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all4aoki · 1 day

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⠀⠀ ☆ ░ ִ⠀ׂ NOW PLAYING . . . Hype Boy (250 Remix) NewJeans

your boys love your instagram almost as much as you do . . . enha x f!reader, poly!enha, enha8thmember

wc . . . 2.7k , warnings ! none, just fluff!

©all4aoki, 2024

You were very proud of the image you’d built yourself. It was the perfect mix of your authentic self, the sensitive and shy, with the personality HYBE had wanted for you, borderline hyper feminine and maybe a little more energetic than you usually were. But nonetheless, the soft, princess-y aesthetic you now exuded was something you thoroughly enjoyed. Fans did too, and that made sharing your life with them all that more enjoyable.

“Are you sure I’m centered?” you asked Sunoo and he shuffled backwards a bit at your question. “Sun, that’s not an answer.”

“Calm down, princess, I'm just trying to get your whole outfit in the frame,” he said, eyes glued onto your phone screen. Finding places to take Instagram pictures at music shows was difficult. Not to say you weren’t a fan of the infamous pink wall of MBC, or the stairs from KBS, but you were a perfectionist and could only take so many pictures in front of them. So, after finding the prettiest spot by a large set of windows that showcased the beautiful weather that day, you couldn’t help but stop to snap a few pictures for a future post or photo dump.

You were just lucky that you had the most amazing boyfriends to help you take pictures.

“Woah! Did I just die and go to heaven?” You continued posing as Heeseung and Jake walked by, deciding to join you and Sunoo.

“Get out of here, Heeseung-hyung. She doesn’t need you distracting her–” Sunoo’s jaw dropped a bit as you changed the way you were standing once again. “Yah, what did they put in your water today?”

You giggled, feeling your face heat up at the compliments being thrown your way. “Stop!”

“So pretty!” Jake cheered as the three boys smiled at your fluster. “Gorgeous! Amazing! Wonderful!”

“Ahh!” you cried, covering your face with your hands to try and hide the pink that’d joined the makeup blush on your cheeks. You had a love-hate relationship when your boyfriends would watch you take photos. It was adorable with the way they fawned over you, shouting praises and fighting over who was holding the camera. But whenever they were around, you always ended up having too much fun instead of taking your tasks seriously.

That, and they had a rather cruel enjoyment of teasing you.

“Cute!” Heeseung joined Jake’s encouragements, using a tone that was similar to when he spoke to cute kids or animals.

Sunoo ignored them, but a small smile still remained on his lips. Anyone could tell that he was simply enjoying the sight of you. “Turn your head to the left a little,” he instructed and you did as he asked. And as you smiled for the camera, their small gasps of awe and tiny cheers continued. The three boys couldn’t believe you were real. The way your hair flowed effortlessly and how your makeup had been applied that day only added to your natural beauty. And the way the rhinestone decorated skirt clung to your hips and the matching top wrapped around your torso made you appear almost dreamlike. But they figured it made sense that someone so beautiful on the inside was also unbelievably stunning on the outside.

It was the little moments like these that they took to bask in their love for you. Watching as you act so naturally was like watching the sun break through the clouds on a rainy day, giving them spurts of happiness through the stressful times of promotion. When you shyly accepted their words of affection, that relaxed, blissed feeling of everything being at ease spread through each of them.

“Okay, okay,” you said suddenly, running up to Sunoo to grab your phone. “I’m done now.”

“What?” Sunoo said, turning his body so your hand missed the electronic. “But I didn’t even get any with you!”

“I didn’t know that you wanted to take any!” you laughed, trying to swipe for your phone again. Sunoo nodded his head as he maneuvered his arms so they were wrapped around you.

Jake took the phone from the younger, “I want some too.”

You sighed, walking back to the spot by the window as Sunoo clung onto your back. “Heeseung-oppa I’m guessing you’ll want some too?”

He grinned, “Of course.”

“Ok. Can you kiss me first?” Sunoo asked, interrupting Heeseung. In response, your hands found their way to the soft skin of his cheeks and Sunoo tilted his head over your shoulder so you could reach him. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Jake angling the phone with a few words of help from Heeseung. Sunoo nudged your head with his, drawing your attention back to him, “Kiss me.”

Without wasting another second, you did just that. Your fingers trailed along the skin of his neck as he pressed his lips against yours again and again. The faint sound of the iPhone camera shuttering being the only thing keeping you from losing yourself in the love you had for your boyfriends.

After you had satisfied the three’s need for pictures with you, you all quickly carried on with the day. The hours were long when it came to Music Shows. The actual recordings were over faster than you could’ve originally guessed, but the time spent waiting for the winners to be revealed tested your patience no matter what mood you were in. So, in order to distract from the mind-numbing boredom and the longing to sleep, you always turned yourself over to the rest of the group. And usually, they had no trouble keeping you entertained.

This day was no exception.

Riki was more than happy when you waltzed over after cooling down and motoring the performance, plopping yourself down onto the couch before cuddling up into his side. He didn’t hesitate to brush your hair out of the way so it wouldn’t be pulled on and blissfully helped you get comfortable on his lap.

“I need your opinion,” you said, suddenly shoving your phone screen in front of his face. He took the device from you, discovering the pretty photos of you in your outfit from the day’s stage. “Which ones should I post?” you asked and he began to swipe through them. Riki’s chin fell onto your shoulder, resting on it as he looked over the pictures. Your scent infiltrated his senses, and he melted a bit at the comforting sensation.

Riki clicked his tongue after a moment, tilting his head so it was resting on the side of yours. “I don’t know if any of them are good.”

Your head snapped to the side, looking behind you at what he was seeing and ultimately pushing his head off yours.

“What’re you…” Oh. On the screen was one of the pictures you’d taken with Sunoo, your cheeks pressed together as he smiled and you were halfway through a laugh. “Ah Riki-san,” you giggled as he resumed going through the pictures, getting to the ones of you and Jake. “Did you want some pictures with me?”

His full lips pushed out into a pout. “No– Wow, with Heeseung-hyung too?” You slapped his chest softly in protest.

“You were getting ready, Ki. I didn’t want to interrupt you,” you explained and his warm brown eyes turned to you, gaze gentle with admiration. “Hmm?” you questioned after a moment of silence. His head ducked down to kiss your cheek.

“Let’s take some now.”

“I thought you didn’t want any?”

He opened the camera app, “Well, I want to be featured in your Instagram post.”

At the words ‘Instagram’ and ‘Post’ Jay, who’d been sitting in a chair near the couch Riki and you were snuggled into, abruptly found interest in what you both were doing. Deciding to disregard how the older was now staring at you both, you made a half heart with your hand and held it up to Riki’s cheek.

“Can I do a heart pose with you?”

Riki rolled his eyes, but the hints of a smile gave him away. “Fine.”

You let out a small ‘Yay’ as the two of you got situated. He angled the camera and took a few pictures with the pose you’d requested before he delicately grabbed your face, maneuvering it closer to his so your cheeks were touching and your lips were almost on his.

“Riki-san–” your voice was muffled as his fingers squished your cheeks together.

“You don’t have to post these, but you should send them to me, princess.” Your heart trembled at the nickname that the younger was so fond of using.

The corners of your lips brushed, but Riki pulled away before you could actually move to kiss him. His expression read expectant, “Of course I’ll send them to you, Ki.”

He gave you a quick peck. “I think Jay-hyung wants a picture now.” It was true, Jay had gotten up from his spot on the chair and was now standing awkwardly by one of the gray plastic tables in the center of the dressing room. You pretended to groan as Riki assisted you in getting off of his lap, thighs brushing yours and making your face feel warm.

“You guys have never shown this much interest in my Instagram before,” you said as you pranced over to your older boyfriend. His hands found your waist instantly, and before you could process what was happening, you were being lifted off the ground and into Jay’s arms.

Riki, like the photography geek he was, had been snapping photos while Jay pulled you up so he was holding you bridal style. “We are, I don’t think you’ve ever noticed before, though.”

“It’s an honor to be on your feed,” Jay added, and you tried to not focus on how he was gripping your legs. No matter how long you’d been dating all of them, they still had the ability to make those butterflies erupt in your stomach and your heart race with love.

You wound your arms around his neck and made eye contact with the phone that was pointed at you and Jay.

“It’s an honor that you guys want to be on my feed.”

Jay’s thumb rubbed against your leg comfortingly, “Of course we want to be included with everything you do. We’re in love with you.”

You cooed faintly at his words, “I love you.”

“I love you too!” Riki called, taking one more picture before getting up himself and bringing your phone over to you. Jay refused to put you back down as you reached for the youngest. So you settled for caressing Riki’s cheek with your hand after taking back your phone.

“Love you, Ki.”

“Yeah. And since you love me so much you should be posting me today.”

The urge to take off your makeup had never been so strong before. You were exhausted, but the day of promotions was finally over and it was time to head back to the dorms. All you longed to do was throw yourself onto the large couch in the main room and cuddle with your boys. Maybe watch an old Disney movie too. Sangmi definitely would appreciate that.

The chatter from the other members as they got ready to leave fell as white noise onto your ears as you got your things around. One of your least favorite things was when you would accidentally leave things behind at music shows, therefore a new habit of yours that quickly formed after your debut was double and triple checking that everything you brought ended up right back in your bag.

Mentally, you ran through your list as you shuffled through the light pink My Mum Made It puffer bag. Phone charger, vitamins, perfume, hair clips–

“What is this I’ve heard about you taking pictures with everyone but me today?”

“Hello to you too, Hoon.” His arms slipped around your middle from behind and he peeked over you as you made sure you had everything.

“Can I have one too, baby?”

You leaned back to leave a kiss on his neck, “Of course. I just need to find my water bottle first. I don’t know where it went.”

“It’s on the vanity over here,” Sunghoon said as he tilted his head towards the left.

“Thanks, Hoon,” you replied as you took his hands to free yourself from his grasp. He didn’t let go of your hand though. Instead, he gripped onto you even tighter, your fingers feeling small as they clutched onto his thumb, and you pulled him along with you to grab the last thing you needed.

Swiftly, you grabbed the metal water bottle and moved to head back to your bag before he stopped you. “Mirror selfie?” Sunghoon offered.

“Ooh, yeah let’s do it.” You checked over your hair and makeup for a moment, deciding that while the style had fallen a bit flat and the makeup had begun to wear off, you still looked presentable. Both you and Sunghoon had changed out of your stage outfits, you wearing the brown skirt you’d shown up in today, with one of Heeseung’s white long-sleeved shirts on your top half. Sunghoon was wearing dark brown, almost black, slacks with a beige sweater that had a button-down white shirt underneath.

You turned to face him, and hugged him tightly, foot popping up behind you as you winked at the camera through the mirror.

Sunghoon chuckled, “Okay, now do a serious one.”

He let his own free arm fall to rest around your hips as you dropped your leg and smiled gently at the phone. After a minute, he decided that was enough and pulled up the pictures for you to check.

“Wah, we look so good!”

Sunghoon grinned at you, “I think it’s impossible for you to look bad.”

All you could do was tuck your head and giggle into his chest. Trying to hide your giddiness was never easy, especially when it was one of the things Sunghoon always searched for.

As soon as you had gotten into the car with Jungwon, Jay, and Sunghoon, you had fallen asleep.

Jungwon’s wide shoulders were just too comfortable to resist, and with the feeling of safety and happiness in your heart, as well as sleep pushing your eyelids closed, you were quick to drift off. You didn’t dream of anything, though, and as soon as the car began to approach the dorms, Jungwon shook you awake gently.

“Hi, dolly,” he said sweetly and you rubbed the sleep out of your eyes. You kept your head on his shoulder as the car slowly wound down the road towards the dorm. The feeling of his hand rested on your own and you blinked heavily, enjoying the feeling of relaxation. Until you saw your phone in your boyfriend’s hand, your Instagram account pulled up on the screen.

“Hey, Yang Jungwon-ssi, what’re you doing with my phone?”

He leaned forward at the same time as you did, refusing you of your device.

“He posted for you,” Jay said from the seats behind you where he sat with Heeseung. “Really cute. ENGENEs are loving it.”

You glanced up at Jungwon, suspicious, “Let me see.”

The three boys laughed.

“Jungwon-oppa what did you post!” you laughed nervously and Jungwon shook his head. With him distracted by your reaction, you tugged his arm closer to you so you could look at it.

The first picture was one of the ones you’d taken by yourself, a cute one of you holding your skirt and laughing. Still not believing that the boys had posted anything skeptical of your relationship, you continued looking through them. There was a picture of you and Sunoo (the one that Riki had pointed out earlier) and the one with Jake where you were leaning onto his chest. The one with Heeseung standing behind you, his chin propped up on your head and one of each of the pictures you’d taken with Riki and Jay. There was your mirror picture with Sunghoon and…

One of you sleeping on Jungwon, your mouth open and a string of drool slipping out of the corner of your mouth.

“YAH YANG JUNGWON!” You finally tore the phone out of his hands, “What is this?” you cried.

The three of you boyfriends only laughed hysterically at your reaction. “Don’t you look so cute?” Jungwon asked.

“Oh my goodness, my idol image.”

“You don’t even look bad, princess, you just look adorable,” Sunghoon said.

You huffed out a breath of air, pouting and leaning even further onto Jungwon. “You guys are going to be the death of me.”

Jungwon pointed at something on the screen, “At least we made the caption cute.”

dollerina ENGENEs aren’t the only ones obsessed with me💕😁

마리셀의 노트 , newjeans release more music puh-lease!😭 I miss you

86 notes · View notes

forsworned · 2 days

Note

That Keegan post you made had me clutching my PEARLS! Your use of words was so masterfully done! I really loved the new vocab I learned while reading your work.

Your depiction of the relationship was also so so nice. Very loving and attentive and just so sweet. I could tell they loved one another and had already established boundaries that they knew they shouldn’t cross. The ending was lovely as well, a great way to tie things up.

Thank you for writing it! I’m excited to see what else your lovely brain comes up with!

-🧢

Whispers in the Woods: A Stranger's Shelter ft. OfftheGridCowboy!Keegan Russ

Sypnosis: When Keegan finds you petrified, running for your life from creatures unknown to you in the Haunted Appalachia trails after sundown, he takes you in for the night. Things get a bit crazy...

Warning(s): Mentions of Sexual Content, Violence, Petnames (?), Blood, Supernatural Horror (?), Eventual Smut, Barely Proofread, Reader is 28 and Keegan is 30, Reader is also AFAB

Word Count: 7.5k (enjoy keegan lovers ;)

Author's note: Blue cap anon thank you so much for inspiring me to write for Keegan. Honestly, I really love how this fic turned out and I hope you do too. I am so sorry I took so long to reply to you but you seriously warmed my heart so sosososo much when I read your message. I did not mean to put you on the back burner for this long/ Just know I have put so much effort into this to provide you a solid work so I hope that is a good enough excuse to have such a delayed response. Also so glad that you learned some new words LOL that really tickles me tbh, but I want to work more with the relationship that reader builds with Keegan in general or with any character x reader I write. So please enjoy this :)

edit: i think it's lowkey not living up to my expectations but ummm fuck it we ball

Sparks fly as the firewood in the pit crackles, casting an orange ember over you and the stranger sitting in front of you. His eyes, reminiscent of the cool, blueness of winter are lingering on you, and his heavy, leather jacket drapes over your shoulders to shield you from the chilliness of the early April evening. With his black cowboy hat slightly tilted upward, you note the black bandana covering most of his face, adding an air of mystery to his appearance.

"You really shouldn't be out here." His voice edges a precarious tone, though you cannot determine if it's toward you or whatever lurks in the abysmal woods. Maybe it was both. Your fingers curl around the distressed tanned hide, fiddling with the stitching of the material. A shudder careens through the columns of your spine, goosebumps trail over your skin, and the fuzz across your neck rises briefly.

"Don't look. Don't even acknowledge it." He instructs, steadying his gaze on you as he tinkers with the butterfly knife in his gloved hand. "W-what?" You gasp out, eyes reaming as your quivering vision sets on the embers of the pyre. A sinister presence harks over your convulsing body, heart palpitating out of your tightening sternum. But as soon as it arrives it departs and you're left heaving for the oxygen that was stripped from your lungs.

"I'm not gonna ask you again, what are you doin' walkin' around aimlessly in these mountains?" He repeatedly latches and unlatches the metal object in his hands, his gaze fixates on you. Truthfully, you were lost. When the engine of the old Dodge that you inherited from your grandfather abruptly cut out as you passed through a dead zone, it was all hauling ass from there on out. Classic damsel in distress situation.

Your father and he had both warned you about the Appalachian mountains. How apex predators inhabited the woods, preying on the innocent, ripping flesh apart on sight, or disappearing into the ghastly woods to never return. But, of course, you wrote it off as fearmongering. Never had you experienced the soul-crushing, harrowing existence of unidentified, cryptids lurking within the lacunas of the evergreens.

"My truck it—" You start to say, but the sound of him exhaling loudly cuts you off and you glance up at him with misery strewn across your features. Doe-eyes glimmering from the wetness that was welling in your oculars as your lips tremble. He outstretches his arm to the lantern on the perched log, "I've heard enough."

He begins to get up, extinguishing the flame, smothering it with what seemed to be a bag of salt and you felt fear creeping back into your system.

"Come on." As the pyre's embers fade, the lantern's switch emits a squeak, coaxing the oil flame to life, while the blood-curdling shrieks send shivers down your spine, ringing in your ears. And as if on cue, you cling to his side and he lets out a soft huff, feeling your arm coil around his.

The inferno acts as a bulwark from whatever is skulking around the both of you in the obscurity of the night as you move through the forest. You catch glimpses of shadows trekking about, seemingly running away from you now. A stark contrast from the previous frantic sprint through the woods in your petite, white frilly prairie dress that was now tattered at the edges and puffy sleeves. Now, you were safe. At least you certainly hope so.

A tiny light enters your line of sight in the distance, and you can only assume that that is his home. But you were still heeding the noises and images being molded in front of human eyes. It was as if the veil was lifted here, a supernatural existence in the vast mountains and woods of the Appalachia. You don't know whether to be terrified or fascinated, but you keep quiet as he silently leads you down the desire path to his home that is etching itself a little more into the horizon.

Approaching the home, you begin to notice the clandestine features of the house. A zephyr sweeps past you and the distinct smell of lavender and sage gently brims into your senses. You visibly shudder as the steps creak under your weight, your arm remains tucked into his own as he fishes out his keys and unlocks the door. Like a gentleman, he gestures to allow you in first and he follows closely behind, shutting it behind him.

"Shoes off at the door." He directs, treading past you as he tosses another piece of firewood into the lit fireplace.

What the fuck?

Is he just not going to acknowledge the paranormal manifestation that incurred upon them just now? The shadows of unearthly skinwalkers who infest the woods, who are prowling out there now as they barricade themselves from the outside? What is stopping them from forcefully intruding into his home?

You finally catch your breath for a moment, still feeling your heart hammering against your chest before you speak. "Are we not going to talk about what we just saw?"

"Nope." He simply replies, from another room and you blink back in surprise. Then it sinks in.

Of course, how could you forget? How can you forget the rules of the Appalachia, that were engrained into you as a child?

If you see something strange in the wilderness, no, you didn't.

If you hear something call your name, no, you didn't.

If you hear screaming in the Appalachian mountains, especially a woman's scream, no, you didn't.

If you feel something stalking you, do not run.

Never, ever, whistle at night.

Never go into the woods at night.

Never leave your windows open at night, even in the summer and honestly, the list dragged on and on and on.

Most of it falls on deaf ears never believing in the legends, and yet, here you are shaken up by things you never thought existed in a stranger's home who found it in his heart to shelter you until what you suppose would be dawn.

A wavering breath escapes you as you take a long gander at the well-maintained colonial home. The timeless and heirloom quality of the home becomes evident upon analyzing the vast array of paintings and framed photographs adorning the walls, each depicting individuals with strikingly similar features—dark brows, thick lashes, and mesmerizing steely blue eyes that seemed to penetrate your soul. You can't quite make out the framed artwork through your muzzy vision, but it's eerie the way you can't quite pinpoint why the face was so recognizable to you.

Exposed wooden ceiling beams motion your eyes to the inherited items and the mounted deer skull above the hearth. The warmth emanating from it felt different, soothing, lulling your quivery limbs. You oblige and kick off your boots, padding behind him as he draws out his gun from his holster and places it on the mahogany table. He removes his cowboy hat, hanging it on the horseshoe hat rack adjacent to the fireplace revealing his tousled short black locks. As he begins to unmask himself, a small gasp leaves your lips, fixating on his newly exposed features. And he was goddamn handsome and unusually reminiscent of someone from your childhood embarked into the backlogs of your memory, but of course, you brush it off.

And although he hears it, he does not acknowledge it as one hand grips the wooden chair and the other runs over his dark stubble. He's pensive. The last thing he needed was some heretic woman living under his roof for Lord knows how long. At this point, he decides that you are his responsibility and he cannot shirk from that for that would be unbecoming of a man like himself and he was raised better than that.

He glances up at the painting of his father above the hearth and you take note of the reflective state. His daddy was the embodiment of a Cowboy. Gentlemanly, charming, nifty, and always genial, providing the best hospitality a person could provide. No way, he'd accept Keegan kicking you to the curb, leaving you out for those creatures to rip you apart. Plus, his father would simply rise from his grave and kick his ass.

"You hungry?" He pays no mind to your lingering, bewitched eyes as he moves to the kitchen and you like a lost puppy trailing behind him. "Got some leftover potato leek soup."

And as if on cue, your stomach growls and he glances at your hand over your tummy. You flush from the embarrassment of your stomach being that raucous. He cocks a brow at you and you can't tell if he's amused or annoyed. Probably both. "Go sit." He points his chin to the table by the fireplace and you pad back to the living room, the tempering sensation of the flames causes you to become drowsy. You loll your head to analyze his stature. His figure towers over all of the antique appliances in the kitchen, muscles flexing as he prepares to reheat the soup on the stove. Rolling up his sleeves to reveal his taut, tanned forearms to open the cabinet and pull out the loaf of handmade sourdough, slicing it evenly and efficiently before tossing it in the toaster.

His form becomes a bit hazy as you lay your head against the top rail of the chair, mesmerized by the allure of his broadened shoulders, and soft pink lips that all by hide the peeking tongue indicating his concentration in preparing you a homecooked meal. Keegan never has guests over, in fact, no one is ever daft enough to come running around this way anyways because locals know better and tourists are too scared shitless to even enter this part of the Appalachia. He likes it like that, away from everything and everyone, being able to maintain his family's ranch that was inherited by him at the ripening age of 18.

His mother moved out to the suburbs because the death of his father was far too devasting on her already weary soul to continue living her days out on the farm. But Keegan doesn't mind it. He handles the livestock with ease, providing care to the birthing cattle, and maintaining the operations of the facilities as a whole to keep his honest living thriving. It's all in a good day's work for him. So caring after you shouldn't be too much of a hassle right?

You're suddenly awoken to the soft clatter of the bowl being set on the wooden table, the savory aroma of potato leek soup, and freshly toasted sourdough bread. He sets a glass of water beside you before he pulls his seat adjacent to you with his food.

"Eat." He orders, waiting for you to take a spoonful of thick soup. You hesitantly lift the spoon before glancing up at him. He blinks back at you, realizing the weight of his indiscretion, and whisks the soup with his spoon before noshing on it as if to tell you that is not poisoned nor drugged. Your other hand takes the bread in between your fingers and he mirrors your actions, claiming a bite from his own and you visibly relax.

The soup is scalding to the touch, but you welcome the sensation when you get a taste of the heavenly whipped soup. Not a single lump, just the smoothest, most savory supping of such a simple hearty soup instantly heartening your disconcerting body right down to your unsteady hand.

"I'll fix your truck as soon as dawn breaks." He flashes a glance before breaking his bread and scooping it into his soup. "Make yourself comfortable in the guest bedroom." He gestures with his hand to the upstairs.

"Oh, I couldn't—" You begin to say, but he will have none of it.

"You're not going out there until the sun's out." He replies simply, as he lifts his glass of water and sips from it. You observe the way his Adam's apple oscillates under his stubbly throat and you swallow thickly when you realize he's gazing at you keenly.

Warmth spreads to your cheeks and your eyes are now following the pattern of the wood grain. "That's…very kind of you."

"'s just the human thing to do." And there is an emphasis on the word 'human'.

You begin to play with your soup, scooping it up and letting it fall back into the bowl. "Right." Your voice is soft as you try to block out the memory just moments ago.

He narrows his eyes as if to study you. "What's your name?"

You glance up at him, and you're almost a bit hesitant to tell him. You almost want to lie, but you decide otherwise. "[Name], and yours?"

"Keegan."

"Keegan what?" You press. He raises a brow at you as he chews on his bread.

"Russ."

Russ. An esteemed surname that was echoed throughout your household during your adolescence. Presley Russ was a handsome and genial man who appeared at your father's porch steps every so often, tipping his hat at you with that charming smile and those glacial hues that made your heart jump. He'd invite your daddy out for nights at the rodeo or sipping on Highland Gaelic Ales on the porch from the afternoon til midnight, biding his time between Maryland and North Carolina.

You never quite caught glimpses of his son when you were living out on the ranch before you moved out for college, but you did remember a time when you ventured out past sunset in the abandoned village in the Black Hills you knew better than to be in when your daddy had to travel to Wheaton for the grand opening of his old buddy, Presley's restaurant accompanied by his reclusive son who you never remembered the name of. But for God's sake, who was stupid enough to go treading alone around the same location as the filming of the Blair Witch Project?

But you were a skeptic at best until you heard the unrelenting repetition of your name being called which led you astray, causing you to stumble over your own feet and ultimately collide with a rock that rendered you unconscious. Soon enough, you felt yourself being carried back to your home in the arms of the Russ boy with the hardened steely gaze that intently stared down at the knot forming on your forehead. You had never shut your eyes so quickly and the sound of his soft chuckle, caused you to be even more embarrassed as you were being handed off to your worried parents who were more than relieved and thankful to have retrieved you.

Of course, you had to act like you were unconscious. It was already humiliating enough that you were old enough to know better, but being ferried by a cute boy like you were some helpless damsel in distress was just mortifying.

But that was long forgotten by you in hazy summer days during your teen years before you went off to college and moved out into the city. In reality, you had written it off as a dream, a hallucination concocted by that vivid and graphic imagination of yours. That was always the case with you and the Appalachia. Always the non-believer.

But part of you was hoping that maybe he didn't recognize you after all this time, and yet the way he is staring you down is beginning to feel like otherwise.

"Blair." He suddenly says matter-of-factly as he taps his finger at the table and nods again. "Blair." A small toothy grin creeps on his lips before he chuckles.

Your eyes reaming as your heart drops to your stomach. "What?"

"Black Hills, you're the daughter of the farmer right up in Garrett County."

You feel the warmth blooming on your cheeks. He knew. "I—How do you remember that?"

"Knew you looked familiar." He dives back into his steaming soup. "Was tryin' to figure out where I'd seen that necklace of yours." He juts his chin, pointing to the family heirloom that kisses your clavicle. It had been passed down for generations to the women in your family as a symbol of health, wisdom and longetivity. You feel for the 20k gold pendant with lilac and sage engraved into the soft metal.

He looks as if he's stifling another snicker. "Think you pissed yourself a little when I found you unconscious."

Now that gets you real flared up. The abrupt change in mood was beginning to wrack your nerves. You sigh knowing that at the very least you were in good hands. Familiarity begins to set in as he breaks the ice, creating a more comfortable atmosphere between you two.

"I did not!" You puff your cheeks out at him and he's tickled pink by your endearing, agitated reactions.

His gleeful grin only grows to his eyes. "Now, who willing goes into the woods by themselves when they know damn well what kind of activity breeds over there, hm? Gotta death wish if you ask me, kid."

You open your mouth to say something, but it clamps shut. You don't know whether to be abashed by the way his face lights up like the stars in the heavens above, or by the fact that he remembers that you pissed yourself a little through your favorite pair of khaki parachute shorts in a known marked area where people have gone missing. The stark realization of it being a tangible memory was mussing at your trepidation towards him. But he's teasing you now and it stirs a strange kind of desire in your lower belly as you uncomfortably shift in your creaky wooden seat.

Pushing your bowl away, you avoid responding by guzzling down your water and then calmly placing it back down.

"I'd like to get ready for bed now, if you don't mind."

He jovially raises his eyebrows as he munches on the last of his bread. The smirk still curled up on the corners of his pinkened lips.

He wipes the crumbs off his hands and thumbs either side of his mouth before he gets up, gesturing to you. " 'Course not."

You stand up and politely push your chair in as you track behind him up the croaking staircase. Your body is practically heaving with every step and by the top of it, you're feeling a bit winded. Keegan decides to keep his comments to himself as he ushers you down the grandiose hallway. The walls are painted ivory, and wall sconces are tapered candles on held-up aged tin nailed into the parapet. Hardwood floors are well kept, but the small divots in between the grain quickly reveal the age.

He jingles the knob to what you suppose is the guest bedroom, but it seems to be locked. His fingers fish into his pocket and you watch as he phalanges through the set and then finally picks out the antiquated rusty skeleton key. It's honestly a bit jarring that it requires a key to fasten the door, but at this point, if you're being kept away from the monsters lurking outside you'd be happy to be his little prisoner for now.

He pushes the door and it moans open, though much to your surprise it's polished and orderly. In the middle of the room is a wooden four-poster queen-sized bed, with a princess-like sheer white canopy that surreptitiously envelops the bed. The furniture is a bit more romantic with detailed carved patterns on the bookshelves that line up against the wall to the vanity that sat adjacent to the bed. The carmine curtains that drape over the large window, easily maneuver you to the balcony, and the soft calling of your name beckons you to open it…

A sturdy hand clasps over your shoulder and you jolt as you turn to him. He's shaking his head as he towers over you and you look so goddamn feeble with those damn bambi eyes of yours shimmering in the tiny sliver of moonlight that peeks out from the window. He tears his gaze away to tread over to the window, squeezing it shut with the velcro he sewed into the fabric and reinforces the window shut.

A sharp exhale leaves his nostrils and his eyes are on you again. "I totally can see why you ended up the way you did." He glimpses over your dirtied and frayed dress, skinned, bloodstained knees, and contusions running up and down your legs. God, he makes it so easy to feel self-conscious.

He licks his lips as he hovers his hand over the knob to his right, and signals you over. You begrudgingly stride over and you're just as impressed at the bathroom. From the massive mirror above the traditional wooden undermount double sink vanity to the wine-red clawfoot freestanding bathtub. Little golden trinkets pinstripe the rosy walls with the soft warm lighting of the hanging flowery ceiling light fixtures. You squint your eyes when he adjusts the radiance to a white glow with the dimmer light switch before he opens the drawers one by one.

"Towels, robes, spare clothes, toiletries. Gimme a shout if you need anything else."

You open your mouth to say something and his eyes playfully narrow at you. "—within reason, missy."

Your bottom lip reflexively juts out. You hate to admit it, but you were quite the spoiled child. Never receiving more than a gentle chide from your parents and always silver-spooned to the nines by your grandparents. The truck was an exception. More of a parting gift from your grandfather that was left to you for the sole purpose of memorabilia scored into every inch of the tarnished vehicle. You hope that Keegan is capable of fixing it since most parts were made by discontinued distributors and they were definitely not easy to come by as they were expensive.

"Christ, spoiled rotten, weren't ya?" He ribs, nudging you a bit and you frown at him.

"Was not." You childlessly retort, but the small smile on your face betrays your feeble attempt at contempt.

Fuck, she is so cute. Keegan thinks as he assimilates your hilly yet winsome appearance. Just as cute as he remembers when he was seventeen, ignorant of the malignancy that poisoned his father's lungs.

"Not as much as your daddy spoiled you." You shoot back and cover your mouth with your hands as his brows lift in half surprise and half revelry.

"Blair's got jokes now, huh?" The elicitive nickname indicative of your former years sends another rushing warmth to your face and you begin to shoo him out.

"I'd really like to be clean now, thank you." You cast a scowl his way and he's putting his hands up in surrender as he backs out of the bathroom followed by the bedroom.

"I take it that the lady needs her privacy now." He leans against the doorframe with his hands stuffed into his denim jean pockets that are dusty and darkened with wood ash and the smell of the campfire lingers on his skin.

"And her beauty sleep." You add on, folding your arms. His jacket is still resting over your shoulders and he chuckles at your Hello Kitty print socks. The way your hair was mussed up in the soft glow of the lantern lamp on the night table was starting to arouse him a bit.

Fuckkkkkk, you were so adorable. It might have taken every atom in his body not to bend you over the mattress and spank you for being such a dotty woman before pressing his cock past your velvety folds as he makes you apologize in the form of incoherent, dirty little whimpers.

But the thought is quickly dismissed as it's formed in the sullied cogitations of his mind.

"Good night, [name]." He murmurs in his husky voice yet there is a hint of mischief in his tone that sends a frisson up your spinal column.

"Good night, Keegan." You susurrate, as you slowly shut the door and his expression remains the same as your view of him narrows until it disappears behind the threshold.

"Christ." You mutter to yourself as you begin to get ready for bed, as you feel the rush of collywobbles in your stomach start to well up a craving for the cowboy. The time on your cracked phone screen reads 2:03 AM and a wave of exhaustion crashes over you at the realization. Had you really been out there for seven hours?

The warm water soothes your aching bones and forming scabs scattered across your body as you gently exfoliate your skin. Thankfully, Keegan had enough sense to drop off a first aid kit by your door before you slipped into the bath. You weren't looking forward to the sting of the antiseptic, but you were more than grateful to be alive and have all your limbs attached. As you close your eyes and let the sudsy bath take away your worries, a coaxing voice is entrancing you. At first, it begins as a hushed lull intermingled with what sounds like your name and a bit of white noise that makes your brain all fuzzy and warm, but it becomes audible. Forming coherent luring words that resemble Keegan's deep, raspy voice.

Drown, drown, drown.

And you promptly find yourself submerging into the tub and the stillness of the water is subduing, but something is instigating you to open your eyes. You push away the thought, taking in the tranquility, settling into the comforting sensation of weightlessness. And yet, the feeling is not leaving you. You internally sigh as you move your body to the surface, but you remain dormant. Your eyes shoot open and your blood runs cold.

Above is one of the most fear-inducing creatures that you have ever laid your eyes upon holding you down on either side of your shoulders with slender claws digging into your flesh. It resembles a caribou skull with elongated antlers but its eyes were a violent vermillion that penetrates your soul. Its body was dark, rickety, and harrowing. Bones astute against the matted onyx fur and its tongue hanging out of his jaw like it was ready to devour you. Panic surges through your veins as you thrash about but it drives its talons further into your skin and you shriek out in pain. Water enters your lungs, your heart is stammering at cardiac arrest speed and you're choking out for dear life. This is it. This is how you die and the worst part about it is, you couldn't even call out for hope from the man who saved you just moments ago.

But just as you're accepting your fate, the muffled sound of a gunshot pierces through the air and within seconds the skinwalker is incapacitated and then dead. Soon enough, you're being hoisted out by Keegan's strong hands, as you cling onto him naked, wet, and heaving for oxygen.

Water expels out from your esophagus and you're trembling even harder than you were before when he found you, grasping to him and he's immediately talking you down.

"It's alright, you're okay. You're okay." He soothes, one hand tenderly caressing your soddened hair and the other is gripping your body tight as he pulls you out of the tub. He wastes no time unplugging the drain and wrapping you in a large towel to cover your naked body. In all seriousness, Keegan didn't even take a second to gander at your naked form when he was gathering you out of the tub and he makes that clear that his sole objective was to eliminate the wendigo that trespassed into your sanctuary.

He could've sworn that he had locked up every single opening in the house as he does every single night. It was like clockwork to him ever since his father had shown him the ropes to the place.

"…Kee-keegan." You splutter out as you continue to clutch onto him and your body is saturating him with water. He doesn't care though, that was the least of his worries. Your eyes are reaming and glossy as you dare to peek down at the creature that was seconds away from letting you meet your maker, but there's nothing but ash on the tiled floor.

"It was—" You begin, peering up at his harking steely eyes and his jaw tightens.

"It's gone."

"I don't understand." You shake your head, trying to make sense of what just happened, but the soft clatter of the rifle hitting the bathroom counter delineates your scattered mind. "Oh. But—"

"Get dressed." He softly prompts and you shakily let go of his t-shirt and he hands you an eggshell-colored peignoir as he averts his gaze. He's cognizant of the post-distress and panic you're in, so makes no indication of reallocating himself away from you as you slip on the fabric nor does he provide an explanation for what just occurred.

And to be honest, you didn't want to know. There was nothing more disturbing than the encounter with death in the form of a mutated caribou that leaves you shaken up. Everything just seemed too difficult to wrap your little head around, so let him take care of you.

A fresh towel is on your head, soaking up the wetness tangled into your hair and you relax at his balmy touch.

"Thank you." You mutter as your eyes are cast downward, eyeing the imbued, darkened spots on his nightshirt.

He delicately hooks his index finger and thumb between your chin and lifts it upward as he dabs at your features with the towel. And then it lingers. His intense yet pensive gaze, his stout calloused thumb that is now brushing against your jaw shortly followed by your quivering bottom lip. His jaw ticks.

"I'll sleep in here tonight."

Your heart jumps rampantly against your chest. "What?"

"You almost died if it weren't for me."

"Yes, but it's not—!" You fall short of words yet again and you're tearing your gaze away from him. As dire as the situation was (and it was), Keegan cannot help himself from being just the tiniest bit entertained by your endearing little mannerisms.

"I'm not gonna sleep next to you in bed." He deadpans. Normally, he would let you stumble over your words, but exhaustion is seeping into his bones and even as a noceur himself he was in desperate need of some z's. "The armchair over there quite comfy."

You follow his eyes to the brown leather recliner that was beside the bed and then back to him.

"I'm tired, Keegan." You profess, leaning your head against his chest and he's absentmindedly rubbing circles into the small of your back.

"I know."

Typically, you wouldn't be this comfortable with a stranger but given the unusual circumstances that were currently trying to slaughter your ass, you found yourself seeking solace in him.

"Let's get you into bed."

And soon he's leading you back to the bedroom, his hand is still on the small of your back as you walk on wobbly legs. He peels off the comforter and you sink into the mattress feeling like royalty in your crisp, clean nightgown, in your large princess-like bed, surrounded by plush pillows as the light in the lantern flickers. It casts shadows over his dashing features. The flame turns his glacial eyes into a soft apricot and an expression flickers over his visage—concern.

He's harping over your safety and the intruder that happened to bypass his heavily guarded home. No tripped wires, no movement detected on his cameras, and not to mention not a single sound was made until he heard your thrashing in his room across the hall. If he hadn't been there in time—

"You saved me, though." You drone, shutting your eyes as you tuck yourself into the cotton sheets.

His hardened glare softens at your words and how you look at ease now. A testament to your full, unshakeable faith in him. God, you were so quick to trust, it honestly scared him a little for you.

He scoffs. "How can you be so sure that I wouldn't hurt you?"

"Because your father would resurrect and beat the absolute shit out of you if you even dared to think about harming me." You state with a sly smirk on your face.

Keegan's expression briefly falters before he lets out a snicker, acknowledging the truth in your bold proclamation. "Crafty little critter, aren't ya?"

You giggle as shift under the sheets. It's almost a bit disturbing how you are seemingly fine and brushing off the situation. "Maybe."

He peers down at you for a moment and the welcoming feeling of your radiance starts to crawl into his chest. Almost like you were right where you needed to be, in his home, in his bed under his safeguarding. He wants nothing more than that. It's almost a bit perturbing how you are seemingly fine.

"Go to sleep." You mumble.

"You go to sleep."

"No, you first,"

"Who else is going to shield you against creatures of the night?"

You pause for a moment. "Good point."

He smiles as he walks over to the armchair, gun propped up against his left leg as he sits to face you. You're already curling up in a ball, and your chest rises and falls at a tranquil pace.

"Good night, Blair." He feels his eyes drooping as his vision becomes bleary.

You chuckle at the idiotic nickname. "Good night, Cowboy."

The remnants of tiny, foolish smiles are left on your faces as you drift off to sleep in your respective spaces. The last passing thought that crosses your mind is Keegan's tender gaze and his fingers brushing against your lips. Keegan wonders what is making you so giddy before the world around him fades out.

As morning breaks, sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on the room. The spring breeze wafts into the wisps of your hair and your eyes flutter open. The seat in front of you is now empty and the balcony door is wide open, and yet you're calm as you rise out of bed. Birds are chirping and the incessant droning of cicadas buzzing loudly against your eardrums is merely white noise when you recognize the low rumble of your truck's engine pulling up. There is an urgency that surges within you and soon you're sprinting out the door, and the heat of the cobblestone stings at the soles of your feet but you don't care.

The engine cuts and Keegan climbs out of the truck, sleeves rolled up in his army green henley, and he's wearing a clean pair of relaxed, light-wash jeans that skim the leather of his Tecovas. He peers up at you with wintry hues, tipping his hat, and in that instant, you're transported back to your childhood—Mr. Russ, tipping his hat with those same eyes and that glorious smile that always made your heart race.

The resemblance was both striking and uncanny, but damn, you were totally not complaining.

"Mornin', little lady. You're up quite early." He puts his hands on his hips and he's no longer the stone-faced, vendetta-filled Cowboy that you met last night. He's your friendly Appalachian Cowboy who provides you the sweet, sweet southern hospitality with a charming smile and a bit of a North Carolinian twang that sets your groins on fire.

"Mornin', Cowboy. Fixed my truck, did you?" You lean against the French iron wrought railing with your ruffled hair and white nightgown, rippling in the slight draft that carries the healing scent of sage and lavender. The fabric forms around your body and Keegan notices how it traces the outline of your curves and how the sun is hitting you just perfect enough for you to look like a literal angel.

But it's still the unrelenting, disconcerting feeling that creeps up on him when he looks up at you so unbothered, airheaded with that buoyant grin on your face. Was it really just a facade?

"Fixed it good enough for you to get back on your way." He turns from you to the truck and then back to you. "By the way, where were you headed?"

"Back to the old man." You cross your leg over the other, waiting for his response. He watches as the skin of your legs peeks out from under the peignoir and it's a bit enticing.

"I didn't contact him if that's what you're askin'" His hand acts like a sun visor to block the light out of his sensitive eyes to take a good gander at you.

"I would hope not. Don't need to send him into cardiac arrest." You joke and you see his shoulders shaking a bit, suggesting a chuckle.

"Made you breakfast."

"Yeah?" You simper, leaning a little more against the railing.

He can't help the way his grin broadens as he peers up at your flirty form. "Careful now, can't have you comin' back home with a broken neck, can we?"

Shit. Shit. Shiiiiit.

Goddamn him and his pretty face. He's already heading inside as you're locking in on him, but Keegan isn't one to give you the satisfaction. He'll play the long game and he'll enjoy every minute of it. From the way you're sitting next to him at the table with your dress bunched up to your thighs to the way you sensually lick your spoon covered with cream and he's internally chuckling at the mess you've made on the corners of your lips, feigning gullibility to get a rise out of him. Admittedly, it's hot. He wants nothing more than to lick your fingers clean and sloppily kiss your sweet cream-laden lips.

Mmmm.

He doesn't say anything. Just enjoys his breakfast and keeps his gaze lowered like a gentleman. The company of a beautiful woman is enough for him on a fine Sunday morning like this.

You can only wonder what he's thinking as you act like a giddy schoolgirl who's trying to get the attention of her professor. Not that you had a significant age gap with Keegan, but in his original line of work there was a massive lapse. Being a retired Marine had probably mentally aged him over give or take 10 years would have been your best guess. And leaving the farm to his cousins in his absence probably impacted him even more, well, according to your gossip girl of a father at least.

He made trips down to NC every so often to check on his favorite, reclusive cowboy, sometimes tending to his facilities when need be. You never tagged along though. In your mind, you were a city girl who didn't mind dressing up as a cowgirl if she saw fit. So coming down from your city job, in the comfort of your sweet loft that overlooked the NOVA skyline didn't exactly make you miss the Appalachia trails.

Still, it is nice being back here with a somewhat familiar stranger in a home you had only seen the outside of because, for the majority of your life, you had so desperately tried to force out the rural in you. Call it toxic, but leaving the mountains always felt like the haze had lifted from your brain. It was unsettling to be here for too long.

"You're nervous."

You glance up from the runny eggs that you have been working on for the past twenty minutes. You give him a sheepish grin. "This place makes me nervous."

"Itching to go back to the city, huh?"

That elicits a small chuckle from you. "And what do you know about me?"

"Well, according to your father," He says in a knowing tone and you narrow your eyes at him as he gives you a coy smile. "you love the city too much to move back."

"I don't think I'm too good for it. Here, I mean."

"Didn't say that. The Appalachia isn't for everyone." He butters his toast and then munches on it and soon it vanishes into his mouth. The night before is washed away from your memory, but Keegan loses track of his thoughts as he stares at the leftover jagged lines embedded into your skin from a creature that he knew you wanted to forget. A glance at his watch and he's up, wiping his hands and mouth with the serviette that was on his lap before he places it on the table. "You ready?"

"You got somewhere to be?" You raise your brows, not quite ready to leave yet.

"Matter o'fact I gotta date with an employee from Tractor Supply Co in about an hour, and it's thirty minutes out."

"New livestock?" You sip at your coffee.

A sad smile graces his lips. "Yeah, my last eldest cattle just passed away a few weeks ago."

You frown. "I'm sorry."

For a moment you swear you saw him get teary-eyed, but he quickly shakes himself out of the grief, grabbing his keys as he downs his glass of ice water. He stops himself for a moment as you get up to push your chair in and he can't help himself from tracing his fingers over the claw marks on either side of your shoulders. You shudder from the remembrance and his touch.

"[name]," He starts to express but your mood sours.

"Stop."

His expression falters and so does his hand as he lets it drop to his side. You didn't want to remember any of it. He notices how you clutch onto your necklace and he drops the subject.

"Your trucks waiting." He takes your hand and deposits the keys into your palm.

You give him a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you."

You begin to approach your truck and you feel relief washing over you as you run your hand over the tarnished, rusted hood of the Dodge before you open the driver door. As you climb in you notice that all your belongings remain untouched. Scattered cassette tapes, polaroids, and the little Hawaiian girl that swayed with every movement still plastered onto the dash. The leather seats seem to have abrasions, revealing the cushion beneath, but you write it off as a bear maybe deciding to try and access your vehicle after you had abandoned it.

"…[name], ….[name]….!"

You're snapped out of your stupor, recollecting your thoughts as you glance over at him leaning his body against your truck. "I checked the vehicle, it's all clear for you to go. Should make it back alright."

"Why wouldn't it be if you fixed the engine?"

The look you give him is blank, free from concern and any worry that may have been left on your face from last night.

He nods, pushing his hands into his jean pockets. "Right, well, it was nice seeing you all grown up."

That provokes a reaction. Heat is rising to your cheeks and Keegan is standing there looking cool as ever as he takes off his hat and wipes the sweat off his brow before putting it back on.

"Thank you." You say with more feeling, only your eyes acknowledging the horrors of last night. And that's enough for Keegan.

"You take care now." He tips his hat with a good-natured grin and you snicker at his little cowboy bit.

He waves to you as you back out of his driveway and you glance over from your rearview mirror as his towering figure disappears and so does any anamnesis from the evening prior. Or at least, you told yourself that.

And that was April. Months have gone by and Keegan doesn't exactly expect you to keep in contact. He's even surprised to hear a, '[name], says hello, by the way.' from your father during their weekly check-in.

And he definitely does not expect to see your truck in his driveway when he's coming back from milking his cows for the day with his new set of eyes that's in dog form, wagging her tail in anticipation as she sits.

"German Shepherd, eh? Suits you." You simper at him, leaning against the pillar of his home with glossy lips, and a cutesy red paisley swing dress that just barely covers your thighs. Your boots are hardly broken in as they dig into the grassy field and your hair is a little disheveled in an endearing way.

"Name's Miley." He peels off his gloves, shoving them into his back pocket. He's completely taken aback by your sudden presence, though he's not one to complain about a pretty lady showing up at his door.

"Hey, Miley." You coo, holding your hand to her and she's immediately reciprocating your energy tenfold as she jumps up and down, causing you to giggle and pet her soft fur.

Keegan doesn't even need to say anything as he glances down at the German Shepherd and she's already sitting on the ground between you two.

"Miss me?" You ask, coyly.

"Could ask you the same thing, Blair." He tilts his head to the side, eyeing you suspiciously. Something was off.

"I was just in town."

"Uh huh."

It doesn't take long before the act drops and distress is carving into your features. Lips are trembling in fear as your eyes begin to water.

"Something's been following me, Keegan." Your body naturally falls against his chest and his breath hitches a bit at your contact and the smell of your perfume wafts into his senses.

Fuck.

mini taglist: @keegansshark @soapsgf @milkteaarttime

#call of duty #call of duty imagines #keegan p russ #keegan p russ x reader #keegan russ x reader #keegan russ smut #call of duty x reader #cod x reader #cod ghosts #call of duty ghosts #call of duty smut #keegan x reader #cod keegan #keegan russ #keegan smut #eventual smut #alternate universe #cod au

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apomaro-mellow · 1 day

Text

King and Prince 17

Part 16

When Steve undressed that evening, he hung up the new outfit from Eddie with care. Tired from the day, he collapsed onto the bed, stripped down to nothing which was how Robin found him that morning, causing her to awaken him with a shriek.

Steve found his bed covered in an assortment of folded clothes, both for the daytime and for slumbering. They were meant for daily activities, so none as fine as the green outfit Eddie had gotten him before. But somehow Steve knew it was all the king’s doing.

One evening, Steve and Robin were recataloging books, when she finally spoke up about this strange relationship they had been forming.

“You probably spent your nights with more excitement. A lass on one arm a drink in another”, she said only half derisively. She was up on a ladder while Steve passed books to her from a cart.

“Eh, not all it’s cracked up to be. Besides, I got a lass and a drink right here.”

Robin raised a brow before realizing he meant her and the pitcher of water over by one of the tables. “I’m not your lass and it looks like your standards for drinks have dropped. What is it with you anyway?”, she asked.

Steve paused, arm halfway stretched to handing her the next book. “What’s up with me?”

“You’re acting like you don’t even miss it? Weren’t you a prince? Like, adoring crowds, people falling over themselves for you, friends for miles. That kind of prince?”

Steve shook his head and handed her the book. “It’s not what you think.”

“Oh come on, don’t be modest. It looks stupid on you.”

His face pinched at that, not liking being called stupid in any capacity and also wondering what Robin meant by that. Before he could ask, she continued, apparently seeing the confusion on his face.

“You’re going to tell me you don’t miss any of that? That you’re fine staying here and being a glorified lackey?”

“I…” Steve had been trying not to think about that place anymore. He didn’t miss it. “I didn’t have a lot of close friends. Not like you’re thinking. No real adoring crowds either.”

“Oh bullshit”, Robin slid down from the ladder. She looked to the water pitcher again before nodding to Steve. “Come on.”

And Steve followed.

Followed until they got to a room he’d never been in. It took Steve a little too long to realize it was Robin’s bedroom. There was a stack of well loved books by the bed. A dartboard with small knives sitting on a table nearby. And a bottle of wine that Robin had already opened.

“Uhh…”, Steve was paused by the door, wondering if he was only just now picking up on something Robin had been putting down all this time.

Robin turned to face him and then realized how it all seemed. Her body jerked like the very idea sent a shock of lightning through her and she nearly dropped the bottle.

“Oh! Shit! Shoot! No! I wasn’t-! We’re drinking! Just as like-I’m mean we’re not friends, but like. I don’t know, it sounded like you wanted to talk and I like gossip and drama but I thought you wouldn’t talk about it sober so…” Robin set the bottle down on the floor and sat down, a mismatched pair of cups already there.

Steve let out a breath. “I would have been terribly flattered.”

Robin rolled her eyes. “You’re not my type. In any way, shape or form.” She sat down right on the floor and poured for both of them.

“You’re at least one of my types, maybe”, Steve said. Robin was beautiful. And funny, and smart, and she knew how to handle the kids but also never took herself too seriously. Just as soon as the idea was put in his head, it was snuffed out. He tried not to think on it too hard as he took that first sip. What he was thinking about was how long it had been since he’d been with anyone.

“So there’s no one you miss?”, Robin pressed.

“I had, like two friends”, Steve admitted. “They were…we knew each other since we were kids. And we just kind of stayed together. But then we got older and it just got so…” Steve was too sober for this conversation, so he took a sip.

Robin got the message and switched gears. “Alright, what about a sweetheart?”

There were quite a few who could qualify. But none who Steve had thought of while he was locked up. No one in particular he wanted to rush back to. So he just shook his head. Then he took another sip.

“Don’t tell me you’re celibate because I won’t believe it.”

“Why not? I could be celibate if I wanted to, I haven’t had sex a single time since I got here. I haven’t even…”, Steve paused before making a motion with his hand like he was stroking himself. Normally he wouldn’t do such a gesture in front of a lady. But Robin wasn’t just a lady. Plus, she had already seen him naked.

Robin snorted. “You’re acting like that’s a long time. And are you being honest? You haven’t? Even once?”

“I haven’t been in the mood”, Steve shrugged. “And what about you? I haven’t seen you exactly rushing off to cavort.”

“Steve, you only see me a couple hours a day, don’t assume what I’m doing.”

“So are you…?”

Robin huffed, then took a gulp. “No. Not currently, anyway.”

“So we’re both living like monks.” Steve raised his cup.

“My mother would be so proud”, Robin drawled as she raised her own to meet Steve’s.

The way she said it, Steve instantly knew. Of course, he couldn’t know the extent of it, but it sounded like Robin’s mother rarely was proud. He wondered where Robin’s mother was. Wondered where some of the other families were too. Dustin’s mother worked in the castle, but that was about as much as he knew about any of their families. And what of the royal family?

“Hey, is it just Eddie?”

“Is what just Eddie?”

“The royal family. He doesn’t have any relatives? Any heirs?” Steve wondered if that was why he kept wards. To bring up one to take the crown. It was odd of someone his supposed age to have no one. And his own family’s recordings never spoke of any lineage stemming from or to King Edward.

“He is very much solitary, as far as I know”, Robin said. She took another sip but watched the prince from her rim.

All Steve did was hum in response. “So tell me about this mother of yours. She sounds just as lovely as mine.”

-----------------------

Eddie didn’t like being caught off guard. He always tried to cover himself and make sure he protected those under his wing. So even though the Harringtons had said they were done with Steve, Eddie couldn’t fully believe it until he saw it with his own eyes. Because spring was here and they were too conspicuous, the demobeasts he would allow to remain in hibernation for now.

So he sent birds instead. He sent them to watch over the king and queen and see how they were really taking the absence of their son. He saw Juliana give a few tears one evening, while staring at a painting of what must have been a young Steve. But that was it. There was no official announcement to their people, but it was plain to see that Steve was no longer considered royalty by the court.

With a groan, Eddie cut off the connection between him and the raven, miles away. He rubbed his own actual eyes and then left his study to go and sit with the eager smiles that mirrored his own. It was story time and tonight, Eddie was thinking of throwing a few obstacles in the way, something really to get the kids excited like a tough riddle or even a labyrinth.

He came to one of the more comfortable sitting rooms, drinks and snacks already on the table, each child in their designated spot. But there was a new body floating in the room, standing off to the side like he wasn’t sure which place to sit. Obviously, not in the grand looking chair that was most definitely designated for Eddie.

“What brings you ‘round these parts, my liege?”, Eddie asked.

Steve had an arm across him and shrugged. “I’ve heard so much about your stories, I wanted to hear them for myself.”

The thought made Eddie so giddy that he climbed up onto his chair, squatting on it like a gargoyle while he met Steve’s gaze with a grin. If the prince wanted a show, he would give him the performance of a lifetime.

“Well then”, he settled onto the cushion, legs crossed now. Come take the seat with the best view~”

Steve’s eyes widened, not expecting something so blatantly, well, flirtatious. But he quickly regained his composure. “I’ll be fine right here, thanks.” He took the floor on the other side of the table, able to see all of Eddie and the rest of the kids.

Eddie’s grin didn’t falter and if anything, it deepened. Suddenly, getting the little prince to sit in his lap seemed to be his greatest life’s mission. If only because of how funny it would be. Yeah… funny.

Part 18 coming soon

Tag Team

@thesuninyaface @only-evanescent @snakeorsquid @ignoremyworld @theclichefortunecookie

@goodolefashionedloverboi @just-a-tiny-void @0body0disphoria0 @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @samsoble

@jamieweasley13 @y4r3luv @xtkxkrzrizir @un-knownperson @greekgeek24

@justdrugsformethanks @potato-of-the-lord @notaqueenakhaleesi @swimmingbirdrunningrock @queenie-ofthe-void

@nebulainajar @lil-gremlin-things @nicememerino @robininblue @hornedqueenofhell

@anne-bennett-cosplayer @moomkin77 @here4thetrama @bookworm0690 @autumncrocusandladybug

@lil-gremlin-things @littlebluejane

#apo writes #stranger things #steddie #platonic stobin #here's to HOPING yall are actually NOTIFIED

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writingcold · 2 days

Text

Hello! Welcome to Chapter 7.2 and the Epilogue of CD&FE.

Pairing: Jake X Female Reader

Summary: This is an AU that starts with the release of GVF’s first EP, Black Smoke Rising, and follows along life paths over the course of twenty plus years.

Content warnings: A return to smut. They are reunited and it’s like fireworks. So, please be aware - mentions of alcohol, adult emotions and relationships, sex, oral, fingering, p in v, maybe some spanking, hair pulling maybe, anal play, language, strong language, you get the picture. Oliver Fucking Reed also makes a 30 second appearance.

Word Count: approx. 6.3K

It’s here! The end. These two - @edgingthedarkness and @takenbythemadness have been so supportive through this whole bit. Thank you one last time, ladies. Love you. And THE scene is finally here. We were cackling over pet names during sex until it just fucking worked and we all just did a collective “holy shit”.

CD&FE, Part 7.3: Jake POV

I almost missed the final bow. Josh belted out for me to stop as I was pretty much racing towards the stairs. I knew I was rushing, but fuck that. I had a flight in ninety minutes. Randal promised he would have a car with my bag and my acoustic waiting and at the ready. Somehow, he was able to get me on an earlier flight. My whole mind was set on getting to Y/n. The daily texts were not enough. I needed her. Now. I needed to know that we were going to finally try.

The others were doing their post-show bickering and critique while I handed off my guitar and walked as fast as my rubbery legs could carry me towards the dressing rooms. I could hear them calling for me, but I didn’t bother. I was stripped out of my jacket and was kicking out of my boots by the time I shoved my way into my dressing room. I had laid out clothes ahead of time. I sped through cleaning up. God that was a hot show. I was a complete mess of nerves and stink as I washed. All I could think of was how I was going to have to really sprint to get to the gate and make the flight. It was worth it. I would be at her door well before breakfast. That was the goal.

Towel wrapped around me and trying like hell to squeeze the water from my hair, I was startled by a knock on the door. I grumbled out a ‘do not disturb’, but I knew the moment the door opened, it was my mom.

“Mom - what -”

“Sorry honey,” she started as I grabbed my clothes and moved back into the shower stall to dress. “I know you’re rushing but I have a huge favor to ask of you.”

“Come on, Mom,” I grumbled, yanking my pants on. “I was able to get an earlier flight. I’m leaving.”

“I think this one is important,” she said as I smashed my elbow into the wall in my effort to pull my shirt across my wet head. “I met her during the set. She’s a huge fan. Such a sweet girl.”

I glared at her as I walked back out to try to put myself together. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. We can’t do these meet and greets just because someone approaches you. The managers…”

“I know, I know. But this one is different.”

“You say that all the time,” I quipped as I started dragging a brush through my hair. “But seriously I have… 84 minutes until I’m in the air. You know-”

“But this one-”

“Mom!”

A look crossed her face that I had not seen since I was maybe sixteen. Well, twenties, but really? She opened the door and leaned out. I knew she called for my dad. Damn it. Sure as shit, two seconds later there he was - with his stern ‘How could you do this?’ look plastered all over his face.

“Jake.” One word. One syllable. And I found myself back to being their child.

“I’m forty two years old. When does this shit end?” I griped as I threw my stage clothes on hangers to be washed.

“Never,” my mother replied with a raised eyebrow.

I relented if it meant they would get out of my dressing room. I threw the rest of my personals into the waiting backpack and looked around for anything that I may have missed. In the history of me trying to get shit done so I can leave, this moment was probably the fastest I’ve ever moved. There was still a chance that I could dodge the fan thing. Mom did, after all, forget to tell me where to go. Or had I just not heard. Didn’t matter. Out the door and I immediately turned towards the loading bay.

“Jacob! Over here!”

Fuck. I had been caught. When I turned towards them, I may have been scowling. Mom did that thing with the fingers drawing the corners of her mouth into a smile and everything. Was it too much to ask to get on a damn plane and get to this woman that I… Loved. I loved her. Every thread of my being loved her. Craved her. Desired her. But not just the sex. It was like we were two pieces of the same map that needed no stitching to be together. I drew out my phone and held up two fingers, mouthing to her as I passed by - two minutes.

Everyone was in the banquet style family room. Odd. Josh was still bouncing around in his jumpsuit like he was plugged directly into an amp. There was family all over the place, but it felt off. I couldn’t identify the sensation beyond it being like a dream. Everyone was glancing and looking at me but not really acknowledging me. The frustration of time slipping away ate at my edges and started to piss me off. I didn’t have the time for this shit and trying to track down a ‘fan’ was not my priority. We were nearly through to the back side of the room when I threw in the towel.

“Mom! I don’t have the time for this shit!” I blurted out, turning around as she began to argue.

I was expecting her to really lay into me, but her words were nonexistent. My gaze first fell on my dad as he was in front of the door, an overly cocky look on his features. Just before him was Y/n, a shy smile and soft rock from side to side betrayed her unsureness of the moment. My jaw dropped open and my guts spilled to the floor. It was like the first time to Disney World, the first time playing Madison Square Garden, and seeing her for the first time ever all rolled into one. The breath in my chest turned to fire as I felt my mom’s hand land on my back.

“So totally your girl, Jacob,” she whispered.

I struggled through an exhale in a frail attempt to not break down. “How do you know?”

“Because Dad still looks at me the way you look at her, forty five years later,” she said with a gentle push at my shoulder. “Stop trying to be cool. We all know it’s about to get mushy in here.”

At her warm laughter, I found myself untethered from the ground and moving towards her. All I could see was her and the glint in her eye that was my beacon. I blinked and she was in my arms. I blinked again and her lips were on mine. I didn’t bother to listen to the whoops and hollers that were happening around us. Fuck that. The moment was all us. I felt like I was being stretched and pulled and smashed and pummeled all at the same time. The sound of her filled me like nothing else. All I wanted to do was drag her back to the hotel…

“Oh, shit,” I whispered. “I don’t have a room.”

My hands came down on her hips as she started to step away. I didn’t need her to move - at all. It was like she instantly was the air that I needed to breathe. The grin on her lips as she took me in made my heart quiver.

“I gave up my room. I’m supposed to be on a damn plane in-”

She laughed as she cupped my cheek. “I have a room.”

I leaned into her touch. Life went on around us. I was locked into her and unable to get past it. I watched as she slipped her hand into mine and pulled it close to her chest.

“Should we get out of here?” she asked, a faint blush grew across her cheeks as she looked around at my family as if becoming aware of so many eyes on us.

“Yeah. Feeling a little weird with everyone around,” I sighed with a backwards look at Mom.

Dad was at her side, both grinning like idiots at us. I felt like we were at a wedding - that part where everyone suddenly is ready for the couple to race away to get laid, or whatever.

“Where the fuck is Randall?” I suddenly asked, formulating a plan from the ashes of my previous one.

I located the assistant and was able to get the car to take us to the hotel. He was also gracious enough to change the plane ticket for me - adding one for her for the next evening. Perfect. It was perfect. I could barely keep my hands from her as we fumbled our way up to her room on the third floor, oddly enough just down the way from my previous suite. Nice.

I fell against her as the post show exhaustion caught up with me. We slowly made love, accepting it was all I was up to as every ounce of my frame started to ache. I fell asleep with my cheek on her chest and her hands in my hair. When I woke up alone, I panicked until I heard her moving around at the bathroom vanity. An idea came to my brain as I slid out from under the tangled up sheets. I was half hard by the time I saw her in the reflection of the huge mirror. I caught her hips as she started to turn my direction.

“Think you can keep your leg hiked up on that counter, mouse?” I asked, as I gently pulled her right thigh up to rest her foot on the edge of the long, low slung vanity.

I wasn’t really paying attention to her answer, just her wide spread pussy that had already started to weep just for me. I trailed my fingers across the miles of skin of her leg going right to her center. My eyes traced up to hers in the mirror as I passed a barely there touch to her clit. The way her eyes widened for a moment made me grin. I watched my fingers go to work against her folds and nub. It didn’t take long before she was dripping against my skin and down her thigh. Her head flopped back, and I made sure my shoulder was there for support. I kissed along her neck just like I knew it would make her fall apart all the faster. I hummed as I found the pulse point and she buried her teeth in her lip with a dull whine.

“Spray for me, mouse,” I whispered against her cheek. “Give it to me.”

Her hands wrapped back across my hips for support. She looked amazing with me wrapped around her, lips hung open and the sound... Goddamn her sounds were making my cock ache something fierce. I shifted, pressing into the small of her back as I tugged her open all the more. I slid two fingers into her and was rewarded with a raspy moan that filled every inch of my skin with heat. My palm filled with her as she hosed down her leg. Her frame shook hard with her pleasure that I pumped her through hard.

“Put your hands on the counter,” I whispered as I kissed down her spine.

I placed a sloppy kiss on the swell of her ass before sinking my teeth in.

“Motherfucker,” she gasped as I pressed my fingers into her firmly as I tugged my bite to ensure I marked her.

I lapped at her soaked thigh until I reached her core. Fuck I missed her taste. I sucked every inch that I could, savoring all of her.

“Jake,” she groaned, pushing her ass back a bit as if moving me to where she needed.

“Like that?” I asked before I ground the tip of my nose against her core and nibbled at her clit.

“Jake,” she said, this time her voice was off, like in pain.

I pulled back, trying to catch a glimpse of her in the mirror.

“Fucking cramp!” she belted out, her leg coming down off the vanity suddenly and nearly falling back into me. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, fucking hell, ooooooowwwww.”

I rubbed at her hip and thigh with a grimace. I apologized profusely as she started to laugh. Her cheeks were completely blushed out as I helped her to walk back towards the bed.

“Sorry, sorry!” she said, hiding her face. “Oh my god, I can’t believe that just fucking happened!”

I laughed as I got her to sit down. “Are you okay?”

She grimaced something fierce as I pressed my fingers into her thigh where she had been trying to grab and kneed. I slowly knelt before her, helping her through the steel tightening in her leg. I bent and planted a kiss on her knee as she blew out a few deep breaths.

“Better?” I ask quietly as I look up into her embarrassed face.

“Yeah,” she groaned, still trying to hide her eyes. “I’ll be okay.”

I smiled at her. She’s gorgeous even when she is so totally flustered. I took her hands into mine and leaned back on my heels. She peeked to find that I was totally soft. She whispered out a curse as her embarrassment washed across her once more.

“Just means you gotta work for it,” I sassed with a raised eyebrow.

I hummed at the sight of her tongue at the corner of her lips. She whispered for me to stand up and I was quick to follow her order. She dragged her hands down my flanks and the fronts of my hips. She lapped at her lips in a very obvious manner as she hooked my soft length with her thumb.

“Hmmm,” she said, her voice full of depth. “I kind of like ‘em soft for this.”

She rolled her eyes up to meet mine as she dropped her mouth totally open and fed all of me into her mouth. Her tongue tickled my balls before she sucked one in, followed by the other. The sight blew my mind as she vibrated with a giggle. She dragged her teeth across the ball sack as she slowly let them go with a little bite at the end.

“Fuck,” I breathed, practically hunched over her and her dark magic.

“That didn’t take long,” she teased before taking my hardening shaft between her lips with a hard pull.

She pulled me all the way back in and rolled my sack between her fingers. She bobbed her head a few times before meeting my gaze once more. She let me go and wiped a line of drool from the corner of her soaked mouth. It was absolutely obscene the way she sucked at my thigh and pumped my cock.

“How you gonna fuck me, Jake?” she hummed before swallowing me down again. “You gonna treat me like an angel? Be all gentle and sweet like you did last night?”

My jaw slacked as she spread my cheeks and passed her fingers across my entrance and twisted her tongue over the tip of my dick. She was better than porn. She was better than any other woman. She was mine.

“Or are you gonna make it hard and rough. Treat me like a sinner,” she cooed, working my rim with delicious pressure. “You gonna fuck me hard into this matress? Break me. Ride me. Fucking mark me?”

She spat on her finger and pressed beyond the rim to swirl and make me moan like her own whore. She yanked my cock up to press against my belly while she loved on and bit on my balls and the inside of my thighs. I nearly shot my load all over her face right there. She seemed to pick up on it and backed off with a sultry lick from base to tip. She rained gentle kisses to my belly as she put herself into my hands.

I grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up to her feet with a searing kiss. She was everything in that moment. Every moment. All time. Everything. I turned her and pushed her down onto her belly. I wrapped her hair around my fist as I straddled her thighs. She lifted her hips just enough to expose her core to me to slip into.

“You don’t want me to be gentle?” I asked as I bottomed out nice and slow.

I exposed her throat with a languid tug on her hair to pull her face away from the mattress. The way her back strained was sexy. She was powerful as I stayed buried in her depths. I saw the red mark already forming beneath my shifting palm on her hip. I slapped her ass cheek with a wicked speed that made her gasp.

“Please, more,” she squeaked.

I couldn’t help the smirk that pierced my lips. We explored during our times together. We were by no means shy about sharing ideas or desires. But damn if this was a boundary that we had not tested before. I was hooked. I slapped her other cheek before pounding myself into her at a fast pace, but shallow, teasing depth. She growled and tried to look back at me, but I tightened my hold on her hair, keeping her right where she was.

“Don’t fucking tease me,” she threatened.

It sent shivers all the way through my system. I ate it up like fucking candy and needed more. Immediately. I pulled myself from her and parted her legs so I could nestle down between and thrust hard into her before I laid down on top of her. I held onto her wrists as I pummeled in and out and ground down against her ass.

“Better, baby?” I asked with my teeth on her ear.

“More,” she moaned.

“More, what?” I tested, just to see what she would say.

Another low, deep moan erupted from her chest as I pushed through her tight folds and felt her constrict all the way down my length. “BITCH,” she growled. “You’re my fucking Bitch!!”

I lapped and sucked on her ear with a taunting laugh. “I’ve been your bitch for two damn decades,” I sighed. “Try again, baby.”

Silence. But I didn’t let up. I sucked a mark hard into her throat as I dragged myself nearly completely out and slammed back into her. The sound of our skin slapping against each other was profane. I felt her spray as I set into another punishing round.

“Schnookums!” she bleated out with a hard laugh.

“What the fuck is that?”

I couldn’t help but pause for a second to regroup. I laughed into her shoulder and she actually snorted. So sexy. I threaded an arm across her chest and rolled us over so that she was on top with me still buried deep within. She sat up and rolled her hips a few times before turning to face me. God, I loved her form. The deep cut of her hips, the bounce of her breasts.

“You going to try again?” I asked, shoving my hips up to force another hard connection.

She practically flailed over as I ground up into her. I watched as she recovered and leaned over me so we were nose to nose. She made like she was going to kiss my mouth but instead, hovered just above.

“Captain.”

I gasped. Everything blurred as the singular word set my body on fire and my mind to racing. I grabbed hold of her hips and rolled us once more so that I could properly fuck into her without mercy. My gaze locked onto her face as I pounded my hips into hers. She yanked up her legs to give me full access. I felt myself turning into a feral being as I ground and slapped my body into her.

Her eyes twinkled as she pushed herself up to kiss me hard and pull me down into her. She repeated ‘captain’ over and over, coaxing whimpers from me that filled the air around her like she commanded my every movement. It was like that poem, but better - it was her own. She was panting and chirping and her eyes were glazing over like she was about to… oh goddamn. I swear her pussy clamped down on me as a cry ripped from her mouth. Everything on her body froze solid. Her whole body buckled and bowed and shivered with her orgasm. I couldn’t help but to be dazzled as I shot my load with a sound that poured from my mouth that I had never made before. My heart was racing in my chest and my breath was blowing against her hair as we tried to hold onto each other. She cooed and caressed me. I pressed ghostly kisses across her collarbones as if I could drink those last remnants of the love we just shared to stay drunk on her.

Stillness. I listened to her breathe as we dozed pressed against each other. I trailed my fingers back and forth across her shoulder as I tried to gather my thoughts, my words. There was too much to say to her at this point. My throat vibrated with the prettiest of sentiments. But they remained mute as I just took in the weight of the seconds as they ticked by.

Her phone chirped an alarm that demanded her attention. My skin screamed out for her quick return, only to be left disappointed.

“If we’re going to make that flight, we gotta move,” she whispered, suddenly keeping her distance.

I frowned. I knew she was right. I knew I had just blown my opportunity to quell the bubble of question that was roasting in my chest. Somehow, just feeling her presence had been more important. We found ourselves through showers, dressed and taking the elevator down to the lobby before either one of us spoke again. It was like all we needed to say was in the linger touches we shared; the long held gazes that accompanied a knowing smile. Randall had a car waiting for us and we were on our way to the airport in no time at all. I held her hand against my thigh, but it didn’t seem like enough contact.

We sat in the gate waiting. It was then I noticed that in our quietness, there was a resolve. I watched as she talked to Pat on her phone, but all the while, she was touching me - my arm, my knee, holding onto my hand. She was in the same space as me. Just to know that she was real - that this moment was really happening. The flight was not remarkable. She dozed on my shoulder the entire way. I breathed in the trust that she gave over to me.

Her new home was the embodiment of her. It was not unlike the house she had all those years before, but this one felt like her whole life was woven into every fabric, embedded into the paint and bones of the structure. There was nothing hidden - everything of her was on display. I carried our bags into her bedroom and she cornered me as I was about to walk back out to her kitchen. Her lips parted as she leaned close.

“I love you,” I whispered as our lips hovered over each other. “I’ve loved you forever.”

She planted a soft kiss but then leaned back with her fingers tracing the line of my jaw. “I claim you my safe harbor, Jake.”

There it was. The bubble of questions in my chest calmed. I knew it wasn’t going to be absolutely perfect, but it would be ours. We would navigate this - the long stretches of being alone and the times where we could be together. She had made changes, just the same as I had made changes. The built in breaks for family would tie in perfectly when she would have to be in the office. The tour dates where we were on the road, she would be able to follow much more freely, working from whatever faraway hotel we found ourselves tucked in. It was a balance. It had been a hard fight for balance, but we did it. We made it work. And we flourished because of it.

Epilogue, Her POV

My heart was racing, matching the paces of my steps as I dashed through the terminal of Detroit airport. I had been waylaid by Spring storms and a client that needed a bit of extra hand holding to see the vision of their event. I stopped just long enough to pee and to get a text out to Ronnie to meet me at the door. There was no way in hell I was going to miss the big party.

I pushed my way out the double slider doors and instantly heard the rumble of the ‘Cuda. Leave it to my escorts to do this running in style. The air owned a brittle warmth, like Spring wanted to arrive, but had at least one good snowstorm left in her to give. I pulled my light jacket closer to my frame as I made it to the curb. Kelly was quick to step out of the shiny cherry red, deep rumbling 1970 Barracuda. He pulled me in for a quick hug before making way for me to slide into the backseat like it was a get-away car. He tossed my bag into the trunk and off we went with Ronnie behind the wheel.

“How you doin, Papa?” I cooed as I got myself situated.

Kelly grinned that infamous Kiszka grin over his shoulder. His dark sunglasses did little to hide the joy in the man’s face. “I’m doing amazing, sweets,” he answered, before he started on the usual round of polite questions to catch up.

It was already after four in the afternoon. Ronnie had assured me that they could make it home in under 90 minutes. Once out on the interstate, she flew that beast of a car much to her father’s delight. We were serenaded by Kelly’s lovely baritone gravel and Ronnie’s smooth interjections of trills. The intimidation factor of such blatant and latent talent that coursed through the family was still strong, even eight years down the road. The best I could do is hum, sorta on key, but they loved me anyway.

The years with Jake had not been easy, but I could not imagine life any differently. Sure, we had a lot of bumps and bruises as we tried to figure out our balance - together. Did we regret the resistance that spanned for so long - at times. Honestly, I don’t think we had the maturity to survive what we are able to now. I am able to travel with him many times throughout the year. He comes home to me during tour breaks. When possible, we divide time between St. Paul and Nashville, and of course Frankenmuth is still home for his folks and Ronnie.

“Drop me off at the hall. The boys are expecting me,” Kelly said as we crossed the town line.

It was going to be a huge covert mission sneaking me in under the Kiszka radar. Ronnie got us into her driveway and we ran inside, dodging kids and toys and all manner of obstacles. The show was only a few hours away - One Night Only - A Night of Celebration with Greta Van Fleet was a sold out affair at Fischer Hall. Josh broached the idea of having an all acoustic set, no openers, just a totally stripped down show with their hometown to celebrate the twins’ fiftieth birthdays. All funds raised from the tickets were going straight to the music boosters and the Autofest to give back to the town that had so nurtured them while they grew up. It would be just like it had been way back with them setting up, but there were a few volunteers from their formal road tech crew that made themselves available for the festivities.

We had just enough time to snuggle down with the nieces and nephews and have a small supper before getting ready and heading in for the party. Ronnie and her husband, Ethan, expertly corralled their four kids into the side entrance, taking their residence in the roped off area marked family only. I made sure to stay hidden as Jake was still texting me to see if I was on the way to at least catch the family events for the next few days. I just kept assuring him that I would be in by breakfast.

“WHAT!” Sam’s sass filled my ears before I felt his hands on my back.

“Oh hell,” I muttered as he turned me around and enveloped me in his embrace.

“I thought Jake said you wouldn’t be here until tomorrow,” he babbled, rocking me side to side.

I tried to shush him, but was buried in his chest.

“Oh my gawd, wait until he knows-”

“Sam! No!” I barked out, trying to keep my voice down but loud enough to be heard. “It’s a surprise.”

The glint that overtook his eyes was endearing. I could count on him to be quick to figure out the puzzle before him, regardless of his own mindset. He nodded and seemed to step back, as if blocking the doorway.

“Are you staying here?” he asked, waving at hand around the side stage area. When I nodded, he frowned. “That won’t do. He’d totally see you with the family…”

My heart froze when I heard Josh and Jake coming towards the main staging area. My eyes must’ve been as big as saucers that Sam somehow mirrored. He pushed me into the curtains and proceeded to the stage with his brothers. Danny passed by with a perked eyebrow but instantly was in on the scheme when I held up a finger to my lips, no words necessary. There were times that I so appreciated that man. The hall was packed and loud as they settled down onto stools and chairs.

“A Very Happy Birthday To US!” Josh shouted out, beaming out across the audience with a million watts of sunshine.

I chanced a glimpse out, seeing Jake under the stage lights. His full silver hair shone around him as he slowly ran his fingers across the frets. His handsome face was full of concentration as he prepared during Josh’s rambling speech about nice to be home amongst faces of so many friends and family. He talked about their first show in the hall and their last appearance before things took on a much bigger avenue. I watched as the corner of Jake’s mouth tugged a bit as if his memories swirled right along with his twin. Sam and Danny were on either side of them, so as to keep the twins together on their day.

“There you are,” Karen whisper-shouted from behind me.

I grimaced as I turned, hoping not to draw attention as they started to play the opening song. “Hey, Mom,” I greeted softly as she pulled me in for a hug.

“Cake’s here - they’re prepping it up now,” she said, eyes on her boys.

It was not hard to see the pride in her eyes. Even after all the years, she still loved to see her boys play - didn’t matter if it was to something small like the hall, or huge stadiums. Her boys. Her treasures. We watched, hand in hand, for a stretch. My spirit calmed as I watched my man play his guitar and wear a smile that made me swoon. I could hardly believe that I had had eight years with him. There were times that were still rough, but we were happy. I was happy. Jake made every moment count. I loved the man and was rewarded with the good and bad that made him Jake.

Karen tugged at my hand as they were nearing the final few songs. The plan was that I would help her and Kelly push the cart that held the cake out on the stage to surprise Jake. I cast one glance back towards him as she led me away. He radiated absolute joy. It brought tears to my eyes to see him so filled with happiness. Kelly wrapped his arm around my shoulders as if he just knew that I was struggling. He held me close without a word as if knowing that just some quiet was what I needed to get back on my feet.

“You ready, honey?” Karen asked without actually committing her words to anyone - she just put her hands on the rolling cart and took off towards the stage.

I looked up at her husband and he just shrugged with a smile as if it was answer enough. I walked with him, his hand wrapped tight to mine. They were lingering across a song from the latest album by the time we stepped to the edge of the stage. Karen, in all her boldness, walked right out there, egging the crowd on for cheers that seemed to wash over the stage with cries of ‘Happy Birthday!’ Jake turned and his gaze froze on me. For a moment, I struggled for breath as his eyes grew glossy and the corner of his mouth pulled tight with emotion.

Kelly and Karen were busy lighting candles while Josh, Danny and Sam were bent over causing all sorts of theatrics to distract from how Jake set his guitar to the side and slowly stood up from his stool. I stumbled forward, totally missing how there were cords everywhere and nearly slammed myself into the back of Kelly. Yeah. That would’ve been amazing. Much to my relief, Jake had his hand out for me to take. He pulled me into him and kissed me hard as his fingers drifted across my cheek.

“Happy birthday,” I whispered as the crowd started to sing the happy birthday song.

He pressed his lips to mine once more, his fingers soft against my face. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said softly, his eyes were slow to open as he leaned into me.

The catcalls and wolf whistles commenced as he kissed me again and his parents finished lighting the massive amount of candles. The hall hushed as it seemed the twins became overwhelmed with emotions. Josh held out his hand for Jake to take before they bent over to blow out the inferno before them. Kelly wrapped his arm around Karen as they seemed to fall together in their golden pride for their boys. The hall erupted in cheers as they laughed over their struggle to get every candle out. Of course they yukked it up with clutching each other chests in a mock gasp of breath.

Jake reached for me once more. His eyes sparkled as he brought me close. His gaze made me feel like everyone else evaporated. He cupped my cheek and kissed me sweetly. God, I loved this man.

I am unsure if I was caught up in the moment, or if it was the right time, but I leaned into him as he folded me into a tight hug. The others were already getting back to their stools and Karen and Kelly were pushing the cart away. I took in a deep breath and whispered a word I never thought I would say willingly.

“Husband.” The word clawed its way from my mouth, but it was honest in the moment. My eyes met his and my chest swelled with emotions as he seemed to realize what was happening. “I’d like to call you husband, Jake.”

He paused. He literally paused all of his movements and just stood there holding me. I just about started to panic, wondering instantly if I had overstepped. He kissed the spot just below my ear. I caught sight of those warm, dark eyes as he pulled away from me. They twinkled with a love that was mine alone. Every cell inside my body was jolting with the energy he fed me. He made sure that I made it over the cabling before getting back to his job. Karen looped her arm with mine as she just beamed radiance towards her family.

“Jake! I know she’s a looker but did you forget we have this thing we gotta do?” Josh was joking as he was settling back onto his stool with his guitar.

There were more than a few laughs and I caught how he swayed a bit, shifting into… “pRicK, you don’t talk about my girl that waaaay,” he drawled, his smile was a mile wide.

“Oliver, you said you wouldn’t do this again,” Josh pretended. “Remember the last time you tried to pull this - it ended in fire and thankfully no one died, but still.”

“Yeah well, Jake’s never gotten proposed to, so this is how he answers ‘yes’,” Jake joked, looking back at me.

Karen screeched, echoing the crowd. My everything became flooded with joy as the brothers congratulated him and threw me air kisses. Our lives had been one meandering string of run-ins that were always filled with passion and a question of love. These past years only solidified our need for the other. Soulmates? Perhaps. There’s a power in finding the one who truly understands you inside and out. As he held me on that stage, I knew one thing - this was no longer the fleeting embrace that it once had been. It was truly a daily celebration of our life together. And it was a beautiful, beautiful thing to be beholden to.

The End.

I hope you enjoyed CD&FE as much as I enjoyed writing it. The original story was actually a version of Best Laid Plans that got scrapped and forgotten until it waved like a maniac at me one day and this was formed. It really was my first reader insert that was multi-chapter, so that was interesting! Trying it again with my next story The Dead. I’m a long way from being done with it, but just know I’m working on something. See y’all soon.

@lvnterninthenight @doodle417 @luverleaver @jakesgrapejuice @fictional-duchess @milkgemini @positivegvfthings @songbirds-sweet @gretavanbitches @gardensgatedaisy @babyhoneygvfarchive @myownparadise96 @josh-iamyour-mama @starcatcherc @loveisonaroll @jakesstarlight @reesetrippingthelight @builtby-gvf @ignite-my-fire @wetkleenex-gvf @gold-mines-melting @starsasone @mysticalstarcatcher @montenegroisr @takenbythemadness @way-to-go-lad @cal-a-bungaa @thewritingbeforesunrise @leftjudgeempathsuitcase @brokenbells11 @imborrowedshesblue @vanfleeter

#jake gvf #jake kiszka #greta van fleet #gvf #cd&fe #greta van fleet fan fiction #gvf fanfiction #jake kiszka smut #jake kiszka fan fiction #greta van fleet fanfic #greta van fleet AU #jake kiszka AU

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bagelbeee · 2 days

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Is it too soon to declare my love for Lovely Runner?

Seriously.

Watching it just makes me happy, and with no following episodes, I'm stuck dealing with these feelings. So what other way than to put on my goggles and look closer right?

*cracks knuckles*

Alright, here's my love letter to Lovely Runner.

The band

I'm a sucker for amazing OSTs. I've been listening to their soundtrack nonstop because it just so good and it pairs with the youth and hopeful energy this drama gives off. They really convinced us that ECLIPSE is a well-known band. Man, I wish they'd release the full performances (I hope they did film it)!

And don't get me started with the vocals!

SEON-JAE'S ACTOR (Byeon Woo-seok) RECORDED THOSE SONGS HIMSELF. From his GQ Korea interview, it appeared that he's been diligently practicing and preparing for it! His preparation paid well, his singing was awesome. THE BAND WAS AWESOME.

I understand why Im Sol supported them.

Speaking of our heroine--Kim Hye-yoon portrayed her so well 🥹

From the first episode, I knew she'd be on fire! It's so fun to see her act in various ways (an old woman, a cringy teenager, a fan, a friend, a daughter/grand-daughter) It all just clicks when she's set her mind on it.

The characters they introduced so far were also lovely! They have substance and I can't wait to see how they grow as time passes. There's so much to say about everyone's dynamics, but I'll keep it to myself for now.

I know the elements of this drama are things I've seen before (time-slip, do-overs, idol-fan, mystery, plot-twist-A-liked-B-first-before-B-even-knew-A), but something about the way they played these card stuck with me.

Seon-jae and Sol's history was a surprise to me because I thought the drama was about present-Sol helping present-Seon-jae gain back his passion for music, acting, and life. I thought this was the FIRST time they've met. BUT I WAS WRONG. I'm so happy I was.

Seeing Seon-jae yearn for her without an ounce of selfishness shattered me. aND knowing Sol admired him without an ounce of entitlement turned me into a puddle.

Both of them cherished each other beyond self-interest.

Sol became a fan because he had encouraged her to live. She didn't fall for a pretty face nor a gentle voice. Seon-jae's words reached her not because he tried to maintain a good image, but because he intended for her to live on.

Speaking of, Seon-jae's crush bloomed when she shielded him with an umbrella and gifted him candies for doing his "job" (Remember this is Sol mistaking him for a deliveryman--she's too sweet!). He didn't like her for being a fan; he liked Sol for her kindness and character even before the timeslip.

And once Sol finally got the opportunity to get close to him, approaching Seon-jae was built on the idea of saving him, not to get together with him.

Aside from being a breath of fresh-air, think it's also hilarious because Seon-jae's mind is swimming with I-like-you-and-I've-been-trying-to-confess-to-you thoughts, and he's just trying win points and not to royally mess things up with Sol. He's just a sweet guy with a big crush on an equally sweet girl.

Man, there's so much development on the way! I haven't covered everything, but for now, I think their story will grow into a really awesome tale about love being self-transcending and enabling.

#lovely runner #kim hye yoon #byeon woo seok #solseon #they're just too SWEET #and the music is SO GOOD

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marvel-starwarsfangirl · 23 hours

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Ep. 13 "Into the Breach" Review

This was another fantastic episode that packs so much into its 25 minute runtime. Seriously, the finale better be like an hour. I feel like there's so much we have to address, yet so little time. My faith in you doesn't waver Jennifer; you've guided us through thick and thin. I will say that Rampart is surprisingly a really fun character to revisit and I enjoy watching him interact with the Batch. This man doesn't learn, but he's funny now so I give him kudos for entertainment purposes. I loved the dark atmosphere as the finale draws nearer and near. This is the end of the Bad Batch. We know it and they know it.

As usual, spoilers below:

MAMA ECHO RETURNS!!! After so long, he graces us with his appearance and he serves. I loved everything from his action sequences to his sass. Watching him sneak around the Imperial ship, rolling off of crates and working his magic was awesome to watch. That's why he's the Arc Trooper. And boy was he funny too. If it were possible, Rampart would've definitely be set on fire. Between being told he was being demoted to being denied the title of "sir," Rampart was demolished by Echo. It's just so good to see Echo again. I love him so much for his kind heart, quips, and awesome action sequences. The writers delivered!

Rampart, Rampart, Rampart... what will we do with you? He certainly hasn't changed and probably never will. But honestly, I kinda hope he doesn't. Sometimes, people are just aholes who do the right things for the wrong reasons. Rampart provides an interesting moral perspective. And he's still hot. Seeing him cleaned up in the uniform didn't help either. I'm a simple woman guys. He's also hilarious and I love it. Rampart's ego is so big that he unintentionally comes across as whiny and comical. Going forward, I seriously wonder what they'll do with him because he's going to Tantiss. Will he get dropped off? Sell the Batch out? Die in the battle that is to come? Next week will tell. I'm glad he was brought back though. He did his job as a villain well. Now, we get to see him in different situations and it's fun.

Omega, my sweet bean, hang in there. This episode does so well in establishing just how much she's grown over the past few seasons. Omega's always been resourceful and clever. Seeing her scheme to escape the Vault was exciting. You can also see the influence her brothers, particularly Hunter, have had on her. Omega's become more confident and mature. She's a leader in every sense of the word. The other kids look to her for guidance as she plans an escape. I also want to give the other kids a huge hug; I can't imagine what it must be like for them. It's one of the darkest things we've ever seen in Star Wars. Also, Emerie and Scalder rivalry definitely is gonna end with Emerie's true motivations being discovered. Scalder's not gonna let her allow Omega to slip away.

And seeing the boys strip their armor of all their color... that was legitimately heartbreaking to watch. I see it as a symbol of finality. There is no going back once they get to Tantiss. Hunter's "negative" just cements that. The last 5 minutes of the episode were so tense as the boys hitched a ride. As a my discord friend put it, "all roads lead to Tantiss."

There were a lot of smaller moments I enjoyed too. Wrecker was pretty funny this episode. Crosshair and Hunter voicing their trust in Echo was sweet. It furthers just how much the Batch truly trust and know each other. It's that implicit trust that makes me love their dynamic so much.

Anyways, that's all for now. We're truly in the endgame guys. After so long, we've finally made it to Tantiss. All that's left is to get Omega, the children, and escape which is so much easier said than done. I'm so scared yet excited for what's to come. See y'all next week!

#star wars #the bad batch #tbb crosshair #tbb hunter #tbb echo #tbb wrecker #tbb omega #tbb rampart #tbb season 3 #tbb spoilers

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armpirate · 1 day

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Anti-romantic || JJk | Ch. 14

Pairings: Boxer!Jungkook x fem!reader || Enemies to lovers, neighbors

Genre: smut, angst, fluff, curse, illegal boxing, violence

Warnings: fuckboy!Jungkook x reader, smut, dirty talk, curse, mention of tarot and fate

Summary: Jungkook had always been carefree when it came to love. He always believed he was worth sharing himself with everyone, and thought it was selfish of him to ever think of keeping himself exclusive to just one person.

And maybe that was exactly what got him into the big problem he was in.

A curse that kept him away from love didn't seem an issue for him. The fact that his ex-girlfriend thought he'd be affected by the idea of the girls he slept with running away from him after sex was ridiculous. She actually did him a favor, and took a burden away from him.

At least that was what he thought at first.

He had never found himself thinking of the possibility of repeating with neither of his hook ups, because they disappeared before he was able to even think about it. But when he makes the mistake of sleeping with the sexy neighbor that lives in front of him, he finds himself hoping to get the chance for a second round every time their paths cross.

Y/n hated him the second he set foot inside the building by the way he started making her life a miserable mess for no reason. Sleeping with him was a big mistake she wasn't thinking of repeating. At least not until he came up with the excuse that she rejected him for a curse. Not only she thought he was annoying, but she was also convinced he was crazy.

There was no way she could take him seriously.

Aprox. time of reading: 13 minutes

Previous || Next

MASTERLIST

Y/n attempted to roll her eyes as soon as she saw Jungkook getting out of his apartment at the same time she was planning to leave. It almost was as if he was waiting for her to leave.

—3A, where are you going looking so good? —he teased her.

She was wearing one of those floral dresses that were tied up at the front, and that had a skirt so light it'd probably be the easiest to lift it up. She usually only wore jeans and shirts to work, so that new outfit got him wondering where she could be going.

—Work —she huffed—. I have an interview with the city's mayor for a shared report —she stopped as she became aware of how much she was sharing with him—. Why am I even telling you this? Get lost.

—You're always so rude for no reason —he mentioned as he approached her, resting his shoulder on the wooden frame of the elevator—. I thought you'd start treating me better after I agreed on helping you with the article.

—You've done too many wrongdoings for me to forget about it only because of the article.

—Last time I checked you did them just as much as I did —he stopped her—. Shouldn't I be as angry as you are?

—Please, be —she clicked on the button of the elevator—. It'd be great if you just approached me for the article.

—That wasn't what you were saying the other night...

—Shh —she quickly turned to him—. I'll geld you if you bring it up again.

—You must hate having a good time. No wonder you're so bitter and sad.

—That's right. Now leave me alone with my bitterness and sadness —she replied back.

She thought she'd escape the walking temptation Jungkook was in when she stepped inside the elevator, but he sneaked inside before she could react to it and push him out again. He was making things so difficult first thing in the morning, she wondered if he ate crack for breakfast to have that level of energy so early.

Jungkook looked down at her, aware of the way her eyes kept shifting towards the buttons at her left, desperately trying to keep her eyes away from him and trying not to make any eye contact that could unchain another bickering.

She seemed so difficult, but at the same time he could bet she was so easy. The previous times it only took him an intimate surrounding and some heated bickering before she gave in.

If he moved the tip of his finger through her neck, would she move her neck to the side to allow him to brush her hair back and expose that area so he could kiss it? And if that happened, would she allow him to move down that light skirt to sneak his hand inside and let his fingers meet up with that glorious place he was sinking in not even two nights back? The image of her squirming to his touch, trying to control herself was driving him insane. But having it slowly escalate to him pinning her against the wall, and making out with her in the lewdest way possible was a growing need that he needed to erase from his brain.

She didn't do anything other than just being there. She didn't talk or look at him the few seconds they lasted in the elevator. Yet he was bringing out his most animalistic instincts.

Perhaps... why was he craving her that bad? It shouldn't even have happened the second time. What the hell was going on?

Y/n frowned at how Jungkook looked so stiff all of a sudden, seeing his panicked expression through his reflection on the mirror on her left.

He thought it'd be over, Jungkook was convinced he'd move on from the grip she had on him after they had sex the second time, but it only got him to want her even more. And with that same expression, he escaped the elevator as soon as its door opened, without even saying goodbye.

—Decent people say goodbye, you freak! —Y/n called him out, not even getting him to turn back to her— What the fuck is wrong with him?

He was the one constantly being a pain in the ass, and the one who sneaked inside the elevator, yet he escaped and ran away as if she had the most contagious illness. Who could ever understand him? Not her, and it wasn't like she wanted to either.

She was so consumed by her thoughts, so annoyed by Jungkook's attitude, that she didn't bother to look up when she collided against someone. A "sorry" came out of her lips, at the same time she was determined to follow her way to the station.

—Y/n?

That voice...

Kyle Robson was right in front of her, with a surprised expression that she quickly mirrored when she confirmed it was actually him. He looked exactly the same way he did a few months back, before they lost contact because she didn't want to go any further with him, and he was determined on winning her over again after they broke up a little too many times.

Just thinking about all the time it took her to move on from that toxic on and off relationship made her internally squirm.

—It's so nice to see you —he smiled at her, poking one of his hands inside the pocket of his pants—. I see you're still living in the area.

It wasn't like she had any other choices to move out.

—Yeah, yeah —she nodded—. What about you? What are you doing here?

Unless he moved out, it was weird seeing him there. He belonged to one of the most crowded areas in Chicago, and she knew it by the way he refused to barely make a move to visit her there when they were dating.

—I came to see a friend.

Nice, now her self-esteem was starting to reach a new low. Even after she moved on from him, she managed to feel offended by his words.

He made Jungkook seem like an angel.

Wait... why did she even bring up Jungkook? His ass was everywhere even when she didn't want to think about him.

—I thought you had it difficult to get here —she barked back, unable to hide the pettiness in her tone as she replayed the same excuse he gave her years back.

—It's... —he nervously laughed— he was the one who drove me here.

He was really that dumb that he probably wouldn't know how to make something as simple as Google Maps work.

—Where are you going?

—To work —she simply said.

—Are you still working at that newspaper? —he hopefully asked.

Of course he remembered that. It was their middle ground whenever they met months back. If they wanted to see each other, he always made sure she was in the office to pick her up and take her back to his place.

—Yeah, and I'm already late, so...

—Wait —his fingers softly hooked her forearm before she could step away—, do you want to meet for a coffee or something? It was nice seeing you, and I'd like to catch up with your life.

It always started that way whenever they saw each other after breaking up. He offered to have a quick chat, they connected somehow, and later she ended up tangled in his bed, naked and with a single pinch of dignity as she hid herself under the covers.

It was such a poisoned cycle that she felt free when she ended it up for good five months back.

—Just in a friendly way —he assured her—. I could pick you up at work one of these days.

—It's not necessary —she stepped back.

But maybe a little distraction was exactly what she needed to get her stupid neighbor out of her head, and all of the unconscious thoughts she had throughout the day. Probably the fact that she was so busy with her work and those boxing parties kept her from meeting new people, to the point of recurring to the same annoying person that would brag on her face how she crawled back as soon as they met on their shared landing.

And it wasn't like she'd actually sleep with Kyle.

—I'll send you a place where we could meet later today, if you want —she answered—. Do you still have the same phone number?

—Yeah —he quickly nodded—. I'll wait for your text, then!

Jimin entered the office, just to find Jungkook sitting at the edge of the desk while he stared frustrated at his own phone, which was quite unusual. They had known each other for years, and his friend had always been the type to ignore any type of connection through social media, texts or even calls.

He always moved better in real life.

But that day his eyes were fixed on the screen, with both hands holding the small device while his frown deepened with every second that went by.

Reopening his Tinder profile wasn't something he was planning. In fact, the day he created an account he only did it to find out what was all the fuss about with that app, only to find out it was similar to what he found in real life, with the only difference that those women were miles away, and most of them weren't even looking forward to meet up with him in real life.

It was a waste of time.

Jimin curiously looked over his shoulder, seeing the way the pictures changed as his friend scrolled left and right.

—The big Jeon Jungkook is using Tinder? —Jimin mocked him— I knew there was something off with you when you started showing up here at eight in the morning, but a Tinder account is going beyond my expectations.

—I'm just testing it —he excused himself, not moving his eyes up to his friend—. Capitalism has fucked everyone, because why the fuck do I need to pay to see who's interested in me? Huh? It's so annoying.

—I mean... that's where Tinder gets benefits from —Jimin shrugged—. Although it's not like you really need it. You're the first person I've seen that's able to get a girl's attention by just saying a word.

—Who says I'm using it because I need it? I said I was just testing it —he excused himself—. I don't need it.

He did need it though. At least for the short while that trance with Y/n lasted.

—Whatever —Jimin rolled his eyes—, there's a woman asking about you outside.

And said woman wasn't Y/n, even if he hoped it was. Jimin knew her, so he'd have said she was the one asking about him, instead of referring to a random person.

He sees Y/n coming back later than usual with her lipstick completely messed. If it was again that insurance commercial that bothered him not even two weeks back...

Jungkook was thinking of everything he'd tell the person outside if it was anyone he wasn't interested in seeing. He had enough money to pay the rent, survive and keep the business, anything else was a privilege he couldn't afford to have.

After huffing and saving his phone in the back pocket of his pants, he walked outside the small office and crossed the short corridor that led to the rest of the gym. He could see the silhouette of a tall well-dressed woman, who certainly didn't seem like she was there to train. Jungkook's steps suddenly became slower when she moved her left arm to her side, letting him see a bracelet he recognized almost instantly -and that he hoped was only a coincidence.

He didn't understand how she had the audacity to show up there, wearing a bracelet his father gifted to her, after everything she did to the both of them.

—What are you doing here?

It was shocking for him to see how those ten years away from each other fell on her, making her look completely different from what he remembered. The wrinkles in her face were a bit more marked, her usual long hair was chopped to her shoulders while also losing the glow it had when he was younger.

It just made him aware of how long it had been since he last saw her. Younger, selfish, and completely self-absorbed.

—I told you I needed to talk with you —she insisted.

—And I think I told you I have nothing to talk with you —he snapped back, resting his hands on his hips.

Yun Hee was also aware of the way years went through her son, giving him a manlier and more mature aura than he had when she last saw him. It didn't matter how many piercings he added to his face and ears, or how many tattoos he inked on the skin of his arms, his rounded face still remained the same as when he was sixteen, even if his big doe eyes squinted at her with disgust.

—How did you know how to find me?

—I searched you up on Instagram, and the location of this place appeared in some of your posts. I guessed you were working here...

—Well, those guesses should've taken you to the point of "If someone says they don't want to see you around them, don't go where they are". I think it's common sense.

—It was the only way...

—To what? —he tilted his head— I thought I was clear when I told you I don't care about anything that has something to do with you. It was all over the second you went out that door. You didn't care about dad or I, so why should I care about you or what you have to say now? Does it have something to do with me? Is it something that affects me?

—N... no —she shook her head.

—Then save it up because I don't wanna hear it. And don't show your face in front of me again —he roughly asked—. I really don't want to do anything I'll regret. Got it?

After clicking his tongue, he didn't allow his mother to say anything else. He didn't want to know, he didn't want to hear it. He had been doing great the past ten years, it took him so long to get over everything she destroyed, he didn't need her to do any of that back again.

—If she comes asking for me again —he told Jimin, stepping inside the office again—, tell her I'm not here even if I am. Unless you want to deal with the consequences.

Jimin had seen his friend in all sorts of moods, in different situations, but it was never as serious as angry as that day. And he didn't want to know how serious he actually was about it. At the end of the day, whatever problem he had with that woman was his business, and he had no reason to stand in between to try to understand it.

Jungkook dragged his feet up the last two steps of the stairs, resting his head heavily against his door as he pouted.

It was the first time that happened to him, and he couldn't believe in what moment it all escaped his control.

That girl was basically ready for him, he had the chance to have an amazing night, and he ruined it by pushing her away after he imagined Y/n's for a quick second. He stepped on the floor, annoyed, kicking the ground before he started whining.

What the hell was wrong with him? Y/n was like a curse which he had no control over, she was ruling everything in... Right, the curse.

But among all the girls in the world, Y/n was really the one who would be punishing him? Seriously? The universe had to be joking if she was the karma he was supposed to face.

He certainly was tripping.

Shortly after he stepped inside his apartment, he heard the bell of the elevator stopping at his floor, having him faking pretending how much he didn't care about who it could be when he realized how fast he moved back to the door to check through the peephole. He moved quickly when he recognized her figure and the same dress she was wearing that morning, stepping outside his place to pretend he was just getting out.

—Oh, 3A, we see each other again —he chuckled.

—Unfortunately —she commented under her breath.

—How was the interview?

He asked that question to hide the fact of how annoyed he was over her pink lipstick being completely smudged, surprising the corners and the outlines of her lips. She for sure had an amazing interview by the looks of her messy hair and fucked up make up.

—Good —she mentioned.

—I can tell. Did you use your mouth too much? —he bitterly asked, raising his eyebrows.

Y/n looked at him confused, standing by her door, when he pointed at his own lips with his index. Her hand slowly covered her mouth, moving her thumb and index on the surroundings of her lips to find the sticky product somewhere other than her lips. She was so busy running away from the fact that she kissed Kyle out of desperation to feel attracted to someone else, that she didn't even care about her looks because she didn't expect to come across anyone on the way from the entrance to her house.

—You don't need to lie to me —he giggled—. I'm not the jealous type, so I don't really mind if you make out with someone else. I don't care about sharing.

But he did. He really did. Why was his blood boiling just after imagining Y/n kissing another guy?

—I din't cir ibit shiring —she mocked him—. I didn't lie. I had the interview, but then I met with someone and... Why am I giving you any explanations? —she stopped herself— Get lost —she repeated the same phrase she said in the morning.

Jungkook found himself in between the stairs and his door, groaning out of frustration before he stepped back inside his apartment. He needed to pay a quick visit to the tarot reader before things got out of his control.

Taglist: @jk97bam @ttanniett

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