prettywordsyouleft · 5 months ago
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Roll Into Me
Pairing: Park Chanyeol x female reader
Genre: smut / suggestive fluff
Tropes: established couple
Warnings: everything but the actual smut scene occurs here, nudity, mild cussing
Word count: 961
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Chanyeol had barely gotten through the front door and dropped the bag he had over his shoulder before you launched yourself at him, his surprise thankfully not inhibiting his body from moving quickly to catch you. He then grinned, delighting in the shriek-whimper that left your mouth before your head buried into the side of his neck.
He chuckled. “Did you miss me, by chance?”
“I’m so glad you’re home. It was hell without you.”
“Aw, was it?” he wondered genuinely, looking around the apartment for telltale signs of such torment. Everything looked almost the same, and he smiled brightly when he spotted the flowers he had gotten delivered two days prior with a note telling you he was coming home earlier than planned sitting in a vase on the corner of the kitchen countertop.
He carried you over to said countertop and placed you down, right as you pulled back enough to scowl at him. “Why did you put the instant pot on the top shelf?! I wanted to pressure cook some chicken to shred, but I couldn’t get it down because I have no idea where the stool has gone to!”
“Did I?” he asked, scratching his head in what he hoped appeared like confusion.
You didn’t buy it for a second and slapped his upper arm playfully. “And where is the box of my snacks?! You hid them on purpose, didn’t you?”
“I did no such thing!” he responded, but he was unable to stop another chuckle from tumbling from his lips.
“You’re such a teasing shit, you know that? I’ve been going out of my mind with all the small but significant changes you made to annoy me whilst you’ve been gone, and here you are trying to act innocent?! Park Chanyeol, you’re anything but!”
“I didn’t want you to stop needing me,” he disputed, and you stopped mid-way from retorting, your expression softening. He leaned forward, chuffed at your reaction. “And your snacks are up on the top shelf too.”
“The stool?”
“Behind the washing machine,” he confessed, smiling even when his lips met yours. You sighed into the embrace, shifting again until you were flush against him, your body rolling forward into him in that familiar way that he loved so much. He couldn’t stop the extra thud his heart did then, his brain crooning there she is to him as he realised just how much he had anticipated the move. You arched further into the embrace, a needy little moan breathily being passed from you through the kiss. He kissed you deeper, harder, until he couldn’t breathe anymore and needed air.
“Missed you.”
“Missed this,” you refuted, and he grinned, nodding down at your body flush against his.
“Me too. I thought I was imagining it when I was away and thinking about this.”
“What?”
“You when you kiss me.” You frowned, and instead of explaining it, he reached out for your lips again. He smiled when your hips shifted against him and briefly cut off the kiss. “That. You do that.”
“I do what?”
“You have no idea?” he asked with a surprised laugh and moved his hands from the countertop where they had ended up and put them on your hips. “You roll yourself into me when you arch your back. With every kiss you give me. You’ve never noticed it?”
“I…” Pausing to look down and then up at Chanyeol, you placed a hand on his neck to bring his lips closer to yours. You were too rigid going into the kiss as you tried to understand the habit, and whilst your body shifted infinitesimally, it wasn’t like it usually was. Chanyeol scooped you up and kissed you more passionately, hoping that after losing your focus you’d discover the little habit. Instead, he too lost track of what you were both discussing, his own body shifting, needing, craving.
Soon you were no longer resting on the countertop but clumsily pulled into his arms again and making your way to the bedroom, Chanyeol tripping over a soft toy your dog left lying around. He cursed but managed to right you both, succeeding in reaching his destination, sans his hoodie and your dress along the way.
“It’s been too long.”
“Really,” you agreed, your hands greedily smoothing over his skin whilst he kicked off his pants. Chanyeol’s attention slipped back to you, his palms skimming over familiar trails as he stripped you of your underwear. Crawling up onto the bed, he brought his body back against yours. It wasn’t long until your lips moved from his neck up to his lips, and Chanyeol groaned with the satisfaction of having your taste upon his tongue once more.
Suddenly, it stopped.
“Oh my God!” you exclaimed, sitting up and leaving him stranded below you with his lips still puckered mid-kiss. “I really do it!”
“Huh?”
“The hip thing! I never realised, but I just did it then.”
Chanyeol blinked several times before pointing down at his body. “Could you do it again right now? I was experiencing something then.”
“It’s your fault! You pointed it out to me.”
“Talk later? Meet me here now?” he begged, and you laughed, pushing him onto his back and throwing a leg over his waist, nestling your body with his.
You kissed him sweetly, and now that he didn’t feel so bereft with you back against him, he matched your smile when you rolled into him, your back arching.
“There you are.”
“You wait for me to do it?”
“Almost every time,” he confessed, drawing you back into the throes of your building passion. Closing his eyes as your lips moved to other parts of his body, he let out a little contented sigh.
It’s good to be home.
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sooinbloom · 5 months ago
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genre: fluff, one shot, Chanyeol!AU, EXO!AU, romance
word count: 2,247
theme: established relationship, springtime romance, long distance
warnings: none, just a slightly spicy scene
summary: Park Chanyeol has been dating his long distance girlfriend, Nina, for a two years. Every year he travels to her hometown, Hirosaki, for the cherry blossom festival. This year, he’s going to make the biggest move yet - asking her to marry him.
song that inspired this one shot: be my love by EXO-CBX
requested by: @loeyyuniverse
request fics here (:
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Chanyeol loved springtime in Japan.
That’s almost an understatement, considering that he made an annual pilgrimage to Hirosaki just for the cherry blossom festival. It became a tradition with his best friend, Kyungsoo, when they were in their university days. Of course he enjoyed his time with his dearest friend, walking the park and gazing up at the bright spring blooms on the trees but over time there was another reason he enjoyed coming to this city every year.
Around the fourth annual trip to Japan, Chanyeol and Kyungsoo were looking for a café to grab coffee before enjoying the blooms on a brisk Saturday morning. While on the search, he saw the most beautiful girl in a café window, her eyes bright with a warm smile as she took the orders of patrons sitting at a small table. Her hair fell off of her shoulder like a midnight-colored waterfall, her cute nods and smirks stopped him dead in his tracks.
He knew he had to have her. Kyungsoo caught on and immediately dragged his love-stricken best friend in the café. Even with resistance, Kyungsoo managed to get him over the threshold of the café door and inside to see this mysterious girl. It was unusual for Chanyeol to be nervous when talking to girls and Kyungsoo knew it. It was all the more enjoyable to see Chanyeol bumbling around like a nervous teenager while speaking to this girl.
“What’s your name?” Chanyeol stutters.
“Nina.” As soon as her name left her mouth, it engrained itself in Chanyeol’s mind and etched into his heart. It sounded like the breeze when it combed through the air on a bright spring morning just like this one.
Surprisingly, Chanyeol managed to get Nina’s number that day. Ever since, they slowly fell for each other over texts and video calls. For two years, the trip to Japan became another chance to see his love. Being with Nina made Chanyeol feel like he was on fire. It was the only way he could describe it. In every sense of the word, she made him warm. She made him passionate. She made him love her endlessly in all of the ways he never expected to love anyone.
Chanyeol hated it when their romantic rendezvouses would come to an end. He’d keep her close in his arms the night before he had to fly back home, kissing her soft skin and promising not to let another year go by until she was in his arms again. They never intended to be long distance, but they had to because life seemed to hold them at separate pinpoints on a globe. That is, until Chanyeol decided to move the pins much closer than they ever were before.
“This year, my sweet love, will be the last year of missing each other,” he said into his phone as he got undressed from a long day at work. His suitcase lay open as he simultaneously packed for the trip.
“Oh? Why… is that?” Nina replied, amused at the less confident tone in Chanyeol’s voice. It was unusual. He was up to something.
“I transferred to the Japanese headquarters of the company. I’ll be moving to Tokyo.” Chanyeol grins into the phone.
“Are you serious?” She gasps, unable to control her smile.
“I’m serious. You’re opening the café in Tokyo and I miss the chance of waking up to your beautiful smile every morning.”
“Will we still…”
“Don’t worry, my love, we will still meet in Hirosaki this year. I promise. And it’s going to be our favorite trip.”
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The day Chanyeol and Nina reunited at the airport was the ultimate daydream come true, it always was. Nina welcomed him in her usual run-and-pounce greeting she gave him at the airport. Oddly, this time he was alone. Usually, Kyungsoo and his girlfriend, Aria, would tag along on these trips, but Nina surmised that maybe it wasn’t going to happen like usual this year.
Once the greetings and kisses were all but done, Chanyeol hailed a cab and took control of the situation. The couple cuddled in the backseat of the cab, fingers entwined with Nina’s head perched on Chanyeol’s shoulder, something she could only do if they were both sitting down. Being with a man almost an entire foot taller than you had its hits and misses, the novelty at times fell short when it really counted.
“Your castle awaits you, my love.” Chanyeol steps out of the cab and throws his arm toward a small house in the midst of the cherry blossom trees. It was homey, like it was plopped from middle earth.
“Is this for us?” Nina shyly smirks. The moon had already taken its place in the sky, it made the magic of the moment heighten in Nina’s curious eyes.
“Of course, now come on. Let’s settle in.” Chanyeol insists excitedly. Once they walked into their home for the week, the walls embraced them with a cozy atmosphere. The wooden floors creaked under their feet as they moved deeper into the small four walls, dimly lit by soft yellow light that made the place feel like an old classic novel. If Nina didn’t know any better, she felt as though she were transported into another dimension where cottage-core was everyone’s way of life, not just her imagination’s. Chanyeol ducked through the doorways and took note of the seemingly ancient record player in the center of the living room.
His eyes scanned the small stack of records, old big band from the 1940’s was right at the top. It was a necessary amenity he knew he’d need at the perfect moment on their trip.  Once the couple reached the bedroom, he set their luggage on the floor and helplessly gazed into his beloved’s welcoming eyes.
“What do you think?” Chanyeol asked nervously. He craved Nina’s approval, he yearned to see that beautiful smile upturn onto her face. Once Nina gave her nod of approval, and the showing of teeth Chanyeol was banking on, he immediately took her into his arms and brushed his eager lips onto hers. Savoring the moment, he gently lay her down on the bed, slowly sliding her sweater off of her shoulders. Planting kisses on her neck and taking in her scent, sweet nothings fell out of his mouth and onto her ears.
It didn’t take long for the long-distance lovers to get lost in each other, making up for lost time and desperate miles between them. They held each other and collided in kisses and soft touches for what seemed like the entire night. Chanyeol stopped at nothing to make her feel like the only woman in the world. He took her in his arms and melted their bodies together in a collision of sweet and obscene.  
He drank her in with his senses, he had no problem being desolate in her, because with her is where he was found. Chanyeol only hoped that the momentum of their romance would continue to play out tomorrow, because he was about to put all of his cards on the table for her and there was no looking back.
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After lattes and pastries in the morning, Chanyeol set off on his mission to make this the most memorable day for Nina. They wandered Hirosaki, taking in the sights of the cherry blossoms swaying on the tree branches. He held her hand as they walked through her favorite bookstore, allowing her to buy whatever she wanted. There was absolutely no limit when it came to Nina. Anything she wanted; Chanyeol was happy to give it to her.
Cherry blossom petals were in her hair, and he didn’t dare take one of them away from her. He loved her this way, she was so cute in her yellow and white checkered dress that she insisted on wearing today. He kissed her on street corners and proudly had her on his arm, he envisioned his life like this every single day. It had to be this way, its the only way that was right.
He adored how the sun made her shine even more brightly than she already did. The dainty box in his pocket was starting to burn a hole in his pants but it never seemed to be the right time to bring it up. He hoped his anxiety wasn’t so obvious on his face. After they wandered every street and saw every sight to see, the couple went back to their small house amongst the soft cherry blossoms.
“I had the best day today, Yeolie!” Nina beamed up at her amorous lover. He grinned down at her, combing his black hair back with his long fingers. Nina couldn’t help but bite her lip at the way his undercut suited him so well, or how his Rolex gleamed in the light as he tossed his hair back. Suddenly, the mood changed. Chanyeol pulled out a bottle of Cabernet, rummaging the cabinets for wine glasses but he only seemed to find regular, cherry blossom themed glasses with pink stained blooms on the sides that looked like they belonged in his grandmother’s house.
“What are you doing?” Nina giggled.
“Spoiling my princess… With granny cups of wine.” Chanyeol muttered, disappointed in his failed efforts. With a soft hand, Nina brought his chin up so he could look her in the eye.
“You’re so cute.” She sweetly chided. She took her cup and clinked it with Chanyeol’s, his arm now secure around her waist. With a sudden jerk, Chanyeol walked over to the old record player in the living room, putting the needle on the record he spotted last night, a familiar melody filled the air.
“Come here. Dance with me.” Chanyeol smiles, offering his hand to Nina.
“Don’t mind if I do.” She blushed, taking him up on his offer. Nina allowed Chanyeol to lead, as clumsy as he was. She found it charming how he would trip over his two feet when he got nervous. She’d never tell him that she knew how hyper aware he became of every tiny detail when they were together. They swayed gently (and awkwardly) to the big band song she loved so much but could never remember the name of. They finished their wine and kept dancing, the alcohol making them sway a little bit more than normal.
“You still have cherry blossoms in your hair.” Chanyeol whispers, combing her hair back with his fingers. Nina reaches for her hair, but Chanyeol playfully swats her hand away.
“No, leave them. It makes you look like springtime.”
“I’m sorry but that’s the cheesiest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Nina chuckles, Chanyeol just brings her closer.
“You act like I am not the most charming man in the world. You should feel honored.” He cockily states, puffing his chest. Nina playfully pushes Chanyeol’s shoulder, then rests her head against it. The pounding of his heart was evident, but why? She felt him slowly inhale, then exhale. Chanyeol stopped their dancing and took Nina’s hands into his.
“I have to tell you something.”
Oh god. He’s breaking up with me. Nina’s mind went in at least six different directions as Chanyeol said those six words.
“Y-you do?”
“Nina… Listen. I…” Chanyeol bends his knees, debating on kneeling or standing. He settles for somewhere in the middle with red cheeks.
“I… Nina…”
“Are you breaking up with me?” Nina blurts, Chanyeol rapidly shakes his head.
“No! Love. Baby. Nina… I just… Why do you have to look at me like that?”
“Like what?!” Nina exclaims, confused by the sudden change in the mood.
“Like that!” Chanyeol motions toward her face.
“What am I supposed to do?!”
“LET ME ASK YOU TO MARRY ME!” Chanyeol blurts, the with wide eyes, covers his mouth. Nina’s jaw drops as Chanyeol turns from her for a moment, then returns to her gaze. He drops to his knee right next to the open window; cherry blossom petals blow into the house and soften the moment.
“Nina. I can’t imagine another year of you on my screen. I fell in love with you in the café down the street two years ago. I want those two years to turn into twelve. Those twelve to twenty. Those twenty to forty and onto forever. I love you more than life itself, and any time I think of spring and see cherry blossoms, I think of you and how you made my life so much brighter. Baby… Will you marry me?”
Chanyeol shakily opens the dainty box that housed Nina’s dream engagement ring, nestled in between a black velvet cushion. The center stone glistened in the low light, a soft cherry blossom pink. Every single moment they shared flashed before her eyes and led up to this very moment, with Chanyeol’s boba eyes begging her for an answer. Nina gets down on her knees with Chanyeol and nods.
“Yes, Yeolie. I’ll marry you.” Nina grins, allowing Chanyeol to slide the ring on her finger. He stands and brings her up into his arms, kissing her lips in fervent need.
“I love you. I love you so much.” Chanyeol whispers in between kisses. This moment was everything he hoped it would be. The cards were on the table, showing two hearts. He remembered to thank Kyungsoo for dragging him into the café that day, because if he didn’t… He wouldn’t be in this moment with the love of his life.
His forever love.
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demure2 · 1 year ago
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Blood is Thicker Than Wine _ FOUR
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> BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WINE [MASTERLIST]
— 1930s au
— yandere neighbor!chanyeol x reader || ft. best friend!sehun
— genre: angst, suggestive
— warnings: language, alcohol use, cigarette/substance use, mental illness, watching from afar, anxiety, gun, blood, older fella chanyeol
— word count: 3.5k
— note: hey guys, sorry i got caught up in schtuff. final smut chapter after dis one and then i will FINALLY BE ABLE TO START NEW WRITING. smut chapter IS coming soon. um YAY…!! open to suggestions and criticisms always :)
“Would you stop doing that, Chanyeol?” Your voice can’t help but come out small and innocently, not sure if he even hears you. You’re inundated by the pressure of his gaze beating down on you, the embarrassing urge to cry tugging relentlessly on your soft features.
“Baby, doing what?” His face softens. The gash across Chanyeol’s nose bridge looks more salient than ever, the dried blood glistening in the sodium light. His boastful posture deflates.
He inches dangerously close to you, until you can feel his emanating body heat. Blood on his lips threaten to spill over from teeth marks branded deep into his skin, eyes blown out and impatiently waiting for your response. A simple-minded man, he’s always been unsure of how to confront feelings meaningfully. If he could make himself think harder of anything better than easing it all with a smoke, he’d do it, but he can’t.
The yearning is sudden and impulsive on his fingertips, creeping down into his jacket. He’s ready to balance a cigarette between his forefinger and middle, but his pocket is vacant no matter how many times he runs the pads of his fingers over the patch of surface. Fuck.
“Stop telling me stupid things. Responsible for the death of Park Yoora? Sehun’s a mailboy and author, working part time as a mechanic. He’s never maimed anyone, never hurt a soul, let alone someone from your bloodline, Chanyeol,” it comes out harshly from your throat, crudely. “I have no reason to believe you and your lies anymore.” As if watching Chanyeol’s face falter and fall dramatically was too much to bear, you lazily shut your hooded eye, which have no problem sticking together easily due to the air’s stagnant moisture. The words are oddly visceral in his ears, cold and unforgiving all at once.
The townsfolk would agree that they’re used to, maybe unsettlingly too used to, Chanyeol’s eyes being void of much emotion. That’s the kind of man he is, after all, no one else can ignite unexpected life in them besides you.
And so, the gleam of betrayal in his eyes tonight is suddenly immediate, catching you off-guard nonetheless. His fitfully soft gaze hardens and his eyebrows scrunch angrily, watching your irises amplify with fear beneath him. “What’s so unbelievable about that, [Y/N]? Believe me, your little boyfriend’s maimed whether you want it or not, and he’s maimed my sister. Her husband couldn’t pay off a car loan and she was dead, just like that. Accept it, like I have.
You don’t have to be best friends with a murderer, you can come keep me company, bring me pastries or bake me an apple pie every weekend — I’ll take care of you. He's not your best friend. Don’t want him to be,” Chanyeol’s voice breaks, the weight of his acidic jealousy and grief awfully agonizing. He pauses to watch your stoic face carefully, searching for regret, but he won’t find any more than his own. “There’s bathtubs of our moonshine in front of you, aren’t there? Then what’s so hard to believe about that? Can’t you just believe me?” His firm tone becomes desperate, tender and divulging of his feelings.
“When it’s Sehun doing dirt, you don’t bat a pretty eyelash, you don’t think he could ever do it. When I tell you, you’re quick to deem me incredulous. You just don’t know everything like you think you do, bunny,” Chanyeol’s complexion toughens up just enough for him to not break down, an almost-sneer. The words come out in fragments, bits and pieces, his eyes still eager for validation in yours. The distance between your bodies makes you anxious.
You attempt to save your case, beginning to look crazed going back and forth. “Your lies are in poor taste. Let’s not forget that you’re villainizing Sehun, when you’re just as worse, Chanyeol — you’re jealous, aren’t you? You can’t bear the thought of me hanging out with him, because your filthy mind is convinced he’s fucking my brains out over the hood of one of his flivvers,” you hiss, voice tight and indignant. Chanyeol’s jaw clenches, teeth gritting together in his guise of red-eared anger.
“My ‘little boyfriend,’ Chanyeol? You think I’m a damned slut? He’s still my best friend, and I won’t let your apparent matters get in between us. And you said you'd take care of me? With what, with the criminal cash you’ve laundered? Why do you even do this filthy work? Where did you fuck up, Chanyeol? Tell me! What went wrong with you?”
The confrontation reminds Chanyeol of his roots. He bares his teeth, putting his hands up defensively. “No. Don’t talk down to me. I’ll take care of us. I will.”
“No, really, Chanyeol. Why else would you be working for bootleggers? You fucked up, and then you try to make it all better by making me think my best friend is just as bad.”
“I wouldn’t say that I fucked up. Would you rather have not known that he was doing those things? Would you have rather lived in euphoric bliss all your life, hanging out with a murderer? You should be thanking me, [Y/N]. Are you upset, baby? Maybe I did make you hate your little boyfriend and you’re afraid to admit it.” You flinch as he gets in your face, mere inches away. But the smell of ash is unusually absent from his breath, and on nights like these, where you’ve wandered too far away from home, it’s more unsettling than comforting.
Chanyeol feels his words pile on top of each other in front of you, unable to withstand his anger. Despite this, sweet relief merely washes over his anger for a second, like a crisp breeze. He hopes you can sense it, too. More or less, he’d tasted victory. He knows you’re sort of unsure now, insecure of your accords with Sehun and who you thought he was.
Men like Chanyeol are stupid, so he takes the chance to finally close the distance between you, taking you into his arms and murmuring into your hair. “You don’t like him anymore, do you?” Chanyeol is hopeful and gentle with his words, softly in your ear. “You don’t love him more than you love me,” he repeats. “You love me.” The feeling deep inside you that Chanyeol was right is acidic in your mouth, and it eats at you tenaciously.
You push him off of you and wipe your mouth, as if being that close to him was depraving, although you’d been pressed up to him before.
Over and over again, countless times before, but never close enough.
Sehun still occupied your mind without a doubt — how could he not, having known you for 4 years? You’d deeply cared for him since you first met in highschool — you, a junior, and him, a second year college student. Brought together by your close-rooted excursions home from school, he’d been your older brother figure. You remember it clearly, he’d bring along his two college friends with him to walk you home some days — Junmyeon and Yixing. They both had a crush on you that winter, red noses and all.
JUNMYEON’S ETHYL & GARAGE WORK’s formation was starting to make a lot of sense. Especially regarding their choice of hired hands.
By your senior year, Sehun had already been close to dropping out twice, but for some reason, stayed. Your momma liked Sehun all the same, wishful thinking that he’d end up somewhere.
You start hesitantly, worry etched into your expression. “I didn’t know he was like this. I didn’t know both of you were involved in this, Chanyeol, and if I did, I wouldn’t have decided to know you. I’m compliant. I am sorry, but I cannot love crooked men like you.” Again, the words reverberate twice as cruel in Chanyeol’s large ears, echoing over and over. He can’t find a solution.
Still feeling the phantom trace of both of your hands pressed up to his chest, pushing him away, Chanyeol doesn’t like the feeling of defeat. “Talk about compliance? With what, laws or rumors? Was it so compliant of you to loiter and trespass into my house at midnight? Are you so compliant when Sehun asks you to use your pretty skirt to sneak a few cigarette packs out from the store? Who cares about what we do for cash, I know sure as hell that you of all people fucking don’t, [Y/N].”
You’re stunned, defensive and cold, so the words blurt out of your mouth before you have the chance to fully apprehend them, swiftly and fleeting. "I have a right to care, do I not?”
But they’re nothing of swiftly and fleeting to Chanyeol, repeating over and over in his mind in your gentle voice. You almost clasp your hands over your mouth, feeling your teeth gnawing on the inside of your cheek. Gravity had pulled your senses together too late, long after the words had left your mouth. Chanyeol releases his heel, ready to turn around just seconds before.
The lull in his voice isn’t deceptive for once, something of a catharsis. “You’ve never cared. Aren't you scared of me, [Y/N]? You don’t think I notice? You don’t think I’m self aware? Of course I’m jealous, I know that I’m fucking sick, I’m in love with someone who I’ve watched for weeks." He says this in a tone matter-of-factly, but shameful in its meaning. He can’t help but feel allured to the thought of protecting your sugary elation from his potent, black tar of a psyche, despite eagerly desiring its corruption. “I just can’t help it, anymore. Men like me are stupid,” he says, and you notice that he says that a lot. “I always want what I can’t have," Chanyeol exhales, catching his breath. "You’ll never get it, [Y/N].”
Unsure of what to say, you look up at Chanyeol with demure eyes, tears threatening to fall at the motion of a blink. The cellar air is still cold yet saturated against your skin, harsh and unforgiving. You're just as destroyed, turning away from him.
You don’t think he does, but of course Chanyeol takes notice of you eyeing the stairway carefully, the center of each step slightly depressed in crescents after years of crude weight. You take one more look behind you at him, eyebrows still furrowed and focused on you. Then, holding your skirt down, you run as fast as possible. “I’ve gotta go.”
Chanyeol stays still, watching your form retreat up the stairs.
Making it back to the intermediate EMPLOYEES ONLY desk room, your eyes meet Jongin's. He's breathing heavily, his body already backed up against the door, barricading it with muscular leverage. Jongin smiles gently at the sight of you, sweat from the parching tension condensing at his cupid's bow. His eyes curve upward as he smiles. "Why don't you stay with Chanyeol, instead."
The sound of steady footfall echoes in the stairwell behind you, creaking the wood underneath. Desperately, you run up to Jongin. "Let me out, I have to leave." You whisper thinly, pushing Jongin's hair back to reveal his pink flushed ears. He pauses for a moment, allowing the stairwell noises to reverberate louder. Quickly, voice hitching in his throat, he quietly urges. "Relax. He’s gon' go mad if he sees you this close to me, sweet stuff. Let's back up, ‘kay?”
Discomfort vaguely reflected in your expression, you back away slowly, turning your gaze to the stairwell. You watch intently as Chanyeol's torso slowly emerges from the stairs, holding onto the left railing.
Your eyes grace each other instantaneously, doubtful and ashamed. He approaches you first, although timidly, head down. Then lowly, pulling you toward him so only you can hear, he murmurs a pitiful "I'm so sorry."
Chanyeol looks up to press his lips together into a quick smile, glancing at Jongin — slang for thanks! Jongin nods, subsiding his body from the door. "Sehun's in the back again tonight. Still working on that flaming ‘32 Buick."
When you two meet the night air outside, his smile collapses again, everything inside of him falling in on each other. “Let’s bring you to him, now. He can drive you home tonight,” Chanyeol asserts coldly, angry at himself. He didn't mean to tell you all of that, especially before he’d told you that he’d loved you. He didn’t mean to tell you all of that for weeks, but stupid men like me aren’t good at thinking before we speak. His hands are rough and calloused, the functional arm brushing against your shoulder before quickly retracting.
You make your way around the back together to the rows of vehicle hoists in the large outdoor garage, moments of stillness and night peeking through the open air on the sides. Feeling pissed, you make sure to walk in front of Chanyeol, so he can see the perfect ellipse your hips sway in when you walk. You know he likes it.
You see it all at once; a vibrant and lousy red car with stained white wheels, and beneath it, a quietly focused but normally lousy boy. Black hair pasted to his forehead with sweat, and eyes thin at practice.
“Sehun!” you call eagerly, desperate for his familiarity. His narrowed eyes snap to you in an instant, then darts to the taller man next you.
You run towards him, even against the emanating smell of gas and motor oil from his work station. Then, you fall to your knees on the rough asphalt, meeting him eye level as he sits there in baggy denim, one knee up and the other leg stretched out like a cat.
“He took you here, doll?” His voice is shaky and concerned for the both of you, glaring at Chanyeol from a distance. Sehun’s face is covered in sweaty dew from exposure to the close heat, hands diligently buried in the car’s hind suspension beam and axle.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner that you work with him?”
Sehun’s gaze hardens intensely, his dark brown irises piercing the scene behind you. You turn around quickly, realizing Chanyeol was now close to the car as well, having walked to where you two were.
Sehun draws back his hands from the machinery and hoists himself up to the other side, out from sitting underneath the raised car. He dusts off his knees, standing up to reach Chanyeol’s height, separated only by the flaming red Buick between them — and you, sitting at Chanyeol’s feet. They stare at each other menacingly in the dim garage light momentarily. Their mannerisms are similar in this way; backs straight like soldiers for war, eyebrows furrowed and heaving chests. What could you do?
Chanyeol breaks the silence. Snarkily, he’s unphased, unmoving and still. “Just wanted to show your sweetheart what you were up to. Car fixing, wine selling, killing innocent families for patriarchs’ loans. She actually really missed you, Sehun. I’m so jealous, really.”
“Still caught up on big sissy? That happened months ago, don’t be so brash in front of [Y/N], now. Does she know that you taint the liquor you sell, Chanyeol?”
“She knows what my tongue feels like,” Chanyeol cocks his head to the side, sticking out his tongue to bite down on it. A taunting demonstration in Sehun’s face, the mockery is jarring. He’s taken aback momentarily, but that doesn’t stop him from putting his arms down onto the Buick’s hood, triumphantly. “What’s your fucking problem?”
“That someone I’m forced to work with keeps fucking with things I care about.” Sehun fucks up on the job, and he gets away kindly with a lengthy talk from Junmyeon about not killing innocent people for fear. Sehun fucks up off the job, and he’s got no one left to clean up for him. These things are still foreign to Sehun, still young and unsure of trivial matters. Like if the way his dick curves to the right will make him die sooner, or if he’ll ever grow any facial hair.
Your eyes dart between the two men and their exchange, though its difficult to see Sehun from your position, so you stand up.
Sehun throws his denim jacket to the garage’s floor, nothing underneath except skin slick with grease. The buttons make contact with the cement, clicking and clunking. Their eyes are locked, not parting for a second.
“You wanna go? Fist to fist like men?” Sehun clenches his fists with bruising grasps. Chanyeol laughs, “not really.”
He’d lose anyway, with one functional arm, the other in a sling to his side.
Sehun seethes, seconds away from lunging at Chanyeol anyway. “What’s got you so pent up? The girl here has your panties in a twist?”
“Every man’s own right to go and have his own wife.”
Then, Sehun frowns upon reaching an epiphany. “So pitiful of you. You dragged [Y/N] along so she would hate me.” Chanyeol smiles shamelessly, not completely a lie. “Some of it.”
Sehun begins to make his way around the hood of the car, nothing in between you now to shield against his vexation. The denim jeans he wears are dirty and caked with dirt at the knees, and the baggy fabric folds between his legs at every motion.
“Why don’t we put this in the past, Chanyeol? You always let all your emotions get the best of you, except anger. You always let the anger bottle up! Even now I know you’re not angry at me, even though I can’t bring Yoora back for you,” Sehun contends, strangely assertive behavior for him. “Let’s start over, Park Chanyeol. I’ll hang out with [Y/N], and you can go back to that Mélis doll. We’ll work together from now on, I’m not bargaining with you, now.”
From the corner of his eye, he can see Chanyeol raise his hand up from his hip, slipping into his coat.
You almost would have missed it if it weren’t for the proud blood splatter on the cement, the vehemently loud noise over in the span of a blink.
Sehun jerks his body away from Chanyeol’s at once, your heart thundering in your chest. You watch stock-still and he wretches an agonizing groan, clutching his lower abdomen and collapsing onto the bloodied cement. Sehun calls out your name faintly, but you try not to look. His stomach makes an obscene sticky squelch.
Your scream makes Chanyeol wince with an eye closed, though the gloating smile tugging at his lips is harder to hide. “He’ll be fine, ready to work in a week. Just in the hip. Jongin and Baekhyun heard it, it’s nothing,” nonchalantly, he returns the hand to his side.
You rush to Sehun’s side before you have the chance to puke all over the pavement, holding his face in your hands. His eyes are hazy, but eyebrows still furrowed in a fit of silent rage, teeth hissing. “Hurts so bad, [Y/N]. You need to run,” he pants in your ear, tucking his head in between your neck and your collarbone. He’s lightheaded because of the blood loss, blooming through his denim jeans. His eyes plead, and he manages a small “love ya.”
“You’re gonna be okay, Sehun, I’m here.”
The silence makes you twist your head to find the older man, quickly. “You did this to him! You sick creep, he’s bleeding out, he’s hurt, he’s in pain. He’s going to die!” But Chanyeol is already leaning on a concrete pillar haphazardly, without a care in the world, “let him.”
You take off your slip-on coat quickly, then your tight, long sleeved blouse. The tourniquet you make resembles a bloodied kitchen rag, but it will make-do until Jongin and Baekhyun flood the scene. The slip-on coat makes it back on your form before they arrive.
When the men reach Sehun’s side, they work hastily and efficiently, before hefting his weight onto their backs.
You slip next to Chanyeol, still gazing at Sehun’s disheveled form. He’s still conscious, but in shock and daze held up. “You still want him to take you home tonight?”
“What is wrong with you?”
Chanyeol had gotten into the illegal trade while youthful, following his discharge from the militia. A jarhead, blunt and unsure, he’d reluctantly majored in business. When it all came crashing down in the midst of the roaring 20s, he’d decided that he’d work in law enforcement customs — an easy job that brunt men could understand, watching the crime rate reach an all time high. During these times, he observed Mr. Kim Junmyeon, a sophisticated industrialist, audaciously bringing in wooden crates of illegally distilled liquor crossing between Montreal to Manhattan. He wasn’t worried, because he knew it would work out in the end — and he was good at networking, even with the authorities.
Really, he admired Junmyeon’s work and dedication to the craft, lacking his own ambition. He'd let Junmyeon slip through easily, beginning to lack integrity. Junmyeon knew this, so he’d go back and forth with new bottles every two weekends, sparing Chanyeol a few for his kind gesture. Now, they hand out laundered money together at the pubs like candy, and crash autos like they’re nothing more than just carnival bumper cars. Sell wine like water, corrupt what you need to in order to get what you want.
Out of all, though, they don't meddle in each other’s businesses.
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mgg-81 · 2 years ago
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Late Night Tender [P.CY]
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(CREDITS TO THE OWNER OF THIS PHOTO)
A/N’s NOTE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHANYEOL!
NOTE 2: I’m so sorry for being inactive. A lot has happened that made me halt a pile of WIPs. Here’s a birthday gift for our giant and for everyone else! This was inspired by a scene from The King: Eternal Monarch about getting the plushy.
Genre: Fluff, little angst.
Ratings and Warnings: None
Characters: Park Chanyeol X Female!Reader
Word Count: 938
Date of Publication: 27-11-2022
“Jagiya!” A shout to welcome her rang through the house once she took off her shoes, coming home from work. She wasn’t surprised as two long limbs came running clumsily toward her until they stopped directly in front of her. Sighing, she gaped up to see puppy eyes matched with an endearing smile that should’ve made her melt. But no, an unamused expression was visible on her face.
“What?” She tossed her shoes to the side.
"Come cuddle with me," Chanyeol said, opening his arms to embrace her.
“No.”
The twinkle in Chanyeol’s orbs began to dissipate as his lips turned into a pout. “Why? I need my cuddles, jagi.”
“Why don’t you hug the Rilakkuma I’ve bought you from the amusement park?” she said as she whizzed past him, not even taking a single glance at his form, which looked down on the floor as if he hadn't been given his favorite candy.
As she walked toward their shared bedroom, not even an inch of warmth flowed through her as she took a shower, brushed her teeth, and changed into comfy clothing. However, from the back of her head, memories of when she took home the bacon for Chanyeol came to her.
"Is this the place?" she wondered as she looked around the amusement park, which was almost deserted except for a few people who were still enjoying themselves in the middle of the night. The two of them found themselves in front of a booth that was filled with bottles and plushies. Chanyeol gazed at her and twisted his body left and right while nodding.
"All right," she said, pulling up her sleeve as they were greeted by a man with whom Chanyeol had a falling out. Sort-of.
“Well, you’re here again!” exclaimed the man, nodding at Chanyeol and then bowing at her. "This is your wife?”
"Yep," she said, giving the man a small salute as she finished fixing her sleeve. “I’m the wife.”
"And she'll win that Rilakkuma for me," Chanyeol says proudly, rubbing her shoulders.
The man scoffed and waved his hand playfully. “Well then, suit yourself.”
And suit the couple did.
The man’s jaw dropped as she hit every target there was. She didn’t hesitate to shoot until there was none left. Even Chanyeol, as evidenced by his grin, was taken aback. He crossed his arms at the man in a smug manner as she made sure that there was not a single bottle left to shoot.
“Well then,” she mimicked the man. “How about that Rilakkuma plushy for my husband, kind sir?”
She chuckled at the memory as she scuffled her hair to dry it as she came out of the bathroom. But while her spirits were lifted for a while, putting the name of the Rilakkuma as related to tonight’s occurrence plummeted her inner being. Once remembered how her reaction to Chanyeol was earlier, she reflected and felt bad upon knowing she had hurt her husband’s feeling like she had dumped a bucket of ice over him. She hadn’t intended to snap at him, but it wasn’t an excuse for her to be cranky and irritated.
She shuffled her way toward the kitchen and decided to drink some warm milk. And while she scraped her slippers against the floor, her breath took hold once she saw Chanyeol lying down on their sofa, not far from where she stood, hugging the Rilakkuma as he slept. While she was still a few feet away, she took a close look at his features; his pouty lips and squishy cheeks were mushed against the plush, his nose was scrunched adorably, and his eyes were fluttering due to their largeness. Letting him sleep, she decided to proceed to the kitchen to boil some water and pour some milk powder into her mug.
As she waited for the water to simmer, she jumped an as little bit as a raspy voice from behind her came about. She immediately turned around to see Chanyeol holding the stuffed animal to his side, all the while rubbing his eyes. She couldn’t help but find him adorable, like a child that had just woken up.
“Jagiya?” he asked as he dragged himself towards her and plopped half of his weight on her. A sigh escaped her lips as she softly ran her fingers through his hair, which made him nuzzle further into her neck.
“I’m so sorry about earlier, darling,” she said, holding him up to look into his eyes, which were droopy but noticeably red, which alarmed her.
“Are…are you crying?” she hesitantly asked. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you like that. I just had an awful day, but it wouldn’t mean I should give you a cold shoulder.”
Chanyeol giggled as he looked at her worried face. “I’m not and it’s okay. I understand,” he shook his head. “I was…uh….” He stopped all the while suddenly looking like he was about to sneeze. She immediately grabbed a tissue box from the kitchen counter and handed it to him, before he let out a loud, “ACHOO!”
Turning sheepishly to face her, Chanyeol shyly rubbed the back of his neck, to which she shook her head, all the while snorting to herself.
Soon enough, shared sentiments and laughter rang throughout the house as the two of them chattered over their shared hot lemonade and milk as Chanyeol hugged the Rilakkuma tighter to his arm. She gave him a lopsided smile as if it was an item Chanyeol would treasure and would never let go of.
The plushy that she got and won for him on his birthday.
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nanawritesit · 10 months ago
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Being EXO’s fem!idol crush who gets shipped with them - Maknae Line Ver.
Hyung Line Ver.
a/n: this is based on the SM girl group idol au that i wrote a while back, please read that first so that the writing will make sense :) AND these scenarios are LONG (esp. Chanyeol’s omg it took FOREVER) so i’m splitting this into two parts! enjoy :)
TW: kissing, sleeping in the same bed, mentions of food, slightly suggestive remarks, mentions of bullying, being held, sitting on his lap, mild cursing
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Chanyeol:
You were both sent by the company to be on a new variety show called “Idol Roommates,” where a bunch of idols would be living together in the same house for a month. SM had sent you, Chanyeol, Yeri, and Ten, Hybe had sent Beomgyu, Jake, Sakura, and Minji, and JYP had sent Bangchan, Yuna, Lily, and and Gunil. The fans were super excited to see all of their favorite idols be roommates, and you had to admit, you were a little too excited to be living in such close proximity with Chanyeol.
The first episode began with you all arriving to the house with your label mates, and greeting all the other idols in the kitchen. There were cameras hidden all around the house, except for in the bathrooms, so you never really could tell what was being broadcasted and what wasn’t.
“So, what do we do first?” Sakura asked once everyone had arrived.
“Oh, there’s a note here on the table…” Bangchan said as he reached for it. “‘Welcome to your new home for the next month! In this bowl are all of your names. Please draw for your roommate and choose your rooms in order of your ages.’” he read aloud.
“Well, Chanyeol hyung is the oldest, so he goes first.” Ten explained, patting Chanyeol’s shoulder.
“Wow, you don’t have to rub it in.” Chanyeol joked, a playful smile on his face. Everyone laughed along with him, quieting down when he reached into the bowl to draw a name.
“Y/N.” he announced. Everyone turned to you expectantly. Yeri and Ten shot you mischievous grins, to which you blushed and looked away. They knew about your enormous crush on Chanyeol, how he had been your bias since high school, and how you used to have posters of him all over your wall. You shot them a dangerous glare before turning to Chanyeol.
“Alright, shall we go pick our room?” you proposed, desperate to get the attention off yourself.
“Yeah, let’s go!” he agreed, leading you up the stairs.
“This one looks the biggest.” you suggested after you had surveyed all the rooms.
He walked over from the other end of the hall and glanced inside the room you were talking about. “Alright, works for me!”
You had separate beds on opposite sides of the room, but it was still a little awkward. The two of you had several interactions in the past, and they were all pleasant, but mostly formal. You began unpacking your suitcases and shuffling around the room to get settled in silence.
As you did so, you could hear the other groupings running excitedly up the stairs to claim their rooms. Ten and Sakura were first, then Bangchan and Yeri. Gunil had picked Jake, then Beomgyu picked Lily, and that left Yuna and Minji together. Hearing the chatter of your colleagues in the background helped ease the tension a bit.
“Do you sleep with a light on?” Chanyeol asked suddenly, making you jump a bit.
You nodded sheepishly. “I’m a bit scared of the dark to be honest.”
“Ah, you’ll have to remind me. I don’t sleep with a light. Are you okay with having a fan on?”
“Yeah, I don’t mind that!” you told him, shuffling awkwardly. “I’m sorry you got stuck rooming with me. I know I’m not the most fun person in the world.”
“No, don’t be sorry… I’m actually relieved that I drew your name.” he told you reassuringly.
“Really?” you asked, cocking your head to the side in curiosity. “Why’s that?”
“Because you’re one of the few people I feel comfortable around in the idol world.” he answered, a tiny, bashful grin on his face.
You tried to ignore the flush creeping up your cheeks. “I feel the same way about you.”
Suddenly, Bangchan and Yeri appeared at your door. “Hey, are you guys ready for the debrief? We’re all heading downstairs now.” Chan asked.
“Yeah, let’s go.” Chanyeol replied, leading you out of the room. He followed Bangchan down the stairs, and with their backs to you, Yeri turned around and wiggled her brows at you. You pushed her forward a bit out of annoyance, causing her to tumble down the stairs by a few steps. You instinctively reached out for her, then looked at her, concerned. You both broke out into laughter, her gripping onto the railing and you holding onto her.
“That would’ve sucked.” Yeri chuckled, holding onto her stomach from laughing so hard.
—————
“Okay, so all the housework has been assigned.” Sakura declared, setting down her slice of pizza. “We’ll do meals in order of oldest to youngest, and chores in order of youngest to oldest.”
The production company had sent you all pizza for your first dinner, but you were instructed to prepare meals for the house for the rest of the time you would be there. That meant that you and Chanyeol would be preparing breakfast tomorrow.
For the remainder of the night, you all just chilled in the enormous living room and talked about all of your careers while a movie played on the TV. Conversation was flowing so smoothly that time just seemed to fly by, and before you knew it, everyone was getting up to get ready for bed, including you and Chanyeol.
“You can take a shower first.” he told you, sitting down at his bed to check his phone.
“Okay, thanks!” you chirped, making your way over to the bathroom.
Once you were done and in your pajamas, which embarrassingly enough had little kittens all over them, you padded your way back over to your own bed. “It’s all yours.” you told him.
“Awesome, be right back.” he responded, getting up from his bed. He did a double take as he looked at you. “Nice pajamas. They’re cute.”
You blushed, trying to focus on drying your hair. “Thank you. Kaori got them for me and I just can’t resist wearing them, even if they are kind of silly.”
“They’re perfect.” he smiled as he walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
You sighed, placing your hands on your cheeks to cool them off. Get it together Y/N. You’re on TV.
You went about the rest of your nightly routine, then curled up in bed to scroll on your phone for a bit. After a while, you heard the water shut off, meaning that Chanyeol was done with his shower. And then it happened. Everything went to black.
You yelped a bit at the sudden darkness, gripping onto your blankets.
“Guys?” you heard Gunil shout from down the hallway.
Everyone started emerging into the hallway with their phone flashlights on. “Is everyone okay?” you heard Lily ask.
“Everyone’s here except for Chanyeol and Y/N.” Jake stated. You heard shuffling down the hallway coming towards your room, which only made your anxiety worsen. You didn’t want any of your adult colleagues to see you scared out of your mind just because the electricity went out.
Just as you were preparing to face your housemates, Chanyeol emerged from the bathroom and practically sprinted over to the door with his own phone’s flashlight.
“Yeah, we’re both good in here.” he told your housemates from the doorway, shielding you from the view. “Since it’s the middle of the night anyway, I say we just all go to sleep. The production company’s cameras will have suddenly shut off, so I’m sure they’ll fix it by morning.”
“Yeah, that’s a good point.” Chan agreed. “Well, since everyone’s okay, let’s just go back to our rooms.”
Once everyone was back in their rooms, Chanyeol rushed over to you, sitting down on your bed. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice dripping with concern. You had never seen him so serious before.
“Yeah… just scared…” you shuddered, gripping onto your blankets.
“It’s okay, nothing is gonna happen to you. I promise.” he comforted you, patting your shoulder. “Do you think you can try to go to sleep?”
You thought for a moment, then shook your head. “I’d be too anxious. I know that nothing is going to happen to me, but it’s just a fear I’ve never been able to shake.”
He looked as if he was tossing an idea around in his head. Hesitantly, he looked back up at you. “Would you be able to sleep if we shared a bed?”
Your eyes went wide. Was Park Chanyeol actually offering to sleep in the same bed as you just so you would feel safe? It was as if all of your dreams were coming true in this moment.
You coughed awkwardly. “Well um… you don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable, but… it would definitely help.” you stuttered out.
“I don’t mind at all.” he told you, a comforting smile on his features. “I just want you to feel better.”
You grinned, feeling your heart swell with emotions, then scooched over to make room for him.
It was obviously a little bit awkward at first. You both faced away from each other, a good three inches of space between the two of you. You thought that was going to be how the rest of the night went, until you started shaking.
“Y/N, are you trembling?” Chanyeol asked, turning towards you.
You froze. “Um… yeah. I’m sorry. I’m just scared.” you sighed in humiliation.
“It’s alright… do you want me to hold you?” he offered, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“I… I don’t want you to feel like you have to…” you spat out reluctantly, even though your heart was screaming at you to say yes immediately.
“I want to, Y/N.” he told you, a slight chuckle slipping out as he did so. “I mean, who doesn’t want to hold the person they like as they fall asleep?”
Your heart stopped. More than anything, you said in your head.
Your mouth fell open in shock, and you frantically flopped over to face him completely. “You like me?”
He nodded, a small smirk on his face. “I thought it was obvious.”
Your face broke out into a huge, toothy grin, and you lunged forward to hide your blushing face in his chest. He chuckled at your bashfulness, closing his arms around you in a tight embrace.
“Shall we get some sleep?” he asked.
You happily nodded in his hold. “I think I can manage now that I’ll have something to dream about.”
“Goodnight Y/N.” he whispered, placing a gentle kiss to your forehead before curling up around you.
“Goodnight Chanyeol.”
—————
In the morning, you tumbled awake to see him sitting up against the headboard scrolling on his phone. “I was just about to wake you up.” he chuckled, ruffling your hair. “Did you sleep well?”
You nodded groggily, smiling through squinted eyes. “All thanks to you.” you curled into his side.
“Although you look super adorable right now, we really should get started on breakfast.” he suggested. “We don’t want everyone going hungry.”
“I suppose so…” you sighed, getting out of bed. You both threw on your robes and slippers and made your way downstairs to the kitchen.
“Alright, what are we working with?” Chanyeol inquired as he opened the fridge, inspecting its contents.
“Well first of all, we’re going to need lots of coffee.” you giggled, busying yourself with the coffee pot.
“Very true. I can get started on some eggs and bacon while you do that.” he decided, swiping the ingredients out of the fridge and moving over to the stove. You prepared breakfast in a comfortable silence, that was, until the front door swung open, and three suited men strode in. You recognized one as your manager, but had no idea who the other two were.
“Hyung? What’s going on?” Chanyeol asked one of the men you didn’t know. You now assumed it was his manager.
“Don’t worry, we shut the cameras off this morning.” the man responded to him. “However, the production manager would like to tell you something.” He turned to the last remaining unidentified man and looked at him begrudgingly. Your own manager looked equally as annoyed with the supposed production manager, tapping his foot impatiently.
The man sighed. “The electrical outage was staged last night. Cameras were rolling throughout the entire night, and everything that went on was broadcasted.”
“You mean… the fans saw…?” you asked meekly, feeling your heart drop into your stomach.
“Yes, they saw you and Chanyeol sleeping in the same bed and confessing to one another.” your manager told you, a sympathetic look in his eyes. “I’m sorry kid. They didn’t tell us about this, or else we would’ve told you not to act as if you were in private.”
“There is, however, a bit of good news that goes along with this.” Chanyeol’s manager interjected. “The fans are really happy about it.”
You both snapped your heads up in shock. “Really?”
“Our ratings went through the roof.” the production manager explained. “Just in the past eight hours, we’ve received more viewers than any of our previous pilot episodes combined.”
“What are they saying?” you inquired, still incredibly surprised that the response was positive. Fans were not usually supportive of idol romance, wanting to maintain their own personal fantasies about their idols being available. In fact, “Idol Roomates” was kind of a controversial show because it allowed male and female idols to live together as if they were couples.
“See for yourself.” your manager instructed, holding his phone out to you. You began scrolling through some recent tweets he had pulled up on his phone, Chanyeol looking over your shoulder to read them with you.
I TOLD YOU GUYS IDOL ROOMMATES WAS FIRE, NOW WE GET Y/N AND CHANYEOL CONTENT 🔥
channie was soooo sweet to comfort y/n while she was afraid of the dark 🥺 i love seeing him be so soft to her ❤️
that innocent forehead kiss!!! i love them so much!!! <3
“Wow… that’s amazing.” Chanyeol marveled, running a hand through his hair. “So… what now?”
“Well, that’s up to you guys.” his manager replied. “The company has given us the okay to either confirm or deny the relationship based on your wishes.”
You both glanced at the floor, thinking to yourselves for a moment. Suddenly, you looked up and realized that you didn’t owe anyone an explanation.
“Let’s not say anything.” you suggested. Everyone looked over to you with a slightly shocked expression.
“Nothing?” your manager asked. “You mean, just let them wonder?”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea…” the production manager agreed, tapping his chin in thought. “They are the most popular couple on the show, and no matter what, there are going to be skeptics on whether or not it was staged. Why don’t we just let the show be an experiment?”
“And if we ever do develop a relationship, this can be looked back on as where it developed.” Chanyeol grinned, taking your hand in his.
You grinned at him appreciatively, then turned back to your manager. “Is that okay?”
He shrugged, an amused smile on his face. “It’s your call, kid.”
You looked back over at Chanyeol, who gave you a determined nod.
“Let’s do it.” you decided.
“Alright, case closed.” Chanyeol’s manager stated, clapping his hands together. “We’re going to see that you guys have a few minutes to speak with each other alone before they turn the cameras back on...” He shot a dirty look to the production manager before continuing. “… but other than that, we hope you have fun on the show. And please, don’t take it too far. Fans can be quite temperamental.”
As soon as the three men left the room, you turnt to Chanyeol. “Did you really mean that?”
“What? That I see us developing a relationship?” he asked, scratching his head with a cute smile. “I thought that much was obvious.”
You giggled, shaking your head at yourself. “This is the second time I’ve been completely oblivious. I feel like such a fool.”
“You’re not a fool.” he reassured you, pulling you into his arms for a tight hug. His height always allowed him to give the best hugs. He made you feel so safe and cared for. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Thank you…” you whimpered into his chest. “I really do want to make this work.”
“And it will.” he grinned, rocking you slightly. “I promise.”
You looked up, resting your chin on his chest. “I believe you. You promised nothing would happen to me last night, and you were right.”
He smiled down at you affectionately. “There’s one more thing I want to do with these last few minutes we’ll get alone.”
“Hm?” you asked, once again oblivious to his insinuation.
Before you even had time to register what was happening, his lips were on yours. His hands came up to hold onto your face and press himself further up against you. You held your breath, then relaxed into his arms, hands linking together behind his neck. He began to deepen the kiss, puckering his lips against yours repeatedly and darting his tongue between them periodically. When you were completely out of air, you pulled back, both of your chests heaving against one another.
“I can’t wait until this show is over and we can have some real privacy.” you grinned suggestively. “Now, shall we finish breakfast?”
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D.O:
You rubbed your sweaty palms against the rough material of your jeans, taking a deep shaky breath as you waited in the recording studio. Usually when you were nervous in a place like this, it was because you were worried about messing up your notes or forgetting the lyrics. But that wasn’t the case today. You had practiced the drama’s OST relentlessly, and knew the song forwards, backwards, and sideways. What you were nervous about was the fact that you were going to be singing a duet with Do Kyungsoo.
Not only were you totally intimidated by his vocals, but you also had the most mortifying crush on him. Everyone at the company seemed to know about it except him, and you wanted to keep it that day. You just hoped you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself in front of him today.
You jumped as he entered the room, springing to your feet. He looked ungodly handsome, clad in a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway and jeans.
“Hey Y/N.” he smiled warmly as you locked eyes. “How’s it going?”
“Hey, I’ve been really good!” you choked out, playing with the sleeve of your sweater. “How about you? I saw you guys were in Jeju Island last week. I mean, on Instagram, I wasn’t there stalking you or anything. Not that I’m not a fan, but…” you stopped yourself before you dug down into an even deeper hole.
He chuckled at your babbling, somehow finding it endearing. “We were, it was a really good trip. Although I almost threw Baekhyun off a cliff while we were hiking.”
“Oh, that’s not good! Accidents happen, I suppose.” you shrugged, brushing your hair back behind your ears. You could feel a thin layer of sweat on the back of your neck, a telltale sign that you were nervous. You had to tell yourself to calm down, you didn’t want to look sweaty when they filmed the video.
“Oh no, it would’ve been on purpose. He was being insufferable.” he explained, grinning evilly. God, he was so attractive.
You laughed, genuinely this time. “I get it. Sometimes I want to strangle the girls.”
He hummed in amusement. “Look at us, bonding over wanting to kill our members.”
You giggled at his comment, feeling yourself relax slightly. Maybe this isn’t going to be so ba-
“Alright guys, the company wants us to film the video now, so in the booth.” your manager decreed as he entered the room.
Nevermind.
“We don’t get a chance to practice at all?” Kyungsoo asked, looking understandably irritated.
“I’m sorry guys, they forgot about the deadline they gave the marketing team for the drama.” the other man explained sympathetically. “They need it within the next hour, and editing is going to need at least a half hour after we film it.”
“Awesome…” you sighed, grabbing a pair of headphones and following Kyungsoo into the booth.
You could feel your nerves getting the better of you, making your hands shake and your throat go dry, both of which would not be good for your performance.
Kyungsoo seemed to notice this, and grabbed your hand gently. Your heart stopped, making you freeze in place.
“Hey, you’ve got this.” he whispered with a comforting smile. “You have the voice of an angel.”
Butterflies swarmed in your stomach. He thought your voice was angelic?
“Alright guys, camera is rolling.” your manager said from the control panel. Music starting in 3…2…”
You exhaled as the music started, letting yourself ease up. You glanced over at Kyungsoo. He was looking at you with such kind, sensitive eyes. You couldn’t help the smile that appeared on your face as you began to sing your lines. When you were looking at him, it was really easy to belt out a love song.
He seemed to feel the same way as he started singing his own verse, his smile never faltering as he gazed into your eyes affectionately.
As you began to sing the chorus together, it was like the stars aligned. You were perfectly in synch, voices intertwining together like two rivers of golden honey merging into one. You were both putting so much passion and energy into the song, the lyrics resonating in both of your hearts as you looked at one another.
As the song came to a close, you both held your notes until the music ended, looking at each other breathlessly. Both of your eyes were twinkling, and you could feel chills running down your spine. That was the best duet you had ever sung with anyone.
“That was amazing you guys!” your manager suddenly said, snapping you out of your daze. “I don’t know how you guys did it perfect on the first try, but great job!”
“Uh, thanks!” you stammered, removing your headphones. You started to blush as you realized the amazing connection you and Kyungsoo had just had. Your anxiety was quickly returning, causing you to act without thinking.
You turned to him. “God, it’s hot in here. Are you hot? I mean, you are hot, I mean-“
He looked at you expectantly, as if you could possibly recover from that humiliating sentence. However, he didn’t look embarrassed at all. He had a hopeful glint in his eyes and an anticipated smile.
However, you were far too overwhelmed with your own nerves to notice. “Well, I’m gonna go home. See you later alligator!”
And with that, you bolted out of the studio and ran back to your dorm, not stopping until you were back in your bedroom. Nabi and Kaori were shouting after you, but you just ignored them, slamming your door behind you.
You collapsed your back against the door and slid down until you were on the floor, placing your head in your hands. “‘See you later alligator?’ What am I, 50?!”
—————
After a few hours of cycling through rotting in your bed, pacing the floor in anxiety, crying out of humiliation, and passing out from exhaustion, you were disturbed by yet another knock on your door. You groaned, assuming it was one of your members trying to talk to you again.
“Dude, I love you, but go away, I need to be alone.” you grumbled, pulling your pillow up over your head.
You heard the door open and someone walk in, but you didn’t have the energy to look up. Maybe if I stay really still, they’ll think I’m dead, and then they’ll leave, you thought.
You felt them sink down on the bed next to you and place a hand on your shoulder. “Y/N? Can we talk?”
You snapped up, eyes widening as you realized who was in front of you. “Kyungsoo!” You frantically fixed your hair and wiped your face. “Oh god, I look terrible…”
“No you don’t.” he chuckled, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear.
You froze at his touch, relishing the feeling of his fingers in your hair before blinking back to reality. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I just thought you should know how well our OST is doing.” he grinned, pulling out his phone. You leaned forward to see the music video you made that already had millions of views in just a few short hours.
“Wow, people love it this much?” you asked in disbelief.
“That’s not all. Look at the comments.” he handed you his phone, and you did as he asked.
You know this drama’s gonna be good when they got Y/N AND Kyungsoo to sing the OST… total power vocal couple!
Y/N and Kyungsoo might as well be the main couple in the drama, their chemistry is insane
the way they sing the song to each other… my heart 💓 💓💓
You couldn’t help the giddy feeling that was blooming in your chest, attempting to fight off your smile to no avail. “They really like us, huh?”
He nodded, setting his phone back down. “There’s another reason I came here.”
“Hm?” you asked, cocking your head to the side in curiosity.
He took your hand in his, just as he had done in the recording booth earlier. “Y/N, you don’t have to be so nervous around me. I think you’re adorable, and I really like you.”
Fireworks went off in your stomach. “Y-you do?”
“Of course I do.” he laughed, shaking your hand in exaggeration. “Why do you think I asked to sing the OST with you?”
Your jaw unhinged in shock. “You asked to be paired with me?”
“Well yeah, how else was I going to get close to you?” he chuckled. “I was going to ask you out after we finished, but you ran away so quickly, I never got the chance.
You blinked at him a few times, then erupted into a fit of laughter. He joined you, doubling over slightly.
As you both settled down, he leaned in closer. “Will you go out with me?” he practically whispered.
You nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, yes! Of course I will!”
He smiled brighter than you had ever seen him do before, then slowly inched closer to your face. His eyes were focused on your lips.
Deciding you had been oblivious enough for one day, you took the hint and closed the distance between the two of you, crashing your lips onto his. He placed a hand delicately on your cheek, then began deepening the kiss, until you both pulled away, eyelids fluttering open slowly.
He smirked. “So, where do you want to go, angel voice?”
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Kai:
“You’ve got it… you’ve got it…” Ten instructed you, guiding your movements. You were both in the dance practice room, covered in sweat as you went through the routine. You were working on a partner dance for your next solo album, and you wanted it to be with Ten, but somehow it just wasn’t going as planned. You were stumbling through the steps, there was no flow so your movements were jerky, and you somehow couldn’t shake the tense expression from your face.
As the music finished, you awkwardly caught your footing and struck the most pathetic ending pose you’d ever done. Ten gave you a crooked smile out of sympathy, which somehow made you feel ten times worse.
“Ugh, this is hopeless.” you sighed, throwing your hands up in resignation as you plopped down on the floor and leaned your back up against the mirror. “I’m never going to get this routine down in time.”
“Hey, it’s not your fault.” he attempted to reassure you, sitting down next to you. “You’re doing everything right. Sometimes, it just takes a little while to get the right feel for it.”
“Yeah, or I’m just a horrible dancer.” you huffed. You put your head in your hands and scrunched up your hair. The shoot was in two weeks, and this routine had to be perfect. Your fans deserved nothing less.
Ten was conflicted on what he should say next. On one hand, he wanted to tell you how amazing and talented you were, but on the other hand, he knew it wasn’t going to mean anything if you didn’t believe it yourself. He decided to grab a water bottle and hand it to you with a warm smile. “How about you just take a little break? I’m sure you’ll feel better in a few minutes.”
You smiled back at him, taking the water bottle from him gratefully. Your brow furrowed as he stood up and walked towards the door. “Where are you going?”
“I’m gonna go find something that’ll help.” he grinned over his shoulder before leaving the room.
You shook your head at his cryptic behavior, then collapsed back against the mirror, staring up at the ceiling in desperation. Please God, if you’re listening, please send me something to help with this dance.
“Y/N?” you heard someone ask from the doorway.
You snapped your head down to see who it was, and smiled widely at the pleasant sight before you. “Kai! What are you doing here?”
“Just checking in on my favorite junior.” he smirked, shutting the door behind him as he strolled in. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his jacket as he stopped in front of you, looking you over with a concerned expression. “What are you doing on the floor?”
“Just taking a break.” you replied, stretching slightly. “I’m too bad of a dancer not to.”
He frowned, crouching down to your level to glare at you. “Don’t say that about yourself. You’re an amazing dancer.”
“You haven’t seen me practice this routine.” you chuckled. “I’m sure you would change your mind if you did.”
“Alright then, show me.” he demanded, standing back up and taking a step back.
“Wait, like now?” you asked, slowly getting up yourself. “You don’t even know the routine…”
“I’m sure I can improvise.” he grinned, taking his jacket off and throwing it to the side, leaving him in just a cutoff tank top and sweats. “What, do you doubt my skills?”
“Absolutely not.” you chuckled. You had been secretly admiring him since before you even became a trainee, in more ways than one.
You got into position and waited for the music to start, then thrust into action as you began the routine. The first half went almost perfect, as it was just your solo part. You began to get nervous as the duet portion approached, feeling your muscles begin to tense up.
Kai approached you and placed his hands gently on your waist, a focused spark in his eyes. He somehow knew the exact partner position, and began guiding you across the floor.
“Relax, relax…” he instructed calmly, “remember to breathe.” He spun you around and placed a hand on the small of your back.
You inhaled deeply, holding the breath in your chest for a bit, then exhaled and released all the tension you didn’t realize you were holding onto. You started being able to flow through the moves better, but now you were hyper-focusing the footwork.
“Hey, don’t look at your feet. Focus on me.” he brought you back to center once again, twirling you back to face him and placing his hands on the sides of your face.
You looked up at him, locking in on his pretty brown eyes. It was as if they were telling you exactly what you needed to do, and for a moment, your body was running on autopilot, and all you thought about was being close to him.
“Show me that pretty smile, white swan.” he chuckled with a playful grin, instantly making you giggle and blush.
You actually couldn’t believe that you were going through the entire routine without any problems, and as you struck the ending pose, you were absolutely speechless. “That was…”
“Brilliant!” Ten suddenly interrupted you, causing you to jump away from Kai defensively.
“T-Ten!” you stammered nervously. “We were just-“
“It’s okay, I told him to come here.” your best friend smirked from the doorway. “I found him in the hall and he asked how you were doing.”
“You did?” you asked, a touched lilt to your voice.
“I told you, I wanted to check in on my favorite junior.” Kai explained, brushing the hair out of his face with an innocent half smile. “Ten said you were having trouble with the dance, so I had him show me the training video, and then I told him I’d help you.”
“Oh, well that’s a relief...” you sighed, glad you didn’t have to explain yourself to Ten. “So, you’re not-?”
“Jealous? Hardly.” he chortled, shaking his head. “In fact, I think you should do the dance with Kai for your music video.”
Your jaw unhinged slightly in shock. “Really?”
“Oh yeah, the chemistry is way better. You really seem to enjoy yourself when you’re dancing with him.” he teased, winking at you inadvertently.
You shot him a warning glare, then turned back to Kai. “Is that alright with you?”
“It’d be my pleasure.” he grinned, extending his hand to you. “Shall we?”
—————
It had been a week since your latest solo comeback dropped, and all of Starlight was losing their minds over it. Albums sold out everywhere, you had already one two awards, and everywhere you went, you heard it being played on the radio.
After one of your performance stages, you were sitting in your dressing room, and decided to look over some of the comments on the music video again. You always loved seeing what your fans had to say about your work.
There were a lot about how pretty you looked, how beautiful your vocals were, and how proud of you your fans were, all of which made you giddy with appreciation. However, some were starting to stick out to you and pique your interest. Particularly, the ones about your dance with Kai.
the tension between Y/N and Kai is so thick you could cut it with a knife 👀
i don’t think i’ve ever seen our Y/N dance so well with anyone else than with Kai… i hope they do more stuff together :)
anyone else think Y/N and Kai would make the PERFECT couple??? just me???
You felt your cheeks grow red and warm at the insinuation. I mean, sure, you had been fantasizing about dating Kai for years now. But now that you knew your fans approved, it was all the more flustering.
“Knock knock.” someone interrupted your thoughts as they entered your dressing room.
You looked up, then scoffed playfully. “Kai, if you keep showing up unannounced, I’m going to have to start locking my door. I could’ve been bare faced!”
“And you’d still look just as beautiful.” he commented, smiling at you genuinely.
You pouted your lips affectionately, then stood up to hug him. “Thank you so much.”
“Me? What for?” he asked, wrapping his arms around you to reciprocate the hug.
“If it wasn’t for you, I never would’ve gotten that dance down.” you beamed into his shoulder.
A quiet chuckle rang through your ears. “You already had everything you needed to accomplish it. I just pointed you in the right direction.”
You gave him one final squeeze, then invited him to sit down on the couch with you. “So, what brings you all the way here?”
“Well, I had to admit, seeing you do the dance with that backup dancer on stage made me pretty jealous.” he replied, a more serious expression appearing on his face.
“Oh?” you inquired, folding your hands in your lap. “Is that so?”
He nodded slowly. “Indeed. I was going to let it go, but after reading some of the comments on your music video, I was inspired to do something about it.”
Your heart soared as you imagined him reading the exact comments as you had read previously. Did he feel the same butterflies when he read them over?
“And what exactly are you going to do?” you asked, feeling your nerves vibrate harder with every passing second.
“I want to ask you out.” he told you. He leaned in closer to you, to where you could see the sparkle in his eyes. “Is that alright?”
“Yes, it is.” you replied, letting a huge smile plaster itself across your face. “And yes, I’ll absolutely go out with you.”
He replicated your large grin, patting your leg affectionately. “That’s wonderful. Because I don’t want you dancing with anyone else.”
You chuckled, squeezing his hand a bit. “Well, you’re going to have to fight my members for that right.”
He thought to himself for a moment, then shook his head. “I don’t think I could take them, they’re pretty tough. I’ll settle for being the only guy you dance with.”
“Deal.” you giggled, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you again, Kai.”
“You’re welcome, white swan.” he chimed. He rose up from his seat and walked over to the door. “I’ll leave you to unwind. I’ll text you later to set up the date, okay?”
You nodded, waving goodbye to him. “Sounds good, talk to you later!”
You turnt back to your mirror, beginning to brush out your curls. However, you were startled as Kai ran back into the room quickly.
He placed a bouquet of flowers on the vanity in front of you, then kissed you on the cheek briskly. “I almost forgot, these are for you. Congratulations on such a good comeback.”
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Sehun:
“Excuse me, pardon me, ‘it girl’ coming through!” Nabi declared as you made your way through the busy photo shoot studio.
“Ugh, shut up Nabi!” you scowled over your shoulder at her. “I hate it when you call me that!”
“Hey, I’m not the only one.” the leader shrugged, chuckling mischievously. “Everyone calls you that nowadays.”
“Well, I’d prefer to only deal with it when I’m being interviewed.” you scoffed, setting your bag down at your vanity.
“Spoken like a true queen.” Nabi smirked, crossing her arms across her chest.
You rolled your eyes. “Why did you even come with me today?”
The younger girl shrugged. “You’ve been stressed lately. I figured I’d tag along to make sure you have a comedic buffer.”
You softened at her kind gesture, touching her arm lightly. “That’s really sweet of you.”
“They also always have huge snack buffets at these things.” she added. “I’m gonna go get a plate, okay?”
You went back to your previous mood, sighing and sitting down. “Yeah, just get me some chips.”
You watched her skitter off to the snack table, shaking your head at her. In front of the other girls, she was a strict, stern dictator. But around you, the only member older than her, she was a true child. However, she was your best friend, so you tried to find it endearing.
“Y/N?” a deep voice inquired from behind you.
You spun around in your chair and gawked at the realization of who stood in front of you. “Sehun?!”
He smiled at your surprise, holding out his arms in a dramatic gesture. “In the flesh.”
You sprung up out of your chair in an instant, practically jumping into his arms to give him a hug. He stumbled backwards a bit, laughing at your sudden affection, then caught his footing and wrapped his arms around you.
“I’ve missed you so much!” you told him, pulling away. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here for the Valentine’s Day shoot.” he replied.
You knit your brows together in confusion. “Really? Because this is…” You looked around the studio, then it dawned on you. There were heart shaped decorations and pink balloons everywhere, and the studio had a romantic, dim lighting.
“Oh… they didn’t tell me this would be a couple’s shoot…” you chuckled awkwardly.
His eyebrows raised in surprise. “Really? That’s strange. Maybe they knew you’d be nervous if you were told ahead of time that you’d be doing a shoot with the Great Oh Sehun.” He flipped his hair dramatically, a cocky smirk on his face.
You scrunched your nose up, hitting him on the arm playfully. “Ugh, don’t be so smug. It doesn’t suit you.” You were actually just trying to hide the fact that he was right.
Sehun had been slowly becoming one of your best friends at the company, ever since that day he walked in on you being bullied by a bunch of female trainees and silenced all of them with his presence. He was actually competing with Yeri, Ten, and Karina for a spot on your BFF list.
However, you had always secretly hoped for more with him. He was so kind, even though he could seem cold at first, and he always made you laugh. He was so caring, despite how hard he tried not to be, and had incredible wit and humor. Plus, there was the fact that he was incredibly handsome. Like, obnoxiously so. But, as much you wanted things to go to the next level, they remained stagnant. Neither of you were the most upfront about your feelings.
“There you guys are!” the director suddenly clapped his hands behind you, pulling you away from your conversation. “I’ll let makeup and wardrobe know you’re here, and we should be able to start shooting in about an hour.”
You both nodded and thanked him, then turned back to one another.
“See you behind the camera.” Sehun proposed with a minuscule wink that was so small you wouldn’t have caught it if you hadn’t been admiring his features so closely these past few years.
You sent him one last smile, then turned back to your vanity while he strode over to his own.
Suddenly, Nabi reappeared next to you with a plate full of snacks. “What was that about?” she asked, crunching on a pretzel.
“Oh nothing, I just have to do an amorous photo shoot with my secret crush.” you grumbled, falling back against your chair with your hands bunched up in your hair. “Did you get my chips?”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I forgot.”
“Nabi! Either be helpful or leave!”
—————
The hour of makeup and wardrobe went by way too fast for your liking. You had been trying to build up your courage to no avail. It seemed hopeless. How on Earth were you going to do a romantic couple’s shoot with your crush without it looking you were hopelessly devoted to him? Not that you weren’t, you just didn’t need the whole world knowing it. That would be mortifying, not to mention a total career killer.
You walked over to the photo setup, which featured a red velvet sofa and a table with an extravagant bouquet of flowers. You swallowed the hard lump in your throat, making one last stitch effort to calm yourself down. Settle down, Y/N. It’s just a photo shoot with your colleague. I’m sure he won’t even be-
“Is this chain on straight?” your thoughts were interrupted by the man in question. You flipped around to see him dressed in a deep v-neck black blazer with a white button-up shirt underneath, the top three buttons undone to reveal his chest, adorned with a glimmering silver chain necklace. His thick black locks were tousled and textured perfectly around his forehead, and his skin was practically glowing.
Okay nevermind, time to panic.
“Holy shit, you look hot.” you heard yourself speak, although you don’t remember making the decision to. Instant regret flooded your brain, and you immediately began apologizing. “Oh my god, I meant the chain looks hot. I’m sorry. I mean, not that you’re not hot, I just…”
“Thank you.” he cut you off, a pleased smile evident on his features. “You look hot too.”
Your heart practically jumped out of your chest. “Th-Thank you…” You were sure your face was as red as a tomato. However, you had to admit, you did look pretty hot in your tight red dress, pearls, vampy lipstick, and red strappy heels.
“Alright, we’re ready to get started!” the director declared from his chair. “Sehun, I’d like to start with you laying on the couch horizontally. Y/N, go ahead and sit on his lap facing the camera.”
You did as instructed, although uncomfortably. He sensed your tension and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder.
“It’s okay, just relax.” he suggested, a reassuring smile directed at you.
You gave him an appreciative grin, loosening up and leaning into his form.
“Okay, now Sehun, put your chin on Y/N’s shoulder and rest your head against her neck. Y/N, just keep looking forward.”
The camera flashed a few times, with a few breaks in between to look over the shots.
“I’m really proud of you, you know.” Sehun told you while the camera crew was busy.
“What do you mean?” you asked him, laying against the back of the couch.
“You’ve come a long way from the girl I met who was letting some older trainees pick on her.” he teased. “I’ll never forget the look on your face when I appeared next to you.”
You laughed at the memory. “And I’ll never forget the looks on those girls’ faces when you told them off.”
He joined you in your laughter. “Notice how none of them are at the company anymore, and how you’re the ‘it girl’ now?”
You smiled contentedly. “Everyone seems to be calling me that these days.”
He suddenly scooped you up in his arms and pulled you down to his chest, ruffling your hair affectionately. “You’ve always been my ‘it girl’ Y/N, from day one.”
You squealed as he caged you in his arms, feigning resistance. A sudden flash went off, and you both looked up to see the camera crew staring at you blankly.
“Ah, sorry guys, that was my fault...” a feeble intern announced nervously. “I accidentally hit the wrong button.”
“Wait, let me see that shot…” the director demanded, motioning for the camera to be brought over to him. He looked it over, then turnt to you both with a baffled expression. “This is it. This is our cover photo.”
“What? No way.” you marveled, getting up and walking over to the director. Sehun followed you, catching you as you stumbled a bit in your heels. You looked at the photo, and soon you were both making the same face that the director had made a few seconds ago. “Woah… this is amazing…”
“Look at how beautiful you are…” Sehun commented, taking in the picture lovingly.
You blushed, nudging him slightly.
The director clapped his hands dramatically, snapping you both back to reality. “Alright, let’s keep this energy going! Next I want a shot of Y/N pulling Sehun in by his chain!”
—————
A few days later, you were chilling out at the dorm with your members, having a much needed girls’ night. All of your favorite snacks were laid out on the coffee table, you were all in your pajamas, and there was a cheesy rom-com playing on the TV, even though none of you were paying attention to it. You were far too busy gossiping, squealing, and beautifying each other. It might have been stereotypical girl behavior, but it was incredibly therapeutic.
“Everyone shut up!” Nabi suddenly decreed, jumping up on the couch and holding something behind her back.
You looked up from braiding Kaori’s hair. “Oh god, what is it now?”
The younger girls all laughed, finding it hilarious that you were the only one able to talk to Nabi like that.
“Well ‘it girl,’ it just so happens that I have the most recent issue of Elle in my hands.” the leader grinned evilly, brandishing the magazine out in front of her.
The other three girls all gasped and rushed over to grab at it, except for Iseul, who just jumped up and down excitedly. Her nails were still wet from Marie painting them a few minutes ago.
“Oh my god, you look so hot!” Marie marveled, flipping through the glossy pages.
“Yeah, and this one of you pulling Sehun in by his chain is just perfect!” Iseul nodded in agreement.
“Wait, the shoot was with Sehun?” Kaori asked, her eyes going wide with innocent shock.
“Yes Kaori, we talked about it three days ago. Keep up.” Marie groaned at the maknae.
“Hey, be nice.” you warned protectively. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Yeah right. You’ve only been in love with him for years now.” Nabi challenged you, jumping down from the couch.
“I am not in love with him.” you rolled your eyes. “Besides, he doesn’t feel that way about me.”
“The fans seem to think differently.” Nabi commented smugly, whipping out her phone. “Look what they’re saying on Elle’s post about it.”
You snatched the phone out of her hand and began to skim over the comments.
you could tell me the cover shot was totally improvised and i’d believe you… their affection looks so real <3
who knew the oldest member of Etoile and the youngest member of EXO would make such a fire couple? TOTAL goals!
The fact that they’ve been friends since Y/N was a trainee makes this so much cuter… they’re clearly in love with each other 💞
These two OWN Valentine’s Day now 😤
“Look at how big her smile is!” Kaori grinned admiringly at you.
“I know, it’s so cute!” Marie added, wrapping her arms around your maknae and twirling her around. “‘Oh Sehun, please marry me!’”
“‘Oh Y/N, I’d love to make you my wife!’” the younger girl acted out, giggling madly.
You scowled, trying not to laugh along with them. “How come you two only get along when it’s at my expense?”
You all froze as the sound of a phone ringing suddenly cut through the noise.
You looked over at the end table to see your phone lit up and vibrating. You picked it up and unhinged your jaw as you saw who it was from. “It’s Sehun. I’m gonna go take this.” You got up and rushed down the hall to your bedroom.
The three youngest members attempted to follow you, but Nabi stood protectively in front of the hallway. “Nope, no one is eavesdropping. This should be private.” Marie, Iseul, and Kaori started pouting and vocalizing their protest. That was, until Nabi gave them her signature glare. “Living room, now.” She really was a great leader when she wanted to be.
Shutting your door behind you, you answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hey Y/N, it’s me.” Sehun said from the other end. He sounded uncharacteristically anxious.
“Hey, is everything okay?” you asked in a concerned manner.
“Oh yeah, I’m fine.” he coughed nervously. “I just wanted to… you know….”
“Wanted to what?” you giggled, sitting down on your bed.
You heard him exhale momentarily as if mentally preparing himself for something. “If you’d like to go out with me for Valentine’s Day?”
Your breath hitched in your chest. “What?”
“Don’t make me say it again…” he sighed, clearly having trouble being this forward. “I just… we had so much fun at the shoot together… and you’re just so cool, and fun, and pretty. I’ve never really known how or when to say it, but… something about that couples’ shoot just pushed me to go for it. So will you?”
You clutched onto your chest as if it was the only thing keeping you grounded to Earth. “Yes… yes, of course I will!”
“Really?” he marveled, sounding genuinely surprised. “I can’t believe you agreed.”
“Sehun, I’ve literally been waiting for you to ask me out for years now.” you chuckled. “You’re the worst at picking up on signals.”
“Yeah, well you’re not very good at sending them.” he teased, clearly getting his confidence back.
You laughed cutely into the phone. “We’re not very good at this are we…”
“No, not at all.” he chortled, shaking his head. You could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke. “And just so you know… I meant it when I said that you’ve been my ‘it girl’ since day one.”
You blushed with a small smile. “I usually hate it when people call me that. But with you, it feels good.”
“Well, I’ll have to call you by that name as much as possible. Then you can be mine exclusively, and no one else’s.” he replied.
You laughed once again, feeling like a giddy school girl. “I always have been, remember?”
He laughed at your sudden cockiness, knowing that you definitely learned it from him. “I’ll see you on Valentine’s Day?”
You nodded, feeling your lips curl up into a grin. “I’ll see you then.”
“Goodnight, my ‘it girl.’”
“Goodnight Sehun.” you giggled, hanging up the phone. You then threw it across the room and flopped back onto your bed, rolling around and kicking your feet in ecstasy.
“Y/N! What happened?” Marie suddenly burst through your door, followed by the other girls. You assumed Nabi held them off as long as she could, but eventually lost strength. There were three of them after all.
You sat up, brushing your hair out of your face. “Guess who’s going out with Sehun on Valentine’s Day!”
The four girls all screamed and jumped on your bed, showering you with praise and congratulations. You laughed as you captured them all in a group hug. It was then that you realized you didn’t need to be the ‘it girl’ to be happy, you just needed moments like these. And with Sehun, they seemed to just keep coming.
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marshmallow-phd · 7 months ago
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Genre: Regency Gothic AU
Pairing: EXO x Reader
Summary: A stormy night brought you to the manor in the middle of the woods. Nine strange men occupied its halls. They won't let you leave. A dangerous secret haunts this estate. Learning it might either be your saving grace or it could lead to the last breath you ever take.
Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5
**
Lightning lit up the thin curtains covering the two small windows on either side of the carriage. Thunder rumbled and you felt it deep within your chest. Tugging your silk cloak closer, you closed your eyes and prayed that the driver would get you through the storm. There was no one to comfort you, to reassure you that a little rain and noisy sky wouldn't delay your journey.
Your father had insisted you take your sister or even a friend, but the two day’s journey didn’t  seem consequential enough to need a companion. Besides, what would they have done once you arrived? Your elderly aunt had only asked for you. From what you could decipher from her letter, she needed you to be a companion as she traveled to the southernmost coastal town. Apparently, it was now the ultimate fashion to travel to for the summer. Just the idea of rolling waves made your stomach churn. But what was worse was who else would be there–
The carriage jolted to the right. You spread out your arms, only barely catching yourself from falling to the floor. No sane person would have endured such dangerous weather. This storm had come from nowhere. Skies blue and cloudless as you had ever seen bid you farewell in the late morning. Most of the day's journey had been uneventful. Then the joyful light faded. Thunder shook the walls of the carriage. Rain pounded on the roof. When would you reach the inn? Bile rose up in your throat, burning the sensitive tissue as the carriage continued to rock violently. The horses neighed over the sounds of the storm. 
The carriage shifted hard to the left. And kept falling. You slammed into the door, nearly opening it with the force. You didn't know what was happening. The floor was now the wall and the wall the floor. A downward momentum made it impossible to stand. Screams ripped at your throat.
Then it stopped. 
The rain continued to pour and the thunder roared on but the carriage was still. Your legs wobbled as you slowly stood. With your palms, you pushed open the door. The thin wooden panel clapped against the outside of the carriage. Immediately you were pounded by the storm. Large drops pelted your face, obscuring your vision. It was dark. You could tell that much. And there were trees. In every direction. 
You climbed out of the carriage, calling for the driver. Your feet slipped in the mud, but you managed to keep your balance–for now. The mud was thick and sticky as you trudged to the front of the carriage.
 No. No, no, no. Both of the horses were gone. And so was the driver. Somehow, the carriage had fallen down a hill or ravine. With a storm this terrible, you needed to get to higher ground or risk possibly being carried away–or drowning. Clawing and digging your hands and feet into the soaked dirt, you climbed the hard incline back to the road. 
Once you could make out the road, you called for the driver again. No answer. He was nowhere to be found. You needed to find shelter. The storm gave no promise of letting up. You wouldn't survive the night in this forest, even if you went back into the carriage. The only choice was to find sanctuary. You stared in the direction you believed you came from. Nothing but trees and darkness. You turned to the other choice. All the same–wait. 
There was something... when lightning brightened up the sky. Your heart began banging in your ears. Spires, towers. Not trees. It was some distance away, but it was shelter nonetheless. 
With near tears in your eyes, you picked up your skirts–your fingers numb from the cold–and hurried towards the castle that could be your saving grace. 
*****
The manor was calm tonight. Odd, considering the amount of bodies roaming around these haunted halls. Only the beautiful storm outside and Chanyeol's sorrowful melody from the piano broke the silence. Jongin had draped himself over one of the arm chairs as he inspected the wine mixture within his goblet. The taste was… adequate. The cellar would need replenishing soon.
In the corner, a rather lax game of cards covered the small, round table. Minseok smirked at his winning hand. The faded wooden chips with bits of white painted around the edges were piling up in front of Yixing, who leaned back carelessly, sure of his next win. Little did either of them know that the youngest among them had a little... trick his sleeve. As the quickest, Sehun had perfected sleight of hand long ago. None had caught him yet.
A fire roared, coaling the usually gray and brown room in flickering orange. With how close he stood near the fireplace, Kyungsoo's silhouette was visible through his loose shirt. He leaned his palms on the mantel and let the warmth of the flames engulf him. Warmth was all they could feel after all these years. It could be an addiction so strong it was tempting to throw himself into the fire. 
Junmyeon joined him at the fireplace, leaning his shoulders against the brick. The bite of the edge hardly registered in his mind. Pain of that measure... it was only a ghost that had nearly crossed over. 
“Such strong thoughts for a night like this.”
Kyungsoo didn’t look from the fire, but raised a questioning eyebrow in response. 
Junmyeon shrugged a single shoulder. “I can’t read minds, but it's obvious you're turning something over more times than a praying rock.”
“It's the same thoughts,” Kyungsoo murmured in his strange, monotone voice. “Always the same thoughts.”
“One day you will have to let it go,” Junmyeon sighed. “This is our existence now. And forever will be.”
“Acceptance of the present doesn’t erase the past.”
“But it does make the present more enjoyable.” The red liquid sloshed against the rim of the goblet as Jongin draped an arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulders. He wore a mischievous smile. A clear indicator of his true intention. 
Junmyeon shook his head. “We’re not going out tonight. There’s nothing out and about in this storm.” Hunting in these conditions would wield no trophies. Tomorrow would be a better night. 
“Jun’s no fun tonight,” Jongdae teased as he and Baekhyun emerged from the hallway. 
“If you want to go out in this mess,” Junmyeon waved towards the front door. “Be my guest. Just don’t you dare get mud on the rug–”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Help! Please! Help!”
Nine pairs of eyes snapped to the echoing sound. None moved. 
Bang! Bang! 
BANG!
One of the double doors burst open and a figure fell to the floor, landing on its knees and palms. It looked up. A flash of lightning illuminated the face.
The face of a beautiful young girl. 
*****
Your knees vibrated when they hit the wooden floor. Water fell from your loose hair that clung to your cheeks. The chances of  the door opening when you pushed on the handle had been low–yet the barrier that kept you victim to the storm fell open and you crashed downward with it. 
Greeting you in this strange hall were several men, their jaws hanging open in a mirror of your own surprise. More men appeared from a side parlor, curious as to who dared intrude on their evening. One, two, three–you counted nine total. Nine men. This was not ideal–a bit terrifying, really–but you didn't have a choice. The storm raged outside.
"P-please," you stammered past chattering teeth "The st-storm overturn-overturned the carriage.” 
The men stayed silent as they exchanged unreadable glances. One raised a questionable brow. 
"Jongdae, go run a bath," ordered the man closest to you. One of the shorter residents nodded and disappeared into the darkness that led into the rest of the manor. 
That's what this place was. A grand old manor, not a castle. Isolated. When you'd first run through the rusted iron gate, you'd feared it abandoned. A long dormant instinct whispered that you might have been better off if it had been. 
The first man approached, each motion slow, deliberate, and hauntingly graceful. He crouched down in front of you and captured your frightened stare. The fear in you began to melt away. He was… beautiful. Obsidian fell over his forehead in gentle waves. His tunic was of a fashion your grandfather would have worn. There was something strange about this man–all of these men. Something... different. 
"Let's get you warmed up." He held his hand out and you were up on your feet before you even realized your fingers were resting on his. "Don't worry," he murmured. "You're safe here. My name is Junmyeon." 
You nodded, somehow believing him, but unsure if you should. Through your violent chattering, you managed to stammer out your name in response. 
Bang! 
You jumped at the sudden noise. One of the other men had somehow appeared behind you to shut the door you'd fallen through. 
"Thank you, Yixing," the man beside you said. The one named Yixing nodded and then shifted his eyes to you. “Come.” A hand pressed into the space between your shoulder blades and guided you down the hall, leaving a trail of mud in your wake.
The man led you down several halls until you reached an unoccupied bedroom. Red blankets draped the oversized bed. Matching curtains hung limply from the canopy. All of the wood was a dark sort, rich in color but not quite welcoming like other, brighter woods. 
Jongdae emerged from another door on the other side of the bedroom. Steam rolled out after him as if it were following him for its next set of orders. “Anything else?” he asked drily. 
“No, thank you.”
Jongdae strolled the from the room without a glance either of you and closed the door behind him. Your breath hitched in your throat. The two of you were… alone. It wasn’t appropriate. It was…
You looked to the man still with you, fear causing your heart to pound painful against your chest. You tugged your cloak closer to you, but it was soaked from the rain. Shivers violently raced down your arms and spine. The man didn’t seem to notice as he walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer. He pulled out a long white cloth. 
“These should suffice for tonight.” He held up the cloth for you to see. A nightgown. An old one by the cut of it, though thankfully it hadn’t been devoured by moths or mice. “If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”
You nodded. “Thank you.” 
He visibly suppressed a laugh at your small voice and waved you into the adjoining bathroom. Taking the nightgown, you tried your best to avoid his gaze. You scurried inside and shut the door. 
*****
Junmyeon smirked at your mousy state. It was understandable why you were so frightened. The women of this period were warned of being alone with a man. And now you were alone with nine. 
Nine very dangerous men. 
The proper action for him to take was to leave your room now that you were safe inside the bathroom, but his feet didn’t move. Somehow, the storm had stranded you in their forest. What had happened to the driver, he wondered. Surely a gentlewoman such as yourself was not controlling the carriage. And yet, you were all alone. Circumstances were… ideal.
A small hiss echoed in the bathroom. It stretched out, along with the sound of sloshing water. Junmyeon frowned. 
Hm.
He stood there for a few minutes more, listening to you sigh as your skin grew used to the scalding water. The sound of soap scraping against skin reached his ears, followed by more sloshing water. Soon, you would be getting out of the tub. Time to leave. 
He emerged from the bedroom, careful to close the door as quietly as possible. Everyone had gathered out in the hallway since they were too curious about their visitor to go about their night. Junmyeon found Jongdae blending in with the cluster. He glared at him as he hissed, "The water was too hot." 
Jongdae merely shrugged. Why would he care about water possibly being too hot? It would never hurt him. 
On the opposite end of the group, Yixing cleared his throat. "What are we going to do with her?"
Junmyeon glanced at the door behind him. There was only one best option, for all their sakes. "Tomorrow morning, we will send her on her way." 
The eruption was instant. 
“Enough!”
In an instant, the hissing ceased. 
Baekhyun huffed and folded his arms against his chest, collapsing against the wall. Jongin scoffed. "Such a waste." 
“A waste that will keep this household from tearing itself apart,” Junmyeoun countered. It was an outcome none of them wanted. No one wanted to cause a fight, but resisting was difficult. The temptation was great. The quicker you left, the better off they would all be. 
"Do you really think it’ll end so well?" Minseok’s mocking comment hung in the air. Silent agreements rippled through the air. 
Junmyeon looked to Kyungsoo, whose answer was to look away. "No one touches her," he ordered. They all would try, he knew. But their strength would only get them so far. He stared down a few of them especially, so they knew he meant it.
Sehun pushed off the wall with a roll of his eyes. "Just get her out of here so I can get some peace." 
Junmyeon started to call after him but was interrupted by a soft thud from the room behind him. Confused, he opened the door to find you lying on the floor.
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seiwas · 6 months ago
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instagram dump with your selfship! (model/actor!au sel x satoru ver.)
seltoru behind-the-scenes dump — work days and winding down~
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liked by sstoru and others
sellybelly last week's shenanigans ✨ 1: shoot day! 📸 2: nails sponsored by mr. gojo satoru 💅 3. loved our outfits for the awards 🥺 (thank you dior! 💫) 4. that feeling when you change into home clothes tho >> 5. maybe he's pretty sometimes 🙄 6. caught him in the act (texting me during a meeting 😭) 7. satoru in hair & makeup (some good sleep he's had there 🤧) 8. our lil treat to end the week 🍓😋 9. phone hijacked by mr. gojo satoru 🧿🧿 👁️👁️
sstoru knew you were obsessed with me 😌
thanks for the tag my love @tteokdoroki this was so so fun 🥺 tagging: anyone else who wants to do this!! it's so pretty and so fun 🥺
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kpop---scenarios · 7 months ago
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Obsession (1)
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Pairing: Chanyeol x Reader
Warning: Smut, Stalker
Genre: College! Au
Word Count: 3.4k
Fuck. You really should have declined this fucking date.
You were in your second year of University, now you were currently hours away from your friends and family now, but you needed it. For your first year of University you had gone to one closer to home, and while the school was good, you were miserable. You lived at home with your overprotective parents, who didn't allow you to go to any parties, join any clubs, or do anything you wanted. They were smothering you and you felt like you couldn't breathe while being around them. You needed to leave, so when you heard you had been accepted for your second year, 6 hours away, you were so fucking delighted.
Here you were, at your new school for 4 months and you had only managed to make one friend. Everytime she invited you out with more people, something came up and you hadn't really been able to meet more people who you vibed with. Lisa had quickly become your best friend. And while you loved this school, you almost regretted transfering, due to your current predicament. When a guy from one of your classes, Mark, had asked you out, you hesitantly accepted. He was nice enough in class but now he was weird and making you uncomfortable.
“What kind of things do you like to do?” You ask, trying to bring on some kind of conversation.
“I'll like whatever you do.” He smiles, reaching over the table to grab your hand. You quickly pull it back, pretending to itch your leg.
“You don't have any hobbies?” You ask, raising an eyebrow. You wanted to get the fuck out if here.
“You. You'll be my hobby. I could look at you all day.” He smiles. That made you groan.
“I think you need to have your own hobbies. Staring at me is not a hobby.” You say, checking your phone. You quickly typed a message to Lisa, begging her to call you with an emergency. It's only been 30 minutes of this date but you couldn't do it anymore.
Seconds later your phone rang, Lisa's name popping up on the screen. You gave Mark a slight smile before answering. She was laughing on the other end, but you put on a pretty convincing performance.
“What? Oh, Lisa!” You exclaim. “Yes of course, I will be right there.” You finish.
“Meet me at the Rook.” She says before hanging Up.
“I'm so sorry Mark, I have to go.” You tell him, grabbing your purse. “There's an emergency.”
“What happened?” He asks.
Fuck, you hadn't thought that far.
“Her…dad was hit by a..dog.” You stutter. “Yeah, just zoomed right under him, took him right out. He's in the hospital.” You say. “Thank you for a..evening.” You finish before darting out of the diner. You decided to walk, since you weren't far from the bar she wanted to meet at.
Pulling open the doors, you're met immediately with Lisa at a table with a few others you hadn't met yet. Others that would soon become just as close to you as Lisa.
“Y/N!” She screams, giving you a giant hug. “This is Jennie and Rose, Jongin, Kyungsoo, Baekhyun and Sehun.” She smiles introducing you to everyone. “So, how was your date?” She asks. You settle in at the table and begin telling them all about the 30 minutes you had just spent with Mark.
“He kept trying to touch me, saying that he'd do whatever I wanted him to do.” You sigh. “It was all very weird and he made me extremely uncomfortable.” You finish, finishing off your drink.
“Who made you uncomfortable?” You hear a deep voice from beside you. You glance over and see quite possibly the most attractive man you'd ever seen. He was tall, black hair parted just right. He wore a nicely fitting shirt, dark ripped jeans. He pulled up a chair beside you, sitting down and smiled at you.
“Ah, Y/N, this is Chanyeol.” Lisa smiles. “Y/N was just telling us about her date tonight.”
“If you could even call it that.” You laugh. “I only lasted 30 minutes before Lisa called me with an emergency.”
“Speaking of, what did you tell him the emergency was?” She asked.
You covered your face in embarrassment.
“I never said I was good at lying.” You start to defend yourself. “Your dad was hit by a dog.” You start to laugh. “It zoomed under him and took him out.”
Everyone stared at you before the table erupted in laughter.
“Oh my poor dad.” She laughs.
**
A few hours and a few drinks later, you were all paying your tabs, but first exchanging numbers with everyone at the table. You'd all made a plan in a few weekends to get together, there just happened to be a party at the EXO frat, and you, Lisa, Jennie and Rose were going to attend. You were happy to finally be making some new friends.
“Are you sure you're okay to get home?” Lisa asks you, as you sway outside the bar.
“I um, think so.” You giggle.
“Yeah okay.” She laughs. “Jongin?” she says, motioning towards you.
“I'll happily get her home.” He smiles, fuck he was hot. You glanced over at Chanyeol, but he had already turned to walk away.
Jongin wraps his arm around your waist, heading in the direction of your address, that Lisa had told him.
You shouldn't have drank so much
Before you knew it, you were standing in front of your apartment door, trying to unlock it, but it really didn't help that you were seeing two of the locks.
“Here.” Jongin laughs, taking your keys from you. He unlocks your door, allowing you to stumble in. He hands your keys back to you. You mumble a thank you as you walk in and crash on the house. You can faintly hear Jongin chuckle as he closes your front door. You wanted to get up to go to your bed, but unfortunately your body was already down for the count. You snuggled into the couch and very quickly drifted off to sleep.
**
You swear to god you felt like you died. You rolled off the couch, your neck was stiff, your body hurt. This is why you never slept on the couch, you felt like an old, frail woman after whose body was failing her.
“Fuck.” You cry out, trying to move your neck around as you make your way to the bathroom. You turn on your shower, as hot as you're able to stand before checking your phone. You'd been added to a group chat with all that you met last night. They were talking about their upcoming week, until Jongin asked about you.
[From: Jongin 10:08am] How are you feeling this morning, Y/N? 🤣
[From: Lisa 10:08am] she probably feels like shit lol
[To: Group 10:10am] hangover wise, I feel great. Body wise? I slept on my couch and I have a hunchback now.
[From: Baekhyun 10:11am] don't die on us now
[To: Group 10:12am] no promises. I'm pretty fucked up ha.
[From: Jongin 10:15am] I can straighten you out if you need
You stared at your phone with your mouth hanging open. Did he? Was he really hitting on you? Your phone dinged again.
[From: Lisa 10:16am] I'M SORRY WHAT
[From: Kyungsoo 10:16am] I'm going to throw up my breakfast.
[From: Jongin 10:17am] STRETCHING. You fucking pervs. But I mean.. 😉
You set your phone down, and got into the shower. Would you take Jongin up on the stretching? Probably not, the hot water was already helping. However, would you take him up on sex if he offered? Possibly, but there was one face you just couldn't get out of your head.
**
The weeks went by, and you spent more and more time with Lisa, Jennie, Kyungsoo, Baekhyun and Sehun and Chanyeol. You didn't see Chanyeol as much, but you would see him around school every once in a while and when you would see him, you were met with a smile and a wave. You really wanted to hangout with him more.
The night of the party finally arrived, you were getting ready with Lisa, Jennie and Rose. The way you all acted together, no one would have known that you had only met the other two a few weeks ago, it was like you'd known them for years. Music blasted through Jennies apartment as you all danced around while doing your makeup, hair and getting dressed. Pre-drinks flowed and already you were having so much fun, you couldn't wait to see what the rest of the night had in store for you. An hour or so later, the four of you walked into the house of EXO, immediately met by the smell of weed and sweat. People were drinking, smoking, dancing and it looked like everyone was having fun. You and Lisa made your way to the kitchen to grab a drink while Jennie and Rose went to talk to some people. After a few more shots, Lisa dragged you to the dance floor, where you both let loose. You felt a pair of hands slide behind you, grabbing your waist tightly. You looked up at Lisa who had a weird look on her face. Turning your head, you looked to see who was behind you. Immediately you were uncomfortable. It was Mark.
“Hi, baby.” He whispers into your ear. You look at Lisa with wide eyes, mouthing “help” to her.
“Bathroom break, c'mon Y/N.” She says, grabbing your hand to pull you away from him. She pulls you upstairs and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind you.
“Oh my god, thank you.” You breathe.
“Ew, what is he doing?” She says. “What did he say to you?”
“Hi baby.” You gag, remembering the feeling of his breath in your ear.
“Oh that's fucked up.” She laughs. You both wait a few minutes before you head out of the bathroom, looking down the hall to make sure he's not waiting for you. Luckily he isn't upstairs, and when you went downstairs, you didn’t see him. You breathed a sigh of relief. You and Lisa got another drink, heading back to the dance floor where you met the rest of the group. Hours had passed and you had forgotten about your little interaction with Mark. You had left the dance floor, sitting on the couch with someone you didn’t recognize immediately. He wore a sweater, ripped jeans and a hat that almost covered his face.
“You want a hit?” he asks, passing you a blunt. You’d smoked a few times before but not very often because of your parents. You happily took it, taking a few puffs before handing it back. He looks over at you, giving you a smile and that's when you saw.
“Chanyeol.” you smiled.
“Having fun?” he asks. You nod your head as you feel the weed mixed with alcohol hitting you.
“That may have been a bad idea.” you giggle. Chanyeol smiles at you. Before you can say anything, you’re being pulled off the couch by Jongin, who insists that you dance with him, so you do. His hands on your hips as you grind your ass into him, but your eyes never leave Chanyeol. He adjusts his hat, showing his eyes that are set on you. Chanyeol licks his lips as he watches you dance with Jongin, his hands moving up and down your body. Chanyeol leans forward, his eyes still trained on you, his arms now resting on his thighs.
When the song is over, Jongin asks if you want a drink, you decline, wanting to go back to Chanyeol but you were cut off.
“Hey you.” Mark smiles, stepping in front of you. “Why did you run off?” He asks, tilting his head to the side.
“I've been with friends.” You say, trying to push your way past him, going anywhere else. He grabs your wrist, tightening his grip.
“Why are you trying to leave? I'm talking to you.” He snaps.
“Look Mark, you seem nice.” You say, glancing down at his hold on you. “But it's just not going to work out between us.” you finish, trying to get him to release your arm.
“Why not?” He asks, holding you tighter.
“I'm just not interested.” You say, fighting his grip a little harder now. You were beginning to panic. Everyone was in their own little worlds, no one realizing what was going on.
“You haven't even given me a chance.” he spits. You can't be nice anymore. He just wasn't getting it.
“I don't fucking like you.” You yell, pushing him with your free hand. His grip loosens a little, allowing you to rip your arm from his hand. You turn to walk away, catching the eyes of Chanyeol, who was looking at you with a concerned look. You start walking towards him when you're pulled away, Mark's hand back on your arm, pulling you in the opposite direction, towards the front door. You looked back for Chanyeol but he wasn't there. Mark continues to pull you through the crowd. Panic was really starting to set in, until you came to an abrupt stop.
“Move.” Mark yells. You look ahead, seeing Chanyeol blocking the way.
“She doesn’t seem interested, dude.” Chanyeol deadpans, glancing down at Mark’s hand on your wrist. He grabs Mark’s arm, swiftly moving Mark’s hand from you. “Don't touch her, or we're gonna have a fucking problem.”
Mark stares at Chanyeol for a moment before looking back at you. He gives you a wink before he walks away.
You let out a breath that you hadn't realized you were holding. “Thank you.” You say to Chanyeol.
“Can I take you home?” He asks. You quickly look around for the other girls to say goodbye, but you can't see them.
“Please.” You half smile at him, heading towards the door.
The walk home was pretty quiet, until you were close to your building and Chanyeol spoke up.
“So that guy..” he starts.
“Was the guy I went on a date with a few weeks ago.” You confirm.
“That's crazy.” He laughs. “I mean, I can see the appeal though.” He smiles.
“It's just right up here.” You tell him, pointing to the building coming up. “Would you.. want to come up for a drink or something?” You ask. Chanyeol nods his head, as you both make your way into the building.
You really had planned on having a drink, but as you closed your door behind you, Chanyeol turned around, looking your body up and down. He stepped towards you, you stepped back, backing into the door.
“Just say no if you want me to stop.” He whispers.
You say nothing.
He crashes his lips onto yours, his tongue sliding into your mouth, both of your tongues tangling together as he deepens the kiss, pushing his body against yours. You quickly discard your coat onto the floor, never breaking the kiss. Chanyeol bends down, his lips leaving yours and moving to your neck as he puts his arms under your thighs, effortlessly picking you up, letting you wrap your legs around his waist. He pins you against the wall once again, freeing his hands as you're still wrapped around his body.
“Hope you didn't like this shirt too much.” He groans, Using both his hands to rip open your shirt, buttons flying everywhere.
That was so fucking hot.
He pulls the shirt off of you, throwing it wherever, he kisses your neck, moving down your chest. You flick his hat from his head, upset that you were the only one half naked.
“Bedroom?” he asks.
“Kitchen table.” You breathe.
He smirks, walking you to the table. He lays you down, pulling his shirt off in front of you.
Holy fuck.
He was a lot more muscular than you had originally assumed, he looked so fucking good. He reaches up, grabbing the waist of your jeans, he tugs them down, discarding them on the floor, leaving you in your bra and panties. You place your feet on the table as Chanyeol kneels down in front of you, peppering kisses between your thighs. You're so fucking wet, desperate and needy right now and this was not helping.
“Please.” You pant.
“Tell me what you want, baby girl.” He says, moving closer to your pussy but not close enough.
“Eat me.” You groan, spreading your legs even more. Chanyeol licks his lips as he moves your panties to the side, spreading your lips before he licks a strip up your wet pussy.
Fuck
“Mhmm.” Chanyeol groans, latching his lips to your clit. You back arches as he continues to lick and suck on your clit. Your eyes are closed as you feel him reach up, grabbing your tits, squeezing as he devours you. Your toes curl as he moves his mouth quicker, your hands make their way to his hair, gripping tightly as you push his face deeper into you, grinding your cunt on his face.
“Oh my fucking God.” You cry out, your orgasm building quickly. “Shit, oh fuck, I'm gonna cum.” You whimper just as your orgasm hits you, your eyes roll back into your head as your body works through the pure fucking euphoria you were feeling. Chanyeol takes one last slurp as he stands up, his rock hard cock pressing against his jeans.
He gives you a cocky smile as you sit up, your head spinning uncontrollably. “Wow.” You whisper, sliding off the table and down to your knees. You fumble with the button of his pants for a second before you get it undone, yanking his jeans and boxers down, letting his cock spring free.
You grab the base of him with your hand, licking the precum from his tip, before letting him shove his cock down your throat, as far as he could. You gag on him as he grips your hair. He thrusts his cock in and out of your mouth, tears falling down your cheeks, making your mascara run.
“Your fucking mouth feels so fucking good.” He groans, giving you one more hard thrust, before pulling his cock out. “I don't want to cum yet.” He breathes. You stand up, staring at him, he takes his thumb, smearing your mascara even more.
“Fuck that's hot.” he groans, bending you over the table. He stands behind you, his hard hands on your hips as he lines himself up with your entrance, his large cock stretching you out.
You cry out loudly as he shoves himself into you as far as he can go. He slowly pulls himself out before slamming back into you. Chanyeol grabs your hair, taking a clump in his hand to pull your head back before picking up his pace. His cock slams into you, hitting the perfect spot to build up another orgasm
“Right there, fuck, don't stop.” You scream. He lets go of your hair, pushing your head down, pressing your face into the table as he rams into you.
“Shit, you feel so fucking good.” He groans, not slowing down. Your apartment fills with the sounds of your skin slapping together, moans coming from both of you. The smell of sex and sweat filled the air as you came all over his cock, tightening your pussy around him. He pounds into you for a few more seconds before he finishes, releasing his cum inside of you.
He stands with his cock still inside you for a few seconds, both of you catching your breath. He pulls out of you, asking where the bathroom was. You continue to lay on the table, pointing in a direction, you weren't quite sure which one but he'd find it. You couldn't move, your legs didn't want to work right now. When he came out, he chuckled at you still laying against the table.
“Need some help?” He asks.
“please.” you half laugh. “I'm weak.”
Chanyeol laughs, scooping you up, taking you to your room, that he saw on the way to the bathroom. He laid you in your bed, covering you up with your blanket. He grabs your phone doing something quickly with it before pulling out his phone. He looks at it briefly, furrowing his brows.
“I gotta go, but I'll text you.” He smiles. You nod your head, your eyes already closed. chanyeol leans down, placing a small kiss on your lips before heading out.
Fuck you wished he'd stay.
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cstlji · 6 months ago
Text
friday nights || byun baekhyun
1:34 AM 250424 
word count: longer than i expected
pairing: byun baekhyun x reader (ft. im changkyun)
description: baekhyun ignores you for an entire week, and you don't know why.
genre: bestfriends to lovers!au, jealous!baekhyun, mutual pining, angst-ish, fluff after lmao
a/n: kinda rushed ending (?) lmk if you guys want a part 2 or a longer version!
You and Baekhyun have been best friends ever since you both got stood up by your dates on prom night. You vividly remember Baekhyun's reaction as your dates began making out in the middle of the dancefloor, leaving you both partnerless — and almost miserable. So, you invited him that exact moment to ditch the night and have some fun of your own, basically and invitation to sit on the gutter as you eat your melting ice cream.
But, that was a story for another time - now you’re in your third year of college. Your friendship’s been that long, and you swore, the last time you checked, the platonic energy between the both of you was almost tangible. Although you had a moments when romantic thoughts about him invaded your mind.
You swore it were mere milliseconds, though – and that you didn't think about how his hands could perfectly fit in yours and, how sweet his lips would've tasted like. Nothing of that sort, really. You knew that the both of you were awfully platonic, and nothing more. You didn't want to entertain thoughts of you and him together romantically, because it would never happen. Plus, you went out on a date last week.
You and Changkyun were totally hitting it off. And you would've told Baekhyun about him, but he's been ignoring you for the past 5 days. No calls, texts, nothing. Everytime you'd visit him on his breaks, he's always be out, or busy, or just not in the mood — which rarely happened.
So, you planned to corner him into telling you what's wrong. You really had no clue, but you've got a feeling that it had something to do with you. It was your break, and you checked your phone for Baekhyun's schedule. You both exchanged schedules the beginning of the semester, which is also probably why he'd been successful in avoiding you.
There was an overlap between your schedules. His class would end at around the same time as yours would start. But you were really determined to know what the hell's wrong you could just be late to class for a couple of minutes. And after a long, painful wait — catch him, you did.
He walked out with two of his friends, who you knew as Minseok and Jongdae. It was Minseok who spotted you first. He called Baekhyun and pointed at your direction.
"Hey, Y/N." Minseok waved at you, and so did Jongdae. You smiled and waved back as Baekhyun's eyes widened.
"Go on first, I'll catch up later." He told his friends, his eyes avoiding your gaze. The two walked off after saying goodbye.
"What are you doing here?" Baekhyun held your arm, gently pulling you to the side.
"You were avoiding me for a week, what's up?" You asked, eyeing him carefully. He reached to the nape of his neck. He removed his cap, fixed his hair, and put it back again.
"I... wasn't avoiding you," he said, still avoiding your eyes. You weren't convinced, so you pulled his face to meet yours.
"There, see!" you exclaimed, "you avoided my eyes again. What's wrong, Baek?"
"Nothing," he muttered. He glanced down his wristwatch, and urged you to move. "You're literally five minutes late to your class, get moving dumbass."
"No, I'm not leaving 'til you tell me what's wrong. Is it something I said? or did? Or, like, did something happen to your family? Come on, talk to me, don't shut me out like this."
You were honestly nervous, you feared that the friendship you had would be gone in a blink if you didn't do this.
Baekhyun sighed, and met your eyes. You heart dropped to your stomach. It felt different from his usual teasing glints, there were hints of longing. His eyes glossed a little, eyes bloodshot red. You immediately reached to his face, and his eyes closed and he leaned to your touch.
"Baek," you sighed softly, "have you not been sleeping?"
"Mmhm," Baekhyun hummed, hand on top of your hand on his cheek. "Let's...talk later." His eyes met yours this time.
You nodded with a soft, gentle smile. "Of course. Come over later? Let's watch a movie tonight." Your thumb ghosted over his cheek.
"But that's for Friday?"
You swore you saw Baekhyun frown a little from the loss of touch as you retreat your hand from his cheek, but you decided you were just crazy and that it wasn't like that.
You shrug, hands on your pocket. "We could do it like, two days earlier, it's fine."
"Why? So you could ditch on me and go on a date again?" He blurted out.
You audibly gasp, earning stares from passerbys. Your hand flew to your open mouth. "What do you mean? I didn't ditch you, I asked you if it was okay and you said yes!"
"I didn't!"
"You did! I even have the text messages here if you need refreshments, dude."
"Don't dude me, Y/N," Baekhyun groaned, rubbing his face roughly. It was an a look of frustration, and you felt it was directed to you.
"Is this why you're mad at me? Because you thought I ditched you?" Your voice slightly trembled. Now you were frustrated and confused.
"No!" he abruptly said, "No, I'm - I'm not mad at you, I just, Friday nights are for us," You internally winced, because you took that in way that isn't how friends should take it as.
"And you — "
"Baekhyun-ah!" You both looked at the direction of the voice. It was Junmyeon who called out with a smile as he approached you. "Oh hey, Y/N, what's up?"
You smiled and tried to push the argument you just had at the back of your mind. "Hi, oppa."
Baekhyun sighed, "What's wrong, hyung?"
"I couldn't find Chanyeol, he told me he'd be with you." Junmyeon's lips parted a lottle, "Did I interrupt you guys?"
"Yeah, we're kinda bu—" You interrupted Baekhyun.
"We just finished talking, oppa," you glance at your watch to avoid Baekhyun's intense gaze. "I have to get to class, I'm suuuper late. See you later!" You waved Junmyeon goodbye, and turned away quickly.
You hear Baekhyun call to you as the distance grew farther. You didn't want to lose Baekhyun over a fight like this, especially when you thought of him in a different light yet again.
~ • ~
Baekhyun's heart broke a little as he looked at you walk away. He let out a heavy sigh as he massaged his eyebrows.
Junmyeon noticed. "Are you good?"
Baekhyun looked up at him and nodded yes. Junmyeon was not convinced though, but he decided not to push it. "Come on, let's meet them."
Baekhyun stayed silent. He moved on autopilot, basically just following Junmyeon's footsteps — but not before looking back to the place you once stood at.
The guys laughed loudly in the middle of the restaurant. Baekhyun and Junmyeon settled down, "Did you get food already?" asked Junmyeon.
"We ordered pasta and pizza, you could order more if you want to, though," Minseok said. "It's Jongdae's treat for missing the last get together."
"Nice."
The guys continued to talk, and joke around. Food kept arriving at their table, and everyone dug in except Baekhyun. He was staring at nothing, just picking on his food with a fork.
"Hyung, are you okay?" Jongin nudged Baekhyun. He looked up, and forced a smile.
"Yeah, of course." There was a moment of silence before Chanyeol broke the ice.
"You guys remember Changkyun?” He asked. Baekhyun’s ears perked up, the name was familiar. Too familiar, in fact. His eyebrows knitted tightly, he couldn’t help it.
“What about him?” Sehun popped a fry in his mouth. Lay tilted his head slightly.
“He’s throwing a party tonight, he invited us.”
“What’s his business inviting us? We don’t even know him,” Baekhyun bitterly spat and did not go unnoticed by his friends.
Chanyeol and Junmyeon exchanged glances with Kyungsoo, who sighed and said, “We can just not go, it’s not a big deal.”
Baekhyun just drew a big sigh and ruffled his hair. To say he was pissed was an understatement. He’d been so bothered about you dating other guys, and he hated the fact that he couldn’t even tell it to you directly.
After all, you both agreed on staying strictly platonic after having witnessed your sister and her then bestfriend get married and divorced on the same year.
“What’s with you, Hyung? You rarely act this way,” Jongin asked, eyes full of concern.
Sehun snickered, “He always acts this way whenever a certain someone’s involved.”
Minseok hummed in agreement. Baekhyun groaned as Kyungsoo spoke, “You mean Y/N?”
“Precisely,” Sehun confirmed with a smirk.
“Aren’t you strictly platonic?” Jongdae asked.
“Yes.” Sadly.
“Huh, so why are you jealous?” Kyungsoo asked.
“I am not jealous.” Lie.
“You definitely are.”
“I’m not.” Yes, he was.
“You like her, don’t you?”
“What?” Yes.
“You do!”
“What are you even —“
“Someone’s got a crush —!”
“I—“
“Just admit it, Hyung!”
“N —“
“Baekhyun —“
“I love her, damn it!”
Silence filled the table. Everyone suddenly laughed out loud after his outburst — they knew you got Baekhyun fucked up in the head and they love to see it.
Now, Baekhyun’s admitted it and there was no going back. He had avoided saying it for the longest time for the fear of it “coming true” when he knew that he had no say in his feelings from the get-go.
“Just tell her, confess, do something,” Kyungsoo said.
“That’s easier said than done.”
“Would you rather lose her to Changkyun?” Lay suddenly spoke up. Baekhyun looked at him, and he knew his hyung made a point. He had to do something.
~ • ~
Time went by fast, and it's been two days since you last saw Baekhyun. Still, no calls nor texts from Baekhyun. You were beginning to doubt your decision of avoiding the conversation — you start to think that you should've let him finish talking before walking out like that.
Is he gonna drop by tonight? It's literally friday, its — its your movie night. Or is he never gonna talk to you, and you end up losing the love of your life?
Wait, no. He's your bestfriend, so you love him, right? Its that kind of love that's purely platonic, isn't it? Plus, you had a date! And you totally hit it off, you swore to god.
Okay, maybe you lied. You and Changkyun were bonding over relationship traumas instead of building up a new relationship. You both had a cup of sweet tea, but the conversations you had left a bitter taste in both your mouths.
Changkyun also mentioned someone he liked, and was in fact, asking for advice. That's why you both set another date for tomorrow, solely for the sake of advices. Besides, you also enjoyed complaining to him about Baekhyun's annoying habits that you secretly liked.
You then pace back and forth, probably hyperventilating and on the verge of another panic attack. You bite on your nails as you watched a late night game show, or atleast tried to watch.
You couldn't focus on it. You sat down, your knees bounced up and down. So you stood, but you kept pacing back and forth. And you'd look at the television, but would later find yourself starting at the clock. You were so immersed that you failed to notice the numerous missed phone calls.
Until the door bell rang. You sprinted towards the door, opened it in one motion.
And there he was, holding a bouquet of roses. He offered a sheepish smile, and offered up the bouquet.
You didn't even realize you've been holding your breath 'til you saw him on your doorstep. You immediately engulfed him with a hug, your tears threatening to spill.
He hugged you back as he buried his face at the crook of your neck. You missed his scent, so much.
You pulled away, "I - I thought you wouldn't — "
He cut you off, "Don't go."
You look at him, confused. You wipe your tear-stained cheeks, settling your hands on his biceps. "What? What do you mean?"
"On that date," he said, eyes intensely on yours. "Don't go on that date, please."
"Well, that's for tomorrow still, I —"
"No, you don't understand. I," Baekhyun took a deep breath. "I don't just mean tonight. I mean, don't ever go on a date with another man. Please."
You were speechless as you watched Baekhyun frown in thought, trying to compose what he wanted to say.
“I,” he paused. He looked his shoes, and licked his lips in anticipation. “I get livid when I think of another man touching you, or holding your hands, and the mere thought of you kissing someone else makes me go insane, you have no idea.
“My heart races when our fingers touch, and I can’t help but want to kiss you when you do something childish. Or when you cry because of a stupid movie — I want to grow old with you, sit under a tree and watch as our children run across the fields. I — I love you. For the longest time, I’ve loved you. I love you, Y/N.”
You were speechless and shaking. Here was the man you longed for, confessing his love to you — and you couldn’t believe it. Your jaw drops, and he looked at you with great intent.
“I love you, too,” you said, tears rolling down your cheeks. “You dumb idiot, what took you so long? I kept it all in, I waited for you for so long! I —“
He captured your lips with his in the softest way possible. A moment lingers as he pulled away,
“I’m sorry for making you wait, Y/N. I —“
You pull him back in, deepening the kiss as you hook your arms around his neck — bodies flushed against each other. He dropped the bouquet, and put his hands on your hips, pulling you closer to him.
“Shut up and kiss me, baby.” You said in between breaths and kisses.
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prettywordsyouleft · 2 years ago
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Perfect Lines
Pairing: Park Chanyeol x female reader
Genre: fluff
Warnings: none
Author’s Note: yes, yet another ode to my endless love for reading books. There is a book mentioned in this, but you don’t need the context of it to understand any of this playful scene.
Word count: 843
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You were home early tonight. There was a reason for it, of course. After weeks of endless compliments from your partner - both simple in delivery and emotionally driven confessions that often left you breathless and boneless - you were ready to get to the bottom of it.
It wasn’t that you disliked Chanyeol’s attention. Who wouldn’t want to be showered with affection? It was the way it happened, as if he rehearsed them to himself within the hour he had to himself before you got home. You wanted to know what the source was. Did he have someone teaching him the fine arts of seduction? You didn’t believe he needed a tutor in that. He’d been doing all too well in that department for years now. He was naturally charming.
And yet, this past month had felt like something more.
Suspicion now peaked, you hoped to discover how he was doing it tonight. Quietly entering your home, you were thankful that the living room was clear of any inhabitants so you could sneak in to catch him in the act.
You’re going to be so embarrassed when you find nothing of value, inner logic chastised you as you tiptoed across the main area towards the bedroom.
But Chanyeol wasn’t in there either. Frowning, you glanced back to the entry of your apartment. Yes, those were his sneakers kicked off near the door. Chanyeol was home. You stopped, listening for signs of life. The shower wasn’t running, and the door to the bathroom was ajar, indicating no one was using it.
Feeling that previous statement sink into your gut, you wondered if you had duped yourself into believing he was up to something that had him reciting the perfect lines.
Giving up, you removed your shirt that had been stained at work and headed towards the laundry room. Only to stop in the doorway, cocking your head to the side at the sight.
You loved a man who did laundry regularly, and whilst the washing machine whirled around in its cycle, you were focused on Chanyeol now caught in front of you, his eyes darting to the book in his hand and your face.
“It, uh, has a deceiving title,” he explained weakly, and you nodded, trying not to laugh and remain expressionless. Chanyeol closed the romance novel with a snap and smiled brightly, deflecting. “You’re home early.”
“Do you love my nightmare brain, Chanyeol?” you asked, and his forehead crinkled up in confusion. You nodded towards the Emily Henry book he’d discarded quickly into his lap. “Is that the line you’re going to go with tonight?”
He opened his mouth to object, though nothing came out instantly. Swallowing, he chuckled lightly. “I didn’t realise how addictive these books could be.”
And that’s when you realised it. How had you missed it? Some of the most iconic lines in your favourite books had been said to you recently. That’s why they had rubbed at your mind, pushing you to question the compliments.
Your smile brightened. “You’ve been reading my romance novels.”
“Maybe a little,” he confessed, unsure of your growing grin. “I was curious.”
“You were looking for the sex scenes, weren’t you.”
Chanyeol rubbed his neck sheepishly. “Maybe. I thought they’d be littered with them.”
“Book Lovers doesn’t have a lot of spice in it.”
You both looked at the novel he’d been reading and then Chanyeol nodded. “I like it.”
“Do you?”
“And I was conducting a little experiment with you at first. I wanted to see if the lines some of these men say really work.”
“And your conclusion is?” you wondered, stepping into the room until you were in front of him. Tossing the soiled top into the hamper, you then moved in between his legs which he had spread instinctively at your arrival. Sliding your hands up his thighs, around his hips and resting against his back, you looked at him curiously.
“You did like them.”
“They made me suspicious after the fact.”
“Still, in the moment, you were dreamy every time. You responded well to them. So, I kept looking for new ones. And now I’m hooked. It’s a rather exasperating side effect.”
You laughed. “Why? Reading is a good thing.”
“Now I know why you lose sleep over these things. I want to know what happens next. I’ve even taken to sneaking them to work with me because I can’t wait until home time to read them. Minseok recognised one I was reading the other day and said it was good.”
“Because there’s no reason why men can’t read romance novels. Actually, there’s a book series about men doing just that.”
Chanyeol perked up at the thought and then leaned in to kiss you softly. As he pulled back, he said, “If I had to pick one person to be in my corner, it’d be you.”
“You’re ripping off Charlie Lastra, one of my favourite fictional men,” you accused half-heartedly, grinning widely. “It’s a good line.”
“And you’re worth all the best lines in the world.”
_________________
All rights reserved © prettywordsyouleft
[EXO Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist]
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noneedforjoy · 7 months ago
Note
Does everyone go by their human names?
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"They all have names the chose for themselves, but don't mind being called by the names of their toys since they understand the confusion."
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demure2 · 1 year ago
Text
Blood is Thicker Than Wine _ ONE
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> BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WINE [MASTERLIST]
— 1930s au
— yandere neighbor!chanyeol x reader || ft. best friend!sehun
— genre: angst, suggestive
— warnings: language, alcohol use, cigarette/substance use, mental illness, watching from afar, anxiety, gun, blood, older fella chanyeol
— word count: 3.1k
— note: this story has been in my drive for 3 years, even tho this is the first piece on my account. i even had a timeline at the bottom of my draft to make sure war dates and stuff lined up hehe. it's O.K. if this doesn't do well since i'm writing for fun, but i'm happy i got at least part one of this out! then i can finally put this series to rest. i’m sorry that this kinda introductory part doesn’t have many interactions with chanyeol yet. i want to accurately convey the reader’s relationship with sehun before i make it fall apart :)
Girls like you loathe compliance but act it, anyway. You go against rules and you wear two faces, but you’re still compliant because nobody knows. Nobody suspects a thing, and you’ll keep it that way.
There’s not much to it, really: keep your papers in neat stacks, your dollars in even neater stacks, and your mouth shut. It’s a commitment, but it's applicable to the art of both compliance and not. That’s how this town runs. Girls like you are compliant.
Lately, alcohol traffic has been wedging tension into champagne bottles ready to pop, like faulty cork stoppers. Tenfold, and you’ve seen it. Tons of progeny craft succumbing to the paradigm of unrelentless violations of law, but you swore to never break the rules. That includes even the unspoken ones, like knowing to not mess with the neighborhood weirdo, Mr. Park.
Technically, you were just helping your best friend Sehun deliver night mail. It’s part of his job. 
“What a hound,” Sehun pants, steadying himself by gripping the fabric layering over your shoulder with calloused hands. Orphically, his brown irises are suddenly void of any liveliness. He’s exasperated, pupils fitfully blown out wide, the onyx barrier warped in various ways. Ways that make him look wild, more unimaginably feral than the manor overgrown with vines and rusted trellises in front of you.
 “I gummed up the works on this one,” he coos, lowly. Sehun’s arm parts from your shoulder to clutch his heart, breath hitching. He shudders, even in the cooling night zephyr. “Guess your momma was right all along,” he breathes. Mimicking a high-pitched voice, “stop hanging out with Sehun! He’s a neighborhood no-good nick who delivers mail for a few cents!”
You grin, wide. “So?”
Sehun looks at you like a stray pet. “Town mail won’t deliver itself,” you offer. "You’re an author, too, delivering your own work. That’s important. Don’t say useless things to me, Sehun.” The tone of the night becomes less tense. Smirking, you continue: “relax, then tell me what happened in that freak’s house.”
Your teeth bite down on your tongue, eyes narrow and reflecting the moonlight. 
You don’t know why you’re expecting a longer, well thought-out response from the Sehun you’re looking at right now. His short hair damp from the sweat and mild rain, parted in awkward tranches - you’re not used to comforting him, although it feels good to be the one seeing Sehun vulnerable, for once.
While you’re waiting for Sehun to rearrange his thoughts, you run your hand against the bars of iron separating you from the front yard of the manor. The sounds are a symphony of metal clink-clanks against your graceful nails, free of overgrown cuticles or ragged whites, unlike Sehun’s. The bars are hollow iron, but their wounds are merely rusted scratches, like they don’t give in over the years. 
Neither does Sehun.
Lazed back. Real lazy. Doesn’t like thinking about what he is, why he is, who he is. He’s thought about it before; things like whether or not cabbage was really nutritious (it’s just water), whether or not he wanted to be a writer forever, whether or not he should tell you about the car shop home, whether or not he loved you more than just a friend. 
It’s fated, and so he doesn’t bother to delve deeper than what he needs to know. He just knows that it’s all bliss when he’s with you. And he knows that he’s in love with this life: the rush, the fights, hell, he had almost forgotten his dad was a cop. Just like magnets, though polar opposites, you stick together. Late night escapades into the apple of the town was just another habit branded deep into your history.
He feels like laughing at his own inanity, so he parts his lips, but not even the chuckle at the edge of his throat makes it past. Something irks him uncomfortably about what happened tonight, so he clears his gullet filling up with phlegm and blames the bright waning moon. It used to be so full of itself, now only a needle in the vista expanse of night. Sehun breathes harder now, because he realizes that they’re not so different.
Sehun finally speaks: “Well, I just tried to throw the freak his mail. But I think I set off his flares, doll. Mr. Park - he’s really a bent man, broken after the war. There was an iron on his hip, a-and as soon as I saw it leave his belt loop, I didn't have a doubt that he’s not wicked.”
Sehun’s joints ache uncomfortably despite wherever he shifts his weight toward, so he leans against the tall wire fence guarding the manor. He feels an ivy trickle down the nape of his neck everytime he tilts his head to the side. Nuances here, nuances there. Last time you both were out here, there weren’t any ivies. Were there?
Mr. Park stands leaning back, intently listening from the arch door frame that separated his balcony from his quarters.
These kids talk so loudly, he thinks, he could hear your entire exchange from up here. The yellow cast light from his bedroom fights with the dark to illuminate his figure carefully in the night, but he knows that you’re both still unable to see him from the ground angle. He feels slightly creepy, standing there in his satin dress shirt and work jeans. He pulls out his gun one more time, loosely, just to swing it. 
Feeling watched, you decide that you both shouldn’t be there any longer. Sehun’s teeth grind against each other eagerly for a taste other than his own metallic blood being drawn. Yawning, his mouth goes dry and his throat parches, longing for the feeling of smoke in his lungs.
Sehun knows he shouldn’t smoke around you. He doesn’t want to ruin your innocence, but he can’t help it. He wishes he had better self-control and restraint, but even so, you were clearly too much of a goody-two-shoes to care. “Drop dead Sehun, are you stupid? How’d he get a gun in this old town? Those are so hard to even-”
“Everybody knows they’re prohibited, doll. It must be ‘cause he’s a veteran, the govs decide that they don’t need to necessarily establish regulations with them,” Sehun glances up back at the house. You know he’s just said a bunch of nonsense.
“Somethin’ like that,” he continues. “Like it’s any work.” He almost scoffs, reaching into his pocket upon instinct. He doesn’t notice, but you’re intently watching. 
You follow his hands well, when he rubs the nape of his neck and pulls out a Marlboro from his tattered satchel. Same satchel that’s been long worn with dirt and grease but vacant of textbooks, pencils, or really a real use, ever since the start of freshman year in college. Sehun still stands that it serves purpose in his mail business. 
He shuts his eyes tight as he lights it between his lips, drawing out the smoke for as long as he can. It blows away in the wind, but you scrunch your nose, in the contingency it dissolves in your nostrils.
You pressed Sehun for more: “Don’t you care that Mr. Park’s gonna smell the smoke? His window’s open and he could still be on his balcony for all we know,” you advise him, worried. “And what’s Mr. Park doing with a gun at this hour, anyway? You could see it from the ground? Should we rat him out?”
Sehun shrugs, not letting on much. 
The smoke ignites something in you, you think. “Sehun, answer me! Isn’t this technically trespassing? Shouldn’t we leave now? All that stuff you said about Mr. Park’s makin’ me nervous.”
He finally feels free and empty of apprehension when he lets go of the cigar, balanced between his lips. He feels powerful. But before he can halt the smile that plays at the curve of his mouth, he chuckles a dry, derisive laugh laced with smoke. “Just decided to be nice this week and stop skippin’ his address on the newspaper list for once. Only trespassin’ if we go beyond his door, these front gates bind nothing,” Sehun smirks. “You should know that by now.”
Thin to a whisper, you display a frown. “I don’t hop as many fences as you. Who knows what else this Park guy has, he’s the real deal, gat and all. You should know that before you do anything else, you fool.”
But he grins right back, and he grins wide. “I should? How touché.” 
When he proves satisfied with the gasper, Sehun withdraws the smoke from between his lips and thrusts it toward the grass. It doesn’t burn the damp grass, barely at all. Just tucks itself neatly in a pile of dandelions, the tarnished flame still warmer than the muted yellows surrounding it.
Quickly, almost lunging himself off, Sehun hoists his body up from the iron gate and firmly turns his heel on the cigar, smiling. 
 And when he lifts up his shoe, even under the dim haze of the moon, you can see that the mud has been imprinted deep into the design on the sole of his shoe and the weeds have been stomped flat, butt of the cigar crushed. He finally lifts his eyes to converge with yours and he deadpans, “You know, you’re gonna want a smoke one day, too,” pausing. “Finally want one, doll?”
Doesn’t Sehun know how to properly take care of a girl?
His hand lazed onto your shoulder leaning on the gate post, your eyes glued to the dirt. He wants you to look up, but his gaze is the only thing holding you down. You can’t break free from his glare, lidded and dazed. 
Last night’s rain drips down the manor’s primary parapet beam. A premonition?
“I don’t need more mess in my life right now.” You hadn’t intended for it to come out so harsh and raspy, but Sehun didn’t pay much attention to it.. “Your parents are too pliant, Sehun.”
Mr. Park sighs a breath of relief. You can take care of yourself. He runs a stiff, left hand through his hair. He wouldn’t have to think about Sehun taking advantage of your company. He quietly hums an incisive tune, like a victory sequence. 
“Give it a try. I know your momma doesn’t like me so much anymore, thinkin’ we’re doin-this and doin-that. You don’t gotta do anything you don’t want to, alright?” He reassures you, something you’re grateful for. “I’m just saying, you can’t be such a high-pillow all the time and expect fun. Even if we landed in jail, my dad’d let us out,” Sehun tilts his head down to hide his smile under his breath, giddy.
“I’m not a high-pillow! Can’t we just go to the next address now?”
Ignoring your question, he’s totally replaying the scene over and over in his head. In his pocket, Sehun crosses his middle over his index. He did not like the feeling of mild defeat. At a weak attempt to cure his frustration, his hand rubs at his forehead. Instead, he’s inundated by the dewy sweat collecting at his brow. How could I let Chanyeol scare me off like that? 
You change the subject. Softer, quieter, your voice barely cuts through the air. “Sehun?” Your voice seems to awaken him a bit. Quickly, he mutters underneath his breath, “huh? What?” His mouth parts uncomfortably, small drops of rain collecting on his bottom lip and cupid's bow. 
“You look like tonight’s over. We can walk home now, you’re very pale.”
Sehun responds, an equally modest, “I’m okay.” Insisting, “let’s hang out a little longer,” pausing to offer a smile. “Gumshoe.”
A smile peels your lip open. “Oh yeah?”
Acquiescently, he smiles. “Oh yeah.”
“Then let’s get out of here.”
Sehun winces. “Not yet. Don’t bleed anything against me, ‘kay detective?”
Sehun steadies himself against the tall iron fence again, and it hits him like cold deja vu against his spine. The metal presses deeper into the valleys of his back this time like a knife, but still, he doesn’t move. Instead, he lets it cave against his skin even more, jutting through the fabric of his dress shirt. He takes another look at the smothered cigarette hidden in the grass and laughs a hearty laugh. All he smells is ash and wet dew.
And then, rather obscenely, it comes crashing down on him like dead weight. 
“You know, Chanyeol pulled the gun on me first, looking down on me from that balcony. Then tauntingly, he pointed it back toward himself. What would you do?” Sehun says honestly, turning to face you.
“His blown out eyes wide, but completely still. I’m so pissed that I was scared. Fuckin’ embarrassin’.” he grumbles, matter of factly, a frown thin between his lips as if he’s proven his own point wrong.
“Chanyeol?”
Fuck! “Oh, yeah. That’s his first name. Chanyeol. It means ‘loser’ in the ‘i-can’t-get-any-girls’ language.”
Chanyeol quirks a brow, leaning onto the side railing, still hidden. 
You can’t help but snort. “And why would he do such a thing? Was his tongue stickin’ out too?”
It’s hard to tell where the fabrication starts, but with a pat to your head and a hum in validation, Sehun opens his mouth to protest. “What makes you think he wouldn’t? He’s the town freak.”
Shrugging, you scan the line of trees enveloping the path down the hill. “No, I mean that he was makin’ fun of you with that face.”
 “Sure,” he nods. “But you cannot twist the truth, and the truth is all I’ve been telling you. Don’t you see? That’s creepy, he was pointing the rod at himself. I didn’t want to be responsible in case he actually pulled it, so I left, but now I know that he has no limits. He was ready to die, [Y/N]. This guy’s got no girls, and he’s creepy. You should stay away from him.”
Sehun’s story is like a leaky faucet. It holds enough truth to be believable, but somewhere in the piping, it doesn’t go over well with you. But you believe him. 
Your mind becomes numb and somber for a moment, but the feeling is botched. As if the anesthesiologist didn’t know better, unable to properly administer the drug, and you could still recall Sehun’s words in your head. They lay heavy on your heart, yet you’re not prosaically thinking into the consequences, at all.
Maybe Mr. Park wasn’t as insane as the town recalled him to be. Sehun suddenly speaks. “What a crumb, huh? I don’t think that man’s has mercy on anyone, not even himself.” 
An epiphany makes you feel sick, like a bully. Kids swirl baseless rumors around him. “What are you implying? That he’s lonely and lonely people are crazy?”
“I mean, yeah. He’s a vet, after all. What’s surprising?”
“Listen, you - I mean, Mr. Park, he-he doesn’t have the motive. Stop giving him motives. Rumors say he studied business after his discharge from the draft. That manor of his is built on years of liquified assets, why would he put it all on the line?”
Mr. Park stifles a laugh. You’re defending him. 
Sehun shuts his eyes to think, and for a second you think he’s going to reach into his bag for another cigar, but you think he’s really thinking this time. Sehun definitely knows he is; maybe it’s the lingering tobacco in his throat, maybe it’s the aftershock of what he just said, but he’s really thinking, fitfully. “I - I don’t know, [Y/N]. Maybe he deserves it, for all the people he’s killed.”
A flicker of candlelight moves in your peripheral vision. You nervously glance up at the manor’s ridiculously high arch windows, and wince in horror as the orange glow casted on the balcony shifts. It’s dimmer this time, because there is quite clearly someone blocking the light.
 And the silver alloy shotgun in their grasp gleams under the lunar projection, very, very jeeringly. 
They stand there, eerily forlorn. Lacking real tone or emotion, barren. A machiavellian with a .357 in the limelight pointed dejectedly at the ground. The candlelight behind the figure filters around the silhouette like a stencil on a black canvas, a ghastly spectacle.
And as his arm rises, gun following your bodies, a ghastly spectacle, indeed. It’s hard to tell who he’s aiming at because of the distance. 
The only thing more daunting than the sight itself was the sound of silence. Sehun mutters a curse beneath his breath, beginning to crouch next to you on the dirt. You feel his hands lightly traipse your torso, yearning for your palms in the dark. He first finds your thumb, tender on your clavicle. Then your index, playing with your blouse cloth. You’re glad he doesn’t feel your heartbeat above all, otherwise he would have felt the throb of fear and the mop of tangled love strings evident in the moment. 
Instead, he squeezes your palms together and intertwines your fingers on a whim. Sweaty and scared, they mangle like ropes. He doesn’t know what he’s doing at first, but it was the only way he knew how to provide enough ease for the both of you. It always offers him a little warmth; besides, you were both in danger.
You shudder. “The cover here isn’t good enough,” you whisper. “I bet he’s been listening in on us, Sehun. You see his gat?” Your teeth are chattering now, despite the cooling atmosphere.
“I don’t know what your mama tells you dolly, but now ... we fucking run.” He wants to tighten his grip on his hands on you further and take off like that, but he knows your nature and psyche too well to do that. 
Your chattering halts, “He’s going to see us. And shoot us.” Suddenly apathetic, Sehun finally muses, “Alright. Let’s stay here until that husk of a man leaves.” He exhales, blowing the strands of black hair from his eyes, “promise.” 
Sehun was never very good with promises, and you realize that too late. The fingers caught in yours are already replaced with air and are instead wrapped around your wrist. He juts out his hip, and rises to his full stand. He’s very tall. “Sorry doll. Lied.”
Your stomach sinks. “What are you, a puppy? Do I have to pick you up myself?” He’s towering over you, height teetering past the gate that separated Mr. Park’s property from the town’s. “Sehun, get down, there’s going to be a metal shell in your head anytime now!” With a swift kick to your knee, he pulls you up from the dirt before you can even feel the jolt against your joints, and runs against the wind with you.
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united-as-one · 3 months ago
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The museum had just been established in the city a few months ago and had bagged ancient relics and texts from a time long passed; while the world didn't need to know of the existence of magic and that a grand sorcerer walked amongst them anymore, it was quite entertaining to walk through the art galleries and ancient exhibits to check on whether the pieces were legitimate. Today was no different.
The detective sighs as he looks at an art piece listed on the side as an a painting from his own era of origin, raising a brow at that statement as not a lot of that era survived due to the ransacking of the kingdom. Chanyeol had seen it all, the fall of his lands. He discreetly pinches on a talisman granting him sight as he analyses the art, and to his surprise it was real! He's taken aback for sure but calms down as he bows his head at one of the last few remnants of his time.
"Well, Emperor. You really did make it into the modern era." He says with a gentle chuckle, rising from his bow before turning only to be met by a stranger, an alluring one to say the least however as well as a familiar scent and aura. "Are you here to remember the past as well, kumiho? This place is as authentic as it gets..." The detective says quietly with a small smile before winking. - (closed starter for @eachnight)
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ff-rtp · 5 days ago
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Ballet in blood
Part 6
Im soooooooo excited for you guys to get to the more tensioned scenes! I hope you going to like it ! 🙏🏻
Genre : angst ,fluff , some smut? Mafia!AU
Pairing : Chanyeol x fem!reader
Warnings⚠️: mentions of violence, shouting, guns, drugs, swearing alcool and some spicy scenes .
Count: 7.3k
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Chapter 6
The night unfolded slowly, a kind of stillness settling over them after the intensity of their shared kiss. Chanyeol pulled back slightly, his hand still resting on the curve of N/a’s waist, his thumb absentmindedly brushing against her skin. For a moment, neither of them said anything, caught in the delicate balance of what had just happened. The world outside felt far away.
Chanyeol, ever the silent observer, was the first to move. “You should stay the night,” he said, his voice low and steady, but there was an unmistakable tenderness in his tone. “It’s too late, and I don’t want you out there alone.”
N/a didn’t argue. The idea of going back to her empty apartment felt strange now, especially after the night they had just shared. She nodded, her chest still tight with the emotions she couldn’t quite name. Her mind was buzzing with the realization of how much things had changed between them, how easily she had fallen into this connection with him.
Chanyeol stood up, offering his hand to help her from the couch. His grip was firm, reassuring, and he guided her through the house toward one of the spare rooms. It was just as sleek and modern as the rest of the house, but there was a warmth to it that made her feel at ease. The bed was massive, its dark sheets neatly made, and the soft glow of the nightstand light cast a calming ambiance.
“I’ll get you something to sleep in,” he murmured, leaving her standing by the bed as he disappeared into the hallway. N/a sat down, letting out a slow breath as she glanced around. The room was luxurious, far beyond what she was used to. The contrast between their lives was stark. She, who had scraped by on scholarships and hard work, and him, who had more money than he seemed to know what to do with. And yet, here they were, together in a way that felt unexpectedly natural.
Chanyeol returned moments later with one of his shirts, handing it to her with a quiet smile. “It’s big, but it’ll do,” he said, his voice softer now. She couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips as she took the shirt from him.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Chanyeol hesitated for a moment, watching her with an intensity that made her heart flutter. Then, with a quiet exhale, he turned to leave, but not before pausing at the door. “You’ll be safe here. I’ll be just down the hall if you need anything.”
There was a weight in his words, as if he was making a promise, one she hadn’t asked for, but one she felt deep in her bones.
Before he could leave completely, N/a’s voice broke the silence. “Chanyeol… wait.”
He turned, his eyes locking onto hers, the dim light casting shadows on his sharp features. “What is it?”
N/a swallowed, gathering her thoughts. The events of the night weighed heavily on her, and the reality of her situation was starting to sink in. “I… I don’t know how to say this, but… what if I stayed here? Not just tonight, but… longer?”
Chanyeol’s expression softened, as if he had been waiting for her to ask. He took a step closer, the tension in his shoulders easing. “I was going to ask you the same thing,” he said, his voice low and serious. “You shouldn’t be living in that tiny apartment, struggling with money and worrying about your safety. Not anymore.”
N/a blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn’t expected him to offer so freely, but the idea made sense. Living with him would solve so many of her problems, saving money, staying safe, and… being with him. It felt too fast, but at the same time, something about it felt right.
“I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything,” Chanyeol continued, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. “But I can take care of you. You can focus on your dancing without worrying about rent or food. You’ll be safe here.”
N/a looked at him, her mind racing. The logical part of her was screaming that this was too much, too soon. But the part of her that had already started to trust him, the part that had felt safe in his arms tonight, was louder.
“Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’ll stay.”
Chanyeol’s lips twitched into a small smile, a rare, genuine expression that made her heart flutter. “Good,” he said softly. “We’ll talk more about it tomorrow.”
That night, N/a found herself lying in the unfamiliar comfort of Chanyeol’s guest bed, wrapped in the soft fabric of his shirt, her mind racing with everything that had happened. Her thoughts swirled with memories of their kiss, the violence she had witnessed, and the unexpected tenderness Chanyeol had shown her. Sleep didn’t come easily, but when it finally did, it was deep and dreamless, the safety of his home a comforting blanket around her.
The next morning, N/a woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the large windows. The events of the night before felt distant, like a dream she wasn’t quite ready to process yet. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, and reached for her phone, which was buzzing on the nightstand.
A message from her ballet academy director lit up the screen, and her heart skipped a beat as she read the words.
Director: “N/a, congratulations! You’ve been chosen to lead the new routine at the Korean National Opera. This is a huge opportunity, your hard work has paid off!”
Her breath caught in her throat, her heart racing with excitement. This was the moment she had been working for her entire life. The Korean National Opera was the pinnacle of success for a dancer like her. It was more than she could have ever dreamed.
She wanted to scream, to jump up and down with joy, but instead, she found herself staring at her phone, unsure of who to share the news with. Sunny would be excited for her, of course, but there was only one person she really wanted to tell.
Without thinking, she dialed Chanyeol’s number. He answered almost immediately, his deep voice calm and steady on the other end of the line.
“N/a?” His voice softened when he spoke her name, making her heart skip a beat.
“I got it,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement. “I’m going to lead the new routine at the Korean National Opera. It’s… it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, she wondered if he understood just how important this was to her. But when he spoke again, his voice was filled with a quiet pride that made her chest tighten.
“I knew you could do it,” he said softly. “You deserve this, N/a. I’m proud of you.”
N/a’s eyes welled up with tears at his words. It felt strange, hearing him say that. Chanyeol, the cold and ruthless man she had met only a short time ago, was proud of her. It warmed something inside her that she hadn’t realized was frozen.
“I want to celebrate with you,” he added, breaking the silence. “Let me take you out for dinner tonight. We’ll celebrate properly.”
N/a smiled, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
The day passed in a blur of excitement and nerves for N/a. She practiced her new routine relentlessly, her mind occasionally drifting to the thought of dinner with Chanyeol. Her heart raced with anticipation at the idea of spending more time with him, but there was also a sense of unease. It was hard to forget the danger that seemed to follow him, the dark world he lived in. Yet, she couldn’t deny how safe she felt when she was with him, even if that safety came with its own complications.
By the time evening rolled around, N/a returned to Chanyeol’s home, her new home, she reminded herself. The thought still felt foreign, but there was a certain comfort in knowing she had a place to return to, somewhere stable, somewhere he was.
She found him waiting for her in the living room, dressed in dark, well-fitted clothes that made him look as effortlessly powerful as ever. His eyes flickered with something unreadable when he saw her, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“You look beautiful,” he said quietly, his gaze lingering on her longer than usual.
N/a felt a blush creep up her cheeks, surprised by the simple compliment. She had chosen a simple black dress, something elegant but understated. It wasn’t about impressing him, but she couldn’t help wanting to look nice for the evening. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice soft.
Chanyeol’s eyes softened as he approached her, his large hand gently resting on the small of her back as he led her toward the door. “I’ve made reservations at a place I think you’ll like,” he said as they stepped into the cool night air. “It’s quiet, intimate.”
She nodded, her nerves still buzzing with the excitement of her news and the quiet thrill of being with him. As they drove through the city, N/a found herself sneaking glances at Chanyeol, watching the way the lights from the city danced across his face. There was something magnetic about him, something that made her feel both drawn to him and wary at the same time.
When they arrived at the restaurant, N/a was struck by its elegance. It was tucked away in a quieter part of the city, its entrance marked by a discreet sign and soft lighting. The atmosphere inside was warm and inviting, a sharp contrast to the harshness of the world outside. Chanyeol guided her to a private table near the back, away from the prying eyes of the other patrons.
As they sat down, N/a felt a sense of calm wash over her. Despite the whirlwind of emotions she had experienced over the past few days, being here with Chanyeol felt strangely right.
“You’ve been quiet,” Chanyeol observed as he studied her from across the table, his gaze penetrating. “Are you nervous?”
N/a hesitated, glancing down at the menu in front of her. “A little,” she admitted. “This… all of this is new to me. The scholarship, the opportunity at the opera… and you.”
Chanyeol’s expression softened at her words, his intense gaze never leaving her. “You’re handling it all better than you think,” he said gently. “You’ve worked hard for everything you have. You deserve this, N/a.”
She looked up at him, her heart swelling at the sincerity in his voice. There was something comforting in the way he spoke to her, as if he truly believed in her potential, even if she didn’t always believe in herself.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, her fingers playing with the edge of the napkin in her lap. “It means a lot, hearing that from you.”
Chanyeol reached across the table, his hand covering hers in a gesture that felt both intimate and grounding. His touch was warm, steady, and it sent a shiver through her. “I don’t say things I don’t mean,” he said softly.
They ordered their meal, and as the evening went on, the conversation between them flowed easily. They talked about her ballet, about the grueling hours of practice and the pressure of leading the new routine at the Korean National Opera. Chanyeol listened intently, asking questions that showed he was genuinely interested in her world, even though it was so different from his own.
At one point, she found herself laughing at a story about one of her instructors, the sound surprising her as much as it seemed to surprise him. Chanyeol’s expression softened as he watched her, a quiet smile playing at his lips.
“I like hearing you laugh,” he admitted, his voice lower now, more intimate.
N/a blushed, feeling the heat of his gaze on her. “You make it hard to do that sometimes,” she teased, but there was no malice in her tone.
Chanyeol chuckled, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. “I suppose I do,” he said, his eyes darkening slightly as he leaned back in his chair, watching her with a gaze that felt both protective and possessive. “But I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be yourself with me.”
“I’m starting to,” N/a said honestly, her voice soft. “It’s just… complicated.”
Chanyeol’s expression darkened slightly, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something she couldn’t quite place in his eyes, something dangerous. “I know it is,” he said quietly. “But I’m going to keep you safe, N/a. You won’t have to worry about anything.”
The intensity of his words sent a chill down her spine, but she found herself believing him. She didn’t fully understand why, but she trusted him, even knowing the darkness that surrounded his life.
As the evening came to a close, Chanyeol insisted on walking her back to his car, his hand resting protectively on the small of her back. The night air was cool, and N/a found herself leaning into his warmth as they walked. It was a simple gesture, but it made her feel safe in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.
When they finally reached the car, Chanyeol opened the door for her, his dark eyes lingering on her face. “Thank you for tonight,” she said quietly as she slid into the passenger seat.
Chanyeol smiled, a rare, genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat. “The pleasure was mine,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I’m proud of you, N/a. And I meant what I said before. I’ll always be here for you.”
The ride home was quiet, but the tension between them had shifted into something softer, something unspoken but understood. N/a knew that her life was changing in ways she hadn’t expected, but for the first time in a long time, she felt ready to embrace it.
When they arrived back at his home, Chanyeol walked her inside, the warmth of the house enveloping them as they stepped through the door. As they stood in the entryway, N/a turned to him, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Goodnight,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
But before she could turn away, Chanyeol stepped closer, his hand cupping her cheek gently. His eyes searched hers, and for a moment, she thought he might kiss her again. Instead, he pressed his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin.
“Stay,” he whispered, his voice filled with a vulnerability she hadn’t expected from him. “Stay with me.”
N/a’s heart raced, her body frozen in place as she looked up at him, her mind spinning with the weight of his words. She didn’t know what staying with him meant, didn’t know if she was ready for what that might lead to.
But as she looked into his eyes, filled with a mix of protectiveness and something deeper, she found herself nodding, her heart making the decision for her.
“I’ll stay,” she whispered, and in that moment, she knew there was no turning back.
The air between them shifted almost immediately after N/a whispered her consent to stay. Chanyeol’s forehead pressed gently against hers, and in that moment, the softness of his touch was replaced by something more intense, more primal. His fingers traced the line of her jaw, the warmth of his hand spreading across her skin as he tilted her head up to meet his gaze. His eyes were dark, filled with a hunger that she had only glimpsed before, but now it was undeniable. She felt it too, a pull deep inside her that she couldn’t resist even if she wanted to.
Without a word, Chanyeol’s lips crashed against hers, more demanding this time. There was no hesitation, no tentative exploring like before, just raw need. His hands slipped to her waist, pulling her closer, as if the space between them was unbearable. N/a responded instantly, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him even closer as the kiss deepened. It was frantic, desperate, and filled with a passion neither of them could control.
Chanyeol’s hands moved over her body, rough yet careful, as if he was memorizing every curve, every inch of her. He backed her against the wall, pinning her there with his body, his lips leaving hers only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck. N/a gasped at the sensation, her mind spinning as she gave herself over to the moment, to him.
They didn’t speak. There was no need for words now, not when every touch, every breath was speaking for them. Chanyeol’s hands moved to the hem of her dress, pulling it up in one swift motion, his eyes dark with desire as he drank her in. The intensity in his gaze made her tremble, but it wasn’t fear, it was anticipation. She wanted this just as much as he did, maybe even more.
“Are you sure?” Chanyeol’s voice was low, gravelly, as he hovered above her, his breath hot against her ear.
“Yes,” N/a whispered, her voice shaking with desire. “I want this… I want you.”
That was all he needed to hear. With a growl of satisfaction, Chanyeol lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to his bedroom. The world outside vanished as they tumbled onto the bed, their bodies entwined in a fevered rush of kisses and touches. Clothes were discarded in a blur, leaving them skin to skin, nothing between them but the heat of their shared need.
Chanyeol’s lips found hers again, and this time, the kiss was slower, more deliberate. His hands roamed her body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake, and N/a couldn’t help the soft moans that escaped her lips. Every touch, every movement felt electric, as if they were two halves of something that had been waiting to be made whole.
Their bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, a primal dance of passion and desire. Chanyeol was rough, but not careless, his strength a comfort as he took her completely. N/a arched into him, her fingers digging into his back as waves of pleasure washed over her, pulling her deeper into the moment. She had never felt anything like this before, so raw, so real. It was as if they were both burning, consumed by the fire they had ignited between them.
Time lost meaning as they reached the peak together, their breaths mingling, their bodies trembling in the aftermath of their shared release. Chanyeol collapsed beside her, his chest heaving as he pulled her into his arms, their skin still slick with sweat. They lay there in silence, the only sound the steady beat of their hearts slowly returning to normal.
N/a felt his arms tighten around her as he pulled her closer, their bodies fitting together as if they were always meant to be like this. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic thump of his heart, her eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion. But before sleep could claim her completely, she felt him stir beside her.
Chanyeol’s hand moved to her hair, gently stroking her head in a way that was surprisingly tender after the intensity of their earlier passion. His fingers threaded through her hair, calming, soothing. N/a was half-asleep, her body relaxed, when she heard him whisper, his voice barely above a breath.
“You’re too good for me,” he murmured, his tone thick with emotion. “I don’t deserve you, but… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
His words sent a pang through her chest, and though her body was heavy with sleep, she wanted to respond, to tell him that he was wrong, that he was more than he believed. But she stayed still, her breathing steady, letting him think she was asleep.
Chanyeol’s voice cracked slightly as he continued, and she could hear the tears in his voice, the vulnerability that he never let anyone see. “I’ll protect you, N/a. No matter what it takes… even if it costs me my life. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
A tear slid down N/a’s cheek as she listened to him, her heart aching at the raw honesty in his confession. He sounded so broken, so weighed down by the world he lived in, and yet, he was willing to sacrifice everything for her.
Chanyeol pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering there for a moment before he rested his cheek against her hair. “You’re everything to me,” he whispered. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
N/a’s chest tightened with emotion, her heart swelling with a mixture of love and sadness. She hadn’t realized how much she meant to him, how deeply he felt for her. And in that moment, she knew she was falling for him too, falling in a way that was both terrifying and inevitable.
As sleep finally claimed her, she held onto the warmth of his embrace, the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. Chanyeol’s whispered promises echoed in her mind, and she knew, without a doubt, that he meant every word. No matter how dangerous his world was, no matter how dark, he would protect her. And somehow, that made her feel safer than she ever had before.
For the first time in a long time, N/a felt like she wasn’t alone. She had someone who would fight for her, someone who would stand by her side no matter what. And as she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she was falling for him too.
The next day at the academy, N/a pushed her body harder than ever before. The rehearsals for the new routine were brutal, every pirouette, every jump, demanded perfection. Her muscles screamed in protest with each movement, and by the end of the session, she was drenched in sweat, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. Bruises started to blossom on her legs and arms, a painful reminder of how much she was pushing herself, but there was something else too. Satisfaction. She had done it, her body was tired, but she had nailed every single move. Despite the pain, she couldn’t help but feel proud.
As she walked off the studio floor, stretching her sore muscles, the director made an unexpected appearance. His sharp eyes scanned the dancers, before settling on N/a. “We need to start thinking about costumes,” he announced, his tone formal but excited. “The designs are ready, and they’ll need to be fitted soon.”
N/a’s curiosity piqued. She had heard whispers about the costumes but hadn’t seen anything yet. When the director finally showed them a preview, her breath hitched. The costume was stunning, pure white, encrusted with shimmering crystals, diamonds, and intricate sparkles that made it look like something straight out of a dream. It was a vision of elegance, perfect for the lead role she was about to take on. But when the director mentioned the price, her heart sank. The cost was exorbitant, more than she could ever afford.
As much as N/a tried to focus on the beauty of the costume, the worry gnawed at her. How was she going to manage this? Ballet scholarships didn’t cover costumes, and she was already struggling with her living expenses. Still, she pushed the worry to the back of her mind for now. The rehearsals were relentless, demanding every ounce of her energy and attention. Day after day, her muscles ached, her feet blistered, and the bruises grew darker, but each session brought her closer to perfection. Each day, she worked harder, stayed later, and sometimes lost track of time altogether.
Chanyeol had become part of her routine in ways she hadn’t expected. His calls, once just occasional, had grown frequent. At first, it was simple check-ins, but now, it was almost daily. He worried about her, especially when she stayed late at the academy. His voice was a strange comfort, his concern unfamiliar but welcomed.
One particular night, after an especially grueling rehearsal, she was later than usual. As she left the academy, her body was sore, and all she wanted was to crawl into bed. She called Chanyeol on her way out, letting him know she’d be home soon.
“I’m heading home now. Don’t worry, just tired,” she said, trying to sound upbeat despite the exhaustion weighing her down.
His voice was steady but firm. “You should have called earlier. I would have picked you up.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her tone softened. “I’ll be home in no time.”
Instead of taking her usual route, N/a decided to cut through an alley she hadn’t used before. It was darker, less crowded, but it would shave off several minutes from her walk. The soreness in her legs made the decision easy, even if the alley felt a little too quiet.
As she moved through the alley, a prickling sensation crept over her skin. She tried to shake it off, but something didn’t feel right. Her steps quickened, and she held the phone a little tighter, still on the line with Chanyeol, but saying nothing for a moment. That’s when she heard it, footsteps behind her.
Her heart skipped a beat. She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing at first. The footsteps echoed, growing closer. She tried to stay calm, telling herself it was just her imagination. But the sound of those steps matched hers, picking up whenever she sped up, slowing down when she hesitated.
Chanyeol, still on the other end of the line, immediately noticed her silence. “N/a? What’s going on?”
“I… I think someone’s following me,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“What?” Chanyeol’s tone sharpened instantly. “Where are you? Tell me.”
“I—” her breath hitched, panic setting in as she glanced around, her heart racing. “I’m in an alley. I thought it would be faster… but someone’s—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the footsteps sped up. She didn’t wait any longer. She broke into a sprint, the sound of her shoes pounding against the pavement, her breath coming in short gasps. Her phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the ground, but she didn’t stop to pick it up.
Her mind raced, her body moving on pure instinct as she weaved through the narrow alley. She could hear the footsteps behind her, getting closer. Panic clawed at her chest. She ducked behind a row of trash cans, trying to catch her breath, her heart hammering in her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to stay calm, but every nerve in her body was screaming.
The sound of footsteps stopped. Silence. Her pulse was loud in her ears, and for a moment, she thought maybe she had lost them. But just as relief began to settle in, she felt it, a hand gripping her arm, yanking her roughly from her hiding place.
A scream caught in her throat. She was sure it was over. They had found her. But then—
“N/a.” The voice was low, familiar.
She opened her eyes to see Chanyeol, his grip firm but gentle as he pulled her toward him. Relief flooded her body, her legs almost giving out beneath her. Chanyeol wrapped an arm around her, his body tense as he scanned the alley.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice tight with barely contained fury.
She nodded, unable to form words, still shaken by what had just happened. Chanyeol didn’t waste another second. His eyes darkened, his jaw clenched as he surveyed their surroundings. Whoever had been following her was gone now, but the anger simmering in him was palpable.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, pulling her close to him as they moved out of the alley.
As they walked, N/a’s heart slowly returned to a normal rhythm, but she couldn’t shake the image of Chanyeol, his protective presence, his swift reaction. He had come for her, just as he said he would.
Once they were back in his car, the silence between them felt heavy, charged with unspoken tension. Chanyeol’s hand tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. He didn’t say much, but the way he kept glancing at her told her everything she needed to know. He was worried, furious that she had been put in danger, and furious that he hadn’t been there sooner.
When they arrived at his place, Chanyeol didn’t let go of her hand, guiding her inside with a quiet but firm protectiveness. Once they were safe inside, he finally spoke, his voice soft but edged with a simmering anger.
“I told you, I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he said, his hand still on her arm, his thumb tracing small circles in an unconscious effort to soothe both her and himself. “No one.”
N/a nodded, still shaken but grateful. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“It’s not your fault,” he interrupted, his voice softening as he looked into her eyes. “But I’m not letting you out of my sight anymore. Not after tonight.”
The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. This wasn’t just about protection anymore, there was something deeper, something that neither of them could deny. And in that moment, with Chanyeol’s hand still on her, the safety of his presence surrounding her, N/a knew that things between them had shifted again.
She wasn’t just some girl in his world anymore. She was someone he couldn’t bear to lose.
After the tense night they’d had, N/a stood under the hot stream of the shower, letting the water wash away the exhaustion, the fear, and the tension that had built up inside her. Her muscles ached from the day’s intense rehearsals, and her mind was still reeling from the events in the alley. She could hardly believe that Chanyeol had shown up when he did, like some dark protector.
Once she dried off and slipped into one of the oversized shirts Chanyeol had given her, she made her way to the bed, ready for sleep. As she climbed in, Chanyeol was sitting on the edge, watching her, his sharp eyes tracing the faint bruises on her arms and legs. He reached out, gently brushing his fingertips across a purple mark on her thigh.
“Did he touch you?” His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. His question wasn’t just curiosity, it was fury held in check, concern layered beneath his protective instincts.
N/a blinked, shaking her head quickly, realizing what he was asking. “No, no. These—” she glanced down at her legs and arms, “—these are from rehearsals. The routine has been brutal, and I’ve been pushing myself hard.”
Relief washed over his features, and something else, pride. He admired her determination, her strength. She wasn’t fragile, not in the way others might be. She was tough, driven, and that only made his desire to protect her stronger.
He watched as her eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion finally pulling her under. She curled up into the pillows, her breathing evening out as she drifted off into sleep. Chanyeol stayed for a moment, watching her in the dim light. He couldn’t help but feel a strange pull, she was different. She didn’t belong to his world, not to the darkness that clung to him, but here she was, with him. And he wasn’t going to let her go.
Once she was asleep, Chanyeol stood, planning to get some work done. That’s when he noticed it, her phone, lying on the edge of the nightstand. He had picked it up earlier when they’d rushed out of the alley. He hadn’t had time to look at it, but now, in the quiet of the room, he couldn’t help but glance at it. The screen was cracked, the phone old and battered from use.
With a simple touch, the screen lit up, revealing a text message from Sunny: “Omg, the costume is so expensive. How are you going to manage it?”
His jaw tightened as he read the words. He didn’t even need to think about it, he knew exactly what he had to do. N/a didn’t need to worry about anything, least of all money. She had enough on her plate without struggling to cover expenses for something as vital as her ballet career.
The next morning, N/a stirred, the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains waking her slowly. As she sat up, her eyes landed on her nightstand, and there it was, a brand new phone sitting in place of her old one. Confusion furrowed her brow as she picked it up, inspecting it before glancing at Chanyeol, who was leaning against the doorframe, watching her with a casual but unreadable expression.
She padded over to him, the phone still in her hand. “Chanyeol, what’s this?” she asked softly, holding up the sleek new device. “I… I can’t accept this. You’re doing too much for me already.” Her voice wavered, guilt creeping into her words. “I don’t want to take advantage of you, or your money.”
Chanyeol’s expression softened, and without hesitation, he closed the distance between them. His large hands gently cupped her face, tilting it up toward his. “When I said I’d take care of you,” he murmured, his voice low, “I meant it in every way. That means you don’t have to worry about anything. Not your phone, not your costume, nothing.”
Before she could protest further, he pressed his lips to hers, the kiss soft at first, but full of the unspoken promise he had made to her. He wasn’t going to let her struggle alone, not anymore. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment, the intimacy between them palpable.
“I want you to focus on your dreams,” he whispered, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “Let me handle the rest.”
N/a stared up at him, the intensity of his words leaving her speechless. She could see the determination in his eyes, the quiet resolve that told her this wasn’t something up for negotiation. A part of her wanted to argue, to insist she could handle it on her own. But another part of her,the part that had grown to trust him, to feel safe with him, wanted to accept the help he was offering. To let him take care of her, even if just for a little while.
“Okay,” she whispered, her voice soft. “Thank you.”
Later that morning, Chanyeol drove her to the academy. The ride was quiet but comfortable, with occasional glances exchanged between them. He had a meeting scheduled with the director, but N/a didn’t ask too many questions. She knew he had his business to handle, and she had rehearsals to focus on.
When they arrived, Chanyeol walked her to the entrance, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. “I’ll see you later,” he murmured, his voice deep and reassuring.
She smiled up at him, feeling lighter than she had in days. “See you.”
As she headed to rehearsals, Chanyeol made his way to the director’s office. He knocked once before entering, not bothering to wait for permission. The director looked up, startled, but quickly masked his surprise with a practiced smile.
“Ah, Mr. Park, I wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
Chanyeol didn’t bother with pleasantries. He strode across the room and placed a thick stack of money on the director’s desk, his gaze hard, his tone brooking no argument. “This is for N/a’s costume,” he said flatly. “From now on, if she needs anything,anything, you come to me. Don’t ask her for money again.”
The director blinked, taken aback, but nodded quickly. “Of course, Mr. Park. I’ll make sure of it.”
Chanyeol didn’t wait for a response. He turned on his heel and left the office, his mind already returning to N/a and the promise he had made to her. She wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore, not money, not danger, not anything as long as he was there. And he wasn’t going anywhere.
As rehearsals progressed throughout the week, N/a found herself caught up in the rhythm of her demanding routine. Each day, she pushed herself harder, the exhaustion hanging over her like a heavy blanket. The bruises on her body had become familiar companions, a testament to her determination and resolve. She was proud of every mark, a reminder that she was fighting for her dreams.
But even amidst the pain and the long hours, there were moments of levity, especially when Chanyeol was around. After each rehearsal, she’d find herself texting him updates about how things were going. He would reply with encouragement, teasing messages that made her smile even when her muscles ached. The bond between them grew stronger, and she began to feel something deeper, a connection that neither of them had explicitly acknowledged but was palpable in every stolen glance and gentle touch.
One afternoon, after a particularly grueling session, N/a sat on the edge of the stage, wiping sweat from her brow with a towel. Her fellow dancers were chatting and laughing, their energy infectious, but her mind wandered. She thought about her new phone and how Chanyeol had insisted on taking care of her. Despite her initial guilt, she found comfort in his actions. He was always there, checking in, making sure she had everything she needed.
As she stretched her tired legs, her phone buzzed in her pocket. It was a message from Chanyeol: “How’s my ballerina doing?”
She smiled, her heart warming at his words. With a quick reply, she typed, “Sore but happy. Just finished a tough rehearsal.” She hesitated, then added, “I miss you.”
His response came almost immediately: “I miss you too. How about dinner later? I’ll pick you up.”
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing him again. Dinner with Chanyeol had become a highlight of her week. “Sounds perfect,” she replied, excitement bubbling within her.
Later that evening, N/a found herself anxiously preparing for his arrival. She changed into a simple yet elegant dress that hugged her curves, a look that was effortless but made her feel beautiful. She stared at her reflection, a mix of nerves and anticipation swirling inside her.
When Chanyeol knocked on her door, her heart skipped a beat. She opened the door, and there he stood, tall, handsome, and radiating an undeniable aura of confidence. He wore a fitted shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and lean physique, and when his eyes landed on her, a slow, appreciative smile spread across his face.
“You look stunning,” he said, his voice warm.
“Thanks,” she replied, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks. “You clean up pretty well yourself.”
He chuckled, the sound deep and genuine, making her feel a flutter in her stomach. “Shall we?”
As they walked to his car, N/a felt the tension in the air shift, a current that wrapped around them. Chanyeol opened the passenger door for her, a small gesture that sent her heart racing. Once they were on their way, she found herself stealing glances at him, captivated by how effortlessly charming he was.
Over dinner, they fell into easy conversation, sharing stories and laughter. Chanyeol was surprisingly attentive, asking questions about her rehearsals, genuinely interested in her progress. N/a found herself opening up more than she usually did, her voice animated as she recounted the challenges she faced during practice and how she felt about leading the new routine.
They finished their meal, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. After dinner, they decided to take a walk in a nearby park, the air crisp and refreshing. As they strolled, Chanyeol took her hand, intertwining their fingers, and the warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine.
“You deserve this, N/a,” he said earnestly. “You’ve put in so much effort, and it’s finally paying off.”
“Thank you for always being there for me,” she replied, her voice soft. “I don’t know how I would have managed without your support.”
He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that, right?”
She nodded, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. There was something reassuring in his touch, an unspoken promise that wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.
As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation shifted. Chanyeol seemed to grow more contemplative, his eyes focused on her with an intensity that made her heart race. “Can I ask you something?” he said, his tone serious.
“Of course,” N/a replied, her curiosity piqued.
“Where do you see yourself in a few years?” he asked, searching her gaze. “What do you want for your future?”
N/a considered his question, her heart racing as she thought about her dreams. “I want to perform. I want to be part of something beautiful, something that makes people feel,” she said passionately. “But more than that, I want to be happy, truly happy. I want to share my life with someone who understands me.”
Chanyeol’s expression shifted, a hint of vulnerability breaking through his usual cool demeanor. “What if I told you that I want to be that person for you?” he asked, his voice low and sincere.
N/a’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding. “You? You want to be with me?”
“More than anything,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. You bring light into my life in a way I didn’t know I needed. I want to be with you through all of it, the good, the bad, everything.”
Her heart swelled at his confession, warmth spreading through her. “I feel the same way, Chanyeol. You’ve changed my life.”
He took a deep breath, and for a moment, she could see the uncertainty flicker across his face. “N/a, I know my life is complicated, and I’m not perfect. But I want to build a future with you. I want to be there for you, to support you in your dreams. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
N/a felt her heart race as she processed his words. “Chanyeol…”
He interrupted her softly, a nervous yet determined look in his eyes. “I want to ask you something important.”
In that moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box, placing it gently on the table between them. “N/a, will you marry me?”
Time seemed to freeze as she stared at the box, her heart racing in disbelief. She opened it slowly, revealing a delicate ring, glistening under the soft restaurant lights. Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him, struggling to find her voice.
“Chanyeol… are you serious?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” he replied, his gaze steady. “I know we’ve only just started this journey, but I want to take this step with you. You mean everything to me, and I can’t imagine a future without you.”
N/a felt a rush of warmth wash over her, the weight of his words settling in her heart. All the moments they had shared, the laughter, the fear, the intimacy, it all came rushing back. She realized that this was what she had been longing for, a future built together.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, her voice breaking with emotion. “Yes, I will marry you!”
Chanyeol’s face broke into a radiant smile as he slipped the ring onto her finger. They both laughed, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks as he leaned across the table, wrapping his arms around her in a warm embrace.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered, her heart swelling with happiness.
“Neither can I,” he replied, holding her tightly. “But it’s real, and I promise to protect you and love you for the rest of my life.”
They pulled back, gazing into each other’s eyes, the world around them fading as they reveled in the magic of their moment. In that restaurant, under the soft glow of the lights, they had found something profound, a bond that transcended their troubled pasts. It was the beginning of their forever, a new chapter filled with hope, love, and endless possibilities.
Part1 , Part2 , Part3, Part4, Part5, Part6, Part7.
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mymoodwriting · 2 years ago
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Request for Anon (Werewolf Baekhyun) 3.3k, A/B/O, fighting, verbal abuse, drinking, intoxication, tipsy behavior, kidnapping, drugs, restraints, pheromones, smut, non-con, dub-con, biting, blood, marking, intimidation, implied pregnancy, yandere (@starillusion13)
“You’re an omega, and you’re mine.”
     You wanted to slap Baekhyun, you tried, but he grabbed your hand. When you tried to pull away he held on tighter, and you threw a sharp glare his way. You two had been friends for as long as you could remember, basically growing up together, but as of late he had changed. He always seemed to have an attitude around you, especially when others were around. You chalked it up to the fact he finally presented, and turned out to be an alpha. You were happy for him, but you also understood that came with its own burden. So you let some things slide, but this was where you drew the line. You were out with friends, and as the night dragged on he started getting handsy with you. Throughout all those years you had never seen him as anything more than a friend, so you stopped him, which only pissed him off.
“What is wrong with you!”
“I am telling you the truth!”
“My birthday is still months away, and I haven’t presented yet! I’m not an omega, let alone yours.”
“You are! I can tell.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Yes, I can. I don’t know how to explain it, but I know. You’re an omega.”
“I am not! My family mostly consists of alphas and betas. There hasn’t been an omega in generations and it’s not gonna be me!”
“Y/n-”
“Shut up!” You pulled your arm free. “I have had enough of your attitude, and this stupid idea in your head finally puts it into perspective. I’m not some lowly omega that needs protection from an alpha! And I don’t belong to you either!”
“Listen to me, I-”
“No! I’m not tolerating your bullshit anymore.” You took a breath. “I’m sure being an alpha has its own things to figure out, so you do that, and let me know when you stop being a dick.”
     You walked off without a word, swearing you’d hit him if he tried anything, but he knew better this time. You never thought you’d fight with him, he was always a good friend to you, but this was something else. You wanted to be understanding, but you needed to do what was best for you as well. You didn’t hear from him for weeks, which really worried you, but you weren’t going to reach out to check on him. This was something he needed to figure out on his own. You weren’t sure when you’d hear from him, but a week leading up to your birthday you got a call from him. You were nervous to answer, but you owed him that much.
“Hello?”
“Hey… how’ve you been?”
“Fine for the most part, and you?”
“Me too. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I owe you an apology.”
“Yeah, and?”
“I should do it in person. Are you free anytime soon?”
“I have some time tomorrow.”
“After your classes?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Sure.” 
     All this time you felt like you had been holding your breath, that after all these years you had lost a close friend. Hearing his voice again was a relief, especially since it seemed he had gotten his senses back. Still, you’d have to wait and see if anything had really become of him. So the next day you kinda dreaded your last class, dreaded seeing him for fear things couldn’t go back to the way they were. You had to see him eventually though, so it was better to do it now and rip off the band aid. After class you found Baekhyun waiting for you. He offered you a quick smile but saw your expressionless face and dropped it. He followed you as you went off somewhere so you two could talk in private.
“Did your classes go well today?”
“Same old, same old. How have you been?”
“Good. I’ve done a lot of thinking lately… I can’t excuse my actions, only apologize for them.”
“Yeah.”
“I was a dick, I don’t even know what was going on in my own head. A lot changed for me, and I couldn’t keep myself in check. I’m really sorry you had to witness such a part of me, and I’ll do better to make sure you never do.”
“Is that it?”
“I mean, no amount of words can change what I did, but I’m hoping we can get over this hurdle together, or at least start over.”
“You were such an asshole.”
“I know…”
“And you’re done with that shit?”
“Yes. I never should have treated you that way. I don’t know what was going on with me.”
“Neither do I. Now if you ever pull that shit again, I will not forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“Good.” You took a breath. “Have you seriously been okay?”
“I’ve been doing my best, but there’s a lot going on with me.”
“How’s the family then? You being an alpha and all that. I mean, that’s most of your family anyway.”
“I’ve talked with them a lot. They’re happy I’m an alpha, but there are definitely things I need to be aware of.”
“No shit. Maybe if I’m an alpha too you can let me know.”
“Definitely.”
     Things couldn’t go back to how they used to be, but he was still your friend. Sometimes you could see him slipping back into that possessive behavior, but he composed himself well enough. He was doing better, which was the important thing. So when your birthday party rolled around you trust him to behave himself. Besides, it was your day of celebration, and you were going to enjoy yourself. So a night out at the club, endless drinks and a VIP room full of dancers, best birthday for sure.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough.”
     You were dancing around, clearly already gone for the night. Some of your friends had already gone home, so only a few were left hanging on. Although at this point it was safe to say someone had to end things before you all passed out. That someone was Baekhyun, having remained mostly sober to keep an eye on himself and everyone else. Now he was getting people in cars and sending them on their way. In the end it was just the two of you out on the streets.
“Taxi!” You danced off the curb. “Taxi!”
“No, no, come here.” Baekhyun grabbed you and pulled you back onto the sidewalk. “I’m taking you home, okay?”
“Nuh-uh, you can’t drive.”
“Yes, I can. I didn’t really drink.”
“Prove it.”
“I don’t think I can with you in this state. Come on now.”
     Baekhyun carefully led you over to his car, getting you into the passenger seat and getting your seat belt on. You leaned your head against the glass, Baekhyun getting into the car and driving off.
“Did you have fun?”
“The best…” You giggled. “And you?”
“It was a good night. Get some rest, I’ll wake you when we arrive, and please don’t throw up in my car.”
“No promises…”
     You shut your eyes and let the soft rumble of the car lull you to sleep. You figured you’d be out for a little bit and get some help going inside the house, but when you woke up you felt way more hungover than you thought. You got up, needing a second to realize you were in bed, and needing another to realize this wasn’t your room. The panic sobered you up real quick, but then you recognized the room as Baekhyun’s and calmed down. Although now that made you question why you were at his place. The hangover was starting to hit again, but you managed to get on your feet and go looking for Baekhyun.
“Ya! Baekhyun.” You mumbled. “Baekhyun… why am I here…”
     You managed to find the boy in the kitchen, sat down at the counter eating breakfast. Once he saw you stumbling around he got up and helped you take a seat.
“How’d you manage to get up?”
“Panic… why am I at your place? You said you were going to take me home.”
“I did take you home, to mine that is.”
“Baekhyun.”
“I was tired and my place was closer anyway. I’ll take you home now, after you have breakfast and recover from the hangover.”
“You better.”
     Baekhyun made you a quick breakfast. He was a pretty decent cook, and it was nice to try his food. It had been a while since you last spent time together like that.
“Here. A hangover cure.” Baekhyun handed you a glass. “You’ll feel better.”
“Already do, so thanks.”
     You chugged down the contents of the drink, knowing it was better to get it over with quickly. It didn’t taste bad thankfully, but still made you shiver.
“I’ll get my things and we can go.”
“Sure.”
     You got up, stretching for a moment and then heading back over to the bedroom to grab your belongings. When you returned Baekhyun was exactly where you had left him.
“Alright, we can-”
    You suddenly felt dizzy, grabbing your head and stumbling back a few steps. Baekhyun watched you for a moment and then got up, taking you into his arms so you wouldn’t fall.
“Baekhyun… what’s going on…”
“Just a little something to help.”
    He led you back down the hall towards the bedroom, although when your legs have out he had no problem picking you up and carrying. Your vision kept fading in and out, and you were feeling hot all over. Words were becoming difficult as well, but you still tried. Baekhyun just found you cute, laying you down on the bed. Then you realized he was tying your arms down.
“… what… what are you…”
“I know you still don’t believe me, and that’s fine, but I’m still worried about you. Since you’ve come of age you can present any day now, and I didn’t like the idea of me not being there for it. So I thought I should speed up the process, and this way I’ll be here to look after you.”
“Baekhyun…”
“It should only take a couple hours, so don’t worry.”
“Let… me… go…”
“Definitely can’t do that now. Someone else might want to claim you if they find you in such a state.”
“Why… why…”
“I told you. You’re mine, and I’m not letting anyone else have you. Just try to relax.”
“Baekhyun!”
    You tugged on the ropes, but you barely had any strength left. Your head was spinning and you could barely make out Baekhyun sitting at the edge of the bed, watching you. It hurt, not just your body, but your heart. You had been worried about Baekhyun, and you desperately wanted things to go back to normal that you let him back into your life without being cautious, without letting others know what he had been saying lately. It was getting harder and harder to think, and you could feel your body shutting down to deal with the changes being forced on you. If you could fight it you would, but you didn't even know what was happening. So in the end the darkness swallowed you, and your feelings of fear with it.
🖤
     When you opened your eyes you felt so out of it, barely managing to stay conscious. Your body was shaking, and you felt very hot. You soon found out you were still tied up, and once again tried to free yourself, but it was useless.
“Baekhyun…”
     You didn’t feel so good, you felt sick, and in the moment you didn’t want to be alone. It wasn’t long before you made out Baekhyun in your field of vision. He was sitting by the edge of the bed, his palm against your head.
“You have a fever.” You whined which made him chuckle. “It’s normal to be sick when you present.”
“Huh?”
“I told you that you’re an omega, and it’s all the more obvious now.”
“No… no what… what did you… do…”
“Just helped you awaken your true nature.”
“I’m not… an omega…”
“You can’t deny that now.”
“… home… I wanna…”
“I can’t take you home like this, besides what would your family think? There hasn’t been an omega in generations.” You whimpered. “It’s okay, I’m going to take care of you. I’m sure they’ll be relieved to know that.”
“No… no… I’m not…”
“The fever will pass on its own, but I’m not sure about the other things. They say omegas are pretty delicate, which is why it’s so important to claim one.”
“… go… away…”
“But you called for your alpha earlier.”
“… you’re not…”
“I am. I’ll go get you something for the fever.”
      Once he was gone you began tossing about, wanting to get free. You focused your energy on the rope, trying to untie it, but Baekhyun soon came back and stopped you.
“Is it bothering you?”
“Um…”
“I suppose you don’t need that right now.”
     Baekhyun untied you and helped you sit up, trying to give you some medicine. You refused though, not wanting to take anything from him anymore. He pet your head softly, finding your rebellious acts cute.
“This will make the fever go down and help things settle.”
“I’m not… an omega…”
“You know that’s not true. You can feel it, can’t you?”
“No… you did something…”
“You know there’s no way to change what you are. You can hide it or suppress it, but you can’t change it.”
     You knew all that was true, but you didn’t want to believe him. It wasn’t just about his betrayal, or what he had done, but what this all meant for you. Baekhyun seemed to know what you were thinking, pulling you into his arms despite your protests. He held the back of your head, rocking you softly to the sides, trying to sooth you.
“Sh, sh, it’s okay. I’m here, I’m not gonna look at you differently or anything like that. You’re still y/n to me.”
“It’s not… I can’t…”
“We don’t choose these things.”
    You didn’t know how you were gonna face your family. You weren’t sure you wanted to. This all felt more like a nightmare and you desperately wanted to wake up. If that was the case you felt you would have already woken up, but all this felt way too real. You don’t know when you started crying, but the tears weren’t going to stop easily. So you sobbed into Baekhyun’s chest, letting all your thoughts overwhelm you. That is until something else caught your attention. As you were coming down from the tears you began to notice something. 
    Baekhyun smelled very different. You carefully moved your head up into the crook of his neck, taking in a breath. You never really paid attention to the scents of your friends. You could tell them apart but you never really took them in to know them better. Although you could tell that Baekhyun’s had changed, again. When he had become an alpha you noticed the change, but this was something else entirely. He smelled sweeter, and you couldn’t help yourself, wanting to take in more. Of course Baekhyun noticed, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
“What is it?”
“You… you smell…”
“Nice?”
“Hm…”
“They say the scent of an alpha is sweeter to an omega, and vice versa. I certainly know that’s the case.”
“… why…”
“Cause alphas and omegas get along better. We’ve always gotten along so well, even before all this. I guess we were meant to be.”
“That’s not fair…”
“I’d call it destiny.” Baekhyun took a moment. “You’re still burning up.”
“I’m fine.”
“You should still take something to make it easier… or I could help.”
“Help?”
“I told you it’s important for an omega to get claimed. I have no problem doing that now.”
     Baekhyun pulled you back a bit, pressing a kiss to your cheek. From there his lips trailed down your neck. Despite the heat and uncomfortableness, his mouth was a sweet relief against your skin. You didn’t want him to stop, and he had no intention of doing so. He knew you were already so high off his scent alone, and in this state you were all the more sensitive. Of course you weren’t the only one being affected. Baekhyun had been holding himself together, but now that he had you so close he couldn’t help himself either. Without asking permission he began to tear up your clothes.
     At that point it was hard to keep anything straight in your head. One minute Baekhyun was kissing down your chest, the next thing you knew you were lying beneath him with less clothing. Your vision was a bit hazy but you could see Baekhyun clearly. He had always been a friend in your mind, but now you thought of something else, of something more. Everything about him was different in your eyes. Your mind taking in the little things and feeling your heart flutter. The feeling only grew more and more as your body was accepting all his attention. 
    Even if you went out clubbing with friends you had never gone home with someone, or showed interest in hookups, so this would be your first. Baekhyun would be the one to take it all, and you knew at that moment you would never give it to anyone else. Your mind was so lost in his everything you didn’t realize the fangs, not until you felt a sharp pain in the crook of your neck. Your eyes went wide and you screamed, the smell of blood hitting your nose soon after. When Baekhyun pulled away you could see his bloody mouth.
“Couldn’t help myself…”
“Baekhyun…”
“No one else can have you.”
     There was a sharpness to his tone, almost like a warning. His one and only time saying this to you, and if you ever forgot it, there would be consequences. You couldn’t comprehend on the surface, but deep down you got the message. He wasn’t done here though, far from it. Baekhyun took off his own shirt, getting rid of the rest of your clothing and his in the process. You made a move to cover yourself, feeling exposed, but he stopped you, holding your hands above your head.
“Don’t hide from me. You’re perfect just like this, and I’ll make you even better.”
🖤
     If anyone asked you to recount that night, your first, the day you were mated, you probably couldn’t tell them anything about it. There was just a mix of heat and blood and pleasure. Your body would never forget, and neither would your soul, even if your mind was completely blank. Baekhyun wouldn’t say anything either, loving to have this secret to himself and to a degree you. All you did know was waking up in his arms, feeling safe, feeling loved. Your future was still uncertain, but you were alright there and then.
“Awake?”
“Hm…”
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired…”
“Well the fever’s down, so I think the worst of it is over.”
“I guess…”
“Sh, take it easy.”
“I feel tingly…”
“That might be the bite.”
“Bite… yeah… you bit me…”
“You still need to bite me back.”
“Hm…”
“Better now before you find out you’re pregnant.”
“What!”
“What? You don’t remember how much we did it? If I didn’t put a baby in you we’re gonna have to try again.”
“Baekhyun, I can’t-”
     You jumped up and away from Baekhyun, but he grabbed your arm and pulled you back down. He pet your head softly, immediately soothing your worries.
“It’s much easier for an omega to get pregnant, especially when they just presented. It’s only natural for you, for us.”
“Us… you really planned this all out, didn’t you?”
“Can you blame me? I’ve always looked after you, I wasn’t gonna let anyone else do that.”
“There were better ways…”
“You wouldn’t listen.”
“You were a prick.”
“Perhaps…”
“No you were.”
“Sh, sh, you should go back to sleep. We can talk more later, and finish things up properly too.”
“Sure.”
“Don’t worry. I got you, and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
“Thanks… I suppose…”
“It’s always been you and me. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
(II)
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marshmallow-phd · 5 months ago
Text
A Manor of Shadow and Blood
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Genre: Regency Gothic AU
Pairing: EXO x Reader
Summary: A stormy night brought you to the manor in the middle of the woods. Nine strange men occupied its halls. They won’t let you leave. A dangerous secret haunts this estate. Learning it might either be your saving grace or it could lead to the last breath you ever take.
Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5
**
The grand hall was lit as bright as midday. Every surface was polished to perfection, reflecting the candlelight at a greater force. Brilliant brass and gold surrounded you as you made your way through the dancing couples, their movements in perfect sync. Wrapped in each other's arms, they spin around without a care for your wandering presence. 
While all who surrounded you were decorated in blacks and whites, your own dress was the color of freshly spilled blood. The heavy skirts that hug from your waist made it difficult to navigate the ballroom. Their fullness was of an older fashion, one that maybe your grandmother would have worn in her youth. The dropped shoulders left you exposed, your skin chilled despite the amount of bodies in here. 
You kept navigating the dance floor, on the look out for something, though you didn’t know what. Then you felt the familiar burn of eyes boring into your back, which sent a shiver down your spine. You whirled around to find the source, the dress brushing at your feet with the sudden motion. Through the crowd, you spotted Baekhyun leaning against the wall. With a single finger, he beckoned you over. And you obeyed. 
Breaking through the sea of dancers, you took in his elegant suit, the hems lined with gold thread that shimmered against black velvet. 
"You shouldn't dance alone," he purred. Arms crossed over his chest, he smirked at you with a grin even the devil wouldn't wear.
"I have no partner," you retorted. He held out a lazy hard. Hardly the romantic gesture. "No, thank you." 
"How about me?" asked a sweet voice in your ear. 
You turned your head to find Junmyeon at your back. He laid a soft hand on your hip to keep you from escaping out of propriety. When you didn’t shove him away, the hand slyly moved to your stomach, pulling your bare shoulder blades into his chest. With the fingers of his left hand, he tilted your chin towards him. 
"Am I a suitable partner?" 
No answer passed your lips. You could think of nothing to say. The thought of him twirling you around the dance floor was not… unpleasant. 
Junmyeon neither needed nor cared for a reply. He dipped his head to your shoulder and pressed a kiss to the skin. A small gasp passed your lips. And then he pressed another. More and more as he climbed up the curve of your neck. Heat rose from every inch of you as you sighed into the affectionate touches. You relaxed into his touch, welcoming each new contact of his lips. 
"It's rude not to share, Junmyeon.”
Your attention snapped back to Baekhyun, who you had forgotten was there. He pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to you so he stood in front of the minor. 
No, not a mirror. There was no reflection. 
Except… there was. The mirror reflected the floor, the ceiling, the candlelight. You. 
But not Baekhyun. Not Junmyeon. And not the dancers still spinning behind you. 
Fingers snaked through your hair and pulled your head back, your vulnerable neck exposed. From the gallery above, Kyungsoo watched as elongated fangs flashed behind Junmyeon’s lips and plunged into your neck. 
*****
You woke with a start, the blanket flying off of you as you sat up in a fury. Sweet drenched every pore of your skin. Your day old dress clung to your skin in a way that felt suffocating. Each breath was a struggle for your lungs. 
Vampires. The nightmarish tale that had kept you up as a child until you were convinced they weren't real turned out to be true. But how could they be real? 
Creatures of the night. Blood drinkers. Horror stories meant to keep children from wandering about after dark. 
Curling your legs to your chest and encasing them in your arms, you tried to think of a way out. To escape. With what strength you possessed, you slid off the bed and walked over to the window. The sun, so bright and full of life, was just beginning its descent towards the horizon. Night–their domain–was hours away. If the legends were true, then they would all be asleep at this moment. Any risk that was to be taken had to be taken now. 
After changing into a sturdier dress, you retrieved your still mud-covered boots and, keeping them in one hand, you carefully pushed away the pathetic barrier and snuck out of the room. 
Each step was taken with unmatched caution. You tested every board with your foot before fully committing. Any squeak of a floor or stumble down a stair could alert them to your escape. But by the grace of a miracle, you made it to the front door. Fingers trembling, you pulled on the boots and tied up the laces before opening the door only wide enough for you to slink through. 
The next breath taken outside was like the first breath of life. But there was no time to take it in. 
Gathering your skirts in your grip, you took off into the trees. The dirt was dry and sturdy under your feet. Branches and leaves crunched with the weight of your boots. A lady’s delicacy was out of the question as you ran without abandon. You didn't know what direction you were running. But vampires needed blood to survive and they weren’t drinking yours. And Jongdae had brought those buns from a bakery, not their own kitchen. You doubted any of them knew how to cook. That meant a village or town had to be nearby. Junmyeon had lied about the isolation of the manor. If you just kept going, you could find freedom. 
However, your stamina was running out. This was never your preferred activity. Your lungs and throat burned in an unfamiliar way. The sun still shined above. A short respite could be spared. 
You leaned against a tree trunk for support. In your boots your feet pulsed. Only now did you realize that you had run away without food or water. Not knowing where the kitchen was located, you didn't have time to waste on it. You could survive, you told yourself. Just a little farther. The town couldn’t be too far. Unless you were headed in the wrong direction. 
A rustling rippled through the silent forest. You snapped to attention, trying to find the source. 
“The wind,” you gasped between ragged breaths. “It had to be the wind.” 
A low, rumbling growl said it wasn't wind. 
In the distance, large silhouettes emerged. Wolves. Nearly a dozen of them. 
You ran as fast as your crying legs could take you. With their superior nature built for the hunt, the wolves caught up to you within seconds. Their growls and howls grew louder and more threatening behind you. Running from the manor had been easy. Running from the wolves was to be your end. 
Powerful paws slammed into your back. You were thrown to the ground, rolling across the ground as a scream ripped at your throat. The momentum stopped you on your stomach. Hair covered your face, but you could still see your death through the strands. 
Wolves of gray and black gathered in a half moon circle. They had their prey in perfect position. The middle wolf pounced. All you had time to do was throw up your arms to protect your face. Claws raked across your forearm. Another scream echoed through the merciless trees. The wolf landed on the other side of you with pride. Now you were surrounded. A second wolf leapt. 
A blur appeared in front of you and collided with the wolf midair. The two bodies tumbled across the forest floor. A human and the wolf. 
Not a human. 
Chanyeol. The wolf trapped within his grasp, Chanyeol tightened his grip–
Crack. 
The wolf fell limply to the ground, its tongue hanging from its jaw. 
The others appeared seconds later. Not understanding what they were up against, the wolves let you go to attack the newest threat. 
"Are you alright?" Junmyeon knelt down in front of you. His hands were outstretched as if you were the wild animal on the verge of attack. Behind him, snarls and whimpers told of the fight–and who was winning. Despite not answering him, he caught sight of your bleeding arm. "We need to get back to the manor." 
He didn't ask permission before picking you up into his arms and sprinting through the forest. Everything blurred past you, your loose hair whipping at your face. He burst through the manor doors and didn't stop until he was able to set you down in the largest chair. Once you were safe, he fell to his knees, only his palms keeping him upright. The others soon stumbled in behind him, heaving and collapsing onto the floor. Only then did you notice the smoke floating up from each of their backs. Patches of burnt, red skin sizzled on their knuckles and faces. Anything that had been exposed to the sun. 
"Baekhyun," Junmyeon gasped. 
"I already have it." Kyungsoo came into the parlor with bottles stacked in his arms. He quickly passed them around, waiting until the others were quenching their thirst before pulling the cork out of his own bottle and chugging the contents. 
With his bottle empty, Junmyeon tossed it to the side and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Red smears stained the ivory fabric. You shrank back in the chair as he turned towards you. 
"What hell were you thinking!" He growled. "I warned you about the wolves!" 
"Junmyeon, she's shaken up enough," Jongdae defended. Before your eyes, his burnt skin healed to be like new.
"She could have been killed!" 
Your head was pounding. He was… concerned about your life? The legends said that the sun was a vampire's deadliest enemy. It was why they thrived in the darkness. But they had all risked a final death to come after you. 
"Did you hear me scream?" you whispered. You could barely feel your own lips moving. All heads tuned to you. 
Yixing was the one to answer. "Yes. We all heard you." 
"Why were you out there?" Sehun asked aggressively.
You sucked in a sharp breath. There was no escaping the truth now. You stared at Jongdae. "I figured it out.” 
Baekhyun laughed. "At least we don't have to walk around delicately anymore." 
"When exactly did you do so?" Minseok mocked.
"Then you should remember what I said to you before was true. Harm would not come to you within these walls." Junmyeon crouched down next to the chair. His eyes... there was something behind the darkness that tugged at your still wildly beating heart. "I know you were running away. And if you're desperate to get away enough to get yourself killed, then the choice can be yours. We can send you on your way with every provision. Or," he cleared his throat, "you stay here. With us." 
A choice? He was giving you a choice?
Your gaze drifted over the faces that stared back at you. Even Kyungsoo refused to look away while he waited. There was almost a plea in his expression, a subtle beg. But was it to stay? Or for you to run as far away as possible? 
Junmeyon took your attention away when he picked up your wounded arm with delicate fingers. His pleading was much more clear. 
To leave would be the better choice. The more sane choice. But what would happen afterwards? You could claim being lost in the woods. With evidence of the carriage and the missing driver, what else could they believe? After a few days on bed rest, you would be back by your aunt's side, following her every whim. Including indulging her on a "perfectly adequate" suitor because you had no other option, no other path. That suitor who would then become your future. But you didn't want it. You refused to give in to it. 
Already within these few days, you were… changed in a way. They might not be human, but these men would forever be burned into your memory. Who could move you with music the way Chanyeol had? What silent strength could match the aura of Junmyeon? You had been promised that none of them would harm you. The chance for something extraordinary was right in front of you. The kind of chance you had only read about. It just had to be taken.
"I think… I think I want to stay."
*****
The moon became an ever changing friend. You hardly saw the sun anymore. Like the men you had given yourself over to, you lived under the stars. It was oddly beautiful. This time was often forgotten about by you and many others. The night was only a background to your time within your dreams. But now it was your entire world. 
Every evening, you awoke to the dying orange light of the day. Breakfast always waited for you outside the door. It was the rule that no one broke; none could enter your room without explicit permission from you. Those walls remained your safe haven when things grew too overwhelming. 
Despite your decision to stay, discovering that other creatures walked the earth required a step away once in a while. Especially now, with you aware of their true nature, the men were refusing to hold back. 
Dropping from the roof, running around with spectacular speed, and lifting objects that ten men couldn't hold. It was remarkable. Except for the diet and inability to walk in the sun, the… condition seemed more like a blessing.
"You're rather thoughtful this evening,” Jongdae commented. He walked beside you like he did every twilight. 
After you finished your breakfast, you met Jongae at the front doors to go on a walk around the manor grounds. Often others would join you as well. Junmyeon was the most frequent, though Yixing, Changed, and Jongin made many appearances over the past week and a half. Boundaries were constantly tested, but one word from you and they retreated.
"I guess you could say I am thoughtful tonight," you finally sighed. You hadn’t realized that you were being so obviously quiet. Funny, since you would have thought Jongdae would enjoy the silence. You typically had many questions or comments of your own to make. 
"Should I go steal a penny from Sehun?" 
You laughed. "I'd like to think my thoughts are worth more than a single penny.”
"They must be if you've become so skilled in deflecting from them." He crossed over to block your path. Gaze narrowed, he studied your carefully guarded expression. "What are you thinking about so hard? Regretting your decision to stay already?" 
"No," you insisted. "Not at all."
He raised an eyebrow that simply asked, "Then what?" 
"Do you always stay here?" you countered. "At the manor, I mean." 
"We travel," Jongdae answered with a nod. "Not too often. It’s a bit difficult, you see."
"But we like traveling north.” Minseok dropped from who-knew-where, landing with barely bent knees and hands folded behind his back. "In the winter, the night lasts longer. Junmyeon has a small hunting lodge up there. 
A hunting lodge? "Then why do you stay here?" 
Minsoek shrugged. "This manor is bigger." 
"Having nine of us in one household can be a bit volatile,” Jongdae added. He stepped aside to continue the stroll. "We need the room to separate so we don't level a building." 
Your foot caught on an invisible lump in the grass. "You could destroy a building while fighting?" 
Minseok snickered as he caught your stumble and helped steady your stance. His hand lingered at your waist until your sharpened glare made him remove it. "We haven’t crumbled a wall in a few years."
You scoffed at the casual tone. "What sort of fight caused that?" 
"I can't remember." Minseok leaned forward slightly to look at Jongdae for help. But he didn't seem to recall either. 
"Who knows what started it between Chanyeol and Kyungsoo.”
Your mouth dropped open in shock. Kyungsoo and Chanyeol had fought over something to the point of destroying a wall to crumble? It didn't feel plausible. Neither seemed like the hot-headed sort. You wanted to know the igniting incident so desperately. 
Both Jongdae and Minseok suddenly whipped their heads towards the front of the manor. 
"What is it?" you asked when neither offered an explanation. 
"Junmyeon's calling for us." Jongdae scooped you up into his arms without warning. At your confused expression, he explained, "We're not leaving you alone out here." Remember your last adventure in the woods lingered in the silence.
The short lived wind whipped at your hair that you still wore loose to cover your neck. As soon as he stopped running, you wiggled out of his arms to be back on your feet. Everyone else was already gathered just outside the door. Several eyed you and Jongdae with suspicious and annoyed glares. You took a step away from him for some separation. 
Clearing his throat, Junmyeon called everyone to attention. "We have to go hunting–real hunting. Now, normally, we all go together, but now that we have our guest," he nodded towards you, "some will have to stay behind with her until the first party… comes back." 
"If you all need to go,” you couldn't quite speak the word feed, "then I'll be alright. For a few hours, at least." You weren't sure how long this excursion would take.
Junmyeon's features softened. "No. We'll go in groups. Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, Minseok and I will go first. We shouldn't be gone long." He reached out and patted the top of your head before disappearing into the trees. Kyungsoo gave no goodbye as he followed suit. The last two playfully shoved each other while taking off. 
"Come." Yixing took hold of your hand and started pulling you inside. "I want to show you something."
"But–" You had wanted to ask Jongdae a question, but the traitor was already gone, off somewhere to do something he would never tell you about. So, you let Yixing take you into the manor and up the main staircase at the end of the hallway. At least he let you stay on your own feet instead of insisting on going at his speed. 
Going down an unfamiliar hallway, you were reminded how big this place was and how much you still had to explore. The men occupied most of your time, vying for your attention and pulling you this way and that so you didn’t have much time on your own. It was odd and overwhelming at times. 
During your seasons in town, you were hardly a well-sought after prize. There were prettier girls with grander dowries. You had accepted that fact. Now you were the center of a courting dance to which you knew none of the steps and possessed endless partners. 
Yixing paused in front of a door that looked identical to all the others. He kept his fingers tight around yours as he slowly turned the knob with his free hand. The door swung open. 
The gasp inhaled through your parted lips wasn't enough to convey your awe. 
Maps of all the places you'd heard of and dozens more you hadn't covered the walls like homemade wallpaper. Slipping out of Yixing's grip, you walked further into the study, spinning slowly around to take it all in. The maps were varying degrees of tan, some as light as his skin, others as dark as animal leather. 
Instead of bookshelves, doorless cabinets waist high lined three of the walls. Their squared shelves were stuffed full of parchment and ink and quills. A lone sketcher's desk sat in the middle, an unfinished drawing laying against the tilted surface. 
"What is this place?"
"It's my personal study," Yixing answered as he laid a hand on the edge of the desk. "Kyungsoo gave it to me after I had accidentally taken over one of the parlors." 
Your awe increased ten-fold. Your initial assumption was that he was a collector, not the original artist. "You drew all of these?" 
He nodded almost... shyly. "I did. I was a cartographer. Before." 
"Before?" You understood what he meant, but you didn't know how to ask for the story. 
Turning his eyes to the parchment, he pinched it between his fingers. "I didn't just love traveling. I loved capturing it on paper. I wanted to make these places into art, but not like every other painting. I wanted them to be perfect. Exact replicas as if you were staying at them from God’s point of view. And I wanted to be the best. I couldn't be, though. I wasn’t good enough." 
You moved closer to him, entranced in the story. "What happened?"
A rueful smile tightened at his lips. "I was given a chance to become perfect. What I didn't know was that I traded everyone knowing my maps for the talent to make it happen." Sorrow rolled from him like the tide warning of an oncoming storm. 
Feeling the pull to comfort him, you reached out and covered his fidgeting hand with your own steady fingers.
"People will be able to know your work some day," you whispered. "I’m sure of it." 
Perhaps you had been a bit too forward, a bit too open. 
Yixing moved gracefully forward to eliminate most of the space between you. A smooth thumb that once must have been calloused when it was human caressed the edge of your jaw. His flickering eyes made intentions obvious. 
Clearing your throat, you stepped out of the touch. "Why isn't this one finished?" You pointed to the drawing on the desk. It was an aerial view of the manor, with the top half of the parchment containing the beginning edges of the garden hedges. Disappointed, Yixing sighed and went along with your distraction. 
"I'm still working out the maze. It is intricate. Much more than I was prepared for." 
"Goodness." You were thankful that you hadn't wandered in there yet, especially on your own.
"Yixing.” 
Both of you turned towards the door to find Sehun standing under the frame. 
"Yes, Sehun?" Yixing said through somewhat gritted teeth. The young vampire wasn't phased. 
"I need to speak with you." 
"Fine." None of you moved. 
Sehun looked at you with a pointed glare.
You received the hint loud and clear. "I'll leave you, then.” 
With more relief than you cared to admit, you scurried out of the room and down the hallway. 
Around the corner, you pressed your back against the wall and forced yourself to take deep breaths that filled your lungs to capacity. Panic had been the response at Yixing's closeness. You didn't mean for that to be the response. You didn't want to be closed off to any of them. But you couldn't help it. Maybe it was merely the closeness of the situation. 
Giving yourself a small amount of grace, you pushed off the wall and made your way downstairs. So used to your time being absorbed by the men that you weren't sure what to do with yourself. Two of the ones that remained behind were currently occupied. As for the three others, they could have been anywhere. 
You wandered around the main floor with a fleeting hope that one would come to find you. Then you saw them. A row of grand doors evenly spaced along the north wall called you forward.
The grand ballroom took your breath away. Not so dissimilar to the one in your dream, though this one’s lack of warmth and light left you heartbroken. Memories of dancing figures and lively music haunted these walls. In the corner, you could imagine a small orchestra strumming their instruments in delight. 
You walked to the center where dozens of pairs used to twirl and bow and embrace each other in time with the melody. Ghostly laughter echoed in your ears. What had once been  bright and golden and full of life was dull, dark, and covered in cobwebs that swayed in the breeze of unknown origin. 
Glancing around, you confirmed that you were truly alone before closing your eyes, lifting your arms, and began a soft hum. 
You danced with an invisible partner in the fashion that your grandfather had taught you as a small child. It was more intimate than the choreographed dances currently popularized. You had always imagined your first ball like this, instead of the disappointment you really experienced. You had pictured a boy you didn’t know catching your eye. As the music was struck up, he laid a hand on your waist.
Just like now. 
Hm. Your imagination was running wild, even pretending the weight of a palm was there on your lower back. And now in your lifted left hand. 
No. That wasn’t your imagination. 
Your eyes snapped open. 
Jongin had taken the place of your imagined partner. He smiled down at you with a feline smirk as his hands tightened around you, refusing to let you slip away. There was no choice in leaving this musicless dance. You had stopped humming but he continued to whirl you around the marble floor. He controlled the dance, in charge of every step. He led with an expertise he shouldn’t have possessed–if he were a man of this age. 
In one final move, he slipped his arm fully around your waist, pulling you so close that no room remained between you. Without breaking the spin, he lifted you from the floor as if you were no more than a kitten and whirled you around like the heroine from your favorite novel.
When the spin came to a close, he set you back on your feet, but didn’t let go. Your lungs heaved from the exercise–and from the way your bodies pressed together. Each rise of your chest brought you even closer to Jongin. He kept your gaze like a stablehand trying to calm a wild horse. His right hand slipped from your fingers, softly tracing the delicate inside of your arm. The touch left behind a fire you couldn’t explain. A cold, simmering fire.
He cupped your jaw as his eyes drifted down to your lips. This was a different reaction to Yixing’s wandering gaze. Not panic, but something similar. 
Jongin held you in place as he leaned down, his lips pressing gently into the corner of yours. The thin breath in your lungs hitched. He lifted his lips only to find a new patch of skin. The delicate skin covering your pulse. Every muscle in your body froze. He kissed the skin softly. Surely, he could feel the race of your blood. 
“Whenever you need a partner,” he said in a hush against your neck, “just whisper my name.”
And then, he was gone. 
You stared off at the empty path left behind Jongin. The sheer hubris.
His name lingered on your lips, wondering if he would really come back like he said. But you kept the whisper inside and left the ballroom just the same. 
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