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kirishwima · 3 years

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Hello lovely! Hope you're doing well. 💖 If you're taking Mysme requests still, I was wondering if you could do headcannons for the RFA+V (and Saeran if you want) with a female MC who has depression and struggles with being overweight and the insecurity that that brings, but instinctively hides her stress and prioritizes the others over herself?

anon are you Me. Are You. this is too specific and i relate 100%, i'm sorry you feel this way, know i love & appreciate you <33

I'll use she/her pronouns for MC since you specified them!

RFA + Saeran with an insecure, depressed, overweight MC:

Yoosung:

* Listen, I love him, but boy would take a while to realise that MC's insecure, especially if she keeps hiding her own anxiety to help him when he's upset

* He will tell her he loves her CONSTANTLY, and when you don't love yourself, hearing that can...hurt sometimes, makes you doubt yourself. If she doesn't voice this concern, he won't take much note of it-he'll understand when she's upset, of course, and do his best to help, but he's not the best at reading between the lines, so she'll need to be a little bit more upfront about it

* The one scenario I can picture, is him coming home one day, perhaps finding MC getting dressed or after a shower-standing in front of a mirror, gaze averted, shoulders tense.

* He's happy to see her, but notices her stiff smile, how she flinches away when he goes to hug her, and when he asks what's wrong, if she says 'nothing' he'll insist until she talks to him, tells him her insecurities, how she doesn't get what he sees in her, how she'll be happy when they're together but then feel so empty the next moment.

* He'll feel SO guilty for not recognising the signs, but he won't beat himself up over it-what's most important is helping her, not wallowing in self-pity.

* He'll sit with MC for as long as it takes that day, will hold her close and list all the things he loves about her even if she doesn't believe a single one of them. He can't relate to the insecurities about her body, though he'll try to convince her he loves her as is-because it's the truth! He can however, relate to what it's like to feel empty, to force yourself through the motions of daily life while shrivelling up inside.

* So he vows to help, in anyway possible.

Zen:

* Listen, I refuse to believe that behind all that narcissism there aren't insecurities stemming from all the shit he's been through in his childhood. Boy's developed narcissism to cope with what he thought of himself as a kid, and I stand by that.

* So he's more observant than you might think-when he sees MC checking herself in the mirror, poking at her stomach, how she'll sigh and put a big hoodie over her t-shirt, how she shies away from physical affection, how seeing him shirtless oftentimes makes her feel bad about herself, that he 'has to be seen with her'-he notices it all, and hates it, hates that her brain made her think she's anything less than gorgeous.

* He tried asking her about it but she insists she's fine and she's no more or less insecure than the average person-ever the one to try and keep his worry at bay.

* So instead he'll let her know he loves her every single day, will tell her he loves her body, will post online about how proud he is to be with her-for all the world to know, so no one will ever dare question her worth.

* It's an uphill battle, and it's not one Zen can win for her, but he'll do his best to help, so she can realise her own self-worth.

Jaehee:

* Baehee would be one of the most observant people in the RFA-though she doesn't share the same insecurities, she can understand them, and will often prod MC, asking her to talk about anything that might be bothering her.

* If MC says 'it's nothing, please don't worry', she won't push much; she doesn't want her to completely clam up. But she'll always be gentle, holding MC's hands as she says she'll always be here if MC wants to talk, that she helped her so much she wants to be MC's support too.

* I know how weird it feels lending clothes to others when you're chubby-so I feel like sharing clothes with Jaehee would be...an ordeal. Being unable to wear Jaehee's skinny jeans, whilst she can fit into MC's, would sting, and it'd only add onto MC's guilt-she doesn't want to feel this way about her girlfriend! She loves her, appreciates her, doesn't ever want her to know about these thoughts.

* But again, Jaehee knows. She understands it, so-she takes MC shopping, and together they buy matching pairs of pyjamas and t-shirts, things that, whilst they don't need to share, can wear and be reminded of one another.

* "I love you as you are-you accepted me for who I am, so let me do the same for you" she'll say, will hug MC and hold her close until she lets her feelings out, talks about her worries.

* Jaehee would be eager to help search for a good psychologist, to get MC professional help-she knows what she can do as MC's girlfriend isn't much, so she wants MC to get the best help she can.

*And of course, she'll be there for MC every step of the way

Jumin:

* oof...listen. He loves MC SO much, will buy her the moon if she asks, but this man..he's only recently discovered his own emotions. He's emotionally dense, and when MC says she's fine, he tends to take it at face value. Why would MC lie to him, after all? She trusts him enough to let him know if something's bothering her, doesn't she?

* Not to say he doesn't realise there's something wrong-he's a businessman, reading his clients is a part of his job description, emotions included. So when MC's smile stretches thin, when she's overwhelmed but swallows it down in favour of acting like everything's okay, he knows-maybe not to the extent that others might've, but he can tell something's wrong, and he'll honestly be upset MC doesn't talk to him about it.

* So he'll just...sit down and talk to her about it. Ask her to be upfront with him, tell her he wants her to be happy, that he wants to be there for her and help her any way he can, but can't do that if she doesn't talk with him and let him know what's wrong.

* If MC breaks down-if she cries, hides her face in her hands, he'll be shell-shocked. He's so used to her smiling, even at the face of adversity, that seeing her like this...he has no idea what to do at first, not one used to emotional outbursts.

* Insticts soon kick in though, and he gathers her in his arms, rubs his hands on her back, letting her cry until she calms down, no matter how long that takes.

* When she tells him about her depression, her insecurities, he'll nod, quietly listening to her worries, formulating a plan of attack.

* He quite bluntly doesn't understand why she's insceure. She's beautiful?? He loves her exactly as she is?? If she wants to change something about her appearance she's more than welcome to, but to want to do that because she feels she must is...absurd. He simply won't allow it.

* I know it's a cliche in a lot of these headcanons, that he'd buy perfectly tailored clothes for MC, that he'd purchase the finest, most flattering clothes for her to feel as beautiful as she is in his eyes, but it's true-he would, hell, he'd probably read up on fashion himself so he'd be able to help her pick out outfits. He'd do anything for MC, and that's NOT an exaggeration.

* Plus he'd insist on her going to therapy-I headcanon that after realising his own emotions he'd probably start attending therapy sessions himself, to try and get a better read on his emotions, so he'll be a pretty strong advocate for therapy, and he wants the very best for MC.

Seven:

* HAHAHAHAHAH.

* This man...not only can he absoloutely relate, it's honestly a big reason why their relationship is rocky, to say the least.

* Having two depressed, self-sarificing people who'd rather bury their emotions in the depths of their gut rather than admit emotional vulnerability in a relationship? Yeah, not a good idea.

* He'll be using humour to cope with his depression, trying to get MC to open up instead, whilst MC's just pretending she's Never Had a Negative Thought in her life, trying to get Seven to open up instead. You see the issue, yeah?

* Honestly it'll take a lot of walking on eggshells and dancing around the issue until either one of them breaks down, admitting defeat, or they share an honest, adult conversation about their emotions and about how they both need help-which, realistically speaking, I find quite unlikely to happen.

* Not to say the relationship won't work out-God, Seven wants it to work out so, so much. He'll tell MC he loves her constantly, he'll make it so in order to enter the apartment, she'll need to say one thing she loves about herself each day at the security door before it can be unlocked, he'll do everything in his power to help her with her body issues because he loves her, worships her as is.

* The ideal solution honestly would be someone else from the RFA-Jaehee probably, lol, coming to boink them both over the head and drag them to therapy, both individual and couple's sessions, so they can finally start expressing their emotions to one another in a way that ISN'T memes or self-deprecating humour.

* It'll take a while but-they'll make it work. They love one another too much not to.

V/Jihyun:

* This man. This sweet, sweet man.

* He knows what it's like to be insecure, to feel uncomfortable in your own skin, knows what depression is like, how it takes a hold of you and leaves you a shell of who you once were, or worse-who you could've been.

* He's so attuned to his own emotions, he's learnt to recognise the signs in himself-and ergo can tell when someone else is also suffering, although to what extent, it's not always easy to tell.

* He hates MC feeling this way about herself. He loves her so much, she's the one that pulled him out of his own self-depracating, self-sacrifising depressed state, has helped him seek help and become a better man-he wants to be able to support her too, wants to do everything in his power to help.

* But helping someone who won't even admit there's something wrong...isn't easy. He's so gentle and patient though, and slowly helps tear MC's walls down. He'll never prod too much, will simply..be there for her. Will hug her, run his fingers down her sides. If she squirms away, afraid of him feeling her love handles, he'll simply smile and say he loves her, finds every single thing about her beautiful-he'll purposely trail his hands to said love handles, if she's comfortable with it, looking her straight in the eye when he says "Every part of you, I'm in love with. Please don't take my words lightly."

* If she's up for it, he'd love to photograph her-but it's not easy, when you're so awkward in your own skin, to accept to be viewed through a camera lens. So instead he'll draw her, his sketchbook filled with doodles of her face when she's happy, when she's concentrating, her body as she sleeps, head smooshed into the pillow.

* He'll never push her, letting her take things at her own pace-but he'll be there to aid in every single step

Saeran:

* I know I said it for Seven and V to but...out of everyone, I feel like he'd understand MC's predicament the most. Insecure about his frail body, dealing with the trauma Mint Eye has left him with, trying to combat his demons and anxieties whilst trying to return to being a member of society-he's going through...a lot, to say the least.

* So it's honestly understandable how MC will swallow down her own issues, do her best to support Saeran instead. Will she break in the process? Perhaps. She doesn't care. Not if she can help him in the process.

* Saeran might not notice it initially, too focused on his own issues which-honestly, understandable. It's not everyday you leave a cult after all. But the more he talks with MC, the more he realises she's hiding so much from him, slowly notices how often she forces a smile on her face, how she'll nervously cover her mid-riff with her arms whilst sitting down, how she shies away from attention-

*He's almost never the one to initiate physical affection with her, and she doesn't initiate it much either-but when he does, when he leans in to kiss her and feels her tense he panics, pulls away because-is she reacting this way because she doesn't want him?

* When she explains it's not that, that she loves him and wants to be with him, he'll press the issue, ask her why she'll shy away from him then-not in a mean way, he'll just honestly be so worried, wondering what's wrong and how he could help.

* And when/if MC does tell him about her issues...there's not honestly much he could do. He'll tell her he loves her, that she's beautiful, that her body's a vessel to carry her soul around, and that soul is so wonderful it radiates joy to everyone around her, but he knows how hard it is to believe such words when in this mindset.

* So instead, he suggests they go to therapy together. He knows it's not the easiest thing in the world-but he wants her to get the help she deserves. He'll hold her hand on the way to her first session, will wait outside for her, smiling up at her when she's done.

* Things will slowly get better for the both of them.

-masterpost-

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ac3id · 4 years

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pairings: Sub! Kaminari Denki x Dom! FemReader

warnings: characters in this story are 18+, crackfic if you squint, sharing of risqué pictures, phone sex, mutual masturbation, porn with a plot basically dom yn, sub denki

word count: 2.6k

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we hope you like it!!!

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You stretched your arms behind your back. After a long day of paperwork, you were tired. You bent your fingers one by one until they released that satisfying ‘pop’ sound. Relaxing yourself in your chair you reach for your phone. You go through your social media, text a few friends and then your eyes fall onto boyfriend’s contacts.

Kaminari Denki or better know as Chargebolt. The aspiring Pro-Hero who graduated from U.A and now the 23 year old was on his journey to becoming a memorable hero. But right now, he was on his bed resting. The blonde had been hit by an energy draining quirk which made it impossible to do athletic tasks. He was advised to rest and that’s what he had been doing for the past three days.

Dankie

You[23:31]:

You[23:31]: hOWS my FAV BOI DOINGGG ???????????????

Dankie[23:31]: >:(

Dankie[23:31]: traitor ass biTCH

You[23:32]: DENKI LMFAO I SAID I WAS SORRY SILHAKD

Dankie[23:32]: u didnt come visit me today:'''(

You[23:32]: yeah,sorry about that:(((if u werent so fucking clumsy i wouldnt be stuck doing extra hours of EXTRA paperwork>:(

Dankie[23:32]: gO GET THAT BAG Y/NNIE BBIE

Dankie[23:32]: n e ways

Dankie[23:32]: ei missed juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Dankie[23:32]:

You[23:32]: didnt kiri visit tho

Dankie[23:33]: he did but :( ur better

You[23:33]: dfjhskjfd ik i am

Dankie[23:33]: playing uno with him isnt that fun cuz that bitch ALWAYS wins , u lose all the time lmfao i leik winning against u

You[23:33]:

You[23:33]: hows your injury tho bb<3

Dankie[23:33]: idk im gonna go to work like day after tommorrow

Dankie[23:34]: n e ways

Dankie[23:34]: how was your day, beautiful

You[23:34]: terrible, old hag keeps piling me up with work.i dont get paid enough to deal with her shit

You[23:34]: i stg gonna murder her one day.

Dankie[23:34]: awwww my poor ynnie here have a picture of your beautiful boyfriend to light up ur day:)

You[23:35]: its 11 in the night denki

Dankie[23:35]: just let me have this one thing please,

Dankie[23:35]: I HAVE A PICTUER SOMEWHERE IN MY GALLERY WAIT lOOK

Dankie[23:35]: admit it,u ken not resist ur beautiful boyfriend

You were about to text out a sarcastic reply, your fingers hovering over the send key when you noticed Denki had sent a disappearing photo.

Dankie[23:35]: [image8166.jpeg]

You press your thumb over the button to view it in full size,

probably one of his dumbass selfies again

you thought to yourself.

“The fuck!?” you almost scream, eyes blown wide at the sight.

Before you knew it you were confronted by the sight of a dick, his hand wrapped around it resting against his abdomen, spurts of cum decorating the head of his cock and onto his flushed body.

It looked so inviting, so hard and sexy waiting to be played with. It turned you on.

You gulped as you took it all in.

In all honesty the sight made your mouth water, your tongue reaching out to wet you lips as your breathing quickened, your core heating with arousal. Your thoughts running wildly as you inspect the picture, fingers trembling ever so slightly as you work your fingers to quickly take a screenshot of the picture

Dankie[23:35]: u still there yn?

Dankie[23:35]: o shit.yn im so SORRY

Dankie[23:36]:SHIT SHIT IM SO SORRY YN I DIDNT MEAN TO MY FINGER SLIPPED FUCKFUCK IM SO SORRY I UNDERSTAND IF YOUR UNCOMFORTABLE

Oh Fuck!

Sucking his lips into his mouth, fear took over his senses as he realized that you were about to receive his nude out of nowhere.

nonononononono nO! This couldn't be happening. No!'

Denki quickly pressed the power off button at least eight times, hoping that would change something, but he knew very well it wouldn't. His entire face flamed with embarrassment.

He opened the chat again just to check if it actually sent. Maybe he still had the chance to delete it. He was met with disappointment, the air surrounding him growing heavier, your prolonged silence was making him freak out even more DAMMIT DENKI !!

Dankie[23:36]: Y/N please say soemthing please,

The dreaded 'typing' box appeared on the bottom of the screen, he mentally prepared himself for rejection. Maybe if you ask about it, he could just pretend he didn’t know what you were talking about. Fuck, how did he manage to fuck up this bad?Just then, the sound of his notification stirred him from his thoughts, indicating a reply from you. He reached for the phone,

You[23:37]: that’s a pretty dick, denki

You[23:37]: mommy would love to play with it.

OH My God. Denki internally screamed. He did not know what he was expecting. Granted you both had started going out just recently, a slip up like that was bound to set you off. He expected you being reluctant about the situation and brushing it of.

He thought of what he should reply and stared texting. His fingers smashed against the keyboard as butterflies danced in his stomach. He could feel himself get hard.

Dankie[23:37]: you’re making me horny, mommy

You[23:37]: fuck, you’re such a naughty boy

You[23:37]: tell me how badly you want me.

Dankie[23:38]: please, my dick is so hard for you right now. I can’t think straight.

Denki’s heart beat quickens whilst he wait for you to reply. His hand slips down his sweats as he starts palming his cock through the cotton of his sweats.

You[23:38]: you like it when mommy talks to you like this, don’t you babyboy?

Dankie[23:38]: yes i do. please don’t stop

You[23:38]: you think you can send these pictures and not face consequences?

You[23:38]: is this turning you on?

Dankie[23:38]: yes. goddamn.

It was a moment before he responded and when he did, he sent an image. Upon opening it, your throat dries out. You see the outline of his erection through his boxers you gulp again as your eyes feast on the main focus of the picture. It made your pussy throb. You couldn’t stop staring, not even when another loud 'ping' sounded through the room.

Dankie[23:39]: Oh God, please fuck me.

You[23:39]: are you teasing me?

Dankie[23:39]: ...what if I am?

Dankie[23:39]: y/n i want you so bad. are you alone right now?

You[23:39]: yes i am.

You[23:39]: such a little slut, aren’t you?

Dankie[23:39]: yes, only for you

Dankie[23:40]: God, you're good at this.

His fingers were pressing the ‘call’ button before he processed his move, thick arousal mixed with frustration clouded his thoughts. His hand palming himself through his boxers and his leg bouncing up and down in anticipation as his phone rang for you.

Your phone lit up with an incoming call.

“Hey, babyboy,” you spoke as soon as he picked up, teasing him. Your voice sultry and low making Denki gulp. The dirty talk was really getting him going.

“Just hearing my voice has gotten you so bothered, huh?” you smirk, feeling your nipples hardening and poking through the fabric of your work shirt

“I'm so lonely and needy right now-” He shyly admitted, “I need you so bad.” finding himself blush bashfully for you. Flattered and embarrassed at his blunt confession, but still desperate for you. He could hear your breathing on the other side of the phone, it was quick, excited. You heard him take in a deep breath; you could almost see the pink painting his cheeks.

“You’ve been a naughty boy, sending me pictures like that. Tell me when did you take it? Who were you thinking of when you touched yourself?” you rasp into the phone making him gasp.

God, this was like a dream

“It was for you! Everything, You!” He sounded desperate, clinging to release as his member throbbed harder. Biting down on his lower lip, inching to hear your commanding voice over the static.

“Is that so? Well, I am flattered.” Denki smiled to himself hearing the praise. “But, do you seriously think you should be allowed to cum? After all, you touched yourself like a shameless whore. Not to mention, without my permission?”

Denki’s smile fell as he started mumbling apologizes into the phone. He promised he’d never do anything like that ever again. Please, just let him cum.

“You heard me,” You taunted, “Bad boys don’t deserve mommy’s help.” you say, your voice faking disinterest. “Please.” he begged pathetically. Trying to convince you to help him out.

“Please help me cum.”

“Really?” You scoff, a teasing smirk appearing on your lips. “You seem to be doing just fine on your own.” apologies come rushing over the phone, “No, no, please! I’ll be good. I’ll be a good boy! I’ll do anything!” he pants, biting the corner of his lip as his hand hovered over his erect shaft. “P-Please, Mommy!’’

You bit back a whine as you clench your thighs together “Okay,” you start, voice as smooth as silk. “Why don’t you reach down and touch yourself for me? Make yourself feel good,”

Denki relishes as hearing your command. He quickly puts the caller on speaker and places it on the stool next to his bed. His fingers pull his sweats down to his thigh, his boxers soon following. His hard cock rest against his stomach, the tip flushed and angry; pre-cum leaking from the slit. His right hand firmly grasp it while his left reaches for his phone.

He moans your name as he pumps his cock using the pre-cum as lube, he hisses and groans lost in utopia until he hears your voice again. “You don’t get to cum until I tell you to.” you smirk at him failing to stifle his whimpers, clenching his eyes shut as he took a deep, steadying breath before he responding. “Okay, Mommy.” he blushes, submitting himself to you.

Taking the base of his length into his hand, putting the phone closer to his mouth so you could hear his heavy breathing as he traced a finger along the vein decorating his shaft, he moans softly feeling sparks of pleasure erupting throughout his body. Moving his thumb to his drenched tip, vigorously rubbing himself the way you had instructed him to — the action making him crazy, Denki didn't even try to hold back the moans erupting from his mouth as he fucked his hand, wishing it was you.

“You sound so good jerking off to Mommy’s voice.”

“Feels good, huh, babyboy?” you ask. He hums nodding his head. “Feels so damn good.” His hand leaves his dick, coming up to his mouth and spitting on it. Using spit as lube as he began to rub himself, hips bucking against his hand; whimpering your name as his back arches up slightly, the pre-cum and spit making it easier to move his hand quicker moaning and hearing you doing the same. He could hear your breathing get heavier,the anticipation of you masturbating too made his even harder if that were possible.

“There’s a good little slut.” you say with a normal, leveled voice while he struggled on the other side of the phone. You listen to him jerk off, pumping his shaft and moaning out your name. Hearing him pump his cock up and down, you pictured his sitting on his bed, flushed face hand stroking his cock cum oozing out of his slit. Maybe you’ll ask him to lick it up later.

“Are you wet, Mommy?” His voice is soft followed by heavy breathing. “So wet. You have no idea.” your raspy voice filled the empty room.

“I want to taste your pussy, Y/N.” he moaned into the phone. You slip your hand down over your clothed cunt, rubbing against your swollen clit. “Is that so, Denki? Wouldn't you like that? Me sitting on your face? You can eat all you want.”

“God, your pussy sounds so good.” Denki moaned as you adjust the phone closer. “Oh fuck, Denki!" you moan as you sunk down onto your fingers. The scent of sweat and lust lingered through his nose, he scrunched his eyes shut and his head pressed back into his pillow. His mouth was gape open, breathing heavily as he moaned loudly into the phone. “Shit. Mommy." he cursed.

“Mommy, I need your pussy.” you hear him beg, “W-wanna feel it a-around me. Milking my cock s-so good, wanna f-fuck you until you scream,” he speaks between choked moans. You wonder how he’s gotten so bold. “I would fuck your tight pussy so good.” you don’t doubt him at all.

Your fingers rub against your velvety walls, your hips bucking into your hand as you rolled your clit swiftly between your nimble fingers. “I’m gonna fuck you so good once i get my hands on you, babyboy.”

Speeding up his pace, imaging your face Denki let out a growl. Imagining you hovering over his pinned body as you whispered the most dirty words into his ear while pleasuring him. “F-fuck, Y/N.” he whispered, dropping his head back against the pillows as his eyes squeezed shut, his back arching wildly. There was no way he was going to last much longer.

The familiar feeling soon washed over you, your pussy pulsing and clenching around nothing with each delicious rub of your fingers against your clit. Your heart beat fast, your body tingling from the sensation it gave you. Your nether regions throbbing in pleasure. You almost fell, your legs quivering going limp

His stomach was clenching and he knew he was going to cum any second now “Please keep talking. Just a little more, please,” he begged breathlessly, continuing his thrusts for just a little while longer to get over the edge and you did just that.

“I- I’m so close mommy. Can I c-cum?” He bits his lower lip, trying to control his breathing. “Since you've been such a good boy. You can cum, baby.” you said breathlessly.

“Thank you so much, Mommy.”

“I want to hear you while you cum, baby. I want you to feel good, I want to feel good with you.” you choke out.

You wait patiently for his response but it doesn't come. After seconds of silence, you pulls your device away from your ear only to be greeted by the dark screen.

“Oh. He hung up?” you murmur out loud, a bit sad but you decide on not to dwell on it as you slip the phone back into your pocket, figuring his battery might have given up on him. After minutes you hear you phone start buzzing.

Dankie[01:20]: Baby NO. I’M SO SORRY MY PHONE DIED

Dankie[01:20]: Y/N PLEASE SOME BACK I DIDN’T MEAN TOOO

Dankie[01:20]: Y/N PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE COME BAC

You[01:21]: im here!

Dankie[01:21]: i m so sorry my phone died

You[01:22]: did you cum?

Denki feels his cheeks heat up again.

Dankie[01:23]:

A few moments later. A video clip appeared in the chat, you opened it much too quickly.

In the video, Denki had his hand wrapped around his shaft while his other hand was palming over his balls. He pumped himself, “I’m gonna come for you, Mommy.” It appeared he had situated the phone so his entire body was captured by the camera. Your eyes traveled down to his toned body, drinking the sight in. Moan escaped his parted lips, opening his eyes and staring at the camera with playful eyes. His jaw hangs open as he finally releases all he had over his stomach, chanting a string of your name and curses.

“Fuck, I really wish you were here now.” You heard him hiss “Really wish this was your mouth instead of my hand.” he whispered, his agile fingers move swiftly as he collected the white substance and then moving his hand upto his lips. Parting his lips swirling his tongue around his digits, sucking off the creamy substance and moaning louder for you. His eyes darkened with lust and hunger as he swallowed down every last drop, moaning at the taste of his warm cum causing your breath to hitch as much as he let out a series of seductive,soft pants.

“Why don't you come here and ride my cock?”

Your walls tighten around nothing and you immediately got up, your chest heaving as you attempted to catch your breath.

You[01:43]:im coming over. gonna make sure you end up in the hospital for weeks after i'm done with you kaminari denki.

Dankie[01:44]: osiht (｡+･｀ω･´ )

Dankie[01:45]:

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sorrelchestnut · 4 years

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EVERYBODY’S PICKIN’ UP ON THAT FELINE BEAT, PART 37

holy shit I finished a scene. We’re really close to the end now, y’all. That being said: this definitely ends on a cliffhanger. Fair warning.

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8. Part 9. Part 10. Part 11. Part 12. Part 13. Part 14. Part 15. Part 16. Part 17. Part 18. Part 19. Part 20. Part 21. Part 22. Part 23. Part 24. Part 25. Part 26. Part 27. Part 28. Part 29. Part 30. Part 31. Part 32. Part 33. Part 34. Part 35. Part 36.

Title: everybody’s picking up on that feline beat Author: Sorrel Fandom: Fallout 4 Rating: Mature Warnings: None Relationships: Deacon/Female Sole Survivor Series: Part 3 of everybody wants to be a cat

Coffee helps; fresh air and sunshine helps more. For someone who spends a significant majority of her life inside, underground, nocturnal, and/or just generally skulking around in the shadows, Whisper can be surprisingly solar-powered at times. By the time they're over the river she's in almost obnoxiously high spirits, singing "Anything Goes" in a squeaky falsetto that makes him think longingly of the roll of duct tape in his pack.

"The world has gone mad today, and good's bad today, and black's white today, and day's night today-"

"Whisper, I swear to God-"

"And that gent today you gave a cent today once had sev-er-al chateaus!"

"Alright, Cole Porter, that's enough." She grins wider and opens her mouth, and he hastily slaps a hand over it before she can start the next verse. "No."

Her lips tickle against his palm as she grumbles, "You're no fun."

"What, because I like living? You're going to bring down every raider in the greater Boston area, the way you're caterwaul- ow! Fuck!"

She tucks her thumbs in the straps of her pack and gives him a cheerful, empty-headed smile, showing off the pearly white teeth she just sunk into the base of his thumb. "Talk shit, get hit."

"Jesus, you're aggressive." He studies his hand but doesn't find any sign of bleeding, just a neat row of stark white tooth marks rapidly flushing back pink. "Whatever happened to licking my hand to gross me out?"

"Sometimes I can really tell you were an only child," she informs him, shaking her head faux-mournfully. "You gotta go big or go home, that's my motto."

"Good thing we're going home, isn't it?" When she squints at him, he smiles sunnily and holds his injured hand a couple inches above her head. "I mean, 'big' isn't exactly your strong suit, so..."

She launches herself at him with a war cry.

Bickering aside, they straighten up when they come into sight of Diamond City, falling into character as a pair of road-weary mercenaries coming off an all-night hike and desperate for a shower and some sleep. (Which, to be fair, isn't that far off from the truth, all things considered.) They're both in costume already, not that that took long. All Whisper had to do was slick back her hair and throw on a pair of sunglasses and hey presto: Olivia Bailey, ruins-rover extraordinaire. Next to her all Deacon has to do is look suitably grizzled and road-weary, so he pretty much just tossed the least-disgusting raider's jacket on over his travel clothes and smeared some dust artistically through his stubble and called it a goddamn day.

It certainly works well enough on the second-shift gate guard, a pockmarked woman with nicotine stains on her fingers. She waves them through with a disinterested nod, already going back to her book before they even clear the gate. Deacon squashes down the contrary impulse to make some kind of scene and just nods back, professional and cool, as he wraps an arm around Whisper's shoulder. She gives him a little sideways look that says I know what you're doing but doesn't bother to pull away until they're in the tunnel.

Deacon looks around and then back to her, pointedly. Whisper huffs a laugh.

"What now?"

"Nothing," he says, and waggles his eyebrows. "It's just… here we are again. Where it all started. Back to the site of our fateful first meeting."

Her eyes narrow. "Weren't you the one who said-"

"Mm, yeah, but I've had time to think about it, and I think you made a compelling point. First contact is definitely the first one that counts."

"You just don't want to 'fess up on just how long you were following me around."

"Why, partner, I'm hurt that you would think of such a thing," he says, and moves swiftly on before she can call him on the obvious evasion. "You know, you keep bringing me back here, I'm going to start thinking you've got a secret romantic streak." She gives him a look. "Very secret."

"That's me, all hearts and flowers," says quite the most ruthlessly practical woman Deacon's ever met. "Besides, if I was going to start up with romantical remembrances at this late date, that wouldn't be the one I'd pick. I was so sleep-deprived I'm lucky I remembered my own name."

"Couldn't tell to look at you," Deacon says, in massive understatement. She was all easy swagger and magazine-cover grin, on her way to bigger and better things. She sure as shit didn't look like she was running on the ragged edge of her endurance - but then, he knows better than most just how well she can lie with a smile.

She glances over at him as they break out of the tunnel, her gaze shrewd over the rim of her shades. "You remember it pretty well, huh?"

Nope, nuh-uh, not going there. "Your hair was longer," Deacon says, tweaking the end of one of her curls in a transparent bid for distraction. "I remember that for sure."

"Well, yeah," she says, ducking neatly around a kid that seems really intent on wherever she's running. "You told me to cut it."

"I did?" He definitely doesn't remember that. "When?"

"When we were prepping for the Covenant op. You said blonde, I said I had to grab some bleach, and you gave me that 'oh honey' look you do when people are being particularly stupid and told me to just cut it off, you had a spare wig lying around someplace."

That does sound like him. "And you just did it?" he says, because Whisper is a lot of things, but 'obedient' sure as shit isn't one of them.

"You were brandishing a knife when you said it," she admits. "It seemed easier to give in than argue."

Yeah, that definitely sounds like him. Especially then: that must've been, what, their first week together? Back then everything was one long haze of exhaustion, staggering from one crisis to the next with barely enough time to take a shit. Hauling her into the Covenant op was a desperation play, pure and simple: he needed backup, and anyone had to be better than Glory. He hadn't known, then, what she could do with nothing more than a smile and a little room to work.

Though he figured it out pretty damn quick.

"I'd say it worked out," he says, and tweaks her dark hair again. "You do make a fetching blonde."

She gives him a look over the tops of her shades, knowing and a bit amused. "They do have more fun."

Aaaand now he's thinking about their first time, that silver dress pushed up around her thighs, blonde wig spilling across the mattress above her and blue eyes begging him in the dark. He clears his throat. "You want to go talk to Valentine?"

"In a bit," she says, and wraps her arm around his waist. He automatically puts his arm around her in turn, and she leans her head on his shoulder, a picture-perfect image of a lovesick spouse. "Need to make the rounds, hit up a few of the merchants first. It'd be weird if I didn't."

"God forbid we look weird," he agrees, and laughs at her elbow in his stomach.

~*~

She does break off eventually, slips away to discuss things with Valentine and leaves him with a key and strict instructions to take care of dinner. Deacon makes a quick loop of his own, touching base with the runners they placed last time and offloading some of their scav while he's at it. Myrna's girl has been promoted to working the afternoon shift solo, and is more than happy to take a few extra minutes dickering in order to fill him in on the local gossip. He rounds it off with a visit to the Dugout where the cocky one is still serving drinks - Deacon makes a note to collect the ten caps from Whisper later - and picks up some dinner to go on his way out. Never let it be said he can't follow orders when it suits him.

He's setting out the plates when Whisper follows him in just a few minutes later with a slammed door and a cheerful, "Hallo the house!" from the far end of her little warehouse.

"Kitchen!" he calls back, and a moment later she appears, weaving her way through the stacked boxes and dropping a noticeably emptier pack on the floor by the stove.

"Need a hand?"

The food's pretty much done, so he tilts his head to the table with a hopeful, "Something to drink?"

"I've got just the thing," and she grabs her pack again, fishing around inside until she comes up with a couple bottles of Bobrov's homebrew. "I tried to catch you at the Dugout but Vadim said you just left. Good enough?"

"We-ell, everyone knows a dry white pairs best with seafood, but for day-old mirelurk I suppose it will just have to do."

"You're trying to ruin my appetite but it's not working," she informs him, nose in the air. "I'm so hungry I'd eat a mirelurk raw."

He laughs and nudges in behind her as she turns to grab a bottle opener. "C'mon, darlin', don't be like that. You know it's only the best for my girl."

"Flatterer," she says, nothing in her voice now but laughter. "You talk any sweeter, I'm gonna be forced to check those lips for honey."

"Aw, babe. You say the - ha ha - sweetest things." He buries his nose in the back of her neck and inhales. "I get the cigarettes, but why do you smell like one of Tom's experiments? Hot metal and burnt wiring," he clarifies, when she gives him a truly weird look.

"Oh, I stopped by Piper's after I talked to Nick," she says, all offhand as if she's not talking about the biggest gossip in the Commonwealth.

Deacon unpeels himself from her back and takes her by the shoulders. "Whisper," he says, seriously. "Do we need to have a conversation about operational security? Because I feel like you may have been out that day."

"Oh, so you want her to come by and harangue me in person? Because that is one hundred percent what she'd do if she heard I was in town and didn't go see her first."

Okay, so maybe she has a point. The thought of Piper fucking Wright showing up at his door - well, Whisper's door, whatever - demanding to know his intentions toward her friend… Yeah, no. That's gonna be a haaaard pass.

Whisper grins at him, the devil in her eyes. He knows that look. "Whisper-"

"Ohhhh, I see what this is about."

"Fear," he assures her, trying to head whatever this is off at the pass, "this is a very healthy and reasonable level of fear," but she's on her way to a punchline and won't be deterred.

"You're a fan!" she declares, over his groan of protest. "Aww, sweetheart, why didn't you say something earlier? I could totally arrange an introduction for you."

"Ahhh, no thanks," Deacon manages, through the bolt of terror that thought inspires. "Little-known fact, spies are in fact allergic to reporters? Like, clinically. The hives are brutal."

She takes pity on him and gives way with a laugh, her eyes crinkling up at the corners. "Don't worry, babe, I'll protect you."

"You're the best."

"And don't you forget it." She pops open one of the bottles one-handed, handing it off to him with a cheery flourish. "Besides, you don't wanna bitch too much about my girl Piper. Her caps bought you this booze."

"I take it back, she's my new favorite person. After your radiant self, of course." He takes a swig and passes it back, enjoying the flush of boozy heat down through his chest as he turns back to the stove. After a moment's consideration, he adds a couple extra tatos to the pan. If they're drinking Bobrov's then he definitely wants to lay down a hearty base. "Something interesting afoot?"

"Mhm?"

"Your payout from Wright. Anything I should know about?"

She wobbles her flat hand side-to-side, a wordless eh. "Not really. Just a side project I've been working on."

Interesting. It's not as if they tell each other everything they get up to - he certainly has any number of moving parts at any given moment she's not read in on, and this business with Hancock gave him a good idea about how much he doesn't know about her adventures - but the fun stuff, yeah, that's usually share and share alike. Then again, maybe it's a leftover from her little enforced vacation back in August. He's mostly kept his nose out of whatever she was up to those weeks in hopes she'll do him the same courtesy, so there's a gap in his intel.

"Very mysterious," he teases, nudging a little. "C'mon, not even a hint for your faithful partner?"

She refuses to be nudged, only smiles faintly and hunches one shoulder into a lopsided shrug. "You can read it in the paper tomorrow like everyone else."

"Way harsh."

"That's me, cruel and unusual." She passes him back a plate with an absent kiss to his scruffy cheek. "C'mon, quit fondling that pot holder and get me some supper. I'm starving."

~*~

It's a good night, maybe the best he's had in a while. Deacon sort of figured she'd be distracted, mind on her mission tomorrow, but instead it's the opposite: for the first time in what seems like weeks, he has her full and undivided attention, and he basks in it like winter sunshine. They trade stories and quips, mostly things they've told each other a dozen times over but still fresh, still funny, still so much fun to watch her trying out a new spin, a new angle. She's so fucking good at that, always has been. Yet another thing Deacon never needed to teach her, but damn does he never get tired of watching her reinvent herself on the fly.

Deacon, for his part, finds himself mugging shamelessly for her attention, chasing her approval as fervently as any junkie he's ever pretended to be. And unlike a junkie Deacon gets what he's craving in spades, because she's as generous with her smiles as she is with her stories, lounging back in her chair with her glass in her hand, thighs sprawled wide and her voice gone syrup-slow with that insinuating smirk that only ever spurs him on.

Later, he doesn't entirely remember how they end up in bed. The booze turns everything smeary and soft-focus, like light coming in through a stained-glass window, and his memory preserves only a series of snapshots: pulling Whisper into his lap, her startled yelp of laughter muffled with his mouth. Making out on the landing, one foot braced a step down to put him closer to her height, his fingers busy on her shirt buttons and hers on his belt buckle. Tumbling into bed in a snarl of limbs, laughingly disentangling them until Whisper tugs him up over her in the dark. Burying his face in the sweat-slicked curve of her neck as he works his cock inside of her, her blunt nails scoring lines down the length of his back and her heels digging into the backs of his thighs to urge him on. The flicker of the candlelight playing across her lush mouth and her dark, shadowed eyes, her damp hair clinging to her forehead as she tosses her head back against the pillows. The low breathy rasp of her voice, "Deacon," murmured against his ear, "Deacon, Deacon, please-"

And then when he wakes up, he's alone.

The radio downstairs is playing “The Wanderer,” and Deacon lies there for a moment, listening to the clatter of the rain against the windows, experiencing an overwhelming surge of deja vu.

Then he hauls himself out of bed, picks up his boots, and goes in search of his wayward accomplice.

Unlike last time, there's no pint-sized partner clattering around in the kitchen, cooking breakfast and dancing around like temptation on two legs. The room is cool and dim, only the faint mid-morning sunshine straggling in through an upper window to light the way, and the only sign of habitation is the soft strains of the radio. Deacon does a quick check in the warehouse section just in case - have the boxes been breeding back there? - but the only sign of life in here is him. Most damningly of all, Whisper's pack is gone from the hook beside the door, leaving his looking lopsided next to the empty space where its partner used to be.

Do not project onto an inanimate object, Deacon my lad, he tells himself, and checks the counter next to the radio, where he previously saw a pad and a pencil half-buried under a precarious stack of ammo boxes. Sure enough, there's a note there, torn loose from the pad and folded into thirds with John scrawled across the front in unfamiliar handwriting that must belong to Liv.

She's just keeping cover, not stupid enough to write anything else out here in the open where anyone could walk in and see it, but Deacon still stares at it for a long moment, that single syllable knocking around somewhere at the bottom of his ribs. Then he shakes his head at himself, reaches out, and unfolds the note.

hey handsome, you looked so peaceful i couldn't bring myself to wake you. at least one of us should get to sleep in, and nick had me up with the sun. (you know what he's like when he's on a case!) shouldn't take long though, just a quick run down to goodneighbor and fingers crossed we'll be back by supper. take care of my best guy while i'm gone. xoxo, liv

The radio changes to “One More Tomorrow,” and Deacon glares at it as he folds up the note. Reading between the breezy, heavily fictionalized lines, it's clear enough she decided to handle this Kellogg business solo. Which is… fair enough, he supposes, but something about it doesn't sit square. Did she think he would have told her no, if she asked him to stay put? He thought he made it pretty clear the whole thing was hers to handle or not as she saw fit. Or maybe she just thought it'd be too awkward, having him up in her business like that? Maybe after their last op, she's about had her fill of personal. He couldn't blame her if that's the case, but he hopes she knows the last thing he'd ever want to do is make things harder for her.

Well, there's not much he can do about it either way, not with her at least a few hours ahead of him, judging by the sun, and definitely not with her clear instruction to sit tight. Waiting isn't much his favorite part and he didn't really plan to be hanging out in Diamond City all day, but Deacon's an adaptable fellow; he'll find a way to keep himself occupied.

The market is bustling at this hour of the morning, and Deacon lets the crowd carry him along, thinking vaguely about picking up some noodles for breakfast and then maybe having a wander around. It's not great for his cover to spend so much time out and about on his own, but with the right sidelong look most people will probably assume she's sleeping off a wild night, which would be great for his ego, at least. Besides, there's really no substitute for market gossip when it comes to keeping a pulse on the goings-on in the Commonwealth, which is what he plans to tell Dez if she gives him shit for the wasted day. Not that she will, because if Deacon has his way she'll never hear about any of this, but he likes having a contingency plan in place. Makes him feel all nice and comfy.

It's when he's looping around the counter in search of an open stool that he catches the familiar sound of Piper Junior hawking her wares at full volume. Which is funny, 'cause by his calculation they're not due for another issue for at least a week. Normally Piper's pretty regular with the print, except-

Deacon gets a sinking sensation in his chest.

-except when she has something too juicy to wait and damn it, Whisper, what the hell are you up to?

Normally the last place he wants to be is anywhere near someone named Wright, but since his partner has been up to shenanigans without bothering to inform him first, he figures that in this case 'better safe than sorry' means getting out ahead of whatever nonsense Whisper's been cooking up rather than running the other way. He makes sure to pull his cap low over his eyes, hitches his pack higher on his shoulders, and sidles over towards the Public Occurrences like he just doesn't have anything better to do.

"Extra, extra, read all about it! Minutemen General has the tell-all of the century!"

Oh, it's Minutemen business. Geez, why didn't she just say so? If she's running some propaganda job for Garvey, the last thing he'd want to do is get in her way. It was obvious they needed something after the trip to the Slog the other week, and throwing Piper at the problem is probably the most efficient way to get the word out. Half the damn Commonwealth reads her paper at some point or another, even if it's just so they can tell themselves how wrong she is.

Still, Whisper did tell him he'd find out today, so she probably expects him to read up on whatever it is. He snatches a paper off the top of the stack and flips it over, scanning for the headline.

Woman out of Time: Savior of the Minutemen Tells All About Life Before the Bomb!

"-not the current General," Little Wright's saying, when Deacon manages to stop staring at the paper and drag his attention back to the real world. "The first one, the one that retook the Cast- hey!"

Deacon finds the paper snatched right from his hands, a pint-sized version of a familiar glare beaming up at him. "You gotta pay before you read," Little Wright informs him. "We're not running a charity here!"

"Uh, right," says Deacon, who still feels like he's hearing everything underwater, slow-motion and echoing strangely. "What's the deal with this General, then?"

"Didn'tcha see the headline? She's from before the War! Vault froze her in cryo, right here in the Commonwealth!"

Vault 111. Oh, fuck. Ohhhh fuck.

"So you gonna buy or just stand there and stare?" Little Wright brandished the paper at him. "Hot off the presses! Only ten caps, and you can be the first to know!"

#fallout 4 #deacon #female sole survivor #deacon/female sole survivor #fic #everybody wants to be a cat

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shianhygge-imagines · 4 years

Text

Sundown 勿忘草 [Reno/Reader]{Final Fantasy VII} Episode 2

AN: Here’s the next part of Sundown Wasurenagusa! I’m sorry that I’ve been slow on posting any new story material! I had a bit of a writers’ block, and I’m still trying to work through it!

I had intended for this to be much longer, but I felt like this part was a good length to post. The first part of this ‘episode’ is going to be formatted weird because I can’t get Tumblr to format a text conversation in the way that I want.

If you like the content I create, please consider donating to my Ko-fi! Please help me feed my tea addiction!

|Masterlist Link|

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 12

Reno {07:10}

[Good morning, sleeping beauty]

Me {08:30}

[Morning]

[Do you not need sleep?]

[You probably went to bed late last night]

[And while it truly does make my day to hear from you]

[Why? It’s so early ;.;]

Reno {08:40}

[Can you blame a guy for being eager to talk to you?]

[Lol, Sorry. I didn’t disturb you, did I?]

Me {08:59}

[>///<]

[No, you’re good. I gotta get up to get ready anyways.]

[Flatterer]

Reno {09:34}

[I mean, can you blame me? ;) ]

[So, I was thinking about taking you on a date outside of Midgar, but I realized that I should probably get your opinion on it first]

Me {10:01}

[I mean, that depends? How early do I have to get up on my day off? And how long will it take to get there?]

Reno {10:05}

[Um… well, it’s getting pretty chilly in Midgar, so I was thinking about taking you to Costa del Sol… beach date :P]

Me {10:30}

[…]

[Costa del Sol is pretty far, Reno…]

Reno {10:31}

[And?]

[I’ve got a way]

[Don’t sweat the details]

Me {10:32}

[You’re taking a company helicopter, aren’t you -.-]

Reno {10:33}

[Ack! You’ve figured out my master plan!]

Me {10:34}

[Are Turks even allowed to take company assets out for joy rides?]

Reno {10:35}

[ TT^TT I told you not to sweat the details!]

Me {10:40}

[I just don’t want you to get into any trouble.]

Reno {10:50}

[Awww, don’t worry about me.]

[You have a party to attend later, so do me a favor and have fun, okay?]

Me {11:03}

[That reminds me…]

Reno {11:05}

[??]

Me {11:11}

[bluedress.jpg sent]

(The image is of you in a sapphire blue dress, the sleeves long and neck high. The dress itself ends just below your knees)

[This dress?]

[reddress.jpg sent]

(The second image is of you in a backless ruby dress that ends just above the knee. There are no sleeves to this dress despite the fact that it has a high neck)

[Or this dress?]

Reno {11:13}

[…]

[Y/N]

Me {11:15}

[Reno]

[???]

Me {12:01}

[If I don’t look good in either of them, just be honest ;.;]

Reno {13:05}

[Gah! Sorry, I got pulled away for something]

[The red one. For sure]

Me {13:06}

[Just because red’s your color… >.>]

[I hope you’re okay, Reno ;.;]

Reno {13:15}

[Hey, first of all, remember what I said about red being your color?]

[I don’t lie, k?]

[But also, yeah. Also because it’s my color, you should wear it ;)]

[Do you have a sixth sense or something?]

[image.jpg]

(Opening up the image file gifts you with a selfie of Reno, looking minorly roughed up and being supported by an infrantryman. He looks like he’s by the old church that Aerith likes to visit. Despite needing to be supported by the infantryman, the red headed Turk’s winking and holding up a peace sign)

[Just a few minor bruises ;P I’ll be fine]

[Unless….]

[You want to kiss me better? ;)]

Me {13:30}

[… Well. I’m sorry for worrying (¬_¬) ]

Reno {13:45}

[Joking, joking! :D]

[All patched up]

Reno {14:07}

[Y/N?]

(´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`)

[I’m sorry.]

[Please talk to meeeeeee]

Me {14:00}

[image.jpg]

(It’s a picture of you in the red dress. Your hair is done up with an attractive amount of make up. You’re wearing a sensible set of black flats.)

[The party starts in an hour, so I might be answering my phone too often.]

[And Costa del Sol sounds perfect for tomorrow ;) I’ve got my outfit all picked out]

Reno {14:15}

[Uh, yeah, that’s gonna be your new contact photo]

[I’m picking you up earlier than we agreed so that we can have more time to relax in the sun]

[Duty calls. Have fun tonight, okay?]

Me {14:20}

[And what? My contact photo for you is going to be this?]

[screenshot.jpg]

(It’s a screenshot of your mobile phone screen. There’s an edit with a red arrow pointing directly at the photo icon for Reno’s contact…it’s the photo that he sent earlier except you’ve photoshopped cartoon ‘uwu’ eyes and added pink anime blush to his cheeks)

[And don’t worry, I’ll probably have enough fun for the both of us.]

[We’ll have fun tomorrow, be safe, okay?]

Reno {14:30}

[I’ll try ;) But if not, I’ll have you to take care of me.]

[Also? That picture?]

[P.E.R.F.E.C.T]

Me {18:30}

[Hope you’re safe!]

[Message me after work to let me know you’re okay!]

[image-2.jpg]

(It’s a group photo of you and your friends in silly poses)

Me {19:21}

[image-3.jpg]

(It’s a close up shot of a delicious plate of food)

[I should have brought you with me ;.;]

|You called Reno| 20:58

[Unable to leave voicemail]

December 13 - 08:21

The morning after the confrontation with AVALANCHE at the Sector 7 Pillar, one would expect the medical bay in Shinra HQ to be jam packed full of patients. There should have been a horde of doctors and nurses, running around to treat the injured infantryman and civilian survivors. But there were only two individuals in the med bay, Reno and Rude. When the plate fell, only a handful of infantryman were able to escape the chaos. Many were left behind to fend for themselves.

Despite surviving a helicopter crash and the brawl with Tifa, Barret, and Cloud, Rude only sustained a few bruises and minor bone fractures. He had been assigned bedrest after being treated by the doctors, but the weight of what he and his partner had been tasked to do twelve hours ago felt like an overwhelming burden. Needing something to keep his mind occupied, the taller of the iconic Turk duo simply engrossed himself in a novel that Elena had brought over during her visit.

On the bed beside Rude’s, Reno groaned in pain as he sat up, eyes still not open and alert as he raised a hand to press against his pounding head. “Gah, what the hell.” Reno’s face stung at the cheeks when his face scrunched up at the pain that seemed to come from every part of him. Even the act of sitting up proved too painful due to his newly broken ribs.

Rude watched his partner sink back into the sheets from his own medical bed, sunglasses on as was usual of him. He wondered how long it would take Reno to realize that it had been nearly twelve hours since they had dropped the plate. He also wondered when his sassy partner in crime would realize that he had a date this morning. Of course, Rude didn’t think you’d get angry at Reno for missing a date when he was hospitalized, but the taller of the iconic Turk pair knew that Reno would never forgive himself for skipping out on you.

While Rude watched, Reno allowed his body to collapse back into bed, an exhausted and pained groan escaping his lips as he want, arms flopping onto the bed as he fought to remember what had happened to land him in such a pitiful state.

Oh yeah…Rude and I went to Sector 7’s plate… and we fought blondie’s group of self righteous freedom fighters… and then…I blacked out. Cracking both eyes open, Reno furrowed his brows and turned his head to examine his surroundings. Med bay back at HQ… The red head swiveled in place to stare at Rude, “The mission….” He trailed off with a questioning tone.

His partner merely grunted, “We finished it and escaped.” Lacking in detail, but still straight to the point.

Sighing in relief that his work track record wouldn’t have a stain on it, Reno flopped back down, “Whooo…” The red head cheered sarcastically, pumping a fist without any energy or cheer behind it. Gah, and I promised Y/N that I’d be safe… Reno’s eyes snapped open and he bolted to a seating position with an alarmed cry, “Crap! Y/N! What time is it?” Shit, I gotta message her to let her know that I’m going to be running late! The Turk second in command thought as he pat down his person for his cell phone.

When he couldn’t find it, Reno turned to his partner, who gestured towards the bedside table. “It was damaged during our fight with AVALANCHE, but it should still be working.”

Not paying any attention to the fact that he was now bleeding through the bandages wrapped around his abdomen, Reno grinned, “Whooo boy! Partner, you’re a life saver!”

The sheer amount of relief within Reno voice made Rude stop and stare at his partner. Hmm… maybe Reno’s serious about her after all.

Meanwhile, Reno quickly unlocked his phone screen, ignoring the fact that the glass display seemed shattered beyond repair. When he pulled up the chat room that he shared with Y/N, Reno cursed, “Five missed messages and one missed call.” Quickly reading through the text messages, and smiling at how much fun you were having at the party, Reno tapped out a quick message in reply to you before listening to the voicemail that you had left.

Yesterday

Y/N {19:21}

[image-3.jpg]

(Reno’s mouth watered at the sight of the food in the picture)

[I should have brought you with me ;.;]

|Missed call from Y/N| 20:58

[Click to listen to voicemail]

Today - December 13

Me {08:43}

[Gah, sorry Y/N, I may have bit off more than I could chew yesterday.]

[I just woke up in the med bay at HQ]

[I’m going to be a little late picking you up]

[And I’m a little roughed up]

[But nothing is stopping me from taking you on our date!]

[See you in an hour?]

When Reno lifted his damaged cell phone to listen to the voicemail that you had left him, the only sound that reached his ears was an error notification that the voice recording app had failed. “I’m sorry, but the voicemail recording that you wish to listen to failed to load properly. Please quite all applications before trying again. If the problem still persists, please contact Shinra Mobile’s technical support service to resolve this issue.” The phone recording informed Reno, pleasantly.

Knowing from experience that getting through to technical support at the current hour was next to impossible, Reno merely tapped out another message.

Me {08:47}

[Hey, the voicemail that you sent to me didn’t go through.]

[What was it about?]

Satisfied with the messages that he’d sent out, Reno shifted to get out of bed, an excited grin on his lips. “Welp! Time to get going! Got a wonderful day off with a gorgeous gal!”

Sighing, Rude lowered the novel to look in his partner’s direction. “Your date with Y/N?” When Reno only gave a sassy shrug in reply, Rude shook his head, “Just remember, you’re still injured.”

“Will do, partner!” Reno saluted the older man before dashing out of the med bay, dodging the nurses swiftly as he made his way to the elevators, itching to get back to the Turk dorms to change into something that would help him blend into the slum crowds of Sector 5. On his way to his room, the red headed Turk would raise his phone to check for any new messages, lowering it in disappointment every time there was no response.

“That’s weird, normally she responds by now.” Reno mused, sending out another quick text once he’d changed into dark jeans, a red hoodie, and a dark beige trucker jacket.

Me {09:12}

[I’m on my way to your place now.]

[Are you awake?]

Around twenty minutes later, on the helicopter ride down to the Sector 5 slums, Reno furrowed his brows and bit the inside of his lip when you didn’t respond again.

Me {09:32}

[Y/N?]

[Please answer.]

[I’m on a helicopter down now]

[Message back. I’m getting worried.]

When there is still no response, Reno taps on your contact and brings the phone up to his ear, trying to call you.

“Hey, this is Y/N. I’m probably away from the phone right now, so leave a message, and I’ll call you back as soon as possible.”

Straight to voicemail.

Something wasn’t right, and Reno could feel it in his bones.

When the helicopter started to land in the Shinra barracks, Reno didn’t even wait for the helicopter to fully land before jumping out of the aerial vehicle, landing solidly before taking off in a sprint towards your apartment.

She’s not answer any of the text messages… Did she lose her phone last night? Did she accidentally break it?… Did she find out what I did yesterday? Is she ignoring me?

The worries and thoughts that raced through Reno’s mind became more and more self-depricating as he neared entered the main town area and brushed past the crowds of people gathered in the streets. I know I said it was too late to grow a conscious, but damn it, please don’t let this be the reason she decides that she doesn’t want me around.

All but flying up the metal steps to your apartment, Reno starts to bang on your front door, calling your name in the meanwhile. “Y/N!” Bang bang bang “It’s Reno!” Bang bang bang “You weren’t answering your phone. Are you ready to go?” It took another few minutes of knocking before Reno head a door open below and slow footsteps ascend the metal stairwell.

Turning and expecting to see you standing there, Reno’s shoulders visibly slumped when he came face to face with a tiny old lady. “Oh, uh. Sorry for causing a disturbance.”

“Are you looking for Y/N, young man?” The old woman inquired, tilting her head to look up at Reno through friendly old eyes.

Feeling as if he was being judged by the elderly woman, Reno stood ramrod straight and nodded, clearing his throat, “Uh, yeah. We had plans for today.”

The old woman nodded sagely, “I see, I see. Ah, to be young again. I’m sorry to disappoint you, young man, but Y/N hasn’t been home since yesterday afternoon. I think she’s still at her friend’s home.”

The first traces of alarm flashed through Reno’s head, and suddenly his Turk persona was back, “Do you happen to know where her friend lives, ma’am?”

The old woman shook her head, “I only know that dear Selene doesn’t live in Sector 5. I’m sorry, young man.”

Suddenly jittery, Reno only nods and descends the metal staircase again, “Thanks for the help. I should get going.”

Reno doesn’t hear the old woman’s reply because he’s sprinting back towards the Shinra barracks, ears ringing and vision narrowed as he contacts a friend in Shinra’s tech department for help tracking down your cell phone’s location and retrieving the voicemail you’d left him. And while his friend works on it, Reno decided to change into a clean set of his uniform, mind suddenly kicked into overdrive as he tries to recall where you said your friend’s party was.

Gah, Reno… you pay attention to everything else she says, but you can’t figure out where her friend Selene lives? Some Turk you are! Reno scolds himself as he paces back and forth in Y/N’s office, somehow trying to find comfort in familiar surroundings. Damnit, think! What has she mentioned in the past about her friends. I only remember her talking about living in Sector 7 for a whi- Reno pauses in his steps as dread begins to pool in his stomach. “No.” He doesn’t want to entertain the possibility that you had gone to a party at your childhood sector the same night that he was tasked with dropping the plate on top of hundreds. But the more that Reno thinks about it, the more likely the possibility is, and he sinks to his knees in the middle of your office, eyes wide with horror and denial. “No… I refuse to believe it. Gotta wait for-”

His phone chimes with a notification.

Pulling out his phone as fast as possible without fumbling the already hazardously damaged device, Reno unlocks the screen, only to see that a voice file had been sent to him along with tracking coordinates.

Clicking on the voicemail and tracker, Reno’s frown deepens and his face pales as he stares at the map of Sector 7 Slums with a red dot in the center of it, the sounds of your final message to him playing in the background.

No.

The voice recording loops until Reno regains his bearings, body shaking and eyes burning as his ears pick up the sounds of explosions in the background, of your sobs as you fought to leave a last message for the man who had thoughtlessly killed you, and of your fear and acceptance that you wouldn’t live past that moment. The phone slips from his hands and clatters to the floor as Reno’s fingers go slack. “No… I didn’t… Y/N…” A strangled sob escapes Reno’s lips as he raises a hand to grip onto his hair, trying to maintain his composure, “I didn’t mean to… If I’d known, I would have…” The Turk second in command paused and hunched in on himself, not caring if anyone could see him through the glass walls of your office.

M-maybe she left her phone behind when she ran? But… if she’s not there, then where would she have gone if not home?

There weren’t any excuses or any other reason he could come up with. Reno knew that. If he had known beforehand that you would be in Sector 7 Slums, he would have warned you, but you would have tried to evacuate as many people as possible from that sector, and AVALANCHE might have managed to leave, therefore ending in a failed mission. He would have done everything he could to make sure you stayed away from Sector 7, but in the end, he’d still go through with the mission.

“I killed her.” Reno sobbed in realization, biting his bottom lip so hard that he tasted copper, “Just like I killed all those people.” Shaking his head, inconsolable, Reno could only mourn quietly. “I’m just the worst. This is karma for all the shit things I did in life, isn’t it?”

Eyes dulled and slightly puffy, Reno hastily wiped at his face and sat down with his back against your desk, his phone ringing with notifications as Tseng and Rude sent him requests for ‘status’ updates. And the Turk second in command ignored his colleagues, eyes staring into nothingness as he wreaked his brain for what to do next.

I really was looking forward to the date. Reno’s thoughts trailed off, It’s sappy as hell, but I wanted to ask her to be my girlfriend. Tseng said that relationships for Turks never ended well, citing Veld as an example, but… gah! This is the worst situation for Tseng to be right!

It was only the early afternoon… maybe he could start a search party for survivors… it was probably too late, but Reno knew that he had to do something to look for you. With renewed purpose, Reno got to his feet and marched out of your office, blue eyes burning with fiery determination as he hung onto the faint hope that you might have survived.

December 13 - 12:13

You groaned in pain and shifted your body, eyes cracking open to be met with blinding industrial lights. The pain from the glaring lights startled you into closing your eyes again, turning until your body was facing away from them. For a moment, you wondered why you were laying on some sort of weird metallic floor instead of your soft bed, and then the memories of a falling sky sent your eyes flying back open as you took in your surroundings.

The floor was indeed cold and metallic because it looked as if you’d woken up in a maintenance passage. Despite most maintenance passages usually being dimly lit, the one you found yourself lying in was lit from both of the walls. The ceiling above your face had a hole in it, though it was covered with metal and concrete chunks. You assumed, as you clambered to your feet, that you’d fallen through that hole and rolled a few feet away due to the pile of rubble directly beneath the hole. Wincing slightly, you poked and prodded your person for bruises, broken bones, or fractures. Slightly satisfied with just a few small skin lesions, bruises, and maybe a fractured rib, you patted yourself down for your mobile phone, hoping to call for help. Frowning, you found that you did not have your cell phone on you, nor was it anywhere on the floor near you.

Since you hadn’t expected to live through a plate falling on top of you, you could only look on the bright side of things, turning to walk down the metal tunnel with determination set on your face. I didn’t almost die from a plate falling just to give up in an empty tunnel. Plus, a fond smile appeared on your face, I have a date waiting for me when I get back topside.

It seemed pretty simple to you. You’d falling who knows how far down, but you knew for sure that the way out was up. So the only thing to do was to keep walking until you found a passage up. Easy peasy.

December 13 - 15:35

There’s a fierce snarl on Reno’s face as he stands by several parked helicopters. All around him, emergency responders and Shinra infantrymen scrambled to load up supplies and equipment. The dark look on the normally sassy, easy-going Turk’s face seemed like a literal beacon for anyone not bearing good news to stay the away. Though, if some of the troops were to be honest, Reno had very good reason to be irate. The Turk second in command had called in an emergency rescue operation for survivors trapped among the plate wreckage nearly three and a half hours ago, and they were only just beginning to start the rescue operation.

After Tseng, the Turk commander, had authorized the mission to rescue anyone buried under the rubble, the mission had quickly been side-tracked by Shinra executives Scarlet and Heideggar. Scarlet had protested against the operation simply because of the notion that dogs living in the slums were of no use to Shinra, and therefore, the mission was a waste of resources. Heideggar, meanwhile, had agreed that while in times of disaster, Shinra’s army bore the responsibility of launching operations to rescue civilians affected, the members of AVALANCHE were widely unknown and could easily disguise themselves as regular civilians.

It took nearly two hours of careful negotiations and subtle ego inflating by Tseng and Reeve, before both executives agreed to support the relief effort. Viewing it as a strategic move to improve public opinion of the Shinra Company, President Shinra gave little to no resistance when Tseng forwarded the mission brief to be sanctioned.

Now, an hour after the mission was sanctioned, Reno felt the beginnings of a headache forming as he directed the flow of supplies to each helicopter before making sure that there were rotations of supplies and emergency responders that would journey to and from the wreckage of Sector 7 once he landed with the first round of helicopters.

When he had deemed all in good order to head out, Reno sighed and hopped into the helicopter cockpit, buckling himself in to the pilot’s seat. Plopping the headset on while he waited for the rest of the crew to load up into the helicopter, Reno busied himself with flipping switches to make sure that pre-flight and the ride down to Sector 7 would be as smooth as possible. When his co-pilot buckled himself in and gave Reno the thumbs up, the red headed Turk spoke as clearly and seriously as he could into the mic. “Alright guys and gals in all active units, hope you’re all buckled up with headsets on because I sure as hell will not be repeating this briefing.” After a brief pause, Reno continued to speak while directing the helicopter off the platform. “You all probably heard about what happened yesterday. The official reports from HQ state that AVALANCHE launched an attack to compromise Sector 7’s plate pillar. Despite all efforts directed to stop the terrorist attack, the plate still fell. Our job is to go down to the disaster zone to provide relief to all affected civilians. We will also be launching search and rescue operations for survivors.” Reno paused once more as helicopter gained enough air to safely fly out of the landing zone. “I’m gonna be real with you all. Someone important to me was in Sector 7’s Slums when the plate fell and I’m going to try my damnest to look for her. So if any of you fuck this up… not gonna lie, I’m gonna be pissed.” Nobody replied to Reno’s admittance… not that he really expected much of a reply after he dropped that bomb on them. Having enough of the silence, Reno exhaled, “Alright… good talk.”

December 13 - 16:03

It wasn’t easy peasy. Definitely fucking not.

The chrome walkways and exposed piping-lined maintenance passage that you had fallen into hadn’t been a simple few meters under the surface as you thought. No. It’s was more like several meters down with a layer of minor blocked off passageways right above. And, as if that weren’t terrible already? The maze of pathways that made up the layer above seemed to take joy in bringing you up a level, just to drop you back down a level because some asshole decided to seal off the passages at various points.

Your eye twitched in annoyance when you walked down a metal walkway only to be face to face with another fenced off passage lined with reinforced plating. To your surprise, you could see a man stumble around the corner of the opposite side. When you saw one another, your eyes widened. “Holy shit!” The man gasped, stumbling forward with a noticeable limp and sliced up arm. “I didn’t think there’d be another person down here!”

“This place is like a maze, so I’m not surprised that any survivors had yet to meet up. A-are… are you okay?” The blood leaking from the deep scratches in his left arm seemed to ooze a poisonous purple color.

The stranger bit his bottom lip as he hastily hid his injury, “Yeah… I’ll be fine. Listen, girl, you should watch out while down here. I think the rumors about the underground lab were true after all. There are monsters running around everywhere.” Your expression must have been one of utter dismay and despair because the man coughed and reached into his pocket to roll two materia under the fence. “Uh. Shit. Well, it looks like you could use these then. It’s a Cura and a Fira. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Anyways, I hope you make it out of here, girl. I gotta keep looking for other AVALANCHE survivors.”

When the man made to jog away, you called out to him, “Wait! You said that you’re looking for AVALANCHE members? Are you one of them? Do you know what happened?” You pressed yourself against the fence in order to see the stranger from around the corner.

The stranger turned around to stare at you with a grim expression. “Whatever you’re thinking, AVALANCHE didn’t cause this, okay? We were framed by Shinra.” At your confused expression, the man scoffed, “C’mon, you really think that Shinra was going to let civilians protest and riot against them? They couldn’t figure out who was a member and who wasn’t, so they figured they’d drop the entire plate on top of us to get rid of us all.”

“But that’s such a drastic move!” You protested, wanting to believe that your employers wouldn’t have such blatant disregard for human life. “They wouldn’t just sacrifice thousands to eliminate AVALANCHE!”

“Believe what you want, girl. But the reality is that my friends and I all went to the pillar to stop Shinra from dropping the plate, and it dropped anyways because two Turks were sent to finish the job.” The stranger didn’t allow you to retort as he limped away. Not that you would have responded anyways with how the stranger had said that two Turks had arrived to help ensure that the Sector 7 plate dropped.

Pulling away from the fence, you knelt down to pick up the two orbs of materia, the color of your skin taking on a sickly pale pallor. Two Turks were sent to the pillar to drop the plate on top of all of us. Your mind instantly supplied the first Turk pair that you could think of and you felt like you were going to dry heave. I don’t know Rude too well, but from what I know, he and Reno wouldn’t do something so horrendous. Surely, there must have been another pair of Turks who were sent to do it. But you did work in a different department as them, how did you know that there were more members of the Turks? And with Reno’s position within the group… He could have known what was happening…

You told Reno that you would be hanging out with your best friend… that you guys were having a party. He’s smart enough to deduce that your friends still lived in Sector 7… Did he forget? Or… Your stomach churned violently as you sank to your knees on the cold metal walkway. Did Reno just decide he didn’t care if I survived or not?

The edge of your vision burned with tears threatening to spill down your cheeks. A simple blink sent them trailing down your cheeks as you stood upon shaky legs. “Can’t worry about that now.” You muttered, eyes filled with determination as you gathered the excess fabric of your dress to gird up your loins. “I need to find a way out of here. The tunnels might not be able to hold for long.”

Lifting your arm, you pressed one of the materia into your forearm, like you’d seen a few SOLDIERs do before, marveling at how the orb of power sank into the flesh of your arm. Smiling at how seamless it was to merge flesh with Materia, you pressed the other faintly glowing orb into your other forearm, concentrating for a bit before casting Cura upon yourself.

Newly rejuvenated, you back tracked through the metal corridor to find the ladder leading down. “Welp, there’s no time like the present,” you mumbled to yourself as you descended further into the tunnels below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#shian imagines #final fantasy vii #Final Fantasy 7 #ffvii #ffviir #final fantasy vii remake #ffvii:remake #reno #reno x reader #final fantasy vii reno

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inkykeiji · 3 years

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Yeah, why not? Giraffes are cute. They tall as well and can be cute. I was inspired by a picture on the internet as well. Birdy has a new camera and wants take picture of his friend the giraf. It was too cute.

I like my men tall, so I always imagine them tall. No matter how short they are in canon. Lol. I even created my universe/race in my own writings.

I was bullied for my height in elementary school. So, I get that feeling. My little one is also very tall for his age(nearly 8). Fortunately he they don't bully him.

What are you to me? 🤣Usually I am not this talkative -🦒

hello my sweet giraffe!!!!!! i put my response under a cut because it got a lil long hehehe <3

hehehe of course they’re cute!! just because they’re tall doesn’t mean they can’t be cute!!!! (´∀｀)♡ hehehe <3 tall animals and people are just as cute as short/small animals and people, who are just as cute as medium animals and average height people! trust me, i have a degree in cutenesss 🤓

that sounds adorable!! my best friend’s favourite animal is a giraffe so i always think of her when i see them <3 i really do love their noses so much tho aaah they’re so precious 🥺🥺

exactly!!! i love that!!! i love that so much!!! and that’s truly the beauty of fiction, right? we get to write, create, and interpret them however we’d like to!!! it’s entirely up to us <3

oh i’m sorry to hear you went through that too :( it really sucks!!! i feel like people don’t realize just how detrimental that type of teasing can be??? like after being made fun of for so long and at such a crucial age it really did have a huge impact on my self esteem and confidence! i’m super glad to hear your lil guy hasn’t had to go through it, tho <33 i hope he never does!!!

I DUNNO hehehe but i’m glad you are!!! i’ve been told quite a few times that i have ‘big sister’ energy—not in an age sense, but more in the sense that i’m easy to talk to and to open up to??? idk hehehe but IM VERY GLAD and very flattered!!!! ♡(˃͈ દ ˂͈ ༶ ) i hope your weekend went well!! <3

#this is queued #YAY WELCOME TO THE ANON CLUB WOOOO 🥳🥳#absolutely no pressure to interact okay? you send messages whenever you feel comfortable #but YES please have a wonderful day!!!!#sending tons of love and health your way <333 #take care and stay safe!!!#🦒.anon #clari gets mail

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alarawriting · 4 years

Text

52 Project #18: Thirteen

NOTES IN ALL CAPS: THIS STORY HAS TRIGGER WARNINGS AND THE WARNINGS MAY THEMSELVES BE TRIGGERING SO HERE IS A PICTURE OF AN ALBINO KIWI:

OK, now for the trigger warnings:

This story contains references to the incestuous rape of a child, an attempted rape of a child, underage prostitution, child abuse aside from the sexual abuse, discussion of racism, drug abuse, and multiple murders. If any of this triggers you, DO NOT READ THIS STORY.

For those attempting to decide whether these triggers are deal-breakers or not, a brief synopsis: A thirteen-year-old abuse victim suddenly develops superpowers. Unfortunately the first one she gets is death touch. By the end of the story she is able to use her powers to heal as well, but this does not stop her from being an asshole.

***

Meg Santoro wanders aimlessly through the Brooklyn streets. The sun is coming up, and she’s tired and cold, her feet aching and her stomach growling. She has no idea where she’s going to get food, or a place to sleep. Home is not an option. Home no longer exists.

Earlier in the night she turned up her nose at a bag of McDonalds she saw sticking out of a trash can. Now she’s hungry enough to fish trash out of cans and eat it, except that the garbagemen have already come around and the city trash cans are empty. She sits down on a park bench to rest her feet, and her eyes flutter closed in her exhaustion. But when they close all the way, she sees the earlier events of the night spooling out in front of her. Her eyes snap open, trying to stop seeing, trying to stop remembering, but she’s too tired to keep walking and when she stops, the memories come back.

Tears well up in her eyes. I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…

It’s all her fault. She shouldn’t have said no. She shouldn’t have made a fuss. If Mom hadn’t heard, none of it would have happened.

She doesn’t want to remember, but she can’t stop.

***

Dad wanted to do it with her again, but things were different since last week. Her thirteenth birthday was two months ago, and she just got her first period four days ago. In health class they took all the girls aside back in September and taught them about sex and babies and the important thing was that after you get your period, if you do it with a guy you could get pregnant. Dad didn’t want to do it with her while she was having her period, but now it was over and he wanted to do it again.

Meg didn’t like doing it with Dad. He first started asking her to do it when she was nine, and it hurt most of the time, and she’d never liked it. It made her feel dirty, and embarrassed, and even when parts of it felt good she felt bad about that too, because if she liked it that made her a gross person. As she got older she heard girls older than her in the locker rooms and bathrooms talking about girls who were sluts, and she knew that meant her because she wasn’t a virgin. But she couldn’t say no to Dad. He said she would do it if she loved him, and she did love him, because he was her Daddy and he loved her and he praised her and he took care of her. She’d do anything for him.

Now, though, she’d been sure that Dad wouldn’t want her to get pregnant, and she’d finally had a reason to say no. But Dad didn’t want to hear no. He cajoled her and flattered her and promised to get her birth control pills and told her it would be okay, and he lied and said she couldn’t get pregnant so soon after her first period, and she said she knew that was wrong, and he said her teachers just told kids scare stories because they were afraid of children enjoying themselves, and the whole time he was maneuvering her onto the bed and taking her clothes off and she couldn’t make him understand that she really meant it this time, that she had to say no. And she started to try to push him away, but he was bigger than her and he could pin her down easily and he said, you don’t really want to hurt me, do you Meg? This could get ugly, you don’t want things to get ugly, do you? And she didn’t, but she wanted him to stop because she didn’t want to get pregnant, and she was afraid and she felt betrayed because this time she had a really good reason to say no and he still wasn’t listening, and she started to cry.

And Mom heard her.

Meg had never tried to tell Mom what was happening. Dad had said that Mom would tell the police and then they would take Dad away and send him to jail and make her live with Mom, and that would be horrible. Dad only hurt her when he wanted to do it with her. Mom was mean all the time, always shouting at her or being sarcastic or cutting or cruel, and Mom used to spank her all the time even for things she really didn’t do, and nowadays Mom was always calling her names, saying she thought too much of herself and she was stuck-up and she was stupid and she was fat, and she hated the idea of being alone with Mom. And in the true life stories she had read about girls who were in the same position she was, a lot of the time their mothers blamed them for their fathers wanting to do it, and sometimes called them sluts and threw them out of the house. So she’d never wanted to tell Mom anything about it.

But Mom heard her crying, and came upstairs and threw open the door, and she saw.

Mom screamed, and dragged Dad off her by his hair, and hit him. And she kept saying, “You bastard! You filthy bastard! How could you do that to your own daughter!” And Dad kept saying it was okay because Meg wanted it, she’d asked for it, and Mom was screaming that a little girl couldn’t ask for it, Dad was a filthy child molester, how dare he try to blame Meg for his perversions, and for the first time since she was four or five Meg felt like her mother actually loved her. Mom was defending her, telling Dad how wrong it was for him to have done it with Meg and that it wasn’t her fault and she was just a little girl and it was all Dad’s fault, and it was what she’d wanted all her life to hear from her mother, that it wasn’t her fault, that she was a good girl. That Mom loved her and would protect her. And then Mom said she’d call the police. And Dad said, don’t call the police, Stacy, please. And Mom said no, Richie, you’re a fucking child molester and I’m calling the police.

And they were arguing. And Meg tried to say no, Mom, don’t call the police, it was my fault, and Mom cried and said it’s not your fault Meggie, it’s not your fault, never listen to a man when he makes you do something and then he says it’s your fault, you’re just a little girl, it’s not your fault, your father’s an evil man and I’m going to call the police. And Dad said it would ruin all their lives if she called the police, and he was shouting and he was obviously angry and afraid. And he said don’t touch that phone or I will hit you. And she said I’m calling the police and if you hit me that’s one more thing they can arrest you for. And then she reached for the phone in the hallway at the top of the stairs, and he hit her and she fell down the stairs and her head was lying at a weird angle and she wouldn’t move even when Dad called Stacy? Stacy? and Meg yelled Mom, Mom!

Dad got down the stairs first and was cradling Mom’s head in his lap and he was moving it in ways heads should not move and he was saying it was an accident, Meg, you saw it was an accident, right? I didn’t mean to throw her down the stairs, I didn’t mean to kill her. And he couldn’t have said kill her because that would have meant Mom was dead and she just was defending Meg for the first time ever, ever in her memory, first time Meg knew Mom loved her ever, and she couldn’t be dead but she was dead because Dad had killed her because he wanted to do it with Meg bad enough to kill Mom and Meg screamed. She threw herself at him, screaming that she hated him and she wished he would die too.

And something came up inside her, some power to wrench and twist, something responding to her desire for her father to die. She was so angry that she reached inside him and she twisted something with hands that didn’t exist, hands she’d never known she had, she went right inside him and wrenched, and then his eyes rolled back in his head and when she touched him she heard a song like an orchestra playing music and she twisted that thing because she was mad and now he sounded like a music box winding down, like a broken calliope, like a 45 played at 33 rpm on a turntable g o i n g s l o w e r and then it stopped and there was no more music. No music in Mom. No music in Dad. He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. His eyes were open and there was blood trickling out his mouth and nose and he didn’t answer her.

She broke him. With the invisible hands she broke him. She wanted him dead and she reached inside him and she didn’t even know she could do that so she didn’t know that she shouldn’t and she wasn’t even thinking and she was just angry and she broke him. And now her daddy was dead. Mom was dead and Dad was dead and Dad killed Mom and Meg killed Dad and it was all too much for her. Meg screamed, and sobbed, and pleaded with God to roll back time, let none of this be happening, let it be a bad dream, please God, let me wake up and none of this is real.

God didn’t listen. Mom and Dad were still dead.

She didn’t know where to go, what to do. She didn’t want the police to put her in jail for killing Dad. It was an accident, she didn’t mean to, she hadn’t known she could even do that. She had to get away. Meg went back upstairs and put her clothes back on and her jacket and then she ran out the door of the rowhome, out into dark city streets and the bright spots of streetlamps, no idea where she was going but she couldn’t stay here, she couldn’t come back here ever again.

***

Meg sits on the park bench and cries brokenly. She wants her Daddy. She wants Mom. She’s thirteen years old and she knows she’ll never have them again, they’ll never take care of her again, never feed her dinner, never pet her hair. The things they did that she hated, the pain between her legs when Dad did it with her and the sting she felt when Mom screamed insults at her, she doesn’t think of those things now. She thinks of the things they did for her, the ways they cared for her, the trips to the museum and Dad telling her what a special smart girl she was and Mom making dinner and then pie or cannolis for dessert and Dad’s hugs and Mom defending her finally, and she cries.

A man sits down next to her. He’s old but not super old, like maybe in his 30’s or something. A white guy, brown hair, wearing jeans, a plain blue t-shirt and a black windbreaker with white piping. “Hey, smile, kid. It can’t be all bad.”

She looks over at him dully. “It is that bad,” she retorts. “It really is that bad.”

“Oh, that’s got to be rough then,” he says. “You running away from home?”

“Yes,” she says, because it’s sort of true, although the thing she’s running away from is more like the broken corpse of home, because Mom and Dad are dead and there will be no home anymore ever.

“Got someone to stay with?”

She shakes her head mutely. She has friends, but she can’t go to any of their houses. Not for something like this.

“Well, I tell you what,” he says. “I got a few other runaways staying at my place. I could take you in for a while, help you get a job so you can take care of yourself. How’s that?”

A job? She’s in junior high. What kind of a job could she get? But she needs one, she realizes, because she needs money. “Sure,” she says uncertainly.

“Come on. I’ll buy you some McDonald’s for breakfast and take you home, let you take a shower and get a nap. I bet you haven’t slept all night. Bet you haven’t eaten much either.”

She shakes her head mutely, because it’s true. She hasn’t slept at all, and she hasn’t eaten since dinner last night.

“I’m Rodney. What’s your name, kid?”

“Meg,” she whispers, but she doesn’t want to give her last name, because she doesn’t want anyone to find her. “My name is Meg.”

***

Rodney gets her hotcakes and sausage and scrambled eggs at McDonald’s, and she has two helpings. Rodney laughs. “Whoa! Slow down, kiddo, food will still be there later!”

Except she doesn’t know that anymore. She doesn’t know why Rodney is being nice to her, so she doesn’t know if it might spontaneously stop. “I used to be a gymnast,” she tells him, apropos of nothing. “I was really good at it. My coach thought maybe I could go to the Olympics.”

“The Olympics? The ones last year?”

Meg stuffs eggs into her face and talks with her mouth full. “Gymnastics, yeah. I could have been there instead of Mary Lou Retton.”

“I’m sure you could have,” Rodney says. “You look really fit. Really good shape.”

She could not have. It was never an option; her coach had thought she was good enough, but Mom made it clear that she was never going to be allowed to compete in gymnastics, saying she was too stupid to be able to keep her grades up and train. Spitefully, Meg had trained anyway, at school, and kept her grades up, because she was a lot smarter than Mom ever acknowledged –

(--but now Mom was dead--)

“I work out a lot,” Meg says proudly, yanking her mind away from where it was about to go.

“You look good,” Rodney says. “Really cute.”

Meg stiffens, because that sounds like the kind of thing Dad might say (have said), but probably Rodney is just being nice. He seems like a nice man. Who but a nice man would buy a runaway some breakfast and offer her a place to crash?

After breakfast, Rodney takes her to his house, in a car. Meg’s a child of Brooklyn; she hardly ever gets in a car, and she doesn’t like it. The streets, so clear and easy to track on foot, become so confusing when she’s in a car, and she can’t keep track of where she is.

His place is a brownstone townhouse, a big, fancy one. Meg whistles. “You have a nice-looking house.”

“Thanks,” Rodney says, unlocking four locks before he can open the door, but that’s normal in the city. Crime’s everywhere.

There’s two girls inside, both of them older than Meg. One’s white, with a spray-stiffened feathered haircut, and one’s black, with hair in cornrows and shining beads on the ends of her locks. They’re both wearing a lot of makeup. One’s smoking, and the house smells like booze, tobacco and weed. Meg knows what weed smells like because she got sent to the high school once for a week for special gifted science classes, before Mom found about it and said she couldn’t go, and the kids at the high school used to smoke and drink behind the dumpsters in the parking lot, and one of them offered her some weed one time, but she smoked it and nothing happened at all. It just smelled bad.

“Girls, this is Meg,” Rodney said expansively. “She’s gonna be joining us here.”

The white girl’s eyes narrow. “What, we’re not enough for you?” she snaps. “You need another girl?”

“Honey. Jessamyn. I’m just looking out for you,” Rodney says. “I don’t wanna make you work too hard, but we all like having money, right? So I’m just getting you some help.”

Meg doesn’t really understand what he’s talking about. Does he mean her? She’s thirteen, she can’t get a job. She looked at that once when she was actually thinking about running away. She can’t get working papers and a job until she’s fourteen. “I’m thirteen,” she says again.

The black girl scowls. “Rodney, damn it. That’s disgusting.”

Meg scowls back. That black girl doesn’t know her. How dare she call Meg disgusting?

“She’s a runaway, Rhonda,” Rodney says, sounding patient. “She’s got nowhere else to go now. What’s she going to do, starve on the street?”

Rhonda sighs ostentatiously. “You do what you want. You know I can’t stop you,” she says.

“That’s right, you can’t,” Rodney says. “Better remember it.”

He takes Meg up the stairs. “Here’s your room,” he says, “and here’s the bathroom. You can take a shower. I’ll get you a nightgown.”

“There’s no shower curtain,” Meg objects.

“Oh, yeah, but you can lock the door. No one’s going to come in and see you. It’s fine.”

Meg does really want a shower. Though she doesn’t like the smell of the soap, or the shampoo – they’re full of nasty-smelling perfumy chemicals. After Rodney brings her a nightgown – no underwear, he apologizes that he hasn’t got any clean ones in her size, smiling weirdly at her – she locks the bathroom door and searches the bathroom for a different soap or shampoo.

She doesn’t find any worth using – the alternate soaps and shampoo smell just as bad, except with the kind of chemicals men like to put on instead of the ones women do. She does discover that there’s a second door out of the bathroom, that it’s facing the shower directly, and that there’s a peephole in it. Gross. Who would put a peephole in a bathroom? Especially when there’s no shower curtain? Meg smears the stinky soap all over the peephole, obscuring it.

It’s weird. The soap has a smell, but the smell has a feel. Not the feel of the soap. It just feels like soap. The smell in the soap is different from the soap itself and she can feel it when she touches the soap. It feels… sharp. But not in a way where it’s sharp on her skin. It’s sharp… inside her, somehow. Or her insides are touching it inside the soap.

She snaps off the sharp parts. She doesn’t know how she’s doing this. The same way she made the song inside Dad slow down and stop, the same way she broke him inside. But she snaps off the sharp parts and squeezes the rest until it all breaks, and then the soap doesn’t smell like anything but soap.

In the shower, she does the same thing to the shampoo she puts on her hair, and the conditioner. If she can’t make them smell nice, at least she can just make them smell soapy, not perfumey. Meg doesn’t like perfume. It smells sharp, like it’s going to cut the inside of her nose. It used to make it hard to breathe, too, and that was bad because her English teacher wore way too much of it, but she must have gotten used to it because she doesn’t feel like she can’t breathe around Mrs. Sommer anymore.

Not that she’s ever going to see or smell Mrs. Sommer again.

She dries off and puts on the nightgown. No underpants. She doesn’t like not wearing underpants but she doesn’t like the way the ones she has smell or feel. They’re crusty and yucky. They always get that way when Dad—

--she doesn’t finish that thought.

Meg’s very, very tired. She climbs into the bed, and despite the fact that this is a strange place and it’s kind of weird and the smoke smell is kind of gross, she falls asleep very quickly.

***

She wakes up with a weight on her and the overwhelming smell of man-chemicals. Like cologne or aftershave or the other nasty things men put on. “Wha—”

“Hey, baby girl,” Rodney says. “Just relax. You’re gonna like this.”

This sounds so much like something Dad might say. Meg goes completely rigid. “I don’t – I don’t want you on me. I’m trying to sleep.”

“Don’t be like that, honey,” Rodney says. He’s pulling down the blankets. She tries to pull them back up, but he’s stronger. “You can go back to sleep later if you really want to. But I gave you food and a place to sleep, didn’t I? I was nice to you. Don’t you wanna be nice to me?”

That sounds exactly like the kind of thing Dad would say. “No!” Meg squirms, trying to get out from under Rodney, but his body is pressing her down against the bed. “Get off me!” She’s hyperventilating. “You’re not my dad and I don’t love you!”

“Babe, you don’t need to love me,” Rodney says, chuckling. “You just need to be warm and soft and wet, and I’ll bet you’ve already got that covered.” His hand slips under her nightgown, where she’s not wearing underpants, and runs up her leg. Toward the place Dad used to touch her, the place where he would do it with her, and Meg screams in rage and fear. Because it’s so unfair, she thought Rodney was nice, she thought he was going to take care of her, but all he wants is the same thing Dad wanted, and he’s not her Dad. She doesn’t love him. She doesn’t have to care about hurting his feelings if she says no.

“I said get off me!” Meg snarls, and digs her nails into Rodney’s hand so he can’t keep stroking it up her leg.

Rodney yelps. “You little fucking bitch!” he says, and slaps her in the face, hard.

Meg sees red. She shoves her hands against Rodney’s chest and she can feel his shirt, she can feel it like it’s a road she can travel to get to his skin and then inside him, and she can hear the orchestra, playing a different tune than it was playing inside Dad but it’s the same kind, she recognizes it, and she makes it stop, she makes it slow dooooown. Rodney’s eyes bulge. He gasps, and pushes himself off her, his hands against his chest.

“Help!” he shouts, gasping. “Jessie! Rho-Rho! Help me!”

Meg climbs out of the bed, wide awake now. Her nightgown falls back down, covering her. “That’s what you deserve,” she snarls at him. “That’s what everyone who tries to do something to me if I don’t want it is gonna get.”

He’s turning blue, literally. She always thought that was a metaphor, but no. His lips are blue, his tongue is blue. He’s panting and gasping but it’s obvious he can’t get enough air.

Because she made something stop inside his lungs, she realizes. Whatever she did to Dad, it happened so fast and then he was gone and all the music stopped. But when she puts her hand on Rodney’s shoulder as he kneels, struggling for air, she can hear the music still slowing down and the part that’s broken is the part where his lungs should be bringing in air but she can feel them, they’re all crumpled up, the air is trying to inflate them like a balloon but they won’t straighten out and inflate, and she did that. She crushed his lungs, and now he’s dying.

Meg laughs savagely. “Yeah. Try to breathe. Go on, just try.” She kicks him. “I thought you were nice, but you’re even worse than Dad, and I – and I killed Dad.”

The white girl kicks the door open. She’s holding a gun. “Freeze!” she yells, but her voice is shaking. “Oh, God! Rodney!”

Rodney’s breath rattles a final time, and he falls onto the floor, limp. “Rhonda! Call 911!” Jessamyn yells, still pointing the gun at Meg.

“What’s going on?” Rhonda yells from downstairs, and Meg hears her running up the stairs.

“What did you do?” Jessamyn screams at Meg.

“He tried –” She can’t say it. She’s never been able to say it. “He did something I didn’t like, and he wouldn’t stop.” She kicks his body again. “I said no.”

“What the fuck! You bitch, you killed him just because he wanted to fuck you? You’re supposed to let guys fuck you if they do something nice for you!” Meg is fairly sure that this is not true. She doesn’t have time to say so. “You fucking bitch!” Jessamyn screams, and fires the gun.

The pain tearing through her chest and abdomen enrages her, and without any conscious awareness of what she’s doing, she knits torn flesh back together, healing herself, even as she leaps at Jessamyn. The older girl barely has time to scream before Meg is on her, making the symphony of her life slow and stop in a jangled mess of missed notes, disharmonious and desynchronized.

Rhonda’s there, standing in the doorway. Meg doesn’t know how long she’s been there. “Is she dead?” Rhonda asks, her voice more calm and even than it probably has any right to be, given that Meg has just killed two people. “Am I next?”

“Not if you don’t mess with me,” Meg says, and then it occurs to her that if she wants to sound tough, she needs to use stronger language. “Don’t fuck with me,” she says, tasting the harshness of a word good little A-student Margaret Santoro has never before said, “and you’ll be fine.”

“You healed yourself,” Rhonda says, still even and calm. “And you killed Rodney and Jessamyn. Can you heal them, too? Can you bring them back?”

“Why should I? Rodney tried to-“ She should be able to say it. She’s a killer. She’s murdered three people, she should be a badass. But she’s not tough enough, yet, to say what Rodney tried to do. She’s too used to never using the words to say what Dad used to do. “And Jessamyn just shot me.”

“No one’s gonna cry for Rodney,” Rhonda agrees. “But Jessamyn just got scared. She thought Rodney loved her, you know. Do you have the ability to save her, or do you just kill people?”

What if she does? She healed herself. What if she can make the symphony start up again? Can she fix what she’s broken? She touches Jessamyn again, and easily identifies what it was she broke. She doesn’t know the words to describe it, but she can feel it, and she can perceive how to put it back together again.

The music starts up again, the orchestra playing the symphony of Jessamyn’s life, slow at first and then gathering strength, gathering rhythm. The young woman’s eyes flutter open, and Meg feels a keen sense of power and triumph. “Don’t fuck with me,” she says again, as the girl’s eyes go wide. She’s liking that phrase more every time she says it. “I just killed you and brought you back to life. You try shooting me again or anything, and I’ll kill you for good. Capisce?”

“Yeah,” Jessamyn says hoarsely, eyes huge, with the whites showing around the edges.

“Good, then we get each other.” She stands up. “Get me something to eat. I’m hungry.”

While she’s waiting for her food, she puts her clothes back on. They’re dirty, but she hasn’t got anything else, yet. She leaves Rodney’s body in place as she heads down the stairs to the kitchen.

Only when she’s eating the sandwich Rhonda brings her does it occur to her. If she brought Jessamyn back, maybe she could have brought back Mom and Dad. Maybe she still can.

She finishes choking down the sandwich quickly. “I’m going out. Gimme bus fare,” she demands of Jessamyn, who shrinks away.

“I ain’t got any money,” Jessamyn whimpers.

“Rodney never let us have our own cash,” Rhonda says. “But I know where his lockbox is. Gimme a sec.”

She comes back with eleven dollars in singles. Meg says, “Thanks,” without thinking, because she was taught to be polite. A badass killer shouldn’t be thanking people for obeying her orders. She scowls at Rhonda. “I’ll be back,” she says, pocketing the money, and heads out.

She doesn’t know where she is, exactly – Rodney brought her here in a car. But she’s in the city, and she knows how to find her way. Orient to the nearest street corner. Find a bus stop. Read the bus map, find a subway station, ride the bus there, read the subway map. Between the bus and the subway she’s back home in an hour and a half.

There’s police all over her apartment building. And yellow tape. And all the police have guns. What if they know she’s the one who killed Dad? What if they think she killed Mom, too? Jessamyn’s bullets hurt like hell, but there were only two of them. Can she really heal herself if she gets shot by a lot of cops? What if they shoot her in the head? And then she sees an ambulance pulling out from the front of the building, no siren on. If Mom and Dad’s bodies are aboard that ambulance, she’s missed her chance. She knows dead bodies get locked up in drawers in hospital morgues. She can’t do anything, now.

Meg runs three, four blocks before she can’t run anymore because she’s crying too hard. She knows, now, that she has the power to undo what she does, when she kills. She could have fixed Dad. And she healed herself from gunshot wounds. Maybe she could have healed Mom, too. But it’s too late. She’s found out too late. Her parents are dead and she can’t fix it anymore.

***

She returns to the apartment a few hours later, having wandered around in a park crying for half an hour and then spending the rest of the time trying to retrace her route back. “Yo, bitches,” Meg says, because that’s what badass people say. “There any dinner yet?”

Rhonda isn’t there. Jessamyn trembles. “Rodney always ordered food,” she whimpers. “I don’t know how to order food. I was waiting until Rhonda gets back.”

“Where’d she go?”

Despite her obvious fear, Jessamyn manages to pull a disbelieving look. “You that naïve? Did Rodney even tell you what we do here?”

“He said you were runaways, that was all.”

Jessamyn rolls her eyes. “We’re whores,” she says. “Rhonda’s out on the street or fucking some guy for money. She said I could stay home tonight because of – because of what you did.”

Meg sneers at her. “What? Does it still hurt where I brought you back to life?”

“You fucking killed me!” Jessamyn gets off the sofa and backs away from Meg.

“Yeah, well, you shot me.”

“Because you killed Rodney!”

Meg musters up everything she has to be able to say the words without choking. “Rodney was gonna rape me.”

“You’re supposed to let them fuck you if they take care of you and give you food and shit! That’s not rape! That’s what you’re supposed to do!”

Meg lunges at Jessamyn. Despite being significantly shorter than the older girl, Meg slams her into a wall and pins her, because when she feels Jessamyn’s muscles inside starting to move, like maybe she wants to fight Meg, Meg just makes them stop doing that. Jessamyn’s eyes are wide, and she’s whimpering. “You listen up, bitch,” Meg says. Bad words make her feel so powerful. Why did she go her whole childhood being a good little girl and never using them? “My dad used to fuck me, and I let him do it because he was my dad, and I loved him.” And because he wouldn’t take no for an answer. But Meg wasn’t going to mention that. “But then my mom caught him at it, and now they’re both dead. You think I’m gonna fuck some total stranger just because he gave me McDonalds’ and a place to sleep? My dad gave me everything.” And she took it all from him, she made him stop and she’ll never be able to fix it even though it turns out she can fix it when she kills people and if she had known – no. No. She has to stop thinking about this. She can’t cry in front of Jessamyn. “Any man who thinks I’m a whore and I’ll fuck him just because he gives me stuff, I’ll kill him. Rodney or anybody else.”

“Please don’t kill me,” Jessamyn whimpers.

Meg lets her go. “I told you. Don’t fuck with me, and you’ll be fine.”

There’s milk in the refrigerator and cereal in the pantry. Cheerios. They suck, but they’re food. Meg loads them up with sugar to the point where her milk is almost a sugar sludge and gulps them down. Then she finds the lunchmeat Rhonda used to make her a sandwich, and she makes one for herself. The tomatoes in the fridge are sad and pathetic, and there’s no lettuce or spinach or anything green, but there’s ham and turkey and bologna. No cheese worth eating, only American, which in Meg’s opinion is not a cheese. She loads up a sandwich with some of every lunchmeat, and eats that. Then she moves on to the canned food, and makes herself a can of Chef Boyardee Ravioli. It’s hardly worthy of even calling ravioli – Meg’s Italian, she knows what good ravioli tastes like – but her stomach feels like a bottomless pit. She’d even eat the American cheese at this point if she had to.

“Your food sucks, you know that?” she says to Jessamyn.

“Well, excuse the fuck out of me, I never did the shopping,” Jessamyn snaps. “That was Rodney, who is still dead by the way, and upstairs, and what are we gonna do about that? If we call the cops they’ll arrest all of us. They’re not gonna believe some little kid did it.”

“I’m not a little kid,” Meg says. “I’m thirteen.”

“Oooh, you’re such a big girl,” Jessamyn mocks her. “I’m sixteen. You’re a little kid.”

“I’m a kid who can kill you by touching you and then bring you back to life. How about you stop calling me a little kid?” Meg grabs a Chinese menu off the fridge. “Find the menu for a pizza place, and find some cash.”

“I told you! I don’t get to keep any of the cash!”

“You didn’t look when Rhonda went to the lockbox to get some?”

“No!”

“You’re a moron,” Meg says. “I’m not gonna starve because you can’t find Rodney’s money. I bet he’s got a wallet.” She goes back upstairs. Funny, she’s read that bodies get stiff when they die, but Rodney is still as flexible as a living person. And he does in fact have a wallet, and it does in fact have money in it, lots of money. Meg takes the money. She’s a badass killer. She’s in charge now.

She demands that Jessamyn order pizza, while she writes a grocery list on the back of the Chinese menu. Meg knows how to cook eggs, grilled cheese, French toast, and spaghetti. That’s about the extent of her cooking expertise. She puts the supplies she’ll need for those things on the list.

“Are you even listening?” Jessamyn whines at her, after calling for pizza. “We can’t just leave Rodney dead upstairs! Someone’s gonna come around to find out what happened to him! And he’s gonna start stinking!”

“I’ll figure something out,” Meg, who has no idea how to dispose of a body, says.

***

Rhonda gets back in while they’re eating the pizza. Her eyebrows go up. “I hope you saved some of that shit for me,” she says.

“Of course we did,” Jessamyn says. “I wouldn’t order a pizza without getting enough for you.”

“You wouldn’t order a pizza at all,” Meg says with her mouth full. She finishes swallowing. “I had to find the money and then make you do it.”

“Well, I’m glad you both got a pizza ordered, because I’m starving.” Rhonda takes two slices of the Supreme pie and one of the pepperoni. “What’d Rodney say your name was? Meg, I think?”

“Yeah.”

“You got anyplace else to stay? Relatives you can go to? You don’t want to get involved in the business. You’re way too young.”

Meg scowls. “I don’t want to be a prostitute, if that’s what you’re saying. If you guys want to, then fine. You can give me part of your money and I can kill anyone who tries to hurt you or doesn’t want to pay you.” She’s pretty unclear on exactly how prostitution works, but she knows it’s having sex for money, and she knows that having sex can hurt if the guy’s not careful. She’s looking forward to killing guys who aren’t careful.

“Uh, yeah, no, that’s not how this is gonna work,” Rhonda says. “Rodney’s boss is named Mike. He’s gonna come by tomorrow or send someone over, and they’re gonna expect to see Rodney and they’re going to be pissed that he’s dead. And if we tell them you did it, they’ll shoot you.”

“And then I’ll kill them,” Meg declares.

“Maybe, but I dunno. Can you heal up a head shot like you did when Jessie got you in the chest?”

It occurs to Meg that she doesn’t know the answer to this, and she doesn’t want to find out, in case the answer is ‘no.’ “I could just kill them first, before they can get their guns out.”

“You can’t just keep killing people, girl!” Rhonda shakes her head. “I ain’t gonna cry for Rodney. He was a motherfucker and he got what was coming to him.”

“Rhonda!” Jessamyn sounds horrified.

“Sorry, but it’s the truth. He tried to fuck a thirteen year old girl who didn’t know jack shit. No offense to you, Meg, but you didn’t know Rodney was gonna fuck you and make you turn tricks, did you?”

“No,” Meg says, the reality of it hitting her. It sobers her, what would have happened if that power hadn’t come up inside her and made Rodney stop the way it made Dad stop. On the other hand she wouldn’t be in this situation without that power.

“And I was fourteen when he got me. Fucking pedophile. But he’s gotta be the last one, okay? Mike, he’s like, Mafia or something. He got pimps answering to him and they give him most of their money and he gives them drugs. And Jessie and I need those drugs. I’m hooked on smack, girl, you know what happens when I run out of it? So we gotta play nice with Mike.”

‘Just say no to drugs’ had been most of Meg’s education when it came to drugs. She knew smack was heroin and that it was very very very bad. “Why don’t you quit it? It’s gonna kill you one of these days if you don’t.”

Rhonda rolls her eyes. “What they teach you in school, white girl? You get hooked on smack, you ain’t quitting. Rich guys who can go to expensive rehab clinics can maybe quit. Some people get themselves on methadone and they manage to quit. But ain’t no one gonna help a couple of whores get off it.”

“What are we gonna do with Rodney?” Jessamyn asks again. “He’s gonna start rotting and stinking if we don’t do something.”

“Huh. Can you help me get him to the car, Jessie? I wanna make it look like he was partying hard with us and now he’s drunk, but I can’t carry him myself.”

Meg thinks about an experiment she read about in her science textbook but never got to try, about frog legs and electricity. She pushes back from the table and runs upstairs.

Rodney’s symphony is gone, and in its place there are occasional instruments playing jarring discordant notes, too slowly. Meg reaches into him. She made Jessamyn not move a muscle. Maybe she can make a dead man move one.

Under her command, Rodney lurches, and falls over immediately because she’s not touching him anymore. It looks like this only works when she touches people. His shirt didn’t get in the way, so it’s okay to touch their clothes, but if she’s not making contact at all, she can’t keep controlling their bodies. She tries again. It’s hard to make a man stand up by manually making his muscles move. Meg has her arm wrapped around his middle, but he’s still lurching and jerking all over the place.

Rhonda comes up the stairs and sees what Meg is doing. “Wow. Shit, you can do that?”

“Yeah,” Meg says. “I’m not gonna get him to get down the stairs this way, but if you hold him up once we get him downstairs, I can make him walk.”

“Okay. Here’s the plan. We get him into the car. I drive him to the East River. We point the car at the river, get him into the driver’s seat, tie his foot to the gas pedal, turn the car on and jump loose as soon as it’s in drive, and he drives it straight into the river. When they find his body they’ll assume he was drunk and he had an accident.”

Meg shrugs. She’s never disposed of a body before. “Sounds fine to me.”

“But then we won’t have a car!” Jessamyn whines.

“You can’t even drive it anyway,” Rhonda says. “And who the fuck needs a car in New York City? We can manage.”

***

It’s Meg, in the end, who turns the key in the ignition, coached by Rhonda while she’s sitting on Rodney’s lap, and then puts the car in drive – it’s not a stick shift, whatever that is, so she doesn’t need to use a clutch, whatever that is—and then makes Rodney’s leg press on the gas, hard.

The car lurches forward. Meg jumps out of the window, which is rolled down all the way. It’s a big car, one of those big old boats from the 70’s, not one of the small gas-conserving little boxes driving around today. She has no trouble getting clear of the car and rolling on the pavement. The car drives directly off an empty dock and into the water.

It’s 3 am, but New York City never sleeps. There are bystanders who see it happen. Rhonda screams theatrically. “Rodney! Nooooo!”

People gather on the docks, five or six people who saw the car drive off the dock. One guy offers to jump in the water and try to rescue Rodney. “Thanks, mister!” Meg says, and hugs him… and gives him an asthma attack. His lung spasms won’t last long, a moment or two. Not like Rodney’s, that didn’t stop until he was dead. But he’s not jumping in the water and rescuing anybody.

She and Rhonda slip away as soon as they can, after some more theatrics from Rhonda, and return to the house.

***

When the cops show up in the morning, Jessamyn identifies herself as Rodney’s girlfriend, and throws convincing hysterics when the cops tell her he’s dead. She doesn’t appear to be a suspect; it’s probably impossible for the cops to imagine that anyone could have gotten Rodney to drive into the river after he was already dead, considering that they’d used Meg’s powers and not Rhonda’s original plan of tying his foot there. Meg and Rhonda stay upstairs, and the cops don’t search the house.

After the cops are gone, Meg goes to Rhonda to get her to go to the grocery store. Rhonda, however, is blissed out, drug paraphernalia next to her. Irritated, Meg touches her, trying to identify the differences in the symphony of Rhonda’s body from what she had been like before she’d shot up. She didn’t touch Rhonda earlier for a baseline, though. So she checks on Jessamyn, who has also shot up, and from her, Meg can identify what parts of the body symphony are caused by heroin being there.

She goes back to Rhonda and turns those parts of the symphony off.

Rhonda jacks forward, gasping, and stares at Meg with wide bug-eyes. “What did you do? What did you do to me?”

“I wanted you to go to the grocery store, and you can’t do it if you’re high,” Meg says.

“Jesus fucking Christ. Did you just – shit. You just got rid of my high! You just – god fucking damn you, I paid for that shit!” Rhonda gets to her feet, wobbling, and screams at Meg. “Do you have any goddamn idea how many cocks I had to suck to get that shit, and you just – you just made it fucking go away because you want me to go to a goddamn grocery store!”

Meg just listens to the rant, arms folded. If Rhonda hits her, Rhonda will regret it. But as angry as she is, Rhonda seems to remember not to touch Meg.

“You done being a big baby about it?” Meg says, trying to sound bored. “Get me groceries so I can cook spaghetti, and I’ll give you your high back.” She doesn’t actually know if she can do that, but the offer pacifies Rhonda.

“Yeah, okay. Goddamn you fucking procks anyway.”

“Prock?” Meg blinks. She’s heard a lot of slurs in her life, but that one’s new. “What’s that?”

“Shit, no one ever called you that before? You have superpowers.”

“Yeah, so? What’s a prock, someone with superpowers then?”

Rhonda sighs. “It’s short for Proxima. You hear proxy sometimes too. How are you one but you never heard this?”

Meg considers revealing that she’s only had these powers for a couple of days, and decides not to. It would make her look weak and maybe make Rhonda think she can challenge Meg. “Maybe I just don’t hang out with shitheads who call people names, most of the time,” she says, which is completely untrue, because the girls in her class call other girls bitches and sluts and whores, and sometimes the white ones use slurs for the black ones, and occasionally someone gets called a dyke. “What’s Proxima got to do with superpowers? Proxima means ‘next.’” She knows this because her Catholic middle school is big on teaching kids vocabulary by connecting it to Latin, and she read ahead in her textbook and got the words ‘proximate’ and ‘approximate’ at one point.

“I don’t fucking know, I ain’t no dictionary.” Rhonda seems to think about it. “I guess, it’s like, ‘next human’. You know how Homo sapiens means smart man, right?”

Meg blinks again. “Yeah, but how do you know that?” Rhonda has seemed to her like the kind of girl who would fall for the ‘are you a homo sapiens’ joke where the target thinks it has something to do with ‘homosexual’ and says no.

Rhonda snorts. “White bitch. You think I don’t know nothing? I went to school too. Probably more than you did; I was fourteen when I ran away. You even in high school yet?”

The answer to this is ‘no’, but Meg’s not going to admit that. “Okay, fine. You went to school, you’re smart. Great. Peachy.”

“Yeah, well, you asked. Homo proximus means ‘next man’ or something like that. So it’s like you’re more evolved or something because you got superpowers.” She shakes her head like that’s the dumbest idea she ever heard. “You know you ain’t more evolved than me just ‘cause you got powers, right? That’s a dumbass idea. The way you’re acting, you’re just like any thirteen-year-old white girl.”

“Any other thirteen-year-old white girl wouldn’t’ve been able to kill a pimp like I did.”

“Yeah, but then you still wanna eat a pizza and brush your teeth. Why don’t you go to the grocery store? Why you want me to do it so bad? Just ‘cause you don’t feel big unless you pushin’ someone else around?”

This was uncomfortably close to the truth. Also, Meg had never gone grocery shopping, in a supermarket, by herself. Drugstores and convenience stores, yes, but she didn’t even know where the grocery stores were in this neighborhood, or if there even were any. Some places in the city didn’t have them. “I’m not from this part of town. I don’t know where the grocery store around here is, and no way I’m gonna go back to my old neighborhood. Fuck that.”

“Then I tell you what. I’m gonna go to the grocery store, because you ruined my high, so fuck, I got nothin’ better to do. But you’re coming with me.”

“And what if I don’t want to?” Meg sneers. “You gonna try and make me?”

“No, I just ain’t goin’ to the grocery store for your white ass. You gonna kill me ‘cause I won’t do your goddamn shopping like I’m your maid?”

“I could if I wanted to.”

“Yeah, and I could dance in the toilet if I wanted to, but fuck that.” Rhonda sits back down, but she’s still looking at Meg, holding her gaze. “Listen up. You, a white girl, just asked a black chick to do a chore for you, and then threatened you could hurt me if I don’t. So you a racist or just ignorant?”

Meg glares. “I’m not a racist! I’d do the same thing if you were white! Jessamyn’s an idiot and I don’t trust her to get what I asked for.”

“Well, here’s some knowledge for your ignorant little ass. If you told a white girl to do it then fine, that ain’t a problem, but you tell a black girl to do it, you don’t get out of the implications just because you’d have done the same if I was white. ‘Cause I ain’t white, and both you and me gotta deal with that. In a world where your great-great-great-granddaddy might’ve had mine as a slave, you don’t get to treat me like you’d treat a white girl, because it means something different when it goes from you to me than from me to you or you to Jessamyn. You get me?”

“My great-great-great-granddaddy came over on a boat from Italy and slavery was already over by then, so no, none of my ancestors had yours as slaves.”

“Yeah, no, if your family’s been in America a long-ass time you probably got some long-term old-timer white in you somewhere. You too pale to be all Italian.”

“Northern Italy. Naples.”

Rhonda laughs. “Who told you Naples was northern, girl? That’s like, north if you’re from Sicily.”

“How do you know that?” Meg demands.

“’Cause I’ve looked at a map of Europe once or twice in my life.” She shakes her head as if she’s disappointed in Meg, somehow. “And it don’t matter anyway. You gonna come with me to the grocery store, or you gonna decide to be a racist bitch?”

This is how Meg ends up accompanying Rhonda to the grocery store. The plus side is that she gets to pick out the exact groceries she wants – the specific brand of spaghetti Mom used, the right brands of tomato sauce and tomato paste, the freshest green peppers and mushrooms, the ground beef with the lowest fat content. Also, she gets ice cream, which she hadn’t put on her list, and toothpaste and a toothbrush, because Rhonda reminded her during their chat that yes, actually, her teeth were gross and she hadn’t brushed them since --- well, since. The minus side is that she feels like she’s losing control of this situation, because Rhonda refuses to be scared of her. She can push Jessamyn around all day, but Rhonda apparently doesn’t think the fact that someone can kill you is a good reason to do what they say.

Rhonda picks up groceries Meg didn’t think of or didn’t know they needed – fresh cereal, milk for lactose-intolerant people, sliced cheddar cheese, wheat bread, several more packets of lunch meat, and so on. “So I got a business proposition for you,” she says, loading the cart with shampoo, conditioner, and some hair care products Meg doesn’t recognize that have pictures of black women on the boxes.

“Yeah?” Meg is wary. Also embarrassed. She hopes Rhonda doesn’t start talking about being a prostitute here in the grocery store.

“The way things worked before, Rodney made sure other girls who wanted to use our corner would step off, and kept other operators from trying to take us over... but he took all our money. If we wanted to buy Pop-Tarts, we had to ask for the money.” She puts five boxes of Pop-Tarts in different flavors into the cart. “He gave us drugs, and booze, but only when we worked. You don’t work, you don’t bring in cash for Rodney, you don’t get to get high or even drunk.”

“I can see why you don’t care what I did about him,” Meg says, carefully choosing words that don’t sound like she’s even euphemistically implying that she killed him. This is a grocery store. “Maybe we should save this conversation for when we get back to the house?”

Rhonda looks at her. “Rodney said you had nowhere else to go. That true?”

She has cousins in the city. She could go live with them. But she doesn’t want to. How is she going to go back to being a kid, going to school and going to bed when Aunt Carlotta says and watching sitcoms with laugh tracks and lame cartoons that are just trying to sell her dolls, when she’s killed? When she’s controlled someone who’s older than she is? She may not be able to fully control Rhonda, but she can control Jessamyn. When she’s brought someone back from the dead?

“True enough,” she says.

“And you don’t wanna be in the business Jess and me are in. And that’s fine, but you gotta do something to earn your keep, you know? But I got some ideas.”

“I’m not doing what you do.”

“And you don’t have to. You got a talent, girl. Ain’t no one else I know of can do what you do. So I’m gonna ask you some questions about what you can do.”

“Okay.”

Rhonda stops her as they’re heading toward the cash register. “That thing you did to me. Could you make it so I don’t even want that shit anymore?”

“I -- yeah, maybe?”

“’Cause I was craving really bad, and you made my high just, go away, just like that, so I should still be craving hard. But I’m not. I’m really not. Maybe you can make it so I’m never craving again. So I can do it if I want to but I never have to.”

“I never tried that before, but it sounds maybe doable.”

“’Cause if you can do that, shit, we’ve got no fucking use for Mike and his pals. We can be independent. You said some shit earlier about protecting us, like Rodney used to. You can do that, right?”

“I think I know how to hurt people without killing them, yeah. And if you need someone killed, I can totally do that.”

“Can you fix Jess and me up? Like, a john gets rough, you fix up the bruises? If we get a cold, you can make it go away? Or that AIDS shit. That’s scary stuff. You never know when a guy goes for other guys on the down low unless you see him in the park with the gay guys, and Rodney would’ve made us go with them even then.”

All Meg knows about AIDS is that it’s a horrible fatal illness that only gay men and drug users get and that is why you’re supposed to just say no to drugs and not be gay, also because you’ll go to Hell if you are, but it’s occurring to her now that with the murders, she’s going to Hell anyway, and maybe she doesn’t know enough about what Rhonda is talking about and maybe she needs to go to the library and read up on this. “Never tried that either, but if you can find me someone who’s got it, maybe I can find whatever’s causing it and stop it.”

“HIV. It’s a virus called HIV.” She shakes her head. “You’re just a kid, ain’t you? You learned what they taught you in school but not much else.”

“That’s not true! I read a lot!”

“Well, maybe you’re gonna need to read a lot more, ‘cause you ain’t going to school anymore if you’re staying with Jess and me.”

“Yeah, well, am I?” She meant that to be a sneering challenge, but it comes out uncomfortably close to a genuine question.

“That’s the business proposition. Anything Rodney could do to drive folks off our corner or keep some other operator from taking over... you could do. They wouldn’t be scared of you, looking like a cute little schoolgirl like you do, but if you kill someone’s ass or make ‘em freeze up like you did to Jess or you could probably even beat them up, but like, from the inside... and then they’ll be scared. Other thing is, if you can fix someone who got shot I bet there’s a lot of shit you can fix.” She’s speaking quietly, and putting rustly crunchy bags of chips and pretzels in the cart, and this is New York so no one’s paying attention anyway, but it still unnerves Meg to have her talking about any of this openly, even with euphemisms. And ‘kill someone’s ass’ is hardly a euphemism. “So, here’s the deal. You live with us as a roommate. You can cook your spaghetti, and we order pizza or Chinese or we cook if we feel like it. We pay for everyone’s food out of the take, and the rent and shit. And then we give part of the take to you. Not as much as we gave Rodney, but Rodney had to give a lot of it to his boss.”

“Mike?” She seems to recall Rhonda or someone telling her about a guy named Mike who was Rodney’s boss.

“Yeah. Him. He comes around trying to get us back under his thumb, we tell him to fuck off ‘cause we’re independent operators now... and if he doesn’t like it, you hurt him. Make him run squealing back to his momma. So Jess and I pay you to protect us, and fix us up if we get hurt. And if it turns out you can get rid of that AIDS shit? Gonna be a lot of guys I know willing to pay big money to get some of that.”

It sounds good. It sounds good enough that Meg’s afraid there’s a catch. “I gotta do experiments,” she says. “Like when I made it so you weren’t, uh--”

“High. You can say it. Ain’t no cops shopping around here,” Rhonda says, grinning.

“Yeah, okay. I had to feel you and Jessamyn to find what’s the same in both of you that’s different from Jessamyn before. You want me to fix a bruise or a cut or something? Pretty sure I can do that, no problem. Disease, though, I gotta find the disease. I gotta compare someone with it with someone who doesn’t, and then someone else with it, because people are a lot different from each other on the inside. But I bet I could do it. I made the soap stop smelling like chemical shit so I can probably do anything.”

“I get that. And there’s gonna be issues with you looking like a kid, so maybe we try out some makeup on you, see if we can figure out how to make you look older. You should dress punk. Those clothes need a wash and they’re too preppy besides.”

Her clothes are the school uniform she was wearing before Dad came to her and wanted... what he’d always wanted. He didn’t make her take it all the way off, so she’d pulled it up and straightened it out and gotten her shoes on before she ran. “Yeah? Where’s a good place to buy clothes around here?”

“Let’s get this shit back to the house and into the fridge, and then we can go out and I’ll show you some good places to buy clothes. Not the kind Jess and I wear, you’re not about that. We’re gonna make you look like a badass.”

“I am a badass.”

“Sure are, but you got to look it, too, because we can’t be driving every fucker’s car into the river who looks at you funny. You gotta not kill people unless there’s no other way, you get me?”

“Yeah.” She doesn’t have to kill people if she can figure out how to hurt them without killing, and how hard could it be? She’s already figured out how to paralyze people; she did it to Jessamyn.

“So how about it? We got a deal?”

She offers her hand for Meg to shake, there in the snack aisle, and it occurs to Meg that this woman is really brave. Like, almost stupidly brave. Meg can kill by touching people and Rhonda is offering to touch her, to shake on a deal where she’ll pay Meg to be her protector.

Meg wants people to be afraid of her. But not everybody. She’s too alone. No parents, no friends from school, no family, and she’s been thrust into a world she knows she doesn’t really understand, straight from Catholic middle school to living with prostitutes who abuse drugs, and also, murdering people and dumping the bodies in the river. She always figured she was harder and tougher than her classmates because they were probably all virgins and she hadn’t been since she was nine, so most of their problems just sounded stupid and trivial... but in comparison to Rhonda, she’s an innocent little baby.

She wants a friend. She wants a mentor. She wants someone to show her how to live with what she’s become.

Meg takes Rhonda’s hand and shakes it. “Deal,” she says.

#52 project #cold light #superpowers #tw: abuse #tw: incest #tw: all the triggers actually #read the note about triggers if you have any #no children die in this story but lots of other people do

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wwhbtsjin · 4 years

Text

Idol Lovers

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: Majority Fluff, but also a bit of angst and smut in there. (Supportive Jungkook, Jealous Jungkook, Loving Jungkook, Seductive Jungkook, you name it!)

Word Count: 6.6k

(A/N): Again my love for Vixx comes out. This is an AU where Vixx has one female member and it's you, the maknae of the group. You had caught the eyes of many fans and idols alike, but one idol already had your heart, and you had his as well. But dating in secret was a bit of a challenge, especially when your Vixx Oppas didn’t know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Being an idol was certainly not an easy life. But it was the life you chose, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You weren’t in it for the fame, you were in it because of your love for the arts, the love for the music. This was the way you expressed it, and what better way to do it then next to some of your best friends now. You were the group Vixx’s maknae, and the only girl of the group. The bond you guys had was so strong that your performances were always really powerful. You treasured them and they treasured you, they were the brothers you wish you had.

Every time a male idol expressed that you piqued their interest, they intervened because of one, you didn’t feel the same way, or two, they didn’t think they were good enough for you. But they didn’t know that you already belonged to an idol, the one and only Jeon Jungkook of BTS. You two had met back in high school, but it was just recently he expressed his feelings for you. You accepted them, and your relationship has been strong ever since, but the only thing is, you kept it a secret from your Vixx Oppas while he kept it a secret from his BTS Hyungs.

“Yah! (Y/N)! Who said my little sister could look this good! Nobody can take their eyes off of you!” The familiar voice of N, the leader of the group shouted from the chair as he got his hair done. You had just emerged from your dressing room, you get one separate from the boys for obvious reasons, but you all get your makeup and hair done at the same place.

Today was the MBC Music Festival and you guys were going to be performing Shangri La, one of your hits from 2017. The theme for this year was old hits so you and the boys had decided on bringing back Shangri La. The boys were dressed in the black floral silk men's kimonos while you were dressed in a black and cherry blossom decorated kimono. All of the biggest stars of the year were present, including your boyfriend, Jeon Jungkook from BTS. They were just two doors down in their dressing room and you were able to hear them screaming and shouting at each other playfully.

“Oppa,” you chuckled and plopped into the open make up seat next to him to get your hair done and makeup ready, “You flatter me, but have you seen you guys? You six look like literal princes!”

“I am prince Hyukie!” Hyuk was sitting behind you playing a game on his phone, “But our little sister looks like a Princess!”

Your stylist began working with your hair while you were on your phone, “Stopppppp,” you blushed and in the back of your mind you realized Jungkook was going to see you like this, “If I didn’t have my amazing stylist Unnie,” you looked up at her and gave her a cheeky smile, “I wouldn’t be getting this flattery!”

As soon as your stylist left you, the boys and you were just relaxing in the room. Ravi and Hongbin were knocked out, Hyuk was still playing a game on his phone, N looked like he was texting someone while Leo and Ken were watching videos.

You were scrolling through instagram when you got a text message on your phone, the sender had the contact name “🐰”. It was your nickname for Jungkook on your phone. Since your relationship was practically a secret from everyone, you guys had to resort to that just in case if one of your members felt extra nosy. His nickname for you in his phone was, “🐷”. You hated it, but he loved it because you can eat just as much as he does.

2:30 P.M 🐰.- Jagggiii~

2:32 P.M. 🐷- Yes Oppa?

2:33 P.M. 🐰- I want to see you :( Are you ready? Can I see you for a little? I’m done and the Hyungs and I are just chilling now doing nothing.

2:34 P.M. 🐷- I gotta figure out how to escape for a little bit :( I’m currently sandwiched between N and Ken Oppa right now. We’re going out to our seats in about 20 minutes.

2:35 P.M. 🐰- Then spare me 10 please? I wanna see my beautiful girl ;-;

2:36 P.M. 🐷- Alright fine, I can never turn you down, where do I go?

2:37 P.M. 🐰- The staircase at the end of the hall. Nobody goes in there so meet me a floor above the entrance <3 Be there at 2:40!

You closed your phone and sighed, “I’m gonna go for a walk okay?” You looked up at N and Ken.

“Are you okay? Do you want us to go with you?” N looked concerned. It wasn’t surprising though because he always cared about the wellbeing of his members. That’s what made him such a mom sometimes.

“I’m okay. I just need to stretch my legs,” you stood up and smiled, “I might go peep and say hi to Ailee Unnie while I’m out. I won’t be long. 10ish minutes probably.” And before anyone else said anything, you began to sneak away. When you got into the hallway, you noticed the door to the staircase closing and Jungkook was right, nobody was on that end. You made a break for it and then successfully snuck into the staircase. You went up one flight of stairs just as Jungkook instructed and sure enough, he was standing right there with open arms.

“My god,” he took your hands into his and leaned in to give you a soft kiss, “You’re stunning. Absolutely gorgeous. You look like a goddess,” He kept on pecking your cheeks and your lips with soft kisses, “Man every male idol is going to have their eyes on you, I guarantee it. But little do they know, you’re my girlfriend and mine only.” Jungkook was dressed in a long bright orange jumpsuit with a white hoodie under. They were performing GoGo and this was the outfit that he used to wear with it.

“Hi my bunny,” you giggled and kissed his cheek, “I missed you. By the way, you are a literal hunk, you know that?” You wrapped your arms around his neck and looked into his eyes that seemed to always sparkle 24/7.

“I missed you too,” he soon had you in his warm embrace, “I can’t get over how absolutely stunning you look right now. Let’s take a picture!” He took out his phone and held it up. The two of you were close together in the frame. You held up a peace sign while Jungkook gave his iconic, award winning, smile.

“Send me that please Oppa~” you kissed his cheek as he wrapped his arm around your waist.

“Already on it,” he quickly opened up your message thread and sent it, “This 10 minutes went by way too fast, but we both have to get back now.”

You looked up at him, “Have a great performance okay my bunny? I’ll be cheering you on!”

“And I will be cheering you on my princess,” he leaned in and gave you another soft peck on the lips, “Now you go first. I’ll see you later. I love you.”

Everytime he expressed his love for you, you squealed on the inside. It was still unbelievable that the Jeon Jungkook of BTS was in love with you and you loved him. “I love you too bunny,” you let go of him and began to walk towards the stairs, “I really do.” And with that, you began making your way back to the room with your members.

When you got back, Hongbin and Ravi were just barely waking up. N saw you come back and he smiled warmly at you, “Are you good now?”

You flashed him a thumbs up, “All good Hakyeon mommy!” You plopped down on the couch next to him and leaned your head on his shoulder, “How much time do we have before we have to go out?”

The 93 liners were fully awake by this time. Ravi stretched and then looked at you, “I hope soon, cause that was a really good nap and I didn’t want to wake up yet.”

“Yeah I could tell,” you chuckled, “You and Bin Oppa were drooling”.

“Yeah...it was a freaking pool.” Hyuk was in the same position you left him in, still playing games on his phone. All of you burst into laughter when there was a sudden visitor at your door.

Your eyes widened because it was your boyfriend and his members.

“Oh Jin my friend!” Ken jumped up to embrace his friend in a hug.

“Brother!” Jin cheered in return.

The friendship that Jungkook’s hyung had with your Ken Oppa was really strong. Whenever those two were together...it was definitely a show. Especially because those two are on their own level in terms of...weirdness.

“Hi guys!” N waved from next to you, your head still on his shoulder. But then you saw Jungkook’s eyes behind Namjoon’s shoulders eyeing you with an eyebrow raised. You sat up straight taking your head off of N’s shoulders before smiling at him warmly. His eyes softened and you knew he wouldn’t be mad at you for that.

“(Y/N)-ah!” Hoseok smiled at you, “You look absolutely stunning! Like a Princess!”

Jungkook’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. This was the first time one of his members complimented you on your looks. You’ve had other idols do it in front of Jungkook before, but his members are a whole different story.

“T-thank you Hoseok-ah.” You smiled at him. You were more timid and shy than usual and Hyuk was able to notice.

He sat next to you and placed a hand on your knee, making Jungkook’s eyes widen, “Are you okay Princess?” That was Hyuk’s nickname for you. Out of the boys, he was the closest to you because of age.

Jungkook nudged J-Hope, “Yah, don’t make her uncomfortable.”

“Hey!” N’s eyes lit up, “Our schedule is actually free tonight after this, would you guys like to come over for some dinner if you guys are free?”

Namjoon nodded, “We surprisingly have a day off tomorrow and are free after this too...so sure! We’ll just go home and change and head over to you all! Would you like us to bring anything?”

“Well…” N looked at you, “Our little sister has been craving chicken so we’ll take care of that. Would you guys like to take care of the drinks?”

“Alcohol!” Jimin cheered.

“Soda!” Namjoon hit him on the back of the head.

You giggled making everyone's heads turn towards you. Jungkook had the most loving look towards you.

“W-what?” you cocked your head to the side innocently.

“You literally have the cutest laugh.” Jin smiled at you.

“Doesn’t she?” Hyuk cheered and put an arm around your shoulder, “She’s too precious.”

You glanced over at Jungkook and he had an expression on your face that you’ve never seen on him before. He raised an eyebrow at you and also glared at his hyungs. Was he possibly getting jealous?

“Well,” Jin smiled, “I’ll text Ken when we’re on the way later! Have a good performance!”

And soon enough you guys were left alone again. This would be the first time Jungkook would be coming over to your place. Granted you lived with the boys, but how were you two gonna do without exposing your relationship to everyone else.

“Well, let’s get out to our seats shall we?” N gestured for everyone to get up. You all walked together onto the stage and saw idols already sitting in their respective rows on the sides. You quickly scanned around for Jungkook and saw him looking at you. He smiled warmly and secretly gave you a little finger heart. You flashed one back to him before being led to your row. You and the boys were on the opposite end of them, both on the rows that are equivalent to stage level.

You sat in between Ravi and Hyuk and yawned, “Is anyone else sleepy? Because I am.”

“I’m not cause I napped,” Ravi chuckled, “You decided to go out and see your secret boyfriend I bet.”

Your eyes widened, “W-what?” Did your members know about you and Jungkook?

“I’m kidding,” Ravi laughed, “I know you’d tell us even if you had your eye on someone anyways.”

You glanced across the stage and saw Jungkook being teased by his Hyungs. His iconic bunnylike smile blessed your vision and you smiled warmly at the sight. You sighed and then looked up at Hyuk, “I am so taking a nap before the BTS Oppas come by later.”

“I’m with you on that one.”

Soon enough the show began, and you and the boys were backstage getting ready. It was a commercial and a break time, so the stage crew was hustling on the stage getting it ready for your performance. Your stylist was doing some last minute touch ups on your makeup. Scanning your surroundings, you saw Jungkook flash you a thumbs up. You gave him a finger heart back before Hyuk looked at you.

“Who was that for?” He raised an eyebrow at you.

“Nobody Oppa,” you smiled at him, panicking a bit on the inside, “Let’s do this.”

The lights dimmed down and you got in your places for your performance. This was always your happy place. No matter how tiring it is, you loved it. You forgot about the world around you and got lost in performance. That’s what made you such a great artist.

By the time Shangri La was done everyone was up and out of their seats, giving you and the boys a standing ovation. Starlights were cheering, waving the lightsticks and chanting your names. The show had gone to commercial and you guys had the opportunity to say something to Starlights.

“Our Starlight babies!” N cheered into the mic, “We hope we put on a great performance for you guys!” That caused the crowd to erupt into screams.

The mic was then handed over to Hyuk, “We worked hard to put this together, and we’re very glad to have all of your support.” He held up a finger heart.

Then you had the mic to close out Vixx’s time on the stage, “We thank Starlights for being so supportive of us. We’ll continue to work hard for you all. We love you Starlights!” That had caused the whole crowd to erupt into cheers. You and the boys waved goodbye and headed backstage. As you pass BTS’ seats, Jungkook gives you a finger heart and a kissy face. You blushed lightly and waved to him secretly before you guys got ready to go back and prepare for their whole group coming over for dinner.

You and the boys flooded back into your dorm and you made your way back to your room. Hyuk followed behind and tapped his shoulder, “(Y/N)-ah? Can I ask you something?”

Right as you opened the door, you peaked your head over your shoulder and saw Hyuk twiddling with his thumbs. You smiled softly at him, “What is it Hyuk Oppa? Can I take off my makeup first?”

“Ah yeah go ahead, I’ll come back when you’re ready.”

You nodded and then closed the door to our bedroom. You sighed as you plopped onto your bed, did Hyuk want to talk to you because he possibly saw you and Jungkook earlier? That couldn’t have been it...could it?

“Bangtan Boys are on their way! I ordered chicken!” You heard N yell from the hallway.

“Bunny is coming…” you muttered to yourself and then your eyes widened, “Oh my god bunny is coming.” You were panicking because 1, your boyfriend is coming over, 2, nobody knows he’s your boyfriend...at least to your knowledge and 3, you didn’t want to look embarrassing in front of him.

You began scrubbing off your makeup. As you were doing that your phone lit up indicating you got a text message from Jungkook.

8:01 P.M. 🐰-How in the world am I going to keep my hands off of you tonight?

8:03 P.M. 🐷-I have no idea. I’m freaking out knowing I might expose something? What happens if we’re found out?

8:04 P.M. 🐰-I mean eventually everyone will know...but if it were to be tonight we’ve just gotta be prepared. I’ll do my best though to make sure it won’t be hard if it comes to that point.

8:06 P.M. 🐷- Me too bunny :) How far are you guys?

8:08 P.M. 🐰-...coming up the elevator...see you in a minute my piggy.

8:09 P.M. 🐷- 😐

You quickly put your hair up into a bun, changed into a pair of leggings and one of Jungkook’s hoodies, which was fairly big on you. You stared at yourself in the mirror and your eyes widened, “I can’t wear this… his hyungs might recognize this hoodie.” But before you had a chance to change, the doorbell rang and you heard Ken running and screaming to get to the door. Him and Jin were definitely an interesting pair…

You were reaching into the closet when Ravi burst into your room, “Let’s go outside and see everyone!” He dragged you out and you saw your members all sitting around the living room with BTS.

“There’s the Princess of the evening! The one that stole the show!” Jimin patted the empty spot in between him and Jungkook for you to sit with them. You glanced at Jungkook and he just raised his eyebrows at you.

“Jungkook-ah,” Jin looked over in your guys direction, “Don’t you have that same hoodie?”

Well shit, that came faster than you thought…

“I do.” Was all that managed to come out of his mouth.

“This is my brothers,” you chimed in, “He left it last time he visited and I just keep forgetting to give it back to him.” Saved it...well at least you hoped.

“The chicken got delivered in the lobby!” N jumped up, “Hyukie, (Y/N), do you guys want to go get it?”

You nodded and walked to the door with Hyuk. You were glad to get away from that situation, even though you didn’t want to leave Jungkook’s side, things got awkward real quick.

When you and Hyuk got in the elevator a sigh escaped your lips.

“Can I ask you something that I’ve been meaning to ask you earlier?” Hyuk said out of the blue.

“Sure Hyukie Oppa,” you smiled at him, “What is it?”

“How do you feel about me?” He stared at you seriously, “I’ve grown to really like you more than my best friend (Y/N). I want to know how you feel about me.”

Your eyes widened, you thought Hyuk had suspected you and Jungkook...but this wasn’t what you were expecting. “H-hyukie Oppa…” you looked up at him, “I-,” you sighed, “I don’t have the same feeling back...I’m sorry. I’ve only ever seen you as my best friend. That’s it…”

“It’s because you’re already seeing someone isn’t it?” He looked away from you and then down at the floor.

“H-huh?” the elevator doors opened revealing the lobby. You and Hyuk made your way to the empty front desk.

He rang the bell then looked at you, “I know your dating Jungkook-ssi,” he got the chicken from the receptionist then looked back at you, “I got curious, and I know it was wrong of me, but I followed you early when you secretly met with him in the staircase. My feelings about you are true...but I just wanted to see if the reason you’d say no was because of Jungkook.”

“Hyuk Oppa…” you stared at him as he walked towards the elevators.

“Why didn’t you tell any of us you were dating him?” He pressed the button waiting for the elevator to arrive back at the lobby.

“I-...I just really really do love him.” but before you could answer completely the elevator doors opened.

“Let’s go back up before they all wonder where we are...your boyfriend is probably worried sick.” He walked into the elevator with you following.

“Oppa, I’m sorry...I truly am. But please, Bunny and I aren’t ready to tell anyone yet, so can you please keep this a secret?” You looked at him with pleading eyes.

“You guys have nicknames for each other already,” he chuckled to himself, “Guess he beat me to it when it comes to your heart…”

“Oppa are you mad at me?”

“No… I’m just heartbroken… but I can’t do anything about it. I just hope he’s treating you like the Princess you really are.” The doors opened and soon you were back in front of your front door.

As you reached for the handle you could hear N and Namjoon talking.

“Hyuk-ssi and (Y/N)-ah seem like they would be a cute couple.” Namjoon’s voice boomed on the other side of the door.

“We’ve been wanting them to date for the longest time, but as much as Hyuk-ah likes her...I don’t think she likes him back.” N sighed and looked at the other leader.

“I feel like one of my members will snatch her up if he doesn’t soon. She’s a literal Princess.” He chuckled and both their voices soon disappeared from the door. Hyuk looked at you in a concern then opened the door.

You quietly helped him carry all the food onto the table laid out in your guys living room. But you just didn’t feel like eating anymore. You sat in between Jungkook and Jimin. Jungkook’s eyes quickly looked down at you, full of concern for his secret lover.

“Are you okay, jagi?” he asked you quietly without getting much notice from anyone. Except for Hyuk who was sitting across from you looking at you with concern also.

You nodded in disagreement. You felt tears starting to build up.

You stood up, “I-I’m not feeling well right now,” you smiled at everyone through your tear brimmed eyes, “Please have a good dinner, I need to close my eyes for a bit.” And before anyone could answer, you scurried away to your room. You closed the door behind you and plopped on your bed, tears streaming down your face.

You were bent out of shape because of many reasons. Both Namjoon and all of your members think you and Hyuk would be good together. Heck, Hyuk even has feelings for you. How would everyone feel when they found out you and Jungkook were dating? Would it cause tensions within your group? Would his hyungs get mad at him? You didn’t think it would get this conflicting.

When you scurried away to your room, all the boys looked confused, well except for Hyuk. Jungkook was full of worry and concern, it was heavily visible on his face. He wanted to run after you, see what was wrong, why you were bothered. And he wanted to hold you in his arms. But he knew he couldn’t do so just yet.

“Is she okay?” Yoongi asked out of concern.

“I may have upset her…” Hyuk sighed and leaned his head back, “Someone should go check on her.”

“Should I?” N stood up being the mom he is.

“I think Jungkook-ssi should. Those two are high school friends after all.” Hyuk looked at Jungkook and nodded approvingly.

He got up and made his way to your bedroom. Jungkook knocked softly, “Jagi?” Luckily he was far enough that nobody could hear him call you that, “I’m coming in okay?” Jungkook opened the door and saw you curled up on your bed crying, back towards him.

You turned around hiding your face in your pillow, “Bunny…”

He smiled softly at the sight and sat on your bed with you. He helped you up and straight into his arms, “My piggy,” his voice was so comforting to hear, “What’s wrong?”

You wrapped your arms around him and buried your face into his chest, “We’ve been found out bunny…”

His hands soon found themselves playing with the bun on your head, “Found out? How so? Was it Sanghyuk Hyung? He said he upset you.”

You heard Ken and Jin playfully screaming animal noises in the background, “It was Hyukie Oppa...the way he just came out with it was so overwhelming...he told me he likes me, but he also saw us earlier in the staircase. What if our members aren’t happy when they find out? I don’t want to ruin any of the bonds we have with our own groups. What if they get mad at us and then fights erupt or there’s tension like in those Kdramas? I don’t want that to happen with any of us!” You looked up at him, tears were staining your cheeks.

Jungkook kissed your forehead, “Your heart belongs to me right? Were you honest with me, Sanghyuk Hyung and most importantly yourself?”

“I told Hyukie Oppa how much I really really love you. My heart does belong to you bunny oppa, I know how much I love you. It’s so much.” You cried holding him.

“You’re silly you know,” he placed his hand under your chin and looked up at you, “I love you so much too, and regardless of how our members react to the news, I still love you as much as I did 10 seconds ago.” He planted a soft kiss on your lips.

“Will this night end with all our members knowing that you and I are dating?”

“That might be the case, but I think it’s time that we tell them too. I’ll take care of it, but we won’t tell them right away, but they will know before we go home okay? I think hiding it has gone on long enough,” he looked down at you and poked your cheek, “I don’t like when my piggy is sad.”

“Why do you still call me piggy,” you pouted, “I’m not a piggy. I just have a good appetite.”

“If you can eat as much as me, then you’re a piggy. But you’re my piggy.” Jungkook started pecking kisses all around your face and even down to your neck.

You started giggling, “Oppa that tickles, but what if someone sees us?”

He started pecking kisses on your collarbone, “Even dressed like this you're irresistible. Babygirl you’re beautiful in anything you wear.” Your collarbone was a newly discovered weak spot as a small moan escaped your mouth. You quickly clamped your lips shut, “S-shh, you’re gonna make me make noises I’ve never done before!” You glared at Jungkook playfully.

Jungkook laughed and gave you a small love bite on your collarbone, “I’ll take note of that sweet spot for later!” He smiled at you warmly, “But there’s that smiling face I’m in love with. Come, let’s go back out because you need to eat your dinner.”

“Are we going back out as a couple? Or still hiding it?”

“Sanghyuk Hyung is the only one who knows right?” he stood up and wrapped his arms around your waist.

You nodded, “Just Hyukie Oppa.”

“Then we’ll wait for the right time to tell them,” he kissed you, “but for now we just gotta make sure you eat your dinner. Okay?”

You nodded and hugged him before walking to the door, “I love you Bunny.”

“I love you too my piggy.” He followed you out of the room and you guys both made your way back...to the chaotic mess in the living room. Ken and Jin were making weird animal noises while Namjoon and N were drinking together. Suga, Hongbin and Ravi were all in front of the Tv playing video games while Jimin, Taehyung, Hoseok, Leo and Hyuk were just sitting at the table talking.

“My princess!” N cheered, “Are you feeling better?”

“I am Hakyeon mommy!” You ran and sat next to him, “I’m hungry.”

Jungkook plopped down next to Hyuk and you raised an eyebrow at him. Then he immersed himself into conversation with that group.

“Namjoon-ssi was just telling me how good Jungkook is at comforting people, it seemed like it worked with you.” N looked down at you as you ate your chicken.

“Mhm,” you nodded as you held a drumstick in your hand, “Jungkook Oppa is really sweet, kind, caring, it’s always nice being with him.” You smiled at the thought of your boyfriend. He truly did care for you, and you couldn’t be more grateful for him.

“The way you talk about him (Y/N)-ah, sounds like you’re in love with him!” Namjoon teased you playfully, completely unaware that what he said was true.

Your eyes widened and you started blushing. You almost choked on the chicken you were eating, “I-...Namjoon Oppa, you almost made me choke on my chicken.” N handed you a glass of water laughing.

“You take good care of your members Sunbae,” Namjoon chimed in, “My members say I’m destructive.”

“Well this is my princess,” he wrapped his arms around you, “and Hyukie is our baby, I have to take care of my children.” The conversation with N and Namjoon really began to lighten your mood.

Meanwhile Jungkook sat with Jimin, Taehyung and Hyuk, their conversation was on a much more different level.

“Taehyung-ah would not get off of his games all night,” Jimin whined, “Sanghyuk Hyung, do you ever have that issue with your members? Is (Y/N) a gamer?”

“You know...I don’t know what she does behind those closed doors of her bedroom,” Hyuk chuckled, “She loves sleep so I don’t think so.”

“(Y/N) isn’t a gamer,” Jungkook chuckled, “She sucks at games. She always dies.”

“I didn’t know you and (Y/N)-ah were so close.” Taehyung raised an eyebrow at him.

“They are high school friends after all,” Hyuk chuckled, “Jungkook-ssi, would you like to see my Overwatch themed set up?” Hyuk clearly didn’t have a set up like that, he was just trying to get Jungkook away because he wanted to ask him some questions.

“Oh boy do I?!” Jungkook jumped up and followed Hyuk, sounding like a little kid. You smiled at the scene of Jungkook, it made your heart flutter.

Jungkook and Hyuk went into Hyuk’s room and Hyuk closed the door, “I don’t really have an overwatch set up, I just wanted a chance to ask you some questions about (Y/N)-ah.”

“Oh,” Jungkook leaned against the door, “I will answer everything honestly. You guys are her big brothers and I want you guys to trust me with her.”

“She told you about my feelings for her?” Hyuk sat down on his bed and looked at Jungkook seriously, “How does that make you feel?”

Jungkook sighed, “I respect you Sunbae, I really do. And I can’t stop you from having feelings for her, that’s all on your own,” he peeked his head around the room and saw a polaroid of you and Hyuk on Hyuk’s nightstand, “And I trust (Y/N)-ah that her feelings are strong for me. I trust both of you to respect all of our feelings towards everything...if that makes sense?”

“I get what you’re saying,” Hyuk noticed you looking at the photo, “That was our Christmas movie marathon last year. I realized then that I liked her more than just my best friend.”

“You liked her before I did,” Jungkook looked down, “Sunbae I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“It’s okay Jungkook-ah, it really is, what matters to me is her happiness, doesn’t that matter to you too?”

“Of course it does,” Jungkook smiled at the thought of you smiling, “Her smile literally lightens up everything.”

“And you’ll take care of her? Love her? Care for her? Protect her?” Hyuk looked up at Jungkook, “I could only do so much, but you’re her boyfriend so you have more of an impact than I do now.”

“Sunbae, I have no intention of stealing her away from you. You’re her best friend and that’s a spot that’s made just for you only,” Jungkook was wise knowing his place, “You guys have been through much more than her and I have been through so far. You’re her best friend and I’m her boyfriend, but regardless we’ll both be loving, caring and protecting her no matter what. And I hope to be doing that for the rest of my life.”

“You two are some of the biggest stars right now, are you prepared to deal with paparazzi? Word will get out that you two are dating eventually or our labels will say go public with it,” Hyuk sighed, “She gets overwhelmed easily, so can you be there to make it easier for her?”

“Of course Sunbae, I don’t want anything to be hard for her, so I will do my best in everything.”

“I think it’s best that you guys let everyone know before the end of the night that you guys are dating,” Hyuk walked up to Jungkook and put his hand on his shoulder, “But just take care of her okay? I care so much about her and don’t want to see her get hurt. Especially by you.”

“I promise Sunbae.”

“Call me hyung.” And with that, Hyuk left the room.

Jungkook followed and saw you laughing, he smiled at the sight of you with N. He felt relieved knowing you were surrounded by people who genuinely cared for you and protected you when he wouldn’t be able to.

“Hyuk-ah!” Ravi called out, “We were just wondering, what were you showing Jungkook-ssi, you don’t have an Overwatch set up? Did you confess your love for the golden maknae or something?”

“I-...nevermind.” Hyuk pouted.

Jungkook noticed there was an empty spot next to you so he decided to sit next to you. He smiled at you warmly and couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“Yah! Yah!” Yoongi shouted, “Look at the way Jungkookie is staring at (Y/N)-ah!”

“Look at how (Y/N)-ah is blushing!” Ken pointed out too.

Your eyes widened hearing both of your members point out all of that. Jungkook scratched the back of his head and chuckled embarrassingly. This was all coming at you too fast again you started panicking. But you relaxed because Jungkook placed his hand on top of yours and held it tightly to reassure you that he’s there.

“Is there something you want to tell us Princess?” You heard N’s voice in the background, you couldn't hide things from your Hakyeon mommy, it wasn’t right.

“Yeah Jungkook-ah! Something you want to tell us?” Hoseok wiggled his eyebrows at the two of you.

Jungkook sighed, “(Y/N)-ah and I have been dating...for the last 6 months.” He held the two of your hands that were intertwined up together.

“Why didn’t you tell us Princess?” Rather than N sounding mad, he was more curious. You expected mad or sad, not curious.

“I…” you sighed, “I was just scared that you guys wouldn’t have approved. Every male that has come my way expressing their feelings for me, you guys always stood up for me because I didn’t feel the same way. But bunny oppa was different. I actually had feelings for bunny oppa but I just didn’t want you guys to disapprove of him.”

“How you didn’t tell us Jungkook-ah?” Namjoon asked his maknae.

“I would tell you when (Y/N)-ah was ready to tell her members. I trust you hyungs 100% but I just didn’t want to risk anything getting exposed without her knowing. I didn’t want her to get overwhelmed.” Jungkook gripped your hand tightly under the table.

“We’re sorry we kept this hidden from you guys,” you bowed your head down, “We really are.” You expected members to start getting mad, but instead you got complete silence.

“Well Jungkookie beat me to it,” you heard Taehyung break the silence, “I was gonna try to go for you (Y/N)-ah.”

“Wait,” Jimin’s head popped up, “S-so was I! She’s a literal princess!”

“She’s so adorable! I was going to try!” Jin shot up too causing Ken to shoot up.

“Yah you idiot!” Ken playfully smacked him, “That’s my little sister!”

“Not biologically…”Jin chuckled.

“None of you guys are mad?” You looked up shocked.

“I mean, we wish you guys told us, but there’s nothing we can do from stopping it.” N chuckled.

“I kind of sensed that JK had a girl.” Yoongi laughed.

“B-but, Hakyeon mommy I heard you talking with Namjoon Oppa about how you wanted me to be with Hyukie Oppa!” You looked at the two of them then at Hyuk, “You’re okay right Hyukie Oppa?”

“I am,” he smiled at you warmly, “I talked to Jungkook, and as long as he takes good care of you and makes you happy and treats you like the Princess you are, that’s all that matters for me.”

“Not a princess hyung,” Jungkook smiled at you, “I’ll treat her like the queen she is.”

“Jungkook-ah,” N’s voice turned serious, “When the public knows of you two dating, it will get harder, but will you protect her to the best you can? We all want nothing but happiness for you two, and especially our Princess.”

“I will do my best Sunbae. I promise. I love (Y/N)-ah way too much that I would hate to see anything hurt her.” Jungkook was rubbing your knuckles with his thumb, your hands have still not separated from each other.

“Then that’s what we want to hear,” Leo chimed in, he may be stoic but he cares for you greatly, “If you hurt her we will find you.”

“We will find you too!” Jimn chimed in glaring at Jungkook, “And we’ll swoop in!”

Jungkook wrapped his arms around you tightly, “I don’t know if this is a test...but she’s my girl! I will protect her as best as I can!”

You bursted out laughing, “Bunny you’re suffocating me.”

“Oh one rule though,” Namjoon and N both chimed in, “No making out in front of any of us members!”

Your face heated up while Jungkook laughed, “Then don’t come in my room whenever sh-” You smacked Jungkook to make him shut up.

“We’ll follow the rules!” You giggled. That wasn’t nearly as bad as you had anticipated it to be, but you were sure glad your members approved of you and Jungkook. Now you guys wouldn’t have to go around hiding anymore.

“I love you piggy.” Jungkook whispered in your ear as members of both groups were fooling around again.

You looked at him and smiled, “I love you too bunny.”

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amukmuk · 4 years

Note

For the "Character Asks" - 12. has the best fashion? & 5. do you have an unpopular opinion about? (I don't know why I always ask these out of order. 🤦)

From this ask

12. Who has the best fashion?

Daaanggg idk. From SW I’m gonna say either Padme Amidala (those dresses!!) or Ahsoka because honestly I would wear most of what she is seen in (except the tube top *shudders*). But from a different fandom all together I’m gonna say Rafael Barba from Law and Order SVU. That dude was ALWAYS stuntin’. I tried to find a good picture but basically this dude always matched his socks, tie, suspenders, and pocket squares. And, in all honestly, I deeply considered getting suspenders thanks to him.

5. Who do I have an unpopular opinion about?

Honestly, I don’t have a great many opinions about anything and if I do, I don’t tend to speak upon them. I really dislike offending people so for that reason, I’m going to put this tirade under the cut as it is critical of the new trilogy characters that I know many of my followers find dear.

Literally all of the new SW trilogy characters are flatter than a squirrel hit by an eighteen wheeler.

Let’s start with Rey. Where is her struggle? Actually,,, what even is her struggle? In the OT we saw Luke spend a whole movie trying to master the force and he still got his ass kicked by Vader in the end. Do you really expect me to believe that Rey, an adult who has never received any training and didn’t even know she had magical powers mastered them in the middle of the fight? Um. No. I’m not buying it. And I know that the directors where trying to go for the whole ‘women can do anything’ bit and honestly I find it insulting. One of the most rewarding parts of being a woman, imo, is having to work for what I want. To be able to show up at a table filled with men and tell them ‘I deserve to sit at this table because I work just as hard as you do’ and not because I am magically better than you because I’m a woman. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

Poe. Canonically, he is the child of Kes Dameron and Shara Bey with Bey being one of the most renown pilots in the alliance. This kid was brought up a military brat and that would have been SO COOL to see within the GFFA. You could have had this lawful good bean. Someone who knew the rules, but toed those lines; someone who butted heads with authority when he knew those decisions were wrong, yet had this amazing knowledge of military strategy and space fighter flight. But what did they do? They made him dumb-man smuggler. They made him the butt of every joke and why? Because stupid man knows nothing. Literally the entire movie was him trying to cow down to female authority figures and again. THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS. THAT’S NOT HOW ANY OF THIS WORKS. In almost every military environment I have seen/been in women and men work together as TEAMS because at the end of the day you’re both getting shot at!

Finally, I would have taken Fin a completely different direction. I think it was super cool that he was a storm trooper and set up to be a force-sensitive one even if that didn’t actually happen in canon. But I’m going to circle back to Rey’s argument. Where is his struggle? He picked up a lightsaber, a weapon that canonically is not easy to wield, and goes toe-to-toe with Kylo Ren who has been wielding one since he was a child??? Again. Not buying it. And on top of that they could have done a super round character development where he realizes he is something he was brought up to hate. Or. OOOR He could immediately fear that he will be like Kylo Ren, the only Jedi he has ever encountered. The possibilities were endless.

Basically, what I’m saying is that all of the characters had all of this potential. Like having Luke taking Rey under his wing would have been SOO. COOL. (Though I must also say I hated Luke’s character as well because he is literally the beacon of hope in the OT and they just decided to make him a cynical old man because it fits with what we young people are supposed to think: the older generation knows nothing they are just cynical and grouchy *rolls eyes so hard I concuss myself*).

Okay, end rant. I didn’t mean for this to get this long, but if you made it this far, congrats!

Thanks for the ask @plainrea! <33 so sorry this got obnoxiously long! XD

#ask amukmuk #tumblr soulmates #tirade under the cut beware

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girllovescomic · 4 years

Text

Winter Begonia episode 33 recap

The episode start with Lin Danqiu talking about finding what he thought was his family, wanting to turn his life around, but his crippling gambling debt prevented him from doing so. Aiyu told him everything would be alright, she would sell their ancestor’s estate and pay off his debts. At that moment, he decided/realized that he was a Zeng, that Aiyu and him were blood sibling, as he received such a huge favor from the family he never knew. That gave him motivation to protect his ‘sister’, to carry on the ancestral line and repay their kindness. That is all fine and dandy, but that is not your family. You are not blood, Rui Rui is. He slaps himself upon the realization that he got his sister to debase herself for his sake, telling Rui Rui he is sorry.

Er Ye arrives at the station looking for his bae. He spots Zeng Aiyu and asks her if she saw Shang Lao Ban. She tells him that he went for a chat with her gege. She then tells him that Rui Rui told her about Fengyi’s situation. She seems interesting in hearing about her daughter, but CFT tells her that he is raising the child, not to worry. She tells him she is not worried, just curious. He tells her that he knows about her prejudice towards opera performers but the troupe would not neglect the baby, will raise her well, and that she will not always live there. Probably wants to raise the baby with his wife until irresponsible baby Fan Lian grows up. I vote for keeping the baby with her biological uncle since she is Rui Rui only link to his blood sibling. OK, Er Ye pulls a picture of his wifey holding his niece and WHY THE FUCK DOES A STRAIGHT DUDE HAVE A PICTURE OF HIS SO-CALLED BROTHER IN HIS POCKET? Give me an explanation show!? He gives it to Aiyu as a keepsake to remind the baby by, and perhaps give her a keepsake of her real brother. I don’t know, this is still a salient point for me. The fact that Rui Rui and Danqiu look nothing alike, the fact that she can’t even recognize who her real brother is, bothers me. She looks at her daughter, half sad, half happy, calling the baby My Fengyi. Sigh. I wish she could raise the child, but single moms back then were a huge no no. Gone would have been her marriage prospect, her future. Er Ye asks if she has a picture of herself so that he could show Fengyi that her mother was a beautiful woman. She grabs her purse and pulls a picture.

Meanwhile, her two brothers comes out, looking disheveled. She asks what happened, looking angrily at Rui Rui asking if he hurt her fake brother. Lin Danqiu tells her that he was clumsy and fell down the stairs. It’s a little white lie that has a lot of weight; it allows Zeng Aiyu to not leave with rancor in her heart for her real brother. She believes the lie, while Er Ye realizes the sacrifice his bae did in allowing Lin Danqiu to take his place as the eldest Zeng. Lin Danqiu bids his adieu and they leave for the train. Lin Danqiu pauses and gives a deep bow, probably of gratitude that he gets to have a life he never thought possible, due to Rui Rui’s sacrifice. Rui Rui calls out to his sister and tells her to take care of herself. She smiles at him, oblivious of the emotion behind such a simple sentence. My heart is in pain. I can’t. I just want Rui Rui to be happy, to be with his family. WELP.

In the car, Er Ye tells Rui Rui he really thought his bae would beat Lin Danqiu to death. Rui Rui replies it is against the law to beat him to death, it’s not worth it. LOL, wait, since when do you care about such thing?! He adds that besides, it wouldn’t be punishment enough. Er Ye asks how did he punish him, but Rui Rui remains mum. Er Ye pulls Zeng Aiyu’s picture and gives him to Rui Rui. Awwww, so he actually got the picture for his bae! He tells Rui Rui if he doesn’t tell him how he punished Lin Danqiu he won’t give him the picture. Yooo, you know your Rui Rui can be a bit kooky, don’t play with him. As expected, Rui Rui tries to grab the picture and covers his eyes while the man is driving. LOL, I told you Er Ye. Rui Rui takes the picture while Er Ye is like, you might not care about your life, but I do! Awww Rui Rui is happy to have a picture of his meimei. LOL, they settle back into their married routine as Rui Rui tells him he is hungry and Er Ye obliges, asking him what does he want to eat. :Cough: I have some ideas... Oh wait, Rui Rui is talking about real food! He wants pan fried pork dumpling. Hmmm that is also delicious. Er Ye says okay and after that we are going to have a movie date.

Meanwhile, in the train, Lin Danqiu holds Rui Rui’s pendant. I have to say, this breaks my heart. Sigh, I am not happy, but I get it, still I am not happy. This would effectively close the possibility of Zeng Aiyu realizing her mistake, since for her the pendant will act as proof that Lin Danqiu is her real brother. I get why Rui Rui did it and it is a huge sacrifice to make. Our Rui Rui is growing up. We see in a flashback that Rui Rui gives him the pendant as he effectively accept that Lin Danqiu is the person his meimei recognizes as her brother and the punishment he has incurred upon Lin Danqiu is to take care and cherish her for his entire life, and for his sake (Rui Rui’s). If he finds out he tricked her or made her suffer, he will kill him. See, how mature our Rui Rui has become? She sees the pendant and jubilates that her gege has found his lost pendant. He lies and tells her that he suddenly found it while doing his luggage.

Alright, we leave the sadness behind for some ChengShang gushing moment. So, they are discussing the movie they have just watched. Wait, how late did they stay up?????? Our opera addict Rui Rui comments on the actress acting skills, finding it lowly because all she did is straightened her eyebrow and stare at her costars eyes. LOL, oh Rui Rui, you would have a tough time watching half of the TV dramas’ actors and actress, some who are so wooden you wonder how they got their part or fame. He compares her to his acting skills, especially her posture and voice, along with the lyrics she sang. He finds it too simplistic. LOL. He adds that Du Qi would have had a fit if he heard that. I doubt it, since Du Qi lived abroad, therefore as a better knowledge of cinema. Er Ye tells him he thought it was good because it relieves boredom and doesn’t require too much thinking. True, unlike a play, Broadway show or opera, which demands more attention, movies are simple entertainment that can be mindless fun. He says that unlike movies, watching operas can take 3 days for the entire opera to finish. GEEZUS. Yeah, I cannot, sorry Rui Rui. Not only that but you have to know the right time when to shout bravo, when to sing praises, so many freaking rules. If you don’t know the rules, you get ridiculed and called an amateur by an useless sperm donor. It might be too demanding on the audience. Rui Rui asks what does Er Ye like to watch. Er Ye tells him he used to watch movies, but now he prefers watching opera, specifically Shang Lao Ban’s operas more. He tells him that whatever role you play, you bring it to life. It is like he is inhabited by many souls. Whenever he puts on makeup and costume, the soul will borrow his body and come alive while he is on stage. Once he leaves the stage, the soul departs but the story stays alive in him. Rui Rui tells him his writing sounds just as good as Du Qi and is flattered by the compliment, asking for more. LOL, greedy queen.

Er Ye is like, who asks for compliments like that, beside you got so many people praising you already, you don’t need me. Rui Rui tells hubby that his words means more to him than others. Er Ye is like fine, I’ll shower you in compliments. Guys, you better get your salt vapors because the next line might make you faint and ask how the fuck did this get past censors. Ok, so I am directly quoting here: “Shang Lao Ban is like a flower, or a fire that only cares about blooming for itself, flaming in a blaze. For those who likes watching you, you will do your best to show it to them. For those that don’t like watching you, you won’t try to appeal to them by changing yourself and go against your own will. You are such a popular ju’er, but you can still live so freely. This is truly extraordinary. Very rare! It’s true innocence. Everyone says someone like Shang Lao Ban who is so talented can only be looked from afar. Others do not dare to walk shoulder to shoulder with him. Except for me, Cheng Fengtai, who is willing to go into the fire and stay by your side.” I WANT MY CHENG FENGTAI. WHO DO I NEED TO GOAD TO HAVE ONE?????? Rui Rui is so taken aback that he stops walking to look at his hubby.

Er Ye asks what is it. Really Er Ye, after saying such words, you ask him why he is stopping in his track?! Awww shit, trouble is brewing as we heard voices from an alleyway. Rui Rui follows the voices and runs up to the alleyway, followed by Er Ye. A woman is fighting off two lecherous dudes. Rui Rui is pissed, probably thinking of his sister if she were in this situation. He kicks one of them and threatens the lecherous men. One of them tells the woman she should have told them she had a lover. Man GTFO with that shit. The woman recognizes him as he asks if she is okay. Er Ye is like, goddmammit, another fan trying to take away my bae’s precious time. LOL, Rui Rui is like, awww shit, yeah, grabbing his hubby so he wouldn’t have to deal with the fangirl. She blocks their path and tells Rui Rui she’s been looking for them. He is like, que? Who are you? She seems to struggle to say.

We see a man wearing a cast with a bottle of booze. Oh My GOD, it’s my bae Chen Renxiang!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Rui Rui asks what happened to Chen Lao Ban to be in such a state. It turns out the woman is the talkative prostitute from Nanjing who had taken Chen Lao Ban away before meeting Liu Hanyun. She had sought her freedom from the brothel and come to him in Shanghai. Upon her arrival, he was already in such disheveled state. Rui Rui asks his bae and the ex-prostitute to leave the room so he can have a heart-to-heart with Chen Renxiang. Rui Rui believes Chen Lao Ban put himself in such a state because he lost the competition. He tells him if he had been the one to lose, he would have done everything to better himself so he could fight him out once more. He had been impressed by how he had defended him against his uncle, seeing him as a hero so how did he become such a coward? Chen Lao Ban still remains quiet as Rui Rui lambast him, saying unlike the ex-prostitute he would have left him to die since he doesn’t seem to care about his own well-being. He sets out to leave when our sad ju’er finally speaks. He tells Rui Rui that he is indeed a coward and that the girl doesn’t care that he lives or die. Rui Rui yells at him that he is ungrateful dog for ignoring all the effort to girl has made to seek Rui Rui out and beg him to help Chen Renxiang out. Xiang Xiang replies that he is not talking about the ex-prostitute named Yueling, but his Shanghai girlfriend he had mentioned when they were on their way to Shanghai after the Liyuan Association incident. Apparently her parents did not approve of their relationship, thus the lovers decided to elope, however, they were caught by goons hired by her family. They broke his leg and dump him barren fields while taking her back home. He asks Rui Rui if he wasn’t a coward, what would he be? Rui Rui is like, yes, you are a coward since his girlfriend probably as no idea that he is injured and hiding out getting drunk off his ass. How would she know he is alright or care whether he is alive or dead if she doesn’t know where he is. That makes him an ungrateful dog, which Xiang Xiang tries to deny, but Rui Rui interrupts him telling him he thought of an idea for him to help him reach out to his girlfriend. Get his leg treated, so he can perform opera with Rui Rui, like this everyone in China will be talking about it, thus his girlfriend will be able to find him. Isn’t it better than him being a drunken stupor? This seems to bring a bit of hope to Xiang Xiang until he remembers the conditions of their bet. Rui Rui laughs at that, telling him he wasn’t serious about not letting him perform for a year. He tells him he will find a doctor to help set his leg back and that he needs to clean up and stop drinking. Xiang Xiang thank him for being his savior, but Rui Rui doesn’t want to hear his gratitude, he just wants him to perform well on stage as a thank you. Btw, even disheveled Tan Jian Ci is one sexy bish.

It takes everyone to help calm Xiang Xiang down while the doctor tries to set his leg. LOL, Rui Rui tells him that a girl is looking at him while he screams like one. The doctor gives Yueling some after-care directives. Rui Rui asks the doctor if his leg will get better, but the doctor is slightly optimistic. Sugar daddy and husband of the over eager penguin asks to speak to the doctor away from the sensitive ju’ers. Xiang Xiang senses something is wrong as he repeats it is destine disaster, then laughs. Rui Rui thinks he’s cray cray, but Xiang Xiang tells him he is laughing at his uncle Jiang Rongshou for having a useless son who he cannot impart his skills to, which kept him from teaching his fairy steps to anyone, until he finally taught it to Xiang Xiang, but now he is crippled, the Jiang Family fairy steps will be lost forever. Xiang Xiang tells Rui Rui that he got his revenge against the elder Jiang, but Rui Rui does not seem to gleeful at the prospect, which even gets Xiang Xiang attention. Rui Rui is like, yeah, I am on bad term with the old fart, but I have nothing against the Fairy Steps. In fact, it would hurt him to see such a superb skill get lost. WHY ARE YOU SO PRECIOUS???? I cannot, he is to sweet, my baby boy!!! Xiang Xiang bemoans the fact that he learned the skill so late in his career, having little time to master the essence of the skill. If he had learned it since he was a kid and hone the skills for years, he probably wouldn’t have lost against Rui Rui, who agrees. AGAIN WHY ARE YOU SO PRECIOUS? Xiang Xiang reveals that when he returned to Shanghai, an Italian fan asked to film his fairy steps and show them in Italy (damn, they were that popular!!!), but they didn’t agree on the price and he worried about his uncle’s objections, so it didn’t work out. He also regrets not taking any disciples to impart of his skills, and now he ponders who would remember his performances. STOP IT, OMG, I CANNOT ANYMORE. My Xiang Xiang is so depressed!! Rui Rui gets philosophical and replies the current situation is too precarious, especially for performers who may not have time to pass down their skills on time. What would be left for future generations to appreciate. Xiang Xiang replies that life and death go hand in hand, and that ups and downs are inevitable. This sounds like a man who has given up. I am balling. Rui Rui tries to comfort him, telling him to stop spitting such depressing things like life and death. How can he be dead when he met him. LOL, oh Rui Rui. He advises him to just live his life and that his girlfriend still waits for him. Xiang Xiang is like, you are right, I must live well and wipes his tears away.

Alone, he dreams about that fateful day when him and his girlfriend were running away from the goons employed by her family. Out of breath and tired of running, Renxiang decides to send her to hide while he deals with the goons, but unfortunately, she is taken away. As he asks the goons where she is, one of them taunts him, talking about his fairy steps and how it mesmerized the first miss (his girlfriend). Wait, what? DIdn’t he have this girlfriend prior to learning the Fairy Steps? I am confused. The man tells him he must break his legs so this filthy actor would not seduce any more young ladies from other good families. DAFUQ. I am tired at how everyone is looking down at opera actors. Even servants act uppity towards them. They are good enough to sleep with and be toys for the rich, but they can’t have meaningful relationship with them? That is fucked up. He wakes, all sweaty while Yueling comes in to bring the medicine. Then we switch to him doing some physical therapy with the crotches. The doctor tells him he is recovering well and Xiang Xiang presses him to find out when he could go back to the stage so he can reach out to his girlfriend. Yueling is like, no way, you are still recovering! It is clear that she loves him, but he is too enamored with his little rich miss. The doctor agrees with her, but Rui Rui is like, who cares about your legs, your voice is not harmed, so we’ll perform a literary piece and he will take of him on stage. Er Ye just stands there, smiling at his smol husband, and I can’t fault him for that. Xiang Xiang seems encouraged by Rui Rui’s pep talk, but Yueling is not happy.

That paper boy is busy af with Rui Rui selling newspapers like hotcakes. He announces the joint performance of Chen Lao Ban and Shang Lao Ban. Oh my Xiang Xiang looks good!! Oh wait, his twin Rui Rui, also wearing a white gown. Xiang Xiang is anxious while Rui Rui tells him to get ready for their performance. Apparently Xiang Xiang is waiting for someone, perhaps someone who had news of his girlfriend or his girlfriend herself. Rui Rui replies that he has been waiting for days and there has been no news. Maybe he told her about his family and she may have gone to Beiping to find him. Right at that moment, someone asks for him. He delivers a letter for him.

We see him looking at picture. Behind it are words written: “ We are not destined to be together in this lifetime. Hope we’ll each live well separately.” OH NO, it’s the girlfriend! I cannot figure out Xiang Xiang mood at this moment. It is kind of indescribable. Then, as he rubs the foundation in between his palms, a tear falls on the back of his. Oh my poor baby looks defeated, yet, a strange smile is on his face. He talks to himself as he stares at the mirror asking why he looks like a ghost. He tells himself that he looks ugly and depressed. I CAN’T CONTINUE, I AM CRYING TOO MUCH. I have a bad feeling about this guys, I just...sigh. He continue saying that he no longer wants to see himself anymore. Tears are forming in my eyes, everything is blurry.

We see him on the stage and the audience is asking why this third sister is carrying a sword. This is not part of this opera, so they wonder if they changed the opera at the last minute. My Xiang Xiang looks beautiful while the other actors are asking the same question as the audience. His character, Sister Yu is not supposed to have a sword. Even the orchestra is baffled. Seriously, who allowed him to carry the sword? Isn’t there anyone to take care of the props? Where is Rui Rui? Xiang Xiang starts singing without the music when Rui Rui finally appears. I guess he was still in his room getting ready. One of the actors asks him what is going on. I don’t think Rui Rui has any idea. He looks at the audience for their reactions and can see the confusion on their faces, but they remain quiet, no booing. The lyrics seemed to encapsulate his life, especially the moment that effectively broke his heart, destroyed his soul. Oh my God, no amount of makeup is able to cover the sadness on his face. GAAAH, and now this show has decided to rip out my heart and step on it, as Jiang Rongshou is seen, lounging on his chair, eyes closed. NOOO, SHOW DON’T DO THIS TO ME!!! We can hear Renxiang singing while we see Jiang Rongshou reaching out for his tea cup, but knocking it down. Oh, I know what that means in dramaspeak and I don’t want to see it. NO SHOW, please, don’t do this!! We see my lovely Xiang Xiang swinging the sword and cut his throat, much to the surprise of the actors, including Rui Rui. OH MY GOD I CAN’T. Jiang Rongshou is feeling some malaise as his son comes to see what is wrong. As Dengbao cleans up (despite my dislike of him, he is really a filial son). Jiang Senior shakes his head and says he doesn’t know. He’s been dozing off today and then asks if the young actors are still training. Dengbao confirms, but Jiang senior seems dissatisfied by them and their progress. They can’t seem to get the basic movements right, yet want to learn the fairy steps. He reminisce about Xiang Xiang and how he was able to learn 70-80 percent of the opera at their age. Dengbao replies how can they compare to the very talented Xiang Xiang. Dengbao tells his father to be patient for Xiang Xiang to make the Fairy Steps famous once he returns to the stage, but grumpy papa Jiang reproach Xiang Xiang for not writing to him since he went back to Shanghai. WAIL, he has no idea of the state Xiang Xiang was! Dengbao is like, you know how Shanghai is, Renxiang is probably having the time of his life. Why you do this to me show? Grumpy Jiang is like, yeah, when he is with me, he pretends to be filial, once he leave, he forgets all about me. Sigh, this show knows how to humanize these characters, even the ones you learn to hate. I hate this show. Stop making me have so much feels right now, even for the Jiangs! Papa Jiang cares for Xiang Xiang, wanting to see how he has improved once he return to perform. He dozes off again, and OH NO SHOW, STOOOOOPPPP. Don’t do this, don’t have Xiang Xiang voice from beyond the grave call on his uncle, asking to look at him. Startled, Jiang papa calls out for Xiang’er, asking if that is him. Jiang papa is taken aback and thinks its his old age causing his to have auditory hallucinations. WELP

Back at casa de Er Ye, we see our Rui Rui sitting pensively as he stares at the window. Er Ye opens the door and quietly enters the room. In the most romantic gestures this show encapsulate (they have so many, especially post-baby drama), Er Ye uses his fingers to imitate a camera, wanting to capture his hubby form forever. THE GAY IS EXPLODING IN MY FACE. If you still have doubt that Er Ye is utterly in love with his bratty penguin, I don’t know what to tell you. He walks up to him and sits in front of his beautiful wifey. So damn domestic! Oh my God is Er Ye really saying this right now? The sun has cast a pattern on your outfit. It’s just like dressing with a golden robe? This is too poetic! I want a man like this. Now I am crying again. He bemoans not bringing a camera to immortalize that moment. He probably would have carried the picture in his pocket like he did the one he gave to Rui Rui sister. He adds that if he went to get the camera, the moment would be lost since the sun would set. Rui Rui eyes are closed as he responds that yes, the moment would be gone, nothing stays. I guess he is referring to Xiang Xiang and the whole Shanghai trip. Er Ye agrees that the good times don’t last long, and tells him to take it easy. Rui Rui tells Er Ye that Chen Renxiang died on stage, it’s also considered a worthy death. Is it though? He didn’t with a happy heart, sacrificing himself for his art. He died depressed, realizing that everything he held dear was gone. What saddens Rui Rui is that life is unpredictable. Awww, our boy is learning about the realities of life and shedding a bit of his naivety. He bemoans what it entails to the legacy of the Fairy Steps since there is no one to showcase it on stage, and how an accident could also make his Goddess Dance along with the Shang Family Stick skill could disappear forever. You got to be thankful we live in the modern era where cameras captured all the dances forever for future generation to learn and nurture. Imagine the thousands of dances lost to us because there were no longer practitioners who cared to learn them or died without imparting their skills. This is indeed disheartening. Er Ye gets philosophical and says that God’s intention is hard to fathom and so is a person’s heart. He adds that Rui Rui’s time in Shanghai has widened his understanding of the world, introducing him to foreign things outside of his Beiping environment. Some were nice and fun, and sheer temptations. Even if life was an utopia, without birth, old age, diseases or deaths, it would be hard to guarantee that he would not succumbed to those temptations, wanting to throw away those things passed down by his ancestors (although Er Ye says ‘our’). Rui Rui says that he won’t, to which Er Ye replies that he might not, but can he guarantee that his apprentice won’t? That subsequent apprentices won’t? You cannot predict the future, nor can he predict what people or God have in store. The only thing that could remedy this is to encapsulate it on film, so it can be passed down for a long time. I agree with Er Ye on that point that movie is long lasting, but in a time of war, films can also be destroyed, either by fire or by enemies wanting to push their propaganda. Anyhoo, Rui Rui is not ready to agree to it, stating that a camera can only shoot the form of a person, there aren’t any details. It is the degree of the expressions, measurement of the footwork, the precision of the hand movements, that can be captured accurately on film and be used as training tools by future generation. He adds it is like drawing a tiger with a cat as a model, the kids would learn the wrong things. Er Ye replies that Rui Rui makes film sound useless, it is no wonder he is unwilling to make records. LOL, he practically called Rui Rui a technophobe. Rui Rui replies it is because he place too much importance on the audience reaction, he doesn’t dare to be careless about all those details aforementioned. He lives for the audience, wanting to be sure they enjoy themselves. Wait, honey, you seem to have no problem provoking them by changing the lyrics. What gives with this talk of hesitation!? He states that he would rather be tired and take on more apprentices to teach them. Er Ye questions this, asking him how long it would take for him to meet an eager disciple like Xiao Zhouzi. How much effort will it take to turn on into Zhou Lao Ban. Yeah, he lucked out with him because the boy was an innate talent. How many out there have such capacity? Rui Rui replies that he will take his time and misses him home, and troupe. Er Ye sighs and says that he also misses his home. Btw, they’ve been in Shanghai for more than a month (probably three at the time they are talking). Ugh, I wasn’t expecting to see Er Nainai so quick. She is still doing accounting, closing out the books for Shuiyin Lou. LOL, she ended up doing the accounting for them after all. Oh oh, she is thinking of Fengyi. That’s not a good thing.

Oh shit, she comes to Shuyin the next day. What is she planning? She is greeted by one of the actors, who tells her they’ve been diligently training and improving upon the things she taught them. Shit starter Shi Jiu does not seem to approve of this ass kissing, and I don’t blame her, especially since he throws his troupe leader under the bus or rickshaw. YOOOO, this maid is opening her mouth again? Shut her up. She once again insults the performers saying their pitch is higher than her bird. SHUT YOUR MOUTH. I have it up to here with her arrogant ass. Shi Jiu is about to tongue lash this bish, but is stop her Rong Lan. Er Nainai states that their boss can easily remove himself from an undesirable situation. LOL, cannot blame him for you suddenly appearing and ordering him around his own house, sweetie. Not only that but you insulted him, looked down upon him, in his own house! Anyhoo, she adds that he left her a big mess that she had to take care of. She had to set order in this house, give them some rules (gurl, they were fine without you).

Best girl Xiao Lai brings her some tea while they sit in that same room where she insulted my baby. Sigh, I really don’t want to talk about the maid, she leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth. She is soiling Shuyin House with her presence. She insults my Xiao Lai by looking down on the tea she has prepared for Er Nainai, saying they brought their own with such indignation, as if the tea was made with piss. I don’t think I have ever hated a character for simply existing. Good job on the actress for being so irritating. Wait, no, I have always hated the maids on C drama. They are insufferable, act haughty af depending on their mistress status, and are the biggest bullies. Er Nainai is like, someone is missing. The troupe responds that everyone is here and that little shit replies that no, people, Er Nainai is talking about the baby. HOW THE FUCK WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO KNOW. Dasheng replies the baby is in the room away from your ugly face. No Rong Lan, don’t do it, let that little shit do some work instead of running her mouth! Rong Lan brings Fengyi to Er Nainai. Sigh, don’t that little shit get anywhere close to Rui Rui’s niece! Well, at least Fengyi is softening Er Nainai who states the baby can catch a chill if not covered properly and tells her servants to take out the items she brought. Lol, even Shi Jiu notices the change in behavior, claiming that Er Nainai went from Empress Dowager Cixi to a living Buddha. Rong Lan is like, well at least with Er Nainai growing closer to the little Goddess of Wealth, Er Ye would not have any problems bringing her home. Shi Jiu does not approve and agree with my shit starter. DAFUQ, is that little shit bossing the actors around. GTFO. Who allowed her to speak. Fuck this. Ugh, I don’t want to hear her voice anymore. She tells her boss that she doesn’t understand why she cares so much for the baby since she has unknown origins. Seriously, GTFO. Er Nainai replies the child should not be punish for the adults’ sins. Wait, is that little shit still believe Er Ye is the father? Bish, go away, get out of my screen. I wished Fengyi would cry so hard to make her deaf. I hope Xiao Lai would disinfect the area when they leave. Gotta get that stank ass out.

Okay, I am done bishing about that maid. I seriously don’t know why the show had to aggrieve me with her presence. Did I do something in my past life to suffer so much? Talking about suffering, why did you kill my Xiang Xiang, show?? I had expected a death similar to the ending of Farewell my Concubine, but I did not expect it would be him. However, in hindsight, his words spoken back in Nanjing revealed his mindset about life. He had admonished Rui Rui for being solely focused on the opera with no outside distractions. For him, his girlfriend offered the distraction he sought outside of the opera. Without her, and without his ability to perform at 100 percent due to his injury, he was left to nothing. The true coward in this depressing episode is Chen Renxiang’s girlfriend, who bowed to her family pressure and married a man she didn’t love. Unlike Yu Qing who willingly left her family behind for an uncertain love, Chen Renxiang girlfriend gave up a willing love for her family. The constant reminder of how people looked down upon performers acted like a shadow permeating this entire episode. Even with the bookending scenes involving the maid, we see the indignation, the dislike towards the performers. Despite their fame, they are look as trash, good enough to admire and even bed, but not good enough to truly respect. It’s a constant theme we are shown throughout the show. Even Rui Rui, who cares so much about the audience, can’t escape this reality. Perhaps why we have that moment when Er Ye tells him he would walk through fire to stand by his side, because only Er Ye seems him as his equal, who respects him and only wants the best for him. Hence the talk about capturing his skills and likeness on film. Sigh, will Rui Rui give in and let him film him so the future generation can gain an appreciation for the art the same way he has?

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pi-cat000 · 5 years

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MSA time travel idea (part 35)

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Vivi POV, 8, 9, 10, Lewis POV, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, Lance POV 18, 19, Lewis POV 2, 21 , 22, Vivi POV 2, 24, 25 Lewis POV 3, Mystery POV , Vivi POV 3, 29, Lewis POV 4, 31, ViVi POV 4 , 33, 34

Part 36: here

LEWIS POV:

Whereas he barely felt the knife stabbing into him, Lewis definitely feels it come out. It doesn’t help that the thing pretending to be Arthur seems to be going out of its way to cause as much pain as possible. And yes, there is a lot of pain. Even with a whole lot of adrenaline smoothing over the worst of it, it is probably the worst thing Lewis has ever experienced. It briefly whites out his vision, so he almost misses Arthur as he steps out of the torchlight. What Lewis does see, in amongst the white spots, is that twisted uncanny smile, smug and self-assured. Nothing like any expression he has seen Arthur make before. It’s all wrong.

Lewis doesn’t remember kneeling, but he must have because suddenly Vivi is crouched in front of him, supporting his weight, preventing from face-planting into the concrete. Quickly, she ties her scarf around his side.

“I’m fine,” He mutters, trying to wave her away, “Go after Arthur.”

“You’ve been stabbed,” Vivi objects, frustrated, adding, “…and I can’t,” blue eyes meeting his before flicking over to Mystery who is blocking her way. The dog is glowing red, and his growls make Lewis’s neck prickle with unease despite not being the target. Right. Because, not only is Arthur possessed by that thing, but Mystery is a supernatural whatever as well. If he weren’t in so much pain, the revelation would be more impactful.

His next words are drowned out by another louder shout.

“ALRIGHT ASSHOLE…STOP RIGHT THERE!”

Both he and Vivi turn. Lewis stares openly at the middle-aged man who seems to have materialised from the gloom, holding a shotgun that moves between all three of them, landing on Arthur.

“Nobody move.” Is ordered in a tone consisting of visibly uncontained rage which doesn’t bode well in the slightest. Just when Lewis thinks they are done with the nasty surprises, another one comes crawling from the woodwork. Lewis struggles to stand so he’s ready to run if need be, his side throbs with a spike of intense pain.

The man, Lewis vaguely recognises him but, with the darkened surroundings, he is hard to really place, addresses Vivi, “Never heard of Arthur huh?”

Vivi stiffens, and Lewis realises, with a quick note of leather clothing, that this must be the leather-wearing crazy guy from earlier. Though, given the circumstances, perhaps he isn’t as crazy as initially thought.

“Good thing I didn’t believe yah now isn’t. You kids are in some real shit,” The man glowers past them, “I finally got ya. Nowhere to run now.”

“I’m sorry. Have we met? You human’s all look alike,” The body snatcher, Lewis refuses to think of this thing as Arthur, sounds mildly irritated.

“You fucking know who I am!”

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself.” Lewis recognises one of his chef knives as it is waved around flippantly.

“Sonofabitch. You’re going to regret messing with…”

“Hold it. Wait…” The body snatcher interrupts, clicking its fingers, “I remember. Wait. No…I’ve lost it. Maybe give me a hint?”

The man’s face twists into a snarl of furry, “Slimy rat-bastard…If you think for one…”

“Oh! I’ve got it! Mickey. No. Micky. Yes. Apologies. You were such a useless, forgettable host that it completely slipped my mind.” If the body snatcher is trying to make the other man mad, it is succeeding. Worried, Lewis observes the livid expression on the gunman’s face. Even in the dark, the rage is very apparent.

“How is that gunshot wound treating you? It looks infected.”

“How about I give you a matching one, and you can tell me all about it!?”

“Tch,” Arthur’s green eyes narrow losing some of their humour. Then, seemingly addressing none of the people present, it comments, “And this is exactly why leaving hosts alive always backfires.”

Before, when the creature had been supposedly conversing with Mystery, it had made clear eye-contact with the dog. Now, it gestures loosely into the middle distance. It’s talking to Arthur, he realises, and it simultaneously fills him with hope and makes him sick to the stomach.

“They all get this notion in their head that it’s my fault their pathetic lives went down the toilet. And then it’s all ‘you’ll pay for this’ and whatnot.” It turns Arthur’s eyes back to Micky, “I suppose you’re still mad about your brother. Dan was it?”

“Don’t say you dare say his name!”

“Dan? Short for Daniel? The most promising exorcist in three generations and far better than you could ever be? That Daniel? …Maybe if you’d been even half of what he was, you wouldn’t have been possessed so damn easily. I mean, this kid put up more of a fight, and he’s pretty much a walking collection of neurosis.’”

“I said shut the fuck up!”

“Did you even go back to bury him, or did you just leave him there? What happened to all the ritual, funeral nonsense to send his soul on its merry way? How disrespectful.”

The gun clicks. It’s like it wants to get shot! Lewis feels Vivi tense beside him and knows that she has come to the same conclusion.

“Stop!” Vivi lurches uprights, trying and failing to dodge around Mystery. “If you shoot, you’ll kill Arthur!”

“That fucking brat sent us to our deaths. He’s just as guilty.”

The body snatcher sniggers, “I’m sure Dan would be very unimpressed at how you’re threatening this poor innocent human. I mean, if he weren’t a shish-kebab at the bottom of a cave.”

A loud, almost animalistic, yell. In the fraction of an instant before the gun goes off, Arthur’s body lurches to the right. For a moment, it looks like Arthur might manage to dodge. Lewis’s breath catches.

Crack.

The gun fires. Arthur flickers. It is as if, for a split second, there are two people overlayed atop each other. If the body snatcher is planning to dodge, protecting both itself and Arthur, it fails, stumbling, visibly hurt.

Next, there is an explosion of energy, briefly lighting the space with ominous red. From the flash leaps a giant canid creature with many lashing tails, obstructing his view. The gunman, obviously just as surprised by its appearance, turns wildly, aiming the gun at the new threat. A second shot discharges with another loud crack, point-blank, right into second monster’s chest. The giant- Lewis thinks it might be a fox- doesn’t falter, slamming into the gun-wielding maniac, jaws closing on the weapon.

“Arthur!” Vivi’s voice snaps his attention back to Arthur. Lewis is not sure where the bullet has hit but the way the body snatcher’s face twists, spitting to itself, “You little shit,” before toppling over backwards, means it hit somewhere. He struggles to follow Vivi, who has already run forward, ignoring how his side burns and his breath is more laboured than it should be. Lewis hurries up to his prone friend, spotting the quickly spreading stain of red on Arthur’s left shoulder.

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Vivi mutters, “Bleeding…that’s a lot of blood. Need to control the bleeding.” She pulls off her shirt, placing it over the wound, pressing down. Arthur’s eyes snap open, bright green, focusing on Vivi and then on him. They flicker to golden-brown.

“Arthur?” Vivi breaths, also noticing the change.

“Vi…”

“Shh. Don’t speak. Everything will be okay. I don’t think its hit anything important. Just lie still.”

Gold flickers to green again, and Arthur grins, “What’s…up. You…goin…watch him die …with me?” The words get chocked off when the gold returns. The smiles twists into something more pained. Lewis leans in as Arthur tries to speak again.

“No.” Vivi puts out a hand, leaving a red mark on his shirt, “Don’t make skin contact.”

Green and gold flicker again, so fast that the two colours bleed into each other like coloured ink running together. “Even if …you save him…I’ll be here. You’ll never get me out…He’ll be mine for…” It’s the body snatcher, struggling to form words as blood trickles out the corner of Arthur’s mouth.

“Don’t talk,” Vivi snaps. The hand nearest to him twitches, trying to touch her wrist. But the blood loss has made it slow and lethargic, allowing Vivi to draw away.

“Lewis, hold his arm down so it doesn’t try to grab me. I need to keep pressure on this. Do you have your phone on you? We need to call for help, like an ambulance, and….”

Vivi’s instructions wash over him as he stares at the hand then back at Arthur. If they do save Arthur, then they would be right back to where they started, with this thing piloting around his friend’s body. Probably, hurting Arthur in the process because he can’t imagine that it’s a present experience. Lewis takes his phone from his back pocket and places in on the ground.

“Lew…is.” It’s Arthur again, barely managing to speak, breathing hard as Vivi pushes down, stemming the worst of the flow. Even the two words sound so defeated and sad. Lewis can’t just do nothing. Not when he can save Arthur from this thing. In that moment, in the seconds between Arthur’s breathing and the sounds of fighting behind him, Lewis reaches to take Arthur’s hand.

“Look after Arthur.” He orders. Vivi makes a brief noise of objection, but it is too late.

Skin against skin.

Arthur’s hand is unnaturally cold.

There is a sharp pain in his palm which travels up the limb. Quickly, he lurches upright, stumbling two steps back to get as far away from Vivi and Arthur as possible. A portion of his arm begins to turn a sickly green, which travels up towards his shoulder. Arthur, the real Arthur, is now the picture of horror.

“W…hy?” His friend coughs. Lewis finds he can’t respond, body frozen. Slowly, green creeps, inching along, making his skin crawl.

Then, a heavy weight hits him from behind, causing him to stagger. Jaws and sharp teeth clamp down around his upper arm, halting the green. One large, red eye stares at him, almost apologetic. As if moving in slow motion, Lewis sees the fox bite and hears the crunch of bone splintering. Blood droplets spin hypnotically in the air.

It is probably fortunate that, right then, Lewis is yanked back and away. If he can’t handle the pain of a stab wound, he can’t imagine enjoying the sensation of having his arm ripped apart. This is what Lewis thinks while he falls into deeper, more complete darkness.

He is falling, nothingness surrounding him. He is falling right up until he isn’t.

Above him, a ceiling fades into view. Confused, he blinks at the pale grey roof overhead. Is he dead? He doesn’t feel dead. Hurriedly, Lewis sits upright, grasping for his arm. It is still there, attached to his shoulder, no worse for wear. Except, Lewis’s eyes widen, watching the limb flicker, disappearing then reappearing. He can feel it and move it, but when he stares at it for too long, it doesn’t seem real. Transparent.

“…have known… too good to be true….It’s always too good to be true…” The irritated voice, though muffled, is familiar. Lewis twists, searching for its source, finding himself on the floor of a grey-coloured version of the Kingsman workshop. However, unlike Kingsman Mechanics, which was always alive with activity and the sound of machinery, everything here is still and eerily silent. Through the open garage doors, instead of the Tempo desert, Lewis sees an expanse of endless grey void. Across the floor and ceiling spreads several jagged cracks like the room is seconds from falling to pieces.

“…there was no way in any of the hells that some punk human would get away with breaking The Rules and not have it blow up in their stupid face...”

Leaning against the workbench, a few feet away, is Arthur. Only, it’s not Arthur. The skin is tinted green, not unlike his arm in those brief moments before Lewis was pulled down here.

“…and I just got suckered in like some witless porn.” Growling, kicking the bench irritably, not-Arthur grumbles, “What a waste of potential.”

Slowly, Lewis tries to climb to his feet without catching its attention. He is unsuccessful because, no sooner has he moved, its eyes snap to him. Now, instead of bright green, they are flecked with golden yellow.

“Hello Lewis,” It greets in a voice so like Arthur’s that it grates on Lewis’s ears. A larger crack appears across the ceiling, lengthening, almost splitting the room in half. Grey dust rains down around them, and the room shakes.

“Nice of you to stop by, even if it is for a few seconds. I was so looking forward to possessing you too. It really is a shame.”

Lewis glares at the twisted, mock version of his friend, who, despite everything, is still grinning. Now his mind is no longer muddled with the pain of a stab wound, there is new mounting anger. He clenches a fist.

“What’s the matter big guy? Had a rough day? Not often you get stabbed by your best friend now is it?”

Lewis should be scared. This thing has made it apparent that it didn’t give two shits about killing him. Hell, this bastard had stabbed him. Lewis glances briefly at his side. There is no wound to be seen. In his mind’s eye, he sees the last few minutes flash past. He can see Arthur, in pain. His best friend had looked so defeated. Somehow he knows it is this things fault. Everything until now, all the supernatural weirdness and confusion, this thing is at the centre of it all. No, Lewis isn’t scared. He's furious.

"There's the Lewis I was waiting to see. None of that sentimental concerned crap…only anger,” The fake-Arthur grins wider, noting his rage.

"This is your fault." He snaps in lieu of a proper come-back, taking an aggressive step forward clenching and unclenching his fist. "What did you do to Arthur.”

“Hehe, still more worried about Arthur? You really should adjust your priorities, considering there is a high chance that my removal will kill you. Losing an arm isn’t pretty.”

Lewis twitches. The rage builds. It builds in waves, expanding to fill his chest and, before he knows it, he’s across the room, picking the fake-Arthur up by the shirt, and slamming into a wall. There is no real-Arthur here to hold him back. He wants to wipe that smile off its face and make it pay for all the stress and hurt it has forced on all of them in the last few days.

“What happened to Arthur!”

A scoff of contempt. “Nothing happened to Artie, aside from getting shot, he’s back in his body. All he had to do was sit back and not interfere, but instead, he got in the way like the suicidal little shit he is. I’d watch out for that, your friend is a real basket case.”

Lewis sees fire and red. He slams the creature against the wall, causing new cracks to form and spread like a spider web. It feels unevenly satisfying to hurt this creature. It feels good right up until the body snatcher turns its face into something that looks almost exactly like Arthur. No smug smile. Just pain. If it weren’t for the green skin, Lewis might have believed it.

“So willing to hurt Arthur. You’re giving me goosebumps.”

His grip falters. “You’re not Arthur,” He retorts.

“No. But I look like him. Not that that matters when assigning blame. No wonder Arthur is scared of you.”

His anger simmers down into something more akin to apprehension. Before, outside his family diner, the demon had said something about knowing the truth behind Arthur’s reason for avoiding him. What did this thing know?

Lewis grits his teeth, "I didn't do anything to Arthur. I couldn’t of. It must be something else. Another variable." That’s what Vivi said, and she is right. Why does it sound like he's trying to convince himself now?

"Is that what you think, or is that what our good friend Vivi thinks? She's smart, I'll give you that, a real catch, but you can't rely on her for everything. You have to make your own decisions based on what you want. You know Arthur is scared. You saw it. Pure fear."

The body snatcher gives him a shove in the chest, forcing Lewis to drop the other to the floor. Tense, he watches it spend a moment straitening its shirt in a very Arthur-like move. Suddenly, he feels very guilty despite knowing this was only a replica of his friend.

It grins again, glancing up, “I can show you, you know. I have Arthur’s memories. I can leave them behind before I’m forced to leave." More cracks are appearing now, covering every surface like one half of the room is about to fall away. Deliberately, fake-Arthur leans towards him, “What do you say?”

“Arthur will tell me the truth when he’s ready.” Lewis wants to object further but finds the words stuck.

It laughs, an unpleasant sound, full of malice, “Not if he thinks the truth will hurt you. He’ll continue lying for forever if he thinks it’ll protect you. Besides, you might die right now, so Arthur might not even get the chance. Then you’ll never know.”

Uneasy, Lewis swallows, realising that it is right. Arthur would lie to protect him and Vivi. It is probably the reason why he’d been lying for the last few weeks. Lewis frowns down at the ground, breaking eye contact, trying to work through what he actually wants and not liking the answer. Its got him. Despite knowing that having Arthur’s memories is a bad idea that it will cause more harm than good, he finds he doesn’t care.

"Well, do you want the truth or not? Quickly now, I don't have a lot of time here."

Why is Arthur scared? He needs to know why. He desperately needs to know.

“I want to know.” He says it before he can really help it.

One elongated step and the body snatcher is suddenly close, acting before Lewis can change his mind. He attempts to move back, but the body snatcher is reaching up, grabbing his collar, yanking him down to eye level, “Good choice.”

Lewis instinctively pulls back, but the faker's eyes swirl hypnotically, shifting to a more potent green, holding him in place.

"It’s been nice talking, I think I’m beginning to see why Arthur’s so damn obsessed with you, so much delicious internal conflict...but alas our time is up.”

The walls around them crumble, splintering apart.

“It may be a day, a year or even a few decades, but I’ll be back so we’ll meet again. That's a promise."

The workshop dissolves.

"Until then, enjoy Arthur’s memories. And remember, you wanted this."

Note: Lewis joins Arthur in the pit of bad decisions.

Part 36: here

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maatryoshkaa · 5 years

Text

Sunshine Boy | Kim Seungmin

Summary: Kim Seungmin is the bright-eyed English major who walks you to class whilst humming a Day6 song softly, and who you find yourself falling for more and more every day.

Genre: fluff, college!au, student!seungmin, student!reader

Word Count: 2k

Pairing: kim seungmin x reader

Features: seo changbin, lee felix, i.e. some soft changlix hours

Warnings: none! except maybe death by cheesiness i suppose ;D

Requested: #25: “It’s not a double-date, really. We’re kind of just third- and fourth-wheeling.”; #33: “So I heard that I make you nervous.”

why does ryu always end up too invested in these scenarios and write a full-on fic? the universe may never know. enjoy~

When it came to things that made you nervous, there were final exams, sorority parties, and then there was Kim Seungmin.

Seungmin was the kind of guy everyone seemed to like, in one way or another. You’d met during freshman orientation: he’d been an English major from Seoul who’d noticed how lost you looked, and offered to show you around -- to which you, after stuttering more than you’d like to admit, gratefully accepted.

Seungmin still insisted on walking you to your classes long after you’d stopped getting lost -- had it become a habit? -- and that was how you began eating lunch with him and his friend group, which mostly consisted of eight other boys.

Kim Seungmin had the energy of a puppy, a stark contrast to the other students on campus, who were mostly zombies hungover on coffee and all-nighters, dragging themselves to class. Seungmin was the one who usually dragged you to your classes -- now that you thought about it, you probably owed more than half of your attendance to him. What could you say? Sometimes, you thought, that bright, carefree smile and the soft, familiar tunes of a Day6 song trickling from his phone were the only thing that made you want to get out of bed.

You didn’t think you would ever get sick of opening the door and seeing Seungmin grin brightly back at you, because gosh -- Kim Seungmin put the sun to shame.

And, as much as you’d hate to admit it, Sunshine Boy sure made you feel some type of way.

You’d thought that the butterflies roused from walking with a cute guy would subside over time. It wasn’t like you hadn’t tried to squash your growing crush on him: every morning, you would take a deep breath (or twenty), repeating he’s just a friend, he’s just being nice, he’s just a friend, y/n, like a prayer before Seungmin’s face would appear in the peephole of the door, and lo and behold -- you were a blushing, nervous mess oncemore.

Seungmin was probably one of your closest friends on campus. After two semesters of walking each other to class, sneaking each other snacks between classes, pulling all-nighters tucked in the alcove of the library -- it was no wonder people talked. You tried to ignore all the playful nudges and giggles of students as they passed you in the halls, hushed whispers of “are they a couple yet?” and “see them? aren’t they cute together?” making your heart pound so hard you could swear Seungmin could hear it. Nevertheless, you always pulled him along, your heart sinking as you smothered your own feelings.

Still, no matter how hard you tried, it was no use. You were utterly, hopelessly in love with the most clueless boy on campus.

∘◦ ☆ ◦∘

“Can’t we ride the Viking one more time? Please?”

Felix, one of Seungmin’s friends, was tugging on the sleeve of a slightly green Seo Changbin, half-eaten clouds of cotton candy in his hands. All around you were sounds of laughter and delightful shrieks, children and couples alike enjoying the warm spring day.

You weren’t quite sure how you got here -- Changbin and Felix had insisted on dragging you and Seungmin to Lotte World as soon as spring break started, your stomach filling with equal parts excitement and dread at the proposition. This was the first time you’d properly hung out with Seungmin, without the excuse of study dates and tutoring sessions, and you were determined to make it a good memory. You’d rode every ride in the park at least two or three times by now, and the two boys were still going strong, you and Seungmin trailing behind like slightly concerned parents.

You were sat on a park bench now, having followed the mouth-watering scent of noodles to a street food vendor. Seungmin was beside you, tapping his fingers to a tuneless song. Your eyes wandered to Felix and Changbin -- for two friends, they showed an awful lot of skinship -- Felix’s arms wrapped around Changbin, blonde head nuzzled in his neck as they flipped through the park’s brochure together.

anyone who hangs out with changlix is third wheeling sorry

The vendor, a kindly middle-aged woman, set down three bowls of steaming ramen. “Enjoy.” She cast a meaningful look at Changbin and Felix, then to you and Seungmin, and winked. “On a double-date, are we? Ah, you remind me of when I was young.”

You felt your face heat up, heart pounding as the words echoed in your reddened ears. Double date. Double date. Double date.

At least, until you heard Seungmin laugh awkwardly beside you. “It’s...not a double-date, really. We’re--” he jabbed a thumb in your direction -- “kind of just third- and fourth- wheeling.” He jokingly jutted his chin out at Felix, arms still wrapped tightly around a protesting Changbin.

The lady laughed good-naturedly and walked away, leaving the four of you in awkward silence.

You could feel Changbin’s and Felix’s eyes boring into you as you hung your head, hoping your hair covered your blushing face and the hot tears brimming in your eyes. Seungmin’s words stung -- just another reminder of how you would never have a chance with him. He would never return your feelings. He was scrolling through his phone now, a small smile playing on his lips. He had been looking at his phone all day, you recalled with a pang. Anyone could tell from his expression that he was in love, eyes practically glowing at whatever was on his screen. Did he get a girlfriend? A new crush you didn’t know about? Probably.

Still, like always, you forced a smile. “Hey, Seungmin, eat your ramen before it gets cold.”

∘◦ ☆ ◦∘

The sun was setting, the day finally coming to a close as Felix and Changbin ran around snapping pictures of each other for a memento -- by the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round, and with the mascots. Seungmin nudged you, a smile in his voice. “Do you want a picture? Just give me your phone, i’ll take one of you.”

You shook your head. “I forgot my phone in my dorm today. Don’t worry about it.”

Seungmin furrowed his brows. “The lighting is so nice though -- and the background is pretty, too. C’mon, I’ll take a picture with my phone and send it to you later.”

Your protests fell on deaf ears as Seungmin positioned you in front of the castle, him practically lying down on the cobblestone to get a good angle making you giggle despite yourself. He came up grinning ear to ear, handing you his phone.

“Here, take my phone for now -- that way, you can take pictures of whatever you want.” And then he turned to chase after Changbin and Felix. You swiped to the camera, taking a few shots of the amusement park to save for yourself, walking around absently.

The next time you looked up from the phone camera, you’d lost sight of the boys, waves of passersby rushing by you to catch the fireworks show. You looked around frantically, but it was no use -- you couldn’t see them anywhere. Panicking, you fumbled with Seungmin’s phone. Unlocking it with your fingerprint -- you both had each other’s fingerprint on your phones, just a small gesture of trust between close friends -- you tried to call Changbin.

Instead, as the screen unlocked, you came face-to-face with a picture of yourself -- the photo Seungmin had taken in front of the Lotte World Castle. Taken aback, you continued swiping -- this was his camera roll, right?

Instead of other miscellaneous pictures, however, you were met with more and more pictures of you. Some of them had Seungmin in it, and you felt a wistful feeling tug at your heart as you looked at them. Ones of you asleep in the library, cheek pillowed on a textbook; you sipping a caramel macchiato on one of your numerous coffee shop study dates; you laughing at something he’d said during your walks in the campus park; the two of you in the back of the lecture hall; even the blurriest, least flattering photos you’d sent him of you. So it was an album. Seungmin had an album for you? You felt your heart stir at the mere thought, but shook your head. So what? Friends took pictures of friends all the time. It didn’t mean anything.

You scrolled up -- and your heart stopped when you saw the album name.

Girl I’m in Love With

∘◦ ☆ ◦∘

“I swear I literally just saw her! She was right here!” Seungmin protested, as Changbin sighed.

“I swear, Seungmin.”

“I guess you’ve finally done it, huh?” Felix grinned, voice teasing. Changbin, one of the only other people who knew you had a crush on Seungmin, shot him a warning look, but the blond continued. “You finally scared her off, mate.”

Seungmin frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. We should probably call a park ranger or someth--” Changbin started.

“Mate, are you blind or something?” Felix threw his hands up, exasperated. “Don’t you see how nervous you make her? This whole day was probably the too much for her.” He shook his head. “Gosh, Seungmin, you really are dense when it comes to people who like y--”

Changbin stomped on Felix’s foot, effectively shutting him up, before promptly whirling around to face Seungmin.

“Don’t listen to him, he’s-he’s just being dumb. We should probably…”

But Seungmin wasn’t listening, his brain still short-circuiting around the last words Felix had said. People who like y...like you? There’s no way -- she likes me--

Seungmin’s heart was yo-yoing between euphoria and being absolutely shook as Changbin waved a hand in front of his dazed, lovestruck eyes. “Hello? Earth to Seungmin?”

Instead of answering, the younger boy turned and dove into the sea of tourists, making his way back to you.

∘◦ ☆ ◦∘

You stared at the words, dumbfounded. Girl I’m in Love With. Love? As in...love, love? So was this what Seungmin had been smiling at all day? You were wandering around in a daze, unable to peel your eyes from the screen.

“What are you looking at?”

--was the last thing you heard before you crashed into the chest of a familiar boy. You felt arms wrap securely around you as you looked up at Seungmin. He raised an eyebrow at his phone in your hands, screen still open to his photo album of you.

“I. Um. I was just, I mean, I saw--” you stammered, eyes shaking as you struggled to fathom words. “You--I’m--you’re--in love with...me?”

Seungmin raised his eyebrows, bringing his face even closer to yours. He was smiling -- and in that moment you remembered that Seungmin’s smiles could be equal parts sunshine and mischief -- and this one was pure, teasing mischief.

“Rather than that…” he tilted his head. “I heard that I make you nervous.”

Your jaw dropped, eyes widening as Seungmin grinned. You mentally cursed Felix and Changbin, avoiding Seungmin’s intent gaze on your tomato-red face.

“Fine,” he said, eyes searching your face for a response. “I’m--in love with you. Have been, for a long, long ti--”

BANG.

The two of you jumped as the darkening sky was set ablaze with fireworks. Vivid trails of shimmering golds and pinks and blues exploded in a symphony of sound, both your eyes wide as you took in the breathtaking display. Seungmin’s words, though, rang louder than the spectacle.

“O-oh,” you squeaked softly, the flaring lights pressing stars to your eyes when you blinked. “Well, then...I guess I’m in love with you, too.”

Seungmin laughed, clear and bright as ever as he pulled you closer to him, rocking you side to side with a gentle playfulness. He took you in, mesmerized by the way your gaze seemed to reflect the entire night sky back at him, fireworks ablaze in your eyes. And, even if just for a moment, time seemed to stop as Seungmin slowly leaned in, lacing your hands together as his lips met yours in the softest, sweetest kiss. The moment was impossibly tender; everything seemed to fall away as you lost yourselves in each other’s lips, eyes fluttering shut as the sky lit up in a myriad of colours.

A faint whistle and clapping was what made you finally pull away. Sure enough, Felix and Changbin were standing and holding popcorn, watching you two with big, smug smiles on their faces. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Felix yelled.

You turned back to Seungmin, who just shrugged and laughed. “I guess it is a double date.”

His ears were a cute shade of red as he buried his face in your shoulder in embarrassment, but he came up smiling. It was the same bright smile you’d known since the moment you’d met, and the same one you knew you’d fall in love with over and over again.

Well.

When it came to things that lit up the world, there were fireworks, there was the sun, and then there was Kim Seungmin.

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