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icouldntcareless22 · 1 year

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The Deal (2)

Summary: She was officially failing in life and most importantly in university! With her grades hanging of the edge of a thread and tutors rejecting her left and right her only option is to make a deal with the devil a.k.a Kim Seungmin.A deal should always be fair. Your grades in exchange for Kim Seungmin's dream girl. Simple?...Right?!

Word Count: 35k

Slight enemies to lovers, idiots to lovers, slow burn, angst, fluff.

No warnings, some foul language.

AN: Finally it's here! Tumblr won't let me post it in one post, so I am forced to divide into two parts. Would you be interested in SKZ x Greek Mythology theme? Hope you enjoy!!!

Part 1

@lethallyprotected

Well it was time.

The holiday season.

The absurd seasonal drinks you were making all day confirmed that.

It was your last shift before taking off to your hometown and everyone on campus decided to pay you a visit today. You were running all around the place, making sugary sweet coffee and foamy milks until the smile was swiped off your face. It was the morning shift so that meant you were getting off at four. A quick glance told you it was 3:30 pm and the half hour that was left was pure torture.

But it passed.

At the end of your shift, you hung your apron to the back room and bid your coworkers and boss the appropriate Christmas wishes and temporary goodbyes. And you went straight home to start getting ready. You were calculating the time it would take you to get ready tomorrow morning and when should you leave to get there on time, when your phone interupting your train of thought.

You checked the id caller and saw Seungmin was calling you. Well, that was a surprise!

You slid your finger over the screen accepting it and exclaimed loudly "Puppy!"

"I told you not to call me that" he grumbled under his breath. "Where are you?"

You mentally checked before answering.

You didn't forget any lessons today.

And you didn't have any plans with him or the rest of them.

"On my way home" you replied carefully, voice so low that you doubted he was able to hear it.

A pause and then "Weren't you working today?"

"Yeah, my shift ended like 10 minutes ago" you snorted as you crossed the street.

"Oh.." he only said. But you could hear noise on the background like he was outside.

"Seungmin where are you?" You inquired, curious.

"At the coffee shop.." he replied, sounding defeated.

You laughed at that. "Why?!"

"I came by to drop one of your notebooks cause tomorrow you are leaving early" he hastily explained. It was true he had one of your notebooks, but it wasn't like it couldn't wait until after Christmas.

You bit your lip, unsure of what to say but opening your mouth all the same. "Well..I am going home you can.. swing by and leave it to me...If it isn't much trouble!"

"No, I will be there." he replied "You want anything from outside?"

"No, I am okay. I will..see you in ten" you replied.

"See ya in five" he said before hanging up.

You quickened your steps, almost fast walking to your house. You reached in no time and climbed the steps in a hurry. At first glance it didn't seem too bad, but it was in no state for visitors. So you began twirling, picking up whatever caught your eye first. You just finished tucking your bed when a knock sounded.

"Coming!"you said, rushing to the door and throwing it open to reveal a flushed from the cold Seungmin. He greeted you politely and entered your home, bringing along with him a plastic bag. You looked up and saw him fumbling.

"I..I thought that maybe we can watch that movie you said the other day.."he got out, not really looking you straight at the eyes.

You tucked your hair behind your ear, sending him a smile. "Sure! I would love to! Thanks for the snacks" You replied and took the bag from his hand.

You shoved him lightly towards your couch and made your way to the kitchen to plate the pop corn he brought. Only to feel him hover behind you. You threw a glance and there he was leaning against the kitchen table, in all his glory.

"What time are you leaving tomorrow?" He interjected.

"Around 9. The train leaves at 10 but we said with Yuqi to be there a little earlier" he hummed, clearly approving of your plans. "How about you?"

"I am leaving the day after tomorrow. We said with the guys to hang tomorrow evening" This time it was your turn to humm in approval. Some time out with his friends would do him good. He was way too couped up in his house.

"What are you doing for the holidays?" You wondered as you opened up a bottle of coke as well. The less your fridge had for the holidays the better. You still could recall the horrifying smell of the food that had gone bad while you were away visiting your family. Never again.

"Probably, I will just stay home. I talked with Jeongin- You don't know him.."he trailed off once he remembered.

"Baby faced with dimples?" You asked, reaching for the glasses.

He wordlessly nodded as he took a step closer and pulled them down for you.

"Thanks. I have seen him around"you confirmed, turning to him.

"Where?" He asked, doubtful.

"With you. Around the school. You know I see many people on a regular basis"you joked, recalling the faces that pasted through the store today and you shuddered.

"I guess. Anyways, we said that maybe... we can take a trip to go skiing" he said, absentmindedly as he grabbed the full plate and walked towards your couch. He set the plate down only to unravel your bed, which you had previously set. For a moment you stood there watching him in your space. He didn't ask where to sit like the first time. He had been here by now multiple times and you found yourself liking this intimacy. Him at your space.

When you didn't reply he turned towards you with one eyebrow raised. So you shook yourself out of the daydream you had and replied something like 'you will only hurt yourselves'

You quickly settled down beside him on your bed, searching for a calm movie to watch. Through a hasty search and your displeasure with the lack of good movies, you selected Lilo & Stitch, which you absolutely adored. You expected whines and arguments from your company, but only silent greeted you as the movie started. You looked over at him, only iluminated by your laptop's light and had an absurd thought.

You would miss him during the holidays.

The next morning you were running in the cold streets, alongside Yuqi. Running with all your might, although exhausting, managed to secure you spots on the second running train of the day. Your journey was calm and quickly you parted ways with Yuqi, strolling towards the opposite direction. Your dad and your grandparents welcomed you warmly into your house and all together you sat until the early evening simply catching up.

The rest two days you were spent in a relaxing state, you were simply sleeping and talking with your family. The third day you caught up with some old friends. Some you hadn't seen since forever, so it felt good to know they were doing well and some you still regularly contacted, so you were more aware of their news.

As you were walking back, your friends came in mind. What was Yuqi doing? Was Yuna well? Ryunjin got back safe from her trip to her boyfriend? How about Wooyoung and Jisung? Were they out there causing trouble? ...How about Seungmin?

You fumbled with your phone for a bit, before unlocking it. You strolled through your contacts before briefly stopping above his name.

You bit into your lower lip before locking your phone. You would be a bother. You didn't really talk the last days, besides the occasional meme you sent. It would be weird to call him all of a sudden, wouldn't it?

Your phone suddenly rang and you nearly jumped out of your skin. You quickly turned your phone over and a gasp left you. The screen displayed the name, that you couldn't bring yourself to call just now. You accepted the call straight away.

"Hey Y/N" he greeted quietly.

"Hey Seungmin"you shyly greeted back, unsure what to say now that you were on the line with him. "How have you been?"

"Good, good. My parents stuffed me with as much food as they could. I made plans with Jeongin this weekend as well."

"Mmm your ski trip. Sounds wonderful! My dad had a feast for me as well. I am just now returning from an outing with friends." You said as you walked further down the familiar street.

"Am I interrupting you?" He asked as the thought just dawned on him.

"No! No, I am just walking home. Actually I wanted to call too. I was wondering what you were up to" you shyly admitted, not knowing if it was okay for you to do that. Your nerves soon calmed at his response.

"Me too. I just stayed at home today. Watched a baseball game."

"Yeah, dad was watching too when I left" you giggled, amused to hear him grumble at his team defeat.

And so the calls continued for the next 2-3 days.

And one day calls turned into a video calls. He was only exploring the app and by chance called you, he said. You didn't complain, you just sat and humored him, but imagine your surprise when the video call invitation popped up.

Here you were today laying on your bed, trying to do math and you had mostly.. completed them, when you stumbled upon a problem you couldn't quite solve. So you decided, that a call to your tutor would be required. So here you were with your hair up and flying everywhere and your pjs on, contemplating to call or not. In the end you sat up, letting your hair down and combing them swiftly before making the call. You waited for a the first beep and then for the second and third and when you were about to hung up, the call was accepted.

It was a small comfort that he was in a similar state as you. Clearly in his sleepwear, hair messy enough to match your own and face pressed against his pillow. He seemed just as cuddly as the stuffed animals you had back in the days.

"Hey"you whispered into your screen.

"Hey"he replied, sounding sleepy.

"If I called at a bad time I can.." you trailed off, suddenly regretting your choice. You should have checked the time or send a message ahead.

"No, I was just watching a movie. What's up?" He sat up and stretched to get rid of the stiffness in his body.

"I was doing math and I am stuck on this one problem." You mumbled, embarrassed.

"Look at you! Doing your homework!" He chuckled, making you roll your eyes "Let me see" you shifted your camera towards the notebook on your bed. The explanation was brief and quite simple, much to your surprise, but instead of hanging up you ended chatting casually. Only when he made himself more comfortable on his bed, you saw the background. "Is that you on the photos?" You asked, trying to cran your neck to see better.

He paused for a moment before confirming your guesses with a nod.

"Can I see?" You interjected excitingly.

He slowly turned the camera towards his desk. A photo of him in a baseball suit adored your screen. He would be about ten,smiling brightly to the camera, or you guessed, his parents, proudly holding his bat. In the next he was in the arms of his parents, clearly celebrating his second birthday, judging by the number on that cake. And in the third he was in highschool on his sides Minho and the black haired boy that you vaguely recognized as Jeongin. He wasn't smiling full on the last one, a small smile adored his face.

"You were so cute!" You exclaimed, laughing. You couldn't see his face as he hadn't turned the camera yet but you knew he would be scoffing at you. "Don't you have more photos?"

"A few.." Short it was the reply and his tone anxious but that didn't fazed you in the slightest.

"Show me" you demanded, making yourself comfortable.

And so, he did show the few ones he had in his room. He even ventured into to his living room to show the bigger pictures his parents had hung up. Once again in the safety of his room, you were gussing over his photos

"You really were a beautiful child!"you teased him.

"Yeah. Right" he scoffed and paused for a bit. He met your stare through the camera and immediately lowered it as he softly spoke again. "You know my schoolmates used to tease me a lot. Not really bullying, but.. they would say-" he paused as if he said too much.

The cheery atmosphere shifted. His uncomfortable state wasn't something that sat right with you. It felt wrong to see such a level headed person being anxious over sharing his past experiences. You bit your lip, wondering if you should let it go or encourage him to talk to you. A look at his lowered head had you gently speaking words of encouragement. "If you wanna talk about it, I will listen"

He raised his head and looked at you. He was thinking hard about this, but after a good look at you, he signed and continued his story. "They would call me mouth-monster or ugly. I had braces when I was younger, as you saw." You had thought they were adorable. Why would they tease him about something as simple as this?

"They didn't really continued it for long. Only a couple of months. Maybe a year top. But..you know. Later, I learned Minho threatened them to stop. And who saw Minho and wasn't scared of him. I really own him one" He let out a humorless laugh.

He was trying to talk about it as if it didn't bother him, as if he was untouchable and it broke your heart a little. He was facing down again, not really looking at you so you coed him gently.

"That's why I went into the dentist care. I guess I wanted to help the kids that were like me. Maybe if I was told earlier I wouldn't have to wear them and-..." He looked at you from underneath his lashes. "Maybe if I had been told that I have a beautiful smile more often, it would have been better.. different"

You could only look at the boy in front of you, your heart breaking at his soft admission. He only wanted someone to tell him he's beautiful. And damn you, if you didn't!

"Seungmin I think you were beautiful as a child. And I think you are even more beautiful as an adult. You have a amazing smile and you are kind to talk about it as if they aren't the scum bags." That one got a laugh out of him. "Have you seen the comments on your Instagram? They were fighting over who got to have you" you joked, trying to lighten the mood.

And it worked as a flush was covering his face now and an embarrassing laugh left him. "But really shouldn't think that about yourself. You are wonderful and you should see yourself as that. You only have yourself in this lifetime. Treasure yourself, Minnie"

He looked as if he would cry for a moment, but then he smiled at you. That smile at the photo, the mega watt full smile that lit up his whole face. You couldn't keep a smile off your own face.

"My eyes! I am blinded by beauty!" You cried and flang yourself out of the screen.

"Y/N!!" Giggles left your phone, showing Seungmin also yeeting himself out of the screen. You layed down and brought the phone closer to your face. He mimicked your stance and the conversation flowed down on more easy paths.

"Don't you have your own home?!" You asked incredulously as your video call was answered once again by none othe than Jeongin himself.

"I can say the same for you, Noona! Don't you have other..friends to call?" He said with a pause full of meaning, his foxy eyes almost staring you down. You felt the blood rush to your face at his words and sure enough you were red.

"Seungmin!" You called again in hopes of catching his attention.

"Mmm" he mumbled mid bite, his mouth and fingers stained from the chips he was munching on. He briefly looked over to you before returning his gaze back to the screen.

"Did you really call me to watch Brooklyn 99 together?" You asked, amused by the boy with the stuffed cheeks in your screen.

"Yeah! Now shhhh! We're missing the best part!" He whined, pointing to the tv you couldn't see.

You laughed at him but turned on your laptop and went with it.

The morning air was biting you in the ass.

The crispy winter morning wasn't tolerable at all and if only your dad didn't drug you here for your morning holiday tradition, you would be happily sleeping away the cold. But here you were with a basket on your hands and trailing behind him, half awake.

"What gift should we buy for grandma and grandpa?" He wondered as he inspected a pink wooly shawl.

"Probably something for the winter would be good. You know they get cold easily." You thought out loud, inspecting the shawl as well. It seemed warm and you adored the color.

"Should we?" He asked back just as unsure. Your grandparents never asked for anything for the holidays. They always accepted their gifts, whatever they were, with a smile and the familiar line of 'it was exactly what I wanted'. You snorted to yourself, they were too nice to tell you that you weren't cut out for gift buying.

Suddenly as you rounded an other corner of the market, a stall caught your attention. The stall was full of baseball merchandise. But what caught your attention was a cap. It had the SK Wyverns logo on it and it was a nice shade of dark blue. For some reason, you saw it and immediately thought of Seungmin and how well it would fit him.

You didn't know you stopped walking until you heard your dad calling you. You snapped your head towards him, sheepishly and turned your attention back on the cap. You called the shop owner over and asked for a prize. It was a reasonable price, that's why you were buying it. Besides you had bought some gifts for the others, it would sadden him not to receive anything.

Your dad was quiet during the whole exchange, but you felt him figgeting beside you and working his courage to speak up. You wish he wouldn't.

"So who is the lucky guy

But he did.

"No one, just my friend."

"Hmm. You have a friend"

"Daaaad!" you whined, clearly not wanting to continue talking about it. But the old man paid you no mind and continued his 'investigation'.

"So when did you meet?"

You let out a breath. He wasn't letting it go. "He is my tutor. We met in the beginning on the semester. I was failing and-"

"You are failing?" He asked shocked. He turned towards you, alarmed and worried.

"I WAS falling. Keep up, dad. Seungmin helped me raise my grades back up."

He wasn't in a good state to hear anything right now "Honey we have talked about this. If you are having troubles with school, you tell me. I know you said you wanna work but if this is too much for you.. You don't have to work-"

"I have to work. How else can I support myself?" you cut him off, facing forward. You had strayed from the market paths and you were now walking to your truck.

"Excuse me? You say that as if I don't support you! Y/N we said that, if it compromise with your studies you would -"

"You said! I didn't said anything!" You talked back, already feeling the blood rushing to your head.

"Y/N!" He roared, taking you by surprise. Dad never yelled. He must be extremely furious to raise his tone like that. But right at this moment you couldn't force yourself to care, as you were in a similar state. "Do you have to be that damn stubborn all the time! We have talked about this! I didn't agree to you working in the first place! You-! Ugh! You still did! But! But this! This is taking things too far!" He spit on your face, his face growing redder and redder by the minute.

"You can barely manage here! How can you manage me too?!"you were both shouting at this point, anger taking over.

He took a step away from you, breathing heavily from his nose. You did the same catching your breath, your eyes were misty and you hated that. So you turned to the truck you had unconsciously reached, placed your things inside and stepped back. You turned to your father, who was stomping his way to the driver's seat and told him sharply "I will go and see if I can buy something for grandma and grandpa. I will see you at home"

You didn't expect an answer, you simply closed the door (albeit with a little more force than necessary) and disappeared into the crowd.

You wandered quite a bit, passed stalls and merchants as they shouted loudly to be heard over the others. You stopped in a few stalls to inspect some things that catch your fancy, but with your temples throbbing and your teeth still gritted on anger, you couldn't appreciate them right. So you wandered aimlessly across the market some more, until you grew tired and cold. You knew a place, where they sell the most amazing hot chocolate you've ever tasted and it was near the market so you headed there. It was a small shop, colours of yellow, green and white blended all together to create a childlike atmosphere that seemed to make you lighter when you headed in. You ordered your hot chocolate and sat at the window, trying to calm down.

Theoretically, you knew that your dad cared for you and that's why he told you to quit and pay attention only to school, but he would't be able to afford to pay for everything. You wanted to be able to go out and party with your friends without worrying if the money would be enough. You wanted to lighten the amount of rent your dad paid and help him around the house too. Help with your grandparents' meds and expenses too.

You signed and took out your phone to check the hour. 11:45 pm. It was still early for your next bus.

You unlocked your phone and played with it for a bit, before checking your messages. Yuqi and Yuna had replied to your last message and you had been sent memes by Wooyoung and.. Seungmin? You opened the message and saw it was a mathematical meme. Classic Seungmin. You laughed and called his number before realizing. When he answered after the first beep, you were shook out of your stupor.

"Hello?" He called "Y/N?"

"Hey. Yeah, it's me" you whispered shallowly. Why did you even call?

"What's up?" He asked.

"Nothing.. Nothing much! I just..wanted to chat" you said, not really knowing what to say. "Sorry I didn't know you were busy. I will talk-"

"It's okay. We just arrived with Jeongin to the rooms and we would take a rest anyway."

"Ohh right. You went skiing this weekend. How is it?" You asked as you nursered the rest of your chocolate.

"It's nice! The snow is thick enough so we can go skiing tomorrow" he exclaimed, clearly excited to slide through the snow and down the hill.

"Tell Jeongin to take videos of you falling. I need something to laugh at" you teased him lightly, still watching the busy market out of the window.

"..Y/N? Are you okay?" He asked quietly, probably sensing you weren't in the best mood. After months together when you didn't talk his ear off it was a red flag, you supposed.

"Mmm. Everything's fine" you replied.

Silence greeted you on the other side of the line and then. "If you wanna talk about it, I will listen"

A snort left you. "Gosh, I hate when you throw my words back to me" He laughed along with you trying to lighten up your mood. "Annoying isn't it?"he asked, still laughing.

"Yeah..it is" you paused briefly, but the need to tell him made you open your mouth again. "I had a fight with my dad." It was quiet for a moment, only the rustle of the bed as he sit up was heard.

"About?" He wondered.

"He found out that I was doing bad at math. He said to stop working and focus on school." You played with your cup, twirling it around in your now warm hands. People were slowly filling the store, but the seats around you remained empty.

"Okay" he dragged the word, trying to select his words carefully "And why did you fight?"

"It's just...money is tight, dad is struggling to make meet's end and pay for my grandparents' expenses. I am on scholarship and if I fail, it would only be more money-" you couldn't complete your sentence as tears choked you up.

Gosh you hated this.

You didn't like to cry. And there you stood, in a crowded shop, your only company your phone with tears streaking down your face.

He on the other line was panicking, never heard you cry this easily before. "Hey! Hey! Don't cry! Take a big breath for me."

And you listened to his instruction. You gulped as much air as you you could "Good. Good. Take more breaths for me" he coaxed you.

Breath in.

Breath out.

You continued breathing, calming yourself enough.

"Ok?" He asked, uncertain.

"Yeah..I just.. don't wanna be a burden to him. I wanna help. If I have a job that means one less worry for him. It isn't easy, I don't want to work all the time. I wanna have fun but I can't be a burden to him, Seungmin." you sniffled. It was as simple as that.

"You are not a burden-" he started, but you cut him off ready to go at it.

"I am! I am a burden to you too! I made you agree to this deal! I had a lot to win, you didn't. I am burdening you-" you swallowed back a sob. Your throat was clogging up again and some costumers where starting looking your way.

"Y/N. You are not a burden. Don't say that" he pleaded, starting to sound upset as well.

You paused, gathering your thoughts, trying to explain to him in a more effective way.

"You asked me before why I was in marketing... It's always needed. You always need to sell a product. If you always need to sell, I would always be needed, so I will always have a job and income" you quietly said.

You were simple really. You were a little greedy, a little chatty and sometimes over confident for no good reason.

"Y/N listen to me. You are not a burden. You knew how to make a deal. You gave me a solution. If you were cruel about it, you could have told everyone but you didn't. You care about your father and don't want to weight him down. You are working hard and at your own expense, you are struggling. You are a good daughter and a good friend. And for what matters, I am glad I met you. You encourage me to try new things, that I wouldn't dare to try. I don't want you to think bad of yourself." He instructed you. He made everything you did sound like a noble act, it couldn't be so far from it.

You moved the phone slightly away from your face and sniffled quietly. A new bunch of tears were wetting your face, sobs racked your body and at this point you were panting for breath. He had really moved you. And even though you knew he was saying some of those things because you were a little sad, you decided to enjoy the comfort and question yourself later. It made you feel a little better all the same.

"Thank you" you got out.

"Your welcome." He replied right away "Y/N can you take some more breaths for me please? Where are you now?" He asked. Was he concerned? He sounded frustrated enough and like he was pacing up and down on his room.

"Out. We came to the market with dad. He..left but I have a little more shopping to do." You sheepishly replied, leaving the walking away from the car incident out of the conversation. You already over shared.

"You should head home and talk with your dad. And call me after. Okay?" The pacing had seized and a loud thud was heard maybe as he landed on the bed.

"Okay.." you said slowly, now more in control of your breathing "You sent me pictures of your trip, okay?" It would be wonderful to see something as pretty as the snowy mountain.

"Okay" he mumbled more quietly now, as if he was being heard. Maybe Jeongin come in. "Talk to you later" he said and you half- heartly bid him goodbye.

The ride home was a long one. You thought over and over what to say to your dad. You were a bit cruel and you exaggerated a lot. An apology should be the first thing that leaves your mouth, you concluded.

As you neared the door, it flew open revealing your very worried dad. He looked trousled, his hair (or whatever was left of it anyway) was messy as if he run his hands relentlessly, his face was flushed as he was crying.

"Dad what-?" Was all you managed to get out, before you were cradled into his arms. He didn't talk, just squeezed you harder. A sound like a sniffle was heard and just as you made to question it, you were drugged on the inside.

"Dad?"you questioned, standing still. He was pacing back and forth now right in front of you in the middle of your living room. "Dad!" You exclaimed successfully catching his attention. "I am sorry"

He looked at you before engulfing you between his arms again. "No, baby. I am sorry" And with that sentence it was like he opened up the gates and tears welled up in your face.

"I didn't want to be a burden! You have so- so much going on h-here! And! And I was t-trying to do w-what I can on my own" you sobbed. Your nose was blocked and your voice wobbled as you tried to get the point across.

Just then hands cradled your face making you meet his eyes. "Baby..you are not a burden. It is my duty as your father to provide for you. You don't have to think about money all the time. I am here for you"

Hearing those words you broke down again in the safety of his arms, your troubles seemed so little and insignificant. For now you could be a little vulnerable and less tough.

Hours later, you were freshly bathed and in bed, ready to go to sleep when your phone rang. You reached over to your desk to grab it. Only to see a familiar name flashing across your screen.

"Hey Minnie" you whispered.

"Hey.. how are you? You.. didn't call so I... yeah" It was quiet on his end, he should be in his room by now, tired from the day's activities but he still made the effort to call you. You felt grateful you had met such good people.

"I am good. We talked about everything. Maybe I will cut back a few days to relax and study a bit more." You said as you cuddled into the bed, the emotional day finally catching up with you. You felt your eyes drop, but you willed them to open up again.

"That's good. You should rest more. You deserve it" he replied back, tone gentle. You weren't used to hearing him like that. Sweet and gentle.

"Seungmin.. thank you. It means a lot to me that you called"you said quietly. Hoping you weren't dumping much on him.

Quiet was all you heard through the line for a bit and then "I wanted too. I wanted to comfort you as you did to me the other day. I don't talk much about that time and it felt.. good...that the first thing you said to me about that period ,where I was not in a good state..it was that my smile was shinning"

You smiled. For some reason, hearing you made him feel lighter and happy made you lighter in return. It always did for some reason. All the times that he did things out of his comfort zone, all the times he followed along with your schemes, everytime he smiled at you and comforted you. You liked it..

You liked him.

You blinked twice at the sudden though. You liked him?

Your first thought about the guy was that he was way too stuck up and insufferable to get along with. Where did all this came from? Maybe from all the times he cared, when you twisted your leg, when he cared for you when you were drunk, when you silently sat at your home and watched dramas, when he came by the coffee shop to sit with you.

Ohh. You were officially fucked.

"Y/N?"

His voice pulled you out of your daydream. Face completely flushed at this point, lips bitten to shreds and eyes wide you only could stare at your phone.

"Y-Yeah! I-I was looking for my charger! This thing always runs out of battery" you explained, thankful for once for your ability to lie easily.

"Maybe if you didn't spent all of your day on your phone the battery would be okay" he teased, trying to get a reaction out of you. And he got it

"Hey!" you whined loudly to your speaker. But the only response was his giggles, that warmed your heart a little more. Suddenly you didn't want to got off the phone, you want to hear him speak idly about his day and poke fun at you. So you asked just that and as if he was thinking the same he eagerly spoke.. It was well into the morning when you hang up, your heart lighter than ever and a silly smile plastered onto your face, even in sleep.

Fifteen days passed before you could even blink.

The cheery homey atmosphere at home, the meetings with your friends and the calls with Seungmin filled your day to the brim.

Yesterday was the first shift of the year. It was lovely to see all your coworkers and friends together again. Your boss, being the generous woman that she was, had prepared gifts for everyone. You had been gifted a black ribbon that served as a hair tie. It was adorable. And a discreet reminder to tie your hair during work hours.

your hair during work hours.

Now you stood before the library, waiting at your usual spot for Seungmin, with your own gift in your hands. The cap was nothing much and you were sure it wasn't even original, but along with the pair of blue mittens and a scarf, you hoped they were enough.

You eyed the people coming.

No sign of Seungmin yet.

A quick glance at your phone told you, it was a minute past your agreed time so you would let it slide. You busied yourself by replying to some texts from Hong Joong and Ryunjin, when you felt a presence behind you. With a quick glance, you found yourself looking straight into a pair of chocolate eyes.

You yelped from the surprise and the closeness. "Kim Seungmin!" You barked, hands coming to clutch your heart. Furious giggles greeted you in return. You looked up to see him, the two weeks apart treated him good. He seemed refreshed and lively, who knows what kind of mischief he had caused along with Jeongin. You instinctively reached up and slapped away his hand, that was covering his smile. He didn't dodge your efforts, letting himself be hit.

"Hello" he said when his giggles seized.

"Hi"you got out.

He looked even cuter on person, was your first thought. You mentally slapped yourself. Come on Y/N! You have known him since October! You were together almost every day since mid October! Those were the rose tinted glasses people talked about. "How was your break?"

"As you don't know" he said, rolling his eyes. "We have been talking almost everyday" he quoted and starting walking towards the double doors of the library.

"Wait!" You yelped, clutching nervously his gift. You were beginning to sweat purposefully and you felt way beyond yourself. "I...um..I got you this!" You thrusted the cute bag in front of you, body all stiff.

He cocked his head to the side and walked over to where you stood. Gingerly he reached for the bag, opening it gently as you would take it away from him. Slowly a smile spread on his face, he looked up briefly to you and then down again on his gift. He took it out and wore it, with a proud smile on his face. "How do I look?" He asked, turning his head from right to left so you can see him from all the possible angles.

"Adorable" you teased, now at ease. Blue suited him, you thought and you told him so, your words bringing a pretty flush on his ears. He then cleared his throat and began searching in his backpack. After a beat, his hands come up clutching a small white bag. With a embarrassed smile, he extended the bag to you.

"I guess we had the same thought" he explained, looking over your head before fleetingly meeting your eyes. You felt a warm feeling spreading over your body as you gazed from him to your gift. You sent a big toothy smile his way before taking the bag and taking a look inside. Inside the bag sat a smaller bag made of tulle, which contained the most beautiful pair of earrings you had seen. A dangly thing it was. A single pink cherry blossom sat, where you supposed your lobe would be and from it three almost invisible chains ran down, petals sprinkled over the chains. You loved them.

"Thank you Seungmin. I love it" you said, tucking it safely back into the box.

He smiled at you and shaked his head. "It just reminded me of you. Shall we?"he asked, pointing at the building behind you.

"We shall" you answered.

The next few days were a dream.

You all came back, hang out, had multiple night outs and had been having a blast.

You hadn't noticed how Seungmin had warmed himself up in your daily routine. You met almost daily, his friends always lurked around the cafe, either because they were working in it (insert Jisung) either because they enjoyed the place. You had officially met Jeongin, who you always chatted with on your video chats with Seungmin, but never actually met. He was a sweetheart and always ready to mercilessly tease the grumpy boy.

But, unfortunately, you were not the only ones that reconnected. Soojin and Seungmin reconnected. And they reconnected really good.They had been actively hanging out. Mainly on the cafe, occasionally out of it. You saw their stories and how they discussed where they would be going.

And you were seething.

You wondered all those past months.. how did you manage to stand this? Not only you had to watch them on your shifts, you had Seungmin telling you all about his conversations with her. On the past you had no problem, now things were...a little different. But you hadn't had the heart to tell him to stop talking. You always wanted to hear him talk about things that made him excited, even this.

Today though was your day though.

You had a new series you wanted to watch. You had prepared masks and facials you had been dying to try out. As you searched through the fridge you realized. You had forgotten the beer. Usually your fridge was fully stocked and ready to serve, but a certain non drinker (as he had called himself) had been through 5 cans of beer the last time he was here leaving you dry. As you were contemplating running a quick errand to the market down the street, your phone rung. You checked the caller, seeing exactly what you wanted.

"Seungmin! Perfect timing! We ran out of beer. Can you get some on your way here?" You asked as you filled up the bowl with your favourite barbeque pop corn.

"Y/N...I hate to do this but do you think we can .. reschedule?"he said, tone slightly off.

You assumed the worst. Seungmin was nothing if not punctual.

"Are you okay? Do you feel alright? Did something happened with Minho or Jeongin?"you stressed, hands immediately flying up to trousle your tresses.

"No! No, I.. had made plans with Soojin and I kinda mixed the days"he said, carefully.

Oh.

Of course he would prefer to spend his night with Soojin than you. You bit your lip, unsure what to do. Of course you minded. Not only it was the second time he did that to you, it was for the same person as well. But you couldn't exactly tell him that, could you? "No..I.. don't mind. Have fun" you slowly said, voice void of emotion in order not to betray your true one.

For a moment you thought that he would question you about your tone and your robotic manner, but he eventually signed. "I will make it up to you. I swear" he said.

You hummed and muttered a simple goodbye. Energy suddenly drained and with your mood bungee jumping through the floor, you decided a wine or a beer would be definitely needed after all. So you grumpily grabbed your coat and your old sneakers making a bee line to the store. You entered, greeted the cashier and taking your familiar basket to browse the selves for anything that caught your fancy. You had a couple chocolate bars in it and you were standing in front of the fridge with the alcohol when the sound of your name being called grabbed your attention.

Turning your head, you met with a two coloured head and a bright smile.

Hong Joong.

You smiled and waved him over.

"I haven't seen you since before the holidays!" He exclaimed as a greeting, crushing you into a bear hug.

"Happy New Year Joongie!" You giggled, as you took a step back. His stare fell from your face to your basket to the fridge you were currently standing in front of.

"Not so happy right now, is it?" He asked knowingly. A grimace overtook your face, not being able to lie, you nodded.

"I admit it could have gone better" you signed and then asked, half turned to him, half scanning the alcohol. "Did you finish your project?"

"Yeah! We still have a check over left, but it was all smooth sailing" he laughed, clearly at ease. You envied him. Especially now, that the exams were looming over your head with the threat of expulsion. And there was the thing with Seungmin. You know the recently discovered and one sided feelings you had for him. Your thoughts must have manifested on your face because soon he was asking what's wrong.

"My friend, to tell the story it would take a long time and alcohol" you preached, eyeing the strawberry flavored soju bottle.

"I got time" he announced, making you turn at him. You raised your eyebrows and he nodded.

"In that case what kind of soju flavor do you prefer?" You required.

After a few hours later and some (a lot) of drinks later you were okay. Your second tutor became the first one to learn of your feelings for your third one. Ironic. But Hong Joong had a calmness that made you feel perfectly at ease telling him that. He had adviced you to go for it and he had admitted he thought you guys were already dating. You had snorted at this.

You wished.

But Hong Joong was wrong. He had been right about Seungmin curling himself up and begging for mercy as he did that the very next morning. But he hadn't seen coming the next rejections.

Three weeks in and Seungmin had cancelled on you 5 times. Soojin this, Soojin that. You had grown tired of hearing how great the girl was. Not to mention insecure. She was pretty, nice, kind. What hasn't she had? And do you have?

You tried to drown your feelings and feigned empathy towards the sudden cancellations and ruined plans. But you felt heavier with every ruined outing or night in. Those 5 times were enough for your eyes to shine maliciously green. You were beyond yourself jealous and you didn't know what to do and how to act before Seungmin anymore. Maybe a little more distance would do you good, maybe you could salvage a little of your heart. Yeah, a little distance is good.

And apparently you must wear your heart on your sleeves because Seungmin caught right on. He apologized about the plans alright, but now every time you made plans you would find an excuse to avoid him. You had to go shopping with Yuqi or you had agreed to meet with Hong Joong and you couldn't cancel last minute. You even tried to cut down on your study time and that's when he knew that something was definitely wrong, after all exams were a mere 3 weeks away and you needed that time.

Ηe stepped up then.

That's why today you waiting for him in your house, practically vibrating with nervous energy. He seemed on guard when he called you. Almost awkward. But then he probably mimicked your own behavior. Your lips were bitten to shreds and your nails bloody by the time the doorbell rung. You gulped down as much air as you could and you opened the door.

And there he stood.

The cap you had gifted him on his head, black puffer jacket engulfing him and with an adorable flush on his cheeks, probably from the cold. You took a step back, inviting him in silently. He made his way into your home, now the surroundings familiar to him and plopped down to your couch. He cocked his head to the empty side of the couch, silently asking you to seat.

You made your way to him and before you could even sit on the couch, he started the interogation.

"What is going on?" He asked, always his straightforward and level headed self.

Truth or lie, that is the question. But right now lying seemed like your only ally. "What do you mean?" You asked carefully.

"I mean you are avoiding me. You are cancelling our plans. You even wanted to cancel the lessons!" His voice was steady, raising slightly at the end, making you feel even worse for a moment. And then you remembered the scene of them sitting together at the cafe, the phone call to cancel your plans and the words flew out of your mouth without your consent.

"Like you didn't do the same" you returned, a scoff leaving you.

His eyes widen at the mockery that was present in your voice, but they quickly changed, they seemed like steel now. "I cancelled on you once" he reasoned, hands coming together to grip each other tightly. "Only once"

"No, you cancelled after we already made plans once. You had been pushing around the dates that we planned and the hangouts 5 times at least! I guess that happens when you get a girlfriend" you commented, lips pulled back in a snarl, your face an menacing grimace now.

"Ohh so you can hang out with Hong Joong, but I can't hangout with Soojin" he chided, tone ice cold.

"Don't compare the two. It's totally different" you reasoned, frustration causing your voice to raise. You turned to face him fully on the couch now, he seemed as agitated as you felt. "Besides I hanged out with Hong Joong the times that you left me stranded" you spat.

He flinched at that. Head hanging low for a beat and then raising again, ready for a duel. "I like Soojin that's why I am hanging out with her. You were supposed to be happy for me. That was the deal"

It was your time to flinch at that. That was a low blow, even though he didn't know. "So why don't you go now to her?" You bitterly asked, looking away.

He sat silent for a moment. Staring at his hands. When his voice shattered the silence.

"I will confess tomorrow. That's what I wanted to tell you" he breathed, twisting his hands nervously at the thought, letting his guard down for a second.

Your heart plummeted in response to those words. It felt like an invisible hand went through your chest, grabbing your poor heart with its only purpose to rip her right out.

Your vision that stayed nailed to the faded corner of your coffee table started blurring little by little, like you were looking at the world through mist eyed lenses. You closed your eyes not wanting to let the tears escape and betray the deviation you were felling inside right at this moment.

"I guess the deal is over.. But I..I will see you around Y/N." He smiled an odd uncomfortable smile that showed the confusion he was feeling, and even though not a word come out of your mouth, he got up, gathered his things, walked to the front door and left.

Upon hearing the sound of the door closing the tears that you tried so hard to keep, were now slowly dripping down your face. Your mouth was trembling, lifting and dropping, as if it couldn't decide what expression to keep to express your sorrow better. Even breathing was more difficult now, due to the blockage in your nose. But all that wasn't what was important right now.

You were losing him.You had lost him before having a chance to tell him how you feel.

Suddenly you weren't on the sofa anymore, you were up and running. Running after him. You flew out of the door and raced towards the stairs, you didn't have time to wait for the elevator to arrive, instead you headed to the stairs. When you reached the entrance your breath was unstable and the place under your ribs hurting from the sudden work out but you paid them mo mind. You run outside, turning your head left and right trying to locate his disappearing figure. There! There he was! By the end of the street, a lone figure, coat clad and on top of his head sat a very familiar cap. Your gift to him specifically.

"SEUNGMIN!" You yelled with all your might. He heard your panicked call and turned towards you. But before he could take a step to your direction, you were already running. Running before time caught up with you.

You reached him, panting from the rally. He looked beautiful. In the middle of the street, lights hitting him just right to appear ethereal, his hoodie and black thick coat made him appear warm in the cold winter night, almost like a beacon, calling you closer. His capped head cocked slightly to his right made him more adorable as he waited for you to breath normally and tell him why you chased after him.

"I like you" you blurted out incapable of controlling your feelings anymore. "I like the way you always scold me when I do the wrong thing so I can try harder, l like when even though you pretend to be cold you are always so considerate, I like how you are always so adamant to be right and react so adorable when things don't go your way, I like how passionate you are. I like how we can be silent and watch stupid shows together. I like how you sent me every little thing you thing it's cute so you can share it with me. I like how easy are to get with, contrary to first opinions. I like how I am with you. I like who I am because of you. I like you Kim Seungmin" Tears were still filling your vision, you could now see your breath in front of you in the darkness of the night but you didn't care. You needed to tell him, you had told him and right then you felt so light like you could float away.

One look in his wide eyes though, told you that maybe you should fly away, flew the scene and most devastating of all something told you that maybe you couldn't have your chance after all.

"Y-Y/N I..I-" he tried getting out and your whole world tumbled down. "I don't know- I am not sure if I feel the same-" he could have stabbed your heart and it would hurt less than what you were feeling right now.

He doesn't know.

A new set of tears came to your eyes, but this time you were incapable of holding them in. A sob was clawing it's way out of your throat, only escaping a mere second before you slapped your hand over your mouth in order to keep it in.

"Y/N!" He exclaimed, taking a step towards you, hand raised as if to wipe your tears away, but your shaken step back stopped him. You shook your head as you took another step back. He didn't want you. Even though you told him everything.. he didn't want you. You turned around and blindly runned.

"Y/N!!Y/N wait!" He shouted after you.

Nothing stopped you though.

He didn't stop you.

An excruciating pain clawed at your chest making you blind to anything except your inner turmoil. You reached your apartment door in a pained haze, bursted in and let your sobs take over. Painful sob after painful sob racked you, making you unable to comprehend anything around you. You didn't know how much time you spent there against your front door, crying your heart out. All you knew was that you were light headed, your ears were ringing and your grip over the world was slipping.

It was exactly as you feared.

You had told him and you weren't enough to keep him.

You weren't everything he wanted.

You weren't good enough to love.

You would never be good enough.

You picked yourself up from the floor, took the remaining steps towards the sofa and slumped over it. You hadn't enough strength to fight the oblivion from taking over. The last image your mind concurred was of Seungmin-wide eyed in reaction to your confession and tears slipped down your eyes again as you finally slipped into the oblivion.

After that night you had made it your mission to avoid him at all costs.

Your shame and pettiness didn't allow anything less than that.

You had blocked both his number and his instagram, which you had crafted slowly together.

Seungmin had made several attempts to contact you ever since that night. He had come by your workplace as he had deemed the phone useless by now but you had taken a couple days off work. Not wanting to worry your father with an unexpected surprise and not wanting to be alone in your apartment, you had crashed at Yuqi's for a few days, hoping your dramatic ass wasn't too much for her. Her roommate Soyeon rolled her eyes at you for crying over a boy but joined your pity party anyways, not able to resist pizza.

With exams drawing near, you unfortunately had to study. Looking at your notebooks and books filled with Seungmin's neat handwriting you felt like they mocked you. But you had to get through this, for this stupid scholarship you made the deal, for this you broke your heart.

Eventually you had to get back to work. Your days went smoothly, you ticked in, greeted your regulars, small talked with Jisung and now you were on the front on cashier's duty. You heard the door opening and you opened your mouth automatically to greet the customer, but the sight in front of you left your mouth dry. Seungmin bursted through the door, panting as he made a bee line straight to you. He came with such strength that he collided against the counter. He looked wild, hair a mess and clothes hastily put on.

"Y/N! Where- Nevermind! I need to talk to you." He got out, hands inching over the counter to reach you.

But you took a step back and with a tone as cold as you could muster you stated "I don't have anything to talk about with you" You could do this. You spent enough days crying over him. You wouldn't cry anymore.

"Please! I have to tel-"

"Seungmin." You cut him off, staring him dead in the eye. His desperate appearance and big eyes made you crumble a little inside. "I said everything I had to say. You gave me your answer. We have nothing to talk about"

"No you don't understand. I-" he rushed his words in order to get something across, but to his bad luck and to your good one, a customer cut your conversation short.

"Excuse me? Can I order?" A unfamiliar face inquired.

"Yes, of course." You called over Seungmin's shoulder before turning to him "If you excuse me, I have work to do" you ushered him gently to the side and tried to pay him no mind.

Seungmin had made several other attempts to contact you.

You still avoided him as much as you could, but it was a bit difficult when he stood there looking at you. You tried to not talk to him while he tried to corner you. You had instructed Ryunjin to not let him near you. You would break if you did. Even now the sad looks were getting to you.

This thing was going on for a week and a half. You hadn't spoken to each other seven days now if you included the small talk by the cashier the other day. You weren't ready to hear him, you weren't ready for him to tell you that he was together and happy with Soojin while you were over here, green with envy and with a large challenge in front of you.

Exams were starting.

You weren't even there, neither mentally nor emotionally. But you had to fight it. Your scholarship depended on it.

Fake it till you make it.

So fake it tou did. You forced yourself to work on your studies. In the mist of it all, little notes had been finding their way into your things.

Don't forget the formula!

Keep on working hard!

Hope we can talk..

You had a pretty good idea on who was the writer.

And it pained you greatly. Why was he going through all this trouble. You had gotten his message and while he was being nice trying to make sure you were alright, you would rather he wouldn't. He was making this too hard on you.

He had Soojin now. All was good, right?

The truth was you hadn't seen him with Soojin,not once. The girl's visits were few now, that she had started on her finals (earlier as all the art students did), but when she appeared she had gifted you a knowing smile. A secret only she knew apparently, because you had no idea why she was looking at you like that. You didn't pointed that out, in fact you hadn't looked at her that much.

And exams rolled in.

The first three subjects were a success.. Of course you couldn't escape the dread that filled you everytime you sat behind the desk, but you had managed alright. It was manageable till now, but the big threats (maths and physics, you couldn't even utter their names!) had yet to come.

You had picked up less hours at the cafe in order to prepare yourself. You were a tutor down yet again, albeit this time a little more painful.

And finally the d-day arrived. You raised your head, shoulders pulled back.

Pens? Check.

Pencils? Check.

Water? Check.

Student ID? Check.

Note from Seungmin?... Check

The little yellow note was safely tucked in your pocket last minut,e because you couldn't bear to part with it. He had sticked to your front door last night, you showed it when you came over from work and it had moved you to tears. Gosh, you were such a crybaby now!

You knew that your conversation was long overdue. Three weeks have already passed and even though you wanted to, you couldn't bring yourself to.

But that was a problem that future Y/N had to deal with.

Now you needed your head in the game.

You had maths to do, you thought as you marched to your possible doom.

You had passed!

The endless hours, the blood, the sweat and the tears you had spilled were all worth it. Admittedly you had made it barely, but you had made it! You had made an exceptional progress on physics too, acquiring a better grade than you originally thought you would.

You were beyond happy and your immediately thought was of your beloved tutor. You should contact him, firstly to thank him and secondly for a conversation you had apparently left in the middle, what was left to say was beyond you.

You were playing with your phone currently, the contract named Puppy open and ready to be called. You bit your lips, your finger hovering above the button when a voice stopped you on your track.

Soojin.

"Hello Y/N" she pleasantly greeted, an ever lasting smile on her face.

"Soojin, hi. The usual?" You asked, not in the mood for pleasantries. You had already turned your back to the girl to make her coffee.

"To go, please" she called sweetly to you, getting a sharp nod in response. "How is Seungmin?" she asked, voice still dripping honey. You froze. While you didn't know Soojin that well, you didn't think she was the type to gloat in your face about her winning Seungmin's heart. You appeared to be wrong again.

"How should I know? Shouldn't I be asking you that?" You returned coldly, trying to hold yourself back. You were at work, you wouldn't be caught fighting like a 6-year-old for a doll you both wanted. Not that Seungmin was a price to be had. He was just as pretty as a doll thought.

"Ahh, you still didn't talk with him" she signed. You turned to place her drink of choice on the counter, ready for her to be gone. "Why are you avoiding him?" She said, head cocked to the right, making her seem all too innocent for your liking.

You almost scoffed "I don't think this is any of your business" you answered while you took her card to ring up her order.

For the first time her face turned sour and a determinated pout appeared on her face "Well I am making it my own goddamn business. We talked with Seungmin. We made everything clear. He likes you and I like Eric" she answered, sassiness dripping from her tongue this time.

What?

"What?" You voiced out loud, shock obvious on your face. Seungmin did what?

"Yeah, you know tall, blonde and handsome?" She quoted, raising her hand a ridiculous amount above her head to indicate Eric's height.

"I know how Eric is! I told him what drink you like for god's shake!" You exclaimed, teeth grinding together.

She looked like the cat who got the milk as she thanked you for that. You blinked.

"I don't understand. You and Seungmin went on so many dates" you mumbled.

She looked quite guilty this time "I already apologized to Seungmin about that. I was trying to...make Eric jealous" she admitted, her eyes focused, all of a sudden, on the coffee in her grasp.

"The photography exhibition?" You asked, dazed.

"Eric was managing a tent there" she whispered, head low.

"The movies?" You insisted.

"A girl from Computer Science had invited him! Gosh, how much I don't like her! She always made heart eyes at him!" She scoffed, sounding much like you when you cursed her in your head.

You felt your jaw slagging, mouth open whole you stared at her. Really? Seungmin liked you?

She glanced at you, seeing how you were taking it all in. "He told me he thought that he liked me. When I asked him what did he meant by 'he thought', he explained the deal to me. He seemed so happy when he talked about you, content." She smiled at you, that knowing smile she had been sending lately. "When I asked him if he perhaps liked you, he blinked and nodded. He even apologized!" She giggled and you joined too. Socially awkward and adorable as always. "He cares about you. And I think you should talk to him, Y/N" she finished.

You nodded, still dazed from all the information. She saluted you silently and walked out the door.

What Soojin said stayed with you. You weren't sure if she was being truthful or not, but you had already decided to contact him, you reasoned with yourself. At least that's what you told yourself as you send the message at 10 p.m.

You had fully expected to be left on read for days maybe even to beg him him for a small talk, so the immediate response, needless to say, surprised you. The answer left you at a total loss.

You immediately tensed up. You hadn't expected him to rush here that late. But better now than never, you guessed.

Not even twenty minutes later, there was knocking on your front door. You took a deep breath and opened your door.

And there he stood. He was panting, as if he sprinted here, his face was flushed and adorably nervous. His eyes ranked over you, taking you in the way you were doing to him right now.

You watched him for a moment too long, the weeks of not seeing him were catching up with you. He looked tired as well, he had bags under his eyes and his face was sucked in. Worry fleetingly took over you as you took a step in his direction, but the way his eyes were, so intensely, focused on you, not shying away, reminded you of your situation. Letting out a breath you took a step back, allowing him to enter your home. His eyes fell from your face momentarily as he took the step in, gently closing your door behind him.

The two of you stood there, tense and not knowing where to begin. You had said everything that you had to say, so you stood there utterly defeated. Discarded in favor of Soojin by the very boy that stood in your living room. By the very first boy that was begging to win your heart. Or do you thought. If what Soojin had said to you was true...then why reject you? Tears threatened to make an appearance (as they often did those days) but you pushed them back and sucked your cheek. "How have you been? Did you do good on your exams?" You asked, a small smile on your lips as you gestured at your couch.

He returned the awkward smile you sent him, taking a seat across you. "I am doing.. alright, I guess. I have done well in my exams. You?" He asked, pointing at you.

A bigger smile overtook your face. "We did it!" You exclaimed as you wanted to do since the morning that you learned the news. "I mean, it was a little above average but... I passed nonetheless" you cheered.

He made a grimace "A little above average?" He asked, scrunching his nose.

"What? Will you say you teached me better than that?" You inquired, lounging better in your spot, smiling all the way up to your ears.

"Will you throw me out if I say that?" He asked, head cocking to the side. His tone was a mix of sassiness and uncertainty.

You deserved that, you guessed. "No, I will not" you mumbled, not able to look into his eyes.

"Then, yes. I taught you better than that" he quoted, lightly giggling to easy up the tension. It brought a smile to your face, but you quickly sobered up.

"Why are you here, Seungmin?" You asked, plain and simple, tired.

The boy took a breath, shoulders squaring as if to ready himself "I am sorry"

A slap.

Right on your face. You swallowed your words and returned nothing, wanting to hear what he had come here to say. "I was an idiot. A moron. When you told me you..liked me, I hadn't thought about it. I mean..we ar-" he looked at the floor briefly as if willing himself to remember pointers he wrote, but he picked up when he left off shortly "We are close. We talk every day, we joke around, watch movies together. I had gotten used to you, you were an ally, a friend. I hadn't thought about you in..that light.." you turned your face away, facing the wall, a few stray tears escaping your eyes. He took notice of your state, quickly scooting over, closer to you, one hand on your arm, the other gripping feather light the place your neck and jaw connected. You raised your hands, a motion that meant to shoo him away, but he didn't budge. He stood there looking over you, worried and painfully tender.

"That was what I thought I felt. But Y/N, I don't face time my friends everyday for hours, I don't text them to remind them to study or eat, I don't have reminders to tell me to text them, I.. don't catch myself thinking they are pretty or wishing they were closer when we are watching movies..I don't dance with them and think they are beautiful and wish I could kiss them." he continued, voice quieter as he went on, the last part almost inaudible. If you weren't in front of him, almost locked in his arms, you wouldn't be able to hear him.

But you could.

And your heart was pumping so hard that you could hear it in your ears, your breath was short. You were hanging from his every word. What? What was he saying?

"I didn't ran like a madman to find a pair of earrings for them. The exact copy of the earrings they were looking at the festival..I failed at that one, but I think cherry blossoms suit you better anyway" he breathed, a low laugh escaping him. How he could remember that was beyond you. Had he always paid that much attention to you?

"I don't go mad when I don't talk to them for a few days" he whined, clearly embarrassed if the flush on his face and ears said something. "I don't beat myself up for hesitating to return their feelings" he finished.

That was a confession? "What then?What am I, Seungmin? What am I to you?" You challenged, looking him straight at the eyes. Yours reflected resolution and a fiery temper, his.. reflected guilt and affection, that much you could read, but also pain and hopefulness.

He took a shaky breath and dived in, sealing his lips over your own. You stood frozen for a moment, Seungmin overtaking all of your senses. All you could smell was his manly and wonderful cologne, all you could taste was the mint on his lips and an essence, so clearly him you couldn't explain otherwise. All you could feel were his soft hands clasping you affectionately, his plush lips on your, his eyelashes tickling you gently. All you saw, before closing your eyes, was fluffy hair and his beautiful face coming closer. You got lost in the moment, reciprocating the kiss before your mind could talk you out of it. You reached up, waving your hands into his soft hair, bringing him closer. Your mouth opened, inviting him in and pressed yourself complete onto him, wanting to fell him touch every inch of you. You kissed him fiercely, with a passion, he gladly returned. You felt him draping himself around you, holding you desperately and with a passion you hadn't expected to show to your person.

All you now was that you were experiencing pure bliss. You didn't want it to end.

You didn't know how much time you were kissing, tasting each other eagerly, having gotten lost at the feelings but eventually you had to part to get some air inside of you. You didn't exactly separate, he retreated just enough so he can rest his forehead against yours. You could feel his breath in your mouth, that was also covered in the taste of him. You opened your eyes to look at him, seeing him already gazing adoring at you. And then he spoke.

'I like you" he stated confidently. Face flushed, lips even more kissable than before and eyes alit. "You never were just a friend in my mind. I just...I never have been in a serious relationship..I didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for. But when they asked me what I wanted and I started describing, I realized I was describing you, Y/N" he whispered, nusling closer to your face. The proximity was driving you crazy and his words was making it worse. It was all too much to take in at once.

"Soojin" you mumbled, the close distance between your faces allowing him to hear you. "What about her? You said you like her" you mewled, pained. The same guilty feeling resurfaced on his face again and his hands tightened around you.

"I am so so sorry" he nearly sniffled. As soon as you heard the little sniffle, alarms went off inside your head and you immediately drew closer, hiding your face on the crook of his neck, arms tenderly patting him for comfort. You felt him rest his head on top of yours and nussle his face in your hair. "I thought I did. I hadn't thought about the chance that you.. I didn't know what I was feeling and God-" he took a big breath and started again "I thought I liked her, but when you confessed, don't get me wrong I was super surprised but I couldn't get you out of my mind, so I told her. And it ended up being alright because she-"

"Likes Eric. I know" you completed.

"How?" He asked.

You crewed your neck back in order to see him better and gave him a small smile. "She came over at work. She spilled everything. And for the matter, I think they look cute together."

"Hey! Are you calling me ugly?!" He protested lightly, hands tickling you and making you let out loud giggles.

"Stop!" You shrieked, burrowing yourself deeper in his arms. He did and hugged you tighter in return. "I think you look cuter with me" you cheekily murmured squished against his neck.

He laughed briefly and slowly he unwinded himself from around you. You immediately missed his warmth.

"I am so sorry for all of this" he got out, guiltily. "I have made a mistake. A stupid one. And ..and if you take me back I promise not to make the same ones again. I promise to listen to you and try to express myself more...I.."he trailed off, unsure what else to promise you. You quietly giggled to yourself.

You liked him too much to hold it over him. You liked him too much for you own good.

So you smiled and wrapped your arms around his neck again. He immediately cradled you near, not missing the chance to hold you.

"You promise to never make the same mistake again? And talk to me instead of mumbling nonsense?" You inquired, your hands reaching up to cradle his face gently. He closed his eyes for a moment in tot bliss, before snapping them open and nodding.

"I promise" he stated.

"And you must promise to do what I ask of you" you pouted, dragging the words out, now in a playful mood.

But he eagerly nodded his head, taking your every request without complains. "I promise"

"Even when I ask you to go photoshooting with me?" You wondered, eyes scanning him. But he easily let out a giggle, nodded before ducking to kiss your nose, setting off butterflies in your stomach. You pressed your lips together in order to seal a smile before continuing.

"Even when I ask you to watch boring dramas with me?" You asked, eyebrows raising, remembering his distain in your pickings.

"Mmhhmm"he let out easily, as his eyes swept over you with literal stars sprawled over them.

"Even when the Wyverns are on and you wanna see them?" You mischievously asked, beaming up at him. He chuckled, drawing you closer than ever, not an inch separating your bodies.

"Even then" he agreed, content with you in his arms.

"You got yourself a deal then" you said, cheekily, peaking up at him. He opened his eyes at the sound of that, meeting your gaze, full of intent and tenderness. Now affection and playfulness twirled in his own eyes, so much in contrast with the cold boy that you had met all those months ago.

"Deal" he said, reaching down to seal this deal with a press of our lips.

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trash1129 · 1 year

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SELF-SABOTAGE | Chapter 11: I was threatened 🥺🥺

(Sns images at the end)

(Y/n) stared at the apartment door in front of her for a good minute not only checking if it was the right apartment number but also contemplating if she should just turn around while she can. The girl looked at her phone one more time checking the last text Soobin sent her which told her what apartment it was and the floor it was on. She came this far so there was no use in turning back even if she really wanted to; Plus if Chaeyeon somehow she knew that she backed out after picking out a “date” outfit for her, she would lose it.

Shutting off her phone and putting it in the back pocket of her jeans, she lifted her right hand and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, she hears a lock being unlocked and the door opened to reveal Soobin. He was surprisingly in a nice outfit as well. Seemed they both asked for advice on what to wear on a “date”.

“Oh, hey.” Soobin awkwardly greeted as if he was surprised she actually showed up. (Y/n) rose a brow at him but just shrugged it off with a sigh and greeted him back.

“Hey.”

Silence broke out between them as Soobin stood there stiffly. (Y/n) kept staring at him expectantly as he leaned against the doorframe.

God, how can someone be this awkward?

“Are you gonna let me in or are we going to stand here for the next couple hours while you stare like an idiot?” (Y/n) sneered making Soobin jump slightly. He collected himself and cleared his throat gracelessly, “oh uh yeah- here.” He stepped to the side as he opened the door more to let her in.

The girl rolled her eyes and stepped into his apartment. She takes her shoes off and sets them by the door while scanning his place. It was shockingly very clean. She somewhat expected it to be a pigsty due to the fact 2 men were living together and from what she knew from visiting Yeonjun; it usually was a mess. It was a bit bland decoration wise but that was to be expected from a broke college student living off of campus.

“Do you want anything to drink?” Soobin asked breaking (Y/n)’s train of thought.

She spun around to face him and stared for a minute as if she was trying to process his question. It was a simple question but it caught her off guard due to how hostile they usually are with each other.

“Oh, sure?” (Y/n) mumbled as if uncertain.

Soobin raised a brow, mimicking her confused expression from before, but he just nodded and started walking to the kitchen only glancing back once as if to tell her to follow. “Is there anything in particular you want? I don’t have much but I do have a coffee maker, water, and I think some soda left but my roommate may have drank them.” He rambled while opening the fridge.

(Y/n) watched as she took a seat on a stool near the kitchen island (another thing she was surprised to see due to the fact most broke students couldn’t afford a place with as nice of a kitchen like this).

“A water is fine.” She answered while still looking around the kitchen from her seat.

Soobin nodded and grabbed her a bottle of water tossing it her way to which she nearly fumbled it since she wasn’t really paying attention.

“You could’ve just handed it to me, you know.” She glared as Soobin smiled in return.

“Yeah, but that isn’t as fun.” He snickered out while turning back around to grab himself a water as well. He grabbed one and closed the fridge, leaning across from (Y/n) on the other side of the island. Watching as she seemed to be still taking in her surroundings. His cheeks heating up as he realized he was probably staring for too long, so he quickly glanced away and took a sip of his water.

“So, where’s your roommate?” (Y/n) finally spoke up seeming to be finished with her analysis of the room.

Soobin quickly looked back over to her, “Hyunjin? He has class today plus he has tutoring after all of his classes. He doesn’t usually come home until 9 at night.” He explained.

(Y/n) nodded and let out a small breath before standing up from her seat.

“Well, let’s get down to business.”

She started to make her way back to the living room with Soobin following behind. They both take a seat on opposite sides of the couch. Seeming as if being close to one another would cause one of them to burst into flames.

“Let’s talk about some of the rules we talked about before,” (Y/n) starts, “I think I was fair to say that we need to be more touchy with each other in public. Obviously not too much because our friends don’t think we are that serious yet and the fact I think we would both rather not touch each other a lot.”

Soobin nods slowly, “That’s fair. I, also, am sticking to my rule of needing to be around each other more.”

(Y/n) fought the urge to roll her eyes and just let out a small huff. “I know, genius. That’s why we are here.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Soobin rolled his eyes, “if you weren’t quick to get snappy, I was going to say that we should do things like me walking you to class and sitting with each other in the dining hall when we have lunch.” He said with the same amount of attitude, internally cringing at his actions due to the fact he needed to really shake the habit of being defensive. He truly wanted to turn stuff around between them but it was hard shake the habit since they have been going back and forth like this since high school.

(Y/n)’s eyes sharpened into a deadly glare. Her hands balling into tight fists in her lap.

She had to remind herself that she needed to calm down, or else they wouldn’t get anything done, but it was hard with him acting like a prick.

“Fine. We can do that.” She agrees but slowly started to smirk, “only IF you carry my backpack.” She retorts.

“I was planning to.”

Well, that caught her off guard-

“Wait what?” (Y/n)’s face morphs into some of shock and confusion. Her eyebrows scrunched as she stares at Soobin as if trying to tell if he was joking or not; Yet, his expression showed that he was surprisingly sincere.

Soobin shrugs nonchalantly, “It’s cute plus what kind of good boyfriend wouldn’t do that?” he chuckled softly and smiled (Y/n)’s way making her tense up slightly.

She didn’t expect him to even think of that. Sure, it was a sweet gesture that boyfriends usually did for their girlfriend but this was Soobin. The same one who literally threw a water bottle at her not even 10 minutes ago. The same one that “accidentally” pulled her chair out from under her the first day they met in high school. Seeing him act warmly towards her after quite literally sneering at her a second ago gave her major whiplash.

“Oh” is all that (Y/n) said in return feeling her cheeks burning in slight embarrassment.

After a second of her regathering herself, she clears her throat. “Well, I would also like to keep the rule of no unnecessary touching when it’s just to two of us.” She stated.

Soobin’s expression scrunched slightly, “In the nicest way possible, I think we would need to touch at least a little bit.” He started and was quick to continue when he saw (Y/n) was about to speak up again. “Think about it. We are not even used to being around each other longer than a few minutes before we start fighting. How would we even be with holding hands or having my arm around your shoulder? We would need to look natural. That’s why I brought up coming over today…kind of like practice for that as well as having small talk so we get to know each other a bit more.”

Soobin could feel his heart beating at the speed of light after finishing that sentence. He was already nervous enough with her coming over and now they were here planning how to seem like a real couple. He couldn’t help but be nervous with the idea of him and his crush since high school acting like a couple even if it was fake.

(Y/n) sat there for a second and thought about it. He did have a point. Besides nearly throwing hands with each other they never really touched.

“Okay, fine. I can work with that but we only keep this up until we seem natural enough and are used to it, then we’re done. No more touching outside of public spaces.” She countered with her arms crossing awkwardly.

Soobin nodded and then glanced at the space between them. He then glanced back up at (Y/n),

“Can I move closer?”

His question made her tense up slightly but she nodded slowly.

Soobin scooted his way more towards the middle of the couch, still giving her space in case she was uncomfortable. They sat like that in silence for a good few minutes until Soobin got sick of the silence and turned on the tv; Putting on some random show as background noise.

Sometime passed and Soobin suddenly felt (Y/n) move to be next to him. He glanced over to the girl next to him and saw her glancing away in what he could only assume what was embarrassment.

“Well?” She mumbled still avoid eye contact

“Well what?”

“Are we not gonna practice??” (Y/n) snapped out quickly, her face burning more than it was earlier.

Soobin felt his heart stop for a moment. Holy crap was this actually happening? Dear god, he sounded like a loser thinking that. Coming back to his senses, he nods quickly.

“Yeah! Yeah, sorry” he stumbles over his words and gently moves his arm to be around her shoulder. They both lean a bit more back into the couch to try and get more comfortable. (Y/n) stiffly moving her head to his shoulder.

They both sat there in that position trying to focus on the tv to take away from how weird this all felt. Soobin was trying his best to keep his heart rate under control while (Y/n) was trying to understand why she felt so embarrassed by doing this. Anyone would feel weird about practically cuddling with your enemy, right?

Soon enough, the two both seemed to calm down a bit and got invested in the stupid tv drama that Soobin put on earlier.

“Oh hell no, I refuse to believe that people actually prefer Baek kyung over Haru.” (Y/n) commented while sitting up and pointing at the screen animatedly.

“Like look at this fucker! His character is literally just treating a terminally ill girl like trash!”

Soobin laughed slightly and watched her with a smile. He sat back as she continued to ramble about the characters in the show. Soobin couldn’t help but stare at her fondly.

Ever since high school, he remembers her always being passionate about everything. Wether it was whatever club she was in that year or even if it was over a stupid tv show like this one. It was one of the things that drew him to her. Even though they “hated” each other, he always paid attention to how her eyes would light up when she talked about something she would like or was passionate about; Though, she probably never noticed that he was paying attention to that all those years ago.

(Y/n)’s rant slowly came to a halt when she saw the look on his face. Her cheeks flushing slightly from his stare. Was she talking too much? It didn’t matter as she soon sat back in her place next to him trying to ignore the burning in her face.

“Um, we should probably head out to the downtown area before it gets too dark…” (Y/n) quickly diverted.

Soobin’s eyebrow raised as he looked at the time.

“Oh shit, yeah, we probably should.”

Summary: After (Y/n) breaks up with her ex, Do Jaeyi, she isn’t left alone by him. Finally after being bothered nonstop, she breaks and tells him she is dating her high school rival, Choi Soobin. Now they are left to keep up the act of being a couple till this all blows over. Little does (Y/n) know Soobin has been waiting for a chance like this.

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A/n: Hey, so funny story....I didn’t realize that 5 days have passed since I updated so hahahaha....Sorry for the spaced out updates because life has been busy. Also, I’m sorry if this chapter is a bit messy and all over the place, I have been really out of it the last few days. ANYWAYS ENJOY!

TAGLIST. Open @etherealcherrie @i2lain @hoonfever

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jin-in-faerun · 2 months

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The Great Study of Rolan Pt 1

A College Modern AU of BG3

TW: None

A/N: I’m using my (current) Tav a Seladrine Drow, Druid, AFAB, she/her Rhiannon for this. I will keep it neutral in certain descriptions just as I know a lot of people prefer x-reader style, but I wanted to be a bit self-indulgent. When I get back on my computer I will include a photo of Rhiannon for those who want to know, what Rhiannon looks like.

I think it will be 3 possibly 4 parts? I tend to be able to write Wednesday and Sundays as those are my days off, in USA EST time. As work and household chores are a lot on me. I haven’t written anything multi-part in a while so mind errors and such, I wanted to get this out. :)

Part 1 - Back to Ramazith University

It was the end of the holiday break, time to get back to Baldur’s Gate to the university. She had spent the break visiting Emerald Grove with her friend Astarian and Karlach studying the local cultures.

It was Sunday and the three made their way back to the campus a few other groups of stragglers back to the university were behind them. Karlach was carrying her and Astarion’s luggage as the Vampire Elf was “too hung over” still and hadn’t an ounce of energy left in his body for pack mule work. Rhiannon as usual had packed light, just a back pack holding the essentials with her. As a Druid of the Underdark her tribe always was nomadic and spent a lot of time on the move.

Rhiannon, Astarion and Karlach were in their first years of University, to be exact Ramazith University of Finer Learning. Karlach had been a friend for a while having meet her a year before she had decided to go to university, Astarion she had met the first day of classes. Astarion was still a bit of a mystery to her, he rarely showed up to class but always managed a sufficient passing grade. Karlach managed a sports scholarship but and spent time being tutored by Rhiannon to make sure she keeps her scholarship. Rhiannon studied several classes with a light work load as she was trying to decide what she wanted to truly study.

Rhiannon had made sure Karlach and Astarion had made it to campus fine, as Karlach had to stay in a dorm due to the sponsorship and Astarion well slept somewhere. It was a mystery to where he actually stayed at, it was rumored he slept in the rafters or on the couches of random students. Rhiannon had her own albeit tiny apartment off campus that was more of a closest than an apartment.

Her place consisted of a living room that branched off to a small kitchen with bare minimum equipment. From the kitchen there was a narrow hallway that had a small bathroom and at the end of the hallway the bedroom. It was something that the University offered for some qualifying students at a discounted price.

‘Home at last,’ Rhiannon thought to herself as she plopped the bag on the floor.

It was dark in the apartment not worrying about the light, as Drow seeing in this dim light was of no bother to her. Most of the times she kept it dark just as it reminded her of home and kept her from getting homesick. Homesick for the Underdark was not something she thought she would ever get.

Opening the fridge there was nothing. . .of course she had donated the food that would have gone bad prior to her break. The plan was to get home early to go shopping and stock back up but Karlach wanted to visit the hot springs prior to coming back and set them back a few hours.

“I guess I’ll wake up early and hit the breakfast crowd.” Rhiannon mused as she moved towards the small bedroom to settle down for the night.

As she pulled off road-worn clothes, plopping them to the floor a thought flickered to her mind, a fleeting image of a surly Tiefling. Smirking at the thought of the TA, Rolan pouring his morning cup of coffee muttering under his breath searching for a quiet spot to sit.

Rhiannon had met Rolan prior to university. She had arrived with Karlach a month early to Baldur’s Gate to get acquainted with the city and ran into him with his siblings one day. The city was bustling and immense so many sights that it was overwhelming, a pickpocket had snagged her wallet from skirt pocket, the short Drow chased after the young Tiefling child.

The small child was fast knowing the territory better than Rhiannon was making quick work of the ground. Diving through a group of Tiefling, Rhiannon lost the kid smashing into a broad set of shoulders, both falling in a heap on the ground.

======Flashback=======

With a yelp Rhiannon fell to the ground the Tiefling she fell on let out a groan tail whipping against her angrily instantly bruising the spots it smacked.

‘My wallet!’ Rhiannon managed to yelp as the Tiefling flung her off of his back pushing her backwards.

‘Mattis!’ A voice shouted, a male Tiefling rushed after the small boy while the female Tiefling chuckled looking down at the scene before her.

‘Watch where you are going, fool.’ Growled the fallen Tiefling as he got to his knees, golden eyes burning hate towards her, fangs bared.

Rhiannon was startled, she didn’t have much interaction with Tiefling a few here and there but they tend to keep to themselves. Plus most see a Drow and turn the other way, assuming the worst. She was use to that. He looked like she was a worm, something foul that dare touch him.

‘That kid stole my wallet. . .I was just trying to get it.’ She retorted, bristling at his comment she wasn’t a fool trying to take back what was hers.

‘You dirtied my robes I have an interview shortly and now I look just as drab as you do. Dare I go to one of the most important interviews of my life looking like a Mud Mephit?’ He glowered brushing off his attire, as he got to his feet leaving her on the ground.

‘I think you would need to improve to look like a Mud Mephit, to be honest.’ Rhiannon commented as she got to her feet.

‘Oh I like this girl, Rolan! She’s not here for your shit.’ The female Tiefling said laughing as she help brushed off the male.

‘You’ll think different when Professor Lorroaken denies me the position.’

‘You can just tell him you were hunting the Nightsong and he’ll lap it up.’

‘Hey - I got this back.’ The young Tiefling that had chased after the thief, a bit out of breath he held out the wallet.

‘Thanks, I appreciate that I just moved here and I got a bit lost and distracted.’ She answered taking back her wallet.

====End Flashback====

In the morning Rhiannon woke begrudgingly early heading to the campus to get dibs on a decent breakfast selection. Filling up a plate of food, she found a quiet spot and enjoyed a quiet morning before the busy day of classes.

Rolan was not ready to start the day, he had been working all day on Sunday preparing Professor Lorroaken’s class for Monday morning to make sure everything was just right. The professor was in a mood when he had come back from holiday break a few days ago, he had been at a disclosed location dealing with his “researchers” looking for the Nightsong. The obsession of the professor’s that made more work for Rolan. Sure he was more than qualified to do the work but it was a lot on top of his job at the library, school and taking care of his siblings who just find it always the best ways to cause havoc.

He spotted a strange sight in a corner seat, the first year Drow, Rhiannon eating. She normally wasn’t at cafeteria during the morning as she generally had Cal and Lia at her apartment scrounging for breakfast from her. Shaking his head not truly worried by the appearance of the Drow, just that meant Cal and Lia would be ravenous at dinner tonight. Perhaps he could convince them to visit her for dinner?

Ever since the day that Rhiannon had crashed into him and his siblings, Cal and Lia had made fast friends with her. He couldn’t quite grasp why perhaps her banality was amusing to them? Lia always sung Rhiannon’s praises, she cooks, funny, smart all that but Rolan felt it was just false praises. It wasn’t worth his time to make friends or unnecessary social interaction he was busy with, everything. There was no room for other things, no matter how pretty or endearing they were.

Definitely no room.

None at all.

As if she knew she was being started at, Rhiannon looked up locking eyes briefly with Rolan. Staring through her, Rolan realized that she was looking at him shaking his head dragging fingers through his hair that was slightly damp still from a morning shower. He didn’t have time for such things. Rhiannon smiled at him as he turned away rolling his eyes at the comfort that the smile brought to him.

“Ridiculous.” He muttered heading to the coffee cart, loading up the sugar in a cup.

“You really shouldn’t waste your time on that, pill my darling.” Astarian’s cooing voice called out as he appeared out of nowhere plopping down beside Rhiannon.

“Oh morning Astarion. He’s not even the bit interested in me, I just wish he would accept me as a friend. Lia says that is ‘like the most impossible thing ever’. I think he still holds it against me for crashing into him when I was chasing that thief.”

“He’s a sourpuss, plenty of other prey worthy of your attention and further more of your affection than he is, darling Rhia.” Astarion said, leaning back in the chair, lifting his legs up plopping them on her lap reaching over snagging a handful of grapes.

“I know. . .” She said trying not to be obvious she was watching Rolan saunter over to the exit with just the coffee in his hands.

———

Over the next few weeks, classes were back in full swing and the tests were starting to pour in. Walking down the hallway Rhiannon spotted Rolan, he was carrying a pile of books heading to Professor Lorroaken’s office, her next class. Rushing over to him she snagged some books off the top of the pile so the over encumbered Tiefling could see where he was going, his golden eyes turned downwards to her smiling face with a glower.

“I do not need your assistance I am just fine.” He let out with an exasperated sigh.

“Really? I saw you nearly walk into a student just like a second ago?” She teased, looking down at the books these didn’t pertain to the course load for this semester for Professor Lorroaken.

More Nightsong theory books and ancient history books on gods and myths.

“I did not, I am well in-tuned with my surroundings Miss Rhiannon.” Rolan chastised her, a slight huff as he started heading towards the classroom.

“Hmmm.” She gave a slight frown noticing the bags under his eyes, the weariness in the tone of his voice and the grumbling of his stomach. “When did you eat last?”

“What does that matter to you? It is none of your worries.” Rolan brushed her off as he reached the door, snaking his tail around the door handle pulling it open.

“Have you had a break at all, Rolan? You look worn out, I heard rumors about Professor Lorroaken that he goes though TAs like they are going out of style.”

“That is none of your business, Miss Rhiannon. Please stay out of my life, I do not need your charity. I have more talent than any of those other assistants.” Rolan spat out caught off guard as he entered the room, tail pushing the door more to allow her in.

Shaking her head, Rhiannon followed Rolan to the desk as Professor Lorroaken came out of his private office to see students filing in. Slamming the books on the desk she flickered a glare at the professor who just gave her a confused look unsure of her irritation.

———

On the way home from the market Rhiannon was carrying some groceries knowing that Cal and Lia where coming over later to for dinner, part of their weekly ritual to spend a night together with either games or a movie and relax. Sometimes Astarian or Karlach would join in the festivities making it a full blown party. Tonight was just suppose to be Cal and Lia.

Suppose to be.

Until she spotted Rolan walking down the street, heading towards the apartment the shared with Cal and Lia, his footsteps uneven, wobbling a little. Any passerby would just assume this Tiefling was drunk if they even considered that as most ignored Tieflings. It was concerning seeing him like that, his normally deep crimson skin was sallow looking, normally well kept hair was barely held up in a bun strands falling into his face.

There was a part of her that thought he looked rather good looking a bit bedraggled like that. But it was more concerning that he was this worn out from all the work he’s been through, she knew from what Cal had told her that he would leave the University after his tasks are done there come home rest for a bit then go back to the University to the library to do the restocking and cleaning overnight to pay for their housing.

She wanted to say something to offer him to come over to her place to eat with his sibling but the words from earlier burned in her heart. She hesitated as people rushed past her continuing their daily errands as she watched him trudge forward trying to make it home.

Rolan stumbled falling to the ground, people ignoring him as the Tiefling passed out. Rhiannon rushed over to him, ignoring the people around her as she shoved them out of the way trying to get to Rolan. He was breathing roughly as he struggled to get to his hands and knees, swearing softly.

Dropping her bag of groceries to the ground, Rhiannon was on her knees next to Rolan helping him up. She reached a tentative hand to him, wary of his reaction as his head jolted towards her leaning back to miss the sharp horns.

“Leave me I am fine.” Rolan growled angry, recognizing the face before him wanting it to be anyone but her.

Why her?

Why her, kind and gentle face staring at him with pity in her eyes?

Why could it not be her just let people ignore him like normal, that just a Tiefling who cares? No it has to be this sympathetic Drow with her bleeding heart wanting to be friends with him. She was always trying to find ways to talk to him, to endear herself to him. Always there trying to help to remind him that he can’t do everything himself. That he alone isn’t enough to take care of himself and his siblings.

He is enough - he doesn’t need her help.

Shoving her back Rolan got to his feet, feet wobbly as he was feeling drained from all the work the unending tasks. Head spinning he tried to keep his balance, he needs just a bit of rest and he would be fine. Rhiannon jumped to her feet reaching out a hand to support him, to help him stay standing.

“Rolan he is working you too much - you are working too much. Come to my place and have dinner with us. I can call Cal and he can help, we can sit - - -.”

“I said I am fine. Save your pity for someone else. I can handle this. I am not weak.” Rolan spat out pure venom the feeling of her hand on his back just above the base of this tail was comforting.

It was comforting so much it burned the kind touch was something he yearned for. But not from her. From anyone other than her. She was infuriating with her kindness, her concern.

To see her how she treats her fellow students despite so many of them tend to steer away from her knowing most Drow are insufferable. She was far from it. She was a warm comforting blanket on a cold winter day. The touch he wishes for. But he couldn’t stand that she was one to make him feel that way. She was easy to talk to, talented in her classes easily making it in the top ranks, Cal and Lia loved talking to her. He was not easy to talk to, not supportive, not strong he had to work so hard at everything. She was so many things he was not. It was infuriating on how much he wanted to be in her radiance but the burn of it was too much it reflected so much of his flaws. His imperfections. How much he fails his siblings.

It was making him angrier - the frustration fueling his drive feeling awake now he walked away from her. He needed to be free of her. This anger she brought in him was confusing it didn’t feel right…like it wasn’t anger but something else - perhaps he was too tired.

Rolan pushed her back with his tail forcefully barely wanting to be near her making it down the path with more vigor now.

The tip of his tail is sharp it grazes against the exposed thigh as her dress just reached above her knees, spilling blood. Rhiannon stumbled back nearly falling over against, Rolan glanced back noticing the damage he caused pausing briefly as his eyes widen with shock. He snapped his head back forward and rushed off.

The next morning Astarion was helping change the bandage on her leg explaining it was a waste of perfectly good blood.

“Darling Rhia I told you to drop him. He’s just not worth the worry. Why worry over him? If you like Tieflings you know Dammon is one hundred percent available and he’s a little cinnamon roll.”

“Maybe you are right…” Rhiannon said as she thinks about Dammon.

Dammon worked for the university on the custodial staff fixing things in turn to afford some night classes the school offers at a discount. He was sweet and always endearing himself to everyone. Dammon worked for the local blacksmith honing that craft as he took classes for business management.

It didn’t take Rolan to notice that Rhiannon was avoiding him and spending time with Dammon. He just couldn’t figure out why that pissed him off. Why it made his blood pressure rise when the sweat covered Tiefling running up to her with a smile on his face, as he had be toiling away fixing some contraption. The smile on her face as Dammon approached her swooping in picking up her books, offering to walk her to her next class, it made him. . .confused. . .envious?

Whatever it was he didn’t like it. He liked the idea of that smile at him though. . .

———————

Part 2 ||

Tagging: @viennacherries @darkurgetrash (let me know if you don’t want to be tagged)

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daechwitatamic · 2 years

Text

Chapter 1: Interesting Spider Facts || KTH

(banner by @itaeewon)

Title: What Was Hidden (Masterpost)

Rating: explicit, minors DNI pls

Genre: college!au, angst, eventual smut, strangers -> friends -> lovers -> idiots -> lovers

Pairings: Taehyung x female reader, MYG x OC

Summary: This is how it all starts: Taehyung is flunking Western Lit. You’re assigned to tutor him. His paper on Strindberg’s The Ghost Sonata could pass or fail him for the semester. As you and Taehyung slowly become friends, then more, you learn that there’s a lot more to him than you originally assumed. Together, you navigate your own experiences with the play’s themes: one’s “true self” versus one’s “shown self”, darkness behind the facade, and how people can be quite literally haunted - and it has nothing to do with ghosts.

In which your best friend from home visits you on campus and you fall hard for over Taehyung down some stairs.

Chapter Warnings: language, recreational drinking

Word Count: 5k

I saw the sun and thought I saw

what was hidden

The Ghost Sonata | Scene III August Strindberg

Chapter 1 - Interesting Spider Facts

Saturday, November 3rd

The train comes in with a roar, the force of the air almost making you take a step further back from the tracks. As it slows to a stop, you fix your hair, which got blown all to hell by the train’s passing.

People start coming down the stairs, making their way slowly towards the parking lot, or towards where you’re standing on the paved trail that leads back to your college campus. You eye each of them, searching for a familiar face. A very specific familiar face.

You recognize her shirt before she’s close enough for you to see her face; you should - you bought her that shirt last Christmas. You wave an arm as she comes closer, and once she spots you her steps speed up in excitement.

It’s early November, and your best friend from home is visiting you on campus for the first time ever. It’s your third year, and she’s never come before now – between her own classes, and the distance, it just always worked out better to see each other when you went back to your parents’ house each time campus closed for a break.

You’re happy to see her, of course, but you’re also beyond excited to welcome her into your little world here, to show off the places you like to go, introduce her to the friends you’ve made in your time here.

You hug each other, ignoring her little rolling suitcase on the pavement beside you.

“It’s a bit of a walk back,” you warn her, starting to head back down the trail. “And then we have to sign you in as a visitor at the security place.”

You chat as you walk, and she fills you in on what’s been happening back in your hometown. You kick at small piles of fallen leaves as you walk; autumn is well underway and the trees that line the paved trail are nearly all bare. The crunching beneath your feet is oddly satisfying, and you realize you’ve been tuning Nina out to focus on stepping on crispy looking leaves.

“Sorry, what?” you ask when you notice she’s stopped talking and is looking at you sideways, clearly annoyed.

“I was saying that Erin told me there’s a party tonight?” she repeats, not hiding her annoyance at all.

Things have been a little weird with you and Nina lately, which is part of why you were excited to have her visit. You were hoping to rekindle how you used to be – you’d been best friends since middle school, with a ton of history between the two of you. You had a lot of love for each other, but things had definitely been strained recently.

It had started back in the spring, when you’d broken up with your last boyfriend, Davis. Your mom always said when it rains, it pours by which she meant bad shit likes to happen all at once. That had been your spring – you’d broken up with Davis, things got weird with Nina, and you’d lost your part-time job at a local bookstore when it went under and had to close.

Always in threes, you noticed.

In the seven months since all of that, you’d gotten mostly back on your feet. You’d dated here and there over the summer, trying to get over Davis. It was… a process. You’d also gotten a new part-time job through school, tutoring. Right now, early in the semester, the students who signed up were doing so voluntarily so the workload was pretty light. You knew, though, that after first semester grades went out you’d be assigned students to tutor if they were on official academic probation. That just left Nina as the final problem to be solved.

And you are doing a crackerjack job of it.

“I just love that you and Erin are so tight,” you mutter.

Nina rolls her eyes at you. “I’m sorry you two have your shit,” she says flatly, sounding not sorry at all, “but I was friends with her before that went down. Anyway, she said there’s a party tonight at -.”

“I know where it’s at,” you grumble, kicking more leaves. “I was already planning on us going. Not that I want to, now that I know she’s going.”

Nina rolls her eyes even harder, throwing in a dramatic grimace. “You need to move on from that.”

You say nothing, pressing your lips tight together. Conversations with Nina tend to turn into arguments, especially when the topic of Erin and Davis comes up.

“Anyway,” you say finally, after you walk in silence for a few more minutes, “we’re going to the party. My roommates are coming too.”

“Cool,” she chirps, happy again. “I brought like three outfits, you can help me choose. Are we thinking slutty? Classy slutty? Lounge slutty?”

“I’m noticing a theme,” you deadpan, and she laughs. It feels like old times, for a second. “I mean, it’s a frat party. I think you’re safe with any of the above.”

You sign Nina in as an overnight guest at the security station on campus and then lead her to your dorm. The sun is low behind you, despite it being only around 5 pm, as you swipe your school ID card through the card reader to gain access to your building.

“Oh good,” one of your roommates says as you open your door upstairs. “We were about to order pizza.”

You’re in a triple, which means three of you girls in one room; while this is not always ideal, the three of you do get your own bathroom. That makes it worth it, in your opinion. The other suckers have to share with the whole hall.

The roommate you get along with best, Kiko, is sitting on her bed, her laptop open in front of her. Your other roommate, Bridget, is sitting at her desk, leaning forward towards her light-up mirror, eyeliner in hand.

“This is my friend from home, Nina,” you say, gesturing back as Nina comes through the door with her tiny suitcase. “This is Kiko, and Bridget. You can put your stuff by the bottom bunk, it’s mine.”

Nina rolls her suitcase over as you and Kiko begin discussing toppings.

Two hours later, you’re crumpling up an empty pizza box. Behind you, Bridget pours vodka and juice into plastic cups as Kiko fiddles with her Bluetooth speaker to get the pregame tunes started.

“What time do you want to head over?” you ask the room at large. You run a hand through your hair, silently trying to determine if it needs a shampoo before the party.

“Ten? Ten thirty?” Bridget suggests. She’s sort of running the show – the frat guys are her friends, not yours. “Jin told me nine, so I feel like that’s an appropriate level of fashionably late.”

Kiko meets your eyes from her bed and you match her face quickly. Neither of you is huge on the party scene, honestly, and sometimes you both just can’t with Bridget’s nonsense.

“Is the party on campus?” Nina asks, from where she’s laying sideways across your bottom bunk, red solo cup in hand. Her long curls cascade over the side of the bed.

“No, Seokjin has a place off-campus,” Bridget tells her. “It’s not technically a frat house, but it kind of is.”

Nina looks at you, but it’s Kiko who speaks up to explain. “It’s not an official Greek-life frat house, through the school,” she says. “We have those. But Jin rents this house off campus – he’s had the lease the last two years - and all the guys who room with him are in his frat too.”

“Hopefully one of the younger guys can snag the lease next year,” Bridget muses. “After Jin graduates? I would hate to start having to party on campus again and deal with the fucking Campo.”

“Campus police,” you translate automatically for Nina’s sake.

A little bit later, Kiko makes her way into the bathroom, where you’re pressed up close to the mirror, trying to get your eyeliner even.

“How early am I allowed to bail?” she asks you under her breath.

You laugh a little. Normally you two stick together, and if one of you wants to leave early you go together. You’re not sure you can pull an early disappearing act while Nina’s with you.

“You can bail as soon as you want to,” you tell her seriously. “But I have to stay tonight. You’re on your own.”

You lower your voice, not wanting to be heard over the music playing out in the room. “And Nina told me that Erin is going, which means Davis is going. If there was ever a night I wanted to bail… believe me… it’s tonight.”

Kiko meets your eyes in the mirror, her mouth making a tiny little frown. “Are you going to be okay?”

Erin, who – yes – has been friends with Nina a long time, is the girl Davis cheated with back in the spring. Well, before that, probably. The spring was just when you found out.

You and Davis had decided to go to the same college back when you were still together, obviously. You regret it big time, now that you have to see him all over campus.

You’re a tiny bit tempted to tell Nina to go to the fucking party without you.

“Yeah,” you sigh. “It’s one night. I’ll just try to stay in a different room than them.”

“Maybe you’ll meet someone,” she says hopefully, leaning against the doorframe behind you. You give up on your eyeliner and untwist the top of your mascara.

“I’d rather not,” you say flatly. “Frankly, everyone on this campus with a penis can go fuck themselves.”

“That is not the right attitude!” Bridget hollers from the other room.

Nina comes to stand next to Kiko. You’re feeling a little trapped, with the two of them blocking the whole door.

“How long are you going to stay on this I hate men crusade?” Nina asks.

You want to point out that she has barely heard your crusading, as it were, since she was decidedly uninterested in listening to you rant back when you’d caught Davis and Erin. You knew she was in an awkward position, being friends with both you and Erin. You understood. But it had sucked anyway, not being able to talk to your best friend as you went through that.

“Until someone proves to me that I’m wrong,” you say, capping the mascara and taking a step back from the mirror.

“She says that,” Bridget says, coming to join the little party in the doorway, “but watch her tonight. Any guy that tries to talk to her, she’ll castrate. Verbally. You can’t say prove me wrong and then refuse to let anyone try, Y/N.”

“I can and I will,” you say lightly. “Now I need more vodka, so all of you scooch.”

It’s about a 20 minute walk to the house, which on a frigid November night is no joke.

“I should have had more to drink,” Kiko says solemnly. “So that I wouldn’t feel the cold.”

“We’re almost there,” Bridget tells her, pointing. “They’re at the end of that block.”

The music is deafening even from the street outside the house, and you have no idea how they don’t have the police there already. The neighbors must all be deaf… or other college kids. Bridget leads the way, opening the front door. The music goes from deafening to whatever the next step up might be. You resist the urge to cover your ears, but you adjust to it as you follow Bridget through the living room. It’s packed with bodies, but she’s been partying here long enough that she knows her way around.

You’ve been to parties here a handful of times, but not since becoming Bridget’s roommate in September. The fact that she’s friends with these guys is an interesting coincidence. You’re not sure you’ve even ever met Jin, but he and Bridget are on a first-name basis, apparently.

She leads you off to the staircase on the right, and up. It’s quieter upstairs, and she opens the first door in the unlit hallway.

“Coats,” she says, and you all toss your jackets towards the already mountainous pile on top of the bed.

Downstairs again, you have to fight your way through the packed living room to the kitchen, where the liquor and mixers are lining the countertops. Even though you pregamed, you hardly feel it at all, and you’re perfectly willing when Bridget suggests you all start with a shot.

“The guys are downstairs,” she informs you, after checking her phone. “We should go say hello.”

“Why?” Kiko mutters in your ear, and you smile at her. Nina is looking around eagerly, and for a second you wish you could feel like she does – like everybody you see is a new opportunity, a fresh start, a hopeful possibility. You used to feel that way, before Davis decided you weren’t worth his time, and that you were too stupid to catch him.

After you’ve all mixed yourselves drinks, Bridget leads you back through the jungle in the living room, steering you all left towards a door you’d never know was there. She opens it, and it leads down a dark, narrow staircase.

It’s not quite as loud in the basement, which means you can talk without screaming directly into each other’s ears. There are a few beer pong tables in the middle, and some couches shoved in a U in the back.

Bridget leads you to the opposite corner behind the pong tables. You recognize a few people in the group that’s crowded together back there – you’ve seen them here at parties, and a few of them around campus.

Bridget squeals and throws her arms around the neck of one of the taller guys, somehow managing not to spill her drink.

“Hello, gorgeous,” she cries, and you fight back an eye roll. You like Bridget, really. She’s just… her.

“Hello yourself,” he tells her, and you wonder if he knows her name or if to him she’s just another cute girl who comes to his parties.

She introduces the rest of you girls, and Jin rattles off the names of the guys around him, but you aren’t listening. You don’t care. You have zero interest in talking to any of these dudes.

After a few minutes, Nina takes your hand and pulls you to play beer pong with her. You’re not amazing at it – hand-eye coordination was never your forte – but she’s great, and you hold your spot at the table for longer than you thought you would. When you finally lose, you look around the room, searching for your friends. Jin’s crew is still lording over their corner of the basement, but you don’t see Jin himself anymore. You don’t see Bridget either – suspicious – but Kiko is still there, talking to a blond guy, so you head back that way, tugging Nina behind you by her sleeve.

She tugs you back, leaning close to tell you, “I’m going up to make a new drink.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” you ask, shouting.

She shakes her head, then points questioningly at your cup. You still have half of what you mixed earlier, since you’ve been drinking beer at the pong table for the better part of an hour. You shake your head no, and point at Kiko. “I’ll wait for you with Kiko!” you call to her, and she waves as she heads towards the stairs.

When you reach Jin’s little group and Kiko, she barely turns to acknowledge you, so engrossed in her conversation with the grumpy looking blond.

Well, cool. Now you have no one to talk to until Nina gets back – and knowing Nina, as you have for an entire decade, she’ll probably get swept up in conversation upstairs and never come back for you.

“You need to use your hips more,” a voice says, very close to you, and you startle.

“Excuse me?” you say, raising an eyebrow.

The speaker is most definitely one of Jin’s crew – you recognize him from other parties, and you think you might have shared a class freshman year – but you don’t know his name. He’s tall, practically towering over you (and you’re in heels!), and his dark hair settles in pretty waves just above his eyeline. You determinedly do not notice his jawline, the intensity of his gaze, the sexy cock of his eyebrow. You definitely don’t notice the cute-ass freckle on the end of his nose. Or the one on his bottom lip. You’re not looking at his lips.

You’re not.

Damn. He looks like a god. You hate him immediately.

“When you play pong,” he explains. “You have great hips – use them to box out your opponent.”

You look at him, blown away by the audacity. “Seriously? The first thing you ever say to me in your life, and it’s about my ass?”

He frowns, and you can’t tell if it’s playful or if he means it. “I didn’t say anything about your ass,” he points out.

“Tread carefully, Taehyung,” Bridget says, appearing out of fucking nowhere, slinging an arm over your shoulders. “Y/N doesn’t like to leave survivors these days.”

You give him – Taehyung, apparently - a level stare, hoping he’ll listen and back off. Instead, he licks his lips and then fights a smile as he says, “Is this like a black widow thing? I’m pretty sure they mate first.”

Your jaw drops. “You did not just fucking say that to me,” you say, voice low and dangerous even to your own ears.

He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m just giving interesting spider facts. No need to get upset.”

“I’m done with this conversation,” you say flatly, and you cut your eyes at him as you turn to go. “Enjoy your night.”

“Wait, are you actually mad?” he asks, suddenly puzzled. Besides him, Bridget laughs, used to the way you chew up and spit guys out lately. “We were just flirting!”

“You might be flirting,” you counter. “Not me. I need to go find my friend.”

“She’s upstairs with her tongue in Hoseok’s mouth,” Bridget tells you, and you very nearly spit your drink all over Taehyung, which honestly would serve him right.

“Sounds like your friend has the right idea,” Taehyung says offhandedly, and you firmly turn your back to him, absolutely over it. He wants you to box out your opponents? You’ll start right now.

Beside you, Kiko tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and smiles shyly, still talking with the same guy. You catch Bridget’s eye and raise your eyebrow. She pulls out her phone and starts tapping away. When you feel your pocket buzz, you know it’s her.

[12:42 AM] Briiiiig: IKR!!!!

[12:43 AM] Briiiiig: that’s jin’s bro yoongi and I have NEVER SEEN HIM CHAT UP A GIRL

[12:43 AM] Briiiiig: THIS IS AMAZING

You smile, and type a message to Kiko - “Get it girl!!!!!!!!!!” You know she won’t see it until later - she’s so into this conversation, she probably doesn’t remember that phones even exist. “This is getting boring,” Bridget says to the group at large. “Does anyone have a party trick to share?”

“I can lick my elbow,” one of the guys, who sports a sleeve of tattoos and a few facial piercings says. The guys all boo him.

“I have a great party trick, but the pay-off is a little delayed,” Taehyung says, very seriously. “I can predict the weather - it’s going to rain like hell tomorrow.”

“My phone knows that trick too,” you say flatly, pulling it out and swiping over to the weather app. “And it says tomorrow will be warm and sunny.”

Taehyung levels a look at you, his earlier playfulness fading. “I’ll put money on it.”

You roll your eyes, over it and him. You choose not to answer, instead eyeing your empty cup. You head upstairs with two missions in mind – one, to detangle Nina from whichever poor soul is Hoseok, and two, to mix a new drink.

Maybe not in that order. You stop in the kitchen, eyeing the different liquors and mixers and trying to decide what sounds good. You’re settling on more vodka and juice when you feel someone come up next to you. You glance over to find Taehyung looking at you, brows furrowed.

“Oh my god,” you utter, completely exasperated. “Why are you following me?”

His frown deepens. “I feel like I actually pissed you off downstairs.”

“You did,” you tell him, eyes wide with disbelief. “So go away, please!”

“No, wait,” he says, reaching out a hand as if that will settle you down. “I wanted to apologize. Sometimes when I drink, dumb shit just comes out of my mouth without my brain’s permission. I wasn’t trying to be… disrespectful, or gross. But I think I was. I’m sorry.”

You hear absolutely none of this. You feel like you have tunnel vision: the whole party shrinking down, the kitchen fading, your pulse roaring in your ears louder than the music, as you spot Davis and Erin out in the living room, laughing with Nina and some skinny guy.

Davis looks great – all tan from playing soccer all summer, probably, his hair a little longer than the last time you saw him. You’re suddenly remembering how it felt to be tucked up against him, his arm around your shoulders, his laugh reverberating against you as you held on tight. But it isn’t you glued to his side, it’s Erin, her arm around his middle as she wobbles on strappy heels. Your heart is hammering in your chest.

“Okay?” Taehyung is asking you as you come back into your body. He’s looking at you intently. You’re suddenly so nauseous that you’re not sure you can make it to a bathroom.

“Sure,” you say, even though you have no idea what he’d been talking about. “Whatever. I need some air.”

You have to pass Davis, Erin, and Nina in order to get outside, but there’s nothing you can do about that. You walk quickly, eyes on the ground, shouldering people out of the way as you head for the front door.

You’re better the instant you pull your first drag of cold November air into your lungs. You take the stone steps slowly, stopping at the bottom and dropping to sit on the final stair. You rest your elbows on your knees and press your forehead into your hands, eyes screwed shut, trying to just breathe and steady yourself. Fucking Davis and fucking Erin and fucking disloyal Nina.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket and you pull it out, starting to feel the cold night air on your bare fingers.

[1:24 AM] Nina 💕: did u just go outside?

[1:24 AM] Nina💕: girl it’s cold! come back in

[1:25 AM] You: let me know when ur done talking to that piece of garbage and I’ll consider it

[1:27 AM] Nina💕: 🙄

You don’t answer this one. You’re calmer now, the quiet and the cold air doing wonders for your nerves. You lean back against the steps, feeling the cold seep in through your jeans, your fingers starting to sting. The clouds that pressed down on you and Nina earlier in the day as you’d walked the paved trail are gone now, and you can see stars clear and bright. You make out a few constellations idly, and hunt for the moon, which is hanging barely above the treeline. It’s a sliver tonight, barely there at all.

You wish you could talk to someone - anyone - about Davis. If you were about two shots drunker and another girl had come out here, you’d probably tell the whole damn story. Kiko would listen, you’re sure, but you hate unloading on her - especially because she isn’t a big sharer herself. You don’t like that it feels one-sided when you open up. Bridget would care, in a very Bridget way, but it would undoubtedly end in advice that had to do with getting someone else’s dick, and you just aren’t there right now. And Nina… well, Nina is inside laughing it up with the asshole in question, so there goes that.

You’re starting to wish you’d brought your coat. Once you’re cold enough you rise, heading back up the way you came.

Luckily, the group you had to pass on your way out have either disbanded or relocated, because you make it through the living room without seeing anyone you recognize. You make your way back to the basement door, ready to navigate the dark stairs.

Halfway down the stairs, you hit something solid and lose your balance completely, letting out a shriek. You tumble sideways, around the obstruction, and a hand closes roughly around your elbow, pulling you back. The sudden change of direction stops you from careening further down the steps, but it also jerks your cup out of your hand, and it splashes as it bounces down the steps. You twist, off-balance, and land on your ass two stairs down from where you tripped. You’re shocked that you didn’t break a heel… or a bone. The hand is still tight on your elbow, stopping you from sliding any further.

For a minute, you just sit there in shock, trying to figure out what happened.

“Ow,” you say finally, once you’re sure you aren’t going to fall down more stairs. “What the fuck.”

“You’re welcome,” a voice says, low, and of course it’s fucking Taehyung.

“Why are you sitting on the stairs in the dark?” you hiss, completely losing your shit. “I almost died!”

“I missed a step and hurt my ankle,” he says, voice still low. “I tried to warn you I was here – I guess you didn’t hear me.”

“I guess I didn’t,” you echo. His hand is still on your elbow, holding tight, as if you might still slide down the rest of the stairs. It’s too dark on the staircase to see his face clearly. Now you feel kind of like a jerk. You didn’t know he was hurt, you just thought he picked a bad spot to hang out. “I didn’t kick you or anything, did I?”

“No,” he says. “Are you okay?”

When you tell him you are, he finally lets go of your elbow, his fingers brushing the top of your arm lightly as it falls away from his grasp. You stare at each other in silence through the dark.

“Thanks for the save,” you say, feeling a little awkward. You’ve been pretty mean to him tonight, and you are fully aware of it. “Quick reflexes.”

You get to your feet unsteadily, eyeing your spilled drink on the steps below you. “How hurt are you?” you ask. “Can you make it down?”

He’s quiet for a second, and you actually feel a twinge of concern. Gross.

“I’m not sure,” he says finally, voice laced with defeat. “Do you mind going downstairs and getting Jimin? Please?”

“Yeah,” you say quietly. “I can do that.”

You make your way down the rest of the stairs, casting a glance over your shoulder at the bottom. You can barely make out his form, halfway up, a shadow just barely moving against the dark.

You approach Bridget and Jin, who are still talking with the same group of guys. No Nina in sight.

“Hey,” you say to Jin. “I’m looking for Jimin?”

“That’s me,” a guy to your left says, looking at you quizzically.

“Taehyung asked me to get you,” you explain, turning to him. “He’s sitting on the stairs back there, trying to trip people in the dark. He says he hurt his ankle.”

“Oh shit,” Jimin says, immediately putting his cup down on a nearby table and hurrying towards the stairs. The guy that Kiko’s been talking to all night – Yoongi – follows him at a clip. This seems like a bit of an over-reaction to you, but it isn’t your problem. You did what you were asked, and now you’re off the hook.

Kiko turns to you, face flushed, clearly fighting a smile. “Hi,” she says sheepishly. “How’s your night going?”

You laugh. “Not as good as yours, apparently,” you tease. “I can’t wait to hear about it later. Has anyone seen Nina? She was upstairs before, but I lost her.”

Bridget says, “She’s probably still with Hoseok somewhere. Hey, the couches are empty, anyone want to play Kings?”

Nina shows up a little bit later, the aforementioned Hoseok nowhere to be seen. She perches on the arm of the couch near you, watching as you all finish the round.

“Want to go soon?” she asks. “It’s almost three.”

“Sure,” you say easily. “Kiko? Bridg? You feel like heading back?”

Bridget isn’t thrilled, but she’s outvoted three-to-one, so you all head upstairs to find your coats and start the walk back. You don’t see any of the guys upstairs, or your ex. Thank goodness.

Back at the dorm, the four of you vie for mirror space as you scrub your faces with makeup remover. Kiko’s done first, slipping under her comforter and letting out a series of happy noises. Bridget climbs to her top bunk, and Nina slides into the bottom bunk that belongs to you. You rummage in the mini-fridge and pass everyone a cold water bottle before turning the overhead lights off. Bridget turns an old, nostalgic cartoon movie on the tv as you slide into bed besides Nina.

You drink sips of water, sort of watching the movie through half-closed eyes. You fall asleep, feet tangled with your best friend’s as they have been thousands of times since your childhood, before the opening credits can even finish.

Thank you so much for being here! I appreciate every single like, reblog, comment, ask, or DM!

A thank you, as always, to my fabulous beta @kookstempo 😘😘😘 love u little one!

#taehyung x reader #taehyung fic #dailydaegu #college au #taehyung angst #taehyung fanfic #bts fic #bts fanfic #friends to lovers #slow burn #non idol au #fic: what was hidden

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whentherewerebicycles · 6 months

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WELL. I half used this day well and half didn’t, and also now I’m tired from weeping all day for various reasons. would loveee to live in someone else’s brain for like a week just a little vacation yknow. here is what the week holds:

my boss was literally just like hey do you want to present at this campus-wide committee tomorrow at 9am on a project that isn’t finished yet? can you finish it enough to present on it tomorrow? so I will be prepping that tonight hooray 🫠

tomorrow I have back-to-back meetings, site visits, and a volunteer shift with one of our community partners from 9am-7pm 🫠🫠🫠I have the tiniest window from 1-2 where god willing I can finish the last few slides, write the post-workshop assignment, and make the handout for them to use. oh and on the way home I want to buy some cheap snacks I can bring to the workshop.

on wednesday I have all day meetings (one of which I have to prep slides for reporting our progress towards assessment goals) from 9am leading up to the workshop 3:30-5:30. then I have to come home and prep for my interview at the tutoring company. god I wonder if I can push this back I feel so swamped this week

thurs 8am interview… then rush to work for meetings… then I MUST make time to practice before rehearsal I am so woefully behind… then rehearsal 7-9:30 🫠 but at least I can maybe watch the hockey game??

friday co-facilitate another 2-hour workshop in the morning then work furiously to finish pre-med presentation slides so I can send by 1ish… then do the premed panel event 4-6pm

I mean I guess the silver lining is I will not have a single minute to spare for being anxious as I am purely in survival mode this week! here’s what I can do to make future jes feel less stressed out:

I can do the bare minimum for tomorrow’s morning meeting. she asked me to do this after work hours and I know it’s only because she didn’t have time to put together the thing she promised at the last meeting (so wants me to cover). I will send the spreadsheets I created tonight and then give a brief overview of our grants timeline for the spring. done.

I can do a final burst of work and make the handout tonight (keep it super simple!)

if I need to, I can reach out to the tutoring place tomorrow and reschedule my interview. this would kinda suck as it would push back possible start date two weeks but it might give me the chance to prep more thoroughly. or do I just do it this week to force myself to avoid over-prepping sigh. I will decide by tomorrow at 1pm

oof writing the assignment is definitely going to be the thing I forget. I will try to prioritize that tomorrow in that little sliver of time I have available to work

#I also have this huge swollen lymph node on the side of my neck like WHAT is going on there #midwife confidently told me it from the flu shot I got 2.5 weeks ago even though it just appeared overnight #it hurts :(((

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appleatcha · 7 months

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About my groomer, again, lol

Was requested to tell this story again, so here we go! lol

I met my groomer (or, I guess you could argue my first groomer) in 2012 when I was 14. At 14 I knew I had an older brother, and had met him twice, but my family refused to allow any sort of long-term contact between my sisters and I and him. My sisters were in an after school program and so when I started high school in the 9th grade and was eligible, I joined too. I also had a 15 year old friend named Mary who decided to join, because she was friends with a few of the mentors in the program. The main being my (our, I would suspect) groomer, Jesse.

The summer program was like this: during the school year, you spend every Wednesday staying after school and getting tutoring. One Saturday a month, everyone takes a day trip to a college to check it out. One mentor comes along, and afterwards everyone gets $20 and gets to do something fun like run around the mall or go to the movies. During the summer, everyone stays on a college campus during the week, takes summer classes, and visits home on the weekends.

Jesse was tall and had black hair and big ears and a bulbous nose. He was rail thin but somehow managed to have the beginnings of a beer gut. He was 21, and would stay in college for like 5 years. I imagine it was so he could stay as a mentor in the program and groom the young girls who were in it. Mary introduced us, but it was a slow start. He was more interested in Mary, most likely because he had already been grooming her. But I guess my air of depression and desperation and loneliness was too sweet for him. I was obsessed with this webcomic called Romantically Apocalyptic, about a troupe of outcasts surviving in a nuclear wasteland. There was the captain, aptly called Captain, and three of his stooges. Engie (who was the level-headed one), Mr. Snippy (who was the lovably grumpy one), and Pilot (who was the air-headed golden retriever, devoted to the Captain). They all wear gas masks instead of showing their faces.

During the first summer session, one night, Mary and I were sitting with Jesse as he manned the front desk by the entrance of the dorm house, and he brought up Romantically Apocalyptic. He said he, too, loved the comic. And I was naive and believed him. So we began to roleplay as the characters. He was Captain, Mary was Engie, and I was Pilot. Air-headed and devoted. And I was, instantly. I wrote “property of Captain” on the tread of my shoes. The whole summer, we would only interact in that way. He was the Captain and he would give us orders and we would follow. Mary wasn’t very interested in it, and Jesse lost a lot of interest in her. I think I was a much easier target. Mary began dating one of Jesse’s adult friends at this time, as well.

At the end of the summer, the entire group goes on a trip. We went to Carowinds, a theme park. For the trip, you had to have one of the mentor’s phone numbers (because they let us run around without any supervision, back when things weren’t as strict as they are now). Jesse gave me his. When the program ended for the summer, we started texting back and forth.

Jesse told me that he felt like an older brother to me, and to message him with anything i needed advice with. I was very, very depressed and cut myself, but I heard my mom yelling at my oldest sister about how “people who cut themselves just do it for attention” when my sister told her she had thoughts of cutting, so I hid it like any teenager would. But I told Jesse. Jesse was the first one I told about my depression, and the first one I told about my self harm. His response was “I don’t think you cut yourself because you’re depressed. I think you do it because it turns you on.” And he introduced me to BDSM. That I was a masochist, and he knew because he was a sadist. He sent me a link to a BDSM test to “help me figure out what kinks I had”. And oh, surprise, he liked all the things I liked as well. We talked about it constantly from then. He even said that I liked gas masks so much because it was a kink, not out of artistic enthusiasm.

One week, Mary said she was going to visit Jesse one night and invited me. Jesse worked at the local movie theater and she was going to stay after closing. I, of course, agreed. I told my parents I was spending the night with Mary and Mary told her mom that Jesse, the nice mentor boy from the summer program who happened to work at the theater, was going to drive us home after the movie was over. It just happened that the movie we wanted to see had the final showing, of course. Mary’s mom worked night shifts as a nurse, so she wouldn’t know that we weren’t going to be home after the movie.

It was a showing of You’re Next, the horror film. In the film, the antagonists all wear masks. Jesse had texted me all day about how I was going to be so turned on during the movie. During the show, he snuck in and sat between Mary and me. He put his arm around me (not around Mary). During certain scenes with the antagonists he would squeeze my shoulder. After the showing, he had Mary and me help him close the theater. Afterwards, he told us that he was going to take us on a little urban exploration. It was December and it was freezing, with snow and ice. We parked by the train station (“The police will think the car is just from someone who took the train”), and he led us over to an old rail yard building. We went in through the window, but it was mostly uneventful. He was too worried about trespassing on federal property to stay long. But that was just he appetizer, he told us.

We had to walk down the tracks a ways. The tracks led by the river and, half a mile up, under a bridge. We walked down to the bridge, where we were met with a steep wall of ice where the bridge met the land. We had to climb up the ice. I wanted to impress Jesse, so I climbed up without any assistance. Mary wanted to be fawned by him, so she struggled. Took about 10 minutes to climb up all in all. At the edge of the bridge was a dilapidated, half-burned yellow house. He was taking us inside of it. I don’t remember much of it, because at one point there was a hole in the ground of the second floor where the fire had eaten it up. He insisted he help us over, and held each one of us by the hips as we jumped. I found an old strip of camera film. For years I kept it stowed away. I might still, somewhere. Then we left, and Jesse insisted we run as far away from the house as quickly as possible, to avoid suspicion. He grabbed me by the hand and ran. He left Mary to straggle behind. We stopped in an alley after about 3 blocks and waited for Mary. As we did, he said my face looked cold, and took it in both hands, and leaned in close, and breathed into my face. The rest of the night, I forget.

Mary and my relationship was strained after that night. Jesse saw me as the better target, since she was still dating his friend, and he had stoked the flames of competition for his affection between us. We didn’t see him again until the next summer session. But he wouldn’t let that stop him.

The BDSM things kept getting more intense, until eventually, I brought up the idea of drinking each other’s blood. After that, he became obsessed with the idea of him cannibalizing me. Specifically, he had a fantasy in which he killed me, fucked my dead body, and then cannibalized me. He would recite it often, and he would make me recite it back to him even more often. He would also ask me every so often how much of my body i would be willing to let him take and eat while I was still alive. I got all the way to dedicating an entire leg to him before it was all said and done. This led to me being obsessed with the idea of “sacraficing” myself for a sexual sadist/murderer. I went by the online name “morgue rat” for a long time.

Otherwise, I don’t remember much else. I think we were sophomores, but I cant really remember. Its hard to get the years and ages in line for some reason. That year, the end of summer trip was going to be the biggest in the programs history: we were going to New York City. That entire year leading up, we were all so excited. Mary and I had a dream of moving to New York City together. But then, a wrench was thrown into Jesse’s plans.

That February I began dating an online friends roommate. He was a German man named Paul. He was 20 or 21 and I was 14 or 15. We dated almost two years, and he broke up with me when I had just turned 17. We eventually became acquainted again, and he apologized for dating me as a minor, and now were close friends and we talk every day. Hes the most well-adjusted, normal man I have ever met in my life. But thats beside the point of this. I had started dating Paul because, well, he was willing to date me, where Jesse never even spoke about it even though I was sending him topless pictures and doing all the things a 15 year old girl does because she thinks it will get a guy to date her. When summer came around and the trip was looming, Jesse told me one day over text that he was going to kiss me on the trip. He was my Captain still and he wanted my first kiss.

I told him no, I had a boyfriend, and I didn’t want to be a cheater. He said it didn’t matter. He was going to do it whether I liked it or not. I would learn that I liked it after it was done. I think he fully intended to try and fuck me on the trip. I was terrified the entire trip. Mary and me were getting more distant at this point, and so one morning when I told her I wasn’t in the mood to people watch, she snapped. She got pissed at me. She abandoned me and spent the rest of the trip doing the whole teenage girl “talking shit while looking obviously at me, and laughing loudly to make me jealous” shtick. I spent the rest of the 3 day trip sobbing alone. At that point, Jesse completely stopped talking to me as well. I wasn’t going to budge, and he had discarded me. On the ride home, Mary sat in Jesses lap the entire drive. She had sex with him a few weeks later after the program and Mary’s relationship with Jesse’s friend ended. After that, Jesse discarded her too.

The next year, Mary dropped out of the program. It was also Jesse’s last year in the program, as he was graduating. I had made friends with another girl in the program named Keisha. She said Jesse liked to come onto her too, but she was older than Mary and I and she didn’t buy it. But she said, it was fun to lead him on. Paul had left me the first week of the summer program, and I decided to join in on Keishas fun. I started texting Jesse again, and we would stay around him and flirt with him endlessly. We asked around the boys to see when Jesse was going to the pool, and we would go too, and push up our boobs and flirt with him. Keisha would ride on the pool floaties and make sex jokes. It didn’t do anything in the end, but we had fun.

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fairlyabookie · 2 years

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Wings (Chapter 1)

Synopsis: Some say that love prevails. Some say that fate plays a role in love, but what happens when all odds are against love? What happens when hardships foster love?

Part 1

A hiss from a can opening. A loud slap of wood onto the pavement. A thunderous roll of wheels. A hiss, a slap, and a roll. The cacophony of a skate park was ordinary for a hot, summer day, many youths demonstrating their skating prowess of flips and tricks on skateboards. Whether it be in jest or in competition, there was amusement in the adrenaline of skating for these youths. For Floyd Leech, on the other hand, a prominent skater in the bunch, sought the thrill of beating everyone in the little game he called “competition”.

As one succeeds a trick or two, a streak of blue flashes past, a gleeful cackle following an exhilarated cry. A snap of wood sends Floyd Leech flying, his skateboard suspended in the air for a brief moment. The youth successfully lands, skateboard, and feet intact. Applause and cheers erupt from the audience as he succeeds, landing on both of his feet.

“How is that?!”

He cackles, kicking his skateboard under his feet.

“Hey, no fair, Floyd! I spent hours perfecting that move!”

“Nice air, Floyd! Can you teach me how to ‘fly’ like that?”

Admirers flock to the youth, adrenaline-driven smiles and curiosities by their lips as he retrieves his skateboard. The skater lets out a snicker before passing by the spectators, a signature grin at his lips.

“Nah, I don’t feel like doin’ that today~”

“Aw, c’mon!”

“Why not?”

Onlookers beg the skater to stay, but Floyd shrugs, brushing away his admirers with a simple statement:

“Nah, I gotta bail. I’ve got a date waiting for me.”

~ ~ ~

A warm gold halos around an edifice of white, the sun in its final hours before darkness. The schoolbell chimes, signaling the end of the school day. Children spill into a courtyard, jovial laughter and gratitudes gracing their smiles.

“Thank you so much, Teacher [Reader]!”

The children chorus graciously, some of them hugging their tutor and some of them looking in admiration. [Reader], with a gentle smile, at their lips, merely responds back with a cautionary reminder:

“Make sure you all walk home safely!”

“We will, Teacher [Reader]!”

As their teacher dismisses them, they disperse quickly, like leaves riding the autumn wind. [Reader] watches silhouettes of little ones go, a wistful smile by their lips as they wave farewell to their students. They pivot around, a little yelp bursting from their lips.

“Well, good afternoon, Teacher [Reader].”

A toothy grin was all it took for [Reader] to recognize the newcomer.

“Floyd, you know better than to sneak up on me like that after classes are over.”

“What, I just wanted to visit Teacher [Reader] after a long day of work!”

The youth rolls around in his skateboard, tracing circles around [Reader] as they tread back to the building.

“Come now, Floyd. You don’t have to do that. I can see you later tonight at the park.”

A small smile on [Reader]’s lips betrays their delight. Seeing a familiar face after a day of instruction brought relief on their shoulders.

“Why see you later when I can see you now?”

A cheeky phrase left [Reader] speechless. Even they were surprised that Floyd could say such embarrassing things. They spare a glance, his gait of mischief replaced by a cocked eyebrow. Was he playing around?

[Reader] couldn’t help but think. On the contrary, one wouldn’t want to pry on it. Floyd was too much of an enigmatic to figure out anyway.

“Just a moment, Floyd. I’ll get ready, and we’ll walk together.”

“Yay!”

Just as [Reader] steps foot into the school campus, they’re greeted by a fellow instructor, a good-natured and bright-eyed Neige LeBlanche, who smiles sweetly. A scowl curls in Floyd’s lips, an expression [Reader] didn’t notice when conversing with their coworker.

“[Reader]! Have the students returned home safely?”

“Yep! We can go home and have a nice dinner.”

[Reader] quips with a light smile.

“I take it I’ll be walking home alone now that your friend is here?”

[Reader] spares a glance at Floyd. The towering youth was docile, his expression neutral and his skateboard by his shoulders.

“Yes. I’ll see you next week then, Neige.”

“See you next week.”

Departing with pleasantries, Neige flashes Floyd a polite smile, one that sends shivers down the skater’s spine. He waits a few paces before leaning in to whisper.

“He’s weird.”

[Reader] startles, fighting back the urge to punch Floyd in the face for the proximity. The burning on the back of their neck certainly didn’t help with the embarrassment.

“He’s not weird, Floyd! Neige is my co-worker as a teacher! Have some tact, will you?!”

They shout-whisper back. A quick scolding to Floyd was all it took to lapse him to obedient silence, as other teachers greet the pair with civil smiles and polite conversation of another workday. A quick visit to their office, [Reader] retrieves their supplies and belongings - which Floyd volunteered to carry, earning some protests from the instructor. As the two leave the campus, a question slips past Floyd’s lips.

“Hey, you and Neige, are you two close?”

“What makes you think that, Floyd? They’re my co-worker.”

“Well, I don’t know.. They look too handsome for a teacher.” Floyd’s features darken, one reminiscent of contemplating murder.

“Floyd..”

[Reader] had to make sure their friend was not thinking what they were thinking.

“What, I’m just pointing it out.”

“You literally look like you’re going to commit a crime with that thinking face of yours.”

“So~?”

[Reader] clicks their tongue.

“Out with it, Floyd.”

“You guys are not dating, are you?”

Indignant heat rushes [Reader]’s neck and cheeks.

“Of course not!”

Their voice raising an octave, [Reader] lets loose a strong punch against Floyd’s arm, earning a mischievous snicker from him.

“Hehe, it’s nice to see you nice and energetic after a dull day of working~”

Floyd ruffles [Reader]’s hair playfully.

“You’re lucky you’re picking me up tonight.”

His friend murmurs under their breath, a smile gracing their lips. As the setting sun kisses the day goodbye, [Reader] and Floyd make their way to the park, a frequent hangout where they can be youthful, skating and hanging out for the rest of the day.

#floyd leech #collectors' tome #twst x reader #twisted wonderland floyd

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wevelocityteampresents-blog · 7 months

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SEPTEMBER 20TH

I managed to finish another art piece today. I feel so happy now that it's finally done. But at the same time, I also feel like there's not much else for me to do at the moment... But then again, there are those new character designs I need to finish. I hope I can get back to those without any trouble.

During this time, I feel like I can do so much without anything to distract me. I also feel a little happier too.

In Pokémon Violet, I went to finish my assignment. But not without a few stops along the way.

It's funny how the tables have turned.

Of all the Pokémon in the world, Golem was the one I'd least expect to get salt from.

When it comes to treasure, this place is a gold mine! Also, I managed to unlock the ability to use this area as a new stage in Ogre Oustin'. I should play that game again someday for a higher score.

Eventually, I managed to meet up with Kieran. (Who STILL showed up last.)

I still didn't get a badge for this.

After that, I headed back to the community center to get some rest. That doesn't mean I didn't run into anything interesting along the way.

I should fight this Annihilape someday with a Pokémon whose Attack needs some work.

What? AGAIN? More fun for me, I guess.

Before I healed my Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, I thought it'd be funny to talk to Nurse Joy from behind to see if I could still heal them. To my surprise, she had some dialogue for anyone trying to do so.

It managed to get a chuckle out of me.

SEPTEMBER 21TH

I had to go somewhere with my stepfamily to do something important. I thought I could just sit around and play Pokémon or draw while waiting. But that didn't happen. No matter where we went, the entire building smelled like cigarettes. I had to cover my nose the entire time we were there. We never even got our appointment because the staff were acting like idiots. So there goes an entire afternoon...

It wasn't all bad, though. My stepmom actually had the empathy to take us all to a town where we got to eat burgers while also getting treated to the town's fresh air. (Which is good because the car was ANOTHER rental that smelled like tobacco. Yes, it was unbearable. And, YES, I had to cover my nose whenever I had to sit in it. At least this one didn't have a lighter on the floor.)

The only good thing about today was that it's all over.

SEPTEMBER 22ND

In Pokémon Violet, I finally managed to find the item I needed to evolve Applin into Dipplin.

I feel bad for small shops like these. There are probably some dumb kids out there who might steal all the fruit from this stand without paying.

SEPTEMBER 23RD

Due to some recent developments at my school, I had to travel to the campus to sign up for additional tutoring services. (In the rain without an umbrella because I forgot mine at home.) I thought it would only take me half an hour. But I actually had to wait until noon. (I nearly got hungry by then.) It wasn't until then that I learned tutoring services were offered digitally on weekends. I still managed to get some information on tutoring hours for certain classes.

After I ate dinner, I managed to complete that new art piece I've had lying around for weeks. You can see it for yourself on this page. I based it on a frame from an episode of the Pokémon anime I found on another website. Now that I'm finished with it, I can get back to designing new characters before getting started on a future project.

In Pokémon Violet, I tried completing the Kitakami Pokédex.

I guess other non-water Pokémon can swim too. I tried catching this Poliwhirl using Umbre's Toxic. I nearly weakened it when I came to a shocking realization...

Wild Terastalized Pokémon only lose their Terastalization state after getting weakened by damaging moves. Status effects are useless for catching them.

But that was alright because I managed to find another Poliwhirl nearby. I also learned that there's 200 Pokémon in the Kitakami Pokédex. And I'm almost close to completing it. Before I met with Carmine, I visited Perrin since I already caught the amount of Pokémon she asked me to catch.

It's not that big a deal... Besides, I still need to study the stats of Pokémon like Ogerpon and Bloodmoon Ursaluna.

She soon challenged me to a battle to see if I was strong enough to stand a chance against the Pokémon she was looking for.

So did I...

Apparently, the Pokémon Perrin is looking for IS Bloodmoon Ursaluna.

She also comes from Sinnoh. (Which makes sense considering how familiar she looks.) I wanted to follow her to the Timeless Woods. But I felt like I could save Ursaluna for last.

After I met with Carmine in Moussi Town, she told me we needed some Crystal Clusters from the Crystal Pool. After a steady climb, I finally made it. Before we could gather some clusters, we were ambushed by a Milotic.

I managed to beat her in a single turn.

Eventually, Briar showed up to investigate the crystals at the bottom of the lake. She also says that Terastalization exists in other countries outside of Paldea.

(Exactly WHERE in those countries is beyond my guess.)

I was going to take the road back to town. But I fell down a cave and decided to explore it for its riches. While doing so, I hit a booby trap in the form of a Ogre Clan member.

If I had known about her Pokémon sooner, I would've beaten her with just Miraidon.

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yzeltia · 9 months

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Wolgraha Week

Chapter 8: G'raha Day Characters: G'raha Tia, Keith Summers Rating: T for Teen Note:

Dearest Lyna,

I hope this letter finds you well. Forgive me for not opening up a line of communication before now. It did not occur to me that I might take advantage of those who can traverse the aetheric sea that separates us. Keith mentioned you were curious about my day-to-day well being. I'm afraid he isn't the most articulate fellow, and I wanted to assuage any worry you might have by detailing a regular day for myself.

I wake up most days just after dawn. This gives me time to start my day in peace while Keith remains in bed snoring. Eventually G'khenna wakes as well and climbs into our bed to jump and make noise until Keith wakes up to make our breakfast.

After we eat, we head our separate ways for the day. Keith usually takes G'k to Idyllshire on his way to Great Gubal Library to visit her friend. If not, she comes with me to the Annex and works on her studies while I focus on mine. I expect she'll be accepted into a Studium program at some point. She definitely takes more after me than Keith in that regard.

Just before midday I have tea with Krile. Her partner joins us now and then and we mostly catch up on what our fellow Scions are up to before returning to wherever our studies take us at the time. I'm currently engrossed in research regarding Eorzea's deities. I have stood in their Heavens and Hells before them and have watched Keith and the Warriors of Light engage in friendly combat at their behest. It has been the adventure I've longed for…though not who I imagined myself with.

A bell past midday Keith returns with lunch. We eat together as a family then G'khenna retires to one of the Annex's rooms to be taught by a private tutor leaving Keith and I to take care of whatever requires our attention. Often he assists me in researching while he exercises. What he lacks in wisdom, he makes up for in being a sharp eye when he reads. He says that he was well on his way to being a full medic until he dropped from the Studium to pursue an attempt to join the Ala Mhigan resistance. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, it was over by the time he arrived and he found himself on a path to adventure, and by extension me.

As the day winds down, we both take time to engage in physical activities together. Usually this consists of running around a district called Tranquility which takes up most of the city’s campus. Afterward Keith does sets of calisthenics. I try to keep up but I do not have the boundless energy he does. That is not to say I am out of shape. My body here on the Source is much younger than the one you grew up with. Why, I might be younger than you in terms of physical form now that I think about it.

Day’s end brings us all back together. Keith cooks our dinner and then we do something together as a family, usually some sort of game with G’khenna until she gets tired out. Afterward, she makes Keith tell her stories until she falls asleep while I return to our room and read privately. It’s all very routine, and wonderful, though I imagine adventure lies just around the corner and will open up a new chapter of our lives.

Anyroad, I’ve kept you longer than I intended. Keith plans to visit you soon with some gifts from me. Should further testing of his ability to traverse the realms prove fruitful, he might bring G’khenna along with him. Y’shtola, Master Matoya as you know her, is looking into other ways to return to the first. Perhaps one day soon we will be reunited.

All my love,

G’raha Tia - Summers

“What’s that?”

G’raha looked back as Keith peered over his shoulders. He smiled then folded his letter before applying wax to the seal.

“A letter to Lyna for when you go visit her.”

“Anything about me in there?”

“Not a word,” G’raha laughed before lifting on his toes to steal a kiss before taking the other’s hand to lead him to their bed.

#final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #final fantasy 14 #ffxiv oc #ff14 #ff xiv #ffxiv miqo'te #g'raha tia #keith summers #wolgraha #wolgraha week #wolgrahaweek #wolgrahaweek2023 #g'raha day #grahaday

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 10 months

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Rage Fire Institution

Accelerating. 35.

Getting off the call with Maki, Tatsumi knew he couldn’t let another situation where his pheromones got in the way happen. Maki barely wanted to do his homework, continually trying to change subject and thinking he could get away with it… which he did. Soon they’d be too busy to think, meaning he needed to act before that happened. He needed to be at the best he could be for Maki’s sake. Messaging Suzu, Suzu told him to come by for a check up. Tatsumi loath to do so given it’d mean discussing his body’s condition and his neglect of himself, yet he knew he had to face the music sooner rather than later.

Heading to Suzu’s lab, Tatsumi let himself in. From the look of the two glasses on the bench, he’d interrupted Suzu’s precious time with Poaw. They really made quite the pair. Both of them incredibly smart and bossy, but together… they could power the whole school campus with their nagging over him not looking after his body up to their standards. Tatsumi had never set out to be ill, no one did, nor did he listen when they told him he should retire onto light duties. His duties were far lighter than they’d been in the military as it was. If it wasn’t for his damn body, he’d still be there, yet he also had to admit that maybe he didn’t quite look after himself the way he probably should.

Being the ever obliging patient, Tatsumi headed over to the examination bed, lying himself and loosely lacing his fingers together as he looked up to the ceiling. He really hated hospitals, almost as much as he hated hospital ceilings. The thought of all the people who’d died staring at those white ceilings scared the shit out of him to the point his own white ceiling in his quarters had a poster directly over his bed so he’d never wake up thinking he was still in hospital.

Still, things were easier now than they had been. Tatsumi still didn’t have all the hours in a day he needed to in order to get everything in his head done, but with Maki in his life, things certainly weren’t as bad as before. He no longer felt like he was coasting through existence, trying to find the illusion of happiness that his squad had burdened him with. Little by little he could breathe easier. He could smile a lot more. And speak his mind about things that he didn’t think others would care to hear from his mouth given their self defined perceptions of him.

“You didn’t come all this way to fall asleep, I hope?”

Tatsumi snorted lightly as he raised his head. Suzu’s hair currently being combed out by their long and sure fingers of his friend. He really must have gotten his timing wrong, despite being told to come

“And I hope I didn’t spoil your fun”

“Never. Besides, how often do you take the initiative to reach out to me around your scheduled appointments?”

“You make it sound as if I never visit as a friend. Though, I suspect you’re not going to like what I have to say”

“And I suspect we both know what this about. How’s Maki?”

Tatsumi let his head drop back. Maki had been Maki. He’d seemed distant when they parted, yet the same when they’d spoken

“Bored. I just finished tutoring him with his homework”

“He’s meant to be resting”

“Tell him that. Given I’m the cause, I couldn’t very well ignore his need for help”

“I know very well you couldn’t. He was most concerned about you”

Tatsumi already knew that. That’s why he hadn’t said anything. The light sound of plastic gloves being put on had him holding his arm out. Either his blood pressure or a blood sample would come next

“Careful, anymore and you’ll be breaking his trust”

“I’m not that stupid. I take it the suppressants worked?”

Feeling the blood pressure monitor slide onto his arm, Tatsumi took a deep breath, releasing it slowly before replying

“I think so. I never should have messed up like that”

After a few seconds came a beep, the monitor slid back off his arm

“From what I heard, it was purely accidental. Blood pressure is a little lower than normal. How have you been feeling?”

“Do you want me to be honest?”

“Yes. Hold still”

Swabbing over his vein, a small prick then came. Suzu drawing blood that would be sampled for his hormone levels

“Tired. Weaker. Confused”

“All signs that you shouldn’t be putting so much strain on your body. What about yesterday?”

“Slept surprisingly well. I guess it’s no surprise really, Maki’s pheromones reacted to mine as any alphas would in that situation. I need to delay my estrus”

Swapping the needle for coagulant, Suzu sprayed the crook of Tatsumi’s arm. Tatsumi waiting a few seconds before moving his arm back so he could interlace his fingers again as his friend scolded him

“You know that’s not healthy”

“It’s too close to the competition. I need a week”

“And if I say no?”

“Then I won’t be able to keep my promise to Maki. I told him I’d be there for the competition”

“Tatsumi, you can’t keep delaying things you don’t like. You’re weak enough as it is”

Suzu knew just what to say to make him feel shittier about what happened with Maki

“I owe him”

“Do you owe him your life? I know he’s become important to you, but he doesn’t even know how ill you are. Do you intend to hide it all from him then hurt him once it’s all over? He’s your friend and he thinks very highly of you”

This what he got for arguing with his doctor

“I’m not asking for you to remove my glands. Omega or not, I told him I wouldn’t let him down. I want to see what he can achieve”

“Based on lies? What kind of a friendship is that? Why not tell him everything? You told him plenty enough the other night”

That was because he was a mess and all he wanted to do was return to campus to see that Maki hadn’t died in his absence. If he’d restrained himself then Maki wouldn’t have had to suffer

“That’s because I wasn’t in my right mind. I shouldn’t have offloaded on him”

“I think he’d see it differently. He really cares about you. Be open with him. Sit up, I want to listen to your chest”

Tatsumi did as he was told. Hunching over himself as he closed his eyes, waiting for the comment to come as his shirt was raised

“Your scars can be treated, you know. You should consider it. They’re really not that bad, treatment would take a few hours at most”

How he wished people would stop talking about them

“With nanobots that would wipe it all away. It’s fine. No one sees them anyway”

“You’re still living in the past. Have you told him about this? He wants you to let him in. Deep breaths for me”

Tatsumi took several deep breaths, the metal of the stethoscope cold against his skin. When his shirt was slid back down, he finally replied

“He’s seen them…”

“You showed him? Sit up for me now so I can do the front”

Even if it hadn’t been intentional, it’d still happened. Maki being too kind to him over them

“He caught me at a moment of weakness… he didn’t run away”

“That’s because he seems to be a good person fundamentally. You have to stop thinking anyone who sees them is going to run”

“I would run. I’ve met me. I live in my own head… I can’t put that on him. He’s hell bent on getting into military service. The only thing I can do is train him the best I can”

It wasn’t as if Tatsumi had a god complex and believed his training alone would save Maki. But Maki hadn’t seen what he’d seen. He didn’t know how to be afraid of waking or afraid that his body would suddenly fail one day. He was young and full of life. Tatsumi wanted to send him off with as much preparation he could so in all the shittiest experiences he’d have, he’d at least have his school memories to remember. Suzu sighed heavily as she pushed up his shirt again

“He’s going to do what he wants to do”

“That doesn’t mean I should burden him with my feelings further”

“So you do have feelings for him?”

He’d walked right into a trap. If Tatsumi searched his soul, he knew what he thought of Maki ran deeper than what he told himself

“Fondness. I’m fond of him. Maybe even weak willed it comes to him. But I used him and manipulated him. Apologising wasn’t enough and I don’t want him to think all of our time together was me manipulating him. I… I don’t know… He makes me think too much and sometimes he looks at me… it’s like he’s waiting…”

“Why are you trying so hard to deny that you feel something for him? Even if he graduates and goes out into the field, that doesn’t mean he won’t come back”

“It doesn’t mean he will either. Once he gets out there, he’s going to have so many new experiences. He’s going to meet so many different people. If he finds out how ill I am, he’s likely to want to throw everything he can at helping me. What good am I, really? I’m fond of him… and if the situation was different, maybe I’d let myself feel more, but he’s got a life ahead of him that doesn’t include a partner who has to have his estrus in a sleep pod because his glands swell so much he can’t breathe”

“Alpha pheromones would help with that…”

“And I’m not willing to put that on him. I want him to succeed. I want him to have every opportunity he can possibly have. I drove him into the competition because I’m selfish”

“You are. Your own inability to pilot as you’d did meant you used him, but you wanted him to go into research too. You made the decision you wanted to keep him safe and now it’s backfired you’re all the more panicked over what his success could mean”

Tatsumi gave a bitter laugh

“Yeah. That… but shit, he reminds me so much of how excited I was. He gets so excited that he forgets he’s supposed to not give two shits about the research. He has so many questions and he wants to know it all… and I… I get happy. It’s not all the time. Sometimes I want to shake him then kick him up the arse… but… but I feel better, you know? He’s interesting, engaging, funny as fuck when he wants to be, but he’s got the biggest heart. Someone like that deserves to succeed. I know it’s fucking my body. I know it. But I only need to be there a little longer… I want to be there. When he takes the arena, I want to see it. I want everyone to see it… because he deserves it. No matter how much I push on him, he takes it on. He never fails to try harder…”

Suzu sighed again

“Your chest sounds fine. I’m worried about the weakness. Have you been spotting?”

“Not really. Not unless it’s been a heavy training session”

“That’s not good. I want to take some scans. Nothing serious, but if you’re spotting it can be an issue. Your hormone levels are affected by your suppressants. What you really need is pheromone therapy. An alphas pheromones are far more affective than synthetic and will do wonders at stabilising you”

“And I can just ask that of Maki? No. I’m not going to rely on my friend because he can heal my body. If I take a partner, it won’t be for that. I’ll do the therapy. I’m ready to try to do the therapy… I know he’s leaving but I can’t stay the same either. I can’t go dropping dead on him either while he’s away. He… he makes me want to live at least long enough to see what comes next and if I send him into an actual rut because I didn’t listen… I can’t forgive that”

Suzu squeezed his arm sympathetically

“You got a real scare when he came down pre-rut, didn’t you?”

“I did. I didn’t think we’d be compatible in pheromones and personality, and I’d prefer that he didn’t know. I need your help. I came because I need your help. I don’t want to stay stuck”

“You’d better remember you told me that, because you’re going to be in for a rough ride. You may end up needing to take leave until your hormones are level, and you’ll need to speak with your lecturers. It’ll be hard. You’ll need to cut down your smoking and no alcohol intake. Class won’t be possible if you can’t keep your pheromones in check, but I’m confident that we can make it work as long as you put in the hard work”

“As long as I’m not fired I’ll make it work. I can’t fit two mechs in my house”

“Does Maki know about them?”

“Not yet. I nearly took him there once, but the timing wasn’t right. I’m planning on showing him after the competition”

“Right. While you’re lying like that, I’ll take a swab of your gland to run against the database. There are alphas that donate their pheromones for research and medical use. I’ll work on seeing who’s a match seeing it may take some time”

As long as he could keep teaching Maki, Tatsumi would worry about the consequences later. Part of the reason he’d never given up his own eyes was because there was the slimmest chance one day before he went blind that he might just find someone who’d accept him, and when he met that person he wanted to see them with his own eyes. Things such as using his own DNA to recreate genetically identical parts for the parts of him that were damaged cost more than he’d ever see in a life time. Even if he and Maki parted, he’d still remember the fact he’d seen it all with the eyes he’d been born with. He’d see how far Maki could fly and what heights he’d reach… and if Maki fell, he’d be there for that too

“I get it. I’ll sign whatever you want me to as long as I can be there”

“Don’t worry, you will be. Maki really is the kind of man who can’t help but what to help”

Tatsumi snorted a laugh out his nose

“Don’t let him hear you say that, he’ll think you’re mocking him”

Suzu teased him lightly

“Oh no. The ex-school delinquent will protect me, right?”

“I don’t know about that. He can be scary when he’s in a bad mood”

“Then I’ll leave him and his bad moods to you. He’ll probably be gentler if it’s you”

“Or he’ll kill me, dump my body, and none of this will mean a thing”

Suzu laughed happily

“You’re so pessimistic. He could always sweep you off your feet”

Tatsumi heart fell. Did he really want Maki sweeping him off his feet? Did he even deserve it? Had he not sent Maki into a pre-rut, would he ever have been forced to acknowledge how deep his feelings ran?

“That’s the last thing I want for the both of us. No, let’s just tackle keeping my estrus at bay, then we’ll see where we land”

“Sounds like music to my ears. Soon enough you’ll be ready to move on from those scars too”

His eyes and his scars were different. He held both for different reasons. Provided he could get his dynamic back up to a healthy level then he could live with his scars

“Let’s just take it one step at a time”

#omegaverse #mpreg #a/b/o #yaoi #rfi #rage fire #rage fire institution #mecha #mech #ashratherose

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headinthxclouds · 1 year

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Rhody Visits for the First Time || Super College World 1??

If anyone would’ve asked Rhody even a year ago if he would’ve been taking off work to go to parents weekend at his sisters university he would have laughed at them. The levels of which that was humorous were almost innumerable. Addie in college? Them being able to afford taking him off work? Addie actually caring about an organized school event? Having people she wanted him to meet? No it all seemed so improbable. And yet, here he was. Riding onto campus to surprise Addie for the weekend.

She had brought up and assured him that it wasn’t a big deal, she didn’t even think anyone;s parents were coming, but if he could come it may be fun. Rhody could read between the lines. It wasn’t like she was ever going to bother to ask their parents, but clearly it was something she wanted to be a part of. Sure she would be fine if he couldn’t come, she always was, but it would be nice. He had told her that he wasn’t sure and eventually she had dropped it. Addie had stopped asking for extra from Rhody. Not because he didn’t pull through or because she didn’t want it, but because at the end of the day it didn’t seem fair when he did everything under the sun for her. But for once, Rhody could make this.

That was how he ended up standing outside of a random apartment on a college campus to surprise Addie. When he had decided to make the trip, he figured it was best to surprise her. If something did come up, he didn’t have to disappoint her twice. A girl with black hair and markings opened the door. He had been sent enough pictures he recognized her as Akari. “Hey. Um.. Is Addie here?” The girl raised an eyebrow. “Who are you?” smart Rhody thought. “Im her brother? Rhody. I wanted to surprise her, I saw shes here.. Here.” He passed over his phone that he could see their conversation and the GPS to prove who he was.

“Oh my god!” She clearly believed him. “Come in. Come wait in the kitchen I’ll go get her. She’s going to freak out she was so disappointed you couldn’t come tomorrow. Not that she really talked about it, but you know you can tell.” Rhody actually didn’t know. He could tell when Addie was upset but with everyone else, he had always known Addie to be incredibly closed off. This group must be different. He followed Akari to the kitchen while Akari kept going to the back yard where everyone was sitting around studying and hanging out. “Addie? Can you come help me with drinks?” Rhody could hear Addie even from the kitchen. “Why doesn’t Tyler ever help? It’s his apartment.” Rhody smirked. Atta girl. “Because you can float things dumbass. So we can carry more. Just come help.” Addie must have agreed because Akari pushed the door open wider a second later to let someone in.

It took Addie a moment to process what she was seeing, but the moment she did she screamed. “No way. No you’re not here. No way!” She ran at at Rhody and jumped at him, clinging on like she was a kid again. Her screams had summoned the rest of the yard and the entire rest of the gang came filing in at record speed. Addie wa still clinging onto Rhody even though her feet had made it back to the ground. She wasn’t ready to share him with her friends just yet. “You said you couldn’t come.” Rhody tried to pry Addie off of him, but it was pretty clear that that wasn’t going to happen until she was ready. “I wasn’t sure if I could get off work and I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”

“So you’ll be here all weekend?” Lydia asked from her spot by the door. Her voice seemed to snap Addie back to the kitchen where she turned just in time to see Lydia exchange a look with Noelle. Jeb was also there looking like he was going to throw up and everyone else just looked confused. “Oh my god! Wait you have to meet everyone.” Even though that was clearly already going to happen. “Okay so-” She started pointing people off, “- you met Akari, but that’s Nate in the back next to Tyler? They live here, Ty helps tutor me sometimes.” Most of the time, because her and Jeb had gotten frequently less productive, but she left that bit out. “And then Noelle, Nate’s sister and Kai her boyfriend.” Of course Rhody knew everyone from the pictures Addie sent and posted, but she was so excited he just let her continue to go on. “Lydia and Elliott and..” Addie stopped at the sight of Jeb, but Tyler nudged him and he seemed it pull it together. “Jeb.” He said, stepping forward and clearing his throat before shaking Rhody’s hand. “Addie talks about you all the time. It’s nice to meet you.” He sounded like a southern gentleman, causing Addie to beam while the rest of the group held back laughter.

“She talks about all of you too. It’s good to finally be here.” Addie was just beaming up at her brother, none of her friends made a joke about what she could have possibly shared with him or how much they talked. “Well listen, man, we have pizza coming. You’re welcome to stay.” Ty offered, looking at his watch to see when the pizza actually was going to arrive because the more they talked the more hungry he got. Rhody shook his head. “I was actually going to take her out to dinner, catch up a little. Thanks though.” He turned to Jeb. “Do you want to come with us?” That was the last thing Jeb could have ever expected and he gaped at the question. All eyes were on him, he could practically feel Kai’s glee at his discomfort and nerves. It was as simple yes or no but his brain seemed to short circuit. Luckily Addie came to his rescue without even trying to. “Um.. I’d actually really like to catch up just the two of us?” She turned back to Jeb, “If that’s okay? I mean we’ll come back after for the bon fire obviously.” Jeb wasted no time nodding his head. “No of course. It should just be you two. We can hang out later and umm..” He finally looked at Rhody. “I’d love to talk later, man, when you guys get back.” Rhody nodded with a smirk while Addie ran out back to get her books together. “So you’ll really be here all weekend?” Lydia asked again, her first question going unanswered. Rhody smirked. “Bonfire, tailgate, the whole 9.” The redhead seemed satisfied with that and glanced at Noelle while Ty and Kai glanced at each other from behind their backs.

“Okay! I got it all, we’ll be back. Let me know if you need me to grab anything!” Ty nodded, a grin splitting across his face as he watched Addie drag Rhody off. He had done his best to step into Rhody’s shoes when Addie had gotten to school, and he thought he had done a good job, but there was clearly no one who was ever going to be as good as the real thing. The gang watched Addie get into Rhody’s truck and drive away in a stunned silence. Finally Elliott broke the silence. “Jeb you have to breathe you’re going to pass out.” to which Jeb responded with a punch as everyone started talking at once.

“So he’s staying all weekend?”

“Did anyone know he was coming?”

“She didn’t say anything to me.”

“Does this mean we have to clean?”

“So her parents are coming too then?”

“I didn’t think she had parents.”

The final comment caused Elliott and Tyler to exchange a look, but Jeb was the one who answered. “She has them, they’re just not really in the picture.” The group was silent for a moment. They all had their problems with their parents, but none were out of their lives at such young ages. And Addie would talk and talk about her brother, but never about her parents. They knew the youngest girl was always strapped for cash, but they had never thought too much into it. Jeb knew some, of course, and Elliott and Tyler had put some pieces together but none of them knew the extent.

“Interesting..” Lydia finally said. “Well.. I think tonight is going to be very informative.”

—---

While the gang back at the apartment ate pizza and got things ready for the party, Addie and Rhody sat in a booth at the best burger joint on campus while Addie talked a mile a minute. Her and Rhody talked as much as they could with her gone and him always working, but it still was never enough especially in comparison to having a captive audience. She was barely touching her food, but she was making sure that Rhody knew all about her lessons and working with Elliott, how Tyler had become a brother at school and how much Rhody would like him, how Kai had been her first friend, but his relationship with Noelle had recently made it a little distant. How Addie was positive Noelle didn’t actually like her and Addie was determined to change that. She didn’t like Lydia liked her either, but recently she has started coming around and even offered to help her get ready for a party. All of the drama with Noelle and her boys and Lydia and her boys. How everyone thought Nate really needed to have some fun, but Addie thought he loved having everyone around. That Akari was the coolest girl she had ever met and, of course, everything about Jeb.

Rhody listened to everything and, for the first time in months, was able to actually watch his sister. She was clearly happy, the happiest he had maybe ever seen her. It seemed like she had lots of goals which was another positive change, even if none of those goals were necessarily school related. Addie had surrounded herself with a group that clearly cared about her and wanted her to succeed. It was all going much better than he could have ever suspected when he had left campus that first time.

“Okay..” Rhody cut in when Addie finally came up for air and a sip of Rhody’s beer. “What do they know about you?” Addie raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? They know everything. They know we have powers and they know I work and they know I’m bad at school and they know that I’m probably the most fun thing that has come into any of their lives. Did I leave anything out?”

The siblings looked at each other. They both knew exactly what Addie had left out. The younger siblings sighed. “I dont talk about mom and dad. Jeb knows they exist.. I let slip to Elliott that what side they work for but that’s it.” Rhody nearly slammed his beer on the table. “You what?” Addie hadn’t thought that any of it was a big deal until now and she was starting to get nervous. “He was.. When he agreed to let me work with him? He was giving me a hard time, acting like everyone was going to judge me or whatever and I got sick of it and I said you don’t work for anyone and they aren’t the good guys so he would shut up. That’s it. I swear.” She bit her lip. “That’s okay right?”

Rhody sighed. Addie had never had close friends, her slipping up about the family was nothing he had ever had to worry about before. “Yeah.. I mean just don’t give details. People could get the wrong idea, try to use you to get to them.” Addie scoffed. “They would neve come for me.” “But no one knows that. If you’re going to talk about who they work for, talk about who they are too. That’s all I’m saying.” Addie nodded. Neither voiced that Addie was much more likely to be used against Rhody one day than their parents, but both thought it. Nothing they could do about that at this point though, that ship had long sailed.

Rhody finished off his beer while Addie finished off her onion rings. “You’re happy though?” Addie nodded quickly. “Probably the happiest I’ve ever been. My grades are even okay. I’m not failing anything and I think I even have an B in my psychology class?” Rhody could see it in her. The anger that had always fueled her seemed to have subsided. No doubt still there, but no longer the leading emotion. There was a light in Addie that he hadn’t seen since she had been a little kid. He nodded. “And Jeb?” She flushed. “Jeb is the nicest, funniest, most caring guy. He’s funny, he listens.. He just gets me. So you have to be nice to him tonight because he’s going to be nervous so please don’t mess with him.”

Rhody held up a hand to say he surrendered. How could he be so hard on a guy that clearly was the cause for this light in his sister. “I’m just going to talk to him and get to know him. Nothing weird, promise.” Addie ndoded, satisfied. “But you’re being safe right?” Her head whipped around to see if anyone could hear them, even though the bar was plenty loud. “Can you not?”

“it’s a yes or no question.”

“oh my god.”

“You can’t jeopardize all this by being stupid.”

Addie put her head in her hands. “I’m not! I mean.. I’m not jeopardizing this. Yes it’s all safe now can we go? We’re going to be late.”

—------------

In the time that Addie and Rhody were at dinner, the rest of the gang had housed a few pizzas and cleaned the apartment to an actually acceptable standard. And although the group stayed the same, the energy changed from day to night with a change of clothes and plenty of drinks put out on the counter. And even thought it was just their crew and fringe friends, all three of the older girls - and Jeb- were slightly more presentable than they would have been any other time. Something that absolutely did not go unnoticed by Elliott when everyone came back from showering and refreshing.

“What The Bachelor comes to town and suddenly you have to get all dressed up? Are we not good enough for you?” He feigned offense with a look at Akari, but it was Lydia who answered. “Aw, babe, we’d get all dressed up for you too if we thought you’d ever stop looking in the mirror yourself to notice it.” It was a point that Elliott couldn’t really argue with so he grumbled something about going to get drinks and headed back towards the kitchen. Kai and Ty came in from helping in the back and greeted each of their girls respectively. The pang in Noelle’s gut when Ty kissed Lydia came as expected, but as usual she ignored it. It was getting harder and harder to do, but she was determined to hold out at least one more weekend before finally confronting her best friend.

Kai could feel it, but he also knew it wasn’t anything personal or against him. He squeezed Noelle a little tighter. “Come on, let’s go check on Jeb.” A nod of agreement and Noelle and Kai headed towards the kitchen where Jeb had busied himself cleaning the counters and rearranging drinks time and time again. “You know whatever you do he isn’t going to like you right?” Kai earned a soft smack in the gut from his girlfriend for that one. “Stop, you don’t know that. Nate liked you right away!” a “no I didn’t” and a “no he didn’t” came from the two men simultaneously. “Wait what?” Noelle looked over at Nate who shrugged. “I didn’t like him. I didnt tell you because when have you ever listened to me about relationships but Kai knew.” Kai grinned. “I don’t blame him, have you met me?” Before Noelle could answer Jeb threw a clorox wipe at them. “None of you are helping.”

“Hello?” Addie’s voice called from the other room. Jeb blanched, but Noelle had his back “Kitchen!” The brother and sister duo followed the voices to find the little party, all plenty amused, in the kitchen. “What did we miss?” Addie asked, walking over to give Jeb a hug and a kiss which was very stiffly returned. “Nothing, I think everyone else is out back.” Addie nodded and headed to the door but Jeb stayed back. “Um.. I want to talk to your brother real fast if that’s okay?” Addie just shrugged. She wasn’t going to make it a bigger deal than it was so she allied Noelle to pull her out into the yard while Kai followed them after mimicking choking to his younger brother.

Jeb wanted to absolutely throttle Kai, but what good was that going to do for his case? So instead, he stood there as calm as possible until he was alone with Rhody. The older man grabbed a beer off the counter with a smirk. “What could you possibly have to talk to me about?” He asked, a knowing look towards the younger one. All Jeb wanted to do was crawl out of his body and die, but instead he took as deep a breath as he could without being noticeable. “I just wanted to say that.. Addie.. She’s great? And I wanted you to know that I care about her a lot and that I can’t believe she’s giving me the time of day but I’m glad she is. And that I’m a good guy, at least everyone tells me so and that I’m not trying to hurt-” Rhody held his hand up to cut Jeb off. “Dude. I’m not here to defend Addies honor. She can defend herself if she ever needed to. She could kick your ass before you even got a sentence out.” Jeb didn’t really have a response to that because it was definitely true so he just let Rhody continue. “I’m just asking that you don’t give her a reason to. Shes been through more than enough. Just be straight with her whatever it may be.” Jeb was confused. That wasn’t what he had expected, but it wasn’t bad either. “So.. you’re saying you’re fine or you want us to break up?”

Rhody laughed. “No, I’m saying if it comes to that don’t draw it out or make it worse. But It doesn’t matter if I”m fine or not. Addie is a grown adult and have you ever tried to get her to do something she doesn’t want to do?” That felt like a trick question, but for once Jeb’s brain worked quicker than his mouth. “Studying mostly.” He admitted. Rhody nodded with a little smirk. “So then you know that it’s pointless. But for what it’s worth you seem fine.” The older one raised his beer before turning towards the bathroom. “I’ll meet you all out back.”

There was no time wasted between Rhody turning around and Jeb bolting to the backyard. “AYYYE HE LIVES!” Elliott cheered as the door slammed behind Jeb. “KAI, LYDIA AND NATE TAKE A SHOT!” Jeb looked at his own brother as Addie slid comfortably under his arm. “Dude what the hell?” Lydia was the one who answered. “We figured you’d go ghost and really lose any sort of confidence you had in the situation.” Addie looked up and gave a little peck on his cheek. “Clearly I did not take the bet.”

“For what it’s worth, neither did I.” Noelle pointed out. Fair as it was very un-Noelle to be on Jeb’s side. But there had been a shift in their relationship recently and she had softened towards him. Everyone could see it but no one bothered to point it out. “Addie wouldn’t let me take the bet.” Ty admitted as Rhody came to join the party. All of the other girls stood up a little straighter with their respective men sharing a glance. The only one that probably had anything real to be worried about was Tyler, but regardless none of the men were blind. The rest of the more fringe friends started showing up as the losers took their shots and the party was off.

The cheers from beer pong and cornhole filled the backyard along with the music Elliott was DJing. The laughter, the mingling, the flirting. Rhody took a step back to take it all in. When he was supposed to go be a freshman in college, Addie had been 13. Going had never felt like an option for him. He took a second job, he got the little apartment, he got Addie out of their parents place by the time she was 15. And never had Rhody ever regretted the choices he had made and he would make them again because it what was right for both of them. But, standing in the backyard looking at what he had missed out on did tug at something that he thought he had made peace with long ago. “No one should be that deep in thought at this type of party.”

Leave it to Lydia Reagan to pull him back to reality. Rhody looked down at the red head with a grin. “No, no I was just watching everyone and trying to figure out why so many people are actually horrible at cornole.” Lydia smirked and took a sip of her own drink. “I’m still trying to figure out why it’s even a game.” She was quiet for exactly two seconds before she just couldn’t help herself. “So what’s your story?”

“You’re going to have to be more specific, we don’t have enough time.”

“Fine. Did you go here like Addie?” The question was so ironic, Rhody remembered to ask someone if maybe she could read minds. “No it wasn’t for me. I worked instead. Didn’t think it was for her either but clearly.” He gestured to indicate that he was wrong. Lydia nodded. That was interesting. “What do you do then?” He had to give it to her, Lydia was clever. “I’m an EMT and then I work at a garage on off days.” The same kind of work ethic Addie hm constantly trying to get extra shifts and get as much as she could. It was no secret Addie didn’t come in like the rest of them, but maybe it was a lot worse off than any of them suspected. “EMT.. that’s kind of hot.” She was clever and shameless. If she hadn’t been one of the only real friends Addie had ever had, she would have been just his type.

“And what about you? Hoping to become a national beer pong champion or what?” Lydia grinned. “That was the initial plan, but I couldn’t find a partner to keep up with me, so I settled on a doctor instead.” And she was smart. “Well as admirable as that is, you shouldn’t give up on your dream. Want to give it a shot?” He had knowingly played right into her hand, but maybe he didn’t actually care that much if she was Addie’s friend. “I’ll go claim next game.” Lydia walked away just as Addie was practically running up her brother.

Whatever concoction was in her cup sloshed all over as cornered Rhody with drunken annoyance that Rhody had not missed having to deal with. “Are you kidding me?” She hissed with a knowing look back at Lydia. “You’ve been here like 6 hours and already messing with one of my friends?” Rhody rolled his eyes. “Trust me she wants to be messed with.” Addie wrinkled her nose. “Ew.. Look I’m trying to figure out tomorrow morning? Where are you staying tonight?” He hadn’t actually thought about that at all. The possibility of actually getting to come had been so slight he hadn’t bothered with any details. He looked over at Tyler who was approaching and just shrugged. “The truck probably. Unless a motel has a cheap deal.”

Before Addie could even ask, tyler seemingly read her mind. “No, man, that’s stupid. Sleep on our couch. Everyone is coming over tomorrow morning anyway, it’s probably just easier.” Rhody would have protested, but even in her inebriated state, Addie cut in before he ever had that chance. “Thank you! Oh you’re the best, I didn’t want to ask.” She gave a quick hug then ran off to find Jeb, Elliott and Akari without a word to the other two.

“You really don’t have to do that, my truck is actually more comfortable than it looks.” Tyler shook his head. “No really it actually works because you can help us clean up tonight.” He looked over at Rhody and stuck a hand out. “Tyler by the way. We met on-” “Move in day. Yeah I remember. Tough gig, offering to help move some boxes and then you got stuck with Addie apparently.” Ty grinned and looked over at the girl who was now arguing with Elliott over his music selection. “Guess I did. It’s fine though, she’s never boring.” Tyler actually had so much love in his heart for the younger girl who had only come into his life a few months previous. They had slipped so seamless into each others lives, filling sibling rolls for the other that neither knew needed filling. “I wanted to thank you for that actually.” Rhody was more serious than he had been the entire night. It had been something he had been practicing to say to Tyler for weeks. “I know Addie and for better or for worse she can be a lot to deal with. And I know she can handle herself, but I’ve always been able to see her every day, check in and I was worried about her. It’s just us you know and.. Well I don’t need to explain it, you understand.” Tyler nodded. Addie had told him more than any of the others. Thody continued. “But she started talking about you and telling me what you were doing for her just all that stuff and I started to feel a lot better so.. Just thanks for looking out for her for me.”

Rhody downed the rest of the beer like that speech had, emotionally, taken 10 years off of his life. Tyler, meanwhile, wasn’t able to contain the smile that cracked over his face at the acknowledgment. “Well you know.. I didn’t come to college with the intention of essentially adopting a sister but best laid plans and all that.” Ty genuinely believed that he knew what it was like to not be an only child now that Addie was in his life. “Don’t mention it man. She’s a good kid.” Rhody nodded in acknowledgement and the two parted their ways without a further word. Rhody playing beer pong with Lydia and Akari and Noelle before finally stepped in out of sheer annoyance with all parties involved.

The party died down and the group started to break up, each confirming their plans for the morning before making their way home. Addie squeezed Rhody and promised to bring breakfast in the morning. “Alright.. Text me when you get in. Get home safe.” He shot Jeb a look who nodded and stood up a little straighter like getting them both back was the most important task he was ever given.

Goodnights were said and the duo finally started on their way home. “So?” Addie asked the question she’s be wanting to ask all night but had waited in agony until they were alone. “So what?” Jeb smirked. Addie pushed him gently, although it was quite the risk for the stumbling pair. “You know so what! It seems like everything was good?” Jeb nodded, thinking back on the blur that was his conversation with Rhody. “Yeah.. everything was good. He said I seemed fine and he was happy you’re happy.. Told me you could kick my ass faster than he could so there wasn’t a point in saying it.” Addie grinned. A joke meant Jeb was in, let alone the fact that he was walking her home instead of her brother insisting. “I told you you two would get along fine, you were all worried for nothing.” Outside of Addie’s dorm, Jeb leaned down to kiss her like he had wanted to kiss her all night. “No I was worried because this is absolutely not nothing.” Addie beamed leaning up for another kiss before checking the time. “You know.. We have to get up soon anyway, don’t you think you’d get more sleep if you didn’t have to walk back?” Jeb raised an eyebrow, grabbing Addie’s key card to get in without any hesitation. “Nope.” And the door slammed behind them as the two ran upstairs, more than prepared to risk being zombies the whole next day for a few more hours together.

#addie x rhody #addie x squad

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sparklingchim · 3 years

Text

bts masterlist

m= mature

f= fluff

a= angst

last updated: 9th february 2024

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ**✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

- jeon jungkook

oneshots

• addicted (m) 2.9k

↬ established relationship, college!au, richboy!jk

your boyfie jungkook fucking you silly

• forever heart (m) 36k

↬ exes!au

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• champagne problems (a) 1.3k

↬ break-up!au

sometimes you just don't know the answer 'til someone's on their knees and asks you.

• oops.. (m) 2.2k

↬ idol!au, established relationship

a quickie in the airport restroom was all it was supposed to be - not suddenly the whole world finding out about your secret relationship with jungkook.

• when things fade (a) 1.4k

↬ break-up!au

sometimes it's time to leave.

• heal my wounds (a) 2k

↬ idol!au, break-up!au

in which jungkook breaks up with you.

• naughty pictures (m) 6k

↬ established relationship, idol!au

perhaps you've gone a little too far with teasing jungkook with naughty pictures of yourself after he was done with the concert.

• definition of love (m) 7k

↬engaged couple, domestic

blurting out big news at a family gathering was not how this was supposed to go - well, it's not like you had a plan to start with but...

• lucky one (m) 3k

↬established relationship

you're horny, but lucky you, you have jungkook waiting for you in bed.

• drown in your body (m) 6.1k

↬werewolf!jk, best friends to lovers, college!au

you're ovulating - and oblivious to it - and jungkook, the best friend he is, wants to protect you. but because you're a brat and never listen anyway, you do the exact opposite of what jungkook advised you to do... and somehow it all ends up with jungkook fucking you.

• could've been us (m) 5.7k

↬singledad!jk, exes!au

two years after breaking up with jungkook you meet again. and things get very naughty... you're sure he changed a lot in these years, but you didn't expect that twist when thinking about his new gained maturity.

• lovestruck (m) 5k

↬ established relationship, college!au

jungkook wants you. and who were you to deny him? of course you'd let him fuck you.

series

• long way home (a,f) 49.5k (+ drabbles)

↬ dilf!jungkook, friends to lovers

jungkook's life makes an 180 degree turn when he's suddenly a single dad and while you're trying to help him come accustomed to the new circumstances, your long-standing friendship takes new turns as well.

• ego season (m) 16.1k (-> ongoing)

↬ hockeyplayer!jungkook, richgirlie!oc, college!au, fwb, brother's best friend

your ex-high-school crush is now your fuck buddy. you just gotta make sure that your older brother taehyung, jungkook's best friend, doesn't catch you red-handed.

• you're losing me (m) 8.2k (-> ongoing)

↬ married couple, age gap, ceo jk, nepo baby oc, second chance romance

in the midst of marital challenges, jungkook and you grapple with the complexities of your relationship. yet, the lingering question whispers: how do you truly determine if the journey is worthwhile?

• [your] love's the only hoax i believe in (m)

part: 1 | 2 | 3 (-> hiatus)

↬fuckboy!jungkook, tutor!au, college!au

not in a million years would you have thought you'd find yourself in the arrangement of giving free tutoring lessons to the biggest fuckboy on campus in exchange of letting him fuck you. so, how exactly did you end up here?

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ**✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

- park jimin

oneshots

• fiery mornings (m) 3k

↬established relationship, idol!au

waking up with jimin, but add a little spice to it

series

• better together (f) 1.9k

↬slice of life!au, married couple, dad!jimin

just a casual day with your husband jimin and your little boy jihoon

-> pt. 2: minie's mini-me had luck (m) 2.6k

your hormones are wild and unpredictable, but it seems like your neediness picked out the perfect timing before your little boy could catch onto anything.

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ**✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

- kim taehyung

oneshots

• stay with me (m) 3.3k

↬ex-husband!taehyung, angst

maybe the love between your ex-husband and you was gone, but the sexual desire never died.

series

sweet devil

• prequel: midnight snack (m) 4.2k

↬enemies to lovers, college!au

you hate taehyung - and he hates you - but you're also in desperate need to find something to help you stay awake, so why not accept his offer and let him fuck you?

• pt 1: devil's smile (m) 10.4k

you already knew that going on a vacation with your friends and taehyung was a bad idea, but when you end up having to share a room with taehyung you find yourself in a situation you'd sworn to never repeat again.

• pt 2: devil's nemesis (m) 7.1k

jungkook is not the little brother you always viewed him as, and maybe it's time to have your fun with him. taehyung seems to be upset about it, but you never cared about him anyway. so why not play with jungkook for a little while?

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ**✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*

- kim namjoon

oneshots

• something domestic (m) 3.4k

↬established relationship

namjoon is invested in watching a documentary, but you're just too needy and too impatient for him.

#masterlist #bts masterlist #taehyung #yoongi #namjoon #jimin #hoseok #seokjin #jungkook

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roscgcld · 3 years

Text

DAYDREAMING!AU || try hard

note: like any other fic I had to do extensive research into what a ‘pick me girl’s natural habitat is....and my ears are bleeding 😗✌️ cause ouch lmao. but other then that, this was honestly really fun to write! i love writing this because possessive!daydreaming!reader is at play and just - a cute pouty girl hugging her friends to drag them away from her cousin?

also - unedited, so read with caution lol

original ask

daydreaming!reader masterlist

If there is one thing that Y/N finds uncomfortable, is when she has to deal with family members in her safe space.

Don’t get her wrong - she loves her family members with all her heart, even if they aren’t always looking at eye to eye. Her and her cousins might be fighting for the seat as the Head of the L/N Clan, outside of the entire estate they are quite the good close. However, there are always at least one or two of those cousins that you just - you just can’t seem to get along with.

And for Y/N? Well, one of the cousins goes by the name L/N Naoki.

Naoki’s family comes from the secondary family. They are closest to the main’s family in terms of bloodline and family relations. They are of higher class compared to the average clan member, and hold quite the power in the clan as well. Yet there had always been bad blood between the main and the secondary family; with the latter always trying to knock one of the main families out of the picture in hopes of being upgraded from their current statuses.

Naoki is one of the daughters from the secondary family. Her father is actually Y/N and her fellow main family cousins’ private tutor; meaning she had the chance to mingle around with the main family from the moment she was born. Although her father was content with where he was, since the main family does cherish his family and hold them above the other secondary families, Naoki had never been one to back down.

Over the weekend the higher-ups of Jujutsu High managed to secure of her uncle, or Naoki’s father, to give a guest lecture over the weekend. Her uncle is a wildly popular sorcerer who had authored many books on the decoding and understanding of Curse Energy. Even Gojo Satoru had read a few of his books, and was curious to meet the mysterious man himself.

Y/N was excited - she had always been one of her uncle’s best students, and the man treated her quite well as well. He would bring her a cupcake on her birthday to celebrate together when she was his student. Now he had moved onto cards, sending her a hand written one for birthday and Christmas whenever she is not on the estate to visit him in person instead. So the idea that she gets to see him once more definitely brings her happiness.

However, she had never expected to see her cousin running about the college campus.

It was a Saturday morning, and after having breakfast, the students were told to go and wait by the entrance of the college to greet the guest lecturer. Y/N was definitely the most excited out of everybody, pretty much bouncing about in her seat as Toge tries to remind her to eat her cereal before it goes soggy in her bowl. Maki was just amused, deciding to let her wear all her energy out for now so she does not have to deal with it later.

Soon though the students finished with their breakfast, and with Y/N excitedly dragged her fellow classmates towards the entrance of the school. The group arrived just as a sleek black car appeared by the door, the driver coming out to open the door for the occupants inside. However the person that came out was definitely not her uncle, and the sight of her smug face had Y/N stopping in her tracks.

“Oh my God, Y/N-chan!,” The girl squealed out loudly, her voice causing the other students around Y/N to flinch in response. They were used to Y/N’s loud giggles and squeals from time to time as well, making them mostly immune to loud voices at this point. However, there was just something so fake and so manufactured about her voice that it had the others cringing a little in response. “I had no idea you were in the Tokyo branch! So thought you were in Kyoto - you know, since you’ve always said how you hated city life and wanted to own a pet shelter or something stupid like that.”

“N-Naoki-chan! S-So nice to see you!,” Y/N somehow managed out through her shock as her cousin pulled her into a forceful hug, Y/N letting out a brief squeak of pain that had Megumi frowning as he took a step forward. “And you are?,” The deadpanning boy asked as he stepped in between the two girls, forcing Naoki to let go of Y/N before he wrapped a protective arm around his senpai. It was clear that Megumi was a few seconds away from blowing his lid, yet the woman before him did not seem to get the hint.

“Never mind me, who are you?,” She replied back flirtatiously, biting her lip ever so slightly as one gave Megumi a slow once over. Immediately Megumi made a genuine cringed out face just as a man came jogging over; giving the students an apologetic look. “My apologies for her - my daughter had been to an all girls’ private school, she doesn’t really know how to act around boys,” Her father rushed out, not caring that he had embarrassed his daughter that was glaring at him menacingly.

He did, however, look over at Y/N and gave her a genuine smile, green eyes crinkling a little behind his thick glasses as he reaches over to ruffle her hair playfully. “Look at you. Still can’t believe the little girl who used to ride my shoulders to reach books is now a sorcerer in the making,” Her uncle greeted her, Y/N managing to snap back into reality as she gave the older man an exited smile. “I hope the high school experience has been fun so far. My high school days were the most memorable ones.”

Soon the older man managed to wrestle his daughter away from the scene, parting with no more but a goodbye since he had to unpack his things in the temporary room he was staying in over the weekend. It was when the duo were long out of earshot when the others turn to face her slightly frowning senpai once more. “Petition to get rid of loud mouth brat.”

Sukuna had popped out from Yuji’s cheek, having peeked through when he heard the loud squeal. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Y/N was clearly uncomfortable with the arrival of the mysterious family member. “For once, I agree,” Maki suddenly spoke out from beside Yuji, jabbing her thumb over at them whilst Yuji actually rubbed his chin in thought. “I think I am down for that.”

“Absolutely not!,” Megumi hissed as the slapped the back of Yuji’s head, glaring at Sukuna with unamused eyes as the Curse just quirk the eye that was opened on Yuji’s cheek in acknowledgement. “We are not going to kill anyone. No matter how annoying, she is still Y/N’s cousin,” Meegumi continued before he looked over at Y/N, who had now buried her face into Panda’s chest; arms wrapped around the Curse Puppet who pats the top of her head soothingly. “Y/N-senpai...?”

“Is no one going to talk about how the girl clearly thinks Fushiguro is hot?,” Nobara suddenly spoke out, looking far too disappointed in the girl’s preferences in men. “I thought that if she had good taste in men, I can look past her annoying face and attitude. But her pickign Megumi solidified the fact that she is a girl to avoi,” Nobara said with a satisfied nod, having not seen the annoyed and angry glare that Megumi had tossed her way. “You little-,”

Yuta decided to finally step, clapping his hands a little to gather everyone’s attention; everyone turning to look at him like he was a kindergarten teacher and they were the little kids. Even Y/N peeked out from where she was curled up in Panda’s chest. “It’s too early for all of this,” Yuta hummed as he gestures for everyone to return back into the campus, giving them all a soft smile. “For now, why don’t we return to campus to prepare for our first talk? We can plan out what to do later. And who knows - maybe we’d even get to know her better and realised that she isn’t as bad as she seemed.”

Yuta was very wrong on that end.

After they left the entire thing behind them, the students did grab the things they needed for the talk before they made their way towards the classroom that was prepared for them; meeting Gojo and Nanami on the way there. Nanami had arrived because he too wanted to see the man in person, since he did study his work when he was a young student in Jujutsu High. They had no heard from the students about the girl that was the plus one for the guest lecturer, and the students saw no need to warn their teachers about how odd she was.

Y/N was still not fully accepting of everything that has happened, so she had decided to cling onto Yuta as the group made their way towards the classroom. Gojo had nudged Nanami from where they were walking behind the students, the blonde man looked over at him with a raised eyebrow in response. “Do you sense Y/N-chan being in a bad mood, or is it just me?”

“I sense it too,” Nanami admitted quietly just as they all entered the room, looking over at the front to see the guest lecturer finish setting up his station. Seated at a table at the side was a young woman who he had never seen before, causing him to frown in confusion before he looks over at Y/N, wanting to ask if she knew who the young woman was. Instead he spotted Y/N’s soft frown just before she burrowed deeper into Yuta’s side; the young man quietly coaxing her to be nice as he helps them both into a seat. “I have a feeling I know what’s going on now...”

“Hah?,” Gojo mutters back quietly in confusion, only to look over when he heard a pair of footsteps walking towards them. Her uncle, Michio, smiles at the two adults and greeted them quietly; since he was under the impression that they were both teachers and wanted to introduce himself to the two. It was during this when Gojo finally spotted the extra girl in the room, watching her from behind his blindfold curiously as she approached a clearly awkward Y/N.

“By the way, Y/N-chan - you never got around to introducing me to all your little friends,” Naoki purred as she gave Yuta an innocent smile, the dark haired man awkwardly looking away as he leaned away from the woman subconsciously. “And this must be the guy Samuru-kun kept talking about? Okkotsu, right?” She purred as she tries to shift closer still, Y/N frowning as she tugs Yuta closer in response.

Maki scowls a little as she made her way towards the girl, bumping her hip against Naoki’s roughly; only to reply with a sarcastic grin when she glared up at her accusingly. “You already know Okkotsu’s name and didn’t bother to introduce yourself? Talk about creepy,” Maki taunts as she tilts her head ever so slightly, calculative eyes staring down at the shorter girl with no warmth or amusement.

Naoki tenses up briefly before she relaxes again and gave Maki a fake smile. “Right, how can I forget? Zen’In, is it?” She replied back cheerfully as she held her hand out, causing Maki to actually take a step back a little to avoid the hand. “I’m L/N Naoki - Y/N-chan’s older cousin.” She introduced herself, to which Maki hummed before he took one of her manicured fingers and shakes it awkwardly. “Cool..”

Once she lets go she turned to Nobara, who was already prepared with a bottle of hand sanitiser as she puts some onto Maki’s outstretched hand wordlessly. “So where’re you studying at? Surprised there is only one L/N in both schools if she has cousins.” Maki hummed as she rubbed the alcohol onto her skin, not bothering to hide her movements from the girl. Naoki just rolled her eyes a little at how dramatic Maki was, yet she made no comment as she shrugs. “Y/N-chan is the only one of our generation who inherited a Technique from one of the clan’s founders. So she got to choose to go to Jujutsu Tech instead of the normal private school the rest of us goes to.”

The others hummed, yet before the atmosphere can go cold Naoki decided to continue talking once more. “By the way, what do you guys actually do for fun here?” She gushed a little, everyone awkwardly glancing at each other, silently asking one another. “Although I’m really short and stuff, I am one of the best netball players in my school.” Naoki continued, giving Y/N a wide smile as she peaked over at her with a frown. “I don’t really enjoy sitting in my room all day hunting for weird stuffed animals and figurines. That’s just childish.”

“Hey - Y/N-senpai always finds the most limited edition versions of the figurines for the best price,” Yuji commented back from where he was seated, folded arms resting on the back of the chair that he was straddling. Megumi, who was leaning against a free desk, hummed from where he sat as he rests his head on his closed fist, looking over at the girl with an unamused look on his face. “Netball, you say?”

“Yeah! I love sports!,” Naoki gushed as she claps her hands in delight, causing everyone to hum; clearly not as excited. “Y/N-chan had never really been into sports,” Naoki commented as she gave her cousin a slow once over; raising an eyebrow at the plaid skirt and Cinnamoroll sweater that Y/N had donned on today. “Then again, she had always been on the more...girly side. Sometimes I’m still shocked to know that she wants to be a sorcerer.”

Her words had Y/N’s eyes to tear up as she looks down at her bunny slippers; the others frowning at her cousin’s choice of words. “She’s one of the best here, you know?,” Yuta replied back quite defensively, looking over at Naoki with narrowed eyes as the girl just an unamused lift of her eyebrow. “Really?,” She asked with a slight smirk to her lips, her tone causing Y/N to deflate more in her seat. “I thought she would have been crying at the sight of Curses - she had always been a baby anyway. Used to cry at the sight of worms and beetles or even ants when she was younger.”

Before someone else can jump in, her father suddenly turned over with a soft smile on his face; raising an eyebrow at the sight of Y/N seeming to curl herself into Yuta’s side to try and make herself smaller. “Is everything alright...?” Michio asks curiously, having never been table to read the room that well. So when his daughter replied back enthusiastically that nothing was wrong, he assumed that Y/N was still feeling a little upset just seeing Naoki in her safe space unannounced. But Naoki had bypass her father and asked went straight to the elders and her uncle, the Head of the L/N clan, to ask for permission to tag along this weekend.

Denying her the right to come will cause some drama that he wasn’t in the mindset to deal with.

So with a soft smile to Y/N, he gently pats her on the head before he walks away; hoping she accepted his silent apology for the awkward situation he has put her in. Gojo and Nanami had been watching and listening into the conversation that the students were having the entire time; immediately knowing they need to keep an eye on the new edition to the school. Yet for not they can’t do anything besides watch on from the sidelines.

The talk itself went on without a hitch - the students were genuinely excited and engaged the entire time. Many of them asked questions and even toss around a few of their interpretations and ideas as well. Y/N for the most part slowly but surely returned to her normal self; joining in the conversation with others and even letting out a few giggles in between. However Naoki was not to be deterred.

She kept forcing herself into the conversation between the students. She was completely unsure of the things they were talking about, since she had never bothered herself to read the theories or the books her own father had written. The others were obviously annoyed at how they cannot have a basic conversation without having Naoki poking her nose into the conversation. It irritated everyone around her, but like before Naoki seemed to be either immune to their annoyance or is pointedly ignoring it.

After the talk, the students piled of the class; buzzing with the new knowledge and new perspectives on how they view Curse Energy. Gojo had joined the students, his arms now wrapped around Yuji and Maki’s shoulders as they argued about something random they heard from the talk. Yuta and Toge were talking to Nanami; who had one hand resting on Y/N’s head as a silent form of comfort as she walked between him and Yuta quietly. She did chime in from time to time, to which the others paused to listen as well. And with Nobara and Megumi bombarding the host of the talk, it didn’t leave Naoki much place to butt in without seeming rude.

Fortunately for her, lunch was being served at the moment; so after she grabbed a tray she made her way towards the group of students and sat down in a free seat next to Toge. And unfortunately for Y/N, Naoki was seated opposite from her. “So you guys don’t have meal duties or something?,” Naoki asks curiously as she looks over at the other students, who all seemed to deflate at the fact that she opened her mouth to begin with. “Uh...we do, but only on the weekdays. There are others who cook on the weekends cause there is high influx of sorcerers in the college.”

Naoki hummed as she picked up her bowl of rice, making a face at the sight of Y/N quietly holding a spoon of rice and chicken out for Yuji to eat by her side; the pink haired teen wordlessly taking the bite without looking away from his phone screen. “Y/N-chan, don’t you think you’re being a bit...attention grabby, or whatever you call it?” She suddenly spoke out, her disgusted tone having Y/N pausing as she turned her hesitant eyes over at her frowning cousin. “I mean - you don’t have to try so hard to get the attention of the guys around you, you know?”

Immediately Y/N frowns even more as she awkwardly puts her spoon down, tucking her hands underneath her thighs quietly as Naoki continued; having not notice how tense the table had gotten. “You don’t have to act all girly and cute to try and get attention. It’s literally so childish, and annoying at that. Like seriously, you should know how to act around others - you are the heir of the L/N clan, after all. Try to actually act like one.”

Usually Y/N will not let any passing comments get to her, since she knows she is never going to see them again; and because she knows she is better then them. However, this was different - Naoki was her very own cousin. And although she knows that Naoki is just doing it to try and get others to like her, it doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

“What are you on about?” Nobara snapped as she pointed the ends of her chopsticks over at Naoki, who in response just raises an eyebrow at her. “I mean it when I say this but drop the ‘pick me girl’ attitude before I knock it out of your empty skull,” Nobara threatened, everyone around her giving her a concerned glance. Because if there is someone who would go through with their threats, it would be her. However Naoki just clicked her tongue a little and gave Nobara a fake smile, a smile that had the orange haired girl scowling as she gripped her chopsticks in her hands tightly.

“Calm down, girly - just trying to tell her to grow up a little. She really doesn’t have to try that hard,” Naoki continued, turning her eyes back to Y/N just in time to see her awkwardly take a sip from her drink. “You know I didn’t mean it like that, right Y/N-chan? I’m just looking out for you like any older cousin would. Someone has to make sure you’re not bringing shame on the L/N’s name, right?”

Whilst Y/N awkwardly nods at Naoki’s words, Maki slapped her hand against the table and pointed a finger at Y/N. Causing Y/N to jump in her seat as she looked over at a scowling Maki with wide eyes. “Absolutely not. Do not just agree with this bitch. She is gaslighting you right now. And I am not gonna sit back and let this Daiso version of a wannabe L/N heir run her pathetic mouth at your expense,” Maki snapped, her words causing Naoki to gasp as the others seated at the table just watched on silently. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Maki said as she narrowed her eyes at the girl, who in return look just as annoyed as Maki was. “Look, I don’t know what lalaland you live in, but the fact that you have to put a girl that is not only younger than you but clearly trying to be the bigger person down is pathetic. Plus, don’t be hating on the fact that Y/N has a genuinely nice personality. She doesn’t have to go around faking it to make it.”

With that Maki got up, grabbing her tray with one hand before she walked around the table and grab Y/N’s wrist gently; tugging her up as well. “Now if you will excuse us, we’re leaving. You can find us once you’ve managed to fix your clumpy mascara,” Maki stated simply before she stacked Y/N’s tray on hers with ease, wrapping an arm around a spluttering Y/N and forcefully leading her out of the dining hall without another glance. “M-Maki-”

“If you start defending her right now I am going to get real pissed,” Maki stated as she looked down at Y/N, who froze by Maki’s side; looking like a deer caught in headlights. “Seriously - that girl is a bitch, and there is no excuses for that. Just because she is your cousin doesn’t mean you can let her walk all over you. Like she said, she’s the older cousin. She should be the mature one and set an example for you.”

Maki’s words had Y/N frowning as she looked down at the ground once more, gently patting her feet so that the ears on her fluffy bunny slippers flopped about gently. “I-I know but just...I don’t want her to start any more drama back on the estate,” Y/N mumbles softly after awhile, her words causing Maki to pause as she looks back over at Y/N, hands tucked into the pockets of her sweatshirt. “N-Naoki doesn’t really have the favour of many of the people in the estate....even haku-san finds her annoying. But the only reason why she is still talked about and respected is because of Michio-oji...”

Y/N felt tears welling up at the corners of her eyes, to which she hastily wipes at them with the sleeve of her sweater as she tries to bite back her sniffles. “A-And I-I want to b-be nice...I-I don’t wa-want her to be a-alone...,” Y/N managed out after letting out a few deep breaths, trying to bite back the loud sobs that were threatening to spill over. However before she can try to put on another strong front she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrapped around her; said person pulling them into their arms with a tired sigh. “What am I going to do with an idiot like you?”

Maki just rests her head on Y/N’s, letting the shorter girl cling onto the back of her soft sweater as she nuzzles her face into Maki’s neck quietly. “You don’t gotta go around being the nice girl all the time, you know?” Maki sighs as she pats the back of her head, letting Y/N sniffle and cry all her pent up tears out. “Sometimes being a bitch pays more both in the short and long run. Plus, you don’t owe it to her to be nice - in fact, you shouldn’t be entertaining girls like that in the first place. You don’t need shit like that weighting you down.”

Eventually Maki pulls away with a warm smile, resting her hands on Y/N;s shoulders as she sniffles quietly. “Now, lets go and hide it out in your room first, alright? I’ll order in and get the others to take it in for you, sounds good?” Maki hums before she spins Y/N back towards the dorms, arm wrapped around Y/N’s shoulders protectively as she led them both off towards Y/N’s dorm.

Of course the others were concerned for her. They were definitely not as ballsy as Maki when it comes to confronting people, yet it was certain that they did care for Y/N quite deeply, and hates how her cousin can seemingly put her down so easily. Even the adults were concern, since whatever Naoki said must have really affected Y/N for her to just up and left the others behind like that unannounced.

The other students eventually dropped by, with Yuji having been tasked to go over to the gates to pick up the food and bubble tea that Maki ordered for everyone; since Y/N had not gotten a chance to eat her lunch before she left. They found the two in Y/N’s room, with Maki leaning back into the chest of a huge stuffed animal whilst Y/N curled up in Maki’s chest. However she did greet the others as she carefully pulled her head away from Maki’s shoulder, the other girl pausing the video game she was playing midway to greet them as well. Catoru, who finally made his appearance after carefully crawling out from underneath Y/N’s bed, meowed in greeting before he crawls into Y/N’s lap as well, wanting some of the attention now.

It was when the others have finally settled down in their seats when Y/N finally told the others about who Naoki is - how this is her personality from the beginning, and how she is genuinely a nice person who just wants to try and fit in, in a world where she doesn’t necessarily belong. “So she is power hungry?,” Megumi pointed out with a raise eyebrow, to which Y/N made a face at how blunt her kouhai was. “D-Don’t put it so bluntly...”

“She doesn’t deserve any form of respect,” Nobara muttered from where she was laying with Yuji, both teens and Toge having taken over her bed where they had immediately hid under her huge mountain of stuffed animals. Y/N had moved on from Maki to Yuta, sitting between his legs whilst he held a controller before her, hugging Catoru to her chest as she watches both Yuta and Maki play whatever game is on the screen. Her eyes are still sad and puffy around the edges, but the light that shines in them seems to be returning slowly.

The kimbap that Maki had ordered for Y/N was placed on the low rise table beside Yuta and Y/N’s seated foams; along with cups of bubble tea that Maki had ordered for the others as an apology for ruining their lunch. “I know that....but she is still my cousin,” Y/N mumbles quietly before she pops another kimbap into her mouth, trying to keep her moving to a minimum since Yuta and Maki were pretty absorbed into the game now. She didn’t want Yuta to lose because of her. “I think I still need to be nice to her for as long as she is under the L/N estate roof.”

“So we just need to get rid of her,” Sukuna suddenly spoke out once more, his deep voice causing Y/N to let out a squeak as she jumped a little; Catoru letting out a loud yowl at being jolted out of his sleep so rudely. Yuta chuckles quietly at Y/N’s reaction whilst Megumi scowled; grabbing a pillow off of Y/N’s bed before he smothers poor Yuji with it. As if the teen was the reason why Sukuna was being violent in the first place. “Like I said, I am down to do it.”

“Shake~” Toge commented from the other side of the bed, looking up from his phone for a brief moment, to which Megumi just scowled in frustration; still refusing to let Yuji go. “Can we find a solution where killing is completely off the table?,” Megumi asked desperately, to which Y/N just frowns softly and points at him. “But Megumi-kun, you’re trying to kill Yuji-kun right now,” She pointed out, to which the shikigami user paused before he slowly got off Yuji; letting the poor victim of Megumi’s anger gasp dramatically. “If you say one more thing, Sukuna-”

“What, you gonna punish me?,” Sukuna asks back in a taunting tone, eye opening on a gasping Yuji’s cheek. His lips were pulled back into a smirk, one that irked Megumi out even more as the teen scowled over at the Curse. “I am just relying the message that I am sure everyone in this room wants to do. Don’t play coy, Megumi-chan - I am sure you’re desperate to shut that pathetic-”

“One more word from you and I will tie you down in a chair,” Megumi hissed, to which Sukuna lets out a laugh that even had Maki smirking; since it was obvious Sukuna was pressing Megumi’s buttons. “Oh, didn’t know you were so kink-,” Whatever Sukuna wanted to say was cut short by Megumi hurling a pillow at Yuji, Yuji’s yell of protest being heard from where he landed on Y/N’s bed. “H-Hey! Why are you taking your anger out on me?!”

“Learn to keep your dog in check, Itadori.”

Whilst the two boys were hurling insults at one another, Y/N giggles quietly as she nuzzles her face into Catoru’s white fur; as if she was trying to hide her giggles that she knows were going to trigger Megumi once more. However Yuta heard it, to which he smiles softly before he gently rests a hand on her head, a silent way of him telling her that he was glad that she was feeling a little better.

Even after that outburst in the lunch hall, Naoki still seemed deadest on getting others to like her. Besides Maki, she still tries to hang around the others, butting into their conversations to try and buddy them up. Either by trying to get them to acknowledge her presence when she is in the same room as them, trying to see what they plan on doing and trying to invite herself to things. The worse part of the entire thing was the fact that now that Naoki knows that Y/N and Yuta were going towards the direction of becoming a ‘couple’, Naoki tries to get under Y/N’s skin by constantly flirting with Yuta.

Yuta, who was a naturally awkward person, grew even more awkward at how Naoki was clearly making advances towards him. Of course, he always decline her before he hastily looks for another one of his fellow classmates so he is not alone with her for long. Although he is not going to do anything even if she tries flirting with him, Yuta was genuinely worried she is going to pull something on him just to get back at Y/N. And as nice and understand Y/N is, Yuta was worried that she might snap and end up doing something rash.

Yet, even though Y/N had warned the others to try and play nice, that does not mean the others had listened to her words.

Toge, who had taken it upon himself to get back at Naoki for causing so much drama, had become super sassy and being the biggest pain in the ass he can be. Although he can’t use words to mock her back, Toge definitely uses his actions. Bumping into her purposefully and giving her a mocking smile in response to her anger, ‘accidentally’ spilling water in her lap during dinner, purposefully helping Panda to spray on his Febreeze if she is seated next to the Cursed Doll. It is also the time where Panda, who will catch onto his scheme really fast, pretends he needs a little more of it; only to proceed shifting and ‘adjusting’ his person so Toge can get all the hard to reach spots.

Maki and Yuta would have stepped in to stop the two, but they genuinely did not feel bad how she was sprayed multiple times by waves and waves of lavender Febreeze.

Nanami and Gojo, who had noticed their students’ vendetta against the guest’s daughter, just quietly watched from the side. They did attempt to ask Y/N about it, but every time they mentioned the fact that the others are tormenting her cousin, Y/N will widen her eyes before she goes running off to stop whatever it is they were doing to the girl. However Nanami probably put two and two together after noticing how awkward Y/N is whenever her cousin forces herself into whatever conversation she was originally having with her fellow classmates.

Gojo was definitely more amused than thing else - even when she is forced to be with someone she is clearly uncomfortable with, Y/N still goes out of her way to make sure that the other person does not feel awkward.

Y/N, on the other hand, was genuinely worried. No matter how mean and painful it is to be around Naoki, Y/they are still cousins. Meaning that even after she leaves the college, Y/N and her are going to cross paths once more; and she was genuinely worried that Naoki might rat her experience out to their uncle. And knowing the Head of the L/N clan, he is going to definitely take Naoki side and make Y/N’s life back at her clan home a nightmare.

So when she finally opened her eyes to her Monday alarm clock, Y/N had never looked forward to the start of the week like she does right now. Her upbeat mood was not missed by her friends; they noticed how her steps were more light and her mood was definitely brighter compared to the last two days. Yet they can’t blame her; even they were relieved that the weekend has finally come and gone, and that they can return to normal classes once more.

Like before the students and teachers gathered at the main entrance after a quick breakfast to bid her uncle goodbye. Michio smiles and embraces his niece, gently patting her on the head with one hand as he lets out a slightly breathless chuckle; since poor Y/N was squeezing him tightly. “Lighten up on the old man, would ya?,” Michio teases as he pulls away, smiling at how Y/N just giggles as she apologies to the older man. “I know this weekend was rough, but you’re a real trooper. I promise to bring you out for some rolled ice cream when you come back during summer as an apology, alright?”

The mention of her favourite summer treat had Y/N perking up as she nods excitedly, already making up a plan on what her and her uncle can do in order to catch up the next time she returns to the estate. Her uncle just smiles at her excitement before he turns to the other students to bid them goodbye as well, sharing a few words with them about advice and any other last minute questions they had about anything.

Y/N, on the other hand, takes a deep breath before she plasters on a somewhat genuine smile, turning to face her cousin who was sulking at the corner of the gate. Panda had ‘accidentally’ knocked into her this morning when he passed, knocking an chilled glass of water all over her lap. On her freshly washed yukata that she planned on wearing home; the worse part was that they were on a tight schedule since her father needed to drop by somewhere to pick up something for the clan head. So she had no time to change into something dry, hence why she was grumbling with a light scowl on her face away from the group of students.

At least she finally got the message though. “I guess I will see you back at the estate, Naoki-san?”

Said woman just clicked her lips and turned her nose away from the younger girl, and Y/N was just too relieved to really care that she was being rude right now. So Y/N just hums before she stood beside her silent cousin as she waited for her uncle to finish up, greeting the L/N estate driver that had came to pick her uncle and cousin up. Naoki didn’t give her another glance as she stormed into the limo, entering without another wave to anyone behind her as the driver places the luggage into the back of the car.

“I apologise for Naoki,” Michio said awkwardly as he rubs the back of his neck, gently bowing at them a little at how awkward he felt. “She can get quite mean when it comes to someone ruining her clothes,” Her father tried to explain, to which Gojo just grins before he nudges Panda ever so slightly. To which Panda just blinked back too innocently for it to be genuine. “But thank you again, really. For putting up with her as much as you all did. I hope the next time I return I would be alone, think it’d make things less awkward for everyone.”

After a few more goodbyes the L/N estate car drove down the road, the others watching the car turn the corner before it disappears from view for good. “Freedom!,” Maki cheered, Toge cheering beside her; their sudden shout causing Y/N to jump as she lets out a soft squeak. “I would say this is a moment to celebrate!”

“I would suggest Gojo-san pay for lunch at a nice ramen place,” Nanami suddenly spoke out, smirking a little at the offended look at Gojo tossed his way. Yet the students perked up before they turned to face Gojo, who was about to decline that he was not going to pay for everyone’s lunch. Yet when he saw Y/N’s curious and wide eyes, Gojo knew that there was no way he can decline anymore. So he just sighs dramatically before he tossed his head back with a pout, looking like a scorned puppy whilst Nanami just raises an eyebrow at his action.

“Guess it’s my treat then...”

483 notes · View notes

miekasa · 3 years

Text

random armin/mikasa/jean headcanons (college au)

↯ pairing: armin x (fem) reader, mikasa x (fem) reader, jean x (fem) reader

↯ genres and warnings: college au, fluff, lets see how many times i can mention eren in writing that has absolutely nothing to do with him

↯ notes: this.... probably won’t be a regular thing, i don’t know that i can consistently continue writing for them, but this sure was fun and reminded me that i actually have feelings for someone other than levi :// didn’t ask for that, but here we are

ARMIN ARLERT

Would most likely get pretty good grades, but he can definitely be lazy about it and hear me out.

If it’s a class that he likes and is genuinely interested in (which is the majority of them), he’s going to put in the work—sometimes too much work—to make sure he’s doing well. He usually studies very meticulously, and stays on top of his game throughout the semester.

But if it’s one of those bs classes the university makes you take, or some kind of stupid elective that was the only course that could fit into his schedule? Well, Armin is smart enough to bullshit his way through anything, so he’s not going to exert himself for a class he doesn’t even care about.

Oh, and he’s very vocal about complaining to you about said bullshit courses. (Completely justified, go off king).

“I swear sometimes the TA just lowers marks randomly to ‘keep the class average.’ Granted, I didn’t really study for the quiz, so I wasn’t expecting a stellar grade or anything, but I know they do that sometimes.” “Well, babe, why didn’t you study.” “Because I hate it, (Y/N).”

Like I said, takes school seriously and tries his best; but even he knows he doesn’t have to be at 100% all the time. It’s also kind of a flex how smart he is and how much he can get by on doing the absolute bare minimum.

Poor Connie is studying his ass off for their shared elective and Armin barely looked at the first page of the textbook, and he’ll probably get a 90 anyways.

Imagine he’s so caught up with his other classes, he actually forgets about a midterm for his stupid elective, and at first he’s freaking out, so you kind of have to remind him of who tf he is. You finally get him to relax and he blinks at you, “Oh right, I didn’t study because I didn’t have to haha nice.”

Helps you prepare for presentations by letting you practice them in front of him. Actually gives good feedback, but sometimes he’s just watching you and not really listening.

Sometimes, you have to be the one to remind him to take a step back and take care of himself, before his schoolwork. He doesn’t like to worry you, and likely feels guilty when he sees you walking up to him in the library at 2am; so he won’t fight you on it, and just lets you help him pack up all his stuff and head home for the day.

Likes head massages. Maybe sometimes has faked a little bit of a headache to get you to massage his head and play with his hair. He’ll never tell.

If you rub his cheek while he’s laying on top of you, he will knock out like a baby. Almost immediately. It’s a surefire way to get him to go to sleep.

Schedules dates with you, and plans them out meticulously. Sometimes gets playful and sends you a whole ass e-vite.

“Armin, why do I have an email invitation for our date to the library?” “So that you don’t forget, of course.” “How could I forget, it’s later today, and you’re literally helping me study for my midterm.” “With popcorn!”

Probably the type to get a job on campus. You and your friends come to visit him when he’s on shift and annoy him. He secretly likes it.

Oh, he’s kind of shady. Scratch that, can be very shady. He complains about school to you, but also just complains to you in general; he doesn’t outwardly do that a lot, but you’re his confidant.

Sometimes you get surprised and call him out on it and you’re like “Oh my god, Armin, the poor girl didn’t mean to mess up the project,” and he’s like “Well. Sometimes people are idiots and it has to be said.”

Has a bad habit of rolling his eyes and he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. “Did you just roll your eyes at me.” “I don’t know, did I?” Bye.

His hands are always covered in some kind of ink/markings. Accidental brushes of his pens, streaks from his highlighters or markers, a little bit of lead from his pencil along the side of his palm.

Speaking of which, he strikes me as the kind of guy to keep a bullet journal. Not necessarily decked out and fancy with Polaroids and extravagant fonts; but definitely neat, and decorated to some extent, depending on how he’s feeling. It makes him feel organized.

He would pencil in important dates and markers of your relationship into said journal. “Friday night: museum date—remember to buy the tickets in advance.”

If anyone is going to buy, wash, peel, and cut up fruit for you, it’s going to be Armin.

Lowkey tutoring all of his friends, and might be the sole reason that Connie hasn’t dropped out yet. He likes tutoring you the most, though.

Get this, sometimes he asks you to tutor him, even if he knows damn well he doesn’t need it. Maybe he’ll even sign up for a stupid elective if it’s a class you’ve taken before, just to have an excuse to get you to teach him something.

Likes trying new things with you. He might not always like the new things that you try, but he’s open to trying them at least once. Well… most things anyways. Just don’t ask him to get up at dawn and go jogging with you.

I genuinely cannot tell if he would be a morning person or not. Maybe mid-morning. Probably not a rise-and-shine at 6am kind of guy, but is up by at least 10:00am every day. Very cute when he’s groggy though, and stumbles around a bit like a baby deer when he first gets up, especially if he’s hungry.

He likes to bike. And really likes when you go on bike rides with him. As long as you both are on your own bikes, you learned the hard way that tandem biking isn’t cut out for you.

Knows that all-nighters aren’t good for you, but sometimes you have to pull them anyways. If you both have a lot to get done, he’ll stay up with you and make sure you both take breaks and drink water.

Can twirl his pens in that really fast and fancy way, and can do the thing where he rolls it between all his fingers too. I’ll let you think bout the implications of that for yourself.

He likes watching cartoons, and reels you into all his favorites. Definitely likes to stay in on weekends watching cartoons with you and just chilling.

Will go to a party with you if you ask, or if his friends are hosting, but nothing beyond that. You didn’t hear this from me, but he’d probably like to smoke more than drink.

Sometimes you think he needs a break and you commission Eren to take him out for the night, but Armin still comes back looking more composed than him. A little sleepy and maybe a bit out of it, but not sloshed, much to your disappointment. “Eren, you really couldn’t have tried to be more a bad influence?? I was counting on you!!”

Eren’s confused, like, “Did you want me to get him white boy wasted??” “Yeah, kinda!! It’s what he deserves every once in a while. Ugh, next time I’m calling in Sasha, she knows how to drink.”

By the way, if you’re dating Armin, you’re kind of dating (or at least babysitting) Eren too. Or vice versa. Either way, they will also go on dates without you. (“Hanging out. We’re hanging out, and I’m tutoring him so he doesn’t fail Biology, (Y/N).” “Likely story, ocean eyes.”)

Can be touchy in a very absentminded way. He’ll reach out to play with your ears/earrings, habitually rub at your shoulders if you’re standing in front of him, mindlessly toy with the ends of your clothing. Half the time he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it, he’s so cute.

Plays one sport—is on the soccer team. It keeps him busy, and forces him to focus on something that isn’t academics once in a while. He’s pretty good at it, too; he and Eren make a good team when they play together.

You and Eren tried to get him to join the baseball team too. Eren, because he likes playing with Armin. You, because, well… the uniforms. He would look so good in the uniform.

MIKASA ACKERMAN

Makes her classes look like a breeze, even though it’s at least 300 pages of reading and writing per week.

Kind of gives me Elle Woods “What, like it’s hard?” kind of vibes when it comes to schoolwork. You’re in awe of how she just did 75 pages of reading with a tiny ass font in one sitting, and she just blinks at you like “Was it supposed to be difficult?”

Speaking of which, she likes to read in general; for leisure, outside of her school work. She’ll recommend you books, too. If you don’t like to read, she’ll still try and rope you in with shorter stories, or just read them aloud to you herself.

Sits at a table across from you while you both do your schoolwork independently. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a quiet, almost implicit sense of intimacy that she really likes.

Bundles you up when it’s cold, and won’t take no for an answer. You will wear a hat, whether you like it or not.

Always prepared—and by that I mean, she carries things on her that she realizes you might need. Tissues, extra pens, an extra pair of mittens. She strikes me as the kind of person to pay attention to details like those.

Likes to walk you to class, even if her class is very far away from your building. She doesn’t mind.

On that note, she knows your schedule pretty well, where it pertains to classes and personal interests.

If you’re the type of person who can slack off or even just get caught up in other things when it comes to school work, she’ll be there to keep you on track and hold you accountable. Usually through setting aside times to study with you, but can even be through small things like asking you how your assignment is going.

(Nevermind that you completely forgot about the assignment, and hadn’t even started it—but that’s the point; she knew that).

Hear me out: holding pinkies. Maybe not when you’re walking, but when you’re seated next to each other. The longer you’re together, the more likely she is to initiate it, too.

Would rather study at home/in her apartment than in the library, but if you like to study there, she can compromise a few days out of the week.

Makes you playlists, and they’re usually really good, because she knows you so well. Sometimes she gets cute and customizes the cover art to a picture of the both of you.

She’s your ride or die, so if you complain to her about a prof you don’t like or a TA you don’t think is fair she’s 100% on your side. She might not always be able to do anything about it, but she’ll definitely let you complain to her.

Texts you throughout the day to check up on you, but usually disguised through other questions. Asks what you want/had for lunch when she’s really checking to make sure you ate. Asks you what time your lectures end, just to make sure you didn’t skip it (again). Asks you what time you’re going to be done studying to make sure you don’t stay up all night cramming again.

Takes a genuine interest in your courses, and absolutely loves to listen to you talk about them.

If your classes are vastly different, she’ll still try and help you however she can, even if it’s only in small ways, like proofreading something for you.

Doesn’t use emojis alot, so your contact doesn’t have a bunch of hearts next your name on anything. But she does put your last name in as Ackerman.

Has social media, but mostly uses it to keep up with her friends, and you. You’re in most of the few pictures that she does post, and she might not say it, but she really likes it when you post photos of/with her.

Not sure why, but I think she’d be a pretty decent artist if she tried. That trend of doing glass paintings on TikTok? I think she’d be into that, and would plan out the whole thing as a date with you.

Keeps up with all your favorite shows to talk about or watch them with you. Sometimes she’ll purposely miss a few episodes so that she can spend the night and marathon them with you.

Likes to stay in and drink cheap wine and just watch or talk about whatever with you. You could watch a terrible show just to laugh and comment on it the entire time and she would be so happy.

Doesn’t like to sit down on public transportation, and honestly would rather you didn’t either, but she’s not going to stop you from taking a seat. If you’re sitting, she’ll stand in front of/over you, and always keeps wire headphones long enough for you to share music that way.

The most insufferable human when she’s sick and she knows it. She hates being sick. And she knows you shouldn’t be around her or else you might get sick but she also just wants you to hold her. (You do).

Likes to sleepover at your place. Talks with you about your day while you lay down. Always smells good. Very cuddly when sleepy. 10/10.

Hates the act of doing her laundry, but likes doing it with you. Lowkey starts buying and using the same detergent and fabric softener as you because it makes her smell like you.

Gets very embarrassed if you kiss her in public. Very red in the cheeks, it’s kind of cute, so I wouldn’t blame you if you did it on purpose.

JEAN KIRSTEIN

Jean is… quite smart, if you ask me. Or, at the very least, analytical, which can be applied to a variety of academic settings.

The only thing is, he’s incredibly lazy about it. He wants to do well in school, and can definitely pull himself together for a midterm or an exam; but is horrible at keeping pace with all his other work and assignments on a regular basis.

He also can’t sit still, which is why even though he is very kind and chivalrous and brings many snacks to your study sessions, he is also competing for number one worst study partner. Right next to Eren and Sasha.

Gets pouty when you tell him you don’t want to study with him. “But… but… but I brought snacks! And bubble tea!” “Yes, but you also have the attention span of a rabbit, Jean.”

At the end of the day he understands… that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be bitter about it LOLOL. It’s fine, you can make it up to him by hanging out with him afterwards.

Is, like, classically trained in at least two instruments because his mom put him in lessons as a child. He used to hate it growing up, and he doesn’t practice much now, so he never talks about it.

One day you happen to mention something about comparing two songs, telling him they remind you of each other but you don’t know exactly why or why, and very nonchalantly he’s like, “They sound similar because they share the same major chord in the chorus, and they’re in the same key.”

And you just kind of blink at him like, “Okay, Beethoven. How. How did you know that.”

Once you realize he can, like, actually play the piano and violin really well you’re always begging him to play for you. It doesn’t happen often—it’s not like he owns a violin anymore and he certainly doesn’t have a grand piano in his shitty college apartment—but sometimes you sneak into the music room when it’s empty and he’ll play something for you.

He’s a romantic at heart, so he doesn’t mind, and if anything kind of enjoys you watching him play. It’s much better than playing for random parents in a recital. You’re dead if you ever mention it to any of his friends though.

Also not a frat boy, but definitely likes to party. Everything with reason. If he crushed a midterm on Thursday, he deserves to throw back a few beers on Friday night, you know?

Touchy when he’s drunk. Well, touchier than normal; he’d be the most affectionate out of every one on a regular basis. But he’s touchy and messy when he’s drunk, so he’s all over you.

Messy, but happy. All smiles and giggles and red cheeks, with his arm around your shoulder, boasting you anybody who will listen about his super hot girlfriend.

He and Eren throw the best parties when they team up together. (Only slightly related, but those two, when drunk together, could probably pass as a couple; they’re so uncharacteristically happy, and affectionate. You may or may not be keeping some photo and video evidence of Eren and Jean drunk cuddling).

Sends you videos when you’re in the middle of class. And only then. He plans it to be annoying. Because he is annoying.

Also always sending you those in-messsage games while you’re in the middle of lecture or studying. “PLEASE play virtual pool with me!! I’ll even let you win one round!!” “I AM TRYING TO LEARN!!” “LEARN LATER 😡😡😡”

A fucking fiend in your Instagram comments. It’s a miracle none of them have been removed or reported for inappropriate content. Replies to OTHER people’s comments complimenting YOU!! He’s so much

@sashabraus: aww you look so cute @youruser!! that color looks so good on you 💕 @jeannotjean: omg omg tysm @sashabraus 😊 i picked it myself @youruser: SHE WAS TALKING TO ME @jeannotjean!!! ME!!! @jeannotjean: @youruser you have no proof 🙄 @youruser: SHE USED MY @!!!! GET OUT OF MY COMMENTS!!! @jeannotjean: you’re so hot when you yell at me via insta comments 🥵🥵🥵 would it be better if i slid into your dm’s instead 😫😫😉 @youruser: @jeannotjean BLOCKED!! EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!!

You try explaining your coursework to him and he’s just looking at you with puppy dog eyes like, “I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about, babe, but you look hot while doing it, so, please, continue.”

He’s another cocky annoying bastard (endearing). Always tilting you head up to look at him and smirk at you. Pisses you off just to put his arm around your shoulder and be like, “It’s okay, I know you love me anyways.” Winks at you in public just to embarrass you. He’s the worst. The worst.

King of picking you up and throwing you over his shoulder for absolutely no reason at all.

He lowkey wants to get an ear piercing and uses you to talk him into it. “Don’t you think I’d look hot with a piercing? I think I would.” “You would look good regardless, Jean. So, do it if you want to.” “Right. But, like.... do you think I would look hot.”

For as annoying and cocky as he can be, the second you actually genuinely tell him you think he’s attractive or talented or whatever, he gets kind of shy. It’s very cute.

Likes trying new restaurants with you, even though he really should stop spending all his money on food. Sometimes trying new restaurants means ordering from a new place, but it’s whatever, you know.

Honestly… the two of you would probably have a ridiculously high Uber Eats bill. You really should go outside and, like, be people every once in a while LOLOL

Okay, but it’s mostly Jean’s fault. For as much as he likes to party, and doesn’t mind hosting a party, he doesn’t do much beyond that. He hangs out with his/your friends, and with you, obviously, but he’s not the kind of guy to have his weekend booked up all the time.

He would much rather stay in with you, and talk trash about his stupid group project partners, and lay on your stomach and try to teach you how to play his favorite video games.

Spoiler: he fucking lies and/or leaves out key parts of the gameplay!! Just so he can crush you and laugh about it!! Annoying, but you’re the one keeping him around, so, who can you really blame but yourself.

#aot x reader #snk x reader #armin x reader #jean x reader #mikasa x reader #aot imagines #snk imagines #armin smut #armin fluff #aot jean #eren x reader

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