#his kids are tasked by bringing back candidates

[femme-fatale-mcgarrett]

At some point I have to make an introduction between Maria and Daddy, I think he'd like her... 😈

[the-dumpster-fire-of-life]

Hello! I just binge read almost everything you wrote and i really do enjoy your writing

i wanted to request sth you don't have to write it if you don't want to then just ignore this

but the kaulitz twins (seperate) with a s/o who gets distracted/lost easily? maybe childhood friends to lovers vibes

and they have no orientation skills(?) as well, and when they see sth they go either 'oooh shiny :o' or go after a random street cat or sth like that?

i imagine they're at the airport and s/o saw sth and went the other direction and bill/tom running/going after them and bring them back to the others

again if you don't want to write it it's alright :)

and i apologize for my english it's not my first language

(Hello! Np and here ya go! Enjoy! Also your english is very good and I'm glad you enjoy my writing!)

#4 and commented by @sleepylibra25

Easily Distracted S/o

Tom Kaulitz

You definitely keep this mans on his toes

Mainly because you guys are somehow alike when you guys get distracted

He’s trying to be the responsible one and get you on task at hand and like get you guys to where you need to be 

But he also gets distracted

Especially if it is something he likes in a shop or like a cat

You guys have been late on multiple occasions because of this

But you guys have fun dw

He does like to hold your hand a lot due to your habit of getting lost easily though

It's a given now that your hand is laced with his

But it barely works because you just end up tugging him wherever you’re going

And you both end up lost now

He knows what to do and like how to find you when you’re alone and lost like a pro

Mainly because he has done this again and again growing up with you

Sometimes it can get annoying but not for long because you guys will end up laughing

But when its something important and you guys NEED to be on time then he will tell you to stop in like kinda an annoyed tone

He will probably not even notice until you look kinda guilty and like you feel bad

He feels bad after that though because he doesn’t want you to think you’re a problem, obviously

He likes giving you stuff to see your reactions and like if you’ll go “Oooh, shiny!” like you do or “Oooh, it's smooth!”

He likes seeing your reactions because they’re very candid and genuine like a kid because you can’t hide them

It’s how he knows how you feel and how you like stuff or dislike stuff

He noticed very early on when you were kids that you didn’t have much social awareness

Like when someone cried, or when someone was telling a joke and you just stared

He had to explain like if you accidentally said something insensitive a lot

But he laughs when you did that even if you felt bad so don't worry babes

Bill Kaulitz

Dude can actually have so much fun with you its uncanny

He doesn’t really mind when you wander off

He can find you in a heartbeat or he can just call you and you gus will make your way back to each other

But he likes being on time to things, especially if they’re important and he doesn’t really like to be late

And you can sometimes make you guys run late so he’s hurrying to find you a lot

“Look! Bill, look!”

“Ye- yes, I know but we got to go!”

That happens a lot but he doesn’t want you to feel bad so he’ll do his best not to get annoyed

Especially because he does know that you don’t do it on purpose

You not having any social awareness, especially growing up, was kinda very weir to him

How did you not know when someone told a joke? Or was crying? Or that was insensitive or kinda rude to say?

You caught his attention with that because you said something about his hair when you guys were younger

It was the first time you saw him and it was probably the first time you saw someone dressed like him so it was new

And you not really knowing what to say, probably blurted out something like racoon or something about his hair

He thought you were being mean and rude like the other kids until he just turned and saw your clueless face with some curiosity

He then later learned after watching you that you didn’t do it on purpose

So you insulting his hair turned into friendship and now relationship level

When at the airport or when going somewhere, like Tom, he does hold your hand

Or he’ll give you the backpack and hold onto the little strap thing on the top

Just to keep you in place

But there are times where he had to absolutely scramble after you because one second you were there and the next you were gone

You have given him many, many heart attacks man

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

@billsjum6ie @bigbootahjudy @Ilovebill-and-gustav @kiwitsune @v4mpyboyy @Novaaisstupid @billybabeskaulitz @yas-v @iischafer @dilfverz @ahswhore0 @graciegizmo3184 @sweetpuffy12 @80s-tingz @ryiana @yuriayato5 @bunnysenpai31 @banshailey @bellastoner420 @victryzvv9 @stxngnr @killed-kiss @stilesandjames @m00nzyblogs @sylisan @lyzit @Cyb3rlex @laylasbunbunny @5hyslv7 @limaswife @nyxwritesshit @papichulo120627 @fullw0rld @cheristarr

[fancyfade]

Post theme going around on LoCG where people say whre they want the batfam members to end up.

I figured I'd share my post (link) here on tumblr b/c I have way more tumblr followers and post many dc thoughts here anyway

original post:

Anyway, where the Batfam members end up in a couple years in my opinion:

Bruce: I honestly think he should retire. Is this ever realistic? No, he makes too much money. But he’s got to be getting what close to 50 by now? He needs to quit before he dies RIP. I’d love to see him trying to do what he can to help the community as Bruce Wayne (which I don’t think he never does as Batman – we see comics involving it. But like more emphasis).

Cass: I view Cass as the logical successor to Bruce. She deserves to be Batman (and wants to be and embodies his ideals very well).

Barbara: I think it’d be neat if Babs (as Oracle) kind of expanded BoP so we have different subgroups… we got a tiny bit of this might be happening at the way tail end of New Earth continuity, with babs faking her and oracle’s deaths to get the heat off and allow herself to dedicate more attention to major operations rather than being everyone’s problem solver, and her training Wendy as a protege… just pick that up. I like Wendy Harris being involved, and I think Helena is a good candidate for an op leader (more on that later)

Helena: Helena should work with a small team of Birds and take on missions that require some convincing undercover work – shout out to both her mob deconstruction plan in Simone’s BOP and her past as a Spyral agent in this continuity. The team should be flexible, but I’d like to see Steph occasionally team up with her… her forgotten-by-continuity adopted son, James, should also help on tech stuff IMO.

Damian: I like the idea of him doing Batman and Robin stuff in Gotham and more globe-trotting stuff on his own, using Maya and Suren and other friends. He also definitely will try to reform any kid/teenage supervillains he comes across, so he should probably fight mostly adults :p

Duke: I think Duke should stay as the Gotham daytime hero, in contact with the kids from We Are Robin, but… get more appearances. Him being in everyday contact with more normal people could be an important storytelling avenue.

Dick: What Dick’s currently doing is fine, no need to change. He’s already got his niche.

Tim: DC doesn’t know what to do with Tim… I think Tim should honestly go into semi-retirement, coming out for big stakes plots and to train younger heroes. In my head this would be after a 12 issue mini series where Tim contemplates how much his life has changed since he started being Robin, with his initial goal that it was going to be something he does his time in and then gets out, out of obligation, and then slowly he had no normal life to get back out to… we’d bring back Dana as a character to bounce thoughts off, as well as the YJ kids especially Cissie who has also retired as a superhero.

Jason: I think what Task Force Z was doing for Jason was perfect, I’d love to see things continue along that line where he like *wants* to do good and to not be the person he used to be, but he sometimes (often) fails… and leading around a team of other equally-or-more corrupt people is fun. That’s as heroic as I feel like Jason should get, if he’s just turned into pretty much another hero it’s like… offbrand nightwing???

[gins-potter]

Are you all caught up on the OC finales? What did you think?

I caught up today! I thought they were fine to really good!!

Med was really solid. Surprising no one I'm absolutely heartbroken that Will is leaving but I'm glad he went out in typical Will fashion, had a really nice scene with Sharon at the end, and we got Manstead endgame. Liliana and Dr Charles are back together! They're so flipping cute, I love that for them. Dasher are doing Dasher things, I had to LOL when Hannah was like HARD NO about dating Archer and he was so offended. I think Med's gonna return to somewhat normal next season, probs the first half will be dealing with whoever buys the hospital and convincing them to turn it not-for-profit again. The only question marks for me are whether Maggie and Dr Song stay. I think if they continue to do O.R 2.0 things, Dr Song will, and I think they've left it a bit open for Maggie depending on Marlynne's health and what she decides. I was a little surprised they didn't address it more in the finale about the possibility of her leaving since the episode before made it feel like much more of a sure thing. A solid episode!

Fire was... kinda meh if I'm being honest. Like it's not unusual for me to multi-task while I'm watching tv, but I still pay attention to what's happening with the plot, but I was dicking around on my phone while watching Fire and kept realising that I was fully not paying attention to what was going on and kept having to go back and rewatch. Like, it just felt like lots of talking ha ha. I think where we go from here is super dependent on whether Taylor comes back next season or not. Feels like they're setting up Carver and Violet, which I'm not against, but haven't fully let go of Carver in his feels over Stella either, so if T.K doesn't come back and Stellaride break up (BIG IF NO ONE THROW TOMATOES) they might continue to pursue that as well. I'm more and more on the Stella/Carver train (NO ONE HATE ME) so I'm super fine with those angsty looks he's sending her lmao. Super here for the little friendship between Kylie and Ritter and very keen for Kylie to become the new candidate (that has to be where this is going). Sylvie's adopting the baby, yay for her I guess, I mean, like I said in another ask, I'm pretty sure I know this is heading for a Kara exit, which I'm not opposed to, so I'm just very.... okay? about this storyline. It feels rushed, but it's fine, and I get a Brettsey endgame (probably) so fine. And Mouch... maybe I'm stupidly optimistic but I don't think he's dying. I think Christian is leaving the show, but I don't think Mouch is dying. Idek why tbh. It's a bit anticlimatic if he does die tbh. Like he didn't even get shot, it was a random piece of shrapnel. Idk, I think he'll probs survive and then retire. Maybe I don't think they'll kill him because it would mean that PD also has to change Trudy's characterisation over on that show. Like imagine her husband dies and they never even mention it on PD 💀💀💀

PD was the best episode imo. The pacing and writing was great, even though I'd seen bits and pieces of it already online I still felt drawn in by it and I really felt the tension. I felt like Adam, Kim, and Kevin all got to shine. Hailey and Voight not so much, sad for Hailey, get fucked Voight. Absolute snaps for Kevin getting to shoot that racist mother fucker, and I know he's just a kid but lmao fuck Callum. Fuck his mum too and I hope she goes down for some of this shit. One of my only question marks is why Torres wasn't in the ep? I can't tell if it's a weird writing choice to keep leaving him out of episodes or if the actor has some sort of other commitment keeping him from being in every episode, but I feel like they either need to commit to his character being part of the team, or drop him and bring someone who will be around all the time. Burzek slayed as always, inject that moment of Kim on the phone and absolutely sprinting to get to Adam into his veins. Kim in the ambulance, and at the hospital, "Are you his partner", "You're with Adam" "I'm with Adam" yeah girl you tell that bitch. You ARE with Adam. I mean, as with every other Burzek shipper I'm annoyed that they clearly filmed a Burzek scene at the hospital and then cut it. I hope they release it as a deleted scene at some point bc I need it. I've seen the theory that they cut it because it shows Adam's alright and Paddy might leave the show.... I mean.... maybe? I doubt it. It's more likely they cut it bc the show has a hard on for Hank Voight and wanted to end on him. I think it would have been a better ending to end with Burzek because it would have been a really full circle, cyclical ending from where they started the season, and the episode, but, what can you do? I'm sure someone will write the fic. Still, despite all that, a really great episode and end to this arc.

Sorry, this got long but yeah, those are my thoughts. Med 6/10, Fire 4/10, PD 8/10.

[erikalentz]

Half Moon Datas #5

While Emmet, Hilbert and Hilda are in Hisui to search and stop the culprits behind the space-time rifts incidents (and bring back Ingo and Lucas home, of course), Althea and Dawn investigated on another mystery on their side: the circumstances of Lucas’ disappearance. Why did Arceus chosed him of all people to send into the past? Lucas said to Hilbert that it wanted him to record the first original Pokedex, but why giving this task to a kid from the future and not a native of that time like Akari?

Maybe something in Lucas’ life could’ve make Arceus chose him as its “chosen one” rather than another sinnohian.

Dawn has known Lucas since practically birth; they share many of their memories together and have a deep bond. However, the young girl doesn't know much about her boyfriend's family. He wasn't very talkative about it - and hasn't been since they were kids - and she's never seen him with any other family member besides his mother, Leila. She has never seen or heard about his father. Moreover, Lucas used to spend a lot of time at his friend's house, while Dawn rarely went to his house. The teenager never asked him about this because she suspected it must be something difficult for him... That said, if the reason Arceus sent Lucas to Hisui was hiding in that grey area, then she had to talk to Leila.

Dawn then went to Lucas' house. The poor woman hardly goes out since her son's disappearance except to run errands or by invitation from Dawn's mother Johanna. She continues to maintain the house with great care and to smile at others, but the dark circles under her eyes and her shaded irises show her lack of sleep due to her grief. The champion knew from her mother that Leila was approached by quite a few journalists following Lucas' disappearance, some of whom were more interested in sensationalizing the case than in being truly sympathetic to her, although she was less exposed to the media than Emmet (and Dawn to a lesser extent). That's why it took her a while to tell Leila the reason for her visit... To which Leila reassured her that she could ask her whatever she wanted because she knows that Dawn is a kind and caring girl. She has known her since she was a child, after all, and she considers her a member of her family.

Relieved by these words, Dawn then asked Leila what life was like in the house. Leila replied that her husband Logan mysteriously disappeared sometime after Lucas was born, when he was doing archaeological research at Mont Coronet. The police searched the mountain for a long time to find him, but the case was eventually closed due to a lack of clues and leads. Leila had to raise her son alone, and although neither she nor Lucas felt any resentment towards Logan (sinnohians know the dangers of the mountain), his absence left a mark on the family. Although Lucas didn’t show it in front of his loved ones, he sometimes felt sad about not having a father, expressing this feeling when he was alone in his room. This is why the young man appreciates Dillan, Dawn's father; he is the only adult man in his immediate circle whom is a father figure to him.

Learning this, combined with Althea's research about the myths and legends of Sinnoh’s deities, the mystery dissipates: in Hisui's time, the rivalry between members of the Diamond and Pearl clans was causing trouble in the region, which wasn’t helped by Kamado's paranoia, the archaic beliefs of the population, and the fear of humans towards Pokemon. Seeing this, Arceus decided that a new wind had to blow in Hisui to give birth to the region of Sinnoh as we know it today. It then looked for a candidate for this task and its attention gradually turned to Lucas; as God, it was easy for it to discover his past. Since he was a teenager from the future, a time when humans and Pokemon live together in peace and who turned out to be a kind-hearted person as well as an excellent trainer, Arceus considered him the perfect candidate and sent him to Hisui with the official mission of "recording the Pokemon of the region", with the aim of taking him around Hisui and helping the population to open up to others as well as the rest of the world, although he involuntarily lost his memory during his space-time transportation.

However, as ancient, powerful, omniscient and omnipotent as it was, Arceus remains a Pokemon... A deitiful one, but nonetheless a Pokemon. It understands the concept of emotions, morals and human relationships, but as an immortal being, it doesn't really understand why humans value their relationships with others, whose life expectancy isn’t as long as its own. Arceus thought he gave Lucas a new and happier life by taking him to Hisui, even without his original memories... Without suspecting that Lucas himself didn’t want to change his life, even less living in an archaic time where danger could jump at him at any moment. Sure, he is sad not to know his father, but he is genuinely happy to live with his mother, his girlfriend Dawn and his best friend Barry. He wouldn't trade this happiness for anything in the world, even for an adventure beyond time... But Arceus somehow forced his hand. Not becauce it is evil or out of malice, but out of unwitting ignorance.

A mistake that led to Dawn and Leila’s grief, the estrangement between Dawn and Barry and the withdrawal of the two of them.

[limitlessscion]

suguru had a group of leaders within his cult that had various tasks, including but not limited to, recruiting. when he learned of a potential candidate being approached by an official jujutsu tech member, there was some anxiety over shaman being poached to the wrong side and willingly giving out information. to ease worries, suguru promised to take care of it, and take care of it he did. finding this person, a student by the looks of it, was easy; their cursed energy was all over the place and left a trail right to their apartment. after a brief interrogation, suguru declared that such potential wasn't worth the loose lips this person had, and made quick work to killing them.

the thing with residuals is that this kid wasn't the only one to leave a trail behind. suguru, hopeful for a better demonstration of his power, also left evidence of his precense behind for anyone to follow. a specific person to corner him. blood splatters against the wall, some of it got on his face and hand and the dark clothing he was wearing. running fingers down the length of his ink well of hair, suguru grinned.

'were they supposed to enroll this upcoming season? pity.'

A near decade Satoru had built the foundations of his own principles, or at the the shadows of such. Nurture the next generation; teach them to be capable of protecting themselves and protecting each other, together. His own happiness was buried in a past that could never be returned to, but his students still had a chance.

Satoru hadn't been involved in the recruitment process. He hadn't even known how big his class would be that year yet, as new Sorcerers rarely showed up perfectly in sync with the start of a new school year. But when he'd been called in, when he'd seen the corpse and felt the residuals —like a flower, delicate veins breaking apart as he strode through it— for a moment he couldn't breathe.

This was wrong. Not wrong in the way that people liked to place moral meaning on things such as the taking of life, it was wrong because it did not make sense. Suguru had always been a painfully principled person, everything he did was in service of his beliefs. Everything he ever did had a point, a purpose, and made sense.

So when he cornered Suguru then, a mixture of grief and rage on his expression, it felt too much a repeat of their previous meeting. His best friend reeked of blood; spilt blood with all its meaning held particularly tightly onto cursed energy and it radiated off of him in a thick miasma.

"What the hell are you playing at, Suguru!?" Cursed energy gathered around Satoru like a storm, the surface roaring with silent threat, like a handsign once pointed at a retreating back.

"I thought you wanted to protect sorcerers! That you wanted to build a new world!" Hands clenched tight, and a shadow of a memory of a pain brushed his consciousness of a button digging into flesh, drawing blood, the sharp pain bringing no relief.

He'd been wrong all these years. Even now, after he'd learned that painful say in Shinjuku that Suguru was capable of lying to him, he still had never been able to shake his faith in the boy who had given him everything, who had made him feel loved, who had always known what the right thing was.

The boy who would lie to his face, break his heart, leave him trapped in the vast agony of loneliness, and who would murder a sorcerer child.

"You're not— you're not him anymore, are you?" And in that moment Satoru's voice breaks and he feels it for a moment: grief. Grief for a boy who died so long ago and now he stood before a stranger simply wearing a stolen face. Then he stabilizes, snapping back in control and his voice sounded distant with the words he spoke next.

That day in Shinjuku, Satoru's threat had been toothless. His handsign had lacked any cursed energy, unable to summon the will to snuff out that life he treasured above all else. The maelstrom of his energy gathered into his hand, pulled expertly into the weaving of Blue and Red.

"You wanted me here, didn't you? Well, you've got me. If you have a death wish then I'll oblige."

[universestreasures]

Mokuba's Future Force & Disaster Force Potential

My lovely boyfriend ( @throneofein ) were discussing this a while back, and I thought I'd consolidate my thoughts from that discussion into a proper HC post.

So, for those of you who are not aware, the Future Force and Disaster Force are two powers in Buddyfight that allow the user to bring cards into reality. They are both similar in application but come from different sources of strength. And in the Future Force's case, it's a power I've let my Tasuku in his YGO DM verse keep because it's a core aspect of not only his power set (it's what makes him really stand out and why people should see him as a threat) but also isn't too out of the ordinary in YGO considering we got tons of ways to make cards real (like anyone in Arc-V can do it through tech and not magic, and there are tons of users with magic who do it before hand).

However, that got me to thinking about if my boy Mokuba has the potential to access either of these abilities, since there are certain requirements (though not properly outlined in the show), just in case this could pop up in any plotting sessions.

So, let's start with the Future Force. The Future Force is said to derive it's powers from one's future self, for when you no longer exist you cannot access the ability (as we saw in S2 with Tasuku). The only characters in canon who have it are Tasuku, Gao (but really more so for plot moments, he can't activate it at will like Tasuku), and one of the kids from the Ace manga (which since no translated scans exists, sadly I cannot read ;;;). So, it is very rare.

What I think triggers the Future Force is how 'strong' one's future potential is, and their desire to change the future in the service of some great cause. Tasuku, being the Boy of Destiny, fits this well, since he's essentially been tasked to protect the future by his magical destiny (which is a whole other thing the series didn't go into that I need to expand upon at some point). Gao also fits this since he is a fighter full of potential, as shown through him growing so much at Buddyfight, and his own unpredictable nature and good heart wanting to go towards a good future.

Going by these examples, do I think Mokuba has that same capability? I actually think he does. While Mokuba of the two Kaiba Bros is associated more with the past, he still very much is concerned about the future. The future of the company. The future of Kaiba Land. The future he'll have. The kid has a lot of potential to fully blossom as he gets older (which I have a HC post planned for Mokuba's birthday discussing what I think some potential futures for him are, some I've plotted already). Plus, he wants to make a big change, in his own way. He wants to make an impact on the world, one to make it better for the kids of the future through Kaiba Land. A place where less fortunate kids can go play and be happy. It's not saving the world or anything, but its still a noble goal.

I do think if he ever got access to the power, it be more like Gao's. It wouldn't be something he could access or actively control and he probably would black out or experience memory loss when it happens.

As for the Disaster Force, its requirements are a little more dubious. The Diaster Force is created by utilizing spatial rifts that are created when Buddyfight cards link the player to the parallel worlds the monsters come from. We do know it has the power to corrupt people. So, it's one of those powers, similar to the Orichalcos in YGO, that can be controlled only by those of a certain willpower and probably have some degree of darkness in their hearts.

Now, you might be thinking Mokuba in S0 or the early manga would be a candidate for this power, but I actually think he would not. As per my own interpretation, Mokuba's 'gremliness' as I call it was mainly in response to Seto's rejection and distance from him. He felt like he had to be that way to get his brother's love and attention back. It's why he flips back to the Mokuba most of us know (with still a hint of it in there, but that's more because that's Mokuba's general chaotic nature and sass, not malice) after his brother loses in Death-T. It wasn't really that genuine and wasn't true to who he is as a person.

So, while I think he could be corrupted by the Disaster Force, I doubt he'd be a proper candidate for it unless there were very, very specific circumstances.

[songsofadelaide]

Like Gold Dust — In the Wind Fics

Each one titled after a musical piece from Million Eyes, In The Wind is an alternate universe set in the Imperial Year of the Six Eyes, 2018, with each story circling around the Crown Prince Satoru's marriage and the circumstances of the people close to him.

Up The Winding Stairs | On the day of the crown prince's wedding, the archbishop and everyone else present on that momentous occasion were shocked that the binding vow had no effect at all. That smile on his face said everything. He had uttered those same sacred words twenty years ago— to a bright-eyed girl from his youth— and he meant every word he said back then. With his plot finally at play, nothing else tied him to the bride he hardly knew, but everything now tied him to you.

You could hardly paint the confused expressions on your parents' faces when they found the imperial prince and his personal retinue of guards all standing outside your door. There was a smile you've seen once in your life, one sunny afternoon twenty years ago after playing prince and princess with a neighbourhood kid you never saw again until today.

Well, well, well. If it isn't the consequences of your actions... or to put it more appropriately, your words.

[A Gojo Satoru x Reader AU one-shot]

There Will Be Rain | The blue flowers that adorned the chapel on the day of your teacher's wedding were supposed to be the most memorable bit of the occasion. Yet, all you could remember was the incredulous look in Megumi's even bluer eyes when he saw you crying right beside him.

In which Megumi is forced to confront his feelings for you after coming into contact with an unexpected threat. His confession brings about more questions than answers and you find out more than what you initially bargained for.

[A Fushiguro Megumi x Reader AU one-shot]

In Your Dreams | Years before he became known as the young Emperor Satoru's Vicious Obsidian, chevalier candidate Suguru Geto once rescued a coveted reverse cursed technique user from a kidnapping. The doves of the empire always fetched a fantastic price, even more so a daughter of a minor Imperial noble family like you. Small as it was back then, a need was sparked in your heart. Your paths would cross again years after that fateful encounter, this time as an Imperial General and a baroness also serving as a part-time healer for the empire. 

With his charge now married, Imperial General Suguru Geto has been tasked with something possibly more troublesome than looking after the Crown Prince— finding a wife for himself. Not that it was absolutely necessary, but he didn't want the imaginary sign that read the empire's most eligible bachelor on his back for long. 

[A Geto Suguru x Reader AU one-shot]

[arcaneblaine]

MY [FAKE] BOYFRIEND'S BROTHER: sam kiszka smut

r: kinky Sam fic [*igor voice* yeth mathter]

s: You were the perfect candidate to be your childhood best friend’s date for the weekend with his family… That is until you ran into his brother.

cw: smut (minors dni), nsfw, teasing, fleshlight use, vibrator use, degrading, praise, spit, cum, semi-public sex, oral (m. receiving), exhibitionist k!nk, slight bdsm

wc: ~6.1k

a/n: I’m going to apologize now so I don’t regret this later. Also, I’ve had the bing bong nyc joe biden audio in my head for a week because I’m home with my sister. Anyway, enjoy, my christmas celebrators xx - gene

navigation > masterlist > My [Fake] Boyfriend's Brother (18+)

You giggled as your shoulder thumped against Josh’s, pulling yourself through the window behind him as he craned his neck to listen for signs of stirring in the house. He sent you a devious smirk before bringing one of his fingers to his lips, gesturing for your quietness before turning back toward the door. You followed his movements in step before he tripped on a stray shoe, tugging you to the ground as he fell.

You landed on top of him, sending the two of you into another fit of hushed giggles before his bedroom door swung open. The edge missed your head by a few inches before revealing Josh’s younger brother with a rather deadpanned expression cast over his eyes.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” He grunted softly at the sight of the two of you looking up at him. You sat up, practically pinning Josh’s hips between your thighs as he propped his chin in his hand to look up at his brother.

You squinted against the light from his phone before he shut it off. “Sammy? Is that you?” You chided, sizing up the man. He rolled his eyes at the gentle nickname you called him when all of you were kids. You couldn’t remember how long it had been since you had seen him.

Certainly not since he grew into his frame.

He raked a hand through his long dark hair. “What are you guys doing?” He deterred as you pushed yourself up and lent a hand to Josh.

Josh leaned his weight on you slightly as he rubbed one of his eyes. “Why are you home?” He quizzed back, his tone more in delighted shock than anything. You were surprised they hadn’t woken their mother up, yet again she was probably used to the noise.

Sam’s brows furrowed at his question. “Same reason you are: the holidays,” he tutted. His eyes focused on your stature, examining you just as you had to him. “I see you’re pretending to be Josh’s girlfriend again, huh?” He twisted to rest a shoulder against Josh’s doorframe with an easy smile painted on his lips.

What a beauty.

You snorted. “Surprise,” you muttered, suddenly wishing you weren’t going to be strapped to Josh’s side for most of the weekend so you could pursue the flame sparking in your gut about Sam.

❅ DAY ONE ❅

The next morning, you greeted Josh how you always did when you played his game; a sweet kiss on the cheek in front of his mother and a cooing string of words to satisfy the rest of his family’s possible suspicions about the two of you. You had only done this task one other time, but that was before you’d moved away and forgotten most of your hometown.

After the slew of small talk and a shuffling of chores, you found yourself handing ornaments to Sam as he lazily hooked them to the branches of the giant pine tree in the center of the living room. You watched his shoulders tense beneath his sweater slightly as he easily reached a taller spot, his hair slowly beginning to fall from the messy bun he had thrown it into before you’d both began the task.

You drew your eyes away from the back of his belt as he turned to you, quipping an eyebrow in your direction. “Are you deaf all of a sudden?” He snarked, fighting against the chuckle in his words. “I asked if it looked okay,” he repeated.

You looked up, knitted your brows together in mock consideration. “You missed a spot,” you stated, pointing towards a bare portion of the tree.

His dark eyebrow perked at your words as he angled himself to see what you were pointing at. “Come show me,” he responded, rather than searching for where you had targeted.

You got up from your seat and stood beside him to further your point. His eyes traveled from where you were trying to get his attention until he was focused on your features, making your cheeks warm under his gaze. He moved your arm to rest against his shoulder, his eyes flickering to the door standing between his family and the two of you.

“So how far does this fake dating thing go?” He prodded, towering over you as his fingers reached up to toy with a strand of your hair.

Being so close to him, you could see the lightness in his dark brown eyes that mixed with the deviousness behind his intentions. You wet your lips as you tore your thoughts from how easy it would be to lean on your toes and kiss him. The air was warm between the two of you; tasting sweet on the tip of your tongue. “Are you suggesting that what I have with Josh isn’t real?” You feigned offense at his words.

Sam sent you a soft laugh, one of his hands settling on your hip to pull you closer to him. “I saw the way you were looking at me yesterday, dirty girl,” he goaded, making you chew on the inside of your cheek.

You tutted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you dismissed. His hand curled from your hair to your lips, smoothing the coarse pad of his middle and index fingers over the color of the flesh as if to test its authentication.

Without a word you opened your mouth for him, supporting the weight of his fingers as they pressed against your tongue. His pupils jumped in size as he carefully watched your lips press against his knuckles. “So obedient,” he husked, biting back the alluring smirk clawing at his face. “Who would have thought? This kind of behavior from the rowdy neighbor girl?”

As he spoke, his voice was low and stern as if he were holding back some kind of teasing. The action and context sent heat to your core as a pang of excitement jumped within you. He looked at you with a kind of enchantment that nearly made you feel like putty in his grasp.

The aforementioned door popped open, causing Sam to withdraw from you as Jake stepped into the room, his mug of coffee steaming as he looked up at the tree behind the two of you. He took a bite of a cookie as he moved to walk through the space and into another section of the house. “You guys missed a spot,” he called.

It was only a few hours later that Josh’s mom announced that everyone was leaving for the mall, which you opted out of in order to catch up on some reading. You had figured everyone else had left as you settled into one of the couches until Josh sent you a text that Sam had also stayed behind.

You furrowed your brows at the screen before realizing he couldn’t have been lying because you hadn’t seen Sam leave with the rest of them. As you thundered up the stairs towards his room, the soft moans coming from behind the wood halted your steps. A flush of heat burst through your body as you froze, trying to listen to what he was mumbling.

Quietly, you pressed your back to the wall beside his door, covering your mouth as a blush crept to your cheeks, listening to Sam moan your name in a slur of praises. You clenched your thighs together, trying not to gain any pleasure out of listening to him whimper about you doing God knows what to himself.

You pushed the door open slightly, revealing Sam with his fist curling in his hair, chin raised in bliss as he chewed on his lip, squeezing his eyes shut as his cheeks burned pink with stimulation. The room was warm, the vision of his hand bobbing a fleshlight up and down on his cock doing nothing to cool your already heated senses. He moaned your name again and you spoke up with a soft tsk. “What am I gonna do with you?” You joked.

His eyes snapped open, anger rushing to his face as he saw you. “What are you doing?” He barked, pulling his covers over himself as if his fingers weren’t in your mouth earlier in the day. Your eyes traced over the few freckles dotting his bare chest and shoulders.

You wet your lips, taking a step closer. “What am I doing? What were you doing?” You mused with a snide grin. He rolled his eyes, beginning to get up and scold you but you sat on the edge of his bed, pushing him back into his spot against his pillows. His previous attitude towards you had shrunken away, leaving him at your mercy.

His teeth clenched. “Didn’t you leave earlier?” He mustered, making you shake your head. His honey irises were still lust-blown, his chest glistening with a sheer layer of sweat. Despite his protests, he didn’t push you away as your fingers hooked around the hem of his sheets, pulling them away from his body and wrapping your hand around the fleshlight. He fought to avoid your eyes, one of his hands moving to settle under one of his pillows, the other tightening around your wrist to halt your movements with the toy. “Don’t fuck with me,” he warned, eyes ablaze with an almost unreadable expression.

You nodded silently, quirking an eyebrow at him as you moved his heavy hand to settle on the inside of your thigh, giving him something to hold onto. “If you’re gonna moan my name like that, at least include me,” you jested, pumping the toy in your hand a few times up and down his length. He let a long exhale trickle from his lips, his fingers softly digging into what flesh he could reach of your thigh.

As a moan stuttered from his mouth cautiously, you leaned forward, letting a strand of your spit land in the mix of whatever lube he was using and his cum. His head dropped deeper into his pillows with a groan at the sight and the few movements you gave the toy. You wanted to use your hand, but the voice in the back of your mind was viciously intent on getting him off like the perv he was. “Sam, you’re such a mess for me,” you whispered, your eyes dancing from his cock slipping in and out of the toy up to his eyes as he looked away from you in soft frustration as if warning you not to tease him.

He stifled another groan, eyelids fluttering shut again as you picked up your pace. Heat pooled in your gut at the sight of the large man getting this worked up at just the thought of you. He had already been so painfully hard and honestly could you blame him. Given what had transpired between the two of you beneath the tree and the obvious eye-fucking from the night before, you were shocked you hadn’t been in the same position.

Maybe you were more disappointed in the fact that he still had yet to press against you and completely ruin you for the way you had been feeding into the tension between the two of you.

His blunt nails were digging into your skin, his hips bucking into the toy as he searched for more relief. Your mouth watered at the sight of him fisting the pillow beneath his head, teeth biting into his lower lip as you worked on him. Your body ached, wishing it was you who his cock was buried in rather than the toy. “Such a good boy. You don’t have to be quiet, Sammy,” you coaxed with a gentle tone, making him moan at your praise. He uttered your name, his eyes finally focusing on yours as if the embarrassment had finally subsided.

You chewed the inside of your cheek, twisting the toy as you pumped it down his shaft, quickening your pace. You could practically see him throbbing, begging for you to tell him to cum as the fleshlight gushed around his cock. His moans of pleasure were sweet and raspy as if his voice was worn out already from calling out your name before you had gotten there.

Sam pushed himself to sit up, his hand sliding deeper into your skirt as he buried his face in the cook of your neck. Your free arm hooked around his shoulder, continuing to pump him with your other hand. His knuckles pressed against your underwear, dragging against your sensitive core as his lips pressed against your collarbone. You could tell by the shaky way he was mumbling your name that he was close. “You’re so wet,” he groaned into your hair, teeth nipping at your shoulders.

Before the two of you could finish each other off, the front door opened with a loud creak, snapping your attention from each other, and seemingly sucking the air out of the room. Sam’s aunt’s voice echoed through the house, and you jumped away from each other. Sam pushed you towards the door as he pulled on his sweatpants, gesturing for you to go.

You slipped out of his room, trying to bite back the grin on your face, knowing full well that the blush across his cheeks was from you.

❅ DAY TWO ❅

You could barely keep your eyes off Sam as his cocky demeanor returned. Your legs were crossed as you wrapped the present in front of you, retrieving the small pieces of tape that Josh was handing you as he told a story to your group. Sam’s gaze flickered to meet yours constantly, unapologetic as you caught him as if he were promising to get you back for the incident that had transpired the night before.

The two of you were barely paying much mind to the twins as they fought over the details of Josh’s story. It wouldn’t have mattered even if you did weigh-in, but Sam’s attention was focused on you and yours was at keeping up the appearance of you being with Josh.

You had been through the formalities of meeting the boys’ various family members and reuniting with those you hadn’t seen since childhood. You had been on Josh’s arm dutifully, helping to cautiously string together a series of plot elements of your relationship that had been stolen from a few lesser-known movies.

But now, as you were sat in the mix of wrapping presents with a handful of their cousins and the boys, the distance between you and Sam seemed to be almost too much. You had barely slept as the vision of him groaning your name as if it were some kind of vow kept you awake.

“Wanna help me carry these upstairs?” Sam asked, muttering lowly to you as if he didn’t want to offer up the job to anyone else. The expression behind his eyes beckoned you to agree.

That’s how you found yourself in the Kiszka’s attic, pinned between one of the wooden supports and Sam in a messy kiss clouded by hungry teeth and a biting lust. You tugged on his hair as his hips brazenly ground against yours, fisting your clothes in his slender fingers. Your moans were lapped up by him as if they were a sweet candy resting against his tongue.

His mouth left yours only to nip at your clavicle, letting your nails rake against his back. “I want payback,” he moaned against your skin, tongue tracing against the dips between your bones. You bit back a dark chuckle before his hand slipped into your underwear.

You pulled him back far enough to look into his eyes before he kissed you again. “Give it your worst,” you chided, dismissing the expanses of his creativity.

Boy, were you stupid to challenge him.

You bit your lip as you sat between Josh and one of his family members, Sam positioned in the seat across the table from you. Your thighs clenched together as the pulse between your legs picked up to mix with Sam’s cocky expression. You figured the vibrator would be a fluke, that there was no way Sam would mess with you as demonically as he had been for the last ten minutes.

You were regretting every word as you teased him; regretting letting him promise he would turn up the speed if he felt like it…

Regretting that you were letting this happen as you sat at the table with his family.

You were quiet, worried that if you spoke, your voice would reveal just what he was doing to you as the vibrator would bring you to the edge and then wain you off as if you were an addict. Heat would flush to your cheeks as your mind would kick into reality and you would remember that it was Sam’s phone beneath the table that was wreaking havoc on your body.

You swallowed hoarsely as the attention was shifted on you, one of the nameless cousins asking how you and Josh had finally gotten together. Josh’s arm draped over the back of your chair as he began to rattle off something about a coffee shop and a stray cat as the vibrator was shifted up a setting. “What can I say; it was love at first sight,” you uttered, patting Josh’s hand affectionately as you tried your hardest to act naturally.

As the conversation turned, Josh leaned closer to you. “Are you okay?” He whispered, resting his hand on your thigh as his brow furrowed in a slight worry.

The vibrator buzzed harder as if Sam’s thumb was pulsing against the dial. Your mind was blurring at the white-hot pleasure burning between your legs.

You shook your head quickly. “I’m fine. I promise,” you reassured him, feeling a set of eyes on the two of you. You pressed your lips to Josh’s briefly as if to anchor in the point for the spectator. You made a mental note to tell Josh of this situation many… many years down the road.

Jake cleared his throat. “Mom, Sam’s on his phone during family time,” he chided, finishing off a crystal glass of hard liquor. Your cheeks flushed as Sam laughed at his brother while his mother heckled him.

From an outside perspective, you would think the exchange was sweet.

But unfortunately, you were the one that had a vibrator buried inside of you hooked up to the target person’s phone.

The pulse was shifted to what you assumed could only be the highest setting, making you abruptly set down your glass before you could drop it. “You’re right. I’m so sorry,” he brashed, eyeing you as he clicked off his phone and set it on the table next to his plate. You could barely think as the stimulation focused on your heat, making your tongue numb as Sam’s focus trained on you arrogantly.

It was almost as if he wanted you to get caught.

You inhaled sharply as your orgasm was budding, the vibrator working at a spot you needed to hit. You crossed your legs, attempting to alleviate some of the stimulation yet finding no rest as the pulse continued to drive you closer and closer to the edge. Sam watched you, letting his eyes flicker down to his phone as if he were itching to adjust the level again. Despite his apparent urge, he remained in his place.

You chewed on your bottom lip, trying to suppress the moan wanting to rip from your throat. Josh’s hand startled you as it gently rested on your shoulder, curling into the crook of your neck to pull you close to him. You were terrified that he could hear the buzzing from between your legs and see the pleasure behind your eyes.

“Are you gonna throw up or something?” He asked you quietly, trying not to draw any attention to the two of you.

You swallowed, your breathing becoming rigid as you could feel the tension in your core tightening. You could barely speak, shaking your head instead. You were going to cum and you couldn’t bring yourself to look your best friend in the eye as you did.

You brought your napkin to your lips in a mock blotting action as your toes curled in your shoes, unable to fight against the vibrator. You met Sam’s gaze as he sipped from his glass, his eyes being the ones ingrained in your mind as you were finally pushed over the edge.

❅ DAY THREE ❅

You were freezing. The snow was coming up over your ankles and the scarf you were wearing smelled like liquor and cigarettes. You had worn the same garment at one of the Kiszkas’ open houses so you really couldn’t complain.

You watched as one of their cousins explained the rules of a game you had played as kids; Hide & Clap. A blindfold was tied around Jake’s eyes, and someone sent him spinning as the rest of you took off to hide somewhere in the woods. You could hear him laughing as he fell over, wondering how long the game would last this time. In middle school, the group of you could be out well into the night. At your current age, you hoped it would only be about ten more minutes.

You wove through a few trees, trying to remember your previous hiding places before someone else could take them from you. The wind seemed to be following you, making the branches on the trees creak and whistle. It was almost spooky being alone in the woods.

Yet you weren’t alone for long.

Sam’s hand reached out and grabbed you, pulling your back to his chest as he ducked the two of you into a hollowed-out tree. His hand clamped over your mouth, quieting you as one of the other game members sprinted past the tree. Sam’s breath was warm against your neck as he watched for other participants, keeping you silent to conceal your hiding spot.

The hollowed tree was one of the places you’d been looking for.

He let go of you as the sounds died down, standing up in the space of the tree. You were concealed enough that it seemed like his efforts were for nothing but to have your bodies pressed against each other. Your mind clicked into place as he tugged off his own scarf.

You thumped his chest. “I came in front of your brother,” you hissed, making him laugh at the same volume as your complaint. “What the fuck, Sam!”

His hand tugged on the front of your jacket, pulling your body close to him again before kissing you. Warmth spread through your chest at the taste of him, his tongue slipping into your mouth as if to ignore your silent anger and pent-up frustration. His teeth pulled at your bottom lip, a moan threatening to rip from your throat.

He tore away from you breathlessly, exhaling a cloud of warm air to mix with your gasps. “I know you secretly enjoyed it, slut,” he mused, sending you another one of his champion grins. You looked at him for a moment before pushing him against the back of the tree. You dug your fingers into Sam’s dark hair, tugging him closer to your body as the pair of you clumsily gripped at each other’s clothing again.

The smell of his cigarette still lingered on his clothes to mix with the smell of the wet snow. The chill from the air was a stark contrast to his warm breath. His tongue dragged across your bottom lip, and he seemed to hungrily deepen the pressure of your kiss as if he couldn’t get enough of the taste of your vanilla Chapstick.

You were thankful for the seclusion of the hollow tree, praying that no one would find the two of you. His hands ravenously explored your body, moving to pin you between him and the wood behind you as his lips began to travel towards the crook of your neck again. Your brain blurred as you ground your hips into his, relishing in his sensitivity to your newly created friction as he hissed against your skin through his teeth.

His grip tightened around your leg, fitting your bodies closer together to eliminate what little space there had been between the two of you. You let out a small moan as his tongue neared your earlobe, his low chuckle sending a rush of cold air against the wetness of the spots on your neck.

You slid your hand between the both of you, palming him through his dark jeans as he nipped at your skin. His hand followed to hold yours. His head tilted away from you, a breathless moan hissing through his gritted teeth. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed slowly as he swallowed what he could of another groan while your hand alternated pressures despite his hand squeezing your own and encouraging your tactics.

“I can’t believe what you did yesterday,” you jousted, his voice sending goosebumps to pepper your skin as he buried his face into your neck.

You chuckled lightly at his near begging for your mercy. “Fuck, that feels so good,” he groaned into your hair.

You nudged him away from you, watching as his eyes dripped with lust for you. He surveyed you closely as you slunk down to your knees, reveling in the sight of him towering over you to brace one of his hands against the wood. You raked your nails up his thighs, eliciting a groan echoing in his chest.

He settled his other hand on the side of your face, his thumb jetting out to brush against your aggravated lips still stinging from the sensation of his teeth. His jaw tightened as you slid your hands over his zipper to unclasp his pants.

You jumped slightly at the sound of Jake’s voice in the distance as he asked for everyone to clap, signaling he was lost and---no pun intended---blind in the woods. You looked up at Sam as if already reading his mind. You shook your head at him as he clapped his hands even though he was standing there with you on your knees.

You hooked your fingers in the waistband of his boxers, pressing your lips to his abdomen and tracing his happy trail, trying to ignore the possibility of Jake discovering you in such a state. Sam’s hand stopped your movements, holding your chin so you looked up at him. He shook his head slightly. “Use your teeth,” he commented, his dominance flourishing back.

You heeded his command, tugging the material down his thighs with your teeth, watching him for the flickering of praise behind his eyes as he watched you obey.

You wrapped your hand around the base of his cock, a breath sighing across Sam’s parted lips in pleasure now that there was no barrier between you and him. If you didn’t want to see him get off so badly, you would punish him for sending Jake a sign of your position. You flashed your eyes back up to him, beginning to pump his length in your hand, his member stiffening as he became fully erect. Your encouragement brought a slight blush to his cheeks as he twitched beneath your touch, his hand finding purchase in your hair. You wet your lips before pressing them against the tip of his arousal, your tongue following in procession to tease against the sensitive skin.

Sam’s fingers curled deeper into your hair as you pushed his cock into your mouth. You couldn’t ignore the heat growing between your own legs as a rasping string of curses drew from his mouth. As you began to flex your tongue against him and move your hand, Sam’s head tilted back, his cock beginning to throb in your mouth with lust and excitement. You began to bob your head up and down on his dick, swirling your tongue to provoke more of his lude reactions.

You pulled your mouth from him only to continue to massage his shaft with your hand, your tongue dragging against his length as he groaned, his breath breaking into the air as clouds. You could feel his eyes resting upon you, the flesh of his lower lip caught between his teeth.

You bit back a sneer as you looked up at the blissed expression breaking his features. “Tell me I’m a good girl,” you teased quietly.

He bucked against your hand. “Oh baby, you’re not a good girl,” he grunted, smirking at you. “Good girls don’t cum in front of my brothers.”

Rather than replying, you pushed his arousal back into your mouth, this time with the intention of taking him deeper. You looked up to make eye contact with him once again, feeling his breath hitch as you alternated your hand speeds with the movement of your head as you slowly brought him closer to the back of your throat. Tears began to brim in your eyes at the near gagging feeling you were beginning to experience, which he seemed to be getting off on the idea of.

You brought yourself completely to the base of his size, a near guttural moan of your name grating past his lips. His cock twitched at the feeling, and you could tell by the blood rushing to his cheeks that he was close. The furrowed look of desire painted across his expression because what you were doing to him alone could have undone you.

He tugged on your hair, making you moan at the action, sending a wave of vibrations to echo against his erection. At that movement he came, sending hot streams of pleasure into your mouth to accompany the look of relief and utter indulgence in his eyes. You swallowed what you could before dragging your sleeve across your lips as he zipped his jeans and dropped onto his knees in front of you, his lips capturing yours. You felt his coarse thumbs brushing away some of the tears that had slipped from your eyes as your nails dug into his sides.

“Clap!” Jake called once again, using two of his signals.

Keeping on brand, Sam clapped once again, this time allowing Jake to find the two of you. Luckily, he was still blindfolded and couldn’t see your aggravated lips and messy hair, not to mention your wet jeans.

Later that night, you were on edge once again having dinner with Sam’s family, threading your fingers into the short hairs reaching Josh’s neck affectionately. There was something in his eyes that indicated he knew and was waiting for you to tell him you were screwing around with his brother.

As the family was heading upstairs to bed, you were left alone to pick up some of the neglected wrapping paper and ribbon around the base of the tree. Your knees ached from digging in the ground and you were too scared to see what kind of bruising would be left behind.

Then again, there was also a tinge of excitement to accompany the feat.

“There you are,” a voice called to you from the threshold of the living room. You perked up to make eye contact with Sam as he leaned against the doorframe. “Not tired?” He jested, the smirk playing on his lips indicating that he already knew why you were still up.

You wet your lips. “I could ask you the same thing,” you responded, easing yourself to your feet. He strolled into the room, eyeing the tiny decorations seemingly set on every flat surface manageable. He stood toe-to-toe with you, the lazy look in his gaze darkening with lust at your nearness.

He reached forward to sweep your hair away from your shoulder. “Imagine the look on Josh’s face if he found out how quickly you got on your knees for me,” he chided, making you brush him off. He reacted by pulling you closer, his fingers playing with the collar of your shirt.

Your cheeks warmed at the proximity to him as his eyes grazed over your body before meeting your own. His hand moved from your shoulder to your back. You leaned on your toes, pressing your lips to his. The tension between the two of you dissipated as he hungrily reacted, pulling you against him and savoring your moans as his tongue slipped into your mouth.

Sam’s hands moved down your body, swiftly hooking around your thighs and wrapping your legs around his waist to bring you to the ground. Your hands moved into his hair, letting it loose and wrapping the ponytail around your wrist. The carpet was soft as your back pressed to it. Sam leaned back to pull his shirt over his head, keeping you pressed against him.

If you weren’t so eager to be touched by him, you’d be punishing him for giving away your position to Jake.

As his lips met yours again, you ground your hips against his, eliciting a moan to vibrate through his chest. You raked your nails down his back, trying to further draw out reactions from him as his hands attentively played with the lace of your bra, fingers ghosting over the skin pressing against the fabric.

His lips left yours only to travel the length of your jaw and inch his way toward your waistband. Your pants were discarded with a swift tug from him before he pulled your thighs flush against his, grinding his hips against yours, hands gripping onto your sides to keep you in place. You tilted your head back, relishing in the friction as your body screamed to finally feel him take advantage of you.

You reached between the two of you, tugging at Sam’s zipper as your hunger for him escalated. His tongue flattened against your collarbone before his teeth pressed into your skin. You could feel his arousal through his jeans at the sound of your whimpering.

He pumped himself in his hand before pressing into you, the feeling of him inside of you making your head spin as if you were on some kind of ecstasy. Your moan came out needy and desperate as he thrust into you, digging his fingers into the carpet as his breath hummed against your skin. Your fingers threaded into his hair, raking your nails down his neck as he groaned in your ear at the feeling.

One of his hands grasped your wrists together, pinning them above our head while the other dug around in the pile of wrapping paper you had collected, fishing out a thick Christmas ribbon. He knotted the material around your wrists before snapping it and tying another section around your eyes. You felt him sit back momentarily to admire his work before his hand wrapped around your neck, leaning his weight on your wrists, and squeezing your throat, the lack of oxygen making each of your senses more heightened as he pounded into you.

Your moans of Sam’s name were grated as they slipped through your mouth, his relentless pace and intense hold nearly making you drool from the stimulation. By the practice of his actions, you wondered how long he had been stewing on demolishing you in this way.

Sam loosened his grip on your neck, leaning down to press his lips against yours, dragging his teeth along your bottom lip just to hear you groan from the rough action. You rolled your hips against his, letting him slow his pace to reach deeper within you. You couldn’t see him but you could picture the look of power painted on his features, knowing you were at a shock with each of his movements.

You were completely at his mercy.

You could nearly taste the sadistic grin spreading across his lips as he rubbed a thumb across your cheek, wiping away the makeup smudging around your face from his antics and the heat between the two of you.

Sam pressed his lips to your neck, wrapping his hand around your bound wrists again to drive himself into you, the new angle muddling your mind as your body ached to come undone. You sank your nails into his back, earning his low, raspy whispers of your name.

At his praises, you came, tugging against the ribbon as he bit into your shoulder again, basking in the feeling of you clenching around him. “You’ve been my favorite present,” he smirked, voice coming out wispy as Sam fought to catch his breath, tugging your makeshift blindfold out of the way.

“I wasn’t for you,” you hummed as he slipped his fingers beneath the ribbon to untie you.

He wet his lips as he grinned. “I guess I just like other people’s toys.”

[qillmhi]

Hi! I just finished reading the Donatello x Male Reader and I am HOOKED! Can I please request a part 3?? I love how it's going so far!

Hello there! Of course you can!

Donatello x Male!Reader 💜🐢

Enter: New Friend!

part 1 part 2

Life is great and you're forever thankful for all the blessings that you received. Not many people are fortunate enough to not worry about their next meal or where they're going to sleep. This made your heart soft for those people in need, which is why you regularly visit homeless shelters and donate toys and supplies to charities.

Today though is a special one.

You and your little group had been tasked to do a "community service" project, complete with documentation. As the assigned leader, you chose a local orphanage to help.

The day was set for planting seeds. I mean, what better help than teaching kids the importance of Agriculture, right? Of course you guys are supervised by adults, although there were playing mahjong in the distance.The whole porject sounds doable too if not for one problem...

"My dude... I'm gonna be so late, man."

You bit your nail in worry. "How long do you think it'll take?"

There was a slight pause "I dunno? 30 minutes?" There were loud honks on the background "I'm really sorry man, I didn't know it would be this bad! I gotta go though I'll call again okay?" Click. The line went dead.

Your face paled "Oh no... this is bad..."

"(Y/n)? You okay? Where's Max?" April O'Neal, your other group mate saw you in distress. She's a nice girl. Smart and very helpful, albeit a bit clumsy at times.

You looked down on her blue eyes and tried to muster your best positive smile. "He's gonna be late or.. I don't think he'll make it." You scratched your head. Max was supposed to bring in the seeds and mascot costume for Mr. Carrot. Something the kids of this orphanage was looking forward to see.You were already an hour behind schedule which made the kids extremely bored.Children and boredom are never a good combination.

Her eyes went wide "What?! What are we gonna do?!" This wasn't going her way.

This was her moment to get close to you and ask you out on a date! But if the mood between you two were like this, then there is a low chance of her plan's succeeding!

Or wait...

Actually... if April could somehow get around this problem and show you that she's very capable, it might get your attention on her!

A bright smile crept up her face. Yes! She can do this! Just watch (Y/n)! You're gonna see just how awesome April O'Neal can be!

April remembered the first time she saw you.

It was after a week long worth of resting after a particularly nasty fight with the foot. She knew she had go get back to school or else she won't be seeing that sweet, sweet diploma in the future.

While everyone hated school, for April, it was a break from all the action. She loves her friends a lot, but she needs this. The sense of normalcy she rarely gets to experience.

So imagine her surprise when a crowd of girls and boys caught her peripheral vision. She was about to ignore them, but a bright melody of laugher reached her ears like angels singing.

Lots of people started parting ways like the red sea as the popular kids stolled down the hallway towards her. She never got to see so many people gathered like this, thinking it was an upcoming school election. Election candidates tend to sometimes give away snacks to advertise themselves instead of using posters, so it kinda caught her interest enough to go in for a quick peek.

And there you were.

The newest member of the popular league and my god, were you a gem to behold. People were drawn to your "fresh meat" aura, trying to coax you to join their group or club.

When you passed April, your eyes met for a brief moment.

It was as if the entire world had stopped and she was hit with a new wave of overwhelming feelings that made her knees buckle.

And at that moment she knew she's undeniably hooked.

"April?" She jolted when you waved your hand infront of her face. "You okay there?" You tilted your head in concern.

"Huh?! U-Uh yeah! Peachy! Just ah-" Damnit! Did she zoom out?! Did you catch her staring?! "I-I just need to make a phone call!" April took out her phone smiling awkwardly.

You nodded "Okay?" You gave her shoulder a light pat "I'll go see what I can do, alright?"

OH MY GOSH HE'S TOUCHING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

"Yeah!" April stiffly chirped "Sounds great!!" She swooned.

It's been a week since Donatello had followed his brother's advice in  'personally observing' you.

At first he was judging everything you did like a disappointed Asian dad. But after seeing you, the (Y/n) behind the perfect grades and perfect looks and angel-like persona... you were actually just an average human.

Donnie watched you study so late into the night. You were so exhausted and so sleep deprived that you poured cold water to cook your instant noodles. He saw you doing laundry outside, slipped and accidentally ripped your pants when you thought no one was looking. He once saw you plop on the couch then suddenly collapsed, holding your ass in pain. You didn't even hit anything?! Your dumbass sat on the remote didn't you?

It was a funny scene to be honest.

Heck, there was this time he once silently geeked out with you while you were enjoying a Sherlock marathon!He manage to snap the unflattering pictures he so desperately wanted. He debated whether or not to use them as blackmail, but those ridiculous expressions on your face were just priceless so Donnie kept them to himself for now.

You didn't have a secret stash of porn in your laptop, or a ditty habit like smoking and doing drugs. If you had an addiction, it would be the unholy amount of coke and instant noodles you always eat.

What sealed the deal to him was your sincerity. What he originally thought as a facade, was a genuine guy just spreading good.

Contrary who what Donatello previously believed in... maybe you aren't that bad of a guy.The result of his research concluded that the only thing he disliked about you was the fact that April likes you. It made him feel guilty and childish for outright ostracizing you for something you had no control over.

Everyday he spent observing you felt like he was getting closer to you. He still wouldn't give up April, but he doesn't hate you as much as he did before.

Which leads to his concern.

Donnie sat on a rooftop overlooking an empty area with lots of children holding gardening tools and about three adults sitting under a tree playing mahjong. Donnie had headphones and a radio box next to him.

He can see April, the light of his life, and you, his love rival, biting your nail while looking at your phone.

You looked so distressed that Donnie was surprised you manage to kept yo4u cool.He heard about everything in that phone call with his little spy gadget, he felt sorry for you and also worried how this project will affect April's grades.

"William! Don't run with that!"

The mutant looked down at the commotion. A small boy was running around chasing a little girl with shears.

"Haha! If I catch you I'll make you bald!" The little boy teased.

"AAAHHHHH!!!! Get away from me you stinky!!!!" The little girl shrieked. The boy continued to laugh like some super villain, snipping the shears for added asshole effect.

Then the boy tripped.

On reflex he let go of the shears to catch himself, only to end up falling straight for the blade.

What came next was a split second reaction.

"OH MY GOD!"

You didn't waste time and ran towards the screaming, followed by April who also heard the screaming.

"Is everyone okay?!" You asked around, then coming face to face at what looked like a giant turtle with a wooden staff and.... a purple bandana?

"That was extremely dangerous!" The giant turtle said to the boy "Don't you know its bad to run with sharp objects?" William looked down in shame as the turtle held him on one hand, and the shears in the other.

"I'm s-sorry..." William, the boy, sniffed.

"William, come here." You called out to the boy. William obediently ran behind you.

Donnie sighed in relief when the boy moved away. Then it finally dawned on him that he had exposed himself. In daylight.

In front of all these humans!

"Brother (Y/n) look! A giant turtle!" A young child tugged your pants while pointing at him.

Donnie's face paled.

He needs to hide! Run away! But how can he when he's already exposed?!?

"Hey!" You waved at him "Thanks for catching William there. That could have been very bad." You beamed at the kneeling turtle.

Ugh. You're so handsome it makes him want to throw up.

"Donnie?!" April gasped. You glanced at April, seeing her blue eyes wide in pure panic.

"April!" Donnie looked at her in relief.

"You know him?" You asked.

April was sweating bullets. "H-He's uh... you see...!" She was trembling now.Fuck this wasn't good. Why was Donnie here?! He's been seen!

"April?" You squinted your eyes at her. "Is he a trespasser?" You were starting to back off with the kids.Knowing you, you'd surely put the kids' safety first and call the adults.

Oh no no no! She needs an excuse! She needs to safely get Donnie out of here now! "You see he's--" Donnie cut her off.

"I'm--I'm Mr. T-Turtle..?" The giant turtle stuttered. He dusted himself off, placing the shears on the ground "Yes I am Mr. Turtle!" He said more confidently.

If he recalled the conversation from earlier, you guys were missing a mascot, right?If he could just somehow play his cards correctly, he would get out of this without chaos ensuing.

"That's a lie!" Rosaline, the girl being chased before, objected "Mr. Turtle has a hat!" She pointed at his very un-hatted head. The other kids began to gather and agree.

Mr. Turtle cleared his throat "I am Mr. Turtle. But my hat got dirty so Mr. Carrot, he... helped me clean it!" He said.The kids blinked. But they seem to have bought the excuse and started to crowd around him in no time trying to touch his shell.

"Mr. Turtle~!""Woah! His shell is so big!"

"Mr. Turtle when your hat gets cleaned, can I wear it?"

"Nu-uh! If you get it then you won't share it!"

"I-I'll share it!"

You nudged April "Friend of yours?"

"Yes!" The mascot tried to avoid the small hands trying to grab his staff "We are friends, right April?" He looked at her hopefully.

April quickly got the cue "Oh! Yes! He's a good friend of mine! That's his costume!" She stiffly said. "Isn't it uh.. realistic?" She internally cringed. But thankfully, you seem to buy it as well.

"Yeah it does look cool!" You agreed "We got our mascot now! This is great!"

Good god. Donnie is fucking dead when they get back to the lair.

"Actually--" Mr. Turtle walked towards you with his army of seven year olds "I have an idea about the seed problem."

You raised an eyebrow "How'd you know we don't have seeds?" You asked suspiciously. You were sure you haven't told anyone about it other than April.

"W-Well... April told me!" He looked at her "Right April?" The redhead saw this as an opportunity.

Donnie you fucking genius!

"Yeah! I called him here because of that!" She said. Completely taking credit.

"Okay...? You got a solution right? Let's hear it!" Honestly if there's anything that can save this day, you were willing to accept any suggestions.

You trust April O'Neal, and if this is a guy she called to help then it wouldn't hurt to trust him as well right?

Mr. Turtle tapped his chin "We could go to the kitchen and find seeds from he vegetables they're going to use for dinner? Oh and of they have potatoes, we can use those as well!." Your eyes sparkled.

Oh my God!

"That's a great idea!" You beamed at the mascot "We could ask the adults for those seeds! Why didn't I think of that?!" You lightly bumped his shoulder "No wonder April called for you! Thanks man!"

Mr. Turtle blushed at your praise. But he caught himself before it got too far. You were a good guy, but you're still his love rival nonetheless!

The rest of the day was saved thanks to Donnie's proposal. The kids enjoyed taking out the pumpkin seeds the most, it was messy, but it was fun and the guts ended up being good fertilizers.

April despite wanting to be with your the whole day, chose to stay close to Donnie. Often going for the look out for any suspicious looks and ready to bolt if things got ugly.Donnie was delighted that April chose to be near him. He felt so proud and smug, but it would often get wiped away when April would shot down his advances. And because of the many mini humans trying to climb on him, he really couldn't get the chance to properly talk to her.

Thankfully the afternoon was going very smoothly.

Right now, you were helping Julie, who was falling behind because she insisted to say 'good night' to each of her seeds.

"Good night little seed!" She chirped and buried the seed with her mini shovel. "Water please!" You handed her the watering can.

"You're doing good, Julie!" You gave her a head pat "Do you think you can dig up the hole this time?"

She nodded cheerfully.

"Hey (Y/n)?" Someone tapped your shoulder. You looked up and saw April looking down at you.

"Oh hey April!" You dusted yourself off and stood up "You potato warriors doing okay? Need help?"

April laughed "Nah. We already finished up and thought I'd come say hi!" She said casually leaning closer to you, fluttering her big blue eyes. "Though I wanted to ask you something, if you're free next Saturday, maybe?" She shyly drew circles on the ground with her shoe.

Donnie himself didn't like what he's seeing. It hurt that April was avoiding any conversations he tried to make, but maybe that's because she was mad.

Sure, he was glad that she stayed near, but he knew she didn't want to be.

Even worse, right now she is very clearly making those 'lovey-dovey' eyes at you!

He wanted to match in there and straight up tell you to back off. But in doing so would definitely make April more upset.

While Donatello was having a mental battle, you thought about April's question. You didn't seem to have anything scheduled around Saturday morning. "Actually, I'm--"

"AAAHHHHH!!" Julie screamed and pointed on the dirt "It's a worm!"

The other kids started circling around the worm.

"Oh my gosh ew!!"

"Yuck! ts wiggling!!"

"Let's squash it!"

Oh no.

"I'll get back to you on that April." You walked off and ended the in coming slaughter "Hey there little buddies! Let's not do that okay?" You tried to calm the children down before someone kills the worm.

"But it's gross!"

"It's not gross!" Mr. Turtle intervened suddenly. He picked up the worm and held it preciously.The children collectively had disgusted faces."Earth worms carry nutrients for plants to grow and provide better drainage in the soil." He explained. "They're very important to the environment and keeping it healthy!"

The kids didn't understand shit.

Julie, upset that there were worms with her sleepy seeds said "What if the worm wakes up the seeds! They won't grow into flowers!" She stomped on the ground.

Donnie looked at you. He knew for sure there weren't any flower seeds today.

You quickly shook your head 'She won't join unless you say its flowers.' He saw you mouthed.

Oh!

Donnie knelt down to get eye contact with the children "If you sleep with lots of blankets and pillows, would you be able to breathe properly?"The kids looked at each other questionably."No right? That's why uhm... Mrs. Wormy came to help us today! She will make sure the sleeping seeds will gets lots of air and don't get too much water." He said waving his hand at the tiny worm to prove his point.

By this time, the orphans were able to understand a bit. Their moods got noticeably brighter.

"And then will Mrs. Wormy become a butterfly?" Julie tugged in Donnie's mask. Copper eyes locked with yours when you started gesturing fanatically.'Just go with it, please!'He wanted to laugh. You were making those funny expressions again!Donnie looked back at the children surrounding him with their adorable eyes excited for what knowledge Mr. Turtle will share. "U-Uhm.." He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah. Mrs. Wormy will become a pretty butterfly one day!"

Forgive me Stephen Hawkins!

The children cheered and some even started apologising to the earth worm.

You chuckled in relief at the display. "I guess Mr. Turtle saved the day again!" You watched as the mascot was tugged away to play "It's awesome that he's here. Or else this day would've been a disaster!"

April half heartedly agreed "Yeah."

You looked at her and noted her sad demeanor "You okay? You were going to say something earlier right? Sorry about that." You said.

April was quick to reply "Oh no! Don't mention it, it's fine!" She tucked a strain of her behind her ear. "I was just ah... worried you've been busy all week and was worried you aren't taking any rest days." She bashfully played with her pony tail.

Aww! How sweet!

"Is that so?" You have her a smile, which she absolutely melted into "Thanks for worrying about me April! I'm taking plenty of rest throughout the day, so no need to fret that pretty head of yours." Lord, this face is gonna kill her one day.

Wait a minute.

Oh my god...

Did he just call her pretty?!?!?

April's heart soared. Holy chalupa. Is this the moment she's been waiting for?!

"(Y-Y/n)!" Her cheeks felt hot.

Yes! This is it! There's no way she's letting this chance slip by.

April swallowed deeply and closed her eyes tight.

"I wanted to tell you that I-"

"Your friend's a chill dude!" You commented.

April stopped to look up at you, and saw your focus was directed at Donnie and the children playing.

"I've never seen such a realistic costume before. Maybe I should talk my uncle about it." You tapped your chin "Especially his eyes. I swear they're brown, but then they're also kinda red! How cool is that?!" You sounded so curious and excited at the same time "Is it his natural eye color?" You asked.

April wasn't sure what to say "Oh yeah it's his natural eye color."

"Hoho~?" You seem impressed "I see. What an interesting eye color." You turned your attention back to laughing kids running around making Mr. Turtle dizzy.

April glanced at Donnie and his eyes that captured your interest. She never really envied anything from him or the brothers. They were her bestest friends and they never made her feel any less special and always treated her as a sister.

But at that moment, the redhead suddenly became conscious of her blue eyes.

Donnie was in absolute shambles.

He got so caught up with pretending to be a regular guy in a mascot and saving that poor worm and preventing these kids on ending up as future entries in True Crimes Stories that he forgot to tell you to buzz off his woman!

"Mr. Turtle!" One of the kids tugged his bandana "Can you please carry me?" She asked, with her arms raised.

Oh gosh how was he gonna do this. He looked around anxiously "I-I'm sorry little girl, I can't--"

She hit him with those puppy dog eyes.

Damn it.

"O-Okay..." He picked her up. "Only for a little bit." Curse him and his soft heart. The little girl giggled and continued to play with his bandana.

Donnie looked back at you two again. Whatever you two were talking about it looked like you two were finishing up, much to his relief.Didn't stop him from sending a glare your way though.

And as if you could feel it, you glanced at Donnie and sent him a smile and a wave.

Donnie's face exploded bright red. He quickly turned around and pretended he couldn't see you.

This is the first time Donnie was in broad daylight with so many humans around. But it was also the first time seeing so many humans at ease with his apperance.

Granted, they thought it was just a costume but still...

Planting, playing and teaching kids?

It was fun. One of the best he ever had. Sure, he wasn't able to approach April himself, due to his little fans crowding him.

He sighed. Of course she wouldn't go to him. Why would she, when her crush is right there?

At times like this he wish you'd grow a pimple or trip.God is unfair.

Once it was all over, he knew he couldn't stay. April would most likely turn him into turtle soup once she gets to him. Not to mention the punishment Splinter would befall on his shell.

Donnie ran behind the back of the school.It was already late afternoon so this area was casted under a shadow.Back to where he originally belongs.

Donnie sighed sadly. He's gonna be in so much trouble, but he didn't regret it. It was so nice being out in the sun, so nice not hiding or being scared of humans.

Donnie glanced down on his green, three fingers hands. "Some costume, huh?" He mocked himself "So... that's what it feels to be human?

"Hey!" Someone called him behind.

Donnie shrieked. Donatello turned his head, bo staff ready, only to see you standing by the light holding two Starbucks coffees and subway sandwiches on one hand, and a small flower pot on the other.

It was dramatic actually. You in the light, and him in the shadows.

"Don't that!" Donnie whined "You scared me!" He glared at you when you laughed. He cleared his throat. "Do you need something?"Please just leave so he can go.

"Yeah, I do actually! Here." You handed him one of the drinks and a sandwich "Thanks a bunch for your help. You really saved us! You're super great with children hy the way." You laughed boyishly "We haven't formally met, right? I'm (Y/n)!" You held out your hand.

Donnie looked at it at first. Should he really be doing this? Getting close to his rival?

He took a while to react at first, but he soon returned your handshake "Donatello." He firmly said "I heard a lot about you through April." Unfortunately "She's right, you're pretty cool." He said, trying to be causal.

You couldn't help but feel embarrassed "Ah shucks, really? Its pretty sad that I don't hear about you though." You pondered for a second, then spoke again "Maybe next time, if we ever need a mascot, we could call for you again? Or maybe we can just hang out."

"Hang out?" Donnie blinked.

You shrugged "Ya know, without the costume." You really wished to get to know him more. Donatello seems very chill and pretty smart. Not to mention, his blabbing antics about science that tortured the orphans was pretty funny.

Donnie felt guilty. You were nothing but nice and welcoming from the time you two met. But he decided to shot down your efforts of possible friendship. Its not that he didn't like you completely, but he wasn't sure about accepting your friendship. He decided he needed to cut his ties with you now.

But seems like his mouth had a different opinion.

"Sure." He immediately wanted to swallow what he said.Did he.... did he just accidentally agree?!??!?!

"Awesome!" You gave him a small slip of paper with your number "This is my personal number. Oh! And--" You handed him the pot full of dirt. Donnie looked at it suspiciously. "William asked me to help him plant it. I'm not sure what he planted, but he told me to give it to you as a 'Thank you'." You explained.

William? Oh! He forgot about that kid.

"Surely you wouldn't reject the sincerity of a child's efforts right?" You raised an eyebrow teasingly. Donnie huffed.

"I'm not that cruel." He accepted the pot. He wondered what that kid painted in here. "Thanks." He said, holding the piece of paper and flower pot close to his chest.

Both items were somehow feeling heavy but not uncomfortable. It made his cheeks feel warm.

Maybe today wasn't that bad?There was a moment of silence between you two. It wasn't the awkward kind. It was actually pretty nice despite spending the peace with the boy he once vowed to turn into a frog.The mutant preferring to stare down at the pot he received. He fiddled with the piece of paper between his fingers. He could feel the warmth of the sandwich and coffee reaching his skin.

"I should go now."

Donnie wanted to thank you, but the moment he locked eyes with those (e/c) eyes, his breath got caught in his throat.

The sun had changed it's hue to a warmer color giving you a heavenly glow. Your clear eyes, framed by those long lashes gave you the impression of tranquility, topped with a genuinely pure smile, and the breeze slightly swaying your hair like a gentle caress.

You looked like a sun-kissed prairie.It left his heart racing and his mouth feeling dry.

Donatello knew you were handsome. But now without the pretense of finding error or being anxious about others, he finally got the moment to actually take a good look at you.

"Beautiful..."

"I hope we meet again, Donatello!" You bid him one last smile and walked away from the awestruck mutant. But before you could disappear from his sight, you quickly turned around and gave him a quick wink "I'll be waiting for your call, 'kay~?"

The mutants heart started beating faster. "D-Don't say it like that!" He huffed.

You only laughed in return.

He wanted to sucker punch you for laughing at him like that!

"Grrr.... Curse that guy!" He groaned in irritation, but still ever so grateful for you reaching out.

Back at the sewers, Donnie tried his best to get back as fast as he could.It was slightly difficult, carrying food and the flower pot. Your number was already saved in his T-phone, but for some reason, he couldn't part with the small piece of paper you gave him. So he kept it between the straps on his wrists.

Thankfully his brothers were all still asleep so he was able to get into his lab without anyone noticing.

Donnie sighed in relief once he closed the door. He thought it was all clear, but then he stopped mid track when he saw the redhead sitting on his desk.

"A-A-April!" Donnie jumped, barely managing to balance the heavy pot and food when the paper from his wrist bands slip and fell on the ground.

Donnie gulped when April walked up to him to pick the paper up, immediately recognising the owner of those digits.

"Donnie?" She eye'd the gifts in his arms "Can we talk?"

Uh oh....

____

Hi there! Thank you for staying this far! Welcome to the final chapter of my mini series. Yes sadly the ending is an open one, which is why I made it twice the size I normally do for my fanfics.

I'll let you imagine how this will end because I wanted to focus on a series with Don! Thank you again for reading!

[patt-writes-stuff]

Maid for Each Other

Pairing: Prince! Kiyoomi Sakusa x fem! Reader

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: nothing that I can think about, except maybe the fact that y/n works since she was like a kid.

A/N: HI IM BACK FROM MY VERY LONG UNPLANNED HIATUS KINDA!!!! Writing this made me realize how much I miss it so I might open up requests for drabbles and hcs soon

Genre: fluff

Tags: Royal Au, Childhood friends to lovers, semi forbidden love.

Summary: You’ve come to terms with the fact that you and Kiyoomi can never be together. Really, you have. Kiyoomi, on the other hand, is very much determined to make it happen.

Growing up as the daughter of a maid gave you opportunities most common folk like yourself would only dream of having. For example, you got to live in a castle. True, you lived in the much less lavish boarding area where cooks, knights, and other maids lived but walking through the lavish corridors was still something few people could say they’ve done, even if you do it with a mop and a bucket of sudsy water on hand. The best part of it all was that you met Prince Kiyoomi, son of the King and Queen of Itachiyama and he became your closest friend. Even years later, you still look back at the memory of how you met with utmost fondness.

——

You took a bite of your apple, reveling in the satisfying crunch followed by the delicious taste. Today you had some rare recreational time. Despite being merely a child, living at the castle still meant that you had to assist your mother and the other maids. You didn’t mind too much since they always gave you small tasks to do and a much lighter workload, but you were still just a kid, and kids like to jump, play, and run around. By nothing short of a miracle, your mother had let you wander around the east side of the royal garden, saying that as long as you made sure to behave, you were free to do as you pleased.

So here you were, a basket full of leftover juicy apples given to you by the cooks and your favorite book of fairy tales in hand, making your way to a pretty gazebo where you could read your book in peace.

“What are you doing here? This is my spot,” a boy around your age with wavy black hair and two moles right above his right eyebrow asked, clearly more than a bit miffed to find that ‘his spot’ was occupied.

“I can be here if I want to, y’know? It’s not like this place has your name on it or anything, And not that it’s any of your business, but I’m here for some peace and quiet,” you retorted, lowering your book and bringing it closer to your chest. His eyebrows raised in surprise as if he wasn’t used to people talking to him like that, but it seemed as if your answer had him lowering his guard if the way he sat down next to you (after thoroughly wiping the surface of the chair with a handkerchief he carried in his vest pocket) was anything to go by.

“I’m here for some peace and quiet too. My cousin Komori is staying with us for the summer and he’s always loud. It gets kind of annoying sometimes. I’m Kiyoomi,” he told you, offering his hand and you couldn’t help but giggle at his matter-of-fact tone as you shook his hand.

You hadn’t realized who he was at the time, but when you got back to the maid chambers and told your mom all about the weird boy you’d met that day, she almost had a heart attack, thoroughly scolding you for being so crass when interacting with the prince. Despite your ‘crass’ behavior, however, Prince Kiyoomi continued to search you out whenever his cousin -or anyone, really- got on his nerves, bashfully insisting that your company was the one he enjoyed the most.

——

“Absolutely not,” the very same prince announced as soon as Lady Yua, the daughter of a wealthy viscount, and her escorts exited the very same gazebo you’d met the prince in all those years ago.

“Your Grace, the Queen won’t be pleased to hear that you’re rejecting yet another marriage candidate, especially not one as well off as her,” You warned the black-haired prince. He winced at the honorifics, motioning for you to sit down in the now-empty seat across from him.

You hesitated, unsure as to whether or not it would be appropriate for you to act so informally around the handsome prince. Your mother had recently sat you down, explaining that she’d seen the way you looked at Kiyoomi and that it had to cease immediately. Upon seeing the hurt look on your face, she consoled you. Taking you into her arms, she explained that Kiyoomi was a prince, he had been destined for greatness since birth. Clinging to your feelings for the pretty prince would only lead to heartache. A few days later, the King and Queen had announced that since their son had reached eighteen years of age, it was time to begin searching for a wife for him to wed. In hindsight, you had a hunch your mother had heard that the search for a wife for Kiyoomi would start soon, and she was merely trying her best to protect you from a broken heart.

However, Kiyoomi saw your hesitance. He made a big show of motioning to the plate of uneaten apple pie tartlets; the ones he requested despite knowing that Lady Yua disliked them- and they’re your favorite sweet treat. And really, who were you to let such a delicious treat go to waste? Especially when you got to share them with your best friend in a beautiful garden.

As you sat down, your heart fluttered at the thought of how romantic this all was. You were quick to catch yourself, of course; those thoughts were not thoughts fir for a maid to have for her prince.

“She can throw a fit for all I care. I have no intentions of marrying Lady Yua, or any other woman she picks for me for that matter,” Kiyoomi stated.

You froze mid-bite at his words, “Any other woman? Does that mean Omi Omi’s already got a girl picked out for himself?” You teased, trying to hide the way your heart clenched painfully with some of your usual banter.

“Chew your food before you talk, dummy, you’re not a child anymore,” He said, trying to act disgruntled by your immaturity. Kiyoomi’s face turned an endearing shade of pink as he fought the smile trying to worm its way into his face. With an unexpectedly intense look that made you swear he could see into your very soul, he added, “And you of all people should know who it is I’ve picked.”

You choked on your apple pie tartlets before you could question him on just what he meant, knight Tsukasa- you think that’s the name Kiyoomi told you- walked up to the gazebo and informed Kiyoomi that the Queen wished to speak with him. With a ‘good luck’, you saw Kiyoomi off as you wondered who could’ve possibly stolen your prince’s heart.

——

Kiyoomi stood in front of his parents, fully prepared for yet another scolding from them. They could go on for hours, for all he cared. He wouldn’t budge no matter what and that was final. He refused to marry anyone other than you and no amount of parental guilt-tripping would change his mind. Besides, he didn’t see why it mattered so much if he married someone of royal blood. He was third in line after his brother and sister, so odds are he’d never get the crown. Not that he cared.

“Son, I don’t understand why you’re being so difficult! How is it possible that none of the eligible young ladies met your standards? It’s completely preposterous, that’s what it is,” his mother ranted as his father nodded along, albeit rather half-heartedly. “At this point, anyone will do as long as you just choose already. How do you think it makes us look when you reject one girl after another, all from powerful families?! I’d take a commoner over this humiliation.”

Kiyoomi’s head snapped up at her words, looking at both his parents for confirmation. “Do you mean that? Anyone will do it? Even if she’s a commoner?” He couldn’t hide his excitement even if he tried and the King and Queen’s surprise at their youngest son’s rare outburst was almost palpable.

“It’s that maid girl, isn’t it?” His father asked, sharing a look with his wife. With a sigh, he added, “Very well then. If she’s the only one you’ll have, then so be it. However, I fully expect for her to be taught proper etiquette before you even think of having her walk down the aisle.”

Kiyoomi respectfully bowed to his parents before quickly making his way out of the throne room, all but dashing to the gazebo where he hoped you’d still be, heart, beating hard against his rib cage. He didn’t have a ring quite yet, however, he had a hunch you’d say yes anyway- if it came to it, he’d give you all the apples in the kingdom.

[halstudandruz]

Gentleman in the Streets, Freak in the Sheets (NSFW)

*Not my gif*

Pairing: Kelly Severide x Reader

Requested: Yes

Prompt: Kelly gets fed up when you tease him at work all shift (Dominate, kinda rough Kelly smut)

Warnings: Smut (18+), daddy kink, breeding kink¿, swearing

A/N: Anyone else find the gif incredibly sexy? Also, proof skimmed at 4am so don’t judge typos 😅

It was a quiet day in the firehouse. Ambulance 61 only running a few calls and everyone else passing the time by running drills or checking equipment. You had offered to make dinner, wanting to give Ritter and Gallo a break for once. You were far from a candidate, but you weren’t “all in” on the candidate hazing per say. They needed a break every once in a while too. Especially when trying to cook three meals a day for the pickiest men in Chicago. You were trying to decide how to marinate the chicken when your boyfriend walked into the lounge headed straight for the kitchen.

“You cooking tonight?” He asked when he spotted you in front of the stove. Watching you nod, he chuckled.

“You know we have candidates for that.” He teased.

“Yeah yeah I know, I also don’t care.” You retorted, having already had this talk before. “Hey! What are you doing?” You scolded as you watched him open up a cupboard digging through it.

“Getting chips.” He answered, nonchalantly.

“I’m making food!” You reminded him.

“And I will eat it, but I need something to hold me off in the meantime.” He replied, rolling your eyes, you turned back to the task. “Okay spices.” You thought out loud moving towards the cabinet Kelly was still digging through. Registering in your head that there was nobody else around except Mouch who was loudly snoring on the couch. Smirking you took the few steps towards your needed ingredients.

“Excuse me.” You mumbled slipping in front of Kelly where he was trying to reach something from

the back of the top shelf. Pushing yourself up on your tippy toes you attempted to grab spices off the bottom shelf, pushing your butt out to put pressure against his crotch before slowly moving back down on the heels of your feet, smiling effectively to yourself when you felt Kelly immediately tense above you swallowing a low groan, trying again and eliciting the same reaction. “I can’t reach it. Could you hand me that cayenne pepper?” You asked sweetly pointing to it, witnessing a pink tint appear across his cheeks, still pressed tightly against you, clenching his jaw when you wiggled your hips back against his. Tightly gripping the container he handed it to you. “Thank you, lieutenant.” You grinned sliding out from in front of him to make your way towards the counter. It wasn’t but two seconds before Kelly had you trapped up against the counter. Breathing heavy in your ear goosebumps traveling down your body at the warmth of his breath.

“You think you’re so sly. Such a little tease, trying to make daddy rock hard.” Kelly leaned over your back pushing his hips into your spine where you felt an obvious bulge. “You’re just giving me an invitation to bend you right over this counter and use you.” Kelly whispered into your ear as you started to chop up the celery coming centimeters away from chopping off your finger at his words. It had been a few days since you had sex and you knew you both were craving each other. When the sound of footsteps heading for you became clear he sprung away putting a respectable amount of space between the two of you.

“Is anybody making dinner around here?” Herrmann asked, appearing from the apparatus floor, Stella in tow behind him.

“Yeah, working on it.” You assured him watching Kelly retrieve a bag of chips and head towards the bunk room, cool relaxed demeanor drifting back over him. He was always better at hiding things than you, and this was likely a game you were going to lose at, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

You and Kelly had dated for awhile before accepting that the pressures of the job was starting to take a toll on your relationship. In order to healthily deal with your issues separately you decided to take a break, knowing that you would likely eventually end up back together, or at least hoping so. It was hard at first especially after finding out he had had a brief fling with Stella, one of your best friends in the house, but you had gotten through it and had been back together for a couple months. Nobody else in the house knew though, except Matt who you frequently ran into every morning in his kitchen.

You had taken plenty of opportunities to tease Kelly throughout the rest of the shift. Sending him dirty texts, accidentally running into him in the shower, innocently flirting with Gallo just to get a rise.

“Oh sorry are you almost done?” You asked sweetly watching Kelly shift his clothes from the washer to the dryer.

“Be my guest.” He moved out of the way for you to move towards the washer starting to throw your clothes into it when you heard him clear his throat. Turning you cocked your head when you saw him holding one of your thongs on his pointer finger. “Oops must’ve dropped that.” You played innocently, taking it from him to drop it into the machine feeling the heat of his body crowd you.

“What has gotten into you today?” He questioned, gripping your hips.

“I don’t know what you mean.” You bit your lip blinking up at him.

“Oh so you really were just interested in Gallo’s new workout regimen?” He smirked, pushing you completely against the washer.

“Kid’s looking swole what can I say?” You giggled.

“You must really want me to take you right here, Kitten.” He shook his head, lips moving centimeters away from yours. You hummed, waiting for him to make contact, but he never did. “Say it. Tell me.” He challenged right hand moving up to your bare stomach, finger pulling at the top of your pants.

“I want you.” You admitted and you could feel him smile against your own lips.

“How bad?” He encouraged, popping the button of your pants open, fingers inching further south.

“So bad.” You assured, moaning when the pad of his finger came in contact with your clit, his mouth muting the sound. You relaxed letting the pleasure seep into your body. Whimpering when one of his fingers pushed into you. Your own fingers were nothing compared to his and it had been too long since you felt them. Bracing yourself against his chest when he added another, thrusting them in and out.

“Fuck, Kel. Someone could walk in.” You reminded him trying to keep a clear head, that was very quickly fading.

“Let them. They can watch and see how wet and desperate I make you while fingering your little pussy. Then they can imagine what I do to you with my cock.” He whispered into your ear, causing your knees to buckle below you.

“Oh my god.” You breathed out when his thumb began to flick against your clit synchronizing with his thrusts, his dirty talk was always out of this world. You felt your legs begin to shake, head falling into your boyfriend’s chest, sharp breaths coming out just as the knot unraveled in your stomach. Kelly’s free hand wrapping around your waist to steady you. He waited for you to gain control of your balance again before removing his hands away from you.

“This is far from over.” Kelly kissed your sweaty forehead before retreating leaving you a disheveled mess. You left him alone for the rest of the night knowing if you went near him you were going to cave and this time you would be sure to be caught.

You had turned a boring shift into an entertaining one and you loved watching him squirm.

Unfortunately, you hadn’t gotten much sleep having run calls almost all night, one after the other, and you were so ready to fall into your big soft bed you had even forgotten about the game you were playing with your boyfriend. Up until you walked into your apartment. Dropping your bag to the floor you kicked off your shoes barely registering Kelly close behind you until he tugged on your wrist, taking you off balance causing you to fall right into him, his hard body insistently igniting a spark within you. His hands gripped your face bringing you in for a heated kiss, one that had you leaning back against the door almost immediately.

“Mmm.” You hummed, starting to feel your body summon a second wind.

“Are you too tired? Cause we can do this later.” Kelly pulled away to ask you sincerely, palm cupping your face.

“You seem to have woken me back up.” You chuckled arms circling around his neck to pull him back down to you, tongue joining his, gripping the bottom of his shirt you broke the kiss to tug it over his head.

“Don’t worry you have me so fucking horny this isn’t gonna take long.” He laughed unbuttoning your jeans as he licked across your jaw.

“I don’t know if Matt’s gonna want to see our clothes all over the floor.” You joked, stepping out of your jeans as he pushed them down.

“I asked him to give me an hour or two.” Kelly shrugged a cocky tone in his voice causing you to roll your eyes.

“It’s his apartment too.” You pointed out, shedding yourself of your shirt and bra, as Kelly tossed his jeans to the side.

“He can come home if he wants to, he just may regret it. Which is exactly what I told him.” Kelly replied, taking two steps towards you to throw you over his shoulder.

“Kelly!” You giggled unexpectedly.

“Shh we’re on a time limit.” He smacked your ass and you could hear the smile in his voice as he walked you towards your bedroom. Dropping you at the edge of the bed quickly covering the length of your body with his capturing your breasts in his hands, mouthing at your right nipple. Before his hands moved to explore all the parts of your body. The small pleasure sending goosebumps down your body. “You’ve been teasing daddy at work all shift. What if Herrmann or Stella would’ve seen you wiggling this perfect little ass against my crotch?” Kneading it into his palms. “Would you have liked that? Showing everyone how worked up you can get me? How hard you make me just by looking at you?” Kelly growled nibbling down your neck.

“Stella maybe.” You mumbled, causing him to chuckle.

“Jealous?” He inquired.

“Possessive.” You responded, squeezing his crotch for emphasis.

“She’s got nothing on you baby girl.” He promised, picking you up enough to lay you down. higher on your bed. “You have me so pent up you know that?” He rolled his hips down on yours thin fabric covering each of you, so you could clearly feel his full bulge, a soft moan escaping your lips at the action. Kelly smirked above you at the sound.

“You want it so bad don't you? You want daddy to fill you up good huh baby girl?” He taunted fingertips running up and down your thighs. You clenched your jaw trying to keep your hips firm against the bed not wanting to give into him so easily. “Awe come on. You know you love when I talk dirty to you. You tell me all the time, and I bet if I just move my hand a little south it’ll do all the talking for you.” He teased finger snapping the waistband of your underwear“Just tell me how bad you want this cock sweetheart. How you are soaking through your panties right now just thinking about it.” He continued hand very steadily moving closer to what you knew was going to be a pool of liquid between your legs. “And I will rock your world.” He promised biting hard at your collarbone just as his fingers met your clothed center, accompanied by a loud moan involuntarily filling the room. “Would you look at that?” He brought his glistening fingers up in front of your face, but you remained quiet chewing on your lips. “Oh so that’s how we’re gonna be today?” He raised an eyebrow before backing away from you, “you can get yourself ready then, or you’re not getting any.” He commanded.

“No, wait I’m sorry come-“ You started to reach for him but he leaned farther away.

“Your choice.” He smiled widely at you.

“Whatever, fine.” You pouted, you could certainly make this as torturous for him as it was for you. Slowly sliding your panties down your legs. “Oh hey you weren’t kidding, they are soaked.” You laughed, jokingly before throwing them at Kelly’s face. Spreading your legs wide for him to see fingers grasping your nipples first rolling them between your thumb and forefingers. Hips rolling at the feeling that warmed your body. Bringing your hand up to your mouth you made a show of your lips sucking two of your fingers, tongue circling around them humming a small moan that could still be clearly heard in the room. Hand trailing leisurely down your body. You could hear Kelly’s breath hitching as your hand connected with your center purposely moaning loudly enough to fill the apartment putting pressure against your clit. Finger teasingly sliding across your own entrance before circling it again. You could feel the juices starting to drip down your legs, getting impossibly wetter at Kelly’s dark eyes watching your every move. “Oh god.” You groaned, pushing in a single finger thrusting your finger up towards your stomach. Giving more attention to your clit before adding a second finger. “Yes, fuck yes.” You breathed hips pushing down towards your palm when you curled your fingers towards your g-spot already wishing it was Kelly’s dick.

“That’s it baby, play with your wet little pussy so daddy can watch. Such a pretty cunt.” Kelly praised. You hadn’t even realized your eyes had closed shut until you had opened them met with the sight of Kelly’s hand lazily stroking his fully hard shaft.

“Daddy..please.” You begged.

“What do you want sweetheart? Tell me.” He ordered eyes locked with yours.

“You to fuck me so hard I won’t be able to walk for days.” You whined hips still desperately moving with your hand. Kelly appeared back on top of you in seconds.

“Daddy’s ready to take such a long sexually frustrating day out on your perfect little cunt.” He teased nipping your earlobe as he lightly rubbed the tip of his dick between your folds. Slowly pushing his hips forward, your pussy immediately taking him in. “God baby you’re so fucking tight. How can you be this fucking wet and still so tight?” He growled, breaths coming out heavier as he continued to move forward waiting for you to loosen up for him. Focusing on the smell of him so close to you, the quiet little growls, the warmth of his body right against you had you relaxing quickly the pain of the intrusion subsiding within seconds.

“Move Kelly.” You encouraged him, digging the heels of your feet into the bottom of his back trying to pull him even deeper.

“Ah ah ah,” Kelly grabbed ahold of your hands pinning them above your head, “you’re here for daddy’s pleasure right now kitten.” He reminded you with a slow roll of his hips causing you to whimper. His hips moving in slow deliberate circles before thrusting hard all the way in you.

“Fuck!” You screamed, head falling back into the pillows. Your legs falling wider apart when he started moving in a steady rhythm. Quickly finding your soft spot, knowing your body inside and out. “There.” You informed him in a mumble, starting to lose the ability to think, worse with each thrust. He had your arms pinned above your head, hips pounding against yours as hard as possible. Moans and slapping of skin echoing in the room. It was crazy how quickly he could get you where you needed to be. Knew exactly the angle his cock had to enter and exactly the right speed, but he definitely knew what he was doing. Slowly his thrusts as soon as he knew the knot began to build in your lower stomach. Bringing you to the edge numerous times.

“Kelly, I'm getting close.” You warned, whining even louder when his thrusts came to a stop. “Kelly fuck baby come on stop doing that.” You begged, legs beginning to shake at the continuous edging feeling the knot disappear from the pit stomach again and you wanted to cry.

“As soon as you learned to call me by the correct name you can finish.” He teased. Your brain was too clouded to form a decent sentence let alone control what was actually coming out of your mouth.

“God daddy I’m sorry I can’t help it. I can’t even think straight right now.” Your body was wiggling uncontrollably trying to get the friction moving again, tears gathering in the corner of your eyes.

“You can and you will baby.” He ordered, slowly beginning to move again.

“Daddy please just let me cum. Please. Wanna cum around your cock so bad.” You begged, likely incoherently, but he must’ve felt bad as he moved his thumb down into to contact with your clit flicking against it in time with his thrusts.

“Ahhh holy shit yes! Daddy oh my god!” You yelled limbs locking when the pleasure exploded throughout your body. Shaking slightly, sounds flowing freely from your mouth, hands entwining with Kelly’s single hand above you. Stars were still clouding your vision when you tried to open your eyes, Kelly curling himself even closer against you, his head stuffed into your neck, groans continuously accompanying each of his breaths.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck! I’m so close baby girl. So fucking close. Keep clenching that pussy for daddy. Just like that.” He coached, feeling the aftershocks of your orgasm.

“I can feel you twitching babe. I can feel how close you are daddy. You gotta pull out unless you want it in me.” You warned knowing within three strokes he was gonna fill you otherwise trying to push away the multiple voices in your head that admitted you would love nothing more.

“That’s exactly what I want princess, daddy’s gonna flood this tight perfect little pussy with his hot thick cum.” He grunted out and sure enough three strokes later you felt his cock swell, muscles tensing below your hands before spurting numerous amounts of cum against your walls, the warmth lighting your body on fire even more, Kelly collapsed onto your body, during the short fast thrusts he used to work himself through. Loud groans falling from his lips. Sweat covered your bodies sticking between the two of you.

Finally catching his breath a few minutes later he slowly pulled out of you, mind clicking and coming back to reality, eyes widening when he saw the cum running out of you, “Oh my god. Oh fuck baby I’m so sorry. Shit!” He panicked, eyes flicking from the mound between your legs to your face causing you to giggle.

“It’s fine, Kel.” You reassured him reaching for tissues to attempt any clean up.

“I should’ve asked. I let myself get way too carried away. I'm so sorry.” He ran a hand down his face.

“Would you be okay with having a baby with me?” You asked him sincerely.

“Well...yeah of course. I love you.” He nodded his head.

“Then it’s fine. We’re both adults. We know the risks of sex. If we really wanted to avoid it I would suggest more than just the pull out method. Plus if I was really worried I could’ve stopped you.” You shrugged. “Not saying I want to actively try but it certainly wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” You admitted, having kept your feelings on this exact subject at bay for a while.

“You want to have a baby with me?” He asked, shocked.

“Eventually.” You answered and he smiled.

“Could you imagine telling everyone you’re pregnant and we’ve actually been back together for months.” He laughed at the thought.

“Well thanks to your lack of self-control that might be a reality.” You joked, giving him a pointed look.

“On the brightside you’d get to call me daddy more.” He said winking as he leaned down to capture your lips in a soft kiss.

“Nobody would ever believe the things you say to me in bed.” You thought out loud.

“Gentleman on the streets, freak in the sheets.” He shrugged, winking.

NSFW Taglist:

@beautiful-bunny89 @jayxhalsteadx @grettiwrites @life-treatments @weepingfestivalmentality @toomuchtv95 @malrunaway @queen-of-arda @glimmerglittergirl

[peaches-writes]

heart attack!

description: han jisung can charm any heart if he wants to but he just wants one, whether he admits it to your face or not. 

member: jisung / han

genre: fluff, fantasy, rivals to lovers au, childhood friends to lovers au, witch / wizard au (sugar sugar rune-inspired), royal au, college au, roommates / housemates au, slice of life format, a side of hwang siblings, sunshine twins, cousin chan, and minchan (!!)

word count: 25.1k i’m so sorry

warnings: explicit language, alcohol, some mentions of injuries, a brief episode of someone getting abducted, mentions of a creep being,,,well a creep at public transportation, self-indulgent tooth-rotting cheesiness, idk if i should put a warning for unconscious emotional manipulation but im gonna write that in here anw

note: idk if i want to write little drabbles w this same pairing again since it ended up being so long but i kinda lost the plot halfway lmao lmk if u guys want additional lil drabbles for this hehe + again happy 1k yay!

You don’t always get along with Han Jisung, crown prince of the Eastern Kingdom, for reasons you simply can't limit to the number of fingers and toes that you have. He loves annoying you for the sake of getting a reaction, bratty as far as a wizard prince goes, and prideful among many traits that you were forced to grow up alongside with.

These days, however, you hate the way that he is the only other candidate alongside yourself for the High Crown of the magical world. As if fate didn't just want the two of you to butt heads in school and at royal social functions all the time, suddenly you're pushed to compete with him for something much greater.

For the record, though, it's tradition that all firstborn heirs of the 4 major kingdoms are considered eligible for the highest throne that unites all of your domains. You were going to compete with him either way, just with other people initially involved. However, with prince Hyunjin of the Southern kingdom mysteriously disappearing over a month ago and princess Lia of the Western kingdom subsequently refusing the candidacy, suddenly there was only you and the Eastern prince for the high jury to challenge in their Crown Candidacy exam. Fate and circumstance clearly love you with the way Jisung is always in your line of sight when all you want for yourself is to not be on the receiving end of his teasings and competititve streak all the time.

Though you yourself didn't desire the High Crown at first, the elders continuously pressuring you eventually pushed you into accepting the task. Plus, knowing that it's Jisung—the brat who pulled on your hair during those silly etiquette lessons the high jury made you and the other royals take as kids and embarrassed you when you once confessed your past crush to him in middle school—who would be automatically crowned without a test if Hyunjin isn't found in time and you also refuse made you go forward with it. After all, as much as you personally don't want to answer to Jisung as the next High King, you also think that entrusting the entire magical realm to him is simply not right. You would know, you had to grow up with him.

So, here you are on the night that the Crown Candidacy exam begins, receiving the final blessing from your mother and the high jury with Jisung who has been sneakily trying to poke on your side and get a reaction out of you since the ceremony began. If 15 elders and your mentors aren't surrounding the two of you with their scrutinizing eyes right this very moment, you would've easily snapped on the first poke and blasted the blue-haired boy.

"Stop that," You instead gritted your teeth next to him with the 17th poke to your waist, lowering your voice that only he can hear. "Ji, I swear to the gods—"

Among the circle of witches and wizards chanting ritual protection spells over the two of you, your mentor Younghyun glares at you and Jisung as if in a non-verbal scolding that the two of you should stop "playing around" as he would usually word it. You simply roll your eyes at this in response, earning you more quizzical looks from the other elders.

You also hate the way that Han Jisung keeps stringing you into his antics as his favourite person to mess with. If anything, you're most often in trouble with the elders because of him.

"This part of the ceremony is so unnecessary. I'm bored" He murmurs tiredly under his breath, bringing his hands back inside his black cape and pushing his shoulders back as he stands up straighter once more. "It's not like humans can hurt us. We're the magical ones, hello? Besides, the jury’s already cut the one-year exam by half. What could even happen in that time?”

"Stray monsters can still hunt you there if you don’t stand still." You correct immediately, earning you a look from your own mother this time as she finishes leading the last of the spells. At this point in your unwanted association with him, you don't even care much anymore that you get in trouble because you entertain his antics. You just want him to shut up. "Whatever. It's done."

The prince then giddily springs up in place once all of the spells are casted, suddenly looking more awake than the past 5 minutes of ceremony. "Finally! Okay, thanks for that! We'll be going now!"

"Wait." Your mother calmly interrupts him, perfectly hiding her slight annoyance over you and Jisung as she whips out her blue wand from the pockets of her ceremonial robes. "For the high jury to properly tally the ecure that you'll collect in the human world after this task, we'll be providing you with vessels to keep them."

As she mentions the vessels, a sapphire locket and an emerald ring materialize in front of you and Jisung respectively before settling at the palms of your hands. You're then quick to notice the way that the diamond-cut sapphire encrusted at the center of your locket emits warmth as you place it around your neck, indicating its magical properties.

"These vessels have been modified further to record everything that you collect and any spell or potion that you might use them on while undertaking in this task." Your mother then continues. Simultaneously, Younghyun gestures for you and Jisung to mount your brooms and prepare to fly off into the yellow crescent moon where the portal to the human world lies on its other side. "Though the ecure that you lose is not counted in the final tally, knowing how you used or lost them also contributes to the jury's examination of your magical skills and knowledge."

Jisung chuckles, bumping the bristle end of his broom with yours playfully. "And to see what kind of trouble we'll get ourselves into, right?"

In response, you simply roll your eyes. Your mother, on the other hand, purposely tunes out Jisung's usual antics and continues, "Remember, this exam will determine the next monarch that unites all of the 4 major domains. Collect as much ecure as you can from the humans in the 6 months that you're given with them and you will be rewarded greatly. Until then, have a safe journey to the human world, candidates."

With that, you and Jisung push yourselves off from the castle balcony, heading straight to the crescent moon.

"Last to the other side is a lousy flyer!" Jisung yells playfully into the quiet night, speeding ahead before you could even process his words. “And has to pay for a meal sometime!”

"Ya! Han Jisung!" You increase your speed yourself anyway despite knowing that his words don’t have any ill meaning, catching up to him with ease just as the two of you pass into the portal. “I paid for the meals last time!” 

-

Han Jisung isn't always fond of you, the heir to the Northern Kingdom, for reasons he simply can't limit to the number of fingers and toes that he has. He thinks you're too uptight (especially in the presence of the high jury and the other elders of the bigger royal circle), easily irritable, and surprisingly a bit of a pushover to your kingdom's advisors ever since your cousin, Chan, renounced his royal title and settled in the human world.

These days, however, he hates the way that you've suddenly taken up an interest in competing for the high crown of the magical world alongside him even when you've made it clear countless times before that you only wanted to rule your own kingdom. You only started showing interest after Lia formally refused her candidacy and the elders pushed you more into changing your mind, clearly hinting that you don't want Jisung to automatically be crowned High King.

Do they really think that terribly of me? Jisung has resorted to thinking a lot about these days, even now as the two of you arrive at Chan’s place where you would be staying for the duration of the test. I make a good high king as much as I do the king of my own people! Hmp!

It shouldn't bother him this much, it's just you anyway. But at the same time, it bothers him for this very same reason: because it's you, the know-it-all who always busted his antics to the teachers back in school and embarrassed him to his friends when you confessed your past crush to him back in middle school. Jisung hates the way you challenge and compel him to be petty and competitive all the time, especially in the little things. Like right now, as the two of you argue on who gets the bigger bedroom in Chan's house right after you arrived.

"You know, I was just holding back a while ago because we were in front of the elders but I swear, I won't hesitate to blast you now that we're away." You warn as you try your best to stare him down while he blocks the bedroom door you both want. You have your hands raised to the side, sparks of a spell encircling our fingers and the space between your hands. "Move, Jisung!"

Still, Jisung stubbornly refuses. You two have bickered enough to last you all of your lifetimes and for him to know that you won't really do it. "I was here first! You go to the other room!"

The blue ball of energy in your hands begins to shape itself into a more tangible shape as your brows furrow even deeper in frustration. "But I called dibs on this room to Chan firs—!"

Before you could finish your words, however, Chan peeks his head out from the opposite end of the hallway with a pile of blankets in his hands. "You two still going at it? It's almost 2 AM." He teases in feigned disapproval, approaching the two of you to throw a blanket each of your way. "Come on, give it up, Sung. Y/N gets the big room."

Jisung's initial smug expression contorts into disbelief in an instant while you celebrate with a wide grin and a teasing tongue stuck out at him. "What?!"

"Ha! Thanks, Channie!" You clasp your hands together in satisfaction, the red sparks in your hands disappearing into thin air as you do so, before pushing the paralyzed Jisung out of the way and locking yourself in the bedroom. Once Jisung's pulled himself together at the betrayal, you then briefly peek your head out of the door, sticking your tongue out for the last time before greeting the two boys with a quick, "Goodnight!"

Jisung glares and purses his lips in front of Chan who chuckles at this. "Hyung!" He whines, grabbing the older boy by his biceps and shaking him wildly like how a child would throw a tantrum. "I don't see you for three years and when I do, I get treated like this?!"

"Exactly." Chan nods with an amused smile, tugging Jisung to his side and leading him to his room across from yours. "Y/N was kind enough to visit me here while you didn't even send a letter. I think that's enough to give them the big room."

"Aah, but you already know why I couldn't! I was busy with all the prince stuff!"

"Y/N was too, though? And they’re doing twice the work than you."

"But Y/N's more organized than me!"

"So you agree? My cousin earned the bigger room?"

"No, it’s not th—aish! Bang Chan!" When the older boy in question tries pushing Jisung back to the smaller bedroom, the latter childishly protests by gripping onto the doorframe. "I'm making it up to you now! I'm literally staying here for 6 months!"

"Yeah and I'll definitely treat you to lots of other things for that later. Seriously, Ji, give it a rest. It's just your temporary room for the exam." Chan sighs with a tired laugh, prying the younger wizard's hands off of the doorframe and shoving him inside the room. "Unpack your things and get some sleep. We're having a welcoming party for you two on the weekend."

"You're supposed to side with me here."

"Don't pull that face, you're not kids anymore." Chan chuckles, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "And I'm not siding with anyone. It’s just a room! Night, Sungie."

Jisung opens his mouth to protest, only for Chan to close the door on him and walk back to his own room. With a sigh, the boy defeatedly trudges to his new bed and, after taking out his expandable pouch from his pockets, jumps to the mattress with a muffled groan to the plush pillows.

Jisung also hates how one of his best friends favors you better just because you're cousins first. He's had enough of Chan coddling you before from when you were kids, always taking your side when the two of you bicker and offering you his extra food when the three of you are together, and he would much prefer it if he doesn't see it now that the two of you are undergoing an important exam.

"At least the view's nice." He pouts to himself once he's seated up once more, facing the window that overlooks the city. After just spending ten minutes flying over Seoul and exploring Chan's vast mansion, Jisung gets it a little now. Chan definitely didn't choose this realm over their home for no reason.

If I'm not in line to be king, Jisung thinks to himself, this life also seems nice.

Hovering his hands over the enchanted green pouch, its neatly packed contents of clothes and other personal belongings then emerge from its seemingly tiny space before levitating to their respective places. "Aish, that Y/N!" Jisung yells loudly on purpose, leaning on his side closer to the door to hear your reaction.

Across the hall, while you make a fuss out of unpacking and changing the appearance of some furniture, you yell back, "Shut up, Ji!"

Jisung has many reasons for disliking you at times but, if anything, he lives for your reactions when he purposely annoys you. Even when he knows you’re always a spell away from actually snapping at him, you never actually do and it never fails to amuse him. Scoffing, he lets it slide for now and quietly unpacks.

-

If attending social functions as a royal has taught you anything over the years, it's to avoid being within reach of Jisung at a party before, during, and after he makes a huge mess of things. You've had your own fair share of spilled drinks to your dress robes, purposely getting embarrassed in front of the elders and other important public officials, and even a huge fight over not wanting to be his dance partner to remind you of this at all times.

Of the places that you and Jisung have to be standing next to each other, it's the parties that you hate having to see him at the most because they bring you nothing but trouble. Chan's welcoming party for the two of you, with witches and wizards living in the human world as well as Chan's own human friends in attendance, is no exception.

"What do you think he's going to do this time?" Yeji snickers next to you on the makeshift dance floor of the house's backyard. Ever since her brother disappeared, she's been staying in the human world combing through every inch of Seoul and trying to retrace what is little known of the steps he took. Naturally, you've stuck to each other like glue since she arrived. "It's been two hours since this party started and all he's doing is—"

"Flirt with every human on the dance floor. I know, that's why I'm not looking over my shoulder. I think that's all he's planning to do in this party, given that we've started with the test." You frown, taking a sip of your beer as the song changes to a more lively one. "This guy's never taken any exam back in school seriously but now he suddenly wants to win this one exam. Weird, right?"

"Hm, maybe he really wants to win this exam and become high king. You can never really tell what goes on in that head of his." Yeji shrugs, blinking twice in quick succession to make her eyes turn red, an indication that she's scanning the venue for the humans' ecures. "Anyway, he's definitely working hard. I see a lot of orange hearts for him as much as there are for you."

Only then do you also turn your head around the place, your own eyes turning blue as you collect the orange hearts of infatuation and green hearts of friendship that people you've met tonight have for you with a non-verbal spell. As you catch these little crystal hearts into your locket, you briefly catch a glimpse of Jisung at one of the foldable tables chatting with three human girls. It somehow irritates you.

"He never lost that cringey fuckboy persona, huh?" Yeji points out once you're done with your collecting, shaking her now empty bottle and frowning once she realizes that it's already empty. "I guess I didn't miss out on much even after being away for a few weeks."

"You talk like you were gone for a year, not 3 weeks." You laugh. When she then asks you if you want to get new beer bottles, you follow her back to the coolers behind Chan's DJ set. "I hate how we'll be seeing more of those again when we start attending uni to collect more hearts."

"Oh, right! You're attending mine, right? You'll be with me, Seungmin, and Ryujin?" When you nod once more, she links her arms with yours and adds, “Gosh, I can just see it now, girls from the different departments flocking the two of you on the first day but especially Sung. A lot of girls I know from uni really dig that e-boy thing he has going on."

You pretend to gag, making her throw her head back in a cackle of laughs. "Humans and their weird tastes in men." You scrunch up your nose, the two of you briefly pausing to politely wave at Chan as you pass by his booth.

Your cousin doesn't hesitate to wave back at you both before going back to his spinning. You and Yeji then head to the back of his area where the coolers of different beverages have been placed.

"Oh shush, didn't you too also have a crush on him way back then?" Yeji teases the moment the two of you are alone again, opening the cooler with a simple flick of her hand. You follow along despite the glare you send her way, your empty beer bottles getting replaced by new ones. "Sometimes, Ryujin and I like to think that you still have a little bit of that."

"No way." You shake your head in denial, picking up a bottle opener from one of the closed coolers and using it over yours and Yeji's. "Middle school was a long time ago. Jisung just irritates the hell out of me now."

"Who irritates who now?" A voice behind you perks up almost immediately, causing you to jump and spill a little of your beer on the grass. When you glance over your shoulder, Jisung's white bucket hat comes into your vision, eventually uncovering his mischievous smile. "Ah, so clumsy. Look, you spilled a little beer on the grass.” 

Next to you, Yeji giggles behind her hand while greeting Jisung. You glare at her in response.

"You're annoying." You point out with a pout, thrusting the bottle opener to his chest before linking arms with Yeji. "We're going."

Jisung only shrugs with a smirk, waving goodbye to Yeji as the two of you pass by him to go back to the dance floor. "It makes you look, doesn't it?"

"Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that." You roll your eyes before disappearing back into the crowd with Yeji.

Once Jisung is out of earshot, Yeji then nudges your side with your linked arms. "I'm telling you, there's still a little something. Deep, deep down there." She teases in a singsong. “That’s probably why the banter just won’t die out.”

"Nope, definitely not." You shake your head. "Have you been watching too much of those human dramas while you’re here? It’s playing with your judgement."

-

It comes even as a surprise to Jisung himself that he hasn't caused a major mishap in this welcoming party so far. Since the majority of the guests started arriving two hours ago, he hasn't done anything troubling besides losing to Ryujin at beer pong and finishing a whole red cup of Chan's jungle juice concoction as punishment almost an hour ago.

It doesn't bother his "instincts for mischief" that much—his mentor's words not his. It means that he's more focused on collecting ecures at the moment with the amount of humans he's mingled with at this party, especially the girls who have taken it upon themselves to flirt with him.

What does bother him slightly, however, is the way you occasionally glance over to him knowingly from across the lawn, as if you're expecting him to do something. You always seem to do that after years of getting roped into his troubles, much like a lot of your childhood friends who'd frequently end up in similar predicaments. Somehow, however, it's always intimidating when it's you looking at him. He personally hates that, the look in your eyes when you're trying to catch him in his mischievous acts.

"Who are you and what have you done to my twin brother?" Felix has been teasing the entire night every time he encounters Jisung. When Jisung pouts this time, while the two share a drink on a couch that was brought out for this party, Felix laughs over his drink and adds, "Oh, so you're really focused on this test, huh? No trouble until this party's over?"

"Why do you guys think I'm not?" Jisung frowns, elbowing his brother by his side. "Geez, Lix, you're supposed to root for me here. If I win, you get to be king too."

In response, Felix waves his solo cup dismissively. "No, no, I think you're doing great! You've caught how much already? Twenty hearts in this party? That's a great start, bro." He comments with a proud smile. "It's just a little new, seeing you all so serious and focused. It's not because you're up against Y/N, right?"

"Ha? Nope, definitely not. It's barely a competition when I'm clearly winning." Jisung shakes his head a little too defensively as he sinks into the soft velvet couch. "I just think it's natural that another kingdom should get the high crown this time and since it's only me and Y/N competing, unless we also find Hyunjin while we're here I should work hard and make it happen."

Just then, Seungmin sits down on his other side with a cup of punch and a small paper plate of sweets from the chocolate fountain. "If Hyunjin was here, he would've whipped your asses in this party by getting all of the human guys and girls with one smile." He points out matter-of-factly. "Plus, if Lia accepted the candidacy, all three of you would've lost even before you left home."

"You never really rooted for me, huh, Minnie?" Jisung feigns sad eyes as he rests his head on Seungmin's shoulder. "And here I thought we're best friends."

"Oh no, I'm totally rooting for you now." Seungmin replies with a dry chuckle, passing his paper plate over to Felix when he holds his hands out in a motion asking for food. "But if the gang was complete, I would've changed to team Hyunjin."

Jisung scoffs at this, swiping a marshmallow covered in chocolate from Seungmin's plate. "Fine, I won’t hold it against you. I miss Hyunjin too."

"Yeji and Chae are doing everything they can to look for him. He'll turn up somewhere, he just has to. Until then, you should just focus more on your exam. Hyunnie would want that." Felix quips in before turning his attention over to you and Yeji at the nearby karaoke mini bar. "Look, that's what Y/N and Yeji are doing right now."

When Jisung looks through the crowd that has gathered around you, his eyes turning a deep green, he sees a lot of orange hearts gravitate over to you, mostly from the uni boys and girls that Yeji, Seungmin, and Ryujin have invited to this party.

"You guys are seeing it too, right?" Felix asks, his own eyes a matching shade of green when he tilts his head over to Seungmin and Jisung. "At least twenty new hearts in a span of 10 minutes, right after they just gave Y/N a bunch of green hearts."

Seungmin nods, his head movements making Jisung's head shake a little on his shoulder. "Yeah. Y/N's really working extra on this." He notes in complete awe. "The competition's really close, don't you think so Lix?"

"Definitely. What do you think, Ji?"

"Nope, definitely not." Jisung crosses his arms and shakes his head in disagreement. "It's impressive but not enough to catch up to me."

But the smallest hint of a frown gracing his features is enough to give his feelings away to his friends. Only now does it fully sink in that it’s definitely a tight competition between the two of you.

one out of six months

At one point, you understood why people would foolishly fall for Jisung. On a really good day, when he's not causing you or anyone too much trouble, you could see his playful side as charming, maybe even too cute for you to admit it out loud. A long time ago, back when you were still so naïve, you had a small playground crush on him too, after all; a crush that ended so badly you're convinced it's where your bickering naturally escalated.

But now, as your days in the human world turn into a month spent fulfilling your Crown Candidacy exam at university with your friends, you just wish that not a lot of humans are so insanely attracted to Jisung. It's nothing personal, of course, you're not jealous at all in that way. Whenever you sit in the library to study, attend classes from late in the morning to early afternoons, or even just sit in the quad with your shared friend group discussing updates on Yeji's search for Hyunjin, however, your competitor is just always being followed by flocks of smitten girls with their orange and pink ecures of crushes on their sleeves, ready to be collected by Jisung's emerald ring.

And you're not going to get started on the rainbow-colored hearts that send him little gifts and love letters at least once a week before classes, sometimes even directly to Chan's house where the third kitchen fridge is now filled with bakery goods stashed along with Chan's fan gifts. Not wanting to admit it to him or any of your friends, you're admittedly quite jealous because he attracts the ecures from the humans so easily while you have to work extra harder in socializing with your human peers to garner even just pink hearts. You hate having to work extra, extra harder just to be on par with him all the time, especially when he seems to be effortless in his ways.

"Before Lix went back to the magical realm, he relayed that Changbin from back home suggested that we start expanding our search for Hyunjin to—" For the sixth time since your group met up at the quad after classes this particular afternoon, another group of girls pass by and greet Jisung, interrupting Yeji in her explanations. Pouting slightly, she then turns to Jisung and pokes him with her pen, snapping the smirk off of his face. "Sung, focus."

Jisung nods quickly, waving Yeji's pen away from his side. "Yeah, let me just collect their hearts real quick."

You roll your eyes in response, nudging Yeji to resume her updates. "Just go on, Yeji." You encourage her, Seungmin and Ryujin nodding along in agreement. For emphasis, you make sure to tap Jisung's hand on the grass with your own pen harshly, making him wince dramatically in pain. "You're extending the search to Incheon, right?"

"Oh, uh yeah. Like I said, Lix said that Changbin suggested Incheon since Hyunjin briefly mentioned it in one of his letters. We'll start looking into it ourselves before this semester is over." Yeji continues on, ignoring the next group of passing girls that Jisung gets distracted over again this time around. "Chaeryoung is going there in the following months, though, to scout the places first. Then, we'll try and follow up with a search of our own. I'll have to ask Chan and the jury back at home if you and Jisung are allowed to go, though, since you're taking your exam."

"Among those places, Hyunjin often went to this stretch of the beach because he was investigating a monster from home who escaped here and took an artifact from our kingdom." Seungmin added, pointing to a location on Yeji's map sprawled over your laptops at the very center of your circle. "It was one of his last assignments here before he suddenly disappeared. We'll probably stay here the longest."

You try your best to listen, adding your own inputs to how your search operations would go while also noticing a couple of people who recognize you and wave your way, but Jisung somehow keeps grabbing your attention by the way he entertains his admirers who greet him shyly as they pass by you group. The playful smirks he sends their way, the polite waves, and the way his hand keeps twitching in between the two of you as he collects the ecures with his own spell keep eating away at your attention span, pressuring you that he's taking the lead in your race.

You also try discreetly collecting your own share of hearts under your breath whenever someone you know passes by but you eventually find it hard finding people while trying to listen to your friends. "Ji, focus." You mumble under your breath after a while, breaking his focus as he collects two more orange hearts.

"Y/N, keep up with me here." He smirks, just as the orange hearts disappear into his ring. "Why are you so distracted by me, anyway? Jealous?"

"I’m not jealous!” 

"Guys focus." Ryujin snaps at the two of you this time, chuckling in amusement when you and Jisung both glare at her. "Hey, easy on the stink eyes. I'm just telling you two to listen over here."

"Do as I do, Ryujin, and just tune them out." Seungmin jabs nonchalantly as he and Yeji take down notes of their discussion, not even once looking up at you nor Jisung. "It works out splendidly once you've mastered it."

"Hearing them bicker over random things before was one thing. Hearing them bicker over ecures now is a whole new playing field." Ryujin smirks, particularly to you. "Ah, you guys sound even more like a married couple now that you're competing. Tsk, tsk..."

"No, we're not!" You and Jisung answer in chorus, looking incredulously at each other after. "Ya!"

"Seungmin's right. Just tune them out, Ryujin." Yeji points out without missing a beat, a small smile taking out the initial annoyance from her face. "Anyway, what's important is we settle our plans first. Let the married couple race for the crown."

"Ya! Hwang Yeji!" You scold, flinging your notebook towards her which she dodges swiftly. "I'm listening, I swear."

Yeji gives you a look of mock disbelief in response before chuckling and going back to her work. "Whatever you say."

-

Jisung won’t admit it to any of you nor his friends’ faces but he may be just a little jealous that you’re catching onto him at a great speed and looking surprisingly nonchalant about it on the outside. You work extremely hard, that’s a given and Jisung respects that as much as the two of you annoy each other. But he doesn’t even have to sneak over to your room at night and check your locket for your ecure count; the boys and girls from uni, the market where Chan forces the two of you to run errands on weekends, and even at Ryujin’s favorite skate park who always take two glances your way wherever you go are enough giveaway to the amount you’re collecting everyday. And it’s a whole lot of hearts. He won’t even be surprised if you’ve managed to collect 300 hearts by now.

And he’s not even going to get started on how fast you manage to take ecures from the same people twice in less than a week, managing to charm same-age neighbors and classmates from good friends to secret admirers in a span of a few days and getting you at least twice the amount for your tally. You have enough hearts on your locket to keep up with Jisung’s count and use your magic leisurely at home. You definitely keep your competitor up on his toes all the time with how you’re giving your all in this competition and it’s gnawing at him to do even better. 

What annoys him on top of this, however, are certain kinds of people that look your way, or even Yeji’s and Ryujin’s for that matter. When the three of you aren’t looking and a bunch of passing jocks would eye you weirdly on the quad or at the library, especially since you’re new to the school, his natural instinct is to glare them down until they’re looking away. He sees their purple ecures from where he would sit across from you as you study, a sign of a lusting kind of feeling, and it does nothing but to tick him off into intimidating them until the color fades out. 

Seungmin thinks that, in a way, this is cheating and that you’d probably think the same way if you find out since purple ecures are ranked quite high in the tally, just above pink hearts (”Y/N’s gotten mad at you before for going too far or breaking the rules. You, of all people, should know not to get on their bad side.”). When Jisung writes to Felix back home after, however, his twin naturally defends him and says that he’s just looking out for you. 

“You guys don’t always see eye to eye, even now that you’re competing against each other,” Felix recorded over the enchanted mail that arrived after your meeting at the quad, Jisung and Seungmin separating from your group to do some more studying at the library. “but you’re just looking out for Y/N and protecting them from any weirdos, like for Ryujin and Yeji. Just tone it down a bit and let them handle it sometimes.” 

“See? Lix thinks I’m doing something right.” Jisung sticks his tongue out at Seungmin who simply shakes his head in stubborn disagreement before returning back to his class notes. “I’m telling you, I’m not sabotaging Y/N on purpose.” 

“Still, whether they want to collect those purple ecures or not is not your choice to make.” Seungmin points out. Though he agrees with Jisung’s intentions, as he’s been doing the same and looking out for you and your friends in his own ways as well, he also trusts that you can take care of yourself. “Just let them handle it next time, unless they actually do need your help.”

“But—“

“Consider the guys that passed by at the quad the last time you’ll mess with Y/N’s ecures.” “You saw that?!”

Still, it gnaws on Jisung’s conscience when he takes the train home with you later that day, when another purple heart springs up for you as he checks your surroundings and finds it to be from a stranger. What a creep, Jisung cringes internally with disgust before strategically blocking the man out from your sight and standing closer to you, Y/N’s competition but I’m a decent being! Be the bigger person or whatever bullshit.

“Ya, what are you doing?” You push him away with your index finger to his stomach, leaving a bigger gap between the two of you as you stand on the moving train. “Ji, personal space.” 

“We’re literally cramped in this train like canned sardines, Y/N. I’m just trying to make space for the people coming in.” Jisung fibs in retort, unknowingly timing his words perfectly with the train making a stop and justifying his next action of taking a step closer to you. This time, he makes sure that he’s towering over you and blocking the creep behind him completely by moving his hand over to the train handle right next to where your hand is. “Don’t make it weird!”

Your expression is surprisingly unwavering now, clearly unamused by his boyish quips. “You’re the one making it weird! You keep hovering over me.” 

“Sure, sure, whatever you say.” He rolls his eyes, instinctively steadying you with one hand when the abrupt movements of the train pushes you slightly forwards. “Oops, careful there.” 

When Jisung takes one last glance at the creep and finds him still looking over your general direction, the boy finally snaps and sends a little spell over the man’s way, one that makes him itch all over and ties his shoelaces together. This is the last time, Jisung swears to himself with a chuckle under his breath, oh what the hell? Punishing creeps is kinda funny.

two out of six months

The first time Han Jisung spots a red heart that he can collect, it’s 2 months into your candidacy exam and he makes the surprising decision to prolong collecting it by several days. It’s not that Soonyoung from your Math class is aware of this. As far as she knows, Jisung is simply stringing her along much like he does with every other girl he’s flirting with and she doesn’t seem to mind this fact. 

But you mind, you and your other friends do a lot. “It’s a powerful heart and costs 5000 points on the point system.” Seungmin even noted himself once on another day that Jisung left your class without Soonyoung’s crystal red heart. You mostly agree on this, coupled with the fact that you can’t steal the heart for yourself to gain more points in the race since it’s not for you. “Just take it, it’s not going to get any higher than that.”

No matter how much you or any of your friends nag, however, Jisung simply lets the days pass doing nothing much about it besides entertain Soonyoung whenever the girl approaches. As his sole competitor in your candidacy exam, you visibly feel the most frustrated out of everyone else by each passing day, especially at the thought that you yourself haven’t managed any red hearts yet. 

“It is weird, very not like him but also a bit like him if that makes sense?” Ryujin notes by the 10th day, after you recounted Math class to her as you take a short break together. Today, Jisung agreed to go to lunch with Soonyoung, only to tell you and Seungmin that even then he’s not going to take her heart today. “I mean knowing what happened between you two in middle sch—” 

You immediately shake your head before she could even finish her thought, “No, I don’t think that has anything to do with now. Definitely not.” 

“It’s not like that! I meant to say that this is even worse than when you had a crush on Jisung. The girl’s ecure is as red as red could go!” Ryujin exclaims, forcing you to cover her mouth with your hand just as Soonyoung and Jisung comically pass by your table at the kiosk to eat lunch together. Slowly prying your hands off once the pair in question are out of earshot, Ryujin then leans over the table and continues, “But even then, he’s not taking it to gain momentum in your exam. Aren’t you a little bit curious why?” 

You hesitantly shrug, “I mean, a little...but honestly I think he’s just being stupid. If I were him, I won’t string the girl along, not for this long anyway. It’s a waste of time and effort when he can just pick up the heart and reject her carefully.” 

“Then, maybe he has his reasons. If you know about it, you might get an advantage!” Yeji speaks up this time, joining your table late with a huge pile of library books on top of her laptop bag in her hands. As much as this girl has been busy looking for her brother, she also keeps up with her human world cover surprisingly well even when she doesn’t have to with all the studying that she does on the side. “One way to find out, right? I heard Felix’s not that busy these days back home.”

You feign a frown at the two girls agreeing in unison, especially at Yeji as she takes out her phone from the magical realm. “You know, you’re really good at sticking your head into a lot of things even when you’re busy looking for your brother.” You note dryly, making Yeji laugh while dialling Felix’s phone on the other side. “That was sarcastic, Yeji.” 

“I’m a great multitasker.” She winks before placing her phone at the center of your table then scooting her chair closer to you and Ryujin, effectively hiding the odd-looking device that projects Felix’s face almost immediately. “Hey Lix!”

“Hi Lix!” You politely greet along with Ryujin anyway, waving to the small projection of the prince on Yeji’s phone. By the faint greenery that surrounds him, you immediately assume that he’s back at home and tending to his personal garden. 

“I’m not in trouble, am I?” The younger Eastern prince jokes, greeting the three of you individually after. “What’s up? Seungmo and Sungie not with you three today?” 

“Seungmin got held back in class today for a TA offering and your brother’s on a date! Can you believe it? A lunch date with a human girl!” Yeji explains a little too excitedly, you and Ryujin immediately shushing her up. Giggling, the princess continues anyway, “Which is why we called! We just thought it’s a little weird that Jisung’s not trying to catch this red heart when it’s a clear advantage to his tally and maybe you’d know why.” 

All the while Yeji explains your purpose for calling, you slowly observe how Felix’s own expression morphs into that of genuine surprise. “What? He hasn’t taken it?!” He exclaims in response after Yeji finishes speaking. “Are you sure? That’s not very like him.” 

“Well, why do you think he hasn’t taken it, then?” You suddenly find yourself asking this time, earning you incredulous looks from your peers. Brushing them off, you simply glance over at Felix as he tries thinking of a reason himself. 

“Maybe he still can’t reject admirers for shit.” Ryujin snickers under her breath, making you elbow the girl harshly on her side. 

But surprisingly, Felix nods absentmindedly to this. “Maybe…”

“Are you seriously agreeing with that, Lix?” You frown. “I think he’s just up to no good.” 

“Hey, Ji can act weird and not be up to trouble too, you know.” Felix pouts back. “But honestly, I don’t know why he’s not thinking of taking it either, especially knowing how he’s so proud of getting to receive it alone. Maybe he likes this person, who knows?” 

The thought feels so foreign to you, Jisung genuinely liking someone, especially knowing what he did when you were much younger. But when you glance over to your friends, you also notice the same confused looks on their faces. 

“Han Jisung...liking someone? Enough to respect their feelings?” Ryujin muses out loud before eventually shaking her head. “Nope, sounds weird. Dangerous! Alien! Y/N, have you been noticing any other weird things from your housemate lately? Maybe he’s been secretly abducted by aliens!” 

“Oh stop it, Ryujin! Whatever it is my brother’s planning, I trust that he at least has an idea what he’s doing.” Felix sighs, running a hand through his blonde locks. In the background of his end, the faint voice of Changbin beckoning him over momentarily catches his attention. “If he’s being stupid again, then just let him be. If he does like this person, though, I just hope that he treads carefully while he’s at it. You know how precious witch ecures are.” 

“Oh, I know…” You murmur under your breath as you scrunch up your nose, unconsciously glancing over to Jisung and Soonyoung’s table where the two are laughing over something you can’t hear from across the room. When Changbin’s voice grows louder on Felix’s end, you then smoothly steer the topic to a close, “Anyway, sorry for bothering you at this time. Bin’s calling for you.” 

Next to you, Ryujin and Yeji agree with nods and smiles as Felix waves his free hand dismissively at this. “No, it’s okay! Just look out for my brother, yeah? I gotta go, Queen Lia just arrived for tea with me and my mom!” 

“Oh, then we’ll see you!” “Have fun at tea!” “Say hi to Lia for us!” 

Felix waves one last goodbye before ending the call. As his image disappears from Yeji’s phone, the princess is quick to pocket her phone back and turn to you with a raised brow, “So, what do you think? Even Lix finds it weird.” 

Personally, you think it’s odd. The thought that Jisung could easily be developing feelings for someone while taking your exam, to someone human no less.  You’ll probably never admit it to him but he’s been working hard in collecting hearts up to this point and you know him enough to know that he won’t let himself get distracted with something like this. “What is he planning exactly?” 

-

You’re giving Jisung that look again, through the boy’s reflection on the bus mirror no less as the two of you head to Chan’s studio where he has promised the two of you dinner. The same look you kept giving him during your welcome party just last month, probably without you knowing, rests on your tired features as you listen to music on your phone and rest your cheek against your propped up hand on the window seat you almost threw him out of the bus for. What did I do now? The boy can’t help but whine pitifully to himself as he steals another glance at your direction while scrolling through his phone. 

Jisung helplessly rakes his brain for anything that he’s done today that could’ve possibly pissed you off while pretending to look down on his phone, missing the way you shift uncomfortably in your seat as if you were going to ask a question. 

“So—” “I meant to ask—”

Jisung’s immediately closes his mouth shut when the two of you speak at the same time, eyes widening when he looks up and sees you already looking over at him directly. Simultaneously, you’re quick to look away from him and cough awkwardly, quietly mumbling out that Jisung speaks first. “Go ahead.” 

“What did I do this time?” Jisung immediately goes for it, pouting and sinking into his seat for extra emphasis. This visibly surprises you by the way your eyes widen slightly and you visibly freeze in front of him. “You’ve been glaring at me from the window since it started getting dark outside and it’s starting to get annoying but I’m too tired from today to think of everything that I did today to pinpoint where I ticked you off again.” 

Your lips curl down to a frown and you bring your propped up arm back to your side, sinking down your own seat to his level. “I wasn’t glaring at you!” 

“Yes you were—” “—No, I wasn’t!” “Yes you—”

“Okay, then, if I was glaring at you like you said, it’s because I meant to ask you something.” You huff before shyly looking away, gazing out of the window again. “W-Why haven’t you...whyhaventyoutakenthatgirlsheart?”

Now, Jisung is even more confused than ever from not understanding a word you just said. Raising a curious brow, the prince nudges you by your shoulder with his own until you look back at him again, uttering a slow, “What?!” 

You inhale slowly, as if holding your embarrassment in, before repeating, “Why haven’t you taken Soonyoung’s heart?” 

“I—really? That’s what you wanted to ask?” That’s it? So I didn’t do shit? Whew...

You nod, crossing your arms and looking away. “Well, don’t act so smug now! I’m just curious, it’s powerful and worth a lot of points, after all.”

Caught off-guard, it takes Jisung a worryingly long time to answer your question. He looks down on his phone first, with his emerald ring right next to it, before glancing over to the distant LED screen at the very front of the bus, announcing the next stop. “Just because…” He trails off with a reluctant shrug, avoiding the feeling of your curious gaze. If it were any other situation, maybe involving a lower-ranking heart like a yellow, green, or even an orange one, he would be laughing at you and teasing that you’re obsessed with his count or trying to compare it with your own. “You, of all people should know…” 

But it’s a red heart, one that’s made him a bit too flustered for him to admit to anyone, even to his own brother. “I don’t know what I’ll do with it.” He answers vaguely because of this, hearing a little ‘oh’ from your side. “I already told Soonyoung over lunch that I don’t see her like that but it’s still red. Her feelings are too sincere for me and I feel like I can’t take advantage of that, not for a competition.” 

Jisung doesn’t hear any verbal response from your side after this, not even when the LED screen ahead announces that you’re nearing your stop. When he glances over to you through the window, however, he catches a glimpse of the smallest hint of a content smile on your features. 

Only when the two of you arrive at your stop, while you’re following him down the stairs down from the bus, do you nudge him on his side once more and say, “I guess that’s sweet of you. Plus, you’re actually using your head for once.” 

Your soft smile momentarily catches him off-guard, freezing him on the sidewalk, until a passerby brushes him by his shoulder and snaps him back to reality. “Y-Ya! What’s that supposed to mean?!” 

You wave your hand dismissively at him with a laugh, running off ahead to Chan’s studio. “Last one to the studio is a lousy runner and won’t get dessert!” 

“Hey! Y/N! What’s that supposed to mean? Did you just call me stupid?!” 

-

The next day, a ‘secret admirer’ leaves a red apple, a milk box, and an unsigned heart-shaped note on your usual table as you enter Math class. Though the note has your name and its message typed and printed, a simple nonverbal spell that you cast over the gifts reveal a familiar fingerprint. 

“So, who’s it from?” Jisung asks, swiftly swiping the apple from your table and taking a huge bite. “How many points are we looking at here?” 

You scoff at his action, taking the apple for yourself and biting on the opposite side. “It’s from Soonyoung.” You answer with a mischievous smile, causing your competitor to choke. When you glance over at the girl’s table, your eyes briefly turn blue to see a pinkish heart for you. “I guess you don’t want her red heart, huh? Mind if I make a pink one from her into a red for me?” 

Jisung coughs violently, thumping his fist against his chest as he recovers. “Y-Ya! Don’t you dare!” 

three out of six months 

One thing you’ve been most looking forward to in this Crown Candidacy exam, besides seeing your cousin and friends currently staying in the human world and helping with Hyunjin’s search, is getting to see your cousin’s boyfriend again. Though the rest of your family doesn’t really approve of Minho, mostly since he’s the reason why Chan renounced his duke title in the first place and why your cousin might be permanently tied to the human world in the future, you’ve taken a liking to the guy since you first met him on a short visit 2 years ago and have been looking forward to hanging out in person once more after a long while. 

Minho makes Chan the happiest you’ve ever seen him since you were kids, cooks really well, travels the world as a performing artist, and is totally cool with the idea that his boyfriend is a wizard from another realm. Plus, he catches onto magical items really quick, having adapted quickly to using your realm’s inter-world mailing system hence how you’ve been keeping in touch up until this point. You honestly don’t see any reason to hate him, even before meeting him in person. If anything, knowing that it’s Minho that’s keeping Chan from fulfilling his royal duties makes you support your cousin’s decision even more than before. 

However, you’re already halfway done with your exam and Minho is still nowhere to be seen. He initially promised you that he’ll cook you and Jisung a meal as soon as you arrived but last-minute plans in his touring schedule with a ballet company held him back abroad, postponing this plan indefinitely and making you focus more on school and helping look for Hyunjin. 

That is until you and Jisung came home from your usual Saturday grocery errands to inhale the smell of meat and mushroom soup coming from the kitchen. 

“Is Chan cooking?” Jisung raised a brow at this, closing the door behind you and walking further inside the house. “It smells nice, though. So it’s not him?” 

You roll your eyes, biting down a laugh at this surprisingly funny quip. “That’s definitely not Chan.” You affirm anyways, excitedly walking past him to the kitchen where you find the familiar back of a person stirring a big pot of soup next to Chan who’s chopping up side dishes. “Minho!” 

Jisung follows you to the kitchen and watches from the doorframe as this said Minho turns around, opening his arms out to hug you as you quickly drop your groceries on the dining table and run towards him. Next to you two, Chan stops his own work and laughs at the sight, prying you away after a moment and reminding you, “Hey, hey, Minho’s tired from his flight!”

“Tired? Then you make him cook dinner? I don’t think so!” You giggle, clutching onto Minho like a koala while the said boy pretends to shrug you off. “I was wondering when you’re coming home! You haven’t even written since I came here, you jerk!” 

“My schedule was jam-packed until the other day but I promised some magic freaks that I’ll cook them dinner so I came home as soon as I can.” Minho laughs, hugging you back and only then catching sight of a confused Jisung. “Oh, hi there! You must be Han Jisung?” 

“Y-Yeah?” Jisung nods slowly in confusion, raising one hand holding multiple eco-bags up in a wave. He hates it when he’s not in the loop of things but more importantly, he hates it when it’s you keeping him out of the loop in particular. Who’s this guy?! “Sorry, and you are?” 

“Lee Minho! I’m keeping Chan hostage here on Earth.” Minho formally introduces himself, earning him a nudge from both you and Chan. “What? Should I curtsy? I know your family and Hyunjin’s doesn’t really require it but I don’t know about the others so—” 

Oh. At this, Jisung visibly relaxes with a chuckle and finally approaches your little group, settling his own share of the groceries down on the dining table before sitting down himself. Chan then takes this as his cue to reluctantly drag you over next to Jisung while he and Minho finish cooking. “No, no, it’s cool! We’re not at home, anyway.” 

“Okay, then, cool. You guys are okay with waiting for a little bit, right? The lamb’s not fully cooked yet.” Minho explains. “I was going to make you two a meal when your exam started but I got caught up in work so—”

“Yeah it’s fine!” You agree eagerly, taking out your groceries and organizing them on the table. “We’ll just fix up the groceries.” 

Jisung side-eyes you with an incredulous look in his eyes, something Chan definitely notices as his lips quirk up into a knowing grin before whispering something to Minho. “Why are you so chirpy all of a sudden?” He asks you, helping you take out the groceries and arrange them into their respective shelves. 

“What do you mean? I’ve been chirpy since this morning.” You scoff. “Why do you even keep track? I told you not to stare at me, weirdo.”

“Um no, you weren’t. You were complaining about me breathing next to you on the bus a while ago. ‘You’re not helping me get any hearts’ or whatever it was you were rambling about a while back.” Jisung points out with a huff. “And I don’t stare, that’s you! If anything, you’re the weirdo, always up my business!”

“Well, why wouldn’t I complain? I was at the market with you all day! You don’t know how to pick good vegetables and you kept flirting with the store clerks to try and up their orange hearts to pink ones! Then, you wore that stupid perfume again when I told you already that it smells bad! Now we’re at home and you can stay the fuck away from me.” 

“Ya, you little sh—” 

Across the kitchen, Minho giggles in amusement at hearing you and Jisung bicker live for the first time. You’ve always complained about this Jisung fellow in your correspondence and he’s never had a clear grasp as to why you’re always at this boy’s neck but now that he’s meet Jisung in the flesh and is starting to hear what you two are exactly fighting about, Minho can’t help but laugh into the mushroom soup. “So this is the troublemaker who’s been bugging our Y/N.” He ends up musing out loud. “I see why you need me home now.”

“Believe me, you should’ve seen them grow up together with the other kids. Always fighting over the smallest of things, competing on who’s better, and all that.” Chan rolls his eyes in disinterest, glancing over to you and Jisung as the latter starts chasing you around the dining area with a bundle of scallions. “What you’re seeing right now is barely the tip of the iceberg, Min.”

“Reminds you a little bit of us back then, don’t you think?” 

“Ya, and which one am I supposed to be?” 

The couple glances over their shoulders to see that you’ve now successfully snatched the scallions from Jisung with your magic and have started to hit him over the head with it. This then makes Chan squint his eyes suspiciously at Minho who only chuckles. “Babe, you and Y/N are definitely related, don’t you think?” 

“Do you also want to get hit with scallions?” 

-

Though Jisung was initially wary of Minho at the start of the evening, having only heard of him vaguely from gossip among the other royal kids prior, your cousin’s boyfriend slowly and naturally transitioned over the prince’s good graces as soon as the lamb chops and mushroom soup were served along with stories of Minho’s own adventures and questions about the magical realm. Now that he’s put a name and a face to the person that people back home simply referred to as the reason why Chan left (and who he’s admittedly been blaming as well for the sudden shift in your attitude at the royal courts), Jisung now genuinely believes that the people back at home jumped to their conclusions quickly about Minho. 

Minho’s really nice, Chan is really fond of him and you clearly support the two. In return, Minho looks out for you and Chan, you in particular as the older guy proceeds to drill Jisung shamelessly with questions on whatever it is that you’ve mentioned about him in your letters. 

Jisung didn’t even know a lot of the things Minho kept rambling on about while you tried so hard to keep his mouth shut next to him by helplessly trying to cover his mouth.

“Y/N talks about you a whoooooooole lot. Like, a minor inconvenience during their royal duties then they’re quick to talk to me about it.” Minho grins playfully, dodging your attempts at shutting him up while he eats his share of the pastry dessert. “When we first met and this candidate exam thing was first brought up, they talked about the other royals briefly but they talked about you in super great detail! Oh, and Y/N was rambling a lot about how you reacted to when they confessed to you in middle school and everything, it was so funn—” 

“Minho shut up!” 

“It was really funny!” Minho pins your wrists to the table after a while, gesturing towards Chan, sitting next to Jisung across the table, who then uses his magic to switch your places. This then effectively shuts you up as your flustered expression overcomes your face upon accidentally locking eyes with Jisung right after. “But I want to know what actually happened when you rejected Y/N at your magic school? I want the full scope of what happened just so I get both sides!”

“Y-Ya!” You protest, only to be silenced by Jisung this time who laughs as he swallows a mouthful of food. “Ugh, you’re enjoying this aren’t you?”

“Why do you still talk about that, anyway? It was a long time ago.” Jisung chuckles, propping an elbow up on the table and resting his cheek on his palm as he glances over to you with a smirk. “God, you’re in love with me, aren’t you?” 

“No, I’m no—” “So, Minho hyung, what did Y/N tell you about that?” 

-

It was in the 7th grade, on Valentine’s Day of all days even, when you confessed your crush to Han Jisung. You actually didn’t plan any of it to happen because you just thought of it as stupid, especially at the thought that almost everything Jisung used to do back then annoyed you and made you think of him as childish. 

But Hyunjin somehow slipped you an enchanted cookie on that day as a prank after you confessed at Ryujin’s party the previous weekend that you thought that Jisung was cute sometimes (”I specifically said sometimes and it was one time. Clearly, it wasn’t me who had a problem, right?” “That still doesn’t change the fact that 12-year-old you had a crush on me, Y/N.”). He told you that it was from a batch Felix made for their baking class, bluffing about its distinct strong vanilla scent as a mistake on the younger Eastern prince’s end. 

As it then turned out, however, the cookie was laced with a potion that forcefully exposed the true color that your heart reflected towards Jisung in front of the entire cafeteria while the two of you bickered over some mishap that happened in one of your shared potion classes. Being young as he was as well and feeling embarrassed of all the passersby that looked at you both, Jisung’s fight or flight response made him visibly cringe at seeing the surprisingly pink, bordering red, heart and childishly berated you for it until the potion wore off and your ecure disappeared back into the sleeves of your robes. You ran away crying while Jisung didn’t go to school for the few days that followed in embarrassment.

“You were like 12 back then, it happens.” Minho shrugs after yours and Jisung’s messy storytelling. “And for the record, Y/N, if Chan did that to me as Jisung, I would’ve been annoyed at him too. Your rants are totally valid.” 

“I’m eating my croissants in peace.” Chan complains, slapping the younger man’s arm. “Don’t drag me into this.” 

Simultaneously, Jisung glances over to you and sees a small pout rest on your features. “Well, I don’t know, it’s not really an ‘it happens’ kind of situation if you come from our world.” You point out, glaring at Jisung when you feel him staring at you. “Especially back then. My heart was looking pink and a little reddish for Jisung at the time—ew—which gave him the power to take it if he wanted to.”

Now, this is apparently new information to Minho as he then asks, “You can do that? I thought witches only have one heart so it can’t be taken away?”

“Yeah, exactly.” You nod. “Since we don’t produce the crystal hearts as infinitely as you humans do, it could only be taken if it’s pink or a higher color. It’s the natural law in our world.”

“And if that happens, the witch could become weak, controlled by the other witch who takes their heart, or killed.” Chan quips in this time. “That’s why marriage is sort of a permanent commitment back at home and witches are more encouraged to use human ecure when performing higher-level magic.” 

“That’s a bit of a stretch in our case, though! It’s not like 12-year-old me would think of killing Y/N back then.” Jisung purses his lips into a thin line at you, unamused. “You really are a bit dramatic sometimes, you know? What would I even do with your heart?”

“You were 12, Jisung. Who knows what you were thinking back then...if you were thinking at all.” You retort immediately, turning to Minho again after. “That’s why my family’s a bit wary about you, Min, no offense. With you and Chan in a relationship, he can give up his heart to you but if you don’t reciprocate it by exchanging with one of your own, he might get weak or die.” 

This then makes Jisung turn to Minho as well, curious as to what his response would be. 

Unfazed, Minho smiles and turns lovingly to his boyfriend. “Then, aren’t you lucky I’m obsessed with you, huh?” 

“Really now?” Chan chuckles, slinging his arm over Minho’s shoulder and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Then I guess I can stay here permanently, right?” 

You pretend to gag as you sip on your water, reminding the older guys that there are “children” in front of them. Jisung rolls his eyes and leans back in his chair at this scene, looking away at the tender display of affection across the table. The two of you don’t even have to check how the pair’s ecures reflect towards each other with your magic to know that they’re a matching bright red. 

When he looks over to you, he catches the briefest and fondest smile gracing your expression as you mumble about how “stupidly cute” Chan and Minho are being. Jisung knows he shouldn’t look, not in this moment when he sees you at a vulnerable state and you would slap him over the head if he teases you about it, but his eyes unconsciously turn green and peeks over at your ecure as it watches over your favourite cousin and his boyfriend. 

It’s a bright blue, a sign of deep respect and familial love for Chan and Minho. Jisung looks away immediately when you glance up at him curiously, forcing his eyes back to their natural color before he could accidentally see how your heart reflects to him. “What?” 

He gets it now. Why you’ve been so uptight in fulfilling your royal duties, snapping just a little more easily these days whenever he annoys you, and acting like a pushover to the elders who keep ordering you around back at home. You’ve been shouldering a lot of the responsibilities back home, both yours and the ones that Chan has left behind, all because you want your cousin to be happy in this world without worries. 

“Why were you looking at me?” You pout. “You didn’t check my—ya, Han Jisung!”

“I wasn’t looking at you like that! I was gonna ask you to pass me the cream puffs!”

You begrudgingly pass him the bowl of cream puffs, rolling your eyes before smiling at Minho and Chan again and changing the conversation to something else. “Anyway, Minho, you’re staying longer now, right?”  

- 

“I saw what you did at dinner, by the way. Y/N would beat you to a pulp if they knew you were looking into their heart, especially since we were just talking about it.” Chan speaks up after a moment of walking around Jisung’s room, tidying up the fallen music sheets on the ground and closing the curtains for the night. You’ve long stolen Minho from your cousin right after dinner hours ago to binge his tour videos and so he’s resorted to hanging out with Jisung, playing video games until the clock struck midnight.  

Jisung pouts as he tucks himself away in bed, turning to his side to face Chan as the older boy continues arranging his “messy” work table. “I looked at how it reflects for you and Minho, not at how it looks at me. Just that, swear.” He clarifies in between protesting over Chan’s actions (“It’s an organized mess!” “It’s a mess, Jisung.”) “It’s almost like your family’s sapphire when it looks at the two of you, bluer than how it looks when Y/N’s with the King and the High Queen. You’re more family to them than their own parents.”

This effectively freezes Chan in place for a moment, a small smile gracing the former duke’s features. “Of course I know that.” He replies, almost as an inaudible mumble from across the room. “That’s why it was so hard to leave at first.”

“Then why did you—?” 

“Because Y/N told me to.” Moving to the door and preparing to leave, Chan sees Jisung’s face and continues, “Believe me, I was even more conflicted than you’re being right now back then. We both know that my own siblings are too young to shoulder the job I’ll leave behind but Y/N told me that they’ll gladly handle it if it meant that I can be happy here. We argued about it a lot, I kept telling them that I can just juggle moving between the two realms, but you know how persuasive and stubborn Y/N can be.” 

The last comment makes Jisung chuckle. Of all people, he should know of it the best. “It’s just hard to argue with them.” He nods in agreement. “I heard they’re the one who got you this house and everything.” 

Chan nods, slowly putting one foot out of the door. “Y/N cares a lot, sometimes a little too much, that they end up sacrificing a lot and putting their own feelings last because of it. Since I went away, I’ve only ever been worried that they’ll just explode one day, actually, but I know you and the other kids keep them in check.” 

“I’d hardly call Y/N relaxed with me.” Jisung pouts, fiddling with his fingers nervously as he confesses this shyly. “I think they just find me annoying…” 

“Oh you definitely annoy each other but that’s just how you two are together. It’s all in good fun and that’s good, especially now that you’re going to take much more responsibilities once you go back home.” Chan notes with a shrug, briefly glancing over his shoulder as you and Minho arrive on the second floor. “Just be a little gentler with them. Night, Sung.” 

four out of six months

You know better than to expect nothing less from Lee Chaeryoung, one of the best investigators from your realm, as she helped Yeji lead Hyunjin’s search party. When you initially expected that she would finish scouting Incheon before the end of the semester, she came back with the most solid lead that anyone’s picked up since the start of the search party around Seoul with 2 months left on your time in the human world. 

Apparently, from the scouring she’s done beyond the initial parameters of the search, a few magic and non-magic folk living around the beach area have seen the Southern kingdom’s prince at a party on the night he disappeared, interacting with a strange group of people they only described by their unusually white hairs, matching snake tattoos, and icy blue eyes. What was even more interesting is that these people were still around the area when Chaeryoung visited but without any sign of Hyunjin. With this, she could only confirm that they’re also from the magical realm.

“They could only be Northwestern ogre witches, I’m sure of it.” Chan commented after hearing Chaeryoung’s report over dinner with everyone present. When Minho then asked about it, your cousin didn’t hesitate to explain, “A group of witches back home who were initially banished to the wastelands because they practiced darker arts and only collected black ecures. Lately, a lot of them have been turning up here and doing gods-know-what.” 

“But if they only want the artifact that Hyunjin recovered, why would they still keep him?” You ask, crossing your arms over the dining table as Chaeryoung showed you photos of the location she ascouted on her phone. “Hyunjin’s high-profile too, yes, but unless they want him to collect colored ecures for them, there’s no other reason to keep him captive when there are other magic folk there. Why him?” 

“Unless they have something bigger up their sleeves.” Seungmin notes with a frown, closing Chaeryoung’s phone as he grows more and more upset from across the table. When you and Jisung glance over to him curiously, he then meets your eyes and adds, “Maybe we shouldn’t let you two go with us on this.” 

“What?! Why?” Jisung is the first to instinctively speak up against this, sitting up taller in his seat. You echo the same question, albeit a little quieter when you see Chan nodding worriedly on your side. 

“I have a feeling that they might be after the two of you too from this.” Seungmin explains once Jisung calmed down a bit from his sudden outburst. “Like Y/N said, keeping Hyunjin to collect colored ecures against his will doesn’t seem like a good enough reason, at least not this long.”

“It’s timed perfectly, too, that they caught Hyunjin right before the candidacy exam.” Yeji quips in, belatedly nodding in agreement to Seungmin’s suggestion. “They might be luring you two specifically by using my brother.” 

“But that’s just a hunch for now! We don’t know th—” 

Chan’s entire disposition in a flash, slamming his hand down on the table a little too loudly and effectively shutting everyone up around the table including Minho. “That’s exactly why we can’t risk it.” He counters firmly and you know, just by the tone of your cousin’s voice, that he already has the final word. “Remember, you and Y/N are here first and foremost because you’re taking your exam. Keeping you on wraps with this search is formalities, at most. Anyway, there’s enough of us here who can look for Hyunjin. You two just stay put until we can sort this out and ensure that this problem stops interfering with the exam any further.”

When you peek over to your right to glance at Jisung’s reaction two seats away, you see him glancing back at you from the corner of his eyes before sighing in defeat. “And if they want our group separated?” 

“The house’s enchanted with protective spells. Minho and Ryujin will also stay and watch over you two while we extract Hyunjin over the weekend.” Chan notes, continuing before Jisung could complain further. “That’s final, Ji. We’ll take over from here.” 

“Don’t fret too much, Sung.” Seungmin adds comfortingly. “Anyway, if we find Hyunjin, we’ll all stay here for a few days before going back home.” 

In response, you hear Jisung slam his back on his seat hard before huffing childishly, glancing over to you as he opens his mouth. Knowing that he’ll throw a fit, you immediately shake your head, forbidding him from doing so. “Fine...” He murmurs under his breath with a sigh, knowing better than to start an argument with one of his best friends at this time. “Just—just bring Hyunjin back quickly.” 

Somehow, even when you understand where Chan’s coming from, you also feel somewhat bad for Jisung. You want to see Hyunjin too but your circumstances aren’t exactly favourable to let you be of much help. 

- 

As much as Jisung used to hate how Chan coddled you, he hates it even more now that the same behavior is directed towards him, especially in situations like this when he wants to actively help in Hyunjin’s search. The circumstances couldn’t have been more unfavorable to him now: the group finding a lead but at a time when he’s participating in an exam that has him more at risk of being targeted by creatures from the magical realm that have strayed to this world. 

On top of this, he hates how he can clearly see that you want to see Hyunjin just as much as he and everyone else does but you’re quicker to comply the moment Chan, and eventually even Yeji, put the two of you on house arrest for the weekend while the rest of the group goes to Incheon. It frustrates him to no end that you keep quietly complying to everyone else when you clearly want to do something else. And, as a result, you end up channeling your energy aggressively elsewhere much like today as you spend most of your Sunday cleaning and redecorating around the expansive house with Minho. 

“Can’t you two like, tone it down a bit?” Jisung complains for the third time this afternoon as he plays with the music software on Chan’s laptop, lifting his feet off of the coffee table in the living room when Minho passes by with a vacuum before pushing a levitating plant that hovers too close for comfort to his face. Somewhere, Ryujin has retreated outside to the garden in order to tend to more plants. “The house’s going to get thrashed after a while anyway.” 

“And why can’t you help clean?” You ask back in retort, fluffing up the pillows next to him as you occasionally glance over your shoulder to make sure that the levitating objects around the room aren’t falling over. “If you’re just going to complain while we’re cleaning here, you can just go up to your room since we’re done upstairs, anyway.” 

Jisung pouts, crawling over to the other side of the sofa anyway when you gesture for him to move. “The sunlight’s better here at this time.” He points to the glass windows. “Just finish up quickly already.” 

“If you want to get some sun, you can help Ryujin outside.” You poke back, moving over to the sofa across the coffee table. As you move, the hovering plant pots slowly move to where you want to relocate them to, one moving next to the sofa almost hitting Jisung in the face once more with its leaves. “Make yourself useful, Jisung.” 

The witch in question scoffs, closing Chan’s laptop and finally planting his feet back on the floor to a stand. Jisung also hates that tone you use when you order him around because it always makes him do whatever you ask without fail. “Fine, I’m going outside.” He grumbles, trudging to the direction of the back door leading outside and making sure to close the door with a loud thud. 

Out in the gardens, Ryujin is busy reviving dried up leaves and flowers while a few watering cans go around to water the trees and bushes. Upon seeing Jisung walking down the mini stairs with a pout and furrowed brows, the younger witch can’t help but laugh, “Y/N banished you outside?” 

“I’m supposed to help you but you don’t even look like you need help at all.” The prince continues to grumble, setting himself down on a foldable chair and crossing his bare arms over his chest. “If I do help, I might actually kill the plants. You already know how I’m terrible I am at healing magic.” 

Ryujin acknowledges with a hum, turning her attention back to Chan’s mini garden of camellias. “Just sunbathe, look around or whatever, I can handle this.” She assures with a smile. “I won’t tell Y/N too, don’t worry.” 

“I think I’ll take you up on that looking around thing later.” Jisung sighs, sinking into his seat and closing his eyes. “I’ll nap for now.” 

- 

“He just does whatever you say, huh?” Minho points out to you as soon as you finish cleaning the living room, tiredly taking up the empty space next to you on the couch with two pillows hugged close to his chest. When you open your mouth to protest, “I know I said it’s amusing when you two bicker over stupid things but it’s actually really nice and quiet when you two reach compromise like this. So peaceful.” 

“He just knows when to not mess with me. Don’t exaggerate it.” You scoff at this, pushing Minho away from you as you lift your legs up to the coffee table. “He knows that I feel the need to be busy when I’m on edge like this but he was in the way. The least he could do is either be useful around the house too or just stay out of my sight for a while.” 

“Don’t be too worried, I’m sure they’re all being careful and getting to Hyunjin soon.” Minho assures you with a small smile, waving his human world phone in front of you as it displays a flurry of messages from Chan. “If it makes you feel better, your cousin’s been asking me about you and Jisung as much as he’s been updating me of what’s happening.”

You frown at this, making Minho chuckle. “He’s been talking to you but not to me? I’m his cousin!” 

“He knows you’re redecorating his house in 50 different styles while you wait for him so he just asks about you through me. Don’t get it twisted, Y/N.” The older boy continues laughing, carefully shoving a pillow away from his face when you levitate it closer to him. “Anyway, they said that they’ve confirmed that the ogres are still staying at the beach resort so they’re planning to get to them tonight and confirm if they really took Hyunjin.”

Your expression visibly shifts more positively, eyes widening and mouth hanging agape. “Really?” 

“If things go smoothly, everyone, including Hyunjin, would be home really soon. Until then, Chan has asked me to make sure that you and Jisung don’t kill each other or go outside without permission.” 

You shove Minho once more at the last statement, mustering up a laugh this time. “Hey, we’re not that childish.” You point out with a pout before another thought crosses your mind. “Oh, right, I can tell Jisung, right? I mean, it’s just an update anyway.” 

“Yeah, go ahead.” Minho nods, poking you on your side to get you to stand up. “It’s also getting dark out, call Ryujin in too so we can reheat some leftovers for dinner.” 

You scoff at the thought of leftovers for dinner, standing up anyway and heading outside where the sun has indeed set on the horizon. As you walk down the steps leading down to the backyard, you easily spot Ryujin by the back gate as she flirts with one of your neighbors who holds an orange heart up her sleeve but it takes you a moment to see Jisung fast asleep under one of the outdoor umbrellas. 

“Ryujin!” You call for your friend, biting down your lip when the girl she’s been flirting with awkwardly looks away and your friend in question consequently glares at you for interrupting her. “Where’s Jisung?” 

“There.” Ryujin quickly points towards the outdoor umbrellas on the far corner of the backyard before turning her gaze back on your neighbor whose heart immediately turns a shy pink at this. 

You roll your eyes at this with a chuckle before heading over to Jisung, finding him snoring lightly and snuggling into a pillow despite the cold evening breeze. He doesn’t budge an inch when you call his name or poke his side, stirring only when you slap his cheek gently awake by instinctively swatting your hand away and mumbling a string of curses for you to go away. “What?!” 

“It’s starting to get cold out here. Come on, we’re eating dinner in a while.” You respond, taking the pillow from him and grabbing him by the arm to help him stand up. When he doesn’t budge, you resort to adjusting his hoodie at least so he doesn’t freeze himself to death. “Minho also said that Chan’s been texting him. Everyone’s okay so far and they’ll interrogate the ogres tonight, maybe even get Hyunjin if they really took him.” 

Jisung finally springs awake at this, jumping to a stand in surprise. “What? Really? Is there—well, is there anything else?” He asks quickly, stumbling over his words in shock while you drag him back inside. 

Ryujin follows along after a while, running to the kitchen to check what you’re having for dinner. You and Jisung walk a little slower as he rubs his eyes from his surprisingly long nap next to you, somehow not making a fuss this time about your linked arms. 

“Sadly, that’s only what I got from Minho a while back so I guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning for anything new.” You answer his previous question as you head to the kitchen where Ryujin and Minho reheat leftovers and make some new side dishes. When you see Jisung’s ears perk up slightly at your words, you quickly add, “Don’t try staying up late just for an update. You should get some more sleep after dinner so you don’t look like a ghost when we see Hyunjin again.” 

He scoffs at this, sitting down on the dining table and dragging you along with him on the adjacent seat. “How can I sleep if I know that we’re so close to seeing Hyunjin again after months? I’ll stay up late if I want to!”

“And I’ll kill you two if you stay up all night then get all cranky tomorrow when you have to get to class.” Minho cuts you off before you could even speak, setting the dishes down on the table. “Okay, eat up!” 

“That was him, not me.” You shrug at Jisung’s semi-permanent pout with a chuckle, receiving a plate and utensils before thanking Minho for the food. “Eat up, Ji.” 

You don’t even have to glance back over to his direction to know that he has his usual determined look plastered over his face again. Because of the new update on Hyunjin’s situation, he’s suddenly more alert now that he might actually take you up on staying awake the entire night. 

-

“Jisung, are you awake?” 

Jisung doesn’t really expect you to hold true to your word and check up on him at 3 AM when Ryujin and Minho have both gone to sleep. You suddenly knock on his door while he’s in the middle of a song he’s been trying to write on his guitar lately, startling the poor boy who almost falls off of the window and causes a big fuss about it. 

“Are you okay in there?” You ask worriedly from outside after knocking for the 4th time, the doorknob clicking gently after. When only shuffles reach your ear on the other side, you immediately add, “Hey, I’m coming in!” 

Jisung doesn’t even have time to protest, catching a glimpse of you going in and closing the door as a tray of mugs trails behind you. Quickly hiding the guitar by the curtains, he clumsily scrambles up to a stand and retrieves the tray from the air, “H-Hi! You made...tea?” 

“Those two mugs are for me.” You pretend to swat his hand away jokingly, joining him on the small balcony on the other side of his window. Spotting his guitar hidden haphazardly on the side, you’re quick to pick it up and slide it over your lap while Jisung’s occupied with the tea, strumming a few chords. Only then, do you also notice his music sheets strewn across the balcony, all labelled with the word ‘sunshine.’ “I didn’t know you brought this along. It still plays good, I suppose, but do you still play badly?” 

Jisung scowls at you as he sets the tray down next to his notebook, sitting down criss cross once more before swiftly snatching the guitar from your hands. “I play better than you, at least.” Ignoring your protests, he then strums a few chords of his own and continues, “Why are you still awake, anyway? Don’t you have a 9 AM later?” 

When he turns to you, he sees you taking a sip of your tea first before answering, “I feel like ditching,” a statement he’s definitely never heard from you before by the way his eyes widen in surprise. “Don’t act so surprised! Uni’s just a cover and a way to get hearts while we’re here in the human world, anyway. Since everyone could be here later and there’s a possibility that we’ll see Hyunjin again with them, I wouldn’t want to miss a second of him back.” 

“Don’t tell me, am I rubbing off on you?” Jisung snickers playfully. Deep inside, however, he’s undoubtedly a little impressed. After all, it’s been a while since he’s seen you so carefree outside of royal duties. “This is bad. We’re still competing, you know!”

“Tch, don’t push it. My current count’s quite high so I’m not that worried.” You shake your head in disbelief, leaning back against the windowsill and gazing ahead to the brightly-lit city. “It’s just that it’s been 5 months since Hyunjin’s gone missing and Yeji started combing every inch of Seoul, only to find a lead out in Incheon. I want to see him as much as you do.” 

Jisung nods slowly in agreement, picking up the second mug of tea and taking a sip. It’s chocolate matcha, the flavour you always craved on elementary school field trips back in the magical realm whenever you missed home or so Felix once said. “It’s been that long, huh? And we’ve been here taking our exam for 4 months now.” He muses out loud between sips of tea, warming him up in an instant against the unusually cold night. “Time flies a little weirder when you’re on the other side of the moon, don’t you think?” 

“I think you’ve just been having too much fun flirting with humans.” You point out, gesturing over to his emerald ring. Over the months, you’ve noticed that the vessels grow warmer every time you reach a thousand points which is roughly every 100 hearts or so. In the rare moments these days that Jisung’s ring has accidentally brushed against your skin, usually at the bus or when passing dishes along, the stone feels intimidatingly hot and almost burning. “How much do you have already?” 

“Enough to win against you.” He teases playfully as he hums along to his song, making you scoff. “I mean, it’s been fun. Gaining a lot of ecure here has made my magic feel more powerful but, still, I can’t help but think sometimes that this whole exam would’ve been fun if the 4 of us were complete.” 

You take another sip of your tea, listening along to Jisung’s humming. “If Hyunjin didn’t disappear beforehand and scared off Lia and her parents from letting her compete...yeah, I guess it would’ve been much more fun if we’re all competing together and the exam duration was 1 year like normal.” Thinking about it more, you end up chuckling at imagining how this whole exam could’ve gone differently. “But, at the same time, it’s been fun competing with you so far.” 

“Going soft on me?” He raises a brow with a smirk. “I know we’ve been stuck to each other like glue for the past months but you should look out for that heart of yours, it might turn pink for me again.”

“I mean you’ve put up a fight so far. It’s a professional compliment, don’t exaggerate it.” You roll your eyes with a slight snicker, making him laugh. You purposely ignore his last comment, though, knowing that he wouldn’t really look into your feelings for him, anything but that. “Maybe you’re the one who’s going soft on me. Seungmin told me about the purple hearts.” 

“He what?!” Jisung exclaims, his smug expression instantly morphing into panic as he almost throws his guitar off of the balcony. “Wait, I can explain!” 

You shake your head and wave your hand dismissively. “No, you don’t have to! I understand.” You assure with a laugh, placing your hand on his nearest shoulder and making him sit back down when he wobbles over the messy and narrow space. “Though, yeah, I probably would’ve yelled at you if Seungmin told me any earlier but it’s all said and done now, anyway. I appreciate it, actually.” 

“A lot of guys were being creeps to you so I thought...I got protective, okay? Ryujin and Yeji were getting stares too so even Seungmin would do the same thing to protect them.” Jisung pouts. “I know we’re in a competition and we’re supposed to rake up a bunch of hearts but your dignity’s much more important than some stupid crown...” 

“I know, and I also know that you would’ve done it for Lia if she were here.” You nod understandingly, mustering up a small appreciative smile. Jisung can be sweet if he wants to, you conclude internally. “Ah, seriously, just imagine if there was 4 of us competing. This would’ve been much more fun and less stressful. You would’ve gotten your ass handed to you when you wanted to race to the moon.” 

“Tch, Hyunjin would’ve taken all of the red ecures for himself.” Jisung adds, sharing in your quiet laughs now that the conversation’s shifted once more. “Much like how he charms everyone back home. He might even win, like he always does in every challenge the elders give us. He’s just the favourite!” 

“I can’t wait for him to come home safely. He’s been gone for too long.” You sigh against your tea, tiredly adjusting to the uncomfortable space of the window. Seeing this from the corner of his eyes, Jisung doesn’t hesitate to pass you a pillow and nearby blankets this time which you’re more than grateful for. “I can’t wait for all of this to be over and go home, just visit again when I feel like it.” 

“Me too. I can’t wait to see him.” Jisung sighs, peering down onto the balcony as he adjusts his guitar on his lap. “And I can’t wait to go home, too.” 

And just then, the car that Chan used to drive everyone over to Incheon materializes at the front porch, spewing out Chan, your friends, and Hyunjin who’s supported by Seungmin and Yeji.

five out of six months 

Hyunjin sports distinctly black cuts and gashes across his arms and legs when you greet the group in front of the house, similar to the ones Chan and Changbin also sported one time when the two also had an encounter with dark magic. Limping on his right leg and supported by his arms, Yeji and Seungmin used their magic to lift him over to the nearest sofa once they’ve reached the other side of Chan’s protective spell from the front door while the rest of the group crash into the vast expanse of the living room. 

“I tried healing him as much as I can so it’s easier for you and Ryujin.” Seungmin huffs, tiredly sitting down on the ground by the coffee table. “He’s mostly fine, just exposed to a lot of dark magic.” 

“And you guys? Are you okay? Is anyone else hurt?” You ask worriedly, darting your eyes over to Chan, Yeji, and Chaeryoung who all individually affirm to you that they’re not nursing any big injuries. “What happened?” 

At that moment, Jisung arrives in the living room with a half-sleepy Minho and a frantically running Ryujin who immediately makes a beeline to Hyunjin and Yeji. Standing next to you, he echoes the exact same question to Seungmin. “What happened? Is Hyunjin going to be okay?” 

You kneel down in front of Hyunjin, right next to Ryujin, and examine the cuts and gashes. Meanwhile, Jisung sits next to Seungmin while Minho runs over to Chan. “Turns out, they’ve been keeping Hyunjin to try and get him to activate the artifact.” Seungmin answers Jisung’s question after a moment, taking out the stolen compass that Hyunjin was supposed to retrieve from this world. “Then they heard that you and Jisung were going to proceed with the exam. So they tried using him as bait as well but the protective spells the elders casted on you two made it hard for them to find you even when they planned to separate our group.” 

“We got there before they could manipulate my brother into it with dark magic.” Yeji continues tiredly in between casting her own spells, making her smaller wounds and a sprained ankle disappear. “They were quite hostile but we managed. It’s just that Hyunjin still hasn’t woken up since we took him.” 

“Then aren’t you glad we stayed at home, Ji?” You mumbled under your breath as you and Ryujin casted spells to identify the magic needed to heal the half-conscious Hyunjin’s injuries. “Hyunjin’s probably not waking up because of exposure. We’ll have to determine just how much dark magic those witches used.” 

Behind you, Jisung grumbles stubbornly at your comment. “So, is Hyunjin okay? What’s the diagnosis?”

Hovering your hand over Hyunjin’s chest, his heart suddenly reflects a horrifying black over your magic and making yours and Ryujin’s eyes widen. “Oh no…” 

“What?” Suddenly, Jisung’s next to you and peering over Hyunjin’s ecure. “What the hell? Why is his heart black?” 

Ryujin then places her hands over Hyunjin’s forehead, going through his fresher memories as her eyes turn a bright blue. “He’s...it’s an ancient spell, a really powerful one.” She eventually concludes, turning to Chan after. “Chan, do you think you can take a look at this?” 

Across the room, Chan stands up with Minho’s help, having just treated a healing cut on his leg, and sits on Ryujin’s other side to briefly access the same memories. “The three of us can do it,” He gestures to you and Ryujin with pursed lips. “But it’ll take hours and a whole lot of ecure. We’ll need to purify his heart with an equally powerful spell.” 

From the corner of your eye, you see Jisung immediately turn to you in worry, as if he already knows what you’re going to say. “Y/N, don’t—”

But you’re already reaching for your locket, forcing the stone to reveal its contents. “I can give up mine. It’ll save you both your energies and time.” You assure, tuning out Jisung’s protests.

“A-Are you sure?” Ryujin asks worriedly, echoing Jisung’s concerns. Next to her, Chan shakes his head at you in equal concern. “Y/N, these are your ecures for the candidacy exam, you can’t just—not right now when you’re almost do—”

“That’s not important right now. What’s important is that we save Hyunjin.” You nod without any hesitation. “Anyway, I have enough for both purifying Hyunjin’s heart and healing his wounds. It’s fine.” 

You then take out more hearts from your locket, the clumped crystals of oranges, greens, pinks, and reds hovering above Hyunjin as he continues lulling in and out of consciousness and his body tries rejecting the prior spells Yeji casted to help him heal. Before you could fully empty out the vessel, however, Jisung’s hand with his emerald ring flies over yours to stop you. “Wait!” He exclaims, startling you, Ryujin, and Chan. “I’ll give up some of mine too. Don’t empty yours out.”

“Ji—” 

“—Y/N.” He snaps frustratingly, raising his voice and confusing you further. “Please, let me help! I don’t want you to empty your count, I’m not letting you.” 

This seems to effectively catch you off-guard. Jisung then takes this as an opportunity to stop you, not letting your hand go while he summons his own collected hearts out from his ring and firmly making sure that you don’t argue with him further until Chan has reluctantly made sure that you have enough ecures to convert into magic. Even then, he doesn’t let you go by your hand and instead moves his over to your free hand while Chan instructs you and Ryujin on how to purify a black heart. 

“J-Jisung.” You call for him once your initial annoyance of him stopping you has died down, eyes widening when he glances back at you with worry. “I need my two hands.” 

“Oh, shit. Sorry.” He lets go of your hand immediately, keeping his hands down on his lap before leaving the three of you to check on Seungmin, Yeji, and Chaeryoung. “Sorry…”

You cough out awkwardly as he leaves, glaring at Ryujin when she musters up a teasing smile despite your current predicament. 

“He’s right, you know.” Chan comments after a while, instructing you the following spells while the dark color of Hyunjin’s ecure fades to a glowing white. 

“Don’t start.” When you send a glare over your own cousin’s way, however, he quickly drops the subject with a shrug. 

Purifying a darkened heart, as it turns out, lasts until the very break of dawn as the three of you exhaust the ecures you and Jisung have put out to heal Hyunjin. As time ticks by agonizingly slow for Hyunjin who could only lay back on the sofa and absorb all of your energies to heal himself, Minho eventually gets everyone to clear the living room and sleep in the much more comfortable guest rooms after making sure that no one is greatly injured before hurling himself to the kitchen and make breakfast. 

But you see Jisung stay from the corner of your eye, taking up space on your opposite side to steal glances at you or comfort Hyunjin. From the way his eyebrows furrow over his sleepy eyes and how he refuses to leave even when you awkwardly tell him off, you could tell that he too can’t make out your previous exchange. 

“—Y/N. Please, let me help! I don’t want you to empty your count, I’m not letting you.” You know that he acted the way he did because it was Hyunjin that you were trying to save, one of his best friends. But the way he sounded so angry, the way he snapped at you in the spur of the moment, a small part of your thoughts wants to make you think that he had other reasons for doing what he did. 

“Hyunjin? How are you feeling?” Chan asks after 2 hours of nonstop spellcasting, halting you and Ryujin in your steps after. “Can you sit up?” 

Your eyes turn blue at the same time you see Jisung’s turn green, surveying Hyunjin’s heart for any hints of leftover dark magic. Meanwhile, Hyunjin struggles to sit up with Jisung’s help, tiredly groaning under his breath. “Much b-better.” He manages to stumble out after a moment, mustering up a small smile despite the dizzying and overwhelming fel. “Thanks, you guys.” 

You sigh in relief, resting your back against the coffee table behind you before nodding. “Finally…” 

“Come on, Hyunnie, I’ll move you upstairs.” Chan volunteers, standing up from his position on the floor and briefly stretching his arms out. Turning to you, Ryujin, and Jisung, he then adds, “You guys get some rest too. Just skip for today and tomorrow. I’ll write to everyone back home.” 

You don’t even argue against your cousin this time, finding yourself nodding when he gives you the same look he always does whenever you intend on shouldering some work for him. Standing up from the floor, you, Ryujin, and Jisung then head upstairs in silence. 

The entire walk, you feel Jisung stealing glances over to you but you decide to not act on it, shaking your head when he suddenly opens his mouth to speak before the two of you could go on your separate ways. 

“Y/N, wait—” “Goodnight, Jisung.” 

-

Growing up, Jisung has always relied on two people in helping him through the crisis of accidentally going too far with you: Chan and Felix. Chan, obviously, because he’s your cousin and the only other friend he has who harbors an inkling of a braincell and Felix because he’s everyone’s favourite and he knows the kinds of snacks that get on your good graces. These moments when he’s actually pushed your buttons too far are rare (as much as the two of you like to express your annoyance over each other, you’ve actually come to understand that this is just your dynamic growing up), but Jisung personally keeps a list of steps to do in situations like this anyway. Now more than ever, it seems, because suddenly, it feels weird and awkward being around each other—and not the usual kind. 

But as fate would have it, Chan is busy working out how to safely get Hyunjin home and explaining to the elders what happened. If normally Jisung would be asking Chan first about you and what he could say when he confronts you, this time he’s asking all of them to his twin brother who’s more than willing to listen (after listening to Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryoung gossip everything to him prior, of course).

“Why did you do that anyway?” Felix points out on the other side of the call, snuggling into a pillow as night falls on both realms. It’s been 3 days since Hyunjin returned and both the house and the officials back at home have been busy arranging his return with Yeji, Seungmin, Ryujin, and Chaeryoung; only allowing for the twins to talk in the late hours of the night. “And you said it angrily too from what Ryujin told me. No offense, bro, I’d feel a little weird if you raised your voice at me, too, then offered up half of your collection on their behalf.” 

Jisung groans in frustration, running his hand through his hair as he shuffles uncomfortably around his bed sheets. “I don’t know, it’s just...I was thinking of a lot of things.” 

“Like what?” 

“This candidacy exam, what Chan told me beforehand, Hyunjin, Y/N…” The older twin purses his lips, taking his eyes away from Felix to gaze down at his hands. The emerald ring is much cooler now after losing ecure but somehow, it feels heavy on Jisung’s ring finger. “I thought that it’d be unfair if they lose all of their ecure at this point in the race, trying to save Hyunjin, then the elders might not be too pleased about it when we return. But most importantly, I thought about what Chan told me when Minho first arrived, about how Y/N’s always jumping at every opportunity to help other people without thinking too much of themself. I was right there with my own vessel of hearts for them to use and if I just let them empty out theirs, then I’d be letting them get the short end of the stick in the long run again.” 

Felix nods along understandingly at his brother’s words, all the while trying to hide a smile behind his hand. So Yeji was right! “So why did you call me, then? You seem to have your reasons sorted out, just tell Y/N what you told me.” He shrugs after Jisung’s extensive speech, giggling at the dramatic reaction that he receives from his brother after. “I know you guys aren’t those emotional kinds of people to each other but you said so yourself that Y/N’s been quieter these days and that it’s been eating at your conscience. I say you just go for it and tell them how you feel.” 

“I’m not you, Lix. Y/N’s going to laugh at me.” Jisung pouts helplessly. “I can’t just tell them that.” 

“You’re so dramatic! It just implies that you care about Y/N like a decent human being. Anyone in your situation who knows what you know about them would’ve been considerate enough to do the same thing.” Felix argues back, rubbing his temples at how the older boy’s acting. “Don’t get it twisted, brother...unless you want it to, of course.” 

“Ya, and what’s that supposed to mean?!” 

“Figure it out yourself.” Felix sticks his tongue out teasingly before laughing and waving a dismissive hand. “Anyway, Yeji told me that Y/N’s been craving blueberry pancakes lately. You can just make them right now and give it tomorrow so you don’t have to go out.” 

“If anything, I want to leave the house right now and never come back.” Jisung grumbles back in frustration before sighing in defeat. “For the first time, I can’t believe you’re no help at all, Lix. I’m hanging up.” 

“Tch, you just can’t handle the truth, Sung. Anyway, I have to go too, mom and dad are asking me to come to this thing. I’ll update you on it later! Love you! Bye!” Felix then waves to the call one last time before hanging up, leaving Jisung in the uncomfortable silence of his room. 

Jisung sighs against the heavy blankets, throwing his phone to the other side of the mattress before ultimately deciding on standing up and heading to your room across the hall. Fuck it, he thinks to himself, it’s not like I like them or anything like that! Nothing to worry about! Let’s not get it twisted. 

When he opens the door, however, the first person he unexpectedly sees outside the hallways is you just as you close the door behind your own room. “Y/N!” He ends up blurting out loud in the moment, catching your attention with wide eyes. Not knowing what else to say, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Are you going to Hyunjin’s room?” 

You furrow your brows in confusion, shaking your head slowly. “No, I’m going to the kitchen?” 

“O-Oh.” He runs his hand through his hair once more in nervousness, nodding along and hiding the heat rising up his neck in embarrassment. “Well, I’m going there too. Mind if I join you?” 

You simply nod in response, walking down the end of the hallway with him in relative silence. He hasn’t seen you much since Hyunjin’s arrived either since you spent most of your time checking your mutual friend for his condition and brewing tea. The dramatic gears in Jisung’s head would like to think that it’s just pure convenience. 

“So, what did you and Felix talk about?” “How’s Hyunjin?” 

Jisung glances over to you on his right just as you mirror his actions, the gesture somehow making him flustered this time around as he’s quick to look away. “S-Sorry. Um, we just—talked about how things are back home.” He shrugs in his best feigned nonchalance, mentally cringing at how visibly awkward he looks as the two of you go down the stairs anyway. Not that it’s a lie, anyway, he and Felix did talk about other topics besides you. “Everything’s pretty busy back home since the elders are talking about how Hyunjin coming back is going to affect the exam now.” 

“Oh.” You nod along almost absentmindedly. “That’s...yeah, I’ve heard about it too. It’s pretty hectic on my mom’s end right now.” 

“So...how’s Hyunjin?” Jisung chimes in almost a little too quickly, feeling even more awkward that he accidentally brought up your candidacy exam again. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

You purposely pretend to not notice anyway, answering his questions carefully as you approach a curve into the spiral staircase. “He’s regaining his strength at least. Still on bedrest but he should be okay by the weekend when Changbin fetches him and the others.” The two of you then pass through the living room to get to the kitchen, finding Minho and Chan cuddled up on one of the sofas as they watch a movie on the television. 

The kitchen, on the other hand, is deserted when you turn on the lights which Jisung internally thanks every guest in the house for before taking a deep breath. “About what I said back then, by the way…” He starts carefully, catching your attention before you could even detach yourself from him to open the nearby fridge. You freeze a few steps ahead of him, making the poor boy gulp nervously. “Um, I’m sorry that I raised my voice at you. I shouldn’t have done that, even when I was stressing out.” 

Much like when he actually did raise his voice, you momentarily freeze in your spot before eventually shaking your head reassuringly and moving over to the fridge. “It’s alright, you don’t need to apologize for that.” You add with a small smile, taking out the fruit bowl from the fridge. “Is that why you’ve been quiet these past days? It’s okay, really.” 

“I haven’t been—it’s you who’s—” Jisung stops himself halfway before he could even start another argument, biting down his lip before shaking his head. Walking over to the stove area, he then opens a few cabinets in search of the pancake mix while you shuffle around the area behind him. “A little, yeah. It’s just that it looked like it bothered you so it bothered me too.”

When Jisung then glances over his shoulder, he sees you approaching with the fruit bowl hugged close to your chest. “I thought about it a few times. After that, I just thought that you were bothered so I couldn’t talk to you after.” You explain slowly, voice growing louder as you set the bowl next to him. In the dim lights of the kitchen, he suddenly can’t tell if you’re lying or not. “But it’s all good now. Are you making pancakes?” 

Jisung nods sheepishly, finally finding the pancake mix in the deeper crevices of the cabinet and taking it out with a pan and spatula from the adjacent cabinet. “No, but you have to know that—that—”

“Hm? What?” You raise your brows curiously, taking the pan and spatula for him before proceeding to the stove and twisting the knobs to preheat. 

“You’re not letting me finish.” Jisung points out with a feigned disapproving situation while quickly preparing the pancake mix, one which you somehow find amusing enough to laugh at. “Come on, don’t laugh, my twin made me say a bunch of things then coerced me into telling you so I’d—”

“Yeah, I know.” 

“—So, I appreciate it if you’d lis—wait, you know?!” His feigned expression then turns into one of surprise once more as you nod and break into giggles. “W-What?!” 

“You were being really loud, Hyunjin was even complaining to me from the next room by phone that he can’t sleep because of you.” You chuckle in amusement, nudging him by the arm when you notice that he’s slowed down his mixing. “He said something about you complaining to Felix about something or whatever. I don’t know, I was on a call with Lia.” 

“Then why did you—? So, you just came out here for pancakes?!” 

“No! I wanted to hear what you were going to say! I didn’t hear any word besides the pancakes, I swear...well, not clearly at least.” 

By now, all of the awkwardness has immediately dissipated as Jisung stops mixing the pancake mix altogether to turn to you and cross his arms. “You’re unbelievable.” He pretends to roll his eyes and scoff at you, earning him a glare.  You then swipe the pancake mix from his hands, pouring them into the pan in big circles. “And you still have the audacity to make me do this pancake mix.” 

“Well, you’re already mixing it so might as well.” You shrug with a knowing smile before nudging him again by the handle of the spatula. “Now, go on, what were you going to say?” 

Jisung shoots you one last incredulous look but you effectively counter it by encouraging him, promising that you “won’t laugh.” “Ah, well...I just wanted to say that you shouldn’t go all out wasting all of your collected hearts at this point, not when we’re almost done with the exam.” He blurts out, gazing down and fiddling with the fruit bowl while you take spoonfuls of blueberries from it to mix with the pancakes. “I want to win but it won’t be fun if your tally suddenly drops, right?” 

When he looks up, you’re raising your brow at his last comment as you make more pancakes. “I mean, I know you want to do what’s best for everyone but you have to look out for yourself too. Geez.” With a sigh, he then corrects which makes you nod in agreement. “A-And I guess lean on us too. We’re your family and friends, don’t shoulder all of the work for us all the time.” 

“I doubt I can lean on you.” You tease, flipping through your second batch of pancakes to cook. When Jisung sends a glare your way, you simply stick your tongue out at him. “Kidding.”  

“I get all emotional and all you say is that you doubt you can lean on me. Unbelievable…” Jisung scoffs, stuffing his mouth with more blueberries in feigned annoyance. 

The blueberry-filled pancakes are all eventually set on a plate you find on your opposite side, stacked up as a tall tower leaning on one side. Carefully passing Jisung the plate, you then twist the stove’s knobs off and reply, “You also made me cook the pancakes you wanted to make for me so I think that makes us even.” 

“Y/N!” He whines between mouthfuls of blueberries as you move around him to transfer the pan and spatula to the sink. 

You sigh in defeat, chuckling when you meet gazes once more and see him sulking with his cheeks full. “Right, right, I’m sorry!” You then beckon him over to the dining table, taking the fruit bowl on his side. “A-And...you know, thank you for that. We’re all good now, right?” 

“If you are.” 

“Definitely. Want to eat with me? I still owe you that meal from our first day.” 

six out of six months

Your mother as well as the high jury of elders from back home eventually proposed that you and Jisung finish your Crown Candidacy exam while Hyunjin, should he eventually announce that he wants to participate as well in the incoming 6 months, do his under stricter supervision in the following year. This ensures fairness in your situations, that yours and Jisung’s efforts aren’t wasted in the past 5 months while also thinking of Hyunjin who wasn’t around in time for the traditional schedule of the exam. When Hyunjin was escorted home by Changbin and Felix, however, he briefly hinted towards a plan on refusing the candidacy and the exam. He left with the others before you or Jisung could even ask him about it. 

Regardless, you and your sole competitor easily fall back into the race as soon as Hyunjin, Yeji, Seungmin, and Chaeryoung have settled their business in the human world and went home, returning to university over a week later to regain the ecures that you lost. Not that it’s suddenly harder, anyway. Timely as it is, an announcement for a school festival at the end of the month has Jisung signing up to perform while you join the organizing committee to spend more time with your human friends. 

In the time that you’ve spent in the human world, you’ve made many genuine friends beyond collecting their ecure for your exam, especially in your classmates Yuna and Jeongin. Though they don’t know about your true nature, the two have unknowingly aided you a lot in your mission by accompanying you through the different activities around university. 

Yuna, in particular, was even the one who first mentioned the school festival to you, encouraging you to join the events committee with her and invite Jisung to perform. “It’s free backstage passes and we can see all of the artists up close!” She sighed dreamily on the day she showed you the gold and red poster that she picked up from the department bulletin board. “And come on, you’re really good at organizing stuff! We should do it together!”

And more hearts to collect, you thought to yourself when you accepted and attended the orientation.

And more hearts it was, indeed, as you spend the next 3 weeks meeting people from different colleges as you and Yuna are assigned to helping organize the music performance for the end of the festival. With your previous experience fulfilling your duties back at home, it’s unsurprisingly easier for you to juggle the work assigned to you—contacting students to perform, arranging the program flow, and turning the university football field into a makeshift mini concert stadium—with socializing and fulfilling your original mission of collecting hearts. 

Across from your room at home, on the other hand, Jisung has been busy spending the same time making his own music to perform at the music festival. You invited him to perform some time after starting your work with the festival committee—well, your friends insisted that you invite him and Chan after finding out that the famous DJ, CB97, is your cousin and that you and the “College of Psychology Cutie” commute home together (“Don’t tell me...are you guys secretly dating?!” Yuna had shamelessly asked during one of your meetings, to which you had to smack your hand over her mouth and improvise a cover story for you and Jisung that you live in the same neighbourhood). 

Jisung accepted at the thought that he could garner a huge crowd of hearts from this opportunity, cooping himself up in his room right after the following days that followed to complete his 15-minute set. Ever since, all you’ve heard coming from his room in the middle of the night would be guitar strums, drum loops, and the faintest hints of Jisung’s voice singing along to freestyle raps and lines. 

He mostly sang about love, of all things; something you, Minho, and Chan immediately noticed in the next 3 Friday nights that the three of you would be huddled in the living room to watch a movie, only to hear Jisung repeating lines as if he was talking to someone in Chan’s home studio. You wanted to ask about it out of pure curiosity, and just the general worry that he might not be looking after his heart while finishing your exam after all, but decided against it in favor of waiting for the final product at the music festival.

Fortunately, the month somehow went by in almost a flash as you and Jisung both got busy preparing and collecting more hearts on the side. Before you know it, it was the afternoon of the music festival and Felix is suddenly back in the human realm to accompany you and Minho to the school festival. 

“So, did he tell you what he prepared for tonight?” Felix asks you as the three of you walk around the festival grounds. Over the course of 3 weeks, you and a large team of student volunteers have managed to haul in food stalls, arcade booths, and rides from the quad all the way to the football field for this festival, amenities which you yourself haven’t tried yet because of your busy schedule but Felix and Minho have both been so overwhelmingly excited to check out even on the bus trip to your university. 

In response to the prince’s answer, you shake your head with a small pout. “I just hear him all over the house and I didn’t really want to pry if he didn't want to tell me anything.” You point out, the two of you suddenly changing the course of your mindless walk as Minho points to a crossbow shoot booth. “Why? Doesn’t he tell you what he’s been working on?” 

“No! He stops whatever he’s doing whenever we call, even when I ask him to play just a little bit of his work.” Felix is quick to mirror your pout, only for it to disappear when Minho jokes that the two of you help him cheat in the booth as he picks up a crossbow. “I thought since you guys are living together, you’d know better than me.” 

“Ah, you kids just wait until Jisung and Chan perform later.” Minho dismisses your concerns, holding the fake crossbow up properly while the staff manning the booth prepares the targets on the other side. “Now, help me win Chan a giant wolf.” 

You roll your eyes at Minho, shrugging at Felix. “I guess he’s right. Let’s just help Minho get a giant wolf first.” 

-

Chan and Jisung arrive at university 10 minutes before the music festival from Chan’s studio halfway across the city, initially unable to find you in the crowd of organizers as they set up backstage with Yuna and Jeongin’s help until you call Chan late that you’re “babysitting” Minho and Felix. 

“They’ve somehow teamed up and have been competing with the rigged booths since we arrived.” You explained over the voice call, the distant sounds of Minho and Felix yelling while tossing metal rings around almost muffling your own. “I’ll be on my way in a while as soon as Minho leaves the ring toss alone but Yuna and Jeongin are there. Just ask them if you guys need anyth—oh my gods, Felix, you won another plushie? That’s so cool! Wait, I’m on a call with Chan!—uh, yeah. I’ll be there in a second!” 

The commotion on your end makes the two boys laugh, even as you bid your goodbyes and end the call, but especially Jisung who’s been looking nervous since he arrived. Throwing his head back in a laugh as he tunes his guitar, he comments, “That’s a bit unexpected. I didn’t know my brother and your boyfriend would get along like that, and this quickly!” 

“Beating out rigged games sounds about right.” Chan chuckles along, seated on a plastic chair and running a quick check on his equipment. Turning to the younger boy, he then asks, “Are you still nervous?” 

“Me? Nah, I wasn’t even nervous to begin with!” At this, Jisung’s laughs naturally die down to an uncertain shake of his head. He dismisses with a scrunch up nose which Chan immediately raises a brow at. 

“Come on, Sung, I practically raised you with the other kids.” Chan proceeds to roll his eyes as Jisung’s brief confident facade crumbles down slowly. “What’s up?” 

The boy in question eventually sighs in defeat, shoulders slumping against the plastic chair he occupies. “Fine, maybe I’m a bit nervous! Just a little bit, though, I can still get on stage later! I mean, it’s not like performing here is gonna be different from back home like you said on the way here but…”

“But what?” Chan asks patiently, glancing up to see Jisung’s gaze fixed down on his yellow acoustic guitar. When the younger boy doesn’t respond immediately, he then continues, “I’ve heard bits and pieces of what you’ve been working on this month and all of the songs sound great. You’ll catch a lot of hearts tonight with them, I’m sure. What are you worried about?”

Jisung looks up from his guitar and opens his mouth to speak, only to get cut off when you come in the performer’s tent running and balancing different kinds of microphones in your hands. “Sorry I’m late!” You announce in between tired pants, catching both his and Chan’s attention as you pass the microphones around the artists with Jeongin who instinctively comes to your aid. “I was with my friends and they wouldn’t budge from the ring toss!” 

“I think I’m going to faint.” Jisung mumbles under his breath with furrowed brows, loud enough for only Chan to hear, until you approach them last with their microphones. 

“Mics?” You offer obliviously, holding up the last 2 hand mics in your possession. Passing one to Chan quickly, you then sit down next to Jisung and pass him his hand mic. “Hey, you’re up fourth, right?” 

Jisung glances over to Chan with a panicked look but the older boy simply shakes his head with a chuckle and focuses on his keyboard. Turning to you, Jisung then nods quickly with a hum before gazing down at his guitar and the laptop he’s set up on the table in front of you two. 

Immediately sensing his odd behavior, you then hover your hands in the space between the two of you in a quick spell, eventually verifying his nervous feelings. “Yeah, totally not nervous.” You chuckle in amusement, laughing even more when he turns to you and whines in complaint. 

“Ya! Don’t do that!” 

“Well, it’s not like you’re that good at hiding your nervousness!” You point out in defense, holding your hands up in front of you in between uncontrollable fits of giggles. When the glare he sends your way doesn’t relax one bit, you then fish out a small quokka plush from your backpack. “Anyway, Felix was kinda expecting that you’d be a little nervous so wanted me to give you this plushie he won at the milk bottle game with Minho for good luck. He would’ve given it himself but LUCY was already performing when we came here so he dragged Minho to the audience area before I could even bring him here.” 

You then place the plush toy on the table right next to his laptop, looking around once to make sure that no one is looking your way before mouthing a quick spell to shrink the quokka into something smaller that he can hang on his guitar strap. As you do so, Chan notices how Jisung’s ears are quick to turn red as he follows your every movement. “You can stick it to your guitar strap and bring it with you to the stage.” You point out once you’re done, only then noticing his stares. “What?” 

“Huh?” Jisung shakes his head absentmindedly, mentally slapping himself back to reality before scrambling to pick up the plush toy by the chain you added on top of its head and tying it to the small hole along the edge of his guitar strap. “O-Oh, yeah, thanks!”

You chuckle, just as Yuna suddenly calls for you to help in getting the next act’s microphone stands on stage. Standing up, you then pat Jisung’s shoulder reassuringly, saying one last, “Don’t be nervous!” before running off again to where most of your committee members are. 

Once you’re out of earshot, only then does Chan look up from his equipment once more but this time with a knowing grin and squinted eyes. “Yeah, Sung, don’t be nervous!” 

Jisung rolls his eyes in front of the older boy at this, securing the quokka plushie on his guitar strap one last time. “Shut up.” 

-

Your committee heads lay you off of work just as Jisung heads to the stage for his set, the small quokka plush you gave him dangling behind his fretboard with a toothy grin while he sets up his laptop and greets the energetic crowd. When you discreetly scan the people’s ecures while standing behind the curtains, you quickly spot a growing number of pinks and oranges. “Such a charmer.” Chan notes, eyes also blue when you look up at him. 

You nod in agreement, reverting back to your original color as more of your peers gather around the curtains to listen to Jisung’s introduction. “Um, hi, I’m Han Jisung from the Psych department.” You hear him greet with a shy chuckle over the microphone, earning him another wave of cheers. Behind you, even Yuna and Jeongin cheer despite Jisung having his back partially facing you. “This is my first time performing here at uni and the songs that I’ve prepared so please go easy on me.” 

You then turn to Chan again, taking a sideways step closer to him as a thought crosses your mind. “Hey, Chan,” You call for him in a lower voice, craning your head up when he leans towards you. “Have you heard of the songs he’s going to perform tonight? You were together before coming here, right?” 

“Only a little bit. We mostly talked while we were at the studio.” Chan shrugs in response. “I think he wanted it to be a surprise to everyone.” 

On stage, Jisung then checks his guitar one last time before announcing the name of the first song. “So, this first song is something that I’ve been thinking about since I moved here. It’s called ‘Close.’” He says, pressing play on his loops and singing the first lines of the song. “Can you tell me about you? You, seen from afar. I just don't want to watch. Yeah Just tell me about you.”

Jisung is a great performer, there’s no doubt about it. Though you’ve grown up hearing him sing and rap at your more casual events back at home, he always manages to surprise you every time he performs just with the way he enjoys himself on stage. You can see him smile widely from the side of the stage, his nervousness long gone as he interacts with the crowd and collects the pink crystal hearts that float above your heads. 

“He’s really good…” You murmur, more to yourself than to Chan, as you find yourself gently swaying to the song. “What was he even worried about? It’s a great song…” 

Chan glances knowingly at you, a small smile playing on his lips as you sing along to the next round of the chorus. “I don’t think he has nothing to worry about too, not right now at least.” 

“Hm?” “Nothing.” 

-

In truth, even with the positive response from the crowd and the amount of ecures he’s collected from this set alone, Jisung is still nervous for his last song. “Sunshine” was supposed to be just another warm-up song with barely a cohesive topic, a compilation of sketches about his experiences in the human world that he spent his free time on when he wasn’t collecting hearts these past 6 months. As more time passed by, however, and the time of your exam was suddenly coming to a close, they eventually took a different direction without him even realizing it until you were inviting him to perform at this music festival. 

The times that the two of you would bicker just to laugh at each other in the end, the competition that brought the bests and worsts in you, and your chocolate matcha tea and musings on the one time you sat down with him on his balcony. Eventually, you were all he was writing about. On top of the nervousness that comes with finishing the competition you’ve found yourselves in for half a year and finding out who will be declared the winner, Jisung was more nervous about the thought that you’re just behind the stage curtains with Chan, anticipating his next song. 

“For my last song, I picked this one for someone I know whom I’ve spent a lot of time with these past few months.” He confesses shyly in front of the crowds. Among the hundreds of people that came tonight, he easily spots his twin brother in front of the barriers with Minho, sporting the most exaggerated surprised face ever. “I was hoping that when all of this is said and over, we’d get well-deserved breaks...maybe music and tea at night again or something.” 

Jisung doesn’t have to turn around to gauge your initial reaction as he begins the song, Felix’s expression turning into that of giddiness as he looks over at the stage curtains is enough to set every gear in his head to pump out more nervousness. Instead, he pushes through until halfway to the song before he could steal his first glance over to you since beginning his set. 

With his eyes still an emerald green from scanning the crowd’s ecures, your eyes meet under the harsh stage lights as he sings the bridge. “This place is quiet without a sound ye ye ye. Quiet except for the sound of our breaths ye ye ye.” He doesn’t intend to look again, not in that split second before he’s turning his gaze back to the crowd of cellphone lights and LED signs, but he sees your heart’s reflection once more. 

Reminiscent of when you first confessed in middle school, a pinkish heart floats by the sleeves of your sweater, almost looking red if he just looked longer. You didn’t even turn away this time and simply just stood there, heat visibly rising up your neck. 

Reminiscent of when you first confessed in middle school, a pinkish heart floats by the sleeves of your sweater, almost looking red if he just looked longer. This time around, however, you don’t turn away to try and hide it. 

And this time around, Jisung doesn’t childishly call you out for it or ignores it. This time, it makes his own heart swell at the thought. 

-

The car ride home, with Chan on the wheel and three extra boxes of equipment most of the backseats in his SUV, is a comfortable and awkward mix of quiet between you and Jisung as the two of you are forced to sit next to each other in the cramped space. You sit by the window, using it as an excuse to peer outside and avoid any kind of small talk from the boys, while Jisung has hisi eyes glued to his phone while a sleeping Felix snuggles into his shoulder. The only human noise in the car, as it seems, is coming from Minho and Chan as the two recall the songs the latter and Jisung performed at the program. 

It’s even quieter at the thought that you, Jisung, and Felix will fly back to the magical realm tomorrow, something that Minho reminds you when he suddenly asks, “Right, what do you kids want me to cook for lunch later, by the way?” 

The question comes right as the car suddenly comes to an abrupt stop at Chan’s garage, masking the way you and Jisung simultaneously jump in surprise. You instinctively glance over to him after with wide eyes, before gazing over at Minho who has a poorly-hidden snicker on his expression from the front passenger seat. “Um,” You stutter out awkwardly, glaring at Minho when he smirks teasingly over your way. “Anything’s fine for me.” 

Jisung nods over to your direction in agreement. “Yeah, anything’s fine.” 

Minho nods with pursed lips, as if he was biting down a laugh. “Does crispy pork belly sound good?” He asks, earning him nods from you. “Okay. You guys have been quiet back here this entire time, you guys good?” 

“Yeah?” “Totally.” 

Clearly unconvinced, Minho shakes his head and scoffs before twisting his upper body to face front once more, unbuckling his seatbelt and opening the car door next to him. “Oh, kids…” 

You roll your eyes at the comment before stealing a glance over at Jisung again, only to find the boy already staring at you. “W-What?” You manage to ask this time despite your initial surprise. In front of you, Chan has already turned the engine off and left the driver’s seat to open the back of the car. “You okay, Ji?” 

He hums almost absentmindedly, phone now set down on his lap as he fiddles with his hands nervously. “Yeah, um—” He stutters out, biting his lips down once. Briefly glancing at his side, he then gestures towards his twin and adds, “Wait, sorry, um, let me wake Lix first.” 

“Okay.” You nod awkwardly, deciding to unbuckle your own seatbelt and open the car door next to you. Jisung then gently shakes Felix awake, leading his brother out through the same car door since the opposite one’s blocked by more of his and Chan’s equipment. 

“You go on ahead, Lix, I’ll just talk to Y/N.” You hear Jisung say as the three of you now stand outside in the cold, levitating boxes of instruments and computers flying over your head and heading inside the house. 

Felix nods at this immediately, sleepily bidding you and Jisung with loose hugs before trudging back inside the house with Chan and Minho. 

Once the doors leading back to the house fully close on the two of you, only then are you engulfed in the same awkward silence again and the two of you, for the third time in the past 6 months, speak up at the same time. 

“So um—” “—Yeah, a while ago—” 

This time, the two of you chuckle awkwardly over speaking at the same time again. You then gesture for him to go ahead and speak first as you adjust your sweater’s placement on your shoulder. 

Instinctively, Jisung fixes your sweater for you before speaking, causing him to stutter a little. “S-Sorry, um…” He licks his lip awkwardly, retracting his hand as fast as he can and moving a step back. “Yeah, I meant to say that I didn’t...I didn’t mean to look at your heart.” 

Suddenly, at such an important moment, you’re speechless and frozen in front of Jisung. Your hands find their way down the hem of your sweater, absentmindedly playing with the loose threads as you shift your weight on the balls of your feet and stutter out your response. “I-I um…” 

Simultaneously, Jisung takes in a huge intake of breath and continues, “I looked at you because I actually made the song for you—well, about you but not in a weird way! It can be for you too, that is if you want it!—”

“Jisung?” 

“Ah, anyway, I’m losing track! Just, I looked at you because I wanted to know what you thought of it the most in the moment, you know—”

“Jisung…”

“And I didn’t realize that my eyes were still green and I saw so I looked away as fast as I could, I swear—!” 

“Ji.” 

“I know you don’t want me looking into your heart and stuff because of before. I promise I won’t do it again—” 

Realizing that he’s not going to stop in his ramblings, you then impulsively take a step towards him and grab him by his arms. “Ji, it’s fine.” You shake him gently, effectively stopping the endless flow of thought. “I mean, you already saw it and everything.” 

“But I—” 

“Just don’t lash out or stop talking to me again while I sort it out.” You shrug reassuringly with a sigh, reluctantly sliding your hands off of him and taking a step back again as you see him listen intently to your words. “It’s just pink, anyway, it can still go away like before. Just don’t avoid me again this time.” 

Though he’s clearly been listening intently, you see his brows furrow and his expression suddenly becomes confused towards the end of your words. “What?” He echoes helplessly after you. “No, I...why would I stop talking to you? That was a long time ago. I won’t do that now, I...” 

“Then just don’t take my heart or something.” You point out, almost like a question as his reaction confuses you similarly. “Anyway, that’s not the point, like I said, I’ll sort it ou—”

“Don’t.” He cuts you off immediately this time with more conviction, shaking his head and suddenly taking your hand. “Don’t sort it out. Don’t make it go away or anything.”  

“What? Why?” 

You’re pulled closer again, Jisung mumbling an incantation to show his ecure under his breath. “Look at mine.” He points out, a pink crystal heart floating over to your upturned palm as he holds onto you by your wrist. “If anything, I should be the one telling you to not take mine on the spot or something.” 

“It’s pink.” You muse out loud in surprise, the warmth of his ecure feeling overwhelming as it floats above your hand. “And it’s for me…?” 

Jisung rolls his eyes at this in disbelief, nodding patiently anyway. “Who else would it be for?” He scoffs gently, making the heart disappear before it could burn your palm. “I don’t know since when it’s been like that, maybe it’s been like that for a long time even I don’t know I’ve only looked at it while Chan and I were at the studio. All I’m sure is that suddenly I was writing a song for you and sacrificing half of my ecure count so you don’t lose easily in the exam and looking out for you and—just, this time it’s me who’s afraid that you’ll run away or disappear for a while if you knew.”

“So don’t...sort it out.” He concludes after unknowingly speaking at such a fast rate, heaving belatedly from this. “I like you now, I like you a lot, and I’m not going to lash out like when we were kids. Take my heart if you want just don’t change your feelings for me, please.” 

There’s a brief pause that follows, the only noise ringing in your ears being the unusually loud beating of your own heart as the two of you freeze in place. Jisung tries waiting as patiently as he visibly can in this silence, puffing air in and out of his lips as he fails at trying to conceal his recurring nervous feelings, while you gaze at anywhere but him because of the heat rising up your neck. 

“Listen…” He speaks up after a while. “I’m sorry, I—”

Fuck it, you think to yourself before stepping forward, shakily cupping his cheeks, and pressing a kiss to his lips. “Don’t say sorry.” You muster up a shy smile in between brief kisses. “You already know that I like you too.” 

bonus epilogue

When you return to the magical realm to the news that Hyunjin won’t be taking his own candidacy exam next year in favor of his own kingdom’s crown, the elders are quick to take your locket and Jisung’s ring to proceed with the final results. Since the decision takes at least 3 days, coupled with the fact that a major complication arose in the 6 months that you were given, Jisung was asked to stay at your castle until the jury could come to a conclusion and crown either one of you. 

The others would also occasionally come and visit (especially Lia who’s mostly kept up with your trip through Yeji and Ryujin) but since confessing to Jisung, the boy has been doing the most trying to sneak you away from everyone and your regular royal duties just to spend more time with you. 

“So this is what you meant with Sunshine?” You ask in the afternoon before the elders would summon you back to the throne room, the two of you hidden away in your favourite greenhouse garden. Today, Jisung has somehow convinced you to ditch a visit to Chan’s family in favor of just sitting on your greenhouse’s cushioned sofas and listening to him hum his songs until your mentors would eventually come looking for you. “Chocolate matcha and your guitar?” 

“Yeah, just a relaxing rest date with your crush.” Jisung points out next to you, his head snuggled into the crook of your neck as much as the guitar in between the two of you could allow him. On your opposite side, his cuddle rival, the quokka plush toy you’ve somehow managed to turn into a life-size pillow today, sits on your lap and occasionally pokes on the end of his guitar. “Why? Do you want to refill your tea? I��ve been getting Felix to teach me this spell to refill tea, you know. I’m getting it but chocolate matcha’s kinda hard to replicate.” 

You shake your head in disbelief with a chuckle, a stark contrast to how you’re internally flustered over the small comment on your favourite tea flavor. “Who said you’re my crush? Bold of you to even assume, Ji…” You pretend to roll your eyes, sinking deeper into the soft cushions behind you. 

“Baby, you’ll be taking those words back when I get crowned tonight.” He pouts, elbowing you gently before shifting to place his guitar on the side. With his hands now free, the prince then resorts to linking his arms with your free one and intertwining your hands together on top of the plush quokka. “If I win, I’ll make sure to banish this quokka first so you’ll be forced to cuddle with only me.” 

“Tch, Felix won you this quokka. You’ll have to duel with him first if you want this gone.” You argue, sliding the quokka closer to him so its face is adjacent to Jisung. “Plus, it kinda looks like you. If I get crowned and you’ll be away doing your own duties back East, I have something of yours.” 

“I think you meant that if I win and you’ll be staying here doing your own duties, you’ll have something of mine.” Jisung huffs pettily. “Maybe we should keep the quokka, after all. You might get lonely if I get busy.” 

You shake your head immediately with a chuckle, leaning more of your weight on his side. “Oh, no, no, no.” You correct teasingly, making him giggle along against your shoulder. “Who said you’re going to win later?” 

“Wanna bet?” He raises a brow and smirks, lifting his head briefly to glance over to you.

You roll your eyes at this, leaning forward to meet his lips. “You’re so competitive, babe. Give it a rest, you know I’ll win anyway.” 

[bestruction]

Falling in love with a marleyan pt1

N/a: this request got me thinking a lot 😅 i guess that's why is so long and because of that, i'll be making a pt2 for Eren. I'm sorry for it, anon and thank you for sharing such great ideia with me💞 please let me know if you like it

(I inspired myself a little bit in this hc)

You can read the pt.2 here

- Reiner Braun

Since you were the daughter of an important general of the Marley army, you were always around in the headquarters learning about the military service. It was your dad's wish that you could bring honor to the family and for the country.

You never understood really well the importance of all that. You were just a kid.

So when he got busy, you preferred to walk around looking for something interesting instead of listening to hours of a conversation you didn't even understand.

And that's how you met Reiner.

One day, after picking up some book about the history of Marley and Eldia, you went to the patio to sit under the shade of a tree to read. Not long after, other children appeared, running and tired, and since you were behind the tree, none of them had noticed you until then.

“Take a breath and try to reach us later, Reiner. The commander will not like it if you don't finish the training ” said an older voice.

You heard footsteps drift away, and only the owner of the painting breath stays.

You were curious to know who it was since you had never seen children in the area. You came out from behind the tree with the tissue you carried in your pocket in hand to offer to the sweaty stranger.

He was astonished at first, and you noticed the golden armband on his arm.

He was an eldian warrior candidate.

Reiner stared at you for a few more seconds before accepting the tissue. He was afraid to offend whoever you were. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and bit his lips, not knowing whether to keep the delicate tissue or give it back.

The tissue dirty with the sweat of an eldian, but still the tissue of a Marley citizen.

"You can keep it if you want"

"thank you,"  He said almost in a whisper. "But don't you prefer that I take it to wash and then bring it back to you?"

"You don't need to bring it back, but if you want to, I'll be here waiting for you tomorrow"

Reiner ran again without looking back. He did not know how to act after that and when he returned home, he washed the white tissue hidden from his mother to return it to you the next day. He did not expect to see you, so when you came out smiling from behind the tree like the day before, he was more than surprised.

“You brought it! Thanks"

"Thanks…?"

You told him your name and noticed his eyes widen when he heard your last name. It was hard not to know who your father was in the army. So you didn't find it strange and asked the boy's name.

“Reiner. Rainer Braun ”

You smiled again, which made you wonder what was so funny.

"I'm sorry. It's just that it is a name that suits you so much that it is funny. It means warrior. That's what you are ”

You responded by pointing at his armband.

Reiner blushed more than he wanted to admit. Never had a girl said anything like that to him, let alone a marleyan girl.

"It's a pity that we can't talk for more than a few minutes, Reiner. I was never able to talk to an eldian so closely ”

He nodded with his head, still trying to ignore the blush on his cheeks, but it was unsuccessful since you then proposed the last thing that would go through his head.

Your father was indeed a general, but he did not see the eldians as inferior beings. That had been the reason he had entered the military career, had the slightest chance of being able to change that view, that was the honor he wanted you to bring. So he taught you the same thing.

To talk to someone like Reiner was not repulsive, but something that you longed to be able to learn more about the eldians in a narrative that was not what you saw at school.

That's why you proposed that you exchange letters. Secrets so as not to cause any kind of problem for him. He would leave his letter in the hollow trunk of the tree, and you would do the same when you couldn't meet in those brief seconds of his training.

He accepted more for fear of you than willingly, but as you talked about each other's daily lives, about the details you observed in each other, and the disguised looks when you passed by the quarter,  this fear gave way to a sincere friendship.

And without either of you realizing in something else.

When he was chosen to inherit the armored titan, you cried for hours in your room in secret, hugging the box where you hid all the letters exchanged for knowing what that meant.

And then he realized that you had fallen in love with the eldian of the letters.

It all happened very fast. You didn't have time to go to the quarter to see if he had left something on the tree and then read in the paper about the group of warriors sent to the demon island.

You never forget about him.

The years passed, and when Reiner returned, you had just taken a patent for being useful in strategy in other wars and thanks to your family's name.

He didn't expect you to remember him, and after everything that happened, he couldn't even think about it much.

But that thought changed when you whispered to him as you passed down the hall without anyone noticing:

"Look in the tree"

Like when you were kids, you had left a letter in the tree, and for some reason that he didn't know how to explain, it brought a certain comfort to his heart.

In the letter, you said how much you missed him. You had written for the old days since you two could talk without bringing any problem to him because you were in the army too. You asked him to meet you in the most deserted building in the area to talk better.

Reiner went to the place, and after seeing you up close for a longer time, he was sure that time had made you a beautiful woman. You talked for a few hours, and it was as if the two of you had gone back to being a child without the traumas he suffered in Paradis and the ones you got on the battlefield.

Once again, time passed, with you two talking cautiously as a precaution, exchanging a note here and there, meeting when you could.

You were the one who gave Reiner the strength to continue.

• It didn't take long for the childhood crush to become love, and the more you two tried to ignore it, the more evident it became until one day on impulse, in one of the many meetings in that building you kissed him.

And he reciprocated.

Your relationship was not easy. It would be a scandal if anyone knew. That's why you rented an apartment farther from the city to meet with more privacy without anyone knowing.

It was not easy, but you loved each other.

Reiner was your first love and your first time, and even with all the disadvantages, you would never choose someone else for that.

And now you're pregnant.

You haven't been feeling very well in the past few months, but you didn't worry too much because you thought it was just a war result, thanks to the stress that started after Paradis. Now, as a commander, you had more work than ever.

But after throwing up your favorite food, you decided to go to a doctor.

The doctor wanted to share the good news with your father, but no one knew about you and Reiner, nor should he. So you just made up an excuse like:

“I want to tell myself. Please keep it confidential ”  

And went home.

Part of you is happy, and the other is unable to stop “what if?”

What if someone finds out who the baby's father is?

What if Reiner doesn't react well to the news?

Raising a baby is already a difficult task, creating a baby that should not exist in the eyes of everyone ...

You didn't know what to do.

You needed to speak to Reiner as soon as possible.

With the end of the war and Marley's victory, you met in the apartment you had rented some time ago.

You waited for him to lie down next to you on the bed, and while caressing your face, you said:

"I’m pregnant"

Reiner sat on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. He was serious, he didn't need to ask if you were kidding.

"How long?"

"Two mouths"

He got up and paced the room before looking back at you.

"What are you going to do?"

"So now is just me, hm?"

“That’s not what I mean, baby” He snorts heavily “I just don’t know what to say”

“Maybe a‘ I’m here with you' it'd be enough, Reiner”

"You know I’m"

"Do i?"

Reiner saw you cry a few times, but the image of you sitting on the bed where you shared so many moments with your eyes full of tears will always be the hardest to forget in his mind.

     He comes to you, and without saying anything, he cries with you until both are calmer.

     Leaving the subject for later was not the smartest decision to make, but for now, it was what you both needed. So you decided to talk after Willy Tybur's speech that was going to happen that night.

     That night, you expected to end up in Reiner's arms and not having to run to save yourself, Falco, and Gabi.

     And even less shouting his name in a random window to wake him up.

    It was your voice that woke him up to fight. It was your voice that made him overcome the desire to die. It was your voice that gave him hope to move forward, and for your voice, for you, he would find a way to work things out.

     You stayed by his bedside every day while he was in the infirmary, which generated a lot of rumors about your compassion for the eldian.

     When Reiner woke up plagued by yet another of many nightmares, he thought he started to dream when he saw your warm smile.

    On an impulse, you hugged him tightly, leaving Pieck and Pig shocked across the room.

“I knew it. I knew you’d be fine ”You said without let him go.

“I'm here for you, baby” He answered, hugging you back. "For you two"

"How did you get the commander pregnant ?!" You heard Porco's voice.

“Pock, I thought you already knew how these things work at that age” teased Pieck.

“Don’t act like you’re not thinking the same!”

“Let’s go outside, and I’m going to explain to you how mama and papa Galliard made you” She teased again by pulling him out of the infirmary and winking at you.

She knew. Of course, she knew. Nothing escaped Pieck's perception.

    You told your parents about the pregnancy, afraid to tell you who the baby's father was. They understood the situation and helped you both throughout your pregnancy.

    Reiner always showed up at your house around dawn to make sure no one saw him. He always wanted to know how you were doing and compensate you in some way for not being able to go out and see you as a partner would do.

     Many rumors arose about who your baby's father would be, but you tried not to care since it was all rumors after all.

When you went into labor, it was a mess. The initial plan was that he would not come to your house so as not arouse suspicion. Pieck and Porco tried to convince him not to go, but he ran up to your house and entered the back. He couldn't stop thinking about your face. He couldn't leave you alone in a moment like this.

     And honestly, you were more than relieved when you saw the blonde enter your room, hold your hand, and repeat the same words from the day of the infirmary:

“I’m here for you, for you two”

[storiesofsvu]

Classified Affairs Ch 26

Warnings: language, minor political talk, mentions of shit that went down in the last couple of chapters, minor arguments/disagreements. She a short filler chapter right now folks, I just needed to cut it off there cause there’s a LOT to put into the next chapter and there’ll be a teeny time jump. I *might* be able to get said chapter done tonight, we’ll see.

Everyone was back at work bright and early the next day, though, not everyone was bushy tailed and ready to go. Jackie did her best to not wince at the purpling of the peanut sized bruise on your cheekbone, you’d done your best to cover it with concealer, but the stuff you had apparently didn’t quite cut it. You dove right into things, covering everything the press had been saying about Heather and the reactions to her statements, assembling what you could use and what you thought was coming on her end in the near future.

Your last task before lunch was to attend a near conference type meeting with Jackie since Remy was busy elsewhere and she simply wanted a second set of ears and eyes with her. Though it wasn’t a super professional thing, while people were droning on about things up at the podium, there were a lot of other small quiet conversations going on throughout the room. Jackie gently nudged at your arm with her elbow, discreetly nodding towards Heather,

“She looks fucking furious.” She mumbled over the rim of her coffee and you quietly chuckled.

“Rob filed for divorce last night.” You murmured back, lips barely moving from the rim of your own coffee lid.

“She didn’t managed to wrangle him back with her lies?”

“He was the one who leaked everything. He’s gone. Cleared his shit from the house and everything.”

“And she’s still not pulling out?”

“She thinks she can try to reclaim some dignity. Probably blame the divorce on something else.” You shrugged.

“Becca let you in on all this?”

“Nope.” You sighed, “found out when Rob searched through her financials and found my condo as the most recent housing purchase, he showed up there last night.”

“Oh please don’t tell me you had two Dunbar’s tearing your head off yesterday.” Her hand moved to squeeze at your arm and you felt your breath catch in your throat.

“No. Honestly he was super understanding. He knows how manipulative she can be, we talked it through, even exchanged phone numbers. We all know she’s the one to blame.”

“Good.”

“She’s looking for dirt on you though, like…hardcore.”

“She won’t find anything useable.”

“You sure?”

“Unless getting detention in elementary school for sticking gum under a desk, or skipping a couple of classes later on counts as bad.” She chuckled softly, glancing over at you.

“What? You really that big of a goodie two shoes?” You teased and she playfully rolled her eyes with a grin on her cheeks.

“I was a fucking nerd.” She softly laughed back, “barely drank until I was twenty five. Sure, I’ve done some dumb shit as a kid or young adult, but nothing that can come back to bite me. I knew I wanted a political career, it’s half the reason I was so publicly out so young and always made sure to be open about it.”

“Didn’t you worry about not getting your seat because of it?”

“It was a democratic majority.” She shrugged, “figured it was worth the shot.” She paused for a sip of coffee, “did you get that from Becca too?”

“Nah.” You hummed, “I had coffee with Cynthia this morning.”

“Heather’s campaign manager is really giving away secrets?”

“She’s also looking for another job.” Jackie raised a brow at that, “she knows Heather won’t make it through this but she’s being fucking delusional thinking she will. Like…as if the republican candidates won’t bring this shit up in next week’s televised appearance? They’re gonna tear her to shreds.”

“I mean…the DUI is one thing, but the sugar babies…”

“Not to mention the hidden gay…or bi..or whatever.” Your phone buzzed, causing you to pull it out of your pocket and you swiped open on the reminder, “oh fuck…any chance I can sneak out of here a little early today?” You glanced up at Jackie, “I’ve got an…thing….”

“Peach…” she murmured quietly, her face slipping into one of sympathy.

“What?”

“All things considered… you missed your Thursday appointment….please don’t tell me”—

“Oh god no!” You replied in a hushed whisper, “I..uh..it’s a therapy appointment. Rob set me up with someone who usually works evenings, but she’s got a thing tonight so I have to go in at four instead of six thirty.”

“Oh.” Jackie was taken aback a second before she smiled softly, “of course.”

“Thanks.” You slightly turned back to the presentation going on down on the floor, nearly jumping at the feeling of Jackie squeezing your hand.

“I’m happy you’re talking to someone. It’s important to remember that not everyone out there is as psychotic as she is, even if that takes a little time.”

**

Later that afternoon, Jackie herself had decided to call it an early day, she’d had a one on one with Frank, and now with you and Remy both otherwise occupied it made no real sense to stick around the White House any longer. She had just begun to pack up her things when there was a light knock on her door and she glanced up, immediately frowning at the sight of Heather standing in doorway.

“Can I help you?” She asked, snapping her laptop shut before sliding it into her bag.

“I need a minute with y/n, is she around?”

“Like hell you do.” Jackie laughed, “and I sent her home early. Besides, do you really think I’d leave her alone with you again? Stay the fuck away from my staff.”

“All of your staff, or is it just the one I’m not allowed to talk to? I was the one who found her for you and brought her onto your team!”

“Oh bullshit! You groomed her into the perfect little pet and when she finally cleared her head enough to stand up to you, you went psychotic.”

“She threatened me first.” Heather growled, “where else was I supposed to think that article came from?”

“Your behaviour yesterday was absolutely reprehensible and disgusting and you know it.”

“I gave her a talking to.”

“Oh please! As if I couldn’t hear you screaming halfway down the hallway! You stay the fuck away from her or I’ll let it slip to Underwood that you’ve graduated from verbal assault to physical, I’m sure that will make him question keeping your senate seat after everything.”

“Okay, so maybe I yelled, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really? Then where did that bruise come from? She was spotless before you showed up, after you left there was a cut on her cheek and today she’s bruised. It’s pretty easy to do the math, and it’s even easier to go to HR about workplace harassment, keep that in mind.” Jackie hastily picked up what she needed to take home with her, “you think you have a good enough reason to talk to her, you go through me, understood?”

“You’re being awfully overbearing right now.” Heather raised a brow and Jackie scoffed.

“I don’t take well to my team members being harassed by people who are abusing their power and have been for years. You’re done Heather, let me make that very clear.” With that Jackie moved around her, swiftly leaving the office, not looking back as Heather watched her leave.

Jackie slipped into her car easily, tossing her bags into the back seat before she took a heavy breath, resting her head in her hands against the steering wheel. She hated that it had to have come to this, to a huge affair scandal, to Heather physically harming you for you to finally be able to break free of her grasp. She’d had an idea of what was going on since she’d first met you, running into the two of you at the restaurant, but had slowly been putting the pieces together the more she got to know you. That was of course, until Heather came screaming at you and everything was confirmed. Jackie was immensely proud of the way you’d been handling yourself, at the way you hadn’t taken a personal day today, showing up brave faced to do your job and have to be in the same room as Heather so soon. You had guts, and you’d stood your ground all on your own, you were making progress, and finally you were out of her grasp. Baby steps. That’s all you needed at this point. To hear that Rob had an understanding, and that you had started therapy were two other very big green flags in this, you were moving in the right direction instead of letting Heather pull you back in with her tactics and false hopes and promises.

She paused for a moment as she dug out her keys, wondering if maybe she was being a little overbearing. She truly just wanted you safe and out of harm’s way, but the last thing she wanted was for you to think she was trying to control you. If you wanted to talk to Heather, she wasn’t going to stop you, but she was going to let it be known that she thought it was a bad idea. You’d been rather accepting of the gentle flirting over the past months, and dare she say, had been flirting back. At this point she would definitely say that you were friends, far more than just coworkers, you’d probably been holding back thanks to Heather, her control over you and not wanting to face her wrath yet again. She made a mental note to pay more attention to your behaviour and reactions over the next little bit, make sure she wasn’t overwhelming you or making you uncomfortable.

___________ @lesbianologist @jamiethetrans @disaster-and-disgrace @@natasha-danvers @veteranwerewolf95 @laurenhope13 @imlike-so-gaydude @svulife-rl @gay-ass-bitch @oliviaswifey @mysticfalls01 @cmmndrwidw @bumblebear30 @paulson-hargitay @solemnnova @svushots @nocreditinthestraightworld @yourtaletotell @cerberus-spectre @thatgaygiraffesquirrelgirl @emskisworld @ex-uallyactive @addictedtodinosaurs @rosiewritesagain @imaginaryoperagloves @wandasbrat @lustvolle-liebe @disn3y7 @samwithnoplan @multifandomlesbianic @swimmingstudentchaos891 @anne-gillettes-wh0r3 @season4scullyhair @whimsicallymad @alexusonfire @mmmmokdok @lazarettta @muscatmusic18 @sia2raw @ladysc @dxtery @1-lindsay83 @mmemalwa @ms-calhoun @holycrapraewth

[dreamsmp-au-ideas]

Ooo, I kinda like the idea that no one sees Tubbo's akumatization coming, even Tubbo? Like, if Ladybug and Chat have filled them in that folks who are experiencing negative emotions are likely candidates for akumatization, then when the Miraculous get taken back by Gabriel, they're all on the lookout for folks who are upset so they can try to get a jump on preventing or stopping akumatizations. Therapuffy and Eret are basically working overtime to encourage open communication and emotional literacy among everyone, lol. And Tubbo's so good at appearing functional, at pushing down his issues, at focusing on the next task to ignore all the past failures, it kind of goes assumed that he's doing alright.

So one day, it's been like a couple weeks since the Miraculous got stolen back. Everyone's been on high alert trying to keep akumas under control, sometimes even responding before Ladybug and Chat do. Because they're just kids, aren't they? They should have a normal teenage experience as much as they can; the Gremlins can handle it as long as they bring the akuma to Marinette to purify later. Point being, the Gremlins have been busy.

And then Tubbo just has one bad day. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed, restless and exhausted from nightmares he didn't bother to tell anyone about, because if he can get back to sleep eventually, clearly they weren't that bad. Plus he's stressed about finding the Miraculous again; it wasn't so hard to steal them in the first place, so why are they so hard to track down now? He'd bonded a little bit with Nooroo and Duusuu, he doesn't want to think about them back in Gabriel's clutches. So he's working himself to the bone trying to figure out where Gabriel might be.

And he and Ranboo are out patrolling for akumas or any other sign of Hawkmoth, and at just the wrong time, Tubbo overhears some kids talking about current events.

"He's such an idiot! Honestly, he's a horrible president. That whole country would be better off without him."

And Tubbo... he knows they're not talking about him. Obviously they're not. No one here even knows about L'manberg, and Tubbo hasn't been president for a long time. All the same, it brings up memories of Dream, smugly telling Tubbo that he'd been playing him for weeks, for months, calling him the worst president ever, calling him stupid. And no one had even denied it, least of all Tubbo. He can't think of one decision he'd made as president that he doesn't want to take back.

But it was ages ago. And Tubbo's over it, he definitely is, he doesn't care. So he ignores his stewing thoughts and keeps walking with Ranboo, just a bit quieter.

And a few minutes later, they see an akuma flying towards them, and they both get ready to follow it and warn whoever it's going for. But it doesn't turn away, it just keeps flying towards them. And they exchange an uneasy look.

"Tubbo?" Ranboo asks, a little nervous when he takes a step away and the akuma doesn't veer from its course. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Tubbo says immediately, like he always does, like it's routine. "I'm fine. It's not me, I'm totally fine."

But the akuma clearly thinks otherwise. And as Ranboo watches in growing apprehension, the akuma dodges Tubbo's attempts to swat it away and lands neatly on the necklace he wears close to his chest, a locket with a group photo of all the gremlins on one side and a portrait of Michael on the other. Black clouds cover the locket, and a familiar purple butterfly appears over Tubbo's eyes as Ranboo shouts in alarm.

And Tubbo had wondered in the past what it was like to be akumatized, how Hawkmoth had apparently been persuasive enough to convince half of Paris to attack their heroes. But now, he understands: it isn't Hawkmoth's offer that convinces people. It's the sudden rush of emotions that floods his veins, every inch of him abruptly crying out in hurt and betrayal and outrage. It's the feeling of a pot boiling over, scalding water splashing out and burning everything in range. It's the furious tremble in his fingers as he's consumed by the sole thought that he didn't deserve what happened to him, that he's been wronged so deeply it hurts, that the only way to make it stop is to make everyone else understand just how he feels. The blood roaring in Tubbo's ears is almost enough to drown out Ranboo, who's shouting something and tugging at Tubbo's arm, but Hawkmoth's voice comes through crystal clear.

"Ah, little Tyrant," says Gabriel Agreste, pleased as the cat who caught the canary, and doesn't that just make Tubbo's blood boil even more. "I was hoping it'd be one of you eventually."

"Get out of my head," Tubbo says, teeth clenched so tightly his jaw aches.

"Oh, of course, Tyrant," Gabriel placates. "Of course. But first... First, I am going to give you the power to ensure you're never attacked again. I will make sure you are heard. I will give you an outlet for all that fury simmering inside of you. And in return, you are going to bring me the other Miraculous."

And logically. Logically, Tubbo knows it's a bad deal. Logically, he knows Marinette and Adrien are his friends, and he'd never try to take their Miraculous. Logically, he should say no, should get Marinette to the akuma and cleanse it and move on and ignore it.

But his emotions are running higher and hotter than he thought possible, and all he can see is Hawkmoth, offering him a way to get rid of them, to feel better, to make everyone finally get it.

And it's not like it'd be hard to grab a couple of Miraculous.

"Alright," says Tyrant, eyes dark. "You've got a deal."

There's a crash of thunder, a billowing outpour of smoke from the corrupted locket, and then Tubbo vanishes, leaving Ranboo alone in the streets of Paris.

"Uh," says Ranboo into his phone, voice high-pitched with panic. "Guys, we have a problem."

;-;

Welp. This hurts. Thanks anon. Oh boy. This hurts a lot. Oh wow.