this kindness that he’d shown you while pursuing you really made you want to say yes.

finally, you opened the little note that had come with the flowers and a small smile blossomed on your lips.

“if your answer really is yes, let’s talk pretty girl. xxx-xxx-xxxx - jay”

and yes it most indeed was.

→ sim jaeyun

the very first impression of jake that you had was that he was a literal human embodiment of a golden retriever. you’d never seen a man excited like he was over the most unimportant, trivial things.

your friend group and his friend group were fairly close, not to the point that you all were going to be combined, but you’d rather meet up with each other at a party than any other groups. all of jake’s friends were honestly really nice, but nobody tried to latch onto you and become friendly with you like he did.

when you’d asked him why it was your arm he was clinging onto so desperately, jake’s response told you a few things but still left you confused.

his eyes were slightly glazed over from the night of drinking that had been underway for some time as he excitedly mumbled, “it’s just you! you’re so pretty and awesome and usually everyone would have just rolled their eyes and ditched me by now.”

you couldn’t help but feel bad for the slightly intoxicated man, letting him hold onto your arm for the rest of the night until your friends started to head home and you needed to go with them seeing that they’d been your ride to the party and would be your ride home as well. thankfully one of your friends had agreed to be the designated driver for your group so that you all didn’t have to coordinate calling ubers and all.

it was nice to finally get out of the crowded frat house, still booming with music and people even at two in the morning, the short drive back to your dorm serene, but the exhaustion had begun creeping in at that point. by the time you stumbled into your dorm, your eyes were barely open and you felt ready to just faceplant on your little twin sized bed and just pass out.

but the little voice inside your head told you that you wouldn’t wake up very happy in the morning if you didn’t go wash the makeup and sweat off your face and take this uncomfortable dress off.

those few more exhausting minutes dragged along, but you were right that washing your face and putting on some comfortable sleeping clothes would make your morning a lot better. you let out a tired sigh once you were finally ready to sleep, the fluffy cream colored duvet on your bed looking all the more inviting.

somehow you also remembered to plug your phone in just before your head hit the pillow, but you just managed to miss the notification that your screen lit up with the moment your eyes were closed and you were fast asleep.

jake: gnihgt pretty grl <<3

…

your head was pounding when you finally opened your eyes, although it really wasn’t as bad of a headache as you’d had one morning freshman year when you’d yet to have gotten used to the party culture and truly when you needed to stop. you remember not even being sure that you’d survive the day your head hurt so bad. this was nothing some ibuprofen and water couldn’t fix.

digging under your bed, you managed to grab the little bin that laid there that contained all of your medicine that you had in your room. the lid snapped open easily and you set it next to you on your bed so you could rub your eyes open quickly before shuffling through the cold medicine and other things until you located your precious bottle of ibuprofen.

you twisted the cap off it and shook out two pills, just going ahead and taking them dry because you just didn’t feel like reaching for your water. it was just like that some mornings. you’d gulp down half of the water left in your water bottle on the little table beside your bed in a moment when you were absolutely parched.

but as you reached for said water bottle and did in fact gulp down most of it, you noticed several notifications on your phone, the screen having turned on while you hydrated yourself from last night’s drinking bout.

a couple of them were texts from your friends saying that they were glad you’d gotten home and that they’d made it back to their rooms as well, but one text stood out to you. an obviously drunkenly typed one from jake.

your heart warmed as you clicked on the message and read it a couple of times, sending a heart emoji back. it was so sweet of him to text you last night. jake was honestly just such a cute human being in general, and you were so glad that your friend groups were getting closer.

however, as time went on and your friends hung out together more and more, jake was pretty sure he was having a never-ending crisis. god he was so whipped it was embarrassing. but at the same time it was you so he really shouldn’t be thinking like that about having feelings if it was for you.

you weren’t ignoring him. you weren’t being mean to him, in fact it was quite the opposite. you chatted with him rather often when you two saw each other, but you never questioned the drunk texts that he had a habit of sending late at night and that you responded with little hearts to in the morning.

it was killing him on the inside, not being able to truly explain how he was feeling and the deeper meaning behind the texts that you just thought were cute golden retriever friend jake sending you randomly.

the anticipation of potentially trying to ask you out phased in and out as the weeks went by for jake. there were days where he’d just be dreading the thought of maybe having to walk even in the same general area as you, and there’d be some days where he’d be about three seconds away from confessing everything to you while you both were in front of all of your friends.

jake needed to just do it. he had the feelings, he just needed to find the time and the words. and of course in typical college boy fashion, he did so at the most embarrassing, inopportune time. while drunk at a party over a text message.

jake: y/nie u wnat to go on a date wih me? i lub u so muchh but i just can’tt tell u yet :(

he didn’t even remember sending you that text until you responded the next afternoon. 

y/n: aww ur so cute jakey <3. i’d love to! hopefully sober u feels the same haha.

jake’s head was pounding, but he could still process the shock he felt at your answer, and the sort of humiliation at the fact that it had come to this.

this still deserved a fist pump in celebration though. he’d done it! he’d finally asked you out, and you didn’t say no! nothing could wipe this smile off his face now.

→ park sunghoon

sunghoon never appeared to be someone that preferred words over actions. in fact, it was shocking to you when you first heard him speak, not thinking he was going to do so around you at all.

this was true; sunghoon just preferred to not engage in conversation with people he didn’t know very well or when he was out and about around campus surrounded by random people. his friends were used to it, letting him nod along and maybe add in a few quiet words to their chats as they walked to classes or to the library or even to a cafe for breakfast. 

it was a whole lot easier for him to focus on his schoolwork and his skating when he didn’t get sidetracked talking to random people. he had grades to maintain in order for him to keep his athletic scholarship, and making sure he was entirely locked in on said athletics was important because he took pride in his performances.

sunghoon was known as the ice prince of the college’s figure skating team for a reason, and he didn’t want to let anyone down. his family always told him that he did amazing and that he needed to stop being his biggest critic. but he’d just spent so much of his life doing this that he didn’t know what else to do than practice, find the mistakes that needed to be corrected, and perfect things until they couldn’t become any better.

“hoon,” jake said to him in that tone that meant he was both teasing and concerned, leaning towards the latter. “you’ve got to stop being so ocd about things and just accept that everything isn’t going to be perfect.

the man in question did, in fact, know that not everything was perfect, but he wanted to try and get the things he had an influence on as close as possible.

this mindset remained within sunghoon’s brain for years. he’d been like this since the beginning of freshman year, and now it was nearing winter of his junior year. he truly wasn’t expecting anything about it to change, at least not until you entered his life.

you with your chaotically thrown together bag and your coffee-stained jeans entered his life and somehow managed to throw his mind out of the carefully woven way that he’d made sure it was. instead of thinking about what still needed work in his program, sunghoon started thinking about when he’d see you next.

he would have thought that his coach would be mad when he said something about sunghoon being a little bit less obsessive about the little things during practice, but all the man had to tell him was that he was glad that sunghoon had relaxed a little bit.

soon enough, his friends began to take note of the same thing. sunghoon seemed a little less uptight and smiled more, especially when the boys hung around your friend group. they were confused as to what it might be that was causing their very serious friend to lighten up a bit, at least until they caught sunghoon staring at you a little too long and a few times too many during one of your combined hang outs.

once that was finished and they met in jay, jake, and sunghoon’s apartment, his friends were all over him.

“so that’s what’s gotten you all flustered!” jake exclaimed amidst the clear exchange of money between jungwon and niki.

sunghoon rolled his eyes at that, “you guys bet on this?!”

“of course we did man!” the youngest replied back. “i made bank on this because someone said that you were just getting burnt out.” the gaze back at jungwon made it obvious that he hadn’t been expecting sunghoon to be thinking of a girl out of all things.

“guys,” heeseung cut in, ever the wisest as the oldest among them, “how about we stop teasing and see how we can get hoon back into his groove while figuring out these feelings that he’s caught for y/n.”

a couple nods and murmurs followed, sunghoon’s friends knowing when to stop and when they needed to be good friends that helped the quiet boy understand and admit his feelings.

the six other boys let sunghoon come to them with talks of his feelings for you, and over time began to devise a plan when they could tell that he was at the point where he was really down bad for you but just didn’t have the courage or experience to make them known to you.

meanwhile, you’d grown a little crush on the cold ice prince. your friends did know that you were catching feelings for someone, but not who. nevertheless, they still encouraged you to make words out of those feelings and finally tell the lucky man that you wanted to date him.

however, you truly believed that it wouldn’t be that simple. he wasn’t going to talk to you. he barely even talked to his friends from what you could see.

at least, you had those beliefs until the day that jake sim handed you something and asked you to go take it to the rink since he was about to be late for his class. like any good friend, you said yes, slowly but surely making your way there.

but when you opened the door and stepped into the rink, the ice in full view, you were stunned.

there was sunghoon, gliding along, body dancing in elegant lines and jumping with graceful power. it was marvelous. you’d never seen him skate before, just heard the things people had said about him.

even though there had been nothing but good said about sunghoon’s skating skills, you firmly believed that they’d still undermined the way that he moved across the ice.

soon enough, sunghoon came to a stop at the edge of the arena, noticing you and the fact that you had something that jake had promised to get to him in your arms.

you stepped down to the entrance of the rink, meeting him at the little door that swung open.

“uhm jake gave me this to get to you. he was going to be late for class and i was free so..”

“oh, thank you,” he chuckled. “although i don’t think that was why he asked you to come here.”

you were confused. “wait what?”

“yeah. my friends know me well and have said i just need a little push to just say one sentence.”

again, this still wasn’t making much sense to you, and you had a feeling that sunghoon could tell based on the look you had on your face.

“so what does this have to do with me again?”

he let out another one of those attractive chuckles, bringing you to realize that you were actually having a conversation with the park sunghoon. crazy, but really weird.

“it involves you because they want me to step up and ask you out. so how about we have dinner together one night?”

stunned, you stuttered out a yes. this might actually be one of the best moments of college you’d experienced so far.

© seungsoftly 2025 please do not copy, repost, or translate

this is a work of fiction and is not intended to depict any accurate representation of any members of enhypen. please do not take this as real.

[holorform2009]

Ŧยภ єאקɭ๏гคՇเ๏ภ

Before I go completely on Hiatus because school is about to start soon! (but don't worry! I'll make sure to update the OG! Platonic forsaken x child reader) You guys deserve this one TW: Blood mention, eye contact, human turned into cake mentioned. You have been warned.

"hmmm... If I remember correctly, this path should lead us to floor 5! Hopefully the maze didn't changed this time around...." You exclaimed as you open a door and head inside, Elliot soon followed behind. He didn't expected this place to be... Upsidedown? Odd. It looked like both of them are walking in the ceiling, he can't quite explain how to describe this...

"So! Where do come from? Before you got here of course." You turn around to look at him while walking backward, head cocked to the side as a friendly smile appeared in your face.

"Well, I'm from Robloxia." He replied as he softly smiles back at you, he scratch the back of his nape before he spoke up. "What about you?" That question sounded stupid of course this place is where you came from— "Oh I'm from level 78! Though I recommend you not to visit there..." Nevermind he takes it back.

"I see, I thought you lived here.." You gasped as if you're offended. "Lived here? Oh no no no no dear friend! Every entities have their own homes er– levels to stay forever or just hang out." You explained as you skipped in your steps in backwards. "Beside, I don't even like this place—–-

Iͭ̂͂͒ͤ͡ ̛͛ͦ̈́̑ͪC̄ͮͯ̒ͨͮ̑҉̷͡A̴̡̓ͩ̄̑̓̀͗͗̓͋̄̆̓̉ͪ̚͡N̸ͭͩ̍̊͑͑͊̉͌ ͭ̆͐̿ͧ͒̏͋̉Ṡͣ̒҉̨̢̈̃͡Tͯͬ͋̐ͮ͌ͨ̒ͤ̊͘͟͢I̵̴ͭ̂͂͒ͤͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͜͡L̵̴̓ͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͜L̓ ͭ̆͐̿ͧ͒̏͋̉Ṡͣ̒҉̵̨̢̍̾̕͜Mͪ͆ͧ́ͯͮͫͩ́͜E̵̴͆́͆̑ͧ̐ͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͢͜L̵̴̓ͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͜L̓ ̈̃͡T̢ͯͬ͋̐ͮ͌ͨ̾ͪ̌ͪ͘͘͟͢H͆̿͒҉̸ͮͫͩ́͜E͆́͆̑ͧ̐͢ ͬ̐̂͑͗̓͟͡B̵̴ͬ́͋̅̾̆ͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͜͞L̴̨̓ͥ͐͟Ǫ̴̆̏̅͊ͥ͐͟͠Ŏ̏̅͊̄̏̓̆̏ͣ́̚͠҉D̄ͯ͢ ̴̨ͥ͐͟Ŏ̴̏̅͊ͩͤ͑̏̿́̕͠F̈́̐ͣ̓͆͛ͧ̀̀ ̢̾ͪ̌ͪ͘H͆̿͒҉̸̡͊̇̇̒ͯ́͆Ů̵̀̍̾̕͜͡͞Mͪ͆ͧ́ͯA̴̡̓ͩ̄̑̓̀͗͗̓͋̄̆̓̉ͪ̚͡N̸ͭͩ̍̊͑͑͊̉͌ͭ̆͐̿ͧ͒̏͋̉Ṡͣ̒҉̨̢ A̴̡̓ͩ̄̑̓̀͗͗̓͋̄̆̓̉ͪ̚͡N̸ͭͩ̍̊͑͑͊̉͌̄̏̓̆̏ͣ́̚҉D̄ͯ͢ ̒ͤ̊Iͭ̂͂͒ͤ͡ ̢̋̆̆̒W̢ͥ͆A̴̡̓ͩ̄̑̓̀͗͗̓͋̄̆̓̉ͪ̚͡N̸ͭͩ̍̊͑͑͊̉͌̈̃͡Tͯͬ͋̐ͮ͌ͨ͘͟͢ ̈̃͡T̴̨ͯͬ͋̐ͮ͌ͨͥ͐͘͟͢͟Ŏ̏̅͊͠ ͭ̆͐̿ͧ͒̏͋̉Ṡͣ̒҉̨̢ͮͫͩ́͜E͆́͆̑ͧ̐ͮͫͩ́͢͜E͆́͆̑ͧ̐͢ ͬͩ́Y̶̴̨̛̾̋͗̐ͥ͐͟Ŏ̡̏̅͊͊̇̇̒ͯ́͆͠Ů̀͡͞ ͬ̐̂͑͗̓͟͡B̵̴ͬ́͋̅̾̆ͯ́̊̉̈́̇̀ͦ́͜͞L̓ͮͫͩ́͜E͆́͆̑ͧ̐ͮͫͩ́͢͜E͆́͆̑ͧ̐̄̏̓̆̏ͣ́̚͢҉D̄ͯ͢— You and I are going to get along just fine, I can tell!" You closed your eye with a small on your face as you turned around and hopped each steps you took.

". . ." Elliot stood in silence, his eyes were in fright as he wondered what the hell was that about.. You stopped and noticed he wasn't following behind you, so you called out to him to snap him out from his thought, you put both of your hands cupping your mouth and yell; "Hey! Are coming or not?"

He hesitate for a moment before slowly catching up to you, he feels something about you that doesn't seem right to him... "Come on! We're going to level 5!" You let out a giggle as you swayed your arms playfully like a carefree child. "And maybe I should introduce you to my friend!" The long hallway seemed to be curving downwards and wait— downwards? Before Elliot could react, small hand tightly grabbed his and he looks down at you in surprised and is sightly terrified about what is about to happen next.

"Hold on tight friend! It seemed like it is changing!"

"It what now?—"

He feel the floor beneath him curved downwards in lighting speed and it made him immediately fall down as he screamed while you just laughed. An arm wrapped around your small figure. "How fun!— Weeeee!"

Now you may be wondering what happened to Noob....

Noob walked around for bit, exploring and hopefully find an exit to leave this eery place at once. They rubbed their shoulders as they spotted a red exit sign in the corner of their eyes, their eyes widen as a smile appeared in their face. "F– finally! An exit..!" They run towards the door and grab the knob out of excitement and relief, they twist it open and their smile vanished away the moment they see a hallway full of balloons and smiling faces drawn on the walls.

In the middle there's a colorful table with a cake and a drawn smiley face with a 'Welcome New Friend!' on it, the sight left them freaked out and disturbed. But what disturbed them the most is the smell of iron...

They quickly shut the door out of fear and turns around— only for them to see they're not in the yellow hallway anymore, a smiley red balloon boop his face suddenly and he pushed it away revealing all the balloons soon after. They took a step back, it look liked they're at the birthday party and they feels so uninvited here... They felt their heart quickened. No no No No NO NO NOO!! They looked back again to see the exit door wasn't there anymore and suspiciously a yellow figure hides in the corner of their eyes.

What

Was

That

They don't what to know what that is and they immediately turned around to start running, ghost burger in hand just in case. They need to get out of here like right now! As they run down the hallway all of the colorful balloons and red smiling faces at the walls seem to multiply the more they keep running.

A rope suddenly caught on their foot and Noob yelped in surprised and fall forward– face first. Someone placed a rope in here and Noob falls straight for the trap without them knowing. Then. Suddenly. Noob heard something falling and when they look up they were met with a splash of water and then a laugh right after that. This startled noob and they never screamed so loud before in their entire life.

"HAHAHAH!!

Chill out man! It's just a prank!" Noob opened their eyes and they were met with a person with yellow felt skin and a party hat on top of it's head and it's hands were larger and they could've sworn they saw teeth in it's palm, it's face was a red creepy smile like someone stabbed it face to carve a childish smile. "You should've seen your face! PPFTT— BAHAAHAH!!!"

Then a person came in. "Woah! What did I missed??" The other person was slightly different from the red smiling face entity.

He was wearing a yellow sweater and black pants with pale skin and his face was covered with what seem to be a yellow paper bag with a red smiling face drawn on it. If you look closely you could see it's blood.

"You missed a LOT bro!" It laughed and slapped it's knee. The guy with paper bag looked at noob and approached them. "Hmm.. I don't recognize you.. are you new? Also, wear this." He placed a blue star party hat on Noob's head and helped them stood up as he pat their shoulder. "You should know it's your birthday today buddy!" Noob can hear him smile and in response they look at him in confuse. Their birthday..? "Welcome Home!" It said as it comes closer to noob and sling it's arm on their shoulders.

"Come! You have to meet the others! I bet they're very excited once everyone laid their eyes on you!" He grinned and grab Noob's hand and began leading them to the fun area with the party goer following behind.

Noob doesn't know what to do but follows them with no other choice. It happened suddenly so fast, first they were chased by Jason and now they teleported here out nowhere. Just what the hell is going on???

Once the three of them reached their destination, he opened the door and head first inside before noob went second and second it. The room was pretty dark and noob couldn't see anything, they tried reaching to the guy in yellow paper bag but they just reached an air. Before they could panic a huge onomatopoeia pop was heard and colorful confetti raining on noob making them jumped in surprised as they squeaked, their body shivered in fright as they stood there.

"SURPRISE!!"

Everyone said in synchronized while Noob stood there in shock. They can't believe what their seeing. There on the table laid a cake with blood dripping from its icing, the smell of iron was pretty obvious. Especially bits of pieces of flesh scattered on the table in a mess.

They want to puke.

"What are you waiting for new friend? Blow the candle! We've picked the right human just for you!" All of them smiled. The man in yellow paper bag stepped closer and clasp a hand on their shoulder. "Go on don't be shy! Appreciate their effort, friend..." He moved them forward towards the cake. Noob's vision were starting to blur with every step they took, they're now standing in front of the cake, the small was unbearable they could feel their acid rising in their throat.

Their figure was shaking to the core as they heard the entities in the room giggled and laughed. With their mouth slowly open– hesitant evident in their movement before taking a deep breath and blow the candle. Everyone cheered as another confetti was thrown in the air again as everything faded to black...

"Woah!—"

The man in yellow paper bag catched Noob in time before they could touch the ground. "Huh. Guess they were that excited to the point they overstimulate of happiness..." That was the last thing Noob hear before they went completely go unconscious.

[opbackgrounds]

Haki kinda felt like a necessary evil cause there would just be some fruits that are ungodly broken and basically unbeatable without it (Kizaru, Marco, etc.) but yeah it does really suck that fights became much more one note once it became prevalent.

Part of me maybe wants to think that now that we’re out of haki’s sort of developmental stage, the creativity is coming back, though? Fishman Island and Punk Hazard were mainly about showing haki’s base capabilities off, and Dressrosa, whole cake, and Wano were about developing it further with the advanced applications (gear 4, future sight, and advanced armament/conqueror’s). So those arcs had devil fruit combat take something of a backseat, but now that we’ve gotten past establishing haki’s upper limits and the playing field has somewhat leveled out, it feels like Oda has found the freedom to put unique and creative devil fruits back at the forefront again? Elbaf especially has had some of my absolute favourite fruits in the entire series, and the way they’re being utilized feels much more thought out and deliberate than earlier post timeskip fights. Sucks that it took this long to get back here but I’m glad it feels more balanced again. Hopefully it stays that way.

haki can be interesting when there are clearly defined rules and limitations, but too often it’s become a “my power level is higher than yours” type of system. The Enel fight was fun and so was the Katakuri one on WCI, and I found the training on Wano to be interesting because it actually fleshed out the system more than willpower.

I actually think haki might have worked a little better in a novelization of One Piece. Haki is basically weaponized ambition, and that’s difficult to portray in a visual medium. If there was space to describe what was going on internally it might feel a little better to the reader.

[crowttore]

Dottore/ random boner/ miscommunication/ can be with character, reader or oc. It's up to you/ doesn't have to result in a scene but it's obviously nsfw because of the content.

😊

-Caprisun urethrae anon

Surprisingly, this didn't result in anything but embarrassment for Dottore jsakghkgs but honestly it'd be funny to write the resolution and have that be nsft

Tags: Random boner, lack of proper communication, suggestive at the end (exactly one boner mention), 600 words

'Just a little further to the right' Dottore took a deep breath, trying with all his might to still his quivering hands long enough to slide the final disc properly into place. It was delicate work unless he wanted the volatile mixture of electro and anemo to shock him half to death.

'Too far' 'Of course'

No matter how much time passed, his first instinct when reaching a complication would always be to curse in his old tongue. Step two was to identify points of improvement before inevitably trying again and getting it right.

'Too far again'

Dottore rubbed his eyes, trying to ignore how they'd long since begun to sting, before once more examining the misaligned piece. Realistically, it would make little difference whether he left it for tomorrow or got it fixed tonight. A night of rest would undoubtedly help his motor skills.

It was human to make mistakes, and Dottore was better than that.

After twenty more minutes of countless attempts (and a fair few kicks to the metal exterior of their now fully functional energy conversion device) Dottore sank back in his chair with a satisfied groan.

"Sounds like someone is having a good night, Lord Harbinger?" Dottore immediately recognized your voice, sitting up a little straighter and attempting to shake his no doubt disheveled hair back into place. He would have to reprimand you for entering without knocking.

"Careful," he warned, curiosity washing away the exhaustion in his bones at the sight of your disbelief, "we wouldn't want anyone thinking you delight in the misery of your superiors, would we?"

'No cocky remark? No reply at all? How curious.'

Your silence only served to pique Dottore's interest further, studying your nervous shuffling and the way you seemingly refused to let your eyes linger for more than a few seconds. A mere courier, you'd never shown interest in the work he did, even as you brought countless reports and correspondence back and forth between Dottore and Pierro.

"…Is this a bad time?"

The softness of your voice only made Dottore frown. "So there is a purpose to your visit, go on then."

"Just a message. It can wait until morning." Once more, far too avoidant compared to how he knew you. And a message that could wait, yet you'd still taken the trouble of travelling well into the night instead of stopping at the border between Snezhnaya and Nod-Krai? Unlikely.

Perhaps you'd noticed his exhaustion and mistaken it for annoyance? Maybe an explanation would put you at ease. "Now is fine, I just spent longer than desired inserting-"

"Doctor!" You interrupted, snapped, causing him to momentarily lose track of the explanation, his confusion only increasing when you took the opportunity to continue in a scandalized tone, "I don't want to hear about it! Archons above, just tell me to go, you don't have to tell me anything about your predicament."

At least you were acting more like yourself.

As though time had slowed down, Dottore followed your line of sight to his lap, immediately trying to suppress the heat creeping up his face. He cleared his throat, adjusting his legs before swiftly giving up and snatching a book to cover the obvious tent in his pants.

Regrettably, you were already halfway out the workshop before he could croak out a weak 'tomorrow then'. His head fell to the table in defeat, this would be a nightmare to sort out. Hopefully, you had enough decency to keep it to yourself until he could properly explain.

[wrldhoon]

sigils and sin (m)

02 ── .✦

⋆˚★ pairing: enhypen ༝ fem.ᐟreader

word count — 7.5k

౨ৎ masterlist

synopsis ⊹ ࣪ ˖ war. power. loss. love. secrets. sin. you were trained to do many things. that was why you chose to be here. the dragon-riding quadrant of the notorious Veirthorne Academy. they trained you to fight, to win, to survive. yet, they never taught you to be human.

genre(s) ᯓ fantasy, angst, slow-burn, multiple love interests, smut

⤷ warnings: explicit content, violence, death, graphic depictions of injury

ꨄ︎ note: spent all day writing this and i really enjoyed it tbh... a bit longer than the first chapter BUT new characters have been introduced so YAYYY!! next chap will prob take longer since im busy all weekend but hopefully that means it will be longer.. happy reading! <3

02 ─ the culling

anger.

to lose control is to place a weapon in your own hands, its edge pointing outwards.

a weapon that wounds.

one that kills.

deadly, powerful, and all consuming.

it courses through your veins until there is more feeling than blood—the one thing that served as a reminder that you were still human.

you could feel the warm trickle of scarlet coat your fingers, slowly dripping onto the gravel beneath your feet. his eyes glanced down at your hand, and not once did his expression falter. “you’re bleeding, cadet.”

your gaze never left his face.

you hated it.

you hated that annoying look on his face whenever he saw you, like it was uniform.

you hated his eyes. deep, brown eyes that seemed just a little too empty.

you hated his lips. the way the corners turned up in a smug smile.

you hated him.

“i know that,” you spoke through gritted teeth.

“then, you better go get that fixed. wouldn’t want you bleeding out like this during training, do we?”

“of course, sir,” your tone was mocking. you watch his eyes narrow, jaw tightening in pure annoyance. you knew the healers had returned to their rightful quadrant already. the next time you see a healer would be at the next big trial—whenever that may be. you knew he knew that, too.

jake.

your thoughts drifted to him, his sweet smile and gentle hands. you had barely met him, but he emitted this sense of warmth that loosened the tight coils of your fears. the kind of person that made you feel like the world could burn, but as long as he was alive, you could be at peace.

as if maybe, just maybe, all the light hadn’t been stripped from the world just yet.

you hoped to see him again.

the boy turned his attention to the group before him. “i will be your squad leader for the remainder of your time here. this group, this section, this squad—it does not guarantee your survival. you have been assigned to the most dangerous, unpredictable section within this quadrant, because that is what you are. that means those around you are, too. death is inevitable. so, prepare for it. become it. anyone can be your enemy, whether it is today, tomorrow, or for the rest of your life,”

your thoughts drifted off to that girl.

the one who pushed you on the stairs.

your eyes scanned the rows of cadets around you.

there were fifteen of you total, excluding your dear squad leader.

she was no where in sight.

you took mental note of that. from now on, you knew she would come after you. you could feel it.

“there are no formal events scheduled for the rest of the night. we will take you to your barracks—allow you all to settle in. get in as much sleep as you can tonight. you will need it for tomorrow,” with that, he turned on his heels and began moving forward. the rest of you followed along behind him. you weave through a few people before reaching the person you had been looking for since you had left jake.

your steps fell into line with hers. sensing your presence, she turned in your direction. her eyes widened in surprise, a cheery grin gracing her features.

she was pretty.

“oh thank Gods, you’re here too? i was worried i’d never see you again after today,” you returned the gesture.

“i don’t die easily,” it was a joke, but she could tell it stung. just a little bit.

she slid her arm into the nook of your elbow, “well, from now on i will make sure you don’t die at all. we will be making it to third year together. it is my personal mission to break that stigma.”

you gaped at her in surprise.

third year.

rumor had it that not many cadets even survived long enough to make it past the first week.

living long enough to make it through first year was already a high accomplishment in itself.

“i’m hana, by the way. i never got to ask for your name ‘cause.. y’know. near-death and all,” you let out a soft chuckle at that. “y/n.”

“okay, it’s settled then. y/n and hana—making it to third year together!”

she was way too happy considering she almost died just a few hours ago.

maybe you needed someone like that, though.

that glimmer of hope to drown out your fear.

hope in a world overwhelmed with suffering.

you gave each other a knowing look before turning your attention back towards the front. the cobblestone walls of the riders quadrant was decorated with moss and vines. its cracks and rough corners emphasized the age of the academy. you noticed the slight divots underneath your feet.

hundreds, thousands of cadets had walked this very same path.

some for the very last time, others on their way to becoming riders.

you wondered if you could live long enough to consider yourself one of them.

“this will be your sleeping quarters. training begins at dawn. i expect you to be there on time,” and with that, he left.

you watched as his figure retreated down the hallway, his eyes briefly locked with yours once he had reached the end of it. then, he turned the corner.

he was gone.

something about his gaze sent chills up your spine. you didn’t know what it was, but it would be at the back of your mind for the rest of the night.

everyone settled into their respective beds. you chose the bed right in the middle beside hana. the minute the door had shut, you felt it. there was something eery about the barracks.

the atmosphere.

it was… tense.

a type of tension that felt deadly.

you tried not to dwell on it too much, but that feeling.

that gut feeling—it never left.

suddenly, the torches went out. a strong gust of wind blew across the room, causing everyone to shudder. you laid on the thin mattress, the sad excuse of a blanket pulled up to your chin. it was freezing. your body trembled lightly. the sheet did little to keep you warm, to ease your nerves.

then, a choked gasp was heard.

you immediately sat up, head snapping towards the source of the sound. you froze. the sight in front of you left you speechless.

the boy from earlier.

the one with the broken arm.

he had one end of a rolled up sheet in his fist, the other end between his bared teeth.

he was choking someone, strangling them with the shredded cloth.

“what the fuck are you doing?!” someone shouted, rushing over in attempt to save them. their face had turned a nasty shade of red, then blue. their nails were digging into the boy’s arm, scratching at him till he bled.

he looked over his shoulder, his gaze sharp. in one swift movement, he turned, his fist flying straight towards the cadet’s face.

crack.

the punch was powerful enough to knock her down, hands over her nose as she cried out in pain. he had broken her nose and Gods know what other bones in her face. he was strong. horrifyingly, so. you could feel your heart pounding in your ears. it muffled the sounds of chaos emitting from the other cadets.

“you have been assigned to the most dangerous, unpredictable section within this quadrant, because that is what you are.”

“anyone can be your enemy, whether it is today, tomorrow, or for the rest of your life.”

that was what he said.

but this was what he meant.

loyalty was not a given just because you were in the same squad.

“they are your family.”

a lie.

deception weaved between hopeful words, spoken with promise.

this wasn’t family.

this was survival.

and survival had only one rule.

to kill.

anyone can be your enemy, and that meant everyone was.

you leaned over the empty space between you, gripping hana’s arm and dragging her onto your bed. “they’re going to start killing each other.”

you could see the fear etched into her features, “but i thought—”

“no, hana. remember where we are. what we are trying to become. this is not a game,” everything began to piece itself together in your head.

“there are only so many dragons willing to bond each year. there are hundreds of us. dragons don’t bond with weak humans, remember?” you reminded her, hands tightening around her shoulders as if to ground her, to keep her from completely losing her mind in this moment.

the weak—they die first or they die at the hands of a dragon.

“the parapet, that guy?” she nodded her head, her whole body locked up in fear.

“he tried to kill you. and me. that didn’t end just because we made it across,” you could see the realization settle, her skin underneath your fingers suddenly feeling hot.

“this—this is cruel! this isn’t human! i don’t want to kill someone that’s fighting for the same thing i am!” you could see tears prick at her eyes.

you knew then.

she was scared.

weak.

that meant she was a target.

you knew being tied to her would make you one, too.

you had to make another choice.

kill her and turn into the monster you had sworn to become when you stepped foot on to that bridge, or protect her and cling onto the part of you that was still human.

you thought back to your family. what would they think of you if you had succumbed to the desire to kill? would they feel disgusted, horrified by who you were becoming? or would they praise you for surviving? Gods, was it cruel. to survive as a rider, you had to let go of humanity. it all made sense, too, which terrified you. you were here to fight for a spot—a bond.

dragons themselves, they’re monsters. you couldn’t escape that fate even if you tried, unless you were weak. unless a dragon deemed you unworthy and burned you to ashes on the spot.

unless you die.

“you don’t have to kill anyone. you just need to live.” your words left a bitter taste in your mouth, because you knew it was a lie.

this was just the beginning.

it starts with deceit.

then, it spirals into something savage.

a vicious truth you can never come back from.

all hell had broken loose.

cadets—some went for the kill, others stayed alert and chose to avoid conflict at all costs.

some kills were successful, others weren’t. their failures birthed resentment. they sparked grudges and fueled rivalries that would not be forgotten until death.

then, there was blood.

it stained the walls, flowed like connecting rivers along the ground. the only evidence that those people ever lived. their bodies had been thrown over the side, hitting the concrete below with a painful thud.

it was brutal.

the scent of death. it made you sick. you could feel the bile rising in your throat, yet you forced it back down. you couldn’t show weakness. you already had a giant target on your back. so, you didn’t sleep. you forced yourself to stay awake, to watch. the moment you fell asleep, a hand could reach for your throat, a blade could sink itself into your heart.

so you sat there. right in the middle of the storm.

you prayed.

you prayed that your body would stay awake from pure adrenaline, that if someone lunged at you now, you would be able to react without hesitation.

without fear.

you allowed it to dissolve, slip between your fingers and get buried beneath everything else. you stored it away in a tiny, little box in your mind. you couldn’t afford to be afraid, because fear gets you killed.

to survive, you had to become it.

by the time dawn had arrived, there were eleven of you left.

four people—dead.

hana was curled up beside you, her hands wrapped tightly around your arm, using your presence as an anchor to reality. your eyes were dry and irritated from being open for so long. a gentle breeze stirred the air. you could see the sun rising above the horizon from where you sat. you made it through the first day.

three years was starting to look a lot less doable.

the door creaked open.

a boy, one you hadn’t seen before, stood at the archway. all eyes fell on him.

he scanned the room, noticing the sudden decrease in cadets. his expression was unreadable. you could see the faint shadow of his stubble across his jaw, his dark brown hair falling just below his eyes. there was a scar on his left eyebrow, cutting dangerously close to his eyelid.

“training begins in twenty minutes. gather your things and meet in the hall once you are ready. your squad leader is not particularly fond of late attendance,” he ignored the blood. he didn’t even bother asking about the four missing people. he treated it like it was normal, and maybe, it was.

you stood up from your bed, slipping on your boots. hana did the same, but her movements seemed more sluggish. she hadn’t slept a wink, either. after the events of yesterday, you were sure you would drop dead in a few hours. your body was exhausted, bruised, bleeding, and you had no time to properly rest. the cuts on your palms had reopened. you could feel the sting every time your hands flexed to tie your laces together. the once clean gauze was now a dull brown color. your torso felt raw, the bruising always being worse the second day, but they didn’t care. no matter what injuries you may have, it didn’t matter. bruised ribs and broken arms were an occupational hazard—came with the job.

you pushed the pain down into that same little box you had made up in your head. the more you focused on the sting and the ache, the worse it would feel.

you followed the others outside of the room, hana trailing behind you. you could sense she had been thinking all night, her brain trying to justify everything all at once.

regret, shame, and fear.

she felt it all. now, she couldn’t back out. it was too late.

your only way out of the rider’s quadrant was to die.

the training room was big; big enough to hold sixteen people.

the room had everything a rider-in-training could ask for. sparring mats laid across the floor, spaced apart with perfect precision. punching bags hung on one end of the room, while the other end had a wall lined with weapons.

real weapons. not sparring sticks and wooden swords, but real ones. the steel glistened as sunlight reflected off of it.

all the cadets stood in orderly formation. you chose to ignore the four empty spaces behind you. at the front stood squad leader yang, the male from earlier, a woman, and two other men you had never seen before. they all emitted the same energy.

powerful, cunning, and unforgiving.

pure blood dragon riders.

“made it on time, i see.”

yang.

your eye twitched in annoyance, or exhaustion; you weren’t sure. you ignored his remark, gaze turning towards the unfamiliar faces.

the woman—she had short pink hair that stopped right above her shoulders. with her outfit, you could see a deep scar that ran down her forearm in a straight line. on the same arm, right at the bicep, was a mark. a tattoo, of sorts, that signified a rider’s bond with their dragon. the sigil was made with intricate lines, its vines wrapping around a blade that hung upside-down in the center.

the boy from earlier—he carried a weight that seemed centuries old. he looked to be around your age, maybe a little bit older, but still in his early twenties. he had taken off his overcoat, the black shirt he was wearing hugging his figure a little too well. his arms were toned and muscular, a result of the constant training and battles he had probably endured. there were no markings on his arms, aside from a few small scars that cascaded down to his wrists. there was a small symbol on his shirt, on the right side of his chest. a faint, gold emblem of a dragon facing the sky with two rings around it. you weren’t sure what it signified. a mark of importance, surely.

then, there was the male right beside him—there was something cold about him. his pale skin, sharp eyes, his hair messily splayed across his forehead. he was a kind of beautiful that was dangerous, the kind where if you got too close, you’d be burned (ironically). you noticed the little moles that decorated his face, almost invisible from where you stood. there was a scar on his cheek and one that ran down the side of his neck, disappearing underneath his black t-shirt. he was slightly bigger than the previous, the muscles in his arms bulging against the sleeves. his shoulders were broad and he was tall.

'Gods, forgive me.'

his bicep was covered with what looked to be branches, sharp and bare, wrapping fully around the limb like barbed wire. you knew he was strong. he didn’t need to prove himself for everyone to know what he was capable of.

right beside him stood another man you hadn’t met yet—this one had a quieter aura. not soft, just quiet, like a snake waiting for its prey. his arms were crossed over his chest. his top missed their sleeves, showing off his shoulders. he was turned towards the pinkette, conversing with her about something. it seemed serious. your eyes trailed to his back. it was slightly visible due to the missing parts of his top. you could make out a few dark, tattooed lines on his back. however, you couldn’t quite figure out what it was. his hair was brushed out of his face, parted neatly down the middle to expose his forehead. what surprised you was there were no marks on him. his skin was clear of damage, not a single abnormality to be seen. that intrigued you. he seemed older than you, too, so it would only make sense for him to have some sort of battle scars.

finally, your eyes landed on yang. the blonde boy that had your blood pressure rising by just existing. though, you couldn’t do anything about it. he was your squad leader. you had to obey him.

like a dog.

his hair was messy, too, but it still fell perfectly in front of his eyes. it pissed you off beyond imagination. he was wearing the same outfit as the rest of them—wide, black cargo pants and a simple black shirt, except his also had a symbol on it. it was the same as the other, but his had one ring instead of two. it made sense, then. it was an insignia of leadership.

you assumed the other boy was his second in command. his skin was empty of scars, too. maybe they were hidden, not visible to just anyone. as he turned around, your eyes caught the etching behind his neck. it barely peaked over his shirt, but you saw it. right below the tips of his golden hair were thick, intricate lines that most likely ran down the expanse of his backside. his shoulders were wide. it made you wonder how big his sigil was, too.

maybe it was as big as his ego.

he stepped forward, arms folding over his chest.

they really enjoyed doing that here.

“welcome to your first day of training. today, you will learn how to fight—hand to hand combat. proper physical ability is crucial. strength, stamina, speed, all of it. bonding with a dragon gives you abilities others could not even dream to touch, but it does not guarantee your life. battling with your hands is just as important,” he nodded his head at the four people behind him. they stepped up to the front in perfect sync. it was practiced, controlled, like they were military folk.

“the five of us will be watching over you all as you spar. you will go in pairs. if you don’t have a partner, you can choose someone who has previously went—or one of us.” the cadets swallowed nervously at that.

“second in command, lee heeseung,” the boy from this morning. he gave nothing but a slight nod of his head. “if i am ever absent and you need assistance, he will be who you go to.”

“park sunghoon, park jongseong, and nyra solmere—second and third year dragon riders. if you require extra training, you may rely on them as well,”

“don’t forget yourself, pretty boy.” the pinkette, now known as nyra, spoke. it earned a snicker from heeseung, both of their faces twisting with mischief.

“yang jungwon, everybody. your squad leader and a second year dragon rider. pretty impressive if you ask me. isn’t that right?” her tone was light, like she was teasing.

the blonde rolled his eyes, an annoyed huff leaving his lips. “back to more important matters,” he emphasized the word ‘important’ with a pointed glare, earning a shrug from nyra.

“do you think they’re dating?” hana whispered, eyes flickering between the two of them. “doubt it. riders don’t have time to date. plus, he’s a total dickhead. i’d feel sorry for anyone dating that.”

she looked at you in surprise, her lips morphing into a little smile, “not a fan. got it.”

“partner up. then, we will have each pair go one at a time.” the cadets began choosing their sparring partners. you and hana stuck beside each other, naturally. you both watched as the first two stepped up to the sparring mat. they stood facing each other, but had their attention turned towards jungwon to await instructions.

“the rules are as follows—no magic, not that you have any. other than that, no rules.” his arms remained crossed, eyes narrowing slightly on the first years before him, “you could kill each other, too, if you want.”

the room stilled. even here, where they would prepare you to take on the dangers of the outside world, you could die. there was no safety within the corners of these walls. you couldn’t risk trusting anyone. at least, not fully.

not even hana.

your thoughts became littered with doubt. what if she was using you? pretending to be your friend so she could ultimately kill you in the end? that’s what this was, right?

a survival of the fittest.

you couldn’t let those ideas take over. you had protected her and she saved your life. that had to have meant something.

you watched as they began to spar. their movements were calculated, perhaps they had trained well before today. every punch that landed was met with a returning kick or block. they fought like their lives depended on it. you didn’t know if one would try to kill the other or not, but they fought like that possibility could hold true at any moment. as if on cue, one of them reached into their boot, pulling out a short dagger. she lunged at her partner, plunging the blade into their stomach. you flinched, specks of their blood landing on your pants. she pulled the blade out, watching as they collapsed onto their knees. you could barely register the crimson that tainted your clothes before a loud sigh cut through the suffocating silence.

“alright, clean it up.” jungwon’s voice ordered, not even bothering to spare them another glance. sunghoon stepped forward, scooping up the cadet with both arms before carrying them out of the room. you didn’t know if they were dead or alive. perhaps, you’ll find out tomorrow. “so, who wants to go next?”

more began to step up. some were left with bruised knuckles, broken ribs and fingers, black eyes, and cuts so deep they would leave a mark once healed. this time around, nobody had died. you couldn’t get your hopes up, though. there was still a chance it could be you. if hana was as sly as your brain had convinced you she was—

“you,” you glanced in the direction of the five riders. all of their attention was on you as jungwon stepped onto the mat, eyes locked with yours.

“you’re with me.”

suddenly, that chance was a lot higher than you thought.

you stared at him in shock, fingers twitching at your sides. “i already chose a partner.”

jungwon glanced between you and hana, his shoulders lifting with a shrug.

“she can partner up with someone else. plus, there’s eleven of you. one of you would have to spar with one of us anyway. why not make it interesting. right, cadet?” that look on his face. it was the same one he wore when you had prepared to climb the steps of the parapet. again, he was challenging you, as if you needed to prove yourself to him.

it felt unfair.

why you, of all people?

your jaw clenched, annoyance bubbling up inside of you before you walked onto the mat. this was it. you were going to die. you were sure of it. from the very beginning, you could tell he hated you. the feeling was mutual, but you weren’t sure how far his hatred spanned.

maybe he simply thought you were weak, unfit to become a rider.

someone to pick on.

maybe your existence offended him. he could kill you now for whatever reason and nobody would care, because death was normal in the dragon-riding quadrant, no matter the circumstances.

as if he could hear your thoughts, his smile fell. “don’t worry. i don’t bite.”

if looks could kill, you would be dead already.

you fought the urge to scoff. before you could respond, he lunged at you. you ducked your head, a useless attempt at evading him. he grabbed your arm, twisting it behind your back before slamming you into the wall. you yelped in pain, feeling you shoulder twist in a way that was unnatural. “doing nothing gets you killed, cadet.”

you could feel his warm breath against the side of your temple as he spoke, pulling you back and spinning you around to kick at your legs. your knees buckled, sending you straight into the ground. your shoulder made an agonizing ‘pop’ sound, making you cry out. the pain traveled through your entire body, every nerve set ablaze. he dug his knee into your back, his hand pushing hard against your shoulder.

he was on top of you now, leaning forward to whisper into your ear, “you’re weak. it’s pathetic, really. you try too hard to control yourself. instead of doing something with that anger, you stand there—hesitating. waiting. like it’ll go away on its own,”

he forced his knee deeper into your spine, a pained moan escaping your lips, “you don’t deserve to be here. if you can’t even hurt the person you swear you hate the most, what can you do? who can you kill?” jungwon watched as a stray tear fell from your eyes, trickling onto the mat below you.

“crying won’t get you off this floor, cadet. are you going to fight back, or are you going to prove me right? prove to everyone watching right now that you don’t have what it takes to be a rider?” he leaned in closer, his hair tickling your cheek.

“prove that you’re better off dead?”

your body was screaming at you to surrender. you shoulder was throbbing, the sharp pain made you dizzy. deep down, you knew—he wasn’t completely wrong. you had tried, tirelessly, not to let your emotions take over and turn you into a monster. you did everything in your power to avoid becoming what you despired.

becoming someone like him.

he who didn’t hesitate. it didn’t matter that he was your leader. not once did his thoughts waver before hurting you. he probably wouldn’t think twice about killing you, either. it made you realize something.

it was how he’s survived.

jungwon, sunghoon, nyra, and especially heeseung and jongseong. they were third years. they were living, breathing proof that it was possible to make it that far alive, but that came with sacrifice.

their eyes were empty because they gave up something along the way.

their souls.

you knew deep down, they weren’t bad people. they were riders—fighting to survive. they didn’t choose to do it; they had to. born into this world and forced to live a life they never chose.

and if living meant losing a piece of yourself, they would do it again.

you kicked your leg up, wrapping it around his thigh before flipping the both of you over. the searing pain from your shoulder made you hiss, instinctively reaching to cradle it in your hand.

the box.

you forced the feeling down, as far as it would go before closing it completely. you had to tune it out.

jungwon stared at you, the same smirk returning to his face, “not much of a damsel in distress after all, are you?”

before you could think, you punched him. it was enough to make his head turn, cheek meeting the ground. almost instantly, he grabbed at your hips and pushed you off of him. you landed on your side, having rolled a few feet away from your original spot. he stood there, thumb wiping away at the blood on his mouth. his eyebrows quirked up, as if he was waiting for you to attack him again. you got up off the floor, biting the inside of your cheek to distract yourself from the pain of your (definitely) dislocated shoulder.

you charged at him, fist flying. jungwon dodged every hit, taking the opportunity to land a hard punch on your ribs. you folded over in pain, giving him an opening to pull you towards him. you gasped as your back met his chest, one arm tightly wrapped around your torso as the other leveled with your chin. the thin edge of his dagger pressed against your neck, hard enough to draw blood. you whined softly at the burning sensation, hands reaching up to grab at his arm. the last of your strength had left you, your knees fighting the urge to buckle again. if he wasn’t holding you up with his arms, you would have collapsed by now.

“see, better, but you’re still weak. your stamina needs improvement and so does your speed. your strength is there, but strength without strategy is useless. the next time we spar, i expect to never get you in this position again,” his voice was low. everything he was saying was meant for you and you alone. you hated how he was right—hated how he probably went easy on you because he had always known you were incapable of winning against him, or anyone.

‘the next time we spar,’ those words stuck with you. this wouldn’t be the last time you go up against him.

Gods, you were fucked.

"stop hesitating, y/n," his arms dropped to his sides, sheathing the dagger back into its rightful place. the minute his hold loosened on you, you stumbled forward.

your shoulder.

the pain came rushing back in, your opposite hand reaching up to keep it in place. hana rushed to your side, holding you up carefully as to not hurt you any further.

“nyra, take her outside. and you—” he pointed at hana, “let’s go. your partner is waiting.”

hana looked at you, worry evident in her gaze. you waved her off, assuring her that you’ll be okay. she swallowed dryly, pausing before giving you a nod. you watched as she headed onto the mat. you could only hope you would see her return to the barracks afterwards.

nyra stopped in front of you, her head tilting towards the door. “c’mon. off we go.” you followed after her, muscles relaxing in relief at the thought of her taking you to a healer. maybe jake—

“shirt, off.”

what?

you stared at her, dumbfounded. this was the second time someone had asked you to strip, and now you really didn’t know why it was necessary—

“remember what he said, cadet. no hesitation? this is a direct order. hurry on, take it off.” her hands moved animatedly as she rushed you to undress. with a sigh, you took off your top, careful not to strain your shoulder too much. she took it from your hands, folding it up slightly before holding it at your mouth. “okay, now bite.”

you knew exactly where this was going—and you fucking hated it. this was going to hurt.

bad.

you opened your mouth, teeth digging into the rolled up fabric. you wanted to ask her to prepare you, but your plea came out muffled. before you knew it, she had pushed you up against the wall. you felt her hand grab at your shoulder, rubbing it gently with her palm before—

*POP!*

your scream was silenced by the shirt in your mouth, eyes tightly shut. the pain was agonizing. there were spots in your vision, and the urge to faint was strong. after a few minutes, it slowly began to subside. it left behind a dull ache, but you were able to somewhat mobilize your shoulder again. “there. a little unprofessional, but the healers are busy right now. so you got me instead.”

you turned around, leaning against the wall as you ripped the shirt out of your mouth, “thanks, i guess.” the blood from your neck trailed down your sternum, seeping into the band of your bra. you stared at it in disgust, “can i at least a new shirt? and something for.. this?”

nyra bit her lip, holding back what you assumed was a laugh. with a raise of her eyebrows, she motioned you to follow her. the two of you walked in silence. luckily, all the cadets were too busy training to be wandering the hallways this early in the morning. she stopped in front of a large door, her hand waving in front of the lock before hearing it click open. it revealed a large room, decorated with vines and flora that dangled from the ceiling. in the center was a large bed, one that looked much more comfortable than the mattresses you had been assigned to in your barrack.

nyra walked over to her drawer, pulling it open before digging for something. she tossed you a plain black shirt, similar to the one you had worn. “i haven’t worn that thing since my first year. you can have it. it’ll probably fit you better, anyway,” her finger drew a little circle around her chest.

your cheeks lit up, quickly mumbling a ‘thank you’ before carefully slipping the top on. “come, sit. let me treat that nasty ass cut.”

you listened obediently, hands resting in your lap as she sat in between your legs. her fingers gently grabbed at your chin, lifting your head up to get better access to your neck.

“you know, jungwon wasn’t gonna kill you, right?”

you let out a scoff at that, “yeah, well, didn’t seem like it. look what he did to me.”

“he means well. plus, he’s right. you are weak,"

okay.

ouch.

at least, right now you are. i can tell you’re afraid—scared of what’s to come and who you might turn into,” you hissed when she pressed a damp cotton round on your wound. she ignored your pained protest, continuing to dress the wound as she spoke, “you’re here to become a rider. that comes with a price. you need to start thinking about what’s really important. i know we can’t decide that for you, but survival should always come first. friends—people in general—they come and they go. now, i’m not saying don’t build any relationships here, but loyalty is earned. it isn’t a given. you can't trust so easily,” you sat quietly, digesting her words.

“you know about the bonding process, right?”

you gently shook your head.

“once a dragon chooses to bond with you, your lives becomes one. if your dragon dies, so do you. if you die well, they survive, but they’ll be grieving for a very long time. some end up as recluses and refuse to bond ever again. others can turn vengeful. it gets ugly—being a rider. a bond doesn’t just mean you’re gifted with powers. it’s a soul tie. a real, serious connection. your bonded becomes your everything. you feel each other’s emotions, each other’s pain, all that shit. do you see now why you can’t afford to be weak? why you have to put yourself above all else? there's no room for error out there. you either live or you die. no second chances, no blessings from fate or Morvak to protect you,” she pauses, her fingers smoothly taping the thin bandage to your neck.

nyra stands, tossing the remaining trash into a bin. she peers down at you, offering a gentle smile, “i know you have it in you to make it to bonding. jungwon doesn’t though, so if you wanna get on his good side you’ll have to prove yourself. he takes the ‘squad leader’ role very seriously, if you couldn’t tell."

you roll your eyes at that.

“it’s quite clear.”

“i’m sure you’ve heard it already, but you were put in this section for a reason. ‘the most dangerous and unpredictable’ or whatever formal bullshit jungwon was spewing yesterday. that title also means we can be one of the most powerful, and he refuses to let anyone dampen that. it’s a little power hungry, but once you see what it’s like, being one of us, it’ll start to make sense.”

you stood up, too, smoothing out your shirt, “thank you, nyra.”

“don’t mention it. seriously. he’ll kill me if he knew i was kissing up to you,” you both chuckle at that.

“but, just know, if you need anything you can come to me. i won’t try to kill you—ironic after that whole speech i just gave you—but i promise. consider me an ally,” she held out her pinky finger, wiggling it at you. you stared at it for a second before holding up your own, interlocking it with hers. nyra smiles at the gesture before pulling her hand away.

“come, they’ve probably finished by now. i’m fucking starving,” you followed her out of her room, the two of you heading towards the dining hall. you were grateful for her kindness. you could tell, from her words alone, that she had experienced suffering before.

enough times to make her accept the sheer weight of the world that was in front of her, but you didn’t want to pry.

one day, you think, you’ll ask.

for now, you could only hope she was telling the truth when she said jungwon didn’t want you dead.

the dining hall was filled with people. some chattered amongst themselves while others ate quietly, shying away from everybody else. you grabbed a tray, turning to speak with nyra but she had already ran off. you watched her skip over to her friends, sliding into the spot between who you remembered to be jongseong and heeseung. you sighed, making your way towards an empty table. you sat in silence, picking at your food with your fork. you hadn’t eaten a meal in over a day, yet you had no appetite.

everything you had dealt with in the past twenty four hours had finally sank into place in your brain. in such a short time, you had seen, and come close to, so much death. you don’t know when you would become numb to the feeling, and a part of you hoped you never would. the feeling in your chest—it was another reminder that you were still alive. you pulled apart the roll of bread, popping a piece into your mouth. your thoughts were running wild with no way to silence them.

then, you heard a tray drop in front of you. glancing up, your eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “oh my god, hana,”

she offered you a strained smile, wincing at the stretch of her lips. her cheek was a deep shade of purple and blue, swollen beyond comprehension, the wound on her forehead barely taped shut, and the cut on her lip had dried over with blood. “yeah, he got me pretty good..”

hana sat down across from you, arms folded over and resting on the table, “i’m happy to see you’re okay, though. sorry i couldn’t stay with you.. that jungwon guy. he seriously freaks me out. i really thought he was going to kill you, y’know?” you sighed.

you’ve been doing that a lot lately.

“yeah, i did too.”

“how are you feeling?”

you instinctively rolled your shoulder, “better. my ribs are definitely gonna be more bruised tomorrow and my shoulder fully came out of its socket, and i had a knife held to my neck, but i’m better. yeah.”

your eyes flicked over to nyra’s table. the blonde was sat across from her, wordlessly eating his food as his friends conversed with each other. you watched him, like you were trying to pick him apart piece by piece. why did he single you out like that? why does he hate you so much? you barely knew the guy, and yet, he has already become your sworn enemy.

the advice he gave you. it was supposed to help you, but it also hurt.

his words.

the fear that took over your body when he had that blade at your throat. at this point, you didn’t care about the ‘why’. he was a force to be reckoned with.

a monster.

nyra’s words were forgotten, and that same fiery hot hatred started to consume you once more.

you were sure of it, now.

you hated yang jungwon.

after your meal, you decided to head back to the training room. you had told hana you wanted to be alone for a bit—get in some extra practice. reluctantly, she agreed. you entered the room, gently shutting the door behind you. in reality, you didn’t know how you could possibly train with a messed up shoulder and limited movement of your mid section.

you just craved space, to turn off your mind and let the silence in. you had not a moment of peace since you arrived at the school, not that you ever anticipated it. it was a war college, after all.

the scent of sweat and blood lingered in the air. you stared at the mat—the one where jungwon had pinned you. the memory makes your muscles ache, the image of being held down replaying in your mind like a broken record. you thought about how you felt in that moment: helpless. if it had been someone else, if you had been in such a place out there in the real world, you don’t think you would have lived to see another day.

you kneeled on the floor, fingertips grazing the rubber-like surface. you had never trained to become a rider.

at least, not really.

your father was one and you resented him for it. his presence had been absent, the side of his bed was always cold. your mother had dealt with the worst of it all—her own husband, constantly on the brink of death while she sat alone at home with two kids, wondering if she would ever get to see him again.

what had hurt the most was not being able to say goodbye.

one day, the letters stopped coming. you had hoped, maybe, they had simply been lost in transit. maybe they forgot to pick it up, or accidentally mailed it to the house next door. when you had asked, you were met with pity.

no letter.

the last time you had seen him was two years before he disappeared, having been called north for an important flight mission. months had passed and eventually, you accepted that he may have died.

that was six years ago.

you were now twenty years old now. the grief had turned into anger. part of it was at him for becoming a rider, the other was at how you would never truly know. now, you were working your way towards becoming one yourself. the irony of it all made you cringe.

you felt it, though.

that feeling again.

hope—the last bits of it that sat heavily in between your rib cage.

if you succeed in becoming a rider, you could find out what happened. you could finally understand the reason for his disappearance and bring peace to your family. that hope was now dimming, the weight of everything making its way through the cracks.

a sudden noise pulled you back into reality. your head spun around, locking eyes with the person that just walked in. you felt a coldness spread within you.

it was her.

the girl from the stairs.

you quickly stood up, trying your hardest not to wince at the pain flaring up in your body. you couldn't show her you were hurt. she shut to door behind her, fingers moving to turn the lock. “so, you made it after all,” your throat ran dry, heart pounding violently in your chest. she took a step towards you, a wicked grin on her face.

“should’ve taken my advice, though,” her voice raised in pitch, the tone of it mocking. “throwing yourself off that bridge may have be more merciful than this.”

© wrldhoon 2025

[samorasringdust]

𝑆𝑃𝐼𝑁- 𝐸. 𝐽𝐴𝐸𝐺𝐸𝑅

just a little sneak peak i wrote to see if anyone would like it , lmk what you think :3!

TW: Strippers, violence, arguing , eren ask y/n lowk flirt ;)), no smut (yet lol)

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rubbing yourself in baby oil you prepared for your long night of ass shaking and heel clacking.

nights going smoothly like any other , you took 2-3 shots before you went on just to feel ready for the night. you always dress in pink , white , or black, those are your usual colors and you only switch it up for special occasions or special requests, wink wink *

you had on a all white sparkly body suit , it had very little coverage which was perfect , you had bedazzled nipples covers to match and of course blinged out 9 inch pleaser heels.

you take one more look at yourself before you walk out , but as you're leaving your club bestie sees you !

"girl it is boring out there , the money making niggas ain't in the club tuh-night!" sweets says walking past you to take a seat , she immediately rips her heels off massaging her feet from the pain.

"girl i ain't even go out yet , now you giving me anxiety " you reply sitting right next to her "hopefully they start throwing big bucks once they see this assss" you say making it shake a little , you both giggle.

"you know they will girl ! but i been seeing come and go with Ony a lot lately" she turns to you "yall fuckin?" sweets ask while cocking her head to the right.

you can't help but let out a laugh ," what girl no ! were just friends! i don't think i should fuck on anything that run this muthafucka" you reply

"mhmm y'all been seen together a lot lately , yunno the other girls starting to get jealous " she counters , applying a sickly sweet scented lipgloss to her lips

"let em , i'm the best dancer in this place can i get a little special treatment?" you return , it's just the truth

"but we really not doing nothing , he's more like a best friend or a brother , he did take me inside with him when we went on a drop tho..." you leaned in like you were revealing a secret

"ouuuu girl do tell do tell!" sweets says leaning in just the same

"okay okay so i met this fine ass white boy right ? his name armin , he look like he got money and know how to fuck good , perfect combination! then it was this other guy , jean , who's not as sexy but very charming and respectful, prolly got stacks in his pocket too !" you both laugh

"it was this other guy , floch, but he was a asshole , and pockets prolly-" you put your thumb down and blow a raspberry with your tongue , "BASUDA!!" sweets finishes for you

"exactly girl , they were really nice though it was nice seeing more faces than just the club girls and the regulars you know ?" "yeah i get tired of being around this crazy bitches all day too , did you see eren?" she questions excitedly

"oh my god girl no ! i wanted to tho , i wanna see how he is outside of business, everytime he comes in here its a long ass speech and just nonchalant attitude" you start mocking eren's deep voice "ladies don't fight on stage "ladies don't leave your thongs in the bathroom" "ladies don't-"

"now what are yall doing in here instead of dancing ? hell-fucking-loooo we need more people out here !" another dancer comes in and interrupts you and sweets conversation. she's right even though she's rude , yall need to get yall ass up !

"i'll finish telling you later" you whisper to sweets before walking out and heading towards the bar.

you start here first just to see if any one wants a private dance or just wanna tip you for being pretty , the ones at the bar are usually more fucked up than the ones on the floor so they're easy to seduce.

you score a few tricks and make almost $500 just from flirting with the bar boys. you finally decide it's time to make your way to the stage and you start to prepare yourself.

you love dancing , you love all the men admiring your body , giving you money for just breathing and looking good , being able to show off your sex appeal in the best way , it fuels your ego , plus the money gets you through life !

you step onto stage finally and "Dance" by megan thee stallion starts to play. you start off by slowly circling the pole , allowing the on lookers to fully admire and divulge into what your serving tonight , cunty and sexy. you slowly push your behind out and bend over , allll the way down making sure you touch your toes , and making sure they get a peak!

you begin climbing the pole, doing all types of tricks to the song ! from twirling to spinning to splits into twerking you made sure to give a show to the crowd tonight. you made sure your last move was gonna be a hit too !

you were throwing it back on the floor with your knees split and your ass moving ! you stand up and commence to climbing the pole once again , instead this time , of course , you have to go even higher. you grab onto the metal beams hanging from the ceiling and begin to shake your ass mid air ! you flip yourself around and is now hanging upside down from the ceiling with your legs tucked onto the beams.

the crowd cheers for you as you pull your body suit down to expose your bare chest , though covered they were enjoyed just the same.

you pull your body suit back up and flip yourself back into an upright position, you start to lower yourself into a pull up kind of position before clacking your heels together ultimately dropping down into a split (your signature move if you don't notice by now) the crowd was utterly amazed.

girls dance , but not like how you dance. you proceed to do 3 more songs before you're finally done.

the amount of money thrown was not even fathomable, and this is a light night !

as you're leaving the stage , letting the security guards grab all the money , you notice a couple girls arguing in the back of the club. you can't really hear over the loud music and talking so you keep it in your mind before walking back stage into the dressing rooms.

most girls are packing up and leaving for the night as other girls walk through the door just beginning their night.

finding your friend sweets you began to discuss how your day went.

"it was slow at first , but tonight was great '!"

sweets speaks first

"yeah i loved it , the way the crowd be cheering for us girl ? it's magical " you giggle out

"girl you so in love with this shit it's wild" sweets giggles back as she lightly pushes you

"got a fast life need fast money !" you say excitedly to her , but the next thing you hear is loud voices yelling out in the front of the club.

all the girls silence and you all start looking at each other , who should go look first ?

well no one else was budging so , "i'll go look..." you say trying to calm everyone's nerves.

as you walk to the front sweets is not too far behind you. of course she wouldn't let you go alone.

you walk out onto a scene you've never really witnessed before. there Eren is in all his glory , going back and forth with some fuck nigga. what he do ? you don't know but definitely had to be crazy if it made Eren pop out.

you whole body started to buzz with excitement seeing him , you don't know why but you've always been so hypnotized by him. the way he genuinely cares for the girls but also keeps his distance, it's alluring almost , like you want to know more , know him.

you snap back into reality and start pushing your way over to where the drama was happening , as you approach you start to hear bits and pieces of the conversation.

"Your in my club threatening my girls ! i'm telling you to leave now " you hear Eren yell.

the guy is a bit shorter than eren , eren was standing at a beautiful 6'ft. tall sexy man with his hair pulled back into a loose bun. he had on an all black graphic hoodie and sweat pants looking fine as ever ! aw fuck never mind that right now !

the man retorted , "these bitches up in here playing in my face ! somebody better give me my money or it's gonna be a problem !" he pushes up in erens face , the two girls still going back and forth in the back and the security guards trying to break it up

you walk up to the girls and demand to know what's going on.

"this bitch stole $20 racks off this nigga and not tryna give it back " trixie yelled at you

"ian never have to steal from no nigga ! i ain't take that nigga money and i stand onnat." star replied back to her , you could tell she wasn't backing down. "yeah whatever bitch give that nigga his money back because i ain't take it !"

"neither did i bitch !" , "okay okay okay stop it !" you scream at both of them , you look star dead in her eyes , "you took his money ?"

she doesn't look you in the eye and doesn't answer.. "where's the fucking money ?!" you yell at her , all of a sudden you hear fighting behind you and it's Eren and the man he was arguing with , well it wasn't really a fight , eren was basically embarrassing this man in front of the whole club!

you hear talking from the crowd from , "he almost pulled a gun !" to "damn eren was quick with it .." , basically summarizing what's happening.

now it all makes sense.

you end up finally pulling the truth from Star , she hid the money in one of the private rooms under some old carpet behind the couch. her reason for stealing was because "she needs it more than he does", which may be true , but taking from the patrons gets us nothing but problems , especially if it gets to a point that eren has to come step in.

after eren finishes whooping that nobodies ass and he gets tossed out , he comes and checks in on you and the girls.

"yall good ?" he asks to all of you

star nods and rolls her eyes as she sits there and pouts , trixie said she's fine she just doesn't approve of being accused , which eren apologies for  

"i hate to do this to you sweetie , but your last night is tonight , you done " he says to Star , she instantly stands up and refutes

"what ?! okay i made one mistake you can't fire me , i need this job!!"

"i know it's fucked but you can't steal from the customers, you know how that makes me look ? i got cops breathing down on my ass about this place-" he clenched his bridge obviously stressed.

"look- we have enough going on in here , shit like this puts me at risk , i take care of yall don't i ? so why betray me like this ?" he asks sincerely, you can't help but jump in. Erens noticed you before but only as one of the top dancers, never really anything past that , well that and how you're definitely one of the prettiest girls in here.

"i'm sorry if this is disrespectful but you shouldn't fire her ! half of us girls in here are struggling or need help , half these men don't respect us either way and society looks at us like trash , she made a mistake okay but let her stay , punish me if need be ! just don't take this away from her" you plead for stars case.

she fucked up but you know she needs this , you'd rather put yourself at risk for the girls then sit by and watch them crumble.

"i can't have this look-" eren turns to you and replies "it won't happen again i swear...you know if you checked in more maybe we'd stay in line" you didn't mean to let slip out, it was just a thought.

"you know what , you're right, i should come by more often and show you girls how to act" he says with a disappointed sigh. "i'll start checking in every other day , i'll check in with you specifically" he walks up to you looking you dead on.

"it's Sativa right?" "yeah , but call me y/n" you say fluttering your eyelashes at him. ouuu lord he's so fine up close !! towering over yall , putting yall in check ! you think it was just you getting turned on right now though

"i'll make you like house mom or whatever , take care of them yeah princess?" he vocalizes to you.

all you can do is nod quietly and accept your orders , seeing eren every other day ? you can't wait !

[koremakaria]

Feud ... formerly Lament of the River Immortal (Long Post ... or is it Long Rant?) Whatever ... proceed at your own peril ... but I did warn ya

My very non-objective and extremely biased thoughts ... sort of a character analysis on this drama.

First I prefer the old title because at least I would have some context clues on the fact that the river immortal is supposed to be the one lamenting. The one who perhaps had done something shady or wronged the other protag in some ways. Because what is even feud? Like why are you two even fighting?

Second, I have to be completely honest with you that I watch this drama in clickety click mode ... which I don't do often ... what is clickety click you ask .... why it's when I just keep clicking and skipping scenes ... this is a full length drama and I'm not invested enough to spend time watching every minute of it ... like ain't nobody got time for that!!! Which means I don't have all the info but oh well ... life is full of difficult decisions.

Okay so now that we have those out in the open ... let's dive into our characters and their motivations.

Bai Jiu Si

Our ML ... I don't feel anything for him really. I mean I have no emotional attachment to this character. Personally I just don't know what im supposed to feel ... compassion? Empathy? Pity? Schadenfreude? IDK

So far all I know is that

1) He has a spital partner. Like a soul mate or a wife and he loves her deeply or so we're told

2) He wants to increase his and her powers and the fastest and most effective way to do this leveling up business is go to a mortal world and under go a 'love trial'

3) Didn't get official permission for this particular trial but oh well ... whatever ... and yeah let's keep our memories and powers and connections to the heavens/celestial realm .... and nooooo we can't use our powers to interfere with the mortals despite the fact that we both know we're not humans. Yeah ... yeah ... yeah .... we're just larping as humans. Like playing sims with all the cheat codes ... but NO ... we can't cheat!!! Like bro ... what was the logic here?

4) He won't communicate with his life partner about why he doesn't want kids during their live action role playing as humans era tour because of plot reasons

5) He can't really harm his wife because they share the same life force but for some reasons that he and the viewers still don't know ... his wife did attempt to kill him by sealing him away for centuries and she's still trying to kill him .... why? He doesn't know and dont you be looking at me! I also dont know.

Hua Ru Yue

Our FL ... clearly has a vendetta against ML but why ... IDK .... oh lord almighty .... when will the drama reveal this plotpoint? Hopefully not episode 30 but who knows.

What we know about her

1) Do you like playing games? Because my lady has been playing a very long game. The planning took centuries and she came to win .... it is win or die ... pretend to be human again with no memory of past lives together get close to the ML before offfing him

2) Plan sorta didn't work because ML sorta know ... such a poo poo bummer but whatever .... she did some damage. NOT enough obviously but yeahhhh

3) Keeps saying that ML deserves to die .... whyyyyyy.... why do you keep saying this? I don't think it means what you think it means

4) During the Live Action Role Playing as Humans Era Tour ... wants to have a child but ML said no ... mistakenly believes that he doesn't want a future with her

5) During the human era tour also saved a child's life against ML's warning and now considered his descendants as her sort of children ... proceeded to break all kind of rules to help this bloodline including offing a dragon drought god or something.

And that's about all I know

The narrative choice to withhold the feuding reason is very confusing to me because I just can't feel anything for our protagonists and I really want to! I really do!

I also have so many questions like how is it a love trial in the mortal world when the two weren't mortal and have their celestial body and memory? Maybe it's because the love trial was unauthorized so like the ML and FL didn't get the correct instructions on how a mortal love trial is supposed to work and so now they really get a love trial of their own but it's the celestial version instead...so like maybe we're watching a love trial on steroids and that's why we're so confused and nothing is making sense.

Okay .... wow that was a lot. I dont think anyone made it this far but if you did ... just know that im still confused on why these two are beefing and maybe you could enlighten me .... I'll be forever grateful .... and thank you for coming to my ted talk ...umm I meant ranting session.

[bug-a-btch]

scene from 'Just In Time For Love' by paymeinpikachus in case anyone can't read my subpar handwriting

finally finished it after like, twelve hours. overall thoughts: why the fuck did I think using gouache was a good idea? it took so fucking long and i eventually just gave up on making it look good so I could just finish the damn thing. but other than that it was more fun than I originally thought. I rarely spend longer than 1-3 hours on finished drawings so spending a full day on one project was both agonizing and rewarding. hopefully it won't take quite so long next time now that I know gouache is the devil and should never be used on comics. still a little embarrassed it took leoichi for me to finally make a comic after 8 years of drawing but at least it finally happened. enough rambling, it's 4am so I'm going to bed. bye bye

[flnalpower]

The band was hardly even registered in Noelle's periphery as her hooves came to a sudden halt just past the doors, eyes locking onto the figure that seemed exist in complete defiance to the goofiness of everything else around them- eyes going wide as they took in the shimmering form before them, veins turning into ice.

From her recently reformed memories, one in particular was beamed to the forefront; of grainy video projected onto the wall of the room that was made for her, of the dark fountain roaring to life, and of the barely visible person creating it, that was only a silhouette...

... a silhouette now floating right in front of her.

Noelle had opened her mouth to speak, to say anything to those accompanying her, but her throat had grown so dry so suddenly, all she could do was meaningless words... when Alice spoke.

And the Knight turned around.

Noelle's eyes locking with the being's visor as it became transfixed on her, everything from the music to Ralsei's own panicking falling silent on her ears as she stared into it, a terrible & unknowable dread bubbling up from within her soul that made her blood run cold.

So cold, she couldn't even feel the frost forming on the finger the snow ring was wrapped around, not until she finally managed to exhale her held breath, and with it, a sudden storm.

A cascading wall of ice erupting from her, rushing like an avalanche towards the otherworldly being, Noelle's eyes suddenly blinking back into reality in surprise of her own attack... legs instinctively taking advantage of it as, reaching out and grabbing her two friends' arms, she started running towards the nearest exit as fast her legs could carry her, dragging the two with her away from there.

That hopefully serving to distract it long enough for an escape...

"Oh, yes, yes. There are certainly good Darkners, of course, but we should be careful all the same.." Ralsei affirmed, following behind Noelle now as she moved ahead. Glancing back as Alice hurriedly moved to keep pace with Noelle as they all began to approach what seemed like the 'main' way forwards considering it's slightly more grand decor compared to the other doors. Beginning up the tiled stairs to the door, Alice reached forwards to open it for them to continue onward. Immediately, the cheery music became more audible, clearly originating from this room as.. they all got to witness a band of Darkners at the far wall playing on a stage embedded in the wall. They all had a familiar blue hue, though seemed to take effort in trying to look distinct despite that. Of course, perhaps, that's the last thing of note in the room now as, entirely disparaged from the light tone of the music, was the figure with their back to the party. So dark that it was difficult for one's eyes to fully settle on them, form seeming to shimmer around them in impossible angles. Angular body akin to a knight in full armor as grand 'horns' ending in star-like spikes jut from the top of it's head. Orifices like white voids on either hand as it seemed to be taking in the strange sights for the briefest moment-

"I.. take it that's not one of the friendly ones." Alice mused, staring up at the imposing figure.

As if to answer the question for them, the Knight whirled at the sudden intrusion. Slit of their visor widening like an eye to take in the group of robed mages before them.. shifting to one side and then the other before, despite everything, it seems to be staring directly

at

NOELLE.

"We need to go." Ralsei said firmly, glancing back to the door they came in from just for it to slam shut soundly behind them, as he hurriedly began looking for other means of escaping. "They- They can't do this, they can't be here still. H-Had we gotten here that early?"

[somegrumpynerd]

Bitty update number... 5? 6? Anyway!!

Sorry it's been so long since I updated you guys, work has been really busy and I guess these two have gotten better about staying out of sight. Or out of my sight at least, maybe I should ask my coworkers if they've seen anything? Although, I dunno if they'd be happy with these little guys running loose around here so maybe it's best if I don't...

Anyway, the only one I've been seeing kind of reliably is the horror bitty, who comes and sits across from me when I have my lunch to eat the food I left out. I still try not to say anything cause I don't want to frighten him.

Usually he's the only one I see, but then one day I spotted the little cross bitty peeking around a corner at me! I felt bad cause I was almost finished my lunch so I didn't have much to offer him, but I held out some of my chocolate bar for him anyway in case he was hungry. Well!! Apparently he was!

He came right up to me this time! Granted, he took a bite of the end of it and immediately ran off again, but that's a start right? He's definitely a lot more skittish than the horror one, but I did manage to feed him a couple more times and he seems to stay a little longer before he runs off.

I don't know if he has a particular thing for chocolate or if he's just excited about food because the horror one doesn't share lol

Speaking of the horror one!!

It took me a while to notice but, I guess he's been getting closer to me when we eat? He used to sit across the hall but now he's pretty much right next to me!

Maybe that's why the cross one feels more comfortable? I still don't want to do anything to spook him but he seems pretty chill, maybe if I'm lucky I can have 2 lunch buddies lol

[schellis]

There are no places you can hide. Not from me.

Open image for higher resolution :]

Versions without effects & (mostly) flat color below the cut :] (love it when i do more detailed lineart and forget that most of it's going to be in dark shadow. waugh /lh)

Removed additional lighting + shadow effects

Flat color (because the wires get hard to see down the line lol)

[mcssages]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Interestingly, she found his traditional sensibilities alluring. They weren’t restrictive or extremely overbearing. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but she appreciated them. She never had to worry about whether he respected her, and he would always listen to her before passing judgment. Being accustomed to her emotional needs being neglected and punished, being treated so delicately when feeling so exposed was a breath of fresh air. The choice not to be impetuous said more than words could. It backed what he said in the chat after they met for the first time, that he saw a future with her and wanted to make her his, but wanted to do it right. If that were true, she’d wait as long as it took for things to be done properly. No one claimed that it wouldn’t require self-discipline, however. The smallest things he would do or say were adorable, the most well-intended touch beckoned her nearer, but she’d persist for him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Drawn against his side, she snickered at his melodrama. Zen was still so unfair! “ I can’t be sexy ; I can’t be cute … Hm . Would you prefer I play hard-to-get ? ” Her lower lip had stuck out in another pout. Their playful games still carried that silent longing. A kiss? What a nice mental image; that made her pulse pick up. She’d store that one away. Hopefully it didn’t haunt her tonight while she lay alone, sleeping separately from him when he’s so close by. Chaesun cleared her throat and gave it her best shot. “ Don’t get any weird ideas . I’m just trying to keep you out of trouble , that’s all ! ” Having already made their interest painfully obvious, it was a little late to act coy convincingly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Another glance from the side. “ I sincerely hope this does nothing for you . ” Letting out a huff, she stuck up her nose, if only to keep herself from laughing. There was potential peril out there, but her new favorite person had a way of making everything okay again. The longer she spent with him, the more convinced she became that fate was on their side.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Now that he was all suited up, she wrapped her arm around his waist. This was even closer and more couple-y than holding hands. It was as if she couldn’t resist being close to him. This had to be another symptom of growing romantic attraction. A slice of it may have been added protection, but she was trying not to focus on the negatives right now. “ Let’s get going. If we wait any longer, my stomach might digest itself . ” She still didn’t have much of an appetite, but the physical sensation of hunger was present. Her stomach grumbled again, as if to add emphasis to her words.

Some would call him traditional, but Zen had been raised with those sorts of sensibilities. He didn't want to attribute too much to his parents, but they had made sure to insist to him the importance of treating a lady well. He may have been handsome (and commonly recognized as such), but this didn't give him free reign to be lecherous. His background gave him ample opportunity to question his own morals and how tightly he held to him, but this was one area that he felt he couldn't compromise in. She was far too important. He would hardly call himself devout in any form, but she was worth taking his time for.

Not that she made it too easy. Her answer to her request only made his desire stronger. She felt the same way towards him. A deep desire, but one that they couldn't act on just yet. In that sense, he was likely right to send her away the first night they'd met. The circumstances now were drastically different, of course. There was nowhere else he could send her. He had to face this down. Or, and perhaps easier, he could attempt to move on from it. Ignore it as best he could. So long as they slept in different rooms… Or different beds, in any case.

He had to move himself along, to direct his attention to costuming, to avoid providing his surprise the opportunity to set too far into understanding and, worse, permission to allow his mind to run wild. He pulled on his disguise, and the thought occurred to him as well that he may have appeared suspicious. Especially walking into a store while clearly hiding his face and his figure. This would be the sort of outfit one might wear while, say, planning to corner someone to make some demands of them. But with her by his side, he hoped that she might be able to defer any of this suspicion that may arise.

She assured that she was up to the task. “I know you can pull off unassuming,” he agreed. Even through her messages, he had picked up on that vibe from her. While Jumin, Jaehee, and Seven worried about whether she was someone sent to infiltrate their chat and leak their secrets, Zen had believed fairly quickly that she was far too kind to be suspected of something so heinous. Directing those sorts of accusations to a lady was never all too kind anyway.

Another indicator that her mood was improving was her willingness to joke with him. He couldn't help but let out a dramatic sigh, pulling her into his side. “Ahhh, you can't be so cute around me, either~” This warning was clearly more light and jesting than the last, his tone leaning towards melodramatic. “You make it so hard not to kiss you.” The situation with the RFA aside (for half a moment at most), the opportunity to spend more time with her like this was welcome. Despite his apartment indicating clear as day his bachelor lifestyle, the domesticity of visiting the story together was certainly enticing.

[fruit-punk-art]

A Wood Paneled Basement, 2024

Marina Constantine

Glass and plastic beads, found quilt squares, sewing thread and childhood artifacts on acrylic and cotton yarn