#PLEASE GIVE ME FEEDBACK LIKE. I NORMALLY DON'T ASK BUT

[dailynnt]

ONE NIGHT AS THE PRICE OF A REQUEST

⋆˙⟡ Summary: You hate your neighbor Jungkook, but you have to ask him to pretend to be your boyfriend at a party to get rid of your annoying boss. He agrees, but you don't even imagine what you'll have to pay him with. Everything goes according to plan until Jungkook reveals his true price during the dance: one night with him or your life in the neighborhood will be hell.

⋆˙⟡ Couple: Jeon Jungkook/ The Reader, Jungkook/Y/N

⋆˙⟡ Age restrictions: 18+

⋆˙⟡ Index of chapters: ≣

⋆˙⟡ Number of chapter: 16/?

⋆˙⟡ Tags: enemies-to-neighbors-to-lover, fake relationship, hate to desire, dom!Jungkook, heated blackmail, one bed trope (later more than one bed), undeniable chemistry, forced deal, mutual obsession, dangerous game, unexpected feelings, passion on edge, impossible to resist, tension and desire, unprotected sex, sexual tension, slow burning

⋆˙⟡ From author: My dear Army, hi 🥰🥺 I wrote a new chapter to you and I want to say it turned out to be emotional 🥺 I was writing it and thinking all the time, did I was not cruel to my heroine, but then I thought she has to go through pain to get her biggest reward in the future 🥹🙏🏻 I even cried at the end 😭😄 Tell me, is it normal for an author to cry from her own work? 🤭 So I look forward to your feedback! You know I'm really looking forward to them and appreciate every comment 😭💘 Enjoy ✨🥰

⋆˙⟡ Dedication: to my biggest love @kelsyx33, @curse-of-art, @kooko009, @someoneelse0109, @smokinghotstargirl, @myjungkookthighs, @mskookie, @minimoninini, @medstudentlifestyle for loving me for nothing. I love you girls twice as much 🥺🤭💜🫶🏻

⋆˙⟡ Tag list: @kelsyx33, @curse-of-art, @kooko009, @someoneelse0109, @smokinghotstargirl, @myjungkookthighs, @mskookie, @minimoninini, @medstudentlifestyle, @bhonbhon, @ottergirl, @vantelover1306, @deepikhaprakash, @mar-lo-pap, @zeytiable, @lallataegi, @vintagemoonsstuff, @indigomoonchild09, @diame93, @bts-ruu, @asyr97, @taeloversblog, @songbyeonkim, @miniruuu, @hubbytaehyung, @queen1599, @goldenboysmuse , @nikkinikj, @kookiesncreamri, @guwol, @unholyforjk, @hisdecalcomania17, @kooklovee (If you want to be on the tag list, let me know)

⋆˙⟡ Warning: English is not my native language, so please be lenient with mistakes in the text 🥹

Chapter 16. Fate, which mocks

You couldn't relax. Jungkook who just finished talking on the phone, sat to your left, leaning back. One of his hands confidently held the leather steering wheel, the other rested calmly on the gear lever.

You stole glances at him several times a minute. He looked calm, even a little thoughtful, while your mind was raging. As soon as you thought back to the morning's events-the way his fingers had squeezed your breasts, the way the belt had whipped your buttocks, the way his voice had murmured low in your ear-you felt the familiar throbbing between your thighs.

You clenched your knees.

"God. Think of something else. Anything."

You turned your gaze to the window, trying to calm down, looking at the stream of cars that crawled along the road with his black Mercedes. It was Sunday morning, but Seoul is always crowded, always bustling.

You didn't notice Jungkook give you a brief but intense glance. His eyes slid over your image - a tight cream skirt, a white blouse, fingers tightly clutching the strap of your bag, and those lips of yours that you kept biting.

He sighed slightly and gripped the steering wheel tighter. His thoughts were far from innocent. He still felt like he had the taste of your skin on his tongue.

"You look like you're on your way to confess to high treason," Jungkook joked quietly, slyly peering out from under his eyelashes. You turned your head sharply at him when you heard his voice.

"I... um..." you trailed off. In fact, you were more worried about the morning's sex than about the work itself. Though the thought of going back to work after all that was really scary. "I'm a little... nervous," you said, looking down and fixing your hair. "I feel like I haven't been to work in forever."

"You don't have to worry, you're good at your job and you'll do even better this time," he said gently. "So relax. Don't look like you've killed someone... or done something much worse."

Your face instantly flushed.

"Don't start," you muttered.

"Don't start what?" Jungkook replied with feigned innocence, but there was a familiar sparkle in his eyes. "I didn't say anything at all."

"But you thought!" you complained, swallowing a wave of new memories of how well he had done you this morning. You glanced down at his lips and looked back up at the road.

"How can I not think about you?" he asked rhetorically. You cleared your throat, trying to calm the chaos inside you.

"Like thinking, only the other way around," you said seriously. Jungkook laughed softly. Luckily for you, he got a call and for most of the rest of the trip, you drove listening to him another talk business.

When you reached the ʼEON Creativeʼ headquarters, Jungkook slowed down smoothly, stopping at the entrance. You clutched your purse.

"Thank you for the ride..." you said gratefully, but before you could finish your sentence, Jungkook leaned over the armrest and got close to your face.

"Will I see you tonight?" he asked in a low purring tone. You froze, looking at his lips.

"Why?" you said, frightened. It was automatic. It was just... you weren't expecting such a question.

"What do you mean ‘why’?" Jungkook wondered. "I think we have unfinished business." His fingers touched your cheek. He leaned closer and you automatically closed your eyes. But instead of a kiss, there was only the touch of his nose on your cheekbone, his breath tickling your skin Jungkook's lips gently touched your cheekbone, moving up to your ear. "I have more to show you."

"Jungkook," you called, protesting slightly. He pulled away from your ear, looking into your eyes.

"What did I asked you to call me?" his voice was low, deep. Not angry. No. But slightly possessive, demanding. You reflexively squeezed his hand harder, and he felt it.

"Kook," you corrected yourself, quickly. He looked at you for a moment, and that was enough for you to see his eyes soften. He didn't let you say anything else, because in the next moment he pressed his lips to yours in a full, hot kiss. His tongue entered your mouth easily, and you surrendered. It was sweet. And... too good.

You even forgot that you had to go, you were probably late already. But no matter, for some reason his lips were more important.

Jungkook put his hand on your knee, and without hesitation, he slid his hand under your skirt. He slowly raised his hand up your thigh. You should have stopped him... but you couldn't.

"Kook, stop," you mutter, forcing your lips away from his. He doesn't let you rest and continues kissing you, his hand already reaching your underwear. His fingers gently touch your aroused center and you squeeze his shoulders with your fingers.

"It's almost impossible," Jungkook says as he pulls away from your lips. He goes down to your neck, inhaling your sweet scent. He massages your clit without letting himself push back the fabric of your thong. Because if he did, he would have to fuck you for the second time this morning.

Your brain is frozen, but your body is on fire.

"I'm going to be late," you breathed out, giving him better access to your neck.

Jungkook's lips lifted to yours and you opened your eyes, breathing deeply, excited.

"Do you want me to fuck you now?" he asks seriously. You are dumbfounded. He can't be serious! Not this soon. You seem to be crazy about each other. Why do you two, want to fuck every free minute?

"Kook, I'm really late..." you said in desperation. Jungkook pushed your underwear aside and touched your wet clit. You were soaked and it was no surprise to him. His cock is also hardened. But he's late for the meeting, too. No matter how much Jungkook wants to fuck you, he has to hold back. But to tease you, to get you excited so that you'll come back tonight just to finish the that you two started - that's his real intention.

You bit your lip, holding your breath as his fingers touched your clit. Jungkook's handsome face is just centimeters away and you can't stand that hungry look. You close your eyes again.

"Answer the question," Jungkook whispers against your lips. His middle finger penetrates you. You squeezed your shoulders and moaned softly. At the same time, his other finger pressed on your clit. He's teased you and now you really want to.

"Yes," you say barely.

"Say it clearly," he demands, his voice fogging your mind as his fingers move deeper.

"Yes, Kook. I want you to fuck me now," you say more clearly. You open your eyes and see his sly look and sly smile, and for some reason you don't like it. He speeds up his movements inside you, and on your clit too. You can feel your orgasm coming.

Jungkook kisses you, deeply, a little roughly, and you come on his finger, squeezing his palm between your legs. You moan into his mouth, and when the peak of pleasure passes, he releases your lips.

Jungkook pulls his palm out from under your skirt and licks his fingers defiantly. Your cheeks are red, and your hair is a little disheveled. He gently adjusts your skirt and then your blouse.

He kisses you briefly on the lips.

"Pervert..." he whispered barely audibly against your lips. You smiled, it was both so embarrassing and so funny to hear him say that word.

"You... aren't exactly 'normal' either," you whispered back, and his smile grew wider.

"I know."

Jungkook let go of you. You looked in the mirror, checking to see if you could see your recent satisfaction. Your hair was a mess. You decided to let your hair down, it would look neater. Your lips were still swollen. But you had already pulled yourself together.

Your gaze slid down and you saw the fabric of his jeans stretched in obvious arousal. But he feigned calm. You smiled.

"Can you handle it?" you couldn't help but ask mockingly, glancing at his crotch.

"Don't worry, I'll calm down soon," he said with a sly smile. You pressed your lips together, nodding your head as if to agree with his statement.

"Okay, thanks for the ride. And for the wet underwear," you fixed your hair again, finally opened the car door and got out. Jungkook leaned over the armrest, throwing a look at your back.

"So you're coming tonight?" he said hopefully. He was more than sure that you would say yes.

"You are so insatiable. Give me a break," you said, faking indignation. Jungkook laughed.

"If you don't come to me, I'll come to you myself." he said. You threw your purse over your shoulder, and felt the wetness between your legs and the echoes of your orgasm.

"I won't open the door for you," you teased.

"Than I'll know your pin code, it won't be a problem for me, you know that."

You gasped in surprise, but you weren't angry or protesting. You smiled to show that it was all a joke.

"You're so persistent," you said. Jungkook smiled again, tongue touching the piercing in his lip.

"I know that's your favorite thing about me."

You barked out a laugh.

"Maybe it's also the thing I hate most about you. Bye." You said and walked away. Jungkook watched your back, not wanting to let you out of his sight until the last moment.

The elevator doors closed with a soft chime, and you tried to focus. But your mind kept clinging to what Jungkook had called you as he left.

"Pervert..."

You pressed your fingers to the bridge of your nose, unable to stop smiling. Trying to calm yourself down. This man is really a bad influence on you. He also takes up too much space in your thoughts. You exhaled sharply and blinked a few times, thinking that this would make the thoughts of Jungkook disappear.

The elevator stopped at the top floor. You took a breath, stepped out onto the company floor, and walked confidently down the corridor. Greetings with colleagues were dry and distant.

No one asked how you were doing. And no one was happy to your return, except for Jisu, who immediately threw herself into your arms. You felt every eye that was directed at you. It was as if you were a random person here.

"Y/N, go to the conference room. They are waiting for you there," Jisu said. You nodded gratefully and left.

The meeting room was half empty, but the atmosphere was tense.

Kang Yongwon was sitting at the table, with a young man and a girl next to him. They both immediately looked up at you, and there was nothing but undisguised interest in their eyes. As if you had just been laid out on a plate.

"You're finally here," Yongwon smiled showing his feigned joy, and he nodded his hand to a chair, inviting you to sit down.

"Greeting," you bowed, and walked over to the table, listening to your own heartbeat. You quickly glanced in the direction of the boss and noticed that he was looking you over from head to toe, lingering on the neckline of your blouse and your legs. That look made you feel terribly. Just like before. The disgusting feeling is so familiar.

Nothing has changed.

"This is Seo Yuna and Min Jaehwan. They'll be working with you on the project," he said getting straight to business. His voice became serious and his gaze piercing. "Han Y/N-shi, I chose them to be a good support for you. Your task will be to tell them everything. Starting from the stage when the first idea appeared. So that they better understand where and how you need help."

You blinked. You glanced quickly at the people you were about to work with and felt tension fill every cell in your body.

"Excuse me... what about Jisu? We've always worked together... I thought she would be on the team..."

"She's involved in another important project," Yongwon explained coldly. "And these two are with you now. They'll be fine for you."

Yuna smiled, tilting her head.

"It's nice to meet you. I just recently joined the company." She held out her hand to you. You hesitated for a moment and then gently shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you," you squeezed out of yourself.

Jaehwan was the next to shake your hands.

"The honor is mine. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to meet you before. But I've heard a lot of... good things." He stuttered after the word "a lot," and you barely stopped yourself from cringing. You imagined he had heard "good things" about you.

Great. You don't know them. Absolutely not.

You, your team, and your boss sat around for a while organizing the work. You shared the main details of the project, but that's it. For the next three days, you have a lot of work to do with these two people, so you have to focus and do a good job.

You walked out of the meeting room and noticed that Yuna followed your boss into his office. It didn't seem strange, maybe they were having a conversation or he had some work for her.

But knowing how weak your boss is in front of beautiful women and in the eternal search for Miss Kang, you doubted it. You're lucky if his focus shifts away from you, so you can work in the company in peace when you return.

You were met by Jisu and you went to lunch together in the cafe on the first floor of the company. Your friend asked you unceremoniously about Jungkook and whether you had made a make up with him. You awkwardly answered yes. She demanded more details, but you joked that little girls like her shouldn't know. And Jisu exploded. She started to pester you until you told her some of the truth about the night before, but not much else.

After lunch with Jisu, you ordered a taxi and went home. You went about your daily routine, putting away the laundry, wiping down the table, and going through the mail. You called your grandmother and talked to her. Fortunately, she was doing well. You told her that you were going to participate in a prestigious competition to present your project, and she was very happy for you.

Then you sat down at laptop again, to prepared some files for tomorrow.

Almost a day passed like that. And the closer it got to evening, the more you thought about Jungkook. His request to come over in the evening because "you had unfinished business" made your insides tremble. You glanced at your phone. The screen was black.

What should you do? Should you wait for him to text or just go to him yourself? But then he'd think you were a real pervert who hadn't had enough in the morning. You sighed and lightly massaged your temples with your fingers, trying to calm your thoughts.

"No. I'm not going to see him. We... we have sex all the time. If it goes on like this, I'll fall in love. And then that's it. Another pain in the ass. No. Thank you."

But the memories treacherously made you remember moment. The morning. His voice, the promise to explore your darkest desires... and suddenly, memory threw up one very specific detail.

A conversation. He wanted to talk about something, even before he handcuffed you. You intended to ask about the conversation in the car. But there was no right moment. Jungkook kept talking on the phone, and then... he finger fuck you.

You need to know what he wanted to discuss. You grabbed the phone, mentally reassuring yourself that this was not another opportunity to be with him.

📱 8:22 p.m. | You: "Are you home?"

You wrote briefly. Jungkook read it in less than half a minute. The number ‘2’ appeared next to your message.

📲 8.22 p.m. | Jungkook: "Yes. I've been waiting for you for ages here 😏"

You couldn't hold back a smile. Warmth swept through your body and settled somewhere in the pit of your stomach. Butterflies. They are here again.

But he wasn't waiting for a conversation. And to cool things down a bit, you quickly dialed another one:

📱 8.23. p. m. | You: "You wanted to talk to me in the morning. We never did. Was it an important conversation or can it wait until we see each other? Or you can write me here."

You looked at the screen nervously. Your pride made you look reserved: you weren't running to him, just looking for an explanation. But inside... you wanted him to say: "Come."

Animated dots appeared on the screen.

📲 8.24 p.m. Jungkook: "Of course this is an important conversation. And it can't wait until tomorrow. Come to me, or... if you want, I'll come to you?"

Your heart fluttered. You smiled, happy that he had lived up to your expectations.

Your fingers hit the sensor, typing a message to him.

📱 8.24 p.m. | You: "I'll come to you in 20 minutes. I have to finish work,"

You lied so that you would have time to shower and look perfect.

📲 8.24 p.m. | Jungkook: "I'll wait. Did you have dinner? Should I order something?"

You look at the screen, biting your lip. Your eyes are shining and you can't stop smiling. It looks like you have a date. But you recover in time to write the next message.

📱 8.25 p.m. | You: "No. I'm not hungry. I'll come over and we'll just talk."

Jungkook doesn't respond for about a minute, and then you get his last message.

📲 8.25 p.m. | Jungkook: "Hurry up, kitten. I really want to talk to you."

You turned off the screen. Butterflies stirred in your stomach again. But you knew he not just wanted to talk to you, he wants more than just that. And you didn't mind.

Going to the bathroom, you quickly took a shower. Then you gently smeared a delicate cream with coconut and almonds on your body - the scent was light, barely perceptible, but it beckoned to touch.

You put on soft cotton pants, a white top, and a loose shirt. It seemed like nothing special. But underneath the clothes was a thin cream-colored lace underwear that gave you confidence and hidden temptation.

Taking one last look in the mirror, you picked up the phone and went out into the hallway. The door to Jungkook's apartment was immediately in your field of vision. You approached it slowly. You stopped at the door. Your heart was pounding. Taking a deep breath, you pressed the doorbell button.

The door opened almost instantly, and you froze - he was standing there in wide black sweatpants, wearing a white oversized T-shirt, but his silky, slightly disheveled hair and relaxed look made him illegally attractive, even in his homey look.

You wanted to make a move to go in, but you felt Jungkook grab your wrist and pull you inside. His lips instantly captured yours. The door closed behind you somewhere in the background, but you didn't notice it.

Your body was between it and the wall. His tongue persistently explored every inch of yours, and for a moment you forgot why you had come at all. You put your hands on his chest, feeling him squeeze your buttocks, holding you close as he could.

You tried to turn your head to the side, to push him away a little, but Jungkook didn't even think to stop. His arms held you steady. Jungkook's kiss was hot, greedy, too sincere not to make you want to respond. But you forced yourself to pull away.

"Kook..." you breathed out under your breath, trying not to give in to the wave of desire. "We... that's not why... I didn't come here..."

"Then why?" he murmured, leaning down to your lips again. "If not for that, then why do you smell like that... why do you look like that... and why is your heart beating like crazy?" his voice was low, husky, and impossibly seductive.

"Oh, God," you breathed out. When he touched his lips to your earlobe. Your legs refused to hold you. You need to get away from him, otherwise you'll never talk. "Talk first, then everything else," you thought. "The conversation. You said it was important."

Jungkook pulled away from your sweet skin and looked into your eyes.

"Conversation..." he grumbled and touched your lips again, briefly, softly, as if he couldn't help himself. "But how can we talk when you're standing in front of me like this? How am I supposed to think when all day long I've been imagining you coming to me like this, and for another reason..."

"Jungkook!" you grabbed him sharply by the front folds of his T-shirt, finally pulling out of his arms. You removed his hands and stepped away. He looked at you, taking a deep breath, as if trying to collect himself. "We have to talk," you said again, more confidently. "If you really wanted me to know something important, let's get down to business. I didn't come here for sex."

Jungkook was silent for a few seconds, looking into your eyes. His gaze became serious, and you could read the tension in it. He sighed in frustration and walked toward the bar. You watch him, arms crossed over your chest.

Jungkook took two beers, placed one on the table next to the couch, and opened the other immediately.

"You want one?" he offered softly. You looked at him, evaluating his offer, and decided to drink. You didn't know what the conversation would be like or about, so alcohol might ease the growing excitement inside you.

You took a can of beer and sat down next to him. You were silent, watching him as he opened the can for himself and took a few sips.

"How is your halmoni doing?" he suddenly asked. You froze with the can of beer at your lips. You took a slow sip and answered.

"She's fine, why do you ask about her?"

A slight smile touched his lips. You raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I just want to know how she is. I haven't asked you about her since. Since we came back from Busan."

You raised your eyebrows and took a sip of your beer.

"She's fine," you say shortly, again. When Jungkook doesn't say anything, you look up at him. He looks thoughtful.

"And how is your mother? Has she called you since?" he asks another question.

You think about it for a moment and realize that your mother hasn't really called you since then, and your grandmother hasn't mentioned her either.

"No, she hasn't called anymore," you say. Your eyes narrow and you look suspiciously at Jungkook, who takes another sip of beer. "You didn’t touch her, did you?" you ask. Jungkook freezes for a split second, but you catch that micro-movement.

"No, I didn't do anything," he says confidently, but he doesn't look you in the eye.

"Look me in the eye and tell me the same thing," you demanded.

Jungkook slowly turned his gaze to you. His dark eyes momentarily revealed something-a shadow of emotion, a memory, or a reproach to himself. But in a second, it disappeared, and a familiar mask of calm appeared on his face.

"I didn't touch her," he repeated in a steady tone. "I promise."

You stared at him, trying to figure out if you could believe his words. But Jungkook, as always, was opaque. Just like when it was easy for him to hide who he really was.

You kept your eyes on him for a moment longer and then nodded.

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Jungkook turned away and took another sip of beer. But there was a memory in his head that he didn't want to say out loud.

This morning when he was jogging, he was talking to Manager Lee. They discussed the fact that you were illegitimate Kang Tehwon's daughter and Manager Lee assured him that he had checked the information well and that it was definitely true. Jungkook was shocked by the news. He couldn't believe it and had to ask you personally what you knew about your father.

Jungkook remembered what your mother had said when she came to your grandmother's house:

"You found yourself a rich man... He will leave you as soon as he gets tired of you. Just like your father did to me..."

So far, everything was coming together. Jungkook also mentioned that he had promised you that your mother would give you back everything she had taken from your grandmother. This woman, who had no right to be called your mother, should pay for her years of terror.

Jungkook ordered the manager:

"Check if Y/N’s mother has debts. If so, then find those who are keeping her in debt. And pay them off. But do it not on my behalf, but on hers, but she must not know anything."

"You mean secretly?" the manager clarified. Jungkook nodded his head, but Lee didn't see it, so he said it out loud.

"That's right. I want this woman to think that she paid everything herself. I want her to think that she's pulled that money out of her own flesh and blood. I want her to lose everything and to be left with nothing."

"I see. How much do you want to spend on this?" the manager's voice was as serious as ever.

"Up to five million won. If it's more than that, I'll need a separate report." Jungkook sighed as he stopped in front of the front door of the multi-storey building where he lived.

"Okay," Lee said shortly.

"One more thing. Have her literally sell everything she has: her clothes, her furniture, her house. You can even simulate pressure from the 'creditors'. But she must believe that this is her own 'success'. When she pays off everything, find her a job with housing in another city and send her there. If she starts drinking there, it will be her problem. The money received from Y/N's mother, put on deposited to grandmother's account. Find it out through the hospital where she was treated." Jungkook was silent for a moment, raised his head and looked up at upstairs of the house, "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Jungkook-nim, I understand, I'm already looking for people for your plan."

"Good, keep me posted. Also, find out Y/N's account number. She needs to deposit 7 million won into the account."

"Transfer 7 million through your personal account?" asked Lee, immediately thinking correctly.

"Yes. So that my father doesn't see the money." confirmed Jungkook.

"Why are you interested in her and halmoni? It's suspicious," you say, making your assumptions.

"I'm just curious about your family, is that bad?" Jungkook sat down deeper, turning to face you. You looked at him sideways.

"My mother is not part of my family." you said, looking down. Your voice suddenly became lower, calmer, but painfully sincere. "We've always had a... bad relationship. You could see that back in Busan."

Jungkook noticed the change in your voice and it tightened his chest.

"Why is your relationship like that?"

You put down your beer and sat down deeper on the couch. You pulled your legs under you, wrapping your arms around them.

"She..." you hummed, "she hated me. And I probably hated her too. She was always drinking. Always. Drunk is my only memory of her from childhood. Angry. Cold. And indifferent." Your voice trembled, but you continued, "My mother... never wanted me. I don't remember her hugging me once. And I never felt like I had a mom. My mom is my halmoni. And that woman... is just the woman who gave birth to me."

Jungkook was watching you closely, not missing a single word or emotion. It hurt him that you had such a terrible mother and had to go through this as a child.

"Who was she? Why did she started drinking?" Jungkook asked cautiously. You turned your head to him and he saw your eyes glistening with pain.

"I don't know why she started drinking. Halmoni said she was a model. She was very famous. When I found out, I even looked for her in old magazines. And I found her. She was beautiful. Very beautiful. And this... only hurt more. Because I looked at her picture and I couldn't believe that this woman... this woman... had yelled at me, hit me, called me names."

"She hit you?" Jungkook asked, his eyebrows raised. His jaw clenched unconsciously. How can you hit a little girl?

"Yes," you smiled sadly. You told Jungkook everything, not wanting to hide a drop of truth from him. It was the first time you had ever been asked about your family like that, and he didn't look at you with disgust or pity. On the contrary, you saw indignation in Jungkook's eyes. "It happened a lot. I don't know if she beat me when I was very young, but it happened. Because of her work, my grandmother rarely visited me. She didn't know how my mother treated me, and I was afraid to tell her. When my grandmother found out, she took me away immediately. Me were about 12, that my grandmother took me in, and I've lived with her ever since."

"Why did she beat you?" Jungkook asked again.

"For different reasons. But mostly when I talked about my father. Especially when I wanted to know who he was."

"So did she tell you who he was?"

"No. I still don't know who that man is. My grandmother never told me either. And now I'm not interested. Although my mother often said that I resemble him. But how can I understand in what way? I never knew, who he really was" your voice trembled. You went through all those memories again and it hurt. You were silent for a moment, and then you remembered. "One day she beat me so badly that I couldn't go to school because the bruises on my face were so big. I didn't want my classmates to tease me because they all knew my mother was drinking."

It was hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall from your eyes. Hot tears broke off rolled down your shocks as you closed your eyes to catch your breath. You hadn't planned to cry in front of Jungkook, but he had touched the deepest and most painful strings of your soul.

Suddenly, you felt him sit down and hug you. And you could not hold back. You cried, releasing the pain you had been holding for many years. And no matter how many times you cried, it didn't make it go away.

You clung to his chest, crying softly, and you were grateful that he was there for you when you were not strong.

You don't know how much time passed, but you were in Jungkook's arms for a long time. You calmed down and didn't cry anymore, just felt the warmth of his hand stroking your waist. You wiped your wet cheeks with your hand and looked up, not moving away from his chest.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" you remembered that instead of talking about your parents, you were supposed to talk to him. Jungkook tilted his head down to look at you. "Is it about the deal?" you asked, sniffling.

But there was no answer. Jungkook leaned down and kissed you. Gently, cautiously, as if he wanted to calm you down even more. You immediately responded to his kiss, realizing that you needed it now. You really needed him. Because when you are with him, you don't think about anything.

You laughed in your mind. It's Jungkook. The same Jungkook you couldn't stand a month ago, and now you need him more than anyone else in the world. What's wrong with you? You haven't fallen in love with him, have you?

This question, which you mentally threw to yourself, remained unanswered. You didn't even have time to formulate it, because Jungkook, as if he sensed that something had changed in you, deepened the kiss. And you drowned in it.

It was not a kiss of desire, not a kiss of habit. It was... deep. Slow. Soft. There was no rush, only care and warmth. He kissed you as if he was apologizing for all the pain of your childhood. For every insult, for every scar you didn't deserve.

Jungkook parted your lips and you slowly opened your eyes. You looked at each other as if you were talking in your minds. You said "Thank you" to him and heard him say "I'll be there for you." You wanted his closeness. It seemed to you that he was the only one who could take away your pain. You pulled him to you and kissed him.

Your lips connected and Jungkook could taste the saltiness of your tears. He didn't want you to cry. He never wanted to see you cry again. He did the right thing by your mother, and after what you told him, he thought he was even soft on her. He wants to protect you from everyone, to erase all your pain. To destroy everyone who has ever hurt you.

The kiss turned from gentle and grateful to passionate and exciting. Jungkook deepened the kiss, wanting to show you that he needed you. You responded with no less passion, showing that you needed him too.

Without breaking the kiss, you climbed onto his lap and sat on top of him. Jungkook put his palms on your waist, and without staying there for long, he put his hands on your buttocks. He squeezed them, pressing you closer to his crotch and you could feel how hard he was.

You felt how hard he was, and you couldn't help but move on him, wanting more. Your pussy was wet between your legs, your clit throbbing with desire.

Jungkook moaned against your lips and responded by moving his hips. His arms held you down until your bodies were one without even taking off your clothes.

Your hips slid back and forth, and you sighed softly as you felt his body respond to your every move. Jungkook squeezed your flesh, trying to keep control.

"Let me have you..." he whispered, leaning down slightly to look into your eyes. His voice sounded hoarse, almost broken, as if this desire was burning him up inside.

He pulled off your shirt. It fell somewhere near his feet. Following the shirt, he took off your top, exposing your breasts.

Jungkook touched one of your breasts with his lips and kissed it gently, without the usual lust. It was incredibly pleasant, so intimate as never before. Usually your sex is crazy and rough. But now it was different.

He let go of your nipple and kissed you between your breasts, slowly moving up to your neck. He left almost no place unkissed.

You pulled away, stopping him. Your hand reached for the edge of his T-shirt, and Jungkook silently raised his hands, letting you take it off. His torso was hot, tense, and you couldn't help but run your fingers over it.

Your fingers touched his beautiful body, as if to explore it anew. You touched his tattoos, which had always attracted your attention. After, you touched his shoulder with your lips. You kissed his forearm, then the place between his neck and shoulder. You climbed up your lips at his neck and felt his breath catch. You moved next to his jaw, to his chin, and finally found his lips.

You kissed him first and couldn't get enough of his closeness. It was as if you were in heaven. You hid from all your problems and felt calm.

You were the first to pull away from his lips and smiled when you saw his eyes closed. Jungkook opened them, looking at you as if he were seeing you for the first time. His gaze was almost reverent.

"You are so beautiful," he said softly, touching your face. You leaned against his palm, touching the inside of it with your lips. Jungkook's heart fluttered.

Fuck. This must be it. He's fallen in love.

Jungkook grabbed you by the waist and stood up. You barely managed to grab him your hands, clinging to his waist with your legs. He held you tightly, not giving you any hint that you might fall.

Without a word, he carried you to the bedroom. He laid you gently on the bed as if you were made of porcelain. Jungkook slowly took off your cotton pants. He saw the lace underwear and for the first time smiled slyly, as you were used to seeing him during your sex.

"So you wore that lace to come simple talk to me," he grabbed the edge of the thong and pulled it down, slowly, almost mockingly.

You were breathing fast, but a smile appeared on your lips, which meant that you were caught.

"Do you think that if I wore regular underwear, it would prove that I didn't prepare for sex?"

Jungkook laughed softly. He pulled off your thong and threw it into your pants. He took off his sweatpants in one quick movement, and you gasped silently.

There was no underwear underneath. His cock was aroused, hard, straight. You turned your stormy gaze to Jungkook. He had already climbed onto the bed and was approaching you with a sly smile.

When his body touched yours, you felt his warmth. His weight pressed you pleasantly against the bed. You opened your legs, letting him get comfortable between them.

Jungkook put his arms under yours so you could hug him. He came closer and kissed you, more eagerly, but not with the usual hunger.

"I think you've been preparing," he kissed the spot between your neck and jaw, "and so have I, as you can see."

You smiled wider, running your fingers through his hair, feeling its softness.

"I noticed," you said, enjoying his kisses. Jungkook lifted his head. His eyes ran over your face.

"I want you. I want all of you," he said. Your smile slowly disappeared. What did he mean ‘all of you’? It was what you thought it was? You would want him too, but is it possible? Is it possible for you to be with them outside of the agreement?

You couldn't say anything to him in response. The words just stuck somewhere in your throat. Instead, you pulled him in for another kiss. Jungkook eagerly responded, intertwining your tongues. He noticed that this was the third time you had kissed him first, although he usually took the initiative.

You moved your hips, rubbing your wet pussy against his cock. Urging him to move into action. Jungkook moved his hips to meet you. Desire had eclipsed all thought, and now he just wanted to be inside you. He released your lips and you whispered.

"I want you. Come in," you couldn't wait any longer.

Jungkook bit your plump lips briefly and stood up. He took his cock and slowly, very slowly, brought it to you. And when he entered, it was something incredible. Something you will never stop needing. You couldn't hold back a moan, and he bit his lip to keep from losing control from your sound.

He entered you completely, gently, without jerking. He lay on top of you, holding you. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders to feel the strength of his body, every muscle. Jungkook lie in this position a little, kissing you, giving you time to get used to the size.

He felt as tight inside as ever, and that and the thought that you belonged to him completely made his cock twitch several times. Jungkook pressed in tighter and started to move, pulling away from your lips but not moving far from your face. You kept your eyes closed, enjoying every movement, every inch of his body. Jungkook looked at your face and couldn't get enough of your beauty.

He moved carefully, as if he was afraid of breaking you. His forehead touched yours. He was whispering something that you can’t understand right now. Each thrust was slow, full, and full of meaning.

It wasn't your ordinary sex. It was something else. Something filled with other feelings.

And although he moved gently, the sensations were too intense. You clung to his back, as if it was the only way to keep yourself on this edge. He was lifting your hips a little higher, finding deeper angles than ever, but not losing his softness.

"It feels so good..." you whispered, hugging him.

Jungkook exhaled against your skin, as if your words had made his heart flutter even more. He leaned in, hugging you tightly, and whispered right into your lips:

"You drive me crazy..."

He was driving you too.

His thrusts became a little deeper, sharper, with each new movement they had more confidence, more strength. Not rudeness - strength that came from within, from a real desire to belong to you completely. You could feel his body pulsating with yours, as if your hearts were beating in a common rhythm.

Jungkook lifted your hips and pushing you stronger. Your body arched under him, and another sweet moan escaped your throat. You couldn't hold back anymore - every touch was too pleasant, every thrust was like a wave that washed over you.

"Hold on to me," he asked hoarsely, and you hugged him even tighter, digging your nails into his skin. Although he seems to have meant something completely different.

You could feel his back trembling under your fingers, his tension rising, his breathing getting heavier. He was already on the verge-you knew it-but he was still holding himself, not to speed up, not to lose this moment. He wanted to stay in this moment as long as possible.

"Kook..." came out of your mouth. You wanted to feel the desired pleasure. Your insides were trembling, the sounds that filled Jungkook's room and the feelings he created were pushing you to the limit. "Please let me come."

Jungkook slowed down and then stopped.

"Just a little more," he begged. He knelt down, not leaving you. Your body was relaxed, and so yielding. He leaned down to kiss your breasts. His tongue caressed one nipple at first, touched fingers the flesh, and then moved to the other.

"I can't," you said breathlessly. "Let me come," you begged.

Jungkook looked up and lingered on your face - your lips open, your eyes closed in pleasure, your fingers clasped together, holding onto the sheet... It’s seems like he had never seen you so beautiful. And so vulnerable. His own heart was pounding as if it was about to jump out of his chest.

"One more moment..." he whispered, as if he was begging not you, but himself. "A little more pleasure, a little more feeling you completely."

He lowered himself, touching his lips to your body again, leaving kisses between your breasts, along your ribs, on your stomach, before returning to your face. His hand slid down and found your sensitive center. His fingers acted as gently as his body - softly, purposefully, knowing exactly what would make you lose your mind.

"I want... I want you to give every one of your orgasms to me..." his voice was hoarse, rough with desire. He started moving again, a little faster this time. There was still a gentleness to his movements, but now there was a fierce need.

You could not stand it. From his rhythm, from his fingers, from the pressure of emotion, and from the fact that there was something more behind this sex. Unspeakable.

Your body tensed, you clung to his shoulders even harder and bent under him like a string. A cry of pleasure escaped your lips, exposing every cell of your being. You could feel the wave spreading through your body, every muscle trembling and pulsing inside.

Jungkook felt it. His pupils dilated, and he wanted to release himself in you. A few more deep thrusts and he came too. His body tensed, and he pressed in tighter, burying his face in your neck, exhaling hoarsely against your skin.

He stayed inside until he stopped spewing his semen. His breathing steadied slowly, and his palms slid gently over your skin.

When he lifted up a little to see your face, you were still with your eyelids slightly closed, so relaxed, so beautiful, so his.

For the next three days, you were at work from morning to night. You didn't see Jungkook all those days, but you talked on the phone. You worked hard and diligently on the project, telling every detail, emphasizing the most important things.

You noticed that Yuna was hanging around Kang's boss a lot, having lunch together, she visiting his office, and running around for constant advice.

During the lunch break, you talked to Jisu about Yuna's desire to please boss. Jisu told you that there are rumors that Yuna is the daughter of one of the members of the ‘EON Creative’ detectives, and that's why she is so desperate to get his attention. And most likely they are sleeping together. And just thinking about it made you shake.

You were glad that your boss had finally left you alone, but you caught his long glances as usual, even though he was very reserved around you.

On Wednesday, at about eight o'clock in the evening, when you had finished work and were heading home, your work phone rang. You picked up the phone and heard the voice of Kang Yongwon's secretary. She told you that he wanted to see you.

You felt a tension mixed with excitement, but you calmed yourself down, soothing yourself with the thought that maybe he wanted to know if everything was ready for tomorrow's final.

You walked into Kang Yongwon's office, he was sitting at his desk, and when he heard the sound of the door, he looked up at you and... smiled. But this smile was somehow... sickeningly friendly, unnatural.

"Oh, Y/N-shi, come in," his voice sounded too soft. "Sit down."

You bowed, and slowly walked over and sat down, keeping your eyes on him. Something tightened inside you. Your intuition quietly told you that something was wrong.

"Tell me, is everything ready for tomorrow's contest?" he asked, folding his hands into a lock on the table. "Did you explain everything well to Yuna and Jaehwan?"

"Yes," you nodded. "I told them every little detail. They will be a good support for me tomorrow, I'm sure."

There was silence for a moment. Then Kang Yongwon made a theatrical sigh, as if he was genuinely sorry for what he had to say.

"Today I had a conversation with the company's advisor..." he began, looking at you with the same feigned gentleness. "And... he thinks that your presence at the competition... could damage ‘EON Creative's’ reputation."

"What?" you asked as if you hadn't heard. "Why?"

Yongwon shook his head.

"Because of the scandal. After you... had to be suspended, your participation in the competition might raise unnecessary questions. And frankly, it might affect the outcome." You opened your mouth to object, but he interrupted sharply. "We've been thinking for a long time about how best to proceed. And... I'd like to ask you to copyright waiver etrified."

This was your project. Your work. A chance to come back and prove that you are a good specialist... that you deserve a place in the company.

You sat silently, staring into his face. The boss leaned a little closer.

"Y/N-shi. You know that this is a very important competition for us. Therefore, not only the result is important to us, but also the company's image. We simply cannot take any risks. Do you understand?"

You continued to be silent. And although something inside you was seething, the voice of reason said: this is your chance to come back. If you show your loyalty to the company, maybe this will be a step towards your return.

"Good," you finally said. Yongwon smiled triumphantly.

He leaned back in his chair and then nodded in appreciation, adding:

"Thank you very much, Han Y/N! As always, you make the right decisions." He reached into a folder on his desk, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to you. You saw the document that said you were abandoning the project in favor of the company. But you also noticed that there was no date on the document. This seemed strange to you.

You saw a pen in front of you and held your gaze on it. You picked it up and felt a tension that was almost physical. It was most likely radiating from your boss, who wanted you to sign the copyright waiver as soon as possible. You took the pen and looked up at Yongwon.

You didn't want to give the project away for nothing. You needed a guarantee. Because it's not a given that even your project wins, he'll bring you back to work. So you had to set your own conditions.

"I'll sign it, but on one condition," you said firmly. The manager could barely contain his emotions. But you noticed a shadow of irritation on his face.

"What a condition, Y/N-shi?" he asked in a low voice.

"I sign a copyright waiver, and you guarantee me a job back after the competition."

There was a momentary silence between the two of you, but then Kang Yongwon smiled.

"Of course," he said more softly, as if he expected you to say that, "I'll bring you back if your project wins."

You raised your eyebrows. He had put his own condition on yours. What a sneaky asshole! You nodded and signed the copyright waiver. He'll bring you back because you're sure your contest will win.

"Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! The company appreciates your contribution." he said officially, and these words were meaningless to you. "So tomorrow you don't have to be present at the final," he said as he took the documents from you.

"But I'll be there," you said, clutching your bag, "I'll help whoever is presenting the project, make sure everything goes perfectly."

Yongwon smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, that would be very professional of you."

"I take it you've already chosen someone to take my place?"

"Yes. The counselor and I thought that the only one who could replace you is Yuna, because she's in the know and Jaehwan doesn't have a big mouth, so it'll be her."

You felt the nausea of nerves and irritation rise to your throat, but you kept all your emotions in check.

"Okay, then. I'll help Yuna with her performance," you said. You stood up and said goodbye to your boss and walked out of his office on wobbly legs.

The next morning you were at the competition. You supported Yuna, telling her where to place the accents, how to behave, how to answer possible questions from the jury. And when she came out to present your project, you stood backstage and clenched your fists, forcing yourself to breathe.

And then came the victory. Your project was recognized by the jury, and ‘EON Creative’ received not only an award but also funding, recognition, and new contacts. You stood back, happy and... devastated at the same time.

You went over and congratulated the boss and Yuna. They thanked you for your good work, but you couldn't accept their words sincerely, you just smiled and said "thank you."

You didn't notice how quickly the time passed. You looked at your phone and saw that it was already four o'clock in the evening. At that very moment, you received a call from Jungkook.

"Hello," you said happily into the phone.

"Hey kitten, where are you?" he asked softly.

"I'm at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center. At the finals of the contest."

"Do you remember that we have a plane to Jeju today? It leaves at eight o'clock. I'm not far away, do you want me to come pick you up?"

You gasp, going to a quieter place.

"I forgot. With this contest, everything slipped my mind. I didn't even pack my suitcase..." you admitted.

"Wait for me at the entrance, I'll be there in 10 minutes," Jungkook said, and you hung up the phone, agreement with.

Jungkook arrived exactly ten minutes later, as promised. You quickly said goodbye to everyone and went to the car. When you got in, you couldn't contain your joy.

"Kook, my project won! I'm so happy," you said, smiling, although for some reason you felt bitter in the middle.

"Really?" Jungkook was surprised. "I knew you would win! And you were worried. You worked hard," he praised you.

"Thank you," you said gratefully, "We all worked hard. Yuna did so well. She remembered everything I told her."

Jungkook looked at you.

"Yuna? Who's Yuna?" he asked with a subtle strain in his voice, "I thought you were supposed to be representing the project."

You sighed, turning your head back to the road. You swallowed the lump in your throat and answered:

"My boss asked me to withdraw from the project in favor of the company... He said that my presence could be harmful. But he promised to bring me back to work from the Monday."

Silence fell in the car. When you realized that Jungkook was not responding to your words, you turned to him. He was frowning, and you noticed his eyebrows were drawn together in the center. His eyes were staring straight at the road.

"What?" you looked at him anxiously, "Why are you so angry?"

"Nothing," he said shortly. You also drawn your eyebrows together, hearing the pulse in your ears.

"What do you mean ‘nothing’? Why are you so angry all of a sudden?" you felt irritation wash over you. Jungkook remained silent and you started to get angrier.

"He's not going to let you go back to work," he finally said, stopping at a traffic light.

You were dumbfounded.

"Why?" came out of your mouth on automatic.

"I asked Manager Lee to find out your work account so I could transfer the money to you. And he told me today that your account is no longer active. You were fired a week ago."

Jungkook kept silent about the fact that it was not just a firing. Yongwon didn't write the reason "by mutual agreement" that wouldn't affect your career. He wrote "Dismissal for violation of the company's internal ethical standards related to behavior that could potentially damage the company's reputation" which, in short, puts an end to your future activities. Jungkook was furious. And now, learning that he had brazenly stolen your project and would use it to boost his image to the next level tore Jungkook's patience to shreds.

"What...." you said quietly, looking at Jungkook's profile, and only after he said that did you realize that the last money from the company came to your personal account, not your work account. You didn't pay much attention to it, even though it was an obvious confirmation of your dismissal.

The light turned green and Jungkook and after driving a little bit, pulled over to the side. You sat down straight, staring at your hands. Tears were already coming and choking you. You couldn't stop yourself from crying. Jungkook stopped the engine and bent down and hugged you.

"Please don't cry. I will deal with Kang Yougwon. He will be held accountable for what he did to you."

You were crying, not knowing what to do. Hearing Jungkook's words somewhere above your head, you suddenly felt a surge of anger. He says he'll figure it out, but why did he wait until now? Until you were fired?

You agreed to his deal in the hope that he would give you your job back. You didn't want the position at the parent company. All you wanted was to get your good name back and the job you had earned on your own. And because of him, everything is ruined. Everything.

You pushed him away, sharply, with all the strength left in your exhausted body.

"Don't touch me!" you shouted with tears in your eyes.

Jungkook froze, looking at you in confusion, but you couldn't stop. The words poured out in a stream - bitter, painful, the kind of words that come out only when the soul can't take it anymore.

"It's all because of you!" came out of your mouth. "If it wasn't for you, I would still be working. You should have told me who you really are. And then I would never have asked you..." you cried, almost unable to see Jungkook's expression through your tears. "My career..." you sobbed, turning away to the window, "I worked so hard... I lived for this job. I gave up everything to achieve it. And now..." you turned back to him, desperation in your voice, "now in one damn line I've been erased from the industry! Forever!"

"Y/N," he began, but you interrupted.

"Don't say anything!" you exclaimed. "You said... you said you'd you'd fix all . You could have stopped it before, I asked you to, you could have! But you did nothing." A flame burned in your eyes, scorching even his cold composure. "You were silent until I was thrown out. That bastard appropriated my project. And now - now - you just say 'don't cry'?" you laughed hoarsely through your tears, dismissively. "My life is ruined, Jungkook. Do you hear me? Shattered."

You looked at him, and you didn't want to hear or see him anymore. To hell with him. Fuck his deal. You've had enough.

You grabbed the door handle and wanted to leave, but it was locked. You didn't turn to him and said angrily:

"Open it."

Jungkook touched your arm.

"Y/N calm down. Let's talk about everything normally."

You pushed his hand away angrily. You didn't want him to touch you at all.

"Take your hands off me and open the fucking car. I don't want to see you."

He tried to calm you down again, but you were desperate.

"OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!!!" you shouted and cried harder.

He was silent, and then he pushed the button and the door clicked open.

You got out of the car, slamming the door loudly. You quickly go away from the car, sometimes breaking into a run. You cried with all your might, feeling a terrible pain in your chest. The whole world was not nice to you. You cried in disbelief that everything had gone wrong.

Fate was mocking you. Because as soon as you felt that you had everything, it all disappeared.

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[tigirl-and-co]

Space Monkeys

Hey everybody, here's a rough draft of the first chapter of Space Monkeys, what will (hopefully!) be a sci-fi novel featuring Saiyans, from Dragon Ball!

Even if you aren't familiar with Dragon Ball, I urge you to check it out, especially if you have an interest in sci-fi! I've put more effort into this bit of writing than I have anything in years, so while it's still a bit rough I am very proud of it! Please give it a chance, it's a labour of love.

Those of you familiar with the sci-fi novels of yesteryear should feel right at home, and I'm hoping those that aren't may find themselves interested!

~~~

Space Monkeys, Ch. 1

"You humans are up to something."

Witloof pushed his own head into the collection of human ones, and it wasn't hard for him either with his comparative strength. The small gaggle who were gathered around a computer screen hushed into a nervous silence- not the fear of being hurt, as they all knew what repercussions the Empire Regulatory Committee would enact under such a circumstance- but rather the schoolchild silence of an unwelcomed outsider sticking his nose where it didn't belong and not heeding the rebuffment.

The Saiyan made eye contact with the human he assumed was the leader of this troupe. "You humans are up to something," Witloof reiterated, "And I want in."

After many fewer moments of pondering than should typically be utilized when determining trustworthiness, the human Derebak grinned conspiratorially. "Good. We can use a strongman."

It is well-known throughout the universe that if you want to come home with an interesting story, you find a group of humans. Well known only to spacefaring humans, however, is that if you want to get up to any real sort of trouble, you'd best find a Saiyan and earn his respect. Dependable as anything once they like you, but therein lies the issue.

When the two empires met on the edge of space, there was a near-immediate understanding that they were like each other. This was unfortunate, considering just how much humans like to squabble amongst themselves. The superior Saiyan strength very nearly had to test itself against humanity's advanced tactics and brains, but eventually the issues were sorted out and the two fell into an uneasy peace, as far as the heads of each civilization was concerned.

For anybody who spent any time at all on a station where the two species collided, they understood the peace wasn't uneasy in the slightest.

Sure, for Saiyan tastes humans were a bit yappy, and they were all soft in the face and in the heart. And humans thought the Saiyan appearance and temperament a bit beastly, sticking closer to the apes from which he had sprung up than man did. But really, it usually took very little time for them to look past this and start swapping stories of home over drinks paid for by whoever lost that day's bet.

And so while Derebak didn't know Witloof from Adam, it knew he was sincere. Saiyans made for awful liars and for great troublemakers. Both species hated being yanked around by the chain, and Derebak was confident that if it could rope Witloof in on smaller stuff, he'd follow this thing all the way to the top.

And taking care of an earnest idiot is merely human nature, not that a human would ever let a Saiyan cotton on to that fact.

Derebak 'Rabies' Johnson, not-quite-rogue astrogator of the tourist jump-ship Tyger, Tyger, stuck out a hand. "Call me Rabies, all the people I like do."

It looked the musclehead up and down, but there's not much to be gleaned from a Saiyan at first glance. They're a longer-lived race, averaging about 150 earth-years and don't age like humans besides. And as for uniform, there's certain standards, but each piece of armor seemed unique. You couldn't even tell the tourists apart from the warriors by anything except their stance and their tails, as finding a Saiyan in anything but armor was about as likely as finding a shaved grizzly out in the woods and made them about as uncomfortable.

A fanged mouth and solid grip returned the gestures. "Good to know you, Rabies." He snorted, hoping the name was indicative of things to come. He could tell by the human's uniform he was outranked, but he had heard human society was a bit less stringent with formalities than home was, so he made the conscious choice not to bow or salute. Witloof was hoping to enter this troupe as a member, not a tagalong. "I'm Witloof, stationed here 'just in case.' Exactly what threats to the Vegetan Autocracy are expected from a tourist station on the human side of the boundary, I don't know."

One of the other humans spoke up, a blonde man who could easily have been the face of a boyband if his voice didn't bring to mind rusty nails in a blender. "Maybe you're here to save us against some awful threat like a meteor or invading monster, earning our government's trust and establishing yourselves as a race of altruists!" He guffawed, "A real protection racket!"

Witloof wasn't sure he understood the joke, but all the humans burst out laughing at that, and he decided not to take offense.

"Cuss," Rabies managed to squawk out between breaths, "you gotta warn a freak before you go and say something like that! You're gonna kill us!" It managed to hold its breath long enough to calm down before turning back to Witloof with tears still in its eyes. "That's Jack, although he's got a few less pleasant nicknames too. Don't pay him any mind, that's just how he is. He's an engineer here on the E.S.S. Poetry, and you know how engineers are."

It wiped its face a bit. "Right now we're just looking at the supply chain for this place, but come meet me in my quarters at, say, nine o'clock station time. I eat a late dinner but I aughtta be finished by then. I'll tell you a bit about what, as you put it, we're up to."

Derebak reached into a pocket and pulled out a small pad of paper and pen, writing down its bunk's location. Crew area, of course. Hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to find, Witloof still had a bit of trouble with the way humans organized big spaces and the crew area was doubtless less well-marked than the area meant for the easily-lost masses.

Witloof took the paper and tucked it into the breast of his armor. "You can count on me," he acknowledged. He tried to study the computer screen, but this sort of stuff was never his expertise and it was in a language he barely knew, to boot. He was mid-class, sure, but his parents were low-class so the traditional Saiyan warrior was really all that was open to him.

As the humans yammered on quietly about resources, Witloof took the time to observe them. Saiyans usually came with one hair colour, one eye colour, and a very small range of skin tones. Halfbreeds weren't all that rare in the lower classes, so it wasn't like he'd never seen a blonde or a redhead before, but moving through groups of humans he was always astonished by their differences.

And their physiques! He had heard that back in ancient history, humans had been a hunter race. But he doubted it. How could any species so soft in the body bring down prey? Humans didn't eat nearly as much as Saiyans did, but surely they had to eat something, and, in his opinion, there was no way they could kill enough to fill their bellies with such meagre strength.

Although, as the small group disbanded to go about their tasks for the day, Witloof had to wonder if it had something to do with their reputation for trouble and penchant for surviving it. Was it possible to turn that into a hunting strategy? Did ancient humans cause so much chaos that the beasts around them simply died of it, leaving the humans unharmed?

He was a bit torn- on one hand he wasn't paid to ask big questions. On the other hand, he had already decided to join them- he'd even given his word and partaken of the human hand shake gesture. To his understanding from the cultural training, such an act was not only a statement of friendliness and companionship, it was also how they sealed unbreakable deals.

Maybe they already considered him part of their troupe? Humans formed close bonds incredibly easily, that much he was certain of. He had heard stories of them bonding to things that weren't even alive, but he wasn't sure how that would even work.

As Witloof wandered off to Poetry's dining strip, he started thinking about just who or what he was entrusting his strength to. He hoped Rabies was a good leader.

Well, at least humans knew how to make good food. That counted for something in his books.

[mrsdarkandyandere7]

Late Night

Pairing: Dark Hawks x (female) Reader

▶ This is a yandere/dark work and it may contain triggering content so please READ THE WARNINGS before. Do not read if minor.

More at Masterlist

Female Reader

SUMMARY: Keigo hates threatning you - only when necessary.

WARNINGS: Implied Kidnapping; Threats.

AN: Please, reblog and give me feedback.

–

"Hey, c'mon, don't cry..." 

He tries, tentatively reaching with a hand but instantly stopping at the abrupt increase of your sobbing. 

"Y/n? Babe, pretty please..." he sighs, rubbing his tired eyes, "Let's just go to sleep, yeah? It’s getting late and I have to wake early tomorrow."

"Leave me alone." you howl the words out, as if you're a wounded dog. You feel like one, to be fair. Bunched up in a corner of this huge room, face contorted as you cry ugly tears and snot. 

It's only been a week since you were taken from the comfort of your life, and you still can't stop the aching pain that burns your heart whenever you think about it. 

During the day, it’s slightly more manageable to pretend that it’s fine, that you’ll eventually escape him, that everything will be fine.

But as soon as the dark cast of the night hits, it’s like all the overwhelming weight of sad reality starts to wear you down. 

You’re so tired of him. You just wanna go home and hide underneath the safety of your blankets. 

“Babe….”

Keigo sighs once again, leaning back at the adjacent beige wall as he runs his fingers through the blonde hair. 

"Hate to ask, but any chance you can speed this up? Not to the part where you relentlessly beg to go home, to which I'll say no - obviously." Keigo says with such normality as if he’s asking you to turn the lights off.

"Also not the part where you cry your pretty eyes out for another 20 minutes, yell shitty things, threaten me, and so goes on…”

You gulp, with a new batch of tears forming as he tilts his head to the side, lips curling into a half-smile as if your despair amuses him. 

“... but yes to the part where you finally shut up with the hysteria and we go to bed.”

You tearfully glare at him, indignation flaring up at his nonchalant words. 

“I hate you. You kidnapped me!" you continue, half-choking in your own tears, hoping the hatred and anger in your face is enough to show him just how much you hate him. “I hate you!” 

Keigo dismissively shrugs his shoulders, despite the new tension in his jaw as he glances at his wrist watch. 

“I’m not the bad guy here, babe.” 

“You-” 

“If I was the bad guy…” he interrupts you, an unpleasant glint in his eyes showing that deep your words didn’t sit right with him. “...right now I’d be punching a hole into your pretty face for being such a brat. Or maybe I’d be ripping your tongue out with my bare hands, so you won’t speak bullshit like that. Maybe you’d like that better?” 

Your eyes widen at that, body freezing as fear takes control of you. 

For most times Keigo is laid-back and chill, but times like these are the ones that remind you that he’s just as dangerous as a villain is. He could easily hurt or even kill you within seconds, and there was nothing your quirkless ass could do to stop him.

You are at his mercy, much like you’ve always been ever since he took you. 

You hate how helpless you feel. 

Keigo notices your mortified reaction and walks closer, crouching in front of you. 

“Didn’t mean to scare you, babe.” he says with a jovial tone. “But I really need you to behave, ‘kay?”

His hand elevates and he ignores your flinch as he brushes away a few tears. 

“Enough with the tears, you’re too pretty to be cryin’ like that.” he smiles, hand lowering to grab your forearm.

He stands up, pulling you with him towards the bed. 

“Now, let’s go get our beauty sleep.”  

[pinkyqily]

IT OKAY,WE'RE OKAY, WE ARE DEFINITELY OKAY

Summary: juju apologize and makes it up to you like the good girlfriend and teammate she is.

Part one

Contains: fluff, snappy lovers, cursing, groveling, not proofread throughly yet

A/n: here is part two as promised with a happy ending, would love to get reactions or feedbacks of what you guys think, if you have any juju requests feel free to send them in anyway happy reading readers 🩷

Next few days between you and JuJu pass by a blur. Having your coaches telling you guys to solve out your shit was definitely a wake-up call for you, you're mind just keeps on replaying those awful words from juju.

Was that how she really saw you as a player? was all your mind could wonder.

But at the same time, you couldn't stop thinking about how she felt even though you were the one that got hurt the most.

Ken, who was your roomie and heard about what happened between you and juju,tried getting you out of your hotel room. But you declined again. the only time you went down was when there was barely anyone down at the lobby side.

You couldn't face your teammates after that embarrassing showdown. It made you feel like a failure.

"Come, you'll still have to face everyone when we leave for the arcade, why do you have to be the one embarrassed juju was basically at fault too". She said trying to shake you up.

"She's literally one of the best players of course, what she said is going to get to me, if it was said in private, okay, but she did that in front of everyone". You told her, feeling a cold wind reach your spine.

"For somebody who always steps up for us you sure love discrediting yourself like you also aren't the best out there, juju saying that was nasty and loud for no reason so please get your ass up". Was all Ken said.

This time you did, because fuck juju who clearly had her head far in her ass to see how great of a player you are. and what you bring to the team all those 3s she be pulling must have blinded her vision or what.

"You know what you're right fuck her from now I'll be standing on business, she can go find another bitch to be pissy on cause I'm not the one".

"That's my girl now let's head down, and when you see her, you keep your head high." She told you, pulling you into a tight hug.

But the universe had other plans by slapping you in the face, because as you opened your room door, there was a juju watkins pacing back and forth in front of your door with a messy looking bun that definitely not her brand.

With only one look, you could tell she wasn't the only one who had a bad night.

Normally, you two would fall asleep on call listening to each other's voices as it helps the other person calm down.

It didn't matter if you were states away one block away down the street or rooms separating you guys would still call.

but after what happened last night, you both couldn't bring yourself to pick up that telephone.

And here you both are staring into each other's eyes unable to speak up until a familiar voice does it for you.

"JuJu, what are you doing here?". Ken asked her, crossing her arms over, letting her disapproval be known.

"I know you guys are mad at me rightfully so, but please give me 5 minutes that all I ask for." She said, fidgeting with her hands.

"Five minutes is all you're getting don't think I'm not timing it." She said as she left you both heading downstairs herself.

You and juju stood in that silence for a good two minutes, avoiding eye contact most ju.

"You have three minutes left, so whatever you want to say now,speak up." You said with a mean tone, not glazing any bullshit.

"I know, I messed up really bad and shouldn't have said what I did, you're an amazing player to our team you pick up the pieces whenever everyone seems lost." She started by saying her voice breaking as she fought back tears so she could speak.

"you put the teams needs before your own, your flow on the ball is way different than anyone else and you're a very unique player who contributes so much to the team"

"You're so important to me way beyond being teammates but girlfriends at the same time not only was I a bad teammate but also a bad girlfriend for saying and treating you like that." She told you this time around, able to meet your eyes after avoiding them.

"I just want to apologize because I know that I'm better than that, you deserve better and I want to be the better person you deserve so would you forgive me you don't have to rush it". She finished of by saying.

You we're definitely shocked to see her being so vulnerable and raw to you.

"You really hurt me by saying all those things in front of everyone I felt so embarrassed standing there looking like a fool ju, but that doesn't mean I hate you I'm just really hurt you had me overthinking like I did something wrong when I wanted was to help you". You told her, feeling a little hesitant as you moved your hands to grab hers.

"But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to forgive you". You told.

"I know, baby, take your time can i hug you, though?" She asked you before doing anything. You pulled her into a hug, forgetting about your whole standings on business cause you missed having your 6'2 social awkward girlfriend in your arms.

And that is how you found yourself standing next to her at one of the arcade games because she said she was going to start by winning you a prize. She didn't lie about that one and won the biggest bear in there for you.

Ken was already looking disappointed but was happy that you guys fixed things.

"Couldn't even stand on business for 24h". You heard a voice say.

"Bruh, she's still not fully forgiven how do you expect me to stay that mad at her?". You told her

"Whatever you guys are ruining my mood with your sappyness."

"You're just mad and single Ken it okay you'll find the one". You told her.

On the way back, you both sat down together in the bus, falling asleep on each other. Everything ended up being okay. ju stil has hella groveling to do, but you guys are okay, and that's all that matters.

[dovveri]

upskill from student to parent

synopsis: one of your students has the most obvious crush on you, but you have the most obvious crush on his mother.

warnings: swearing? maybe idek AHAHA

w/c: 6.9k

a/n: kind of an homage to my fav person on this app @miinatozakiii ‘s first published work the kindergarten teacher sana 🙂‍↕️ happy late one year anniversary babe 🥰

⋆✐ೀ⋆

“alright kids, don't forget i'm seeing most of your parents tonight so if you want to make a good impression, you better start doing your homework because i know most of you don't!"

there are collective groans across the classroom as they pack up their things and leave, thanking you as they head out the door to their next period.

you giggle, recalling the days you were a student in their position, you rarely did your math homework as well.

"ms. l/n?"

you look up from your desk with a smile.

"i- um- i just wanted to s-say- thank you for this lesson. i was really- um- struggling with derivatives when you introduced them last time but you made it really clear this class."

you beam, appreciating the feedback, "that's great to hear hideki! if you have any more trouble in the future please be sure to let me know, i'll be happy to set up bonus small group classes or even individual sessions if you guys need the help."

"t-thanks ms. l/n. that's really nice of you."

"it's my job hideki." you smile, "did you need any help with anything else?"

he shakes his head shyly, hand at the back of his neck, "that was all! thanks again miss!"

"no worries, i'll see you tonight?"

he agrees happily, darting out the door with his cheeks flushed.

it wasn't the first time a student had had a crush on you. it was normally harmless. some of them had tried to confess to you over the years, usually waiting until after they graduated because they thought it’d be okay if you no longer had a student-teacher relationship. some of them would confess while you were still their teacher regardless, those were a little tougher because you had to continue teaching them and watch them pout and lose motivation to do their schoolwork and act awkward around you, no longer wanting to participate in class or ask questions if they didn’t understand something. you’d try to let them down gently, and if you noticed they were struggling with coursework, you’d pull them aside or ask another one of the teachers to check in on them.

most of the time though, they were just simple little crushes that would pass with time or after they moved out of your class. you didn't entertain them but it was cute seeing your students in their awkward teen years discovering feelings for the first time.

you stretch, yawning, but yelp when someone's finger jabs into your exposed armpit.

there's a burst of laughter and you frown, staring at the intruder.

"really nayeon?"

the english teacher rolls her eyes with a cheeky grin, "saw hideki on the way out. did he give you that confession note?"

"what confession note?"

nayeon hops a little, a hand covering her mouth, "oh shit."

you narrow your eyes. "tell me."

she grins, not really apologetic for having accidentally spilt her student’s secret, "saw him decorating a card and everything in english class today. his grammar was a little off so i just helped him correct it a little. oh ms. l/n. how i wish to be able to call you by your first name. how i wish to be able to hold you and-" she puts on an exaggerated romeo-like voice and pose, back of her hand coming up to her forehead.

you stand up, slapping her lightly with a blush, "why did you encourage him?!"

she shrugs with a laugh, "i'm an english teacher. gotta make sure the kids are using the language right even if it's for illicit love notes."

you huff, packing up your desk and getting ready to go to lunch, "can't he find a nice girl his age to be in love with? i'm sure he has so many options since he's the star player of the school basketball team and everything."

"something about you attracts the kiddies y/n."

you scrunch your nose, "ew. that sounds gross. i don't even like younger men."

"women?"

"no preference. just someone in the same life stage y'know?"

"wait should i be offended? how come no student has ever confessed to me? aren't english teachers supposed to be like a gay girl's awakening?"

you laugh, ignoring the woman's question, dragging her out of your classroom and to lunch together before you both have to attend to your kids again.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

you enjoyed your job, but parent-teacher interviews were probably your least favourite part of it. if you wanted to deal with parents all day you'd have become a primary school teacher.

there were all kinds of them, some who didn't show up, some who didn't care, some who cared too much, some who were clueless, and some who thought they could do your job better than you.

you rub your temples, grateful for the little 5 minute break you're afforded in between quick 10 minute interviews that would normally go on for longer than that. you blink around the room, the other mathematics teachers gathered in the same classroom, nayeon was down the hall with the other english teachers. you were the youngest of them all, there was a pretty big shortage of secondary mathematics teachers across the country, so it meant maths teachers were putting off retirement for longer so they can continue to support kids, but it still left a lot of gaps that could be filled to give your students the best education they deserved.

you've dazed off enough that you barely register hideki almost bounding in, still in his basketball uniform from after-school practice.

he grins, sliding into the seat opposite yours, "hi ms. l/n!"

you return the smile, "hey hideki." even though you knew about his obvious crush on you, he was still one of your favourite students, maybe it was because he had the crush on you that he was more eager to follow instructions and to prove himself and ask questions whenever he was confused that made him one of the easiest to teach.

and then a woman in a sleek beige coat next to hideki catches your attention. your gaze flicks over to hers. and it can't seem to break away.

she's the most beautiful human being you've ever laid your eyes on. her hair is dyed an autumn brown, wavy locks tucked behind ears, expensive gold jewelry adorning her neck, ears, hands. her eyes match the colour of her hair, a deep fawn brown you could stare into for hours. she's got the most perfect nose you've ever seen, you almost itched to measure it, find the angle of it, the way it led to her pretty lips, full and parted, inviting, pulling you in. and then you realise they're curling up slightly, and you snap your eyes back up to hers to see a mirthful glint in them.

you cough, blushing brightly, "h-hello mrs. hayashi."

"just sana is fine. minatozaki sana. i never married hideki’s father." her voice is silky smooth, there's a certain drawl to it too, it makes you want to listen to her voice on repeat, teasing out every inflection in tone.

you can feel your blush reaching the tips of your ears, "o-oh sorry! i didn't know i apologise!"

sana laughs, it's bright and airy, you don't think you've heard anything purer. "nothing to be sorry about. we broke up a long time ago. when hideki was still very young."

you nod, deciding you can't continue staring at her or you may just faint, so you look down at your files, shuffling them around with no purpose, just to give your hands something to do.

"so how's hideki doing in class?" you can hear the smirk in her voice, her attentive eyes watching as you fumble around.

"he's um- very good- he always makes sure to ask questions whenever he's stuck on anything, and he's probably one of my only students who keeps up with his homework."

"well that's good isn't it deki? what were you so nervous for?" sana teases her son as he blushes, mumbling something under his breath.

you speak up again, "nothing to be nervous about. hideki is one of my best students, he keeps up very well despite his extra curriculars."

sana snorts, "i wish we could say the same about his other subjects. it seems maths is the only thing he tries in."

"mom!"

"what? you heard what your english teacher said. you need to spend some more time editing your own work than you do shooting hoops."

you laugh, "i'm sure his english is alright. nayeon can be a pretty harsh teacher."

sana looks at you again with an eyebrow raised, you quickly look away. "just wait until you read some of his work ms. l/n. you'll be surprised."

hideki blushes again, deciding he won't be giving you that love confession note he has in his bag after all.

"is there anything else i can do for him then? any particular areas he may be struggling in or any recommendations of what we can implement at home to make sure his maths marks stay consistent?"

"homework really. maths is a very practical subject so the more practice he gets the better grasp he'll have. especially with strange or out-of-the-box questions exams may throw at him; it helps a lot if he's practiced with as many question varieties as possible, most people are going to get those 1 or 2 markers, but the bigger questions that really need you to apply the concepts you learn are where you'll start to see distinctions between the students that just study and the students that really have the aptitude and patience for mathematics."

"never was me." sana jokes.

you smile, still avoiding her gaze, your cheeks pink, "i'm sure you would have been a prize student ms. minatozaki."

"just sana." she has a teasing smile on her face.

"r-right. sana."

it's quiet for a few seconds, hideki looks between his mother and you, squinting a little in confusion.

sana coughs, beginning to stand and holding out a hand, "well it was nice meeting you ms. l/n. i can finally understand why hideki goes on and on about his gorgeous maths teacher."

"mom!"

you blush again, taking her hand, almost melting at how soft it felt against yours, forcing yourself to meet her eyes again to be polite. you have to bring your other hand to hold your wrist when you shake it, to support your jelly-like arm in her presence. "it was nice meeting you too sana."

she tightens her grip, smirking a little, "i hope this won't be the last i'll be seeing you. have a good night."

and with that she's off, hideki whining and complaining next to her about how she's embarassed him. it was a little funny considering their height difference, hideki was a basketball player so he had to be tall for his sport, and sana was just a few centimetres shorter than you, though her aura commanded attention, her posture was perfect, you're caught staring at the slight sway in her hips as she walks away, but you quickly reprimand yourself, blushing even brighter at having realised you were just checking out your student's parent.

god she had your mind a mess, and you had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time for this to happen.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

you were so out of your comfort zone. you barely knew anything about basketball. but nayeon just had to drag you to be co-supervisors for your school's basketball team since you didn’t have the funds for a real P.E. teacher. even worse, the parent volunteer just happened to be minatozaki sana, the parent you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since your first meeting with her weeks ago.

nayeon noticed your odd behaviour immediately of course. so being the annoyingly loveable best friend she was, she made herself scarce, herding the kids away with every opportunity and trying to get you and sana alone as much as possible.

that’s how you were now stuck with the woman of your dreams, sharing a hotel room in the place you were staying for the duration of the games.

“are you sure you don’t want me to get another room? the individual room was originally supposed to be meant for you- i can’t believe nayeon let herself get sick and stole it from you.”

sana giggles, plopping down her weekend bag. “it’s alright ms. l/n. i don’t mind sharing rooms with a pretty woman like you.”

you blushed brightly. that was the other problem with sana. she was a flirt. every chance she got she’d make some sort of teasing remark on the way here, or brush a little too close than what was acceptable for friends, and you were barely even friends.

“j-just y/n is fine. i feel weird if someone my age is calling me by my last name like that.”

“how do you know i’m your age?” she smirks.

“o-oh! i just- i mean- i- i’m in my early 30s and you look quite young and but hideki is already 16 so i just assumed um-“

she laughs again, “thank you for the compliment. you’re right. i had hideki when i was 19. his dad promised to take care of him, provide for us, y’know… all the works. he couldn’t take it and left not even a year into hideki’s life. i ended up having to drop out of university and learn to balance work and a baby. my parents weren't any good either, said it was my fault for getting knocked up so early in my life and that i should've been prepared for the consequences."

you perch on the end of your bed, listening attentively while she unpacks her things, "i'm sorry you had to go through that."

she shrugs, "made me who i am today. and plus i have hideki now. and he'll always have me. what about you? any kids? partner?"

you blush as she turns back to you, copying your stance and sitting on her bed facing you. "no. i’ve always been around kids so there’s not exactly a ton of romantic prospects.” you joke.

sana laughs, “what about nayeon?”

you cringe immediately, “ew gross no. we’re just friends. there aren’t that many young teachers that aren’t already married and who aren’t spread all over the country so nayeon and i easily clicked because we’re similar in age and single. not that it’s difficult to get along with the older teachers there’s just some things that we’ll be able to do that they might not necessarily want to anymore… like drink or whatever.”

“are you looking for anyone then?” there’s a smirk on sana’s face that you know can only mean she’s up to no good.

“u-um- well- i mean- uh- like if it comes it comes i’m not actively looking for it. i’m happy with the kids even if i die old and alone because there’s always going to be more kids to teach so i’m never really going to be alone unless i quit or get fired.”

“i really admire teachers y’know. you can take care of a classroom of kids and offer them knowledge when someone like my ex boyfriend couldn’t even handle one child.”

while you were talking, you didn’t even notice that sana had moved onto your bed, sitting next to you, shoulders touching, eyes peering into yours.

you chuckle awkwardly, “w-well i’m actually not that great with younger kids.”

sana frowns, “don’t do that. bringing yourself down to defend a shitty man are both things i don’t want to hear. from what i’ve seen, you love your job and you really care about your kids. you should be proud of that. teachers don’t get enough of the appreciation they should.”

“t-thank you sana.”

“of course.”

it’s quiet after that, and more than awkward. you have no idea where to look, suddenly conscious of her body pressed against yours, fiddling with your hands, feeling sweat build up.

sana just watches you with a glint in her eye, observing all of your actions.

she breaks the tension that seemingly came out of nowhere first, “how do you feel about me?”

your eyes widen, not expecting such a straightforward question, “s-sorry?”

“you’re nervous. do i make you nervous y/n?”

your blush was pretty much permanently fixed on your face now.

“u-um-“

“it’s okay if i do. i just hope it's for the right reasons." she pouts. it's criminal. "you'd tell me if there was something else right?"

"r-right! yes of course yes-"

"good. so you're nervous because you find me attractive?" her pout morphs into a smirk within nanoseconds.

"um- i-"

"you said you'd tell me if it was something else remember?" and then she's straight back into a pout. it was giving you whiplash, the change in expressions, dizzying you.

"um- i- yes- you are- yes you are very pretty and-"

"so you want to kiss me?"

"um-!"

sana finally lets you go, laughing brightly and moving away to give you some space before you burst or melted.

"just joking y/n. i'm sorry you're just too easy to tease and your reactions are adorable!"

you can breathe again, the oxygen finally reaching your brain now that sana wasn't so close to you, and your lips turn downward, imitating her pout from earlier, "sana!"

she continues laughing, going back to unpacking her things while you collect yourself and think just how you were going to survive the two days away sharing a room with the potential love of your life who also happened to be a massive tease.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

thankfully, the rest of the night was pretty uneventful. you checked in on all the boys, made sure they had all had dinner and weren't planning anything irresponsible like a party behind your backs or anything. you also checked in on nayeon who in your professional opinion, looked absolutely fine, having ordered room service and was in one of the hotel robes with her feet kicked up enjoying a face mask and a bottle of wine all to herself.

sana also didn't try anything else when you retired to your own hotel room after doing the rounds on the boys' rooms again to make sure they were all in bed and getting the rest they needed before their game tomorrow. you're not sure if you were grateful or disappointed she didn't, but you quickly pushed her out of your mind, needing to rest as well before having to wake up early to take all the kids to the stadium.

you're knocking loudly on the last room you were meant to check on, annoyed the boys were taking so long, you were all meant to meet in the lobby 10 minutes ago for your bus to the stadium.

when you sigh, prepared to rap your knuckles against the door again, it falls away, revealing a distressed hideki and his roommate for the trip.

"ms. l/n! i'm so sorry we're late eric had some trouble um-" he looks behind him, "we're pretty much ready now! just got to grab some last minute stuff and-" he leaves the door open, continuing his ramble while you cross your arms, tapping your foot impatiently, watching the boys run around the room collecting last minute things and throwing them into gym bags.

by the time they're almost done, sana's snuck up behind you, peeking over your shoulder.

"deki! what are you doing? are you the one holding everyone up? what kind of example are you setting for your team if the team captain's late?"

you jump at her voice, not having noticed her standing right behind you. you turn, admiring her side profile, she's got her hair up today, but still looks as expensive as the first time you saw her.

hideki blushes at his mom yelling at him, picking up his pace a little and jabbing eric, telling him to hurry up.

sana notices you staring at her and turns with a smile, "hi y/n. missed you this morning."

you fluster immediately, snapping your eyes away, "u-um sorry! i uh- got up early and didn't want to wake you and decided to get breakfast early on my own before making sure all the kids were awake."

she pouts, "you should've woken me. we could've had breakfast together."

"s-sorry i'll remember for next time."

"next time? you planning on waking up next to me again y/n?"

you can hear the teasing tone in her voice without needing to look at her, "i meant tomorrow! tomorrow morning."

sana giggles next to your ear, relenting when hideki and eric finally finish up, slightly out of breath when they come up to you, hideki apologising to you profusely, almost bowing down in the hotel hallway while holding all his heavy gym bags before you stop him, embarrassed enough by his mother watching the interaction closely with a curious glint in her eyes.

by the time you get downstairs nayeon already has most of the kids on the bus, reprimanding the two late boys again before letting them go and telling them to get on the bus as well. she had claimed her sickness was miraculously cured overnight, and that all she needed was a good night's sleep in a hotel room by herself.

she had teased both you and sana, asking sana innocently if she'd want to change rooms again now that she wasn't sick, but sana had said it'd be too much work and she didn't mind sharing a room with you anyway. nayeon elbowed you making an exaggerated show of her eyebrows wriggling around when sana wasn't looking, winking and looking all too satisfied with herself. you ignored her, strutting ahead and onto the bus, crossing your arms and pouting.

sana comes up next, giggling at you and plopping down on the seat next to yours. thankfully, the bus ride to the stadium wouldn't take long this time, the ride here was almost 5 hours long, and sana had taken a liking to sleeping on your shoulder almost the entire way there. you were stiff and couldn't wait to fall into bed when nayeon pulled her sick move and ruined your plans of being able to relax, not possible in the presence of the other woman.

the kids are rowdy and energetic, hyping each other up on the bus. you have to tell them to quieten down a few times but you let them get away with most of what they do, smiling at the sight of them so eager for their game.

when you arrive, nayeon's the first to stand, using her loud voice and commanding attention, her voice that should've been at least a little hoarse from her apparent sickness yesterday.

"alright! remember you're representing your school district now! and you're sharing this space with other people so i don't want to hear you guys as loud as you were on this bus okay? i won't hesitate to bench anyone who fools around too much and that means you won't get to play and you'd have come all this way for nothing understand?"

nayeon really was strict as a teacher, but you knew she loved her job as much as you did.

the kids nod, determined to be good, adrenaline running from the excitement of almost getting to the court.

you step off the bus first, talking to the bus driver and letting them know when they can come back and pick you guys up to go back to the hotel. then the kids are hopping off the bus one by one, and you're making sure they don't run off or do anything stupid while waiting for everyone to assemble.

by the time the team is actually on the court and warming up, you're almost as excited as them, the atmosphere of the stadium hyping you up, sitting on the sidelines with towels and water bottles ready for their breaks. you had tried to study up a little on what exactly went on in basketball, the rules and the basics, the kids may not have a coach but you still wanted to be as supportive as you could even though your job only required you to supervise them safely between the venues and the hotel.

"have you come to a lot of these games?" you ask sana mindlessly, watching as the boys start doing practice shots and drills.

"yeah. i try to go to as many of deki's things as i can."

"that's very sweet. it's really good for the kids, when the parents show up to things they work hard for."

sana hums. "i try."

"he's lucky to have you."

"i think he may appreciate you a little more though." she teases, bumping shoulders with you.

you laugh, "he'll get over it. they all do."

"this has happened before?"

you shrug, "i swear i don't do anything out of the ordinary. maybe i'm just nicer than nayeon."

"so your type obviously isn't kids. what is it?" sana teases.

you blush, "i don't know. i don't really have one i think."

"oh come on. everyone says that. tell me the truth. i won't judge i promise."

you roll your eyes, smiling, "well... i think at this point in my life i just want someone who wants to settle down. i'm not that young anymore and i've already achieved what i wanted in my career so all i really want now is someone to share the rest of my life with."

"boring! c'mon gimme the juicy stuff. like personality, physical attributes." she pokes you with a grin on her face as well.

"fine fine. i guess when it comes to women i tend to like slightly older women, extroverted, good with kids obviously, i don't reaaaally care for all the physical stuff but probably someone around my height i guess."

"stand up for me."

you do as she asks, confused, then she stands up as well, stepping in almost eye-to-eye. you flush immediately. she brings her hand to measure the top of her head, knocking it against your forehead.

then she smirks, "so i'm pretty much your type then?"

you stutter, falling backwards and back into your seat, mumbling incoherently. sana giggles, sitting back down as well.

"if it's any consolation, my type in women tends to be slightly taller, good with kids, a little awkward, gets flustered easily, but loves her job."

you blink at her, still processing her words when the buzzer sounds signaling the start of the game.

sana winks, then turns her attention to the game, cheering on your school's team as they get in starting position. nayeon jogs over to join you both on the sideline bench, cheering as well. you put your muddled thoughts aside to focus on being there for the kids, but sana's confession? was it even a confession? never left the back of your mind.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

your school won. the boys are ecstatic, clapping each other on the back, streamers are thrown, the crowd is wild, loving the game they witnessed.

eventually, the stadium clears out while the boys cooldown. the janitors come and kick everyone off the floor soon enough, the kids still whooping and parading around their championship trophy, taking pictures with smiles all around.

you smile fondly as well, watching them leave the stadium, so proud of themselves. but then there's a cough behind you, and you turn, surprised to see hideki still there, not leading his team off on their victory lap.

"you okay hideki?"

the boy blushes, rubbing the back of his neck shyly, still in his team uniform, sweat running down his body.

"i um- i was actually wondering if we could talk?"

you frown, immediately concerned, "yeah of course. what's up?"

his eyes flit around, making sure the stadium is pretty much empty except for the janitors cleaning up after the game. and then he looks back at you, you're struck then how much he looks like sana, he has her nose, her eyes, you never noticed before but after spending more time with sana, you can start to see parts of her in her son.

he clears his throat again, obviously nervous, wringing his hands out, "u-um- so i promised myself that if we won this game, i'd finally be truthful to both myself and you. so um- ms. l/n... i think i'm in love with you!" he bows deeply with his confession.

you stand there, slightly in shock despite knowing about his feelings for a long time now. and then you feel terrible, having to reject him on what was supposed to be one of the highlights of his high school experience.

you tap his shoulder lightly, non-verbally asking him to straighten up, he flinches at the touch, eyes fierce when they meet yours.

"hideki... i'm sorry. i don't feel the same way about you. you're my student, i care about all of you equally, but never as more than a student."

his face breaks your heart, you see sana in him, it's almost like you made sana cry.

"is it my age? what if i graduated? would you be interested in me after i graduated?" he's desperate, reaching for any possibility where you could return his feelings.

you shake your head, offering a gentle smile, "i'm sorry hideki. i know you'll find the right person for you one day though. that person just isn't going to be me."

his head droops down, hair coming to cover his eyes as he stares down at his shoes, trying to hide his tears. "i understand. thank you for taking the time to listen to me ms. l/n. i'll get out of your hair now." and then he's jogging off behind you towards the exit.

you sigh, turning around, surprised to see sana there, frowning when she sees hideki in tears approaching her.

she looks between him and you in confusion, but hideki reaches her first. she cups his face, asking him what happened, but he refuses to speak, and sana brings him down into her hugging him and patting his back.

she glances at you then, still frowning. your heart sinks, not sure what sorts of conclusions she could be drawing, but knowing right now, it looked like you had said or done something that made her son cry.

she leads him away, you ache to tell her what really happened, but you know you should keep your distance for the sake of your student right now, you just pray sana doesn't think of you any differently.

⋆✐ೀ⋆

the rest of the day goes by in a blur. the boys go out for celebratory dinner. they notice their captain is a lot more down than usual, and they try cheering him up, playing games at dinner, laughing and teasing each other, but nothing seems to be working.

you couldn't help but feel a little guilty, and sana hadn't spoken to you since the game. you're not sure if it's on purpose or if she's just busy keeping the kids entertained and checking on hideki every once in a while, but not wanting to smother him with all his friends around. he doesn't seem to mind though, in fact he only responds to sana, even when his friends try and include him he stays quiet, picking at his food aimlessly.

when you get back to the hotel, you give a speech about how they shouldn't sleep too late even though you could understand their excitement still remaining from winning the championships, they still had to get up early tomorrow so you could take the bus back home. nayeon would normally give the speech since she was a little more threatening than you, but she was also currently wasted, having gone a little too hard on the celebrations with the boys. she was currently leaning on you, almost dozing off as you rattled off instructions and rules before sending them all off to their rooms.

sana's gone with them before you can speak to her, so you sigh, wrapping an arm around nayeon's waist and helping your friend back to her own room, setting her in bed and pulling the covers up, turning off the lights and leaving a cup of water next to her bedside for when she wakes up later.

you feel nervous going back to your own room, unsure of what sana thinks of you now.

you open the door, almost grateful to hear the shower on, indicating the other woman was cleaning herself up.

you anxiously start packing your things up, cleaning around the room a little and grabbing clothes for your shower.

the shower turns off and your heart rate increases tenfold. you still have some time before she comes out though, so you continue to busy yourself, cleaning anything and everything.

"y/n?"

you turn quickly at her voice, almost fainting at the sight of her wrapped only in a towel. you yelp, turning back around just as quickly, "s-sorry!"

sana giggles, padding up to her bed, "it's okay. i left my clothes out here."

you can hear the rustle of her towel being dropped and her starting to dress yourself. your face is burning up, trying desperately to clear your mind of thoughts of a very naked sana standing right behind you, probably watching you make a fool out of yourself.

"i'm dressed." she teases, plopping down onto her bed.

you turn with a sigh, but tense up when you realise her definition of dressed was a very thin camisole and shorts that really shouldn't be considered shorts.

sana smirks at your gaze, crossing her legs and watching the way your eyes follow the movement, drinking in the skin.

"so what happened with you and deki?"

your eyes snap back up to hers at the reminder, the guilt of it all coming back.

"i'm sorry- i didn't- i hope you know i didn't mean to-"

sana giggles, grabbing the towel to start drying her hair, "relax y/n. i figured as much. he wouldn't tell me what happened but i assume it had something to do with his feelings for you?"

you gulp, nodding, not trusting your voice.

"like you said at the game, he'll get over it."

"you're not mad at me?"

she frowns, "why would i be mad at you?"

"well i- i thought you were avoiding me at dinner and- i mean i did just reject your son-"

sana lets out a loud laugh, "i think i'd be more mad if you didn't reject him. and i wasn't avoiding you. were you looking for my attention y/n?" she teases, wringing out her hair.

"oh. i'm glad then. that you weren't avoiding me. i was worried." you mumble, ignoring her question, knowing she was just trying to get a reaction out of you.

she stands up, brushing her hair behind her shoulders, walking up to you slowly. "why were you worried?"

you focus on a spot on the hotel carpet, avoiding her gaze, "i didn't want you to think i was- i don't know- i just didn't want you to think of me differently i guess."

"why do you care what i think of you?"

you blush, "well- i mean- i- you're- you're a parent of my student."

sana hums, still moving closer at a painfully slow pace, "is that all i am to you?"

"uh- well- no... you're um- you're sana."

she giggles, now toe-to-toe with you. "i am."

you almost let out a gasp when her cool fingers touch your chin, tilting your head up slightly to look her in the eyes. her eyes search yours, then they move over your face, tracing your features. you lick your lips unconsciously, the tension between the two of you unable to be explained by a simple parent-teacher relationship, or even a friendship anymore.

"it's funny." her voice is lower now, spoken right onto your lips, there was no need for volume, you were only inches apart. "i almost wonder if my ex would've fallen for you too."

you're dizzy from being so close to her, mind playing catch up. "t-too?"

"yeah. hideki fell for you. i wonder if you could just have my whole family wrapped around your finger."

you gulp, not really following, just letting her do whatever she wanted to you.

she leans in even closer, eyes dropping to your lips.

"what about me?"

"w-what about you?"

"you rejected deki. how about me?"

you inhale shakily, "are you confessing?"

she smiles then, "was it not obvious?"

"no." you breathe out.

"why not?"

"you're too- you're unbelievable."

"what does that mean?"

"i literally can't believe you're real. that someone as perfect as you could exist."

sana giggles lowly at that, "there it is. do you know how long i've been waiting for you to just say how you feel about me?"

"w-what?"

"all that teasing, all the flirting, i paid nayeon to fake sick y'know?"

"you what?!"

she throws her head back, laughing fully now. your eyes follow the lines of her throat.

"deki talked about you all the time at home. i was curious to meet the maths teacher he was so obsessed with. and then i did. and you were just so adorable. i could tell you really loved what you were doing, and you really cared for all the kids. but i didn't want to ask you out in front of my son who has the biggest most obvious crush on you. so i resigned myself to thinking i probably wouldn't be able to see you again. and then you happened to be on this trip. so i tried everything i could to get closer to you, get to know you better, and you didn't disappoint. i can safely say i'm just as obsessed with you as hideki is, dare i say even more."

"y-you are?"

"mhm. and i knew you liked me too. you're almost as obvious as deki is." she giggles, "i was just waiting for you to do something about it. but you're too nice aren't you? didn't want anything that could be between us to affect your job and your relationship with the kids."

you hadn't even noticed sana had paid so much attention to you. she had picked you apart completely, you felt so exposed in front of her now, but it wasn't unwelcome, you were just embarrassed at the way you've acted around her, thinking how many times you've replied dumbly or said something stupid while she knew you had a crush on her. you cringe at the memories.

sana laughs again, poking at the scrunch in your nose, "so can you say it officially now?"

"say what?"

"don't play dumb with me. you know."

you whine, blushing still, but close your eyes, taking a breath again, "i like you sana. i think you're the most beautiful person i've ever seen and your personality and actions are just as consistent with your looks."

sana giggles again, and then all of a sudden, her lips are pressed against yours.

it's soft, sweet, she's curling a hand around your waist and the other around your neck. you weren't the greatest with words, that's why nayeon was the english teacher, but you try make up for it with your actions, pulling her into you deeper and wrapping your arms around her, smiling into the kiss.

sana returns the smile, reattaching your lips, kissing you easily, your lips slotting together with no rush, taking as much time as you wanted to explore each other.

that night, when you come out of your shower, you find sana curled up in your bed, patting the empty space next to her for you to squeeze into, making sure she had enough space so that she wouldn't fall off the edge. you find that she's a big cuddler, not that it should've surprised you, she was always a very physically affectionate person, and you were still getting used to being on the receiving end of all of it, but you adored it.

the next morning, you'll keep to your promise and wake sana up with a gentle kiss on her lips, brushing her hair out of her face and studying her sleeping features carefully, committing everything to memory, still in slight disbelief that such a woman felt the same way you did.

you talk over breakfast, finding yourself much more at ease now that you knew she knew how you felt about her. she still takes every opportunity to tease you though, loving the way you blushed and stuttered around her.

what's hard is deciding what to do after you get home. you still wanted to keep your distance from hideki so that he could get over you, and sana agreed, saying it would be best if the both of you kept your relationship a secret for now. she was almost excited, talking about how it would be exciting and fun to sneak around like kids again, having to hide your relationship.

she's right of course, but being with her specifically probably makes it ten times harder than it normally would. she'd come to your school with bunches of flowers and lunch, acting innocent and surprised when you have to hide her and find an empty classroom for you to spend the lunch date she springs on you. she'll never stop loving to tease you.

you finally tell hideki about 2 months into your relationship. he seems to take it okay, but when you're curled up in sana's bed later, she tells you he complained to her about how she 'stole his woman', and you both end up in a giggling fit, laughing at the turn of events. regardless, you're still grateful, grateful you were able to meet her, and somehow bewitch her into falling for you. you were the luckiest person alive, and only sana would disagree, saying that was only true for herself.

[zorostitties]

Samsara; 1

⤕ She was plagued. Shadows loomed over her mind. She was alone in a world where no one dared to look into the occult. She missed the faceless man from her dreams, the one her soul longed for. She wanted to meet him again. He was plagued. Alucard had loved countless times. There was one love he was never able able to forget, however; the one that was ripped away from him. He knew they could never meet again.

pairing: alucard (castlevania) x (f) reader

genre: reincarnation, angst, romance, smut, hurt/comfort

warnings: violence/blood, explicit sex (mild in this ch), mental health issues, blasphemy (?), reader is a girl kisser, lowkey ableism (use of the r word), century xix misoginy

rating: 18+

word count: 7k

A/N: hello world!! first of all, thank you so much for giving this fic a chance!! <3 - this is loosely inspired by nosferatu. - takes place a few decades after nocturne, so century xix. - you're 27 in this fic which is still young but not TOO young bc i don't like the idea of a 300+ guy with a barely teenager - i chose a bunch of random european last names, but i won't specify which country they're in because uh. don't wanna. please don't think too hard about actual history when reading this fic for the sake of, you know, fantasy. As usual, feedback is MUCH appreciated!! Let me know your thoughts!! Enjoy <3

⤕  Masterlist  ⤕ Also on AO3 ⤕ Taglist open!

SAMSARA; noun. The cycle of life, death and rebirth.

• • •

It was a perfectly normal morning in the Saint-Clairs’ manor.

The spring weather was perfectly normal – a comfortable temperature; perhaps a bit chilly at the hour, but it would definitely get warmer later on. Perfectly normal birds chirped their melodies, the breeze played with the perfectly normal trees on the backyard. You had just eaten a perfectly normal breakfast, wore a perfectly normal attire – light tones, hair carefully tied up in a perfectly normal bun, almost no rouge on the lips.

You could hear your little nephews playing outside. Perfectly normal. The nannies had trouble educating them, but well, considering their age, that was perfectly normal. Your brother-in-law had already left to his perfectly normal office in the city to take care of his perfectly normal real estate business while your sister was probably reading some of her perfectly normal books.

Everything was perfectly normal.

You just had to prove to Dr. Becker that you were perfectly normal, too.

Your posture was flawless – your hands resting politely over your lap; your expression serene. The wooden crucifix pendant hung from your neck proudly to give a sense of… well… normality. Dr. Becker had already taken his book from his leather suitcase. He sat across from you, legs crossed, adjusting his glasses over his eyes. His suit was perfectly normal. His gray beard was perfectly normal. He read his past annotations in silence for some seconds before lifting his gaze to you and opening a tight smile.

“How have you been these past two months, Miss Salles?” He asked.

His voice was calm and welcoming as usual. All odds considered, you didn’t hate this man. He was just doing his job based on what he believed… well, what everyone believed. You managed to open a small smile.

“I have been feeling very well, Dr. Becker. I believe the airs of the countryside really do me good.”

The doctor chuckled lightly and scribbled something in his notebook. “Oh, I believe you. The Capital is… noisy, isn’t it? And can smell quite bad.” He grimaced playfully.

“It certainly can.” You imitated his chuckle in a demure way.

“So…” He was still scribbling, eyes down. “How have you been spending your time?” His green hawk eyes were upon you again.

“I spend most of my days with my sister.” He took notes. “We’ve been apart for a long time, so… a lot of catching up to do.”

“For sure.”

“We go to church together on Wednesdays and Sundays. We do our prayers in the evening.” He took a quick glance at the crucifix on your chest before taking more notes.

“How do you feel being surrounded by other people during the masses?” He was looking at you again. “Any… sudden discomfort?”

That was his polite way of asking if you’d been panicking in public again.

“No.” That wasn’t a lie. “The church we go to is very calm. Mostly elders.”

“Good. As I have advised.” He nodded whilst taking more notes. “What else do you do?”

“Horse riding. I’ve always loved horses.” Dr. Becker nodded again and smiled.

“There’s some magnificent horses here, aye? I’ve taken a quick glance at the stables. Mr. Saint-Clair sure has great taste.”

“He does.”

“And a lot of space to ride, too. This is great. Being in touch with animals does wonders to the spirit.” More notes. “What else… have you been doing?”

“I spend a lot of time with my nephews, too.” The first time you opened a genuine smile during this conversation. Dr. Becker smiled too while taking more notes.

“They’re sweethearts, aren’t they?”

“Little devils they are.” You giggled. “But yes. I play with them when they’re not studying. They’re wonderful.”

“Your sister told me of the great relationship you have with them. You’ve always liked children, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

There it was.

The way Dr. Becker’s smile tightened. You’d been through this too many times to know what was coming next.

“I’ve come to know you like to tell them stories, too. Mr. Saint-Clair told me… of the bed time stories. About a… how was it called…? A vampire hunter. A witch. And a vampire prince.”

If you were a little less used to this type of interview, your serene expression would have faltered. Your nostrils would have widened in anger. Fucking Julien. Of course he’d think you were hallucinating to his children.

“They’re just bedtime stories.” You shrugged lightly.

Dr. Becker took a deep breath. “Yes, of course, Miss Salles. But… you do understand my concern here, don’t you? Vampirism… and the likes of it… have always been a recurring topic to your panics.”

You scratched your forehead. It was becoming hard to hide your discomfort.

“My nephews are boys. I tell them stories of bravery and heroism. This is the type of tale they like to hear.”

“Sure… but…”

“It’s called imagination, Dr. Becker.” You opened a tight smile. “I know my brother-in-law isn’t quite familiar with the concept, since he’s always so busy with work. But that’s just what it is.”

Maybe you went a little too far.

Dr. Becker looked at you in silence for maybe three seconds. Then, more notes. These notes took longer this time.

“On the topic of imagination. Your sister told me you didn’t have any night terrors these past two months. This is great news.” He looked up at you again. “Have you been taking your medication properly?”

No.

“Yes.”

“Any… nightmares? Strange dreams?”

Yes. Every night.

“No. My sleep has been silent… peaceful.”

“What a relief. Any apparition?”

Many.

“Not at all.”

More and more notes.

Dr. Becker looked to the desk resting behind him and took some papers. “You still paint a lot, I see.”

“Yes. The landscape here is beautiful. It’s impossible to not feel inspired.”

The doctor analyzed the paintings with care. Horses… Hills… Flowers… A portrait of your four nephews… All perfectly normal. All painfully boring. They didn’t like when your paintings got more free or abstract.

“You are very talented, Miss Salles.” That was a compliment, but deep down you knew it wasn’t. “Painting well” was a talent that many crazed women had. “Very beautiful.”

No blood or vampires or witches or demonic symbols is what he probably was scribbling in his notebook.

Dr. Becker put the paintings aside again and looked at you. Really looked at you, analyzed, scrutinized.

“I want you to be honest with me. Brutally honest.” Dr. Becker tightened his eyes. “How are you truly feeling?”

Horrible.

I have migraines. I have nightmares. I feel shivers all the time. I know something bad is going to happen. I have been dreaming of him more than ever. My heart aches whenever I think of him.

But you’re not going to believe me.

So you smiled.

“I feel… at peace. I don’t know if it’s my sister’s company, or the food, or the Spring that makes me feel better. But… I feel that my prayers are finally being answered this time.”

Dr. Becker watched you. Analyzed you. Scrutinized you.

His gaze softened.

“This is wonderful news. I have been praying for your recovery as well, Miss Salles. God is definitely hearing; He always does.”

More notes.

You hoped he was signing your perfectly normal certificate this time.

Your older sister was a perfectly normal woman.

She was your opposite in many ways. Clara always fit. Demure, well-educated, a good Catholic from birth; she always excelled in her studies, she always did what was expected of her. Clara was a good child. She became a coveted lady. She caught the eyes of a fabulously rich man, as was expected of her. She married such man, dropped the Salles last name and became Mrs. Saint-Clair. She gave birth to four perfectly normal and healthy boys, as was expected of her. She was still beautiful and took care of her appearance well despite the four pregnancies, as was expected of her.

All perfectly normal.

But despite everything, you loved her.

She loved you – which was very surprising, considering the general idea perfectly normal people had of you, including your parents. Clara was never embarrassed of you, never wanted to hide you from the face of Earth… though, for most of the time, her feelings didn’t really matter.

Clara was the one who always tried to convince your parents that you were perfectly normal too, despite the fact that you much obviously weren’t. The times you spent not being hospitalized or in boarding schools or in convents (which were just asylums for rich women) were mostly thanks to her efforts – that is, until you’d have another panic attack or night terror or premonition and your parents would want to hide you from society again. This cycle repeated over and over again since you were… eight? Nine? You didn’t even remember.

As soon as your father died a year ago, Clara didn’t wait a week to take you out of the convent. Not only was she the oldest daughter and heiress to the Salles fortune, no one would dare argue with Julien Saint-Clair’s wife. She kindly took you to her home… well, you even tried to live by yourself at the Capital for a while until that happened and you had to come back.

The past six months had been good. Except for… well. Your problem. But you became quite good at pretending you were normal, so good that even Clara started to believe you.

“The appointment was good, I suppose?” Clara said after dinner, when the kids were already put to bed. She sat beside you on the couch with that hopefulness you were used to. “Dr. Becker said you made progress.”

You nodded. So you had succeeded.

“It’s like I told him. The countryside does me good. You and the kids do me good.” You playfully elbowed her side. Clara smiled and sighed.

“I’m so glad to hear that, sister.” She caressed your hair softly. “I’ve never seen you so… calm.”

Oh my dear, you have no idea. You were anything but calm. Your dreams and premonitions became more frequent over the past two months for no reason. But no, you weren’t going to tell her that – not only because Clara was perfectly normal, so although she loved you, she also thought you were insane, therefore you wouldn’t try to explain anything to her. And… you already caused her enough trouble. You didn’t want to bother her with what plagued you anymore, not now that she had her own family to care for.

“I feel calm.”

Clara rested her head on your shoulder. You stayed in silence like that for some moments.

You loved her. You loved her so much. There weren’t many people in his life who treated you with normality or even kindness. While your parents were alive, you were just a freak. A failure. To your religious mother, you were possessed; to your father, you were retarded. To the both of them… you were nothing but a problem. But to Clara, you were a sister – and she made her sons see you as an aunt. You’d always be grateful for that.

Clara played with the embroidery of the skirt of her dress absently.

“I was wondering.” Her voice was quiet and hesitant, which immediately made you feel tense. “Do you still dream of… that man?”

You froze.

“No.” Lie lie lie lie lie. You frowned. “Why are you asking me this all of sudden?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know. I was just… remembering how you used to talk about him when you were younger. Those seemed to be your only good dreams. Right?”

You looked down, hoping she wouldn’t notice the way you gulped.

She was… partially right. Most of the dreams involving him were good. The faceless, nameless man that lived in your head and plagued your nights.

His voice was deep. Husky. Most times, serene. For some reason, you couldn’t see a face… just strands of long, golden hair. A scar crossed over his chest. Kind, reassuring words. Sometimes banter. The warmth of hugs. The heat of kisses. The ringing of laughter.

You’d dreamed of this man since… always. It almost felt as if you knew him. As if he was real.

And that’s precisely what plagued you.

You knew your problem wasn’t insanity – at least, not by the usual conventions of men. Every doctor, every priest, every nun, all of them tried to convince you that your shivers and terrors and dreams were just in your head (or, well, caused by Satan); they tried to make you not believe anything. But you knew they were wrong.

Because the things you saw and dreamed of happened.

You dreamed of your mother’s death five days before she went. You saw her die. You knew she’d have a heart attack at three in the morning, you knew she’d die on bed by your father’s side. You were locked at the convent at the time; you tried to reach for your parents, send them a messenger or a letter or anything, but the nuns simply dismissed it as another insanity fit. No one cared what you said.

She went exactly like that.

When you were nine, you saw your sister fall off a tree and break her arm minutes before it happened – you were on the other side of the house at the moment. The nannies were scared when you told them. Your father brushed it aside.

You knew the Mother Superior from the convent would die choking on an olive seed approximately two weeks before it happened. You didn’t warn anyone – they wouldn’t believe you anyway… and you hated her. You dreamed of your sister’s first pregnancy a month before the good news came. You dreamed of Julien Saint-Clair years before they first met, though Clara judged it was just a coincidence. There were so many more occurrences like that; you had premonitions of trivial things, like what you’d have for dinner tomorrow, or much more serious things like the mentioned above.

There was not a single time when these premonitions didn’t come true.

Which leads you back to that man.

Just why did you keep dreaming of him for years?

For a long time, you foolishly waited – hoped – he’d miraculously show up; a prince on a white horse to save you from your torture. But… you never met him. You never met any of the people that appeared in the dreams he was involved… like the redhead witch. The blue eyed, dark haired warrior.

These dreams were detailed. They were disconnected, like different pieces of a puzzle. Over the years, you managed to thread some sort of… timeline of events that you kept written on a secret journal. Sometimes they ended abruptly. Sometimes, you dreamed of them the entire night.

Your dreams usually depicted future events. These premonitory dreams were short, made you wake up with your heart racing. So the dreams with this man felt… different.

They felt like memories.

But how could you remember something you’d never lived?

You didn’t know. In fact, you understood very little of this problem. You’d never found anyone that actually sat down for a minute and listened to what you had to say without assuming you were insane on the spot. Your family discouraged you from speaking; the Church disapproved any of it, as “magic” and “seeing the future” were “demonic”. So all you could do was sit alone inside your own head and wonder.

You hated all of this. You hated that Clara of all people mentioned him. Just thinking of him made your heart tighten as if you were under physical pain. The man of your dreams… for a long time, you considered him a friend, the only one you had. When you were locked in the asylum that disguised itself as a convent, having not a single person to talk to and being constantly scrutinized, not receiving a visit from your parents for years… as you slept, all you had was him. The serene voice of the faceless man who seemed to love you despite everything.

It didn’t make sense to love someone that only existed in your own head.

You sighed. You weren’t insane, and you weren’t an idiot. Clara wouldn’t touch such subject out of nowhere.

“I am going to ask you again,” you spoke quietly but seriously. “Why are you talking about this all of sudden?”

It was Clara’s turn to sigh.

She straightened her back and turned her body in your direction slightly. Clara held both of your hands, resting them over her lap between you. She avoided your gaze at first.

Here it comes.

“You know I want you to be happy more than anyone in this world, right?”

“I do.”

“You know I love you more than anyone in this world too. Right?”

“I love you too, Clara.” You tightened your eyes slowly.

“And I want you to find love in your life. I… I hope it to be as kind and good as the one you described in your dreams when you were younger.” Your stomach started to twist. Oh no. “And… the kindest, purest love that exists is the love of a mother.”

No no no no no. You knew where this was going. You wanted to vomit.

Clara looked at you and smiled.

“I never thought I’d love anyone as much as I love my babies. Sister, my life… my life became complete with them in a way I can’t even describe. It’s the love of Mary. The love of our Lord.” She hesitated before proceeding. “I believe… I believe this type of love can complete you, too.”

You stiffened.

“Clara. Be direct.”

She gulped.

“Julien… Julien has an associate. A bachelor. He showed great interest in you–“

You immediately let go of her hands.

“Oh, right. Julien.”

“Sister, please…”

You couldn’t help the angry grimace that covered your features, the way you tapped your foot on the floor nervously, the crossing of arms. Julien. Of course he’s been looking for a way to get rid of me. You didn’t hate him – how could you? He actually loved Clara, he gave her four beautiful boys. But you knew he was similar to your father in many ways. He was perfectly normal after all – and you were a problem.

“Listen to me.” Clara continued in a pleading tone. “He’s a respectable man. I’ve already researched his entire life… I’d never let you marry someone indecent.” She hesitated before continuing. “We all knew this was going to happen some time, didn’t we?”

You refused to look at her. Yes, it was childish. Yes, you knew she was right. But it didn’t make anything better.

Clara reached for something on the cabinet near the sofa. It was a silver locket, slightly bigger than a common one.

She offered it.

“His name is Alfred Zardini.”

You took it and opened it reluctantly.

And you almost dropped it.

“He looks fifty!”

Clara took both of your hands forcefully, making you look at her. Right then, she wasn’t talking like a sister – she was talking like a mother.

“Sister. I know this might sound cruel to you, but we must be realistic.” You didn’t like that tone. Not at all. “Mr. Zardini might not be in his prime, but he owns half of this country’s ships. His family is traditional and respected everywhere. The life he can offer you is more than comfortable; he’ll make you a queen. Do you understand how blessed you are? How many women must be fighting to become Mrs. Zardini? And he showed great interest in you!”

“Oh, how extraordinary that any man would willingly court the Salles freak. How blessed I must feel!”

Clara choked on her own words.

“T-That’s not what I meant.”

“It’s exactly what you meant. Didn’t you ask me to be realistic?”

You got up and held your own head, feeling your breath get ragged. You walked from side to side, facing the carpet. You could feel Clara’s embarrassment and guilt fill the room – yet, you refused to look at her.

The Salles freak. The retarded daughter. You knew how people talked about you – sometimes they didn’t even bother talking behind your back. They talked about your night terrors, your hospitalizations, your insanity fits. They whispered and side eyed you. They made these whispers bigger than they actually were.

She’s been a burden to her parents. Now, she became a burden to her sister.

Mr. Saint-Clair is brave for letting her live among his children. Crazed women like that can become very dangerous.

Poor Mr. and Mrs. Salles! They didn’t have a son, and their second daughter is invalid. That’s why Clara is so kind; she always worked to keep this family together.

These were things you heard with your ears and with your mind. That’s what they thought of you. That’s why you avoided attending any social events, no matter how hard Clara insisted.

Were them all even wrong?

“You are not a freak. Don’t talk about yourself like that.” Clara said.

“Does what I think of myself matter?”

“Of course it does. More than anyone else.”

You stopped for a moment and looked at her.

Your dear, dear sister. You knew she was trying her best – she always did. You knew taking care of you wasn’t easy. Yes, you woke up in the middle of the night screaming; sometimes, being in the middle of any crowds was unbearable, made you want to scream and rip your hair off because there were so many emotions and so many thoughts flooding into you. Yes, you knew that dealing with your visions would be scary to anyone perfectly normal.

You knew she was right.

You were twenty seven. You were a famous freak. The fact that this Mr. Zardini was even remotely interested in you was a miracle.

Julien saw you as a problem to be solved, an expense to be cut. Clara was the heiress to the Salle’s estate – and you knew she’d let you live the most comfortable life money could offer – but Julien was responsible over Clara. He owned the estate. He didn’t want to spend more money on you… so he found a substitute.

That’s why he’d been so adamant with the evaluations by Dr. Becker, you finally realized. He really wanted you to have a “perfectly normal certificate” to assure Mr. Zardini that you weren’t that crazy.

Was he even wrong? Shouldn’t women get married at some point? You couldn’t live in their home forever. You were a burden. You always were.

This would never change.

You sighed deeply. Your head hung low.

“I apologize, Clara. I’ve been ungrateful.”

“No!” Clara got up immediately. “No, you’re not. Don’t apologize.”

“I just got surprised. That’s all.” You couldn’t look at her in the eye. “I… I’ll go to bed and we’ll talk about it better tomorrow. Okay?”

“Sure. Sleep well.”

Maybe it looked like Clara wanted to hug you, but you couldn’t bear physical touch right now – so you turned around and left.

Your heart raced. Your mouth was dry. You wanted to cry – oh, please. Not right now. You ran through the corridors, not wanting to be seen by any maid so they could spread even more rumors about you.

You spent years locked by your parents in different institutions. Now, after only a year of freedom… you’d have to be locked to a man again?

You were about to reach your bedroom when you heard a whistle.

You stopped on your tracks.

“Auntie!”

It was Pierre, peeking at you from a breach on his door. He smiled excitedly.

You gulped, immediately swallowing the tears, and smiled too.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“You didn’t finish the story! We want–“

“–To know the rest!”

Oh. It was Gabriel too. They were all awake.

You really, really didn’t want to… but their little faces lured you in. You could feel their excitement vibrating in the air around them, making everything feel lighter.

How could you resist that?

You sighed and entered the room. They squealed in joy.

The four boys were reunited in Pierre’s bedroom, the oldest; he was ten years old. You sat on his large bed, and the others followed.

“Before I continue, I have to ask… which of you gossipers told anyone about our bedtime stories?”

“It wasn’t me!”

“Me neither!”

“Uh… I don’t remember…”

“Oh, sure. No one is to blame.” You crossed your arms, pretending to be angry. They all giggled. “Listen to me. Our stories are secret, aye? Otherwise they’ll lose all the magic.”

“Right, right! We won’t tell anyone!”

“So… where was I…?”

“The warrior and the witch crossed the magic mirror!” Gabriel remembered.

“Ooooh. Right.” You rubbed your hands excitedly. The four boys watched you with widened eyes and giant grins. You had dreamed of these events many times. They were as clear as day in your mind – almost as if they happened yesterday.

Almost as if you were there.

“The warrior and the witch crossed the mirror in time to save the vampire prince. Fire, the witch conjured; chains, the warrior swung. The flames surrounded them, engulfed the black castle in chaos. It was hot, so hot! Hotter than the hotter summer you can thing of. The castle felt like hell on Earth. There were monsters everywhere… and a powerful magician upstairs planning to do something terrible.”

“And what did they do next?” Little Leo asked, his eyes gleamed.

You smirked mischievously.

“What do you think? They fought.”

“Are you seriously hiding here?”

He peeked at her through his lashes.

She stood beside him with her arms on each side of her waist, gazing down at him disapprovingly. It was lighthearted, however. He knew it. The hem of her dress was dirty with mud, as well as the apron around her waist. Her hair, mostly hidden under a colorful scarf.

He liked it. When she looked disheveled and annoyed.

He closed his eyes again and hummed.

“Just five minutes.”

“They’re looking for you. They want to know where the tools are.”

“I already showed Greta.”

“Well, you clearly forgot about that part.”

“Can’t they just… search?”

“The basement is the size of a city. They won’t find anything.”

He sighed again.

“Just five more minutes.”

“You can’t be serious–“

His next movement was swift. He sat up, grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him; his back hit the soft grass under his body. Her head rested over his chest.

She was shocked for a few seconds.

“This was low of you.”

“I know.” He chuckled. His deep voice reverberated in her body. “Just five minutes. I’m serious.”

She sighed, but didn’t move.

He knew that soon, everyone else would find out about this clearing. It was hidden behind thick trees and tall boulders, just a little space in the midst of the dense woods, relatively far from the castle… and the newborn village. These people knew how to navigate inside a forest. Soon, this clearing wouldn’t be a secret anymore. But for now… it was just his bubble of peace, his breath of fresh air from the many voices out there.

That was being more stressful than he first assumed.

“I’m not used to so many people.” He confessed quietly. “They can be loud.”

“I know.” Her voice was as quiet as his, matching his tone. “I’d say you’re doing a great job, though. For a sheltered prince.”

“Of course I’m doing a great job.”

She punched his side playfully.

“Cocky bastard.” He laughed.

“The way they come to ask me things all the time… and make questions and… and Belmont…”

“Trevor can barely walk. He’s still severely injured.”

“His presence annoys me. I can feel his reek from miles.”

“Oh, God.” He couldn’t see it, but he knew she was rolling her eyes. But she laughed. He laughed, too.

She looked up for the first time, resting one of her forearms over his chest. She put a strand of golden hair behind his ear softly. He loved her touch. He loved her warmth. He loved her eyes. Loved, loved, loved.

“Everything will work out in the end.” She said softly. He chuckled.

“It’s already working, my dear. Because you’re here.”

He loved the way she was so fierce and outspoken, but would still open a shy smile whenever he said something like that.

“That was low of you,” she repeated. He held her chin softly, his voice dropping even lower.

“I love to play low.”

He captured her lips on his. They were soft, sweet, as they always were. It rapidly progressed from a small peck to a deep kiss, as it always did. He entangled his fingers around the back of her hair, as he always liked to do; she sat on his lap with her legs on each side of him, as he knew she would do from the start. His hands roamed her body. It spread fire through her skin, to her core, as it always did.

And then, he was sat, with her still on his lap; his lips kissed and licked and sucked on her neck, while it was her turn to grip his hair – as she always did. She bucked her hips on his repeatedly, deliciously, as she always did, igniting every nerve of his body. She was quick to unbutton his pants. She always was. She smiled mischievously when her hand gripped around his hot, hardened member, earning him a soft grunt, guiding it towards her throbbing entrance. She always did.

She always felt amazing. Hot, wet, tight – tight tight tight tight. He loved the sweat dripping over her face, neck, cleavage, the format of her lips. She loved his moans and his whimpers, the obscenities that erupted from his deep voice, his pleasured expression, the blush over his face and chest; he almost looked in pain. He looked glorious. He always did. He locked his strong arms around her waist, as he always did, while she rode him relentlessly, feeling every centimeter of him inside of her, melting and shaking at the way he filled her so perfectly.

They took much more than just five minutes.

They always did.

Alucard stared at the wooden ceiling for a long, long time.

He shouldn’t have slept. He’d been avoiding it for months, just resigning himself to quick naps when his brain couldn’t take it anymore. Well, that was a quick nap. He didn’t expect to dream during it.

To remember it.

He massaged his own forehead, letting a deep groan escape. Shit. It was getting worse. These… dreams. He didn’t know why. Quite honestly, he didn’t want to know why. If he investigated the cause, it meant he’d have to think about it, and he didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to remember it.

But Alucard wasn’t in control of his subconsciousness, unfortunately.

He sat on the bed, feeling his entire body heavy and tired, and pushed his hair back. The lighting from outside indicated night was about to fall… which meant he had an unpleasant task ahead of him. He didn’t have time to think about anything else. He came here for a reason. To lay on bed and brood over the past wouldn’t help him.

Alucard came to this city to hunt.

So he got up and washed himself.

He had been tracking this prey for months, the wicked magician that refused to die. He had many names over the years, but Alucard first met him by the name of Gael. The sick fuck obsessed with immortality. Alucard ignored him back then, but he knew better now. That man became far more powerful and dangerous than he could ever imagine. Ignoring him was a mistake.

Alucard didn’t know what the hell he was doing in the countryside, living among the rich. More importantly – Alucard didn’t know where he was. Gael was a master of disguise; that is why he was able to successfully hide from Alucard for so long.

Quite frankly, the half-vampire was sick of him.

It could be because Gael was a hateful murderer, because Alucard didn’t like him on a personal level, or because he was just very annoyed overall. Sleep deprivation was really starting to get to him. That linked with all these dreams…

Alucard made a conscious effort to never dwell too much into the past. As an immortal, he knew very well how dangerous it could be, how it could poison his soul. Of course… he cherished the ones he loved during his life. He was grateful for the marks they left. But some memories, some people just hurt way too much. Were too unbearable to take.

Like her.

Fuck. Just the thought of her made Alucard feel a sting right in his heart.

How long has it been? Two… three hundred years? In his mind, it felt like yesterday. Why were his memories so vivid? He didn’t remember every moment of his life with such clarity – and he was grateful for that.

But her?

The color and the texture of her hair between his fingers. The warmth of her skin. The sound of her laughter. Every conversation, every disagreement, every joke, every hug, every fight. Every good morning. Every good night.

He remembered everything.

He never forgot her. How could he? Alucard didn’t want to erase her existence from his life; he’d rather feel the agony of longing than the emptiness of never having met her. Even so… to think too much about her hurt, because it didn’t only bring the good memories. It brought the bad ones, too.

It brought back the farewell.

So, he decided to keep her… hidden in his mind, but at the same time, always there. She came back from time to time over the years – a smell that reminded him of her, a flower that matched her hair color, something he knew she’d find funny. Even after all these years, she stayed.

But these vivid dreams didn’t let Alucard remember her in a good but distant way.

They made him miss her. Miss her bad.

So bad that he was starting to lose focus.

He stared at himself in the mirror while adjusting his cravat. The curse of immortality kept him the same, except for his hair that completely lost their golden color over the years. Perhaps that made everything worse. A constant reminder that everything had an end; everything went. Everything forgot.

Alucard didn’t.

He sighed deeply and attached the sword in his belt.

There wasn’t time to think of any of it.

He had to hunt.

The ceremony hall of the Saint-Clair’s manor was crowded.

Well – as crowded as a high society ball could be. Prestigious families from all over the city came over, wearing their most impressive attires; an explosion of colors, silk and diamonds. Soft music played by a very competent band filled the halls. Conversations, laughter, the smell of wine and champagne… all very luxurious, all very proper.

Alucard would rather tap dance barefoot on broken glass than be there.

But he didn’t have much of a choice – not when he knew Gael would attend.

The stench of his magic was everywhere, made Alucard want to vomit. All of these humans, innocently walking around and talking, had no idea of the creature that loomed over the hall. Because that was what Gael became – he could barely be categorized as a human anymore, let alone a vampire. He was a thing. An entity.

He was disguised.

He could be anyone.

Gael was smart. He imbued his presence everywhere, and did so well that everyone smelled like him – that old lady, that waiter, that musician… all of them. Alucard couldn’t simply attack. He had to gather information; he had to wait.

And no, he wasn’t trying to hide himself.

He knew the quick glances people took at him – some not so quick – and the whispers. The blushing. Alucard was taller than almost everyone else, it was impossible to go unnoticed. Not that he cared. He wanted Gael to see he was there. If Gael stayed, Alucard would find him one way or another; if Gael tried to flee, it would make Alucard’s life even easier. His absence in the city would stand out like a sore thumb. It’d be even easier to track him.

Unfortunately, that meant he’d have to behave for now.

He wouldn’t be able to hunt the way he wanted. No… he’d have to be polite and small talk. Because for these people, he wasn’t Alucard.

He was Duke Tepes.

“Mr. Tepes!”

Alucard turned around to see Julien Saint-Clair approach with a broad smile. The man hadn’t changed much since the last time he saw him three years ago… maybe his hairline was starting to recede. Alucard was glad to not know him for that long, otherwise Julien would find his unchanging appearance strange.

None of these people suspected Alucard wasn’t human, of course.

Mankind was changing rapidly. After Erzsebet Bathory’s failed attempt to rule the world decades ago, vampires got scared (for lack of a better word) and decided to hide more than they ever did. So, slowly, the fear inherent to humans was fading; the rise of technology, of easier global travels, of new discoveries, made mankind not look into what they couldn’t see anymore. Mothers didn’t warn their children about the dangers of the night. Fathers didn’t carry silver knives for protection.

This newer generation didn’t even believe vampires or magic existed.

Which was both good and bad. Good because it became easier for Alucard to simply blend in; when they looked at his pale skin or prominent fangs, they didn’t immediately assume he wasn’t human, because that would be illogical. At the same time… it made humans more fragile. How could they protect themselves against something they didn’t even believe existed?

In other words, Alucard had a lot of work to do everywhere.

Including there at the Saint-Clair’s manor.

He gave Julien’s hand a firm shake. “It’s an honor to see you here, my friend.” The man said. “Did you have a comfortable travel?”

“As comfortable as possible.” Alucard offered him a tight, humorless but polite smile.

Julien chuckled. “Yes, I believe coming all the way from Wallachia can’t be easy. Here, let me introduce you to some of my friends…”

Oh, there were so many excited to meet the Duke of Wallachia. Such a mysterious man. I heard he’s fabulously rich. I heard he owns a diamond mine. I heard he’s hard to approach. I heard he’s single. I’d like to be the mother of his children.

Alucard wanted to die.

It was hard to divide his attention between these empty conversations and finding Gael. The stench – it was disgusting. The pressure of Gael’s presence was like black mud dripping from the walls, from the tall curtains, made the marble floor sticky; every person present was drenched in this black mud, their teeth were dirty with it, their expensive attires drenched – but no one else could sense that, and that made Alucard go insane. How blind did humanity become? How can they not feel this?

Why did I let Gael get so powerful?

He silently stood in a circle of men – all rich heirs to different types of fortunes he didn’t care about – absently watching the champagne bubbles play inside the glass he held while they talked about… oh, he wasn’t paying attention. Any strange voice… any disturbance… his ears traveled far. He needed a hint. Any hint. Anything–

The man beside him gasped softly and looked back. Alucard didn’t remember to his name. It immediately caught his attention.

“Look who just arrived,” the man said, not necessarily at Alucard.

It seemed that the entire hall stopped for a moment to watch. It was weird.

Alucard frowned and turned around towards the entrance of the hall–

And the world stopped.

It stopped. Went silent. Went empty. Like reality itself cracked in front of his eyes.

Alucard couldn’t breathe anymore.

There were two women entering the hall.

They looked alike, probably sisters. The one that looked the oldest and had a large smile walked in front; she wore a deep purple ball gown. Pretty pearl earrings and a necklace decorated her skin. Julien Saint-Clair rushed to grab her by the arm, and Alucard immediately understood that was his wife, hence the commotion; she was the Mistress of that house.

But he didn’t pay attention to her. Not at all.

The woman walking behind her.

The younger one.

She wore an emerald green dress that let her shoulders and collarbones apparent. The tight corset, puffy sleeves and skirt had golden lines weaved into them. A diamond necklace sat over her collarbones with matching earrings. White embroidered gloves covered her hands.

Alucard could pretend that his breathing halted because the newcomer was beautiful – more beautiful than any other woman in the hall.

But that wasn’t the truth.

It was her.

The same the same the same. She looked the same. Exactly the same as the woman from his memory, the woman he saw as clear as day in his dream earlier that day. The woman that never left his mind. The woman that he loved with every fiber of his being.

The lover that died over three hundred years ago.

Alucard blinked, tried to recompose himself. No, this can’t be true. Stop that. It’s just… she’s just similar– no, not just similar; she’s identical. He felt his fingertips shaking as if a magical attack had pierced his soul, managed to crack his nonchalant façade. How can it be? How can someone be so similar to her…?

She wasn’t stained by that black mud, Alucard noticed. The only one that didn’t reek.

Gael. You have to focus on Gael. Stop that.

All of it happened in the course of three seconds.

“Sweet mother of Jesus,” the man beside him said under his breath. “That’s a sight for sore eyes.”

“Has she ever been this beautiful?” Another man whispered.

“I don’t even remember seeing her since she was fifteen.”

Alucard tightened his eyes slowly. So… he wasn’t the only one paying attention. Why was everybody else so shocked?

Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Don’t ask–

“Who is she?” Alucard asked.

The man gave him a knowing smile.

“Miss Salles. Mrs. Saint-Clair’s younger sister. She’s a jewel, ain’t she?” The man chuckled. “But you don’t want that kind of trouble into your life, no matter how pretty it looks. Trust me.”

Alucard’s quirk of brow was enough of a question. The man took another sip of his champagne.

“That pretty thing is crazy.” The other men beside him giggled. Alucard didn’t like that… not at all. “I mean… clinically insane. She brought so much trouble to the Salles Family that I don’t even know how Mrs. Saint-Clair managed to save her reputation from her sister’s shadow.”

“Well, Alfred already made sure to keep her out of everyone’s reach.” The other man beside him said. “He’s going to court her.”

“Mr. Zardini?! I didn’t know that.”

“My wife knows it all.” He giggled. “Well, looking at her right now… the man might be a genius, aye? I bet a bit of insanity is worth it if he gets all that in the end.”

“But isn’t she too old already? Can she even bear children?”

Alucard felt more and more disgusted.

He wasn’t listening to their futile talks anymore. He tried not to, but his eyes unconsciously traveled to her figure again. Ms. Salles stayed closer to her sister; although she had a small smile and offered polite curtsies, he could see she was immensely uncomfortable. Almost like she wanted to run away.

How could she not, when all of these people were whispering absurdities about her?

He felt bad.

God, she is identical. She really is.

It wasn’t the first time Alucard met people similar to someone he met or loved in the past. How many Trevors and Syphas and Gretas had he already encountered? But… but like that? Identical like that?

Was she really all that identical, or was his mind playing tricks on him?

Maybe if he got a little closer… maybe if he heard her voice…

No. No no no no. That’s not why you’re here. You came to hunt Gael. He’s certainly in this hall with you. He has to be captured. He has to be stopped.

Alucard looked around. The musical group began a different tune, and couples started to walk to the center to dance. Gael. You must find Gael. He can be anyone. Pay attention, sharpen your senses; focus, focus…

“Look. Zardini is going to make a move.” The man beside him caught his attention again. They watched in expectation.

A tall bearded man that looked to be in his fifties slowly crossed the hall. He wore an imposing and expensive suit. His chest was filled, his chin was high with confidence.

He made his way towards the younger Salles sister.

Towards her.

And then, Alucard forgot about Gael.

He forgot how to control his body. He placed his glass of champagne on some waiter’s tray. His feet walked on their own. He crossed the hall at a nonchalant, yet speedy pace.

Alucard stopped in front of her before Zardini could.

The world stopped.

Identical. Identical. She’s identical.

Alucard didn’t let his astonishment show.

His face was a mask of serenity; in his lips, a small lip tightened smile. Her eyes widened. She let a small gasp of surprise.

The entire hall stopped breathing when Alucard bowed politely, his left arm behind his back, his right hand offered to her, and said:

“Ms. Salles, may I have this dance?”

[yuvany]

#LOVE IN THE AIR

𝐄𝐍𝐇𝐘𝐏𝐄𝐍 and their date ideas𐙚

OT7 ENHYPEN x Female reader ;; CONTENT/WARNING(S) :: fluff + est relationship + kisses + not proofread. . . WORD COUNT . 964 ;; CHECK BOX !!

yu-note :: writer's block is kicking in again, and school work is piling up...

( reblogs + feedback always appreciated !! )

𝗟𝗘𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗡𝗚 - KARAOKE

Serenades you as much as he can. Sings ballads, pop songs about love and some of his own music. You cheer him on and clap to the beat of the music and applaude after each round. He courtesy in a low bow in a joking manner before walking over to you, holding the microphone in front of him, asking you to sing this time. "I can't sing, Hee." You try to avoid the microphone that is getting closer and closer to you. "Don't lie, I've heard you sing in the shower, sweetie." You are embarrased by this and you feel your cheek turn red as you grip onto the handle. Heeseung chuckles and press a soft kiss to your cheek.

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗝𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗦𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗚 - COOKING

He invited you over to his place. At first, he did most of the cooking as you watched him from the side lines, but you weren't complaining. Jay was certainly art to look at. Later though, he realises that he accidentally left you out. "baby, come here." He motions for you to stand beside him. "Yes?" You ask and he takes out a glass pan from the storage underneath the oven. "please layer the lasanga while I wash the dishes." Jay pats you on the back before walking over to the sink and letting the water run. When you're finished, you wait for him before putting it in the oven. Jay returns and sees that you've done an awesome job, and he rewards you with a kiss.

𝗦𝗜𝗠 𝗝𝗔𝗬𝗨𝗡 - POTTERY

Thought it would be nice as he likes doing new stuff. You entered the workshop with aprons on you, the instructor walked in and introduced herself, explaining the short agenda. After the short walk-through, you and Jake are left to experiment with the clay on your own. You decided to make a smll heart shaped pot with low edges to give to Jake, and he had a similar idea. As you knead into the clay and shape it into your desired form, you snatch glances at him with his tounge out and you can't contain your smile. The two of you paint them together, and then walk out of there proudly. "I think you'll like what I made." He says. "I think you'll like mine too." You reply.

𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙆 𝙎𝙐𝙉𝙂𝙃𝙊𝙊𝙉 - PHOTOGRAPHY

Sunghoon had already envisioned you as his model weeks before he finally asked you to go to a park with him. His hand let go of your waist as he sees a beautiful garden and asks if he could take a photo of you. "Here?" You ask, walking over to where he is pointing, he nods and picks up the camera that hung from his neck. "Now strike a pose, baby." You followed and heard the shudder of the camera go off. Sunghoon takes a look at it before smiling to himself. You are curious and walk over to him and try to sneak a glance at it. He sees this and shows you. "Let me take a picture of you now." You offer with a sweet smile and he nods. "I'm sure you'll do great."

𝗞𝗜𝗠 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗢𝗢 - DIY CRAFTS

Wanted to stay inside with blankets and pillows making a fortress around the two of you as you observe a youtube video on how to make a paper bouquet. Papers of different colours were scattered all over the floor with the ipad admist all the chaos. It felt like an impossible tast to finish, but Sunoo manages to do the difficult past faster than you, and you plead for him to do it for you as well. "Honey, pleasee." He eventually gives in with a roll of his eyes after rejecting it a couple of times. After creating the first flower, Sunoo accidentally scrunched the paper and gives up. "For you, my love." He hands you the single flower he made with a wide smile and the two of you burst into laughter.

𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗪𝗢𝗡 - CAFE HOPPING

It was initially a normal walk, but he spotted a new cafe that had opened and was itching to try it, so he pulled you along with him. The sound of a bell was heard upon entering the small atmosphere. He holds your hand as you two look at the menue by the register, and you tell him what you want to order, and he orders for you while you go and search for a seat. He finds you and shrug off his jacket and hangs it on his chair. "They also had your favourite here, so I ordered that as well, babe." Jungwon says and you nod. "Strawberry cake?" You question and he nods. "I heard that there's another popular shop a couple of minutes away from here, wanna go?" You see the excitement in his eyes, and can't tell him no.

𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗥𝗜𝗞𝗜 - PAINTING

He is talented for sure. He invited you over to a workshop with him. His plan was to impress you with his talent, and you are indeed impressed by how well he can paint. If you're an artist yourself, Riki will sit and watch you in awe, his mouth hanging agape as he observes the brush sliding acorss the canvas. If you don't know how to draw or paint, worry not. He comes and saves you. Riki holds your hand that holds the brush and guides you through each step. When doing individual projects, he sneaks peaks at you from above the canvas and paints you a portrait of yourself. "I have a gift for you." He says, and you try to see what he's hidng behind his back, but he moves aside and hands you it before backing away shyly waiting for your reaction, "It's wonderful."

[navybrat817]

How often does Dad!Bucky get hit on when he's in the baby aisle grabbing diapers?

A lot, Cia! And you get to see it one day.

The Dad Diaries: Diaper Aisle

Pairing: Dad!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: You witness a woman flirting with Bucky, but you don't react the way you expect. Word Count: Almost 1.2k Warnings: Fluff, flirting, reflecting, first time dad, slight feels (it's me), parenthood, random woman thirsty for Bucky (we get it), Bucky Barnes (he's a warning and a dad, okay?). A/N: Next part of The Dad Diaries and from your perspective. Hope you lovelies enjoy. ❤️ Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

Bucky doesn’t like to make a big deal out of people flirting with him. For starters, he’s a married man and has made it clear that he has no intention of ever stepping out on you. He would never. You are his wife and soulmate, the love of his life, and the mother of his child. You’re all he needs.

Second, he’s unassuming. You tell him regularly how handsome he is, but he isn’t arrogant about his looks and doesn’t think every woman who looks his way has the intention of hitting on him. He may give a polite smile or nod if he catches someone staring, but will immediately divert his attention back to the task at hand, such as getting those diapers for Jamie.

Fatherhood is sexy on him.

“Your Dada is amazing,” you say to Jamie as you wait beside your cart for Bucky to grab the box.

You smile to yourself when a woman nearly runs her cart into the shelving when Bucky walks past. Not that you blame her for staring. With his luscious locks flowing free, his worn jean jacket fitting like it was made for him, and the sweatpants leaving little to the imagination, you would’ve gawked at him, too.

Which you did earlier and were now.

“Excuse me,” the woman calls out loudly, making Bucky pause as he puts the box under his arm. “So sorry to bother you, but would you mind grabbing a jar for me off the top shelf? I would really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” he says, giving you a small smile from across the aisle as he goes to help the woman.

You wait patiently as the lady thanks him with a grin. You get why she wants Bucky close by. Beyond his overall gorgeousness and kindness, he displays a responsible side of himself when he walks through the baby aisle. He never carries himself in a way that says he’s annoyed or inconvenienced by being there. Carefully selecting the diapers and anything else needed shows how attentive he is. And responsible.

You understand the appeal.

Though, you do wish the lady would stop undressing your husband with her eyes. You practically hear her inhale when he’s close enough. He does smell good, but does she have to step into his space?

“This one?” Bucky asks.

The woman has to blink a few times before she responds. “Oh, sorry. The one next to it. You really are too kind,” she answers, sweeping her gaze over him from head to toe as he reaches over for another jar. You have to bite the inside of your cheek when she takes it from his hand. “It’s too bad you can’t help me bring this stuff in when I get home.”

Yeah, it is too bad.

Clearing his throat, Bucky nods in your direction. “Well, my son might miss me if I’m away for too long. And I’ll miss him and my wife.”

The woman goes rigid as she looks your way. “Your wife?”

Bucky smiles from ear to ear when you wave. “Yeah, my wife,” he proudly states, making your heart skip a beat.

Any jealousy or bad feeling you have slips away when you see some of the light leave the woman’s eyes and the sag in her shoulders. It’s almost like seeing her in a different light because you know how you’ve felt since giving birth. At times, you feel less attractive than normal, that your body won’t be the way it used to be. You wonder if Bucky still wants you.

And you want to be seen.

While you don’t know her story, you understand the need to feel wanted and desired. It doesn’t go away when you become a mother. You don’t even know if she is a mother or if she’s in the aisle shopping for a sister, friend, or someone else. Maybe her partner isn’t giving her the attention she needs. Maybe she isn’t with anyone.

Maybe she just needed a win today.

“Take care,” Bucky says politely before he walks toward you, leaving the woman alone to stare after him. “Anything else we need?” He asks once he puts the diapers on the bottom of the cart, giving Jamie a small tickle and making all three of you smile.

“I think we’re good,” you say, glancing down the aisle. You could grab Bucky’s hand and stake your claim as the woman makes eye contact with you, but you give her a small nod and a sympathetic smile instead before you push the cart away. “That was nice of you to help her,” you say once you’re out of sight.

Bucky raises an eyebrow as he glances your way. “I don’t usually say this outright, but I’m pretty sure she was hitting on me.”

“Oh, she was,” you agree.

“Does that bother you?” He asks, brushing a kiss to your temple and making your heart race.

You shake your head as you think about it. “It did at first because it’s only natural to feel that way, but it went away pretty quickly. I have no reason to feel jealous or defensive. If it would’ve been bad or crossed a line, I would’ve stepped in. But you proudly proclaimed that I’m your wife and she backed off right away. And I know you’re coming home with Jamie and I, so why would I let it bother me?” you explain, spotting something soft in his gaze.

Like he’s amazed by you.

“That makes sense,” he says.

“I can only hope that someone like you comes along for her,” you add, your heart going out to the stranger.

The blue of Bucky’s eyes shine a bit brighter when you catch his gaze. “I love you,” he says so tenderly that you feel butterflies in your stomach and heart.

“I love you, too,” you promise before you nudge him. “And you know what? I don’t fault her at all. You know what wearing those pants does to people. It’s like some sort of sexy magic.”

His nose crinkles as he laughs, the sound making a few turn their heads. Once again, you don’t blame them for gawking. “Did you just say ‘sexy magic’ in front of our son? Is that why you like these pants?”

“Oh, yeah. You put a spell on me,” you smirk before you smile gently at your son. “And I’m very lucky for that because now I have you.”

You don’t know it yet, but Bucky will write in his diary to Jamie about how you handled yourself today. How you could’ve stormed over and grabbed him or made a snide comment to the woman, but you didn’t. And that if you felt jealous, even for a moment, you didn’t let it cloud your judgement. You know when to observe and when you need to step in. You know when to lead with your heart.

Just one of the many reasons Bucky Barnes considers himself lucky to call you his wife and the mother of his child.

And no matter how many times he gets hit on in the diaper aisle, he’ll always come home to you.

I adore this family. Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[totalswag]

could you do something with singer!reader, like her and drew fight before she goes on stage so she goes hard on please please please and everyone looks at drew

don't bring me to tears ⎯ DREW STARAKEY.ᐟ

authors note thank you for the request lovie. this was such a fun writing experience. feedback is always appreciated <3.

taglist ✎ ̼ if you would like to be notified every time i post you will type in your username then be all set to go.

masterlist

summary getting in an argument with your boyfriend before stepping on stage and going hard singing please please please.

warning(s) argument, tension, cursing, emotional, relationships.

You stood on stage ready for the next song to start playing. Taking a deep breath while smiling out the thousands of fans in front of you. The crowd grows louder as you pull the mic closer to your mouth.

"Please please please don't prove I'm right" you and your two vocalist sing together in harmony. Keeping your eyes up to the ceiling repeating in your head⎯it will all be okay.

Everything in your body was on cloud nine. Prior to stepping on stage, Drew and you had an argument in your dressing room. The argument was unnecessary and left you both conflicted, leaving unsolved tension.

Your voice begins soft and satin-smooth, but with a jagged edge. Every line is loaded with emotion⎯not just sadness, but also pride. Defiance. You move around the stage with deliberate grace, keeping your movements flowing and simple. One hand lifts to your waist, the other slowly moves down the curve of the mic stand, and when you sing

I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand-up guy.

Your voice sending a clear message who you're talking about. Looking around the crowd as you typically do singing this part. Your hands make a hand motion as you mention, "stand-up guy."

The writing process of this song meant a lot to you. Around this time, you met Drew and your relationship was getting serious. This song was almost like a playful warning.

Your makeup is flawless. Your skin glows under the golden stage lights. But your body language? Your posture? There’s tension coiled like a spring under the glamour. A little sway of your hip, a flick of your wrist⎯graceful, but there’s venom in the rhythm.

Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice.

With your hand on your chest and other holding the mic as you stood in the center of the stage with your eyes closed as you sang the last note of the chorus. You felt every emotion flow through your body as you told yourself to not actually cry on stage.

Drew stood in the vip section where close friends and family were typically placed. He knew exactly what you were doing on stage. Hearing the tone in your voice and body language in during certain movements gave it away in his eyes.

I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherfucker, ah, please please please.

Your voice sent a message to the fans. Your voice sounded dramatic with a hint of a giggle at the end. There were fans that looked in Drew's direction wondering what's going on.

Prior to the show starting, Drew and you had this big fight in your dressing room about rumors spreading around about your relationship. It started off stubble then took a turn for the worst. You trust Drew with all your heart and with a rumor constantly going around about him "cheating" on you.

It started off normal then tension in the room went up.

When you finished singing the song, you took a deep breath, staring in Drew's direction⎯giving him that look he knows too well. You knew you two needed to find a solution from this after the show.

totalswag's taglist

ᢉ𐭩 if you would like to be added to my taglist and be notified whenever i post please let me know in the comments or in my ask box. if there's a line across your name that means i couldn't find your accounttotalswag's taglist

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[goquokka00]

SKZ vs Shark Week (Seungmin ver.)

How would each member of Stray Kids handle you while you're on your period?

BANGCHAN | MINHO | CHANGBIN | HYUNJIN JISUNG | FELIX | SEUNGMIN | JEONGIN

WARNING: This is a female reader going through their period. If the topic of a period/anything that has to do with a period makes you uncomfortable, then don't read it. Just remember that there's nothing wrong with a woman's period. It's a perfectly healthy body function :)

THE MOODS Let's put this in the best way we possibly can. You were a bit of a prick. You were snippy, and you were extremely irritable. Any noise that was too loud, any topic that you hated, even just the tiniest noises that really sent you to sensory overload just had you explode. A perfect match for someone like Seungmin.

What did he do? Well, if you expected him to argue back, he surprisingly didn't. He was really compliant, apologizing before making up for whatever it was that he did by giving you sweet treats or getting you that plushie you said you wanted (and he called you a baby for wanting it).

And once that mood lifted, he'd do what any normal human would do and teased the shit out of you for it. Duh.

THE BLOOD Your flow was pretty damn heavy. So heavy, you were stuck wearing two sets of product, usually a tampon and a pad. You hated laying down, you hated going out, and you hated having to walk around after sitting for a bit. And there were times when you'd leak. It was practically inevitable.

But again, Seungmin would usually hold his tongue and help you out in whatever way he could. If you wanted a coffee, he'd go and get you a coffee. If you ended up leaking, he'd lovingly chuck his hoodie at you so you could cover the visible blood. Ah, love at it's finest.

THE PAIN The pain you felt was extremely tender breasts. Hell, every part of your body was just in pain, but the breasts hurt the worst. And you didn't want ANYONE touching you. You'd usually sit yourself on the couch and just get comfortable while dealing with the pains going around on your body.

And Seungmin would, again, get you what you needed. You needed the heating pad? He'd go and get it for you. You wanted food? He'd hurl a bag of chips at you. You wanted water? He was on it.

And since he couldn't really cuddle or hold you, He'd usually sit beside you and hold your hand, letting you play with his fingers while you'd sit in your corner on the couch. Whatever made you happy.

THE PRODUCT Simply put, Seungmin whined and complained when you asked him to go and get period products. He was one of those that felt awkward being the guy in the section, and couldn't understand why you couldn't just go and run quick before your period started.

But because he loved you, he supposed he could make a quick run. And by quick run, it was go to the store, grab the pads or tampons that looked right, buy it at the self check out, and then go straight home. All of which was done with a very red face, and him saying "You owe me big time after this".

As for used product, he didn't really care. It was blood. Yeah, it was coming out of your vagina, but it was still blood. It wasn't any different than blood that came from your nose or arm. And if someone complained about it, Seungmin would just roast them halfway to hell. Why? You were his girlfriend, and periods were natural. And if they had a problem with that, then he had a problem with them.

Hey! Firstly, thank you so much for reading this post, and I really hope you enjoyed! If you did, please like, reblog, or comment so I can see how I'm doing with writing and getting feedback! I hope you have a lovely day! Sleep well, stay in good health, and eat something if you haven't! ❤️❤️❤️

Taglist: @miss-daisy04 @kayleefriedchicken @wolfs-archive @stayyyyyyyyyyyy21 @wolfs-howling @rose-w-00-d @skzlover24

[perfectlyoongi]

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who takes showers with you just for the intimacy. it was the silence of the moment, the purity of the intimacy, the way you two felt so comfortable with each other with something that had become so vile and perverse by society, that made Taehyung venerate your baths together; no words, just Taehyung's gentle touch across your body, as you rest on his chest and feel the tranquility of your love. “i like this, you know? of our intimacy. how none of us feel obliged to be something other than ourselves.”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who only trusts your opinion when it comes to his clothes. before leaving the house or when he goes shopping, Taehyung always asks your opinion about his outfit, patiently waiting for your honest reaction, never feeling bad when the feedback comes back negative — after all, he just wanted to continue to impress you, it was only your opinion that mattered. “tomorrow i have to buy a new coat. do you want to come with me? i would like to have your opinion.”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who loves coming home and lying down with you, his head resting on your chest. Taehyung couldn't live a whole day without having your affection; in an extremely stressful and quite complicated job, it was in your arms that Taehyung found peace and serenity, the way you touched his hair, his face, his arm, took Taehyung to a distant land of dreams and rest. “today was so tiring. all i could think about was how you would be here for me and make me feel good again.”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who takes your perfume with him on tour, just so he can deal with missing you. it was a simple memory, something that could last the long weeks of touring the world without ever losing its value; your perfume was intoxicating, something so delicate and beautiful that made Taehyung remember all the hugs and kisses and caresses and moments he had spent with you. “i promise i won’t spend it all. please. i really need something that reminds me of you or i'll go crazy. seriously!”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who accompanies you on any and all purchases you make just to share some mundane time with you. whether it was for groceries or clothes, an electronic item or a gift for someone, Taehyung was always by your side, giving his opinion, holding your hand and always walking with a smile on his lips because he was next to the one he loved. “oh, do you need help picking a gift? i don't mind going with you. can i? i just want to feel normal for a moment. please.”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who watches the stars and clouds with you while trying to discover shapes and meanings among them. lying on the grass, your head on his belly, you and Taehyung told stories with the various shapes you saw in the sky, laughter flowing as naturally as time passed, endless memories of tales created comforting your hearts. “that star is so bright! oh, and next to it those stars form a heart. see? even the heavens believe that our future will be bright.”

BOYFRIEND!TAEHYUNG who only said he loved you when you confessed first, a huge weight leaving his heart as soon as the words left his mouth. as soon as he heard your confession, Taehyung's heart began to beat quickly without having any time to assimilate what he just had heard, his words running after yours to try to embrace them. “oh, thank god. yes. finally. i love you. i love you. i love you so much. oh my god.”

[zosan-secondchances]

The Pirate King of the North: Part 2 with Concept Art

Main Themes: Villain Sanji, Alternate Universe, Zosan Ship

Warning: Long post ahead and some One Piece spoilers. Contains strong language.

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 (Special) | 19

Let's go back a touch to when old Sanji reunited with his Zoro after the arm incident.

Sanji

I'm back Marimo-kun~! Sorry I was gone for so long!

Zoro

What the–? How the fuck did you get into my house?!

Sanji

Turns out I got this genetically-modified body so my limbs are practically replaceable! This isn't normal, right?

Commander 1

My Liege, we still need to attach the rest of the flesh.

Sanji

Oh, shush it now. I know it's just for padding at this point.

Anyway! This means we can keep fighting! Isn't that wonderful? I know your dad doesn't fight with that red-head anymore because of it.

Zoro

Dad? What are you…? Forget it. You're a freak. Get out. Now.

Sanji

Is…is it the hair? I thought I'd try something new…. I spent so long fixing it up for you. Do you not like it?

Zoro

Wait, what is that?

Sanji

Oh! This thing on my hand? It's a get-well-soon gift from my dear Doffy! He said I should at least try and make the fight fair for us so you won't get bored of me. What do you think?

Zoro

Fair? What do you mean fair?! And who the fuck is Doffy–?

Sanji

So many questions! Marimo-kun, I'm actually just here to propose. Let's go and get married!

Zoro

This…this must be some kind of a sick joke.

Sanji

I'm plenty serious actually. Come now, it'll be fun! If you marry me I'll give you all the sake you want~!

Zoro

You're barking mad if you think I'd agree to that.

Sanji

Commander, please present the dowry.

Darling, do you accept sea cows or do you prefer gold?

Zoro

Get the hell out of my house!!

Sanji

Hmm…you're right. I'm not doing this properly. Hey, is your dad still at Kuragaina? And was that a yes to sea cows?

Zoro

OUT!!!

This is Sanji's first of many marriage proposals.

---

Later in the week, a certain captain is over at Zoro's.

Law

You don't have to marry the man. Just get on his good side enough to get the information. I don't care how you do it.

Zoro

You ask too much this time, surgeon.

Law

Oh, for fuck's sake–you owe me. And I'm cashing in.

Zoro

Fine. But I'm only doing this for Luffy. What do you need exactly?

Law

I need to know if someone's still alive…. It's only a rumour but it would kill me I'd I don't find out for sure. And only he might know it.

Zoro

A friend of yours?

Law

You can say that.

Zoro

What's the name?

Law

It's…the Marines call him Corazon.

----------

Notes: I'm still exploring how to do dialogue the way my brain lays it out in my head. I've written scripts for storyboarding purposes before but Tumblr layout won't let me do what I need so bullet points it is. Oh well! Depending on feedback I might change it up.

[lelengerine]

pairing. tokuno yushi x reader

synopsis. a silly mistake has yushi thinking about you for days

tags. college cafe drabble, just a lot of fluff, in the member's pov bc i like writing inner dilemmas, mentions of food, reader uses she/her prns... i think that's it! (lmk if anything was missed)

wc. 0.8k words

notes. my first work for the year and its for the wishies (i hope u all don't mind me writing for them now hehe) 🥺 also what do we think of this new banner style 👐👐 likes and feedback are highly appreciated!

꒰ m.list ꒱

yushi thinks he’s losing it.

it started last week—when he met you.

his friends had begged him to check out a cafe near campus, throwing around excuses about needing a change of scenery to study. yushi knew better. studying was always the last thing on their minds when they were together. but when riku slung an arm around his shoulders and sion dangled the promise of good coffee in front of him, he couldn’t find it in himself to say no.

the cafe was warm and cozy, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries. yushi didn’t think much of it at first. it was just another cafe, just another outing with his friends.

but then he saw you.

you were standing behind the counter, adjusting the straps of your apron before glancing up at him with a small smile. the soft, golden lights of the cafe reflected in your eyes, giving them an almost starry quality. his friends wasted no time rattling off their orders to him, not even sparing a second glance before they darted off to claim a table. now he was left standing there, brain inexplicably stalling as if some pop up screen was blocking it from functioning normally.

“hi! what can i get you?” you asked, your voice bright and clear.

“um… uh, what was it… two raspberry lattes and a caramel soda?”

“i think you meant two raspberry sodas and a caramel latte,” you corrected gently, a small laugh slipping out as you tapped the order into the register.

yushi felt like sinking into the floor at that very moment. “r-right, those please.”

“that’ll be fifteen dollars in total. can i have your name, please?”

“my name?” he echoed dumbly, his voice cracking slightly.

you tilted your head, clearly amused. “so you can claim your drinks when they’re ready, silly.”

“oh- right.” his hand fumbled with his wallet, nearly dropping his card in the process. the tips of his ears burned, and he could already hear sion and riku laughing if they had seen this. “it’s yushi.”

“okay! here you go.” you handed him his change and a buzzer, your fingers brushing his ever so briefly. “you can pick up your drinks when it starts beeping.”

“i… i knew that,” he mumbled, gripping the buzzer tightly like it was a lifeline that would save him from his ever growing embarrassment.

“just making sure.” you winked playfully before turning your attention to the next customer.

yushi moved out of the line on autopilot, his heart thudding loudly in his chest. by the time he reached his friends, he realized he hadn’t even thanked you. the thought lingered even after he had already retrieved the drinks, silently gnawing at him as his friends started chatting about some new game release.

it wasn’t anything special, so why did his mind keep recalling the way you laughed? or the mischievous glint in your eyes when you teased him?

“hey, class ended like five minutes ago, and you’re usually the first one out as soon as the bell rings.”

huh?

yushi blinked, realizing he’d been staring blankly at his notebook. sion was leaning on his desk, one eyebrow raised, his messenger bag slung carelessly over his shoulder.

“your mind’s been absent all day,” riku added, tossing a pen into his backpack with a practiced flick. he nudged yushi’s chair with his foot. “whatcha thinking about, hmm?”

“nothing,” yushi muttered, shoving his notebook into his bag with a little more force than necessary.

sion crossed his arms, a sly grin spreading across his face. “oh, it’s definitely something. wait a second- this started last week, didn’t it? at the cafe.”

riku’s eyes widened as he snapped his fingers. “it’s the barista, isn’t it?!”

yushi froze, his ears instantly turning red and his friends could already tell what that implies without him needing to even speak.

“dude, you’re so obvious.” sion plopped down on the desk next to yushi’s, leaning in with a teasing grin. “you’ve been zoning out ever since we went there. what, are you gonna ask her out or just keep replaying that little meet-cute in your head?”

“i barely know her,” yushi snapped, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he stood. “and i don’t even—”

“you don’t even what?” riku cut in, blocking his path with a smirk. “like her? think about her every day? want to go back just to see her?”

yushi groaned, burying his face in his hands. “you’re both the worst.”

“well, lucky for you,” sion said, patting his shoulder with mock sympathy, “we’re heading back tomorrow. don’t say we never do anything for you.”

“wait- what?” yushi looked up, panicked.

“don’t worry, we’ll even order for you this time so you don’t embarrass yourself again.” riku laughed, dodging the half-hearted punch yushi threw his way.

as they left the classroom, yushi lagged behind, trying to quiet the flurry of nerves in his chest. it wasn’t much—just a thought. but somehow, the idea of seeing you again didn’t seem so bad.

[weemswife]

Secret love

Avis Amberg x female reader

A/N: this one is a long time coming really a lot of doubts and struggling but here it is. It's messy and all and i remind that english is NOT my first language but i did my absolute best with this one and any feedback is always welcome and i wont be writing fics with detailed smut since i dont apparently feel comfortable to do so, special thanks to @chiefofmilfs for endless support. Enjoy💋

Warnings: 18+ mention of sex and cursing

WC: 2127

It was a rainy night, you were working late as hell once again because when you are the personal assistant of the head of a production company you might as well say goodbye to other things in your life.

Yes, your boss the mighty Avis Amberg who took over the studio after her late husband Ace passed away 2 years ago. The studio has been thriving and so were your feelings for Avis. But could you act on them of no no absolutely not.. you knew it and all your fellow co-workers knew it.. but you couldn't just help it, after starting only as a little intern for Avis before her husband died you were head over heels for her since the day one and soon after Ace was gone Avis knew that she needed you more and promoted to you to become her personal assistant..

But back to this one rainy night, it had been raining for 2 hours straight and there seemed to be no end to it.. everyone else had already left but you usually didn't dare to leave before Avis did in case she needed your help..

Sitting on the couch 'working' you kept glancing at the clock and then at Avis, a silent plea that she would notice you and ask what you needed, because as normally there were no more buses to take you home.. you couldn't walk either because you would get wet and then sick and that was a big no and also you didn't want to take a taxi alone..

“What do you need?” The question that snapped you out of your thoughts, Avis had obviously noticed your glancing.

“Nothing..” you lied answering with a quiet voice

“Don't lie to me, pretty girl.. i know you better than that and i'm asking you again.. what do you need?” There was a hint of sterness in her voice

“I.. umm i was just thinking could you maybe drive me home tonight.. please?” You asked knowing that you should talk to her with more confidence but your ongoing crush on her made you still feel like a little mouse while talking to her.

“Of course i can, don't you worry about it.” Avis answered without even lifting her gaze from the paperwork in front of her.

You both worked for an hour more before Avis started to pack her stuff together and you went to help her. After everything was gathered you helped her in her leopard printed coat and took her bag and your own to carry on your shoulders. Avis went to do her usual check up around the studio before you both left and she locked the studio. You both walked to her car and with your free hand you held an umbrella over her even for a short distance because you knew that she hated when her curls got wet. When you got into her car you didn't say a word when Avis pulled to the driveway.

She knew where you lived, having driven you home a couple times before during the years.

You flinched when you felt her hand on your thigh.

“I have seen you looking at me, young girl, dont think that im blind.” Avis said while keeping her eyes on the road and one hand on the steering wheel, the other one on your thigh.

You were too stunned to speak and before you even got a word out she continued.

“Do you have a crush on me or something? Do you like older women? Someone who can control you all they want huh?” She asked while giving your thigh a firm squeeze before pulling her hand away.

You tried to get an answer out of your mouth, never before feeling so humiliated and embarrassed.

“I.. i umm i have had a crush on you since i started working for you.. but i swear i would have never acted on it i promise.. please dont fire me please i love this job” you whined.

Avis smirked knowingly feeling a hint of victory after getting you to confess. Since her husband died she had only satisfied her.. needs with the so called dreamland boys or Ernie before he and Ellen got together. But Avis was getting bored with the guys, of course they satisfied her needs well enough, they were talented after all, but still Avis wanted to try something new. The problem was that you were young but not too young of course, but the worst part of it was that you were her assistant, she knew it was wrong in every aspect, but still she was drawn to you after all these years.

You didn't say a word during the rest of the ride before Avis got in front of your apartment building. The silence somehow wasn't awkward but it took every fiber in your being to not to kiss her right there so you made the quick decision to leave, unbuckling the seatbelt taking your bag, wishing good night and see you tomorrow all that stuff before quickly getting out and closing the door behind and running to the door of your apartment.

Avis waited until you got inside safely before she left and while driving home she thought about you. Thinking to herself how bad it would be if she just kissed you.. just once and that's it.. but what if she got addicted, it would be wrong and the tiniest rumor of the two of you doing sinful things would possibly end her career and ruin her reputation. No one gave a damn if she was seen with a different guy every week.. well some maybe called her whore but she didn't care.. but she and another woman.. it's safe to say that she didn't have a restful night and neither did you.

The next morning when you got to the studio, the first thing you did was to get Avis her coffee and greet all your co-workers on the way to her office.

When you got there after knocking on the door and entering she was clearly looking stressed.. and tired.

“Lock the door” she said firmly repeating it again after you didn't do it in a second, quickly you put her coffee on the table and your bag on the couch and locked her door so no one could enter, during the years you had seen Avis in pure rage, crying and mad as hell.. but she was never like this.

“I need you to listen to me right now, do you understand?” She asked.

You nodded.

She sat down on her chair gesturing to you to sit down as well and you did. She sighed.

“Alright, you know that we can't have each other.. and i'm telling you the truth but since i saw your cute little face for the first time, i knew i wanted more of you. And i didnt just promote you to be my personal assistant because of your skills but also because i like you but it's really wrong and i sometimes feel sorry for you.. its killing to want something that you know you can't have, but if you keep your pretty little mouth shut and i mean it all the time, i will give you a chance.” Avis said firmly but still there was a hint of something else in her voice and gaze.

"Okay.” You answered.

“Okay? Honey i need more than that, i need you to promise me that if we do something other than work behind these doors that you won't tell a soul, not even Ellen.” She said with the firmness in her voice still.

“Okay i.. i promise that i won't tell anyone Avis.” You said with a hint of desperation in your voice.. could this mean that your daydreams are coming to reality, the endless hours that you have spent fantasizing about Avis.. thinking what you would do to her and what she would do to you...

“Good girl, now come here.. let mama have a better look on you.” She patted her lap and knowing her temper, you got up from your chair as quickly as possible and stood in front of her. You would be lying if you said that you weren't nervous.. Avis of course noticed it but didn't say anything.

She helped you to sit on her lap. It felt weird at first but you got used to it, Avis ran her hand over your arms and thighs, she kept her eyes on you to see your reactions in case you felt uncomfortable or wanted her to stop, but you didn't.

She raised her hand to your face, running her thumb over your cheeks and nose and then your lips. You shivered, you couldn't believe how gently she was handling you until her fingers found their way to your chin, holding it firmly in place and tilting your face to meet her eyes again.

“Do you want mama to kiss you?” She asked while her thumb was still running over your lower lip.

You just nodded.

"Use your words pretty girl or i wont do a thing to you.” She said with a more firmer tone now.

“Yes.. please.” You answered with a quiet tone.

That was all that took Avis to close the gap between you two, the kiss was soft and gentle. Well first at least because well Avis is Avis and she's not one for some softness, she likes it rough so soon enough the kissing turned into heated make out with your tongue exploring her mouth and fighting for dominance against her. Not long after both of you had to pull away to catch your breath.

You dropped your head against Avis's shoulder getting almost high in the familiar scent of her perfume while she rubbed your arm.

“You got some skills, i wonder what else you are able to do mhmm” Avis whispered in your ear.

You blushed hard and didnt get a word out of your mouth before there was a knock on the door.

“Shit, who the hell is there?” Avis mumbled while patting your thigh gesturing you to get up and open the door.

You got up quickly and went to open the door and outside there was one of the studio's producers who was supposed to have a meeting with Avis.

You let them have the meeting, focusing on other matters and acting like nothing happened just 5 minutes ago.

- -

Fast forward 2 months. You and Avis have been enjoying each other's company more than ever, the sex has been amazing and frequent, usually Avis was in the mood more often than you but she was always understanding if you said no or you were too tired.

The sex now always took place in the privacy of her huge house, you felt like you were there more than in your own apartment, but you didn't care. You often left with Avis after a long day at the studio, no one knew cause the time you usually wrapped up your days, everybody else were long gone. You often stayed over nights because why would you want to leave her in the middle of the night, literally there were no good excuses for that.

Since Avis was the one to usually be on the mood more often you let her take the lead but still there were a lot of times when you were the one to take control and she always submitted to you, having to work long days as everyone's boss of course she took every chance she could get to not be the one in control and she loved it everytime.

The dreamland boys were long forgotten, Avis now only enjoying your company. Some late evenings when you went to her house there was not even a word said about sex, it was just a cozy evening with you cooking a food of whatever was found in Avis’s fridge and her just sitting down while enjoying red wine. After eating, Avis would usually return the favor by preparing a bath for you, occasionally joining you as well. 

She liked to sit there with your back pressed against her chest and her arms wrapped around your waist, giving soft kisses on the back of your neck and always wanting to help with washing your hair and body, giving her a good excuse to touch you all over and you never said no. She however never let you wash her curls, always murmuring about wanting to take care of them by herself and you let her, knowing that she still often let you play with her hair while you were laying next to her in bed after a long day.

[skzstannie]

"I've been wanting to do that for so long"

SKZ -> Minho x fem!reader

genre: best friends to lovers, fluffffffy wc: ~1,200 cw: none :)

summary: You and Minho are finally able to make something of his consistent flirty behavior.

A/N: Hiii! A little shorter than normal, but I wanted to get something out while I work on the requests I have. Hope everyone is doing well! Please feel free to leave feedback in the comments and like/reblog- it's truly appreciated!

Also, I know a lot of you like the angst, but don't worry! The request I'm working on has lots of it 👀👀

Masterlist | Happy Scrolling!

"Please tell me we don't have to watch another one of your chick flicks tonight," Minho groans, walking into the living room from the kitchen, two bowls of popcorn in hand.

"Of course we do, do you even know me?" you tease, sinking back further into the couch. You watch as he crosses in front of you, gently setting the bowls down on the table before throwing himself down onto the couch beside you.

It's your and Minho's weekly movie night, and the two of you decided to do it at your apartment this week. Not that the dorms aren't a fun hangout place, it's just sometimes your sensitive eardrums need a break.

The two of you have been friends for forever; you actually met back in elementary school. Your box of crayons was missing the pink one, and Minho became your knight in shining armor when he valiantly and bravely gave you his. From then on, he's been by your side. Need an errand buddy to run to the store with? Minho will come. Need someone to edit your college essay? Minho will do it. Need someone to cry with you on your couch once a week while you indulge yourself in different romantic fantasies? You know Minho will be there every time.

You try not to subject him to your rom coms every week, but it's so easy and fun to immerse yourself in other people's love lives, even if just for an hour and a half.

Your love life is close to non-existent. Minho, and occasionally his band members, are the only male interactions you ever get. You're not necessarily the most outgoing person, so it's hard for you to meet new people.

Not that you're necessarily complaining, I mean, you're so grateful for the friendship you have with Minho, but sometimes you wish it was more than that. His consistent teasing doesn't help your constant delusions. He's always flirting with you, calling you pet names and telling you how beautiful you are. You know it's nothing more than teasing, so you try not to let it affect you.

"How about this one?" you ask him, hovering over The Kissing Booth. You've seen it a million times, but it's one of your favorites; you'll never pass up an opportunity to watch it.

"I couldn't be more indifferent," he comments dryly. You roll your eyes at him and press play, playfully tossing the remote at his side.

"Do that again and I'm snatching it up and changing it," he glances at you, his face blank of emotion. You keep your eyes on the screen, holding back a smirk.

As emotionless as your best friend could come off sometimes, you know he always means well. You are more similar than you'd like to admit, and you know just as well how hard showing other's your emotions can be.

~ ~ ~

"Haven't we watched this one before?" Minho interrupts, his finger pointing accusingly at the screen.

"Maybe..."

"You've got to be kidding me. Where's that damn remote?" his hands sweep over the couch cushions in the dark room, and he looks to you when he comes up with nothing. His narrow eyes meet your innocent ones. "Give me it. I am not watching this one again; it was terrible."

"You didn't think it was terrible 10 minutes ago when your eyes were practically glued to the screen," you counter, holding the remote tightly in your clasped hands.

He scoffs, reaching out towards you. His fingers grasp around your arm and give you a rough pull, making you topple over into him. You let out an embarrassing squawk when you both slip to the floor in your impromptu wrestling match.

You find yourself underneath him, his hands still pulling roughly at the remote.

"Give it to me!"

"No! I want to watch this!"

The struggle continues for a few moments, you desperately trying to protect the remote while Minho sits above you, practically manhandling you.

In a quick lapse of judgement, you let up a little, allowing Minho to pin your hands to the ground above your head. Both of you are breathless as you lay beneath him, a playful smirk gracing the beautiful face in front of you.

Your eyes are wide as you lay there. You expect him to get off you, but he doesn't. He unwaveringly holds his position above you.

You catch his big brown eyes switch between your eyes and your lips, and you feel your breath hitch in your throat when he leans down slightly.

It's silent between the two of you as he slowly comes closer, his gaze remaining on your lips.

Your heart drops when he brings his lips to your ear instead. "I win," he whispers, before casually plucking the remote from your previously pinned hands. He gets off you, adjusting his clothes before he plops back on the couch, immediately exiting out of the movie.

You lay there another moment, thinking about what the heck just happened and whether you're going to let him get away with it.

You sit up abruptly, staring at him with disbelief. "What the hell was that?"

"What?" his gaze remains on the T.V. screen, and you find his nonchalance irritating.

"What do you mean, 'What'?"

"We wrestle all the time, what are you on about?"

Your jaw drops at his statement. "Yes, we do, but not- not like that," you let out a flustered chuckle, shaking your head at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about." When he speaks this time, you're able to catch the slightest upturn of his lips.

"You're messing with me," you tell him, not believing his actions could've been all innocent.

He finally breaks his gaze away from the T.V., setting the remote down beside him. "Now why would I do that?"

"Because- because that's what you do! You're sarcastic, and you're sly, and- and..." your frustration gets the best of you, and you bring your hands up to cover your face. You feel your cheeks burn red with embarrassment.

"What did you think was going to happen? Did you want me to kiss you like Noah did to Elle?"

You rip your hands away from your face at that, your jaw dropping at his suggestion. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," his voice is steady, his eye contact strong as he stands his ground. "We've been doing this long enough. I just want to know if this is reciprocated."

"If what's reciprocated?"

"You know, this- this thing between us. Is it reciprocated? Like, do you like like me like I like like you?" He raises an eyebrow at you, waiting for an answer you're hesitant to give.

"You're not messing with me?" you're cautious as the question leaves your lips.

"No, I'm not. How can I spell it out for you," he pauses, bringing a hand up to his chin in an exaggerated manner. "I like you. I have a crush on you. I want to be your boyfriend. I-"

"Ok, ok!" you cut him off with a laugh, "I do."

"You like me back?"

"Yea, yea I do."

His actions are quick as he drops to his knees on the floor in front of you. He rushes you, his body moving over yours. His hands grasp your wrists, pushing them above your head.

His legs rest on either side of your hips, pinning you down.

"Ok, let's try this again then."

You let yourself get lost in his eyes as he leans down towards you again.

When his face is close enough for his nose to rest against yours, he brings his lips to yours.

He pulls away when your both breathless, a look of mirth on his face.

"I've been wanting do that for so long."

[human-otp-prompt-generator]

Sick OTP Prompts

Soooo…. I've never really done something like this but I had a strong urge to start sharing OTP writing prompts. No idea if I'll keep this up but it wouldn't hurt to try, at least.

That said, here's my first batch. A is the sick one and B is the caretaker. Please bear with me if the prompts are all over the place, I'm still new at this.

A is naturally an independent person and always takes care of themself when they're sick. B will not accept that and goes out of their way to look after A.

^ except A downplays their sickness and powers through it to do normal things (work, chores, etc). B insists on picking up the slack so A can rest.

B takes A's temperature.

B gives A a thorough head massage to relieve their headache.

A profusely apologizes for "burdening" B by being sick. B says they'll never be a burden to them.

A is too sick to shower, B helps wipe them down with a cloth so they can stay clean.

A has no appetite, B has to force them to eat.

A suffers from a chronic illness and can't get out of bed during a flare-up. B makes sure they don't have to lift a finger.

^ except they've been in a relationship for so long that B has a routine to take care of A.

A, slightly delirious, asks B for kisses and B has to turn them down for health's sake (they both hate that).

^ except B takes the risk and kisses A.

A falls asleep on B, B stays awake to watch over them.

A has lost their voice and has to communicate using gestures.

A and B are apart, B calls A throughout the day to make sure they're okay and taking care of themself.

Right after A recovers, B gets sick instead and A gladly takes care of them.

A and B are BOTH sick and spend the day doing nothing except cuddle and watch TV.

Feedback and constructive criticism are appreciated! :)