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cosmicdumpling · 17 days

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a star is born » jeong yunho

SUMMARY: When “Space Ace” Jeong Yunho, renowned for his brilliance both on Earth and beyond, crosses paths with you, a resolute journalist whose heart is as fierce as her curiosity, sparks fly. Your journey together through life and love unfolds amid cosmic challenges and earthly dilemmas, crafting a love that echoes across the stars and transcends time and space itself.

Inspired by the songs Die With A Smile and Next To You.

PAIRING: yunho x fem!reader

GENRE: romance. fluff, angst, drama, suggestive; sci-fi-ish.

WORD COUNT: 19.1k

⚠ WARNING/S: suggestive themes (making out, allusions to sex; no smut as usual), very very fluffy at first only to have heavy angst midway through, character death, pregnancy, scenes showcasing anxiety, hyperventilation, and grief

THEME/S: astronaut!yunho, journalist/anchor!reader, also a parent au; dad!yunho and mom!reader. jake (en—) cameo! en-tinys riseee

It all began after a mission to Mars.

Operation Red Dawn was a turning point for humanity. As Earth's climate deteriorated, scientists and researchers turned their gaze to Mars, seeking a new frontier. Mars, with its stable environment and potential for terraforming, became the focus of this ambitious mission. The goal was to deploy the first automated weather station on its surface— a small but crucial step in unraveling the mysteries of its atmosphere. The data gathered would lay the groundwork for future colonization efforts, offering a glimmer of hope for a new beginning where Earth was faltering.

The mission was an undeniable triumph, largely due to the leadership of AstraTech's best set of mission specialists— the Aurora Taskforce for Elite Extra-terrestrial Zenith Unit.

And of course, at the helm of this mission was none other than Commander Jeong Yunho, AstraTech’s golden boy.

Even from a young age, Yunho's brilliance was undeniable— an exceptional child who became an even more exceptional man. His early spark only grew stronger as he navigated through high school, college, and beyond, consistently outshining expectations.

Sure, Yunho was stellar on Earth, but it wasn’t until he became an astronaut that he expanded his abilities to— quite literally— outer space. Thus, gaining the nickname, Space Ace.

Now, he led missions as a commander, his reputation solidifying with each successful venture. Operation Red Dawn was just another testament to his capabilities, another legacy to leave behind.

The excitement surrounding the mission has already been palpable; and coupled further with AstraTech announcing the crew's first public appearance since the mission drew massive attention, media outlets buzzed with anticipation.

You knew everyone was eager to cover the story, but it wasn’t until you arrived outside the venue that you realized the true scale of the frenzy.

The event has drawn a global audience, with news stations from every corner of the world converging on the event. What was once an orderly press area has turned into a chaotic sea of cameras, microphones, and people eager to get any form of statement. The sun beats down mercilessly, its heat reflecting off the concrete and making the air shimmer. You stand among a throng of reporters; a mix of seasoned journalists and fresh faces, each waiting in the oppressive heat for the chance to get a word with the infamous crew, or by any chance— with its Commander, Jeong Yunho himself.

“Can you believe the turnout?” one reporter asks from the crowd, his face flushed and sweaty. “It’s like every news outlet on the planet decided to cover this.”

“Yeah, it’s overwhelming,” another replies, fanning herself with a notebook. “And don’t even get me started on the international teams. They’re everywhere.”

You shift your weight, trying to find a sliver of shade, but the heat is relentless. Sweat trickles down your neck, but you hardly notice. This isn’t just about getting the story first—it’s about your passion. Ever since you were young, you’ve wanted to be a journalist, someone who uncovers the truth and reflects it back to the world. Being here, witnessing this moment, feels like a step closer to that dream. Covering a historic event like this, a mission to Mars under Commander Jeong’s leadership, is more than just reporting; it’s documenting a monumental leap for humanity, a crucial effort to address Earth’s deteriorating climate.

Just then, the doors suddenly swing open, and the crowd surges forward with renewed energy. A cacophony of voices rises in unison, punctuated by the flash of camera lights. Amid the chaos, you catch sight of the crew making their way through the throng. You spot him instantly— Commander Jeong— looking relaxed, calm amidst the chaos; a picture-perfect representation of a commander who’s just returned from a history-making mission.

As he approaches near your side of the mob, you can feel the anticipation in the air. He stops for a moment, his eyes scanning the sea of reporters, and then he begins answering questions with his trademark poise.

“Commander, how do you feel about Operation Red Dawn's success?” a voice shouts above the clangor.

Yunho’s response is measured and thoughtful. “It’s a monumental step forward for all of us, but this is just the beginning. There are other and bigger things that we can accomplish given time and more resources.”

Clutching your notebook and recorder, you scan the scene, searching for an opening amidst the chaos. However, it’s hard to do so when reporters around you are hurling questions like bullets, trying to make an impactful statement and get some answers. The scene is a chaotic whirl of voices and camera flashes, making it nearly impossible to understand anything. Even Yunho begins to struggle— squinting against the blinding lights and trying to stay balanced as the crowd presses in on him, their desperation creating a disorienting push.

Annoyed from all the mobbing, you call out with a hint of sarcasm, “You’d think after a long journey to Mars, you would give him a little personal space!”

The comment creates a brief, surprised pause among the crowd. Even the other crew members stop talking, turning their attentions towards you— some holding back a laugh, while others too stunned to react. Yunho’s eyes, sharp yet amused, lock onto yours. Despite being under his naturally commanding gaze, you don’t waver; the look on your face as unrelenting— unapologetic. A small, almost imperceptible smirk tugs at Yunho’s lips as he nods toward you.

“You got a question, journalist?”

You raise an eyebrow, standing firm in the face of his commanding presence. “Plenty. But let’s start with the big one: What’s next for the Space Ace now that Mars is behind him?”

The crowd hushes, surprised by the sudden interaction. Yunho, equally intrigued by your boldness, chuckles.

“Well, I guess I’m looking for my next adventure… back here on Earth.”

A few weeks later, you find yourself at an exclusive gala, one you almost didn’t attend because frankly, these events were more pomp than substance.

But this gala, celebrating AstraTech’s recent success, had a guest list that was impossible to ignore, and as always, your job came first.

The ballroom is glamorous, with chandeliers glittering above and soft music playing in the background. You weave through the crowd of high-profile guests, balancing a glass of champagne as you survey the scene. Journalists like you are scattered around, each trying to look casual while hoping for a chance to corner someone important.

You spot him instantly.

Jeong Yunho.

Standing by a window with his hands tucked casually in his pockets, he’s deep in conversation with another member of his crew. He looks different from the last time you saw him— gone is the space suit, replaced by a sharp tuxedo that fits him almost too perfectly. Yet, even in this sea of formality, his calm and composed energy stands out, and it annoys you how effortlessly charming he seems.

You debate whether to approach him, but before you can decide, he catches you staring. His gaze meets yours across the room, and to your surprise, he grins.

Suddenly, you feel heat rising to your cheeks, but you shake it off, raising your glass slightly in acknowledgment. He gives a slight nod in return, but doesn’t move to approach you.

Fine.

If he isn’t going to make the first move, you will.

With purposeful steps, you close the distance.

“I see you’ve decided not to hide from the press tonight,” you tease, sipping your champagne as you come to stand beside him.

He chuckles, his eyes glimmering with amusement. “I’m not sure that’s possible with you around.”

You roll your eyes, but can’t suppress a grin.

“Fair enough. Seems like I’m the only one with enough guts to get you talking.”

He tilts his head, clearly entertained by your confidence. “It’s not that. You’re just... interesting.”

You blink, not expecting that. “Interesting?”

He leans slightly closer, his voice lowering just enough to send a shiver down your spine. “You don't take the obvious route. Most people would've asked me a dozen questions about Mars by now. You haven't even mentioned it.”

You shrug, trying to keep your composure. “Maybe because Mars isn’t the most interesting thing here tonight.”

His smile widens, and you feel the tension in the air shift. There’s a playful glint in his eyes now, a clear sign that you’ve piqued his interest.

“And what is?”

You give him a cheeky smile, “Well, you’ll have to stick around and find out.”

For a moment, neither of you speaks, the weight of your words hanging in the air like a challenge. Then, Yunho extends his hand, his expression softer but still carrying that hint of amusement.

“I suppose we should officially introduce ourselves then. Jeong Yunho.”

You shake his hand, your grip firm. “Y/N.”

His grip lingers just a second longer than necessary, and when you both pull away, there’s an unspoken agreement that this is just the beginning. He smiles, warm and disarming.

“It’s a pleasure, Y/N. I’m looking forward to whatever happens next.”

Months have passed since your interactions with Yunho became a regular occurrence. There’s no strict label on whatever this thing between you is, but there’s an undeniable shift. The playful teasing and shared glances are starting to feel more charged, more meaningful, no matter under which circumstance you find yourselves bumping into each other.

You’re at the AstraTech headquarters today, this time exclusively invited to cover the impending launch of a new rocket— a huge milestone for the space program. As you make your way through the hallway, checking your notes for the coverage, you’re not paying much attention to your surroundings. That is, until you round a corner a little too quickly— and collide with someone solid.

You stumble slightly, but a steady hand grabs your arm before you can lose your balance. “Easy there.”

You look up.

Of course, it has to be Yunho.

He’s dressed casually, wearing an AstraTech ID around his neck, his usual calm smile on his face. His hand lingers on your arm just long enough to make your heart skip a beat before he lets go.

“You really do have a habit of sneaking up on me,” Yunho quips, raising an eyebrow as you straighten up.

“You’re the one who almost ran me over this time,” You say, brushing off the embarrassment, “You shouldn’t stand in the way of a woman on a mission.”

Yunho gives you that look— half amused, half intrigued. “And what mission would that be today, journalist?”

“Getting an exclusive on the new rocket you guys have,” you reply, eyes narrowing playfully. “Or, you know, not getting trampled by an astronaut.”

He laughs, the sound rich and warm. "Are you sure your mission isn’t to fly the rocket yourself?"

You roll your eyes playfully. “I’m not exactly part of the space crew, am I?”

“Maybe you should be. You’ve already got the guts for it.”

“Yeah, sure,” you smirk, meeting his eyes, “Because covering your every move wasn’t enough of an adventure already.”

Yunho laughs softly, his gaze lingering on you for a beat longer than usual.

“You really make things a lot more interesting,” His tone is low, and there’s something in his voice that makes your heart skip. You tilt your head, your voice playful but edged with curiosity.

“Oh? And what exactly makes me so interesting?”

He leans in closer, the teasing smile still on his lips, but there’s a serious undertone to the way he’s watching you now. “Maybe it’s how you don’t back down, even when I expect you to. Or maybe it’s how you talk to me like… I’m just Yunho. Not ‘Space Ace’ or anything else.”

Your breath hitches, and you feel the room around you dim as everything focuses in on him. You were always good at playing it cool, but this— this was different. There’s something raw about the way he’s speaking, something that stirs your heart.

You meet his gaze, your voice quieter but firm. “Maybe it’s because I see the real you.”

Yunho blinks, clearly taken aback, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, a warm, genuine smile spreads across his face, and there’s no teasing in his expression anymore— just pure affection.

“I like that.”

For a moment, the noise of the room fades. You’re both so close now that you can see the faint reflection of the light in his eyes. You can feel the warmth radiating off him, and suddenly, the playful back-and-forth that always defined your interactions feels like it’s building up to something bigger.

He steps closer, just enough that the space between you feels deliberate.

“Why do you always seem to find me in the busiest places?” he comments lightly, his gaze flickering between your eyes and your lips, “It’s a shame, really. I’d hoped we could do a lot more talking.”

You tilt your head, matching his playful energy, “Maybe you’re just easy to find. You do stand out, Commander.”

“Or maybe you just can’t resist checking up on me,” Yunho grins, his posture relaxing as he leans against the wall beside you.

You chuckle, “I’m a journalist. It’s literally my job.”

“Hm, is that all this is? Just work?” He says, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

His words catch you off guard, and you feel a mix of emotions swell inside. The banter, the teasing— it had always been your way of dancing around the unspoken. Now, though, it feels like he's asking for more.

“Maybe it’s more than that,” you admit, your voice steady despite the flutter in your chest.

Yunho leans in a fraction closer, his voice lower now, “More, how?”

Your breath hitches, and you feel the tension building between you both. It’s like the entire bustling headquarters fades away, leaving just the two of you standing here in this quiet corner.

“I don’t know,” you say softly, your confidence wavering for just a second under the weight of his gaze, “you tell me.”

Yunho’s smile softens, and for a moment, he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he gently reaches out, his fingers brushing against a few stray strands of your hair. The touch is light, but it’s enough to make your heart thud in your chest.

“I think we both know what this is,” he says quietly, his tone more serious now. “And I don’t think it’s just work.”

He moves the stray strands of hair from your face, tucking them behind your ear in a way that feels both natural and electrifying at the same time.

“I guess we’ve been dancing around this for a while,” Yunho adds, his thumb lightly brushing over your cheek as he retracts his hand.

“So what are you suggesting, Commander?”

He smiles, that same teasing glint in his eyes, “Maybe we stop pretending it’s just friendly banter.”

You hold his gaze, waiting for him to continue. Yunho steps closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “How about something a little more... official?”

You can’t help the small smile tugging at your lips, “Are you asking me to cover your next mission or something else?”

His laughter is soft, but his gaze never wavers.

“Definitely something else.”

There’s a moment of silence, the two of you standing close; a little too close to just be another public figure and journalist working together. You can feel the shift between you, the playful banter giving way to something deeper.

“How does a date after duty sound?” His grin widens, and he leans in just enough that you can feel the warmth radiating from him.

“Are you ready for that?” Yunho asks, his voice barely above a whisper now.

You meet his gaze with a quiet smile.

“I think I’ve been ready for a while.”

And just like that, the unspoken understanding between you solidifies, a silent agreement that this is something real. Something you’re both ready to explore, beyond the teasing remarks and shared glances. The look you share says it all— you’re in this together.

Whatever “this” may be.

The night sky stretches above, stars flickering like tiny, distant lanterns. You and Yunho lie side by side on an old blanket, tucked away from the rest of the world. It’s become one of your unspoken rituals: escaping under the stars, where everything feels lighter, where the weight of everyday life melts into the quiet hum of the night.

"Well, here we are again," Yunho says, breaking the silence with a grin as he laces his fingers with yours. "Aren't you tired of stargazing yet?"

You chuckle, nudging him lightly with your shoulder. "Not when it’s with you, Space Ace."

He laughs at the nickname, rolling onto his side to face you. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

You stretch your arms over your head, gazing up at the stars with a contented sigh.

"It’s not flattery if it’s true. Besides, don’t you feel like you belong up there?"

Yunho props himself up on one elbow, looking at you curiously. “Up where?”

"Among the stars," you say, turning to meet his eyes. "You’ve always been a little too stellar for Earth."

He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking up.

“Stellar, huh? I’ll take that.” He taps your nose lightly. “You know, some of the crew believe in this old myth that when you die, you become a star.”

You let out a soft laugh. “Oh yeah? What would you be? A twinkling little dot or something more dramatic?”

He leans in a little closer, his voice low and serious but with that mischievous spark.

“If I go, I’ll be the brightest one up there, so you can always find me.”

You roll your eyes playfully.

“So humble, Jeong Yunho.”

“I’m serious!” He chuckles, though there’s a softness to his tone. “When I’m gone—hopefully not anytime soon—I’ll be up there, keeping an eye on you.”

You snort, trying to keep the mood light despite the tenderness of the moment.

“Okay, well, what if I don’t want to be watched 24/7? Stars don’t have to do that, you know.”

He gives you a mock scandalized look, “Wow, rejecting my eternal star-watching service already? Harsh.”

“Well, I like having you down here better anyway,” you say, leaning closer to rest your head against his shoulder. “If the world ends, I’d rather you were next to me, not twinkling up in the sky.”

Yunho smiles at that, pulling you into a warm embrace.

“If the world ends? It’s just you and me, starlight. Who cares about the stars?”

You laugh, though there’s a tenderness in your voice. "And what if the Earth rumbles and I’m stuck here, and you're in space doing your astronaut thing? Then what?”

Yunho gives you a dramatic sigh, wrapping his arms tighter around you. “If I have to, I’ll commandeer a rocket, burst through the atmosphere, and fly straight back here. Even if it’s the middle of a mission.”

You burst out laughing, imagining Yunho casually hijacking a rocket mid-spacewalk.

“Please don’t get fired for me.”

He chuckles, brushing a stray hair from your face.

“Hey, they don’t call me Space Ace for nothing. I’ll manage.”

You look up at him, grinning. “Of course you will. You’re the Commander Jeong “Space Ace” Yunho, the guy who makes impossible things happen.”

He raises an eyebrow, pretending to consider your words.

“Like getting you to go out with me? That was pretty impossible.”

You roll your eyes, nudging him again. “Hey, I was totally charmed.”

“I know you were,” he teases, but his voice softens. “But in all seriousness, no matter where I am—here, up there—there’s no place I’d rather be than with you.”

You reach out, pinching his cheek with a playful grin. “And what if I end up becoming the star first? Will you still find me?”

Yunho leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, placing a quick peck on your lips before his voice lowers into a whisper.

“Always, starlight.”

“So, how many children do you want?”

Yunho cocks an eyebrow at your query, glancing at you with amusement.

“That quick?” He grins, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he leans in a little closer.

“We’ve literally been together for three years,” you point out, moving around to sit more comfortably. “And we just got married.”

Yunho can’t help but chuckle at your cheekiness.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathes the room in a warm light as you and Yunho sit side by side on the bed, still dressed in the remnants of your wedding day. His tie hangs loosely around his neck, his sleeves rolled up as he stretches out, leaning against the headboard with a contented sigh. You can’t help but smile as you watch him, your heart swelling with joy at the realization that he is, finally and officially, your husband.

“True, but the correct question is how many children you want, starlight,” Yunho counters, “I’m not the one who’s going to carry a child in my belly, after all. It’s your body, so you decide.”

You quirk an eyebrow, pretending to be deep in thought.

“Hmm… Then… What if I tell you I don’t want any children?” you tease, testing the waters.

“Absolutely fine by me,” he replies without missing a beat, his tone soft but sure. “I can get a vasectomy too, so we can steer clear of any accidents.”

You burst out laughing at his serious yet laid-back response. The thought of spending the rest of your life with him already fills you with an overwhelming sense of warmth and love.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” You chuckle, slipping your hand into his, “I want… hmm… A boy first, and then a girl. And then we’ll name them—”

Your words hang in the air, and you both look at each other as the abrupt silence comes. You can’t help but laugh after a few moments, the warmth between you growing even stronger. The room feels small and intimate, just for the two of you, as if the world outside has faded away. In this shared moment, all that matters is the bond you share and the dreams you’re building together.

“—Any names in mind?” You ask, raising an eyebrow.

Yunho shakes his head, “None. You?”

“Nu-uh.”

“Well then,” Yunho says with a mischievous glint in his eye, “should we just concentrate on trying to make one first?”

“Jeong Yunho—!” you exclaim, your cheeks flushing at your own boldness.

“You started it, Jeong Y/N,” he responds as he crawls over to hover over you slightly with a fond smile on his face. For a moment, you’re stunned, and the sound of your new name rolling off his lips sends butterflies erupting in your stomach.

“Can you believe it?” Yunho says after a beat, his voice softening as he reaches out to take your hand in his, his thumb gently caressing the back of it.

You shake your head, a smile tugging at your lips. “It hasn’t sunk in completely yet,” you admit, your voice barely a whisper as you look at him, overwhelmed by the tenderness in his gaze.

Yunho shifts closer, his hand cupping your cheek as he presses a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“I love you, my starlight,” he murmurs, his breath warm against your skin. “And I am so happy to be married to you.”

“I love you too, honey,” you whisper back, your heart swelling with love as you gaze into his eyes. “To outer space and beyond.”

He smiles, a soft chuckle escaping him as he pulls you into his arms. “To outer space and beyond,” he echoes, his voice full of promise and love.

As you lie there in his embrace, the world quiets around you. You feel his heartbeat against your chest, steady and reassuring, and the weight of the day finally begins to sink in.

You’re married. You’re his, and he’s yours.

And as you close your eyes, the stars outside twinkle faintly, as if aligning just for the two of you. In that moment, everything feels perfect. The universe, vast and infinite, has never felt smaller— because now, in Yunho’s arms, you have everything you’ve ever dreamed of.

Jeong Junho is like a Supernova, Yunho says; birthed by two binaries orbiting so close when they merged into a single star, that he likes to refer to as the two of you.

He is the spitting image of Yunho, though his eyes hold a certain spark that feels entirely his own. He’s only four, but in those brief years, he’s managed to fill your life with more joy, chaos, and love than you ever thought possible.

The afternoon sun casts a warm, golden hue over the grassy hill where you, Yunho, and little Junho have spread out a picnic blanket. You and Yunho are sprawled out on it, the basket between you filled with all the snacks your son had insisted on bringing. Junho’s laughter echoes through the open air as he runs around, his small legs moving as fast as they can in his excitement.

Yunho watches with a soft smile, his eyes twinkling as he looks from your son to you.

“He’s got your energy, you know,” he says, nudging you playfully. “I thought I was prepared for it, but…” He trails off, shaking his head with a chuckle.

You smirk back, leaning on your elbow. “Oh, please. He’s all you, Commander. I’m just the one who manages to keep up.”

Junho, hearing his name in conversation, runs back to the blanket with a dandelion clutched tightly in his hand.

“Look! A wish flower!” His eyes are wide, full of wonder. He blows on it, the seeds floating into the breeze, scattering around you like tiny stars.

“What did you wish for, buddy?” Yunho asks, pulling Junho into his lap as he settles down next to you.

Junho’s face scrunches up in thought, as if deciding whether or not to share his wish. Then he grins.

“I wished that we could do this every day!” He looks between you and Yunho, his little face glowing with happiness. “And maybe… get a puppy?”

You and Yunho exchange a look, both trying to stifle your laughter. “A puppy, huh?” you say, ruffling Junho’s hair. “That’s a big wish.”

Yunho tilts his head, pretending to consider it seriously. “Well, if you’re good, maybe we can talk about it.”

Junho beams, satisfied with the response, before bouncing off to chase more dandelions. You watch him, heart swelling at how carefree and joyful he is.

“I’m starting to think we’re going to have to actually get a puppy,” you murmur, leaning into Yunho’s shoulder. His arm wraps around you instinctively, pulling you closer.

“Hmm, I don’t mind.” Yunho smiles, his voice warm. “As long as he’s this happy, I’ll consider it.”

The two of you sit there, wrapped up in each other, watching Junho dart around with endless energy. There’s a deep sense of contentment in your chest—a feeling that everything, in this moment, is exactly as it should be.

Yunho presses a kiss to your temple, his hand resting on yours.

“You know,” he starts, his voice soft, “I didn’t think I could love moments like these so much. But with you… and Junho…” He glances at you, his eyes filled with warmth. “You make life more beautiful than I ever imagined.”

You feel your heart flutter at his words, a rush of warmth spreading through you.

“I feel the same way,” you whisper, looking up at him. “Every moment with you two is a gift.”

Just then, Junho comes barreling back toward the blanket, plopping himself down between you and Yunho, tugging on both your arms to pull you into a group hug.

“Family sandwich!” he declares, giggling as he squeezes himself between you.

You and Yunho laugh, letting yourselves be squished together, your arms wrapping around each other and Junho. It’s messy and fun, filled with the kind of lightheartedness that only comes when you’re surrounded by the people you love most.

As the sun begins to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, you all lay back on the blanket, staring up at the fading light. Junho’s tiny hand slips into yours, and Yunho’s fingers entwine with yours on the other side. You’re all connected, and it feels perfect.

“This is what I always wished for,” you say softly, glancing at Yunho, who looks back at you with the same soft, loving gaze.

“Me too,” he replies, leaning in to kiss you gently on the forehead. “Me too.”

And with that, the three of you stay there, watching the sky darken, the stars slowly emerging, twinkling down at the little family that feels more magical and complete every passing day.

The mood inside AstraTech’s central operations room is tense, the air charged with a mix of anticipation and dread.

Every movement, every breath, feels exaggerated in the thick silence that blankets the space. The lights are dimmed, except for the glow of screens that display a chaotic blur of numbers, charts, and trajectories.

Yunho sits alongside his crew: Jongho, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung. Each man wears an expression of grim determination. Across the room, the scientists—Hongjoong, Yeosang, and Seonghwa—stand at the front, their usual calm replaced with an edge of urgency.

“This is it,” Yeosang begins, the tension in his voice betraying the magnitude of what they’re facing. A holographic image flickers to life in the center of the room. It's the asteroid. Cold, jagged, and terrifyingly massive, it spins slowly, a silent harbinger of doom.

“This is the anomaly at 1648,” he says, his tone heavy. “It’s the size of Texas, coming toward us at 22,000 miles per hour.”

San, who’s rarely shaken by anything, leans forward in his seat, eyes narrowing as he studies the hologram. “So, what are we talking? An extinction-level event?”

Yeosang hesitates for a split second before nodding. “Yes. If we don’t stop it, the impact will wipe out life on Earth as we know it.”

Mingi’s jaw tightens, his usual carefree demeanor long gone. “What kind of damage are we looking at?”

The room goes even quieter. Hongjoong takes over, his voice cool and analytical despite the weight of his words. “Complete destruction. This asteroid isn’t just going to cause a localized impact. This is a global killer. It hits the ocean, the resulting wave will be three miles high, traveling at 1,000 miles per hour. California? Gone. Japan? Gone.”

He lets the silence hang before continuing. “Half the planet will be obliterated by the heat blast alone. The rest will freeze to death during the nuclear winter that follows.”

Yunho’s fingers tighten around the edge of the table. He steals a glance at his pilot, Jongho, who meets his gaze with an unspoken question: Can we really do this?

“How long?” Yunho asks, his voice steady despite the tremor of unease creeping up his spine.

Yeosang glances down at his tablet before answering. “We have 18 days before impact.”

“Eighteen days,” Wooyoung echoes, his usual playful tone replaced with disbelief. “That’s not a lot of time.”

“No,” Seonghwa steps in, clearing his throat, “which is why we’re calling in every favor, every resource we have. We need a plan, and we need it now.”

San leans back, crossing his arms. “So, what’s the plan? We shoot a bunch of nukes at it, hope for the best?”

Hongjoong shakes his head. “Nukes won’t work. The asteroid is too big and moving too fast. Any attempt to break it apart would just result in multiple catastrophic impacts instead of one.”

Yeosang pulls up another hologram, this time of a conceptual drilling rig attached to a rocket.

“We’ve been working on something else. This is the Helios Drill. This is a feat of engineering designed by AstraTech to handle the asteroid's unique conditions, puncturing beyond its rocky surface. We need to use this to drill into the asteroid, plant a nuclear device deep within its core, and detonate it. The explosion will alter its trajectory just enough to miss Earth.”

Mingi raises an eyebrow. “Drill into it? While it’s moving at 22,000 miles per hour?”

“Exactly,” Hongjoong confirms. “It’s risky, but it’s our best shot.”

A heavy silence settles over the room as the enormity of the task begins to sink in. It sounds like something out of a nightmare.

Jongho breaks the silence with a pragmatic tone. “So, who’s going to handle the drilling?”

Yeosang exchanges a glance with Seonghwa before speaking.

“We don’t have a crew in place yet, but we do have a new small group of young pioneers who’ve been training for deep space drilling missions. We started having them around two months ago. They have the expertise to operate the drilling systems we have specially made for missions like this and manage the warhead deployment as well. They’re not astronauts, but they are the best we can get for this task. Talk about timing."

Seonghwa nods, "We'll handpick the best one we have yet, and train him further. We’ll integrate him with your team and ensure he's fully briefed and trained for this mission.”

Wooyoung, usually quick with humor, remains somber. “So, we’re sending some young pioneers and astronauts into space to save the world?”

Yunho leans back, running a hand through his hair. “We’re sending the best team we have because the alternative is unthinkable.”

Mingi smirks, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, I’ve always wanted to intimidate some juniors. Add that to the bucket list.”

But no one laughs. The weight of the mission crushes any attempt at humor.

“We’ll train them,” Hongjoong adds, his tone all business. “And we’re counting on you all to make this work. You’re the best team we’ve got.”

Yunho straightens, nodding. The room buzzes with quiet resolve. There’s no option but success.

“Alright,” Jongho speaks up, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “We’ve done the impossible before. Let’s do it again.”

Yunho, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho exchange determined glances, while the lead scientists continue to strategize. They know the stakes. This mission isn’t just about saving themselves— it’s about saving everyone.

And just like that, the mission is no longer just an idea on a hologram. It’s real. It’s happening. And there’s no turning back.

“We’re going to need more than just luck on this one,” Yunho murmurs, standing and facing his crew.

“But we’ve done this before. It’ll all be alright.”

He says, but the promise is as loud and clear as any battle cry.

Yunho stands quietly in the doorway of Junho's room, the soft glow of a star-shaped nightlight casting gentle shadows across the room. His son is fast asleep, his small body curled beneath a blanket patterned with stars, clutching his favorite stuffed animal tightly to his chest. For a moment, the world outside seems to fall away—no asteroid, no looming mission. Just the steady rise and fall of Junho’s breathing, calm and undisturbed.

Yunho moves closer, kneeling beside the bed as his heart swells with both love and heartache. He leans down, pressing a soft kiss to Junho’s forehead, careful not to wake him.

“Sleep well, buddy,” he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. His fingertips linger on the edge of Junho’s blanket, as if trying to memorize this moment—something to hold onto when he’s out in the cold, vast emptiness of space.

As he stands, Yunho’s gaze drifts toward a framed drawing sitting on the nightstand—a picture Junho had drawn not long ago. It’s simple, childlike: a family of three holding hands beneath a big yellow sun. Mom, Dad, and Junho, written in wobbly letters across the top. Yunho smiles softly, his chest tightening as he takes in the small details— how Junho drew him with a cape, like a superhero, and how he gave you a crown, as if you were royalty.

With a deep sigh, he turns and walks down the hallway toward your shared bedroom. The house feels quieter than usual, and yet Yunho’s mind is louder than ever. He steps inside the room, where you lie peacefully under the covers, your hair slightly tousled against the pillow. His eyes linger on you for a moment— so calm, so beautiful, so utterly unaware of the weight the world's about to bestow onto the both of you. A part of him wishes he could crawl into bed, hold you close, and pretend like tomorrow wasn’t coming.

Yunho carefully sits on the edge of the bed, trying not to disturb your sleep. He glances toward the bathroom, but hesitates. Instead, his eyes sweep across the room—your shared space, filled with memories.

The picture frame on the dresser from your honeymoon, the small vase of dried flowers he bought you years ago, and the little notes you sometimes leave for him tucked in odd places, like his jacket pocket or inside his lunch bag. Each one a reminder of the life you’ve built together, a life he never imagined he would have.

He remembers the early days, back when you were just a journalist who had caught his eye. He used to admire you from afar, watching as you passionately pursued the truth, fearlessly asking questions that others wouldn’t. Back then, he hadn’t thought much about marriage, let alone having a family. But here he is now, years later, with a home, a son, and you— his world. The thought of leaving it all behind, even for a mission as critical as this one, weighs heavily on him.

The mission is about survival. It’s about making sure that Earth is still there for you to continue smiling, for Junho to continue growing. But it feels impossible not to think about what he’s risking— what he’s leaving behind.

He stands up slowly and heads to the bathroom, the rush of water breaking the silence as he steps into the shower. The warm droplets cascade over his skin, but they do little to wash away the tension building in his chest. Yunho leans his head against the cool tiles, eyes closing as he lets the water run over him, thoughts of you and Junho swirling in his mind.

A future without Earth... without the laughter that fills your home, the warmth of your touch, the joy of watching Junho grow— he can’t let that happen. He won’t let that happen. He has to ensure that Earth survives. Not for himself, but for you, for Junho, for everyone.

When he finally steps out of the shower, toweling off, he feels a strange sense of clarity. Yunho knows the mission is dangerous— potentially fatal— but his resolve is firmer than ever. He’ll do whatever it takes to make sure there’s a tomorrow, a world for his family to live in.

Unbeknownst to him, you’ve stirred from your slumber from the few moments he has his back turned. The first sign of your presence is the gentle embrace of your arms wrapping around his waist, a comforting reminder of your closeness in the quiet of the night.

“Hi, honey. Welcome home,” you murmur softly, your voice barely audible as you cling to his back, your arms wrapped around his waist. There’s a gentle warmth between you, a quiet exchange of comfort that only comes from years of intimacy.

Yunho turns slowly, careful not to startle you in your half-asleep state. The sight of you, drowsy and soft in the low glow of the bedside lamp, tugs at something deep inside him. His expression softens immediately, and he leans down slightly to meet your tired gaze.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Your voice is a sleepy murmur, barely above a whisper, but laced with concern. You rest your chin on his chest, rubbing your eyes as the haze of sleep slowly fades from your features.

His hand instinctively comes to rest at the back of your head, his fingers threading gently through your hair.

“You were sleeping so soundly,” he says, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“You should wake me up whenever you come home,” you insist, a small frown tugging at your lips. The worry in your eyes is unmistakable, a reflection of the long nights you’ve spent waiting for him, knowing the dangers that linger with his every mission. “I want to see you, talk to you about your day.”

Yunho’s lips curl into a tender smile, though there’s an underlying heaviness to it. He takes in your features—every curve, every soft line etched into his memory—before he speaks. “I want to talk to you too,” he admits, his voice quiet. “I just didn’t want to intrude on your rest.”

Your expression softens, but you’re not ready to let the moment go. “Well,” you start, nestling your head against his chest, even as he reaches for his shirt. “Now that we’re both awake... talk to me, hm?”

Yunho chuckles softly, the sound a balm to the lingering tension in the room. You poke your head through the fabric of his shirt, making him laugh as you interrupt the task. He cups your cheeks, his large hands gentle as he leans down to kiss your lips—lightly at first, then a little firmer when you don’t pull away.

“Of course, starlight,” he murmurs against your lips, a familiar term of endearment that never loses its magic. “Come now.”

With a soft shuffle, Yunho guides you both back to bed, pulling the covers up over your bodies until the weight of the world feels just a little less crushing. He wraps his arms around you, drawing you close until your back rests securely against his chest. His face buries itself into the crook of your neck, where the soft, lingering scent of vanilla greets him.

For a few moments, there’s only the sound of his breathing and the gentle rise and fall of your chest. The peace you’ve created together— a quiet cocoon from the chaos outside— should feel comforting. But you sense the tension in his embrace, the subtle hitch in his breathing. It’s enough to know that his mind is far from at ease.

“You smell like vanilla,” Yunho finally says, his voice soft and muffled against your skin. “Is that your new perfume, or did Junho convince you to bake cookies again?”

You smile, the heaviness in the room easing slightly. “Both,” you reply, a playful lilt in your voice.

Yunho chuckles quietly, his breath warm against your neck. “I like it,” he murmurs, placing a soft kiss on the curve of your shoulder. But behind that tenderness is something deeper, a weight he hasn’t yet shared. His hold on you tightens ever so slightly, as if he’s trying to memorize the feel of you, to hold onto this moment a little longer before everything changes.

And you, knowing him so well, hold him back just as tightly.

A few moments pass, and just as you begin to think that he’s fallen fast asleep, you feel him pepper kisses against your neck, his hands caressing the skin of your stomach where your shirt had ridden up.

“You’re still awake?” You say, voice hushed as you chuckle at his antics, which he continues to do even as you’ve turned to fully face him. You watch him— your hand in his, raised to his lips as he places soft kisses on your knuckles, lashes fluttering prettily against his cheek before he looks up at you from under them.

The thing about being intimate with Yunho is that it’s all very much natural. From the way he kisses the tip of your ring finger— adorned in your matching gold bands, to the way he lets go just enough for the tip of your finger to glide against his lips, to the way he catches it between his teeth just enough for you to feel a little sting.

It’s natural; the way you gravitate to him, a hand on his jaw, pulling him close to kiss him with fervor— the way he grabs you tight, pulls you onto his lap as he backs further into the headboard, and tugs you flush against his chest to feel you impossibly closer to him.

“Mmh… Yun—” You’re cut off with a gasp, the feeling of his large hands caressing you gently but desperately, as if he’s looking for something to hold on to. One hand steadies the back of your head, the other gripping the skin of your waist.

The kiss is electric, charged with a fiery blend of love, longing, and an unspoken desperation. His lips move against yours with an urgency that leaves you breathless, your hands tangled in his hair as his skin presses against yours, heartbeat in sync with your own. For a moment, it feels like nothing else exists— just the two of you, suspended in time, hearts beating as one.

But beneath that intensity, there’s something else. Something you can’t ignore. It gnaws at you, a quiet unease building in the pit of your stomach, whispering that something is wrong. You try to shake it off, but the feeling lingers, insistent.

Then, as his lips move down your jaw, trailing across your skin, you feel it— the wetness on his cheek, mingling with your own heated skin. It’s subtle at first, just a hint of moisture, but when his lips return to yours, you taste the unmistakable saltiness.

Tears.

He’s crying.

“Yunho,” you whisper softly against his lips, your voice a mix of concern and disbelief. Your hand moves to cradle the back of his head, fingers threading through his hair in a gentle attempt to ground him. But he doesn’t pull away. If anything, he clings to you even more tightly, his kisses growing more fervent, more desperate, as if he’s trying to lose himself in the feel of you.

You can feel his heart pounding against yours, faster than usual. His breath hitches, a ragged sound, as he continues to press kisses along your collarbone, his hands gripping you like he’s afraid you might slip away.

“Yunho,” you murmur again, more firmly this time, gently guiding his face away from your skin. Your eyes meet his, and the sight nearly breaks you. The touch snaps him out of his daze, eyes wide as his hands come up to wipe the wetness on his cheeks— surprise evident on his face as he realizes that he’d been tearing up unintentionally.

His face is streaked with tears, his usually bright eyes clouded with something deeper— something heavier. Your heart clenches at the sight of him, the image of his tear-streaked face a painful reminder of how much he’s carrying. It’s clear that something is weighing on him heavily, something beyond his usual strength.

“What’s wrong?” you ask softly, your voice trembling slightly with concern. The depth of his distress is evident, and it cuts through you like a knife.

The silence that follows is thick and heavy, wrapping around you both like a suffocating blanket. You can feel the shift in the atmosphere, the unspoken fears and worries hanging palpably between you. Your heart races, a tightening knot of anxiety as you wait for him to speak.

He looks at you like you’re the only thing keeping him tethered to this world, but also like he’s already mourning something he hasn’t said out loud. His lips tremble as he opens his mouth, but no words come out. Instead, he lowers his forehead to yours, his breath shaky against your skin as his tears fall silently between you.

“Yunho, please, talk to me,” you implore, your voice barely above a whisper. The urgency in your tone reflects the desperation you feel, wanting to bridge the gap of silence that seems to grow wider with every passing second.

He slowly sits up, his movements slow and deliberate, as if every action is weighed down by the burden he carries. You mirror his actions, pushing yourself off of his lap to sit next to him, your gaze fixed on his face as he struggles to find the right words. The seconds stretch into an eternity, each moment heavy with the anticipation of what he might reveal.

The look in his eyes is one of intense inner conflict, as if he’s grappling with how to convey the depth of his anguish. His hesitation is palpable, the silence growing thicker as he searches for a way to articulate what’s troubling him. You hold your breath, feeling the weight of the moment, as every passing second seems to stretch into infinity.

Finally, Yunho takes a deep breath, the decision to share his burden evident in the way he grips your hand. The moment is tender yet heavy with unspoken fears, a reminder of how deeply connected you both are, even in the face of uncertainty.

“I and the rest of the crew are to be deployed in a week. It’s an important mission. Confidential, actually. I was going to talk to you about it in the morning.”

The words hit you like a sudden jolt, your heart skipping a beat at the gravity of his announcement. Despite his attempt at nonchalance, the undercurrent of dread in his voice is palpable.

“Is it dangerous?” your words come out as a whisper, your voice trembling slightly as you grapple with the fear rising in your chest.

“It is,” he admits, his tone heavy with the weight of reality. “But it’s something we have to do.”

The fear in your heart intensifies, a cold, clenching sensation that threatens to overwhelm you. It’s the first time Yunho has ever admitted to the danger of a mission in such a manner, and it does nothing to the heaviness that begins to build up in your chest.

“Can’t you say no?” you plead, your voice strained as you struggle to keep the tremor out of it. Your mind races with the terrifying thought of him facing danger, and the possibility of losing him seems almost too much to bear.

Yunho shakes his head, his gaze unwavering. “We have some trained pioneers to help us with it, but they need the best crew for this. It’s the world at stake.”

The gravity of his words hangs in the air, a stark reminder of the enormity of the situation. You try to voice your concerns, your words catching in your throat as you fight against the suffocating grip of fear. The thought of him being in harm’s way is a crushing weight that makes it hard to breathe.

“It’s going to be difficult but I’ll be back,” Yunho says gently, his voice laced with a soothing promise as he squeezes your hand. “I promise.”

The promise is both a balm and a burden, a small beacon of hope amidst the sea of uncertainty. Yunho pulls you into his arms, his warmth enveloping you in a cocoon of comfort. You bury your face against his chest, drawing solace from his presence as you let the tears fall. His embrace is a fragile sanctuary in the midst of the storm of emotions that threatens to consume you.

“Are you mad?” Yunho asks softly, his tone tender as he brushes a strand of hair from your face. The gentle query is tinged with concern, an effort to ease the emotional tumult between you.

“No,” you reply, though the unease in your voice betrays your true feelings. The words feel inadequate, mere whispers against the roar of your fear.

“I think you are, starlight,” Yunho says with a sad, knowing smile. “We promised to be honest about our feelings, remember?”

“I don’t want you to go,” you admit, your voice wavering as you cling to him, your hands gripping his shirt as if trying to hold onto him as tightly as you can. “What if I lose you, Yun?”

The question lingers in the air, a heavy, haunting echo of the fear you can barely contain. The uncertainty of his departure looms over you like a dark cloud, and the thought of losing him feels almost too unbearable to confront.

“You’ll always have me,” Yunho says, his voice filled with unwavering conviction. He holds you tighter, his embrace a firm promise against the fears that plague your mind. “No matter what happens, I’ll always be with you.”

“I know,” you whisper, your voice breaking through the tension that fills the cramped room. The dim lighting casts long shadows, making the space feel even smaller, as if closing in around the weight of the conversation.

“But that’s not a real answer to the situation right now. You said it yourself. You have experts for this. They’re trained for it,” you continue, your heart aching with the desperation of trying to grasp a solution. “Why do you need to go?”

Yunho’s face is etched with a mix of anguish and resolve, his normally calm demeanor slipping away under the pressure of your words. He looks down, his eyes clouded with uncertainty, as he struggles to articulate the depth of his reasoning.

“Because… because it’s not just about the mission,” he finally says, his voice low and strained, “It’s about ensuring there’s a chance. Making sure everything is done right.”

His words hang in the air, heavy with meaning and unspoken fears. The reality of the situation crashes over you like a tidal wave. You see the determination in his eyes, a fierce commitment to his duty that you have always admired, but the thought of him facing such imminent danger fills you with a dread that is almost paralyzing. You can’t summon anger— only a deep, hollow ache that makes it hard to breathe.

“Don’t cry, please…” Yunho’s voice is tender, his hands reaching out to gently brush away the tears that streak down your cheeks. His touch is both soothing and heart-wrenching, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside you. His own eyes glisten with unshed tears, reflecting the profound sadness that fills the room.

“Just… promise me you’ll come back to me,” you plead, your voice trembling as you clutch at the fabric of his shirt. Your fingers dig into the material, seeking any semblance of comfort as you make your desperate request. The weight of the promise hangs between you, a fragile thread connecting your hearts.

Yunho’s expression softens, a blend of sorrow and resolve in his eyes. He leans in, his breath warm against your skin as he presses a gentle kiss to your cheek.

“I will, starlight,” he whispers against your ear, cheek pressed against your as he hugs you close to him, his voice barely above a murmur. “I always do.”

You nod, your throat tight with emotion as you try to steady your breathing. “Okay,” you manage to say, your voice breaking as you snuffle and gulp to regain control. “Okay.”

Yunho pulls away slightly to cup your cheek, his touch both comforting and bittersweet. His eyes search yours, trying to convey the depth of his feelings in this fleeting moment. As you begin to wipe away your tears, he moves in closer, his lips meeting yours in a tender, lingering kiss. The kiss is a mix of passion and sadness, a final, intimate connection before the uncertainty of his departure.

You close your eyes, allowing yourself to lose yourself in it, letting the last few drops of your tears fall as you savor the warmth of his embrace. The kiss deepens, fueled by the intensity of your emotions and the urgency of the moment. You cling to him, pouring all your love and fear into the kiss, trying to imprint this moment into your memory.

Yunho’s hands are steady on your waist, holding you close as if he never wants to let go. His touch is firm yet gentle, a silent promise that he will carry your love with him wherever he goes.

As you pull away slightly, your breaths come in shallow, ragged gasps. Yunho’s eyes meet yours, filled with a mixture of tenderness and apology. He gazes at you with a deep, almost aching love, as if trying to memorize every detail of your face before the inevitable parting. You hold onto him, your fists clenched against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your fingers.

Without a warning, you swoop back in, kissing him with more fervor. Yunho’s taken aback for a quick moment, his hands coming up to hold you steady by the waist as you fidget on his lap. He’s quick to return the passion, pouring his heart and emotions into the kiss you share. Your hands begin to find the buttons of his dress shirt, undoing them as quick as you can— as if time’s ticking half as fast as usual.

Because you feel like it is.

Yunho slips out of his shirt, parting from the kiss just to remove yours from your body as well. He flips you over, laying you on your back, wanting to be as close to you as he could. You welcome his warmth wholeheartedly, clutching onto him as if your life depends on it. As if you’re about to lose it if you don’t.

For a moment, the rest of the world seems to disappear. The looming storm of his departure is pushed aside by the intensity of your connection. Yunho’s fingers gently brush against your skin amidst the rush of the moment, his touch a soothing balm against the ache in your heart.

As he cages you in his arms and one thing leads to the other, you feel the profound weight of his impending departure, the crushing finality of his decision.

But in this fleeting, bittersweet interlude, you find a small measure of peace, clinging to the hope that somehow, against all odds, he will return to you.

The morning air feels thick with unspoken tension as you and Junho accompany Yunho to the launch facility. The enormity of the moment presses on your chest, but you try to remain strong for both of them. Junho clutches his star-shaped plushie tightly, a small token of comfort, as he walks beside Yunho, trying to match his father’s long strides with his tiny legs. When you arrive at the departure point, Yunho squats down, ruffling Junho’s hair gently.

“Hey, buddy,” he says softly, his voice catching in his throat. “You’re gonna be a good boy while I’m gone, right?”

Junho nods, his little face serious as he hugs his father tightly, burying his face into Yunho’s neck.

“I’ll be good, Papa. Come back soon, okay?”

Yunho squeezes him harder, eyes glistening with emotions he keeps locked away for times like this.

“I will. I promise.”

When Yunho finally stands, his gaze shifts to you. Your heart aches as he reaches up to gently caress your cheek, the warmth of his touch grounding you in a moment that feels like it’s slipping away too quickly. The worry you’ve tried so hard to hide is all too evident, and he sees right through it.

“You’ll be fine without me,” he says with a small, reassuring smile, but you can hear the crack in his usually calm voice.

You don’t speak, because you know if you do, the dam will break. Instead, you throw your arms around him, hugging him tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of him, hoping it lingers long after he’s gone. When you finally let go, he turns to leave, but your hand instinctively tugs at his arm.

Without hesitation, you pull him into a deep kiss, one that speaks of fear, longing, and all the words you couldn’t say. His lips press back against yours, equally passionate and filled with the same bittersweet mixture of love and inevitable departure. It’s a goodbye neither of you wants to acknowledge, but both know is necessary.

When you finally release him, Yunho smiles softly, his thumb brushing gentle, reassuring circles against the skin of your cheek. It’s a touch meant to soothe, but all it does is make you cling to the moment, unwilling to let him go.

“Come back to me, okay?” Your voice cracks, the tears you’ve been holding in finally spilling over. “You have to.”

His lips hover near yours, the warmth of his breath mingling with your own as he whispers, “I’ll always come back to you, starlight.”

You had always been the one who brought him warmth and hope, even in the darkest of times.

Without you, he would have been lost in the void. His fame and success might make him a "star" in the eyes of the world, but it's your love that makes him feel truly seen, grounded, and understood.

Yunho believes that no matter how far away he is, even in the deepest reaches of space, it's you that will always lead him home. So while the universe may see him as the star, he knows that his light is just a reflection of the love you've always given him. To him, you will always be the true starlight— the light that gives his existence meaning, even as he shines.

He presses a final, fleeting kiss on your lips— short, yet filled with the depth of everything he can’t put into words.

With a heavy heart, Yunho pulls away, and you can feel the shift, the inevitability of time drawing him farther from you with every second. He gives you and Junho one last, lingering look, his smile soft but full of emotion.

“I love you both,” he says, his voice thick with sincerity. “So, so much.”

And then he’s gone, disappearing into the flurry of technicians and AstraTech officials, his towering figure blending into the sea of mission personnel. The distance feels immediate, as though the space between you has already widened to the vastness of galaxies.

The launch facility hums with tense energy as the final preparations unfold. Inside, Yunho walks into the mission briefing room, the shift in atmosphere stark. The team is assembled, each member’s face a mixture of steely resolve and hidden apprehension. This is no ordinary mission— this is a critical leap for humanity’s future, and everyone feels the weight of it.

Yunho, now fully suited up in his space gear, stands at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room. The weight of what he’s leaving behind presses against his chest, but he steels himself. There’s no room for distraction now.

As Yunho surveys the scene, his eyes settle on Sim Jaeyun, the young deep space drilling pioneer brought in for this mission. Despite his youth, Jaeyun was chosen for a reason. Aside from his notable performance among the trainees, his years of experience in his family’s oil drilling business had honed his skills and familiarity prior with critical devices and processes. His expertise was crucial for the success of their plan.

Yunho observes Jaeyun meticulously conducting his equipment checks. The young man’s hands move with precision, but Yunho catches the subtle tremor in his grip, a sign of his nerves. Yunho approaches and gently taps Jaeyun’s shoulder to get his attention.

“Oh— Commander Jeong!” Jaeyun startles, bowing deeply and accidentally dropping some of his equipment. Among the scattered items, Yunho notices a family photo that has fallen to the floor.

“At ease, Sim,” Yunho says with a reassuring smile, recognizing a bit of his younger self in the young man before him. He helps Jaeyun gather the equipment, and Jaeyun returns a grateful, sheepish smile.

Yunho smiles, reminded of the bashful look on Junho’s face everytime he would catch him talking to his toys.

“You’ve got a family?” Yunho inquires, his tone gentle but firm. The family photo had caught his eye, reminding him of the sendoff where he’d seen Jaeyun standing with a woman and a small child. The image of Jaeyun kissing them goodbye had stayed with him amidst the crowd of families bidding farewell at the launch facility.

Jaeyun looks up from his work, his expression steady but revealing the weight of the mission ahead.

“Yes, sir,” he replies, “My wife and I had our son not long ago. We haven’t been married long either. We were young and, well, didn’t always make the best choices. But they’re my biggest blessings.”

“A newborn?” Yunho asks, his curiosity tinged with empathy.

Jaeyun nods, a faint smile touching his lips. “Yes, sir. A boy.”

Yunho's expression softens. He knows exactly how Jaeyun feels— the tight knot of fear and hope that comes with leaving behind a family for something bigger than yourself. He had felt the same before his first mission after marrying you. After Junho was born, that feeling had only intensified.

“I know what it’s like, having someone waiting for you,” Yunho says, his voice low but filled with understanding. “It’s hard, but you’ve got to keep your head clear. Stay sharp. We’re counting on you.”

Jaeyun holds his gaze, the flicker of anxiety in his eyes slowly replaced by determination.

“Yes, sir,” he replies, his resolve settling in. He grips his tools a little tighter, focusing on the task at hand.

Yunho pats his shoulder, offering one last reassuring look before stepping back. They both knew the stakes, and they both had people counting on them.

The mission briefing concludes in a brisk, no-nonsense manner, and the team scatters to their stations with practiced precision. As they prepare, the spacecraft rests in eerie stillness on the launch pad. The last slivers of sunlight cast a golden glow across its metallic surface, while the asteroid looms in the distance like a shadow, massive and indifferent, a reminder of the stakes they face.

The air in the command center is thick with tension, though not a word is spoken. It’s a calm that comes with familiarity, the team having rehearsed these steps a thousand times. This time, however, everything feels heavier—the weight of Earth's fate resting squarely on their shoulders.

Yunho stands at the forefront of it all, his face set in an expression of quiet determination. His gaze sweeps over the control panel, watching as systems blink to life.

“All crew, roll call,” Yunho's voice comes through the comms, steady and composed, despite the gravity of the situation.

"Orion, standing by," replies Jongho, his voice clipped and focused. From his station, he methodically runs through the spacecraft’s navigation systems.

"Vega, systems green across the board. Engines at optimal levels," reports San, his hands already working across the ship’s internal systems, fingers tapping at the console as he monitors for any sign of malfunction.

"Luna, comms clear," Wooyoung’s voice filters in, light but precise. He sits at his console, ensuring a steady flow of communication between the spacecraft and ground control. His fingers twitch occasionally, a sure sign that beneath his calm tone, there’s a swirl of nervous energy.

"Nebula, all tech systems functional," Mingi adds, voice tinged with that signature calm as he works on ensuring the advanced equipment is prepped for whatever the asteroid throws at them.

"Atlas, ready on drilling equipment," Jaeyun says, his voice steady, completing the final check-in.

Yunho takes a breath, letting the quiet hum of the engines ground him. Every part of the ship, every person on board is in sync. It’s all come down to this moment. They're ready.

“Copy that,” Yunho responds, eyes locking on the asteroid growing larger in the viewport. His heart pounds, but his voice remains steady as the countdown begins.

“T-minus 10... 9... 8...”

The engines start to roar, vibrating through the ship, a force that everyone feels down to their bones.

“7… 6… 5…”

They know what’s at stake. Each of them has a role to play, and they’ve trained endlessly for this. Still, the uncertainty hangs like a storm cloud on the horizon.

“4… 3… 2…”

For just a moment, Yunho’s mind flashes to the stars, to the nights spent gazing at them with you by his side. He can almost hear your voice, the warmth of your presence grounding him in the chaos. He grips the armrests of his chair, letting the thought of you push him forward.

“1.”

The spacecraft launches, a deafening roar echoing through the command center as it breaks free from the Earth, surging into the dark void where nothing is certain except the mission. The rocket’s engines blaze against the darkening sky, leaving a trail of fire and smoke. As the vehicle ascends, the team inside adjusts to the weightlessness of space, their focus sharpening as they approach their target.

The spacecraft continues its journey, navigating the cold, uncharted reaches of space with precision and care. The asteroid, now a prominent feature on their instruments, draws closer, its massive presence commanding the attention of the crew. The atmosphere inside the spacecraft shifts from the initial exhilaration of launch to the tense anticipation of the task ahead. Every maneuver, every adjustment, is executed with meticulous accuracy.

The spacecraft hovers in position above the asteroid, the vast expanse of space stretching out in every direction. Inside, the crew is methodically checking their systems. Yunho stands at the control panel, his gaze sweeping over the array of monitors.

“Orion, status report,” Yunho calls out.

“Navigation systems are calibrated and ready,” Jongho replies from his station, his focus sharp.

“Vega, how’s the engine?” Yunho asks.

“All systems green,” San responds, his fingers flying over the console.

With systems confirmed, the team prepares for the next phase: drilling into the asteroid to secure the nuclear warhead.

“Helios Drill, ready for deployment,” Jaeyun reports, his voice steadier than before.

Yunho moves to his side, scanning the monitors. “Proceed.”

The Helios Drill extends from the belly of the spacecraft, its metallic arms reaching out like the claws of a massive beast, designed to pierce the asteroid’s unyielding surface. As it makes contact, the drill's pointed bit begins its rotation, slowly burrowing into the asteroid’s rock-hard shell.

Inside the ship, the rhythmic thrum of the drill vibrates through the walls, a constant reminder of the tension outside. The asteroid's composition is dense— tougher than expected. Yunho can feel it, the slight resistance shaking through the control panels as he monitors the progress.

“Depth check,” Yunho orders.

“We’re making steady progress, Commander. About thirty percent into the required depth,” Jaeyun responds, his eyes glued to the data streaming across his screen.

The asteroid’s surface begins to push back— an indication of unstable rock layers. The ship shudders slightly as the drill struggles against the resistance. Jaeyun’s fingers fly over the controls, adjusting the drill’s settings, compensating for the erratic pressure.

“Hold steady,” Yunho says, his voice calm despite the rising tension. The asteroid is a ticking time bomb, and the drill has to reach the target depth to plant the nuclear warhead securely. Failure isn’t an option.

Jaeyun grits his teeth, sweat forming on his brow. “Adjusting rotation speed. This layer’s denser than we expected.”

The vibrations intensify, and suddenly, a red light flashes on Jaeyun’s console. His breath hitches. “Commander, we’ve hit a critical pressure point. The drill’s power feed is fluctuating. If we push too hard, we risk overloading the system.”

Yunho’s eyes narrow, weighing the options. They’re running out of time, but overloading the drill could cause catastrophic damage to the ship or the mission itself.

“Can we reroute power from auxiliary systems?” Yunho asks, already scanning the control panel.

Jaeyun’s hands are shaking, but his mind is sharp. “I can try, but we’ll lose some engine capacity. It’s risky.”

Yunho makes the call. “Do it. We need that depth.”

Jaeyun nods, his fingers moving in rapid succession across the console. The ship hums as power reroutes, and the drill stabilizes, resuming its steady descent into the asteroid.

Minutes stretch into an agonizing eternity. Every meter the drill descends feels like a victory, but the clock is ticking. Finally, after what seems like hours, the drill reaches the required depth. The monitor blinks green.

“We’re in,” Jaeyun announces, letting out a breath of relief. “Ready for warhead deployment.”

Yunho gives the signal, and Jaeyun activates the release mechanism. The warhead, nestled securely within its casing, lowers into the freshly drilled cavity. But just as the warhead begins to descend, alarms blare— a sharp, shrill sound that freezes the crew.

“Warning: deployment mechanism malfunction,” the system’s voice drones, emotionless but dire.

Yunho’s stomach drops. “Status report!”

Jaeyun’s face pales. “The release system’s jammed. It won’t deploy remotely.”

Yunho curses under his breath. “Can we fix it?”

San’s voice crackles over the comms. “Backup systems are failing too. We’re experiencing irregular pressure fluctuations, Commander. We’ll need to deploy it manually.”

The words hang heavy in the air. Manual deployment means suiting up and stepping onto the asteroid’s surface— a dangerous and potentially lethal task, but there’s no other option.

Yunho’s jaw tightens. “Prep for Extravehicular Activity. I’m going.”

Jaeyun looks up, eyes wide. “Commander, let me come with you. This is my system. I know how to fix it.”

Yunho meets his gaze, a mix of admiration and concern. He knows Jaeyun is capable, but the risks are astronomical. Still, they don’t have time to argue. He nods.

“Suit up. You’ve got five minutes.”

The office buzzes with its usual frenetic energy—phones ringing incessantly, papers shuffling, and the low hum of conversations creating a familiar rhythm. You’ve grown accustomed to the chaos, the deadlines, and the high-stakes pressure of being an anchor. But today, amidst it all, something feels different. There’s a weight on your chest that you can’t quite shake, though you try to push through, focusing on the endless stream of news updates flashing on your screen.

Just as you start to type up a report, your phone vibrates on the desk. A call from a number you don’t recognize. Despite the uncertainty, a surge of anticipation compels you to answer, driven by a lingering hope that, against all odds, it might be Yunho reaching out.

“Hello? Y/N speaking,” you answer, keeping your voice steady, professional, despite the noise around you. But before you can settle back into work, the intercom crackles to life.

“Hello, Mrs. Jeong. This is AstraTech HQ. Commander Jeong has asked to be connected to you through a call. This call will only last for five minutes. I’ll be putting him on the line now.”

Before you can react, A brief click resonates through the receiver, and then Yunho’s voice, warm and familiar, fills your ear.

“Hi, starlight,” he says, his tone a comforting balm amidst the clamor. “Can you step out of the office for a moment?”

The shift in your mood is immediate and profound. Your heart races, a flutter of hope and anxiety intertwining as you clutch the phone tighter.

“Are you home?” you ask, your voice betraying the excitement and worry surging through you, your hands instinctively grasping the phone tighter. “Honey, are you home?”

Yunho laughs. You can almost see that cheeky smile of his.

“Just do as I say, will you?”

Confused but eager, you rush out of the office, weaving through cubicles and past colleagues who look up in curiosity. Your mind races with thoughts of Yunho finally being back, and you burst into the fresh air of the street, scanning ahead.

“Okay, okay! I’m out of the office. Where are you?”

“Wave at the sky.”

You laugh nervously, glancing around as if expecting to see him somehow materialize in the sky. “What?”

“Wave at the sky.”

“Yunho, what kind of prank is this?”

“Are you waving?”

You raise your hand, waving in the general direction of the sky. “I am.”

You can feel him smiling even if you don’t see him, “I’m currently waving back at you from space.”

“Honey—”

“I just missed you, starlight,” Yunho says softly, the warmth in his voice cutting through the static. “Will you promise to come and greet me every day and every night?”

Your heart aches at the tenderness in his voice, and you nod, even though he can’t see you. “Of course.”

“Alright, you better,” Yunho chuckles, and you can almost picture the smile on his face. But then his tone shifts, becoming more somber.

“Now, listen carefully. On my computer… you know the password, right? Just so we’re clear, it’s still hotteok23, capital letter H, and your face recognition works too. The same goes with my cards and bank accounts; mine, yours, and Junho’s day of birth. The insurance and all of the other important files are stored in the folder named space poop, and I know, it sounds ridiculous, but it’s all there. You’ll know what to do with everything in the folder once you open it.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” you say, the unease in your voice unmistakable. Your heart sinks as the unsettling weight of his words begins to settle in. “Yunho, what’s going on?”

His silence speaks volumes, and the weight of his words begins to settle in, thick and suffocating.

“I just wanted to make sure... that you hear it from me.”

The air feels heavier, each second ticking louder in the silence between you.

“What’s going on, please…” Your voice cracks, a tremor of fear lacing through it, but before Yunho can respond, you feel a tug on your sleeve.

“Is that Papa?” Junho’s small voice cuts through the tension, his wide eyes filled with hope. You swallow hard, trying to keep the tears at bay as you nod.

“Yes, sweetheart, it’s Papa,” you whisper, and Junho beams up at you. “Do you want to talk to him?”

Junho eagerly takes the phone, and you watch, heart aching, as his innocent joy fills the moment with bittersweet warmth.

“Hi, Papa! Guess what? I got five stars at school today!”

Yunho’s laughter is warm, but tinged with something deeper. “That’s amazing, buddy. Can you wave at me?”

Junho giggles, glancing up at the sky. “I can’t see you, Papa!”

“But I can see you,” Yunho replies softly. “I’m waving from up here. Are you waving back?”

Junho waves enthusiastically, his small hand outstretched to the sky. “I am!”

You can’t hold it in anymore. Silent tears spill down your cheeks as you watch your son, his innocence a sharp contrast to the heaviness weighing you down. Your heart feels as though it’s breaking, and when Junho notices, his brow furrows in confusion.

“Mama’s crying,” he whispers into the phone, glancing up at you with concern.

There’s a pause, then Yunho’s voice returns, gentle but steady. “Junho, listen to me. Can I trust you with something?”

“Of course, Papa,” He says in a small voice, nodding as if Yunho can see him at the moment.

“Whenever mama cries, I need you to kiss her tears away, okay? Be a good boy and take care of her for me. Promise?”

Junho nods earnestly, pressing a kiss to your cheek before whispering, “I promise.”

The moment stretches, thick with emotion, as Junho hands the phone back to you. His little fingers cling to your skirt, eyes filled with innocent worry. You take the phone, your hand trembling.

“Yunho,” you whisper, your voice breaking. “You promised.”

“I know,” he murmurs, his voice raw with emotion. “I’m trying. I’m doing everything I can.”

You know he is.

Yunho always pours his heart into everything he does. He’s always said he wants to do his best rather than be the best, and it's that very mindset that has made him excel in every challenge he’s faced.

You just never imagined you’d find yourself hoping, just this once, that he wasn’t the most capable person for this mission.

“I miss you both. So much.” His voice falters slightly, as if he’s trying to find the right words. “I know the mission’s... difficult. But it’s something I have to do. For you. For Junho.”

You close your eyes, clutching the phone as if it could tether you to him, as if it could make everything alright.

“I love you,” you whisper, the words fragile and aching.

“I love you too, starlight,” Yunho says, his voice soft but resolute. “To outer space, and beyond.”

“Yunho.” Mingi’s voice is strained, his concern palpable as he pulls the commander aside. In a quiet corner, away from the chaos, he leans in, his tone low but urgent. “You don’t have to do this. It’s the kid’s responsibility to handle the task. If you go with him, we risk losing both of you.”

Yunho, though visibly listening, continues to prepare his equipment with a focused determination.

“He has a newborn waiting for him at home. I can’t stand by and let him face this alone.”

Mingi shakes his head, frustration mixing with his worry. “And what about you? You have a family too. He’s here to support us; he knew what he was signing up for.”

“Jaeyun was trained for this, but this mission is beyond anything he’s faced. The asteroid’s interference is severe, and he’s already under immense stress. If anything goes wrong, he won’t have the expertise to fix it alone. I need to be there to ensure it’s done right. Knowledge of outer space or not, it’s safer if I’m there with him.” Yunho replies firmly, his resolve unyielding. The flicker of fear in his eyes is evident, but his decision is resolute.

At his next words, his voice turns softer, and there’s a more somber look in his eyes, “If there’s a chance I can keep him safe and ensure the mission’s success, I have to take it.”

Mingi sighs, letting the silence linger for a while as he forces himself to relent, “Come back in one piece, commander. We need you back here.”

Yunho meets Mingi’s gaze, the weight of his commitment clear. He nods, though the uncertainty of the mission hangs heavy in the air.

“Do you think we might die, Commander?” Jaeyun's voice trembles, barely above a whisper. He clutches the manual deployment device to his chest, his eyes wide with raw fear just as he stands next to Yunho, preparing for descent.

“I keep thinking about my family. I don’t know if I said goodbye right. I should have taken more pictures with my son. He’s so little... and my wife... I told her I—” His voice cracks, a sob escaping despite the pained smile on his face, “I told her I’d be back. I promised I’d come home. I— I should have done more. I didn’t—”

His words dissolve into a heart-wrenching silence, his face contorted with anguish as he struggles to control his trembling hands.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay, kid. Calm down,” Yunho says, his voice steady as he grabs Jaeyun by the shoulders. “You’re not going to die, okay? You're going to see your son grow, and you're going to come home to your wife.”

“Sir—”

“For now, focus on the task at hand. If we fail to see this through, you risk losing your family,” Yunho interrupts, his tone firm just as Jaeyun’s breathing stabilizes. “You're going to be okay. I’ll be right with you, I promise.”

Jaeyun nods despite the tears threatening to fall from his eyes, feeling a sense of security from Yunho's words alone, not because he's the world's greatest commander, but because something in the way Yunho looked at him told him he meant everything he said.

With that, the airlock hisses open, and they step into the void, tethered to the spacecraft by a thin lifeline. Below them, the asteroid’s jagged surface looms, indifferent to the lives it threatens. Yunho and Jaeyun descend together onto the asteroid’s unstable surface, both tethered securely to the spacecraft. The gravity here feels strange, a tug that’s neither Earth nor space, and the asteroid’s jagged terrain shifts uneasily beneath their boots.

As they approach the asteroid’s surface, Yunho and Jaeyun struggle against high gravity and increasing debris. Their suit’s shielding system is designed to deflect such impacts, but the constant barrage takes a toll. The heat from the asteroid’s surface is another challenge, with temperature fluctuations causing additional strain on the suit’s thermal control systems. Their suits’ alarms blare intermittently, warning of rising temperatures and pressure imbalances, visor fogging up as sweat beads form, making it harder to see. Despite these challenges, they remain focused on the task at hand.

The warhead casing looms ahead, half-buried in the asteroid's crumbling exterior. Jaeyun moves with practiced precision, his gaze flicking between his tools and the volatile surface, while Yunho scans the surroundings, ever-watchful for signs of instability.

"Stay close," Yunho instructs, his voice calm despite the ticking clock in his mind. He knows they’re working against time—against fate, even.

“Commander, do you have a status update?” Wooyoung’s voice comes through the comms, strained but hopeful.

“Atlas is securing the warhead now,” Yunho replies, his voice steady. “The surface is unstable.”

Jaeyun nods, focused on his task. “I’ve almost got it. Just need to bypass this last circuit.”

As he works, the asteroid groans ominously. Beneath their feet, the ground shifts—subtle, but enough to make Yunho’s heart jump in his chest. He kneels next to Jaeyun, his eyes narrowing as he watches the younger engineer deftly reroute the damaged deployment mechanism.

A minute passes. Then two. Everything seems to be under control—until it isn’t.

Without warning, the ground trembles violently. Cracks spiderweb across the asteroid’s surface, and Yunho feels a sickening lurch in his gut.

"Commander—!" Jaeyun shouts, scrambling to keep his balance as the asteroid shakes.

Yunho’s hand shoots out, grabbing Jaeyun’s suit to steady him. His eyes sweep across the scene—the warhead is almost ready, but the asteroid is crumbling faster than anticipated. Dust and debris kick up around them, and the tremors grow worse by the second.

But as the ground beneath them trembles, Yunho’s instincts scream. Something's wrong. The asteroid’s unstable surface shifts again, a violent quake that rattles their footing. Dust and debris swirl in the weightless vacuum, and Yunho grabs Jaeyun by the arm, steadying him.

The surface cracks and groans, the tremors growing worse. Yunho’s eyes dart to the warhead, still not fully deployed. It’s too slow. They’re running out of time.

Yunho’s mind races, analyzing the situation. The mechanism is malfunctioning—there’s no way they can finish the automated sequence before the asteroid crumbles. The warhead has to be detonated manually.

He grips Jaeyun’s arm tighter, eyes locking with his. “Atlas, pull back.”

Jaeyun’s eyes widen in shock. “No! Commander, if I leave, it won’t deploy! We can still fix this!”

“Jaeyun.” Yunho’s voice hardens. “It’s not going to hold. I’ll stay and deploy it manually. You need to get back to the ship.”

Jaeyun’s breathing hitches, his mind whirling. He looks at the warhead, at the rapidly deteriorating asteroid, and then back at Yunho. And he knows—Yunho is right. But that doesn’t make it any easier.

“But—”

“This is the only way,” Yunho says quietly, but with finality. “You know it is.”

The devastation in Jaeyun’s eyes mirrors the dread in Yunho’s heart, but there’s no other choice. He’s made his decision. The mission has to succeed, and Jaeyun has to survive.

Jaeyun swallows hard, his voice trembling. “I’m not leaving you here.”

Yunho's voice softens, but his grip is firm as he guides Jaeyun toward the tether leading back to the ship.

“You have to. That’s an order.”

Jaeyun’s hand trembles as he grips the tether, his heart hammering in his chest. He hesitates for one last second, looking back at Yunho, desperation etched into every line of his face.

“Copy that, sir.”

With that, Jaeyun pulls himself away, the tether drawing him back toward the spacecraft. Every inch feels like a betrayal, leaving Yunho behind. But he knows he has to. Yunho gave him no choice.

Yunho watches Jaeyun retreat, his heart burdened by the gravity of his choice, despite it being conscious. The emptiness of space seems to mirror the void inside him.

Yunho has lived fully, loved deeply, and built a life worth coming back to. Yet, as a tear trickles down his cheek, he realizes that he is leaving behind so much more— a future brimming with moments and memories waiting to be shared. But, deep down he knows that if he doesn’t see this mission through, there will be nothing left to return to. His grip on the deployment device tightens, a silent promise to safeguard the lives that depend on him.

“ATEEZ Unit,” Yunho’s voice crackles through the comms, his heart heavy. “Move to a safe distance and prepare for detonation. I’m staying behind to ensure the warhead deploys.”

Silence follows—thick and suffocating, as if the crew hasn’t yet processed the weight of his words. But when they do, the comms erupt in disbelief, the static barely masking their shock.

“Commander, is there truly no other way?” Mingi’s voice breaks through, strained, clinging to a desperate hope.

Jongho cuts in, his usual composure faltering.

“There has to be something else. We can’t leave you here without exhausting all the options we have.”

Yunho closes his eyes, taking a breath to steady himself. His voice remains calm, but the inevitability in his tone is undeniable.

“I’ve gone through every alternative. This is the only way to guarantee the mission’s success and keep everyone safe back home. We’re out of time.”

A long, heavy silence follows. Yunho can feel their resistance slipping away as the reality sinks in.

Wooyoung’s voice comes through, controlled but filled with grief.

“Understood, Commander. If this is your call, we’ll follow it. We trust you.”

San’s response comes next, quieter but no less heartfelt. “We’re moving to a safe distance now. You’ve led us with everything you have, and we know you made this decision with that same integrity.”

The spacecraft’s engines rumbles to life, their hum reverberating faintly through Yunho’s suit. He feels the vibrations as the ship began to pull away, the distance between them growing with every passing second. The soft glow of the ship’s lights grows smaller, swallowed by the infinite black of space..

The silence is deafening as Yunho turns back to the warhead, now alone. The ground trembles beneath him, cracks growing wider, the asteroid collapsing faster. He moves quickly, fingers flying over the manual controls. The countdown sequence begins.

He thinks of Junho, his bright smile, his innocent questions about space... Yunho had promised he would come home, that he would stand by his side as the boy grew, guiding him through life’s hurdles. But now, here he is, on the edge of everything, poised to break that promise.

Could he have been selfish? He wonders, thinking about Jaeyun, knowing the young man would have followed orders to execute this himself if Yunho had commanded, despite his own fears. Yunho had the chance to step back, to delegate. Jaeyun could have taken the risk alone.

Would Junho hate him for this? The thought stung. He knows that there’s a sliver of a chance that Junho might never understand why Papa chose the stars over a safe return home.

And then, there’s you. The thought of your face— strong, fierce, and full of love— pierces him in the chest. You had always been the anchor, the one who grounded him when he lost his way in the cosmos. Yunho thinks of your voice, the way it cracked when you laughed, how it could soothe him even when words were unnecessary. He thinks of the way your eyes sparkled when you talked about dreams for the future, a future Yunho was threatening to leave behind.

Would you forgive him for this choice?

The question weighs on him, pressing into his chest like the asteroid’s gravity. You deserve more than this fleeting goodbye. The two of you had built a life together, created a family— a family he’s now at risk of abandoning. The image of you sitting at the kitchen table with Junho, waiting for him to come home, flashes in his mind. The weight of it all presses harder, but there's no turning back.

Yunho stares up into the endless black expanse of space. He imagines the stars above, far away from the chaos and destruction. The cold of space seeps into his bones, but it’s nothing compared to the warmth of his memories.

For a fleeting moment, doubt creeps in. He could have gone back. He could have handed this over to someone else, saved himself for a future with you and Junho. But deep down, he knows.

He couldn’t have left this to anyone else. He had to be the one to make sure they all stayed safe. His family. His crew.

Yunho presses the button, the countdown echoing in his ears.

Five.

He exhales slowly, his breath shaky.

Four.

Your face flashes before his eyes. That smile. That love.

Three.

Junho, laughing, waving at the stars.

Two.

His chest tightens. His heart is ready.

And then, with a quiet, tear-streaked smile, Yunho whispers into the comms for the final time.

“Hey. Look up for me, yeah?”

“Is the report in?” you ask, trying to mask the anxiety in your voice.

The studio buzzes with last-minute preparations, the air thick with tension. You sit at the news desk, your hands clasped tightly as you await the signal. The flickering lights cast a soft glow on the desk, where the prompter's script waits for you.

“Yes, we’re about to go live,” comes the reply.

The director gives a nod, and the red recording light on the camera blinks on. You adjust your posture and take a deep breath, glancing at the prompter as it begins to scroll.

The screen behind you fades from the Global News Network logo to your somber face. You clear your throat and begin to read, each word a new revelation.

“Good evening,” you start, your voice steady but strained. “This is Jeong Y/N from Global News Network, reporting a critical update on Operation Starfall. On September 1, 2024, the world watched with anticipation as the renowned Aurora Taskforce for Elite Extra-terrestrial Zenith Unit undertook a high-stakes mission to intercept an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.”

You pause, your eyes skimming over the next line, feeling a knot tighten in your stomach.

“We have just received confirmation that the mission was a resounding success. The warhead planted on the asteroid to alter its trajectory was successfully detonated, averting what could have been a global catastrophe.” You take a shallow breath.

“However, amidst the triumph, one of the 6 crew members deployed for the mission has been reported dead.”

Your heart sinks as you read the next line, the weight of the news hitting you hard.

“Commander Jeong Yunho, displaying exceptional bravery and selflessness, reportedly made the ultimate sacrifice during the mission. He remained behind to manually deploy the nuclear warhead, tragically losing his life in the process.”

The words feel heavy on your tongue, each syllable a painful reminder of the reality you’re grappling with. You try to maintain your composure, but the emotional weight is nearly unbearable.

“This is a moment of deep reflection for us all,” you continue, struggling to keep your voice steady.

“The world mourns the loss of a hero who embodied courage and dedication.” you continue, your voice trembling despite your efforts to stay professional.

“Stay tuned to Global News Network for comprehensive coverage and updates on Operation Starfall,” you say, your voice breaking, the world seemingly spinning even slower as you say your last line.

“This has been… Anchor Jeong Y/N… reporting live.”

The camera's red light blinks off, and the studio falls into a heavy silence. The studio lights burn bright, searing through the haze of your emotional turmoil. As you conclude the broadcast, the final words escaping your lips feel like a leaden weight, dragging you down. The prompter’s words fade into a blur, and your vision swims with tears. You take a step back from the desk, feeling the ground tilt beneath you.

The studio, once a controlled environment, now seems disorientingly distant. The room spins as the reality of Yunho’s sacrifice crashes over you like a tidal wave. You sway unsteadily, your legs buckling beneath you.

Before you can collapse, a concerned murmur erupts from the crew. The studio’s bustling energy shifts into urgent activity as crew members rush towards you. Hands steady your arms, guiding you gently to the floor. The world around you becomes a whirlwind of voices and faces, their worry palpable.

“Y/N, are you okay?” one voice asks, but it seems muffled through a veil of dizziness.

“Someone get her some water!” another calls out, the words blending into a distant echo.

You struggle to focus, but all you can see is Yunho’s face— his smile, his eyes filled with warmth and love. In this moment of intense emotion, all thoughts of the studio, the broadcast, and the world around you dissolve into a singular memory of him. His laughter, his touch, his unwavering commitment— everything you loved and lost intertwines with the darkness encroaching on your vision.

As you sink into the floor, your breathing comes in shallow, uneven gasps. The hands around you offer comfort, but they are faint compared to the vivid memories of Yunho. You see his smile, hear his voice, and feel his presence as if he’s reaching out from beyond the stars.

In this final, poignant moment, as consciousness begins to slip away, the only thing that remains clear in your mind is a haunting sense of his eternal presence.

The last thing you remember before the world fades to black is the feeling of being wrapped in the warmth of his love, transcending the distance of space and time.

You don’t have anything left of Yunho.

Not his body, not his ash, not a single strand of his hair.

All you have is Junho and the memory of him in your head.

There were plenty of comments online, some sending condolences and others expressing admiration for your strength. Everybody knew the story— the dreamy romance between the legendary astronaut and the fastidious journalist. It felt like a fairy tale until it wasn’t. Some even criticized your station for having you report on what had happened to your own husband, but at the time, there wasn’t a choice. It had to be done, and you were the only one capable of telling his story.

Still, time had been nothing but cruel to you and Yunho, and the world had witnessed every agonizing second.

At that, you just can’t help but wonder. Did he know?

Did Yunho realize he would have to sacrifice himself before he even left? What was he thinking in his last moments? Was he alone? Was he scared?

The questions cut deep, each one like a fresh wound, but the last one hurts the most.

Yunho was never afraid of anything.

But now, the thought of him being scared in his final moments shatters you in ways you weren’t sure you could survive. Your broken heart breaks all over again.

San approaches you quietly, his expression heavy with grief as he gently pulls you into a hug. “He was a very, very brave man, Y/N. We have him to thank for everything.”

You nod into his chest, unable to find words. “Thank you, San,” you manage to whisper, pulling back. “But it doesn’t change the fact that he’s gone.”

“If not for him, the world would be gone too,” He reminds you softly.

His words hang in the air, repeating in your head.

The world is alive because of him.

Yunho had always been sure of that— always sure of his capabilities, sure of his team, sure that whatever happened, he could handle it.

Still, he had to make sure Earth would go on, that you and Junho would have a place to live, and time to live the rest of your lives.

But how are you supposed to live from here on, knowing he’s no longer right next you?

The weight of it all presses down on you, so heavy it feels like you might break under it. The air feels too thick to breathe, and your chest tightens as if your very soul is being squeezed, piece by piece. It’s an ache that starts deep inside— one that no amount of comforting words or empty sympathies can heal.

You stumble outside, away from the stifling formality of the ceremony and the well-meaning people who don’t understand how hollow their condolences sound. The night air is cold against your skin, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside you. With every step, your legs feel weaker, as if the ground beneath you might give way at any moment. Finally, you collapse onto a bench, your hands gripping the edge so tightly your knuckles turn white.

And then, the sobs come.

They burst out of you, uncontrollable and raw, like a flood breaking through a dam. The tears blur your vision, and for a moment, it feels like the world around you is as shattered as you are. The sound of your own crying is the only thing you can hear— a harsh, aching noise that fills the emptiness around you. You want to scream, to let the whole universe know how unfair it all is. How Yunho didn’t deserve this. How you didn’t deserve this.

You should’ve been planning a future together, growing old together, watching Junho grow up with his father by his side. But instead, you’re here, alone, trying to pick up the pieces of a life that no longer makes sense.

The sobs wrack your body, echoing into the quiet night, filling the emptiness with the sound of your grief.

And then, a voice— soft, hesitant— breaks through the sorrow.

“Mrs. Jeong?”

You look up, your vision blurred by tears, hastily wiping your face with trembling hands. As your eyes clear, you see a young man standing nearby. His face is pale, his chest heaving as though he’s been running— not just physically, but running from something deeper, something he can’t quite face.

He walks toward you with awkward, hesitant steps, his posture stiff as he tries to hold himself together. You can see it in his eyes— the guilt, the grief, the way it weighs down on him like it’s too much for one person to bear. His breath is uneven, shaky, and the rise and fall of his chest betrays the calm he’s struggling to maintain.

As he reaches you, he pauses, standing just a step away. His hands fidget nervously, fingers twisting together as though they’re searching for something to hold onto, something solid to keep him from breaking apart. For a long moment, he just stands there, his lips trembling as if he wants to say something but can’t find the words.

Then, finally, with a voice heavy with remorse, he speaks.

“I… I’m Sim Jaeyun. Code name Atlas. I was the driller who worked with Commander Jeong,” His words hang in the air, raw and tentative. He doesn’t look at you, his gaze fixed on the ground as if he can’t bear to meet your eyes.

He takes a shaky breath, his voice faltering as he continues, “I just… I want to say…” He chokes on the words, his shoulders shaking as he forces himself to speak.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Jeong. He died because of me. I— I was a coward, I didn’t have the guts to see my job through to the end, and he… h-he was too full of heart to force me to do it. It should’ve been me.”

His voice breaks completely, tears falling freely down his face as he falls to his knees right in front of you. “It should’ve been me, not him. If I didn't cower before him, he wouldn't have taken the fall for me. I could have convinced him better.”

For a moment, all you feel is the familiar pang of anger— not at Jaeyun, but at Yunho’s unwavering sense of duty, at his martyrdom. He could have taken a lesser mission, something with lower stakes. But Yunho chose Starfall because he knew, that if anything went wrong, he’d be the one to sacrifice himself even if it was not his place to.

One life for the sake of humanity.

For the sake of you and Junho.

As much as it infuriates you, you know that’s who Yunho was. That’s what made him the world’s Space Ace, the hero who saved Earth.

That’s what made him yours.

The silence between you stretches, thick with grief and unspoken words. Jaeyun stays sobbing on his knees, his chest still heaving, but slower now, like he’s trying to get control of himself. You can feel the weight of his guilt pressing down, just as heavy as your own sorrow. He fiddles with his fingers, twisting them together as if he’s bracing for the worst.

Finally, you break the silence, your voice quiet but steady, the words coming out softer than you expected.

“Yunho would’ve done it either way,” you say, knowing it to be true with every part of you. Jaeyun flinches at the sound of Yunho’s name, but you keep going, your tone gentle as if trying to soothe him.

“Come sit down. You’re getting soot on your slacks, and Yunho hates that.”

For a moment, Jaeyun hesitates, as if he’s not sure he deserves the seat beside you. His eyes are still wet with tears, and his lip quivers, but he nods, sniffling quietly as he wipes his face with the back of his hand. Slowly, he moves toward the bench and sits down next to you, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He keeps his gaze low, still fiddling nervously with the soot on his pants, brushing it off as though it’s something he can fix.

You watch him for a moment, the way he looks so lost and vulnerable, his fingers trembling slightly as he wipes at the smudges. A weak chuckle escapes your lips, though it feels foreign in your throat.

“He’d probably send a rock down from the sky just to make sure you showed up to his wake with clean clothes.”

The faint humor is like a balm in the thick air, and you see the corners of Jaeyun’s mouth twitch slightly. It’s a small, tearful smile, barely there, but it softens the hard edges of his sorrow. His red-rimmed eyes flicker to yours, gratitude mingled with his grief, and for a moment, the two of you share a brief sense of understanding— different burdens, but the same pain.

Jaeyun’s fingers still for the first time since he sat down, and you both fall into a gentle, almost peaceful silence. The night air is cool, a contrast to the raw ache in your chest, and for just a moment, the world outside feels a little farther away.

“Before he…” He pauses, sniffling, “Before the warhead detonated, he told us, look up for me, yeah?”

Jaeyun says, his gaze distant, staring up at the night sky.

“Back then,” he starts, voice barely above a whisper, “I thought it simply meant he was asking us to remember him. But now… I’ve realized it could’ve meant so much more.”

His lip trembles, and he grips his knees, grounding himself as the emotions wash over him.

“I thought about it when you said he wanted to be reincarnated as a star during your eulogy.”

The mention of the eulogy stirs a fresh wave of pain in your chest. You remember standing there, the words falling from your lips like fragile glass, trying to make sense of the immense loss. You had said Yunho was the brightest star in the universe, and if there was any justice in the world, he’d return as one— forever watching over you and Junho. But the void he left was suffocating.

Jaeyun shifts again, looking down at his fingers, as if the soot he’s brushing away will somehow make sense of everything. His voice cracks as he continues, “I thought maybe he wanted to be remembered as the man who saved the Earth. Or the man brave enough to give his life up for the world.” He laughs bitterly, his fingers trembling more violently now. “That’s what everyone says, right? He’s a hero, the one who saved us all.”

You look at him, feeling the heaviness in his words. He’s struggling, drowning in guilt and grief, the weight of Yunho’s sacrifice pressing down on him. And in his eyes, you see a reflection of your own heartache. But it’s his next words that nearly shatter you.

“But in the end,” Jaeyun whispers, his voice barely audible now, “all he wants is to remind us that he’ll always be here, after all. We just have to look up.”

It’s too much.

The rawness of his words cuts deep, and you feel the tears threatening to fall again, the ache in your chest tightening until it’s unbearable.

“He’s always here. That’s what he wanted us to know,” Jaeyun repeats softly, his gaze following yours to the sky. “That’s what he wanted you to know.”

The tears you’ve been holding back spill over, hot and relentless, burning down your cheeks as you struggle to keep your sobs quiet. You press a hand to your chest, as if that could somehow stop the pieces of your broken heart from scattering any further.

Jaeyun glances at you, his eyes brimming with his own tears again, and there’s a moment of shared grief between you— two people who admired Yunho, in different ways, but both devastated by his loss.

But in some small, heartbreaking way, Jaeyun is right. Yunho is still here. Not in the way you want, not in the way you need, but in the quiet moments, in the stars above, in the memory of his love.

And that’s all you have left to hold onto.

You and Jaeyun share a few brief moments of silence before he asks permission, saying he’s to go back inside and take care of his post at the guest seating for Yunho’s wake. You thank him for his efforts, and ask that he deliver your thanks to the rest of the crew as well.

The silence Jaeyun leaves behind is fragile, almost suffocating. You sit there, lost in the echo of his words, staring up at the dark sky as if searching for a glimpse of the star Yunho might have become. The photo of Yunho feels heavy in your hands, the edges worn from being held too much.

Before the loneliness can fully settle, you feel a gentle tug on your sleeve. Junho quietly climbs onto the bench beside you, wrapping his small arms around your waist. He says nothing at first, just leans into you, staring at the picture in your hands. The quiet companionship in his presence makes your heart ache in a different way— bittersweet and tender.

“Is Papa really a star now, Mom?” Junho’s voice is soft, barely above a whisper. His eyes are wide and curious, still too young to fully understand, but old enough to know something’s missing.

You smile weakly, brushing a hand through his soft hair. “Yeah, sweetheart. He’s up there, watching over us.”

Junho’s gaze shifts from the photo to the night sky, his little face scrunching up in thought. “Do you think he’s smiling at us? Like in this picture?”

Your throat tightens, but you nod. “I think so. He’s probably smiling that big, bright smile of his, just like he always did.”

Junho pulls away slightly, sitting back to look at the sky, his small hand resting on your belly— on the life that grows there. “Do you think he can see Yunhee, too? Even though she’s still in your tummy?”

The mention of Yunhee tugs at your heartstrings, and your hand instinctively moves to cover Junho’s.

“I think he can,” you murmur, your voice barely steady. “I think he’s looking out for all of us. He’ll be there when she’s born. He’ll make sure she knows how much he loves her.”

Junho is quiet for a moment, still gazing up at the sky. Then, almost as if on cue, you feel a gentle flutter in your belly— Yunhee’s little kick, as if she’s responding to her brother’s words. It’s subtle, but enough to catch your breath. You place your other hand on your stomach, feeling the soft, almost reassuring movement.

Junho gasps, eyes wide with wonder. “Did she kick? Is she listening?”

“She is,” you whisper, a smile breaking through the sadness. “She knows her big brother is talking to her.”

Junho grins, leaning down to press his cheek against your belly. “Are you looking, Yunhee?” he whispers, his voice full of innocent hope. “That’s our papa. He loves us very much. He saved the world for us, so you could be here.”

The words, so simple and pure, nearly undo you. Tears well up in your eyes, but this time they’re softer, more gentle. Junho’s small, earnest voice cuts through the overwhelming grief, reminding you that even in loss, there’s still love— still life.

You look back up at the sky, and for a moment, you can almost believe Yunho is there, watching over his family, smiling that big, bright smile.

“Yunhee’s lucky to have you as her brother,” you say, your voice thick with emotion, but warm. “And we’re both so lucky to have him.”

Junho lifts his head, looking up at you with wide eyes full of innocence. “Do you think Papa misses us too?”

You nod, unable to speak for a moment as you swallow the lump in your throat. “I think he misses us every day,” you whisper. “But he’s always with us, Junho. He’ll always be with us.”

Junho nestles closer into your side, resting his head against your shoulder, and the weight of his small body grounds you, keeping you tethered to this moment. The sadness lingers, but beneath it, there’s a quiet warmth; an unshakable bond that holds you together, even when the person who was the heart of it is no longer here. Junho’s soft breaths mingle with the cool night air, and despite the tears that blur your vision, you find yourself gazing up at the sky.

Amid the vast expanse of darkness, a single star twinkles— faint, but unmistakably bright. You don’t know if it’s Yunho, if such things even exist beyond the stories we tell ourselves to cope. But right now, you need to believe.

Your hand trembles as you lift it, the gesture instinctive, as if reaching out to someone you can no longer touch. Your fingers hover in the air, stretching toward that single star.

“Hi, honey,” you whisper, voice cracking under the weight of all the things you wish you could say.

The tears fall freely now, unstoppable, but for the first time in a long while, they don’t feel quite so heavy. There’s something else mixed in with the grief— an acceptance, a love so deep it transcends the loss. You can feel it in the way Junho clings to you, in the soft flutter of Yunhee beneath your hand. And you can feel it in the silent connection between you and that faraway star.

So you wave.

It’s a small, simple gesture, but it carries everything— every goodbye, every memory, every moment of love that will never fade, even in the absence of the man who was its center.

The star flickers, as if in response.

And in that fleeting moment, with the night sky above you and your children beside you, you let yourself believe that somehow, Yunho is waving back.

KIA’S NOTE: Phew. This was a heavy one. This fic was inspired by the songs Next to You by Chris Brown & JB + Die With a Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, as well as the movie Armageddon and an episode from 911 Lone Call.

DISCLAIMER! Despite this being fictional, I tried to make it realistic and also did some research on the details but obviously, the events in this fic are more fictional than real, so please don't take them too seriously. Most of the events, devices, and ops were made up to tailor to the plot. I am also, in no way, an expert in Astronomy, hence what I wrote does not entirely reflect real-life operations.

Still, I hope you enjoyed reading this one as much as I enjoyed writing it; it was definitely new and challenging for me, so I'd love it if you guys lmk what you think!

P.S. I am in Yunho brainrot, so forgive me for posting so much Yuyu fics 😭 I’m going to try my best to put out new works for the other members soon too!

#yunho fluff #jeong yunho fluff #ateez yunho fluff #ateez fluff #yunho angst #jeong yunho angst #ateez yunho angst #ateez angst #yunho imagines #jeong yunho imagines #ateez imagines #yunho scenarios #jeong yunho scenarios #ateez yunho scenarios #ateez scenarios #yunho suggestive #jeong yunho suggestive #ateez yunho suggestive #ateez suggestive

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spacenutspod · 7 months

Link

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has put out a call for international and industry partners to contribute science payloads to its Chang’e-8 lunar lander, set for launch to the Moon in 2028. The mission, which will involve a lander, a rover, and a utility robot, will be China’s first attempt at in-situ resource utilization on the Moon, using lunar regolith to produce brick-like building materials. Just like NASA’s Artemis plans, the CNSA’s plans for the Moon are targeted at the Lunar south pole, which is expected to be rich in useable resources, especially water. The presence of these resources will be vital for long-term human activity on the lunar surface. Possible landing sites for Chang’e-8 include Leibnitz Beta, Amundsen crater, Cabeus crater, and the ridge connecting the Shackleton and de Gerlache craters, according to a presentation by Chang’e-8 chief deputy designer in October 2023. Chang’e-8 will be the last CNSA robotic mission to be launched before construction begins on the International Lunar Research Station, China’s crewed moonbase being planned in collaboration with Russia’s Roscosmos. That makes Chang’e-8’s attempt to create building materials out of regolith a vital proof-of-concept for their lunar aspirations. In order to make moon-bricks, the lander will carry an instrument that uses solar energy to melt lunar soil and turn it into useable parts at a speed of 40 cubic cm per hour. Alongside the regolith processing equipment, the lander will be equipped with an array of science instruments, including cameras, a seismometer to detect moonquakes, and an x-ray telescope. Part of the mission will focus on moon-based Earth observation, with several instruments designed to monitor Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere. The rover, meanwhile, will carry ground penetrating radar, cameras, a mineral analyzer, and tools for collecting and storing samples (leaving open the possibility of future missions to retrieve the samples). The utility robot is a key piece of the mission, but CNSA isn’t developing it in-house. Instead, the space agency is seeking proposals from partners interested in developing it as a piggyback payload to ride alongside the rest of Chang’e-8. According to the call for proposals, the 100kg, battery-powered robot will need to be able to “capture, carry and place items, shovel, and transfer lunar soil.” It will also need to be able to travel at 400m per hour. There is room for an additional 100kg of piggyback payloads besides the robot, for which full proposals are expected to be submitted later this year. While planning for Chang’e 8 is ongoing, the CNSA has two additional robotic moon missions in the works for the near future. The first, Chang’e-6, will launch this spring, and aims to return a regolith sample from the lunar far side (a never before accomplished feat). The next mission is planned for 2026, when Chang’e-7 will carry out a geological examination of the permanently shadowed craters scattered around the Moon’s south pole. The post China's Chang'e-8 Mission Will Try to Make Bricks on the Moon appeared first on Universe Today.

#space #astronomy #news #science

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dmitriene · 1 year

Text

— midnight nocturnes.

᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌«mm, she the devil»

᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌«she a bad lil' bitch, she a rebel»

᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌᠌ «she put her foot to the pedal»

᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌᠌ ᠌ ᠌ ᠌«it'll take a whole lot for me to settle»

summary: succubi need to feed on human emotions and desires, causing people to dream, but you absolutely did not expect to meet that night a man that will turn all your expectations upside down. content: carlos oliveira x succubi! fem reader tags: fluff, comfort, flirting, smut, nsfw, slightly mean carlos, a little bit of chocking, unprotected p in v, receiving fingering, marking. author's note: thank's to doja cat song that inspired me to do this short piece of smut, hope you'll like it, although it doesn't have big plot! enjoy your reading) 🌙 (18+ warning)

The night hung in anticipation, the air smelled of dreams and possibilities, the sky was tinted indigo, dotted with countless stars that twinkled like distant beacons, the moon, a pale glowing ball, cast its silvery light on the world below, illuminating the secrets of the city and hidden corners. the human kingdom.

For you, this night was unlike any other you have experienced, as succubi, you were accustomed to the unearthly beauty of your realm, and the sights and sounds of the earth were both enchanting and unfamiliar, the soft rustle of leaves in the wind, the distant hum of city life and the occasional echo laughter were new sensations that awakened her senses.

Your heart fluttered with excitement and awe when you embarked on your first mission in the mortal realm, this was your chance to explore human dreams, influence thoughts and emotions in a way you've never done before, this was an opportunity that filled you with a dizzying feeling of goals and adventures.

When you crossed the threshold between worlds, your surroundings changed, you found yourself in the cozy confines of a dimly lit apartment, where shadows played along the walls like dancers, the room exuded an atmosphere of comfort, a space where dreams were woven and secrets were whispered.

Standing in the midst of this alien environment, your heart pounding, you were about to enter the innermost realm of human existence — the realm of dreams, the excitement inside you was like a symphony of butterflies fluttering in your stomach, a feeling that you had never experienced before, the very thought of to look into the recesses of the mortal mind, filled with a burst of vivacity.

When you approached the sleeping Carlos Oliveira, the man whose dreams you were to penetrate and who lay in the center of the room under the soft cascade of moonlight, your excitement intensified, your steps were not decisive and your gaze was fixed on his calm face.

The vulnerability of his sleep, the way his chest rose and fell with every breath, touched to the core your, roughly speaking, existing soul, it was a realm of humanity that you never truly understood, a vulnerability that you never experienced on your own.

Your anticipation grew as you prepared to cast the spell, your fingers drew intricate patterns in the air, your heart pounded as you reached out, the barriers between dreams and reality thinned at the touch, the air seemed to fill with a newfound energy, a connection to the human world that electric shocks ran down your spine.

However, just as you were about to cast the spell, Carlos's eyes widened.

Struck by his sudden awakening, you watched in fascination as his gaze settled on you, the moonlight caught the gleam of your shimmering wings and the curve of your horns, for the first time in centuries you felt vulnerable, as if your very essence was naked before this mortal man, but in the eyes It wasn't fear that glowed in Carlos, it was curiosity tinged with a spark of desire.

Carlos's lips curved into a playful smirk as he sat up, his fingers tenderly squeezing your rounded hips, his touch piercing you with a strange and forgotten warmth, a sensation you've never felt before.

— «Well, that's a pleasant surprise» he noticed, there was amusement in his voice.

Your heart was pounding as you studied the man in front of you, mischief flickering in his dark eyes, and his fingers lightly like a feather traced the contours of your horns, the way he looked at you, not with fear, but with surprise, was completely unexpected, his acceptance of your otherworldly nature has ignited newfound courage in you.

With a flirtatious smile, you leaned closer, your lips just inches from his — «Aren't you afraid?» you whispered, your breath touching his skin.

Carlos's laughter was a low, melodic sound that resonated in the quiet room — «If i were the kind of person who is afraid of the beautiful creatures that visit me in the dead of night, i wouldn't have survived Raccoon City» he replied, his voice filled with playful confidence.

Encouraged by his response, you ran your fingers through his hair, your touch sending goosebumps down his spine — «And what if i told you that my mission today is to seduce you?» you murmured, your eyes fixed on his.

Carlos's grin widened, his eyes sparkled with intrigue — «Is that so?» he thought, running his fingers along the contour of your tail — «Well, you've definitely caught my attention»

As their conversations continued to dance between them, you couldn't help but be swept away by the sheer magnetism of Carlos's playful energy, his fingers continuing to trace the curves of your succubus tail, sending delicious shivers down your spine and making you let out a soft, contented purr, the sensation was like nothing else that you had ever experienced before, a mixture of pleasure and connection that left you hungry for more.

Carlos's eyes glowed with a mixture of amusement and admiration as he watched you react to his touch, the way your tail responded to his caresses, your purring resonating in the air was a sight he found utterly enchanting — «Well, well, who knew succubi had purrs in their repertoire?» he chuckled as he ran his fingers over the velvety texture of your tail — «You're a pretty intriguing creature»

Your lips curved into a mischievous smirk, your gaze rested on his — «And what about you, Carlos? How often do you catch yourself entertaining charming visitors in the middle of the night?»

Carlos' laughter was a warm melody that seemed to fill the room, his fingers never stopped gently exploring your tail — «You're one of a kind, darlin'» he replied with a touch of sincere admiration in his voice — «But i have to say that this is a welcome surprise»

With a playful gleam in your eyes, you leaned closer, your breath enveloping his skin — «Oh, so you're not afraid of the unknown, Carlos Oliveira?»

His response was a devilish grin as his fingers traced a path along your tail — «In my job, confronting the unknown is practically a daily routine» he joked — «But I have to admit that you're definitely a highlight»

His fingers continued to dance along your tail as he leaned even further until your lips met his in a teasing, long kiss, your heart racing at the sensation, lips parted under his in silent invitation, your kiss deepening into a fusion of playfulness research and growing desire.

Pulling back slightly, Carlos's eyes glittered mischievously — «You know, i don't usually accept otherworldly visitors in my dreams» he mused, playful sarcasm in his voice.

You grinned as your fingers traced a pattern across his chest — «Then consider yourself lucky, i don't usually make house calls» you answered in a flirtatious tone.

Carlos chuckled as his fingers touched your horns — «I have to say, your.. accessories are very unique»

You laughed softly, your eyes rested on his — «Well, i figured if i'm going to make an impression, might as well go all out»

Your fingers dug sharply into his hair, and even more goosebumps ran down his broad back from your touch — «Impression, huh? Is that what you call it?»

— «That's one way to put it» you were joking, your eyes danced with joy.

Carlos leaned down again, capturing your lips in another kiss, this time more passionate and demanding than last time, the air crackling with tension as your playful banter turned into shared desire, the magnetic attraction drawing together as did his demeanor.

Carlos runs his hand through your hair, enjoying the softness of the curls — «You are a feisty one, aren't you?»

You purr and whine against his lips as he squeezes lightly and tugs on your tail.

Carlos grins grimly, the sound resonating deep in his chest — «You like it, don't you? You're a naughty little demon craving my touch»

His fingers skim down your spine, tracing the contours of your body as your kisses grow hotter and more passionate, saliva dripping down your chin.

— «Mmm, please do something» you purr and squirms slightly, your outfit covers almost nothing, a thin top and especially short shorts seem to be ready to tear from any awkward touch, already feeling a throb between your legs due to absence of underwear, you're a demon, after all

Carlos smirks at your succubus plea, his eyes glittering with a mixture of amusement and desire, he leans in, his lips touching your ear, and he whispers in a low, husky voice.

— «Oh, i'll do more than just something, my little demon, i'll give you whatever you wish» his hand glides over your body, his touch lingers on bare skin, he feels the heat emanating from it, matching his own growing arousal.

Carlos's fingers tease the hems of your shorts, threatening to pull them aside, he loves the way you squirm under him, desperate for his touch — «You're so thirsty, aren't you? You desperately need my hands»

In a swift motion, he pulls your shorts aside to reveal your naked, needy, shiny cunt, his fingers dancing on your slippery folds, eliciting a moan from deep in your throat, Carlos watching you react, his eyes darkening with primal desire.

He leans down to take your lips in a deep, possessive kiss as his fingers continue to torture your cunt, with each stroke he pushes you closer to the edge, his touch is artful and ruthless, he enjoys the way your body responds to him, your moans and sighs drive him even deeper into his own lustful haze.

Carlos's arousal grows with every sound you make, his need for you almost unbearable, he lets go of your lips and pulls away slightly, his voice oozing with a mixture of authority and desire.

— «Cum to me, preciosa, show me the depths of your pleasure, hm?»

Carlos smirks, his own desire fueling his dominant nature as he increases the speed and pressure of his fingers, determined to push you to your limit.

— «There you go, little demon, surrender to your pleasure» he growls, his voice filled with a mixture of authority and lust, he carefully watches how your body tenses up and the moans become louder and more desperate.

Carlos leans in, taking one of your hardened nipples with his lips, nibbling gently on it before calming it down with his tongue, he knows the sensations running through your body are overwhelming, bringing you closer to the peak of ecstasy.

He continues to move his fingers with precision, the rhythm matching the rising crescendo of your pleasure, his other hand sliding down your thigh, squeezing it tightly as he holds you in place, ensuring you can't escape the intensity of the impending climax, and you don't want to.

— «Let go, my little demon, surrender to the pleasure i give you, hm?» he practically commands, his voice oozes authority, he feels your body trembling under him, your release is imminent.

Finally, with a shuddering scream, you reach your peak, your body shuddering with pleasure, Carlos watches with a pleased smirk, reveling in the power he has over the charming you.

When your moans subside and you catch your breath, Carlos slowly removes his fingers, enjoying the sight of your flushed and full figure, he moves to loom over you, his eyes filling with a mixture of possessiveness and desire.

— «Now, little succubus, it's time for me to claim what belongs to me, aren't it?»

— «Yesyesyesyes! please, please give it to me, pleaseplease» you purr indistinctly and quickly, hearts are literally displayed in your eyes and stomach twists in anticipation of his actions, arousal only hits your slightly swollen and wet cunt harder

Carlos's eyes darken with desire and pleasure at your desperate pleas, he enjoys the way you give yourself to him, your zeal matches his own.

— «Patience, my little gatito» Carlos murmured, his voice soaking in command, it takes him a moment to enjoy the sight before him, your flushed and trembling figure, begging for his touch.

Carlos is positioned between your legs, his eyes meeting yours as he slowly enters you, enjoying the tightness and warmth that envelops him, he moves in a deliberate and powerful rhythm, each thrust plunging you into a state of ecstasy.

He leans down to grab your tail tightly, ready to use it as a lever to control your movements, with each tug he intensifies the pleasure coursing through your body, ensuring every sensation intensifies.

Carlos's thrusts get stronger, his dominance taking over as he practically claims you as his own, he enjoys the way your body responds to him, the moans and cries of pleasure that escape your lips, causing him to sink even further into the intoxicating pleasure.

The room fills with the sounds of your passionate union, your purrs and moans mingling with Carlos's grunts and whispers of command as your bodies move in perfect sync, each movement bringing the two of you closer to the brink of release.

His thrusts become faster and more relentless, his movements fueled by your shared desire.

Carlos's hand finds its way to your throat, applying gentle pressure as he holds you in place, a tangible reminder of his dominance in the situation, his dark gaze carefully watching your reaction, enjoying how your body reacts to his every touch and command. .

His free hand slides down your body, fingers finding your swollen clit, tracing around the sensitive knot, adding another layer of pleasure to your passionate encounter, his touch hard and demanding, pushing you closer to the abyss of ecstasy.

As your moans grow louder and the desperate Carlos feels his own release build up inside him, he increases the pace of his thrusts, his grip on your throat tightening just a little.

With a primal growl, Carlos feels the orgasm wash over him, his body trembling with pleasure as he relaxes his grip on your throat, allowing you to breathe freely again.

— «Now give me everything you can, cosa linda» he commands, his voice filled with a mixture of authority and lust.

And this is the moment when your bodies reach the peak of pleasure together, Carlos revels in the intensity of your connection, knowing that he completely possesses you, you both endure waves of ecstasy, your bodies intertwine in a moment of pure passion.

After that, as your breathing slows and your bodies relax, Carlos looks directly at you and a satisfied smile graces his lips as he gently caresses your cheek, a sharp moment of tenderness and the return of his playful nature.

— «I definitely have to keep you here for myself, preciosa» he mutters in a chesty growl, running his hand along the outline of your horns before turning his attention back to your tail, getting the purr out of you as you nuzzle his wide chest with your eyes closed.

Perhaps descending into the human world isn't such a bad thing, hm?

translate: preciosa — lovely / gatito - kitten / cosa linda — pretty thing

please, don't copy my works as your own, and if you want to post them somewhere else - contact me.

reblogs, likes and comments are very much appreciated, thank you for reading! ♡

#carlos oliveira re3 #carlos oliveria x reader #carlos oliveira smut #carlos oliveira x reader #resident evil carlos #carlos oliveira fluff #carlos oliveria smut #carlos oliveira #carlos oliveira fic #carlos oliveira x you #re3 carlos #[ ✒️july writing ]

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 22 days

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How bright is the universe’s glow? Study offers best measurement yet

Scientists have traveled to the edges of the solar system, virtually, at least, to capture the most accurate measurements to date of the faint glow that permeates the universe—a phenomenon known as the cosmic optical background.

The new study, published Aug. 28 in The Astrophysical Journal, draws on observations from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which whizzed past Pluto in 2015 and is now nearly 5.5 billion miles from Earth. The research seeks to answer a deceptively simple question, said co-author Michael Shull, an astrophysicist at the University of Colorado Boulder.

“Is the sky really dark?” said Shull, professor emeritus in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences.

Space may look black to human eyes, but scientists believe that it’s not completely dark. Since the dawn of the cosmos, trillions of galaxies containing countless stars have formed and died, leaving behind an imperceptibly faint light. Think of it as the night light in space.

Shull and the team, led by Marc Postman at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, calculated just how bright that glow is. Their findings suggest that the cosmic optical background is roughly 100 billion times fainter than the sunlight that reaches Earth’s surface¬—far too faint for humans to see with the naked eye.

The results could help scientists shine a light on the history of the universe since the Big Bang.

“We’re kind of like cosmic accountants, adding up every source of light we can account for in the universe,” Shull said.

Into the dark

It’s a type of number crunching that has captured the imagination of scientists for nearly 50 years, he added.

Shull explained that, after decades of research, astrophysicists think they have a pretty good idea of how the cosmos evolved. The first galaxies formed during an epoch known as the Cosmic Dawn several hundred million years after the Big Bang. The starlight from galaxies in the distant universe reached its brightest point about 10 billion years ago and has been dimming ever since.

Precise measurements of the cosmic optical background could help scientists confirm whether this picture of the cosmos makes sense—or if there are mysterious, as-of-yet-undiscovered objects casting light into space.

Taking those kinds of measurements, however, isn’t easy, especially not from Earth.

Earth’s neighborhood is teeming with tiny grains of dust and other debris. Sunlight glints off this mess, washing out any signals that might be coming from the cosmic optical background.

“A metaphor I use is if you want to see the stars, you need to get out of Denver,” Shull said. “You have to go way out, right to the northeast corner of Colorado where all you have ahead of you are South Dakota and Nebraska.”

New Horizons has given scientists a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something similar in space.

Cosmic accounting

The mission has uniquely Colorado origins. Alan Stern, who studied as a graduate student at CU Boulder under Shull and former Senior Research Associate Jack Brandt, leads the New Horizons mission. He’s currently based at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The spacecraft also carries the Student Dust Counter, an instrument designed and built by students at CU Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP).

Over the course of several weeks in summer 2023, the researchers pointed New Horizons’ Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) at 25 patches of sky.

Even at the edge of the solar system, the team still had a lot of extra light to contend with. The Milky Way Galaxy, for example, sits within a halo that, like our solar system, gathers dust.

“You can’t get away from dust,” Shull said. “It’s everywhere.”

He and his colleagues estimated how much light that halo could generate, then subtracted it from what they were viewing with LORRI. After getting rid of additional sources of light, the team was left with the cosmic optical background.

In scientific terms, that background amounts to about 11 nanowatts per square meter per steradian. (A steradian is a patch of sky with a width about 130 times the diameter of the moon).

Shull said that this value lines up well with how many galaxies scientists believe should have formed since the Big Bang. Put differently, there don’t seem to be any strange objects, such as exotic kinds of particles, out there in space producing a lot of light. But the researchers can’t rule out such anomalies completely.

The team’s measurements are likely to be the best estimates of the universe’s glow for a long time. New Horizons is using its remaining fuel supplies to pursue other scientific priorities, and no other missions are currently heading toward those cold and dark corners of space.

“If they put a camera on a future mission, and we all wait a couple of decades for it to get out there, we could see a more exact measurement,” Shull said.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #astrophysics

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hoshipills · 1 year

Text

Double-crosser- Part 3

Wicked plans

" I wish we never met."

Pairing: Mafialeader!mingyu x Fem!reader

Warnings: MCD( Main character death, weapons, mentions of gunshots, profanity, let me know if more.

Genre: mafia, angst

Word count: 2k

Synopsis:The sudden news of information leak of a secret mission leaves all the members of mafia perplexed. They closed their eyes and the next second, their leader was arrested. Someone betrayed and the taste of betrayal wasn't sweet.

Note: Not proofread yet so sorry. And guys, I wondering if I should put the warning about MCD in the teaser or Masterlist or will it be a spolier?

Masterlist

|Previous| |next|

The door of the black room opened, almost so quietly that it wasn't even audible. Somehow, that sound waked up Mingyu who was sleeping. Truthfully, he was just closing his eyes. Ever since the arrest happened, he haven't slept.

" Get ready.", Y/n's voice was sharp. It had taken away all the drowsiness in Mingyu. He got up and walked closer to her.

" You and the boys will get shifted to affliction rooms.", She said dryly. Mingyu left a chuckle, surprising her. His face was stoic as he moved it closer to her, their noses almost touching.

" Affliction room? To torture us?", he licked his lips.

"What's more of a torture than knowing that the person you love is the reason for your suffering?", Mingyu calmly stated while his eyes were boring through her figure. He swore to God that he saw her face twitch but decided to assume that it was his imagination.

" Speak something. Got no words to reply?", Mingyu said. Y/n stiffened a smile. Mingyu hated that it reminded him of the same smile she showed him when they first met. The forced smile she tried to give but couldn't.

"I just came to say that you'll be transferred to affliction rooms. Not to deal with your bullshit." Mingyu looked away after hearing her words. He wondered if she really felt nothing at that moment. He tried to search for some emotion on her face but failed.

Is she even human?

He scoffed upon seeing her turn away from him and walk towards the door.

" Bullshit?", He said, making her stop.

" This is bullshit for you?", his voice now displayed nothing but pure agony.

"I have no idea how this situation is making you feel but in my case, it's making me hate you.", he finally spit those words. " you know what? I never thought there would come a day when I'll say this to you.", He gulped the lump in his throat.

" I wish we never met."

Y/n's back was facing Mingyu, still he could sense her body stiffening at his words. Mingyu hoped it was because of his words. She resumed her movements, walking towards the door.

"She has always been good at this.", he mumbled to himself, making sure she didn't hear him.

Y/n exited the room, her face not visible to Mingyu all the while.

He heard the door getting locked and the keys jingling faded away second by second.

She has a business to warn all the members about this, right? Mingyu stared at the closed door for few minutes before going back to the corner of the room. He slid his body on the wall to fall down and sit against it.

He pretended that he wasn't effected by the news but he was. Affliction rooms were the rooms for the most notorious criminals. They would be tortured, repaying for the sins they have committed. Some would call it hell on Earth.

He was worried, he was worried about the boys. He didn't know what they were doing in the other rooms. They must be feeling as miserable as him.

He felt terrible.

He shook his head trying to clear his mind for a while. On the positive note, they will finally get to see light, he tried to think.

The hopes about the not-arrested members saving them still remained in his heart. He knew his team. They would save him and the others.

The whole atmosphere of the hideout was filled with silent chaos. There wasn't a single sound but everything was all over the place. There was hastiness in the room but it was in absolute quietness.

Hansol and Chan were sitting side by side, trying to break into the security system of ICS. Their fingers worked on the keys of the keyboard vigorously as their eyes focused on the screen Infront of them.

Wonwoo settled beside Minghao and Jeonghan who were sitting in the corner, carefully examining the layout of The black room prison.

When the members got arrested, they made an assumption that they would be taken to the Black room prison. They were right. Thanks to Jihoon and his information finding skills.

Even then, Jihoon was still sitting in his usual spot, eyes glued to his laptop. God knew what the laptop held. He seemed to find anything with that.

Chan's eyes glowed up suddenly. His fingers stopped their movement and closed into fist. He smirked, lifting his hands.

This made Hansol look into Chan's computer briefly. Hansol stopped his actions and bought the attention to them." He did it, guys."

There it was, Lee Chan managed to crack his way into the system. He could see all the files lined up. He quickly checked all of them while the others waited for him to find something useful. Chan's smirk suddenly dropped, followed by Hansol groaning in frustration. Chan cleared his throat, ready to shock the members with his words.

" The boys are getting shifted to affliction rooms tomorrow.", He said. A few disappointed sighs were heard. Most of them thought it was over. However, the planners had a different idea.

" Its a great opportunity for us to get them out.", Jeonghan spoke. Minghao nodded, agreeing with him.

" Don't be ridiculous", Wonwoo said, shaking his head.

" While they are on their way to the affliction rooms, we can get them out pretty easily.", Jeonghan said as he went near Chan and Hansol.

" Tomorrow is a special day, President is coming to the town. The security will be focused on him. Sure, Mingyu will have security for obvious reasons but the security will be easier to tackle compared to that of The Black room prison." , Jeonghan said in one go.

Everyone still looked hesitant, wondering if it's good to go. One wrong move, all of them will be in hell. They can't fuck up the last chance they have.

Its a do or die situation.

Jeonghan seemed confident that it will work. He also mentioned how it's their last chance and once they reach affliction rooms, it'll be harder to get them out.

Yeah, they could get caught but suffering together sounds better than not even trying to save them. Just when the others were about to leave comments, Minghao got up and started to set things for the plan. All of them fixed their eyes on him.

" What are you looking at? We have no better option."

Mingyu was brought to the vehicle with his figure surrounded by bodyguards.

By the time he was near, he saw his members there. They were just like how he expected. They looked worn out. Their faces narrowed and their muscles didn't look defined anymore.

Mingyu doubted if they even ate anything the past few days. At the same he had no right to ask them when he himself didn't care about food for a long time. His profile reflected the pain he felt. That explained the worried expression on the members' faces as they saw him. They got in the vehicle and started driving to the affliction rooms.

They passed an ungodly number of gates and security passes, making them realize how well built and safe this place was.

The vehicle finally reached the roads which were empty. They saw a poster, the information of president coming to town written on it.

Bang.

The sound of the gunshot emerged out of nowhere, they noticed that the car Infront of them was shot in the wheel. It flew in the air and dropped on the road, its roof hitting the ground.

The vehicle they were sitting in abruptly stopped. The officers in it got down while the members tilted their faces to look around.

It must be them.

Before the officers could do anything, the place was filled with smoke.

Nothing was visible except for the light figures the members saw. They could see Wonwoo coming forward, with some guards behind him, while his hands held a gun.

The members were finally out of it.

Mingyu entered the meeting room, his figure more confident than the previous time they saw him. He seemed to be fully recovered from the past betrayal and his face was a proof of it. Nevertheless, the need to take revenge still didn't leave him.

That was the reason why this meeting was being held. It has been almost 6 months since the grand escape. They could find no trace of Y/n or her dear friend, Yangyang.

They have been waiting for a right chance to get hold of her and believed it was finally the time. They can't go against such a big organization like ICS, though they might have the enough power to do so.

Well, they had to develop it.

The security to the number of guards, everything has increased after the incident, everyone got more cautious and private.

He sat on his chair, the 12 others waited for him to speak. " We all know the reason for this conference-"

His words were interrupted by the door opening harshly, revealing a guard, trying to catch is breath.

Mingyu was ready to erupt in front of the guard but stopped when some words left his mouth." Someone from ICS came to meet you, boss. He is currently surrounded by around 30 of our people. We are waiting for your orders."

Mingyu's pupils dilated, wondering who took the risk to visit such a dangerous place. He looked around at the members, finding them with the same expression as him. " Get him here."

Mingyu tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for the guards to bring the supposed member of ICS. If a ICS member took such a risk, it either must be something important or a threat. If ICS really planned to attack, it would have been done by now, he couldn't see a reason why they would use a member of theirs as a bait.

As the door opened, they found a familiar person entering the room.

It was Yangyang.

Except he didn't have his annoyingly large grin plastered on his face, neither he had the enthusiasm in his eyes. He wasn't the same Yangyang the members encountered 6 months ago.

Mingyu ran his fingers through his hair, slowly getting frustrated.

"Yangyang?", Seokmin whispered, not expecting to see him.

Even the members who weren't arrested knew about him, they immediately recognized his name as Seokmin spoke.

Yangyang showed them a little smile as he said, " I have to talk to you."

Mingyu got up from his chair and made his way towards him. The guards around Yangyang moved away to give him way.

" Give me a good reason to let you have a conversation with me." , Mingyu stated.

" Y/n was the reason you guys escaped.", as soon as these words left his mouth, Mingyu backed up.

" We are not stupid to believe your lies.", Junhui said.

" Do I look like I am lying?", Yangyang continued as he saw the members not convinced, " How else do you think you did this? Of course, you all are capable but ICS security system is one of the toughest systems known to the world."

Yangyang moved the gun that was pointed towards him by a guard.

" She managed to remove most of the security from her side, arranged the transfer of members to affliction rooms on the day of president arrival to divert security and recruited uncapable guards to send along Mingyu. she was able to do this as ICS put immense trust on her. She broke it.", Yangyang seated himself on one of the chairs without permission.

" If you don't believe me, see this.", he threw some papers on the table which showed the details of Y/n's arrest reports, the stamp of ICS clearly on the corner of the paper. " She got arrested the next day you guys escaped."

Mingyu rushed towards the table to see the papers, only to know its the truth.

" Where is she now?", Soonyoung spoke up in the midst of the tension.

Yangyang diverted his gaze downwards and left a sharp breath.

" She is dead."

Taglist: @calssunflower @woo8hao

#kim mingyu #seventeen x reader #svt fic #seventeen #mingyu x you #mingyu x reader #seventeen angst #seventeen mafia au

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grape-writes · 10 months

Text

Trapped in a Net

A/N: A lil somethin ive had rotating around in my brain for a while! Me and one of my friends have been brainstorming this one!!! Inspired by Subnautica and a few others fnaf fics floating around that really stuck to my brain

It's a bit rambly, but I'm happy with it :D

Masterlist

Ao3 link

Warnings: Oceans mentioned and shown/described, isolation, blood mentioned, violence implied, [to be added to]

[Day One]

Fazbear Technologies, or FazTech, was a rather well-known company across the galaxy, known for starting as a simple pizza diner and later becoming a conglomerate big enough to have its own space program. Weird? Absolutely, but it was profitable for the company to move with the times, especially as humanity began to search the stars for new places and homes to inhabit.

One such place was a planet several dozen light-years away from earth with a mostly water surface. One of FazTech’s scientists had found it while searching for another planet. From the pictures, it was a gorgeous giant planet covered in different shades of blue, dotted with islands (the biggest being about the same size as Australia) and vast deep oceans. It had two moons, one far larger than the other.

And so, FazTech decided to try and send squads of people down to the new discovery, claiming it to be a mission for humanity. Yet they kept sending people down... and no one ever came back... not a word ever came back from the planet's watery depths. It was effectively radio silence on the planet's surface since they’d been sent down.

That was, until the twentieth or so squad, a desperate little team made of five or so recent college graduates that applied for the mission to prove themselves. They'd sent out a distress signal, finally. And for the first time, was FazTech made aware of what was happening in the ocean planets waters. Just FazTech, not the public, or even any of humanities governments were made aware of it as they tried to keep it under wraps.

So FazTech decided to send out one final squad.

Well, sort of; it was just going to be a small group of scouts to get a confirmed status of the survivors then leave with however many of them they could. The mission was canceled after the company board reviewed the situation and decided it wasn’t worth the time, resources, or money. Unfortunately for one of the members of the squad, they had yet to inform any of them or the robot in charge of the ship to the planet.

Thus, the singular member who arrived early, Yvette North, was sent to the ocean planet alone. And she was fucking pissed about it. Or she was, when she was awoken from cryo sleep days before they landed on the planet and found out about what had happened. She stood on the ship with just the robotic pilot keeping them on course.

Yvette was a diver who’d been hired by FazTech for previous missions (all on Earth), had accepted this one mostly out of a desire to see the stars. It seemed perfect, being on a planet made mostly of water, searching for a group of survivors while exploring new aquatic places. Maybe she was just fascinated by the ocean, but it sounded like a breathtaking experience.

Until Yvette was stuck on the planet, alone, anyway. Because no, they were not sending anyone out to get them after this. This was FazTech we’re talking about, they swept things under the rug all the time. FazTech had been doing this all the way back when they first started and got into controversy with one of their cofounders being accused of something bad (Yve genuinely forgot what, too busy to really do any meaningful research) and they had tried everything to cover that up.

Yvette was pulled from her thoughts by the ship shuddering, almost falling from her chair in the cockpit as they approached the planet's surface. She straightened, tugging her luggage closer to herself so it wouldn’t go flying, and clutched onto the arm of her chair.

The landing was a bit rocky, especially entering the atmosphere, but as soon as they entered it was smooth sailing to the coordinates of the distress signal. A scan from before they arrived told her that it was on an island, not The Big One, but a decently sized island. It must've been around the same size as – maybe – the United Kingdom? No, maybe a bit bigger. It was difficult to tell without having them side by side.

The distress signal was made a few weeks before they set out to the planet; which would’ve been impossible to get there within a quick timeframe. Even with warp technology, the nearest warp is months away from the planet's system, much less the planet itself. But the group knew that going into this, so hopefully they stayed put.

Hopefully.

The ship slowed to a halt overtop the island itself, landing carefully on a clearing made into a cliffside, the ship's front window providing a decent view of the foliage of the island, the ship lights illuminating the forest in the dark of early morning. It was lush and green, even atop the rocky cliff, with trees and bushes filling the land to near capacity. The clearing was obviously cleared away by one of the squads to make way for new arrivals or provide a space to escape from the ocean blue around them.

Once they landed on the cliffs edge, the robot, a typical Pilot Bot with a vaguely humanoid upper half and a wheel for a lower half, turned on its wheel and rolled out of the cockpit. Pilot Bots were modeled closely after the old Staff Bots FazTech used to use in some of their facilities. The only major difference between the two is a hat and programing.

Yvette sighed and got up to follow, luggage rolling behind her. She’d only really packed a suitcase and a carry-on bag, believing this mission wouldn’t take more than a month at most. She had a feeling she was under packed.

Time to check the signal out, she supposed.

The planet, despite being much larger than earth, had a breathable atmosphere. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent anyone down, obviously. But it was a comfort to say the least, being able to take a deep breath of almost familiar air. It had this heaviness to it that seemed to stabilize her, if not drag her down. It was also warm, indicating the more tropical climate of the area, if not most of the planet itself.

The robot led Yvette into the foliage and down a little path, stopping at a hatch in the ground at her feet. It was large and rectangular, with a panel stuck up from one of the corners nearest her. The panel was just a keypad, and a larger set of buttons lower on the panel.

Oh, that’s how she gets in.

“Thank- ah.” Yvette watched the robot roll its way back to the ship and away from her. She sighed when it closed the door to the ship and began to take off. “Okay, that’s fine.”

A part of her felt like she should’ve run back after the stupid thing or stayed on the ship. But she knew she couldn’t, not without seeing this through. The last squad sent a distress signal and could be in trouble, and alone or not it was her job to help. Though she wished she wasn’t alone in this endeavor.

With an annoyed huff, Yvette pressed one of the buttons; the door opened with a harsh hiss, allowing the stairs down to be visible. With a tug to pull her suitcase along, she made her way down into the depths of base beneath the earth. At the bottom of the stairs was an elevator door.

When Yvette stepped down to the elevator door, the doors to the stairs slammed shut. With a jolt, she cursed under her breath. A glance around the space told her there wasn’t an obvious way to open that back up, so she’d probably have to go around. Annoying.

The elevator trip was short, leading into the cave the base resided in. The cave was easily three stories tall, human construction cutting into natural rock formation to create a usable space. This was how they typically made bases for exo-planets in the past, apparently, using natural formations to use as a foundation rather than building directly on their own. Not that they never started from scratch, but this was more efficient in terms of time and resources.

The room the elevator exited to was massive, it was the main dock, framed by the giant curved window where the cave would have opened out and into the water. The cave was under the water itself, the window and metal flooring by its entrance being the only things keeping the cave free of water. The floor just by the elevator was just stone from the cave, cut around the metal docking area. Said dock was just a railed off opening into the water covered by a metallic door.

The wall deeper into the cave was a mix of rock, doors, and windows. They’d managed to build a second story to the base, install a catwalk above, and make it look nice. To the immediate left of the elevator was a set of doors with the words ‘Meeting Room’ plastered above them. The next set of doors appeared to be just to the main space of the base. The second story had a few windows looking into some of the rooms, but with the angle she stood at made it nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of what was within. That was probably by design.

The place looked and felt... abandoned. The whole building was entirely silence, equipment around the docking bay was scattered about, a couple of the doors looked like they’d been left open, vines from the surface seemed to have been growing through the ceiling and into the rocks. It was as if they’d all run, or potentially worse, and left the base abandoned and empty of life. Despite sending the distress signal.

Yvette just hoped she wasn’t too late.

“Okay... distress signal...” Turning on her heel, she pulled the sliding door to the meeting room open. “There's gotta be a terminal in here somewhere...”

The room was, unsurprisingly, in tatters; the table was knocked over, chairs scattered about, papers torn and tossed about, A pool of blood dried on the floor by the desk. Evidence of a scuffle clear as day. The pin board on the far end of the room contained a map of areas the group had scouted out, beautifully drawn by the previous squad's resident navigator, and on it was a string.

The blood was… concerning. Especially considering it was splattered on the wall by the pool, followed by bloodied footprints moving from the pool towards the door.

On the desk, thankfully, was a terminal; turning it on allowed her to turn the distress signal off and scan the computers files for information. Most of it was mundane updates on the base's workings; they had quite a few issues getting the solar panels to work, and sometimes the dock bay doors would get jammed. Typical issues for a base of this size.

There was also a slew of strange happenings in the waters around them. Strange lights moving in the dark of night, alerts on the security systems that vanish in a second, something making noise by the secondary doc when everyone was trying to sleep.

Brushing those off, she clicked into the final message left on the terminal, labeled ‘signal’.

To whoever finds this message,

If you're reading this, we left. And we’re either dead or going to.

This was a suicide mission. There are things in the water, and I don’t mean the monsters who live here. This planet... changes you, and if you don’t go along with it, you die in the process. We’ve already tossed so many to it. Our captain, Fritz, didn’t make it...

I didn’t want to send the distress signal, but Dave was insistent. So here is my warning, get the hell off this world, warn whoever you can, I don't care. Just leave. The discoveries are not worth the risk The Change entails.

FazTech should never have found this god forsaken planet.

Signed, Jeremy

Well... shit. Now she was really regretting not running back with the stupid Pilot Bot back to the ship home. And now, not only was she stuck, but she knew no one was going to send a squad down to help. They sent their rescue ship and that was all they would do; less people to pay when they're stuck on an alien planet. Or dead.

God, she should’ve quit working for FazTech years ago.

The file was helpful, she supposed, but mostly confusing. Where did they go? Were they all alive? Most worrying of all for her was the mention of monsters; fear can drive people to do irrational things, but what was frightening enough to drive a group of grown adults out of their generally well-defended base? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

But, since she had nowhere else to go, she had to stay in said well-defended base.

Alone.

Because a squad couldn’t stay in one place until the rescue team arrived. And while she sympathized, and somewhat understood, she couldn’t help but be annoyed by this. It was not a good idea to leave after asking for help, foolish even.

The silence in the base made her skin crawl, knowing something had happened within its walls. The mess of blood on the floor, the implication of it seemed to make the feeling of isolation it presented worse. And it only made her question why they left even more.

Sighing, Yvette made her way back to the docking bay to collect her luggage, grabbing the handle of her suitcase to drag it away from the mess that was the meeting room.

It was probably best to find the rooms, so she made her way towards the other set of double doors.

The new room was large and open, giving way to a lounge area, dining area and kitchen, a large wall to ceiling window was set against the far wall, a glass door was set into said window and into the secondary docking bay. A spiral staircase by the window led her to the second story, which gave way to the living quarters.

There were a handful of rooms, the ones that weren’t locked were left in tatters like the Meeting Room. Furniture knocked over, blankets and clothes tossed about. Personal items appeared to still be in the rooms, left scattered and abandoned by their owners.

The dread in her stomach twisted.

Yvette chose one of the few rooms that weren’t locked, the one off to the side with the captain's quarters. It was one of the smaller rooms, and only had a few scattered clothing at the most. That and it had a floor to ceiling window out into the ravine the base was partially built into.

Her scanning through the files earlier told her that a lot of the life on the planet was bioluminescent and would provide a light show at night. And while she wasn’t the type to be able to sleep with light, there were thankfully curtains the previous owner had set up to block out the glow.

Setting her luggage down on the floor, she made quick work of the mess in her new space; putting clothes into a laundry basket and collecting personal items she found into a box. She decided she was going to leave the previous squad's personal items in storage.

Day one here, and Yvette was cleaning up a mess. She ended up cleaning up a lot of messes day one; reorienting furniture in her new bedroom and picking up some of the fallen papers in the meeting room, picking up laundry to do later (if she ever found the laundry room), cleaning out the fridge. It was all a good distraction for her mind, something to focus on that wasn’t her current situation.

At around noon, she found herself in the secondary docking bay, rummaging through crates of supplies for swimming gear. Of course, there was, as FazTech would’ve been in trouble if they didn’t provide their squads with the basic necessities when sending them on missions to water worlds.

Typically, the swim gear was supposed to be a full body swimsuit with flippers and a rebreather. FazTech almost never supplied those, instead offering (at least for women) a one-piece swimsuit with optional leg and arm pieces. Supposedly it was to allow better movement in the water, keeping joints clear of restrictive fabric. But anyone with half a mind could see it wasn’t very appropriate in a workplace environment.

Regardless, Yvette didn’t care whether it was appropriate or not, considering she was obviously alone. She was a diver and was originally assigned to this mission because of that fact, and she wanted to swim. She wanted to get a feel for the ocean around her, familiar yet so foreign compared to home.

Once she found the new swimsuit, she held it up to get a good look at it. It was not actually a one-piece swimsuit, but a two-piece swimsuit; the two parts were just clipped together with cheap, light weight, metal clips along the place where the two pieces met. Finding the leg and arm pieces wasn't a difficult task, they were right next to the suit itself.

Altogether, the swimsuit was a deep green, with lighter green along the center of it and under the limbs. It was lined with purple rings down the limbs and center piece. She remembered reading a manual on these, the rings lit up to ward away dangerous creatures on foreign planets, modeled after an octopus.

Slipping into the swimsuit was rather easy, as was getting the flippers and rebreather on and adjusted. All of it fit like a glove, the material was lightweight and comfortable, though a little snug. But that was better than it being too loose fitting. It would do for now. After a bit of stretching, she decided it was time to go.

The secondary docking bay was a lot smaller than the primary one, but it was easier to cover from the other side. It was simply a hatch she could lock shut with a bit of effort. The primary docking bay was for transporting items or loading aquatic vehicles, while the secondary bay was for human only entrance.

Tugging the valve to the side, she pushed the hatch open, dipping her feet into the water below. After a moment, she slipped out fully, allowing the cool water to surround her entire being.

The water felt... tingly on her skin, like invisible needles were pressing into every inch of her exposed flesh; it wasn’t painful, but mildly uncomfortable. It almost made her want to leave the water at the sudden sensation, but she was determined to stay put and acclimate herself to the blue.

She floated there for a moment, slowly getting used to the sudden pressure of the waves, it was heavier than Earth's oceans. After a moment of floating, she pushed herself up and pulled the valve back down. She probably didn’t need to do this, but it made her more comfortable to know it was properly closed.

With a deep breath from behind her mask, she began her swim.

Yvette kept mostly to the rocky wall of the island, decided it best to be cautious in new waters. The plant life of this new planet was gorgeous, faintly familiar yet alien all the same. Vibrant corals in shapes she’d never seen coral grow into, anemones and kelp, underwater flowers. Not to mention the fish that lazily floated past her, each strange and unique compared to fish from Earth. It was all so calm, she had to pause to take it all in, leaning onto a rock by the cliff to simply observe her surroundings.

Only that calm did not last.

A flash of yellow and red darted amongst the rocks directly below her caught her eye, moving far too fast to be like the rest of the fish above it. Whatever it was, it was quick in the water and probably hunting. Though its movement only seemed to startle some of the smaller fish, it obviously wasn’t very good at hunting yet. She followed the flash of yellow until it moved too fast for her to see where it had gone off to, darting between rocks and plants beneath her in the ravine.

She leaned over the edge of the rock she was leaning against to try and get a glimpse of whatever it was. Nothing, it must’ve swum off, weird. With a shrug, she turned and pushed herself off the rock to continue her route around the base. The primary docking bay should’ve been relatively close.

Yvette yelped when something grabbed ahold of her ankle, tugging harshly. As she was pulled down, she kicked at whatever had grabbed her ankle as best she could in the water, flipper coming into contact with a solid mass. It took a few clumsy kicks for the grip to lessen and for her to be able to tug her ankle away.

Now she could see what grabbed her-

Her vision was fuzzy for a moment, tears stinging her eyes in her panic. This made whatever she was looking at look like a blob of yellows, golds, and reds, but a few blinks allowed her to get a good look at it.

It – they? - were a vaguely humanoid creature with a fish's tail, like an alien's depiction of what a mermaid should look like. Above the waist they were a lanky thing, with long arms and large webbed hands; their head was also notably larger than Yve’s, framed with frills that made them look like a sunflower or a child's drawing of a sun. Notably was the fact those frills surrounded red spikes that stuck up from behind some frills that hung in front of their face like bangs. Their upper half was a pale yellow, spotted with an even paler tone across their flesh; it covered their face in a crescent moon pattern. Below the waist was their tail, the same yellow their upper half that faded into a shade of gold that could only be described as sunset gold. Their body was dotted with small red frills, lighter in color than their tail.

What in the goddamn...

The creature (Yve was going to call it a mermaid) had swam back to rub their face, expression scrunched up for a moment, then they blinked at her with wide pale blue eyes. And in a moment, they shrunk in on themselves, their brows furrowing nervously, and frills twitching atop their head.

The two of them seemed to stare at each other for a while, before the yellow mermaid let out a series of chirps and chitters that she could just barely hear under the water. The mermaid swam closer to chirp and chitter at her, large hands reaching forward.

Yvette froze in place as the massive palms cupped around her face and breathing mask, clawed fingers tapping against her mask’s protective layer. After a moment, it moved to pick at her hair, swimming about around her. It was a surprisingly gentle creature, barely tugging at her braided hair before it moved on to mess with her hands. Once curiosity there was satisfied, it moved to grab her flipper, wiggling the end in fascination.

A part of Yvette was cursing at herself for freezing up. But really, what was she supposed to do? The thing could clearly chase after her, and who knows, it probably only hunted things that ran- er swam off. Some speed predators did that, cheetahs were a great example that came to mind.

The mer chirped at Yvette again, finished in their prodding, and swam back to give her some space. It seemed to be content and mostly just curious about her. So, free from the prodding, she just... swam off. The mermaid hadn’t really given her any indication that it wanted anything, and she had a job to do.

So off Yvette went, heading around the curve of the rock towards where she gathered where the cave was. She swam around a bend of rock, eyes trailing from the rock to the life all around her. So much was going on that she so easily got distracted; it reminded of her diving in a coral reef on Earth, breathtaking.

Much to Yvette’s surprise, the sun-finned mer swam after her leisurely, almost lazily. She only really noticed when she’d briefly turned back to watch a fish swim past her, only to spot the yellow being following her. It chirped when she made eye contact with it, speeding up to meet with her again.

In a mild panic, Yvette chose to swim faster, to get away from the beast following her. Yet they didn’t seem dissuaded. In fact, they seemed to take it as a challenge, propelling themselves after her with their strong tail. They followed her as she carved around the bend of rock.

Ahead of Yvette was a break in the wall, the entrance to the cave. Bingo! Picking up speed, she darted around the break in the rock. She was right, as a quick glance proved the mer had simply swam past. She let herself relax behind a rock wall, the grips of her gloves keeping her from floating away from its surface.

The yellow mer came to a skidding halt in the water, arms flailing to keep themselves from swimming too far. The expression on their face, from Yvette’s angle at least, seemed startled. A nervous warble came from the mer’s throat as they frantically looked about for the suddenly missing human. Almost like a dog with separation anxiety yowling for their human to return.

Yvette snorted to herself at the comparison.

Yvette took this as a chance to head for the docking bay, leaving the strange yellow mer to their own devices. The cave leading to the docking bay was shallow, but deep enough that the shadows hid her from prying eyes. The window in the base had been built above the cave, a few feet of rock hiding the secret entrance.

The docking bay, unsurprisingly, was closed. Yvette hadn’t opened it on the other side before she left. Cursing to herself, she swam up to the small control panel beside the massive door, gently pressing at the buttons. It was a number pad, simple enough; she just pressed the enter button, hoping that it would just kick start into opening.

No dice.

All Yvette got in return was a beep and a red light blinking at her. Fuck, there was a code. Why was there a code for opening the door into their base??? What on this planet could even open this door? Regardless, none of the aquatic species could even do anything once inside, no legs and all that.

After a few minutes of guessing, she growled under her breath in frustration. Great, now she’d have to swim all the way back and that fish was still outside the cave.

Today was not her day.

The warm presence of something behind her made her jump. A familiar yellow hand came up behind her and reached up, pressing in a four-digit code and hitting enter. 0742. She registered the code and stored it away in her mind for later, to not forget it later. She would have startled more had the door into the base not opened seconds later.

Yvette didn’t waste any time, pushing herself onto the metal platform. Once mostly above water, she tugged her mask up and off her face, gasping in a breath of cold air. The base was frigid after her swim, air biting at her exposed shoulders and thighs. Her wet hair seemed to stick to her back in its braid

She probably should see if one of the other suits in storage that don’t leave her skin exposed would fit. Probably not, considering most of the men on the previous squads were far taller or bigger built than she was. Maybe she could modify it...

Modifying FazTech suits was technically worthy of an infraction, or even firing if the higher up it was reported to was particularly stingy. But considering they sent her off and left her here, she didn’t really care what FazTech thought. They sucked as a company anyway, from their attempts to cover up rumors back when they were still just a pizza restaurant, to recent rumors about their android program.

Apparently, the rumor was that they were trying to replace their staff with android copies, but Yvette didn’t really believe in any of that.

A chirp from the pool broke her from her thoughts, the yellow mer had swum to the edge, rayed head sticking up from the waters. They seemed curious, as well as concerned. Not that Yvette was very good at reading people's expressions, but the furrowing of their brow helped a little.

Up close, Yvette could see how blue their eyes were, a sharp contrast to the yellows, golds, and reds of the rest of them. Their pupils also seemed to grow from slits into white circular dots at her, like a cats or snakes. Thinking it over, snakes were probably the more apt comparison, seeing as they were scaley.

She could also see slits in the middle of his face, like a human nose; though she doubted they served the same purpose. On the Mer’s neck and around where his ribcage ended were slits decorated in red frills, where his gills must have been.

“Can I help you?” Yvette found herself asking the beast without really thinking about it. She shifted on the metal to get her legs out of the water to pull her leg guards and flippers off.

The mer went still, a strange warble leaving their throat, nervous leaning on wonder. They watched her remove her leg guards as they rested their claws on the metal by her feet, tapping against it. “...Help? No...?”

Yvette all but froze at the rasp, eyes darting to the yellow mer’s face, “Did you just talk?”

Their fins bobbed up and down as they nodded, the air making them flatten against their head. “...Yes? Yes!!”

The voice was strange, alien as the being who it belonged to. The mer knew English, if just barely. Which meant the previous squads communicated with the local wildlife.

Gods, she needed to read their logs as soon as possible.

“Holy fuck.” Yvette didn’t stop the words from falling from her mouth, staring at the mer- merman? - like they’d grown a second head, “Holy fuck.”

The mer’s nose (or what was where a human nose was) scrunched up at her cursing, “No... bad.”

...And she was being scolded for cursing by an alien mermaid.

“I’m sorry, but this is bizarre!” Yvette leaned closer to peer at the beast in front of her, “Do you have a name? Are there more of you? Can all of you talk?”

The mer chittered softly to themselves, whistling in the air. When she tilted her head at the noise, they huffed, tapping the metal beneath their claws, “…Uh!! Sun! Mm… yes! Maybe?”

Curious answers.

Of course, his name was Sun, looking back to when he was chasing her, his fins reminded her of the sun's rays. Though now they were in the air and flopped uselessly against his skull. Like a wet sunflower.

His other answers were especially curious. There was more of him, and they could maybe talk. If they could talk, that meant there could’ve been an entire society on this planet covered by ocean. And that by itself was both a fascinating and terrifying possibility.

“Huh… very fitting.” Yvette offered a half smile, “I’m Yvette.”

Suns face scrunched, mouth moving to try and sound the new word out. He sighed when he couldn’t, “…Not good at… words...”

“That’s okay. It happens all the time.” Yvette laughed softly, offering a hand to the mer, “you can give me a nickname instead?”

Yvette wasn’t sure why she was inclined to befriend this strange creature, but she wasn’t opposed. It may have just been because he didn’t try and kill her earlier. Or because of how friendly he was right now.

He perked up curiously, taking her outstretched hand, a chitter sounding excitedly, “I see!!! Nickname?”

“Another name for people?” she offered, letting the mer mess with her gloved palm, “Like, growing up, my family would call me Yve instead of Yvette.”

The yellow mer made an ‘oh’ sound, “Oh! Yes!! Other-You's called me Sunny!”

That confirmed her previous suspicions. Humans will see a creature and ask, ‘anyone gonna pack bond with that?’, and not wait for an answer. That thought made her snort.

“Well, Sunny is very fitting! You look like the sun at sunset, very pretty.” Yvette offered a small smile. She kept her tone light, mostly to help the mer before her understand it was a compliment.

Sun seemed to understand, lighting up at the praise with a chitter between his teeth, “Pretty... like you?”

Oh my.

A flustered smile broke out on Yvette’s face, rubbing the webbing on her gloves between her thumb and index finger, “You think I’m pretty?”

“Yes! Yes! Like... when the...” the mer waved a hand towards the top of the window behind him, clearly trying to get a word.

This only severed to distract her momentarily on his hands, webbing formed between each finger. The ends of Suns hands were the same pale yellow as half his face. The color bled into the webbing between each finger, partially transparent compared to the skin besides it.

“Water?” Yvette offered, forcing herself to focus on the conversation at hand, squinting at the window when he shook his head rapidly, “uh... glass? Air?”

Sun frowns, gesturing again, focusing more upwards than he was previously, “...No... above? With the... white poofs?”

Oh! He was talking about the sky. Where was this going...

“The sky?” Yvette concluded, running a hand through her slowly drying hair.

The mer lit up like a firework, nodding rapidly, “yes! That word! Sky! Like when the sky- uh... is dark? And the lights fall?”

With a laugh under her breath, Yvette rung water out of her hair, “Oh, shooting stars.”

“Yes!!!!” Sun chirped, his tail swishing wildly in the water behind him. “Pretty like shooting stars.”

“Well, aren’t you sweet. But I must insist you are prettier.” Yvette teased, poking his nose.

The flesh above it scrunched in Suns surprise, the spines along his scale twitching upwards. His pupils had slit at the sudden movement.

Yvette retracted her hand quickly, “Oh, sorry. Habit. Used to do that with my siblings.”

Sun tilted his eyes, pupils returning to the size before, “is... okay? Sudden...”

Yvette tugged at her arm guards to pull her gloves off, “Right, I’ll warn ya next time, okay?”

If there was a next time... oh what the hell, there definitely was going to be a next time. Where else was she supposed to go? The only ways out of the base were the water exits and the surface exit. And the surface exit was most definitely locked tight, if it slamming shut on her earlier said anything about it.

Sun hummed, nodding. He tapped his claws against the metal again, thinking for a long moment, “Are... you? Staying here?”

Yvette shifted, pulling one of her gloves off as she thought about the question, “Well... yeah? Nowhere else to go, really. I need to find the others... who stayed here, and- I don’t know...”

Sun’s face shifted into a frown, frills drooping, “...You will... come back? And... be careful?”

“Yeah, okay...?” Yvette’s brows furrowed at the questions.

He seemed to accept that was a hopeful expression.

The two talked for a while more after this; it was mostly Yvette trying to explain her gear and teach the mer a few more words in English. She ended up learning that the previous squads had interacted with Sun a great deal, even letting him watch a few ‘guppies’ they had, as Sun put it.

Guppies… there were children in the base? Why the hell were their children??? And they trusted a mermaid - merman? - with them?? Sure, when she looked at their files before going on the mission, it said two of them were married, but FazTech wouldn’t be so irresponsible to allow children on missions like these.

Would they?

The conversation after that became stilted, as Yvette forced herself not to explode with frustration at not only her situation, but also the events surrounding it.

The setting sun painted the window a brilliant gradient of red and purple, tainting the water to darken with it. She watched it for a long moment, Suns own form leaning against the metal to get a look at it through the railing.

Yvette collected her gloves and leg guards into one hand, pressing her other hand onto the metal beneath her and using it to stand, “Well, it’s getting late... I should go, sorry bud. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Sun’s face perked up, hand lifting to wave Yvette off, “Oh!!! Okay! Bye bye, Shooting Star!”

And then, the sun disappeared below the darkened waters. The darkness leaving barely a trace of him behind. There were spots along his frills and spine that faintly glowed under the cover of dark.

Okay that was cute.

Yvette waved him off, closing the door to the docking bay behind him. It closed with a harsh shudder.

Turning away from the docking bay and into the rest of the base, she left her gear by the door. She would need it for later, as she promised Sun she’d be back in the waters.

Once she made it to her newly acquired room, she took a shower. Her hair had mostly dried since her swim, but the sea left a sensation on her skin she wanted off. Thankfully the water in the base was filtered.

Yet that didn’t stop the prickle along her skin that occurred while under the rain of water.

Yvette chose to dress into a tank top and shorts for the night, paired with an oversized jacket she wore everywhere when she wasn’t swimming. It was a random find at a thrift store, oversized so it’d cover everything when she wore it properly.

Slumping into the beanbag by the window, she let herself relax for the first time since she’d arrived.

She’d gotten stuck on this ocean planet… because she arrived early to work; which was a normal occurrence for her. She was too anxious about being late to not be early, plus it helped get her ready and in a cryo pod quicker.

Common procedure, to cryogenically freeze squad members as they arrive rather than at a certain time. It was so no one would complain about others being late, or something. So that everyone was prepared and ready to go before they took off.

And she arrived an hour or two before they decided to cut the human part of the mission. No higher ups knew she was there and didn’t tell the robot in charge of the ship to remove her from the ship. The last ship they were going to send.

The robot probably took off so quickly because the people it was assigned to ‘rescue’ were not in the place they landed. FazTech wasn’t one to wait around.

And now she was stuck.

It was partially her own fault for getting off the ship in the first place. She’ll admit that. That was fucking stupid.

But she… couldn’t help it. It was a giant ocean planet, and she was a diver who adored the oceans of earth. Only this one… was free of the pollution that plagued Earth’s oceans. Even her brief dive earlier proved that much, the water was so clean. Free of mankind’s waste.

Yvette scowled to herself, resting her forehead against the cold window. She was still stuck, trapped literal light-years away from any family or friends she did have on earth.

Because FazTech was fucking stupid. And greedy, and negligent, and had no respect for their employees. This hadn't even been the first time they’d lost squads sent on interstellar missions. It was a desert planet last time. Squads either dried out, starved, or were eaten by the weird alien life on it. Only a few survived long enough to get rescued, spewing tales of all that occurred.

Of course, they’d do it again, waiting at least a decade since the last time. This time it was an ocean planet, they probably thought it’d be fine. It wasn’t. So, they’ll probably give up on it and try to cover it up. Claim there were complications with the alien life.

Stupid fucking FazTech-

Her mental ranting was silenced by a ‘tap tap tap’ next to her ear. It came from the other side of the glass, sharp, like it was from a clawed nail.

Something about it made her veins fill with ice. Maybe it was how slow and methodical it was, a sharp contrast from how quick Suns tapping against the docking bay was earlier.

Yvette jerked up in the bean bag, almost falling to the floor to get away from the glass. The little light from the LEDs around the bed allowed her to see the general silhouette of the being on the other side of the glass.

It was another mer, their lithe form longer than Suns, with less frills and more spiked fins. Their eyed pools of black, dots of red narrowed into slits on her face as they grinned. Their coloration was a dark blue, with similar splotches of paler scales formed a crescent shape on half their face, like Suns. Behind their head was an appendage that ended with a bulb, like an angler fish; though its shape reminded her of those old timey sleeping caps. Dots of bioluminescence trailed across it and their tails were like stars in the night sky.

Their grin widened when she finally fell to the floor, razor sharp teeth breaking as they opened their lower jaw. It was almost as if they were laughing at her, bubbles floating from their open maw. She could almost hear the cackling through the glass.

Yvette wasn’t sure how long she laid half ways on the floor, but when she got the courage to stand and pull the curtain closed on the mer, she could still almost hear the bubbling cackles on the other side.

It was decided, the curtain stayed closed at night.

Word count: 7,111

Bonus! Concept art <3

#Become One with the Sea of Stars #fnaf au #fnaf fic #fnaf oc #fnaf dca #idk if i warned anything properly i am so sorry JFEOFOEO #hehe the art go brrr :]#cover art ig?#probably wont use all the time #id love to make art for each chapter but i dont have it in me #Eden Writes #yvette north

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dipperdesperado · 1 year

Text

is solarpunk compatible with space travel?

I am currently a big fan of solarpunk, but my first love in the world of science and science fiction was related to space travel. I realize that space travel is a very tainted concept. Our understanding of space is greatly impacted by colonialism, imperialism, and capitalism. While solarpunk feels like a response to the infinite growth mindset, space is literally described as another frontier. This may be a massive piece of copium on my part, but I wonder, can there be a solarpunk version of space travel? Is it possible to have a decolonial interest in leaving the earth? Can an understanding of the rest of the universe allow us to be in community with it more successfully? I don’t have super developed answers for this right now, but I think it could be interesting to make gestures in that direction.

One of the ways to solarpunk space could be to transition the industry and to locally scaled, community-based initiatives. Right now, space economics are deeply wedded to money and the nation-state model. Instead of a focus on scale, where there are massive agencies that decide how space technologies are explored, there could be more boutique outfits that are based in specific, human-scaled communities. This would probably not be high on the priority list of a community, but could be a nice to have once other needs are met. Maybe, if space travel needs a degree of centralization, there could be an exploration of using federation to collectively decide how to develop space programs on a regional level.

This program could be developed through an open source model, where communities have their own makerspaces and fabrication labs. People could develop and experiment with space tech, and the open source model would allow breakthroughs to be more quickly proliferated. One of the most important things for a solarpunk space program would be that bottom-up, equity-centered approach.

Due to space programs being couched in hegemonic modes of operation, the process tends to be very wasteful. From all of the debris in the atmosphere, to the motivations of various space movements themselves, there is a lack of critical analysis of domineering systems. For space to get solarpunk’d, the economies of creating spaceships and the like would have to be circular, with making sure that there is minimal impact on our environment, moving us towards a degrowth orientation. Even life support systems and on-mission resource management should have a regenerative focus.

The main thing to focus on is the needs and wants of communities. Governments and corps should not dictate what going to space looks like. The design of spaceships and habitats should be participatory. Everyone who has interest should be able to contribute, and anything developed should have a communal focus. In other words, these projects would not just be the machinations of a single eccentric.

This ain’t to say that it’ll be easy. A community-driven space program is hard to imagine, when space travel lives in a very imperial, statist milieu. Maybe we can look at Earth-bound advancements for inspiration. On Earth, we can see the potential for decentralized production, cooperative ownership, and ecological communities. Looking at space through this lens has a lot of potential in my mind.

We can use solarpunk principles to move towards the future in ways that are truly inspiring and ecologically sound. Collective and individual creativity can be harnessed to great ends. So. Can solarpunks go to space? I, selfishly, hope so! But it would have to be to the ends of connecting more with our universe (expanding our definition of nature), and improving the lives of all. We have to prioritize regeneration, equity, and community, to create a cool space program.

#solarpunks #solarpunk #storytelling #space travel

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americasdaddytm · 1 year

Text

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“Come on. I’ve been around the galaxy once or twice.”

“You should get out of here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“So, this is what you do now? Hang out in bars and hit on questionable women?”

“Jealous?”

“How did you find me?”

“I do have resources. And I thought we could talk.”

“I need you to stay away from earth.”

“I know it isn’t easy. Earth is your home planet.”

“I remember now. You came to earth, knocked up my mom then abandoned her and me.”

“What are you up to?”

“I’m trying to save it.”

“This is why I never want to talk to you…I don’t believe a word you say.”

“What I’m about to tell you only a handful of people in the galaxy know.”

“A council of the Galactic Empires has come together and decided that from this day forward the earth is off-limits to all extraterrestrial interaction.”

“The earth needs a fighting chance if it’s ever going to be able to be part of our galactic civilization.”

“And you just figured this out now?”

“The rule is that no one is allowed to set foot on earth soil. You will honor that law.”

“Take your place as the firstborn of the Spartax Empire.”

“Let me make this as clear as I can…I don’t like how you made your empire.”

“Go krutack yourself.”

“I am your father and your king.”

“Gamora, no!”

“Let’s finish this.”

“It’s time to go.”

“I thought you were in trouble.”

“Go. Out.”

“I get updates on you, you know.”

“I hear you took on Thanos.”

“Imagine what you could accomplish if you were doing what you were supposed to be doing instead of cavorting around the galaxy with your broken friends.”

“I should have done this years ago.”

“Just take a step way back and look at the earth as part of the cosmic tapestry.”

“You’ve been targeted. Evasive action required.”

“What? Oh, come on.”

“Files indicate this ship’s design is similar to those logged from previous interactions with the alien race known as The Badoon.”

“Badoon. I hate these guys.”

“Bad news. Unidentified spacecraft has entered the perimeter.”

“First this armored human and now the Star-Lord of Spartax.”

“How did they know we would be here?!”

“We should abandon the campaign until we—.”

“Battle stations!”

“A Badoon warship showed up out of nowhere?”

“You guys want to see something funny?” Watch this.”

“I am Groot.”

“Hull breach!”

“All hands! Initiate Emergency Protocol! Do not abort the mission! Do not abort!”

“Ha! That is krutacking hilarious!”

“Go Groot, go!”

“I hate when you’re right.”

“You love when I’m right.”

“All this for the earth?”

“So uh, hey, what exactly is going on?”

“Tell him, (Name). He needs to know.”

“Avenge us in the name of the Brotherhood!”

“Everybody back to the ship! Everybody!”

“She can take care of herself!”

“We leave no one behind.”

“Don’t be dead.”

“The Badoon are getting more barbaric with age. It’s almost impressive.”

“Where the hell is Rocket?”

“No one is flying the krutacking ship!”

“They’re headed into earth’s atmosphere!”

“I think your father set you up.”

“He knew the earth was going to be attacked.”

“Your father didn’t become king of the galaxy by smiling and waving.”

“If he can’t have the earth…If he can’t have you…Then as far as he is concerned you can all go to hell together.”

#meme #roleplay meme #rp meme #rp sentence starters #roleplay sentence starters #guardians of the galaxy sentence starter #gotg sentence starter #guardians of the galaxy rp meme #gotg rp meme

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humanspaceflightday · 6 months

Text

63th anniversary of the first Human Space fight.

63 years ago, on April 12, 1961, all radio stations on Earth interrupted their broadcasts to report sensational news - a man in space!

ROSCOSMOS is also placing orders for the development, manufacture and supply of space equipment and space infrastructure objects. The state corporation is also responsible for international space cooperation and tasked with setting the stage for the future use of results of space activities in the social and economic development of Russia.

Russian Federal Space Agengy

#Russian Space Agency.#12 april #human spaceflight #first human in space #first human mission to leave earth’s atmosphere #firstinspace #yuri gargarin #outer space #roscosmos

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littlegodzilla · 2 years

Text

New World, New Life.

Bauer x Reader.

One shot.

Warnings: Fluff. Implicit Smut. Pregnancy. Daddy Bauer (no, not like that, you pervers)

Words: 4800

Summary: The world ended time ago but now people start walking around it again. And new doubts appear.

Taglist: @minervadashwood @livingdeadblondequeen @green-eyedladywrites @bringinsexybackk69

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The capsule opens with a soft beeping sound, your ears are strained by the change of compression in the atmosphere around you. You breathe in deeply through your nose as the thermal sheath leaves your body and you are able to sit up on your bed, slowly. A groan escapes you and you carefully remove the IV from your arm.

"Everything okay, honey?" You hear not far from where you are.

You raise your head, looking for its owner, and smile half-sideways as his blue gaze bores into you, glowing brightly.

"Good morning, Bauer." You greet him watching as he shakes his head, brushing his hair out in front of his eyes.

You met Bauer the same day you started your mission, you were divided into groups, with different qualities, skills and academics, you would all have a new purpose. Each pair would be sent to different bunkers that you yourselves had adapted, perfected and prepared for the next few years of your life ahead of you. The Earth had become an uninhabitable pit due to the selfishness of the human being, disabling its existence, but they had studied that it would be a passing thing, they did not know exactly when they would be able to step on Earth again, but that would be the goal of your mission, to keep the most important, most relevant and wise people in the world to be able to make things better in the next world.

Or so you were told.

At first meeting your partner was complicated, he seemed annoyed and angry with the world, later you would find out why, but even so, the first encounters were tense and uncomfortable. As time went on and you were the only beings you could communicate with, you both agreed to get along as best you could. After a couple of attempts, Bauer surprised you by being a funny man, with an acid and somewhat spicy humor, but pleasant and without making you feel uncomfortable, he was sincere and was not ashamed of what he thought, sometimes he woke up from the capsule annoyed, not wanting to talk, he just took his cigarette and went to work, as the minutes passed his mood was changing and while you were preparing the Sleepers, he suddenly spoke to you through your communicator, scaring you.

"Bauer I told you not to do that again!" You reproached him, hearing him laugh.

"And how funny would it be if I listened to you?" he would reply many times, some of them right behind you, seeing him that disgusting proud smile for having achieved his goal.

Your mission was to keep alive the people who would conquer the future when the world was habitable again, you had two hours to do it, you with your medical expertise made sure that all the Sleepers were still alive inside their capsules, Bauer kept the facility and the coexistence in perfect conditions so that everything would run its course. Little by little your friendship was forged and over time, it became something more.

You never talked about it, simply a mutual agreement, the facility and the Dormers came first, then with the minutes you had left, you would dedicate some time to each other. Sometimes Bauer would finish before you, he would come over and hug you spreading kisses down your neck making you lose track of what you were doing, other times it was you that wouldn't let him finish his task, kneeling in front of him, with your mouth full.

"Fuck, girl, this place is going to fall apart if I don't..." Sometimes he couldn't finish the sentence, cumming.

"Good morning." He greets you back by carefully getting up from the table to walk over to you and you kiss each other slowly. "I know it sounds corny as fuck, but I missed you." He whispers against your lips and a chuckle escapes you, shaking your head.

"You can be a lot of things, Bauer, but never cheesy..." You joke and see him look at you offended, but something catches your attention. "Wait, what?" you look over his shoulder and suddenly you're afraid.

The clock is at zero, neither forward, nor backward, the air is not charged, the lights are still on, the supply has not been cut off, everything is working, but the clock is not moving. You look at the air vents, something is coming through them, but they are certainly not connected to the common supply. You turn away from him to check that everything is okay, that there hasn't been a system failure, Bauer keeps looking at the diagnostics for you, the computer keeps pulling up new records.

"B-Bauer..." You call out to him with wide eyes.

"What, what's going on?" he walks over to you and then discovers what you're looking at. "Fuck..."

The toxicity levels of the air outside is in the green zone on the controller, it's not even close to half the clock, the level is surprisingly low, but that's not all, there's a soft beeping coming from somewhere and on the cameras you see the Sleepers, starting to incorporate into their tanks.

Oxygen regenerates outside, the world is safe again. The mission has come to an end.

"Oh shit." Grunts Bauer as you rush out to the lower facility to check that everyone is okay.

There is a new step, a new beginning, now everything is blank again, the manual has no more advancement than what you guys know, they never gave you anything else in case the future was closer than they had planned.

Bauer gets going, putting on his overalls, he helps you to check that all the people are well, that no one has any strange symptoms because they have been lying down for so long, asleep. Little by little everything is working, connecting, you explain to them what has happened, many of them already know, others seem confused, as if they had only been asleep for a couple of hours. You know that feeling, you have been living it all that time while protecting the facilities.

"I'll go out first." Your partner tells you, grabbing the special suit to go outside. "I'll check that everything is okay, that it wasn't a system failure." He explains and you look at him nervously.

"Bauer... it could be dangerous..."

"If we don't, we have to put all these people back to sleep, reboot the system..."

"I know, I know, but..."

"Hey..." His hands caress your cheeks. "It's going to be okay, trust me."

You nod your head and let him put his helmet on before walking out of the area leaving you there with all those people.

It's been two years after that, and you still feel goosebumps rise on your skin every time you open your eyes and the sun warms your face. The memory of the first time you left the bunker after so many years locked up, when you got out helped by Bauer, the Earth reduced to ashes, the almost deserted and inhospitable environment, a bluish and yellowish haze surrounded all your surroundings, but it was not toxic, it was not unpleasant, it did not damage your lungs or produce abrasive rashes on your skin, so it was true, everything seemed to return to normal little by little.

What surprised you most was to see the other facilities open up and join you.

Now there are about ten thousand of you passing the Earth again, a very poor number for all of you who were once, you had also lost in that period of time some of those illustrious people you had protected, some diseases had mutated becoming more aggressive and your immune systems were weakened to the time of hibernation, some had simply gone mad and could not stand the pressure of living this way. But it was not all bad, there were also births, some babies now growing strong and adapting their existence to the new world. The serums you used to sleep had a formula that blocked the menstrual period of the women, by no longer taking the serum, little by little they all recovered their cycles.

But yours not. At least not yet.

You and Bauer, your relationship is different now, you haven't grown apart, but there are so many things to do that your preferences are different. Or so you think. You know that your partner was married, that he had children, maybe he misses all that, maybe he wants or needs to start a family again, you wouldn't mind being that person with whom he could share his life forever, but now you are not the only one. Now there are more women out there.

You shuffle nervously in your seat, as a medical specialty, you help other renowned doctors to help your co-workers when they come with a problem, luckily things have calmed down a lot after the last year, but you always have to keep your guard up. You work in the bunker, it is the most sterilized area, you use them for important things, research, development and hospitalization, Bauer is part of the engineering team, they are in charge of expanding the city, fixing the less deteriorated buildings, giving them a second chance for all of you, there are exploration groups that keep traveling from one place to another looking for any survivor, water samples or any animal that does not represent a mortal threat for all of you. In two years you have come a long way, but there is still too much to do.

"That will be enough for today." You hear your companion beside you. "It's late, the night is cold these days, we should head home."

"Sure. See you tomorrow." You say goodbye, gathering your things.

You look at the clock, the one that used to count your hours of life, now it is back to tell you your working day, the days still have the same hours, curiously, in the calendar you measured the first day you all woke up as day 1 of the year Zero and since then you have been governed by the change of the seasons, the lunar and solar cycles, the tides, you try to make everything have a sense similar to before the world changed.

You put on your jacket properly, thankful that the clothing in the bunkers is prepared for extreme weather. As you return to the outside, you immediately recognize Bauer's ringing voice, he is waiting for you outside. Unconsciously your heart starts beating much faster as you quicken your pace to get outside to meet him. His work area is further away from your bunker, but when he's finished, he's gone to find you, it's those little details that always make you smile when you think of him, those little signs of affection, of bonding between you, as if you were still in the care period of the Sleeping Ones. Alone, you and him.

You stop as you reach outside, in front of you, Bauer is talking to a companion of yours, he smiles with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his work pants, she presses her work papers to her chest as she laughs and flirts, it looks like a scene from a teen movie, and you feel out of place. Your feet don't move, you just stand there, looking at them, not sure if you want to wait for them to finish talking or just step aside and leave without saying anything. But Bauer sees you, in one of those moments, when he smiles chewing his lip, his eyes search for you and then his attention to the other woman disappears completely to smile at you and raise his hand, waving at you. She stops talking too, following his gaze, discovering you, your stomach flips as you see the fear in her gaze, she knows she was doing something wrong, behind your back, she seems to want to tell him something else, but Bauer ignores her walking towards you. You have a few seconds ago put aside the worry of whether you are what Bauer needs, for the worry that his hand is bandaged.

"What happened to you?" You ask him worriedly.

"Hi to you too, did you have a good day?" he jokes giving you a kiss on the head.

"Hi, it's been a long day... How the hell did you do that to yourself?" you insist hearing him laugh.

"It's just a small cut, we're reusing the materials from some hibernation capsules and when separating the inner rings, I cut myself." He explains to you, shrugging, as if it's not important.

"Let me look at that." You ask, grabbing him by the wrist, walking back inside the bunker.

Bauer follows you without opening his mouth, with an amused smile, his eyes fixed on the back of your neck. He enjoys it when you take care of him, when you care, he loves to see how you smile when he comes to pick you up after work, how you welcome him home if his shift is at night and he comes home in the morning.

It's almost like coming home for real.

"Sit down." You ask him as you go to get some medical supplies.

He obeys by sitting at the table you used to use for eating, for checking diagnostics...for fucking. He grunts low at the thought of it, wherever he looks in that place, it all brings back memories of your times together, work was work, but fuck, Bauer loved the last twenty minutes on the clock, loved and hated them; on one hand it meant you had the time to yourselves, he's not proud, he knows that twenty minutes wasn't enough to show you what he could do with you, how he could make you feel, but he tried every time; on the other hand those twenty minutes meant that when the clock reached zero, you would go back to your capsules and go back to sleep for six more months, six months without seeing each other, at first he didn't care, but as time went by a strange feeling lodged in his stomach every time you lay down in your tanks and the hatches closed. What if they never opened again? What if you never saw each other again? What if it was all over and he hadn't told you everything he really felt?

"Show me your hand." Your voice, bringing him out of his thoughts, he lifts his head to see you sitting next to him and shows you his hand.

"Yes, ma'am." He smiles as you look sideways at him.

Carefully you undo the bandage little by little, unwrapping his hand, there is some blood on the cloth, but the wound doesn't seem very deep, a cut goes all the way across the palm of his hand, it still bleeds a little, but it doesn't worry you. You rest his hand in your lap opening new material to heal him and bandage him again.

"Thanks, I love having a nurse all to myself." He laughs and you snort in amusement.

"Idiot..."

"Maybe..." He leans towards you and kisses you slowly. "But I'm your idiot..."

You smile, but at the same time you are nervous, he kisses you again, you reciprocate his kiss by holding his hand when he touches your cheek, his hand on your thigh moves and you break the kiss slowly.

"Sometimes I miss being here, you know?" He confesses in a whisper causing you to look up at him. "Alone. You and me... with no one else knowing about us..." He continues to speak softly, his fingers playing with your hair.

"B-Bauer..."

"This place was ours, wasn't it? Maybe two hours every six months wasn't enough, but it was our home... don't you think?" He looks at you intently.

"D-don't say that... these people..." You try to be reasonable, he nods understanding you.

"I know, but sometimes I hate the way your boss looks at you." He confesses again, but this time he gets up, not giving you time to respond. "Let's go back, they'll be closing the doors soon and these days the night is getting cold."

You nod picking things up, leaving everything tidy again, Bauer takes your hand and the two of you leave the bunker. The walk home is silent, the sun is setting and the moon is beginning to appear, the glow creates an almost fantasy atmosphere, with all that dust in suspension acquiring new colors and lights. It is magical. Your body sticks a little closer to his, you feel a little cold in your hands and on the tips of your toes, it's something that always happens to you when you're nervous and the conversation with Bauer has left you a little upset, not in a bad way, you just feel that there are things you should keep talking about, but at the same time you're afraid of receiving an answer you don't want to hear.

"We're here." He tells you when you reach your house, you have rebuilt the least damaged part of an old New York City building turning it into a small house for yourselves, using still useful materials and things from the bunkers, for your small civilization it is enough. Bauer rests his hands on your shoulders and rubs your arms several times, intensely, a pleasant warmth comes over you and you laugh softly.

"Thank you."

"Are you better?" he asks you and you nod.

"Perfect, you're a perfect stove." You joke making him laugh too.

You separate, you go to the kitchen to prepare something to eat, at first you only had ration food, but the scouting parties kept finding animals and plants that were edible and didn't pose a threat to your system, adding them to your new diet. Electricity is still a difficult thing to control, you have managed to get some generators running, use elices from the wind fields to get power, but you still have a long way to go for that. You take out the jars of meat you have prepared, for better preservation, to add to the vegetables you are growing in your small fields. You feel Bauer settle in at the kitchen table to watch what you're doing.

"Do you know what Sarah was telling me earlier?" he says to you, breaking the small silence that has settled in the kitchen. Sarah is the partner he was talking to on the way out of the bunker. "Apparently her period is back."

You stop what you're doing, a shiver runs through you. You find it a little weird and awkward to walk up to someone and say, "Hey, my period's back." You know why it has, you saw it in her eyes when she saw you, she likes Bauer and would like to take advantage of her regained fertility with him.

"That's great, some women are worried about that."

"Yes, that's what she told me, she thought the serum had rendered her completely sterile." He shrugs. "I guess every woman will have her time..."

"We all have our times." You chuckle softly when you hear him snort.

"I'm happy for her, I imagine she was worried there would be some man she was interested in."

"Of course she is." You laugh in disbelief as you realize he doesn't know what you're talking about.

"Really? Who?" curiosity increases in his voice, he leans against the table as you turn around looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"Have you really not noticed or are you kidding me?" You ask him with mockery in your voice.

"Me? No, of course not, she didn't..."

"Bauer, I've seen her talking to you, the way she looks at you... it's obvious she likes you. A lot." You say turning back to dinner.

"She talks to everyone the same, I've never noticed any different treatment..."

"Maybe she doesn't have a definite type of taste in men, but she... she does want something with you."

"But I don't want anything with her." He assures you. "She's not my type."

You pause for a second, Bauer notices your hesitation, your doubt, he smiles because you're not looking at him, but he can sense that you've tensed, that there's something bothering you.

"Really?" you try to sound casual and it amuses the technician even more.

"Yes, I already have someone who fits my type of woman." He assures you, you tense up again, but you continue to prepare the food.

"I-I'm glad...now that there are so many of us...i-it's good to bond with others." You whisper, trying to believe what you're saying. "D-do I know her?"

"Her? Oh yes, of course..." He is amused by your attitude, you are jealous, annoyed, he can appreciate the trembling of your shoulders, of the stiffness of your whole being. He gets up from the table and walks towards you. "You know her very well... because it's you." His hands span your waist as you gasp at his touch and he pulls you away from the fire, resting your back against his chest.

"Bauer..."

"What's wrong? What's got you worried?" He speaks against your ear, very low.

"Nothing, it's just..." His hands caressing your waist make it hard for you to concentrate. "There are more women now... if you had interest in another..."

"Why do you think this is only one way?" He asks you and you tense up. "What if one day you find a guy you like better than me? Are you going to live being miserable just because you won't tell me?"

"N-no! That's not what I meant... I was thinking about you, because..." Your cheeks start to redden and your fingers twitch nervously on top of his hands. "I like being with you, Bauer, you're a great partner and we understand each other well, but... I don't know if I could ever give you a family if that's what you want..."

"We're back to the same thing." He sighs and rocks your body in his arms, very slowly. "That decision isn't mine alone to make either, we're not bringing a baby into the world just because I want to have one, do you understand me?" he shrugs and kisses the top of your head. "For now we have this, and I like what we have, I don't want to be with anyone else, suddenly one day the serum stops having an effect on your system? Well, we'll think about it when the time comes." He assures you and you are suddenly relieved at his words.

"I wouldn't mind having a family with you..." You confess feeling his embrace tighten. "B-besides it's not like we have a lot of birth control now either..." You try to joke and he shakes his head.

"Nope. And don't sell me that shit about oral sex or getting it out before I cum, I like your pussy too much, I'd never get it out in time." he comes clean and you laugh feeling your face burn.

"Why do you always have to spoil romantic moments?" You feel him laugh behind you, he turns you around to look at you and kisses you.

"Because you were getting so nervous, your hands are freezing." He says grabbing both of your hands, it's an immediate reaction, when you feel really nervous, your hands and feet freeze. "I had to warm up the atmosphere a bit." He smiles wiggling his eyebrows.

"Bauer, the food..." You try to sound responsible, but he shushes you with a longer kiss.

"I got what I feel like eating right here." He whispers kissing you again, then your cheek, moving down your jaw towards your neck, you sigh and tilt your head giving him better access.

"L-let me turn off..." You gasp closing your eyes for a moment before breaking your embrace and turning off the gas you're cooking with.

The gas canisters you have are a tremendously scarce commodity, used only for the bare essentials, you don't want to waste it for a quick fuck, not that, not the food. Bauer entangles you in his arms again, this time your kiss is more intense, wilder. He guides you over and sits you on the kitchen table, without separating your lips. His hands move everywhere, roaming over every nook and cranny of your body.

Your clothes quickly end up on the kitchen floor, the heat invades the room, your bodies are wrapped in a thin layer of sweat. Gasps, grunts, groans, moans and curses are heard echoing through the house, the wet sound of your bodies rubbing together is even obscene.

But you both want more.

That morning you woke up a little dizzy, with a dull head and a churning stomach, you have a strange taste in your mouth, but you don't want to give it importance, the cold is coming and it is possible that your defenses are somewhat low, something that can be combated with some medication and rest, if in the course of the day you do not improve, you will talk to your colleagues.

However, when the leader of your group asks you to take some samples for testing, your world turns upside down. Your stomach compresses and your feet lose stability making you almost fall.

"Watch out!" They help you by grabbing your shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm just a little dizzy; my stomach is weird." You tell them trying to let go, but they guide you to one of the gurneys.

"Sit down, we're going to run some tests on you."

"I'm fine, I had a big dinner last night and it's getting cold, I might be a little lazy, I just need to rest..."

"Sounds good to me, but let's rule out everything we can, okay?"

"Okay..." You mumble even though you don't agree.

Your companions examine you, draw your blood for some tests and leave you lying on the gurney while they continue with their work, you feel frustrated because you are fine, you can continue working, it was just a dizzy spell.

"Do you want me to alert Bauer?" Hear Sarah suddenly at your side. "He's your partner, isn't he? Maybe he could have symptoms too."

"I said I'm fine..."

"Yeah, besides what you have, it's not contagious." Says another partner who looks excited. "You're pregnant."

If you weren't lying down, you're sure you would have fallen on your ass at the news. Pregnant? That's impossible, if you haven't even menstruated since you left the bunker. And you doubt very much that Bauer has a magic penis.

"There must be some mistake, I'm still on the serum, I haven't gotten my period back."

"Possibly your egg was fertilized before it detached from your uterus with your first period, according to this you're almost two months along." He looks at you curiously and you continue to be surprised. "Hence your dizziness, nausea and possibly increased appetite... am I wrong?"

"No..." You admit feeling a little embarrassed now.

"I'm going to alert Bauer." You are told by the same coworker who gave you the surprise.

"No, that's not necessary." You say quickly. "They had an important project today, I'm sure he's busy and..."

"Sector ABC 108, do you read me?" you hear your team leader speak over the radio.

"This is Sector ABC108, we read you." They answer on the other end.

"I'm asking for Bauer, is he available? I'm the team lead medic for Sector FGH231."

"Bauer here." You hear his canned voice on the other end of the radio. "Is everything all right, is something giving you trouble?"

"Not exactly, it's your partner, maybe you should come over, we need to talk." He tells him and there is a shrill beep. "Bauer?"

"He's run off, I guess he'll be there in a few minutes." Informs his partner.

"Great, sorry I stole him from you guys."

"No problem, we were just finishing up, I hope it's something good."

"Yes, yes it is." He cuts the transmission and looks at you, you sigh.

It wasn't necessary to tell if, you think, you know Bauer might have freaked out, put himself in the worst situation. On the other hand you're a little worried, you don't know how he's going to react when he finds out, you don't know what to expect, it's true that Bauer has made it clear to you that he would like to have a family with you, but maybe this is too hasty. It's not like you planned it either....

You hear his clumsy footsteps stumble against the front door, he curses through his teeth and you can't help but let out a chuckle. He appears through the door shaking the strands of hair stuck to his face, his eyes travel full speed around the room until he finds you sitting on the gurney, the grimace on his face turns into a confused and worried grimace.

"What's wrong?" He walks quickly over to you and holds your face in his hands. "Are you okay?" He touches your forehead as if to check that you don't have a fever.

"I'm fine, you shouldn't have come in such a hurry..."

"Why are you lying here? You've been so strange for a few days..."

"You've noticed it too..." You laugh softly and he's still confused. "I-I'm pregnant..." You tell him and you see his eyes widen.

"B-but..." He doesn't know how to say it without sounding wrong.

"You didn't give her time." Jokes the doctor in your group. "Do you want us to examine him? Let's check how he's doing?"

Your companions bring in the equipment to give you an ultrasound, Bauer still looks shocked, but you both hold your breath when you see the small lump on the screen.

You feel your eyes fill with tears, Bauer next to you squeezes your hand and kisses you on the cheek at the same time as your colleagues explain that the baby's development is fine, that everything is in order, now you are going to have to take things more calmly, but you are sure you won't be able to stop, you have never been good at being a calm person.

Bauer next to you kisses you again and his hand rests on your belly, caressing it, you look at each other and he rests his forehead against yours.

"I didn't know..."

"Hey, don't even think about apologizing or whatever it is you're doing right now." He stops you. "It's perfect, okay? It's ours, this is our family, and I wouldn't trade it for anything." He assures you and you smile kissing him again. "I love you..."

"I love you, Bauer..."

**************

The End.

Hope you liked it!

See you in the next stories!

#my stuff #norman reedus #normanreedus #mine #bauer #bauer x reader #bauer AIR movie #bauer x femreader #fluff story #fluff one shot #one shot #bauer one shot #AIR Movie

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