#got7 action romance

[yumiyue07]

Through Fire and Blood

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★ POV: K-idol x reader

H/N = His name Y/N = Your name

M/N1 = Member 1’s name (choose any member of your bias’ group) M/N2 = Member 2’s name (choose any member of your bias’ group) M/N3 = Member 3’s name (choose any member of your bias’ group)

Trigger warning: swearing, violence ｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★

Shortly after his team set off, the first clues arrived. M/N1 and M/N2 came into the office, their expressions grave.

"We found the driver," M/N1 reported, his voice filled with a mix of relief and concern. "He was unconscious somewhere near our garage. It looks like he was sedated and hidden under blankets, so he wouldn't immediately catch the eye. I suspect the kidnapper didn't want to waste so much time and, therefore, left him lying nearby."

H/N's face remained etched with tension and worry. "Or he wanted us to find him easily to get the information we need," he replied, his voice strained.

"That could also be the case," M/N1 responded, nodding. "He's slowly coming to. As soon as he's conscious, we'll question him."

"Good," H/N responded tersely, his voice strained. The tension and worry etched deeply on his face were unmistakable. It was clear that he was growing increasingly desperate.

"We'll find her and bring her back unharmed. Don't worry, boss," M/N2 said, attempting to inject some optimism into the room.

H/N nodded absently, his mind racing with a mix of fear and anger. His normally composed demeanor was fractured by the intense emotions battling within him.

The room fell silent as H/N stared at his desk, his fists clenched. A storm of emotions raged inside him: worry for you, disappointment that he couldn't protect you as he had promised, and unbridled anger at the bastard who had dared to kidnap you.

He had always been the protector, the one who kept you safe from the dangers of his world. The thought of you in the hands of a captor made his blood boil. The fear of losing you gnawed at him, but he couldn't afford to let it paralyze him. You were his everything, and he would move heaven and earth to bring you back safely. He had to act, and fast. The clock was ticking, and failure was not an option.

Suddenly, the door was wrenched open, the force of it snapping H/N back to the present. He immediately jumped up and ran around his desk. Standing in the doorway, breathing heavily, was M/N3.

"Boss, sorry to barge in like this. This letter has just been delivered for you."

H/N's eyes widened as he snatched the letter, tearing it open with a jerk. A bloodstained necklace tumbled out, clattering ominously on the desk. H/N's pulse quickened, his mind going blank for a moment. The others in the room stared at the necklace, exchanging uneasy glances.

"They hurt her," H/N whispered, disbelief and fury mingling in his voice." We have to find her now!" he shouted, his rage erupting. He slammed his fist on the desk, the sound echoing in the tense silence. "I’m going to disintegrate him for hurting Y/N. This fucking bastard!"

As he struggled to compose himself, his phone buzzed with a new message. An unknown number had sent him a photo. He opened it with trembling hands and froze. Your bound, bloodied hands were visible, drops of blood staining the floor beneath them.

The message read: "Let's play a game. Try to find her. If you're late, she'll die. You have until midnight."

H/N felt a wave of nausea wash over him at the sight of your bloodied hands and the message. He would lose you if he couldn't find you in time.

M/N1, noticing the sudden change in his boss's demeanor, rushed to his side.

"Boss, what's going on?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. As H/N handed him the phone, M/N1's expression darkened. The tension in the room was palpable as they all processed the grim message. Glancing at the clock, they realized they had a mere eight hours to rescue you.

"We need to act fast. She could be anywhere," M/N1 said firmly, taking charge of the situation. He instructed the others to check on the chauffeur and bring him in for questioning. "By the way, who delivered this letter, M/N3?"

"It was a man on a motorcycle. He threw the letter at one of our men outside and disappeared immediately," M/N3 replied, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and anger.

M/N2 and M/N3 dashed to the door, their urgency evident.

Meanwhile, M/N1 stayed by H/N's side, offering reassurance. "We'll find her, boss. I promise you. She means as much to us as she does to you."

H/N nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of what might be happening to you. He sat in his chair, leaning his arms on the desk with his head in his hands. He knew he couldn't afford to lose hope.

He closed his eyes, your beautiful face immediately filling his mind. H/N's heart ached with guilt. He blamed himself for not protecting you better, for not foreseeing this danger. He should have...let you go back then after saving you from these four degenerated.

But he couldn't deny the hold you had over him. You had enchanted him from the very start. The moment he saw you in the subway station, he knew that you had to be his, his alone, forever. He never wanted to let you go again.

For hurting you, he wanted to stick off their heads, but he refrained himself because he didn't want to scare you further. Your pained and scared look hurt him so much. He just wanted to hold you and take all the pain away.

You blacked out right before his eyes. He caught you immediately, his heart pounding in his chest as he cradled your head. Fear gnawed at him as he wrapped his jacket around you and carried you all the way to his car, pressing you against his body to keep you warm. He took you to his hotel room where he lived. Before meeting you, he didn’t have a place to call home.

He laid you carefully on the bed, tugged you in, and watched you sleep. He didn’t want to leave you for one second. Not even his sleepiness could steal him away from you. When you tried to escape the room, he wanted to laugh out loud but refrained himself. As if you, little bunny, could escape a wolf that easily…

Your confused cute look, the way you thanked him, the way you shyly looked at him and blushed made his heart flutter. He couldn't deny the strong connection he felt with you, the way you seemed to complete him. He realized that he had found something truly special in you, something that he had never experienced before. A warmth spread through him, a feeling that was both unfamiliar and intoxicating.

On the next day, he drove you home. Before you got out of the car, he took all his courage and asked for your number, his voice barely a whisper "Just in case you might end up in trouble again and needed help. Nothing more…," he added, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear. He may look like a dangerous man, but when it came to love, he was a clumsy novice.

To his surprise, you gave him your number. "Just in case," you said, blushing. He was so happy that he wanted to scream, but instead, he kept it cool. His heart was pounding in his chest as he realized that you might actually be interested in him.

He helped you out of the car and watched you go, his eyes filled with a mix of longing and hope. He knew that this was just the beginning, and he was determined to make things right between you.

He texted you every day, his messages filled with a mix of casual conversation and subtle hints of his feelings. He didn't want to pressure you, but he couldn't help but hope that you felt the same way about him.

On the day you suggested to go and grab a coffee or tea, he was the happiest man on earth. The attraction between the both of you was undeniable, a magnetic force that pulled you closer together with every passing moment. A few days later, you started officially dating, and his world was turned upside down.

The more time he spent with you, the more space you took up in his thoughts, in his heart, in his soul. You became his home, the reason for his existence. He was willing to give everything for you, to protect you, to cherish you, to love you unconditionally.

A tale of two souls finding each other in the most unexpected of circumstances…

With a frustrated growl, he slammed his fist down on the table, sending objects crashing to the floor. "Dammit! I'll tear that bastard apart," he swore, his voice laced with anger. M/N1, understanding the depth of his boss's anguish, offered a comforting hand on his shoulder. Just as M/N1 was about to respond, a message buzzed on his phone.

"Boss, the chauffeur's awake and waiting in the meeting room with M/N2 and M/N3," he read out loud.

Without hesitation, H/N rose to his feet. "Let's move," he said, determination burning in his eyes. As he strode out of the room, he could feel the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. But he was determined to see this through, to bring you back home safely.

To be continued...

♡

Who will win this game...

Stay tuned for part 8!

Love, YumiYue 🌙

(⌒▽⌒)♡

Follow me on: 📸 Instagram: @yumiyue07 🎵 TikTok: @yumiyue07 📝 Wattpad: @LunaVerse_YumiYue

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fan fiction inspired by Stray Kids’ song “Freeze”. All characters and events are fictional and are not intended to represent real people or events.

All rights reserved. Please do not repost or reproduce this story without permission.

© 2024 LunaVerse - YumiYue07. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

[mtd2productions]

Asha khan : book 1 "the unraveling" - AUNT (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1434429599-asha-khan-book-1-the-unraveling-aunt?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=MATTEODELORT Synopsis: In the first installment of the Asha Khan series, titled "The Unraveling," readers are introduced to Asha Khan, a spirited teenager navigating the complexities of life within her traditional and affluent family. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, Asha finds herself torn between the expectations of her parents and her desire for independence and self-discovery. As Asha grapples with the pressures of her family's traditional values and societal expectations, she forms a close bond with her rebellious friend Diya. Together, they embark on a journey of self-exploration, challenging the norms and conventions that have long dictated their lives. However, Asha's world is turned upside down when she receives news of an arranged marriage to a wealthy aristocratic suitor. Caught between duty and desire, Asha must confront her own identity and make difficult choices that will shape her future. As the story unfolds, Asha navigates love, friendship, and betrayal, uncovering secrets that threaten to unravel the fabric of her carefully curated life. With each twist and turn, Asha must summon the courage to forge her own path and embrace the woman she is meant to become. "The Unraveling" is a captivating tale of empowerment, resilience, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Through Asha's journey, readers will be transported to a world filled with passion, intrigue, and the timeless quest for freedom and authenticity.

[ao3feed-ateez]

Broken Melodies

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/QyxbZoL by MaxWolf68 Follow Jaemin as she makes a life for herself in Westbrook City. This is a slice of life + romance + drama multi fandom fanfic. ⚠️Warning: May include - Fluff, Angst, Smut, Dangerous actions, Alcohol, Foul Language, mentions of death/loss etc. 🔞 Minors do not interact‼️ Do NOT try stunts at home please! ⚠️ OCs: Jaemin - 10/13/1999 - Female Heeyoung - 8/20/1999 - Female Yeri - 9/25/1998 - Female Also posted on my tumbler [with pics] @max-w0lf68 - https://ift.tt/OwtelnW Words: 1579, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English Fandoms: ATEEZ (Band), ENHYPEN (Band), GOT7, bm - Fandom, The Boyz (Korea Band), Kang Daniel - Fandom, Stray Kids (Band), WAYV, woodz - Fandom, Kpop - Fandom, K-pop, BOYNEXTDOOR (Korea Band), xikers (Band), &TEAM (Band), TOMORROW X TOGETHER | TXT (Korea Band), original world - Fandom, Original characters - Fandom Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/QyxbZoL

[intellong]

Hyperdimension neptunia transmit heart dropbook

#Hyperdimension neptunia transmit heart dropbook full

I would certainly say this is a group to watch out for good music in the future if it can give off the image of famous Kpop groups already with a newly formed group. The music as well reminds me very much of the typical boy band sound, and a sound reminiscent to Big Bang. I probably make those ties due to the fact that both have tutting in them. These five, in their song "Left Out", have a wonderful dance that I think is very snazzy, much like the dance for "Lucifer" by SHINee. Their group is made up of Listen (리슨), who is their main vocalist, Roi (로이) from China, Ryu Jae Hyuk (유제혁), Lito (리토), the rapper, and Lee Changsun (이창선). They debuted their first album, The Legend on July 8, 2014, with the song "Left Out". Legend (전설) is a five man group that is under JK Space's management. Some of the new upcoming groups that have formed that are boy groups are Legend, K-Much, GOT7, JJCC, and LU:KUS. Of course, the year is not over yet, but certainly there has been an introduction to many new groups and many new songs, by both male and female Kpop groups. I would definitely like to see more music, which is already in the works. Listening to the lyrics, I definitely get the feeling of a certain romance behind it all, which is rather interesting, since the song also focuses on how you can say no in relationships. Here, the dancing is sensual, and the music certainly reflects the feeling of sensuality as well. Bobbed hair doesn’t just signify a hairstyle but it represents ‘woman’s transformation and change.’ Expressing its unique color through various transformations and change is Bob Girls’ identity." This being said, there is a certainly different experience when watching Bob Girls, shown in "No Way". In fact, one representative from Chrome Entertainment made this statement about the group and their hair, "When a girl cuts her hair short, she doesn’t only go through a change in looks but people normally think of it as a change of her heart. What is so interesting with this group is, unlike most other girl groups, the singers all have short hair, going back to the name of their group, "Bob Girls", like the haircut called the bob. This group is made up of Dahye (다혜), Yujeong (유정), Jina (지나), and Danbi (단비). They debuted their first album, No Way, on Jwith the song "No Way". While I'm personally not used to ballad like songs, I believe that 1PS will use their talent with not only singing but with dance, to make their mark.īob Girls (단발머리) is also made up of four members, although they are the second girl's group managed by Chrome Entertainment. It's a peaceful piece of music, where the voices are balanced and bring about a warm feeling in you. Their song "Because I'm Your Girl" reflects this ability, with one of the members constantly being shown to be doing ballet throughout the quiet, ballad like song. Made up of the members Yena (예나) the leader, Yoon Seo (윤서), Ji Eun (지은), and Sae Ha (새하), these girls in 1PS are all trained dancers mostly in ballet. They debuted their first album, The First Score, on March 3, 2014, with the song "Because I'm Your Girl". Even though the year is not over, I can definitely say that these groups have a good chance of becoming rather large and popular in the future 1PS, Bob Girls, Red Velvet, Four Ladies, and Lip Service.ġPS (원피스, pronounced as One Piece Score) is made up of four members and is managed by 1theK, formerly known as LOEN Entertainment. This year has been an amazing year for many female Kpop groups that just started off for the first time in 2014. You can check out some more stills below.

#Hyperdimension neptunia transmit heart dropbook full

We will have a full review when the game is released. So far the game looks to nail the feel of the show and the gameplay is truly action pack. Everything from the mannerism, attacks and location look beautiful on the XBOX One. The environment, sound, and look of the show you love is all entact. Finding different combinations and styles kept me fully immerse in the game.įans will also be happy to know that the graphics look amazing on next gen consoles. For example I hit an opponent with fire and quickly switch to air which build up my combo hit more. One of my favorite parts of the gameplay was switching air bending elements while still fighting. Will work on certain enemies and some will not. Depending on enemies it will best to use certain elements. Players will be able to use all the four air bending elements with a press of the button. Those familiar with the style of action beat em ups such as Bayonetta will be familiar with the flow of the game. I played the XBOX One version and I must say fans of Korra can rest easy the game is awesome. While there I got my first hands on look for the new Legend of Korra game coming to all consoles. I had the great pleasure of attending this year's Nickelodeon Holiday presentation which you will read about later.

[d-noona]

AERO

Chaper 6: The Search

"If I'd just gotten my ass kicked by a size three. I might be inclined to mind my own business." - Im Jaebeom

At his computer console, Jaebeom fast-forwards through a video surveillance tape from the previous day, freezing on Seven as she approaches the adjacent building with a delivery. He blows up the image until Seven's face fills the screen, her eyes looking right into the surveillance camera, right at him. He studies the picture for a long contemplative moment.

Ruben enters the room and looks over his boss and studies the photo his boss seems to be engrossed at "Glad you're getting your money's worth outta that tape. Had to grease the guard a hundred for it."

But with this Jaebeom doesn't hear him. He's utterly lost in the image of the young woman on the screen. Ruben teases him "You trying to ID the perp or a new girlfriend?"

Jaebeom snaps out of it and responds "If I'd just gotten my ass kicked by a size three. I might be inclined to mind my own business."

With this Jaebeom gets up from his seat, grabs his wallet and a 9mm out of his drawer. Heads straight out of his apartment to his SUV and drives off for the day.

Jaebeom arrives at JYPE X-press, he enters and looks around at the motley assortment of messengers, then crosses to the dispatch counter where JYP barks out an order to his not so merry men. "Pick-up at four-eleven going to Gangnam" He tosses out the package to Mark who catches the parcel with ease accompanied by the boys Youngjae and Jackson with deliveries on each of her hands.

Jaebeom approaches the boss "I'm looking for a lady who works here"

Not giving the young man the time of day Jyp arranges the packages for the next deliveries and responds "Ladies would be elsewhere."

With this Jaebeom flashes the picture of Seven which was lifted from the surveillance video. He slides it up to the stubby man "Know where I can find her?"

The man scans and surveys the photo and smirks at Jaebeom.

"You don't want to. Listen brother, she may be easy on the eyes but she's trouble trust me." Then Jyp leaves the station with packages on his arm and calls out for his messengers "Hot run two-oh-two Sansome" the old man kept passing on the packages to his workers with Jaebeom trailing behind him not giving him the peace he needed for work.

"I need to talk to her" says Jaebeom. He feels the patience leaving his body as the old man continues to ignore him. Jaebeom then has had enough, he pulls out an envelope with large sums of money and extends it to him.

"How about you give me her name and address?"

Jyp eyes the money and pockets it. "Seven something. I got no clue where she stays. But she normally hangs out after work with a bunch of these losers at a place called The Crash."

Jaebeom tilts his head and purses his lips. He salutes the man and leaves the building. Putting the coordinates of the place on his GPS. The GPS advises him that it's ready to go, he drives off the night headed to look for the beautiful thief.

As Jaebeom enters the bar, he sees Seven and a friend playing a game of eight ball. He purposely observed her from afar at first. She was wearing nothing but simple black sleeveless shirt, black pants, black gloves and black rubber boots. She had no make-up on yet her skin is tanned and flawless. Her eyes were intense and brown as she concentrates on beating her friend at a game. Black hair flowing beautifully from her back as it sways showing markings on her skin. Tattoos as he scans her carefully. She has a tattoo of an angel on her back with cherry blossom edging on both her left and right shoulder. From a front another tattoo catches his attention on her upper left chest just right below her collar bone. Some sort of an ECG reading.

She seems to be having fun tonight...

As Jaebeom surveys her. There's something about the way she smiles. Her body is relaxed but her eyes are weary, as if she was hiding a secret from everyone else. Jaebeom decides to approach Seven while she was speaking to her friend. Whilst walking towards her Seven looks up and sees him approaching.

"So this guy walks into a bar and says..." as Seven intensely gazing upon Jaebeom's eyes without blinking, he swore when a flash of light from the bar swept by her it looked as if he was staring in to a cat's eye.

He smiled at her and responded "We didn't get a chance to finish our conversation the other night." Without taking her off Jaebeom, he felt compelled to stare into her eyes as well.

Seven unmoving speaks at her friend who seems confused "Summer, say hi to my good friend..." the man cuts her off "Im Jaebeom" he says as he hands his hand to shake the hand of Seven's friend.

Summer being an ever loyal friend just looked at Jaebeom and gave him a brief respond "Hey."

But Seven and Jaebeom just stood there still looking at each other. Sensing that it's time to make herself scarce, Summer looks at her watch "Xena's on", then she splits.

"Sorry about your window" as Seven breaks her gaze upon the handsome man. Jaebeom does the same "Can we go somewhere and talk?" the two then heads out of the bar.

The two walk in silence for a moment, an easy affinity between them. After a moment Seven slightly gave Jaebeom a glance "So...How'd you find me?"

Jaebeom stared at her features ever so softly there was something about her that's enchanting him to no end. Obnoxiously he gave her a smile "It wasn't that hard."

She stops dead at her tracks, eyeing the man who was standing before her "Am I supposed to be flattered by all the attention?" As she snickers at him and walks a bit faster making Jaebeom speed up his pace.

"Well, now you know who I am, where I live. I figured I better find out who I'm dealing with in case you were looking to hurt me." He answers her earnestly.

They continued conversing whilst walking through a forgotten and condemned park. Surrounding them are old rusted rides all long forgotten. Seven sits on one of the old swings as Jaebeom followed the urge to push her slightly. She then turns to her side only seeing the Jaebeom's peripherals.

"So? Now you tracked me. What do you think?" as she continues to just sit by the swing.

Jaebeom moves to her side sitting on the empty space on her right. He looks at her "Hmmm...Too early to tell."

Seven giggles at him, catching the man by surprise. It's hard to think that this girl sitting beside him giggling over nothing actually took down Ruben and broke his window.

She then continues on "How does Mrs. Informant Net like being married to a guy on everyone's hit list?" she asks with a very innocent but serious look on her face. Flustered by her straightforward question he blushes, then she laughs at him obviously catching the man off guard.

"Aww, he blushes, how adorable. For someone who does cyber hacking I must say this is a surprise." As she continues to laugh on her own.

"Janna is not my wife." He replies to her.

"Girlfriend?" she quirks up an eyebrow on him.

"No. Janna Reid is the wife of James Reid. Her husband was murdered. She's one of my sources." As he intently looks at Seven's face to see if he can catch any type of emotion. To his dismay she never changed facade and stood up from where she was sitting as she continued to walk around the park.

"Tell me Im Jaebeom, what's your shot in all this? Being a famous underground pirate slash cyber journalist can't be much of a pay day."

He follows her as she walks around "Fortunately, my needs are met in that department" he says.

"So what, you just like the sound of your own voice?" Seven mocks him.

Jaebeom smiled in amusement. "Look around at all this Seven. This place was built by people till the pandemic and bomb happened on 2020. They blinked and overnight the government, the police, everything intended to protect the people had been turned against them."

Seven stops and turns at Jaebeom "You miss the good old days. Even though there were still poor people who died from diseases when they didn't have to...and rich people spent obscene amounts of money redecorating their houses to match the cat. Those good old days?"

Jaebeom sighs "Well at least people had a choice, even if they took it for granted. And now they obviously don't."

Nonchalantly the girl continues to walk "So what are you gonna do about it?"

"Something..." As Jaebeom answers, they continued to walk in silence for a beat.

Then to break the silence Jaebeom decides to speak up again. "That was a pretty extraordinary display of athleticism the other night. In fact, a little too extra ordinary. You wanna tell me how?" But he looks up at her and she's gone.

Jaebeom was left all alone on an empty park, looking for Seven who seems to have vanished in to thin air. 

At his computer console, Jaebeom fast-forwards through a video surveillance tape from the previous day, freezing on Seven as she approaches the adjacent building with a delivery. He blows up the image until Seven's face fills the screen, her eyes looking right into the surveillance camera, right at him. He studies the picture for a long contemplative moment.

Ruben enters the room and looks over his boss and studies the photo his boss seems to be engrossed at "Glad you're getting your money's worth outta that tape. Had to grease the guard a hundred for it."

But with this Jaebeom doesn't hear him. He's utterly lost in the image of the young woman on the screen. Ruben teases him "You trying to ID the perp or a new girlfriend?"

Jaebeom snaps out of it and responds "If I'd just gotten my ass kicked by a size three. I might be inclined to mind my own business."

With this Jaebeom gets up from his seat, grabs his wallet and a 9mm out of his drawer. Heads straight out of his apartment to his SUV and drives off for the day.

Jaebeom arrives at JYPE X-press, he enters and looks around at the motley assortment of messengers, then crosses to the dispatch counter where JYP barks out an order to his not so merry men. "Pick-up at four-eleven going to Gangnam" He tosses out the package to Mark who catches the parcel with ease accompanied by the boys Youngjae and Jackson with deliveries on each of her hands.

Jaebeom approaches the boss "I'm looking for a lady who works here"

Not giving the young man the time of day Jyp arranges the packages for the next deliveries and responds "Ladies would be elsewhere."

With this Jaebeom flashes the picture of Seven which was lifted from the surveillance video. He slides it up to the stubby man "Know where I can find her?"

The man scans and surveys the photo and smirks at Jaebeom.

"You don't want to. Listen brother, she may be easy on the eyes but she's trouble trust me." Then Jyp leaves the station with packages on his arm and calls out for his messengers "Hot run two-oh-two Sansome" the old man kept passing on the packages to his workers with Jaebeom trailing behind him not giving him the peace he needed for work.

"I need to talk to her" says Jaebeom. He feels the patience leaving his body as the old man continues to ignore him. Jaebeom then has had enough, he pulls out an envelope with large sums of money and extends it to him.

"How about you give me her name and address?"

Jyp eyes the money and pockets it. "Seven something. I got no clue where she stays. But she normally hangs out after work with a bunch of these losers at a place called The Crash."

Jaebeom tilts his head and purses his lips. He salutes the man and leaves the building. Putting the coordinates of the place on his GPS. The GPS advises him that it's ready to go, he drives off the night headed to look for the beautiful thief.

As Jaebeom enters the bar, he sees Seven and a friend playing a game of eight ball. He purposely observed her from afar at first. She was wearing nothing but simple black sleeveless shirt, black pants, black gloves and black rubber boots. She had no make-up on yet her skin is tanned and flawless. Her eyes were intense and brown as she concentrates on beating her friend at a game. Black hair flowing beautifully from her back as it sways showing markings on her skin. Tattoos as he scans her carefully. She has a tattoo of an angel on her back with cherry blossom edging on both her left and right shoulder. From a front another tattoo catches his attention on her upper left chest just right below her collar bone. Some sort of an ECG reading.

She seems to be having fun tonight...

As Jaebeom surveys her. There's something about the way she smiles. Her body is relaxed but her eyes are weary, as if she was hiding a secret from everyone else. Jaebeom decides to approach Seven while she was speaking to her friend. Whilst walking towards her Seven looks up and sees him approaching.

"So this guy walks into a bar and says..." as Seven intensely gazing upon Jaebeom's eyes without blinking, he swore when a flash of light from the bar swept by her it looked as if he was staring in to a cat's eye.

He smiled at her and responded "We didn't get a chance to finish our conversation the other night." Without taking her off Jaebeom, he felt compelled to stare into her eyes as well.

Seven unmoving speaks at her friend who seems confused "Summer, say hi to my good friend..." the man cuts her off "Im Jaebeom" he says as he hands his hand to shake the hand of Seven's friend.

Summer being an ever loyal friend just looked at Jaebeom and gave him a brief respond "Hey."

But Seven and Jaebeom just stood there still looking at each other. Sensing that it's time to make herself scarce, Summer looks at her watch "Xena's on", then she splits.

"Sorry about your window" as Seven breaks her gaze upon the handsome man. Jaebeom does the same "Can we go somewhere and talk?" the two then heads out of the bar.

The two walk in silence for a moment, an easy affinity between them. After a moment Seven slightly gave Jaebeom a glance "So...How'd you find me?"

Jaebeom stared at her features ever so softly there was something about her that's enchanting him to no end. Obnoxiously he gave her a smile "It wasn't that hard."

She stops dead at her tracks, eyeing the man who was standing before her "Am I supposed to be flattered by all the attention?" As she snickers at him and walks a bit faster making Jaebeom speed up his pace.

"Well, now you know who I am, where I live. I figured I better find out who I'm dealing with in case you were looking to hurt me." He answers her earnestly.

They continued conversing whilst walking through a forgotten and condemned park. Surrounding them are old rusted rides all long forgotten. Seven sits on one of the old swings as Jaebeom followed the urge to push her slightly. She then turns to her side only seeing the Jaebeom's peripherals.

"So? Now you tracked me. What do you think?" as she continues to just sit by the swing.

Jaebeom moves to her side sitting on the empty space on her right. He looks at her "Hmmm...Too early to tell."

Seven giggles at him, catching the man by surprise. It's hard to think that this girl sitting beside him giggling over nothing actually took down Ruben and broke his window.

She then continues on "How does Mrs. Informant Net like being married to a guy on everyone's hit list?" she asks with a very innocent but serious look on her face. Flustered by her straightforward question he blushes, then she laughs at him obviously catching the man off guard.

"Aww, he blushes, how adorable. For someone who does cyber hacking I must say this is a surprise." As she continues to laugh on her own.

"Janna is not my wife." He replies to her.

"Girlfriend?" she quirks up an eyebrow on him.

"No. Janna Reid is the wife of James Reid. Her husband was murdered. She's one of my sources." As he intently looks at Seven's face to see if he can catch any type of emotion. To his dismay she never changed facade and stood up from where she was sitting as she continued to walk around the park.

"Tell me Im Jaebeom, what's your shot in all this? Being a famous underground pirate slash cyber journalist can't be much of a pay day."

He follows her as she walks around "Fortunately, my needs are met in that department" he says.

"So what, you just like the sound of your own voice?" Seven mocks him.

Jaebeom smiled in amusement. "Look around at all this Seven. This place was built by people till the pandemic and bomb happened on 2020. They blinked and overnight the government, the police, everything intended to protect the people had been turned against them."

Seven stops and turns at Jaebeom "You miss the good old days. Even though there were still poor people who died from diseases when they didn't have to...and rich people spent obscene amounts of money redecorating their houses to match the cat. Those good old days?"

Jaebeom sighs "Well at least people had a choice, even if they took it for granted. And now they obviously don't."

Nonchalantly the girl continues to walk "So what are you gonna do about it?"

"Something..." As Jaebeom answers, they continued to walk in silence for a beat.

Then to break the silence Jaebeom decides to speak up again. "That was a pretty extraordinary display of athleticism the other night. In fact, a little too extra ordinary. You wanna tell me how?" But he looks up at her and she's gone.

Jaebeom was left all alone on an empty park, looking for Seven who seems to have vanished in to thin air. 

[justyourregularfangirl]

La Bâtarde - Tome 1 [En Cours] (on Wattpad) https://my.w.tt/Y5pqFuxpRM Kayleigh Reaghan fait partie de l'une des familles les plus respectées du monde magique, mais son père étant né d'une mère humaine et d'une relation adultère, elle et son père sont considérés comme de la vermine. Les Bâtards Reaghan, voilà ce qu'ils sont non seulement pour leur mais pour la société magique toute entière. Mais Kayleigh n'est pas comme son père, elle est bien décidée à prouver au monde entier qu'être une Bâtarde ne fait pas d'elle quelqu'un d'inférieur. Et alors qu'on l'envoie dans une école de Gardiens en Corée du Sud, persuadée qu'elle échouera, un groupe de jeune hommes la prenne sous leurs ailes et l'aideront à franchir les obstacles devant elle.

[k-vanity]

Group:

WayV | NCT | NCT 127 | NCT Dream | Stray Kids | GOT7 | BTS | ATEEZ | Seventeen | TXT | B.A.P | The Boyz | The Rose | Kard | Pentagon | Astro | Monsta X | Day6 | EXO | SHINee | SuperM | Enhypen | 2PM | Victon | Winner | Billlie | Kingdom | iKon | StayC | SF9 | ZeroBase1 |

Idol:

Xiaojun | Hendery | Jaemin | Johnny | Haechan | Jaehyun | Sungchan | Taeyong | Mark | Felix | BangChan | Han | Lee Know | Hyunjin | Jay B | Yugyeom | Mark Tuan | Jinyoung | Jackson Wang | Bambam | Suga | V | Jimin | RM | Jungkook | J-Hope | Seonghwa | Mingi | Hongjoong | Wooyoung | San | Yunho | Yeosang | Mingyu | Yeonjun | Taehyun | Beomgyu | Yongguk | Hyunjae | Sunwoo | Q | Younghoon | New | Dojoon | BM | Yanan | Yeo One | Kino | Wooseok | Kihyun | Minhyuk | Hyungwon | I.M | Young K | Jessi | Lay | Taemin | Shownu | Jeonghan | Jeno | Baekhyun | Kai | Minho | Jungwon | Sangyeon | Seungmin | Eric | Sehun | Sunghoon | Heeseung | Joohoney | Juyeon | Jungwoo | Jun K | Wonwoo | Chanyeol | Joshua | Jin | Seungwoo | Soobin | Jun | Suho | Ten | Jongho | Woozi | Hongseok | Hanse | Seungsik | Yuta | Yangyang | Shotaro | Junho | Mino | Hoshi | Jisung | Vernon | DK | Eunwoo | Dino | The8 | Scoups | Jay | Moon Sua | Tsuki | I.N | Wonho | Dann | Huening Kai | Jake | Kevin | B.I | Isa | Woosung | Kun | Chen | Seungkwan | Hwiyoung | Wonpil | Rowoon | Inseong | Changbin | DPR Ian | Matthew | Doyoung | Haknyeon |

Pairing:

x Reader | x Member | x OC | No Pairing

Genre:

Smut | Fluff | Romance | Angst | Drama | Fantasy | Action | Crack

Type:

Oneshot | Series | Drabble | Social Media

[flurrys-creativity]

Lurking in the dark 4

Pairing: Park Jinyoung (GOT7) x Fem!Reader; Genre: Action, Assassin AU, Romance, Strangers to Lovers, Humour, Angst; Rating: nsfw, 18+; Warnings: mentions of killing, worrying about death, an explosion, grumpy got7 in the morning, talking about killing someone, tension between the reader and Jinyoung, Jaebeom being hostile; Wordcount: 2.288

Summary: After witnessing the murder of your previous boss, you were forced to follow the assassin. Normally witnesses would have been killed but he decided against it, taking you to their hideout, a small guest house in the middle of nowhere. The assassin and the rest of his group were hiding more than you thought but you had to keep a huge secret for yourself as well.

Masterlist

Jinyoung stared at you without moving or reacting at all. Even his eyes didn’t move a bit, which would have been an indicator that he tried analysing you, but with him being like a living statue you had no clue. 

The longer he stared at you the more unnerving it became. Still, you refused to budge now. Refused to take your question back. You were sure you had the right guy. Right? A shimmer of worry flared up inside of you. What if you just revealed you had been spared by an assassin to the wrong person? You could feel your heart pounding against your ribcage. All while your breathing became more and more shallow. This wasn’t good.

“You know”, Jinyoung suddenly spoke up, a hint of a smirk playing over his lips, “it’s said that curiosity killed the cat.”

For a second everything stopped. Everything except your mind running miles an hour. How were you supposed to respond now? Did he finally admit he was the assassin you saw? Was he trying to tell you to keep your questions to yourself or otherwise you might die? Was he threatening you just now? You broke the intense eye contact and stared at the floor between you two, trying to regain some of your confidence.

“But satisfaction brought it back”, you mumbled, still staring down at the ground.

“If you have nine lives that is.”

“The saying doesn’t include the nine lives of a cat,” you argued and finally looked back up, new determination flashing up inside your eyes. “So tell me!”

Jinyoung shrugged with his shoulders. He tried everything to keep his composure in front of you. Everything you did, everything you said, all of it took him off guard. You simply kept surprising him. The minute he thought he had the upper hand over you, you proved him to be wrong with a simple change of your aura. “Something about you is odd.”

You hadn’t even noticed how tense you were in his presence but upon hearing his reasoning you quite literally deflated. “You think I’m strange?”

“Most definitely.” Jinyoung nodded slowly, as if he tried to convince himself this was the sole reason for him sparing your life. “I’ll keep my eyes on you until I know what’s the deal with you.”

You snickered and stood up, walking back to the furniture in front of the sliding door. “Oh please, don’t flatter me.” You smiled softly before you turned around and quickly returned to your own room, closing the door right behind you again.

You placed your hand over your rapidly beating heart, cursing yourself mentally that his words actually had a flattering effect on you. Especially since you knew how dangerous the attention of an assassin towards you could be. You needed to keep a low profile at all costs - not just in front of him but in front of the other residents as well. Your only hope was that Jinyoung would keep quiet about your true reason for coming here. Otherwise you wouldn’t stand a chance.

After a restless night where you shot up every time you heard a noise, you really dreaded getting up in the morning. You felt more confident last night when you met all the residents but with all this time thinking, worry gnawed at your insides.

You worried a lot about your stay at the Baby Bird and especially if you’d ever get out alive. One misstep could be enough for them to figure out who you were. Yet you couldn’t just stay in your room and avoid them at all costs with no money to pay.

A deep sigh escaped your mouth as you got up and walked over to your door, opening it with a trembling hand. You suppressed the shriek building inside your throat when you nearly bumped into someone standing in front of your room. Your wide eyes wandered up to the face of Youngjae.

“You’re up early.” His eyes quickly scanned your face. “Did you sleep alright?”

You tried to muster a smile as well. “It’s always a challenge to sleep at a new place. Though I’m also used to waking up early.”

Youngjae nodded shortly before he grinned. “As long as you think the inn is comfortable. Are you ready to work? We need to prepare breakfast for the rest.” He gave you a quick hand motion to follow him and started walking down the hallway without looking back again.

You hurriedly shut your door and rushed after Youngjae, taking more of the house and surroundings in as the break of dawn casted more light onto it.

The two large buildings you already saw last night as well as the connecting hallway basically hid away a small but beautiful garden. A small pond nested in the middle of the garden, a few frogs croaking their good mornings with the sun steadily rising and waking nature.

“The guests must love it to take a stroll through the garden.”

“Most guests only stay for a night and continue their travels after breakfast the next morning”, Youngjae answered you, looking longingly over the garden as well. “I had hoped that guests would use the verandas to relax and gaze upon the pond while doing so.”

“Have you ever tried to advertise your inn in the nearby towns? I’m sure some newlyweds would love to spend their honeymoons here.”

The minute you said these words a loud boom blasted through the peaceful morning ambience. 

You stopped in surprise, thankful you didn’t jump in fright, as you turned around and saw a dark cloud of smoke wafting into the air behind the back house.

Youngjae sighed deeply and rubbed his temples. “There are several reasons why one night guests might be better after all.”

You looked back at Youngjae, trying to stay as surprised and unknowingly as possible. Even though you thought it made sense that people shouldn’t stay too long around assassins. Though he didn’t need to know about your intel. “Is that normal?”

“Sadly, yes.” Youngjae continued his walk down towards the kitchen, making sure he would kick some ass later when you wouldn’t be around.

“What was that noise anyway?”

“Nothing to worry about.”

“Shouldn’t I know about it? If it’s normal I assume it happens rather often and shouldn’t I be prepared whenever something doesn’t go as planned?” You followed Youngjae but glanced back to the dissipating black cloud every other step, wanting to investigate it further.

You had smelt the gunpowder on two guys last night but you never operated with it yourself and it made you curious.

In your own curiosity you didn’t notice your choice of words, nor the look Youngjae gave you.

“Bambam and Yugyeom are playing around. That’s it.”

“What are they playing with?”

Youngjae sighed again, his initial suspicion fading upon your almost naive questioning. “I’m sure you’re going to learn that soon enough. Since you’re going to help around, you’re most likely to meet and interact with the others around here. And as long as I have known those two, they are definitely willing to show off to a pretty woman. Anyway, we need to hurry now.”

“Why?” You nearly had to run after Youngjae with his fast pace, confused by the change in his calm demeanour.

“They’re a pain in the butt without a proper breakfast this early in the morning.”

“Who?”

“All of them, except Bambam and Yugyeom since they woke them up.”

As if to underline Youngjae’s words you heard some yelling and screeching coming from the complex behind you. “Oh wow.”

You picked up your pace and jogged after Youngjae, sliding into the kitchen soon after. While Youngjae rushed around the room and grabbed all kinds of things, you stood rather helplessly in the middle of it.

“I had hoped to introduce you to everything around here more calmly and with a lot more time at hand but this has to do for now.” Youngjae pulled you up to the stove, quickly showing you how to operate it before he placed bacon and eggs next to you. 

“If I don’t get some coffee into my system now, I’m going to kill someone!”

“We should just get rid of the firecrackers instead of someone random. I can’t stand them doing experiments in the middle of the night!”

“It’s the early morning, not the middle of the night.”

“Shut up Jackson! Don’t even try to be peaceful.”

You turned to the door, seeing two grumpy men and a giggling Jackson entering the kitchen. Your eyes immediately fell onto Jinyoung, who ran his hand through his hair in an annoyed manner.

“One morning of peace. That’s all I’m asking for.” Jinyoung sat down at the large table in the middle of the kitchen, resting his head on his hands. “And some coffee.”

The other two sat down as well, slumping down just as quickly as Jinyoung until Youngjae placed three cups of coffee on the table. 

“Where’s Jaebeom?”

“Dealing with the pests”, Mark grumbled and clutched his cup with two hands, inhaling the freshly brewed scent. “They interrupted his morning meditation.”

“As if that meditation would help him get less impatient”, Jackson giggled and sipped at his coffee before he placed it down on the table and pushed the cup away. “Can I do my shake instead?” He looked at Youngjae with large puppy eyes.

You caught the disgusted look on all their faces, wondering what it was about but quickly continued cooking. 

Soon enough you felt someone staring at you, making your skin prickle all over your back. You had a feeling who it was but refused to confirm it. Ever since the fluttering feeling from last night you wanted to avoid looking at him as much as possible.

Jinyoung had another idea though. As soon as his eyes landed on your form, his body basically moved on its own. He stood up with his cup of coffee and walked over to you, glancing over your shoulder. “Good morning, kitty.”

A shiver ran down your spine with his low voice and his breath tickling your ear. Even though your body reacted like that, you narrowed your eyes as you briefly glanced at him, showcasing his choice of greeting annoyed you. 

“Do you like your eggs boiled, fried or scrambled?”

Jinyoung chuckled and leaned against the counter next to the stove. “This almost sounds like a threat.”

“What sounds like a threat?” Jackson turned around to Jinyoung, finally realising you were in the kitchen as well. “Oh! Hey! Good morning!”

You turned around to Jackson and smiled at him brightly, greeting him as well. “I have no idea.” You glanced at Jinyoung before looking back at Jackson. “I only asked him how he likes his eggs.”

Jackson frowned and turned his attention towards Jinyoung. “How is that question a threat? It’s way more considerate if you ask me. Nobody ever asked how I like my eggs! I only ever got the finished dish placed in front of me without even asking me whether I like it or not!”

“If you want pity, you aren’t getting that here.”

“Just like getting asked for my preferences! I don’t get that here either! Mark! Help me out! Jinyoung is mean again!”

“Don’t drag me into this.”

Jackson immediately whined more, literally begging Mark to take his side. They continued to bicker around until Youngjae shut them up with a stern look.

You silently continued to cook the bacon and the eggs, trying to ignore Jinyoung’s presence lingering around you. Which proved to be harder than you thought.

He brushed against you whenever he walked past you, placed tools and dishes you needed next to you before you were even able to ask Youngjae for them and simply stayed next to you the whole time.

Even after Jaebeom dragged Bambam and Yugyeom into the kitchen and all of them sat down at the table, Jinyoung stayed next to you, watching silently what you were doing.

You bit down on the inside of your cheek, trying to focus on anything but Jinyoung. You nearly exhaled in relief when he sat down at the table as well after you placed the bacon and eggs on it.

“Thanks for the food!” 

You smiled, seeing how the younger ones immediately dove in and stacked dishes on their plates. It reminded you of little children eager to get the best candies.

“Aren’t you going to eat with us?” Yugyeom halted in his action and looked at you with big eyes, resulting in everyone turning towards you as well.

Youngjae, who already sat down at the end of the table, looked at you expectantly, indicating you were allowed to sit and eat with them.

Flustered, you came closer to the table and sat down on the empty seat between Jackson and Jinyoung. “Thank you.”

“Of course! We all eat together whenever we’re here! It’s boring to eat alone,” Jackson told you and immediately placed food on the plate in front of you. “Sometimes not all of us are here but that doesn’t mean the rest aren't eating together. So make sure to always show up whenever it’s time to eat and you’re at the Baby Bird.”

Jaebeom scoffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Don’t treat her like she’s one of us. This woman is gone as soon as her situation settles.”

“With your attitude, yeah, definitely. How about showing some hospitality? We could become friends in the long run.”

“In our line of work there is no such thing as friends.”

Jackson gasped loudly and grabbed onto your hand involuntarily as he stared at Jaebeom with an open mouth. “Aren’t we friends?”

Chapter 3  < | >  Chapter 5

© all rights reserved

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[atiny-piratequeen]

Against the Tide: Fifteenth Dal Segno (Ch.15)

©atiny-piratequeen 2022. do not repost, translate, or use my works without permission

Pairing: Poly OT8

Rating: Explicit (18+)

Genre: Heavy Angst, Action, Romance, Fluff, Smut, Fantasy

Series AU Tags: Demon Pirates, Supernatural, Poly Relationship (mxm), Past and Modern Day AU, Mythology Au, Slow Burn, Slice of Life, College Au, Rock Band Au, Happy Ending Endgame

Chapter Tws: Explosions, Graphic Violence, Swearing, Blood, Injuries, Non Graphic Depictions of Impalement/Goring, Asphyxia/Choking, Blunt Force Trauma, Non Permanent Character Deaths (woo the power of immortals), Weapons, Anxiety, Fire, Animal Attacks, Non Descriptive Depiction of Vomit, Fainting

Chapter Sws: Wet Dream, Group Sex, Body Worship, Blowjobs, Barebacking, Creampie, Nipple Play, Marking, Fingering, Hair Pulling, Sensory Deprivation (Vision), Choking Kink

WC: 13.8k+

A/N: Happy new year! Sorry this is so late compared to when I intended this to go up but I hope the bulk and quality make it worth the wait. I’m still supposed to post the character analysis for got7 that kept getting pushed back but I’ll just post who’s what here so my detectivetiny can see before I do the full analysis. Please remember to share and reblog this work if you enjoyed it, thank you~

Jabeom-Buluc Chabthan-Mayan God of War, Blood, and Sudden Death

Jinyoung- Uenuku-Kōpako-Māori atua of Rainbows

Mark-Xiezhi-Chinese Mythical Creature resembling a goat or ox able to distinguish the guilty from the innocent

Jackson-Fuzanglong-Chinese powerful dragon residing underground that guards treasures and is also a messenger to the heavens.

Youngjae- Qilin- SEA (mostly Chinese) mythical being that is incredible fearsome, but only punishes those deemed wicked, often both dragonian and deerlike in appearance.

BamBam-Phaya Naga-Thai divine single horned serpent with supernatural powers.

Yugyeom- Cŵn Annwn- Welsh spectral hounds often seen as an omen of death.

Taglist moved to the bottom of the work. if you’d like to be added to the taglist for this or my other works, feel free to fill out the form here after reading the full post.

AO3

Network Pings: @kwritersworld | @kdiarynet | @8makes1teamnet​ | @atzinc​ | @k-vanity​

← dal segno                 next dal segno –>

It only took ten minutes for the explosions to begin. The ground rumbled below, and in the distance, he could hear rumbling and shaking, the artificial birds of this place fleeing as soon as the peace was disturbed.

Youngjae didn’t move from his spot.

He stayed on his knees, painting on the tapestry in front of him.

He needn’t look for who had entered their space this time. They would find him.

He would judge them accordingly.

Just as suspected, ten more minutes passed, and the sound of twigs snapping alerted him to a presence.

Yunho made his way through the trees, touching the trunks and listening to them speak to him, making his way to a large clearing. The triangle over his eye gleamed as he kept his guard up, listening to Geb quietly formulate plans for combat. The surgeon nodded along to it all before he stopped short, finding a man painting in the middle of the clearing.

The flowers around him rustled in the wind, illuminated by magic as he looked up.

“They aren’t speaking to us. Proceed with caution, Yunho.” Geb warned. Yunho nodded, calmly walking forward.

Normally the flora spoke, even if some of them had some rather...unsavory things to say.

Why were these different?

The man on his knees set his paintbrush down and put his hands in his lap, looking up as Yunho stopped around ten feet from him, watching cautiously.

“My name is Jeong Yunho.”

The man on the ground looked at him silently for a moment before he smiled, pushing himself off of the ground.

“Ah, you’re making my job easy. Hello, My name is Choi Youngjae. I am what one would call a Qilin.”

Yunho blinked in surprise at the kind tone. He watched Youngjae dust himself off before a pair of antlers appeared above his short hair. Two long, carp-like whiskers extended from the corners of his mouth, and his brown eyes began to gleam gold as he took a step forward.

Yunho tensed immediately, foot shifting.

“I need to finish evaluating you. Please cooperate and keep still.”

Before Yunho could respond, Youngjae was gone in a blur. He was in front of Yunho in an instant, grabbing his face and pulling him down, looking into his eyes.

Yunho panicked, close to snatching himself back and knocking Youngjae away with a vine when Geb halted him.

“Just a moment.”

“But-”

“Trust me for a moment, Yunho.”

Yunho immediately relaxed, looking into Youngjae’s glowing eyes.

Youngjae hummed and let him go a moment later, his eyes no longer glowing.

“I see.” He grabbed Yunho’s hand, placing a piece of paper in his palm.

Yunho stared at him in confusion before looking at the paper.

“W-what...what did you do…?”

“You are from the West, so I don’t very much think you are familiar with my kind. I can tell if those who stand before me are wicked or not. Had you come here swinging wildly or had I had detected wickedness in your heart, we would be fighting right now. However...I have viewed every action you have taken. You may have the piece.”

Yunho stood to his full height, blinking in confusion.

“That’s it…?”

“I suggest you stop questioning my methods of evaluation and find your partners. The others aren’t as I am, and I can assure you, they will need as much help as they can get against the others.”

Yunho looked at the sheet before Youngjae before carefully making his way past him. Youngjae watched him go before looking towards the horizon, humming.

“I smell chaos.”

-~-

‘Youngjae’s piece has been acquired.’

“Did he just vibe check him?” Jaemin inquired, leaning closer to Renjun’s shoulder. The brainiac's brow twitched in mild annoyance.

“Don’t stand so close. I’ll lose focus and drop the projections.”

Siyeon tapped her lip, legs crossed as she sat at a table, watching every movement closely.

“That’s the first time Youngjae didn’t attack...I see. It’s not him, then.”

Jeno’s ears perked, turning his head to the witch slightly mumbling to herself. He pursed his lips before turning his attention forward as Jaemin let out a sound of excitement.

“Oh shit, did you see that?!”

“I told you to stop touching me before I lose focus!”

“Nono, go get some popcorn!”

“Jaemin I will kill you-”

Jeno laughed a bit warily as the two bickered and moved to the kitchen, glancing at the tarot cards Siyeon had taken out, her eyes still fixed on the screens Renjun was holding up with his hieroglyphs as she spread the deck out on the table.

-x-

Jongho sighed, his footsteps light, near inaudible as he kept an eye out for any sign of movement.

Whiro did the same, nearly buzzing with excitement as he shifted around, watching Jongho’s back and both his sides, fully lifted off of his skin.

Both of them heard a sharp sound and snapped their head to the left before Jongho growled and summoned a taiaha made from darkness, spinning it in front of him and knocking back the arrows that came flying at him and Whiro.

“Oh~? Did you see that light? It’s coming from there.” Whiro lightly tugged Jongho forward until the man fell in step, running towards the arrows.

There was a shift in the air and a barrage of rainbow-colored arrows flew in their direction. Jongho grit his teeth and spun the taiaha faster, blocking all of them. Despite the fact that none were connecting with him, he could feel Whiro growling in his head, pain blooming in various parts of his body as he proceeded.

“Motherf-”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s light magic. Fucking hurts like a bitch-”

That would explain it. Jongho lunged out of the brush, summoning an array of blades made from Whiro’s darkness, throwing them down with force.

“Tch. He’s fast.”

An unfamiliar voice caught his attention and he watched as someone ran through the rain of blades, dodging each one with skill.

“There’s the little bitch! Let me go!”

Jongho didn’t hesitate, giving up his body’s control and letting Whiro take over. His hair turned fully blonde, his eyes blood red as his tā moko stretched over his face, pulsing as Whiro grinned wildly.

“Oh fuck yes~”

He lunged, throwing weapon after weapon at the dodging man, while Jongho kept watch, much like the god had done for him before they switched places.

He couldn't shake the feeling they were being watched as they tried to land a hit on the figure.

As if some big cat was lying in wait with bated breath for them to slip up, ready to pounce.

Whiro shared his sense, glancing around wildly as he split his focus on the man and their jungle-like surroundings.

With a wild smirk, Whiro grabbed hold of the man's ankle and dragged him back, tossing him upwards and summoning his shadows, sharpened and ready.

"Say cheese, fucker~"

Jongho resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the joke, but barely had the time to mock Whiro when suddenly pain exploded in their chest and they were staring at the sky. He wheezed and coughed before his eyes widened as a row of serrated rocks swung down at them. Whiro made a shield of shadows and pushed back on their aggressor, rolling to his feet, crouched as he looked through his hair at the man that stood before him.

The man was about their height, a huge paddle-shaped weapon in his hand as he stared them down. Two shimmering silver jewels adorned his cheek along with the piercing threaded through his eyebrow.

“Oh, it’s not the wolf girl this time. You smell like you’ll give us a good fight, though.” He shifted his stance and Whiro smiled from ear to ear.

“That so? Stand right there and I’ll be happy to show you more, then.”

They held each other’s gaze for a pregnant pause before a thick shadow blade aimed at his neck was tossed. A rainbow-shrouded arrow struck the blade and Whiro scoffed, glancing about.

“There are seven of them this time, Jaebeom. Be careful. I am familiar with this entity. I don’t know how they managed to get someone from my homeland on their side, least of all this one, but he won’t fight clean.”

Whiro scoffed.

“Says the bitch ass hiding and shooting arrows. You say you’re from our lands, and yet you fight like a coward! Come and face me like your boyfriend here.”

The man in front of him laughed as the voice in the trees went silent for a beat or two. Whiro opened his mouth to mock him again when another arrow came flying in his direction. He caught it and snarled as the light magic exploded in his hand, burning instantly.

“Taunt as much as you’d like, Evil God. It’ll do you no good here.”

The man in front of them-Jaebeom-laughed and hefted up his weapon, a look of pure bloodlust in his eyes.

“I’d say you focus on more than just him if you want to pass.”

-x-

Seonghwa sprinted forward, sweat rolling down his brow.  The ground below him began to shake aggressively, nearly knocking him off of his feet.

He could make it. He just needed to find a way out of this closed space, maybe regroup and-

Movement caught his eye and he threw his hand up, grunting as the wall of ice shattered instantly. It was only his reflexes that saved him, dodging by leaning back and just barely missing the impact of a jewel-embedded fist.

Fist? Claws? What even was it?

Dirt kicked up as he regained his balance, albeit a bit clumsily as the ground fractured around him.

"You can do better. Unless it's too hot for you, Snowy?" a voice rumbled.

Seonghwa grit his teeth, looking around.

Weaving in and out of the cave, jumping in and out of the ground, even he was having trouble keeping up with this beast.

He’d managed to land himself in some sort of cavern all on his lonesome, and the entire time, he’d been followed and attacked by some sort of beast moving too fast for him to get a good full look of them.

All he could catch were jewels, scales, and golden eyes.

Given the circumstances, probably a dragon.

Great, just what he needed.

'Stay off of the ground, Park Seonghwa.' He rallied his mind and raised himself upon a platform of ice. From here he would be able to see. Maybe pin down the person attacking him and their methods.

"Oh? Did you want me to come up?"

Seonghwa heard a rumble before the ground just below his ice pillar began to shake.

Ice blue eyes narrowed before widening as his pillar completely shattered. Seonghwa let out a startled shout as he was flung from his perch, falling upside down as a figure burst past him.

Blinking and refocusing, he summoned a smooth slide just before he could hit anything vital, looking up as he watched his ice melt instantly. The last thing he needed was a head injury or accidentally knocking himself out and being a man down on their mission.

With parted lips, he glanced at where his pillar stood, staring in disbelief at what was undoubtedly a volcano left in the beast's wake. Sweat had already begun to run down his brow and the back of his neck, ruby red lips pressed into a line as he took in the magnificent sight.

His eyes trailed up, landing on a shirtless man with scales and jewels adorning different parts of his body. He stared a hole through Seonghwa’s head and tutted.

"Okay. I'm done warming up. I’m Jackson, kid. Welcome to my lair. You won’t be walking out of it."

-x-

“This is the worst place for us to land…”

Mingi kept moving forward, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed his surroundings.

“I can’t direct my blades too well with all of these trees and your wind would be slowed if you tried that, right?”

There had to be a clearing, maybe if he found an open field he could-

“Mingi-”

“Wooyoung, can you just be quiet for a second? I’m trying to find a way to get back to Yunho and the others before we encounter whatever it is we have in these trees.”

Wooyoung flinched and frowned, lips pressed together. He felt his heart squeeze as he stared at Mingi’s back. He wrung his hands he moved to stand in front of Mingi.

“Mingi, can we talk?”

“If it’s anything other than us getting out of here, no.”

Wooyoung clenched his fists and moved to block Mingi when he tried to move past him. The taller man inhaled deeply through his nose and looked down at him.

“We have to work together….I…I know things haven’t been the greatest between us, but this is our chance to-”

“To what? Fix centuries of this chaos? All because we found this kid in a shell that looks like our Hongjoong? All of you are so star-struck by this man that just looks like our Hongjoong that none of you have even cared that he’s not.”

Wooyoung felt like he’d been slapped, eyes wide as he felt Mingi brush against his shoulder as he pushed past him. He watched him go out of the corner of his eye and grit his teeth, storming to him and pushing him just hard enough to make him stumble.

Mingi caught himself, but didn’t turn around. Wooyoung could tell he was angry though, if the tension in his shoulders was anything to go by.

“Why are you even here, then? If you’ve given up on our captain, on our lover, why are you here?”

Mingi turned to face him, and Wooyoung didn’t back down at the pure rage calmly swirling in his eyes.

“You want to talk about giving up on lovers? What about you? Hm? Head up San’s ass this whole time, the rest of us are just afterthoughts, aren’t we? Hm? What about me? What about all the times Seonghwa and I were at each other’s throats? Hm? Where’s the same energy for the rest of us then? That’s right, you only care about each other, and only occasionally, do the rest of us get a fraction of the attention or love! And that’s especially rich coming from you- ”

“Hey uh, so as much as I love soap operas, you two are here for a fight, right?”

The two of them snapped their heads around and immediately caught a thick tail to both of their midsections, knocking the wind out of them as a giant serpent came slithering out of the woods.

“Ah, shit, new crowd, right. Hey, yo, I’m BamBam and if the two of you are gonna keep bickering I can happily send you both out of the trial grounds.” the serpent turned into a skinny man with silver hair, his hands behind his head as he whistled.

“Okay then, try and keep it together, okay? It’ll look bad if you both get your asses kicked in a handicap match, right?”

Mingi grit his teeth, the wind violently rustling the trees, blades of it occasionally slicing into the ground.

“I don’t need his help to beat your ass.” He growled, hair bleeding to red. Wooyoung sent him a glare and looked back, his hair going blonde as the backward crescent appeared on his forehead.

“Funny, I was just gonna say that myself.”

Bambam hummed, a large horn protruding from his forehead as he watched the men.

‘So they’re still gonna fight me two on one and insist on not working together? Interesting.’ He thought, colored energy swirling around his hands as he prepared himself.

“Well, then. Lemme see what you got.”

-x-

Siyeon pressed her lips into a tight line, watching the screen, ignoring the chatter from the three behind her.

Her cards had begun calling to her the moment they started and she spread them slowly along the table in the shape of a crescent, mumbling something under her breath.

-x-

Mark sat on an outward-facing rock, watching as a man carefully walked through the cave he resided in. He hummed and inhaled deeply.

The air smelled of blood.

“Ah. So I need to fight.”

He stood, a rock falling from his perch and alerting the man below of his presence.

San snapped his head upwards, eyes narrowed in his direction.

“I know you’re there.”

Mark jumped down and landed with enough force to leave a small crater in his wake. He stood and tilted his head at him, sniffing once more.

San opened his mouth to ask him where the paper was when he was suddenly charged. San pulled a knife and swung without hesitation, aiming for the jugular. Mark caught his wrist and tugged forward.

“Something is weighing on your mind. You reek of guilt.”

San scowled and shoved him back, eyes dark.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“If you confess your crimes, I’ll go easy on you.” he offered. San glared at him before his lips quirked.

“I’m a pirate. I’m guilty of a lot of crimes. You wanna sit down for tea while we’re at it?” He tutted. Mark laughed and stood to his full height as large ox appeared at his side. He leaned on the beast and sighed.

“I see. Well, I have no interest in anyone who doesn’t want to confess. So I’ll give you what you came here for. A fight.”

San cut into his palm and summoned a larger blade, eyes mismatched and gleaming as runes slowly stretched down his face.

“Finally.”

-x-

Yeosang held his hands over his ears, stumbling as the sound was nearly too much for him and his sensitive ears. He looked around before he saw a familiar figure.

“Y-Yunho!”

Yunho froze and looked behind him, eyes lighting up as he noticed Yeosang. He could barely hear him over the persistent howling, but he closed the distance, smiling down at the smaller immortal.

“I’m glad you’re okay!” He shouted.

“You too! Ugh, I can’t formulate a single thought like this!” Yeosang shouted before he realized the howling wasn’t as loud. He blinked and hesitantly removed his hands, looking about before he sighed and relaxed.

“Finally…what the hell was that?” He hissed, rubbing his snowy ears. Yunho looked around, lips pursed.

“This entire field is a trial field, right? It might be the next person that has the piece we’re looking for.”

Yeosang looked at him in surprise.

“You found someone?”

“Yeah. His name was Youngjae. He just…touched my face and decided I was worthy and gave me the piece.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

Yeosang looked at him curiously before he saw the glimmering piece Yunho had acquired. His lips parted.

“I guess it is legit, the announcement did say the piece was acquired…I guess it’s just…it’s weird, isn’t it? Siyeon made it seem like it would be really difficult with all the rules she told us before this, but if Youngjae just gave it to you, maybe we’re wrong? Maybe they all just need to…assess our…um..hearts?”

Yunho pursed his lips before looking around, a sense of danger creeping up the back of his and Geb’s neck.

“I feel…if we were being judged, we’d be judged more directly, like the last person, no?” Geb quietly butted in, using Yunho’s voice to convey the same to Yeosang as well. White ears flickered.

“Did…the howling stop, by the way?” He looked around, his fur bristling.

Yunho caught a blur of white to his left, throwing his arm up and shouting in surprise as fangs sunk into his forearm.

A large, white wolf locked its jaws, not being shaken easily as Yunho tossed his arm to the left. He snarled, the fangs digging in deeper and dragging. Yeosang felt pain erupt from his tail moments later before he could do anything to help Yunho.

With a loud yip of pain, Yeosang grit his teeth and set the area around them on fire, scaring the wolves into unlatching their claws and jumping out. They stared at them from outside of the ring of fire, circling them.

Yunho covered his wound in vines, tightening to keep the bleeding to a minimum. The wolves made no moves to come closer, but their heads picked up the smallest hint of voice carried in the wind.

‘Play with them a bit more. Come back.’

The wolves immediately retreated, rushing off into the woods. Yunho frowned as they went, confused by the sudden retreat, but Yeosang glanced around, lowering his flames a bit.

“Someone is playing with us. Controlling the wolves.” He muttered. Yunho’s lips pressed into his line, and as soon as he opened his mouth to ask if he knew which direction they were coming from, the howling began once more.

Near deafening, ear-splitting, and surrounding them from all sides.

Yeosang cried out and covered his ears while Yunho grit his teeth, grabbing his hand and rushing forward. They needed to get somewhere higher up.

Golden eyes watched them run through the woods, a whip dragging along the ground as they followed, undetected, with long strides.

“Oh, they’re running. Let’s see for how long.”

-x-

Bambam tilted his head to the left, whistling as a steel ball whizzed past his face, embedding itself into the tree beside his head. He glanced at it before humming and plucking it out of the tree.

“You two should work together. I normally don’t have such an easy time fighting two-on-ones, especially when those three come. This should be easy for you, right?” he tossed it up and down in his clawed hand a few times before reeling back and throwing it full force back where it came.

Mingi and Wooyoung were still bickering, their arguing with one another drowning out BamBam’s warning as the ball came hurtling back towards them. Mingi’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to warn Wooyoung to move when it nailed the smaller immortal right in the abdomen, knocking him to the ground. He stared down at him, eyes wide as Wooyoung coughed up blood and rolled over, emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground beside him.

Bambam cringed, listening and waiting to hear whether or not Wooyoung had been eliminated from the blow. When he heard no such omnipotent voice declare as such, he sighed, daffodil yellow magic crackling around his hands as he made his way closer.

“Yikes. Sorry bout that. Here, I’ll just finish the job up, okay?”

Mingi let out a frustrated huff of air, standing in front of Wooyoung and glaring daggers at Bambam, the wind picking up enough to uproot trees.

Bambam didn’t slow his strides.

In fact, they got even faster, breaking out into a run as he sped towards Mingi, the yellow magic forming a large serpent of energy behind him. Both he and the serpent attached to him began to attack, swinging wildly as Mingi tossed blade after blade of wind at them both to keep them separated.

“Wooyoung if you could get up that would be great!” He snapped, putting a bubble of wind magic over Wooyoung as soon as the serpent tried to slam its tail down onto him. Wooyoung looked up through his bangs, eyes dark with anger as blood and bile stained his chin. He wiped his mouth hard and stood to his feet, glaring daggers at Mingi.

“You let it hit me, didn’t you?”

Mingi didn’t turn around.

“I tried to warn you, he threw it too fast. Maybe think a bit before you try throwing random shit.”

His fists clenched.

They were all stressed. They were all hurting. But they were here to try. Right? That’s why they were here?

Wooyoung inhaled deeply as Bambam split his barrage between both Mingi and him.

Mingi growled and got close enough to Bambam to try and distract him from the secondary barrage from the large serpent. His capoeira wasn’t as good or clean as Yunho’s but he could hold his own. He knew he could.

Wooyoung darted to and from, but the pain from the iron ball slowed his normally swift movements considerably. Anger and hurt overrode every part of his mind as the serpent sliced into his side with its horn, knocking him aside like he was a doll with a flick of its tail.

The banshee saw red. Static crackled in his head, buzzing about like an angry hornet’s nest, his own breathing ragged and harsh.

Wooyoung inhaled.

Then he screamed.

-x-

“Participant Mingi has been eliminated.”

Seonghwa’s eyes widened as he looked towards the sky.

“Mingi-” He couldn’t vocalize his surprise before tossing himself to the left, dodging the punch Jackson threw his way. With a growl he summoned his falcata and drew his second one, eyes narrowed dangerously at the man before him.

“Uh oh…that’s one. You’ve only got three more down before you lose, snow boy. You wanna be second? I can make it real quick, just sit still.”

Seonghwa snarled and rose his blades, ignoring the way the heat began to melt his ice one. He simply reinforced it with more layers of ice.

“You’re awfully cocky for someone who’s barely put a scratch on me.”

“Barely, yes. But I’ve landed hits. And you’re losing your cool. Haven’t I already won?” He winked and dashed forward, claws extended.

Seonghwa grit his teeth and blocked the blows, trying to land some of his own.

He was…embarrassed to admit, he hadn’t actually gotten a single blow on Jackson started. He had indeed lost his head in the sweltering heat and frustration of the cavern, and the man’s mocking had done nothing but make him angrier.

The ex prince hated to say, but he’d lost his touch considerably. They hadn’t been engaged in any combat or tactical situations in the centuries between now and when they’d lost Hongjoong. Aside from a few easy-to-handle skirmishes between human pirates that were easily dispatched by any given demonic member of the crew, Seonghwa hadn’t had to draw his falcatas against another being in centuries, let alone set up a quick tactical plan on the fly.

Something that came so easily to him in the past eluded him in the present.

Just as his control on the situation with his crew had.

The brief thought made his steps falter and Jackson lunged, throwing his body forward with a spin, a thick, gem-encrusted dragon tail slamming into Seonghwa’s back and sending him reeling as he dropped his weapons. Rolling along the dirt, rocks, and riches on the ground.

He came to a stop and wheezed. Something had definitely popped from the blow, but he couldn’t tell if anything was broken or not.

The prince looked at his hand, lifting a finger. From his boots, he wiggled his toes.

Okay, his spinal cord was fine enough. He could still move.

Jackson rolled his neck and kicked the falcata that hadn’t melted over to Seonghwa, grinning from ear to ear at the scowl the ex prince leveled him with.

“C’mon, snowy. I’m still waiting for you to land those hits on me.”

-x-

San stumbled and grit his teeth as he pulled blood from his own wounds off of his face. He’d cracked his head against a rock after being tossed up by Mark’s ox, but he could still move.

He’d be lying if he said the pain hadn’t made his vision doubled and unfocused, though. Mark was relentless, riding on the back of the ox as if it were a horse, a deep crimson glow to him every time he charged.

San had begun bleeding heavily, but he could see the paper just out of reach, towards the deepest point of the cave. If he could grab it, even if Mark incapacitated him, it should count.

Sealing up some of his wounds with crystallized blood, San made a run for it. He could get there, close the gap.

Mark watched him before sighing.

“Stubborn.”

The ox took off, eyes filled with rage.

“You’re running instead of fighting. Is that why you smell of guilt?” he inquired, thighs tightening as his ox lowered its head, horns aimed at San.

“You don’t know a thing about me!” San snarled, turning around despite his best judgment. Mark’s eyes narrowed, blood splattering on his face moment’s later as his ox’s horn went straight through San’s chest. The man’s eyes widened, blood coating the horn as he brought his hands up to try and wretch himself off.

The ox rose its head, sliding San down so he and Mark were eye level.

As his vision faded, Mark lifted San’s chin.

“I know enough. Your scent tells me more than I ever need your mouth to say. But…I do wonder if even you know anything about you and the effect your actions show to those around you.”

-x-

“Participant San has been eliminated”

“What the fuck are they doing?!” Whiro barked, snatching another rainbow arrow out of his chest. He crushed it and took a moment to regroup.

There was hardly a moment’s rest between them, Jinyoung, and Jaebeom, and both Jongho and Whiro had correctly theorized the two were put in this forest setting for a reason.

Jinyoung was the most agile out of the two and that made it easier for him to weave in and out of the thick array of trees to fire his arrows at Whiro. The light cut through his thinner shadows, but Whiro had figured out that they could be stopped with his thicker ones.

The light and darkness canceled out each other.

The problem in that lied in the fact that Whiro and Jongho had a much bigger issue in the form of Jaebeom’s relentless, excitable assault on them. Whiro could match him blow for blow oftentimes and he’d managed to get some good hits on the man…but every time he did, he seemed to get even more powerful, laughing as blood ran down his tattoos, staining some of his warpaint red.

He was getting stronger the more blood was shed, whether it was theirs or his own.

“I don’t know but San and Mingi down meaning we only have two more to go before we’re out. I think…I think the one in the woods has the page. fragment We’ve only seen glances of him and he’s the fastest, so I think we should refocus on him.”

Whiro tutted before he drug his foot along the ground, listening to Jaebeom’s quickly approaching heavy footsteps.

Just past that, past his gruff excited declaration that he’d found them, Whiro could hear it, a rustle in the trees to his left.

“There’s the little motherfucker.” He took off like a shot, launching himself into the trees with his shadows just as Jaebeom swiped at him with a club adorned at the ends with sharp obsidian.

The force of the shadows propelled him forward faster than anticipated, but it was clearly the right move as he hovered over Jinyoung, making eye contact with the startled archer as he flew by.

Jinyoung’s eyes widened as he turned his bow towards him, teeth clenched.

Right on his hip, was a pouch that looked out of place.

Whiro grinned.

“Surprise fucker!” Whiro cheered as his shadows wrapped around the trees around him, slingshotting him directly towards Jinyoung.

-x-

Wooyoung stumbled through the woods, teeth grit as he held his midsection.

The words rattled around his head.

‘Participant Mingi has been eliminated.’

“.....keep moving, Woo. Just find someone, we can do this. As long as no one else falls…as..as long…”He bit his lip before shaking his head.  Now wasn’t the time to get emotional.

He finally reached a clearing, sighing as he looked about.

Maybe he could rest here?

His eyes landed on a man painting in the middle and he went still, watching. The man with the paintbrush stopped abruptly a moment after Wooyoung had fully stepped into the clearing. He froze but the man stood, the paint leaving a large wayward line across the tapestry.

The man didn’t seem to care as he stared at Wooyoung.

Even from the great space between them, Wooyoung felt immense pressure fall onto him.

He felt the back of his throat tighten with anxiety as he stepped away, watching as the man was enveloped in a deep midnight blue light.

‘Wooyoung, run!’ He screamed at himself mentally, and despite his hurt state, he bolted.

He just had to find someone. Find someone and move together-

“You won’t escape your judgment here.”

Wooyoung looked abruptly to his left, eyes widening as a massive midnight blue hooved creature ran after him. He screamed, sending blades after it, but they didn’t slow the creature as it uprooted trees and trampled bushes, eyes locked on him.

Wooyoung felt panic explode in his chest.

“H-Help! Yunho?! Yeosang! Seonghwa-AH!” Wooyoung yelped and rolled as the creature matched his paces, swinging its head and knocking him off his feet. He rolled aside, scraping his arms up as he regained his balance, rolling to his feet as he stayed crouched.

He hardly had a chance to raise his voice again when the hulking beast was once again hovering over him, raised up on its hind legs to slam its hooves down.

Wooyoung hissed and a quick shout was all he needed to form a shield, blocking the blow as best he could. It dented immediately but did its job well enough as Wooyoung pushed back, dodging the second attempt at a trample.

Wooyoung rolled to his feet and made a break for the left, just narrowly avoiding being gored by the antlers as the creature swung its head again.

“J-Jongho! Fuck,  is really no one around?!” Wooyoung cursed, screaming at the tree beside him was uprooted and tossed, splintering as he sliced into it with his blades. He grit his teeth and summoned himself a sword similar to Seonghwa’s from memory, swinging to try and attack the beast once more.

It threw its head downwards, eyes boring into Wooyoung’s as it growled, pressing down against him. His heels dug into the dirt as it pushed its weight onto him, slowly pushing him back. He glanced behind him, looking to see he was being pushed towards a cliff.

“Your guilt. It is pungent. I smelled it throughout this forest, long before you came to me. Will you confess and accept your punishment?” he growled. Wooyoung narrowed his eyes and pushed back fruitlessly. He wasn’t the strongest of their group and he had already been weakened by the iron ball earlier. If he didn’t do something, the beast would push him off the cliff.

Instead of an answer, he began mumbling under his breath, delicate lines of metal forming around them. Some of which pierced into hide of the large creature.

“W-who are you?!”

“Choi Youngjae. Is this truly the time for you to question that?”

Wooyoung grit his teeth and tried to keep himself focused and muttering, the metal forming on the ground as he was pushed back.

Once he felt some rocks from the cliff behind him he screamed, stabbing the beast from as many angles as he could before he let himself fall down the side, his feet locked onto a snowboard-shaped sheet of metal.

He had no idea what lied beneath him in the woods, but if he could put some distance between-

The sound of stampeding hooves sounded from just behind him.

Wooyoung looked over his shoulder with wide eyes, nearly losing his balance as Youngjae ran down the side of the mountain, a trail of magic that glittered like stars dispersing after every step as he ran vertically down the rocky side, once again closing in on Wooyoung.

The ex navigator opened his mouth to scream and create something, anything to block the two of them from each other, but all that came out was a surprised ‘hurk’ as Youngjae lunged, head bent, and impaled Wooyoung as he charged.

The two of them fell off the cliff, with Wooyoung reaching up towards the sky, the pain creeping into every fiber of his being.

“S..an…help…Hong…j-”

Youngjae narrowed his eyes as they plummeted to the ground, Wooyoung’s body first.

-x-

‘Participant Wooyoung is eliminated. Participant Youngjae has retired willingly.’

“Oh, that was brutal.” Jeno cringed while Siyeon began staring at the cards before her. She sighed, unable to look at the screen. They wouldn’t win like this. Now a sense of pessimistic dread filled her body.

They were going to have to result in the last resort if these men couldn’t get Hongjoong’s memories back, but it seems they were expecting too much of them.

Idly, she thanked the Sun that it was only February.  

They had time

-x-

Seonghwa grit his teeth and tossed his ruined and burned shirt aside, looking towards the sky.

One more. They only had one more.

Fuck.

He shook his head, deciding it was too early to give up on the others.

He’d been able to find where Jackson had hidden the piece, but the man had vamped up the ferocity of his attacks. There were volcanoes all around them as he hampered Seonghwa’s powers.

Not now. He wouldn’t stop fighting. He’d been laying around being less than a leader, less than a lover, for centuries. If this is what he had to do, be burned, spill blood, even have every bone in his body break, he would do it.

He would become a man that would be able to look them in the eyes properly.

All of them.

Seonghwa’s hands began to glow icy blue, his skin freezing over as a musket appeared in his hands. As Jackson merrily soared over him, Seonghwa flipped the weapon with a certain flair, holding the unfamiliar cryo weapon up.

He was gonna walk out of this damn place with that recipe.

-x-

Jinyoung cursed in his native tongue, his fingers wobbling and unsteady as he tried to ready another arrow. Whiro had gotten him good in the surprise attack, nearly dislocating his arm had he not have thrown up light magic to take the brunt of some of the magic. It only worked but so well, though, and he still felt blood trickle down his arm from the shadows that stabbed him right under his armpit.

That asshole aimed for his dominant side, and Jinyoung wasn’t sure if it were intentional or not.

It didn’t matter, his blood being spilled sent Jaebeom into a berserker power frenzy and Whiro was currently preoccupied with that at the moment.

Pushing back the pain in his body, Jinyoung forced his hand back, the arrow stained with his blood as he aimed at Whiro’s back. With a growled-out curse, the arrow multiplied into five more, all pulled back tight before Jinyoung let go, six beams of light flying at the brawling men.

None of them took their job as a practitioner lightly, but Jinyoung felt especially motivated to be a thorn in Whiro’s side.

-x-

Yeosang yipped as he was drug away from Yunho, legs kicking feebly as the whip wrapped around his neck remained firm.

As they stuck together, Yeosang and Yunho found a pattern with their section of the woods. There would be loud, near-deafening howls, almost as if they were right beside them, but it would take several minutes before they would be attacked by the white wolves. Geb had quietly offered them a theory on what was happening after the third time.

“Perhaps they are louder when they are furthest away, and steadily grow softer the closer they get, being inaudible right before the next attack?”

They tested the theory upon the fourth go around, and it seemed to line up with the behavior.

And then he showed up.

The tall man with the whip. The practitioner controlling the wolves, Kim Yugyeom.

“Oh, you figured it out? Hey, that’s pretty good. I’ll just get right to the fun part, then. When they come around, I can’t use my wolves on that girl but you all are different. They’re not afraid of you.”

Neither of them had a chance to inquire who he was talking about before Yugyeom cracked his whip, smiling from ear to ear.

“My piece is on one of my wolves. You can probably grab it if you’re fast enough. Or not, you can always knock me out instead.” He smiled as he cracked the whip.

That’s how Yeosang found himself being drug away. Yugyeom had changed up his tactics, attacking Yunho and himself with his whip while some of his wolves stayed far, howling at a near ear-splitting pitch. The others lunged at the two of them from different angles, ripping at clothes or whatever skin they could get before disappearing back into the forest.

Yunho swung his own whip-like vine at Yugyeom, making the man drop Yeosang and dodge, smiling from ear to ear.

“Yeosang, just stay behind me!” Yunho offered, looking about as Yugyeom disappeared between the thick lining of trees. Yeosang whined, feeling like his ears were going to bleed from the howling. Yunho noticed and gently cupped his hands over his ears, fashioning an ear-muff shaped set of vines around his head, plugging his sensitive kitsune ears.

Yeosang looked up, barely hearing Yunho’s voice as he asked him if he could hear. He shook his head and Yunho nodded, smiling a bit at him as he kissed his head before pointing to his lips, speaking slowly so Yeosang could read them.

“Stay close. Your ears are more sensitive than mine. We can do this.”

Yeosang nodded and stood up, rubbing his bruised neck and summoning two large fireballs in each hand, face determined.

From a tree, Yugyeom watched the exchange, a smile on his face.

“You’re gonna regret that.”

-x-

Uprooted trees lie scattered around the jungle.

Raised volcanoes shake the underground.

The forest…is on fire.

Whiro ignored his vision doubling as he swung at Jaebeom, four arrows sticking out from his back, light magic shocking every nerve in their joined body as Jongho tried to grit through what he could see around them. Jaebeom hardly gave them a moment’s rest, sharp obsidian that ironically matched Jongho and Whiro’s own compass gem now cutting into them upon every hit.

Whiro misstepped and slipped on his own blood, taking a hard diagonal slash from shoulder to hip.

“Fuck!” Pain overrode their senses, Jongho’s voice in their head being reduced to screams as both of them shared the pain. Whiro grit his teeth, looking up as Jaebeom slowly approached him, blood smeared on his face.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck-”

Underground, Seonghwa finally managed to reach the end of the cavern, eyes locking onto a pedestal that had a large pearl settled on it. In front of that, a piece of paper.

Ice blue zeroed in and Seonghwa made a break for it, firing off shots at Jackson, who partially shifted so his arms and legs were more draconian than human, crawled along the walls at a speed hard to keep up with. Seonghwa didn’t let up, turning his musket into a javelin and tossing it with an explosion of ice behind it.

With the distraction set, Seonghwa summoned stairs of ice, rushing up towards the pedestal.

Closer, closer, the ex prince didn’t look back.

Higher and higher, he could grab it, he believed in the others, they could do this.

Just..don’t look down, don’t look d-

A tail wrapped around his leg and Seonghwa was snatched back as soon as he threw his hand out to the pedestal. He screamed, eyes flashing as ice-encased Jackson. It was fleeting, however, as the dragon began to plummet, cracking his tail down like a whip and throwing Seonghwa down to the ground with force.

He felt an explosion of pain before a cold sensation washed over him, and he could tell that something broke. Before he could repeat his earlier test to see if he could still move his arms and legs, Seonghwa heard a sound akin to glass shattering. A soft curse left his lips as he looked up, watching his staircase of ice shatter and begin to rain down in his direction. There was a flapping of wings, and he immediately pieced it together that his hold on Jackson didn’t last.

The glass-like ice began to plummet, all caused by a well-placed slam of Jackson’s tail.

Seonghwa felt a tear roll down his cheek as he watched, refusing to close his eyes.

‘The trial has ended,  the final participant on the challenger’s team has been eliminated-’

-x-

Siyeon sighed and started moving furniture aside so the men would have room when they were unceremoniously dumped back into this world.

It was over for now. They’d lost.

-x-

‘-Participant Yeosang has been eliminated.’

Yunho stared in horror as Yeosang lay slumped over several feet behind him, Yugyeom’s whip wrapped around his neck. The taller immortal fell to his knees, jaw dropped.

He couldn’t hear Yeosang over the howling. He didn’t even know if Yeosang could hear Yugyeom approaching between the howling and-

Yunho’s eyes widened.

He felt his body get lighter and looked at his hand. It appeared to be fading.

His head snapped up as Yugyeom walked over, gently setting Yeosang down in his lap.

“It was a fun fight. Better luck next time, though. I sure hope this doesn’t get you all too discouraged~”

With that, Yunho felt the world around him blur and melt away, his own eyes rolling back from exhaustion.

-x-

“Oh, dear. How long do you think it’ll take for them to wake up?” Renjun inquired. Siyeon looked down at the seven men scattered on the floor, unimpressed and disappointed as she reached into her bag, pulling out some smelling salts. She cracked the container open and wafted it under each of their noses, eyes emotionless as they one by one jolted awake.

“Fucking shit what the fuck-oh wait.” Whiro felt around his body blinking in surprise as he noticed none of the injuries he or Jongho had received were there. All that was left was a phantom ache and pain from what once was.

Seonghwa sat up slowly, looking at his hands, flexing his fingers a bit before he sighed and ran a hand down his face.

He’d failed.

Wooyoung wheezed and held his chest, the phantom feeling of antlers through his lungs still making it hard for his brain to catch up and understand he wasn’t injured. San and Yeosang were no better, wheezing weakly as they held where they had been injured.

Mingi stayed on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

He…didn’t know what happened. He was fighting and then…he was here.

“Once you all get a hold of yourselves, I’d like you to pull a card.”

All of them looked over at Siyeon, who had sat back down at the table she’d spread her cards over, eyes still masking her emotions as she watched them.

“Mingi failed first, then San, then Wooyoung, then Yeosang. In case you were wondering.”

Mingi sat up finally and pursed his lips. Yunho deflated, gently hugging Yeosang.

“Gods, I’m so sorry, I didn’t…I couldn’t hear-”

Yeosang smiled, patting his hand.

“It's okay…I wasn’t ready for that type of fight…I just need to get stronger. I doubt I’d fare any better without your help. My ears were about to bleed.” He rubbed his ears gently and Yunho frowned, still looking guilty.

San growled and punched the floor, eyes glowing in rage.

“He made a fucking fool out of me.” He grits out.

Mingi looked over at Wooyoung, jaw tense.

Siyeon cleared her throat.

“Pick a card, please.”

“Um…what are these for?” Yeosang asked quietly as he obediently approached the table, his tails tucked. She sent him a kind smile, gently patting his arm.

“You did well. And this is for me. My cards began calling to me while you all were fighting, so I’d like to know why. Please humor me.” She motioned to the table once more and Yeosang nodded, feeling calmer by her gentle tone.

“The cards are magic. They will also have a flower on the top corner, don’t mind that.”

Yeosang reached to the left, grabbing a card and gently setting it down. Siyeon’s eyes immediately looked down.

“Page of Cups…lavender.” She hummed and nodded, writing it down in a notebook she had beside her. Yunho walked up to his side, grabbing a card and flipping it.

“Queen of Cups. Chamomile. I expected as much.”

Yunho tilted his head a bit.

‘If I may, I don’t know much about the meanings behind the cards, but I am well versed in the language of flowers.  Lavender…purity, grace, devotion, calmness.’

Yunho looked over at Yeosang, watching the man pace slightly. He looked conflicted, but if the small murmurings were anything to go by, he wasn’t nearly as torn up as the others-Yunho included-seemed to be. Instead, he seemed to be planning for the next time.

‘Yours…humility. Energy in adversity, “may all your dreams be fulfilled.”...that doesn’t seem too bad. Maybe her cards like us all.’

Mingi looked at his card, arching a brow at Siyeon.

“Four of Cups. Yellow Carnations.”

‘Oh…nevermind.’

Yunho wasn’t surprised. He didn’t know what the card meant, but Mingi had been conflicted for a while, so he wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if the card reflected that for him.

“Are you going to explain what any of these are?” San inquired, still miffed as he walked up to the table. Siyeon hummed.

“I didn’t say I would read you. I asked you to pick a card. The internet does exist, Mr. Choi.”

“That’s what I told them!”

Jeno covered Jaemin’s mouth.

“Shh.”

“Whatever. I don’t believe in this fate stuff anyway. Here.” He flipped a card and Siyeon looked, unaffected by his crassness.

“Seven of Swords, Snapdragons. I would suggest you open yourself to a bit more beliefs, Mr. Choi. I’d expect an immortal demon to be a bit more open-minded.” Siyeon ignored the way San huffed ever so slightly and moved so Seonghwa could take a card.

“Reverse Chariot. Prince’s Feather.”

She looked at the flower for a beat longer than the others and then looked at Seonghwa, noticing the conflict all over his face. He was hardly paying attention to her. She pressed her lips together and gently reached up, pointing to his heart.

“You’re working hard. I will tell you that. Just…remember no good leader gets by without appreciating those helping them along the way.”

Seonghwa blinked at her before nodding, looking away.

“Got it.”

“Good. I expect you to know by now there is no shame in asking for help and that you’ll need it to get through this.”

“I thought you weren’t giving reads?” San inquired from his spot near a wall. Siyeon tutted, tilting her head.

“I didn’t need the cards to tell me you all need some words of advice. I just watched you all get your asses handed to you for three hours. Besides, some of you really don't want me to give you full reads, I can tell my cards have some things to say that some of you aren’t ready to nut up and hear anyway.” She gently motioned for Seonghwa to move, ignoring the eye roll from San as Wooyoung stood before her. Jongho-now in full control of his body-was beside him, and both of them flipped cards at the same time.

“Wooyoung, Reversed Justice and a purple hyacinth. Jongho, Strength, and gladiolus. I expected as much from you.” She motioned to Jongho. The young man blinked as she wrote in her notebook.

“Is..um, is that all?” Wooyoung inquired. Siyeon nodded, standing up.

“In order for you to challenge them again, you need to just come to me and I can bring the field back up. I do ask that you try to do so after a bit more…training. While I do believe in trial by fire, you all look several different flavors of torn up and I don’t know how that will affect your morale going into the next one.” She stood and cleaned up her cards, closing her notebook and bowing at them.

“You all…did well today. Despite it all, you all did well. Rest up, and I’ll surely be seeing you soon. I just ask that you be mindful of Hongjoong’s memories and try not to let him know of anything supernatural until he starts remembering. The last thing we need is him having an overload. Again.” She glanced at all of them before heading out of the door.

A long, suffocating silence stretched over the group.

“Hey, if you do that again, can you all come back here? I wanna watch you all get your asses beat again.”

Jeno sighed and Renjun pinched the bridge of his nose.

“ Jaemin, please.-”

-February 4th, 1AM-

-276 Days remain-

“I think I know which one of them took it.”

Miyavi hummed as he tuned his guitar. His leg tapped against the ground as Siyeon reported all of the day’s findings.

“That’s…irrelevant to what we’re trying to do. I understand it’s eating you up, but I do want you to know we have to keep ourselves focused in order to aid them. We don’t need to know who did it, who took it. We only need to know how to help my son remember.”

Siyeon bit her lip and Miyavi sent her a sympathetic smile, offering her one of the cookies Melody had made for them when Siyeon arrived on their doorstep. They kept their conversation low, knowing his children had opted to stay the night at home since he was back in Korea for the first time in months.

Though, he was sure at least one had been stirred by the noise.

Nevermind that.

“I recommend you get rid of the notes. I know you mean well but I worry what would happen if someone got a hold of them. And you know exactly who I’m referring to.”

She looked away for a moment before sighing and taking a cookie.

The conversation steered in the direction of future plans, all while someone leaned against the wall just outside.

More than one Ishihara child had been awoken by the sound of Siyeon’s car pulling in.

-8 AM-

“Oh, you look like shit.” Yeonjun whistled, head tilting as Wooyoung showed up to class the next day. He groaned and rubbed his temples, looking at them with an unimpressed look.

“Goodness…You alright there? Did something happen?”

Wooyoung let his head plunk down onto the desk, sighing.

The ride home the night before was agonizing. No one spoke for the longest time, the lights of the city blurring over their faces as Seonghwa drove.

Then, quietly; an “I’m sorry.”

All the eyes in the car turned to Seonghwa as he drove, his gaze locked on the road.

“It doesn’t hold much weight given all that I’ve done…all that I haven’t done…but I’m not going to stop. I’ve been up in my own emotions for centuries and you’ve all suffered because of it…and I’m sorry.” no one spoke as the oldest immortal stopped at a red light, the glow bathing his sharp features in neon crimson.

“I…don’t expect everyone, or anyone to forgive me for what I’ve done. But I will work on being better regardless. My crew needed a captain, my lovers needed togetherness…and I fucked up both times. I will not make the same mistake again.”

Yeosang smiled from the passenger’s side seat and gently reached to hold Seonghwa’s hand, rubbing his knuckles.

“How about we all be better?”

Those words hung in the air, rattled around the car and everyone’s heads as they arrived home and they stayed with Wooyoung now.

“How about we all be better?”

“Helloooo? Earth to Wooyoung??”

Wooyoung jolted and looked up, an embarrassed blush crossing his face as Yeonjun poked him with a pencil.

“Sorry, I just-” Wooyoung stammered a bit before rubbing his neck.

“I have a lot on my mind.”

Yeonjun rolled their eyes and gently offered Wooyoung a snack from their bag.

“Clearly. Do you have any plans for tomorrow? We can go out, take your mind off things.” They sent him a sympathetic look and rubbed his back.

“It’s cold so I don’t suggest we go out to an amusement park or anything like that. I actually have the perfect place.” they hummed, idly drawing shapes in the air with their pencil. Wooyoung felt a small smile come to his face.

“Can…can I invite the others?”

Yeonjun’s lips quirked up.

“Um? Duh. Let’s make this a fun outing.”

-February 5th, 10AM-

-275 Days Remain-

“Wooyoung?” Jongho’s voice was the first to speak up after Wooyoung led them all to the location. Wooyoung nervously looked at his phone.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Are you sure they told you to have us meet them…at a daycare?”

Wooyoung let out a sound akin to a deflating balloon before the door swung open. A woman in a white apron adorned with musical notes stepped out, her eyes as bright as her smile. She had black cherry-colored hair, black and red swirling together as it sat in a neat bun resting at the back of her neck. On her bosom, read the name; ‘Melody’

Hongjoong’s adoptive mom.

“Oh! Hello, come in, come in!” she held the door open and the men quickly shuffled in, looking about the brightly colored lobby as she let out a playful ‘brrr!’ noise after closing the door.

“Yeonjunnie told me you all would be helping out today! Thank you so so much, I’ll get you set up in here.” She ushered them to a side room and began darting about, eagerly chattering to herself about aprons and name tags.

The seven men watched her, for some reason comforted by the presence and vibe the woman gave off.

“Do you also know who we are?” Mingi asked suddenly, his voice a bit guarded, but not hostile. Melody hummed, the plastic wrap on the brand new aprons crinkling.

“I do. But does that matter right now? I’m not here to try and interrogate you or anything or make you feel bad about what happened.” She gently set an apron into each of their hands, all different colors.

“I’ve been taking care of and raising my son for years, and I’d be lying if I said this situation doesn’t scare me. No matter what, it’s always better to believe in someone rather than doubt them all the time, I think. So I believe in you. All of you. But I don’t want our interactions to be limited to you feeling pressured and stressed. You’ve come a long way, and I’m proud of you all for pushing through. For now, though, I ask that you give me a hand here. Kids are a handful, but they really do provide their own form of serotonin, I think. Then again, I’m a mom so that could just be that side of me speaking.” She laughed quietly before she started making name tags.

“Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, Jongho. Are these correct?” She held them all up, smiling brightly.

They all nodded, taking their coats off and putting the aprons on. Melody gently added the name tags to each of their aprons and led them into a different room.

There, they saw the familiar backpacks of their new friends, along with their coats and such all neatly put in cubbies. Melody motioned to where they could leave their things and soon they were guided down a hall.

The sound of children playing caught their attention and they peeked in a few rooms along the way.

“Chye, can I have Jisung’s plushie, he’s having a bit of a hard time settling in.” Changkyun knelt down next to a woman they didn’t know. She smiled and passed him the round, sphere-shaped dragon plushie with a sun on its rear and went back to rocking the child named Shotaro in her lap.

“We take care of kids of all ages here, usually until about their fifth or so year, and then they usually don’t wanna do the ‘baby stuff’ anymore. The others are split up but we need a few extra hands in here please.” She gestured into the largest room and as soon as they walked in, the sound spilled out into the hall.

“Tag, you’re it!”

“Where’s my dolly?”

“No, Yeri don’t eat that!”

They all blinked at the sight of Yeonjun darting by, making airplane noises as they held a child in their arms. In the far corner of the room, Chungha sat beside Siyeon, a soft blush on her cheeks as the two gently took turns reading a fairytale to some kids.

Felix was half-buried in an impressively sized ball pit, occasionally dodging a colorful plastic ball being lobbed across the room before he gently scolded the general direction it came from. Moa snickered behind her hand before grabbing another to toss at him from a different side.

Hongjoong at a table with a small girl in a wheelchair, talking to her with nothing but kindness in his eyes as he helped her color in a picture.

Melody noticed the awestruck look on the boys’ faces and laughed quietly.

“Okay, happy melodies! We should say hi to our new friends!”

Her voice was surprisingly loud for someone of her stature, smiling kindly as all the heads snapped over to the men. Soon, there was a thunderous sound of footsteps and they were surrounded by small children, all staring up at them with wonder in their doe eyes.

“Mister, you have nice eyes!” One pointed at Seonghwa, and he smiled softly, bowing.

“Oh? Thank you, sweetheart.”

The small girls in the room gasped and immediately began chattering about princes while the boys eyed Jongho, noticing the dark lines going up his arms as he rolled up his sleeves.

“Woah! He has tattoos! That’s so cool!” They cheered, reaching to touch him.

“Hey, hey. Please remember to ask people's permission before touching them. Some people really don’t like it.” Hongjoong’s voice piped up from the background. He remained seated by the girl in the wheelchair, frowning a bit at the rowdy kids before sending Jongho a soft smile.

The Māori man smiled, biting back the elation he felt.

He hadn’t told this version of Hongjoong about how he had issues with being embraced or touched. Little by little, the man was showing subtle signs of remembering, and it made the warrior excited.

‘Bleh, I can feel how sappy you’re getting’ Whiro complained from inside him. Jongho’s brow twitched ever so slightly.

‘And you bust your ass during that fight to get that piece. You want him back too.’

‘Bold of you to assume it wasn’t just because I like punching people in the face.’

‘Y’know, I can feel you smiling, right?’

Whiro didn’t respond to him, but he could feel the entity shift ever so slightly along his skin before settling, knowing he couldn’t move too much, lest one of the kids see. Jongho bit back the playful roll of his eyes and nodded gratefully to Hongjoong for stepping in.

“Okay, melodies. Let’s introduce ourselves and then we’ll have our friends introduce themselves, okay? When I point, you say your name and one cool thing about yourself, okay?” She smiled and the kids introduced themselves one by one.

They got around to the girl sitting beside Hongjoong and she looked at them before squeezing the red fox plushie in her hands. It had an eye patch over its eye.

“My name..is Jiyeon. And I wanna be a pirate.”

The boys blinked in surprise, noticing the small flag hanging off the back handle of her wheelchair. She hugged her plushie and looked away, hiding her face in Hongjoong’s shoulder.

He smiled and ruffled her hair lightly.

“That’s everyone. Your turns!” Melody motioned to the boys. Seonghwa did a grand sweeping bow, sending a smile to the small children.

“My name is Seonghwa.”

“Seonghwa-hyung, your voice sounds funny!”

Melody frowned and moved to gently correct the child, but Seonghwa merely waved.

“It’s because I’m a foreigner. Please bear with me…Jeongin, right?” he pointed to the small boy and he nodded, laughing cheerfully.

“You remembered!”

Seonghwa nodded and one by one the rest of the boys introduced themselves.

“My name is Yunho! I like flowers a lot, so maybe we can color some pictures later?”

“Hi, I’m Yeosang. I like food a lot, I’ll try to bring some school safe snacks next time, okay?”

“My name is San…um…I like to dance?”

“Hi, I’m Mingi! I’m really good at making things! I hope you don’t mind some craft classes or anything like that!”

“My name is Wooyoung. I’m really good at playing tag, so maybe we can play in the park when it gets warmer, yeah?”

“I’m Jongho.”

The others sent him a small look and he shrugged, a small panicked look on his face.

“I don’t know what else to say!” He hissed.

“Smooth.”

‘What would you say, then, asshole?!’ he snipped mentally. Whiro shrugged internally.

“I don’t fucking know. I’m the god of evil, you think I like kids?”

Jongho felt his eye twitch ever so slightly before the kids dispersed into different groups, some sticking close to the new workers to pick their brains on who they were and where they came from.

Jiyeon went back to doodling her picture, and as he passed, Mingi noticed she and Hongjoong were drawing a pirate ship and he bit his lip, heart-squeezing.

……

“H…hey.”

Hongjoong looked up, blinking in surprise as Mingi stared down at him. Jiyeon looked up as well and Mingi pointed to the ship’s bow, bending slightly.

“Maybe…draw a mermaid there. And carve a Cromer into the side…I think it would look nice.” he told them. Hongjoong was staring into his shirt, eyes zeroed on the crystal opal shimmering underneath his collar. He slowly looked up staring at Mingi, brows furrowed.

He was missing something. He’d seen that before. Seonghwa had a similar mark and stone on his wrist too…Hongjoong felt like he should know more about it, should question it.

Why is it so familiar?

“Ming-”

“That’s just my opinion. You can do what you’d like with your drawing, though.” He bowed and quickly left, biting his lip hard as he relocated to the other side of the room. It wasn’t the best of interactions, but it was a start.

At least he thought so.

Jiyeon watched him go before she began drawing the lines on the ship.

“Hey, Oppa?”

“Yes, Jiji-ya?”

“....Whats a Cromer?”

-x_2 Hours Later_x-

The seven men sat pretzel-style on the floor, watching as Felix, Hongjoong, Yeonjun, Chungha, and Moa danced about, all smiles and laughs. Some of the kids got up and danced with them, a child-like track playing.

With a squint and a tilt of the head, some of them picked up on the familiar voices singing baby shark coming from the speaker. Yuta, Changkyun, Suzuka, Chan.

“Ba-by shark do do do doo do do~”

Seonghwa watched Hongjoong, leaning gently against Jongho with a fond smile on his face while Mingi played patty cake with Jiyeon.

“Hey, Mingi-ssi. Can I call you Oppa too?” Jiyeon inquired. Mingi blinked before nodding.

“Of course. We’re friends.”

She nodded and swung her pinkies with his.

“Thank you for helping me with my ship. It looked really pretty after I put sparkles on it!”

Mingi smiled. His heart clenched ever so slightly. He never got to experience Gracie growing up beside him, but being around all these children immediately made him feel calm, nostalgic, almost.

“I’m glad, Jiyeon.”

“Hey, Oppa? Why don’t you use honorifics?”

Mingi blinked before he laughed a bit shyly. That’s right. That’s something he hadn’t quite gotten used to. Fluent in the language, yes, but he hadn’t had to speak in many countries where honorifics were customary in a while.

“It’s a bit hard to get used to, I’m a foreigner and so are the others. We’re not really used to it yet. Sorry…”

Jiyeon shrugged a shoulder and then smiled, holding her hand up. Mingi blinked in confusion before holding his larger hand up, smiling as Jiyeon placed her palm against his, easily eclipsed by the size of his hand.

“You have rough hands, Oppa. You’d be really good on my pirate ship. Do you wanna join my crew?” She inquired. Mingi felt a pang in his chest, opening his mouth to play along when she gently laced her fingers with his.

“I think…Hongjoong is lonely being on a crew alone with just me. Can you be in our crew?” She asked softly.

Mingi bit his lip.

“Oh, Jiyeon, it’s time for naptime. Do you want Mom to lay you down or do you want to lay with me?” Hongjoong came over to the two and Mingi blinked. He hadn’t even realized the music had faded around his interactions with the girl. Jiyeon pondered for a moment before she pointed at Melody.

“Auntie Melody, please.”

Hongjoong smiled and nodded, going over to his mom to relay the message. Jiyeon watched them before she smiled at Mingi.

“You can think about it, okay? But Hongjoong, Foxy, and I will always be waiting for good members of our crew!” She wiggled her red pirate fox at him as Melody walked over. She gently excused them and wheeled Jiyeon to a mat she had already laid down for her, helping the girl out of her chair so she could lie down under a comfortable fleece blanket.

“She really likes-” Hongjoong turned to Mingi and blinked, finding the tall man had disappeared while he was looking away. He frowned slightly, playing with his hands before he moved to help some of the others tuck in some of the children.

“This…I think I really needed this.”

Hongjoong looked over at Wooyoung, blinking slightly as he finished tucking in Linlin. The girl smiled up at him as he moved away, head tilting.

“Are you having a hard time? I noticed some of you seemed out of it. Can I help?” He inquired, pointing to the far corner of the room so the kids wouldn’t be awakened by the sound of them talking. The other ‘teachers’ moved there as they finished helping the kids settle in, and Hongjoong sat on the wide ledge of the windowsill, patting the spot beside him.

Wooyoung sat beside him, gently letting his head rest on Hongjoong’s shoulder.

The older man blushed slightly before gently adjusting himself so Wooyoung was as comfortable as possible.

“What do you do…when you’re fighting with the people you love?” He inquired. Hongjoong glanced at him out of the corner of his eye before looking about at the people in the room.

His mom had moved to the kitchen area with Felix, talking quietly in English as they set up snacks for the children when they woke up. He could see her crack a joke before Felix laughed behind his hand, hugging her tight and smiling as she handed him his own cheese stick snack.

Yeonjun had opted to stay in the nap time area, watching over the children with a fond look in their eyes, ready to move towards any of them and comfort them if they found sleep to elude them.

Siyeon sat with her back leaned against Chungha’s, reading something quietly as she enjoyed the gentle lo-fi being played for the children. She seemed to not notice, or politely ignore the flustered stiffness in Chungha’s body as she leaned on her.

Moa was a few feet down from them, her knees pulled up against her chest as she and Yunho comically sat at a table, talking amongst themselves.

Wooyoung had begun to nod off slightly with the prolonged silence before Hongjoong sighed.

“I don’t…I don’t know. For as long as I could remember, we’ve never had any major disagreements. It’s always been us against the world, y’know? I think the thought of me fighting the people I love…is terrifying. More than anything in this world, I’m afraid of being forgotten or left behind…so the thought of fighting makes me think they’ll leave me. That’s terrifying.” He looked down at his hands, his birthmark having a few wayward splotches of paint on it.

“But…fighting is in our nature, right? For better or for worse, living beings fight. So if you’re fighting with someone you care about…I think it’s best you start thinking about solutions that are good for you both. How will you resolve this so that all parties are happy…or at the very least, in a way, everyone can heal. There’s no one great answer, but I do think you could try and find a way to solve it if you want things to get better.”

Wooyoung nodded and closed his eyes, laughing softly.

“You always were good at advice.”

Hongjoong felt the urge to furrow his brow at the wording, but for some reason, it didn’t bother him as much as he’d expected it to. It felt…natural. He’d definitely given Wooyoung advice before…right?

Wooyoung moved and gently set his head in Hongjoong’s lap, eyes closing. Hongjoong watched his face for a moment before he exhaled softly through his nose and ran his fingers through Wooyoung’s hair, closing his own eyes and leaning back against the window.

The rest of the nap hour was calm, the dull sound of distant chatter and lo-fi music keeping those who were tired asleep.

-Later, 5PM-

“She didn’t have to pay us…”

San looked down at the envelope in his hands as Yunho hung up his coat inside, greeting Cheese with an eager exclamation of his name.

“Cheese!”

“Friend! You have called Cheese’s name happily so Cheese believes it is time for belly rubs, yes? Can Cheese have belly rubs? Cheese did not receive belly rubs last night and that makes Cheese very sad!”

Yunho laughed and sat on the couch beside Mingi, patting his lap as Cheese dove into it, wiggling about eagerly on his back while both men scratched his belly.

“Sorry, Cheese. Yesterday was a bad night.”

“Cheese understands! Cheese will provide emotional support!”

Yunho smiled and looked at Mingi, noticing the wistful look on his face. He gently nudged him with his shoulder, waiting until Mingi looked in his direction before speaking.

“You okay, Mingi?”

Mingi nodded.

“We..should probably be using honorifics, huh?”

Yunho tilted his head and opened his mouth to inquire why the sudden change when Seonghwa poked his head out of the kitchen.

“We’re making dinner…do you want anything?”

“Just something a bit spicy, please?” San requested, sprawled out on the armchair with Wooyoung curled in his lap like a cat. Jongho was on the floor staring up at the ceiling, but he gave a grunt of approval.

“I can make fruit salad for dessert if you’d like.” Yunho offered, laughing when he heard Yeosang’s eager yipping from in the kitchen. Seonghwa nodded and turned his attention to Mingi.

“....Mingi…?”

“...Kimchi fried rice and whatever meat you’re making. Please.”

He didn’t meet his eyes but Seonghwa took it for what it was, the small “please” making him smile a lot more than he’d ever expected it to.

“Right. Yeosang and I will get to it, then.”

-x_??:??_x-

Joong poked his head out of the silken fur of the dragon’s tail. His eyes scanned the vast ocean they were flying over. No end in sight, on any side of them. He looked down at the cerulean blue and idly wondered what would happen if he fell.

Would he fall forever? Would water fill his lungs?

He was already dead, so what happened after that?

Before he had the chance to ponder it more, the dragon stopped abruptly, sniffing about before snarling.

“There she is. That witch. First, I need her out of the way.”

Joong’s brow furrowed. Who was ‘she?’

Before he had time to rack his brain on it, (he knew better than to make himself known to the entity he was currently clinging onto), the dragon dove into the water like a bullet, somehow swimming at faster speeds than it was while it was flying.

Joong clung to the fur, eyes widening as he waited for the water to surround him.

Instead, the water moved away from the dragon, parting subtly for the massive serpent moved fluidly in the water.

Repelled, but still close. Subjects of a tyrannical ruler.

Joong blinked.

Where the fuck did that thought come from?

As the dragon dove into the abyss of the ocean, Joong felt his lips press together.

This was oddly familiar. This feeling of sinking into the ocean. With a deep exhale, Joong tucked himself back into the silk and closed his eyes as the dragon led them further down into pitch blackness.

He knew better than to stare too deep into the abyss. He was being brought right to it, anyway.

Whatever problems came from that, he’d figure it out when he got there.

Maybe.

-xxx-

"Keep your voice down, Hyung."

A moan rattled around in his head and it takes a moment for Hongjoong to realize it's his own. He covered his mouth, whimpering behind his palm as a brunette head disappeared between his legs.

"M-mmph!" He arched, or attempted to, had a strong arm not have locked around his body.

"We'll be caught if you continue, mon putois. Should I find a way to muffle you?"

Hongjoong whimpered in response, one hand tugging at the head between his legs while the other lightly clawed at the arms around him, knees shaky.

"I'm trying b-but Yeosang…" he trailed off, gasping as the lips around him tightened, Yeosang’s greenish-grey eyes twinkling in delight.

"My~ does it feel good, mon putois?"

Hongjoong shuddered, feeling cold fingers toy with his nipples, tugging at the piercings.

"S...seong…" he gasped and arched as Seonghwa’s lips ran down to his neck, his cock pressed against Hongjoong’s thigh.

"That's it. Moan for me. For us."

Hongjoong closed his eyes, shuddering as he felt hands and lips on him. All over his body, kissing, biting, caressing, scratching.

Seonghwa kept his palm over his eyes, purring sweet nothings into his ear. Yeosang’s head bobbed eagerly between his legs, and at one point, he pulled off.

Then he felt more than one tongue rolling up and down his cock.

"Ah, couldn't hold back, Wooyoung, Jongho? Hm? Well, make sure to share him well."

Hongjoong felt like he was melting, feeling the three of them share his cock while long, skilled fingers worked him open.

A head on his shoulder and a small breathy hum told him it was Yunho. Hongjoong wanted to tell Seonghwa to move his hand, let him see. Let him touch.

All that left his mouth were soft, steadily increasing moans and cries for more.

He felt like he was floating, yet grounded.

At some point, he found himself reaching, wanting more. That's how San ended up in his mouth, growling praise to him as he rocked his hips back and forth.

"Right where I belong, Hyung. Down your pretty throat." He purred, and Hongjoong assumed that was him pulling his hair, holding him down gently, just enjoying the warmth of his mouth.

Hongjoong whimpered. He can't hold on like this. Not with so many hands on him. So many voices in his head.

San pulled away and it took everything in him not to whimper and ask him to come back.

He didn't have time to before he was maneuvered around and placed on his back, eyes still covered as he felt someone finally sink into him, holding his hips.

"Oh my god-"

The grip on his hips was tight, holding him still as he was rocked into, a chorus of different, yet familiar voices flooding his mind.

"I c-can't- I can't hold on-"

A hand wrapped around his throat, firm, yet not enough to make him panic. Seonghwa’s hand moved from his eyes and Hongjoong looked up, eyes bleary and unfocused.

Mingi stared back at him, holding both his gaze and throat as he came inside of him, never breaking eye contact as Hongjoong shuddered and came soon after, overwhelmed and feeling small under the heated gaze.

-💋-

Hongjoong jolted up, eyes wide and T-shirt stuck to his abdomen from a thin layer of sweat. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts before he looked down, groaning in disapproval as he saw both the telltale wet spot in the front of his boxers and the morning wood that had yet to go down even though he came from his dream.

Which, by the way-

"What the fuck ." Hongjoong groaned, pulling his own hair before he stopped himself, thinking of Dream San doing the same.

"Fucking hell, Hongjoong." Hongjoong jumped up, hissing in pain and praying to several deities that no one would notice as he made a mad dash to the bathroom.

He could see all of it so clearly. Feel it as if it were real. The large hand around his throat squeezing, the deep brown eyes that bore into his being.

He'd seen them before. Those eyes.

Hongjoong closed his own, the water making his bangs stick to his face as he tried to steady himself.

When he opened his eyes, he looked up, finding those eyes staring back at him.

Kinder, softer. Like they needed him.

'I love you.'

Hongjoong reached out, blinking and startling, his hand extended out to nothing. He straightened up and shook his head, caught off guard and flustered as his fingers touched the cool glass of his mirror.

No. No, that never happened.

He could feel the phantom feeling of a hand back against his throat, his eyes downcast as he bit his lip.

Though the feeling of those hands-on him in his dream made him feel like he was...wanted, desired, needed, he knew better. He turned the water colder and let his body calm down as he stood under the spray.

When he came out, Yeonjun blinked at him, tilting their head as they looked at the clock in the hall.

"Why were you up so early? Oh, you're shivering!"

Hongjoong smiled wryly.

"I'm okay, Jun. Just had a weird dream."

Right.

It was just that. Only a dream.

Yeonjun tilted their head before pulling him into a hug.

“You’re an awful liar. It's okay to not be okay. C’mon. We’re gonna go out to a museum with the others later. Get dressed and we’ll put a smile back on that cute face, yeah?” they squished Hongjoong’s cheeks and smiled, their head tilting.

Hongjoong smiled and nodded.

“Yeah…Yeah, that sounds really fun, actually.”

©atiny-piratequeen 2022. do not repost, translate, or use my works without permission

----Taglist--- 

@kimnamshiks @atiny-dazzlinglight @angel0taiyo @phasephoenix @jacksons-goddess-gaia @storytimedragon @eversionic @itsatinyworld @unatempesta-dipensieri @lonely10vely @yunhosblackgf @not-majestic-bluenicorn @moonmin-miya @snowstaytiny @delphinium3000 @just-a-starfruit @skmoonchild @queenofhimbos @allthestarsrcloser @sneaky-ash @im-what-iam @gettin-a-lil-hanse @stayatinyfics @smallfrye @atinyteez @seongsanniehwa @seomisaho @kirisimpma @chaos-ground-writing @daniblogs164 @daisyhwa @yunhofingers @stormiestories @billboard-singer @fallinforwoo @asyamonet22​ @perfectlysane24​ @drunk-on-yuta​ @shingisimp​ @yungiland​ @phoenixcode21 

[kpopfeeds]

Mina’s Profile

Birth Name: Myoui Mina

Stage Name: Mina 

Position: Main Dancer & Sub Vocalist

Birthday: March 24, 1997 

Zodiac Sign: Aries 

Height: 163 cm (5′4″) 

Weight: 46 kg (101 lbs) 

Blood Type: A 

Facts: 

She was born in San Antonio, Texas, but her parents are Japanese. 

Her family moved to Kobe, Japan when she was a toddler. 

She used to have American citizenship but she gave it up as of 2019. 

Mina’s English name is Sharon Myoui. 

Mina got casted while shopping with her mom.

She auditioned in a JYP audition in Japan and joined the trainee program in South Korea on January 2, 2014. 

She is the member who had the shortest training period before debuting as a member of Twice. 

She got into kpop when she did a cover with her friend using a song by Girls Generation. 

She learned ballet for 11 years. 

She joined Urizip dance school for more modern dance training. 

Mina was very popular among male trainees. 

Mina’s nicknames are penguin and black swan. 

Mina’s favorite ballet production is La Corsaire. 

She’s really a quiet person in public. 

Mina prefer action thriller movies than romance. 

She can’t eat beondaegi. 

Mina doesn’t like plum blossom and natto. 

She like eating snacks.

She loves Heniz ketchup and also, what she loves the most is egg with ketchup. 

Mina likes Americano. 

When Mina is very stressed, she cries. 

Mina religion is Catholic. 

When Mina can’t sleep, she goes on her phone. 

Mina said she has lots of mood swings & has ups and downs. She still thinks she’s a very bright person. 

She doesn’t talk to anyone when they’re angry. 

Her hobbies are looking up restaurants online and shopping. 

Mina could never ride the Viking and other such rides from theme parks.

Mina likes great white sharks. 

She appeared in Junho’s “Feel” (Japanese) MV, GOT7′s “Stop Stop It” MV, Wooyoung’s “Rose” (Japanese) MV, and Miss A’s “Only You” MV. 

[kinginthenorthandkhaleesi]

The Dragons Of Ice & Fire (on Wattpad) http://my.w.tt/UiNb/PsaSquWgzG Winter is here. Ice and Fire must unite to fight the Others for the survival of the human race. Jon and Daenerys are the prince and princess that were promised. They must be light bringers in the midst of The Battle for the Dawn.

[yumiyue07]

Through Fire and Blood

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★ POV: K-idol x reader

H/N = His name Y/N = Your name

Trigger warning: swearing, violence, abuse ｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★,｡･:*:･ﾟ’☆｡･:*:･ﾟ’★

You had dozed off from exhaustion when voices outside your door woke you up. You were immediately on alert, straining to listen to their words. You lay motionless, pretending to be still asleep.

"Come on, don't be such a wimp. We're just having a bit of fun with her. The boss won't notice a thing. He isn’t even here at the moment. We'll stuff her mouth so she can't scream," his voice filled with a sickening sense of amusement.

Fear gripped you at the realization that none of these degenerate men would come to your aid. It felt like that night in the subway… only this time, H/N wouldn't be here to save you. Your arms and ankles were tied together, leaving you completely helpless.

Your pulse raced as the door slowly creaked open. Instinctively, you wanted to scream for help, but the sight of the machete silenced you.

"Shh, not a peep out of you. We just want to keep you company so that you don't feel so lonely," one of them sneered, his yellow teeth glinting in the dim light. His voice was thick with a sickening mixture of menace and lust.

"And maybe you can give us something back in return," the other one grinned meaningfully at you, his eyes burning with a predatory gleam. As he closed the door, a wave of dread washed over you. You were trapped, at their mercy, and you knew what they wanted.

You clutched the blanket, your only defense, tightly around you as the other man reached for it, and your heart pounded against your ribs.

"Look, Mamba, she’s acting all shy. You little bitch. It’s just the three of us, he taunted, his words were a dagger, striking deep into your fear. "Don’t pretend like you’ve never sucked…"

"Hurry up, Naga," Mamba, the machete man, cut him off. "We don't have time for long speeches. Get to the point, or to her pants, I should say," he said, grinning. Naga's hand moved toward his belt, his fingers hovering over the zipper. "Don't stress me now. There’s no one here to disturb us anyway. You know, they all went for a meeting with the boss or here on patrol. So it’s just the three of us."

The cold was seeping into your bones, a numbing chill that mirrored your despair. Even if you screamed, no one would rush to your aid. Your mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of this nightmare.

"If you do anything to me, I'll tell the boss," you choked out, your voice barely a whisper.

Their smirks faltered, but only for a fleeting moment.

"You won't," Mamba snarled, his eyes narrowing. "You'll keep your mouth shut."

"And if you say a word to anyone," Naga added menacingly, "we'll take every opportunity to have fun with you." He paused, his gaze shifting to your face, a cruel glint in his eye. "Oh, and we'll hurt your beloved moron, H/N, and his troupe badly. How about a fire in his headquarters? So, it's up to you."

The words hung heavy in the air. You had to swallow hard, the realization sinking in that your fate, and the fate of those you cared about, was in their merciless hands.

"Well, there you go. Now let's see what you're hiding under your blanket." With a brutal yank, he tore the blanket away, sending it flying across the room.

"We don't need that," Naga sneered, his eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. He loomed over you, kneeling beside your mattress.

You refused to surrender without a fight. With a desperate

effort, you slid back against the wall, creating as much distance as possible. Then, with every ounce of strength, you lashed out with your feet, landing a few lucky blows.

"Hold fucking still!" he roared his voice, a thunderclap that echoed in your ears. "Mamba do something."

"If you don't hold still right now, I'll slice your legs open," his threat hung like a dark cloud of violence that loomed over your head.

But you didn't care. You fought back with renewed fury, thrashing and kicking wildly.

Naga grunted, his grip tightening on your legs. With a savage effort, he pinned your lower body, his weight crushing you. Your arms were held down, your body a helpless prisoner.

"So now that the wildcat is tamed," Naga taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. His free hand tore at your top,

"Oh, Mamba, look at that," he jeered. "She likes to wear lace. I like that, too."

Tears streamed down your face, blurring your vision. You felt nauseous, your body revolting against the horror being inflicted upon you. Your mind was a desperate plea for help, a silent scream for H/N.

"Help me, please," you whispered, your voice barely audible above the pounding of your heart.

"What are you two doing?" Just as he was about to pull down your pants, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

A wave of relief washed over you at the sound. You never thought you'd be so grateful to hear that voice. Your eyes widened in disbelief as you turned to see Jun Ho standing in the doorway, his expression stern as he glared at the two men.

"Hyung...well...the thing is, she heard us talking out here and then shouted for us to come in. She said she feels so lonely and needs some male company," Naga stammered, scrambling to his feet and hastily buttoning his pants. His voice was a pathetic attempt to justify his actions.

Jun Ho's eyes narrowed as he turned to you. You lay there, exposed and vulnerable, your tear-streaked face a testament to the horror you had endured. His gaze was a cold, piercing laser, cutting through Naga's feeble lies.

"You're lying! That's obvious," he roared, his tone dripping with disdain. With swift retribution, he kicked Naga in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain. You winced at the sight, your own suffering momentarily forgotten in the face of Naga's punishment.

"I'm sorry, Hyung," Naga whimpered, his voice filled with fear and regret.

"It's too late for that. Our boss won't be pleased when he finds out what you tried to do to his bride-to-be," the chauffeur growled, his voice laced with anger.

The other man, Mamba, attempted to deflect blame, pleading, "I...I didn't want to. He made me do it. Please don’t tell our boss." But his excuses fell on deaf ears as Jun Ho delivered a punishing blow to his face with his fist.

"You bastards! Get out of here. I'll deal with you later," he commanded, his voice seething with fury. Without hesitation, the two men fled, leaving you alone with the chauffeur, shaken but grateful for his intervention.

He took the blanket, kneeling down beside you. With a gentle movement, he wrapped it around your shivering body, offering a small measure of comfort. "Are you alright, princess?" This time, his voice was devoid of mockery, filled instead with a genuine concern that surprised you. His eyes scanned your body for any signs of injury, his gaze lingering on your tear-streaked face.

You nodded in response, your hair falling into your face. Without hesitation, he reached out and brushed it back, his fingers tracing a gentle path across your cheek. Startled by his own actions, he quickly withdrew his hand and cleared his throat as he averted his gaze. The warmth of his touch lingered on your skin, a contrast to the cold cruelty you had endured.

"Here, have a drink. I'll make sure no one bothers you anymore," he said, offering you a bottle of water. Despite your reservations about him, you were genuinely grateful for his intervention.

"Jun Ho, thank you for helping me," you acknowledged, feeling a sense of relief wash over you as tears filled your eyes.

As if struck by lightning, he looked at you with a mixture of surprise and something else you couldn't quite decipher. He hastily stood up and moved toward the door. "Don't get used to it," he said, his voice a harsh contrast to the kindness he had just shown.

"Sure thing," you replied, a hint of sarcasm in your tone.

"I'm one of the bad guys," he said, turning to face you one last time. "But I can't stand it when women are treated like that." With those words, he closed the door, leaving you alone with your thoughts.

Back then, H/N had said something similar. You couldn't help but wonder if there was more to him than met the eye. Perhaps beneath his tough exterior, there was a spark of compassion that could potentially make him an ally.

Shortly afterwards, another young man entered the room, carrying a proper blanket and pillow.

"Hyung told me to bring you this," he explained before quickly disappearing.

"Thank you once again!" you called out, knowing that Jun Ho was nearby.

As you settled in, you couldn't shake the feeling that there might be a way to escape this ordeal, and you resolved to keep searching for it, no matter how small the chance might seem.

Jun Ho's anger pulsed through his veins, a raging inferno that threatened to consume him. He would not let those bastards get away with what they had done. His blood boiled as he recalled the horrifying scene in your room, your vulnerability and fear etched into his memory.

Their boss would undoubtedly be displeased when he found out, but that was secondary. For Jun Ho, it was a matter of personal honor. It was about his own deep-seated need to protect you from harm. A compulsion that had taken root in his heart the moment he had seen you in such a vulnerable state in the car.

As if he had sensed the impending danger, he had returned just a few minutes after leaving for the meeting with their boss. He had used the excuse of forgetting something to look after you, unable to bear the thought of leaving you alone in that dangerous place.

For now, he would sit outside your room, a silent guardian watching over you. No one would enter without his permission.

To be continued...

♡

It wasn't easy to write this rape scene. Unfortunately, it is very often a way of humiliating and torturing women.

I feel terribly sorry for everyone who has to go through something like that.

Sending lots of love 💕

Stay tuned for part 9!

Love, YumiYue 🌙

(⌒▽⌒)♡

Follow me on: 📸 Instagram: @yumiyue07 🎵 TikTok: @yumiyue07 📝 Wattpad: @LunaVerse_YumiYue

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fan fiction inspired by Stray Kids’ song “Freeze”. All characters and events are fictional and are not intended to represent real people or events.

All rights reserved. Please do not repost or reproduce this story without permission.

© 2024 LunaVerse - YumiYue07. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

[mtd2productions]

Asha khan : book 1 "the unraveling" - AUNT (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1434429599-asha-khan-book-1-the-unraveling-aunt?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=MATTEODELORT Synopsis: In the first installment of the Asha Khan series, titled "The Unraveling," readers are introduced to Asha Khan, a spirited teenager navigating the complexities of life within her traditional and affluent family. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, Asha finds herself torn between the expectations of her parents and her desire for independence and self-discovery. As Asha grapples with the pressures of her family's traditional values and societal expectations, she forms a close bond with her rebellious friend Diya. Together, they embark on a journey of self-exploration, challenging the norms and conventions that have long dictated their lives. However, Asha's world is turned upside down when she receives news of an arranged marriage to a wealthy aristocratic suitor. Caught between duty and desire, Asha must confront her own identity and make difficult choices that will shape her future. As the story unfolds, Asha navigates love, friendship, and betrayal, uncovering secrets that threaten to unravel the fabric of her carefully curated life. With each twist and turn, Asha must summon the courage to forge her own path and embrace the woman she is meant to become. "The Unraveling" is a captivating tale of empowerment, resilience, and the transformative power of self-discovery. Through Asha's journey, readers will be transported to a world filled with passion, intrigue, and the timeless quest for freedom and authenticity.

[limi-pie]

The taste of Red Wine part 9 (second half)

A/N: Right here is the second half of chapter 9, I’m starting to actually like where the plot is going so far. Y/N’s going to be badass real soon and I like the new drama I’ve created in this part, so enjoy~

< Previous chapter – Next chapter >

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this is all fanmade and it’s fanfiction. All events and things I wrote about in this Mafia alternative universe are purely based on my imagination and fiction. This story is for entertainment purposes and nothing else. I only own Lee Meílíng Y/N and other villains mentioned in said chapters.

I do not own BTS or Bighit Entertainment/HYBE Labels or the other K-pop idols, or artists. I’m also not associated with any of the said artists in my fanfiction. I do not support The Mafia or any of the violence, crimes, or actions that have happened in this story.

Genre: Mafia AU, (Specific) Female Reader, Mafia Leader! Yoongi, Romance, Drama

Warnings: Abuse, alcohol, assassination, brutality, gunshots, physical violence, smoking, strippers, mature content, sexual assaults, murder

Summary: You moved into your friend’s apartment where you temporary stay in the hopes of forgetting your toxic ex-boyfriend. An uncomfortable encounter at the nightclub leads you to meet two women who you befriend. After some time you’ve decided to take a flight to China to visit your family along with Renjun and his acquaintances.

Y/N decides to form a new group, entering the Mafia world with her own power.

Last edited: On the 13th of August 2022

Wordcount: 3,905

A few days had passed…

“Sir. Lock-on the left guy in the corner,” Taehyung spoke into his hearing device. “Got it,” Yoongi targeted the guy as he shot him. The guy fell to the ground as Jimin walked towards him. “Boss, this doesn’t seem to be the one,” Jimin said, checking the wounded guy.

Crap. I thought that I had finally gotten a hold of Jayden again. But I missed my target.

“Yo! Come on, I heard the shots coming from here! Our hideout has been busted!” Some men yelled as they ran. “Boss, what should we do?” Taehyung asked, looking over at Yoongi for his response. Fuck. These 3-man-cell missions aren’t going so well.

“Burn it.” Yoongi said coldly, “burn it all away, make sure none of them gets to run away anymore.” He poured bottles of alcohol on the ground.

What’s Suga thinking of? This decision is rather rash. Jimin thought. “Kim, how many are there?”

“Around 5-8 men, but I’ve lured them back into the place. It’s up to you and Suga to finish everything now.” Taehyung said, walking to their vehicle.

“Fuck! It’s the Bangtan! We have to get out of here!” A guy shouted as Yoongi shot him. “This is bad, we can’t get out of here!” Another guy yelled desperately.

“Park,” Yoongi looked over as he nodded, “got it, Sir,” Jimin said as they both threw a lighter and a matchstick to the ground. The entire place began to burn as the two of them got out through a large hole in the ceiling.

“Come on, get in, JK reported to me that the GOT7 are waiting for us at the mansion,” Taehyung said, pulling up as they drove away.

“Min Suga, aren’t you missing a member of yours?” Jaebeom asked, looking around as Yoongi sighed. “We’re back to being a four-man group, Jaebeom.”

“What? So Ms. Y/N isn’t here anymore?” Jackson got up as he was surprised. “Noona doesn’t work for us anymore and we’ve severed all ties with her, Mr. Wang,” Jungkook replied as he looked down.

“How come?” Jackson asked as Yoongi clenched his fist when Jimin looked over, “look Wang, let it go.”

“We need your assistance, JK’s recovery isn’t taking too long. And I need to run as four members if I want any chance of chasing Seth Mikeson down.”

Jaebeom sighed before nodding. “The last time we did a deal the WayV almost got us, remember?” Yoongi nodded, running his tongue at the front teeth. “I know, but I got us all saved, right?”

“Listen if you don’t want to help I understand, but I’ll hand you over twice the money if you do.”

“Okay Min Suga, I’ll negotiate. But I need an explanation, we can discuss it just you and me in your office.” Jaebeom said, getting up from the couch as he walked upstairs.

“So tell me the reason why you severed all ties with Ms. Y/N, did she turn out to be a threat to you in the end?” Jaebeom asked, looking at Yoongi as he shook his head slightly. “I’ll tell you the whole story and what happened.”

“…She was never a threat, but she decided to leave us.” Yoongi conveyed as he finished addressing the whole situation to Jaebeom. “Our encounter with the Way V Gang was also partially the reason for her departure.” He sighed, looking at the window as Jaebeom scoffed.

“Min Suga, I’ll lend a hand in your upcoming mission. Want to go out for a drink?” He asked when Yoongi turned around. “Sure, let’s go,” he said, grabbing his car keys as the two of them walked out of the office.

“Boss going out to drink?” Jimin asked, sipping on boba milk tea. “Yeah, I’m going out drinking with Jaebeom. I might need you to pick me up later.” Yoongi said, leaving with Jaebeom when Jackson walked into the kitchen.

“So it’s true, huh? Y/N left you all?” Jackson asked, drinking from his water bottle as Jimin nodded, “Boss doesn't want to talk about Y/N or ever mention her name again. She has become a stranger to us now.” He explained as he simply nodded. “Alright, understood Park.”

“I suppose you don’t want to talk about Y/N, but I can’t help but wonder,” The bartender handed him two Soju bottles. “Do you still have any feelings for that woman, Suga?” He asked, pouring the Soju into the two shot glasses as he drank his shot. “You know that my personal relationship doesn’t concern you, Jaebeom,” Yoongi scoffed, drinking the shot.

“I know but you seem so different now. I don’t want you to get too soft over an ordinary woman, Suga,” He said as Yoongi scoffed, “Y/N was no ordinary woman, she was special. She was willing to sacrifice her own life if it meant that the Way V wouldn’t get our location or information on us, she was my first love in high school but I knew her way back in kindergarten.” The two Mafia bosses continued drinking for hours when Jaebeom dialed Jackson’s number, telling him to pick him up.

“Jesus, Boss you sure drank a lot tonight,” Jimin sighed, wrapping Yoongi’s arm around his neck. “Shaddap…” He mumbled, completely drunk as he helped him out of the car. “I’ve received a call from a client. They seem to have a small job for us.” Jimin informed him as he started the engine and began to drive. “I’ll look at it tomorrow–” Yoongi groaned, drinking a bit of water bottle. “–Boss, I believe it’s an urgent job, please just check your mail once we’re home.” He advised as he scoffed at his member’s response.

Yoongi scoffed heavily, sitting in his office chair before frowning. He checked his mail.

Dear Min Suga

[I’m writing this because I and my daughter are in a dangerous situation, my stalker whom I’ve reported several times to the police for theft and sexual assaults. He won’t leave me alone. The police have arrested him before but he is out of jail after two weeks.

His name is Nathan Jones, I haven’t been able to sleep or live in peace. He has always found my address and workplace.

I’ve moved 4 times because of him, please do something about him. I don’t care if you may end up killing him, I just want to live safely with my daughter. I’m willing to pay a lot of money to your group for this favor, my number is 09 01 19 92.

Please contact me as soon as you’ve read my message.]

- Christina W.

“Another one of these human scumbags, huh?” He finished reading it and scoffed then he dialed the number immediately. I don’t know if she went to bed. I mean it’s almost 4:00 AM…

“Hello…”

“Hey. This is Min Suga, from the Bangtan Gang. I’ve read your mail, I’m willing to take this job request. Are you available after 3 PM?”

“Uh, that’s bad timing I have to pick up my daughter from kindergarten at that time. Can I request to meet with one of your members around 1 PM at the “Ewha Womans Univ.” station and meet up in your office?” The woman suggested as Yoongi nodded. “We can do that. Is there anything else?”

“Regarding the payment, how much do I owe you?”

“The Bangtan usually solves the payment inside my office, but I can assure you this isn’t going to cost you a lot. Hmm, expect it to be between 5,000-10,000₩. I’ll talk more in detail when we meet in person, right now I’m too drunk.” Yoongi scoffed as the woman giggled a little, “alright that’s a deal. I’ll hang up now, see you tomorrow Mr. Min,” She said before hanging up.

Yoongi rolled his neck, opening his laptop as he typed the information into his word document, “right this client’s name is Christina W. and this job is regarding a sexual assaulter, hmm.”

Fuck, I got so fucking wasted. I could barely even focus during that call. Yoongi thought to himself, shaking his head as he walked over to the couch, kicking his shoes off as he lay on it before falling asleep.

It was Tuesday the 2nd of June 2020. “Morning, I’ve made us breakfast Hoseok,” I said, gently patting his hair as he growled, turning around in his bed. “Alright, I’ll be up in a second,” He said in his tired, raspy voice as I left his bedroom.

“So I’m going to stay at Jisoo’s place, I’ll move my clothes and belongings by tomorrow, what time is your dance class?”

“Heh, it’s at 8:00 PM, but do you need me to help with moving your boxes or such?”

“I’d appreciate it, Hobi, but the ladies will help me. Have fun with your dance crew, okay?” I said, eating my Kimchi scallion pancakes. “Roseanne and Lisa?” He asked, eating his pancakes as I nodded, “also Jisoo now that she’s back in Seoul,” I smiled.

Yoongi woke up to the harsh light shimmering through the blinds as he grumbled. He checked the time as it indicated 8:49 AM. “Fuck,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “I should’ve drank so much last night,” he got up as he left the office and went to the bathroom and pissed into the toilet. Yoongi started the shower and began undressing, he threw his clothes into the basket as it was filled with previously worn clothes.

He finished showering as he put on a clean pair of boxers, a white tank top, and some loose Adidas grey sweatpants. He went downstairs to make his usual Americano. “Morning, Hyung,” Jungkook said, grabbing banana milk out of the refrigerator. “Mornin’ Jungkook, you’re up quite early, how’s your arm?”

“Yeah, I was working out earlier. I’m starting to feel a bit better, I think I can finally start going on missions again. My wound has almost healed.”

“That’s good to know, I have a meeting with a client later at 1 PM. It’s regarding a sexual assaulter and stalker.” Jungkook looked at him as they nodded, “another one of those, huh?”

“Yeah, I think me and him should be able to locate the asshole, no problem. But I might have to get help from GOT7 to make sure he’s gone for good.”

“Alright, want me to help with anything?” Jungkook asked as he nodded, “once the client’s here I want you to do some investigation on recent and the most sexual assault attacks in the districts of Seoul. Send the report to my mail.” Yoongi commanded as he went to his office.

“Hello, Mr. Min,” the woman walked inside Yoongi’s office and bowed. “Hello Ms. W. welcome, please have a seat,” Yoongi pointed at the empty chair in front of his desk. “Thanks, let me describe what this crazy stalker looks like.” She said, placing a few polaroids on the stalker as he scoffed. “Seen this bastard before can’t believe the cops have already released him again.” He sighed, adjusting his glasses as he began typing into his laptop. “You and your daughter are living safely now, right?” Christina nodded, “yeah, but I’m worried he might find us soon again.” she held her hands together nervously as he looked at her.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he won’t be a problem anymore,” Yoongi said, “how do I pay you?” she asked as he placed a piece of paper with the transaction number. “You can pay after I’ve gotten rid of him, just make sure you take care of your daughter and yourself,” Yoongi said, looking at her as she nodded. “Thank you, Min Suga.”

“You said this bastard has been hanging around this strip club?” Yoongi spoke to Jackson as he pointed at the back door. “Yeah, JK has dug some valuable information that Nathan Jones was seen at this club frequently,” Jackson said, pulling his mask on. “Right, so I’ll go and ask the strippers around if they’ve seen him,” he said, walking inside as he looked around before turning his hearing device on. “You know, Mr. Suga that Candy girl of yours is here too–”

“–Jackson, focus on our mission I don’t have time for unnecessary drama, tell me once you’ve found him,” Yoongi said coldly into the earpiece.

Jackson walked around as one of the strippers approached him, he nodded and walked into the room. “Suga, one of the girls told me that Nathan will be here in 6 minutes, be on the watch,” he reported as Yoongi looked around. When he felt someone wrapping their arms around his chest, “Oppa, it’s been a while where have you been?~” The woman cooed, caressing his chest as he turned around to see Candy standing in front of him.

“Candy… I don’t have time to talk to you right now,” He said, walking away from her as he walked past the crowd. “Oppa, you’re no fun,” she said, holding onto his wrist as she leaned in, pressing her chest against his arm as he glared at her.

“Suga, he’s here, he’s the guy wearing the brown leather jacket and in tight ripped skinny jeans,” Jackson reported via the earpiece as Yoongi nodded, putting his mask on and pulling out his revolver. Candy quickly backed away from him as he began shooting Nathan several times as everyone in the club began fleeting. “Fuck, who are you?” Nathan spoke, looking up slightly when Yoongi pulled him by the hair before lowering his mask. “Min Suga, however not that it matters because I’m killing you now.” He scoffed before pointer the gun at his forehead as he shot him dead.

“Hello, Taehyung please call our client. I’ve successfully gotten rid of her abuser.” Yoongi said before hanging up as he stood outside of the nightclub. “Where are you going, handsome?~” Candy asked, drinking from her glass of beer. “You should not hang around here, it’s dangerous,” he scoffed slowly walking away as she pulled him by the sleeve. “Did you by any chance break it up with that girl of yours…?” She leaned and whispered into his ear as he turned his cheek to glare at her. “What was her name? Y/N was it?” Yoongi clenched his fist as he began walking away, not answering her questions.

“Jackson, let’s go,” Yoongi said coldly as he nodded, “what about the body of Nathan?” he asked, looking at the back door as Yoongi sighed and opened the door. “I’ll let that fucker rot there, besides I haven’t left any obvious evidence of us there. Taehyung has hacked their CCTV system for us so we’re both clear.” He explained, starting the engine as they drove off to the mansion.

For now, I’m currently staying at Jisoo’s apartment. She had just returned from attending various fashion events in Spain. I had the entire apartment for myself as she was visiting her family in Gyeonggi.

I decided to go to the nightclub “NB1 & NB2” in Hongdae by myself after that horrible breakup with Daniel. 

The music played loudly as I shook my hips while dancing to Mommae by Jay Park. It’s been a while since I last went to a nightclub by myself. “Hey, the name’s Chad,” A random guy said, walking up to me as he had his hand on my waist I turned around, lashing his hand away. “Shit, why so feisty?” Chad said as I scoffed, glaring at him. “Fuck off, Chad,” I said, walking away when he grabbed me by the hair I screamed when he looked into my eyes.

“Shit, hasn’t that ex of yours taught you to not cuss?” The crowd around us gasped and backed up as they seemed to fear Chad. “Let fucking go of me, you asshole.” I grit my teeth together.

“Say you’re Daniel’s bitch, right?” Chad chuckled, “he’s been searching for you, have you been hiding from him?” I felt tears form in my eyes as his grip tensed in my hair, “if you play nicely then I promise I won’t tell him where you’ve been staying lately–”

Suddenly I heard Chad groan when he fell to the ground, his grip loosened as I turned around to see a woman with a black blazer, Gucci t-shirt, and tight leather pants stepping on him with her black stiletto heel. “–Oh my, why is it always you that I run into whenever there’s a ruckus in the club, Chad?” She asked, applying pressure on the heel as he groaned. Crap. Seulgi K. and her other bitch… He thought.

“You okay?” A tall woman asked as she wrapped an arm around me as I nodded, “yeah, thanks for saving me you two,” I managed to mumble when Chad glared at me as the woman removed her foot, she walked in front of his head as she crouched down, her silver necklace dangling in front of him as he gasped.

“Listen Chad… If you value your life I’d run away right away now.” She whispered as his eyes widened. “Crap, it’s those bitches…” Chad mumbled before getting up and running away. I looked at her as she patted her lap, “he didn’t touch you inappropriately did he?” The woman asked as I shook my head slightly, “he did but thanks you for sorting him out for me,”

“It’s no biggie, me and Seulgi have seen way too many fuckers like him,” The tall woman explained as I nodded, “by the way, I’m Joy and this is Seulgi,” she said, pointing at the woman with the Gucci t-shirt on. “It’s nice to meet you both, call me Y/N,” I said, bowing slightly as Joy smiled. My eyes were focused on Seulgi’s silver necklace, its silver cursive font ‘RV’ caught my attention as it seemed to spell out a brand of some sort.

“You should be careful whenever you’re in Hongdae, okay?” Seulgi said, escorting me to her car. “There’s been a lot of sexual assaults recently in this area,” Joy said, sitting next to her as I nodded, looking down slightly. “Where do you want me to drop you off, Y/Nssi?” Seulgi asked, driving as I looked in the mirror. “Ah, “Yongsan” station, please,” I mumbled, looking at the window. “You seemed quite upset and frustrated earlier…” Joy added as I sighed before explaining that I had broken up with my ex-boyfriend and came to the club to forget about him.

“Wah, that sucks, I’m sorry that happened to you Y/Nssi,” Seulgi said, handing me a box with Kleenex as I accepted it before wiping my tears away. “He’s absolute trash if I ever stumble upon him I’ll make sure to kill him, Unnie,” Joy swore as I chuckled a bit. “Eheh, thanks I’m just grateful that I’m not staying with him anymore.” After some time of chatting and trashing my ex-boyfriend, I felt a lot better. “Say Y/N, next time let’s go to a nightclub or karaoke bar together,” Joy said as the vehicle stopped near the station, “oh I would love that!” I said while getting out.

“Thanks, girls for everything,” I said, bowing my head sincerely as Seulgi smiled, “no worries, we women need to have each others’ backs, here’s my number Y/Nssi,” she said, handing me a red piece of paper with her number on it. “Thanks, you two, have a wonderful night,” I smiled, waving as they drove off as I went upstairs to the 5th floor.

About a month had passed as it was the 1st of July 2020. “Well, I’ll see you guys in about a month, okay?” I said, pulling the handle to my baggage as I looked at Namjoon, Hoseok, Jisoo, and Roseanne. I stood in front of the airport security checkpoint when I looked back at them. “Aww, Y/N and Renjun have fun, okay?” Roseanne crossed her arms and smiled as I hugged her. “Make sure to take a lot of pictures and tell me all about the great memories you’ve created once you’re back again, Y/N,” Jisoo said whilst hugging me softly as I nodded. “Tell your family that I said hi, take good care you two, okay Renjun?” Namjoon said as Renjun nodded, holding onto his baggage's handle, “don’t worry, with Y/N around I know we’ll be okay.”

I looked over at Hoseok as he gave me a big hug, “see you in a month, don’t forget to bring my snacks, okay, Y/Nie?” He chuckled as I nodded as Renjun took a hold of my hand, “come on, Jie or we’ll be late,” he said as I looked at him with a soft smile.

“Alright see you guys, I’ll text you as soon as we’ve landed safely,” I said, putting my sunglasses on when Renjun walked through the checkpoint I took a few steps before waving and blowing kisses to my friends. “Bye-bye,” they all waved as I walked through the gate along with him.

“Heh, I’m going to miss them so much,” I said to Renjun as we stood on the horizontal escalator. “That’s only natural, heh,” he chuckled before leaning in as I placed a small kiss on his cheek. “Anyways, it’s a private jet, right?” I said as he hummed. “Let’s hurry, Lucas and Hendery are waiting for us,” I tugged some hair behind my ear as I sent a text message.

“Hey, Hyejin, we are about to head to the plane I’ll call you once we’re at the hotel.”

I walked to the counter I placed my passport, and they scanned it and let me go through Renjun soon after followed by. “Are you nervous, Jie?” Renjun asked, holding my hand as we looked at the flight of stairs leading to the private jet. “No. Not when I’m with you, Renjun,” I smiled, softly caressing my thumb over his hand.

“Long time no see Ms. Meílíng,” Hendery said, smiling slightly as I walked up and took my sunglasses off. “Likewise, Mr. Wong,” I said, handing him my baggage as he took it. “Hey, Lucas and Yuqi,” I greeted them as she smiled, “Hey, Y/N you look so pretty!” I smiled, sitting next to the window. “You look quite stunning yourself, darling,” I said as Renjun sat next to me.

“Prepare for take-off,” The pilot said. “Thanks for choosing to fly with Way V’s private jet, I’m Qian Kun your pilot, please fasten your seatbelts.”

“Great news, I’ve booked you two a 5 stars hotel in Shanghai, named “Pudong Shangri-La” it’s nearby the Shanghai Tower.” Yugi giggled, smiling as she looked at the window in her office. “Thanks, Yuqi,” I said, putting my phone on flight mode as we were about to take off. “It’s going to be so nice to be away from Seoul,” Renjun exclaimed, rolling his head back as I chuckled and scrolled through Tik Tok on my phone. “Can’t wait to visit my family in Jilin,” he exclaimed as I smiled. “Can’t wait to see my family either.” I giggled, cuddling with him as he smiled brightly.

It’s unbelievable to see myself working with Kunhang and his gang despite the things that have happened between us. But I’m taking this opportunity to gain strength and get back at the Bangtan by teaming up with Huang Xuxi, Huang Guanheng, and Huang Renjun.

“Bye Seoul,” I mumbled to the window, lowering my sunglasses as the jet began to take off.

I blinked before getting lost in my thoughts. Bye, Min Yoongi…

< Previous chapter – Next chapter >

[d-noona]

AERO

Chapter 4:  Meeting the Informant Net

Jaebeom sees the statue peeking out of the open bag amazed and relieved. "You're a thief?"

"Girl's gotta make a living." As she responds with a Cheshire grin on her face. The frazzled and confused Jaebeom responds "Thank God. I was expecting someone else."

"First time I heard that. Guess you weren't expecting the pizza delivery guy." -Seven

After Seven's last run of deliveries, she surveys the place, and in a nearby window her pupils dilated to zoom in to the other building just right across.

She sees several admirable statues and displays that she can probably fence for a large amount of money. Seven goes to an alley way, climbs up the side of the building, reaching the top. She takes off her black glasses. A distant car's headlight sweeps her and Seven's pupil glow for a split second with a green retinal reflection, much like of a cat. As Seven looks up into the night shadows of an alley between high rises. Wearing a skin tight black pants, rubber soled high-tops, black leather jacket, and black gloves. She is a silhouette in the darkness.

She hefts a black nylon bag over her shoulder. Once on top she disables the roof security camera with a piece of black tape over its lenses, she crosses to the edge overlooking the alley. The street is twenty two stories down. Her target is a narrow roof formed by a setback in the facade of the next building, one hundred feet below her and eight feet away horizontally.

Holding on tight on her gear bag as it is unzipped. Seven's gloved hand yank out a large bundle of black nylon rope. She hinged the lock as a carabiner is snapped around a steel pipe. She stepped on to the parapet, jumps at a down angle, as she plummets down the face of the building. She adds arm pressure to the belay around her waist, then inverts with a snap, dropping feet first, the rope making shush sounds across her leather jacket. Seven now builds later speed across the face of the glass high-rise. She reaches the bottom of the arc, the rope stretching, taking the shock, and her lateral speed wipes the world into a blur.

Seven arcs upward, starting to slow. As she flashes above the parapet of the target rooftop, she then releases the belay, and lets the rope slide through her arm, dropping onto the rooftop with a soft thump, feet-first, crouching like a tiger or a panther light on its feet. She then turns onto the skylight , as she jimmies the latch and lifts the cover, she ties a rope on a steel pole, dropping herself ever so gracefully into the spacious apartment.

Nodding in approval looking at the luxurious space of the apartment and its architectural design, she goes to work, padding gently to the apartment. She opens drawers, looks inside cabinets, picking up object examining them. Seven enters another room silently, hefts a small porcelain figurine, 17th century Venetian. She slips it into her bag, a pair of small gold dolphins follow. She then hears something, and investigates further, peeps in a room with a man talking. Stokes on a computer keyboard. The walls are bathed in a blur CRT glow as Seven slips the door open a few inches and looks in to the room.

A man still sitting at a bank of computer monitors, half a dozen screens, racks of computer gear and peripherals of all descriptions. The room is dark except for the glow of the screens and power lights winking from the equipment. Haphazard heaps of papers, photos, files and printouts are piled everywhere on very expensive antique tables and couches. The man, Im Jaebeom, is speaking directly into the video camera.

"Do not attempt to adjust your set. This is a video of Free Korea Bulletin. The cable hack will last exactly sixty seconds. It cannot be traced. It cannot be stopped, and it is the only free voice left in this city..."

Seven slowly walks out of the room and continues rummaging the belongings of the cyber hacker. She couldn't see Jaebeom's face directly because his back is turned, but she can see him in one of the monitors. Early 20's with intense, almost haggard, yet strikingly handsome features. His brown piercing eyes blaze with intelligence and he projects a fierce energy as he speaks. Seven registers surprise as she realizes who the guy is. The pirate cyber journalist known as Informant Net in the flesh.

Jaebeom scrolls back through the video he has just digitalized and hits a key command which processes the image through a masking filter. Pixilation blurs the contours of his face, leaving only the intense eyes clear. He watches it to check that the effect is complete.

Seven smirked as she knew she was right, he was just on the same deal as everyone else. Power hungry, living and hiding under his expensive apartment. He seemingly is a part of the richer parts of the City. Seven slowly backs out the door and stops as she sees something. On a table just inside the room, is a statue, an Egypt-deco affair of gold and onyx depicting a creature half-female, half cat. It's illuminated from above a single pin point of light. Seven stares at it utterly transfixed, she snags it and backs out of the room. As she stuffs the statue on her bag and heads back out.

Then a security guard, Ruben, found the rope. He flicks his Maglite up to the open skylight and his eyes go wide. He un-holsters his 9mm, scanning and listening around him. He crosses to the alarm panel near the door and punches in the silent alarm code. As Seven approaches, the guard is scanning the shadows his gun sweeping the room as he moves forward and Seven is moving down the hall toward him on a collision course from the other side. She senses something on a level that no ordinary man or woman could feel, a sound, a vibration, the guard's body heat perhaps. As he approaches the corner and pops around the wall corridor, it was empty.

Seven slips through the door quietly but suddenly stops, lit only by a night light, a woman lying on bed with a young girl about 7 years of age, having just tucked her into bed. The woman Janna Reid and her younger sister Juliette. Janna looks up locking eyes with Seven as she screams in fear "In here! Help, in here!"

Jaebeom hears the cries and shoves aside a pile of papers and grabs a pump shotgun as he chambers around. Ruben breaks into a run heading for Janna and Juliette's room, as Janna grabs a lamp and hurls it with all her strength at Seven.

Seven's body reacts, the lamp tumbles end over end, in slow motion, she moves with amazing speed seemingly blurring the world. The guard flings the door open, sweeping his gun towards Seven.

As she sees everything in slow motion, except for Seven who is moving in a rather much faster pace; she easily ducks the lamp, which is just shattered against the wall as the guard takes aim with a two handed grip. The room goes dark as the light bulb explodes. Seven moves sideways before the guard can pull the trigger.

The room strobes with the shot but the bullet goes where Seven was, not where she is now which is halfway to the guard moving like a freight train. A second shot was heard, the bullet carves the air next to her. She reaches the guy and gets a hand on the gun, yanking it down and around in a sweeping roundhouse which twists it out of his hand. The guard Ruben was 6'3" and 250 pounds, mostly muscle. Seven follows through with a foot sweep take down and drops onto the guy hard with his arm twisted behind his back. She unloads the pistol sliding out the magazine and jacking out the chambered round. She throws the gun away and mag the other. The guard struggles to move but Seven drops onto him knee first again, knocking the wind out for a while. She looks up at the terrified woman and the crying little girl.

"Sorry" she whispers to the ladies as she bolts out the door, she sprints down the hall. Suddenly, Jaebeom appears in front of her with a shotgun leveled at her. It has a built in mini-xenon light and it is blinding her night vision, making it hard to see exactly where he is aiming at. She is at a momentary disadvantage. Though Seven knows with a sweep of her finger she can probably cause the poor man to be thrown by the wall since her abilities have improved vastly for over the years. She however was amused by the man's predicament and decides to play along.

"Put it down" says Jaebeom.

Seven does as what she's told and drops the bag on the floor. Jaebeom calls to Janna, eyes riveted on on the perpetrator.

"Janna, are you okay?" he asks.

Janna not going out of the room, creaks the door open and answers "We're alright Jaebeom."

Jaebeom scans the room to look for the beaten security guard. "Ruben" he shouts.

Seven smirks at Jaebeom, knowing that he may be looking for the poor man lying on the floor. "If he's the side of beef with the walkie-talkie, he's okay, but give the man a few minutes. He's a little bit knocked out for a while."

Jaebeom sees the statue peeking out of the open bag amazed and relieved. "You're a thief?"

"Girl's gotta make a living." As she responds with a Cheshire grin on her face. The frazzled and confused Jaebeom responds "Thank God. I was expecting someone else."

"First time I heard that. Guess you weren't expecting the pizza delivery guy." Seven responds sarcastically. She turns around as she heard a creak on a door as she's Janna hanging back in the bedroom attempting to pacify the crying child. "I'm sorry if I caught you at a bad time." She responds to both Jaebeom and Janna.

"It's alright were just a little tense right now." Jaebeom withdraws a bit but keeping a wary eye on the beautiful thief. He notices the status hanging on Seven's bag. "You have good taste. French, 1920's attributed to Chitarus." He says.

"Yeah. Whoever that is." As Seven responds nonchalantly.

Jaebeom tilts his head and quirks an eyebrow at the woman standing in front of him "So what? You liked it because it was shiny?"

Seven taking a note on the sarcasm floating out of the man's mouth. She seemingly wiser beyond years stares at the man blankly and responds in the most monotonous voice to contrast the man's sarcasm. "No, because it's the Egyptian Goddess Bast. The Goddess who comprehends all Goddesses, Eye of Ra, protector, avenger and destroyer. Giver of life, who lives forever. I can keep going you know..."

Jaebeom just looks at her, fascinated. Then, Ruben emerges from the bedroom, holding his ribs as he fumbles out his handcuffs and heads for Seven. Jaebeom panics "Stay back Ruben. The guards are on their way."

"Too late." Seven moves like lightning, grabbing Ruben's wrist as he reaches for her. Yanking him off balance and getting him in a sharply painful come-along hold with one hand bent up behind his back. Seven has maneuvered him between her and the shotgun, trumping Jaebeom's hold over her. She gave him a smile "Look, I'd love to discuss art but I gotta jet." She marches Ruben backwards into the living room controlling the big bodyguard with the thumb-hold and keeping him between her and Jaebeom.

"Easy, easy. My wrist is gonna snap" Ruben pleads in pain as he attempts to calm the girl. Seven responds to him "Yep. That could happen" then she turns to Jaebeom and grins "By the way....I love your show."

At that moment there is a thundering crash at the front door. Seven's head snaps around as a squad of private security cops wearing ballistic armor haul back and pound the door again with a steel battering ram. The doors were blasted open and a group of heavily armed rent-a-cops spill inside, their flashlights sweeping the apartment. As they raise their weapons towards Seven, she salutes the men. Moving like grease lightning as she bolts away from Ruben, who finds himself suddenly handcuffed to a heavy wrought-iron table. As the security squad moved, they submerged to try and stop her. She runs like a black blur. Jaebeom yells for them to stop with his words distended "Noooo! Don't!!! Waaaiiiittt!!!"

Seven crosses her arms over her face and hits the window at a full run. The glass explodes outwards in a diamond shower. She disappears into the night, like she was never there. The cops didn't even get a shot off. As Im Jaebeom runs to the window to check on the poor woman to see if she is still alive, he looks down. He catches a glimpse of her leaping from balcony to balcony, down the face of the building ninety feet below. She vanishes into the shadows at a street level. Jaebeom watching in fascinated awe as the curtains blow around him in the night wind.

[maplecornia]

chapter 18

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱: 3.43K

𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔢: romance | slice of life | fluff | angst | bts x female!reader | ot7

𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: You watched them from the sidelines ever since you were a young teenage girl. Now you’re grown up, they’ve returned after 2 long years and everything has changed. What happens when you pull back the mask and find the darkness within? What happens when you see that they’re broken?

𝔞/𝔫: why does tae look so precious in the banner ;-; i cri

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: cliffhangers | angst | fluff | slight mentions of self hatred | depression | mental health illness | self harm | occurs in the year 2024 | set in a timeline where BTS went to the military together | slight language

tags: @kookaine | @fangirl125reader | @kookiebbyxx | @taradevonne | @rae-bear |@mangminnie | @pixiekooo

Looking over to your hands so close to the other, Taehyung smiles before wrapping his fingers tighter around yours, intertwining them in an unbreakable bond.

The action sends your heart flying and you snap your gaze to him. He notices your sudden change in demeanor and tries to cover it up by turning to the window.

"What?" he murmurs, his ears tinted pink. "You looked cold."

You can feel your face heating up and you refuse to let him see. You aren't some little fangirl fawning over her idol, not right now. At this moment, you are the lucky person who gets to be so close to someone she admires.

Right now, you want to be the random stranger who bumped into him.

Right now, you want him to see you for you, and you to see him for him.

“I’m sorry, but we’re nearing our destination, do you want to come in to get it or should I just go instead, sir?” Minhyuk asks, breaking the silence and Taehyung shakes his head slightly.

“What have I said about calling me, sir? It’s like having my father call me, mister or even worse, hyung. Please just call me Taehyung, Minhyuk.” He corrects him, and Minhyuk gives him a slightly condescending look in the rearview mirror.

“If you would just pull up in front, I’m sure they’ll give it to you so we should be fine,” Taehyung responds, and Minhyuk nods as he directs the car into much more steady traffic, nearing a market area. You don't recognize it, and as you stare out the window you don't think you’re anywhere near the apartment complex where you're staying. Biting your bottom lip a bit in anxiety, you look at Taehyung again.

He’s staring at the window, like you were, smiling faintly at the familiar sights and people roaming the streets beside you. Each one is busy, each one has their priorities, their life. Neither is the same, everyone is different from the rest. Much like the snowflakes which fall every winter. He enjoys the uniqueness of every single person, how they act, what they do. He finds it fascinating how some people can be so alike and yet so different.

Perhaps that's why he enjoys photographs so much. He’s able to capture those moments within a small photo. That, to him, is one of the most beautiful things in the world.

At your soft tap on his shoulder, he breaks his gaze away from the beauty of life before him and turns to you. He raises his eyebrows a bit in surprise, his mouth doing the slight downturn that it has always done whenever he is confused or curious.

“What is it?” he asks, tilting his head a bit as you look at him, pulling your hand off his shoulder. A bit nervous that Minhyuk would be offended at your question, you glance at him to make sure that he’s not paying attention. Once you’re sure, you beckon Taehyung to lean down a bit so that you can whisper in his ear. He does, but only a mere fraction of an inch.

You roll your eyes, beckoning with more ferocity, and he goes another inch to try and hear you. Letting out an exasperated sigh, you drop your hand and give him a look. He chuckles a bit before smiling and whispering sorry. Then he leans down….another fragment of an inch!

Tired of his shenanigans, you reach out and pull on the neck of his shirt fiercely, pressing your lips tightly together. He gags a bit but laughs once he’s in your safe space. At your look, however, he cuts himself off and coughs to chase his chuckles away.

“Okay, okay, okay I’m sorry. Now, what did you want to say?” he apologizes as though fearing for his life, and you have to hide your smirk before asking the question.

“Is Minhyuk going the right way?” you ask, softly. So softly that you’re not even sure if he heard you. He’s not sure of it either, and crinkles his brow a bit in amusement, not sure if he heard you right.

“I’m sorry, I didn't quite catch that last bit.” Your face falls at his comment and pouting a bit, you poke his cheek. He mouths an Ow and you roll your eyes before tugging on his ear a tiny bit. He dutifully leans his ear towards you, ignoring the slight shiver that runs down his spine as your breath tickles his eardrums, your lips mere inches away from it. You take a breath before continuing and repeating your question.

“Does Minhyuk know where to go? That is, is he going the right way?” as soon as you whisper the question, you pull back. He wears a pondering expression for a moment before registering your question and understanding what you were trying to ask. As he does, his eyes light up in a little aha moment and his mouth opens slightly. It quickly grows into a soft chuckle as he shakes his head and nods, grinning broadly.

“Yes, he does. I texted him on the bus to bring me some food, so he’s just going to pick up what I ordered. I mainly got it for Jimin, but now that I’m late….” He responds and you nod, realization sparking in your chest as you stare a bit embarrassed at the car seat in front of you.

“Now that I think about it, though, I’m going to need your address.” He says absentmindedly and you turn to him. At your look, he glances at you out of the corner of his eye and smirks a bit, amused. “I mean, I promised you I’d take you home, right? How can I do that if I don’t know where you live?”

You open your mouth, wanting to say that it’s not where you live, it’s not your home, it’s just a place where you're staying right now.

But then you remember.

It is your home now. It has to be your home now. This is where you live, this is where your life will be. This is where you have to stay from now on. You don’t know when you’re going to go back home. You don’t know if you can even call that place home anymore. All you know is that this, right here, right now. This is home. You live here, in Seoul. You aren't visiting, you aren't a tourist. You have a job, you have an apartment, you have your responsibilities.

Then again, If that’s all true…

Then why is it so hard to forget what you thought you could leave behind?

The car shakes a bit as Minhyuk pulls to a stop, having reached his first destination. As he pulls up in front of the restaurant, despite what Taehyung advised, he unbuckles and declares that he’ll be right back.

If he expects anyone to hear, he is out of luck.

At one glance between you staring off into space, your hands absentmindedly playing with your string, and Taehyung waiting expectantly for an answer; Minhyuk slowly pulls himself out of the car, closing the door securely behind him.

“I know when I'm being a third wheel…” He grumbles under his breath as he darts through the rain to receive the food order Taehyung gave.

Beside you, Taehyung, growing impatient, waves his hand in front of your blank expression, and you blink awake from your reverie.

“I’m sorry, what did you need again?” you ask him, your wandering mind forgetting just what it was you were talking about to get on the topic of your homesickness. He opens his mouth to answer you after he gives you a strange look, but you jolt sitting up straight in your seat as you remember on your own.

“Oh! You needed my address right?” Tae nods slowly, smiling a bit perplexedly as you turn to your bag and pull your phone out. You need to get working on learning your address now that you are the only one living there; you're lucky that in your rush this morning you didn't forget your key to the apartment, but what can you say? You haven't been in this city for more than 24 hours, it's ridiculous to imagine that you have it memorized by now.

Making a small note in the back of your mind to accomplish that tiny task, you pull up the address you saved in your Google Maps, and turn to Taehyung, holding out your phone to him. He drops his hand from his face and takes it out of your hand. Shaking the strange incomplete feeling that erupts in his chest as he reads your address, he starts a bit.

“I know this place.” He murmurs and you turn to him, an intrigued look on your face. You peer over his shoulder as best as you can, trying to make sure you didn't pull up the wrong address. Once you see the name of it, however, you know that there’s no mistake.

“You do?” you venture, tapping his arm a bit to see the screen better. At the tap, he pulls back and watches as you peer at the screen, your face one of peculiarity. “When did you visit Jaejin?”

At the words, Taehyung snaps his fingers and pulls the phone closer to him, you pulling back out of surprise. He zooms in a bit on the apartment and smiles proudly before looking at you fiercely. You flinch, a bit confused, but he doesn't seem to care. His broad smile is all that can be seen and the brightness in his eyes nearly blinds you from their light.

“That’s right! This is Jaejin’s apartment isn't it?” you nod mutely, looking at him as though he had a screw loose, but he doesn't notice. He turns back to the screen and sighs with nostalgia.

“I remember now, he hosted one of RM’s birthday parties there! Besides the one that we celebrate together with ARMY, Jaejin wanted to do something special for him. He talked with BTS and got together every one of Namjoon hyung’s friends to attend it. It was a huge surprise, and he even managed to get some GOT7 members to attend. TXT was there as well. Jackson liked it, I remember.” His eyes getting that distant look eyes to tend to get when you talk about good times from the past, he smiles faintly as he turns to you.

At that moment, it’s as though he’s sharing that memory with you. You can hear the music, you can feel the joy and laughter, it’s almost as though you were there yourself. A soft feeling of love, friendship, trust, and loyalty fills your heart, and you feel the lump in your throat turn.

Those are feelings that you left behind, feelings you miss even now.

“It seems so long ago now.” His voice is soft, and in the back of his throat, there is a guttural sound as though he is struggling to keep down a rise of emotion.

After a moment, Taehyung clears his throat and raises his head, turning to you and returning your small smile. Just as he does, Minhyuk opens the door, setting two brown paper bags filled with food and beverages on the seat next to him.

Taehyung lets out a loud but clear sigh shaking himself a bit as though that will erase the loneliest sorrows.

“Ahh….if I’m being honest, I’m still trying to get used to the fact that you are his replacement now.” He remarks before tapping Minhyuk on the shoulder. Startled, you blink in shock, staring at him as he shows Minhyuk the address, and Minhyuk proceeds to save it.

How did he know you were going to be Namjoon’s assistant? How did he even know you were working at BigHit? You certainly didn't tell him, and you know you didn't run into him when you were at the building. You would have remembered that, just as you remembered the bumpy encounters with Jungkook and Namjoon.

So how? How did he know that?

It takes a moment but once he has everything situated in the front of the car, and secure, Minhyuk pulls out of the restaurant area and back into traffic. Taehyung leans back in his chair and hands you your phone. Catching sight of your face, he raises an eyebrow.

“Are you okay--” he begins, but as soon as you hear his voice, you turn on him, startling him to silence.

“How did you know I was replacing Jaejin?” At your question, Taehyung’s smile fades as though he had said something wrong. Something he hadn't meant to say. He licks his lips nervously, turning away and clearing his throat.

“Jimin told me.” It’s a simple answer, but a careful one and you wonder just what exactly he’s trying to hide. You don't think the answer is a lie, but it seems to you that he’s tiptoeing around something, trying to be extra careful with his next words.

He doesn't want you to know, not just yet.

“How did Jimin know?” you ask him dubiously.

How do BTS know who you are even before you've had a chance to meet them yourself? You knew that Jaejin had a pretty important job in BigHit and was involved, but he never told you it would be like this.

“He got it from Namjoon.” He explains. When he notices your opening your mouth to ask another question, he cuts you off by pressing his finger against your lips to shut you up.

“Hyung was going crazy all morning because you didn't show up on time, it's like he was afraid you fell off the face of the earth or something.” At the mention, you grow a bit sad and resigned. You feel terrible for doing that to Namjoon. Taehyung reaches forward, at the sight of your sadness, wrapping his hand around yours as a sign of comfort.

“Don't worry, though. I'm sure Joonie is alright now, he was just being a bit paranoid.” He reassures you, smiling softly in your direction and you sigh before nodding, not quite believing him but doing the best you can. Once Tae is sure you won’t fade into yourself again, he continues, reaching into his back pocket to fish for his phone.

“Anyway, Namjoon was getting worried. He sent out a picture of you so that we would be on the lookout for you in case we saw you come in or whatever. That way he would know when you arrived and could see you as soon as possible.” Taehyung continues, pulling up his messages and scrolling through until he finds Jimin’s name.

“This was the picture he gave us, and that’s how I know.” He turns the phone around to you. After a moment's hesitation, you peer closely at the screen.

It takes you a moment to register just what exactly the picture is, but once you do, your eyes widen and you give a slight start of surprise. Your cheeks already rising with the feverish heat of embarrassment, you reach for the phone to steal it from Taehyung. He pulls it away from you just in time and holds it out of your arms reach. You let out a muffled aggravated growl as you reach for it, practically almost climbing over Tae until your seatbelt locks up and you are forced back.

“Taehyung!” you cry out fumbling over his body as he continues to dart the phone out of arm's reach.

Curse your tiny arms.

“Give it to me! Let me delete that!!” he laughs at your protest, and if you weren't so mad, perhaps that laugh would have made you laugh too.

Jaejin will die when you see him next.

“No! I like the chipmunk version of you better.” Taehyung snorts, staring at the photo with adoration.

“See? The little chippie thinks she can fit that huge bite in her mouth.” He remarks as you give him the death stare. He turns back to you, the widest smile on his face, but the glittering playful malice clear in his eyes.

“She couldn't do it.” He says, pouting in mock pity. Narrowing your eyes, you lunge forward once more and he laughs, dodging your attack for the second time.

“For your information, that was in the midst of me fitting it! I was able to do it in the end!” you grunt as you stretch as far as you can to reach the phone that he holds high above his head.

It’s not fair! How come his arms get to be so long?

“Now….let…..me….delete it!” you growl through gritted teeth.

Taehyung shakes his head as he scoots farther away from underneath your grasp, and lets you fall on the bench face first. You stay there for a moment, your chin resting on the leather padding. Smirking, he flicks your forehead, and that's when you get up, lunging for the phone.

After a few more moments of this, it somehow ends up with you stretched across the bench, on your back, your head on his lap. He dangles the device above your face, incessantly teasing you as though you were a child. Once, he even touches it to the point of your nose and when you swipe for it, he pulls it away.

“It’s not fair.” You murmur, pouting as you cross your hands over your chest. He looks down at you, fondly, dropping his hand and the phone with it on the bench next to him.

Biting his bottom lip, he opens his mouth to say something, but Minhyuk interrupts by stopping the car abruptly. Taehyung glances up, and you bolt out of his lap at the motion, looking around to try and identify where you are.

As you peer out of the tinted windows and Minhyuk turns around in his seat to look at the pair of you, you realize.

You're home.

Tae peers out the window to see if it's still raining, as you begin to pull apart the makeshift compress on your ankle. Without Taehyung's help, you're going to need your shoe.

Tae requests Minhyuk to hand him your coat just as you lay the last wrapping on the bench next to you and pull on your wedge. It doesn't hurt when it’s around your ankle. To make sure, you test your strength, leaning on your foot with as much weight as your able. The pressure you put on it is still painful, but bearable enough to walk to your apartment room. Zipping up your wedge, you turn to Taehyung and find him looking at you with concern.

“Does it hurt?” he asks, and you shake your head.

“No, you did a great job.” You reply, and he smiles to himself before situating your coat, opening it so you would be able to easily put it around your shoulders. Taking a deep unsteady breath and licking your lips a bit, you let out a small sigh.

“Thank you.” You say in hushed tones, and he pauses from what he’s doing to look at you in surprise. You hesitate before continuing, receiving the coat from his open arms and sliding it on around your shoulders. “I never thanked you for helping me before. So thank you, I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there to help me out.”

At his silence, you secure your coat around your body and pull your satchel off of the floor, hauling it on your shoulder before you leave. You wait a moment for him to say something if he will. When he doesn't, staring at you in a frozen shock, you chuckle to yourself before opening the door and letting in the once muffled noise of the storm.

“Goodbye, Kim Taehyung.” You say to him, smiling kindly over your shoulder, something to which he responds with a hard swallow as though preparing himself to speak, but you don't see that. You have already turned and have stepped your good foot out of the door before he stops you, calling you back.

“Wait!” he calls, and you turn around, leaving one foot outside, and angling yourself using your other foot as an axis. Slowly, he reaches out and takes your hand within his own, pulling it up to his lips and pressing a soft kiss along your knuckles. You suck in a sharp breath as he does, your heart aching.

“You’re welcome.” He whispers as he lowers your hand and pulls away. “I won't forget today.”

And neither will I.

𝔫𝔬𝔱𝔢: we coming to the end of the rainy day pretty soon

chapter 19 here

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