#idk man i streamed painting him like 3 times idk what's going on w this painting anymore

[nettleparade]

his one-sided love for life

[threecrowsinatrenchcoat]

Paint My Spirit Gold

Dukeceit Week Day 2: Green/Yellow

Fans of the YouTubers "Deceit" and Remus "The Duke" Sanders start to suspect that maybe, just maybe, the two of them are more than simple internet pals.

AO3 Link: [here]

Word Count: 2187

Warnings: n/a

@dukeceitweek <3

-

[ID: A screenshot of a Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It features a watercolor-style painting of a snake. The snake appears to be made of melting chocolate, and there is a large bite taken out of its tail. Cherries and jam are leaking out of the snake at the bite wound. The snake's expression of horror is overly-exaggerated to the point of comedy. The caption reads: "liked your snake boi, @SerpenThyme. thanks for the inspo." /end ID]

- 

A notification ding cut Janus off mid-sentence. 

“Wow, someone left their cell phone on, so professional,” he said, giving the camera a dramatic eye roll. That someone was him, of course, because he was the only one in the apartment- just him and the running livestream- but that was no excuse not to be a drama queen about it. He finished wiping flour off his hands and grabbed his phone to silence it; but the notification made him pause. He flicked his eyes up toward the camera and gave a slight smirk.

“My goodness, I’m famous,” he drawled. “The Duke himself has graced little old me with some fan art.”

Most of the comments in the chat wanted him to show it, so Janus opened up Twitter to see the full post he’d been tagged in. It was a watercolor painting of the coiled-snake chocolate sculpture- lovingly named Jake by his viewers- he’d made for his YouTube video last week; it was wearing an expression of such comedic horror that Janus had to stifle a laugh. He flicked his phone screen toward the close-up camera on his counter so his viewers could see.

“How kind of you, Remus,” he said. “All of you should go scold him for what he’s done to poor Jake here.”

Most of his viewers would know he was joking- after all, they were the ones to nickname him Deceit when he provided neither a real or fake name for his online persona. They knew full well what he was like by now.

The oven timer dinged. Janus silenced his phone and set it aside.

“And our first batch of cookies is done. You know, why don’t we show the Duke some appreciation?”

-

[ID: An Instagram post by user @SerpenThyme. The photo is an artistically-framed shot of a stack of sugar cookies with green, yellow, and pink icing. Propped up against the stack is another cookie, with an intricate icing-drawing of an octopus. The photo appears to have been color corrected to have high contrast, low saturation, and a dark vignette at the edges. The Instagram user @OctoDukie is tagged. No caption. /end ID]

- 

“You know, I have often been accused of actually being a little old lady, what with my fondness for knitted jumpers, rocking chairs, and incredibly fucked up murder mystery books. Today I am doing nothing to dispel this accusation, by making soup.”

The studio was dark and empty aside from Remus' workspace. Everyone else had left long ago, even his own brother, which meant that it was officially ass-o'clock in the morning (or, as most people called it, somewhere between 1 and 2 a.m.) But Remus was stuck in hyperfocus, honed in on putting the last touches on a commission that he'd been putting off for weeks. It's not that it was a tough painting- once he'd gotten started, it was actually a very creatively satisfying piece- but man, executive dysfunction could go suck a dick

“French onion soup, specifically. Because while I do like to pretend I am a classy bitch, I am also, regrettably, a lazy bitch with a distaste for anything that takes longer than one bottle of wine to make.”

Remus hated working in silence. It was stifling, almost suffocating. His brain needed noise like his lungs needed air. So when the studio had grown still and silent, Remus had flipped open his laptop and queued up some YouTube videos. 

“So we have here three pounds of onions that we need to slice up, pole to pole. You’re going to cry no matter what, so if you have any memories you’ve been repressing since middle school, now is an excellent time to dredge those up.” 

And if it happened to be 90% SerpenThyme videos, well. Sue him. 

“Now the first rule of caramelizing onions: fast and sloppy is always better than slow and thorough… at least, that’s what every man I’ve ever slept with tells me.”

Remus choked and glanced over to his laptop screen just in time to catch Deceit's trademark smirk directed at the audience just for a moment. It was the deadpan delivery that always got him. Remus could barely hold onto a joke long enough to get through it without cackling mid-punchline, but this fucker could say the funniest shit like an off-hand comment. 

He wiped his hands off on his jeans (what use were clothes if you couldn't use them as paint rags?) and pulled his laptop across the table.  He typed out a quick comment, citing the timestamp of the joke, and after it was posted, he shut his laptop. 

'Cause ass-o'clock was short for "get-your-ass-home-or-I’ll-kick-it" o'clock. 

-

[ID: A screenshot of a YouTube comments section. The first comment is by user TheDuke, and reads: "10:42 wow, rude." The second comment is a reply by user SerpenThyme, and simply reads ";)" /end ID]

-

Janus plopped down on the couch with a slight groan. He didn’t need to stream today, but he really hated missing days. Besides… he was fine. Really. 

He adjusted the camera until he was happy with the framing, and then checked the settings on his streaming software. Satisfied, he started the stream, and watched as his usual viewers rolled in. 

“What do you mean I’m not in my kitchen?” Janus drawled, addressing the chat. He glanced around with an expression of faux-shock on his face. “My goodness, when did that happen?”

He chuckled, and then gestured to his surroundings. “Yes, we are in my living room today. If you must know, my closest and most trusted friend tried to murder me today- yes, Virgil, it was attempted murder and nothing less- and I survived with nary a scratch… and a broken foot, but that is beside the point. Anyway, I’m not allowed to stand for long periods of time, and I may or may not be somewhat inebriated by pain pills and couldn’t stand even if I wanted to. So we are cooking from my couch today.”

Janus paused for a few moments to read the chat messages as they popped up. A few get well soon’s, a few theories about the “attempted murder,” Virgil- who moderated his chat for him- vehemently denying the “attempted murder” but otherwise refusing to clarify the event, and a large volume of wtf why are you streaming today, take care of yourself comments, which made him smile. But one particular comment caught his eye, almost lost amid the torrent of an active chat: wait this kinda looks like the Duke’s living room?

“Oh, VampSuga,” he said, addressing that commenter in particular with a slight smirk. “I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, since I can’t reach my oven from here, I thought some no-bake cookies were in order. For these you will need-”

-

[ID: A screenshot of a Discord conversation. The text reads:

“VampSuga: Ok ok hear me out. Dukeceit. 

Starstruck96: who?

IneffableSnek: lmao

FeralBeauYasha: lol

VampSuga: Deceit and Remus Sanders! They’re totally dating. I will die on this hill. 

FeralBeauYasha: Isn’t the duke w/ PatPat?

IneffableSnek: no thats his brothers bf

FeralBeauYasha: ohh

VampSuga: Did anyone see Deceit’s stream today? I swear that’s the Duke’s livingroom. 

StarStruck96: idk that seems like a stretch

IneffableSnek: no wait i kno what u mean

IneffableSnek: im watching the duke’s old videos and that one where he shows off all his old weapons he’s in a living room kinda like deceit’s 

FeralBeauYasha: They were acting all cute on twitter too

VampSuga: DUKECEIT”  /end ID]

-

"Hey guys, been a while since you've seen my face and not just whatever my hands are busy with, when it's within YouTube's terms and conditions I mean. They used to be way more lenient…" Remus trailed off for a moment, then shook his head sharply and plastered on a grin. 

"Anyway! In June me and a few other creators did a fundraiser for the Trevor Project, and y'all smashed the goal, so I let you decide what video I'd make this month." He paused, and gestured to the mountain of clothes piled behind him on the bed. "And you had so many juicy ideas to choose from, but you decided to dress me up like a Barbie instead."

Remus paused to scroll through his phone for a few moments. "Ah, ok, here we go. Twitter user YoonIsMyCat- oh, BTS, nice- sent in this first outfit. Uh… future Remus, put up the post here somewhere." He gestured vaguely to his right. "Y'all went with either a fuckton more clothes or a fuckton less clothes, which I respect. Apparently this outfit is called…” He squinted at his phone. “Amish chic? I take it back, no respect at all.”

Remus cycled through the outfits his viewers sent in, which ranged from the aforementioned “Amish chic” to “2008 rave attire” to “ok now you guys are just fucking with me” (which consisted of one of those big puffy snow coats, lime green in color; booty shorts with the shrug text emoji across the ass; fuzzy pink boots; and a yellow cowboy hat to top off the whole thing. It was awful. Remus loved it.) The mountain of clothes on the bed gradually became a mess of clothes spread across the floor instead, until there was just one outfit left. 

“Ok so Twitter user VampSuga sent me this outfit that I’m gonna call ‘sexy librarian.’ I couldn’t find this exact sweater online, but-” he paused for dramatic effect, before brandishing a sweater toward the camera like a bullfighter. “My boyfriend had something that was close enough.”

Remus hopped up from the bed and switched off the camera so he could change.

“They’re going to lose their minds,” a voice drawled from the doorway. Remus threw his shirt at him.

“Shoo, I’m getting naked.”

-

[ID: A Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It features a selfie of YouTuber Remus “The Duke” Sanders, a Hispanic man with his hair dyed green and styled into a spiked mohawk. He is wearing a yellow knitted cardigan over a black button-up shirt. He is grinning widely at the camera. The caption reads: “my viewers pick my outfits! now live on youtube. go see what i look like as a sexy librarian!” /end ID]

-

DukeceitStan

first and only dukeceit shipper ig

DukeceitStan

wow there’s so many of you now! Hi!!

DukeceitStan

i want this to be canon so bad omg

DukeceitStan

i mean just look

[image]

how 

[image]

cute

[image]

[ID: A series of three gifs featuring Youtubers SerpenThyme, aka Deceit, and TheDuke, aka Remus Sanders. Deceit is a black man with long, dreadlocked hair, and vitiligo patches along the left side of his face. Remus is a Hispanic man with green-dyed hair styled into a mohawk, many ear and facial piercings, and tattoos covering both arms. Each gif is edited so that the highlights are tinged yellow when Deceit is seen, and tinged green when Remus is seen.

The first gif depicts a close-up shot of Deceit’s hands as he carefully decorates a cookie with green and yellow icing. The cookie art he is working on appears to be a half-finished octopus. The gif then fades into a mid-shot of Remus, with his back to the camera, facing a canvas. The canvas is blank, and Remus appears to be laying out paints on a table to his left. 

The second gif depicts Deceit seated at his couch, facing the camera. He has many ingredients spread across his coffee table (including oats, cocoa powder, and butter) and appears to be in the process of laying out several more. The gif fades to show Remus seated at a similar couch with a similar coffee table in front of him. The camera is angled slightly downward to better show the myriad of knives spread out across the table. Remus is gesturing wildly with a morning star held in his hand. 

The third gif depicts Deceit in his kitchen. He is pulling on a bright, yellow knitted cardigan, and smirking toward the camera. The gif fades to show Remus in his bedroom, seated on his bed. He is holding up a similar-looking cardigan toward the camera and grinning. /end ID]

- 

“Remus, it’s almost two in the morning. Come to bed.”

“I’m coming, sorry. Twitter distracted me.”

“Mm. I can’t believe the bird app is more distracting than I am.”

“You should try harder.”

“Come to bed and maybe I will.”

“Ok, ok, I’m coming. Hang on though, is it cool if I post this?”

“Sure. They figured it out anyway.”

“Sweet. Ok, Jannie, I’m coming.”

-

[ID: A screenshot of a Twitter post by user @CallMeDukie. It reads: “Dukeceit is canon.” /end ID] 

[magiquemalec]

3x21+3x22 reaction I guess

and so it begins..rip me in advance I guess you're a snowflake, jonathan, congrats THIS IS THE HUNT (oh god this is the last time aonkg don't make me cry I'm getting emotional)

Alec has a wedding to plan he doesn't have time for angst THE RING :(( alec bby take care of yourself, eat something pls (and then get your man back) YES YOU DO PLAN THAT WEDDING magnus on that throne fuck the way he's looking at his ring DOUBLE FUCK "your word" his face lkansgmsgd god I love him OOF YES MAGNUS GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE oh right jordan deaded F I guess am I suppossed to be sad about this? is this how they're sending her off then? aw man :/ good for her though he's going to be a shadowhunter again? I mean, it was kinda in the trailer but still? Maia sendoff - check Sizzy - check Izzy???? WHAT THE FUCK SHE'S ON FIRE (my brain: THIS GIRL IS ON FIIIIIIIREEEEE) klsdmg I've already seen this like 10 times but it's still funny "Something happened" yeah y'know she just randomly caught on fire no biggie rip Sizzy that didn't last long LMAO ALEC Izzy stop lying ALEC WHAT THE FUCK I mean I get it he just wants to get to Magnus but they better not turn him into a vampire jonathan's going through it alliance rune time woop lbr Alec's on board with pretty much anything at this point boy was ready to get turned into a vampire for Magnus ew ok lady beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder I suppose oh we don't even get to see him turn back I think I liked him better as a lizard alec has no chill today don't test him Lorenzo LMAO are you sure about that Clary? are you reaaaaally sure zoom zoom WHAT THE FUCK THEY PAIRED ALEC WITH LORENZO WHAT THE FUCK THEY BETTER FIX THIS LATER ON (alec with magic is dope though) oh great now they're all separated just shut up lorenzo pls uhhhhhh Alec? oh shit HE USED THE RING TO CALM HIMSELF DOWN I'M EMO wow, that's great, yeah that's awesome lorenzo jfc he's unbelievable I love it HAHA HE CAN'T LIE OMG I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THAT is this foreshadowing it's foreshadowing isn't it oof yikes she's so pretty sorry his hair is white now that means he's super evil (is it white or just blond? I can't tell with the lighting and coloring) Meliorn skjdnbggk   what happens to a demon when it dies in edom IZZY freeform? favorite network? what drugs are these people on I don't know how I feel about this fuck off Scott (is that his name? I don't remember) AJABSFJADGJK MALEC I'M CRYING HE'S WILLING TO STAY IN EDOM I BISCUIT izzy's like what the fuck is going on with you you're being too nice is Izzy going to die? it feels like it's headed that way no meliorn :((( he better not die also what kind of plan was that ohh that was kinda cool how the fuck does Alec's bow work it just randomly morphs into the 5 arrow bow when needed they can do that? idk if any of this makes sense but you know what I don't even care oh boy well that's one way to fix that problem I guess OH SHIT RIGHT INTO 3x22 ok

bit of a weird transition but WE HAVE MALEC SO WHO GIVES A SHIT OIAKNKGLSGNKDKGSNKDSOGLNN THAT'S THE SOFTEST FUCKING THING I'VE EVER SEEN FUCK OFF YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED  JNKSDG JKSDKGK IT'S HAPPENING ALEC AJHBSGJ ALEC TRULY IS THE ONE ?????? what is this seelie queen/jonathan madness what show am I watching well, rip he's so happy I'm emo 3b Jace is the best Jace I actually kinda like him now wow where was he all this time Clary's so nervous aw this is sweet are THEY FINALLY GONNA TELL US UNDERHILL'S FIRST NAME I NEED TO KNOW still don't know how I feel about sh!luke, but he seems happy so good for him I guess oh good she's hallucinating that's great wat is it really tho? told ya she's going to make an immortality rune I'm calling it O H M Y G O D lorenzo and his fucking paintings sjkbgdkk is this...character growth I'm seeing? incredible magnus got her a dress that's so sweet robert who ksgk sorry but the actor for max has aged like three years when in the show like 3 months have passed like..this timeline man ok but why? I'm so confused oh ok he's just on a killing spree jonathan's finally gonna be a real threat, for all of like..10 minutes I feel like they constantly change how portals work but there's only like 45 minutes left so w/e I guess will the power of love save the day? probably not oh damn why does she have wings what the fuck is going on well that was easy MORE TIME FOR THE MALEC WEDDING I GUESS I mean you knew that was going to happen Clary so...does that mean no immortality rune? I can't even write anything I'm too busy sobbing fucl MY STREAM SKIPPED AJKBDJKBJKGLÖJBKD my stream skipped and I missed part of their vows but that was still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen oh god they're so- perfect I'm crying does no one notice that her angelic rune is gone? Clary :( fuck me that was emotional heline! ANDREW HIS NAME HIS ANDREW WE FINALLY KNOW everyone already knew lmao I mean to be fair they really weren't subtle this music choice is...odd- scratch that, it's bad. I'm sorry, but- yeah no, it's bad. ??? clary ??? I'm sorry but this song choice is actually horrible oh shit she's losing the sight damn they really did that it's almost over I don't know how to feel I've been through so many emotions over the last two hours I'm not ready for it to end oohhh time skip ok WHAT THE WHAT EXCUSE ME INQUISITOR???? WHATR THEY MOVED TO ALICANTE?? JKSNDG HE JUST THREW THAT SHIT I LOVE MAGNUS BANE TO US AND THE DRINKS I LOVE PARALLELS was Taki's a book thing? aaaand my stream broke...that's cool...................................... that's it it's over I don't know how to feel I think...I'm gonna go cry now ok bye

[illjuststumbleonhometomybirds]

With Reputation a couple hours away I'm gonna go through each song and give predictions based on the Taylor Line Theory and the name and we'll see how close I get when the album drops.

1. ...Ready For It? (Birdcage Taylor)

Okay so this fits in with Birdcage Taylor in the constant references to robbing and calling Joe her "jailer". I also want to mention that we have a New Taylor™ and therefore a new sound, this is really pop and we see her almost rapping which is really out of character for Tay. Also I want to mention how this is a very satirical song and I think like the cover suggests half the songs are going to be satirical and talk about media perception and I personally think they're gonna get more and more real.

2. End Game (Snake Taylor)

This is gonna be an Angry Song™ and w have my boy Ed on here, the King of Angry Songs™ (listen to Nina or New Man). I don't listen to Future but I definitely this is gonna have a really new sound. Probably ending the media's game with her. How? She might mention hiding from, she mentions this on the back of her Target magazine covers saying we'll find out why she's been hiding in the lyrics.

3. I Did Something Bad (Shake it Off Taylor)

Idk why but the title reminds me of like a little kid confessing to something and considering this is probably gonna be satirical I think she'll maybe confess about the whole Kimye. Since we have an Old Taylor™ it's gonna have the 1989 sound.

4. Don't Blame Me (Out of The Woods Taylor)

This is gonna address her history of always playing the victim but I'm not sure what about. I don't think it's gonna be about Kimye, maybe the end of a relationship considering it's based on Out of the Woods but instead of wondering if a relationship will last it'll be about ending a relationship. I think it's gonna be a hybrid between 1989 and her new sound.

5. Delicate (You Belong With Me Taylor)

This. Better. Be. The. Most. Ballady. Ballad. Of. All. Time. Like I think it's gonna be better than All Too Well. We have an Old Taylor™ so we're getting back the Fearless sound (one of my fav albums). This is where I'm a bit conflicted on the whole it progressively getting less satirical cause I don't want it to be that satirical. Could be about Joe she likes to be viewed as this delicate flower in the media but in reality she's grown up and grown thicker skin. She's not delicate anymore.

6. Look What You Made Me Do (Plane Taylor)

This song has already been analyzed so many times but basically we see a New Taylor™ so we have a new sound. This is Taylor taking a stand and fighting for herself. She's nit gonna shake it off anymore. That's why we see her actively painting and cutting the plane. She's taking revenge.

7. So It Goes... (LWYMMD Taylor)

Since the two Taylors are so related I'm gonna say that this has to be a direct response to LWYMMD. Hopefully we'll get to see what she actually did lol. There's also the obvious parallel to Style through the title. It almost suggests that after LWYMMD she's letting go and no longer caring what the media thinks. She's freeing herself and this is the turning point where the songs will become more and more real.

8. Gorgeous (MET Gala Taylor)

This is my main evidence for the Old Taylor = old sound theory because like all the media has said about Gorgeous, it does almost sound like a 1989 reject. THIS IS DELIBERATE! This Taylor is from the beginning of the 1989 era and Gorgeous's sound reflects that.

9. Getaway Car (MTV Taylor)

This is Taylor wanting to get excluded from the Kimye narrative and she is basically gonna get in her Getaway Car and escape. I think it'll probably be a bit of a love song like escaping to a person (*cough* Joe *cough*).

10. King Of My Heart (Selfie Taylor)

So I'm a bit torn in the whole "album goes from satirical to real" on this song too because if Selfie Taylor is involved it has to be satirical. It's definitely a love song it could be about losing yourself in a relationship.

11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied (Fearless Taylor)

I think this is gonna be another ballad with a Fearless era vibe. Idk why but I really think this is gonna be about Tom. Talking about how she was really into him but the media screwed with them so much they were just dancing with their hands tied, and the media tied them. She's knows the relationship is gonna fail even if she's happy now.

12. Dress (Red Taylor)

Okay so I've heard this one is gonna be REALLY sexy and I'm ready for it! At first considering we have Red Taylor I was thinking break up song but since it's gonna be sexy I'm not sure anymore. Will definitely have the Red style.

13. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things (Reputation Taylor)

This is another Angry Song™ what it's about, I'm not sure, but with Reputation Taylor we should all be scared. It's location at number 13 (her fav number) means it's probably gonna be one of the best songs on the album and won't be what we expect.

14. Call It What You Want (Stream Co. Taylor)

So we already know the CIWYW is like Tay's happiest love song yet, but how does it relate to Stream Co.? It's a bit loose but I think it relates to the verses in how she brought a knife to a gun fight. By pulling her music off Spotify she just gave the media more ammunition against her.

15. New Year's Day (Biker Taylor)

This song's all about new beginnings and where Taylor's going next. Not sure how Biker Taylor fits in except it being a more edgy pop song.

[spring-lion]

His Heart’s Little Keeper

Reader + Kihyun 

Oneshot

Genre: Fairy!AU, Fantasy, Magical, A Fairy Tale Angst with a Happy Ending

Request:

omg, amazing then! i was thinking about reader being a little fairy that has always been taking care of him since he was born, but he doesn’t know the fairy nor has ever seen them. So, one day he falls in love with someone, and the fairy who (1/3)

has been in love with him since he was very young suffers a lot so they decide to leave him since his loved one can take care of him now so the fairy leaves and that’s when (2/3)

he realizes that something is missing and idk, somehow this ended up being angsty but you can make the end as you want! ;w; i hope that’s okay omg (3/3)

also the story is with kihyunie! I forgot to say that, my bad ;A; sorry ~ i hope it isn’t too long!

A/N: My lovely anonie, I miss you so much, and I hope that you’re doing well! I am working on completing your many amazing requests for me little by little! I hope that you and my other wonderful readers enjoy this! Please let me know what you think~

Word Count: 2,746

You smiled to yourself, sighing as you vigilantly watched over your young, little pink-haired boy drift off to sleep.

He was the cutest little thing, this little boy that you were assigned to. Well, not little to you, specifically, for your form compared to his was like comparing the size of an ant to a bulldozer. But, he was little to the world. He was little not only in his size and youth, but also in his innocence and the light in his eyes that seemed to vanquish all darkness as he looked out into this vast world that he had yet to explore.

You lovingly observed him, his long eyelashes gracing his cute, chubby cheeks as his breathing and heart rate slowed into that of a metronome keeping time for a slow and relaxed andante.

You leaned your head against his chest relishing in the sound of his relaxed, peaceful pulse, signaling that your job for the day was done. Smiling again as you felt a warmth surge into your stomach, you fluttered up to the young boy’s face to kiss his forehead goodnight.

It was time for you to return to Fairy Land to report to the Queen.

“You may now rise, Fairy Y/N.”

You rose, lifing your head from your bowing position before Queen Liliana, the Queen of the Fairies. She sat upon a throne of golden bulbinellas, woven intricately to support her majesty whose power was displayed by the golden light that naturally exuded from her. Dressed in a bright yellow petals that rivaled the sun, a sparkly golden crown adorned her blonde locks that framed her face that held a pair of gray eyes that were so light they were almost white.

Dressed simply, yet beautifully in your pink petaled dress made from the flowers called bleeding hearts, you curtsied once more before recounting your first day with the beautiful boy that your highness had assigned to you.

Yoo Kihyun was his name, and you knew that it was going to be a name that you would never forget. You recounted the delight that you had in watching over him. The small boy was so eager to help his mother in the kitchen that day, insisting that he’d cook himself, despite his inability to even reach the stove on his own. No matter what his mother did, he wouldn’t leave the kitchen. You remembered watching her sigh and shake her head as she found a way for her son to “help” her by giving him a bowl of water to mix. But despite the small job the boy had, he was overjoyed in knowing that he could help. You chuckled at the memory, thinking to yourself that he’d grow up so nicely and that you’d have the privilege of witnessing every moment of it. After all, the biggest sign of how great a man is, is how great he treats his mother.

The Queen, in her glory and beauty, looked upon you fondly. She was pleased to see you so happy with your assignment, but there was also a hint of disconcertment hidden within her gaze. She couldn’t help but bring up the matter that was worrying her with you.

“Fairy Y/N,” she addressed you, causing you to shift your focus back to your highness. “You are aware that this is only a temporary assignment, correct?”

A sense of uneasiness crept up from within you. Would you really be able to leave this boy when he comes of age?

“Yes, your highness,” you responded, lowering your head down both in respect and in disappointment. “I am well aware of that,” you stated, swallowing the lump that was forming in your throat.

Queen Liliana gazed upon you with pity. It was always difficult for a fairy’s first assignment. Fairies had to eventually learn to let go once their work was done in order to move on to the next one. She knew this, but it always broke her heart to see fairies who got too attached and ended up getting their hearts broken by the children that they were to watch over.

“Remember,” she gently admonished. “You have until his first love to be with this boy,” she paused, trying to let this sink in with you. “You have until the time when he is ready to give someone the key to his heart.”

“Yes, your majesty,” you said, bowing once more to her.

You were well aware of this after having been trained since your birth. Your race of fairies was created in order to guard the hearts of young boys and girls. Fairies were to guard the keys to the hearts of these young children until the time comes for them to fall in love for the first time. When a fairy deems her assigned child ready, she entrusts the key to the child for them to give it to whomever they wish.

But for now, the key was your’s. Your hand reached up to were it rested upon your chest, right above your own heart. Your fingertips caressed the precious gold key to Kihyun’s equally golden heart. You hoped that the one to receive this key would at least have a heart as golden as his. He deserved that and so much more. You were determined to give him that.

Ever since your audience with the Queen, your time with Kihyun was rather bittersweet. Your mind knew that you were going to have to leave him eventually, but your heart continued to fall for him more and more each day. Such a tragedy, the opposition of the mind and the heart, is it not?

You felt like you had struck gold with this treasure because he was such a good kid as he grew up. He always did well in his studies and even made a lot of friends. He was such a joy that to you, it felt as if his warmth was embracing your heart, more so than your embrace of his.

After all, he might as well have your’s; for you would willingly give him everything. Everything, everything in your power, no matter how much it would hurt.

And before you knew it, the day of your greatest hurt came: when Kihyun laid his eyes on a particular girl on his first day of high school.

Shin Mikyung was her name. And though hard for you to admit, she was beautiful both inside and out. Her long, dark hair flittered around her as she gracefully walked down the hallway that day. A bright smile was painted on her lips as she greeted the people around her, showcasing her warm and friendly persona. Quite the popular girl she was … a perfect match for your Kihyun.

And it seemed as if Kihyun knew this for himself. For the look in his eyes as he observed her gave it away. He was entranced, and a sparkle was seen in his eye. It was practically love at first sight. And it broke your heart into pieces.

Right then and there, you knew. It was time.

Once more, you fluttered your little wings to Kihyun’s forehead to kiss him goodbye. Tears streamed down your face as you did so. All of your love was put into your farewell, wishing that he knew who you were, and who he was to you. But you knew all too well that that was impossible. As his fairy, he was your whole world, but, unfortunately, you were not in his.

And so, with tears coating your cheeks, you ripped the key off of your necklace, the very action feeling as if you ripped out your own heart. Carefully, you placed the key within his possession, ready for him to use; ready for him to give his heart to another.

Once more, you looked at the boy you watched over his whole life, and, instead, saw a man. That’s right. He was a man now, and your job here was done.

Painfully, you tore yourself from him as you bid him farewell forever, feeling as if a part of you, an important part of you, was ripped away.

That school day, Kihyun remembered feeling particularly odd. It was all of a sudden and appeared to have no reason for it. He felt … confused.

He remembered rather clearly that he had a sudden urge to talk to Shin Minkyung, but now that was gone. And he felt … empty?

Something definitely didn’t feel right inside of him, but he had no idea what it was.

The rest of the day, Kihyun kept to himself, suddenly losing the motivation to do anything.

“Y/N!, Y/N!,” a familiar fairy voice screeched as she entered your quarters.

You looked up from your pink petaled flower bed, your eyes and face still swollen from crying over your loss. After squinting and forcing your eyes to focus, you realized that it was your friend, Alvina. You plopped your head back down, not feeling like interacting with anyone, even her.

Worry creased Alvina’s eyes as she watched. She knew what you were feeling all too well. Every fairy went through it …

She shook her head. She had something of dire importance to tell you at this moment.

“Y/N,” she started. “This is important. The Queen sent me,” she continued.

You didn’t budge. You didn’t care. You had lost all of your energy to care.

“It’s about Kihyun,” she finished, looking down.

Suddenly, hearing his name surged a newfound energy within you. You sat up abruptly from your bedding, your heartbeat getting noticeably faster.

“Take me to her now.”

Upon entering her majesty’s throne room, you saw Queen Liliana looking through a crystal mirror, noting the uneasiness that graced her heavenly features.

“Your majesty?,” you asked, greeting her with a curtsy, though you couldn’t shake the worry that was evident in your face.

“Fairy Y/N,” she said, acknowledging your presence. “Please come and take a look,” she said as she gestured towards the crystal. “It’ll explain itself.”

When you looked into the crystal, you had no idea what to expect, but it definitely was not what you were seeing before your eyes. The crystal was showing you an image of Kihyun that you would never in your life have wished to see. He was laying in his bed, staring blankly into space, as if he no longer had life within him. The only signs of life you saw in him were the slow, up and down movements of his chest to indicate his breathing.

“Kihyun … ,” you mumbled, tears prickling your eyes at the sight of his depressing state.

At that moment, you saw his mother walk into his room. By the movement of her mouth and the desperate look on her face, you could tell that she was begging her son to eat.

You felt a lump form in your throat as he shook his head and covered himself with his blanket.

Queen Liliana watched your reaction with sorrow, but she was surprised to suddenly see a golden light emanating from your chest, right where your heart is. She looked into the crystal once more and into Kihyun’s heart, observing that his lock and key were pulsating that golden color as well.

“He’s calling out to you,” her majesty commented, a smile turning up her lips.

You abruptly turned your head around to her in confusion. Huh?

“What do you mean, your majesty?,” you asked.

The Queen could only smile at you as she lifted her hand up to wipe away the tears that had unknowingly fell from your face.

“I mean that you are the true owner of the key, Fairy Y/N,” she replied simply.

You felt a sudden lightness in your heart upon hearing this, but your mind refused to believe it.

“But how could that be?,” you asked incredulously.

The Queen hummed in response, snapping her fingers to conjure up a large, ancient-looking book.

“According to here,” she said as she gestured to the book, opening it and searching for a particular page. “Only on certain rare occasions does a fairy turn out to be the true owner of the key to a child’s heart,” she explained.

You looked at her, flabberghasted. You were still having trouble processing this. After what you went through, you wished not to put too much hope into what she was saying.

“But how can we be sure that this is one of those rare occasions, your highness?,” you asked.

The Queen only smiled at you as she placed her hand on your heart, causing your eyes to travel there to see … that it was glowing. It was glowing a golden hue.

“This only happens when the fairy’s heart glows the same color as the lock and key to the child’s heart,” she answered as she gestured towards the crystal.

You looked into the crystal once again and was astonished to find inside Kihyun’s heart: a lock and key that glowed a golden hue that matched your own.

You gasped, putting your hand over your own heart as it fluttered beneath your fingertips.

You looked up to Queen Liliana in disbelief.

She responded with a grin before she closed her eyes and raised her ever powerful hands over your head.

“Fairy Y/N,” she started. “As the true holder of the key, I now relinquish you from your guardian duties as a fairy,” she paused, breathing. “And grant you the gift of living as a human for your true love.”

And through the power of her words, you vanished from Fairy Land in a bright, illuminating light.

For some reason, Kihyun finally felt well enough to go to school. The burden that he previously held in his chest disappeared all of a sudden. He was glad, but also a bit confused. However, he had a particularly strong feeling that he was meant to go to school that day.

That reason made itself clear as soon as he saw a young woman with a pink flower in her hair, looking around his age, who was walking amongst the flower petals that had fallen in the grass. Her lithe demeanor made her look like she fit right into that picturesque image. The sunlight of the morning cast a bright light down on her that caused her to shine like gold.

A gust of wind suddenly caused the flower in her hair to blow away, but she was unfortunately unaware of it. Kihyun noticed, and he ran to catch it. It might have seemed like just any other flower to anyone, but for some reason, Kihyun felt a strong urge to get it and give it back to that woman.

As soon as Kihyun caught it, he called out to her and ran towards her. But, one look at him and suddenly, fear appeared in the woman’s eyes and she ran away.

Out of breath, you decided to hide behind a tree. You still weren’t ready to confront him just yet, and you were scared when he ran to you like that. What were you supposed to say? How were you going to talk to the boy who meant the world to you?

All of a sudden, you heard heavy footsteps that ran and stopped behind you.

He found you.

You turned around, your eyes widening at the sight of the man that you watched and loved all of your life, Yoo Kihyun. You couldn’t believe it. You were just his size. You were seeing him again, and most importantly, he could see you.

He was panting as he looked at you, taking in your beautiful image. Something about you seemed so familiar, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it. But, one thing was for sure: he was drawn to you.

“Here,” he said, breathlessly. “You dropped your flower,” he continued as he opened his palm to you, showcasing the pink flower within it.

You looked down at his hand, recognizing the pink petals of the bleeding heart flower that you once wore as a fairy. You smiled, and you were unable to stop when you looked back up at him.

You expressed your gratitude to him in two words. Just two simple words. And it seemed like the perfect start to your new relationship with him because everything you felt, everything you endured, and everything you wanted to say could be summed up into that simple phrase: “Thank you.”