#anyways!! happy birthday love i hope it’s a wonderful one 🤍

[llvstrous099]

ahh here’s another blurb hehe hope y’all enjoy this one

young y/n x harry

y/nlovesdogs is the private account HAHA i couldn’t think of interesting name LOL

fc: Lexi Jayde y’all should listen to her music!!

hsupdates

liked by harryfan7, harryfan9, harryfan11 and 8,184 others

hsupdates harry recently seen out with a new girl??

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harryfan7 did he not spot the camera this time…

harryfan8 stop we need to give him privacy

harryfan11 my man looks good but why is he hanging out with my girlfriend…

harryfan1 @/harryfan11 wait who is she

harryfan11 @/harryfan1 her name is y/n she’s a singer and her music is so beautiful

harryfan33 HELLO Y/N?????

harryfan73 new girl??? she could be his friend

dailymail

liked by harryfan9, harryfan9, harryfan11 and 9,184 others

dailymail Singer Harry Styles has been recently spotted various times with upcoming 21 year old artist Y/N Y/L. An insider has revealed to us that they have been seeing each other for about a year. What are your thoughts?👀

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harryfan98 wait she’s 21…

harryfan9 she so beautiful but like what

user284 i’m sorry what- why is she with someone older than her she’s was practically just a teenager

user917 they are literal adults those are my thoughts…

harryfan31 that means they have been seeing each other since she was like 20… and he was like 28

harryfan74 A YEAR HELLO?? there’s no way they have not been spotted until now

y/nupdates

liked by y/nfan92, y/nfa10, harryfan1, and 5,018 others

y/nupdates harry attended my gf’s birthday party umm… anyways they look cute together

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harryfan11 okay but i need to know what song they were singing together

y/nfan7 i feel like this relationship is going to be interesting

y/nfan19 STOPPP WHATTT WHERE DID U GET THIS FROM

y/nupdates @/y/nfan19 her bff posted the picture but took it down after 4 minutes 😭😭😭

yourinstagram

liked by gracieabrams, lizzymcalpine, y/nupdates, y/nfan8, harrystyles and 18,726 others

yourinstagram I’m officially 21 I remember thinking this was so far away BUT HELLO!!! anyways thank you so much for all the birthday wishes :))) I love y’all guys. And because y’all weren’t at my birthday party here’s a cupcake 🧁 and a little surprise I’m having a birthday show tomorrow hope to see y’all’s beautiful faces!!

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yourbff MY BEST FRIEND IS OFFICIALLY 21 i love you so much now we can actually drink together

yourinstagram @/yourbff 😭😭 you have been waiting you just had to wait 4 more months

y/nfan9 stop i’ve been listening to your music since you were 19 and i remember that story you posted saying 21 felt so faraway akskkd

yourinstagram @/y/nfan9 omg stopp thank you so much for sticking around 🥹🤍

lizzymcalpine happy birthday!!!!

yourinstagram @/lizzymcalpine THANK YOU <33

y/nfan19 thank you for the cupcake 😜

harryfan11 okay harry liking this post

y/nfan37 IM GOING TO GO BROKE BUT IDC

hsupdates

liked by y/nfan9, y/nfan91, harryfan107, harryfan11 and 8,815 others

hsupdates omgg harry seen at y/n birthday show UMM HELLOOO

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harryfan11 MY PARENTS I REPEAT I SHIP SO MUCH I LOVE

y/nfan9 I WAS IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE WAS RECORDING LIKE THE WHOLE SHOW😭😭😭😭😭

harryfan9 @/y/nfan9 wait really stopp

y/nfan9 @/harryfan9 YES basically I was looking for my friend because we were supposed to meet up and i turned around and i saw him just smiling with his phone out 😭😭

harryfan81 she looked so beautiful

y/nfan10 the way there’s a video of harry joining the crowd singing happy birthday to y/n

y/hq

liked by yourinstagram, y/nfan11, y/nfan9, and 4,916 others

y/nhq the first birthday show of many!! hope y’all all had a wonderful time!!

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y/nfan9 i’m glad i spent my recent paycheck to buy birthday show tickets

y/nfan11 i’ve never had more fun than I did last night!!!

harryfan19 the first concert of y/n that i went to and i can gladly say i would definitely go again and again

y/nlovesdogs

liked by yourbff, harrryprivate, gemmastyles, and 106 others

y/nlovesdogs i never thought Lani would love my bf more than me

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yourbff that is literally disrespectful Lani has known me longer and she has never liked me but she meets hArry ONCE AND LIKES HIM

harryprivate @/yourbff sorry not sorry i’m just better 😁😁

yourbff @/harryprivate yeah whatever still I’ve known Lani longer

gemmastyles omg Lani!! she’s so cute

y/nupdates

liked by harryfan11, y/nfan9, y/nfan18 and 9,037 others

y/nupdates Y/N CHANGED THE SETLIST HELP also she looked so distracted the whole show

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y/nfan93 i agree she looked so sad and not her self tonight hope she’s okay

y/nfan64 you guys also harry hasn’t been seen at her shows as often

y/nfan86 @/y/nfan64 yk he also has a life and not all the time he will be attending her shows

y/nfan64 @/y/nfan64 ik that but he has been spotted at most of her Europe leg tour and the last 2 shows he wasn’t seen

hsupdates

liked by harryfan11, harryfan81, harryfan9, and 8,925 others

hsupdates harry in tokyo recently

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harryfan11 HELP HE WAS JUST IN LONDON WHAT

harryfan9 is this why he wasn’t a y/n show

harryfan85 he is so random like why…😭😭

harryfan75 okay but that pictures looks so funny 😭

harryfan9 he just loves Japan

dailymail

liked by harryfan11, harryfan9, y/nupdates, y/nfan16 and 9,615 others

dailymail Harry was seen making out with Emily Ratajkowski in Tokyo recently. Did him and Y/N Y/L break up?? 👀 click the link in our bio to read more.

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harryfan11 NO HARRY WHAT HELP WHATT

y/nfan7 umm.. not to say I didn’t say anything

y/nfan91 you guys maybe this is why he wasn’t at her shows

harryfan9 WTF WTF

harryfan8 i don’t think they broke up because he was seen at her shows 3 days before him being spotted in Tokyo…

harryfan11 @/harryfan8 i’m going to ignore what i’m thinking rn…

harryfan84 HELP THIS BETTER BE A LIE

harryfan93 HELP WHAT WHERE IS Y/N NO HARRY

yourinstagram

liked by harryfan11, y/nfan9, yourbff, y/nfan7 and 20,714 others

yourinstagram fuck you for wasting my love , I’m better off without you

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y/nfan9 ARE THOSE LYRICS

y/nfan63 OH-

yourbff please y/n put it out alr

yourinstagram @/yourbff shhh it will be out soon you need to patient

harryfan11 are these lyrics about harry because UMMM WHATT

harryfan52 WOAHHH NEW MUSIC also she’s so beautiful like my crush

y/nfan9

liked by y/nupdates, y/nfan96 and 529 others

y/nfan9 YOU GUYS I JUST MET Y/N SHES THE SWEETEST HUMAN BEING EVER IM CRYINF WHILE TYPING THIS

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harryfan11 how does it feel to hug my gf 🥲🥲

y/nfan96 HELP WHERE

y/nfan9 @/y/nfan96 mmm a surprise listening party…

y/fan18 she’s out here just surprising me daily

y/nfan14 how does it feel to live my dream

y/nfan13 okay the name in the back??? sijs

yourinstagram

liked by yourbff, y/nfan9, harryfan11, harryfan74, and 21,915 others

yourinstagram I’m happy to announce my third albulm!! closer to closure will be out tonight and because I love y’all so much here’s the track list!! Hope y’all love this album as much as I do

1. newbury park

2. you don’t deserve these tears

3. homesick

4. drunk text me

5. august 5, 2022

6. cruel intentions

7. hate to be you

8. self sabotage

9. gentle

10. someday

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yourbff FINALLY I CAN STREAM THESE SONGS

y/nfan9 AHHHH THANK YOU FOR MORE MUSIC

harryfan11 I JUST KNOW THESE ARE GOING TO BE GOOD

harryfan84 I CANNOT WAIT TO LISTEN!!!

y/nfan19 OMG OMG OMG

y/nfan62 this will be the only thing I will be listening thank you

y/nfan this is the best news to wake up to AHH

omg this was long and once again did not proofread this so grammar mistakes will be found I might do a part 2 to this i’m not sure if i like this i wanted to post something because next week will be so stressful i need to work on my paper🥲🥲 and for requests i’m working on them hopefully will be posted by the end of next week. like and reblog and thank you for the likes on my first instagram blurb!!

[sane-omblog]

🤍Happy Birthday Simeon💐

I ended up choosing this outfit of him bc he look so gorgeous( just like he is in others but hey this one hit me) and angelic as ever. Not me who just noticed his chests are slightly exposed while learning the details

Anyway he is the main reason i don't regret playing obey me like i really fall for him and his voice(hirata-san my god) tho most of the outfit in this game are so hard, the urge to draw him push me to it now i can draw more detailed clothes!

I love every concept of Simeon. He being a writer? darn that's so good no wonder why his words always hit me differently. He's so gentle and kind? tho i know hes angel i need sum1 who can bear with my grumpiness and i know i will melt at his dazzling smile. Yet he has his mischief side? i will do anything he want and back up for his mischief plan.

Overall I love his smile the most, that shiny dazzling sparkly softly sweet and gentle smile make me melt since the first time he appeared. you won't believe how fast i was change character in majolish(i can't remember who i put before him). And don't forget to give credit to Hirata san who voiced him, gave him that cute laugh when his sprite smile bless me.

As you can tell I love sweet smiley char

And I really enjoyed my time counting down to his bday(in tag #simeon bday countdown24 it contains spoilers so don't click read more or read ALT if you don't wanna get it) and hoping i can do it for other characters too esp. Solomon since I can't last year from business

Okay I have no more to say than I love no

I ADORE SIMEON SO VERY MUCH

-edit: so after 30 minutes of trying apparently I can't post gif here so this is the link of my twitter(X) and I posted there

First try making animation-ish gif?? I dunno the quality turned out not as I expected but yea... Let it slide for now

https://twitter.com/sane_2772/status/1755970764472496476?t=9TBLZJF9d-z8mhExyvhF_g&s=19

[fluentmoviequoter]

Hey could you do fluff fic for David 'Deacon' Kay x wife reader where they spend their day together after hectic week? She's school teacher. Tag me later. Thanks!!

Of course! This was a fun one; thanks for the great request!! Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!🤍 @pear-1206

Hectic Relief

Warnings: reader is an elementary teacher (I didn't specify which grade, just implied younger kids), hectic week, lots of fluffy comfort, kissing.

Word Count: 2.2k+ words

Masterlist Directory | Deacon Masterlist | Request Info/Fandom List

Picture from Pinterest (it goes with the end [and makes me smile😊])

“Yes, Drew?” you ask, smiling at the young boy as he lowers his hand.

“When is Sergeant Kay visiting again?” he inquires.

“Hmm… Well, he’s really busy this week, but I’ll ask him to come back soon.”

Drew nods with a bright smile. He loves your husband, Deacon, and asks about him often. Since Deacon came in for career day, Drew and several other students have become big fans of his.

“Can he come Friday?” Drew continues.

“Why Friday?”

“It’s my birthday!”

“Oh, I see. I’ll ask him, but remember what Sergeant Kay said last time? He’s really busy at work, so he may not be able to.”

“Can’t you make him?” someone else asks. “My mom makes my dad do stuff all the time.”

You chuckle at the implication that wives have control over their husbands before gesturing for everyone to pipe down.

“I’ll see what I can do, Drew,” you promise. “But either way, I’ll make sure you have a good birthday at school.”

Drew nods, and you think the day will be easier with the idea of Deacon coming in soon. It only takes an hour for that hope to be crushed, as the week takes a turn for the worse.

✯✯✯✯✯

Deacon sighs. It’s only Tuesday morning, and his week is already feeling long. He hasn’t seen you since Sunday night. Yesterday, a call ran long, and you were asleep before he came in. You moved closer to him in your sleep, but he had to leave before you woke up.

“Everyone ready for another night of overtime?” Rocker cheers before pretending to cry.

“I vote we just let the criminals take each other out this time,” someone mumbles.

“If my wife wasn’t working in this city, I’d agree,” Deacon says, surprising everyone.

✯✯✯✯✯

During your free hour, while your class is with another teacher, you drop your head to your desk and take a deep breath. The kids are restless, you’re tired, and each day this week seems longer than the last. You send Deacon a quick text to let him know you’re thinking of him and love him before turning your attention to the stack of papers on your desk.

Across town, Deacon is sitting in Black Betty, wondering when he’ll hear your voice again. It feels like the longest week of his life, and each passing minute makes him miss you more. His phone buzzes, and he smiles for the first time in hours as he reads your short message. Luca slams on the brakes and yells for backup before Deacon can answer, but he knows you understand. Even if it’s unfair to you and hard on him.

✯✯✯✯✯

By Friday morning, you feel part zombie, part teacher. The small gift you got for Drew and the card you signed from you and Deacon are sitting by your bag. You hope it’s enough to cheer Drew up even without Deacon stopping by to see his favorite of your students.

“Happy birthday, Drew,” you tell him when he enters the classroom. “This is from me and Sergeant Kay. He said to wish you a happy birthday and that he’ll come visit as soon as he can.”

It’s a lie; you haven’t even talked to Deacon in days, but you know he would be here if he could. He loves the kids and would do anything to help you out.

Drew’s smile falls just enough that you notice. He thanks you, anyway, even though he’s clearly disappointed his favorite SWAT sergeant won’t be dropping by today.

“Alright, class. Who’s ready for Fun Friday?” you ask, smiling as you pray for a nice day.

✯✯✯✯✯

Deacon clenches his jaw as he slams back against a brick wall.

“30-David, shots fired on the 4 side,” he radios.

“Copy. Shooter on the 1 side,” Street replies.

“We’re going to be here for a while, aren’t we?” Deacon asks.

Hondo nods beside him, and Deacon prepares for another day of missing you.

✯✯✯✯✯

“Drew, buddy, I know it’s your birthday, but we need to finish this lesson before recess. Let’s sit down and focus, then we can play,” you say, struggling to stay calm.

Drew huffs and falls back in his seat. When you see tears gathering in his eyes, you feel like you’re right behind him. It’s only 9 a.m., and it is the perfect, overly hectic, and stressful end to the longest week of your career as a teacher.

“I promise we’ll do something fun this afternoon, but it’s still school.”

✯✯✯✯✯

Deacon answers the phone, suppressing a stressed yell when Hicks tells 20-David to meet 50-squad on the other side of the county to aid with a hostage situation. He leans his head against Black Betty, wondering if they’d really notice if he took the rest of the day off.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he sends you a quick text, surprised when you answer almost immediately. He doesn’t know if he’ll be home tonight, and his heart breaks at your disappointed reply, even though you try to cover it as a caring and understanding message.

Deacon knows that being a cop’s wife is just as hard as being a cop, and he wants to find a way to make it easier on you.

“Guys, I need a favor,” he calls as he puts his phone away. “I need to be home for dinner. I haven’t heard my wife’s voice in almost 5 days, and if I don’t hear it today, you’re all going to know about it.”

Luca chuckles as Street’s eyes widen. “Yes, sir,” they all say together.

“She’s braver than any of us,” Hondo muses teasingly.

“Better looking, too,” Deacon replies.

✯✯✯✯✯

The final bell rings and your shoulders slump as you say goodbye to each passing student.

“Thank you,” Drew says quietly.

“You’re welcome, Drew. I’ll make sure Sergeant Kay visits soon, okay?”

He nods. “I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s okay, Drew, thank you. Have a good rest of your birthday and enjoy your party tomorrow, bud.”

Drew smiles as he nods excitedly before rushing out. The stack of papers on your desk has dwindled slowly, and you carelessly push it into your bag, unwilling to stay in your classroom for a minute longer than you have to.

Sighing in relief as you start your car, you hope to see Deacon tonight, even if only long enough to kiss him and hear him say goodnight.

✯✯✯✯✯

“Told you we’d do it,” Hondo says, clapping Deacon’s back, “now please go home. Your desperation is wearing off on us.”

Deacon would reply if he had more energy or if Hondo was wrong. He has no shame in admitting that he misses you and needs your comfort after such a hectic week with seemingly pointless chases around Los Angeles County.

He’s back to the station and on his way home to you before Luca notices he left.

✯✯✯✯✯

When Deacon steps into the house, he immediately feels lighter and happier. You look up from a paper and smile, setting it aside. Beginning to stand, Deacon moves faster than you and practically falls on top of you, pinning you to the couch with a tight hug.

You move one arm across his shoulders as he buries his face between your neck and shoulder. Running your fingers through Deacon’s hair, you relax in his embrace, and the week away seems worth the wait.

“I missed you,” you tell him, scratching his scalp.

“Missed you more,” he mumbles, tightening his grip on you.

“We should order dinner then, right?”

Deacon nods, and you smile as you pull his phone out, typing in your birthday to unlock it. Once the food is ordered, you move your hands to Deacon’s tense back muscles.

“Seems like your week was as long as mine,” you muse, gently kneading a knot in his lat muscle.

He groans before sitting up, pulling himself close to you. “I’m sorry.”

You shake your head, kissing his cheek quickly before asking, “How are you?”

Deacon catches your chin, pulling you in for a real kiss as he replies, “Better now.”

Once your dinner is delivered, you sit with your thigh pressed against Deacon’s as he tells you about the string of robberies and hostage situations spanning the county this week. He’s more interested in hearing about your week, so he doesn’t go into much detail before asking about you.

“Well, today was Drew’s birthday and he was pretty grumpy,” you tell Deacon, moving your legs across his lap.

“Not Drew, he’s my favorite!” Deacon exclaims.

“I think he was upset that you couldn’t come to class on his big day,” you excuse, running a finger along Deacon’s cheekbone and down his jaw as you add, “and he was tired, like someone else I know.”

Deacon nods, leaning against you.

“We should go to bed,” you whisper.

Deacon shakes his head, making himself comfortable beside you, one arm wrapped firmly around your waist to keep you close.

“If we go get ready and get in the bed, we can cuddle easier,” you bribe.

Deacon’s eyes open as he asks, “Promise?”

Chuckling, you link your pinky with Deacon’s and promise. He holds you to it, pulling you into his arms when you’re changed and ready to relax. He hugs you tightly, refusing to let go even though you don’t try to fight him. 

As you fall asleep in Deacon’s arms, you whisper, “I love you.”

“I love you,” Deacon replies, entering into the best sleep all week.

✯✯✯✯✯

When you wake up, Deacon has moved you closer to him in your sleep. It’s as if he thought he’d wake up and you’d be gone. Brushing your finger over his facial features, you wish you could admire him all day, but you need to get up and get a glass of water.

As you try to move out of his grip, it tightens. You finally give up and decide to wake him up.

“Deac, baby, I need to get up,” you say gently.

“It’s been a week, you can’t leave,” he mumbles.

“I just need to get some water, handsome.”

Deacon seems to debate his options before unhooking his arms and saying, “Two minutes or I’m coming to find you.”

“I have no doubt.”

You return in less than two minutes, but when you offer to make breakfast and bring it back, Deacon rolls out of bed and sleepily follows you to the kitchen. Standing behind you, he keeps his arms around your waist as he helps you prepare breakfast, trailing kisses up your neck each time you turn your head.

“I’m glad we’re both home now,” you tell him, turning in his arms to kiss him.

“Me too,” he replies, pulling you in for another kiss.

✯✯✯✯✯

It takes hours, but you finally convince Deacon to talk about himself and his week at work. As you direct him to the patio, you find yourself in his lap, enjoying the sun after a week inside with your rambunctious class.

“You’re too good for me,” Deacon says, interrupting his story.

“You’re too good for me,” you repeat.

Deacon smiles at the challenging look on your face, aware that you will win any argument he tries to make. This conversation is practiced, and he knows how it ends: an agreement that you are soulmates, completing each other and perfect for one another.

“I think we need a vacation,” you tell him.

“Or a second honeymoon,” he suggests, kissing your jaw.

“But you have to come visit my class first or I’ll have a riot on my hands.”

“Technically, you’d have a better chance of getting me there for riot control.”

You laugh, leaning against Deacon’s chest as you kiss the corner of his mouth.

“I’ll see if I can make some time this week. For you and the kids.”

The sun dips below the hills, and you wonder where the day went, though you know time spent with Deacon always goes too fast.

“Same thing tomorrow?” you ask, pulling your legs up as Deacon nudges you to shift.

Lifting one of your legs so you’re sitting in his lap, your face just above his, Deacon smiles and answers, “Anything with you.”

You tilt your chin down, brushing your lips across Deacon’s. He sighs, raising his hands so one is on your waist and the other behind your neck. Settling on his thighs, you lean against Deacon’s chest as you kiss him, letting his love and comfort calm you from the inside out.

“I love you,” you say against his lips.

“Love you more.”

You push your hands against his chest, taking a deep breath before arguing, “Impossible.”

Deacon tilts his head, a bright smile making his eyes look deeper and darker than usual. He’s irresistible, and as you kiss him again, he promises himself not to let work get in the way like that again.

Pulling back, you suggest, “You should bring your whole squad next time, the kids would love it.”

“If we can spare the time.”

“'If'? You can't do it, not even for me?” you ask with a pout. “Your wife?”

Deacon nods, telling you he’ll find a way.

“It’s that easy,” you whisper, kissing his nose.

“Because you cheat,” Deacon accuses.

“Because you love me.”

Deacon can’t argue, so he pulls you down for a slower kiss, happy to spend another slow, lazy night in your arms before doing it all again tomorrow.

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

wishing the wonderful @flowercrowngods the happiest of birthdays 🥳🫶🤍 fair warning this quickly turned from 5k to 10 🙈 i hope it's not too boring 🤞 i tried my hardest to give you the angsty fic you asked for but i don't think it's my forte 🤷‍♀️ anyway happy birthday darling i hope you're having the best day 🤍

Steve's birthday started the same as all his birthdays had for as long as he could remember now; waking alone in his big old, empty house. Not that he could say he minded. His first ten birthdays had been pretty perfect, but his eleventh birthday changed everything. The only thing he'd asked for was a birthday sleepover with Tommy and his new school friends. It was all going amazing until late into the night, he and Tommy were laid awake, Tommy was telling him about how he was nervous to kiss Carol for the first time, when somehow, in a way Steve couldn't really remember, one of them had ended up suggesting that they practice together. 

They'd snuck off to the airing cupboard across the hall so their friends wouldn't see, what they hadn't considered was getting caught by Steve's parents. His mum hadn't said anything, just left quickly, leaving his dad to glare at him with that creepy polite smile he always had whenever Steve was going to get it as soon as they were alone. And he had, as soon as the house was empty, his dad yelled and yelled and yelled; about how kissing boys was unacceptable, how it was a sin, "Harrington's are family men, Steven!" A direct quote from the serial adulterer. 

It went on for two whole days, and then they never spoke of it again as though it'd never happened, but Steve wasn't allowed another sleepover nor was he allowed over to any of the other boys houses; which was how by his late teens he only had Tommy and Carol left as friends, they were the only ones who truly knew what went off in his house. And his birthday's hadn't been a big deal ever again, half the time his parents hadn't bothered to even be in the country; not that it made any difference to Steve, a birthday without their presence and constant judgement was already a happier day.

His alarm clock blaring pulled him from his musings back to the present. Not that he'd really needed the alarm, he rarely slept these days; it was more like a series of naps interspersed with part memories, part overactive imagination-induced night terrors. He poked an arm out of the covers, flicking the switch on the clock, yawning and stretching; feeling the pull on his freshly healed wounds. Clambering out of bed and scratching lazily at the stubble on his jawline as he headed into the en-suite; flicking on the stereo as he passed by just for something to fill the void.

Holding Back The Years was just beginning, as it often was these days. The one nighttime DJ who'd bothered to stick around seemed to think the song said "holding back the tears, because nothing here is gone." Idiot! The moron had some whole elaborate deluded idea that the song was some kind of metaphor to do with living with the aftermath of the quake or something, repeating the same nonsense every morning like if he kept saying it his theory would become true. 

Steve, however, had actually listened to the lyrics and recognised Mick (Hucknall) as a kindred spirit. He heard the pain of a child longing for parents that loved him, felt the pain for his younger self deep in his soul. He'd long since accepted that he'd never have that, that they'd had him solely for their image and let him go as soon as he didn't fit, but the song tended to just rip open the wound every time he heard it.

He turned on the shower, biting down hard on his lip to stop it quivering, testing the temperature with his hand and stepping under the spray. He knew they weren't worth being upset over, but it didn't take much to tip him over the edge these days, and he was very much hoping, as he had every morning, that this ritual he'd started would wash away the deep-seated sadness that he seemed to have stuck in his chest since the day they'd fought and lost. 

In a weird way his life was better now, sure he had flesh eating creatures and an alternate universe, but he also had people who loved him, people who appreciated him and depended on him. The scars of his shitty past didn't matter any more, not in the face of actual scars, not when the monster hunting them down was still out there, not when the people he loved needed someone to protect them.

He made quick work of washing his body, still gentle around his wounds. Eddie's exquisite sewing skills had more than done the trick at the time but all the strain he'd put on his body getting the five of them out of hell had ripped new holes into his skin and made a bigger mess than the bats ever had; it was only when he collapsed in the ER that any of them had even noticed he was bleeding again, the nurses had patched him back together, but his body was still tender. 

Just as he was shampooing his hair, the song changed again, only just about hearing Cyndi Lauper over the patter as he applied his conditioner. "If you're lost you can look, and you will find me, time after time", fresh tears quickly blurred his vision. Max. 

They'd been told off for the fifth time about having too many people visiting at once, Wendy threatened to never let any of them step foot in the building again, and they believed her too, just as the adults who still had jobs and needed to work had finally accepted that the kids could be there to be with the wounded in case they woke up. Nancy had sighed heavily but resigned herself to the job, not that it had taken her long to set up a visiting schedule; ten minutes of leaning over bits of paper with visiting times, days people could chauffeur, work and volunteer schedules, working out who could sit with who and when and she'd had it all figured out. 

They were just getting into the swing of things when El had snapped, hurling a plastic chair into the hospital wall, blood pouring from her nose, sucking in breaths like she'd just run a marathon before actually running from the room. Steve hadn't seen it happen, just heard the commotion through the wall and came running. No one had wanted to go after her; Mike, Dustin and Lucas all looking between each other like they were psychically discussing who'd drawn the short straw. 

Steve didn't bother to wait to find out what they'd decided, he'd just chased after her, finding her curled up in a ball in the corner of the corridor. He hadn't known what to say at first, "are you okay?" seemed like the dumbest question ever given the state of her. Plus he'd seen the two of them together when they'd had their day trip to the mall, he knew she was far from okay. He'd just knelt down beside her and wrapped her tightly in his arms when she'd mushed her face into his chest, stroking her back and rocking her slowly. 

Using his well versed technique of 'What Would Robin Do?' he asked what had happened. She just looked up at him with big sad eyes, a sob catching in her throat, her face crumpling as she'd broken down. Telling him that she couldn't find Max, that she'd been trying ever since she'd restarted Max's heart (with her mind!) but that she couldn't find her. She'd made him promise not to tell the others and as soon as he agreed, she'd promptly burst into uncontrollable sobs before he'd even had a chance to ask what that meant. All he could do was hope that Max wasn't either gone forever; or worse, stuck with One, enduring unimaginable torment.

The song had changed again as Steve switched off the water, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel securely around his waist. Switching on the tap to run a bowl of water and grabbing the shaving foam and his razor from the medicine cabinet; glancing as quickly and as efficiently as he could in the mirror, doing his best to avoid his own reflection. He knew he looked rough, he didn't need confirmation. The scars around his neck were gnarly, his eyes were bloodshot with thick black bags underneath, his hair limp and uncared for, obvious even fresh from the shower. Ugh!

He let Billy Ocean's soulful voice wash over him, focusing on making neat lines in the foam and trying his best not to nick himself. It wasn't a song he'd heard before, but he liked it, the tune was gentle, he found himself swaying slightly, waiting with the razor poised, "I always stop and think of you especially, when the words of a love song, touch the very heart of me". Huh!

He forced himself to focus on the task at hand, he was going to be late if he didn't get a move on and the less he thought about love songs making him cry, the better. The song ended, and the DJ signed off letting the commercials play. Steve headed into his bedroom, half-heartedly blow-drying his hair just enough to stop it dripping down his collar, throwing on his jeans and sweater. 

Flicking off the radio, he jogged down the stairs, clicking the red flashing button on the answering machine as he passed the telephone table on the way to the kitchen to throw some bread in the toaster. The last time he'd seen Joyce, she'd made him promise that he'd eat, so he was eating, dry toast wasn't his favourite thing in the whole world, but it was nourishment.

Beep. "Dingus!" Robin whispered into the phone, causing Steve to grin, "it's one minute past twelve, so I can officially say Happy Birthday! Okay, that's all I wanted. See you later, love you." Beep.

Beep. "Steve-o! Happy Birthday! See you later, man!" Beep. That kid, Steve thought shaking his head fondly to himself.

Beep. "Happy Birthday, Steve!" El mumbled, she barely spoke these days. He felt honoured. She was quickly interrupted by Hop, "Is that Steve?" he asked, "No, just the machine," she responded followed by sounds of the receiver being passed from one person to another, "Happy Birthday, kiddo, we'll see you later, okay?" Beep.

Steve couldn't fight the lump in his throat, he tried to swallow around it, but it wasn't going anywhere. They were just… he didn't have the words. It meant so much that they'd thought of him. That Robin had snuck out of bed, had probably sat up by the phone until the clock struck midnight to make sure he knew she was thinking of him. She really was the best friend he'd ever had.

And the kids! Dustin calling was probably what had woken him. He didn't know when he'd decided on Steve-o as a nickname, but he liked it regardless, it made him feel like one of the gang instead of just the babysitter. With El, Steve wasn't sure whether it was a teenage phase or not being able to find Max, but he'd barely heard a peep out of her since her breakdown, he just hoped it wasn't the latter, so they wouldn't lose both girls to this fight.

He pressed replay, warmth filling him as he listened to Robin's message again. He missed her terribly when they weren't together, and he'd seen less and less of her recently. She'd basically been on house arrest since the "quake" and given she wasn't ready to tell her parents what she'd told Steve whilst high on truth serum, Mr and Mrs Buckley basically thought he was about to become their son-in-law. 

Unfortunately, it meant he couldn't sneak over to her house to sleep any more like he had after the mall and the one time Robin had snuck out to sleep at his, her dad had been so worried he'd called the cops. Luckily, Hop had been the one to get the call, sighing heavily when he'd picked her up from the McMansion (as Steve's house had been dubbed by the kids) with a "Sorry kid, but her mom's practically hysterical. Come stay at the cabin, get a good night's rest."

For once, Steve had done as he was told. The Party was tighter than ever, but there were still the few with families who got caught on the edge's that kept the group from becoming a totally codependent pack. None of them slept well any more, not without being curled around one of the others. Robin and Dustin had it bad, unable to explain what was going on and trapped by parents who loved them too much to let them out of their sight, but Steve thought Erica had it the worst.

Lucas was out of his mind with worry over Max, her parents were holding her tighter than ever and her best friend had moved away. She couldn't use sleepovers as an excuse to escape her family's grasp like Robin and Dustin could, she was having terrible nightmares, lashing out and blaming everyone for the state of Max's health, Steve just wished she’d let it out properly before she exploded. He'd tried to get her to once, used one of Robin's new psychology tricks but got nothing out of her but some sassy comment and a glare.

His toast popping out of the toaster dragged him out of his musings, tucking the dry, warm bread into a napkin, he grabbed his keys off the hook and headed out to the car. The sun was barely in the sky, but it was already unbearably warm, he was glad to be spending the day indoors. He liked being out early, the world seemed almost peaceful before the rest of the town had a chance to get out of bed. Normally he'd drive without the radio on, just with the window rolled down, letting the breeze finish drying his hair, enjoying the sounds of the world waking up, the birds singing, the wind rustling the trees, the roar of the beemers engine, but that damn song had turned into an earworm, just that little bit of melody and "saying I love you, I love you" whizzing around and around his head.

He sighed and flicked the radio on, the funky beat of Kiss making his head bounce, only being able to resist for a second before he was smacking the steering wheel in time with the beat. Steve couldn't think about much else with Prince singing in his ears, the sun beating down on his arm that dangled out of the open window, warming him as he bopped along. "I want to be your fantasy, maybe you could be mine. You just leave it all up to me, we could have a good time!" Steve hollered along, catching the attention of old Mr Baker, who was bent down collecting his paper as he sped by. He smirked at the old man's face as he caught him grumbling in the rearview mirror, making Steve chuckle.

The song was just ending as he pulled into the parking lot, it was always blissfully empty this early, just the cars of the staff and the overnight visitors. He threw the car into park as Let's Hear It For The Boy started, he contemplated sitting in the car just to listen, but he knew the song well enough, and he was edging ever closer to being late. Steve found he almost had a spring in his step as he switched off the engine and clambered out of the car, being careful as he crossed the road, the peppy tune well and truly stuck in his head. 

He waved to Edna at the front desk as he headed for the stairs (no way was he getting in a lift ever again, not after the last time) hearing Deniece Williams clearly in his mind as he turned the corner and all but hopped up the staircase, muttering "Maybe he's no Romeo, but he's my love and one man show, oh oh oh oh, let's hear it for the boy!" pausing on the step to wiggle along to the music in his head. One of the nurse's smirked at him as she skipped down the stairs, passing him with a giggle. Not that he minded he'd been reliably informed he was a good dancer, it did make him wonder if maybe he was finally losing it though, taking the rest of the steps two at a time, shaking his head trying to clear it. This is a hospital, for god's sake! What’s wrong with you?

Drifting quickly down the corridor, Steve gave a quick nod to Nurse Wendy, she was one of Owens’ and seemed to find the hospital environment rather alien, she didn't appreciate anything other than cordiality and silence while she worked. Sliding open the door, Steve found Wayne sitting as he always was in an uncomfortable plastic chair by Eddie's bedside; chatting aimlessly to his nephew and yawning every few words. 

He, Dustin and Steve had become close over the past few weeks, each taking turns to keep Eddie company. Wayne hadn’t wanted Steve anywhere near his nephew at first, not that Steve had been surprised by his reaction, hurt maybe but unsurprised. Wayne had relented when Dustin had regaled him with Steve’s “heroism” but Robin had been the one to convince Wayne that Steve was their friend, that he wasn't the dickhead jock who'd stood by and done nothing as Tommy had made Eddie's life hell; and that he was certainly nothing like the elder Harrington. Wayne had relented quickly, had warmed to Steve faster than he'd ever dared to hope, now he thought Wayne might even like him, just a little bit, even if it was because as Wayne put it, "well, at least you've got better taste in sports than you had in friends".

"G'Mornin'" Steve greeted, once Wayne finished with his tale. His stories were amazing, at first he’d started with just random tales but eventually when they realised it was going to take longer than any of them hoped for Eddie to wake, he’d started as far back as he could remember and was just slowly retelling his whole life story. Steve thought he should write a book, his life was fascinating and the more he listened, the more it was obvious where Eddie had got his storytelling abilities.

"Mornin'" Wayne returned, stretching his back before standing with a creak and a groan.

"No change?" Steve asked, looking over to Eddie's pale, sleeping form.

"No change," Wayne confirmed with a sigh.

Steve hummed, just watching Eddie for a second, hoping for a twitch, a flicker, anything really. Just any sign of life that he'd been praying for since cracked ribs and a ten minute repeat of “one and two and three” and screams to “drive faster!” Eddie didn't move, not more than the slow rise and fall of his gentle breathing that hadn't changed since he got out of surgery; Wayne did though, patting Steve on the shoulder as he passed by him with a quiet "G'night, son," successfully snapping Steve back into the moment. 

He turned quickly to catch Wayne on his way out, a fragile smile on his face and a lump forming in his throat, "Night, Wayne. Drive safe," Steve pleaded quietly. Wayne was as much one of them as Eddie was now, and the last thing any of them needed was more heartache. Wayne nodded with a slight smile, closing the door with a quiet snick, the noise kicking Steve into action; he rounded the bed picking up the tattered copy of The Hobbit off the bedside table and landing heavily in the still warm chair and flipping the book open in his lap.

Wayne might be a natural storyteller but not Steve, his childhood stories were either sad or stupid, but none of that mattered because here in this little cold side room all Steve could think was a repeat of please wake up. 

He was taking his first shift of watching over Eddie when he'd first spotted the book sticking out the top of the bag Wayne had brought for Eddie when he’d heard he was in the hospital. Honestly, Steve thought it looked like more of a go bag; Max’s bag was full of pyjamas and a dressing gown and slippers, a soft toy or two and some of her comics. Eddie’s bag was full of clothes, at least four pairs of jeans, a couple hoodies, a winter coat, underwear and cassettes. And the book, of course.

Steve wasn't much of a reader, he’d always hated assignments at school where reading an actual book was necessary, but he couldn't stand the silence, and he couldn't think of anything to say and Owens had said the best thing they could do was keep talking to him so he'd started to read. He was rubbish at it, stumbling every few words and making humming sounds every time he came across a word he didn't know or couldn't pronounce, but it filled the silence and given how dog-eared the pages were it was obviously a favourite of Eddie's, so he could only hope it was bringing him some comfort, wherever he was.

"Good morning, Edwin. How're you feeling, hmm? Comfy? It's a lovely day today, blue skies and green leaves, it's gonna be a warm one. It's my birthday, you know? Robin left a nice message, and the kids too. I wonder if I'll get a cake? I've never had a birthday with real friends before! I don't really know what to expect, but you've had your little club for a long time, you'd know, maybe you could wake up and tell me, hm? That'd be nice. No pressure though. How about we read some more? I quite like this book. I've never really had a favourite book, not since I grew out of the Mr Men ones anyway, but this one's good. Let's see where were we?"

Steve got as comfortable as he could on the crappy hospital furniture, flipped to the page he'd marked with a cafeteria napkin and began to read, letting the words flow over him and paint a picture of a group of disparates on an adventure together. He thought they were sort've like The Party, none of them really fit together either, not on paper anyway, but somehow it just worked; they, too, each had their own strengths vital for their collective survival. 

It saddened him in a way to think that if none of the Upside Down stuff had happened, that he wouldn't have any of this. As fucked up as this was right now, with Eddie and Max still unconscious; to not be called Dingus, or son, or Steve-o, that’s just not a life he’d want. Nor would he want a life without a platonic soulmate or a whole gaggle of little siblings. Without two mums and two dads, none of whom were biological, but parents in all the ways his never were. Without three older siblings in Argyle and Jon and Nancy because it wasn't half as weird as they all expected it to be; because none of them were those people any more. Those stupid teenagers were long dead, the shit they’d been through together far stronger than any hormonal teenage dickheadery.

He especially wouldn't want to be without an idiot who doesn't listen when Steve says don't be a hero because he also loves Dustin; because down to a choice of himself or their little brother he would always put himself in the firing line and as much as Steve had raged that Eddie was a dumbass, as soon as Robin had twisted it around, Steve hadn't been able to honestly say that he wouldn't have done exactly the same thing.

That didn't mean he didn't wish he could trade places with Eddie, didn't mean he didn't wish they'd had more time to get to know each other, didn't mean he didn't spend every spare second thinking about that walk to the Wheeler's, didn't mean he couldn't stop wishing Eddie would wake up, didn't mean he didn't hope for something more he could do to drag Eddie back into consciousness, just to hear his voice one more time, didn't mean he didn't wish he'd stayed with the boys, didn't mean he didn't yearn to know what Eddie had meant to say in that pause before he'd said "Make him pay!"

Steve realised he'd stopped reading, flicked over the page and picked up where Bilbo was imagining summer in his home, the same type of summer that was streaming through the hospital window, bathing Eddie’s sickly form in warm light. Steve hoped that wherever Eddie was, that he was somewhere happy, maybe he was berry picking with his uncle or playing with his band, maybe he was rough housing with Dustin while Steve and Robin watched on. 

He hadn't dared to ask El if she could find him, he couldn't bear to think they were both stuck somewhere unreachable, he wasn't sure his heart couldn't take it. 

He swiped roughly at his damp cheeks, swallowing hard, wiping the pages dry and smiling waterily at the group finding shelter and finally relaxing, creating smoke rings and thinking of Eddie doing the same thing at the last party they'd both been at. All the girls had gone wild and Steve chuckled to himself, knowing now that this book full of mythical creatures was where Eddie had probably got the inspiration, knowing how many hours Eddie must've taken to perfect his technique, knowing the girls who'd oohed and ahhed, knowing that most of them had never read a book in their lives, it was just funny. 

That was until it all went to shit for the allies; Steve read faster and faster, hoping that they'd make it safely out of the tunnels, thinking of the tunnels he'd fought in with the kids, remembering that moment he'd thought he and Dustin were toast, still able to feel the Demodogs racing by them. Then Bilbo was falling, and suddenly he was as unconscious as the boy in front of him. 

Steve sighed and shifted, leaning the book against Eddie's too still leg, he never thought he'd miss someone's nervous energy but even when Eddie had been still and quiet his leg would still always bounce, or his fingers would drum, it used to drive him crazy back in school, he used to wish the other boy would just sit still, mainly because he was struggling to concentrate, and the constant movement was a distraction, but now he longed for some form of movement, anything to add to the consistent rise and fall. 

Steve would usually keep the book up in front of his face so that lack of anything wasn't quite so obvious, but his back was aching and begging to be stretched, so Steve leaned his elbows on the bed either side of the book, propping his head up in his hands, trying to read the words faster in some bizarre hope that if Bilbo survived the pitch black alone that Eddie might too. The Gollum creature just was creepy, with the hissing and the glowing eyes and calling himself precious, it didn’t endear itself to Steve when Bilbo started a back and forth of riddles with it, the narrator commenting that because the reader was comfortable that the answers were somehow obvious.

“Not obvious to everyone,” Steve muttered mainly to himself, “I bet you knew these the first time you read them though, didn’t you Eds?" he asked just for something to say while he found his place again.

"No," muttered so softly and raspily it was almost inaudible, Steve's head snapping up to look at Eddie's face.

"Eddie? Did you speak, or have I finally lost it?" Steve asked disbelievingly. Eddie didn't speak again, but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards, puffing out a breath that could've been a laugh, immediately sucking one in through his teeth, hissing in pain.

"Wendy!" Steve screamed, jumping up and slamming the red button on the wall, only realising as he did that he'd wrenched his fingers from Eddie's grasp. Leaning his elbow by the side of Eddie's pillow, Steve peered down at him, placing his hand back into Eddie's, "Can you hear me, Eds?" he asked gently. Eddie made a rumbling sound followed by a quivering lip and a whine. "No, no. Don't try to talk, man. Can you squeeze my hand?" Steve asked, running his fingers carefully through Eddie's now sweaty hair, brushing it away from his face and neck. Eddie squeezed his fingers hard, choking a laugh out of Steve as his throat tightened, only realising he was crying when a tear splashed down onto Eddie's cheek, an intense feeling of relief and joy sweeping over him.

Steve had just enough time to wipe the moisture from Eddie's cheek before all hell let loose, nurses and doctors bustling in, Wendy gently removing Steve from Eddie's bedside but not from the room. His mind was racing, unable to really grasp onto anything, just watching detachedly as the professionals adjusted wires and tubes pressing buttons on machines, taking liquids from bottles with syringes and all Steve could think was that he was glad Wayne wasn't there to witness the chaos.

And all of a sudden, it hit Steve like a freight train. Wayne. He needed to know, but Steve was terrified that if he left the room that he'd wake up back in his bed, that Eddie wouldn’t have woken and that they’d be back stuck in the limbo that he might never wake. Steve glanced at the clock, knowing by the time that Dustin and Lucas should be next door watching over Max; it was unusual that they hadn’t come to check on Eddie, but if there had been traffic they just might not have had time.

"Dustin!" Steve yelled through the wall, one of the nurse's turning to snarl at him with a tut, obviously for being loud, but Steve couldn't have given less of a fuck, he just pulled a face at her behind her back when she turned back to Eddie. 

Dustin slammed into the room in less than a few seconds, clocking the chaos around Eddie and looking to Steve with wide, frightened eyes.

"He's awake, call Wayne," Steve instructed, Dustin didn't argue, didn’t fight the grin splitting his face either, "The plant or yours?" is all he asked. Steve was so grateful for this kid, glad in that moment that his little brother was a fucking genius. "Mine," Steve didn't even have time to finish the word before Dustin was gone from the door frame.

There was a bit more hustling around the bed before slowly but surely the nurses and doctors started to file back out, leaving Owens and a once again unconscious Eddie.

"What did you do?" Steve raged, his voice so low and hard it was hardly recognisable even to his own ears. Owens at least had the good sense to approach slowly, hands up and placating, except Steve couldn't hear him over the blood rushing in his ears, panic and fury blurring his senses.

"...ve, Steve, Steven!"

His eyes snap from Eddie's form where he'd been desperately watching Eddie's chest rise and fall, to Owens, who swallowed visibly and took a step backwards.

"We didn't do anything, Steve. I know he's been asleep for a long time, but it's going to take a while for him to get used to being awake again. He's just resting right now; healing like he's supposed to. Now he's regained consciousness, his chances are much better. We're not out the woods yet, but we're a step closer, okay? I'll check in again later, alright?" Owens said calmly as he backed out of the room, leaving Steve alone to nod to himself.

Steve didn’t know how long he stood there nodding to himself, the next thing he acknowledged was Dustin crashing back into the room, all but ready to throw himself at Eddie. Steve quickly stepped between them, blocking Dustin’s path. He parroted everything Owens told him and only allowed himself a breath when Dustin grinned toothily. And Steve, even though he couldn't quite believe what just happened, couldn't help but grin back.

"What a birthday present, huh?" Dustin teased, as he headed out the door back to Max's room.

Steve's hands landed automatically on his hips, yelling after him to shut up, even though he could hear Dustin cackling and feel his own cheeks burning, fucking smartass. 

He sighed, mentally arguing with the kid, desperately trying to come up with a response for next time, when Wayne came dashing in; Steve suddenly felt guilty for disturbing him, but he had promised he'd call if Eddie even so much as twitched. He repeated to Wayne what had happened in as much detail as he could remember, Wayne's smile growing and growing until it looked like his face might split in two, he grabbed Steve around the head and kissed him firmly on the forehead with a relieved “Thank you.” Steve’s brain shorted out when Wayne pulled him into a hug, all he could do was blink owlishly at the wall until his brain kicked in, and he wrapped his arms around Wayne purely on instinct, Wayne squeezing him tight before letting him go. 

He insisted on staying, much to Steve's dismay given the poor man had already been up all night and that he couldn't have had more than a few hours sleep, but he just waved Steve off, merely reiterating that he can sleep anywhere, that he'd been in the army, snd that he didn't need a cushty bed. 

Wayne had only caved about staying at the McMansion after the third or fourth day in that godawful chair, and then he had bemoaned that beds that comfortable should be illegal, that he'd been spoiled for life; Steve had just mentally renamed the spare room "Wayne's room", he knew Owens was sorting them some new accommodation, but he was kind of hoping he and Eddie would choose to stay. 

The house had never felt emptier since his parents phone call, they hadn't even tried to get a hold of him really, they'd just left a message saying that they'd heard about the quake, requesting he give them a call to let them know if there'd been any damage to the property, so they could claim on the insurance. Steve had nearly thrown the answering machine at the wall. Robin had just sighed, told him she didn't know why he continued to let them disappoint him when he had all the family he'd ever need. He knew she was right, that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. He hadn't bothered to call them back, and he hadn't heard from them since.

Wayne went down to the phones to call in sick then folded himself into the bedside chair, the one that was technically meant for patients, not that any of them had dared to use it for fear that they’d get too comfortable and nod off and miss out on any changes, but Wayne trusted Steve to wake him, he just wanted to be here to see his nephew. Steve couldn't blame him.

He gently placed his plastic chair back next to the bed, he hadn't realised he'd flung it across the room when he'd jumped up earlier. Both Munson's were sleeping peacefully and although a little piece of Steve's soul had settled, he still felt jittery in the almost silence. He grabbed the book back from the night stand, unsure as to how it'd ended up there, flicking through the pages trying to see where he'd last got to.

He propped the book back against Eddie's thigh, tucking his feet under his chair and resting his elbows on the edge of the bed. Originally, he started off reading to himself, not wanting to disturb either of them. He found he could actually read quite quickly to himself, and got through a whole chunk of the story just muttering commentary on the story to himself. But eventually, his eyes started to get tired, and he just started mumbling along with the story, trying desperately to stay awake. 

"How the fuck are you supposed to say that? Eye-ry, ear-ry, err-ry, I don't fucking know, I'm not entirely sure what that's even supposed to be," Steve muttered with a sigh.

"It's their nest," Eddie whispered, rasping and hoarse, tightening his grip on Steve's fingers, where he'd once again been absentmindedly stroking up and down Eddie's hand while he read.

Steve sat up straighter, so he could reach the glass of water with a straw that'd been left on the table, pressing the straw gently against Eddie's lips, "Hey, you," he said softly, "only sips, Eds, or you'll make yourself sick," he murmured putting the glass back on the side when Eddie let go of the straw.

"Thanks, man," Eddie murmured and sighed, sinking back into the pillow. Steve turned to give Wayne a nudge when Eddie squeezed his hand hard, "Don't," he pleaded. Steve hesitated but found he couldn't deny Eddie anything and was rewarded with a soft smile when Steve turned back to him, "He okay?" he asked.

Nodding, Steve ran his thumb over the back of Eddie's hand, "Yeah, we're taking good care of him," he promised.

Eddie hummed, tried to smile again, but it was obvious how much effort it was taking, "'nd Dust'n?" he mumbled, eyes drifting closed.

Steve couldn't help smiling to himself, "Next door, watching over Max."

Eddie's eyes sprung open, "Not Red?" he whined, big brown eyes sadder than Steve had ever seen them.

"'fraid so. She'll be okay though, she's a fighter like you!" Steve muttered, determination lacing his tone because he believed you had to believe something wholeheartedly if you wanted it to go your way.

Eddie let out a little sceptical huff, eyes already closed and breaths evening out. Steve was just about to go back to reading quietly when Eddie made a little incoherent noise. "Hm? You need something, Eds?" Steve asked quietly, standing to lean over him, brushing his hair away from his face where it'd got stuck to his cheek when he'd turned to look at Wayne.

"'m sorry," Eddie murmured, trying to open his eyes, Steve just huffed out a humourless laugh, sitting back down. 

"Nah, man, got nothing to be sorry for," he muttered, swallowing around the lump in his throat, "Go back to sleep," he whispered, stroking the back of Eddie's hand rhythmically. Eddie listened this time, whether through choice or sheer exhaustion, Steve didn't know, he was just glad Eddie was resting.

Steve took a deep breath, scrubbing his spare hand over his face, he didn't know what was wrong with him today. Eddie was fine, he was on the mend, there was no reason to be upset, yet he couldn't stop the tears rolling down his cheeks. He wasn't sad exactly, it all just felt like too much, all the previous weeks of worry, the lack of sleep, the constant stress of it all going to hell again before they even had chance to recover. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Dustin tended to pop in at lunchtime to give Steve a chance to get some lunch and stretch his legs. But being met with those big concerned eyes just tipped the scales in the wrong direction, he grabbed Dustin round the middle and pulled him into his arms. 

"What's wrong?" Dustin whispered, rubbing Steve's back soothingly, which just made him feel all the more guilty because he was supposed to be the strong one for the kids, not the other way around.

"Nothing," Steve murmured, sucking in a deep breath and coughing around the lump in his throat, pushing the feelings as far down as he could, letting Dustin go with a pat on his shoulder, "Nothing, I'm fine, everything's fine," he lied.

Dustin obviously saw through it but didn't push him, just demanded a Coke from the cafeteria as Steve got up and headed for the door, making him laugh. Steve loved him so much, especially when he was a little shit.

Heading straight to the bathroom, Steve splashed cold water on his face, leaning on the sink and looking at himself in the mirror. It'd been years since he looked this rough, his hair floppy and dry as hell, black and bloodshot eyes from the lack of sleep, even his skin wasn't quite the colour it was supposed to be but eating dry toast in your car and crappy hospital sandwiches will do that, he supposed.

He sighed heavily, pushing off the sink, he headed to the cafeteria, grabbing lunch for the four of them and Dustin's Coke, picking up a Diet one too just to annoy him with, in the hopes his moaning and whinging would buoy him for the rest of the day. 

Steve bobbed in to eat lunch with Lucas and spend some time with him and Max like he always did, before heading back to relieve Dustin. Lucas barely wanted to talk these days, just wanted to continue to read to Max in the hopes that she could hear them.

Knowing what El had told him just made him feel guilty, but he’d promised he wouldn't say anything and given there wasn't anything else he could do for her, in the very least it was making Lucas feel useful. If anything Steve thought he sounded a little more annoyed than usual today, but he didn't dare to ask, he just put it down to the fact that Eddie had come back while Max was still lost.

Wayne was awake and chatting with Dustin and Eddie when Steve got back. They all looked tired, but they were smiling, even if they did have tear tracks down their faces. Steve didn't say anything, just squeezed Eddie's foot as he passed by him handing Wayne and Dustin their lunch, who as suspected kicked off about his drink giving them all something to giggle about until he pulled out the red can, the petulant look on Dustin’s face making the three adults in the room laugh harder.

Eddie soon fell back asleep, then after they’d eaten Dustin went back to Max and Wayne decided he was going to find some decent coffee, which was code for he was going for a smoke. Steve sighed as everything settled down again, back to the normal they'd settled into over the past few weeks, except he felt free now to get comfortable in his chair resting his head on his folded arms on the side of the bed. He told himself he wasn't sleeping, just resting his eyes, but Robin made him jump when she came bounding into the room.

"Happy Birthday, Dingus!" she yelled, waking both him and Eddie with a start.

"Jesus, Bobs, shh," Steve chastised, trying to soothe Eddie back to sleep by rubbing his thumb across his knuckles where their hands had yet again ended up connected.

"Sorry," she muttered, not sounding sorry in the slightest. It'd been her way of trying to wake Eddie and Max, blasting into their rooms all loud and full of energy, like a kids entertainer at a birthday party.

"Mornin' Edwin, done sleeping?" she teased, waggling his toes, Steve knew she wanted to hug him, but Eddie's legs were the only place he hadn't been bitten, and she didn't want to hurt him like she had Steve when they'd finally got Eddie to the hospital, and she'd all but thrown herself at him; he'd hissed involuntarily, and she'd cried for an hour even though the pain had gone before she'd even had chance to let go.

"Stop tiring him out, he's supposed to be resting," Steve grouched, reluctantly letting go of Eddie, standing up to grab another plastic chair for her to sit beside him at Eddie's bedside.

She tutted and rolled her eyes dramatically before all but flopping into the hard chair, making Steve wince on her behalf. Now he'd sat back in his chair he didn't know what to do with his arms, it felt weird to reach across and take Eddie's hand, folding them over his chest felt too confrontational, letting them flop by his sides felt weird, finally settling on placing them in his lap. 

Robin was just watching him amusedly, "So, having a good birthday?" she asked with a smirk. All he could do was narrow his eyes at her, Wayne was back and watching them knowingly, trying not to smile. 

Steve looked between the two of them before shrugging as nonchalantly as he could manage, "Better than last year," he answered not half as blasé as he would've liked, it wasn't exactly a lie given anything would've been better than last year when everyone had forgotten.

Robin just hummed thoughtfully, leaving them in uncomfortable silence. She'd been a nightmare since she’d started reading psychology books; she was worried about their collective mental health and wanted to have constructive ways to help, but it seemed to Steve that she was just using everything she was learning to torture him.

"How's your mom and dad?" Steve asked, trying to deflect onto a new topic.

"They're good," she replied, letting the silence linger, glancing at Wayne with a playful smile.

The silence was deafening, it made him want to babble endlessly and at the same time say nothing at all, just out of sheer stubbornness.

Luckily, he was saved from their torture by Mike, El and Will, the three of them came in every day to check on Eddie before going to see Max; which Steve thought was sweet given Mike was the only one who actually knew Eddie. He just knew Eddie was going to adore Will, they were like peas in a pod, and he couldn't wait for them to meet properly.

"Dustin said he woke up," Mike said as though that was his excuse for being there, not that it was something as wild as him caring whether Eddie lived or not.

"'m here, y'know," Eddie grumbled, making Mike's whole face light up.

"Eddie!" Mike cheered, heading towards him for a hug.

"Careful!" Steve yelled automatically, Mike pausing mid-step to glare at him.

"I know!" he snapped, carefully placing his hands either side of Eddie's shoulders and leaning gently into him.

"How're you, man?" Mike enquired, purposefully ignoring everyone else in the room, while Steve purposefully ignored Wayne and Robin's knowing gaze.

"Not dead!" Eddie teased, finally prying his eyes open, looking behind Mike at Will and El who waved warmly. "Hi," Eddie croaked, Mike grabbed the drink off the bedside and placed the straw against Eddie's lips.

"This is El and Will, y’know? The ones I told you about," Mike reminded him, focusing on the water leaving the glass.

Eddie just hummed, releasing the straw, doing his best to smile at the newcomers, his eyelids drooping.

Steve had already had enough, Eddie was supposed to be sleeping so he could heal, "Alright, you three, he needs his rest. Visiting's over. Out! Go harass Dustin!" Steve demanded, standing to physically shoo them out the door while Robin and Wayne giggled.

"Don't make me throw you out, too, Buckley!" he threatened, pointing at her with a hand on his hip as the door slid shut behind the kids.

She lifted her hands placatingly, with a delighted smirk, "Here, sit. I've brought your gift," she announced, gesturing to his chair.

Steve couldn't help the endeared smile splitting his face; he hadn't had a birthday present in a long time, his parents just added money to his account, he had no other family, and he hadn't got one from a friend since Tommy.

Robin reached into her bag and pulled out a rectangular box wrapped in blue paper, "It's not much, and I know nothing could top waking from a coma," she muttered rolling her eyes playfully in Eddie's direction, "but I hope you like it," she added with a soft smile.

Steve felt his lip quiver again, biting on it hard enough he tasted iron. He didn't care what was in the box, well he cared, he just didn't mind if the box was the present, he already had the best friend in the whole world, what else could he want. He smiled gratefully at her, hoping she could see without him needing to say it, before tearing off the blue wrapping and lifting the lid.

As soon as he saw what was in the box, tears started to fill his eyes, blurring his vision, no amount of self-control would be able to stop the wave of gratitude for the girl in front of him.

"Sorry it's a bit homemade," she mumbled as he continued to stare at his gift. All Steve could do was shake his head, a smile on his face even as tears poured down his face, tugging her into an awkward hug over the box.

"It's the best," he whispered, releasing her to stare down in awe at his present again. It was a picture frame, but inside was all bits of their friendship; a few Polaroids of the two of them, a napkin from Scoops, their name badges sitting side by side in the middle, tickets from the Star Wars movie they went to see together, quotes from songs they loved written on Family Video receipts, the dried flowers of the daisy chain he'd made her while they were hanging out in her garden, the matching friendship bracelets they'd bought from that street artist when they'd gone to Indy last year and immediately lost, newspaper clippings of a game they'd both played at, a little picture of Kermit the frog. 'The Band Geek And The Jock' written across the top of the frame in bubble writing, and 'Platonic With A Capital P' written across the bottom.

He felt the sob hiccup out of his chest, too overwhelmed to do anything to stop it. Knowing it was the most thoughtful gift he'd ever received, he wondered how he was even supposed to begin to thank her.

Looking up at his little miracle, he saw her watching him with sad concerned eyes, "You can just say if you think it's awful," she joked, making a tearful laugh burst out of him.

Shaking his head, he swallowed hard, "It's wonderful. You're wonderful. How'd I get so lucky, huh?" he asked rhetorically pulling her into another hug, "Thank you," he murmured, hugging her tighter, wanting to snuggle into her neck but not wanting to get snot on her top or in her hair, he let her go.

Eddie whined, demanding their attention. He was awake, watching him and Robin with the softest fond expression, opening and closing his hand like Holly used to when she wanted something. Steve automatically placed his hand in Eddie's causing a choked little sound to come out of the three of them, only for him to realise that Eddie probably wanted to see the frame, his cheeks flushed crimson and just as he was about to let go, both Robin and Wayne put a supportive hand on either of his shoulders, starting up a conversation between themselves about the latest conspiracy theory to be printed in the local paper.

Steve stayed perfectly still, afraid of breaking the moment. He'd never felt safer, more loved or supported as he did right then, than he had in his entire life, and it was almost bizarre how these three random people he'd barely known a year ago could give that to him so easily. Eddie squeezed his hand gently, blinking owlishly with a soft smile. Steve gently lifted his present onto Eddie's stomach, so he could see it, he tried to lift his other hand up to touch the frame, but it was proving too much, drifting off again with his dimples on display and a gentle hum.

Taking the gift back and placing it carefully back into the box to keep it safe, placing it on the bedside with The Hobbit knowing he wouldn't miss it there when he headed home later. Robin was still deep in conversation with Wayne, telling him about her grandma's worries about their safety after the "quake", Steve already knew that she wanted them to move away, Robin had called him in a panic when she'd heard her parents discussing whether they should.

He caught Robin's eye and gestured to the door, slipping out when she smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. Slipping the door shut behind him, Steve hurried towards the bathroom, he just needed a minute, but a familiar curly head of hair was already pushing open the door. Turning on his heel, his sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor, he headed toward the exit only to bump into Wendy giving Sam an update on Max. The breath was coming shorter and shorter in his chest as he blindly opened the nearest door stepping inside and slamming it shut behind him; sliding down the painted wood to the cold floor, knocking his knee on a bucket because by some streak of luck, Steve found himself in the janitor's closet.

It was all just too much and the thing was none of it was bad, everything was so, so good, the nicest present he'd ever had, Eddie waking up after what felt like forever, the love and support of the people he now classed as family. He had no idea why it felt like there was an elephant sitting on his chest or like he'd had a rock semi-permanently lodged in his throat since he'd woken up. It just hadn't really felt real until now, the few nice dreams he had had been of Eddie waking up or him never getting hurt in the first place, of waking curled around each other, of Eddie smiling at him the way he had in the RV, the way he had on their walk to the Wheeler's house, the way he used to in the cafeteria. 

And he hadn't really needed to deal with the feelings those dreams had brought up until he'd put his hand in Eddie's, and they'd all made that okay. With Eddie, it'd be possible to blame the drugs he's being pumped with to keep him comfortable, but Steve knew that Wayne knew his nephew, knew that he knew what others had only suspected for as long as he could remember. And he knew Robin knew him, as well, if not better than he knew himself sometimes. Hell, even Nancy had suspected when he'd offered to be by Eddie's bedside whenever he was needed; she'd just looked at him the same way she looked at any puzzle and then had pencilled him into every gap without question and with an accepting smile. 

Hugging his knees to his chest, he focused on righting his breathing, taking slow purposeful breaths, wiping his face and focusing on the objects around him until he felt he could breathe again. He'd spent so long pretending, so long trying to be someone he wasn't, trying to be the perfect Harrington that dealing with feelings when they arose and the shame he felt in feeling them in front of others was hard but when his breathing settled, it was like he could breathe easier than he had in a long time, despite the chemical stench inside the cupboard. 

Climbing slowly to his feet he crept out of the small space and headed to the bathroom to wash his face, splashing cold water onto his cheeks felt nice, and somehow his reflection felt easier to deal with than it had this morning, sure he still had scars and dark circles, his hair was still horrendous, and his cheeks were puffy but for once looking at himself in the eye felt less like a lie.

Once he was calm and dry, Steve wanted to check in with Sam, the guy had been a group favourite since he'd come charging into the hospital demanding to see his daughter and he seemed to like all of them too, appreciated that his little girl hadn't been left alone for a single second. He'd been wary of Steve at first, he thought it was weird that an older male was hanging around a bunch of kids, sitting with his baby, but the other parents seemed to have got through to him in a way the kids hadn't been able to that Steve was their babysitter, that they trusted him with their kids lives. 

Hop and Joyce had been the ones to really affix in Sam's mind that Steve wasn't a threat, and the two of them advocating for him after all they'd been through over the years, felt amazing, he finally felt like one of the group once Joyce had wrapped her arms around him, thanking him for all he'd done; for keeping them safe, for walking into battle when he didn't have to. Hop had just put a hand on his shoulder and asked "Y'okay kiddo?" letting Steve fall into his chest with the relief that he wasn't dead, that finally the grown-ups were there, because as much as he had spent his youth wanting to be older, wanting to be away from his parents, so he could do whatever he wanted, it felt like a relief that a real adult would be in charge from now on.

He knocked and entered when Sam shouted for him to come in, smiling a small smile at Steve and carrying on with the book he was reading aloud as Steve sat on the plastic chair next to him. "How's she doing?" he asked when Sam finished the chapter and closed the book; Wendy always gave more info to the grown-ups than she ever did to the kids.

"The same," Sam sighed, stretching out the muscles in his back from being hunched over the book, "Happy Birthday," he added with a genuine smile, "Dustin wouldn't shut up about it. Lucas looked 'bout ready to kick his ass!" he told Steve with a laugh.

"Thanks," Steve murmured, he hadn't come in to talk about him, but maybe Sam just needed to think about anything else for five minutes. 

He told Sam about the gift Robin had given him, Sam smiled wistfully, "Susan used to make me things like that," he muttered fondly. 

For once, he didn't have it in him to correct Sam's assumption, just asked "Oh, yeah?" Let Sam tell him stories of his and Susan's courtship, of their happier years together, if nothing else Steve hoped Max could hear them, thought it might please her to know that her parents were happy once, that they had loved each other and her.

It was a while before Robin poked her head around the door with a "err, Steve?" her smile a little uncertain even as she waved at Sam, who jostled Steve playfully and waved them off with a small smile picking up his book and continuing to read to Max.

"What was that about?" Robin asked bemusedly.

"Eh, nothing. What's up?" Steve asked tiredly, it'd been a long day and as much as he hated to leave, he was about ready to curl up in bed.

"Nothing, Eds was just asking for you," she murmured, turning into Eddie's room, letting Steve follow lazily to find…

"SURPRISE!" everyone cheered, and by everyone Steve meant everyone, he was honestly surprised that they all fit into one room. Wendy was going to lose her shit.

"C'mon Dingus," Robin sighed, dragging him further into the room, "This is your party, no use standing in the doorway!" she chastised playfully leaving him at the foot of Eddie's bed where he was looking a hell of a lot more awake and had a sheet cake laid out across his shins because godforbid they used the table like normal people.

Dustin was finishing lighting the candles with Wayne's lighter, then made little conductor hands at the group, who all jumped into a chorus of 'Happy Birthday'.

Steve didn't know what to do with himself, he just stood there awkwardly, smiling gratefully at every person in the room. They were all there, the Wheelers and little Holly, the Sinclairs, Claudia, Hop and Joyce, Argyle and Jon and Nancy, the kids all smiling at him encouragingly, dare he say it lovingly.

He hadn't been sung to since he was a boy, he couldn't help feeling emotional, a tear escaping down the side of his face when Dustin and Erica wrapped an arm each around his middle, another tear splashing down into Dustin's curls as he looked down at them both wrapping his arms around their shoulders. The singing eventually stopped and Wayne muttered that maybe he should "blow out the candles, before there's more wax than frosting" making them all chuckle. 

He released the kids and bent over the foot of the bed to do as he was asked when Robin yelled, "Don't forget to make a wish!'

A wish?! Looking around the room, at friends and family gathered for his birthday, at the pile of presents sitting in the corner of the room, at Robin's gift and the tattered old book and Eddie's tired but smiling face. There was only one thing missing from this picture, something he could only wish would be different in the next year.

Some wishes in life you know will come true, like putting your hand in someone else's and them tightening their grip, like going to hug your best friend when you're snotty and disgusting and them hugging you back, like a kiss on the forehead or a hand on your shoulder, like Hop's was as Steve looked bewilderedly around the room, warm and protective.

Some wishes though you had to hope for with your whole chest, some wishes were just that, but as he looked at El and Lucas he knew he wasn't the only one wishing with his whole heart as he took a deep breath extinguishing all the tiny flames to a round of applause.

Nothing could make his birthday more perfect than having his little sister by his side again, but this right here, with sleepy eyes and sibling support and more loving parents than any kid could ever dream of, with his soulmate who he has no doubt orchestrated this whole event in a hospital room, this was as close as they could get to perfect for now.

[ashmp3]

HAPPY ZAYNAB DAY let me hear you say it 🎤!!! My dearest sweetest Zay i am wishing you the happiest of birthdays. I hope you have the most wonderful day, week, month, year etc etc you get it... Hope every next one is even more joyous that the previous, you deserve all the love and happiness in the whole entire world. You are such an important person to me and one of the reasons i stayed on this blog for so long and why i feel so comfortable in caratblr. You are so smart, talented and you just get It in the most perfect (and correct way i might add) i hope you know how much happiness your presence brings to everyone around you! Anyway, from the bottom of my heart happy birthday and i hope you enjoy these little virtual gifs i made for you! 🫶🏼🤍💗💌🤍🦢🪽✨🐚🎀

[judgementdaysunshine]

Hi, and Happy early birthday! If you're still doing matchups, could I get a Star Wars ship for a male and female character?

Idk what all info you need/want for these, so if you need more, feel free to dm me

For appearance: I'm a chubby bisexual female with dirty blonde hair with teal tips, and brown eyes. I tend to wear black clothing or some with black on it though I will wear colors other than black, black is just what I prefer.

Personality wise: I'm shy, introverted, tend to overthink and be insecure about things. I some anxiety, mainly social anxiety. I tend to be quite around those I don't know or unsure of, and once I'm comfortable around someone, I will be more outgoing.

My interests are: Mortal Kombat, Marvel, Horror Slashers, Undertale/Deltarune, One Piece, JJBA, Pokemon, Animals, Drawing (somewhat), and somewhat into R6.

I am also pretty close with my family, or at least on my mom's side anyways.

I kind of want to get into Star Wars as I've only really watched the first two of the newer ones, but that's about it. I figured this matchup might be a good way to get me into it. Hopefully one day I'll get into it enough to at least make one OC. Then again, I have so many OCs, so I don't really know.

Hopefully this is good, but as I said, feel free to dm me if you need or want anymore info.

I hope that you have a wonderful day/night, and birthday. 💙

Thank you and of course hon! 🥰 I first ship you with Obi wan Kenobi! 🤍

He makes sure that you feel safe with him from making tea and calmly talking to him telling you old stories of the Jedi and Sith and of the temple

He can never not see your blonde hair as long strands of yellow clouds with your teal tips being the ocean underneath the clouds and your eyes as milky golden honey

He always likes going with you whether the two of you walk around the temple, occasionally travel to your home planet of Kashyyyk,or to one of the spots you found hidden in or near the temple

Anytime you're drawing he always watches you draw whether it's a plant,droid,one of the clones,a animal,Padme,or somewhere of the temple but the drawings that take his breath away when he randomly finds them are drawings of him from being deep in thought,being frustrated by Anakin,or asleep to smiling,laughing,and his mullet length hair flowing in the wind

He always finds you black clothing whether it's an all black robe or a black and multicolored outfit he always finds you something with black in it to wear making you smile

He always holds you whispering words of comfort to you when you're depressed always saying how much you mean to him rubbing your back or arm

Sometimes people who first meet you or who don't know you will ask him why you're always so quiet but he just chuckles explaining that you need to be comfortable for them to be more talkative

He holds your hands gently whispering whenever you're anxious having you sit down and breathe slowly until you are okay again just holding you afterwards until you both fall asleep

Next I ship you with Leia Organa! 💛

She always holds your face in her hands whenever you're anxious grounding you to her and helping you breathe until you tell her you're safe and ready for a nap or to just listen to her read

She always enjoys that she was special to you that you acted a certain way with her than everyone making her heart swell and explain to others how to get you to talk to them but not forcing you

Your eyes make her feel like she is in a dream with how beautiful they were but when they were in sunlight she just stared combined with your smile it made her fall in love all over again every time

Your hair makes her think of the vanilla flowers she would find and keep from the forest near her home in Alderaan when she was a child such a beautiful yellow with a shade of brown on the green vines and darker yellow in the middle

When you're depressed she always stays with you even if you don't harm yourself or anything of that matter she wants you to know that she truly loves you no matter what

She loves hearing stories of your childhood on Corellia with your family and enjoying the stories she would tell you of her upbringing on alderaan laughing and smiling

She always smiles when she finds a drawing of her that you did of her sleeping,laughing,or being goofy with your group of friends making her day even better than it was before

Anytime she would see any clothing with or all black she gets it surprising you with it and flowers or leaving it somewhere in your room with a little live note attached

[cor-ardens-archive]

happy birthday!!!! you're such a lovely person and I hope your birthday is wonderful! 💖

you're the lovely one :) my birthday was sunday, i'm just terribe at replying to good wishes, but i'm still taking them anyway. can't get enough of someone wishing me happiness sksks thank you 🤍

[nataliescatorccio]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER ERA OF BECCA ✨🥳🤍 i can't wait to see what this one has in store for you!! i hope your day is as beautiful as miss yennefer herself and that you'll get all the opportunities this year to make you feel as accomplished as riverdale's finest – veronica lodge, by your next bday. this last one is based purely on me scrolling by a gifset of her greatly engraved headstone today… bc as we know being in your late twenties means nearing death!! for real tho, time goes by alarmingly quickly, but i'll say the biggest highlight of all of us becoming older is the comfort of knowing that we've become a constant in each other's lives over the years and no mater what happens outside of tumblr walls, i can always count on you being here with your kind words and wonderful breathtaking creations. love you loads, eat all the cake you can today 💞🥰

ohmygod jagoda i don't even know what to say, this message just sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions from laughing to feeling like crying ❤️ i adore the shoutout to my two best girls and if i can achieve veronica lodge-esque fame in the next year maybe i'm alright with being considered near death (maybe then i can retire and live on my own private giffing island anyway!) 😂 i appreciate having you as a constant in my life so much, i'm fine with getting older as long as i know every year i'll have your light of a presence and talent to see me through! thank you for being the gem you are and for this message, i love you so damn much 💖

[smileysuh]

happy happy birthday nova 🤍🤍🤍 i hope you have an amazing day and birthday!! i hope we get to wish you many many more for years to come!! stay happy and healthy always!!! seriously have to give it to you for making the best fics i have ever read!! i cannot give you enough credit for having such great depictions of moods and storylines all across every single one of your fics to pick a best one would be literally a debate show within my mind because when have they not hit and lingered in my mind?? i must say as a person who just loves darker concepts your yandere stories were oh so amazing!! very creepy but also hot?? have to make sure you know that 😞 definitely have to find up your ceo(?) series with jaehyun,johnny, and haechan because wow i miss them and doyoung and taeyong 😞 absolutely amazing, frat house and abo have their league of their own! also citrus !!!! why is oranges and beaches so hot 😭 next i its not just them svts series!!!!!!! lord?! everything you write is a chefs kiss muah mwah muah 😞😞 antaric is definitely THE fic to feel love from your besties, ice cold, cabin fever, puppy love, literally any mingyu wonwoo fic, and recently seungcheols abo one ,, the amount of times ive just gone back to reread them is more than i can just count they’re a top pick to hit the spot

anyways again have a wonder day today!! you should know you are highly loved your energy and your way of seeing things is always so refreshing to see! your fics are beyond compliments they’re masterpieces! tysm for working so hard on them 🤍

oh my goodness- I love you so much holy heck- this was such a good list- not you even mentioning Citrine- I've loved that a few people have mentioned my less-known fics even amongst the more well-known ones- gosh this made me feel so special and gooey inside, thank you billions for sending it in! I hope for many more years as well 💕 in fact... this might be a little premature but I'm thinking of writing a full-on book sometime soon 👀 who knows, maybe you'll have a Nova book on your shelf one day ✊😩

thanks again for this message 💕

[fyodior]

js popping in to say that TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I'M OFFICIALLY 20 NOW!!!!

one more year to go and my balkan ass can start drinking in peace without my roomates going apeshit bc of the us' bullshit drinking laws💀💀

anyway I'll go disappear again

-🍵

OMG HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!!!!! 20 is so exciting!!! finally not a teenager anymore !!!! and yeah the US drinking laws are ridiculous and so harsh 😭 i hope you have a wonderful wonderful day🤍🤍

[kimtaegis]

annie <3

happy geburtstag to my most favourite person in the entirety of germany!! i hope you'll have the most wonderful day with al & awi with sooooo many lil cute presents & that everyone in the world is congratulating you cause you deserve it the mostest!!!

im very sorry for not being able to make you a gift myself this year but work sadly got in the way :( but i hope you can feel the love i am sending u through this ask anyways :( you are one of the last bts gifmaker survivors i fear but i'm so glad u stayed cause whenever you post theres no doubt that you yet again managed to 'outgif' everyone else & create the most beautiful coloured set or the most thoughtful and stunning comp. but my favourite things you create are gifts for others where you try to use every detail you know about them to create something so special for them. and the crazy thing is theres no limit to your talent… insane. you make a gift for an artist (awi)? suddenly you are an artist TOO what can't you do……. its so interesting to see what you come up with next and you really manage to top your previous works every single time. the gift for me you made this year still leaves me speechless every time i see it, i'll forever cherish it (thank you again). anyways i love this really talented, creative & kind human being (you) a loooot & i wish you nothing but happiness & lots of love & happy moments in life that will make you smile & that you will succeed in everything u want to do & lots of pretty green clothes & more london trips & all the photocards on your wishlist & endless kisses from me.

have soooo so much fun today with your friends & enjoy your special day to the fullest, get drunk if you can & laugh all the time & eat the most delicious food. I LOVE U IM KISSING YOU MY PRETTIEST BIRTHDAY GIRL <33

noooo mona why do you make me tear up on my birthday :( I don’t even know what to say, that can’t count as a birthday message anymore, that’s a love letter that I’ll print out and put in an envelope and keep under my pillow at night 😔🤍 I have no idea how I deserve all these compliments from you, I know it’s been years by now but I still can’t quite believe you’re my friend 🥲 I admire and adore you so so so much and I’d gladly make ten more edits like the satellite jimin one for you because I’m obsessed with you and your eye for things and the classiness and delicacy you radiate, it’s so inspiring to me, my little muse 💙 we just picked awi up and are now going to watch Barbie!!! I hope that someday we’ll get to meet up like that too, I’d really like that… maybe on a harry concert 😌 I genuinely am obsessed with you and this whole message and I’ll probably read it again a few more times later cause it’s overwhelmingly sweet. I love you terribly baby, thank you for this gift of a letter (which is more than enough) 🤍🤍🤍

[satanskatse]

I live! Sorry I've been in a funk and shut out everyone :>

Cinnamon shed the same day I last sent an ask, she is all good. Eating properly and everything. I measured her skin and she's about 23 inches long now.. it makes me so sad because I got her when she was itty bitty baby like just barely 7 inches ;-;

My birthday is in less than a week and I'm dreading it! I dislike receiving gifts and too many people are hell bent on getting me a present. It hecks. I just don't know how to receive a gift without feeling like this is some favor I should return :<

Anywho! It's 6am

Gbye

wait no

I got a new phone and I no longer have the little heart symbol thingy :(

This will have to do

-🤍

Hey honey, don't feel sorry for taking your time 💜 I'm just happy you're back :)

Glad Cinnamon is alright. I get that you're feeling a bit sad but hey, you're her loving parent that watches her grow and help however you can. Be proud of how good you take care of her and how big she's gotten :)

Feel you with the birthday, just run away as soon as someone mentions your birthday or you see a gift xD no, sorry, I don't really have any real helpful advise for that. Just remember that they chose to give you a present even tho you don't like it so it's perfectly valid to not pressure yourself into buying a gift for them. Mentally flip them off for bringing you in this situation, I guess...

Did ya chose the white one bc of a reason or just by chance? Bc I don't think I ever saw anyone use that. Black, yes, any other color, sure, I myself mostly use purple (and like the new cyan one but can't use it rn bc ahhhhhhhh) but never white...

Anyway I hope you have a great day and a wonderful weekend (no, it's not early) 💜

[pop-punklouis]

hi dear friend a few days ago i made a to do list and bullet number 1 is grad/bday card for hope. turns out my mental clock is running like 15 days behind and i just. simply did not realize how close the day actually was and that i didn’t have the time to do it all so leisurely. anyway. happy birthday! i hope it’s a wonderful day and a better year than the previous one. fingers crossed i get to see you and hug you during it 🫂🫶🏽

seeeed you didn’t have to even try to mail me a lil birthday card it’s just the thought that counts 🤍 and honestly this month hasn’t felt real so i get that with time getting away from you!! i love you friend thank you for always being the kindest soul to me. this year we must hug and dance in our louis jackets i wont stand for anything less 🫂✨

[wonwoonlight]

by the moon | jeon wonwoo

➝ werewolf!Wonwoo x mage!Reader (ft. Seungcheol, Jeonghan, Jisoo, Jihoon, Minghao, Chan)

➝ fantasy!au but i kinda just make my own universe // angst // fluff // hurt comfort // a little action? // suggestive at the end

➝ word count: 18k~ (loool)

➝warning: the magic concept isn't mine but I alternate it to my universe so lets not start pointing fingers about whats right and whats not, mentions of blood and kidnapping, this is the first time i write a fantasy au slash some action so im sorry if this aint it 🥴, i have no beta so sorry in advance for typos and so on ;-; implied sexual activities (no smut), suggestive scenes in the end, that's about it?

➝A/N: happy birthday, my muse, the love of my life, and everything in between 🤍 I started writing this not long after FTS teasers came out and and never expected this to go past 10k sjdhfbhsdbf honestly i thought it'd be like 6k at most. anyway! i hope you'll enjoy it despite the length and my nonexistent experience in writing fantasy, let alone action💀 don't hesitate to tell me your thought🤍

Wonwoo can’t figure you out.

It’s been a few months since he’s joined the pack, quite late for a werewolf his age, but he was an omega for good reasons and he wouldn’t even be here if he didn’t owe Seungcheol, his alpha now, his life.

The process was quite bizarre, as Wonwoo never intended to join any pack to begin with–has never considered to be a part of one since he’s learned the concept of it. He didn’t even know it was possible for a werewolf to join a pack this late (he’s 26, for God’s sake), but it was one fateful evening where he almost got killed by a ghoul that Seungcheol came to his rescue.

What was even a ghoul doing out in a town?

But, then again, it was stupid of him to go out during dusk in a town he doesn’t know well enough.

Seungcheol himself almost lost his life too, and Wonwoo still remembered thinking why on earth would this man throw himself for some omega in danger that he saw by chance. But it was the way his whole pack suddenly came through and pried the ghoul off their alpha’s body that Wonwoo ever witnessed a pack move as one. And when he saw Seungcheol staggering forward, it was reflex that fueled him to catch him even though he’s a good two meters away.

And then he found out that these creatures have been lurking in this particular town when dusk comes around. Seungcheol’s pack was patrolling–had been for the past few weeks–because they kept on detecting something crossing the borders and because…who else would patrol if not them? Those humans know nothing of them and the danger that looms above their heads.

Next thing he knew, he’s visiting Seungcheol everyday because he felt like he owed the older man at least that much. Wonwoo might be indifferent and ignorant towards a lot of things, but he knows how to be grateful and he was waiting for the older guy to get back to his health before offering his gratitude and saying his goodbye.

At least that was the plan, until Seungcheol talked to him thoroughly and said there’s always an open spot for Wonwoo in his pack. Wonwoo isn’t sure what made Seungcheol say that, nor what really compelled him to say yes–but he did.

And now he’s here, three months later, trying his best to hold back hisses as you tend to his wound.

“It’s getting very concerning.” You frown, and Wonwoo wonders if you’re too close or if it’s just the wolf in him being too aware of his surroundings. He can feel your soft breath against the back of his neck, and he winces a little at the warmth against the wound and your proximity.

He’s never liked getting into fights with spirits; the aftermath is always nasty because they’re not exactly physical unless they take another being’s form–which means the werewolf's ability to heal faster doesn’t exactly work when it comes to their attacks.

“The attacks this month alone are already more than the last three months combined.”

Seungcheol passes by and pats your head before plopping down next to you on the sofa.

“I know. But that’s why we need to patrol more, Moon.”

Wonwoo tunes out the conversation, already knowing the content of it before it even finishes. The humans in this area are lucky Seungcheol’s–his also, Wonwoo guesses–pack is here to protect the territory. As much as it concerns them, the weirdness that has been happening the last few months are just urban legends or stories getting out of hand.

Why would they believe a hellhound made its way to the town, almost killing an innocent civilian being at the wrong place at the wrong time if not for Jeonghan pouncing on top of it with Minghao following close behind?

As far as they–and the victim himself–know, there was a stray dog who attacked him in the middle of the night but thankfully you were there to help him and your brothers had fended the dog off before anything could happen.

That was your work.

Wonwoo’s pretty sure the victim wasn’t that out of it when it happened; he’s definitely sober enough to register the huge monster was anything but a stray dog. But you had done your magic, summoned magic circles and used your runes, making the guy unconscious and a little disoriented when he woke up again.

Wonwoo still remembers the kind smile you offered the victim when you relayed the fabricated story of a stray dog pouncing on him and how he went unconscious for quite a bit after that. The guy didn’t question anything, whether he accepted your words because of your magic or because of the gentle glint adorning your eyes, Wonwoo would never know.

Just like how he never knows how to perceive you.

There’s something about you that pulls him in for reasons that he can’t comprehend. But he never does anything about it, doesn’t see why he should, too.

You’re a part of the pack, that much he knows. Everyone calls you Moon, and Wonwoo never finds out your actual name and now, months later, it feels a little too late to ask anyone of it or how your nickname comes to be.

Not that he’s had any business calling you so far.

At first glance, he thought you were but a mage that was a part of the pack. But he just needed a few more seconds to figure out you do have wolf blood within you even though it’s very faint; untrained wolves wouldn’t know if they don’t try to see it.

He has never seen you transform though, and while he’s seen quite a few magic users himself, he has never seen one with wolf blood. One has wolf blood for a reason: to be wolves. Not… something else. Like a mage.

Your magic mainly uses runes, and he’d see you practice from time to time even though he never lingers long enough to be bothersome. Just a glance here and there whenever he passes by.

Jisoo, Jeonghan’s mate, would sometimes join you even though she’s just there to accompany you or help you gather whatever you need for practice because Jisoo is very much human (he also doesn’t know how she ended up as Jeonghan’s mate but he’s not really curious), and she’s your only female companion within the pack.

The wolf blood within you is so–so faint that if it’s not because he already knew you are a wolf by blood, he wouldn’t suspect you’re one even a bit. Sometimes he finds himself wondering if you never transform because you can’t, but he stops the thought from going too far because it’s none of his business.

“It’s okay to come closer, you know.” Your voice is soft and your eyes are focused on the ruby stones in front of you. If not for the fact that the house is empty except for you both and Minghao sleeping upstairs, Wonwoo wouldn’t know you’re even speaking to him. “I know we don’t talk a lot, but we’re in the same pack so we should at least get along, right?”

Wonwoo doesn’t say anything, not that you expect him to, but you can hear his steps getting closer and he stands right beside you in front of your working table.

He’s a good one meter away from you, his eyes busy scanning everything that lays on top of it because it’s actually the first time he’s been this close. He doesn’t want to cross a line and he’s not that curious (nor is he nosy), so he has never tried to see even if you’re not home. There’s just something personal about this place and Wonwoo feels like he’s intruding.

“You can ask.” Your voice is so steady, so sure that Wonwoo’s wandering gaze means curiosity instead of ignorance. But Wonwoo takes the bait. He is kind of curious, has always been when it comes to runes and magic.

“Why ruby?” Wonwoo picks up the red stone, his fingers easily enclosing the cut oval before he asks. “Do you only use stones for your runes?”

He can hear the soft amusement in your grin, though unsure why you find his question amusing. It doesn’t feel like you’re mocking him though. Far from it, in fact–you’re excited that you get the chance to talk someone’s ears off about something you love most and it’s clear that Wonwoo’s asking because he’s curious, interested, and genuinely wants to know.

After that, he spends his time next to you in your practice room every time he’s able to; not enough to be called often, but definitely enough for you to register the pattern of his heartbeat everytime he makes his way there.

He doesn’t really talk, but Wonwoo can’t deny the warmth spreading through his chest everytime you light up when a particular rune shines brighter than the other, or when your practice goes better than expected.

He wonders if it’s possible for someone’s eyes to glow brighter than the moon like yours do. Is that way they call you Moon?

Wonwoo jumps when the jade runes on the table burst the exact second something crosses the border you’ve set up on the corner of the room. There’s a grin on your face and your eyes are twinkling in excitement.

They’re probably warmer than the sun, too.

Jisoo is taking you out on a date, telling you there’s a cafe she’s been wanting to try but Jeonghan doesn’t like sweets nor coffee.

“So I’m the second choice.” You mock offense, nudging her off you as she clings to your arm like a koala.

She gasps dramatically, a pout on her face as she denies the accusation. “I haven’t had you all for myself these days and I’m thinking about how I miss spending time with you, but this is what I got?”

You laugh at her antics. For all its worth, you’re glad you have Jisoo as your close (and only female) friend; she’s the sunshine your little pack needs, and while everyone was skeptical of Jeonghan’s choice in a mate at first, you know they’d all die for her if it comes to it now.

Of course no one hopes they’d encounter any situation that would call for that.

“So.” Jisoo sits down with her arms crossed, looking at you expectantly.

“So?” You quirk an eyebrow, confused as to what she’s possibly talking about.

“You and Wonwoo, huh?”

You blink once. And then twice.

What?

But Jisoo doesn’t say anything else, simply stares at you with a demanding posture. Between her tendency to be a little bizarre and to be vocal about everything that passes her mind no matter how questionable they are, you’ve always known she’ll lose her mind one of these days. But you never thought it'd happen this early.

Her stare turns into something else, almost like something clicks in her head and her mouth drops slightly before she shakes her head without words. It always annoys you when people do this (granted, you don’t know a lot of people), blatantly acting like they know something that you don’t and proceed to not tell you anything.

“What.” You finally relent; cheeks puffed out of annoyance.

“Nothing.” She shrugs, sipping her orange juice.

“Soo!”

At your whine, she laughs and leans forward on the table, elbows propped and her chin on her palms, her knowing eyes glinting with amusement like a kid given a new toy to play with.

“Just that you both have spent a lot of time together these days.”

Huh, is that what she’s referring to?

“So?”

Jisoo rolls her eyes, and you pout at the way she’s shaking her head like you don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe you don’t.

“So.”

You look at her, unimpressed, and your friend cracks into a laugh before she reaches out to squeeze your cheeks.

“There’s nothing going on between us.” You finally relent and address it head on, Jisoo would never back down either way and you’d rather talk about it than risk a headache.

And it’s not like you’re hiding or even lying about it, there really is nothing between the two of you. Yes, he’s easy on the eyes and you may or may not be a little attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean there’s something going on between you two.

It’s just been some time since you meet someone new and the way you’d tense when he comes a little closer, or the way your heart would embarrassingly skip a beat when he steps into your practice room is nothing but a fleeting interest.

It’ll go away after a bit.

A wolf like Wonwoo wouldn’t want someone like you, anyway.

“We just talk about magic,” you offer the truth. It’s not like you and Wonwoo ever talk about anything else but your magic or the whereabouts of the pack and their patrolling schedules. None of you try to cross the line, never asking anything personal about each other even though it’s true that Wonwoo has spent more time by your side now compared to the other members of the pack. “He’s just interested in it, Soo, and I’m happy to talk about my runes.”

“He’s interested in your magic,” Jisoo insists, a teasing grin on her face.

You shake your head, and thankfully Jisoo drops the topic, not wanting to annoy you when you clearly don’t want to talk about it. She talks instead about the concerning number of attacks these days, how Jeonghan has been more antsy everytime she tells him she’s going out because he’s worried something would happen to her.

“What do you reckon is happening?”

Her tone is light, but you don’t need to be a genius to be able to detect the fear in her eyes.

The girl is fidgeting a little, and it’s at times like this that you feel like you have to be the older sister for Jisoo even though you’re younger than her. You’ve always admired her for going against everything and leaving her family behind to be with Jeonghan.

You’ve never really been a fan of romance, but you know it takes everything to be able to decide something as big as that. It’s not easy to be aware of the danger lurking in the dark, even more so when she’s just… human.

And you’ve offered to erase her memories if she chooses to leave your world and go back to her normal one, so she can live in ignorant bliss. But when she firmly rejects and says that she wants to be with Jeonghan and the pack, everyone swears they’d protect her with all their lives.

Yet, for her parents, Jisoo is nothing but a disgrace for choosing a man over her own blood.

It hurts you to know someone as sweet as Kim Jisoo is labeled a disgrace, but you also know her family has never really been a family to her–they do nothing but compare her to her older siblings who, according to human standards, are the perfect children.

And as much as it pains her to be constantly compared to the achievements of her siblings, Jisoo loves her family with all her heart. That’s just the kind of person she is. Which is why you know it took her an infinite amount of courage to tell them she’s never coming back, not offering them any explanations except that she’s going to move far away with Jeonghan who they simply know to be her human boyfriend.

Jeonghan marked her as his mate that night; a promise to take care of her for the rest of his life.

At least her siblings know deep down why she chooses to leave, and they would still update her from time to time to let her know they still want her in their lives.

“Don’t worry,” you try to sound as calm as possible, reaching for her hand as your finger grazes the bracelet on her wrist. It’s your gift for her, a protective talisman with your runes carved on the beads and magic flowing through it. The magic is connected to the rune in your necklace, and you’ll be notified once the bracelet detects danger upon Jisoo.

When the pack found out about this, they demanded to get one also and you ended up designing it for everyone; if any of you is in danger, everyone will know where to find the other. You’ve threatened them all to never take it off because you’ve even accustomed the talisman to their preferred form of jewelry.

Which reminds you, you should probably make one for Wonwoo too.

“We’ll protect you.” You grasp her hand firmly, trying to ease her worry.

She nods, and if the fear in her eyes isn’t enough, the way her heartbeat picks up tells you just how afraid Jisoo actually is.

You can’t blame her. How can you when you’re worried? The protective charms you’ve set on the town’s borders have been triggering the alarm nonstop every few days, detecting something that doesn't belong crossing to town. It has never been this distressing–has never detected so many hostile energies this often, too.

It used to be pretty peaceful even though your pack is always alert and ready–maybe only two or three creatures detected crossing the border in a month, and, most of the time, they aren’t hostile; just some faeries lost in the forest, or some nature spirits roaming the territory. The few common creatures that have to be fended off are usually wraiths, poltergeists, or maybe even other werewolves looking for troubles. (What are they thinking about, crossing another pack’s territory?)

Anyhow, since a few months ago, just two weeks before your pack’s encounter with Wonwoo, there have been more hostile creatures crossing the border, which is why you have been mostly anxious than you are alert. You know something strong crossed the border near then, but there was no attack whatsoever and the trace was so faint that you’re not able to track whatever crossed the border.

Whatever that thing is, it’s powerful. Powerful enough that you can’t detect its whereabouts despite its supposedly enormous power. Something that you probably haven’t faced yet–that you might not be strong enough to face yet.

You have a suspicion that it was the cause of all those attacks. But it doesn’t make sense, what could be strong enough to command those creatures and arrange their attacks? For what reason, too?

Nevertheless, you turn to Jisoo with what you hope to be a comforting smile and a squeeze of her hand.

“I promise Soo, we’ll protect you no matter what. And you know how to activate some of the rune stones that I’ve made for you, right? We’ve been practicing and you’re good. You’ll be fine.”

Wonwoo’s munching on his cereal in the dining room when you sit down next to him. He quirks an eyebrow, asking you a silent question because you never really approach him unless you’re together in your practice room, in which you’d often ask him to get this and that as you focus on your runes.

“Do you want a ring, bracelet, or a necklace?” you blurt out without context. “Or earrings, I guess.”

His questioning gaze burns the side of your face, and you hope he’s too sleepy to realize your heartbeat runs a little faster at that. It is only 8 on a Saturday anyway.

“For what?”

You point the moon pendant on your necklace. “A protective talisman to alert us if any of the pack is in danger. Everyone has one, I’ve just realized I haven’t made yours.”

Ah.

Wonwoo has been wondering if he’s just making things up when he notices the same pattern on everyone’s jewelry, so to know that it’s you who designed them for protection… Wonwoo can’t say he’s surprised. Something within him melts at your question, whilst everyone’s been accepting and no one seems to be skeptical of his presence in the pack, he truthfully still feels like he’s an outsider at times.

It’s the product of his own wall though, he admits. Wonwoo’s used to being alone, to be independent and to care for himself. He’s not selfish, but he never really goes out of his way to help people in need unless they ask for his help–so to be in a pack that apparently goes as far as protecting an entire territory because they feel responsible for the ignorant… it’s not an easy environment to adapt to.

So far, Wonwoo really only does it out of respect for Seungcheol and the rest of his pack. He never really feels like he has to help. He’s just doing his duty as a pack member. And while it does make him feel a certain type of things to know he’s helping people who are helpless and know no better, it’s not… out of the goodness of his heart.

Which brings him here, a weird tug in his heartstring at your question which basically embeds his place in the pack. He… really is Seungcheol’s beta, huh? He’s surprised to recognize the realization isn’t unpleasant. It’s quite the contrary, if he’s honest, like a warm blanket enveloping his chest even though he still tends to be alone most of the time.

Little steps. He’s only been there for three or so months anyway.

“Something that won’t get in the way.” He nods to himself and continues eating. When you simply stare at him without saying anything, he continues. “I don’t mind an earring or a ring.”

“Your ear is pierced?”

“No.”

You look at him weirdly.

“Getting pierced wouldn’t take long.” Your eyes wandered to his ear, the tip of his hair grazing it and you have to hold yourself back from reaching out and combing your fingers through his hair. “Do you have magic to do it for me?”

“My magic is rune magic,” you deadpan. “Do you want me to pierce your ear with the edge of my stone?”

The sound of his chuckle travels through your ears, and for a second, you wonder if you’ve heard his husky laugh like this. You don’t think you have, because if you do, you’re sure you wouldn’t stare at him as if gauging that you hear right.

“But I can probably do it.” You clear your throat before he notices you staring, averting your eyes elsewhere. “I did Minghao’s too. Just don’t complain if it hurts.”

“Did he complain?”

You glare at him, and Wonwoo hides his smile by taking another spoonful of the cereal.

“Any stones you prefer?” You ask again for some reason, even though you could’ve cared less when Jihoon whined he wanted a ruby instead of an emerald. You force yourself to believe that you just don’t want to make him something you’re not sure he’d like, but you know–you know you just want to be here longer and listen to him talk more.

Wonwoo hums, thinking to himself. You let him be, content with being able to look at him without having to be conscious of it. His eyes find yours then, and you hold his gaze because you can’t look away. You see a glint of gold glow through his eyes for a second, and you cough before you avert your gaze elsewhere before he realizes your ears are getting red out of embarrassment.

You can still feel his eyes on the side of your face for what feels like hours until he eventually says again.

“Moonstone.”

Your eyes find his again, unsure why the sound of his answer makes your face feels warm.

“I think they’re pretty.”

There’s no way he doesn’t catch the jump in your heartbeat. At least you get a glimpse of his grin before he looks the other way, his amusement isn’t lost on you.

Jeon fucking Wonwoo.

“An incubus?” Jeonghan’s voice rings through the silent room, the chills throughout his body obviously not due to the air conditioner in the room. Wonwoo sees you flinch a little, and then notices Minghao’s thumb softly caressing the skin near your knee. “Why would an incubus be in this town?”

Jisoo has to grip his hand to remind him to calm down, and if it’s not the warmth of her palm against his, you’re sure it’s the fear painting her eyes that makes Jeonghan exhale a deep breath and sit back down next to her.

“We saw a hellhound last month, Han,” Seungcheol reminds him grimly. “Not even in the forest, it’s literally on the main road. Pouncing on a human.”

You stare at the television, tuning out the rest of the pack’s conversation because you know they’re all antsy and it’ll be seconds away from another debate. Five young female adults have been reported missing since two weeks ago, one of them was found today–barely even sane.

“It’s the convenient store two blocks away from the public library.” Someone enters the living room with a resigned tone, making everyone turn to him at once. He’s still in his uniform, and you can feel how agitated he is from the way his shoulders tensed and the irregular pattern of his heartbeat. “That’s always the last place these girls were seen.”

“Do you have more details you can share with us?” Seungcheol asks, worried.

Chan sighs and closes his eyes in contempt. He feels utterly useless as a police officer; he knows everyone in the station believes this is a kidnapping episode, which is partly true, but they wouldn’t know what they’re going up against, that they can’t go against whatever’s kidnapping these girls either.

Since the beginning, he’s had a hunch that this must be another supernatural case and he’d have to yet again depend on the pack for this. He doesn’t want to be unsure, so he’s been keeping it to himself, but after the victim turned up and started spewing things that the other officers deem to be insane, Chan knows this can’t be normal.

“Where did you find the girl?” you ask him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

Chan is fairly new to the supernatural scene, and you know he’s being careful because he doesn’t yet understand the clear rule of this thing even though he’s already working with you for at least seven months. Before him, your pack used to work together with another guy called Kim Junmyeon, but Junmyeon has moved to another city with his family and has kindly introduced Chan to your pack as his successor last year.

It’s impossible to work on a case like this if you don’t get details (sometimes even backups) from authority. It took a while for your pack to eventually work together with Junmyeon; building the trust that he won’t tell a soul about the nature of your pack took months even though you’ve bound him with a blood pact that would never let him spill the secret the moment he found out about your kind, and then finding the dynamic and the best way to go around things without making the rest of the authority suspicious–that took you almost a year.

“Someone called 911 because they found someone unconscious on the side of the road,” he relays the info calmly. “But the hospital contacted us after identifying the girl as one of the missing persons on the news. Seungkwan was allowed to question her for a bit, but she seemed to be out of it and when he asked if the kidnapper did anything to her, she shook her head quickly and said she’s had enough–said how his eyes were glowing red and her body was tied with invincible ropes.”

You move to sit next to him, your hand rubbing his back comfortingly as you tell him to breathe because he seems so distraught it’s making you feel bad. Chan must’ve not expected this when he joined the force, and while you believe Junmyeon’s judgement and your judgement, you know he’s still easily shaken when things like this happen. His heart and sense of justice are in the right place, but it’s never easy to accept that he can’t really do anything but supply your pack support.

Wonwoo notices the slight glow on your palm, going up and down the younger guy’s back, and he can only guess you’re using your charm to make Chan relax; the guy does need it. He can see his tense shoulders easing a little, and the younger guy automatically leans to you as if to seek more comfort.

You seem tense too, have been since Jihoon brought up that it might be an incubus you’re going against. It’s a pretty obvious suggestion, if he’s being honest, though he knows that an incubus wouldn’t be that obvious unless it’s some sick power display.

As far as he knows, incubus prefers busy, metropolitan cities because there are many more unsuspecting females looking for fun. It takes longer for people to notice when someone goes missing, and they can leave the body just about anywhere when they’re done and no one would find it weird.

This town is fairly small, let alone five–having two people missing with so little time in between would quickly raise suspicions.

So why this town?

“Any more info Seungkwan got from the interview?” you coax softly, and by the way the rest of the pack simply stays silent and watches, Wonwoo guesses this has always been your role: to make people talk.

He doesn’t realize his eyes won’t leave the way your fingers are enclosed against Chan’s bicep in comfort.

“Not yet,” he sighs. “Seungkwan will get another chance to question her again tomorrow. I will inform you if we get something.”

So the pack concludes the meeting after talking a little more with Chan.

Because what else can you do?

But it’s midnight when Wonwoo finds you on the porch by yourself, your eyes a little lost and your fingers drawing patterns into your arm. By the looks of it, you either don’t notice he’s there or you’re just not acknowledging his presence (do you have werewolves hearing?). But when he clears his throat to let himself known, Wonwoo hears your heartbeat jumping for a second before it calms again at the sight of him.

It’s even calmer than the erratic heartbeat you had before.

He wonders why there’s something warm in his chest knowing his presence calms you down.

“Can’t sleep?” you ask, your arms securing the blanket around yourself further to ward off the cold.

He actually went down for water, and it’s pretty chilly outside and his pajamas aren’t doing much to warm him, yet Wonwoo finds himself saying yes and sitting down next to you on the small couch barely enough for two adults.

He’s undeniably conscious of the way your thigh presses against his.

“Can I tell you something?” you ask out of nowhere.

Despite the fact that you’ve only known him for a bit and you really only talk to him from time to time, there’s something about Wonwoo that has always comforted you.

You think it’s his solace.

Maybe it’s because you know Wonwoo knows how it feels to be alone, something that you’ve always had a problem with. Wonwoo is not lonely, that much you can tell, he’s simply content in being by himself. But you… as much as you know the pack loves you and they’d do anything for you, there’s always a part of you that feels like you don’t belong.

You’ve always envied Jisoo for being able to find her place in the pack despite being human, and you know, for her, this is the place that she belongs to. After going through a family that doesn’t value her worth, this pack is everything she could ever ask for.

But your blood makes you even more of an alien at times.

Wonwoo hums, and you take a deep breath before you let it out to him. You’re not even sure why you feel like talking about this to him; maybe he’s just in the right place when you need someone to be, maybe you’ve been bothered for far too long and he happens to be there.

Maybe you just want to talk to him.

“I’m… an outlier,” you admit with a heavy heart, and it’s the first time Wonwoo has ever felt the urge to reach for someone’s hand to comfort them. “I never found out why. But I have wolf blood without any power a werewolf is supposed to have except for the hearing. And mine isn’t even that sensitive.”

His eyes drop to your fingers, they’re gripping the material of your blanket so hard he’s sure they’d leave a mark. “My parents… their pack wouldn’t accept me. My dad kept on stalling, told them my power had just not awakened yet. They could only wait so much, eight years was already pushing it, but I was old enough to understand I wasn’t wanted–so I told my parents I’d like to live with my aunt. She’s a druid, so they’d know I’d be in good hands even though they’re reluctant to let me leave.”

Wonwoo stays silent, not because he doesn’t know what to ask but because he knows you have more to say.

“So I did. My aunt welcomed me with open arms, I helped her practice magic and I’d learned runes and everything she did for as long as she let me. She taught me about them just for fun because she knew they fascinated me. But when I turned 14, my magic awakened so she started teaching me properly.”

There’s a wistful smile on your face, and Wonwoo’s suddenly aware that you’re in a house full of werewolves. Are they awake? Can they all hear you? What will they think of you telling him this? He distinctly remembers you saying something about soundproof charms in each bedroom and a few other rooms, because constantly hearing each other really can’t be good for any of your sanity.

“I was happy, knowing that I have magic and I can do something about it. It’s not easy to be surrounded by werewolves for years and treated like you don’t belong, you know? I heard what they said, but my parents could only do so much. I longed so much for my wolf power, and even though what I got wasn’t that, I was more than happy to accept whatever I was given. I found happiness in my magic–that’s more than enough.”

You exhale a deep breath, the look in your face almost makes Wonwoo reach out and ask if you’re okay. But he feels like you’re in a trance, and he’s afraid he’d break the spell if he calls your name.

It pains him though, to know someone as gentle as you had to go through all that. Yes, he did wonder about your wolf blood, but he never thought you’re less than him even if what he assumed was true.

He’s been here for about three months, and he can’t count the amount of time he’s seen you comfort just about anyone who needs it. From Seungcheol who wouldn’t lean on anyone unless he’s about to burst, Jisoo who basically only confides you other than Jeonghan, or Minghao who would just lay his head on your lap if it’s been a long day… it’s clear to him that you’re the one that glues them together on top of their loyalty to Seungcheol and the pack.

You’re their emotional support.

And from what he gathers of your words, there’s a part of you that still feels like you don’t have a place here and he can’t even begin to think how that’s possible.

He looks up when he hears you sniffle, your eyes glossy with tears though you try your best to blink them back. “I was 19 when my aunt passed. Got taken away by an incubus and laid her life down trying to save me.”

Wonwoo actually reaches out now, his fingers finding your shoulder in hope it’ll comfort you somehow. You can feel his warmth even against the material of your blanket, and you take in a deep breath before you continue as you bask in the small form of comfort.

“I… Jeonghan found me when I was trying to run away. I was barely even conscious, having witnessed my aunt who practically raised me accepting her death,” you choke as you reach this part, and Wonwoo can’t help but scoot closer and pull you into his hold. He’s never really been one to comfort others, but what was he supposed to do when it’s just you and him and you’re being like that? Stay still?

“I fainted almost immediately,” you look down on your lap, trying your best to stay calm. You have no idea if the rapid heartbeat that’s beating against your ears is yours or his, but you really couldn’t care less because the only thing you can focus on is the feeling of his arm around you. “When I came to, I was in the pack’s house and Minghao was tending me. They said they already took care of the incubus and… yeah, that’s how I ended up here.”

Silence envelopes you both for a few moments, and it’s when you feel his fingers grip your arm a little tighter that you ready yourself for whatever he’s about to say.

You’d never expect what he says next though, and you’re already crying into his chest before you even realize.

“I’m glad you’re you.”

Wonwoo hisses harshly as you tend yet another wound, another attack of some lost, angry spirit that’s thankfully not too out of control.

You hold back a chuckle with twinkles in your eyes as he glares at you, telling you with his eyes that he knows you’re purposefully putting more pressure into the wound.

Seungcheol smiles softly at the exchange, and he looks up to meet Jeonghan’s knowing eyes.

It’s hard to define your relationship with Wonwoo after that. Evidently, you spend even more time together, and it almost feels like his presence alone is enough to calm you down when you’re not in your best state even though it’s only been a week or so since then.

Wonwoo would linger longer as you practice, as if trying to make sure you won’t break down crying again. And he’ll hover closer now, less reluctant about being near you to the point where it’s often for you to bump into him when you move even a little.

It’s a weird dynamic; as you both mostly talk when everyone else is not there. You’re not complaining though, and you’re thankful that despite the knowing looks the pack is giving you both, no one is saying anything about it.

You’re sure Wonwoo also notices them, but he, too, stays silent and continues his way of being around you.

Which brings you here, almost a month after that night, with Chan once again bringing bad news because, apparently, another female has gone missing since almost a week ago but is only reported to the office this morning.

“But,” he exhales deeply. “We got the missing hour because there’s a truck nearby when it happened and we got access to its dash cam.”

Everyone perks up at the news, but Wonwoo feels you tense beside him, most likely finding the thought of seeing an incubus repulsing even if you know it needs to be done. Your heartbeat jumps a little, and Wonwoo doesn’t miss a second to plant his palm on your back. You shoot him a grateful look, your heartbeat still erratic though you’ve relaxed a little, your body melting into his touch in the subtlest way possible.

Wonwoo can’t explain the tingles across his skin as you do so.

You shiver as the video plays, and you see what appears to be a man walking out of the convenience store with a woman in his arm. The woman is walking, perhaps even voluntarily if you judge from the video, but it’s easy to say her consciousness has probably been put to sleep.

He only appears for about a minute before eventually getting out of the camera’s angle. The guys watch a few times more, trying to see anything more, but you move away after the third time, sure that you’re not finding anything but an old scar opening the more you watch.

The concerned look Wonwoo throws your way makes you feel a bit better, but you can only offer him a weak smile before you settle back on your seat and get lost in your thoughts. Jisoo sits on your other side, her fingers linked with yours because everyone knows your stand on incubuses.

There have been a couple other encounters since that traumatic episode that led to you joining the pack, and while you managed to defeat the monster, you’re also incredibly shaken both times it happened. It was quite the trial to get you back to normal, the pain you’re feeling was so overwhelming that the pack could feel the torment off you.

“Is there a pattern?” Jihoon asks the million dollar question.

Unexpectedly, Chan nods his head yes.

“I don’t understand why a… uh, mythical creature would go by a code, but this guy seems to only strike a woman in her 20s, and they’re always last seen with a jacket. And, well, now we’re assuming the taken time is somewhere at 2 in the morning. We tried asking the cashiers who were on shift for the last two months, even showed them the video and asked to see their CCTV but, apparently, his face.. Uhh.. everyone describes him differently. The cashiers and the cleaners who were on shifts say the few regulars who come at those hours were usually university students, a woman in her late thirties, and two guys who usually come together. We’ve identified and talked to everyone but a few university students and some of them say they did notice a weird guy looming around sometimes but he’s always had his face covered by a shawl or mask. And, well, they say they never see him twice.”

“Some of them… can appear differently to everyone,” you say softly, fingers squeezing Jisoo’s without realizing. “This incubus must be a strong one–one that knows what he’s doing and he’s not just looking for fun. Presumably, he’s strong enough to infatuate people and make them see an image of what they consider… desirable.”

Everyone’s silent, their minds running on a thousand scenarios of what to do with the newfound information.

“And if I may remind you, these… things are demons, we can’t understand them. Maybe they do this just for fun, simply to make us confused. This is different with the incubuses we’ve encountered,” you continue, almost like a robot as the words come out of your mouth and your face remains blank. “We need to prepare more and think through this carefully before we do anything. There’s a chance he’s the one that’s been calling for the creatures the past few months.”

Seungcheol looks at you, the alpha in him almost angry at how small you seem to be right now. It’s in his nature to be protective, but he’s always been more protective of you because he knows how important your existence means to his pack, how the pack instinctively chooses to depend on you when he’s not available.

“It’s late,” he announces, even though everyone knows it’s only somewhere between 8 and 9 in the evening. It’s nowhere near late, but they have enough sense–even Chan–to know why Seungcheol deems the meeting enough. “We’ll discuss more later. Thanks, Chan.”

Everyone goes despite their worry, knowing you prefer to be alone with your thoughts and it’s not yet time for them to voice their concern. It’s Seungcheol, Jisoo and Wonwoo who stay, the alpha and the two people who are sitting beside you to begin with. Seungcheol eventually leaves too after his wolf calms down, sure that it’s okay to leave you alone. He drops a kiss on top of your head before squeezing Wonwoo’s shoulder as if to tell him to take care of you in his place and returns to his room.

“Moon?” Jisoo whispers gently, her thumb caressing the back of your hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”

You don’t say anything, but you shake your head and that’s enough for her because at least you’re answering. She’s witnessed how you had to deal with this before and it’s really not something Jisoo wants to relive again. And if she’s feeling that way, she can only imagine what goes inside your mind.

“Do you want me to leave?” she offers, sharing a concerned look with Wonwoo when you stay silent. Pressing her lips together, Jisoo translates your silence as a ‘yes’ and she whispers comfort to your ears before letting go and taking her leave.

Wonwoo moves to stand up too, figuring you wouldn’t want his presence if you don’t want Jisoo’s. But your fingers move to grasp the end of his shirt, your eyes asking him to stay. So he does–eyes meeting Jisoo’s for a split second as she sends him a gentle smile.

He sits back down next to you, your fingers now gathered on your lap as you look down on them. You’re not sure why you did that. Why did you even reach for him? Did you expect him to comfort you?

“Hey,” he nudges you a little. “You don’t need to bear it by yourself, you know?”

Your tears well up at his words, and Wonwoo quickly takes your hand in his and pulls you to his room before anyone hears you’re crying. They’re worried enough already.

“I’m sorry, I–”

“Ssh,” he cuts you off and pulls you into his embrace. “You don’t need to explain anything to me.”

You take a sharp breath at that, burying yourself further into his collarbone as you steady your breathing because you don’t want to cry over this anymore. Wonwoo’s scent engulfs you and, after so long that you don’t even remember when was the last time it happened, your wolf feels content and you almost purr at the way his arms cage you in like he’s always known that calms you down.

“Don’t feel like crying?” he asks after a while, his finger caressing your arm as you stay in his embrace. You shake your head, and he can feel your hold getting tighter around his waist. “You want to talk?”

Your fingers grip his shirt a little before you eventually nod. A thought passed by your head for a moment; wondering if you didn’t want to talk earlier because you were out in the open, or if you simply wanted to talk to Wonwoo and no one else.

Whatever it is, Wonwoo pulls you to his bed; thigh to thigh, shoulder to shoulder. You’re pressed against each other for no reason at all. You’re not complaining though, and you can even feel your wolf whine when Wonwoo steps away for a bit to rearrange something on his bedside table for three seconds.

“I’m tired…” you start, fingers digging into your palm. “I’m tired of being afraid everytime we encounter this thing.”

Wonwoo lets you speak, figuring that you’d been wanting to say this for quite some time but unsure where to unload.

“I know no one’s asking me to be okay. They’d probably ask me to stay in if that’s what’s best for me. And even though it’s not often that we see an incubus, I’m tired of freezing up at the mention of it, Won. And this one is most likely more dangerous than the ones we’ve fought before and I can’t freak out because Jisoo will be terrified and we need to protect her. But it’s not something that I can control and I’ve been telling myself that–”

You freeze when another pair of lips slots against yours, closing your eyes after a second and you melt when Wonwoo softly grasps your cheeks with his palms to deepen the kiss. Nothing else is happening though; it’s not rushed and it’s just your lips against his over and over again, your hands lay on top of his as he cups your face.

He pulls away when he feels you relax, hazy eyes finding each other before his eyes drop to your lips and he presses his lips once again for a short, chaste kiss.

“Sorry… my wolf…”

You chuckle and shake your head a little, cheeks a little warm at the way he’s still grasping your face and the way his eyes are piercing you. “Mine too. It’s fine.”

Wonwoo smiles; this is something you both would need to address, but now is not the time and he really kissed you because you seemed to panic and he wanted to stop you for a bit.

And, well, his wolf has been craving for you, which brings you both to the current situation.

“Take a breath, okay?” he whispers, squaring up his shoulders and pulling away a little even though his palms stay firm where they’re at. He asks you to breathe with him, and when he’s sure you’ve calmed down enough, he asks if you still want to talk about it.

You bite your lip at the question and, in the end, you can only repeat what you’ve told him. “I just… I’m afraid, Won. What if I’m not strong enough to fight him? To protect Jisoo? To help you guys?”

“You’re not doing this alone, Moon,” he reminds you; his deep voice is everything you need to calm your heartbeat. “I know I haven’t been here for long and you probably know this better, but… we’re a pack for a reason. We’ll find a way together and we’ll think this through together. I’ll protect you, okay?”

The next two weeks, the pack is busy training and discussing strategies. You’re mostly in your room, preparing all sorts of runes that might be necessary. But, most importantly, you’re making as many protective runes as you can to make sure Jisoo would stay safe. She’d be staying at the house pack, like she always does when you’re all going out for an attack.

You’re usually okay with leaving her alone, confident that your protection is strong enough. But knowing an incubus is behind all this, you can’t help but feel like you need to put an extra layer of protection in any kind of form.

“The wards are set on all perimeters,” Wonwoo informs you as he steps into the room. He was just out with Jihoon to check on the wards around the town, making sure they’re all still intact. You’ve made sure to strengthen them too, because even though the incubus is presumably already in town, you need to make sure he’s not summoning other creatures again. “You put on wards every 3 meters around the house until it reaches the main road?”

You hum, murmuring a short thanks when he places an iced coffee on your table. “Gotta make sure Jisoo is safe. I’ve prepared preactivated runes too for her defense just in case.”

“Oh, the ones that blow up when they’re destroyed?”

“Yup.” You pop the ‘p’, and then stop what you’re doing when you remember something. “Oh, right. I meant to give this to you.”

Wonwoo looks up as you rummage through your small wooden box, pulling out a single ring with small stones adorning one side.

“It took me quite some time to find a moonstone, which is why I only managed to finish this now, but here’s your ring.”

He cocks his eyebrow when you put it on his palm, and you tilt your head to the side, not getting what he’s on about.

“Proposing to me already?”

“Wonwoo!”

He laughs when you try to pinch his side, wincing a little at the sting though he’s just glad you seem to finally relax even if only for a few seconds.

“Thanks,” he grins, putting it on his middle finger. “I was kidding about the moonstone, you know? You can just use anything and I would’ve taken it anyway.”

You shrug, telling him you need to keep it in stock anyway. You crack your neck to the side, and Wonwoo frowns at how stiff your body seems to be. He tells you to sit down on the sofa and take a short break, taking your iced coffee with him before you can protest. Just in time, Jisoo walks in with Minghao, bringing tartlets with her.

“Oh, you managed to sit her down.” Jisoo nods appreciatively, setting down the tartlets on the coffee table as she sits next to you and Minghao settles on the floor instead, his figure near your legs. “She’s been standing for too long and she wouldn’t answer when I call for her.”

“She probably tunes you out,” Minghao happily supplies, taking one of the treats and offering you a bite after he does. You happily munch on the dessert, almost choking when Minghao flips another topic. “Anyway, what was that earlier about proposal?”

Wonwoo bursts out laughing as Jisoo tries to grasp the conversation, already used to this kinda situation though it still frustrates her at times. She catches the new accessory on his finger though, and Jisoo immediately grasps his hand and shows Minghao the ring as they all continue to tease you about it.

It’s been like this since a few days ago. The pack has been teasing you both when they figure you’re comfortable enough for that. They’ve caught you with Wonwoo a lot since that day, and they kept quiet because you still looked stressed, simply grateful that Wonwoo seems to be able to comfort you more than any of them could ever do.

They know.

They know.

And they didn’t say anything, still.

But it’s a few days ago when everyone was huddled together in the living room for a movie night. Seungcheol said everyone deserves a break after the amount of training and decided that the pack should just chill together for the night.

You’re particularly tired that day, because you spent the day sparring with Jihoon to make sure you’re not rusty. It went well, but it had been quite some time since you physically trained yourself so it felt like your energy was just drained the moment you stepped into the house.

Everyone was already in the living room when the two of you arrived (minus Jisoo and Wonwoo who were preparing food in the kitchen), and after Minghao informed you it’s movie night, you quickly washed up so you could join them immediately because you’ve missed chilling and being surrounded by these puppies without talking about attacks.

Your body was moving on autopilot once you finished washing up and returned to the living room, because you’re just so drained and your body naturally seek for comfort. Before you even realized, you’re already plopping yourself into Wonwoo’s lap and your head was nestled on his neck.

Wonwoo was so startled that his arms stayed frozen, hovering over your waist and didn’t curl around your figure like they usually would when it’s just the two of you. It took you a full 5 seconds to realize why the room was strangely quiet out of nowhere, and it was already too late for you to deny anything so you just shyly hid yourself deeper into his neck and succumbed to his warmth when he finally wrapped his arms around you.

“Anyway, it will shine when any of us is in danger. My magic will tell you who’s in danger as long as you have it on.” you tell him as he inspects his ring. “And it’ll get warmer the closer you are to them so it’ll help even if it’s not much. Jisoo’s is more sensitive than ours, so what’s considered dangerous for her and for us might be different.”

“So it’s not a proposal?” Minghao asks just to be annoying.

“Okay, let’s stop about the proposal,” Seungcheol announces his presence as he leans on the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. “My Moon is still a child and I will not allow it.”

Jisoo snickers while you laugh at that, knowing full well that Seungcheol will probably let you marry Wonwoo this instant if that’s what you want. He’s your alpha, you’re sure he knows what’s happening between you and Wonwoo before you two even realize yourself.

Which is a weird thought, because you haven’t talked about whatever it is between the two of you. You both decide to focus on the problem at hand, figuring out your relationship could wait.

But it’s clear. And it’s so obvious that your wolf craves for him. Its existence has never been this prominent until Wonwoo.

Anyway, you’re pretty sure Wonwoo can feel the pull too, and you two are just doing a very good job not entertaining the thought because, else, you would’ve jumped at him every single time you’re left alone with the guy.

“Chan’s coming in a bit. Come to the living room after you’re done with your desserts, alright?” He steps in to ruffle your hair and leaves just like that, not waiting for an answer.

You nod at that, taking a deep breath at the thought of discussing it yet again. Wonwoo catches your eyes, giving you an encouraging smile as Jisoo feeds you some more and Minghao hugs your legs before he leans his head on your knee.

You almost cry at how loved you feel right now.

“I’ll be bait,” you say as calmly as you can despite the erratic way your heart is beating.

“No!” you’re not even sure who says it, probably everyone–bewildered that you would volunteer to do that.

“There’s no other choice and you guys know it.” Your tone is determined even though they know you’re scared, and they know there’s little they can do when your mind is made. You’re probably more stubborn than their alpha at that point. “He only goes for a woman. We can’t afford to use Jisoo. Do you have any other alternatives than to bait him?”

Everyone shuts up at that, knowing that you’re right. They want to believe there’s another choice, but if the incubus is as strong as you assume it to be, as you paint it to be… 

“Anyway, that’s not the important bit,” you pretend to brush it off to change the topic, not wanting the guys to worry too much even though their concern isn’t groundless. “What’s important is what we are going to do after that.”

Everyone’s still wary, and you can feel Wonwoo’s burning gaze on the side of your face though you refuse to acknowledge it. You know he most likely doesn’t agree with your decision–what with the… uhh… relationship between the two of you, he does have the right to be skeptical of your decision. After all, you would be too if this was the other way around.

You’ll talk to him after this.

It’s not that hard to distract everyone with the new topic, because you do need a proper strategy and this one is like never before. After an hour or so, you’re not really listening to them, because you’re busy reading through the old book of your aunt’s to find out more about incubi.

You can’t quite describe the rush that goes through your body as you do so, and while your fear is still there, there’s a new kind of determination that flows through you at the thought of defeating an incubus that’s been wreaking havoc in your little town. Perhaps, the thought crosses your mind, this could be your chance of finally making peace with your past.

The few incubi that you’ve encountered were weak enough to be defeated without you having to use any exceptional magic–some defensive and fire runes and they’re done for. But this one? You’ve been practicing your magic, exerting yourself to summon fire and control your surroundings even though that’s not your expertise.

Wonwoo, Seungcheol, and Jisoo have been taking turns in scolding you, because they can tell you’re getting more and more drained the more you practice. On one hand, they understand where you’re coming from, why you’ve been doing it–but on another, it’s obvious that you’re getting paler by the day and they don’t see what good it would do if you’re not even going to be in your prime condition later on.

It’s midnight when Wonwoo finds you perched on the balcony, and the scene looks awfully familiar to him as he remembers that time he found you alone–the night when it all began.

“Moon?”

You hum to acknowledge him, though you don’t turn and you hear him closing the door before you ask, “Can’t sleep?”

Wonwoo chuckles at the question, the exact same one you asked him those nights ago.

“Was looking for you.” He’s glad he can say it out loud now, no longer having to be careful with his affections towards you.

“Miss me already?” you joke, reminding him it was just an hour ago you were together in the living room before everyone left for bed. Unexpectedly, Wonwoo hums an affirmation, his deep voice whispers a low ‘yes’ before his arms cage you from behind, his chest meeting your back.

Wonwoo’s more affectionate since that day, not that you’re complaining, and even though he still lays low with the PDA, it is true that he’s been more touchy for some reason. You think it’s his wolf, because, like right now, it’s become his favorite thing to just bury his nose to the crook of your neck like a puppy. It tickles, but you welcome the sensation of his warm breath against your skin so you don’t intend to say anything about it.

“Want to share your mind?” he asks after placing a soft kiss on your neck, his chin on your shoulder. The position must’ve been uncomfortable–what, with his height and all–but he doesn’t seem to mind and you don’t have any reason to refuse his touch.

“You know.”

And he does. He actually does. And it stirs something within him to know there’s little to nothing he can do to help you feel better. His arms move to hold you by the waist instead, and it’s crazy how serene he’s feeling despite the rowdy rhythm his heart is beating into when you snuggle further into his embrace, your thumb caressing his arm.

He knows you don’t need words right now, knows that nothing that comes out of his mouth would comfort you in any way–he’s said all that he could say too, and if he were to say those again, it would just be repetitions and he imagines he wouldn’t like those if it was him in your position.

So he doesn’t say anything and you don’t either. But you slightly pull from him just so you can turn around and take your turn to bury your nose against his neck. You’re not sure how long the two of you spend just standing like that–simply reveling in the way that you’re against each other under the moonlight, his arms around you and his (now) steady heartbeat beating against your ear.

And for the first time in two weeks, you can finally relax and stop thinking about whatever kind of doom that awaits your pack.

[𓇬𓇬𓇬]

The attack will take place in three days. The pack (and Chan) has agreed that would be the perfect time because it’s going to be a full moon and their wolves are always stronger during a full moon–even yours. You always feel the most like a werewolf during those times, something that your parents know, also the reason why they’ve taken to calling you ‘Moon’.

That said, it’d be the safest time for you to be bait because your wolf would be stronger on top of your magic. They’re still unhappy with this part of the plain, but have long accepted that they’d never win against your made mind.

Jeonghan, Seungcheol, and Wonwoo are currently out on patrol while everyone else is at the pack house. Jihoon is probably sleeping while you, Jisoo, and Minghao are in the living room talking about magic. Minghao has a little magic within him, not strong enough to use it for fights though it helps to make them trip or get confused from time to time. And Jisoo, well, she finds it fascinating, still.

You’re telling Minghao about runes when Jeonghan barges into the living room, breath heavy and chest heaving hardly like he’s run a marathon, his hurried voice calling your real name and you know it couldn’t be good. Did something happen during the patrol?

Seungcheol is right behind him, and he’s looking at you with something akin to guilt that he immediately drops to his knees and buries his face into your middle. His arms are holding you a little too tight that it slightly hurts, but it’s the look in Jeonghan’s face that gets your heart rate spiking beyond control and goosebumps on your skin.

“They got Wonwoo.” The room immediately goes silent at that, and what he says next barely even registers to you as you look at him wide-eyed, your heart immediately dropping to your stomach and you stay frozen where you’re at. “We–we got ambushed and… and they took him. I’m sorry, Moon.”

Jisoo is quick to take your hand, and you’re so shaken that your mouth keeps on opening and closing without anything coming out of it.

Seungcheol whimpers as his arms tighten even more around you, and you can’t tell if he’s upset or agitated. Probably both; he’s an alpha whose beta has just been taken, presumably right under his nose too. He keeps on whispering something that sounds like apologies.

“We tried to go for him but they masked their smell and we got tricked and–”

“Did they leave anything?”

The older man flinches at your curt tone, though he’s still more worried than he is scared. He nods nevertheless, and he hands you a black feather that you inspect with blank eyes though your minds are already running with a thousand scenarios of how to get Wonwoo back safe and sound.

“This…” you close your eyes in contempt as you finally recognize the feather. “Were you… was there a harpy when you were attacked?”

You release a frustrated sigh when Jeonghan nods. “They’re baiting us. They want us to find them. Harpies’ feathers don’t fall off. They don’t shed, they leave it on purpose so we can track them.”

It’s almost like something switched within Seungcheol at the revelation, and his emotion is so prominent that everyone except Jisoo slightly cowers at his alpha mode, your wolves submitting to him. Jihoon even turns up, his wolf recognizing the distress of his alpha and the whole pack that he woke up not long after Jeonghan and Seungcheol arrived.

“So they want us to attack?” Seungcheol practically growls as he stands up tall, his fingers balled into fists. “Call Chan and tell him there’s a change of plan. If he doesn’t answer in five minutes, we’re doing this without him.”

Chan picks up on the first ring and arrives ten minutes later.

The strategy, to put it simply, doesn’t really exist. The whole bait thing is obviously off the table and now that you know for sure where they’re at, you just need to pick the right time to go and how you’re going to infiltrate them.

If what you assume is true, they must’ve been waiting for you to arrive, too. Are they expecting an attack? Do they want to taunt you? This doesn’t make sense to you.

But, then again, your mind is all over the place because the only thing you can focus on is that they’ve got your Wonwoo and who knows what they’re doing to him now, what they will be doing to him if you don’t come as soon as they wish you to be. They wouldn’t be kind enough to wait for the full moon, knowing you guys are a pack of werewolves.

“As far as I know, there’s an abandoned lab there,” Chan supplies helpfully after you’ve successfully pinpointed their location. “It belonged to an old hospital that’s acquired by a new management, and the new owner couldn’t be bothered to take care of the lab because that building actually belonged to another owner and not the one they bought the hospital from? Anyway, that’s why that building is abandoned and, uh, no one really bothered to do anything about it.”

“Do you have the layout?”

“No,” Chan shakes his head. “But I know it’s just a two-level building with a lot of rooms. Storages, you know? I reckon the layout itself shouldn’t be too complicated. What might be a problem is that… it’s long and big. Imagine a small hospital. Or maybe school? It’s of that size.”

“Okay,” you exhale a deep breath. “So we split. Seungcheol with Jihoon, and Jeonghan with Minghao.”

“And you?” Seungcheol’s so repulsed by the thought of you going in alone that his eyes glowed golden for a bit. You plant your palm on his arm in hope it will calm him down, and it does, at least enough for his eyes to turn back into its hazel shade and you tell him you don’t mind going in with either group.

“Chan, you stay at the pack house with Jisoo. Protect her and be mindful of our signal just in case we’d need police backup, Jisoo would know and she will tell you.” You instruct him carefully, and then proceed to run over the preactivated runes with Jisoo once again. You’ve even given Chan some too just in case, and you have him practice with you while the others get ready. You don’t want to risk anything happening to Wonwoo, so you’ve all unanimously decided that you must go tonight.

You zone out helplessly as you play with your necklace, a glimpse of hope running past you because it hasn’t reacted at all–which means Wonwoo is safe. He’s not put in any immediate danger for your charms to react.

A strong hand finds your shoulder, making you jump a little and taking you out of your trace. “We’ll save him. Wonwoo will be fine.”

Seungcheol sees a speck of gold glistening through your eyes for a millisecond, something that he has never seen in you.

“He has to be.” Your voice is barely a whisper, but it’s firm and it sounds like a promise. He almost flinches at your next words, and he knows if it comes to it, there’s nothing he can do to stop you. “I’ll destroy them if he’s not.”

[𓇬𓇬𓇬]

Unfortunately, Chan is wrong.

The house is way more complicated than he makes it to be and you’re pretty sure Jeonghan and Minghao are fighting against something by the faint sound of growls and things falling to the ground from the other side of the building.

At least the place isn’t as guarded as you prepared yourselves for. Either the incubus is too arrogant for his own good, or you haven’t encountered his subordinates yet. You’ve expected each room to be guarded, but safe for the hellhounds that were guarding the front gate and whatever creatures Minghao and Jeonghan are fighting against; there’s nothing else yet.

But, then again, you shouldn’t be jinxing yourself because, next thing you know, a harpy and what you assume to be a ghoul are attacking the three of you. The ghoul throws you to the wall hard enough that there’s a little crack when you slide down the wall, Seungcheol turns to where you’re at and growl. You groan from the sudden pain, but you attack back immediately after you stand back on your feet, whispering spells as you throw your runes at them.

That’s enough seconds for Seungcheol and Jihoon to take control of the situation.

You activate your other runes while you’re at it, making sure the two monsters wouldn’t be able to leave the room. You’re about to draw a magic circle when you feel your pendant warming up, and by the bewildered look Seungcheol and Jihoon send your way, you know they’re both aware why it’s warming up.

Wonwoo.

“Go!” Seungcheol screams, pouncing on the ghoul as Jihoon takes care of the harpy. “Find him! We’ll catch up with you.”

You nod with determination and then set up a few other runes before you run out of the room. Wonwoo’s near enough for your bracelet to react, and you run to wherever your feet are taking you, only to freeze on the spot when you see Wonwoo being chained down like he’s some kind of criminal deserving such confinement.

He looks up at you, and you almost cry at how weak he looks despite the clean state of his face–no blood whatsoever. If you’re not too blinded by your worry and the overwhelming feelings of seeing Wonwoo again even if it has only been hours, you’d realize how easy things seem to be. Spending hours thinking about what these things might be doing to Wonwoo feels like years, you admit no matter how dramatic that sounds.

Your worry mixed with fear does not make a good recipe even for only a few hours.

You kneel in front of him, gentle hands cradling his cheeks as you examine his worn out face. There’s not a single scratch on his face, but he might as well look like his soul is sucked out of his body little by little and his eyes are a little empty that tears prick your eyes.

“What did they do to you?” you whisper weakly. Wonwoo doesn’t even have the energy to answer you, though his eyes find yours and he sends you a defeated smile. He coughs at the effort to do that, and that’s when you snap out of it and immediately try to rid him of the chains on his wrists.

“Uh, don’t think it’s a good idea,” an eerie voice greets you, which makes you take a protective stance in front of Wonwoo. You gulp as you take the man in front of you, and if the aura he’s emitting alone isn’t already telling you that he’s the incubus, the horns protruding between his hair certainly did the job. “You see, if you try to force open that chain, that… uh, necklace he has on will thrust silver into his neck and, well, we don’t want that, right?”

The creature has it in him to grin at the pure rage in your eyes when you glare at him, only then realizing they’ve put on a collar on Wonwoo that’s apparently lethal for his being.

“What do you want?”

“In a hurry, are we?” he whistles as he glances at Wonwoo staggering behind you. “I think your furry mate isn't in any condition to go anywhere though?”

You try your best to calm down, because he’d want you unfocused and all over the place. Whatever it is that he wants from your pack, it must have something to do with you if it’s Wonwoo he’s taken.

“What do you want.” You press, not wanting to spend any more second in his presence if you can help it. If not for you then definitely for Wonwoo. If the collar is actually infused with silver as he claims it to be, it’s no wonder Wonwoo is rendered this way. The matter is lethal to werewolves and your neck is tightening at the thought of it; you can only imagine how Wonwoo is feeling.

You’ve never liked dealing with creatures with human natures; they’re too cocky for their own good and it’s getting under your skin. Monsters, you can easily deal with–defeat them and that’s it. But creatures like incubuses, shapeshifters, demons, and so on have human natures and they enjoy instilling fear–enjoy that they’re making the other party scared shitless. They taunt and taunt and taunt until you’re no longer sure which one’s a bluff and which one’s an actual threat.

It’s not enough that you’re scared. They want you confused and they want to play with your minds.

“Okay, because you’ve so politely asked.”

You truly don’t know how he managed to hold you against him within seconds, his scent engulfing you and you almost whimper in fear at the way he noses your hair. And for the first time since you’ve arrived, you see Wonwoo snap his neck up and he practically growls with every strength he still has in him.

“Sol.” He calls for someone, and a wraith appears immediately, bowing his head so low in front of the incubus he almost folds himself in half. “Release the dog.”

Sol treats him so roughly that you step forward to intervene, enraged by the way they address him, but the incubus holds you in place from behind, the hands on your shoulders bringing shivers down your spine, and whispers closely against your ear, his voice firm and brings chills throughout your body.

“Behave, doll. You know what we can do to him,” he reminds you, his teeth grazing your ear that you shiver at the touch. You’d probably be crumbling with fear if not for Wonwoo–your worry for him overrides your traumatic experience with incubi. You want Wonwoo safe, whether you are also safe or not is not important.

What’s important is you don’t want Wonwoo anywhere near this thing and you’re going to make it happen no matter what.

Wonwoo slumps forward the moment he’s released from the chain and the collar, and he coughs so violently like he’s drawing out blood. It doesn’t take him long to get back on his feet though, and even though he’s still weak, there’s an enormous amount of rage within him at the way you’re held against the demon which fuels his body even if his strength was basically nonexistent.

It’s then that he realizes Sol is still holding him, a silver knife against his throat so you both immediately freeze as if breathing would even hurt him.

“Tsk,” the incubus clicks his tongue in annoyance, his fingers descending to your arm and running down your skin. “Ungrateful kids. I released you from your chain and that’s the attitude you’re giving me?”

He grins at the way you go stiff on his hold; a maniac grin so wide that it brings shivers even to Wonwoo who’s a good two meters away.

“Can you guys smell this?” he mocks, his nose nuzzling your neck and Wonwoo tightens his jaw at the sight–agitated and boiling with fury because no one should do that to you; no one should make your eyes sting with fear and your body turn into stone.

He’s worried. But, above all, he’s angry and he feels so fucking useless because he can’t do anything but watch you hopelessly from where he’s at–with a silver knife against his throat that he can feel himself weakening yet again.

What did he say? That he’ll protect you?

What a fucking joke.

“You can’t?” His mocking voice resonates once again, and you can feel his smirk even if you can’t see it yourself. You’re trying your best to focus on Wonwoo instead, and even though your body is still frozen in fear because this incubus is basically pressed against you and you can feel your throat closing up–either from your fear of the proximity or because you can’t stand to see Wonwoo like this, so weak that he’s probably using everything he has to stand on his feet.

Probably both.

“I thought you dogs have such a great sense of smell,” he continues his monologue, still holding you against himself. “But since I’m so kind, I will generously let you know. It’s the smell of dread. Of horror, and, oh, it’s the second most beautiful thing I’d ever encounter. Almost as beautiful as your sexual energy.”

You don’t think it’s possible, but you stiffen even more at his words. These creatures are sexual beings, and you forgot about it because you’re too busy worrying over Wonwoo and your initial fear towards those things have more to do with the death of your aunt than anything. But now that he mentions it–

“And you’re so powerful too,” he hums against your neck, lips grazing your skin and you genuinely feel like throwing up at the contact. You can’t do anything; not when he has his subordinate pressing a silver knife against Wonwoo’s throat, the smallest cut and Wonwoo would probably be paralyzed for God knows how long and the after effect once he wakes up wouldn’t be pretty, too. “You probably knew I took him to bait you, didn’t you? Smart little thing.”

“Get away from her.” Wonwoo growls, his eyes shining bright golden as he does so. Sol presses the blade’s spine deeper to Wonwoo’s neck, unamused with his move.

“Oh, mutt has something to say?” His voice is so sickening, and you hate yourself so much for being immobile under his grasp, unable to do anything but close your eyes when his fingers brush your cheek, his forefinger and thumb stopping on your chin to tilt it up. “Open your eyes, doll. You don’t want to disobey me.”

Your sight is blurry when you do, glassy with tears though it’s still clear to you that Wonwoo is whimpering on the ground, the silver pressed tightly against his neck can easily cut through his skin if Sol tilts the blade even slightly.

They’re doing this to play with you and Wonwoo, and you ask once again what it is that he wants just so Sol would put the knife away from him. What even is Wonwoo suffering for?

“Oh, it’s not obvious?” he slurs his voice, his palm now fully grasping your cheek so you’d turn to him.

Wonwoo tightens his jaw at the scene in front of him, wondering if the guys are still busy outside and if it’s still going to take them long to come here.

He doesn’t want to be rash–can’t be either because the silver pressed against his skin is draining his strength away. He can’t even stand up at this point, and his consciousness is slowly slipping away because the blade keeps on touching his skin. But you look so pale and pretty much petrified that he just wants to do something–anything that would make the aghast look on your face go away.

Wonwoo’s trying his best to stay still as the incubus nuzzles his nose further into your neck, and something is burning in his chest at the way you flinch and hold your breath as he sees the fingers on your arms clutching your tighter.

“Why do you think I’ve been taking those girls? Summoning those creatures?” he drags on. “I’m not interested in humans. Their energy runs out fast and they’re not fun to play with. You… on the other hand.”

You detest the way he's scenting your cheek, his lips grazing the skin there as he grins wider at the way you’re almost shaking from his touch. “Powerful little thing, aren’t you? These mutts wouldn’t last a day without your help fighting those things. I know you already put two and two together; smart girl wants to wait for the full moon to attack, hm?”

You’re thinking of ways to get away from this thing, but anything sort of reckless wouldn’t do good as much as you wish to just use your rune and make a run for it. There’s too much at stake, but most importantly, you can’t risk the wraith actually gashing Wonwoo. What are the members doing outside? How much longer would you have to wait for them? You need at least two of them here, serving as a distraction to buy time so you can use your magic.

“I can’t wait to taste you, doll,” he bares his teeth, and Wonwoo’s fuming even more than he already was, which you didn’t think was possible.

And it’s then that the door bursts open, Seungcheol panting along with Jihoon, Jeonghan, and Minghao right behind him. There’s no time for a grand entrance though, and that split second is enough opening for Seungcheol and Jeonghan to pounce on the incubus behind you, making you fall on your knees from the sudden force.

You can hear the incubus growls from behind, but you look up to see Sol grinning despite Jihoon handling him down, and your eyes widen in horror when you realize why he’s grinning. Minghao’s holding Wonwoo in panic, and you don’t even have it in you to scream, your feet moving on their own because there’s blood slipping down his neck.

You take him away from Minghao, and you hear Wonwoo moans weakly when you quickly use your magic to at least stop the bleeding. Your eyes are red with angry tears; angry that Wonwoo’s hurt for no reason at all, that he has to endure this because the incubus wants you, that humans in this area turn into victims for nothing but entertainment.

It’s Wonwoo’s weak grasp on your wrist that snaps you out of it, and he’s saying something stupid like he’s fine and that you should focus on defeating that thing instead of healing him. You’d argue with him if not for the severity of the situation, and you’re honestly just trying your best to stop his wound from opening up before you get back to attack; Seungcheol and Jeonghan has got the situation for now, you can tell from the way the incubus is struggling against them.

Sol is slumped on the floor, because Jihoon is smart enough to take the silver knife from him and stabs the monster with it because the matter is just as lethal to wraith as it is to werewolf. A group of wraiths enter the room not long after, having been summoned by the incubus and unhappy to see their kin knocked out on the ground.

The incubus grins maniacally when the three werewolves upon him loosen their grip at the commotion. But Seungcheol is stronger than that, and even if he orders the other two to leave the incubus to him as they help Minghao take care of the wraiths, it’s easy to tell Seungcheol is starting to get tired.

They roll on the floor, fighting each other physically, trying to assert dominance over the other and your hands get frantic with Wonwoo on your lap.

“Moon–stop,” Wonwoo whispers weakly. “Seungcheol needs help. I’m good enough for now.”

The wound won’t close and his consciousness is escaping yet again, and you’re about to refuse but a hoard of hellhounds come in and you’ve got no choice but to stop trying to stop his bleeding. It has slowed down at least, and you take comfort in that until Wonwoo actually goes slack on your lap, his neck gushing with blood that you’re sure would leave a scar. His healing ability can’t catch up with the silver and this is already the most you can do in such a tight time.

Despite the rowdy situation in the room, your sob sounds way too clear in everyone’s ears, alerting them all in panic. It’s not sad though; and when they turn to see you, you’re already standing up with tears running down your face. But you don’t try to wipe them, simply let them be as your eyes glow the most golden with a speck of red, the first time Seungcheol has ever feltyour wolf and magic this strong.

Momentarily, everything stops and they’re all staring at you; overwhelmed by the sheer power you’re emitting. Even the hellhounds whimper at this, some of them retreating through the shadows.

Your eyes are locked on the incubus beneath Seungcheol, and it’s pure rage that he registers in your eyes–your aura. He’s sure he’s not imagining the way you seem to almost glow with power, the feeling so immense that his wolf almost wants to submit to you.

For whatever reason, the devil has it in him to smirk, whispering something about how good you’d taste once he has you under him. Seungcheol’s about to attack him for the comment, but he’s suddenly twisting in pain that Seungcheol lets go of him, skin burning hot like he’s boiling inside out.

He’s looking at the scene in front of him in horror, and it’s when he looks at the way you’re snapping your wrist that it’s you doing this. He doesn’t know how you learn to do this, because, as far as he knows, you never did. It’s your rage running over your magic, he concludes, and he sees Wonwoo fainted on the ground and he can’t blame you for reacting this way even if it worries him.

He knows the both of you haven’t addressed it, but it’s clear that your wolves are calling for each other and you’re practically mates even if Wonwoo hasn’t marked you yet. He’d probably go ballistic too if his mate was put on the brink of death for whatever reason.

The incubus is screaming in pain, body twisting in a weird way and it’s seconds after that Seungcheol is one hundred percent positive you’re actually glowing that the whole group of monsters within the room–maybe even building–are starting to run away even though they all failed because you’ve warded the whole building so none of them could get out unscathed.

It gets easier to fight them at this point, but your pack doesn’t need to fight them because, the next thing they know, the wraiths have all dissolved into a puddle of black goos, the hellhounds have all retreated, and the incubus is fighting for his life while you watch him suffer on your feet.

Minghao is the first person to snap out of it, immediately going to Wonwoo and trying to somehow check the older guy. He knows he’s not dead, but he’s getting paler by the seconds and he needs to be treated as soon as possible.

The rest look at each other uneasily, unsure how to handle you going berserk. The incubus deserves this, but with the way you’re going, Seungcheol is mainly afraid you’d lose yourself somehow.

“Moon?” he whispers softly, trying to see if you’ll react.

You don’t, which doesn’t surprise any of them, because you’re probably in a trance and the only thing they can hear is the incubus’ painful scream that’s getting louder by the seconds.

You stare blankly at the devil under you, nothing of remorse within you even though you know you’d never do this to any other being. You don’t even know how you’re doing this, but it doesn’t matter because what matters is what he’s done to Wonwoo and you’re going to make him feel the suffering a hundred times over.

It’s then that the scream suddenly stops, because Wonwoo’s weak voice calling your name echoes through the room, his consciousness slipping back in somehow and you turn to him, your magic calming down at the sound of his voice.

And then there’s a surge of magic resonating throughout the building, strong enough that there’s a gush of wind accompanying it as it goes past all of you.

Next thing you know, your body sways to the side and Jeonghan catches you in his arms.

And then it’s all black.

[𓇬𓇬𓇬]

Your whole body is sore when you come to, and the first thing you notice is that there’s hair near your hand and someone else is caressing your other arm.

It takes quite the effort to even open your eyes, and through your blurry eyes, you register that it’s Jisoo laying on the side of your bed and the girl jumps awake at your soft whimper. The other person in the room is Minghao, and you can’t help but chuckle at how awfully familiar this scenario plays out.

Jisoo cries and hugs you before you can say anything, and you see Minghao sighs in relief before he leaves the room to call for the others. Wonwoo steps in right after Minghao leaves, and you try to sit up with Jisoo in your arms, wincing slightly at how tense your body feels. How long were you out for?

“Good sleep?” Wonwoo muses with a small smile, going to your other side to drop a kiss on top of your head because Jisoo refuses to stop hogging you.

“Like I came back from the dead.” You wince at your strained voice, and Wonwoo tells Jisoo to let you go to give you space before he helps you with a glass of water, the girl simply moving to hug your middle instead, her face buried in your lap. You laugh at her antics, stroking her hair and assuring her you’re fine now.

The whole pack bursts into the room at that moment, and they all engulf you in a hug except for Jihoon who goes to stand beside Wonwoo and watches the scene unfold. Everyone’s been worried though they all know you’ll wake up; and to know that you seem relaxed and even have it in you to smile after the whole ordeal is good enough.

“How are you feeling?” Seungcheol asks, sitting next to you on the bed once everyone except Jisoo lets you go, the girl still stubbornly hugging you even though it must’ve been uncomfortable.

“My whole body’s sore and I’m a little disoriented,” you shrug, honest with your explanation. “How long was I out for?”

“Three days,” your alpha informs you, his hand stroking your hair. “We planned on calling Lisa tomorrow if you still didn’t wake up today.”

“Good call. Lisa would know what to do,” you chuckle hoarsely, making a mental note to hang out with the witch one of these days. “Sorry to make you worried. Did anything… happen?”

The room falls silent at that, even Jisoo’s arms that are holding you tighten at your question. But it’s Wonwoo who speaks up, telling you it’s a long story and that you should eat and wash up before going into that.

“That’s a good idea.” Jihoon nods, and then offers to get the bath ready before telling Minghao and Jisoo to prepare food now that you’re awake. The rest seems to get the message and eventually steps out of the room, leaving you and Wonwoo behind.

“Hi.” You say when he doesn’t say anything. Wonwoo shakes his head and envelopes you in a hug which you accept with all your heart, your fingers grasping the front of his shirt while you bury yourself in his neck. His hug is a little too tight, but you don’t care and you actually welcome it because if there’s anything you need at this second, it’s his arms around you and your bodies against each other.

He whispers something in your ear that you don’t quite register, but you’re crying for some reason and Wonwoo pulls you even closer like it’s possible.

It didn’t register to you at first–what had happened and how you ended up like this. But now that everyone’s left and you don’t have to worry about their wellbeing, the memory of that night returns though there are blank spaces in between.

Still, it is enough to remind you of the way the demon touches you–the way his lips graze your skin and his fingers on your body. You choke at the memory, and Wonwoo seems to get it even though you don’t elaborate; seems to understand why you’re crying and why you’re holding on to him for dear life.

The guys have told him about it; about how you coped before and how it took you quite some time to get over it. And as much as he thought he’s prepared to help you through it, it’s still a blow to his heart to see you like this, his wolf wailing in pain in tandem with yours.

You don’t notice Jihoon by the door, about to tell you the bath is ready but has enough sense to step back when he catches Wonwoo’s eyes.

Wonwoo lets you cry more, and then kisses your forehead once you’ve calmed down, his thumb wiping the tears on your face as his forehead meets yours; his lips centimeters away from your own.

“I know, love. I know,” he whispers as your sobs turn into whimpers. “Let’s get you cleaned up? I’ll come with you.”

In any other scenario, you’d tease him about wanting to see you naked. Maybe flirt a little and then curse at him for making you flustered somehow. But this isn’t your ideal world, and you can do nothing but nod as he takes your hand and leads you to the bathroom.

Wonwoo stays true to his words, and you want to cry at the delicate way he’s treating you. He helps you out of your clothes, and it’s weird that you don’t feel anything as he does so–not the least bit of embarrassment even though he has never seen you naked at all.

He did ask if you want him to move away though, but when you shake your head and say that you don’t mind, he helps you wash up like you’re a kid who doesn’t know how to do it yourself. It’s very intimate in ways that you can’t quite describe, and you let him do everything for you as you simply stay seated in the bathtub.

You hug your knees as Wonwoo moves to wash your back, and it’s quite obvious that his clothes are all wet though he doesn’t say anything about it. He doesn’t say anything at all, actually, because he knows that you need solace and you want his company though you don’t wish to talk.

“Let’s get out of the tub?” he tells you softly after he’s done with your body. He grasps your hand and wraps you in a big towel, then tells you to sit down on the edge of the tub.

“Look at me?” He stares into your eyes for a few seconds before telling you to close them again so he can wash your face. His touch is gentle–safe, and you can feel your magic hum in content at the way he’s touching you.

It’s probably asking for more.

You slowly open your eyes when you feel Wonwoo stills but doesn’t move away, finding his face right in front of yours though you don’t flinch at the proximity. You look into his eyes, wondering what goes inside his mind as he looks at you. Was he thinking about that night, too?

Your eyes wander to scar on the side of his neck, and the picture that your picture conjures of Wonwoo unconscious on the floor is way too real that your eyes water almost immediately. He seems to get what you’re thinking about, and before you can remember it further, Wonwoo cups your face and forces your eyes to meet his instead.

“Hey, I’m fine,” his voice echoes in the bathroom. “I’m here and I’m safe. All thanks to you.”

That doesn’t work like it’s supposed to, because you cry even more at his words for some reason and Wonwoo tries not to panic when your cry gets louder.

“I’m sorry,” you break into a sob, hugging the towel further into yourself. Wonwoo gently grabs your arms to help you stand up then brings you into his arms. You’re shaking your head, murmuring further about how you’re sorry for making him go through it though you don’t make any move to get away from him. “It’s–it’s all because of me and you–”

Your words die down when his mouth finds yours, because Wonwoo doesn’t want to hear it and, most importantly, he doesn’t want you to blame yourself for whatever the demon did. He pulls away when he feels you relax, and your eyes are a little hazy like you’re in a trance (which he’s sure he must be sprouting the same look, too), making him chuckle before he drops another chaste kiss on the side of your mouth.

“Don’t apologize,” his stern voice whispers against your ear. “You did nothing wrong, get it?”

It pains him that you don’t seem to believe his words, but he’ll remind you over and over again if that’s what he needs to do.

“Moon, you’re my mate.” Your eyes snap to him in surprise at his statement; feeling the bound is one thing, but hearing Wonwoo vocalizing it out loud is another and you’re pretty sure the whole house can hear your heart beating wildly against your chest. But Wonwoo doesn’t seem to care, and he keeps on talking as he cups your face. “They probably took me because of that, they knew you'd come if it was me in danger. I’d do it too if it was the other way around. All of that? None of it is your fault. We were caught in a situation and things happened. It’s out of our control.”

“But, still…”

“No,” he shakes his head, his smile patient and understanding. “I’m not the only one who got hurt. You did too. Do you want me to apologize for not being able to protect you?”

“No!” you raise your voice before you even realize, getting his point immediately. “But it’s different. He–they…”

He places his finger on your lips, stopping you from talking further. He doesn’t want to hear this–not when you’ve just woken up, not ever. That seems to do it for now, and he silently helps you with your clothes so you’d get out of the bathroom and eat something.

The meal is finished in the blink of an eye, and after more coddling from the pack, you find yourself back in your room by yourself, staring into nothing and thinking about what they’ve just told you about that night prior to you blacking out.

You don’t actually remember much after Wonwoo passed out, and even though it isn’t a story best fitting to be told while you’re having dinner, you insist because you can’t help but feel like there’s something missing in the back of your mind. And, true enough, they said you went berserk.

Not that you’re surprised.

You’ve called Lisa earlier to have a talk with her mom, one of the most knowledgeable mages you’ve known after your aunt. She’s said something about your wolves already bonding with each other even though you’re not marked yet, and it’s not impossible that your wolf was just running on instinct the moment it felt its mate in grave danger.

The combined power of the wolf within you and the magic running through your blood intensified because Wonwoo was basically dying.

“Moon, may I come in?” Wonwoo asks from the other side of the door, and you answer by opening the door slightly with a flick of your wrist. “Am I disturbing you?”

“Nope,” you shake your head, signalling Wonwoo to lay down next to you. “Was just thinking over some stuff.”

Wonwoo doesn’t even need to ask to know what you’re thinking about, settling under your blanket and laying on his side to face you, his eyes scouting your face. 

He was pretty shocked too when he found out you went berserk after he lost his consciousness; he’s always known you’re powerful–but to the point where you’re somehow able to turn a hoard of wraiths without doing anything? To return hellhounds to their shadows? To boil the incubus’ blood from the inside without straining any extra effort?

Seungcheol has told him he was worried you’d lose yourself for a moment there. But you passed out after that sudden wave of magic and Wonwoo figures that means your magic took control of your body if only for a brief period of time.

“How are you feeling?”

“Weird,” you shrug, and then hesitate for a bit before you relay to him the information you got from Lisa’s mom. He doesn’t reply immediately, mind still busy taking in what you’ve just told him as his fingers absentmindedly play with yours. It’s both flattering and frightening to know your bond is already that strong even if he hasn’t marked you yet. But knowing what presumably is your full power got unleashed because he was hurt…

He sees your eyes drop to the side of his neck again, and he lets your finger trace the scar in the most delicate way possible–as if afraid he’ll bleed again if you press too hard. Despite the severity of its wound when it happened, his scar has actually healed though the mark is still there.

“Moon… It’s fine. I’m here with you now and that’s what matters,” he reminds you with a whisper, his hand grasping your wrist to place a kiss there. “It’s just a scar.”

“I… can still feel him if I close my eyes, you know?” you bite your lip as you admit this, not wanting to see Wonwoo’s angry eyes. “It’s always like that after an encounter with an incubus. Usually I’d even flinch when people tried to touch me, but I suppose it’s better now because you’re here? But if I close my eyes it’s like…”

You shiver at the thought, and it feels like something is crawling under your skin as you remember how the incubus held you that night. Wonwoo places his palms on your neck, compelling you to look at him. 

“You’re here with me, okay? Remember that. You’re with me and he can’t touch you now.” Wonwoo’s voice is gentle but firm, you decide, and you find yourself nodding even though the fear is still there in the back of your mind. That’s the least you can do, you think to yourself. Pretend like it doesn’t affect you until it really doesn’t.

You don’t have it in you to cry anymore, but you’re being real when you said you can still feel his touch against your skin, and when Wonwoo’s thumb forces your lip down from the confinement of your teeth because you don’t realize you’ve been biting it, it’s then that you taste the blood on your tongue.

“Don’t do that.” He brushes his thumb against your bottom lip, his eyes can’t seem to look away from it. “You want to talk about it?”

Exhaling a deep breath, you shake your head and bury yourself into his neck instead, your lips grazing the scar there and Wonwoo has to hold back a sigh from the sensation. He wraps his arm around you instead, pulling your body closer to his so you’re pressed against each other.

He can feel you stiffen when his fingers come in contact with the skin under your shirt, though you relax immediately and cuddle yourself further into his hold. The both of you stay that way for a moment, basking in the other’s presence without saying anything as moonlight faintly shines through your window. 

Wonwoo traces a circle on your skin, and your magic once again hums in content at the feeling of it. And while his finger is making circles there, yours once again finds the fading mark of his scar that you know would forever be etched on his skin.

Your eyes find his lips, and it seems that the world stops for a moment because Wonwoo does the same, then your eyes meet his in the exact same second.

“Kiss me?” you breathe in a soft whisper, which only amplifies the effect it has on him–like your words alone don’t make his head go haywire enough. “Make me forget and–”

His kiss is soft despite the rush he’s feeling in his body. And he kisses you like it’s the only thing he wants to do–and maybe it is–and you actually have to gasp for air when it gets too much because you’re starting to get light headed from the whole thing.

You stiffen when his lips find your neck, but he reminds you again and again that it’s him, whispers over your skin to tell him to stop if it gets too much. But you find yourself making ways for his lips to wander further, your fingers already combing through his hair and pushing him deeper into you.

And it seems like your body understands that this man is worshipping you, reacting to Wonwoo in ways that you’ve never experienced before. He doesn’t forget to ask if you’re okay from time to time, doesn’t think at all about his own pleasure even though his wolf is already screaming to mark you already.

His lips find yours again, and, before you know it, Wonwoo’s hovering over you, his fingers intertwined with yours. The kiss is slower this time, and you’re pretty sure a little more and you’d be able to map the shape of his lips.

Wonwoo pulls away to take a breath, but you can’t get enough of him so your lips chase his and he grunts from the sudden force when you pull him down right on top of you. It’s safe for him to assume your wolf is dying to be marked as much as his is begging for the same thing.

“You sure you want to do this?” Wonwoo pants, his eyes piercing into yours from above.

The smile you give him is enough to make all the stars in the sky seem faint, and there’s a sudden wave of fulfillment that rushes through him at the sight of it; like he’s found his other half.

Like a puzzle with the last missing piece.

“As long as it’s with you.”

He wonders why the moon seems brighter tonight.

taglist: @kyeomjjigae @nothingbutadeadesceane @sleeplessdawn @kpopjackie @everyw0nu @twogyuu

A/N 2: special thanks to @lily-blue for brainstorming with me when i first started writing this 😭 and happy birthday also @sunshinein17 who mentioned you share birthday with wonwoo hehe, hope you enjoy this also ^^ anyway, again!! if you're reading up to this point, thank you for sparing your time to read this rather lengthy fic and please dont hesitate to send your feedbacks bc i honestly wanna know!! i know my 10k++ fics usually have less audience but this is to celebrate wonwoo so 😸

once again, happy birthday, my love🤍🤍🤍

[love-strawberry]

drinks in nyc

summary : in which they both release songs about their love and it isn't enough.

pairing : harry styles x reader

warnings : language

author's note : heyyy!! it's been a while since i wrote something and why not break my hiatus with an angsty social media au lmao but ANYWAYS, here you go!! crazier things by chelsea cutler and noah kahan and supercuts by jeremy zucker!!

tagged : @ellora-brekker @slut4benbarnes @0oolookitsme

masterlist

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liked by niallhoran, conangray, selenagomez and 4,529,528 others

y/n_ 'until you met me' out everywhere!! this song is one of the most heartbreaking songs on the album and i hope you all like it!! thank you so much for supporting me!! <3

94,528 comments

username omg im crying

username the way she referred to the things in her relationship with harry

username 'i know you always fell out of love so damn easily' wow-

username 'until you met me, drinks in new york city,' she met harry in nyc,,, 'think i fell in love before i even knew your birthday' harry said in an interview that she didn't know when his birthday was until long after they started dating,,, 'kissed you on the first date,' need i say more

niallhoran 🤍 so beautiful!! loved it

username i miss harry and y/n so much

username she looks so heartbroken and sad in her recent pics :(

username masterpiece

username 'lightning strikes just once, not twice' when you realise that she's saying that the chances of their paths crossing again is none to very little :(

louist91 loved it so much!! can't wait for your album!!

arianagrande ❤️❤️❤️

username her friends supporting her>>>

username okay but her voice 🛐

username can't wait for the mv!!!

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liked by louist91, dualipa, harry_lambert and 4,829,629 others

harrystyles i had a great time performing my new single 'supercuts', thank you so much new york city.

98,629 comments

username omg we got a new song

username 'cause i don't wanna be someone you makes you happy and then lets you down'

username the voice crack when he sang 'don't need you to console me' :(

username anyone could tell he was faking smiles

jefezoff amazing song mate!!

username the way that 'started something that we're just gonna end, wonder if we would be better as friends' hurt me

username the raw emotion in his voice

username y/n was at every single one of his shows during their relationship and the fact that she still showed up yesterday even after their break up keeps me up at night

niallhoran such a beautiful song, keep it up!!

zayn it's a great song harry!! khai loves the music!!

username the boys supporting him>>

username i really wish (yourshipname) gets back together

username the music :) the lyrics :(

username he's an amazing artist!!

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liked by tchalamet, taylorswift, arianagrande and 4,825,528 others

y/n_ my second album, drinks in nyc out now!! you all have no idea how excited i am for you you to listen to this. every single song is precious and close to my heart, and i'm so excited!!! thank you all SO much for you support and love, i appreciate and cherish each one of you!! thank you <3

99,629 comments

username OMGOMGOMG

username this album is gonna be my favourite

username her lyrics are so beautiful

username i know i need therapy when my favourite song is all your perfects

arianagrande AHHHH SUCH A BEAUTIFUL ALBUM

oliviarodrigo AHDKANHSKSLAM MOM I LOVE THIS AND I LOVE YOU

gracieabrams im not crying nope, not even a little bit

username almost all of these songs are for harry :(

username i miss harry's comments on her posts

louist91 i love this so much!!

niallhoran my fav album till date

username im sobbing

username it's 3am for me, don't make me cry

username all of these songs are perfect?? like how??

username the way 'things we never said' crushed my heart

username she's a lyrical genius and anyone who things otherwise can choke

taylorswift i love love love love love this!! such an amazing album!!

username her friends are so supportive

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liked by jefezoff, mitchrowland, billieeilish and 4,925,428 others

harrystyles harry's house out may 20.

102,528 comments

username OMGOMGOMG IM GONNA CRY

username can't wait!!!!

jefezoff !!!!!!

username can't wait to see how many songs are gonna be about y/n

username 'love of my life' i-

username 🛐🛐🛐

mitchrowland can't waitttt!!!

liampayne so excited for this!! it's gonna be amazing

username i miss when y/n used to freak out about new music

username it's gonna be a masterpiece

username y/n and harry releasing albums>>>>anything

niallhoran so pumped for this!!!

username he looks so good here

username wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow

username SO FUCKING EXCITED

louist91 🤍🤍🤍

username i miss one direction

username 🦋🦋🦋

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[seasonsofeverlark]

I See A Light (Now Will I Follow)

Author: @juxtaposie​

Prompt: Heyyyyy I don’t have a clue how to do this 🤣. But my birthday (I’m also @spookykatnissmellarkkkk ) is on November 16 sooooo I would 👉🏻👈🏻 like to request a oneshot 😘. Post war and sweet are my only two specifications 🥰. Thank y’all 💜🤍 [submitted by loganmarsss (@festivekatnissmellarkkkk​)]

Rating: T for non-graphic mentions of sex

Summary: Katniss begins to look toward the future, and Peeta is just happy to share it with her.

Author’s Notes: I’ve had this little scene in my mind for a long time, and I thought it fit the prompt nicely. Happy birthday love, and I hope you enjoy! ______________

“I was thinking,” she says into the darkness, her words muffled from the way her cheek is squashed into Peeta’s chest. It’s early, so early the sun isn’t even peeking over the mountains, but it’s been a hard night, and there’s no going back to sleep for either of them.

He shrugs his shoulder when she doesn’t go on, rolling her head until she’s looking up at his chin, and she plants a kiss there‒just because she wants to, just because she can‒before starting again, “I was thinking…it might be nice to have a buck. For the Fall Festival.”

It’s a new thing, this festival, a way to celebrate the last days of sunlight before the cold, dark winter months set in. This is only the third year it’s been celebrated, but it’s been such a rousing success that they’re almost known for it. There’s even been talk of forming a tourism council, though all three Victors have been staunchly opposed.

“They’ll be in season soon,” she goes on when Peeta doesn’t say anything. “Could feed a lot of people, maybe give away the antlers as a prize or something. I don’t know.”

Peeta’s continued silence makes her feel a little silly. She doesn’t know why she’s bringing it up now, but it’s been on her mind for a few days. Deer hunting isn’t too different from any other kind of hunting she does, but if she wants to bag a buck, she’ll need to make some preparations and do some tracking. 

“That sounds great,” Peeta says finally, his voice rough‒with sleep, or emotion, she can’t tell. She wants to ask him what’s wrong, if anything, but before she can, he’s cupping the back of her head in one big hand and tilting her face toward his for a kiss. She accepts eagerly (wonders how she could ever have done anything else), and by the time he’s slipping her nightgown over her head, she’s pulling at his shoulders, trying to roll him on top of her. 

They make love with quiet urgency, hands clasped together and held against the mattress above her head. It’s still new, this intimacy, and even though it feels so fragile in the sunlight, there’s never any doubt in her mind when they come together under cover of night. She thinks she could live off the taste of his breath and the feel of his hands on her body. He is every good thing in her world. 

After, when the bone-deep contentment of completion has seeped into both of them, Katniss asks, “What was that?”

It’s not a real question, or at least not one that needs answering. She’s teasing mostly, trying to make him understand how the great weight she carries always feels lighter in these precious moments. She’s not expecting a reply. 

He gives her one anyway, after he’s gathered her up in his arms again and tucked her against him. She would have hated that once, feeling pliant and manipulated. Now all she feels is safe. 

“It’s just good,” he says, pressing his face into the tangle of her hair. “You never talk about the future.”

She inhales, her heart squeezing with a sudden sense of fragility. He’s right‒she doesn’t talk about the future, because she never thinks about the future. It’s hard enough just to get through a single day, and when she starts to imagine the stretch of weeks out into months and years, there’s nothing but a clawing feeling of uncertainty. Nothing is promised. Nothing is safe. 

“It’s just good,” Peeta says again as if he can tell what she’s thinking. His hands stroke down her back and along her arms. 

And Katniss, unsure and afraid, has to admit that he’s right.