THE ERAS TOUR: Fearless era setlist
(other eras setlists) | [insp.]
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~ Just say youâre sorry ~
THIS IS FOR THE AMAZING ANON THAT INSPIRED THIS FIC SO KUDOS TO THEM đâ¨đđ
Also tagging my fellow moots who love this HC as much as I do:
@someone1348 @tickleebug @prettychillbrainfreeze @ghostlyshylee @itzystopkiddingmenowloco
Leeâs: Leođ˘đ and Mikeyđ˘đ§Ą
Lerâs: Raphđ˘â¤ď¸Â and Donnieđ˘đ
Summary: Raph and Donnie have been getting pranked by theyâre younger brothers all day. So like the good big brothers they are, they hatch a totally not devious plan to teach theyâre younger sibs a lesson. Â
(A/N: AS ALWAYS- T*EST DNI YOU NASTY CREEPY WEIRDOS)
âââââââââââââââââââââââ
âStupid dumb-dumbsâŚstupid stupid dumb-dumbsâŚâ
Raph turned around from where he was sitting on the living room couch to see his immediate younger brother- Donnie- pacing back and forth in the kitchen, holding a mug of coffee that spilled a little bit every now and again as he turned around in a pacing circle.Â
The young genius was wearing his dark purple sweatshirt with the sleeves pulled up to his elbows, wearing his occasional purple mask and goggles. Raph was wearing his own mask as well, clashing with his grey/gray sweatshirt.
The snapper got up from the couch, putting his phone down and walking to his immediate younger brother. âHey, budâŚyou okay?â Raph asked, putting a hand on Donnieâs shoulder as a way to show his comfort. The younger looked up at Raph and started chuckling, even though the eldest turtle was 99.9% sure nothing he just said was funnyâŚ
âWhatâs wrong..? Whatâs WRONG???â Donnie yelled, going close to Raphâs face so theyâre snouts touched before stepping away from him. The softshell put his coffee mug on the counter, pacing back and forth again while his hands were behind his back.Â
âOho, Iâll tell you whatâs wrong. Whatâs wrong my dear older brother, is that those imbeciles that I apparently have to call my younger brothers have been pulling pranks on me left and right ALL DAY. I canât get any work done without fearing for my life that another water balloon or paint cannon is going to hit me!â Donnie said, throwing his hands up to the air before putting them back down. The purple cladded sibling sighed, rubbing a hand down his face slowly as he tried to calm himself down.
Donnie was frustrated- very very (thatâs two veryâs) frustrated if you couldnât tell. The genius wanted to have a productive day; a day where he got almost all of his work done and he had the rest of the evening to spend with his family and friends. Believe it or not, the softshell actaully enjoyed spending time with his family, even if he acts like he dreads every single second of it.
But sadly, the universe didnât want the day to go the way Donnie had originally planned. The universe had to give him not 1 but 2 younger siblings that were annoying as FU- fudge. Annoying as fudge.
Anyway, the two gremlins have been placing boobytraps and pranks all over the lair, such as sparkle canons, water balloons, whoopie cushions- you name it! And at the end of every single prank there would be thisâŚcard that mysteriously came out of nowhere. It was orange and blue and had Mikey and Leoâs faces on it, saying âYou just got pranked by the Portal Pals! (P.S. L + Bozo)â
Which wasâŚcute. It was nice that the two were having fun and spending time with each otherâŚbut WHY did theyâre fun have to torture Donnie in the process?
âYou too, huh?â Raph chuckled, reaching into his sweatshirt pocket and taking out a couple of Leo and Mikeyâs âYou just got pranked!â cards. Donnie couldnât help but chuckle along with Raph at the sight of the cards, going over to him and resting his head on his plastron, groaning. The snapper just laughed some more, wrapping his immediate younger brother in a hug as he patted his battleshell.
âTheyâre. so. annoying.â Donnie whined, rubbing his hands along his face as Raph sighed. âI mean, yeah. Theyâre our little brothers, little bro. Itâs kind of theyâre job to annoy the living hell out of us, yâknow?â The eldest reasoned, patting Donnieâs shoulder as he huffed, his anger starting to slip away. âYeahâŚI guess soâŚâ the softshell mumbled, taking his head up from Raphâs plastron and smiling at him.
âBut hey! Look on the bright side: that doesnât mean we canât get payback~!â Raph exclaimed, winking at Donnie who raised one of his sharpie drawn eyebrows, curiosity and mischievousness written all over his face. âAre you implying what I think youâre implying?â Donnie asked, grinning from ear to ear.Â
Raph grinned back, nodding his head in confirmation. The second-oldest turtle  smiled a bit more (this time being a kind of evil smile) as he took out his phone from his pocket, going into theyâre family GC. The younger started typing up something on his phone, beginning to walk to his lab.
âWalk and talk with me, Raphie. Iâve got a planâŚâ
đşđžđ˘đCool Kids GC đđ˘đşđž
Today at 2:34 pmÂ
*đşđžđžBootyyyshaker9000đžđşđžÂ is online*
Hello my fellow fam
*UrfaveChampđđđâ¨đ is online*
*Mystic_Mikeđ¨đ¤ŠÂ is online*
Yoooo
Hey Don!
How are you đđĽ°?
Good good.
Howâs the eyebrows working? Feelin pretty, bro?
Donnie groaned from Leoâs text, about to type âkysâ in the GC to his younger twin before Raph cleared his throat, shaking his head in disapproval as they continued to walk. The softshell sighed, deleting the text before he was about to send it in the GC.Â
âThere. Happy?â Donnie asked as the oldest nodded, walking into the lab and both sitting on the labâs desk chairs. âVery.â
âAnyway, whatâs he even talking about, Don?â Raph asked, confused. Donnie ran a hand down his face, clicking out of messages and showing Raph a picture he took earlier. It was a pic of Donnieâs eyebrows covered in sparkles, glitter and fake gemstones- and it looked completely awful. Letâs just say the eyebrows looked like a second graders art project.Â
UhâŚno offense to any second grader of courseâŚ
âOne of theyâre sparkle canons got meâŚâ Donnie mumbled. The softshell was so glad he was able to clean that monstrosity off- he would never be able to live that down without anyone making fun of him for it.Â
Raph cackled at the picture, putting a hand to his face as he did so. âStop laughing...â Donnie glared, taking the phone back so Raph couldnât see the photo anymore. And if the alligator snapping turtle knew any better, he couldâve sworn that he saw a pout on his immediate younger brother's face.Â
âIt isnât funny.â The pout caused Raph to giggle a bit more, booping the softshellâs snout as the younger playfully swatted his hand away. âIt is a bit funnyâŚâ Raph giggled, smirking at Donnie. The second oldest just chuckled as he rolled his eyes, clicking out of his Photos app and right back to the GC.
Theyâre fine, actually. The sparkles really complimented my eyes.
See! Told you he would like it, Mikey!
A success in my book
Oh whatever đđđ
â¨Anywaysssssâ¨
What is it that u needed, Don?
R u okay?
Oh, yeah. Iâm fine.
I just need you both to come to my lab.
I have to make a huge announcement to say to everyone.
Itâs extremely important.
Raphâs already with me so I just need you two to come.
Oh!Â
Okay!Â
Oooh! Must be a pretty important if weâre coming to Deeâs labâŚ
Yes- it is important. I literally just said that.
See you in like- 15 seconds, Dee!
Wait! Raphâs w/ u right now?
Yes. Raph is with me as of right now.
Ask him for me how he likes his new room setup đâ¨Â
LMFAOAOAOAO
Raph grabbed Donnieâs phone out of his hands, his face red in embarrassment as he typed in the group chat. âWhatâs he talking about, man?â Donnie chuckled confused, not used to seeing his older brother so flustered.Â
After the snapper was done withâŚwhatever he was typing, his face relaxed- seeming really calm and content now. Raph cleared his throat, handing the phone back to Donnie. âWe donât talk about it.âÂ
KSYNDND
*KYS
THIS IS RAPH TYLINGNEN
*TYPING
KANSHSJAKSHS!!!
U KNOW ITS FUNNY BRO-BRO
I HATE YOU 2 SM LITERALLY DIEđĄđĄđ!!!
BAHAHAHAJSHSBDKDK
We love you tooooo Raphieee~!âşď¸âşď¸âşď¸đđđđđđđâ¨â¨
Donnie clicked out of the messaging app and glared at Raph. âHow come I canât type âkysâ in the group chat but you can!?â He asked, putting his phone on his desk and crossing his arms. âEldest brother privileges, duh.â Raph said calmly, merely shrugging as Donnie rolled his eyes for probably the millionth time today.Â
.
.
.
âWhatâs with the random call to Deeâs lab? Are we experimenting on something?â Leo asked excitedly, looking around the lab to see if there was anything brand new or important to test on as him and Mikey walked in. âYeah! What is it? I wanna know!â Mikey asked as well, grinning from ear to ear waiting for either of his older brothers to answer the question.
Leo was wearing his dark blue sweatshirt, with his blue mask. Mikey was also wearing his favorite orange sweatshirt, also wearing his mask.Â
Not answering any of the younger two's questions, Donnie tapped a few buttons on his wrist watch, closing the lab door behind them. The two quickly looked behind them at the door and then at each other, nervousness starting to broil up in theyâre stomachs. âDon? Raph? You guys okayâŚ?â Leo asked, his head tilting to the side in confusion as his twin and older brother just stood there staring at him and Mikey.
âSoâŚyou guys gonna keep staring at us, or are you gonna tell us why weâre hereâŚ?â Mikey said as he scratched his head in confusion.Â
âGlad you two are so curious to find out why I called you here.â Donnie smiled, him and Raph getting up from theyâre chairs, looking at theyâre younger brothers with a deadpanned face. There was another awkward silence with all of them just staring at each other.Â
The two youngest werenât sure if they were called in Donnieâs lab for a legitimate reason or if this was some huge staring contest. Leo and Mikey exchanged worried glances, âSooooâŚyou gonna tell us or what?â Leo chuckled, crossing his arms trying to hide his nervousness at his twins vague answers.Â
âWell, you and Mikey have been pranking me and Don a lot.â Raph said stating the obvious, only for Leo and Mikey to chuckle. âIs this what this is about? Are we in trouble or something?â Mikey giggled, nudging Leo in the elbow causing the older to snicker.
âYou two arenât in trouble per say. We just want to join in on the fun too!â Donnie smiledâŚa bit too sweetly. Leo crossed his arms, squinting suspiciously at his older brothers. âJoin in on the fun?â The slider repeated. âOh, but of course! The fun Iâm personally thinking of starts with an r and ends with âevengeâ. Isnât that right, Raph?â Donnie grinned as Raph nodded his head.
Mikey gulped, âWehellâŚIhi just remembered I have to goho feed my pehet rockâŚso, uhâŚif youâll excuse me Iâll just be on my wayâŚâ Mikey giggly said, nervously walking backwards to the opening door to the lab. Mikey attempted to open the lab door again and again but it just wasnât budging. He turned around, trying to turn the knob but it wasnât moving an inch.Â
âThe lab door is locked my dearest Angelo.â Donnie chuckled as he saw the youngest trying to pry the door open- an evil smile plastered on his face as he leaned against Raphâs side, crossing his arms.Â
Well shit.
âYou get Mikey, Iâll get Leo.â Raph instructed, walking towards Leo as Donnie walked towards Mikey, both of the older siblings wiggling theyâre fingers slightly with huge evil grins on theyâre faces. The two youngest looked at each other completely petrified, stepping away from the door and splitting up, going deeper into Donnieâs lab but making sure to keep theyâre eyes on theyâre âattackers.â
âWahait! W-We cahan talk abohout thihis!â Leo giggled, putting his hands up as a way to try and stop Raph fromâŚwhatever him and Donnie were planning. Well- he did know what they were planning which is why heâs TRYING his very best not to think about it too muchâŚ
Now, donât get Leo wrong, he can be a menace. Heâs been called it many many times by different people, which he takes a LOT of pride in. And he can become even MORE a menace when heâs tickling one of his brothers. To funny remarks to rib-counting to teases. Leo was one scary of a Ler and that was just something you just couldnât deny.Â
But sadly, the universe wouldnât allow Leo to be the only scary Ler in the family. The universe had to give him not 1 but 2 older siblings that were terrifying as FU- fudge when it came to tickling.
When it came to Raph and Donnie, they were justâŚvile. Finding every single possible way to tickle and fluster theyâre Lee until they canât even think straight.Â
Since Raph was, like, a TITAN in turtle form, itâs completely impossible to escape him while heâs wrecking you. And since heâs the eldest he will just go on and on and ON about how he was âThe best Tickle Monster.â And that stupid thing he would always do was give âRaph-berries.â Basically raspberries but heâs nibbling you as well and it was TORTUROUS.Â
Now Donnie was an evil force to be reckoned with. For one, he would cheat. The softshell would use his spider arms to ping your arms up so you couldnât squirm. And worst of all he would pretend as if him wrecking you was a whole big science experiment. Testing out his âhypothesisâ or whatever other big words Donnie knew.Â
So getting that out of the way, Leo knows heâs absolutely dead. Deceased. Expired. 6 feet underâŚ
The red eared slider just knows heâs completely screwed. Based on the facial expressions, body language and overall demeanor of his older brothers, the two were out for revenge. And Leo and Mikey being more sensitive than them, (Leo being a tad bit more ticklish than Mikey), they knew they couldnât stand a chance. All the two were doing was wiggling their fingers and Leo and Mikey were giggly messesâŚ
âTalk about what, little brother? Talk about how you scared the living heck outta me with all those posters of Mrs. Cuddles that you put all over my room?â Raph taunted, stepping closer and closer to Leo making the younger giggle more frantically.
 âI-Ihit wahas funny though!â The younger one stammered, âActually, now that you mention itâŚSHEâS RIGHT THERE, LOOK!â Leo screamed, pulling out a completely terrified look out of nowhere pointing somewhere ahead of him, pretending where he was pointing was Mrs. Cuddles.
Hey, heâs not called the Face-man for nothing!Â
âWait- WHAT? WHERE?!â Raph screamed, frantically looking around Donnieâs lab to try and spot Mrs. Cuddles. But the only thing he saw was a certain red eared slider running away from him.
Well playedâŚ
That little shit.
Before Leo could attempt to try to hide somewhere in the lab, Raph came from behind him, picking the younger up and putting him on his shoulder, carrying him to the middle of the lab where Donnie and Mikey were. Donnie already âcapturedâ Mikey, using his spider arms to hold his arms so he couldnât try and run away again.Â
Leo started to hit the back of Raphâs shell, squirming to try and get out of the olderâs hold as a bunch of giggly threats flooded out of his mouth. The snapper only rolled his eyes, poking Leo in the side causing the him to let out a surprised shriek followed by frantic laughs. âDonât forget the position you're in, bud.â
âYohou guhuys! Plehease dohonât- noHO Deehee!â Mikey squealed as Donnie released him from his tech arms, sitting down on the carpet floor and pulling him into his lap as Raph did the same thing with Leo, sitting a little bit across from Donnie. Before the young genius could pin Mikeyâs hands up- as he originally planned on doing, the youngest retracted into his shell, giggling smugly as Donnie tried to get him out by knocking on his shell repeatedly.Â
âHey! You canât do that!â Donnie said, crossing his arms and glaring at his younger brother. âToohoo bad. I juhust did.â Mikey taunted, happy he found a way to escape Donnieâs tickly wrath.
Leo, about to go into his shell too was immediately caught by Raph. The older held up his arms, grinning and raising a brow. âWhere do you think youâre going, Lee?â Raph asked, chuckling as Leo plastered a nervous smile on his face.Â
âNohowhereâŚâ The red eared slider giggled, looking around anywhere but Raphâs face before looking towards his younger brother who was soon about to break by the demon you would call Donatello.
âDeEHEE! NahAt the tUHuhUmmY!â Mikey squealed, squirming in his shell trying to get away from Donnieâs tickly fingers that were now dancing across his stomach. The older shook his head, grinning at the sound of the youngers frantic laughter.
âThen get out of your shell and fight like a real man!â Donnie taunted, which only caused Mikey to whine throughout his giggles but not coming out of his shell. Suddenly, Donnie stopped tickling his tummy, poking at the boxer turtleâs lower rib. âBoop.â
The younger's reaction was almost immediate as he came out of his shell completely to grab at Donnieâs wrists. âThere we go~! See! Was that so hard?â Donnie smiled innocently, using his spider arms to pin Mikeyâs arms up. Donnie just smiled at Mikey as Raph let go of Leo to begin tickling his sides.
âPfft- nohohoho!â Leo giggled, hugging his middles and squirming a bit as Raph lightly scratched around his sides. The older one laughed in amusement, raising a brow and grinning at his reaction. âNo? No, what? You two brought this upon yourselves!â
âOho screw ohohoff!â Leo retorted, pushing at Raphâs wrists as Donnie just continued to look at the youngest, not doing anything quite yet.Â
âWhahat?â Mikey asked, looking at his older brother whoâs face looked like he was solving the worlds hardest math problem- but the genius probably did stuff like that for fun anyway.
âHm? OhâŚnothing. Just trying to remember where youâre most ticklish, AngeloâŚI canât quite seem to rememberâŚâ The softshell muttered, crossing his arms and looking up intensely at his midnight purple ceiling.
âWha-?! Whahat ahare yohou tahahalking about??? Yohou know my worst spot!â Mikey giggled, rolling his eyes at his brother who only shook his head. âMy apologies, Mikey. I sadly do not. ButâŚperhaps you could possibly tell me?â Donnie smiled, a smile which only caused Mikeyâs face to go a bright red. âI aham nohot telling! Yohou already know!âÂ
Donnie laughed at the younger oneâs answer, starting to trace his fingers along the place where Mikeyâs shell met his neck- a known melt spot spot for the youngest. Mikey giggled slightly at the sensation, squirming a bit under Donnieâs hold.Â
"Are you ticklish anywhere else?" Donnie asks, not stopping his tracing, looking down at his younger brotherâs face that indeed looked like a tomato- which is really weird because he hasnât even tickled him for that long!
âNoho! Iâm not! Juhuhust lemme gohoho!â Mikey squealed, kicking his legs trying oh so desperately to get off his older brotherâs lap. âNo? You're lying to me, aren't you?" Donnie chuckles, still not stopping as he continued to trace Mikeyâs melt spot.Â
âI bet you're super ticklish. I just need to find the right spots! Just tell me where, and I'll be sure to avoid it like the plague." He pauses, giving the younger a chance to tell him where he was ticklish (because Donnie obviously didnât know!). His voice was low and teasing now, a playful, taunting inflection in his words. "Or should I just start tickling you until I find out myself?"
Mikey just giggled, shaking his head and stomping his feet on the ground- determined to try and escape while he still could. âThat's a yes, then?" Donnie chuckles, smiling a little to himself. "Alright, I'm going to take your lack of response as permission to tickle you." The softshell merely said as he now started to tickle the youngerâs exposed underarms.
âHeHEY!â The boxer turtle shrieked, trying his best to squirm away from his older brother. âThaHAT TIHIckles yohoU BiHIHiG jeHerk!â Mikey cried, regretting his words as soon as they came out.Â
âDoes it?" Donnie chuckles in fake surprise, continuing to tickle Mikeyâs underarms, his hands being gentle- not getting to his worst spotsâŚnot yet at least. âYou really shouldnât have said that, Mike~!â He remarks, smiling as the younger one only laughed more at the tease. The second oldest soon began to pick up the pace of his tickly fingers, laughing as Mikey tried to hide his face in his elbow- not being able to hide them in his hands since his arms were pinned up.
âWhat are you squirming around for, hm?â I vividly remember you saying you werenât ticklish anywhere elseâŚâ Donnie stated matter-of-factly. âIHI LIhihiED, AhaLRIGHT? Ihi lihihIED- dOHOn PLEHease! QuiHIT IHIT!â The younger admitted, his laugh muffled from hiding his face away in his arms.
âDo you hear that, Raph? This little shit lied to me! Can you believe that?!â Donnie cried dramatically before lightly scratching his fingers at the sides of Mikeyâs neck- making the younger let out a high-pitched squeal; not hiding in his arm anymore as he threw his head back in full blown laughter.Â
âI wouldnât be lying to Donnie if I were in your position, Mike. Just saying.â Raph said casually as if there wasnât a red eared slider in his lap, laughing his shell off and squirming like heâs being electrocuted.Â
âAnd you. Stop squirming so much! Your making it hard to get your good spots!â Raph playfully scolded down at Leo, tickling at the youngerâs ribs, chuckling as Leo grabbed his wrists and uselessly tried to pull them away.Â
âIhiâm gOHOnna gEhet yohOU guhuys baHAHAck soho bahahad yoHOuâll wiHIsh yohOU neHEver knew meehee!â Leo threatened, lightly punching the air in hopes to hit Raph. Which- none of them did. But hey, A for effort, right?
âOho I bet you are.â Raph laughed sarcastically as he began to tickle Leoâs stomach. âSomeone has a ticklish tum-tum, I see~?â Raph teased as Leoâs face began to go almost as red as the oldestâs bandanna. âDOOHOO *snort* naHAT CAHaLL IhiT THAHAT!â Leo squealed, kicking his legs and throwing his head back in hysterics.Â
âRAHAHPHIEEEE! PLEHEASE! STAHAP IHIT!â Leo cried, still trying to grab at Raphâs hands as they were lightly pushed out of the way each time he tried. Raph smirked as the younger pleaded, only making Raph tickle his stomach more lightly- almost feather-like.Â
âI will stop as soon as you and Mikey apologize!â Raph smiled. âAgreed. As soon as you two apologize, weâll stop reminding you two just how ticklish you are.â Donnie exclaimed as he began to knead Mikeyâs thighs. The box turtle shrieked, kicking his legs in hopes that the kicking will make it harder for Donnie to tickle him there.Â
âNAHAHA! DEEHEE! NAHAT *squeak* THEHEHERE!â Mikey squealed, still kicking his legs but Donnieâs hands stayed firm as he began to knead harder. âIHIT TIHIHICKLES! DAHANNIE *squeak* PLEHEASE *squeak* STAHAP!â
âHm? What? Whatâs so funny Angelo?â Donnie asked, looking back at his younger brother who- by the way- looked like a full on turtle tomato. âWEEHEEâRE SORRY!â Mikey cackled. Donnie nodded his head, looking at Raph but not stopping tickling Mikey.Â
âHey, did Leo apologize yet?â Donnie asked. âNope! Which I think is a bit rude considering your situation donât you think, Leo?â Raph asked, stopping tickling Leo to let him breathe as Donnie did the same with Mikey.Â
âYohou are thehe woHORST older brohohother eveherâŚâ Leo giggled at Raph, knowing he was absolute dead meat after that comment but couldnât help himself. Mikey made a teasing âooooh~!â sound, giggling at Leoâs comment to theyâre eldest brother.Â
âPersonally, I wohohould nohot tahake that amount of disrespectâŚâ Mikey giggled as Raph only sighed, shaking his head before smirking. Raph flipped Leo around so that his shell was facing the ceiling- and as he did so Leo felt as if his soul left his entire body.Â
Leo and his big mouthâŚ
âAHAHA! NOHO! NOHO WAHAIT *snort* A SEHEHECOND!â Leo panicky giggled, kicking his legs and lightly punching on Raphâs thighs. âWaitwaitwaitwait- lehetâs tahalk- RahaHAHAPH! RAHAHAPH WAHAHAIT!â Leo giggly panicked, his laughter increasing as Raph slowly lowered his head to the back Leoâs knees, ALMOST touching it with his face.Â
âWhat? Wait for what?â Raph grinned, waiting for Leo to reply but the only response he got from the slider was snorting cackles. Raph took a deep breath before blowing a raspberry on the back of Leoâs knees, causing the younger turtle to go absolutely mad in laughter. Leo covered his face with his hands, muffled cackles bouncing around the walls along with Mikeyâs squeaky cackles as Donnie gave raspberries to Mikeyâs stomach.Â
âJeeheezâŚyou guys are really ticklish, huh~? I wonder how long they could lastâŚwhat do you think, Don?â Raph asked before going back to blowing raspberries on the sliderâs knees, not showing him any mercy now.Â
âI estimate about 3 more minutes or soâŚbut it doesnât really matter because I donât plan on stopping until I hear an apology from Leo~!â Donnie tauntingly sang, laughing as Leo and Mikeyâs laughs became more louder after that. âBesides, these two had what was coming to them for a while.âÂ
Mikey absolutely paled at Donnieâs tease. This wasnât fair! This wasnât fair one bit! He already apologized! He surrendered!But because of Leoâs stupid comment and the denial thatâs heâs the most ticklish out of all 4 of them, theyâll probably be here for an hour!Â
âLEEHEEO! LEEHEEON *squeak* PLEHEHEASE! JUHUHUST AHAPOHOL- *squeak*â Mikey cackled as Donnie began to blow raspberries on Mikeyâs ribs now, scribbling his fingers along his sides too.
âSo? Whatâs it gonna be, Leo? Have you had enough?â The eldest asked as Leo only glared at him through his laughter, throwing his head back again. Leo shook his head, banging his fists on the carpet. The poor slider was trying to act high and mighty but was still squirming like a fish out of water trying to get back into the oceanâŚ
Or, in this case, trying not to get tickled to pieces.
âStop squirming, Leo. You arenât going anywhere. I could do this allllll day.â Raph teased as he blew another raspberry on Leoâs stomach. âWell, scientifically speaking, you can.â Donnie said, stopping giving Mikey raspberries but still tickling his stomach with both hands.Â
âI was doing some research for umâŚscientific purposes and I figured out that alligator snapping turtles and softshell turtles can hold theyâre breaths for an hour. So, as long as we take certain breaths now and again we could blow raspberries on Leo and Mikeyâs ticklish tummies for as long as we-â
âWEEHEE GEHET IHIT!!!â The two youngest screamed, not wanting to hear anymore of Donnieâs âscientific discoveriesâ about how him and Raph were the most devious ticklish monsters on the planet.
Donnie and his dumb-dumb research.
âHuhâŚyou donât sayâŚâ Raph smiled, trying to test Donnieâs theory about the whole ânot needing to breath thing for an hourâ thing. He blew probably like the millionth raspberry on Leoâs stomach.Â
 AndâŚDonnie was right! Not that he had one single doubt on his immediate younger brotherâs genius of course! It just sounded too good to be true! He will definitely be using this tactic on Leo and Mikey in the futureâŚand maybe April too! Heâs definitely not scared of the aftermath of when he does that to herâŚÂ
Raph smiled, not being taking a single breath as he continued to give a raspberry to the back of one of Leoâs knees. Raph was enjoying this new skill he could do very well! Leo on the other handâŚwas going absolutely ballistic.
âNAHAO, *snort* AHANYWHERE *snort* EHELSE! NAHAT *snort* THEHE KNEEHEEHEES!â Leo screamed, punching Raphâs thighs lightly again. âAwh~? Why not~? Is this a bad spot, Lee?â Raph teased into Leoâs knees, finding this whole situation quite amusing indeed.Â
âOHOMIGAHAHA-!!! YEHES! IHITâS *snort* SOHO FREEHEEAKING BAHAHAD!â Leo cackled, not knowing what to do but just laugh and kick his legs. He was absolutely defenseless! There was nothing more he could do but just take it! âSoâŚit tickles? Would you say this tickles too~?â Raph asked as he began to nibble at the back of Leoâs knees along with giving raspberries at the same time. Or, âRaph-berriesâ if you  will.Â
âRAHAHAPH! NAHAH- *snort* IHI HAHATE YOHOHAHAH!â Leo snorted, his hands starting to flap against the carpet floor, making light thumping noises.Â
Raph laughed, a smile still plastered on his face- but instead of that eat shit-and-dieâ expression he had on earlier, this smile was way more fond.Â
Fun fact: Anytime Leo was tickled by his siblings, he younger would start happy stimming with his hands. His siblings think itâs the most adorable thing ever- much to Leoâs disagreement.
And it was so funny because he couldnât even deny that he hated being tickled (even though he did anyway)! The evidence was right there!
âYou didnât answer my question, little bro! Does it tickle?â Raph pressed on, eager to get an answer out of his younger brother. â *YEHES! MY GAHAHAD! OHOBVIOUSLY!â Leo screamed, still trying to kick Raph off of him.
âJust making sure!â The oldest smiled sweetly, still not stopping his new ability on  the second youngestâs knees. Leo whined throughout his cackles, covering his face once more. âDonât be like that, little bud! You know you love it!â Raph teased.Â
âNAHAO *snort* THE HEHEHELL IHI *snort* DOHOHONâT!â Leo screamed, happy stimming with his hands again.
âYour body language says otherwise, bud.â Raph teased back.Â
Back with the PB&J Duo, Donnie an idea sparked in the geniusâ head. His eyes sparkled as he grinned at Mikey- causing the youngest to gulp in nervousness. He knew what his older brother was planningâŚ
âDohonatello- Dohonât yohou dahahareâŚâ Mikey warned, glaring at Donnie as a warning. But that so-called warning only made Donnie laugh. âOh I dare. Oh I so, so dare, Angelo.â Donnie taunted before blowing raspberries on Mikeyâs plastron where his ribs would be.Â
The younger let out a glass shattering squeal, causing Donnie and everyone in the lab to flinch a bit. But like Leo- Mikey canât really do anything but just laugh at this point.Â
âPLEHEHEHEASE! DAHAN- *squeak*! STAHAP!â Mikey cackled, kicking Donnie in the side with his knees which only caused Donnie to chuckle. âI think our little brothers have mutated into a pig and mouse.â Raph laughed, both him and Donnie laughing at the comment- because they couldnât really deny that fact that.Â
âOKAHAY! OKAHAY!â Leo screamed, his hands flapping on Raphâs thighs repeatedly. The older chuckled at the gesture, fighting every ounce of him not to take a picture with Donnieâs phone right now at the youngerâs adorableness. âOkay, what Lee~?â
âIHIHIâM SAHAHARRY!!â Leo snorted, his hands still flapping happily and Raph couldnât help but laugh fondly at it. âShould we let them go, Raphie?â Donnie asked, still nibbling at Mikeyâs plastron but eyes on Raph, waiting for his answer.Â
âYeheah, we should. We donât want to accidentally kill them...â Raph said to his immediate younger brother, chuckling at his own joke. The two oldest stopped tickling the two youngest, letting the two just relax in theyâre laps; trying to catch theyâre breaths.
âOho my gohodâŚ.â Leo breathed out, turning to his side so he could see both Donnie and Mikey. Raph laughed as he rubbed the younger oneâs head; trying to soothe him. The younger teen squirmed, holding Raphâs wrist as the older laughed some more. âIâm not gonna tickle you, bud.â He said, continuing to rub Leoâs head as the red eared slider stopped holding his wrists, excepting the gesture.Â
âThahat was fuhun!â Mikey giggled with Leo, sitting up and leaning on Donnieâs plastron- now being able to use all of his limbs. The softshell then used his spider arms to give the pranking duo two glasses of water- which the two happily accepted.Â
âSpeak fohor yourselfâŚâ Leo giggly grumbled, putting the finished glass of water to the side after drinking it and leaning on Raphâs plastron.Â
âSo! I guess now you two know not to mess with your older brothers, right?â Donnie asked, wrapping Mikey in a hug before lightly squeezing his sides, causing the younger to let out a screech. âYeHES! We learned our lesson, okahay?! Jeeheez! Couldnât you have warned us in text or something?â Mikey whined, pushing at Donnieâs face lightly.
âNah. This was way more fun.â Raph and Donnie both said, smiling as the two youngest groaned fondly at theyâre answer to Mikeyâs question.Â
ââââââââââââââââââââââ
This fic has been a WIP for a LONG ASS TIME so I decided to finish as soon as my stupid exams ended and post it lol-
But srsly- I love this HC for Raph and Donnie sm itâs so evil <3 I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it :D
(Also sorry if the phrasing and/or pacing is weird- this is my first time writing with two lees and two lers- I dunno what Iâm doing đđđ)
P.S. Since Summer just started for me I will be able to work on more of my WIPâs so keep watch for âem :p
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hi hi besties how do i make my saves save in ye olde balduring gates as theyâre not saving đĽđ
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that one time ken deadass threatened & tortured a man with the fire extinguisher while everyone else on the team begged him to stop
everyone joking about Joe and his anger issues, how about Ken đ
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đ¸Sorry for the long ass absent guys đŤ family and holidays have been crazyđŽâđ¨
I recently came across this short monkie kid wild West AU fanfic
It's short but it's really good, And it sort of got me in the mood to sketch or at least redraw the two mystic monkeys cowboy outfits again
I really wasn't sure whether to give Mac, purple boots or just black boots you can kind of see it in the first pick faded Mac.
đ¸đđ´â¨But I don't think I've seen anyone draw them with horses or write something about it, so I'm going to be the first one to do it! (I don't know how to draw them sitting on horses, so bear with me here.)đđŚ I know I put the scar on the wrong side of the Smokey Horse. My bad, let's just pretend it's on the right side.LOLđ
đŞˇ
đ˝đI headCannon that when those two summon their horses together, they get really affectionate. The sheriff's horse is more like a big old golden retriever, playful and mischievous, and rarely ever listens to its owner. While over here, Mac's is more well-behaved and obedient, and they can get quite sassy sometimes. I'm not sure what to call it. It's hard to separate those two, so they try not to summon them at the same time.
They're also very affectionate to the monkeys especially the opposite ones.đśđâ¨đ
đI want a scenario where they let the horses stay instead of just poofing them out of existence so MK/MEI can play with the horses just a bit longer since they were begging them by giving them the puppy dog eyes (especially on Mei's side; she's a horse girl fan), and after a long while, the sheriff notices that his horse Nimbus was acting a little more strange and protective over the Smokey horse, letting them eat first, and just never leaving their side. All sorts of strange behavior on the Nimbus side. All he ever notices from the shadow horse is that they were a little sluggish, but he doesn't think too much of it.đđ¤ đľ
đUntil one day, BAM! This little cutie came into the world as a precious, adorable little cinnamon roll, prancing around like it owns the world.đ§đ˝đâ¨
đThere's stupidly protective over this little guy.đżđĄđŚđ´âď¸đđ
đ´And there's a huge problem. This little guy is clumsy as heck. He's new and everything, so of course he is, but he likes to adventure out without his horsey parents knowing or anyone else, and he loves playing games like tag his favorite, but because he's so clumsy, he causes damage that MK or his mentors have to fix, so everyone has to be on high alert and watch over the little rascal. LMAO đđźđĽđâ¨
���I hope you enjoyed this, I certainly had fun drawing this I wish there was more wild West monkeys fics there's some freaking cuteđâ¨
đĽAaaah! I love these freaking cow monkeys đđ
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Professor Cameron #2 - Rafe Cameron One Shot + 18
Minor DNI
Part 1: Link
Rafe Ă female reader (No use of Y/N)
Warnings: smut, language, swearing, drinking and smoking
Fingering, oral (female receiving), oral (male receiving), unprotected p in v, pet names, squirting, overstimulation, praise kink, ownership kink, older Rafe, possessive rafe, jealous rafe, obsessed rafe, choking, spanking, degradation, name-calling, pussy slapping, mating press, reader calls rafe daddy
Lightly edited
4.1K
Don't let the beginning fool itâs a lot of smut lmao đ thank you for all the love on part 1! đđđ
Taglist @imyourdaninow @gri959 @redhead1180 @romaescapes
Enjoy! â¤ď¸â¨
Tanneyhill...
Later that night
"Holy shit," you whisper, eyes following Rafe's house all the way to the top. The grandeur of it all begs the question, does a professor really live here? I mean, I'm sure the university pays him well, but not this well. This is old money.
Tracking the brick walk, you make your way to the front door, smoothing out a very different ensemble than you wore this afternoon. You breathe a sigh of relief, thankful at this moment that you decided to dress up. Your pink satin mini-dress blows lightly with the cool night breeze, an open back cinched tight, showing off your curves.
Truthfully, I didn't think that would happen. Just teasing between friends until that fictional tale came true. I never thought he would actually cross the line.
Rafe was right... The boys at school weren't cutting it. They were selfish, inexperienced, and immature. That was only an hour? What could Rafe do with a whole night? On a bed instead of a desk? He said he had a 'real big house,' which is the understatement of the century. I can make as much noise as I'd like. He's going to take care of me... Me.
I've never felt pleasure like that in my life. The part that excited me the most was that I was holding back, not wanting to get caught. What would happen if I let myself go? The part that scares me, however, is the fact that I'm already in too deep.
What if Rafe's thought about it since? Not in the way I'm hoping he would, the way that would stop him from doing it again. A moment of clarity where Rafe realizes that he may have made a mistake. I'm his student... He's my professor.
What if he's doing this with other people? What if I'm not the only student in Professor Cameron's class getting "extra credit"? Am I just another one of his girls?
I can't think about that.
I'm feeling things. And, I can't stop.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
You can hear shuffling behind the door, watching as the knob turns. The door fans open; Rafe meets your gaze with a smile. "You... Wow. You look stunning,"Â he hails, bearing the door as you pass through.
Fuck, he looks good. You feel yourself get a little frazzled as you take Rafe in. A slim black button-down and slacks, coupled with yet another pair of designer dress shoes. He smells delicious; that same cologne reapplied, already burned into your brain. "You alright?" He smiles, looking down at you.
"More than alright, Rafe. Just a little nervous."
"About what?" He puffs, cocking his head to the side as he shuts the door. "Told ya I didn't bite. Not unless you want me to," Rafe chuckles warmly, turning you under his finger as he checks out your little dress again. "Goddamn. You're flawless."
"Thank you," you whisper as your cheeks blush. Rafe keeps his hand in yours, guiding you deeper into his house, letting you take it all in.
"So, what are you so nervous about?"Â Rafe presses a little further, not wanting to let it go until he figures it out.
"I don't know... I didn't expect to be here. I'm just - I hope you aren't having second thoughts."
"Me?" He chuckles; twisting his face slightly as a crooked smile spreads on his lips. "Never. No second thoughts."
"Okay... And, am I the only one-"
"Who's gettin' extra credit?" He snickers, reading your mind entirely. "You are the only one."
"Ever?" You ask, your voice just above a hush, kicking yourself for asking it in the first place to a grown-ass man. Rafe turns you toward him, lacing his fingers in yours; his lips meet your forehead, kissing you softly.
"If you're askin' if I've ever had sex in an office, and I said 'no,' I'd be lyin'," he chuckles weakly. His palms come up, resting gently on your cheeks, guiding your watch to his. "But, if you're askin' me if I've ever done that with a student... never. I've never done that."
You give him a soft smile. "I'm so happy I'm here with you."
"Me too," he hums. "Now, let's go relax. Yeah?" You nod as Rafe leans in, meeting your lips; kissing you deeply. Heat spreads across your body; the contact sets you ablaze, your entire being craving more of him.
Rafe walks you to his study, the mahogany countertop, adorned with six elegant bouquets. "Do you like flowers, princess?"Â He smiles; his hand resting on the small of your back.
"Of course," you respond dreamily, bending in to smell each. "Six? Rafe, this-"
"I didn't know what your favorite was..." He interjects, "Pink roses?"Â Rafe guesses, based solely on your reaction.
"Yeah, pink roses," you giggle. "Thank you."
He steers you to his leather couch, taking a seat. Before you can sink down, his hands are on you, guiding you to straddle his lap. You rest your hands lightly on his muscular chest as Rafe eyes you in his arms. His rough hands graze your back, landing on your bum; kneading your curves slowly.
"M'so glad you're here," he soughs, his lust-laced eyes locked on your lips. His crystal blues lift slowly to yours, sending chills down your spine. "You're still nervous sweetheart? Aren't you?"
You shake your head 'no' as you lean in close, kissing him tenderly. His hands drift down your bare thighs, slipping under the hem of your dress. "I'm not... I swear,"Â you whisper as you widen your thighs, pressing your pussy against his rock-hard bulge as you start to grind slowly. Your lips hover close, Rafe, matching your steady breathing. Tension builds as you wait for the other to break.
Rafe kisses you deeply, a passionate exchange, pushing your hips to ride him clothed. "Need to taste you again. Fuck, you tasted so sweet," he mumbles between kisses. Rafe wraps you in his arms, lifting you off the couch. "Just a little bit now. I need it. Don't let me go any farther. Alright? Not yet."
He rests you back down on the couch, pulling you where he wants you, your body desperate for his lips. Rafe drops himself down to his knees for you, taking control as he spreads your thighs, eyeing your glistening cunt with a hungry groan. "No panties?"Â He chuckles darkly, his dangerous gaze flickering to yours. Rafe brushes your folds, gathering your essence all over his fingers, before sucking them clean as your eyes roll back. "M'so fuckin' hard, princess. Can't wait for you to suck my cock; make me cum again. Get that pretty little mouth of yours around my dick,"Â he sighs. His strong arms loop around your thighs, pulling you closer than before, slumping you on the couch.
Rafe's eyes stay locked on yours as his lips do the same to your clit, sucking and brushing his tongue from side to side. He moans against your pussy, as his fingers toy with your entrance, teasing your pearl with the chilled ridges of his gold ring. Your thighs tremble, tightening around him.
"C'mon, baby," he taunts, spreading you wider, sucking and finger-fucking you with a little more force. You sink your teeth into your bottom lip, holding back your cries of pleasure.
"Hey... Woah. Woah... Wait a minute, baby girl,"Â he chides. "Need to hear you. Alright?"
"Yes, daddy..."
"Well, shit..."Â Rafe rasps as he grabs your legs, slinging them over his shoulders. "I could get used to that."
Everything increases; your heart rate, the pressure, the depth of his tongue in your soaked hole. "You taste like heaven," he pants, bumping his nose against your clit, making your thighs quake. Rafe laps at your pussy, devouring you completely. He breathes deeply, taking in your scent; the vibration of his low moan felt against your heat.
Rafe takes your clit into his mouth, sucking harshly, making you cry out; heels digging into his black dress shirt as you buck your hips; voice echoing through the large house. "There ya go... Atta girl."
Your back arches, lips crying out for him. "Fuck, Rafe. M'right there," you blubber. You reach for your satin straps, tugging down the top of your dress, letting your breasts spill free. Your hands instantly draw up to your tits, squeezing and pressing them together for him. Rafe bites down on your swollen clit; making you throw your head back. A choked sob spills from your lips.
Your hands drop down, weaving into his hair, giving it a rough tug. You grind your pussy on his face, feeling yourself teetering on the edge of ecstasy. "Rafe, s-shit." Your eyes screw shut as you cum on his face, pleasure coursing through your system as your pussy clamps down around his thick fingers. Rafe works you through your orgasm, waiting until you're fully unwound to release you with a panting breath.
"Need it - Fuck. I need your cock in my mouth,"Â you gasp; eyes still shut as you do your best to recover.
"Baby, c'mon..." He chuckles breathily as his lips find yours. You can taste yourself on his lips, making your mind fuzzy. "I wanna share a drink. Take you on a tour... You were supposed to hold me back. You can wait. Right?"Â You can hear the taunting in his tone, a devilish smirk playing on his kiss-bitten lips.
"Yes, daddy."
Rafe cups your breasts in his hands. Pinching and rolling your pebbled blush between his fingers. He sucks down, trailing wet kisses before biting your sensitive skin, causing you to moan again. "You're mine,"Â he whispers, nuzzling himself into your chest. "I don't want anyone else to have you but me. Understand?"
"What - Wait..." You ask breathlessly. "I mean. Are you sure, Rafe? You barely know me. What if I didn't come into your office today-"
"You would have... eventually. I just got lucky. I always get what I want, princess. I don't wanna see you come into class with anyone else. Don't wanna overhear some douchebag talkin' about some absolutely stunning girl he took home from the bar. You're mine. My pussy," he breathes, making your breath hitch as he slaps your sensitive cunt, soothing it with his cupped palm. "My tits," he mumbles, licking a line through your cleavage as he palms them together. "My lips," he whispers as he kisses you again. "My fuckin' girl. Mine."
"M'yours, Rafe."
**********
"So, you're a professor? Just a professor?"Â You ask through a flirty grin as you swirl your champagne.
"Yeah... Got bored. Decided to go to college, then grad school; got my doctorate for fun," he rasps before taking a sip.
"So..." You look around, letting your silence speak for itself.
"I made some smart business decisions when I was young. Set myself up nicely."
"Mob boss?" You quip, making him cock his brow and laugh.
"If I told you, princess. I'd have to kill you." Rafe plays along, shooting you a mischievous look. "So, you're pretty far from home. You plannin' on going back for Spring Break, or are you gonna hang around here?"
You laugh nervously, wrinkling your brow, confused yet intrigued, charmed that he went out of his way to find out more about you. "How do you know where I'm from?"
He clears his throat, regretting his words slightly, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt on his thick forearms as he shifts anxiously. "Uh... Um,"Â he puffs, draining some more liquor into his champagne flute. "Your student account," he mumbles sheepishly.
"Professor Cameron!"Â You gasp, flirtingly, as you lean in a little closer.
"S'bad. Alright. I know. I know! I couldn't help myself. I had to be proactive. Alright? High stakes. I gotta be real careful who I associate myself with."
"And you can associate yourself with me, Rafe?"
"Yeah. I have a good intuition, princess. Questionin' yours a little," he bullies. "That neighborhood you live in is shit, by the way. It's not safe, baby."
Your eyes double in surprise. The more he exposes, the more it should worry me, I know, but he's pulling me deeper. He's possessive, calculated, obsessed even. But, I fuckin' love it. How much more does he know about me?
I need to know.
"You look handsome,"Â you laud; just a slight bite of your lip as you lean into the armrest, hair tumbling to the side. You cross your legs, letting your little dress ride up your thigh.
His eyebrows raise, running his palm against his wide smile, attempting to play it cool as he stares at the valley of your thigh. "Just tryin' to keep up with you, baby. You look stunning. Did you wear that-"
"On New Year's Eve..."Â You finish his sentence as a smirk pulls on your lips, Rafe taking the bait effortlessly. "Do you follow me on Instagram?"
"No... Just stalk you," he admits, not an ounce of shame in his voice. He can see that you clearly enjoy his attention. "Like I said... Gotta be careful who I keep around. Not to mention, I had to keep an eye on who else was watchin' you. I don't share." He smirks before tossing back the rest of his champagne. Oh...
"That's all you did, Rafe? Just look at my pictures; make sure I was safe?"
He gives you an open-mouth smile as a blush creeps across his cheeks. "You really wanna know?"
"I really wanna know..."
"That red swimsuit you wore in Cabo might be my favorite thing, princess."
You roll your eyes, expelling a dizzy laugh. "So... Again, Professor Cameron, is that all you did? Just look at my pictures; make sure I was safe?"You bully before taking a sip.
His gaze darkens on yours, the look in his eyes telling you more than enough. "Absolutely not."
Rafe adjusts himself in his chair, spreading his thighs a little wider as he pinches a fresh cigar between his lips. He reaches over to the coffee table, snagging the Perrier-Joute, drinking from the bottle. You can see that he's getting more comfortable as time passes by, as well. Laughing a little more, a few more buttons on his shirt undone, drinking straight from the source.
"So, Rafey," you ask in an unholy tone as you stroll from your chair to his, dropping down to your knees to slink the rest of the way. "Is there anything I can do for you? I really need that A."Â
He quickly forgets his cigar, resting it in the ashtray without a second thought. Rafe extends the bottle to you, pouring it carefully, some still dribbling from your glossed lips down your chin. He leans down, pinching your cheeks in one hand, licking the mess to your lips. "I got a few things you can do for me, princess."
"Tell me," you whisper, fingering the buttons of his Dior button-down before pulling it open fully. Your fingers trace down his tanned chest, passing through the deep indentations of his abs to his black leather belt.
You can already see his long, thick cock; trapped in Italian wool, making your mouth water. "Since you're on your knees,"Â Rafe smiles as he pinches the button of his pants, opening that, then the zipper. "Why don't you choke on daddy's cock. Hmm?"Â You can feel the wetness between your thighs, the soft sweetness of his voice contrasting his domineering words, making your head spin. You draw the material over his hips, releasing his aching dick.
You glide your fingers through your pussy; gathering your slick on your digits, taking hold of the base of Rafe's cock. He shakes his head and smiles as his teeth tug on his bottom lip. You work him slowly, watching as the little bead of precum grows larger.
Rafe's hand toils through your hair, brushing it away so he can get a better view of your face. "So pretty on your knees, baby-" Rafe's words get lost in a moan as your warm tongue traces along his prominent vein, catching his cum as it drips down the side.
You lick a few fat stripes up his shaft, kissing his ruddy tip wetly as his dick twitches in your palm. "Fuck, honey,"Â he groans deeply, tossing his head back on the leather chair. "Might not ever let you leave."Â His hold on your strands tightens as your warm, wet mouth wraps around his swollen tip. A deep moan follows as you suckle on Rafe's head, flicking your tongue along his slit. You caress his balls, taking him to the back of your throat.
Rafe pushes you a little farther, releasing a needy moan as you deepthroat cock. Tears roll heavily down your cheeks as you take as much of him as you can get, gliding off slowly; swirling to the tip, making Rafe's eyes roll back. "Jesus Christ, angel, where's that gag reflex? Huh?"Â He laughs airly. "So good at sucking cock."Â Rafe pitches his hips, ramming you deep, making you gag. "Mmm... Shit. There she is,"Â he groans.
Rafe slumps a little lower as he lifts the bottle to his lips, taking a pull. "Gonna bust my load already... Damn, you look good,"Â he praises through a panting breath, making his stomach muscles flex. His thick thighs tremble as you start to stroke him with your mouth, rolling his heavy balls in your tiny hand. You release his cock with a pop, causing him to let out a desperate plea for more.
"M'so wet, Rafe," you whine, feeling your wetness drip from your pussy, gliding down your inner thigh. You take two fingers, skimming them through the mess. Rafe's already set, snatching your wrist; guiding your dainty fingers to his mouth.
He savors the taste, only releasing them when you tighten your lips around his dick again. Twisting your hand at the base, you bob up and down. Rafe follows your strokes, pressing you down here and there as he mumbles praise. "Lips look so good around my cock, sweetheart. Look at you, take it, baby. Such a good little slut f'me. Gag on it. Fuckin' gag on me. Mine... This mouth is fucking mine."
You hollow your cheeks, milking his cock with your mouth, making him whimper and shift in his chair as his eyes slam shut. "I'm right fuckin' there. I - I'm... Fuckkk,"Â he moans, hazy eyes widening as you sink your pussy down on his dick instead.
"Bounce on my cock. Tits in your face," you whisper against his lips, repeating his words from his office as you lower the top of your dress as well.
"You're a fantasy, baby. Fuck."Â Rafe slaps your ass cheek roughly, then the other side, hissing out a breath as your pussy tightens around him. Rafe pants and groans, his muscles wound tight as he tries to hold steady, watching you as you ride and bounce on top. He's speechless, eyes moving from your face to your breasts; losing control when he glances down, watching the place where you connect; his thick cock glistening with you.
"Fuck me,"Â he grunts in blissful defeat, taking a harsh grip on your hips, pounding deep. Rafe moans your name as he cums hard, continuing to fuck upward, gritting his teeth in overstimulation. No part of him wants to stop now that he has you like this. Rafe pulls you into his lips, kissing you slowly as you grind through his sticky spent.
"Should I stop?"Â You whisper, feeling Rafe's smile spread against your lips.
"No, princess. Don't fuckin' stop."
********
Your garter belt wraps around your thighs, lingerie hugging the fullness of your breasts; something new, something bought by Rafe just for you. It's a gorgeous set; cups made of two large satin ribbons tied at the center; your crotchless panties, a delicate red lace.
"C'mon, princess. Stop makin' me wait,"Â he croons.
"This is too much, Rafe... I don't need all of this. Truly,"Â you sigh as you round the corner, relaxing against the doorframe.
Rafe licks his lip, savoring each glimpse of bare skin. "Nah... This one's for me." He pushes off the bed, moving toward you, pulling you close before kissing you deeply, breaking away from time to time, solely to take you in. "Better than I imagined..."
"You thought about this?"Â You hum.
"More than I should, princess," Rafe breathes, lifting you into his arms. You wrap your legs around his waist as you bend your arms a little tighter around his neck, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.
Rafe walks you over to the bed slowly, taking his time as you press your chest against his, hearts picking up pace together. He sets you down on the mattress, mounting you a moment later.
Rafe's absolutely beautiful like this: dark blonde hair a mess, flushed cheeked, skin dewy. He cages you in, admiring you for a moment before starting again. He grinds his dick against you, trailing pre cum on your skin as he works his body against yours. Rafe continues to tease the both of you, his cock, painfully hard as you wait for him to ease your ache.
He swirls his dick through your arousal, nudging your entrance with his swollen head. Rafe gives you one last look before dropping his focus low. "Shittt," he groans as your walls pull him in. He fights the urge to throw his hips into you, working slow enough to let you feel every curve and ridge until he's filled you to the brim. You don't even realize you're holding your breath until he rests his heavy head on your shoulder.
"Fuck, Rafe."
"Squeezin' me so tight,"Â he breathes. Rafe completely bottoms you out, balls resting against your ass. He grips your hips, forcing himself even deeper, pressing his cock into you with his full weight making you squirm away slightly.
"Where are you goin', Princess?" He mumbles against your warm skin, the safeword you joked about during dessert right on the tip of your tongue, but the pleasure outweighs the pain.
"Nowhere, daddy," you pant as you wrap your legs around his waist, urging him to stay.
"My girl," Rafe growls, lips latching onto your neck, sucking harshly. He marks you with his lips, branding you with what will surely leave behind a dark purple hickey. His teeth sink into your skin, causing you to whimper.
Rafe starts to rock his cock into you, nailing your sweet spot each time. You wrap your arms around him, marking him in your own way as your manicured nails drive into his skin. Rafe moans your name, getting off on the ache.
His body drags away from yours, tugging at the bow between your breasts, letting the satin fall to your sides as he changes positions. Rafe starts to stroke as hands move from your hips to your breasts, gripping them tight, pinching and rolling your nipples before settling on your neck.
You wait impatiently for his grasp as Rafe studies his skin on yours. He smirks wickedly, watching the way his rings glint in the low lighting, his hand wrapped like a necklace around your pretty little throat.
Rafe tightens his grip, making your eyes roll back as he pumps into slow and deep, snapping his hips each time. You can feel yourself a little more breathless than before; your pulse felt under his heavy hand. You let out a choked cry as his other hand finds your clit, rubbing circles on top.
"Faster," you beg, your voice cock-drunk and hoarse.
"Mmm... Bet my little slut wants it harder too. Yeah?"
"Yes - Fuck,"Â you squeal. Your breasts bounce with each clap of his hips, his fat tip kissing your g-spot with each thrust. Rafe gives it to you harder and faster as you feel your pleasure about to boil over.
He's just as pussy-drunk, eyes glossed, pupils blown. Your eyes flutter closed, drool seeping out of the corner of your plump lips. You feel Rafe's breath on your skin, his soft tongue cleaning you off just as he did with the champagne, spitting it back into your open mouth this time.
His tongue tangles with yours, sloppy and breathless, as you swallow each other's sounds. "M'gonna cum," you gasp, feeling tears of pleasure well in your eyes.
"Me too, baby. You gonna make a mess? Let me clean it up for you,"Â he pants.
"Yeah-ahh," you answer shakily. Warm liquid squirts from your sex, soaking Rafe's thick cock and his expensive sheets. "Fuck, Rafe," you whimper. I can't believe I just did that... I've only seen that in porn. Rafe quickly snuffs out your embarrassment as he coaxes you further.
"Fuck, baby. Just like that. I think my girls got more in her. Don't you?"Â He grunts, not letting up, applying more pressure to your clit. You feel it again; a second release, Rafe fucking you through the spurts of your climax.
Rafe was right. He always gets what he wants.
"Gonna cum... Gonna fill you so full, Princess. Fuck,"Â he moans.
"Cum in my pussy, daddy."
Rafe's eyes roll back at the sounds of your voice, his release following close behind, muscles tightening as he floods you with his finish. He throws his head back, breathing deeply as he comes down from his high.
"Co'mere..." You whisper. Rafe gives you a satisfied smile, burying himself in your neck; holding you close for a moment before rolling you on top.
You rest your head on his chest, listening as his heart starts to slow with his breathing. Rafe's rough fingertips skim your spine as he releases a deep breath. "Mmm... Baby?" He mumbles sleepily, wrapping you tightly in his arms.
"Yes,"Â you whisper, blissed out and breathless as you meet his beautiful eyes.
"You're never leaving."
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I just read your Sub! Frances fic and OHMYGOD??? GORGEOUS. AMAZING. HOLY HELL THIS IS THE FIRST FIC THATS MADE ME FEEL THIS WAY IâA JOB MOST CERTAINLY WELL DONE đđâ¨đ
I was wondering if you were up to writing more of it? I had this idea for Sub! Frances where heâs a doppelgänger and reader is part of the DDD cleanup crewâŚexcept when Francesâs doppelgänger is sent over to them, they decide to initiate a so-called mandatory âprocedureâ to âdiscipline himâ if you know what I meanâŚđ¤đ¤ maybe even throw in some overstim and mind break~
Buttt feel free to ignore this if you want to, no pressure :)
sub! doppelgänger francis mosses x d.d.d! gn! reader
summary: how the clean-up crew likes to deal with slutty doppelgängers
wc: 1.5k
content warning: nsfw, dub-con, spanking, ball play, mind-break, overstimulation, fingering, anal, cock can be seen as strap, cum play, dirty talk, nipple play
authorâs note: hi guys! sorry for the wait, but thank u sm for 150 follows omg, u guys have been blowing up my blog ily all. thanks for the ask anon, i love this concept and i'm so happy u liked my first francis fic :') hope u enjoy this one too !! not proofread, minors please dni !!
the calls to the d.d.d. were slow today.
but when you finally got a call from the nearby apartment's security guard, you were quick to accept the job. what you weren't expecting was to find such a handsome man, awaiting his sentence, upon your arrival.
you soaked in the sight of him. his all too tight uniform and his dopey little hat that was a size too big, slipping over his brunette eyes. his sunken eye bags, long lashes and pleading expression.
the alarm was blaringly loud and the lights were blinding, but you still made your way over to the doppel, your breath fogging up with hazmat suit.
"i'm here for a mr. francis mosses?" you inquired, cautiously stepping closer to him. "is that you? or who you're impersonating, hm?" you tilted your head, driving him against the wall.
his eyebrows furrowed, back pressed flat against the wall in attempts to escape. he stayed silent, but you continued to stalk forward. "can't talk, huh?" you scoffed, shaking your head disappointedly.
your head turned to look at the aluminum sheet covering the security guard's window. you slipped your phone out of your pocket, dialing the security guard. "this might take a while. keep that window closed, yeah?"
you hung up, stuffing your phone away. your head quickly turned to look at francis with a glare. "turn around," you demanded, nodding your chin towards the wall.
"what?" the frown on francis' face deepened.
you clicked up tongue, disappointed with his reaction. you gathered his wrists together, spinning him around and pressing his chest against the wall. his pants were so tight that you could see the outline of his balls.
"listen to me, slut," you growled, tightening the grip you had on his wrists. "when i tell you do something, you do it, yeah?" his back arched, rubbing the bulge of your cock against his ass.
"are we clear?" you glared down at him as he looked back at you with widened eyes.
"y-yes..." he shyly nodded with a huff.
you smiled at his obedience, moving back to create space between yourselves. "now, i know you've been a bad boy. messin' with the security guard, knowing you can't enter the building like this," you started, grabbing the fat of his ass.
he gasped, biting down on his lip to suppress the lewd sounds that were so desperately spilling out of his lips. "since you wanna be a brat. let me show you how we deal with bad boys like you." you spanked his ass roughly, kneading it gently afterwards.
"h-HNG!?" he panted when you slipped off his pants, exposing his bare ass. his cock twitched at the feeling of you pressing him against the brick wall, the ridges rubbing against his perky nipples.
"no underwear?" you chuckled, dragging your fingers down to fondle his balls. he squirmed in your gasp, little whimpers escaping his mouth.
he shook his head when he felt your thumb circling around the rim of his hole. "unnghhh...'s dirty down there, ooohh...!" your fingers slipped in so easily from the accumulation of sweat and slick, making him jolt at the thickness of your fingers.
"so deep, mmMNGH! y'keep hittin' that, hngh, s-spot..." he whined, leaning head back in bliss. the room was filled with the sound of francis' moans and the sloppy wet sounds of your fingers ramming into his hole.
you fucked your fingers into him, grazing them against his balls. and every time he got used to the thickness of your finger, you'd add another one to catch him off guard.
as much as he wanted to deny it, he was shamefully enjoyed the way your fingers pressed deep against his prostate. "ooOGHHH! m' g'na c-cum, HNGH! 'm c-cumming, cumming!" he whimpered, cum coating the wall.
his cum dripped onto his white uniform pants and rolled down the inner sides of his legs. he was shaking against you, slumping backwards into your arms.
"you think i'm gonna let you off the hook just 'cause you're cute, huh?" you shoved him deeper against the wall, the bumps flicking his nipples when you pulled him up. "who gave you permission to cum?"
his face paled as he shuddered at the look on your face. "'m sorry! needed t'cum s-so bad," he pleaded, shaking his head when you wrapped an arm around his tummy to arch his back more.
you dropped his wrists for him to ball his hands into fists against the wall to stabilize himself. "okay, be a good and count for me, then." he looked confused at what you meant then yelped when your hand came down on his ass.
"GHK!" he shrieked when you smacked his ass again.
"i'm not hearing any numbers, slut," you tsked, slapping his ass again. it was blooming pink, a stark contrast to the pale white earlier.
you spanked him again, prompting a moan from him. "hNGH! o-one, mnghh..." he huffed, he looked back at you with his cheek smushed against the wall.
you continued to torment his ass until it was bright red, throbbing when you brushed your hand over it. "you learn your lesson yet, or should we do five more, hm?" you cooed, rubbing the fat of his ass soothingly.
"n-no more, hnggh...learned my lesson," he begged, tears filling his eyes.
you laughed under your breath at his desperation, giving him a break. "alright, alright. quit your whining, needy boy." you caressed his cheek, wiping a tear from his eye. "c'mere."
you took him off the wall, leading him over to the aluminum covered window. he stood there in confusion, wondering if his punishment was already over. "are you letting me go now?" he furrowed his brows.
you laughed at his assumption. if only he could see what he looked like right now. his pants and underwear pooled at his ankles, his ass blooming red with cum splattered on his shirt with his nipples poking out.
the way he looked back at you with a flushed expression and tears lining his waterline made your cock throb in your pants. "i'm not letting you go for a long time, slut," you shook your head, unzipping your pants.
francis' heart thumped out of his chest at the sight of your bulge. "i'm not so sure how sound-proof this window is..." you stated, cock springing free from your underwear. "so unless you want the security guard to hear how much of a slut you are. i suggest you keep it down."
"m-mkay, i'll do my best," he nodded with a cute little pout on his lips. he looked so serious, wanting to impress you so badly.
"good boy," you stroked at your cock, inching closer to francis. "spread yourself open for me, yeah?"
francis' hands gripped at his ass cheeks, revealing his throbbing, dripping hole. his cheek was pressed against the glass of the window, looking at you for approval.
you slowly entered him, the tightness of his entrance making you grit your teeth. "hooHNGH! o-oh my god...haah," his mouth hung open, drool dripping down his lips.
he's never felt anything like this, nestled so deeply in his ass. the way you stuffed him so easily, kissing his prostate upon entry, made his cock twitch with pleasure.
"fuck. such a tight little thing, aren'tcha?" you grunted with a chuckle, you cock completely disappearing within him. "took me so well though, hm?"
you quickened your pace, thrusting into him with more ease. "n-nghhh! y-you're hitting that spot a-aghhhNGH, again..! 's too big, mmfph!"
you shoved your fingers into his mouth to silence him, rubbing your fingers against his tongue. "haaaaghnn! feelsh sho g-good, ahhnn..." he muffled out, even with your fingers filling his throat.
"told you to keep quiet," you grit your teeth, feeling him tighten up. "bratty boy isn't listenin' to me again. want me to stop?" you threatened, pulling out.
"n-no! k-keep fuh-ghh...f-fucking me, please! d-don't pull out, mnngh!" he begged, shaking his head furiously.
your tip teased at his entrance before fucking into him furiously. it's not like you could resist indulging him, especially with the expression he was making. eye rolled back, tongue sticking out with tears and drool spilling out.
he looked like a common whore, humping against you like a bitch in heat. "ooGHHK! r-right there! f-fuck, 'm close, hngh!" he nodded mindlessly.
your grip on his waist was bruising, as your free hand rubbed the buds over his shirt. "o-ooh, oh! c-cumming, c-cumming 'gain, h-HNGHHK!"
cum spilled into francis' hole, filling him up generously. his own cock was covering in cum as it had stained the window along with his fingerprints.
your fingers fucked the cum that was spilling out back into his hole as francis twitched in your hold. "feelin' alright, tiger?" you cooed, feigning innocence as if you hadn't just breeded his tight, little hole and filled him with your seed.
"u-uh-huh. wan' more...?" he nodded in a dazed, rutting his ass against your fingers. he cupped his chest, flicking his nipple with his thumb. "'again, ngh?"
the smile on your face was pure evil. he looked so desperate for your cock, your fingers weren't cutting it for him anymore. "fuckin' hell..." you cursed, tugging your cum-covering fingers out.
"again," you smirked, thrusting into him roughly.
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Hellooo helloo, I love all your Luke stories so muchh!!
Could I have a request for Luke x Poseidonâs daughter reader something about her joining him even betraying her brother Percy because love prevails all so like their love is the most powerful thing of all.. hope that makes sense in a way hahaha okay thank youuu đđđâ¨
thank you so much for reading my stories, Iâm so glad you like them âşď¸
luke castellan x fem!reader
warnings: betrayal, readerâs kinda blinded by love but also kinda cute, little fluff at the end
reminder: englishâs not my first language so I apologize for any spelling mistakes
âËâšâĄ
Thirteen wasn't exactly the age you pictured discovering you were a demigod. Apparently, you had blissfully âor maybe obliviouslyâ muddled through your first thirteen years completely oblivious to the mythological world that simmered just beneath your feet.
Your life had been a quiet one. Growing up in a sleepy seaside town, the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore was the soundtrack to your existence. You felt a weird connection to the water, an inexplicable pull towards the ocean whenever you stood on the beach. But you attributed that to nothing more than a love for swimming and a healthy dose of wanderlust, you thought.
Then came the satyr. Grover Underwood, a nervous wreck of a creature with a perpetually startled expression. You don´t remember much about your life back then, just the way he stammered through an explanation about Greek myths being real, your parentage being linked to a god, and the pressing need for you to get to a safe haven called Camp Half-Blood.
And now here you were. Years went by, living at Camp Half-Blood, and being the only child of Poseidon.
Camp was always bustled with activity. Laughter echoed across the training fields, campers sparred with celestial bronze swords. Yet, amidst the chaos, a subtle sense of loneliness lingered around you. You weren't friendless, not by any stretch of the imagination. You had a close circle of friends, but there was a specific kind of lonely feeling that came with being the only child of Poseidon at camp, a forbidden child.
The other cabins, they all teemed with siblings. âmostlyâ. Shared history, inside jokes, and the comfort of knowing someone else understood exactly what it meant to have the same god for a parent â these were things you craved. There was a gap, a yearning for a familial connection that none of your friends could fully fill.
Then came Percy.
His arrival at camp was nothing short of spectacular. A blue-eyed twelve-year-old with a knack for attracting trouble. During a particularly intense Capture the Flag game, Annabeth, a sharp-tongued daughter of Athena with a strategic mind, shoved Percy into the lake. The air crackled with gasps and surprises as a shimmering green trident materialized above Percy´s head, claiming him for Poseidon.
The revelation sent a jolt through you. You, the solitary child of the sea god, suddenly had a sibling. Percy looked up at you with wide, startled eyes, a mixture of awe and apprehension playing on his face. It was like looking into a mirror reflecting a younger version of yourself, the same confusion etched on his features.
Percy looked up to you with a hero-worship that both amused and touched you. He saw in you a reflection of his own mother, Sally Jackson, with her kindness and unwavering belief in the good in others. You became his confidante, his guide through the intricate social landscape of Camp Half-Blood.
But you weren't the only one who welcomed Percy. Luke, your closest friend at camp, was equally happy for your newfound family, âor so he faked it very well. Percy quickly found himself asking you both all the questions he had and spending all his training session´s with Luke.
You and Luke were a natural fit. Both of you skilled warriors, blessed with the agility of Hermes and the raw power of the sea. You sparred together often, your movements a dance of attack and parry, a language only the two of you seemed to understand. Your laughter echoed through the camp, and more than once, you caught Percy or other campers shooting you hesitant glances, not really knowing what your relationship was about, a thin line between friends love and-, other type of love, drawn in between.
And yes, Luke loved you, and you loved him. So much, that´d you´d be able to do anything for each other. Little did Percy know.
The metallic clang of your celestial bronze sword echoed through the silent woods, a jarring counterpoint to the chirping of nocturnal crickets. Percy, his breath ragged and sweat stinging his eyes, pushed back against Luke's relentless assault. Betrayal gnawed at his gut, a viper coiling tighter with every parry and thrust.
Luke, his once friendly face twisted with a manic fervor, pressed the attack. Every word that left his lips was a fresh wound: about the Olympians' manipulation, about the power promised by Kronos, about how this wasn't meant to betray him, or anyone.
Suddenly, the clang of steel meeting steel ceased. Percy stumbled back, his heart hammering in his chest, as Luke lowered his sword. A flicker of hope, fragile and fleeting, ignited within him.
"Percy," Luke said, his voice quieter now, a hint of desperation creeping in. "This is not what you want, trust me. Last chance."
Percy stared at him, the hope dying as quickly as it had flickered. How could Luke even suggest such a thing, joining him? Didn't he understand the consequences?
Before he could retort, a new figure emerged from the shadows of the trees behind Luke. His breath caught in his throat, eyes twitching as he tried his best to focus on the figure coming from the forest. You.
A flicker of relief washed over Percy as he saw you emerge from the shadows. "ynâ he called out, hope blossoming in his chest.
You stepped into the scene, moonlight casting an ethereal glow on your features. But something was off. You weren't rushing to his side, face etched with concern as it usually was. Instead, you stood there, a strange stillness cloaking you.
"Percy" you finally said, your voice cool and controlled, lacking it´s usual warmth.
Confusion warred with the relief. "yn" he repeated, his voice unsteady. "Clarisse didn't â it was him" he stammered, pointing at Luke with his sword. "He stole the bolt. He's joining Kronos"
Percy expected outrage, surprise, anything. Instead, your expression remained unreadable. A shadow flickered across your face, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"I know what he did" you replied simply. The calmness in your voice sent a shiver down his spine. The casualness of your reply was scary. It was like you were talking about the weather, not a world-shattering betrayal.
There was something wrong. Terribly wrong.
"Then help me" he pleaded, a desperate edge creeping into his voice.
You met his gaze for a long, agonizing moment. Percy saw a flicker of something weird in your eyes, something that made your pupils blown. But then, it was gone, replaced by a fire that mirrored Luke's.
A slow realization dawned on him, cold and heavy in his gut. You weren't surprised. You weren't angry. You knew.
Percy's heart hammered against his ribs. He saw the familiar hilt of your celestial bronze sword hanging loosely at your belt, the moonlight glinting off the polished metal.
"Percy, I can't do that" you said, your voice barely a whisper.
Percy understood then. You weren't caught in the middle. You weren´t with him, you were with Luke, all the way. The truth slammed into him, a betrayal far worse than anything he could have imagined. You were a traitor.
Percy felt like you'd ripped open a fresh wound in his chest and poured lemon juice in it. This sister, this family he'd thought he'd found at camp, meant nothing to you in the face of this rebellion? The anger coursing through him was laced with a bitter disappointment that gnawed at his insides. He'd trusted Luke blindly, sure, but you were different. He'd looked up to you, confided in you. The betrayal cut deep.
"You're with him?" he choked out, the question laced with disbelief and a raw, wounded vulnerability. He couldn´t wrap his mind around it.
"I'm not with him, Percy" you countered, taking a hesitant step forward. He flinched back, the movement a physical manifestation of the emotional chasm that had suddenly opened between you. The pain that flickered across your face was a punch to his gut, but he couldn't ignore the conviction in your voice. "We're together" you continued. "We created this."
Percy couldn't believe what he was hearing. You were so convinced, so blinded by whatever twisted loyalty you felt for Luke, that you couldn't see the bigger picture. "How could you?" he roared, his voice raw with emotion. "How could you do this, to everyone who trusts you? To the people who love you?"
You scoffed, a harsh, humorless sound. "Come on, Percy, you want to talk about betrayal? Let's talk about our father." The words hung heavy in the air, a challenge laden with bitterness. A sudden breeze swept through the woods, rustling the leaves and carrying the salty scent of the ocean as if a wave had crashed nearby. It seemed like even the sea itself reacted to your words.
"Let's talk about the gods" you pressed, your voice laced with a bitter venom. "They get bored at the Olympus, so they play their pretty games, making mortals fall for them and then discarding them like broken toys. Mortals like your mom, like mine. And they leave us, their children, to pick up the pieces."
Percy groaned in frustration. "They're not perfect" he admitted, "they're trying their best for us"
"Don't bullshit me" you say. The calmer your voice was, the more fear Percy felt. "I donât wanna fight, Percy, but they couldn´t care lessâ
Luke´s face partially obscured by the shadows, but the jagged scar across his cheek was visible under the moonlight. It was a constant reminder of the failed quest Hermes had sent him on, a cruel mark of a father's neglect.
Percy's gaze flicked between you and Luke, a sudden understanding dawning on him. Your words, your anger, your sadness. It wasn't just about Kronos or overthrowing the Olympians. It was about a deeper wound, a festering resentment born from years of feeling abandoned by your father, his father too. He understood, but he didn´t think it was right.
"But you can't be serious" he finally choked out. "This isn't the answer. There has to be another way."
A flicker of sadness crossed your features, a stark contrast to the steely resolve you'd presented earlier. It was a fleeting glimpse, a crack in the facade you'd constructed, and it tugged at Percy's heartstrings. No, it wasn't jealousy or envy. It was a deeper, more profound sense of loss. You weren't angry at him for having a father who cared just a little bit, for having a family he cherished. You were simply⌠sad. Sad that you never had that, that your only family was Luke, and that his arrival, however welcome it initially felt, couldn't erase the years of loneliness you'd endured.
Percy´s eyes darted behind you, to Luke.
"Why are you dragging her into this?" Percy demanded, his voice tight with a mixture of anger and protectiveness. He knew you weren't the mastermind, Luke was the one who had poisoned your trust, manipulated your resentment.
"It's not that hard to understand, Percy" you answered before Luke could speak. Your voice held a quiet defiance, a loyalty that both warmed and stung him. "We're together" you repeated, the words laced with a quiet strength that resonated deep within him.
Then it hit him, another wave of realization crashing over him like a rogue wave. It wasn't just loyalty or a shared cause that bound you to Luke. There was something more, something deeper that flickered in your eyes whenever you looked at him.
"You love him" Percy whispered, the words hanging heavy in the air. And it wasn´t a question either, he knew.
A faint blush crept up your cheeks, but you didn't deny it. "We understand each other, Percy. We know what it's like to be unseen, unheard. Isn't that what love is? Empathy, understanding?"
A tear escaped your eye, glistening in the moonlight. Percy could see the pain, the longing in your eyes, how you clinged to the only thing that hugged you back; Luke.
âYouâre blindâ Percy whispered, hand instinctively groping to the handle of his sword.
"No, Percy" you countered, your voice soft but firm. "I'm awake. I see things for what they are. You know what it feels like, right? To have one person who understands you, who truly sees you" you continued. Your voice softened even further, a hint of vulnerability entering the equation. "Sally, isn't it?"
He flinched at the mention of his mother's name.
"That's love, P." you said, using the nickname you'd once shared. The sound of it sent a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill from his eyes, mirroring the glistening in your own. "And to me, to us" you continued, your voice barely above a whisper, "that's the most powerful thing."
Percy saw the love for Luke burning bright in your eyes, a love that had blinded you to the potential destruction you were embracing. He saw the pain of neglect, the longing for acceptance that fueled your rebellion. But most of all, he saw a glimmer of hope, a flicker of doubt that your tear-filled eyes betrayed.
The weight of your words settled on Percy like a lead blanket. He understood the path you were on, but he couldn't just let you walk away, couldn't let you be consumed by this darkness. The thought of ever having to fight you, to raise his sword against his own sister, filled him with a dread that eclipsed even the fear of facing Kronos himself.
With a desperate surge of defiance, Percy lunged at you, Riptide flashing in the moonlight. You reacted with lightning reflexes, a blur of blue as you deflected his attack with your own celestial bronze sword. The clang of metal echoed through the silent woods, a discordant note in the tense atmosphere.
The fight was short, brutal, and utterly one-sided. You were older, more experienced, and fueled by a burning conviction that mirrored Percy's own determination. A quick twist of your wrist, a disarming maneuver honed through years of training, and Riptide clattered to the ground several feet away.
Percy landed hard on the leaf-strewn ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He lay there, disarmed, defeated, and utterly heartbroken. Betrayal gnawed at him, a bitter cocktail of anger and sorrow.
A single tear escaped your eye, tracing a glistening path down your cheek. You knelt down beside him, your touch surprisingly gentle on his shoulder. "Percy," you said, your voice thick with emotion, "you're my brother. I don´t wanna leave youâ
Percy looked up at you, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with a storm of conflicting emotions. "Then why?" he choked out, his voice hoarse. "Why are you doing this?"
"Come with meâ you continued, your voice softening further. âCome with us, Percyâ
A long silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the night breeze.
"I can't, yn" he said, his voice firm despite the tremor that ran through him. "I won't be a part of this, it´s not fair."
A flicker of pain crossed your features. You rose to your feet then, your expression unreadable again.
A curt nod was your only response before you swiped a hand across your cheek, wiping away the traitorous tear. Bending down, you retrieved your celestial bronze sword, the moonlight glinting coldly off its surface.
"Then I guess I won't see you for a while, little one" you said, your voice thick with a maelstrom of emotions. Percy almost flinched at the nickname, a stark reminder of the bond you once shared. The weight of his decision pressed down on him, a suffocating feeling that left him breathless.
Suddenly, a hand clamped softly onto your arm. You whipped around, eyes focusing on Luke, his face grim.
"We have to go" he said urgently, his voice laced with a barely concealed panic.
You glanced back at Percy, his expression a mixture of heartbreak and steely resolve. A million unspoken words hung heavy in the air, a silent plea for you to reconsider, to choose family over rebellion.
But your path was laid. With a final, longing look at Percy, you took a few steps towards a cluster of crumbling ruins that stood there sentinel. Luke reached for your hand, his grip tight with a mix of reassurance and desperation.
Percy watched, a cold dread settling in his gut, as Luke traced a final line, completing the arcane symbol etched onto the column. The air shimmered, a blueish light pooling in the center of the ruins. It widened, forming a shimmering curtain that pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
Luke leaned in, whispering something in your ear. You nodded, a faint smile gracing your lips for a fleeting moment. Then Luke, his face a mask of grim determination, looked back at Percy for a final time. And with a final squeeze of his hand, you both stepped into the shimmering portal. The blue light intensified for a moment, blinding Percy momentarily.
And then just like that, you were gone.
The portal spat you out in a blackness so thick it felt like a physical presence. The air was heavy with the smell of salt and wet sand. You stumbled forward, disoriented, hand instinctively tightening on Luke's. His grip was firm, anchoring you in the swirling darkness.
"Whoa, careful" he murmured, his voice a welcome sound in the suffocating silence.
He took a tentative step forward, then another, testing the ground. You followed suit, your steps hesitant and laced with a growing unease.
"Come on" he said, his voice tinged with urgency, "we gotta get to-"
He cut himself off abruptly as he realized you weren't moving. You stood rooted to the spot, your eyes fixed on something beyond him, your grip on his hand tightening almost painfully.
Luke turned you gently, his brow furrowed in concern as he gazed into your tear-filled eyes. The moonlight, pale and ghostly, illuminated the glistening tracks on your cheeks.
"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft but laced with worry. He cupped your face in his calloused hands, his touch a familiar comfort in the unsettling darkness.
You choked back a sob, the tears overflowing again. "Am I doing the right thing, Luke?" you whispered, your voice barely audible above the crashing waves. "I lost my family, again. Percy. He doesnât-âŚâ
The raw pain in your voice tore at his heart. He knew this path, this rebellion, would come at a cost, but seeing the emotional toll it was taking on you was a gut punch.
"Hey, hey, look at me" he coaxed, gently lifting your chin so your eyes met his. His gaze was steady, filled with a fierce loyalty that had always been a source of strength for you.
"We were on this path way before Percy arrived, remember?" he asked, his voice firm yet soothing.
You nodded slowly, a single tear tracing a path down your cheek.
"I need you to be strong for me, angelâ he continued, his thumb brushing away the tear. "You´re what keeps me going."
He placed a tender kiss on your forehead. "I'll give you everything" he murmured, his voice a low promise. "I promise I'll give you the life you deserve"
Then, he trailed a line of kisses down your cheek, his lips lingering on yours in a final, lingering and sweet kiss.
It was meant to be a reassurance, but it sent a wave of conflicting emotions crashing through you. There was comfort in his touch, a flicker of the love you shared, but it was overshadowed by a gnawing doubt.
When you finally pulled back, a shaky breath escaping your lips, Luke took your hand, his touch gentle yet firm. He looked out at the vast expanse of ocean, then scanned the horizon.
You followed his gaze, squinting through the darkness. A faint flicker of white lights danced in the distance, a beacon in the vast blackness.
"Come on" he said, his voice tinged with newfound purpose. "We gotta get to the cruise."
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Christmas Event 2023 â Santa Claus of Love
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! âď¸âď¸
As a special gift to all of our lovely tumblr fans, we have compiled the event hosted this Christmas on AidaIroâs Twitter account for your viewing pleasure. We hope you like it!
Good evening! This is Yashiro Nene, Santa Claus of Love!
Christmas is drawing near, and my mission is to give sound advice to all of the lost little lambs who are still having trouble choosing a present for their loved ones!â¨
All right, Iâll do my best!
Iâve already found my first troubled little lamb!
Hmm... So she wants to give her childhood friend a present, but she's overthinking it and can't make up her mind!
Leave it to me! The Santa Claus of Love will help you decide on the perfect present!
You should get him...
POLL:
A home-made treat baked with love đ â
Be bold and present yourself as the gift! đ
An arrow
Happy Christmas!
Let's celebrate the genesis of a happy new couple, everyone!
Now Iâve found an energetic little lamb!
Hoho! So he's having trouble finding a gift for someone whose relationship with him can't be described succinctly.
Leave it to the Santa Claus of Love to choose the perfect present for you!
You should get...
POLL:
Chicken for the growing boy đ
A matching amulet đ â
An arrow
Happy Christmas!
Let's celebrate the joyous genesis of a new matching duo, everyone!
My next little lamb is a large one!
Oh? His coworker, a fox, is threatening that she'll bite him if she doesn't get a present?
Just leave it to the Santa Claus of Love to choose the perfect present for you!
You should give...
POLL:
A special treat to enjoy with booze đ â
Nothing says Christmas like an ugly sweater! đÂ
An arrow
Happy Christmas! Pretty sweet sweater heâs got on, huh?
Let's celebrate a joyous banquet between two drinking buddies, everyone!
And that leaves me with three arrows left over.
Okay! I'm going shooting!
Gotta aim niiiice and steady...
That should do it!
Whoever is struck by these arrows of romance will fall in love with the first person they see.
The effect lasts only 24 hours, so just to be safe I struck him with all three. Christmas tomorrow is gonna be lovey-dovey, guaranteed!
Oh! And I also brought a very special present.
Take these...
The newest volume of Toilet-bound Hanako-kun, Volume 21, as well as Volume 2 of After-school Hanako-kun will release on February 27th!
Happy Christmas! We hope you all continue to support TBHK in the coming year!
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Future Spouse - Your Meeting â¤ď¸
Choose the image you are most drawn to or resonate most with⌠pile 1, pile 2, pile 3, & pile 4 â¨
Personal readings available here đ
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Pile 1
(Tarot cards: 8 of Cups, 10 of Pentacles, Four of Cups, Justice, & at the back of the deck 2 of Wands)
Pile 1, you are meeting your future spouse when you are leaving a hurtful situation behind in your life. Perhaps, it is leaving a relationship that no longer serves you, a job that you leave behind due to more opportunity, or removing yourself from a toxic environment of certain family members or friends. While you may be in this circumstance of leaving behind negativity, you may also be leaving your situation behind physically by traveling or moving somewhere else. You may do this because you are burdened with distress, and you are giving yourself the time and space to heal.
During this traveling or moving, you will meet your future spouse in a place that is astonishingly beautiful. I am seeing that you will meet them outside in a beautiful natured landscape that is surrounded by a body of water, or you will meet them in a very tall and elegant building that takes place in a beautiful landscape. I am also seeing that animals might surround the area, and the environment may look rich in green. Before getting to talk with your future spouse, you will be in your own mind thinking about how unsatisfied and bored your life is in that moment, but that will change once they come through. The meeting between you and your future spouse will ultimately restore the balance in your life. That part of you that felt like your life was unfulfilled will vanish because this person will open your eyes to see that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. There is hope that excitement and emotional fulfillment will be restored. The attraction between you and your future spouse will also be reciprocal. While meeting them, you might think to yourself "oh wow, they are too good for me" but guess what? They are thinking that about you too! The more masculine figure in your relationship will also be the one who approaches first and is straightforward about their attraction to the other.
Ultimately, the meeting between you and your future spouse will lead you to do a lot of planning for your future. After the two of you meet, you will be looking forward to seeing them much more, seeking to get to know them more, and hoping to progress your relationship with them. Your mind of negativity will begin to shift into hope and optimism for your relationship.
Extras to look out for/keep in mind: Number 19, September, October, 3 to 4 years, nature, animals, ocean, body of water, number 8, 8 months, large building, green land
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Pile 2
(Tarot cards: 5 of Pentacles, 9 of Swords, 6 of Cups, 3 of Swords, & at the back of the deck 4 of Wands)
Pile 2, you are meeting your future spouse during a time when you are financially struggling, feeling out of place, or when you have lost something valuable in your life. During this stressful period, you will be overthinking a lot and maybe not getting enough amount of sleep, but I still see that you are persevering through your life. Maybe you might go to therapy to seek some help or you are continuing to work hard for school and your job. Your perseverance will lead you to meeting your future spouse.
I see that you and your future spouse will meet in a group setting or a gathering of some sort. Whether it be during a school, work, or therapy session, you both will meet through a friend, coworker, or someone you have known for some time. For some of you, it may also be that your future spouse is someone from your past, and you will reconcile with them. For instance, if you attend group therapy, you may unexpectedly see that person there as well, and that is where you will meet and reconcile. Again, that is for some of you only. When you and your future spouse meet, I believe that the both of you will bond over your unhappy lives. You are heartbroken, and your future spouse may be heartbroken with their life as well. You both will talk to one another about your situations, give advice to one another, and this is what brings you both together. I can also see that while there may be attraction, you or they may have their guards up when you two meet. This is transparent, since both of you will be going through a dark time, and it may be difficult to open up freely because you are both worried and focused on your lives only.
In the long run, you and your future spouse will slowly develop your relationship together. You both will realize that in order to have met your person, you needed to go through that devastating period, and the darkest times are a blessing in disguise that have led you to a wonderful partner to create beautiful memories with.
Extras to look out for/keep in mind: 10-12 months, snow, cold weather, number 12, number 13, number 22, number 24, number 30, black birds, dried trees, sleepless nights
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Pile 3
(Tarot cards: 9 of Pentacles, 6 of Pentacles, 4 of Swords, Death, & at the back of the deck 4 of Wands)
Pile 3, you are meeting your future spouse when you have finally mastered your self-love and are financially abundant! You will be in a situation where you are very stable, happy while being alone, and all your hard work has payed off. Because you are meeting your future spouse during a time of happiness and abundance, I feel as if it may take awhile before you meet them. As of right now, I believe you are still in the process of building yourself up, so please keep going and eventually things will turn out to be in your favor! If being happy and abundant represents you right now, know that your future spouse is right around the corner!
You will be meeting your future spouse either at a charity event, volunteering event, or a festival of some sort. I am seeing that during the day you meet them, you will be working or walking a lot physically. Then, after getting tired, you will be taking a break to relax, and that is where your future spouse comes in to talk to you, or this is when you notice them from where you are at. Your meeting with your future spouse will catch you off guard in a way. I do not believe that you will be ready for this person to talk with you, and when they do talk to you, you will feel like it is the right time to let someone in to your love life. You will be thinking that you have achieved a lot in the different areas of your life pertaining to money, career, and education, and you will also think that you deserve to achieve the romance part of your life.
When you and your future spouse meet, you will allow them to come in to your life smoothly. Meeting them will be a new chapter for you. This chapter is a new beginning of not only you accepting and loving yourself, but also accepting of a passionate and committing love that has great potential in building a life of wonderful children and a beautiful home.
Extras to look out for/keep in mind: Number 12, 10-12 months, 9-10 years, number 28, rain, park, fruits, animal shelter, wood baskets, butterflies, hummingbirds
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
Pile 4
(Tarot cards: 8 of Pentacles, Knight of Swords, 9 of Cups, The Unknown Card, & at the back of the deck 8 of Cups)
Pile 4, you are meeting your future spouse when you are working extremely hard on a task or a goal. Perhaps, you are trying to build a business, developing a presentation for a group of professionals, or you are just doing the usual of every day tasks at work. You might also be trying to establish an online business of your own. You will meet your future spouse in a time in which you are solely focused on your work and goals.
You and your future spouse will most definitely meet at work, or for some of you, through online work. I am seeing that you will meet them once you have accomplished your work goal, gained recognition, or obtained great emotional fulfillment. Maybe after establishing your dream business or performing your momentous presentation, your future spouse will recognize you, and that is when they will start a conversation with you. For some of you, meeting online through your online business is also a way you will meet them. Maybe they reach out to you because they are interested in your work only and you become business partners, but later on, the both of you unintendedly begin to form a relationship that is more romantic. For the rest of you, you will meet them after you have finished with a simple task at work. For instance, after you have finished reorganizing some items, they will see that you are done; hence, they will come up to talk to you. There is uncertainty on what will happen between the two of you though. In the end, they will be your future spouse; however, you need to work on your accomplishments first before you can come across them and build your relationship.
When you meet your future spouse, you must walk away from your old life of longing for success. While receiving an opportunity of a new love, you will also be surrounded by lots of achievements. Now is the time to continue on with your journey to success, and soon enough, your future spouse will meet you at the end where you are celebrating all of your accomplishments.
Extras to look out for/keep in mind: Fog, number 25, presentations, wheels, online chatting, business partners, colleagues, number 2
ââââââââââââââââââââââââââ
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Thoughts on the live action one piece
Spoilers đ
Yes, I binged all 8 episodes, and have work today and canât see out my eyes but worth it.
Iâll try to keep it short.
Luffys character was immaculate. The way Inaki portrayed him and brought this man to life was so amazing to see. Oda really saw Luffy in him and he did not disappoint. The moves looked great, CGI was on point for a live action, and they really did break the curse.
Zoroâs character was beautiful. I love that he was more serious, and him throwing up the finger in his first scene?! Iâm star struck. You can say what you want about the live action, but theres no denying this cast was perfect for these characters and the fight scenes were choreographed to the point where it looked so clean.
Nami 𼳠The emotion! The conflict! I absolutely love the way she had more action scenes and was more open with her care for the crew early on. Nami has always been my favourite character, and Emily did her justice.
I will be listening to her song on repeat.
Ussop! Ussop! Are you serious! Why do I love you in every reality! And Ussop and Kaya! The kiss! The scream I let out! I diedđľâđŤ I wish he had more shooting scenes, but his true potential wasnât seen until later in the anime so I canât complain, cause season two Ussop is gonna pop off.
Sanjiđł First off, live action Sanji has a hold on međŽâđ¨ Like what happened to the guy who couldnât get any girls. Ngl, was keeping an eye out for the blonde at table 8, looking out for my competitionđ His kicks were so smooth and all, and I mean ALL, his fight scenes were perfect. Like how did they do this. You can see the care and effort he put into his character.
Buggy? I love our unhinged clown. His making a circus with trapped towns people. His CGI? Amazing. The little goof we were left with when they trapped his parts in the chest made me cackle!
The pacing of the show was done so well. I was worried that 8 episodes wouldnât be enough (and I was right whereâs season two I want Vivi), but the retelling was more then I hoped for. I will always love the anime more, as most of us know thereâs not enough episodes in the series, but the live action did great in that respect. I did miss some of the characters they had to cut to make it flow better though. The ussop pirates live on in our hearts
Donât get me wrong, there was some scenes I missed from the original show, like Zoro lifting Luffyâs cage, Nami burning her hands on Buggys cannon fuse, Nami stabbing Ussop. BUT, they wouldnât have fit in this version of the show.
They did give us Zoro lifting the safe like he did Luffys cage which was cool. And Nami holding Ussops hand when Zoro was fighting, Nami showing up for the fight rather then leaving. I love her. Even though Nami didnât get to show her care through the actions of saving Zoro or stabbing her own hand, she was still able to show those emtions through different actions. The hand holding with Ussop rather then the stabbing of her hand was so good to see. This version of Nami seemed more fragile in a way, so this suited her version well.
It was like watching One Piece for the first time all over again. I didnât know what would happen. Getting more marines, and Garps relationship to Luffy being revealed so early in the series to cause tension within the crew *chefâs kiss* And Koby? âBe a good pirate.â? Like I love you? Not doing what Garp asked? Standing up for his beliefs? You are going to be a good Marine. Youâll be the greatest đ
The relationships they explored?
First off Ussop and Kaya đľ I love them so much. Them talking to the straw hats about their relationship was so cute, and Zoro saying it wasnât his area of expertise đ
đťâ¨ Jokes đ
Nami being besties with Kayađ Her telling Kaya not to let someone tell her how to run her life, drawing connections to her own situation, telling Kaya not to be trapped. Her returning the treasure! I loved it so much. Ussopâs and Namiâs friendship has always been the one I cherished in the crew, and for Nami to support Kaya, and Ussop to see how Nami was good to his girl I feel will only strengthen their relationship.
Nami and Zoro besties? Didnât know I could love them more.
Nami caring so much for Zoro after his fight with Mihawk showed her love for her new friends, and mirrored her care she had in the original series where she saved him from drowning at Arlong park. Even though we didnât get the original scenes, they were supplemented with new scenes that held the same feelings.
Zosan- I mean Zoro and Sanji. The wings of the pirate king? I love their bickering in any universe it seems. The fish men fight was so good, them being unbothered with the guys trying to kill them as they fought with each other was so them. And Zoro licking his plate clean and saying Sanjiâs food was okay? Not bad for a waiter huh?
And the most important pair. Captain and his first mate. I just loved how many times they reiterated that Zoro is Luffys right hand man 𼰠Luffy not stepping in the way of Zoros dream was beautiful, and his care afterwards reminded me of how he cared for Nami when she got sick in the original series. Asking Sanji to cook his favourite? So cute. He couldnât decide if it was best for Zoro to eat or sleep or drink and him stressing for Zoro. All amazing. Iâve used amazing so many times but its just the word I need to explain it. Zoro waking up, Luffy engulfing him. I could go on and on.
Nami and Luffy? The amount of love I have for them. They were everything I wanted from them. The scene. THE scene. Beautiful.
I could go on and on about this show, but sadly I have work. Please show this version love, and donât go into expecting the same series. It is different. Itâs its own version and deserves its own category.
I love the cast! Thank you for making history with this adaptation! Xx
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Saved by Diasomnia!!
I really love how the game always makes sure we get a rescue moment with Diasomnia characters in every event if they are on it lol
It supports my agenda that Ramshackle and Diasomnia are connected to each other in lore (like both these dorms have heavy relation with History and Death)đđťđđť. They are always on the lookout for their Young Master's friend... đĽşđđ
(Also yeah... Why did I just realize now that Malleus is the one who indirectly introduced us to other Diaso members.....đđ I find that so cute bcs usually the others are *supposed* to be the one looking for a friend for him but Malleus just mentioned us and Lilia was hyped about it and it all domino effect from there lol)
Also, surprise yeeeâźď¸âźď¸đ¤şđ¤ş I drew some of my mutuals OC's đĽ°â¨â¨ Yuuri Atsuisamui with Silver from @souslesetoilesavectoi and Hana Asteria with Lilia from @hanafubukki â¨đŤśđťâ¨đŤśđťâ¨ (i hope i did justice for your lovely oc's, sous and hana!!đ) And, Malleus is just with my yume oc, CitrineđĽ°đ,,, also i need to interact to more sebek yumes... i only had the default prefect for himđĽš
Honestly there are other Diashackle moments that I want to include as well!! But these four are my most preciousđđ
Like that time in Sunset Savanna event, where Lilia pressured Leona to let us go to Sunset Savanna too or else he's not going lol (thank you peepawđđđâ¨â¨) and that vignette with Sebek helping us carry the chairs and him protecting us when the chairs fell âźď¸đĽšđ
On the main story, Silver is the only one who asks us if we're fine from time to time and the fact he rescued us after Mickey's dream collapsed--- and ofc Malleus indirectly helping us on Book 3 bcs of the Gargoyle Analogy lol--- I LOVE IT đĽšđŤśđťâ¨đđđđđ
Even the events mentions how precious Ramshackle is to Diasomnia so đ¤đ¤đ¤ thank you for being the backbone of many Yuu&Grim spotlight, Diasomnia-- Best dorm frfrâ¨â¨đđđđđ
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if ur if requests are still open could i ask for one with singer!yn and sheâs secretly dating lewis but another driver (maybeeeee charles or daniel hehe) names her as his celeb crush and is always liking her pics so when they confirm it everyoneâs like someone check on charles/daniel đ
him â LH 44
warnings: a few things, I was busy all day, so I very much rushed this and just kinda threw this together, so sorry for this being kinda all over the place and I also tried the whole âtwitter thingâ as well and Iâm hoping it doesnât look to sloppy
,,,
twitter
Instagram
y/n/l/n
liked by lewishamilton, charles_leclerc, Danielriccardo and 900,999 others
thank you New York for an amazing night, I love you all and will miss you sweet babies đđ
đ¸ y/p/n/l/n â¨
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y/nfan155 I have never cried more than when you played the 30th
vettelkimi y/n opinion on Charles Leclerc and Daniel Riccardo đ¤
> Y/n/l/n theyâre cute đ¤ˇââď¸
DanielRiccardo thank you y/n
ricccarddo3 please not Daniel hiding in her comments
ashlelcerc444 Charles and Daniel both liking her picsâŚgod theyâre obsessed with her
lewishamtilon enjoyed your show tonight y/n âşď¸
> y/n/l/n glad you did Lewis đĽ°
Vettelmick47 LEWIS? what are you doing here
Mickshoemacher please this is so odd
roseysainz he popped out of nowhere
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lewishamtion
Liked by Georgerussell63, yďżź/n/l/n, and ďżź999,000 others
love New York and itâs people â¤ď¸
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vettelmick47 youâre still in New York?
Hamtilony/n Lewis opinion on y/n đ¤
asleclerc55 you talking about y/n?
Y/n/l/n fun seeing you at the show âşď¸â¤ď¸
Rayvettel44 I smell something fishy
viewing next post
twitter
viewing y/n/l/nâs storyÂ
lewishamilton
liked by y/n/l/n, Georgerussell63, and 900,888 othersÂ
lovely weekend in New York â¤ď¸
tagged y/n/l/n
View commentsÂ
Ashleclerc16 IS THAT Y/N?!
vettelmick47 now hold onâŚ..?
mickshoemacher y/n was wearing that dress a few nights ago at one of her shows-
leclercsainzz44 no because by her insta story and now this, I think theyâre dating
sainzznorris455 I mean somebody did see them leaving a coffee shop together and holding hands
Sebastiankimi @.charles_leclerc what do you think of this? đ¤
AstonAlonso HELP?!
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y/n/l/n
liked by lewishamilton, charles_leclerc, Georgerusell63 and 700,690 othersÂ
home is with you my dear đđ
tagged LewisHamiltonÂ
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ashleclerc16 SO ITS TRUE
Sebastiankimi WHAT HOLD ON?
charlessainz16 somebody check on Charles and DanielâŚcheck on them now
LewisHamilton my dearest love đ
Itsainzz55 @,charles_leclerc @,DanielRiccardo what do yâall think of this đ¤đ¤
onlysainz55 wait the caption is lyrics from her latest albumâŚ.was the song about him THE WHOLE TIME?!
> y/n/l/n đŤ˘đ¤đ¤Ť
> itsonlysainz55 y/n what does this mean WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
notmickschmacher so @,charles_leclerc and @,DanielRiccardo yâall doing okay?
> mickshoemacher donât think theyâre doing okay
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miss taken.
âłÂ you pride yourself on being a professional, but sometimes your students' parents really test your patience.
â jungkook x reader
â fluff | smut | teacher!au | single parent!au | e2l
â 20.3k [1/1]
ââ our kids are bitter rivals and the only time we ever meet is when weâre both called to the principalâs office and whatever maybe i think youâre kind of cute but your kidâs a monster and ALSO someone keeps buying the last everything bagel at my favorite coffee shop 2 minutes before i get there in the morning and has heard about my plight and has started leaving me bragging notes about it ââ
notes:Â fic number two in the serendipity series is here at last!!! this took me like a million and a half years to finish because Real Life happened but here we finally are! also, i changed the type of bagel that the story is centered around, because i honestly didnât come to like everything bagels until relatively recently and i will still only eat it if itâs part of a bagel sandwich because? just having cream cheese or whatever on an everything bagel feels kind of unhinged to me! but thatâs neither here nor there and no one is here for my bagel opinions so! hope you enjoy the story!!! đ
â˘Â series masterlist. | inspired by this post.
warnings: dilf!jk, some kissing and hand stuff, â¨sexual tension⨠but nothing too terribly explicit tbh
Silence has never sounded louder.Â
You drum your fingers against the armrest of your chair, nails clacking against the cheap plastic. On the wall, the second hand of the clock completes yet another revolution, and you glance over when your companion sighs, plucks off her reading glasses, and sets them down on the desk beside the placard that houses her title: Principal Pamela Baker, Hybe Academy.Â
A woman nearing her fifties, Pam has sandy blonde hair cut into a neat bob and an enviable ability to pull off any lipstick color, no matter how bold. Youâre lucky enough to call her both a friend and a mentor, and when she mutters a curse under her breath, you chuckle. âLate again,â she huffs, offering you a wry smile before leaning back in her seat and casting her gaze skyward. âTypical.â
âYou know what these corporate types are like, Pam,â you reply, rolling your eyes. âThey have zero regard for anyone elseâs time. He was twenty minutes late to our parent-teacher conference last semester, so donât take it personally.â
âBelieve me, I know plenty of men like Jungkook Jeon,â Pam says with another sigh, this one heavier and longer than the last. âI even married one, you know. But that was before I came to my senses and divorced his ass. Best decision of my life, right after getting my tubes tied.â
âThree kids was enough for you?â you tease, and Pam snorts out a laugh.Â
âMore than enough,â she replies. âWhat about you, though? Thinking of having another kid anytime soon?â
âI donât think so⌠well, not anytime soon, at least. Ask me again inââÂ
The sound of a doorknob turning stops you in your tracks, and a moment later, the door to the office swings open with a dull click.Â
âPrincipal Baker. Miss {L/N}.â Jungkook Jeon is standing at the threshold in a wool coat the color of charcoal, the buttons of which are undone to reveal the undoubtedly designer suit underneath. His dark hair is parted neatly across his forehead, still sprinkled with lingering snowflakes from his journey here, and you bite back the urge to remark on his tardiness. Instead, you stand when your boss stands up, mustering up every ounce of professionalism you possibly can.
âMr. Jeon,â Pam says, giving his hand a firm shake before gesturing to the empty chair beside you. âItâs nice to see you again. Please, take a seat.â
You incline your head in Jungkookâs direction as he lowers himself into the plastic chair, the legs scraping against the tiled floor in protest as he adjusts his position. âHello, Mr. Jeon. Thank you for finally joining us.â
If Jungkook notices the snarky inflection of your tone, he doesnât let it show. He merely levels you with a cool gaze, blinking lazily before turning to your boss. âExcuse my tardiness,â he says, smoothing down the lapels of his black jacket and straightening his slate blue tie. âI got here as fast as I could. Where is my daughter?â
Pam gestures toward the door. âDaeun is down the hall in the library, under Mr. Kimâs supervision. I thought it best if we spoke without the children first.â
The dark-haired man hums. âWhat happened, Principal? You were rather vague on the phone.â
Pam nods, and you exchange looks before she turns her attention back to Jungkook. âYes, well, as I explained on the phone, there was an incident. Daeun forcefully took her classmateâs book during the free reading period, and refused to return it when asked.â
At that, Jungkook casts you another glance. âI see. And I presume the classmate was Miss {L/N}âs daughter?â
âIt was,â you confirm, taking care to keep your tone even despite the irritation simmering in your belly. âThis is the second time Trixieâs been targeted by your daughter, Mr. Jeon. Do you think thatâs a coincidence?â
Jungkookâs eyes narrow, his lips twisting into a displeased frown. âI'm not sure I like what youâre implying, Miss {L/N}.â
The iciness in his voice is unmistakable, but you have fifteen minutesâ worth of annoyance festering in your bellyâannoyance that has amplified with every second that he made you wait. That, combined with his behavior last semester is enough to stir that annoyance into full-blown anger. Heâs been short with you every time youâve called to talk about his daughterâs progress in class, and you very nearly canceled his eight oâclock appointment to meet with you during Decemberâs parent-teacher conferences. You remember pulling up his contact information nineteen minutes after eight, thumb hovering over the call button on your phone when he finally burst into your classroom. No preamble, and no apology. He just sat down, as if nothing was amiss, and began asking about Daeunâs grades in math.
Itâs no wonder youâve never heard so much as a word about a Mrs. Jeon. The nosy part of your brain wonders about Jungkookâs home life on occasion, and the more vindictive part relishes in the fact that heâs no doubt a single parent. Any woman would have to be a saint to put up with Jungkook Jeon, you reason, because as far as youâre concerned, heâs the devil.Â
The devil dressed in head-to-toe Armani, who is currently fixing you with a look that could temper steel.Â
âMr. Jeon.â Pam, as always, is quick to diffuse the sudden tension thatâs settled over her office. âNo one is implying anything here. We just want to have a frank, civil discussion about Daeunâs behavior, and see if you can think of anything that may be causing her to act out. A recent change in her life, perhaps? Something new that she hasnât quite adjusted to yet?â
You take a deep breath, releasing it through your nose before putting your professional mask back on. âHer shift in behavior was extremely sudden,â you chime in, watching out of the corner of your eye as Pam inclines her head in agreement. âLaughing when Trixie and another classmate slipped and fell on the ice, and now this? I donât believe for a minute that this change came out of nowhereâsomething must have caused it. Daeun is a smart girl, Mr. Jeon. Sheâs outgoing and a little rambunctious, but sheâs always been kind to her classmates in the past. Todayâs behavior was incredibly out of character for her.â
A beat of silence passes, as your words fade into silence. Then Jungkook shifts in his seat, crossing one leg over the other as he turns his full attention to you. âWe keep talking about Daeun as if she was the only child involved in this incident, Miss {L/N}. Why donât we talk about your daughter instead? Trixie, is it?â
And just like that, your mask begins to splinter at the edges. âTrixie was reading quietly at the table when Daeun approached her,â you reply coolly. âShe didnât instigate anything, Mr. Jeon.â
âOh, and Iâm supposed to take your word for it?â Jungkook huffs out a humorless chuckle, leaning back in his seat. âI think you, of all people, might be a little bit biased.â
Fury flares in your belly, hot and bright. âI am a professional, Mr. Jeon,â you manage between clenched teeth. âI care about all of my students equally, and treat them as such. But I donât expect you to understand that.â
Jungkook opens his mouth to retort, but your boss stops him before he can utter a single syllable. âI think thatâs enough for today,â Pam says, rising to her feet and stepping around her desk to shake Jungkookâs hand. Even in heels, she only comes up to his chest, and you would have laughed at the height disparity if it werenât for the rage still bubbling through your veins. âLike I said before, the girls are just down the hall with Mr. Kim. If youâll follow meâŚâ
Pam ushers Jungkook out of the office, chattering mindlessly about the cafeteria renovations that are underwayâfunded in large part by Jungkook himself, youâre certain. As much as youâve grown to dislike the man, you know that he cares deeply about education and donates a rather large sum to your school every year. Trailing after them by a few paces, you listen as Pam points out a row of plaques hanging on the wall, honoring distinguished students and teachers alike.
The library, when you reach it, is empty save for three figures seated at one of several rectangular tables that occupy the middle of the room. Taehyung Kim, the copper-haired librarian, springs out of his seat upon your arrival, and you wave tiredly as he approaches with a warm, affable grin.Â
âWelcome!â Taehyung says, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses before extending a hand for Jungkook to shake. âYou must be Daeunâs dad. Iâm Taehyung Kim, the librarian here at Hybe.âÂ
âJungkook Jeon.â Then Jungkookâs gaze flits past him to where the two children are seated opposite one another. Daeun is a slender, petite girl with dark hair braided neatly down her back and round, brown eyes that are narrowed in concentration as she colors in a picture of a lion. Quietly, Jungkook strides over to his daughter, kneeling down beside her chair until heâs eye-level. âHey, Daeun,â you hear him murmur. âWhat happened today, hmm?â
You, meanwhile, join your own daughter at the table, sitting down in the chair Taehyung abandoned and taking in the paper and coloring utensils scattered across the surface âHey, jitterbug,â you murmur. âWere you nice to Mr. Kim while I was gone?â
âTae read us a book about butterflies,â Trixie replies, shrugging her little shoulders. âHe taught us about migration.â
You chuckle. âMigration, huh? That sounds interesting. You want to tell me all about it on the drive home?â
Trixie nods, her pigtails bobbing in time with the movement. Then she glances over to where Jungkook is instructing Daeun to pack up her backpack, tucking books and notebooks neatly inside while Daeun collects her crayons and puts them into a sparkly little pink case. âAre we going home now?â
âSoon, bug,â you promise. âI just have to finish up with Mr. Jeon and Principal Baker, okay?â
âOkay,â Trixie says agreeably, returning to her drawing. Pam gestures for you to join her and Jungkook near the library doors, and you meet Taehyungâs gaze as you brush past where heâs pulling a few books down for a display. Good luck, he mouths, and you suppress the urge to make a face. Instead, you mouth a quick thanks back, offering Daeun a quick smile as well before joining her father and your boss at the door.Â
âMr. Jeon,â Pam says, casting a surreptitious glance toward Daeun and Trixie before lowering her voice. âI donât think you should ignore this behavior from your daughter. If thereâs something in her home life that is making her act out, I can recommend a few counselors who would be more than happy to speak with the two of yââ
Jungkook shakes his head, a lock of dark hair coming loose from whatever gel heâs used to style it. âWith all due respect, Principal Baker, I donât appreciate my parenting abilities being called into question. I think itâs probably best if Daeun and I take our leave.â
Pam sighs. âMr. Jeon, I donât mean to offend. But Daeun did take a book out of Trixieâs hands.â
âAnd Iâll be sure to discipline her for that,â Jungkook replies. âBut if this is all over a book, Principal, I think the solution is simple. I can easily buy her whatever book she needs.â
âIâm not so sure itâs about the book itself,â you point out. âTaeâI mean, Mr. Kimâhas multiple copies of Charlotteâs Web available for the students.â
Jungkook hums and turns up the collar of his wool coat, pulling it snug around his throat. âNonetheless, I think weâre done here. Daeun, weâre leaving.â
The six-year-old looks up from the book Taehyung has checked out for her and immediately runs over to grab her fatherâs extended hand. âAre we going home?â she asks quietly, and he nods.Â
âYeah, we are, sweetheart. Come on. Say bye to your teachers.â
Obediently, Daeun waves to you and Taehyung before bidding Pam goodbye as well. Jungkook offers you a stiff nod, and Pam resignedly offers to walk the duo out. They depart together, and you watch as they disappear around the corner of the hall before turning to Taehyung with a heavy sigh. Trixie is still engrossed in her coloring, and you lower your voice as you join Taehyung where heâs begun re-shelving books from a cart of returns.Â
âThank god thatâs finally over,â you murmur.
Taehyung glances both ways, ensuring the coast is clear. âYeah. That Jungkook guy is a total wang.â
///
By the time you pull out of Hybe Academyâs parking lot, rush hour has well and truly begun. Silently, you curse Jungkookâs tardiness as you merge onto the main road and almost immediately come to a complete standstill amongst the traffic. Glancing back in the rearview mirror, you take in the sight of your daughter, buckled neatly into the backseat with her face pressed against the window.
âWhat color are we looking for today, bug?â
âRed,â she replies, her nose scrunching against the glass. Every day, your daughter picks a color and counts the number of cars she sees in that particular shade. Sheâs taken to keeping a running tally on the refrigeratorâworking toward the answer to a research question that only she understands. Her work is accompanied by a variety of figures and diagrams as well, which sheâs plastered across the remainder of the refrigerator door and are slowly encroaching on the freezer door as well. Youâre pretty sure sheâll need a larger surface soon enoughâthe wall of the hallway leading to the bedrooms would probably sufficeâbut until then, you have no plans to interfere with her creativity. If anything, you sometimes wish you could see the world through a childâs eyes againâto view every new experience as an adventure, and delight in the simple things. Itâs one of the many reasons you love working at Hybe, even if you do have to deal with the occasional entitled parent.
Unwillingly, your mind wanders back to Jungkook Jeon. Youâd be lying if you said you didnât find him attractive, even if youâre reluctant to admit it and refuse outright to say it aloud. Heâs blessed with the kind of face that angels could rhapsodize aboutâhis dark, expressive eyes set above a strong nose and an enticing mouth. His jawline is sharp as a knife, and youâre fairly certain the devil himself sculpted his thighs. Even beneath the drape of his expensive suits, you can see the definition of his musculature as clearly as if he wasnât wearing anything at all. You wonderâmore often than youâd like to admitâhow his workplace hasnât deemed his suits obscene. Maybe he needs a dress code, you think to yourself, easing off the brake as the cars in front of you begin to inch forward. Baggy clothes only from this point forward. The more skin covered, the better.Â
âOooh! Found one!â Trixie exclaims, tapping the glass vigorously. âAnd look, thereâs another. Itâs a darker red, though.â
You hum and nod toward the traffic up ahead, where you can glimpse the corner of a cherry red bumper. âWhat about that one up there? That makes three, right?â
In the mirror, you see your daughter nod. A few minutes pass, the two of you calling out when another red car is spotted, and traffic eventually eases up enough that you can continue your way home.Â
âSo, what did Mr. Kim teach you about butterflies?â you query as you make a right turn. âSomething about migration?âÂ
Trixie nods absently, still fixated on the cars driving by in the opposite lane. âYeah. They go south for the winter to stay warm.â
You glance at her reflection in the mirror again. âMust be nice.â
âYeah.â
Up ahead, the light turns green. You hit the gas, debating whether to bring up Daeun or not, but your daughter speaks again before you can dwell on it any further.Â
âItâs weird,â Trixie says, her face still pressed against the window and her breath misting the glass. âDaeun was never mean to me before. We werenât friends, not really. But now it feels like sheâs picking on me on purpose and I donât know why.âÂ
Something in your chest splinters at the tone of her voiceâsubdued and small. Sheâs dragging a finger through the fogged up glass now, tracing the crooked outline of a butterfly, and you take a moment to collect your thoughts before speaking again.
âWeâll figure it out together, then, jitterbug. Now, why donât you start thinking about what you want for dinner?â
///
Mornings are always a little chaotic in your home. Trixie is sprinting around the entirety of the two-bedroom apartment looking for her favorite scrunchie, a half-eaten piece of toast clutched in one hand and her backpack swinging from the other. In the kitchen, youâre going through a mental checklist of all the places your daughter could have possibly left the accessory while sipping on your morning coffee. The mug nearly slips from your hand when your pet cat, Taco, slinks past your legs on her way to her food bowl, and you hiss out a sharp curse.
âFuck!â Hot liquid dribbles down your knuckles. The calico cat gives you an unimpressed look, and you glance both ways to make sure Trixie is out of earshot before wagging a reprimanding finger. âManners, Taco. Youâre better than this.â
Taco merely flicks her tail and turns back to her own breakfast, rebelliously batting her water bowl with a paw before settling down to eat. Sighing, you finish the remainder of your coffee and rinse out the mug, listening as Trixie darts in and begins rummaging through the silverware drawer.Â
âBug, I donât think your scrunchieâs in there,â you remark, earning yourself a shrug in response.
âCanât be too careful,â she says in a startlingly accurate impression of you, and you canât decide whether to laugh out loud or roll your eyes. Coming up empty, your daughter runs off again, and you return your attention to your bag, rifling through the folders and assignments within. âAha!â you hear in the distance, and smile. Trixie comes bounding down the hall a few seconds later with a sparkly holographic scrunchie in hand, and you obligingly help her wind it around her ponytail as she wriggles in place with excitement.
âReady to go?â you ask once finished, and she nods eagerly. âHave all your homework?â Another nod. âWhat about those books you have to return to Mr. Kim at the library?â
Trixie heaves a dramatic sigh and fixes you with a look. âYes, Mom. Can we go now?â
You chuckle and extend your hand for her to take, heaving your bag onto your opposite shoulder. âAll right, all right. Letâs go.â
Locking the front door, you and Trixie take the elevator down to the ground floor of the building and exit out into the wintry air. Your car is parked on a nearby side street, and immediately, you see that the windshield is coated in a light layer of frost. Sighing inwardly, you head toward the trunk where you store the ice scraper. Trixie releases your hand when you pop open the lid, and you turn to watch as she skips her way down the sidewalk. âSure you donât want a ride to school?â you call.
She stops, her nose wrinkling. âItâs lame to go to school with your teacher, Mom.â
You feign offense, slapping a hand to your heart. âOh? Iâm lame now, am I?â
âDonât take it personal,â Trixie replies, shrugging. âAll adults are kinda lame.â
With that, she waves and darts the rest of the way down the sidewalk, making her way to the bus stop at the end of the block. You watch her go, waiting until she safely joins the other half-dozen kids clustered on the corner beside the stop sign, before turning back to your car and climbing into the driverâs seat.Â
Thereâs something calming about your morning commuteâsomething about the low hum of the engine and the whir of wheels against asphalt that soothes your soul. The route downtown is a familiar one, and you navigate it with ease. A glance at the clock on the dashboard tells you that you have just enough time to grab some breakfast, and at the next intersection, you opt to turn left instead of right. Three minutes later, youâre pulling up to your favorite coffee shop in the city, snagging one of the few remaining parking spaces on the street and braving the chill one more time as you head for the brightly painted front door beneath the cheery sign that reads, Bean There, Done That!.Â
The smell of warm cinnamon and vanilla washes over you as soon as you step inside the coffee shop. Thereâs a relatively short line, and you pull out your phone as you join it, scrolling through news articles and notifications until you reach the counter. âGood morning, Bonnie,â you greet the middle-aged woman working the cash register, before waving at the man whoâs already brewing a fresh espresso in the corner. âMorning, Jin.â
âHiya, {Name},â Jin replies. As the owner of the shop and a dear friend of yours, he knows your usual order like the back of his hand. âGot your coffee going right now.â
Bonnie smiles at you, nodding as Jin plops your finished drink down and joins her at the counter. âMorning, hun. Youâre too late again, Iâm afraid. Can I get you something else?â
You glance over at the glass display case where all the baked goods are housed, disappointment sinking into your stomach when you see the empty row in the bagel section. âNo cinnamon streusel? Again?â
âSome guy beat you to the last one,â Jin answers as Bonnie rings up your coffee and slides it across the counter into your waiting hands. âSame one as last week, actually. He comes here pretty regularly.â
Your eyes narrow. âYou mean the same jerk has taken my bagel three times now? How is it that I havenât run into him yet?â
âI dunnoâdudeâs an early riser, I guess. You missed him by about ten minutes this time, but sometimes heâs in here even earlier than that.â Jin shrugs and jabs a thumb toward the back where you can just barely see the kitchen through a small window. âWeâve got more bagels going right now though, if you can wait five minutes.â
The time on your phoneâs screen tells you that you cannot. âSorry,â you tell him. âIf I donât leave now, Iâll be late for school.â Turning, you nod at Bonnie and drop a few bills into the tip jar. âSee you both tomorrow.â
âWait!â Jin pats down his apron pockets and fishes out a crumpled napkin from within. âI almost forgot. The guyâhe left a note.â
âHe left⌠what?â You frown. âWhy?â
Awkwardly, Jin clears his throat. âI, uh, may have let it slip that he kept beating you to the last cinnamon streusel bagel on Friday. And then he asked if he could leave you a note, soâŚ.â Uncrumpling the napkin, he extends it toward you. âHere.â
You canât help itâcuriosity roots in your belly and winds its way to your fingers as you carefully accept the note and smooth it out on the countertop.
Better luck next time ;)
âThat prick.â
Jin winces. âYeah, I know. I mean, he does always leave a twenty in the tip jar, but yeah, totally. Iâm with you. Guyâs a wang.â
Youâre barely listening. Scowling, you fumble for the pen in your purse, taking the napkin that Bonnie wordlessly hands you and scribbling out your own note so fiercely you nearly rip through the papery material.
Game on, mister.
///
The rest of the week seems to drag by, until Friday arrives at long last and shepherds with it stormy gray clouds on the horizon. Youâre already feeling rather grumpyâno doubt thanks in part to the collection of snarky napkin notes youâve accumulated over the past few daysâand the sunâs absence only serves to exacerbate your foul mood. Even worse, you had an unfortunate run-in with one Mr. Jungkook Jeon yesterday, meeting with him in the principalâs office following an incident where Daeun took and hid Trixieâs favorite holographic scrunchie. Thankfully, it was recovered quickly, but even now the mere thought of Jungkook Jeonâs stupid, condescending face is enough to tank your mood. Scowling, you lock your car and head in the direction of Bean There, Done That!, carefully eyeing every person who exits in an effort to discern whether they might have purchased a cinnamon streusel bagel and hoping that none of them have snagged the last.
Youâre running a full forty-five minutes early todayâall in an attempt to beat the damned bagel thief. Half an hour hadnât been enoughâyou found that out the hard way yesterday, when Bonnie had greeted you with an apologetic smile and Jin had wordlessly doubled the usual shot of espresso in your coffee without charge. Looking back, your initial attempts to be a mere fifteen minutes earlier were feeble at worst and laughable at best. But today, you think, today will be different.Â
The bell over the door jingles pleasantly when you step inside the coffee shop, and you immediately deflate when Jin catches your eye and shakes his head. Heâs there to greet you when you finally reach the front of the line, and you sigh as you accept the folded napkin he hands over. âHe beat me? Again? Does this guy not sleep?â
âHe was super early today,â Jin replies with a shrug. Groaning, you unfold the note and smooth it out on the counter, sucking in a breath when you read the words scrawled there.Â
Whatâs that saying again? Something about the early bird always getting the worm? ;)
âThat fucking asshole,â you grit out. âIâm gonna kill him.â
âTesty,â Jin says, clicking his tongue. âWhatâs got your panties in a bunch today?â
You sigh. âSchool stuff, mostly. I had to meet with the father of one of my students yesterday, and heâs a real piece of work. And then I was up late grading homework.â
âYou could always assign less,â Jin offers up unhelpfully, which earns him a snort and an eye-roll from you. Relenting, he instead begins pouring your coffee, chattering on as the hot liquid splashes into your cup. âSo, about this guyâs impending doom. How exactly do you plan on murdering a man when you donât even know what he looks like?â
âStop being logical,â you groan, rubbing the bridge of your nose. âI donât want to hear it.â
Just then, the coffee shop door flies open, letting in a gust of chilly wind. You turn to see Bonnie bustling inside, wearing a bright pink woolen hat and ushering along her eleven-year old son, Caleb. âHi, hun,â she greets you, her nose scrunching when she sees your frown. âI take it you still havenât found your mystery bagel man?â
You heave a sigh, shaking your head. âI donât think I can get DNA off of his notes, so no. I have no idea who this guy is, which means I have no way of tracking him down and giving him a piece of my mind.â
Bonnie tuts sympathetically and pats your arm. âSorry, hun.â Giving your elbow an affectionate squeeze, she slips past the counter and into the back room to grab her paycheck. Jin finishes up with your drink, and you thank him as you take a long sip. Then you turn to Bonnieâs son, whoâs taken a seat in a nearby booth and is doodling on a piece of scrap paper.Â
âHey, Caleb. Howâs it going?â
The boy, normally quite talkative, just shrugs. Taken aback, you decide not to press the issue and instead turn back to Jin, whoâs wiping down the espresso machine and whistling something that sounds vaguely like âNever Gonna Give You Upâ under his breath. Bonnie returns then, and you give her a quizzical glance as she pours herself a to-go cup of coffee and adds two generous pumps of caramel syrup. Is something up with Caleb? you mouth, and watch as confusion flits across her face before realization dawns.
âDonât worry about him,â she whispers, approaching you so you can hear. âHeâs just a little bummed from yesterday. Misspelled âserendipityâ in the school spelling bee, and it cost him the win in the end.â
You wince. âOuch. That hurts.â
âYeah, that sucks real hard,â Jin chimes in from his spot at the espresso machine. âLittle guy didnât even try to steal a cookie from the display like he normally does.â
Bonnie chuckles. âIâll grab a couple to-go, thenâa double chocolate and a snickerdoodle, if you please. But then weâve really got to head out. School starts in twenty.â
At the reminder, you pull out your phone and glance at the time. âYeah, I need to leave soon too. Give my best to Caleb, okay? Thereâs always next yearâs spelling bee.â Turning to Jin, you hand over your credit card to pay for the coffee before grabbing a pen and a napkin. It takes you a few seconds to figure out what you want to write, and then another few to scrawl out the note:
Donât forget, the tortoise always beats the hare in the end.
Straightening up, you hand the napkin over to Jin, who accepts it wordlessly and tucks it into his pocket. And once heâs handed your card back to you, you wave goodbye to both Jin and Bonnie before heading out.
Itâs typically a five-minute drive to Hybe Academy from the coffee shop, but this morning, it takes you almost ten. Every red light in the city has seemingly teamed up in order to make you late, and you make it through the door of your classroom with mere minutes to spare. Thankfully, the first bell hasnât rung yet, and to your surprise, Taehyung is still lounging in your desk chair when you enter the room. The two of you have a longstanding tradition of having breakfast together in the morningsâeven if breakfast just turns out to be two extra-large cups of coffee with anywhere between zero and four shots of espresso added in. Taehyung occasionally brings in some of his kitchen experiments as well, and youâve had to politely decline his offer to share on more than one occasion.Â
âHey, there you are!â Taehyung grins and props his feet up onto your desk, crossing one leg over the other. âI was just about to leave.â
âReally? It looks like youâve made yourself pretty comfortable,â you reply, dropping your bag onto the floor and collapsing into the chair heâs pulled up beside him. âMust be nice, not having to worry about being on time for first period.â
Taehyung nestles deeper into the back of your chair and lets his eyes drift shut. âSure is.â
You snort and take a sip of your coffee. âJerk.â
âIâm rubber, youâre glue,â he replies without missing a beat, his eyes remaining staunchly shut.
Shaking your head, you instead direct your attention to the tupperware container thatâs sitting on the desk in front of your friend. You can see what looks like some kind of pastry inside, and prod curiously at it before poking Taehyung in the shoulder. âSo, whatâs this? Donât tell me you tried to make croque monsieurs again.â
âExcuse you, those werenât even that bad,â he defends, his eyes flying open. âAnd no, I didnât. I made quiche this time.â
âRight,â you say suspiciously. âAnd whatâs in it?â
âBacon, cheese, onions,â Taehyung lists with a shrug. âOh, and a few baby carrots I had on hand. I didnât really know what else to do with them.â
Itâs far from the strangest combination your friend has come up withâa sentiment you voice aloud as you pry open the edge of the container and accept the fork he hands over. âThis feels shockingly normal.â Cautiously, you dig into an edge and bring it to eye level so you can examine the filling. âAre you sure youâre feeling all right?â
âIâm going to start force feeding you if you donât stop teasing,â Taehyung threatens, grabbing a fork for himself and helping himself to a generous bite. âSeriously, give it a tryâI promise itâs good. I didnât even drop any eggshells in it this time.â
Laughing, you bring the quiche to your mouth. The pastry is flaky and the filling is smooth, and youâre pleasantly surprised by the harmonious balance of seasonings that you taste. Taehyung watches in satisfaction as you go in for a bigger piece, and pushes the tupperware closer when you nearly drop it.Â
âTold you it was good,â he says smugly, and you can only nod your agreement and raise your coffee in silent commendation.Â
The two of you eat in silence for a few momentsâuntil you remember the napkin shoved in your pocket and pull it out with a grimace. Youâve ranted to Taehyung about your new nemesis on more than one occasion by this point, and he doesnât even blink as he flattens out the material and scans the words scrawled there. âIâve gotta say, the guyâs got good handwriting,â he remarks, and you immediately fix him with a scowl.Â
âReally? Youâve got to say that?â
Taehyung holds up his hands innocently. âJust an observation,â he says. âHow many of these notes do you even have now? Three?â
âFive,â you grumble. âAnd Iâm still no closer to figuring out who he is. I donât suppose you have access to a police database or anything, right? Some way to match this guyâs handwriting?â
âIâm pretty sure it doesnât work like that,â is Taehyungâs blasĂŠ reply. âBesides, itâs not like youâre going to do anything, even if you do figure out who he is. Youâll just keep stewing until something else comes along, so why even bother with the manhunt in the first place?â
You sniff. âIâm raising Trixie to be a strong, determined woman who can accomplish anything she sets her mind to. What kind of example would I be setting if I canât do this one thing?â
Taehyung doesnât even bother trying to disguise his snort of laughter. âYouâre so full of shit. Jesus Christ.â
The bell rings, thenâsignaling that students have five minutes to make their way to their classrooms. You sigh, and Taehyung wordlessly stands up and begins gathering his tupperware back into his bag, tucking the cutlery in last and grabbing his remaining coffee as he turns toward the door.Â
âCatch you later,â he says at the threshold, and you wave him off before brushing a few stray crumbs off your desk. Finishing off the last of your coffee, you pull your planner from your bag and absentmindedly shove the napkin note in its placeâputting away any and all thoughts of your bagel nemesis as students slowly begin filtering into your classroom. Trixie briefly catches your eye as she files in with a couple of her friends, and you smile as you rise from your seat and begin outlining the dayâs lesson plan on the chalkboard.Â
Thereâs no doubt that Fridays are your favorite. Friday afternoons at Hybe Academy are dedicated to the arts, and listening to the soft strains of music coming from the orchestra room and the various solo instruments taking lessons brings you boundless joy. You love seeing the new paintings on the walls the following Monday too, and often stay a while after school lets out on Friday to hang up the pieces produced by your own class.Â
But this particular Fridayâit isnât going as planned at all.
Youâre beginning to think that this morningâs strike from your bagel thief was an omen. Up until two hours ago, itâs just been the usual inconveniences and minor drawbacksâa misplaced pencil here, or a spilled bit of juice there. But now, halfway through the schoolday, you feel like youâre drowning. Your stomach is growling and your hair is in disarray, and itâs all thanks to the fact that you currently have twice the amount of students you normally do occupying your classroomâall of whom are seemingly intent on covering every available surface with splatters of paint.Â
You canât blame Miss Kumar, of course. Family emergencies are just thatâemergencies. They canât be predicted or controlled, and when she was called at lunchtime with unexpected news, you understood that she had to leave immediately. In an unfortunate turn of events, none of the Academyâs usual substitute teachers were available, and you soon found yourself haplessly watching on as her first-graders filed into your room with chairs in tow, taking up residence two to a desk alongside your own students.Â
And even though youâre doing your absolute best to maintain some semblance of order, you know youâve lost when one of Miss Kumarâs studentsâNicholas, you think his name isâupends a little plastic canister of paint onto his desk and splats both hands into it. Blue paint goes flying in every direction, and as he giggles, the other children quickly begin to follow his lead.Â
âGuys, no, waitââ you try to say, but itâs too late. A fully fledged paint fight has broken out, and you watch in horror as Daeun flings a dollop of yellow paint straight onto Trixieâs Hercules shirt.Â
If thereâs a bright spot in all of this, itâs that Principal Pam Baker works fast. Youâd called her mere minutes into the fight breaking out, and sheâd done her part by calling the parents of the students youâd named as instigators of the fight. Those who could came in right away, and once you managed to settle everyone down, you brought their kids down to Pamâs office so that she could have a group meeting with both the parents and students alike. The remaining children you took to the library to be watched by Taehyung while you cleaned up your classroom. Itâs an absolute disaster zone, and youâve only just begun spraying down the first desk when the door flies open.
âMost of the children are at the library,â you say without turning around, scrubbing at a particularly stubborn bit of red paint on the corner of the desk with a wet wipe. âIf youâre looking for your child, youâd best head over there.â
âActually, Iâm here to speak to you,â a familiar voice says, and dread pools in your stomach as you turn and find yourself face-to-face with none other than Jungkook Jeon, his dark eyes unreadable. On his wrist, just barely concealed beneath the sleeve of his charcoal overcoat, you can see his expensive silver watch glinting in the fluorescent light.
âMr. Jeon,â you manage once youâve found your voice again. âHow can I help you?â
For a few long seconds, Jungkook remains silent. He steps over the threshold and into your classroom, taking in the paint-splattered walls and the chairs scattered haphazardly about. Then his gaze settles on you, his nose wrinkling slightly as he speaks again.Â
âIt smells in here.â
âItâs the paint,â you answer shortly, stepping over an upended cup of brushes and making your way to the window. Fumbling with the lock, you struggle for a few seconds before finally managing to heave it open, letting in a welcome gust of cool wintry air.Â
Jungkook watches all of this in silence. Then he hums, faint amusement lacing his voice. âI see that.â
Irritation blooms in your belly at his blasĂŠ tone. âWhat did you want to talk about, Mr. Jeon? If youâre looking for Daeun, Iâm afraid sheâs down the hall in Principal Bakerâs office.â
âIâm well aware of that.â Jungkook takes a step forward, the heels of his sleek black oxfords clicking against the tiled floor. âThis is the second time youâve lost control of your classroom, I believe. And tell me, Miss {L/N}, why has my daughter been sent to the principalâs office two days in a row, now?â
You glance up from where youâve begun wiping at a spot of hot pink paint on the windowsill. âWith all due respect, Mr. Jeon, I think thatâs a question that only Daeun can answer.â
âDaeun.â Thereâs outright laughter in Jungkookâs voice nowâbut itâs the humorless sort that makes the hairs on your neck stand on end. âRight, of course. The blame is always on my daughter, isnât it? Never any of the others. Never your own.â
For a moment, you can only stare at him. Then, without even fully realizing what youâre doing, you begin walking forward. First one step, and then anotherâuntil the tips of your sensible block heels are mere inches from the tips of his oxfords. Emotion is building steadily in your chestâa cocktail of exhaustion and anger topped off with the dayâs frustrationsâand all of it comes flooding out as you raise your chin and look Jungkook Jeon square in the eye.Â
âUnlike you, I saw what happened today, Mr. Jeon. Several students were responsible for instigating and perpetuating this fight, and unfortunately, Daeun was one of them. I donât appreciate you implying that I favor any of my students over others, and I certainly donât appreciate you questioning my ability as a teacher.â Your chest heaves as you pause to take a breath. âI am a professional, Mr. Jeon. Maybe you donât think so, but I am. Iâve been teaching for nearly a decade, and Iâve spent almost every day with these children for the past year. You donât get to come in here and disrespect me in my own classroom. I donât care how much money you give to this school. Iâm not beholden to you or your money, and Iâll thank you to not come in here with unnecessary attitude and finger-pointing.â
Your blood is rushing in your ears by the time your speech comes to an end. Jungkook is silent, staring down his nose at you for three long seconds before he deliberately raises a dark eyebrow. âAre you finished?â he asks.Â
You shiver as his hot breath fans against your cheeks. âNo.â And then, in a surge of stupid, adrenaline-fueled bravery, you add, âI kind of want to cuss you out, to be honest.â
The other eyebrow rises to join the first, as a huff of wry laughter escapes his lips. âOh?â
You deflate slightly, your bottom lip finding its way between your teeth. It shouldnât be so easy for a parent to get a rise out of you, but Jungkook seems to do it so easilyâand so often. âIâm not going to,â you murmur.Â
âNo?â Jungkookâs gaze darts down to your lips, then up to your eyes, and then down to your lips again. âThatâs rather disappointing.â
Unwittingly, youâve drifted even closer to him since you first started talking. You can see each fleck of amber in his irises, and could probably count each of his individual eyelashes if you so cared. This close to him, you can see that one of his eyebrows is piercedâhis dark hair brushed back just enough to reveal the silvery metal embedded in his skin. You donât pull away though, and neither does he. If anything, he seems to be willing you closerâhis lips parting and his tongue darting out to moisten them.
And then he blinks, and you pull back as if burned. âIf⌠if thatâs all, I should really get back to cleaning up,â you stammer, hating the wobble in your voice as you return to your desk and grab a fresh wet wipe. âPrincipal Bakerâs office is down the hall on the left.â
âI remember. I was there yesterday, after all.â The faint amusement has returned to his tone. Straightening his tie, he begins making his way to the exit, only to pause in the doorframe and glance at you once more over his shoulder. âOh, and Miss {L/N}?â
You look up. âYes?â
âYou should really look in a mirror. It looks like a Smurf exploded on your face.âÂ
///
Saturday brings with it clear blue skies and a sweet, sweet reprieve from the chaos of the week. Youâd promised Trixie that you would make ratatouille together over the weekendâjust like in the movieâand now youâre making good on that promise as you push a shopping cart around the grocery store with your daughter skipping happily by your side. âOoh! We need these, right?â she exclaims, pointing at a display of zucchini, and you nod, watching as she carefully selects two and plunks them into the cart.Â
Together, the two of you finish up in the produce section and head for the aisles that house all the baking goods. Trixie peruses the shelves as you stock up on the essentialsâflour, sugar, and a couple boxes of baking soda. Then you grab a package of chocolate chips, laughing when Trixie immediately perks up at the sound of the bag crinkling and whirls around to look at you with wide, eager eyes.Â
 âCan we do chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies?â she asks, clasping her hands in front of her chest.Â
âI think youâre pushing your luck, young lady,â you tell her, but relent when she selflessly offers to bring the extras to class on Monday to share.Â
Ten minutes later, youâre heading toward the checkout line when you suddenly realize that youâve forgotten something. âTomatoes,â you say aloud, glancing down at Trixie apologetically. âTotally slipped my mind. Letâs go grab some, bug.â
Trixie sighs dramatically, but turns toward the produce section nonetheless. Faster than you can blink, she trots off, leaving you to trail after her with the shopping cart. Maneuvering around a particularly tall display of onions, you pull out your phone to check the grocery list one more timeâonly to be interrupted by the metallic clang of your shopping cart hitting another. Immediately, you open your mouth to apologize, but stop short when your eyes meet the owner of the other cart.
âO-oh,â you stammer, your head spinning as you try to recover your full vocabulary. âMr. Jeon. I⌠I didnât see you there.â
Jungkook chuckles. âThat much I gathered.â Then he nods toward Trixie, who you can just barely see two aisles and a crate of watermelons away. âDoing some shopping, Miss {L/N}?â
You donât respond. Your brain is in overdrive, struggling to reconcile the Jungkook standing in front of you with the one youâd seen just yesterday in your paint-splattered classroom. His dark hair isnât parted neatly across his forehead for onceâinstead, it falls in soft waves around his face. Rather reluctantly, your brain acknowledges that he looks goodâirritatingly so. Youâve never seen him in casual clothes beforeâonly neatly pressed suits that cost more than your entire paycheckâand the change is jarring to say the least. His purple sweatshirt is baggy and his black joggers are just tight enough to show off the definition of his thighs, andâ
âhang on, is he wearing Birkenstocks?
Trixie, thankfully, comes to the rescue as you gape at Jungkookâs feet for several seconds too long. âIs this enough?â she asks, lugging a plastic bag bulging with at least a dozen heirloom tomatoes. Still a little shellshocked, you look down at her, blinking dumbly before bursting into laughter.
âThatâs plenty, bug. In fact, we probably need to put some back, unless you want tomatoes in your cookies too.â
âThat doesnât sound too bad,â Trixie says thoughtfully, pursing her lips. âOr we can make marinara and have spaghetti and meatballs tomorrow!â
Jungkook chooses that moment to huff out a laugh of his own. âSpaghetti and meatballs, huh? Great minds must think alikeâDaeun suggested the exact same thing for our dinner tonight. Only thing is, weâre apparently making everything by hand, even the spaghetti. And weâve never made pasta before, soâŚâ He chuckles. âYou can imagine how well thatâll probably go.â
You glance around the nearest visible aisles. âDaeunâs a proper little chef, I see. Is she here with you?â
The dark-haired man gestures toward the back of the grocery store. âI tasked her with grabbing some milk and eggs while I get the onions. She wonât go near them until theyâre cooked, so I figured this would be most efficient.â
You grin. âDivide and conquer, huh?â
âExactly,â Jungkook answers with a surprisingly boyish smile. You note with amusement that his front teeth are more prominent than the rest, just enough to give him the resemblance of a rabbit. Rather unfairly, it somehow manages to work in his favor when put together with the rest of him. Your cheeks warm when you register again just how handsome he truly is, and you quickly suck in a deep breath as you search around for a distraction.
Youâre in luck. Daeun rounds the corner of a nearby display of cantaloupes with a wide grin, a gallon jug of milk and a carton of eggs in either hand. Her grin widens when she spots you, and you chuckle as she tries and fails to raise her jug-bearing hand to wave.
âHi, Miss {L/N}!â she exclaims as she comes to a stop alongside Jungkookâs cart and deposits her goods inside. âWhatâre you doing here?â
âDae,â Jungkook chides gently, but you laugh and wave him off.
âHi, Daeun. Iâm doing some shopping with Trixie, just like you are with your dad. Speaking of whichâyou probably have a lot of cooking to get to.â You return your attention to Jungkook. âI mean, I know we do. Somehow, I was talked into making two types of cookies this weekend, so we should really head out and get started.â
âWaitâhang on a second.â Jungkook speaks again, and maybe itâs your imagination but you think you hear a tinge of desperation in his tone. âIâm actually glad we ran into you today. We were going to do this on Monday but since youâre both here, Daeun has something sheâd like to say to Trixie. Isnât that right, Dae?â
Daeunâs gaze drops to where sheâs scuffing her sneakered feet against the tiled linoleum floor. Jungkook reaches down, giving her an encouraging nudge, and she hesitates for a second before looking back up and glancing between you and Trixie. âIâm sorry,â she begins shyly. âI shouldnâtâve thrown paint at you. Or taken your book.â And when Jungkook nudges her again and lifts an eyebrow, she continues again. âAnd⌠Iâm sorry for laughing when you fell down on the playground. It wasnât funny, and I wasnât being nice. Iâm really sorry, Trixie.â
Thereâs a beat of silence, as Daeun falls silent and looks at your daughter hopefully. You glance between the two girls, then up at Jungkook, who still has a hand on Daeunâs shoulder and seems to be holding his breath. Trixie, for her part, looks to be deep in thought, her face scrunched in contemplation as she taps a finger against her lips. Vaguely, you wonder if you should say something, but decide against it.
And then Trixie beams, toothy and bright. Daeunâs answering smile is still tentative, but it transforms into full-blown giggles when your daughter rushes forward and clasps one of her hands in both of her own. âI forgive you,â she says shortly, giving her hand a shake like a little businesswoman. You and Jungkook watch on as the two girls proceed to skip off, hand-in-hand and singing âBaby Sharkâ.Â
âWow,â you remark, turning back to Jungkook. âI have to admit, Iâm a little surprised. What brought that on?â
Jungkook begins to look rather sheepish, scratching at the back of his neck. âI actually have a bit of a confession to make. Not to mention, I owe you a huge apology. I talked to Dae last night, and⌠well, you were right. She wasnât acting out for no reason. She⌠she was actually jealous of Trixie."
You frown. "What?"
He nods. "Yeah. See, I got promoted at my job a while ago. Right after the holidays, I had to start working longer hours, which of course meant less time at home with her. And I guess all of that took its toll, especially since I had to stop taking her to school every morning.â He sighs. âShe didnât adjust very well to that. I tried my best to make things work, but thereâs only so much I can do, you know? Eventually I had to set up a morning carpool with some of the neighbors. And I tried to ease the transition as much as I could, butâŚâ He trails off with another sigh. âGuess I did kind of a shit job there.âÂ
Your mind is reeling at all of this new information, but you manage to find your voice again after a few moments. âYou did your best,â you tell him, resisting the sudden urge to reach out and touch his arm. âAnd youâre still trying. Thatâs all that matters, you know. Youâre trying to make things better. Daeun can sense that, and believe me, itâs paying off.â
Jungkook chuckles. âI think youâre giving me too much credit, but thank you. Iâm just glad that Dae has a good school and good teachers. Actually, youâve always been her favorite, did you know that?â
You didnât. âReally?â
âReally.âÂ
You arenât sure what to say after that, so you opt to look around instead. At some pointâyou arenât sure whenâthe two of you mustâve started walking around the grocery store again because all around you are shelves full of bread and baked goods. Mindlessly, you grab a bag of everything bagels and smile when Jungkook follows your lead and drops a bag into his own cart.
A few minutes of meandering later, you find Trixie and Daeun together in the snack aisle, deep in discussion about their favorite candies. The conversation winds down as you and Jungkook approach, and you decide not to comment when Trixie not-so-surreptitiously slips a package of chocolate caramels into your shopping cart.
âWe should probably get going,â you say instead, pulling out your phone and glancing at the time. âGosh, there really arenât enough hours in the day. You ready, bug?â
âYep!â Trixie replies cheerily, turning to wave goodbye to Daeun and Jungkook. âBye, Daeun! Bye, Mr. Jeon!â
âSee you Monday, Trixie! You too, Miss {L/N}!â Daeun exclaims. And as you and Jungkook exchange smiles and farewells of your own, you feel lighter than youâve felt in days, as if an invisible weight has lifted.
///
Like clockwork, Monday morning finds you at the counter of Bean There, Done That! with an apologetic Jin offering you your usual coffee in a size larger than the one youâd paid for. âAgain?â you exclaim as you accept the cup and take a generous sip. âI canât believe this. You opened like, twenty minutes ago.â
The corner of Jinâs mouth twitches. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he produces a full tray of cinnamon streusel bagels from somewhere beneath the counter, picking out the best-looking one before sliding the tray into its spot in the display. âI just wanted to see the look on your face,â he admits as he slips the bagel into a paper bag and hands it over. âThese are freshâstill pretty warm, in fact. Surprised you didnât smell them when you came in.â
âI did smell them,â you tell him, wagging a finger. âBut the blueberry bagels are always kind of overpowering and this whole place tends to smell like vanilla anyway, so excuse me for taking you for your word when you said you were out.â
âYou know, a simple âthank youâ wouldâve sufficed,â Jin sniffs. Then he gestures to the stack of napkins next to the cash register and waggles his eyebrows. âCare to leave a snarky note of your own?â
A slow grin spreads across your face as you start fishing in your purse for a pen. âAbso-fucking-lutely.â
///
The rest of the day goes smoothly, and youâre pretty sure itâs all thanks to the cinnamon streusel bagel youâd had the time to truly savor this morning. Youâd even bought an extra for Taehyung, who for his part contributed a tupperware full of bacon strips and a pitcher of mixed berry smoothie to your breakfast. For lunch youâd made sure to eat a healthy dose of vegetables, and as you head into the final period of the day, you feel more than ready to give a room full of children their next big assignment.
âAll right, class,â you say as your students filter into the classroom and start taking their seats. âWeâve been learning about the animal kingdom for the last few weeks, and itâs finally time to put everything weâve learned so far together. Iâm going to go around and hand each of you a card. Take a look at itâyouâll either see a picture of an animal, or the name of an animal.â Grabbing the stack of cards off your desk, you begin distributing them, slowly making your way up and down the rows of desks. âThen, I want you to get up out of your seats and find the card that matches yours. If thereâs a picture of a zebra on your card, you want to find the person with âzebraâ written on their card. And that person will be your partner for this project. Does that make sense to everyone?â
Nods and exclamations of affirmation all around. Satisfied, you hand out the last of your cards and return to your desk, gesturing for your students to stand up and find their partners. You watch as the children mill around, exclaiming happily when they find their match. Much to your satisfaction, you see that Daisyâa little girl who always has her blond hair corralled into a neat braidâand Josiahâa well-mannered boy with a different-colored polo for each day of the weekâjust so happen to be partners. You hadnât planned it that way, but youâve always gotten the feeling that there was a hint of a little crush there.
Another pleasant surprise comes in the form of Daeun, whoâs plopped herself in the seat beside Trixie and is animatedly gesturing at her card. Even from your spot in the front of the classroom, you can read the big block letters that spell out âpenguinâ and see the corresponding line drawing on Trixieâs card. And as the girls begin to chat, itâs as if the issues of the last few months hadnât happened at all.
Your class spends the last few hours of the school day in the library, working on their newly assigned project. Youâve set up shop at the table nearest Taehyungâs desk, which youâve always kind of envied. Perfectly round and situated in the center of the room, it allows for a 360-degree view of the entire library if he so much as spins in his chair. âHonestly, I could get so much done if I had one of these,â you lament to him as you watch Josiah sharpen Daisyâs pencil for her out of the corner of your eye. âIâd set up the best frickinâ assembly line you ever saw.â
âYou sound like a workaholic,â Taehyung replies, doing yet another lazy revolution in his seat. âOr a lunatic. Same thing, really.âÂ
Resisting the urge to stick your tongue out at him, you settle for rolling your eyes instead. The final bell of the day rings, and you shepherd your students out of the library with your friend on your heels. As the children disperse to their lockers, you trail after Trixie and Daeun, waiting for the two to say their goodbyes so you and your daughter can walk to the car together. Itâs still odd seeing the two getting along so well, but you arenât about to question it as you and Taehyung follow the girls to their lockersâwhich happen to be in the same section of the hallwayâand then out and into the bright afternoon sun. Smiling, you listen to them chattering excitedly about the project even as Taehyung launches into a tirade about his latest rent increase.
âSeriously, I should just move at this pointâitâs fucking ridiculous. I donât even use the conference center, and the indoor pool is just a waste of space when thereâs a public one thatâs twice the size three blocks away. And that one even has a hot tub! Not to mentionââ
You sigh, cutting him off mid-sentence. âJeez, Tae, just move. Youâve been threatening to for over a year now, and itâs not like anyoneâs forcing you to stay. You donât even like the neighborhood, for godâs sake. I donât know why you stuck around for that long.â
Taehyung sniffs. âMovingâs just such a hassle, you know? I really wanted to avoid it, but I guess I canât this time around. A 22% rent increase⌠fucking hell. Youâll help me pack, wonât you?â
âIâd rather not.â
âBut youâre so good at packing! And you have all that bubble wrap and the box of styrofoam peanuts hoarded in your closetââ
âStored in my closet.â
âWhatever,â he says dismissively, waving you off. âIâm not here to debate semantics with you.â
âNo, youâre here to guilt me into helping you move,â you reply. âWhatâs up with that, anyway? I thought you swore off of renting U-Hauls for good after last time. You were googling moving companies and getting quotes for weeks.â
âYeah, I definitely lost that spreadsheet,â Taehyung admits. âBesides, moneyâs a little tight right now. Every last bit of spare change we have is going toward Jiminâs new pilates studio. Weâre saving wherever and whenever we can.â
You nod in understanding at the mention of his fiancĂŠ and his new business venture. âHowâs all that going, anyhow? I know Jiminâs been super busyâwe havenât been to bar trivia in weeks.â
âYeah, itâs a whole thing,â Taehyung says, pinching the bridge of his nose. âStarting a business is hardâwho knew?â
âWho knew, indeed,â you echo. Youâre about to say something else, too, but any semblance of coherence flies out of your head when you glance at the girls again and see that theyâve come to a stop. Thereâs a sleek black Mercedes-Benz idling at the curb, and leaning against it is none other than Jungkook Jeonâdressed in a sharp navy blue ensemble with his hair slicked back and dark sunglasses perched on his nose. Itâs impossible to tell whether heâs seen you yet, and itâs all you can do to tear your gaze away before you get caught staring. Turning back instead to Taehyung, you raise a hand in farewell. âWell, it looks like this is my stop.â
âSeems that way,â your friend hums, casting a curious glance at Trixie, whoâs enthusiastically greeted Jungkook with a Hi again, Mr. Jeon! and is now giggling with Daeun about how they can see their reflections in his car. âSee you tomorrow. Donât get into too much trouble!â
You roll your eyes at the flagrant wink Taehyung sends your way, surreptitiously flipping him off from behind your tote bag. Then you make your way over to your daughter, whoâs still engrossed in conversation. Coming to a stop behind her, you lay a hand on her shoulder, smiling as she looks up and flashes you a big grin. âAll righty. You ready to go home, jitterbug?â you ask.
Trixie juts her bottom lip out into a pout. âCan I go to Daeunâs?â
You raise an eyebrow, glancing up at Jungkook, whoâs now scrolling through his phone. Then you return your gaze to your daughter, taking in her eager, bright eyes. âI donât know, bug. Have you asked Mr. Jeon if you can come over?â
Daeun pipes up then, her pigtails bobbing with every word. âHe says itâs okay, Miss {L/N}! Since we have a project to work on and all. He even said we can order takeout for dinner!â
Again, you look at Jungkook. His expression is unreadable behind his sunglasses, but when he feels your gaze he glances up, tucking his phone back into his pocket and pushing his sunglasses up onto his head. âDaeâs rightâI did promise the girls takeout. Sorry to catch you off guard with last-minute plans like this, Miss {L/N}. If youâd like, youâre welcome to join us as well.â
You blink. To say that the invitation has caught you off guard would be a massive understatement, and as your brain races to catch up, you suddenly realize that heâs willing to let you come to his home. You would be in his spaceâwhere he lives, eats, sleeps. The thought is simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating.
âIâI donât want to impose,â you finally manage after what feels like an eternity. âIâm sure youâre busy, and I have a lot of homework to grade, andâŚâ You trail off, hesitant, and Jungkook waits a beat before chiming in.
âNo imposition at all,â he says, offering you a small smile. âHonest. Iâve spent two of the last three weekends hosting sleepovers for Daeunâs friends, and Iâm not convinced I remember what adult company is like anymore.â Then his smile widensâjust enough to offer a glimpse of his endearingly prominent front teeth and crinkle the corners of his eyes. âRemind me?â
You arenât sure if youâre imagining the flirtatious edge in his tone, but you push the thought to the very back of your head and straighten the hem of your blouse before grasping for the phone tucked in your bag. âI⌠I suppose that would be all right,â you begin hesitantly as you pretend to check for new notifications. âYouâre sure it wonât be any trouble?â
âNone at all,â Jungkook reassures. âHere, Iâll give you my address for your GPS, but it might be easier if you just follow me. Where are you parked?â
You gesture toward the staff parking lot, which is usually separated from the main lot by a row of neatly manicured hydrangea bushes that bloom in bursts of pink and blue and purple during the spring and summer months. Right now, there are only a few sparse yellow daffodils, pushing up through the dirt and signaling that spring is not far off despite the lingering chill in the air. âIâm about three rows in. I can drive over and meet you here, if that works?â
Trixie chooses that moment to pipe up, instinctively raising her hand like sheâs still in class. âCan I ride with Daeun and Mr. Jeon?â
You hesitate, glancing over at Jungkook, who shrugs as if to say fine by me. Turning your attention back to your daughter, you nod and reach down to adjust the glittery pink scrunchie in her hair. âBe good,â you order. âDonât distract Mr. Jeon while heâs driving, okay?â
âMmhmm,â Trixie hums, already turning toward the sleek black Benz and tugging on the door handle. âSee you there, Mom!â
You wave, watching as the girls climb into the backseat before turning and making your way to your own car. Unlocking the door, you slide into the driverâs seat and take a deep breath. Then, you take another. And a few moments later, you take a third.
Even as you mentally play back the events of the afternoon, you still canât wrap your head around how it came to this. Here you are, about to drive to Jungkook Jeonâs house. Youâve seen his address in your files, and you know from the street name that he lives downtown, in the part of the city thatâs dominated by high-rise buildings and five-star hotels. Itâs an area that you donât visit often, having no reason to unless thereâs a particular restaurant that youâre looking to try outâand have the money for. It feels odd inputting his address into your phoneâs navigation app, but you do so nonetheless, watching as it calculates the optimal route.Â
Steeling yourself, you start up the ignition and ease up on the brake. As you pull out of your parking space, you crane your head to see if Jungkookâs car is still where youâd last seen it, which it thankfully is. Slowly, you make your way over to where the Benz is idling, pulling up alongside him and giving him a little wave. Jungkook has donned his sunglasses again, but he lowers them when he sees you and nods in acknowledgment. Ready to go? he mouths, and you nod even though itâs a lie. You arenât ready. You arenât sure you ever will be. But Jungkook is already pulling ahead and out of the parking lot, and youâre forced to push aside your intrusive thoughts and follow.Â
The first stretch of the drive is easy. Jungkook is a measured driver, and you can tell that heâs taking care to turn only when thereâs enough room for both of your vehicles. The second stretch, however, proves far more difficult. Now that youâre downtown, thereâs an abundance of one-way streets and pedestrians. Traffic lights sit on seemingly every corner, alternating between red, yellow, and green at random, as far as you can tell. You nearly lose Jungkook twice on particularly short green lights, and only narrowly avoid hitting an overeager dog dragging its hapless owner into the crosswalk before the walk sign has changed.Â
The third time, it finally happens. Dismayed, you watch as Jungkookâs sleek black Benz cruises past a green light, just before it turns yellow for a split second and then flips to red. Youâre forced to brake far faster than youâd preferâway too fast to be safe, for sureâand watch as Jungkook disappears around the Starbucks on the next corner. Muttering out a quiet curse, you drum your fingers impatiently on the steering wheel as you wait for the light to change again. Thankfully, youâre only about two minutes from your destination.Â
After what feels like an eternity, the light finally turns green. Releasing your foot on the brake, you take the turn that Jungkook had taken, glancing between your phone and the surrounding buildings to identify your destination. Thereâs a string of restaurants, a pharmacy, and a post office. You cruise past a dentistâs office and a few dry cleaners, and then your phone is directing you to turn right onto a street that boasts a long row of glass-fronted office buildings.Â
Two blocks later, youâre pulling up to a tall, sleek chrome building. The first floor is occupied by a seafood restaurant and the second and third seem to be a gym, but as you crane your head upward you can see that the floors above that seem to be condominiums. Letting your head fall back against the headrest, you glance down at your phone one more time, confirming that this is indeed your destination. Then you take a long, deep breath before you begin following the little blue signs that claim to lead to a parking garage beneath the building.
To your relief, the garage itself isnât difficult to find. You take a ticket from the machine as you descend down the concrete ramp, keeping an eye out for any open spots that are designated as guest parking. Seconds pass, and then minutes. Your heart flutters nervously in your chest as you descend deeper into the parking garage, seeking a break in the rows of cars that never comes. Youâre seconds away from giving up and turning around, when finally, you see an open spot. Itâs a little cramped and itâs right next to a concrete pillar thatâs just a little too close for comfort, but you manage to squeeze into the space. Heaving a deep sigh of relief, you turn off the ignition and tuck your keys into your purse, taking a moment to gather yourself before exiting your car and locking it behind you.
Thatâs when you encounter your next obstacle: figuring out how, exactly, to get out of the parking garage. You canât find a single sign to guide your wayâonly a locked dark green door that you assume is some kind of mechanical room. Groaning, you spin in a full circle, taking in your concrete surroundings. Maybe if you just start walking, youâll find a sign that will point you to the elevators. Youâd even consider taking the stairs at this point, no matter how many floors down you are (youâre pretty sure itâs seven or eight).Â
Just then, your phone begins to buzz in your pocket. Pulling it out, you see Jungkook Jeon (Daeunâs Dad) emblazoned across the screen and immediately swipe to answer. âHello?â
âHey,â Jungkook says, obvious relief coloring his tone. âIâm sorry I lost you back there. Where are you now?â
âIâm in the parking garage below your building,â you reply, idly scuffing your foot along the concrete floor. âIâm parked pretty far down, and now I canât seem to figure out how to get upstairs.â
Jungkook hums thoughtfully. âYeah, Iâll admit the signage isnât great down there. Let me see⌠can you see any doors?â
âJust this green one, but itâs locked.â Reaching out, you try the handle again to double-check. âOther than that, nothing.â
Another hum from the man on the other end of the line. âOkay, walk away from that door. Try and head toward the middle of the garageâthatâs where the elevators are. Thereâs four of them, and theyâre in this big concrete circle. Can you see them yet?â
âMaybe?â You can see a break in the rows of cars up ahead, and a rounded concrete wall in the distance. Speeding up, you make your way around the edge and blink as a bank of elevators comes into view. âOh, waitâyeah! Huh. Weird. I didnât expect the doors to be orange.â
Jungkook chuckles. âEach floorâs color-coordinated, yeah. Orange means youâre near the bottom, though. Didnât you see the guest parking on the first floor?â
You blink. âNo, I donât think so. Did I miss something?â
That draws another chuckle from him. âProbably. Thereâs a row of spaces off to the right as soon as you enter the garage, but it can be pretty easy to miss if you donât know to look for it. I shouldâve given you a heads-up.â
âItâs okay,â you tell him as you enter the elevator and hit the button for the thirty-fourth floor. âI couldâve asked.â
Bidding him farewell and assuring that youâll see him soon, you hang up and tuck your phone back into your pocket. The elevator ride is relatively short despite how high youâre going, and before you know it you find yourself standing in front of a navy blue door with a polished brass knocker. Raising your hand, youâre about to knock when the door flies open, revealing Daeun and Trixie standing there with identical grins.
âYouâre finally here!â your daughter exclaims, bounding forward to take you by the hand and lead you inside. âMr. Jeon said we had to wait for you to get here. He says heâs gonna give us a grand tour!â
âItâs really not as exciting as theyâre making it sound.â Jungkookâs voice comes from around the corner, and the man himself steps into view a moment later. Heâs taken off his jacket and removed his tie, leaving him in navy slacks and a crisp white shirt with the first few buttons undone. Your gaze lingers a little too long on this newly exposed sliver of chest, but you forcibly tear your gaze away when Trixie gives your hand a squeeze.Â
âCome on, Mom! You can see everything from the window. Itâs like youâre on top of a mountain!â
Laughing, you follow your daughter deeper into the apartment. She points to the closet off the foyer, where you obligingly hang up your coat next to her periwinkle one. Then she leads you to the far end of the foyer, where it opens into a wide hallway. On the other side of the hall is an archway that leads to a spacious kitchen with white cabinets and polished granite countertops. You take note of the bright yellow bar stools at the kitchen island, chuckling when Daeun loudly declares that she picked them outâand that Jungkook had caved to her despite wanting boring gray ones instead.
As you continue your tour, it becomes abundantly clear that Jungkook has caved to his daughter on multiple occasions. The furniture in the living area is neutralâshades of beige and dark wood that pair well with the polished floorboards and modern floor-to-ceiling windows. But scattered throughout the space are pops of color and quirkiness that you can confidently attribute to Daeunâhaving graded several of the art pieces that you now see hanging on the wall and adorning the sleek glass coffee table. Thereâs the lopsided clay vase painted with streaks of hot pink and specks of bright yellow, and thereâs the papier-mâchĂŠ snowman with his jaunty orange hat. You see more and more of Daeunâs influence everywhere you lookâthe watercolor butterfly paintings on the wall, and the red floral accent chair that youâre sure Jungkook didnât pick out himself.Â
âThatâs Daddyâs room,â Daeun says, pointing to a nondescript white door beside the bookshelves that flank the flatscreen TV hanging on the wall. Then she points down the hall, past the kitchen where you can see a few more doors. âAnd thatâs my room down there, next to Daddyâs office. Do you want to see?â
You nod. âI canât wait. Lead the way.â
Cheerfully, Daeun gestures for you to follow after her as she skips toward the door at the very end of the hall. She opens it with a flourish, allowing all of you inside, and as soon as you step past the threshold youâre transported to a fantastical world. Daeunâs bedroom walls are painted to resemble an enchanted forest, complete with delicate fairy lights wrapped around the wooden four-poster bed. A white desk and an accompanying green chair sit in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the pale pink curtains opened to let sunlight stream in. Along the sill is a collection of stuffed animals, ranging from a tiny butterfly to an elephant that youâre pretty sure is taller than Daeun herself. Opposite the bed is a gallery wall, composed of colorful floral prints and Daeunâs own artâa charming, eclectic mix of animal paintings and landscapes. Itâs the kind of bedroom that you wouldâve loved as a child, and your daughter is equally taken with it if her awed expression is anything to go by.Â
âThis is so cool!â Trixie runs to the window to peer out at the city below, before twirling in a circle to take in the art on the walls. âI canât believe you live here. Itâs like a magic forest!â
âItâs a beautiful room,â you remark, nodding your agreement. âAnd all of these drawings are amazing, Daeun. Youâre a talented artist.â
Daeun flushes at the compliment, thanking you with a shy smile. Then she and Trixie are off again, speeding down the hallway to look at something else in the apartment. You and Jungkook trail after them slowly, until he opens another door off the hall to reveal his office. Itâs smaller than Daeunâs bedroom and far more simplistic in its decor, but itâs a cozy and inviting space nonetheless. One wall is lined with mahogany bookshelves, and a polished wooden desk is pushed against the opposite. A plush burgundy armchair with a matching ottoman sits in the corner beside a tall potted plant, creating the perfect space for reading, and you can tell from the indentation in the seat cushion that itâs been well-loved over the years.
âIâve definitely been bringing my work home too much lately,â Jungkook admits. âIâve been cutting back though. Ever since Daeunâs behavioral problemsâŚâ He trails off. âWell, you know all about that already. And I do want to apologize for giving you a hard time. Itâs just⌠I guess itâs not all that fun being told that youâre failing as a parent.â
âYouâre not failing as a parent,â you reply, laying a hand on his arm before you can think to stop yourself. âYouâre doing your best. Itâs all we can do, isnât it? Do everything we possibly can for our children?â
He nods, but he isnât looking at you. Heâs looking down at your hand on his arm, and you blanch inwardly as you quickly pull back and pretend to brush invisible dirt off your skirt. âWe should go find the girls,â you murmur. And just like that, the tour is over.Â
The two of you rejoin the girls in the kitchen, where theyâve begun assembling themselves a snack of peanut butter and crackers. Jungkook slices up an apple and a banana for them to share, and they barely take the time to thank him before disappearing into Daeunâs bedroom to work on their project. You and Jungkook find yourselves alone in the kitchen, and when the silence between you has stretched on for just long enough to be awkward, you decide to speak. âSo. I guess I should probably grade some homework while Iâm here.â
Jungkook blinks and shakes his head a little, as if coming out of a trance. âRight, of course. Iâve got a few things I need to wrap up myself. Please, make yourself comfortable. Youâre free to work in the office, if youâd like.â
Immediately, you shake your head. âOh, no. I donât want to intrude.â
He nods, then gestures out toward the dining table, which sits in a little nook between the main living area and kitchen. âWell then, feel free to make use of the table. Or the kitchen island. Or even the couch, if youâd prefer.â He pauses. âWait, where are my manners? I havenât even offered you anything to drink! Did you want anything?âÂ
âOh.â You hesitate. âIâm okay.â
Jungkook begins making his way to the refrigerator, regardless. âSeriously, itâs no trouble. I have coffee, tea, banana milk, and I think thereâs probably a carton of apple juice in here too. What do you usually drink when youâre grading?â
âTea,â you admit. âAny kind. Iâm not picky.â
âTea it is.â Jungkook sets about grabbing two mugs. âGo on, make yourself comfortable. Iâll bring it to you.â
For a moment, you wonder if you should ask if he needs help. But heâs already preoccupied with the kettle, his back to you, and you have to force yourself to look away from the way his broad shoulders taper into his slim waist. In an attempt to distract yourself from gawking, you walk back out to the dining table. Pulling out a chair, you settle your bag on the floor beside you and take a seat. And by the time Jungkook comes out of the kitchen with two steaming mugs of tea, youâre already halfway through grading the first math worksheet in your pile.
âHere you go.â Jungkook places a mug by your elbow, and you glance up at him with a grateful smile.
âThanks.â
âNo problem.â
To your surprise, he takes his mug to the opposite side of the table and sets it down. Then he disappears into the kitchen, returning a few seconds later with his laptop in hand. You try not to stare as he sets up shop across from you, a loose lock of dark hair flopping across his forehead as he logs in and begins reading something, his dark eyes flitting across the screen. His piercing in his eyebrow glints in the sunlight streaming in through the nearby window.
Ripping your gaze away, you force yourself to focus on the homework you need to grade. And after a few minutes, youâre fully immersed, thumbing through sheet after sheet and writing down your notes.
Before you even realize it, two hours have passed. You only become aware of how late itâs getting when Jungkook shuts his laptop with a click, stretching his arms overhead and working a few kinks out of his neck. âItâs almost dinnertime,â he remarks, glancing out the window where the sun is steadily dropping closer to the horizon. âDid you have any thoughts about dinner? I can order some pizza or something.â
âOh, I donât thinkââ you begin to protest, but Daeun and Trixie choose that moment to dash in like mini tornadoes, whirling around the dining table.Â
âWe can still order takeout for dinner, right Daddy?â Daeun gazes up at Jungkook with pleading eyes, clasping her hands in front of her chest. âAnd Trixie and Miss {L/N} can stay if we do, right?â
Trixie looks at you, lower lip already beginning to jut out in a pout. âPlease, Mom?â
Jungkook gives you a meaningful glance across the table, and you can only shrug and relent. âYeah, all right. Since takeout was already promised, we can stay for dinner. But weâre going home after that, okay? Itâs a school night.â
The girls burst into cheers. After a brief discussion on what kind of food to order, you all settle on Jungkookâs initial suggestion of pizza. As he puts in the order, you begin tidying up the dining table, clearing it of your graded homework. Daeun points out where the plates are kept, and together, you and the girls set the table for dinner.Â
âEstimated delivery time is half an hour,â Jungkook says as he tucks his phone back into his pocket and joins you at the dining table. âWhat should we do while we wait?â
âLetâs play Candyland!â Daeun exclaims.Â
Trixie gasps. âI love Candyland!â
And just like that, itâs settled. The four of you settle around the coffee table for the gameâyou and Jungkook making yourselves comfortable on the cream-colored sectional while the girls sprawl out on the shaggy rug on the floor. The pizza arrives just as Trixie reaches Candy Castle, and Jungkook goes to answer the door while she celebrates her victory. Then, the four of you sit down for dinner.
Itâs strange, sitting in Jungkookâs undoubtedly expensive apartment and eating pizza. But even more strange is how okay it all feelsânatural, even. You arenât sure when you became so comfortable in his presence, but you arenât about to question it. Youâre grateful for the lack of awkwardness.
An hour later, the last slice of pizza is finished. You volunteer to do the dishes, and Jungkook clears the table while you take up residence at the sink. Youâve tasked Trixie with gathering up her things so you can depart after youâve finished in the kitchen, and can hear her giggling off in the distance with Daeun. âThanks for hosting us today,â you murmur to Jungkook.
He chuckles, waving off your gratitude. âItâs no problem, seriously. I had a good time.â
You smile at him before returning to the dishes. Just as youâre putting away the last plate, the girls run back into the kitchenâTrixie with her backpack in tow.Â
âCan Daeun come to our house next time?â she asks, and you laugh.
âSure, jitterbug. Youâre welcome to come over whenever youâd like, Daeun.â
And with that, you and Trixie say your final goodbyes. You slip back into your shoes and grab your coats from the closet. Jungkook gives you directions for the easiest route out of the parking garage, and you thank him for what feels like the umpteenth time.
Youâre barely listening to your daughterâs ramblings as you climb into the driverâs seat and turn on the ignition. All you can think about is Jungkook and this strange, newfound warmth that stirs in your belly whenever he seeps into your thoughts.
///
âYou wiped that part of the counter already.â
Trixieâs voice barely registers in your mind, but the washcloth in your hand slows nonetheless. Itâs a beautiful Saturday morning with hardly a cloud in the sky, and Jungkook and Daeun are due to arrive any minute. Youâve been cleaning for the past hour, and even though you know youâve already gone through the kitchen, you canât help yourself. This is the first time Jungkook will be seeing your humble abode, and youâostensiblyâwant to impress.
âBug, can you set the table?â
Trixie sighs dramatically, but complies nonetheless. Grabbing four plates, she places them down carefully before returning for four glasses. You join her at the table with a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice, straightening out one of the striped blue placemats as you set it down beside the vase of flowers that serves as a centerpiece.Â
Youâve just started frying bacon when the doorbell rings. âGot it!â Trixie calls, darting to the door, and you listen as she enthusiastically greets your guests. A few seconds later, Jungkook rounds the corner with both girls, decked out in jeans and a gray cable-knit sweather and carrying a plain white cardboard box in his hands.Â
Curiously, you tilt your head. âMysterious box youâve got there.â
He laughs. âHello to you too.â Then he puts the box down and pops open the lid. âI brought my favorite bagelsâI hope thatâs okay. Didnât want to show up empty-handed.â
You smile at him. âOf course itâs okay. I was just planning on making some toast, but bagels are way beâŚâ You trail off as the bagels in question come into your view.Â
Perfectly golden, with a dusting of cinnamon sugar and streusel crumbles on top. Youâd recognize them anywhere.Â
â{Name}?â Jungkook sounds concerned. âAre you all right?â
You blink and shake your head, mind still whirring. âAre these from that coffee shop downtown? Bean There, Done That?âÂ
Jungkook nods. âYeah, have you been?â
You nod. âThis⌠this might sound crazy and I might be way off base. But do you stop there every morning for a bagel?â
Jungkook blinks. Then he blinks again, his lips parting wordlessly. A beat passes, and then another. âWait,â he finally manages, his voice a croak. âHang on. Is it⌠I mean, it canât be⌠can it?â
You reach into the drawer next to the stovetop and pull out a wad of pen-stained napkins. âDid you leave me these?â
For a few seconds, it seems like Jungkook can only gape at you. âHoly shit,â he finally breathes, before slapping a hand to his mouth with wide eyes and glancing around to make sure the girls arenât within earshot. âI was leaving you notes this whole time?â
You can only laugh in disbelief. âYou were the one taking my cinnamon streusel bagels?â
âHey, I wouldnât have taken them if youâd gotten there earlier,â he teases. Chuckling, he picks up a napkin note and uncrumples it, scanning across the text. âDamn. Small world, huh?â
âThe smallest,â you agree, mind reeling from this new development. Still chuckling, Jungkook steps past you to get to the stove, and you belatedly remember that the bacon is still sizzling in the pan as he picks up your tongs and carefully flips each strip.Â
âI kept your notes too,â he says after a moment. âI shoved both of them in my glovebox.â
You huff. âBoth. Yeah, okay, you beat me to the last bagel way more than I beat you. You donât have to rub it in, Jungkook.â
âOh, come on.â He grins, toothy and bright, and youâre momentarily distracted by the endearing prominence of his teeth. âI think I have to rub it in a little.â
âHmph. As long as itâs only a little,â you concede as you join him at the stove with another pan and begin scrambling eggs. Together, the two of you finish making breakfast, piling eggs onto one plate and bacon on another. You grab the bowl of fruit salad youâd prepared last night out of the fridge, and Jungkook grabs the box of bagels and calls for Daeun and Trixie to come eat. Then, he surprises you by sitting beside you, leaving the girls to sit next to each other on the opposite side of the table.
Breakfast is a relaxed affairâeven if Taco keeps trying to jump up on the table to steal some bacon. Youâve eaten several meals with Jungkook and Daeun since that first dinnerâusually at Jungkookâs apartment, but also once at the food court in your local natural history museum, where you took the girls to see the ocean exhibitâs penguin display. Since this is the final weekend before their group project is due on Monday, youâve promised to take them to the zoo to see real, live penguins and complete the last of their research. Both girls already have their backpacks packed and ready to go, and you task Jungkook with checking to make sure they have all their notes while you clean up in the kitchen.Â
Twenty minutes later, youâre on your way to the zoo. Jungkook has volunteered to drive, and you canât help but gape a little as he unlocks his sleek black Mercedes-Benz and opens up the passenger door to reveal cream-colored leather seats and shiny silver hardware. âWow,â you remark, catching his eye as he walks around to the driverâs side. âThis is like the Batmobile or something.â
âHardly,â he says with a laugh. âI wish I had rocket boosters and ejection seats. Thatâd be cool as hell.â
âDaddy!â Daeun gasps, scandalized. âThatâs a bad word!â
Jungkook has the decency to look properly abashed. âIâll put a dollar in the swear jar when we get home,â he promises before pretending to zip his mouth shut and throw away the key. Satisfied, Daeun clambers into the backseat with Trixie on her heels, and Jungkook shoots you a conspiratorial little wink as he takes his own seat and starts up the engine.
The drive to the zoo takes only about fifteen minutes. Itâs already beginning to get crowded by the time you get there, but Jungkook still manages to find parking with little difficulty. Together, the two of you usher your daughters out of the car, reminding them not to run too far ahead when they immediately make a beeline for the entrance.Â
After a short wait in line to buy tickets, you finally make your way past the lion statues flanking the front gate. The wide concrete pathway leads to an open plaza where people are milling aboutâsome looking at the directory located at the far end while others rely on the colorful signpost in the center, reading through the various directional arrows before heading off to their destination. Along the edges of the plaza are a multitude of stallsâselling everything from footlong hot dogs to stuffed animals to cotton candy. Thereâs a couple of artists painting faces, too, and Daeun only has to give Jungkook one wide-eyed, pleading look before he caves and pulls out his wallet. Aghast, you try to protest, but he waves you off and sends them both off with some cash in hand.Â
âConsider it payment for all the bagels Iâve deprived you of,â he says, and you relent with a laugh.
Slowly, the two of you make your way around the plaza, making sure to keep a watchful eye on the girls at all times. Half an hour later, Trixie and Daeun come skipping back your way, their faces bright with colorful paint. Daeun has an intricate pink and blue butterfly, while Trixie has opted for the distinctive orange and black stripes of a tiger.Â
âDo you like it?â she asks, and you nod, bopping her fondly on her painted black nose.Â
âI donât just like it, jitterbug. I love it.â
Pleased, she rejoins Daeun, who has successfully diverted Jungkook to the cotton candy stand. Following after her, you hand the vendor your credit card to pay for both snacks before Jungkook can get a word in edgewise. Reluctantly, he tucks his wallet away, laughing when you stick your tongue out at him.
Once the girls have had their fill of the main plaza, the four of you head off in the direction of the penguin exhibit, stopping to look at the zebras and giraffes along the way. Photographs are snapped, and Trixie even flags down a nearby couple and asks them to take a photo of all four of you together. The girls jostle into place in front of the giraffe enclosure, and you suddenly find yourself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jungkook, the warmth of his body radiating off of him like the sun in the sky. Your resulting smile feels forcedâespecially when the girl starts taking multiple photos from different anglesâbut gradually relaxes. And now, even as you enter the penguin exhibit, you canât stop sneaking glances at the last photo.Â
Because in it, you and Jungkook look like couple. Youâre standing close enough that anyone who saw it would construe it as a family photo, the two of you beaming with your giggling daughters in front of you, their arms draped over each otherâs shoulders.
Swallowing, you let your phone screen go dark and tuck it back into your pocket. Youâre coming up on the penguin exhibit now, and the girls can barely contain their excitement as they run ahead to the outermost edge of the enclosure where a massive glass wall allows for a clear view of the penguins swimming about underwater.
âTheyâre so fast!â Trixie exclaims. She stops at one of the numerous placards lining the glass wall, her little face scrunching as she slowly reads it out loud to Daeun. âIt says here some can swim over twenty miles an hour!â
As the girls pull out their notebooks and begin taking notes, you and Jungkook find an unoccupied bench near a rocky outcrop occupied by several bronze penguin statues. âLook,â Jungkook says, patting one of the upright penguins. âYou can see how many people have rubbed this little guyâs head. Itâs turned gold.â
âMust be good luck,â you remark, running a finger along the golden beak of another penguin. âOr maybe I should make a wish? I donât really know what this situation calls for.â
âIâm pretty sure you make wishes when you throw a coin into a fountain,â your companion replies, brushing a dark strand of hair off his forehead. âActually, I think I saw a fountain back there. Should we check it out later?â
âI donât think I have any change on me,â you reply, peeking into your purse to make sure. âSeriously, who even carries coins anymore?â
âNot me,â Jungkook agrees. âI do usually have at least a little cash on me, though. Itâs nice to have sometimes.â
âMm, yeah. You never know when youâll need it.â
Just then, Trixie and Daeun run up, gesturing toward the brown building at the very back of the enclosure. âThereâs a penguin movie playing over there!â Daeun says. âCan we go see it?â
âSure,â Jungkook says. âHow long is it?â
âI think it runs every twenty minutes,â you reply when Daeun frowns and scratches her head. âCome on. If Iâm remembering correctly, we should be able to see more penguins inside too.â
Daeun and Trixie beam. âCool!â they exclaim in unison, before galloping off and leaving you and Jungkook to follow after them as quickly as you can manage without breaking into a run yourselves.
Your memory proves correct, as you enter the brown building and immediately see that the walls inside are glass as well. A penguin dives off of a rocky island and into the clear blue water, and you watch as it goes all the way to the bottom of the pool before coming back up for air.Â
After doing a lap of the building, Daeun and Trixie decide to go into the theater to see the fifteen-minute short film. Meanwhile, you and Jungkook find a quiet little alcove near the entrance, chatting softly while watching the penguins behind the glass on the opposite wall.Â
âI havenât been to the zoo in ages,â Jungkook admits. âDaeâs mom used to always take her, though. They always came back with a stuffed animal from the gift shopâyou mightâve seen them in Daeunâs room, actually. She loves them.â
You nod. âI remember, yeah. Itâs quite an impressive collection.â Then you hesitate, gnawing on your bottom lip as you consider your next words and debate whether youâre being too nosy. âDaeunâs mom⌠can I ask what happened between you?â You pause, then quickly speak again. âAnd feel free to say no, obviously! You donât have to tell me if you donât want to. Iâm probably just poking my nose where it doesnât belong.â
Jungkook smiles at you, but thereâs a faraway quality to his gaze that wasnât there before. âNah, itâs okay. Thereâs really not much to tell, if Iâm honest. Evelyn and I, we started dating when we were nineteen. We got married at twenty-three, had Daeun a couple years later, and then one day we realized that weâd become entirely different people and that we werenât really in love anymore.â
âOh.â You arenât sure what else to say. âI-Iâm sorry to hear that.â
He shrugs and sighs, tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling. âNo need to be sorry; it was a mutual thing. Totally amicable. Weâre still friends, and weâre a pretty kickass co-parenting team too.â
The conversation continues, and you find out that Evelynâs job took her overseas last year. According to Jungkook, she currently lives with her new boyfriend, whoâs a little pretentious but completely harmless. And despite the six-hour time difference, Evelyn still finds the time to FaceTime Jungkook and Daeun every Sunday afternoon. Because of those calls, sheâs apparently heard all about you, tooâyouâre her favorite teacher, remember? heâd said with a laugh.
âWhat about you, then?â Jungkook glances over at you inquiringly, his eyebrows raised. âIs it my turn to pry?â
You can tell from the melodious lilt in his tone that heâs teasing. âMy storyâs far less interesting than yours,â you answer, fiddling with a stray thread on your jacket sleeve. âI donât have an ex-partner or anything like that. Iâve just always wanted to be a mother, so one day I decided that I was going to do it. I used a donor, got pregnant, and here we are.â
Jungkook takes this in slowly, nodding. âDo you⌠I mean, do you know who your donor is? Have you met him?â
You shake your head. âNo, it was an anonymous thing. I got a profile and some information about his appearance and hobbies and stuff, but not much beyond that.â
âIââ Jungkook begins, before trailing off. âIâm sorry. Iâm asking too many questions. I donât know a whole lot about the sperm donor thing, but Iâm glad it worked out for you. Trixieâs an amazing kid.â
âShe is,â you murmur. âI love her more than anything.â
âAnd youâre an amazing mom.â Jungkookâs voice grows softer, and when you turn to look at him, he seems closer than he was before. âI donât know how you manage it all, teaching and parenting. But you do, and itâs incredible. Youâre incredible.â
You arenât sure who leans in first. All you know is that one moment, youâre staring into Jungkookâs earnest brown eyes, and then in the next, youâre kissing him.
It starts soft. Cautious, even. His lips press against yours gently, once, before he pulls back for a breath. You can feel him exhale, the warmth fanning your cheeks. And then you pull him back in by his collar, fisting one hand in the knit material and finding the soft hair at his nape with the other.Â
Time slows to a standstill. Jungkook groans against your lips, and you feel the way it rumbles through his chest, the sensation sinking into your skin and settling straight in your core. His hands find your hips, and you wind both arms around his neck to pull him closer.Â
And then, just as suddenly as it had stopped, time starts ticking again. Reality crashes down around you in the form of familiar, boisterous voices rapidly heading your way. You and Jungkook only barely manage to untangle yourselves before Trixie and Daeun round the corner of the alcove, chattering excitedly about all the new penguin facts theyâve learned.Â
âCan we go to the petting zoo next?â Trixie asks, seemingly oblivious to your lingering embarrassment at nearly being caught.
Awkwardly, you clear your throat. At your side, Jungkook is faring no better, shuffling his feet and refusing to make eye contact. âYeah, sure, bug,â you finally manage when you find your voice again. âLead the way.â
///
Monday dawns cloudy and gray. The weather app on your phone promises thunderstorms later in the afternoon, but that isnât enough to dampen your mood one bit. Instead, you thumb back over to your messages, your heart skipping a beat when you see the text still sitting at the very top.
[6:54am] Jungkook Jeon: Make sure to stop by bean there, done that before school. Left you a surprise ;)Â
Taking a deep breath, you type out a response:
[6:56am] You: Iâm a little scared. Should I be scared?
His answer comes in immediately. Nah. Itâs a good surprise, I promise.
[6:58am] You: Sure it is⌠đ¤¨
Biting back a grin, you tuck your phone into your bag and head toward the front door of your apartment, nearly tripping over Taco along the way, who has chosen that moment to start slinking between your legs.Â
âReally, Taco?â you ask the unperturbed calico cat at your feet. âWhat if I fell and cracked my head open? Who would feed you then, huh?â
As usual, Taco merely gives you an unimpressed look before flicking her tail and wandering off. Sighing, you call for Trixie to hurry up before turning to check your appearance in the mirror leaning against the wall of the entryway. Itâs a large, vintage pieceâa gold-framed, flea market find that you treasure dearly and swear makes you look good no matter how awful you might feel.
Satisfied, you hike your bag higher on your shoulder and smooth down the lapels of your coat. Trixie rounds the corner and gives herself a quick once-over too, and you give her a thumbs-up. âReady, bug?â
âYup!â she replies, tightening her grip on her and Daeunâs projectâa carefully constructed shoebox diorama that shows a group of penguins in their natural icy habitat.Â
âLetâs go, then.â Opening the front door, you let her through before locking it up behind you. Together, you head out to the car, and Trixie ensures that her diorama is completely secured in the seat beside her while you check your mirrors and turn on the ignition.
The drive to Bean There, Done That! takes only about ten minutes. Jin waves cheerily when he spots you walking up to the counter, but his face positively lights up when he sees Trixie is with you. He absolutely adores your daughterâTrixie loves him tooâand on the occasional instance youâve had to call on him to babysit, the two of them always end up stuffed with food on the couch and giggling over bad puns.
âWhat can I get you, maâam?â Jin asks, directing the question at Trixie, who beams at him before turning to look at you with pleading eyes.
âCan I have a double chocolate cookie?â
âThat⌠actually sounds really good,â you admit. âMake that two. And Jin, did someone leave something here for me earlier?â
Jin grins. âThought youâd never ask. This here is from one Mr. Jungkook Jeon.â Reaching beneath the counter, he pulls out a box and watches as you open the lid to reveal half a dozen cinnamon streusel bagels with a neatly folded napkin on top. Unfolding it, you can only laugh at the words written on it:
Hope you have a mug-nificient day!
âJust so you know, he stole that line from me,â Jin says with a sniff. âIâm not letting him take the credit.â
âDuly noted,â you tell him, trying and failing to hide your smile as you look down at the note again. After a couple beats, Jin clears his throat, and you glance up to see that heâs grinning like the Cheshire Cat.Â
âSooo,â he begins slowly, dragging out the single syllable, âI imagine you want a fresh napkin and a pen, unless⌠are you going to see Mr. Jungkook Jeon at some point?â
You shrug, feigning nonchalance as best you can. âTrixie was paired with his daughter for a school project, so weâve been meeting up for the past few weeks so they can work on it. Now that thatâs over with⌠I donât really know. Weâre both pretty busy.â
Jin scoffs. âThatâs a lame excuse, especially since heâs clearly flirting with you. Andââ
Unfortunately, Trixie interrupts before he can finish his sentence, skipping back over from where she had been examining the pastry display cases along the wall. âCan I have a lemon bar?â
You fix her with a stern look. âYou already asked for the double chocolate cookie, remember? The lemon bars can wait until next time.â Then you turn back to Jin, reaching into your bag for your wallet. âWe should probably get to school, anyhow. What do I owe you?â
âNot a thing,â he replies, handing over a paper bag with your cookies and a bottle of apple juice. âItâs already been taken care of.â
From the wink he sends your way, you know that it must have been Jungkook who doled out the extra cash for your breakfast. âThanks, Jin,â you reply, handing Trixie the cookies and juice before accepting the cup of coffee he hands over. âIâll see you tomorrow.â
âPleasure doing business with ya,â is his response. Trixie waves goodbye, and together, the two of you head back out to the car. Itâs started drizzling since you arrived, and you thank your lucky stars that youâd managed to snag a parking spot right up front.
Your daughter seems to be deep in thought as you help her buckle her seatbelt, her lips pursed in concentration. Then, out of nowhere, she asks:
âDo you like Mr. Jeon?â
You nearly choke. âW-what?â
âMr. Jeon,â she repeats patiently, and youâre thankful that sheâs not looking at youâinstead, sheâs focused on the raindrops splashing against the window and racing each other down the glass. âYou spent a bunch of time with him when Daeun and I were doing school stuff. Whatâd you do?â
âAdult stuff,â you reply, before cursing inwardly at the potential implication behind your words. âMostly, I spent my time grading homework. And he had some things to do for work, too.â
Trixie hums, apparently satisfied with this answer. âHeâs nice,â she declares. âHe buys us food and he has a cool house.â
âSure,â you agree. âHeâs a very nice man.â
And with that settled, you finish buckling her in her seat. Shutting the back door, you suck in a deep, calming breath before circling around to the driverâs side and setting off on the familiar route to Hybe Academy.
///
â... Miss {L/N}, are you listening?â
You blink and sit up a little straighter in your chair. âYes, of course. Please go on.â Hastily, you scribble down a few random words, hoping that will placate the parent sitting across from you. Itâs parent-teacher conference weekâand youâre beyond grateful that itâs Friday night as Mrs. Greene rambles on and on about how the school isnât doing enough for her precious baby boy. Sheâs talking about how the school day should be extended nowâor at least how teachers should watch after the children whose parents canât pick them up right at three-thirty. I donât understand why itâs so difficult to understand. I mean, my husband is a very busy man, and I have my own business to run. I canât be expected to drop everything in the middle of a client meeting to come pick Derrick upâŚ
It takes everything in you not to snap at her. You know for a fact that her âbusinessâ is selling bejeweled keychains on Etsyâand that theyâre incredibly poorly made, if the reviews are anything to go by. Instead, you bite your tongueâhard enough to taste metalâand remind her that the schoolâs operating hours are not for you to decide.Â
After what feels like an eternity, the clock strikes seven, marking the end of her reserved time block. Standing up, you shake her hand and wish her a pleasant evening before opening your planner and checking to see if you have any more meetings. Your parents have Trixie for the night and thereâs a bottle of wine on your kitchen counter calling your name, and you cannot wait to get home and relax in the bath with a glass. Maybe, you think, Iâll even do a face mask.
The final name written in your planner stops you in your tracks. You havenât seen him in over a weekânot since that Monday when he left you half a dozen bagels at the coffee shop. The girls had insisted on meeting up that evening to celebrate turning their project in, so youâd all gone to a popular taco joint.Â
And then thereâs a knock on your door, the three raps pulling you right out of your musings.
Silhouetted there in the doorframe is Jungkook Jeon, decked out in a polished charcoal suit and wearing a smile that makes your insides lurch dangerously in your chest. His dark hair is parted on the side, and you catch the slightest glimpse of his brow piercing glinting behind the hair thatâs loose across his forehead. âHi,â he says, his voice low, and you have to remind yourself that itâs impolite to stare as you find your voice.
âHi yourself.â
He grins, baring the adorably prominent front teeth that you hate to admit youâve grown rather fond of. âYou look like you werenât expecting me.â
âOh, no. I just wasnât expecting you on time,â you retort, gesturing to the plastic chair sitting across from your desk. âYour track record is questionable, at best.â
Jungkook grimaces. âYeah, sorry about that. I made sure to leave plenty early this time, just in case I ran into traffic. Or if Bobby decided to corner me in the elevator againâthat guy really doesnât know when to shut up.â He pauses. âWait, I told you about him, right? Works on the development team, owns one singular tie? Balding but tries to hide it with a bad combover?â
âThat rings a bell,â you reply. âThe tie is red and Christmas-themed, right?â
âSure is.â Jungkook chuckles. âI thought they mightâve been polka dots the first time I met him, but nope. Christmas ornaments, even in the middle of July.â
You laugh. âOdd fashion choice.â
âSeriously. Donât even get me started on the rest of his clothes,â Jungkook says, shaking his head. âHere, letâs change the subject. Have you eaten yet?â
You gesture around your classroom, artificially lit with fluorescent light even as the sun begins to dip closer to the horizon. âNope. I mean, I had about twenty minutes between the end of the school day and the start of my first meeting, so I scarfed down an apple in the break room. But that was hours ago.â
âPerfect.â At your look of disbelief, he chortles and quickly amends his phrasing. âSorry, I just mean that Iâve got you covered. Here, look.â And he begins pulling things out of a paper bag that you hadnât noticed him carrying before. Crackers, sliced baguette, an assortment of cured meats and cheeses, grapes. He produces a bottle of wine next, and you very nearly start clapping.Â
The last thing he pulls out is a single red rose, his smile soft and warm and dizzyingly affectionate as he presents it to you. âIâwow.â You arenât sure what to say. âThank you. I⌠I feel like I shouldâve prepared something. Stolen an apple for you from the teacherâs lounge, at least.â
Jungkook snorts. âWell, hereâs something you can help me out with. I donât actually have glasses for the wine. Totally spaced and forgot that weâd need them. Any ideas?â
Youâre on your feet before he can even finish asking. âI teach elementary schoolers, Mr. Jeon. I always have cups.âÂ
Making your way to the cabinet by the window, you grab a box of little paper cups and pull out two. Jungkook accepts them when you hand them over, and you watch as he unscrews the cap on the wine bottle before pouring out two generous helpings. Together, you lay out the food heâs brought, spreading it across whatever empty space there is on your desk. âCheers,â Jungkook says once youâve both taken your seats again, raising his paper cup to tap against yours.
âCheers.â
For a moment, there is silence as you both take a drink. Then Jungkook speaks, glancing up at you as he carefully begins crafting himself a mini salami and cheese sandwich. âSo, where does Trixie stay while youâre doing all these meetings? Do your parents have her?â
You nod, taking another much-needed sip of wine. âYeah, my mom picked her up after school. They actually have her until Sundayâmy dadâs going to teach her how to fish tomorrow, and then I think theyâre going to build a pillow fort.â
Jungkook chuckles around a mouthful of gouda. âI love a good pillow fort. Dae insists on building one at least once a week, and at this point, Iâm honestly surprised there isnât one permanently in her bedroom.â
Grinning, you reach for a cracker and some cheese. âTaco manages to destroy every pillow fort Trixie and I try to make. She either decides itâs a trampoline, or that itâs a good time to start scratching everything she can reach. We canât win.â
âSounds like you need better defenses,â Jungkook replies, waggling his eyebrows. âThat, or you can come over whenever you need a pillow fort fix. Iâm sure Dae and Trixie would create something truly epic together. I mean, that penguin diorama was pretty fucking cool, wasnât it?â
âVery fucking cool,â you agree, and both of you burst into laughter.
Deep blue twilight settles outside as the two of you continue chatting over your makeshift meal. The cheese begins to dwindle, only a few lonely grapes remain on their stems, and when you go to top of your wine, you realize thereâs less than a quarter of the bottle left.Â
âWow, we really put a dent in this thing,â you remark, holding it out for Jungkook to see. âAnd itâs already dark out. The time kind of got away from us, huh?â
âYou wonât catch me complaining,â Jungkook replies, tipping the last of his drink into his mouth. âIâm enjoying spending time with you.â
You canât help but smile at his earnest honesty. âMe too.â
Thereâs a beat of silence, and then you rise from your seat. At the same time, Jungkook stands up from his chair on the other side of the desk, making his way around to meet you halfway. And then his mouth is on yours, warm and firm in a way that makes your heart do a backflip before plunking straight into your churning stomach.
Jungkookâs hands find your hips, palming along the flowy material of your dress before finding a resting place just above the soft curve of your rear. Your fingers delve into the soft hair at his nape to tug him closer, and he groans against your lips when your nails rake across his scalp. Slowly, he begins trailing kisses from the line of your jaw down to the column of your neck, pausing to lavish attention on any spots that make you gasp or squirm in his grasp.
The growing hardness against your lower belly is growing more and more evident with each passing second. Deliberately, you slide one hand down his chest, admiring the toned ridges of his abdomen that you can feel through his white shirt, before making your way down past his silver belt buckle. Jungkook inhales sharply when you cup his hardening cock through the charcoal material of his slacks, and, emboldened, you thumb across the head and relish in his resulting groan.
Any caution you may have had is thrown to the wind. Adjusting your grip, you shiver when you realize that heâs now fully hard beneath your fingertips, his erection thick and hot through the fabric. You try and visualize what it looks like underneath it allâthe color of the flared head, the veins that run along it, the curve of the shaft, if there is one. And then you realize that you donât have to imagineâyou can look. You can rip his clothes off and explore every inch of his body in the way youâve been itching to since you first kissed at the zoo last week. Your hands scrabble for his belt buckle, fumbling with the silver prong embedded in its notch.
âW-wait.â Jungkookâs hand lands over yours, and you note the breathlessness in his voice with satisfaction. âI⌠this is probably cheesy, but this isnât how I pictured this happening. Not that I donât like whatâs happening, but I just⌠Iâd like to take you out first. On a proper date, I mean. Without our girls in the next room, or down the hall, or in the museum playplace wreaking havoc.â
âThat does sound nice,â you admit. âActually, Iâd really enjoy that. I havenât been on a proper date in years.â
âLetâs do it, then,â Jungkook says. âMy babysitterâs already been paid to watch Daeun until midnight, and your parents have Trixie. This is kinda perfect.â
You canât help itâyou drag your thumb across the head of his still-hard cock again and revel in the way his breath hitches just a little bit in his throat. âMidnight?â you query with an innocent tilt of your head. âWere you expecting something to happen tonight?â
âHoping,â he replies with a cheeky grin. âAnd wait, let me ask you out properly. It just wouldnât feel right otherwise.â
Confused, you let him stand from his seat and slip around you to retrieve the paper bag on the ground. Understanding dawns when he reaches inside and grabs a napkin, and you watch on in amusement as he takes a pen from the cup on your desk and begins writing. And after a few seconds, he wordlessly presents this to you:
Drinks? Dinner? Maybe dessert? ;)
And you can only laugh. âGame on, mister.â
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