#im like crazy locked in whenever i enter her room

[wooftphr]

going to start posting shit my marine biology teacher says bc shes probably one of the most interesting people ive ever met. i dont even know how to describe it. here are some actual things about her and that ive heard her say:

-her accent is very noticeable, but equally as hard to place. at first, i thought it was bc i had just never heard or clocked it, but it did feel familiar. i just couldn’t figure out where it was from. when someone finally asked her where her accent was from, she told us “i don’t know, i just pick things up from places ive visited and lived.” which is a very long list, and you can hear the influence that every place on it has on her speech.

-“over spring break, im going to climb mount kilamanjaro!”

-the first or second week of school, she told the class that “if you need to reach me this weekend, i wont be able to answer any emails. it’s not that i don’t want to, but ill be deep beneath the earth exploring cave systems so i wont have service.”

—bonus: she shared photos of a strange Bug of some sort, greater than the size of a hand, that she had to crawl around in a very tight cave system when it wouldnt move. she also got covered in ants on this same trip, saying that “only her fingernails were visible”

-“i’ll be out of class next week, i’m going to be in a remote cabin. im planning on getting snowed in and ill be completely cut off from the world”

-“im so close to the treasure i can feel it i bet on a book at an auction and i can smell the answer, i know it has a secret that will help me get closer”

-“i used to have a t-rex jawbone but i had to leave it behind, i couldnt transport it”

-“i want to visit my friend who lives in alaska, but its so remote that i have to take a helicopter and its such a hassle not having any access to the rest or the world”

-“later on in the year, i may have to zoom to teach you all since i applied to be a part of a landmark research voyage and i am one of the final selections.”

-“i watched someone get stung by a stonefish. thankfully he survived but it was nasty stuff”

-“i was stung by several fireworms during a study. it was 2am and there was no one around, so i had to figure out a way to treat myself. for 3 years after, the hospital called ME for fireworm stings”

-she mentioned having more than 1 car, and when a student asked how she could afford multiple cars she told us “im a treasure hunter!” and DID NOT ELABORATE FURTHER!!!!!!!!!

-shes a big one piece fan because shes a treasure hunter, which is crazy because she is also the sort of woman who seems like she has not even a drop of free time she is so busy Doing Cool Shit

-“if you saw my closet, you would think i was a paleontologist”

-she is part of the explorers club, which i didn’t know was a Real Thing. like you see something like that in media and its like “oh thats an antiquity and used to emphasize the eccentricity” but no they have meetings and everything.

-“hong kong’s customs/mail system HATES me. i was the reason for a new law or two haha” its necessary to note that i dont remember this exactly, but i do remember her telling us that there is a government office in asia that has a bias specifically against her. its also necessary to note that she once again, did not elaborate.

-“and NO ONE else wanted to go into the steel cage being circled by a great white!”

-“i had to stop visiting a dolphin i was helping study because it got so excited to see me it caused problems. it kept throwing itself against the glass when it saw me because it was copying all the kids who would tap on the glass i think? it was so sad”

more to come. im obsessed with this woman ngl.

[nightmaree-eyess]

One night stand

Abby tlou fic

Summary: you meet abby at the bar and have a one night stand

Smut Mdni 18+, masc abby,first person pov, female reader, public sex, strapping, fingering, nipple play, teasing, stone top abby

Word count: 8436

Scroll down for smut starts at —--

“We gotta get you laid tonight” Dina said

“Yeah, when was the last time you even interacted with a woman that wasn’t platonic?”

Ellie and Dina love giving me shit about my love life. Just because they're in love doesnt mean I have to be! It was Ellie's idea to go to the bar tonight for operation “get me laid” (her words not mine). I'm totally fine with the life I live right now. I'm focused on college and don't have time for messy relationships. But they've been worried about me since my last relationship. It didn't end the best and I haven't been in the dating scene since. I didnt even entertain the idea of a hoe phase.

We walked up to the entrance of the club and the sound of muffled house music echoed through the streets. I stare at the door and take a deep breath preparing myself to enter.

“Are you ok? I'm not gonna force you to do something you don't want to.” Ellie said concerningly

Dina nods in agreeance

“Yeah im fine just hyping myself up”

“You'll be fine and whenever you wanna leave just tell us and we’ll go” Dina said

We enter the club and they're playing early 2000’s music. Maybe tonight won't be so bad after all. Even if I don't get laid, I'm still hanging out with my best friends and having drinks.

“We're gonna go find a table! Will you get our drinks please?” Ellie yells over the music

I walk over to the bar and from the corner of my eye I see a girl, her dirty blonde hair in a french braid, carabiner on her jeans, emitting the most confident, sexy aura that I can feel standing 10 ft away. I lock eyes for a second and she gives me a wink and then she walks away.

“M’ame your drinks”

“Oh shit sorry”

I didn't even realise I was staring. Even though I was staring I didn't even get a good look because she was gone as fast as I noticed her.

I grabbed our drinks and Dina texted me what table they're at. I make my way over and I scan the crowd for the mystery girl. I think I lost her and that wink was the only action I was getting tonight. Pathetic.

“Ah man wtf”

Fuck…

“Shit im so so sorry i wasn't paying attention to where i was going this is all my fault im so sorry let me venmo you for the shirt im-”

They turn around and I realise I just bumped into the girl that winked at me. I stand there dumbfounded and flustered.

“It's ok, honestly. It was getting kinda hot in here anyways so thanks for the refreshment.”

She takes off her button up to expose her sculpted muscles and her patchwork tats. Holy fuck this woman is my dream woman. Now all she's wearing is her wife pleaser and she wasn't wearing a bra because I noticed her nipples hardened.

“Please at least let me pay you back for the shirt i feel awful”

“I know another way you can pay me back,”

I give her a questioning look

“Dance with me.”

I was not expecting that response. But i accepted cause i would be lying if i said i wasn't looking forward to hanging out with this beautiful woman.

“ i don't even know your name”

“Its abby”

She reaches out her hand and I place my hand in hers. They’re calloused and I wonder what she does for work, what her hobbies are, but it's hard to get to know someone when the music will definitely give you hearing damage.

She's pulling me to the dance floor and “Hot in Herre by Nelly” was blasting over the speakers. The music fills me with nostalgia. I'm taking in this woman dancing in front of me. The colorful lights make her look ethereal and so gorgeous. It feels like it's just me and her on the dance floor and no one else is in the room.

She grabs my waist as the song “Crazy in love by beyonce” booms across the club. We barely talk because there's no point if we can barely hear eachother even when we're touching. She stops for a moment with her arm still around my wait. I give her a concerned look at first that melts into admiration. I cant believe out of everyone in the club she chose me. She could've been mad about the drink and stormed off but she didn't. She was kind about it.

We lock eyes. And before I know it she's pulling me in for a kiss. The sounds around me are muffled. I almost dropped my drink to give into pure submission. She holds my face and moves her thumb in circles on my jaw. She smells of pine and citrus and it's dizzying. Her lips are as soft as clouds and I'm already hypnotised.

—----------------------------------------

Our kisses get more frantic, sloppier. Kisses that will leave our lips bruised and swollen. She grabs my ass and I hitch my breath. I grab the back of her neck so my kisses land more deeply. I'm already getting wet and we were just kissing. Wow, maybe I do need to get laid. I break the kiss and a trail of spit keeps us connected.

“Meet me in the bathroom, big stall”

I walk off and make sure no one else follows me into the bathroom. After a minute i hear a knock on the stall

“Its me abby”

Her voice is raspy from yelling and it's so sexy.

I pull her into the stall and start unbuttoning her pants as we kiss when she stops my hand

“Are you ok? We can stop”

“Yeah it's just that…i'm a stone top. I prefer to give than receive.”

I let her take the wheel and we started kissing again. She pulls my hair enough to expose my neck and she plants kisses sloppily. She's definitely going to leave hickeys but I don't care.

She's hiking up my dress frantically. God, I'm already so wet. She cups her hand around my cunt.

“Going commando eh? Less work for me”

Im moaning into her neck while she palms my clit. My legs want to give out already but Abbys is holding me up with her muscular tatted arms.

“Oh fuck abby” i moan in her ear

That must've drove her crazy cause she takes 2 girthy fingers and teases my entrance. Then slowly she slips them in and I enter another dimension

“Oh my god you feel so good”

I grind my hips to match the movement of her fingers. My wetness dripped down her hand. Abby's grunting in my ear and it makes me feral.

“F-faster abby”

I could barely get the words out

“I want you to come on the count of 5. No sooner. No later. Can you do that for me princess?”

I almost came right then and there

“Mmhmm” is all i could get out

She starts counting

‘’1…” she whispers in my ear

“2…” i could cum right now

“3…” she's going faster and she added her thumb circling my clit. I almost lost it.

“4… you're doing great you're almost there”

I'm being loud at this point but I don't really care. This feels so fucking good.

“5.”

I grab a fist full of her hair and mess up her braid. I cum all over her hand and scream in ecstasy. I almost fall over but Abby catches me.

We kissed for a bit and I realised I don't want this to end.

“Wanna come over to my place? I live right down the block?” I whisper

“I would love to” she kisses me

I take her by the hand and let Dina and Ellie know I'm leaving. They give each other a confused look and then put the pieces together. They were probably wondering where I was all night. I'll have to apologise later for ditching them but they'll understand.

I walk up to my apartment door and Abby hugs me from the back taking in my scent, leaving more hickeys, which makes me drop my keys, flustered. I bend down exposing between my legs and Abby cups my ass in her hands.

“Damn cant even wait to get through the door” I say teasingly

I open the door and she spins me around and leads me into my own apartment by my waist. She closes the door and we kiss each other like the world is ending. She leads me into the kitchen on the left and lifts me up on the counter effortlessly.

“You smell so divine, I can smell you from up here” Abby said raspy and deep

That makes me horny all over again

She spread my legs with her hips, planting kisses down my body. She takes my dress off and throws it on the floor. I'm vulnerable and naked now. She presses kisses on the tops of my breasts, leading down to my nipples. She takes my right nipple and starts sucking on it. I tilt my head back in pure bliss and let out a little moan. She works her tongue around my nipple while sucking, giving little flicks with her tongue. It's driving me wild. You need her inside you. But in a different way. You stop her for a second.

“Are you ok?” she asks worryingly

“Yeah of course I just wanna ask you something.”

She looks at you with a blank look

“I-I have a strap that I want you to use on me, if that's ok with you. I bought it because i thought id get more action but-”

She quiets you with a kiss

“I'd love to angel”

Abby smacks my ass as I run into my bedroom to get the strap and dildo. When I return she's sitting in the living room on the couch across from the kitchen.

When she sees the strap her eyes go wide with eagerness. I hand over the strap and she unbuttons her straight legged levi’s and her carabiner thuds to the ground with the jeans. She's wearing grey boxers and god i wish i could kiss her happy trail down to her pussy and eat her out. She puts on the strap and sits on the couch. And pats her lap. I walk over and straddle her. She grabs my hips to ease me on and the dildo slips in. I didn't even need lube since I'm so wet. I slowly bounce up and down, grinding my hips to hit the spot.

Abby grabs your tits and circles my nipples with her thumbs.

“You're so sensitive”

I picked up the pace and grabbed Abby's shoulders for stability. She notices and moves one hand down my body and slowly inches her way over to my cunt.

“Youre so fucking wet for me baby” she says like butter

Abby takes two fingers and circles your clit as you move up and down.

“Oh fuck abby right there. Im gonna cum, im gonna cum. Im gonna-” you scream in bliss as you lower your head in the crook of Abby's neck for stability and she kisses and bites your ear which brings on a second wave. Abby takes her hand and licks it.

“You taste so fucking good baby.”

She kisses me to prove to me that I do.

We ended up cuddling on the couch and I don't know when but I slipped away in blissful sleep surrounded by abbys huge, inked arms.

—----------------------------------------

In the morning I woke up to the space next to me empty. The apartment is quiet and I wonder where everyone is. All that was left of Abby was her scent in the cushions and the memories plastered in the walls. She didn't even leave a note and I never got her number. I guess she’ll just be a memory now.

[merlinssassybeard]

My horny ass waiting for some ex husband gojo content : (´；ω；｀)

Oh my anon im sworryy i was sick when you sent in this ask. But here u go💕

I was listening to songs so expect mistakes😅.

Tags- fluff angst smut mdni

Series masterlist // Main masterlist

Ex husband Gojo

Random headcanon turned drabble

Gojo doesn't care about personal spaces but when its you, he prefers ringing the bell and knocking rather than just warping inside.

Gojo comes to your apartment every time he's in town. He always brings gifts for his daughter and crazy souvenirs for both of you

Whenever Gojo comes to your apartment, he always says he's here for his daughter but would eventually pick her up in his arms and would have you engaged in small talks.

These small talks often lead to create a tension, a heat, between you two.

This heat is of two types though; one, the angry heat and the other, the sexual tension.

Although, both meet same ends. Angry heat leads to both of you fighting, mainly you because Satoru never looses his calm demeanor. He just leaves the gifts and the souvenirs and heads towards the door. Or if the fight gets too serious, he just warps away.

Whereas, the latter leads to you and Satoru placing your baby in her nursery and locking her room's door.

And then heading towards.... The master bedroom, where you sleep alone.

You make sure to lock your room's door as well after Gojo enters and stands behind you.

Upon locking the door and pulling the curtains down, you quickly rush over to crash your lips on Satoru's and the two of you engage in a long, rough, hungry kiss.

His hands travelled all over body starting from your head, his hands stroked your hair to your back, sliding down towards your plump butt you let out a moan as he grabbed them, tight.

The simple hungry kiss turned into a battle between tongues, fighting for dominance. You know you cannot just give up, afterall you're a special grade, so you kept battling your tongue with Gojo's. An innocent battle filled with lust, Gojo gave up and let your tongue in.

Just as he gave up though, you pulled out of the kiss, huffing for air.

Gojo didn't waste time and asked, "you okay honey?". For a moment, the whole world stopped around you, the noise of the city through window, the construction work going in your neighborhood. Everything. Went. Silent. Those words of his were the reason. So many past memories flooded your brain with a simple word 'honey'.

But you simply decided on brushing off his concern by frantically unbuttoning his shirt and that was enough to tell him that you are doing more than okay.

He helped you take off his shirt and you proceeded to take off your own Dora the explorer t-shirt. But you were taking too long to take it off so Satoru meddled in and kissed you while tearing off your t-shirt, to which you rightfully pulled a fistful of Satoru's snow hair while he pulled out from the kiss leaving a trail of saliva which you shamelessly licked off his wet and smooth lips.

You looked down, at the remnants of the tragic event that went down a decade ago, the still-visible scar on his chest, although faint but visible for sure. Your hand subconsciously stroked the scar soflty. Apparently, Satoru can have the scar gone, thanks to his reverse cursed technique but he doesn't. When you were married, he told you that it looks 'cool'. Yes, that's what he said and says everytime but YOU know that's not it and you also know he won't tell you but its okay, as long as he is happy with it, so are you.

You're thoughts came to a halt when he picked you up by your waist and threw you on your bed. Your hands grabbed the linens each side as you saw Satoru slowly approach you like a tiger approaching, waiting to pounce on the prey and enjoy every single pieces.

He locked his ocean eyes with yours as he neared your face and brushed off your bangs and placed a long kiss on your forehead. Slowing moving downwards to your left cheek, you right cheek, your nose and then your lips. His soft lips moved to your neck and gave a long kiss eventually resulting in a lovebite. He did the same on your collar bone and your chest. Satoru placed his hands on your bra covered breasts and looked at you as if though asking, "are you sure?"

You felt your heart racing, racing so fast you swear it'll burst out. Having your Ex husband after being separated, the feeling of it was different than when you were married, or even with all the men you had after he brutally wounded you with a divorce.

But you didn't care. No, you don't. You don't wish to care for something that has already happened in the past. Its absurd to think about all the pain of past. You have moved on that is why you look for potential partners or eventually a step father for your poor girl, or that is atleast what you've been telling yourself. Deep down though, deep down in your heart you know you can never move on from this snow haired sorcerer whom you have ended up giving your heart, your love, your mind, your body, your everything and yet somehow its not enough.

You noded your head giving him the permission he needed.

His hands slowly moved to remove your bra, he commented in between, "these look bigger than before, huh". You wanted to chuckle at his observation but you ended up smacking his head slightly. "Ow oww okay okay i get it they were big already! Okay?!", He replied in his most adorable voice. "They grow big after having kids Satoru", you said brushing his white hair away from his face. He simply smiled and kissed your clothed breasts, mumbling, "I'm grateful for everything, YN. Thank you for everything."

Your movements paused and eyes widened on his words. Those words weren't of lust or alike but felt as if though it came from deep down his heart. "..Toru..", you whispered.

Your whispers were silenced though as Gojo cupped your cheeks and pounced in to kiss your lips, a long kiss.

And then he pulled back and got off you. He quickly picked his shirt up and started buttoning it.

"Sa-Satoru?" You asked in puzzlement but he didn't reply.

"Satoru?" You enquired again but this time he only smiled at you before picking up his jacket. "Give pumpkin a kiss for me will ya!", He said in his cheery self with his signature three fingered peace sign and warped.

You just laid there, on the bed, in your bra and panty, alone, contemplating what happened....

Bonus:-

Why didn't Gojo do it? Gojo didn't do it because he firmly believes that there's a boundary, a limit one shall not cross. Its because you both are separated, so he believes that he has lost all his right over you. Even though you don't mind to have him, he would still respect your pride and dignity over anything.

[madtickler39]

Welcome to Club T’s

One of my fan favorites from the old blog, enjoy:

One could look at Emily and assume her life was perfect A nice home, well off family that was well known in California.  Naturally blonde hair, a petite little figure and long legs all around a smile that could turn a man to stone. Going to movie premieres, sports events and mingling with LA bigwigs, Emily was never long without something to do. Oh dont get me wrong, Emily never complained. She loved her family, loved her friends, loved her job. She’d never complain for a second. But still something was missing.  That’s why Emily found herself where she was, in a taxi outside a new and mysterious club in downtown LA.  She stared at the door for a long time before the driver finally asked “Are you gettin out or what?” Emily came back to reality and paid the driver, and stepped out of her car as confidently as she could.  What she couldn't sell her blue dress and black heels could. She walked into the club like it was nobody’s business, and was an instant bombshell to the eligible young men at Club T’s.   What made her walk into this particular club that night? Well, to understand that, we have to go back a little bit.  Emily had a friend named Stephen, and one time not too long ago Stephen did something she couldn’t get out of her head.  He tickled her.  It wasn’t her first time being tickled, not by a longshot.  For some reason, the feeling she got when he finally stopped kept coming back to her head like a drug, needing to come forward again and refusing any lesser pleasure. She had no trouble finding a man to do anything she wanted, but for some reason this one request proved elusive to her charms.  After a brief search on the internet, she found out that club T’s was the place to find what she wanted.  It wasn’t easy to find out how to get in, the people she was here to see were very secretive.  The main club was just like any other club. The music was too loud, the drinks were too expensive and you couldn’t see or move anywhere.  After a few minutes of moving around she found the specific corner that housed the VIP section of the club, she said the codeword to the bouncer, and with a smirk he let her in.  It was the look a wolf gives a deer after a day without food, and it unsettled her. Inside, the VIP area was another world.  The clothes were different, the lights were a bit brighter, and you could hear yourself over the music.  The men were dressed in anything from suits to T-shirts while the girls were wearing some pretty revealing clothing, anything that exposed the belly, shorts, mini skirts and few of them wore heels.  They wore colored wristbands, green yellow and red.  Green was an open invitation, yellow required an ask, and red meant not to approach.  Emily had a yellow wristband, fastened around her ankle like the website advised. There was more seating space than at any normal club here, couches and chairs everywhere.  The dance floor had some people, but others were chasing each other around the floor, and in a couch by the corner a man had a captive girl in his lap.  Her hands were bound and her feet were in his lap.  As he grabbed the toe of her sock, her bound hands came up to her face to conceal her smile and she shook her head.  He grinned evilly and slowly pulled the sock off, revealing her bare foot. At the edges of the dance floor were a few suspended cages, each with a girl inside and a person outside sticking a feather duster in.  Emily asked the bartender “What’s all that about?”  A cute redhead in a black corset said “Those girls work here.  The customers pay to use the feather dusters for a time.  They can also pay to remove clothing or lower the cages.  It breaks the ice for the newcomers.  Speaking of, is this your first time?” “Why yes” said Emily looking around. “Is this actually for real?” The bartender, whose nametag read “Sam” said “It sure is.  I can lock you in that cage if you’re too nervous to get started on your own?”  Emily blushed, and suddenly a voice came from behind her that said smoothly “Sam, hasn’t your boss told you not to mess with the new talent? Or do I have to tickle you for your tips again?” Sam blushed now, and backed towards the liquor shelf nervously.  Emily asked the tall, suit clad stranger “What?”  He said “Oh you haven’t heard? If you find their service in any way lacking, you have to give them the oppurtunity to get their tips tickled back into them.  That’s why she wears a corset, her pits are her worst spot.”  She hissed “Damon!” So you weren't kidding on the website” Emily asked. “This really is a tickle club.” Damon said “Oh yes, but if you want to see come by when Sam brings my bottle of Dom.  She needs a good tickling to earn her tips back after that hiss…”  Sam gulped.  She’d done it now.  Damon slapped down a 20 and said “Whatever the lady likes is on me.” Sam fixed Emily a drink and grabbed a champagne bottle, but Emily hesitated as Sam left.  Sam looked over her shoulder and said “You comin? This is what you wanted right?”  Emily finished her liquid courage, and followed Sam to a door labelled “Barefoot Room”  Upon entering, Sam said “It’s quite literal, no shoes allowed inside.”  Sam quickly kicked off her pumps and went inside, and Emily removed her peep toed heels to join her. “You learn quickly Emily” Damon smiled as he smiled at Emilys little feet as she flexed her toes “Im just amazed” Emily replied blushing as she felt Damon's gaze on her toes “Theres nothing to feel scared about Emily" Damon smiled as he took a sip of his drink. “so tell me what brings you here”” Emily took a deep breath, and then she started “It all started when my friend Stephen tickled my feet a few months ago.  It felt...well I guess how a normal person feels being tickled.  Sure, the laughing was fun but when it was happening I just wanted him to stop after a few seconds...afterwards I couldn’t get it out of my head.  I tried forgetting it, distracting myself.  Anytime I was alone with my thoughts, I thought of that sensation and how badly I wanted it back.  So I found this place...and here I am.” “And here you are.” Damon said.  He saw Emily look down nervously and said “Emily, come sit by me.”  She came and sat down next to him hesitantly, and drew her feet behind her knees, where Damon couldn’t see them.  It was all she could do not to blush.  He asked her “Sam needs to be tickled if she wants her tips from me, where should she be tickled?” “Her underarms” Emily replied without hesitation.  Sam shut her eyes and raised her arms, beginning to breathe heavily.  She begged “Please be gentle.” Damon looked and raised an eyebrow “you answered that quickly for a newbie; I think we may have a little sadist here.  Sam, I think we should let your new friend here do the honors” Emily looked nervous again, and said “You want me to tickle her?”  Damon nodded silently and said “If you'd prefer I can tickle her.  The whole time you watch her suffer knowing that it's coming for you next…” She was up in an instant, and facing Sam directly.  Sam felt her breathe and winced, that gave Emily an inexplicable pleasure.  She pounced. Emily dug her nails into Sam’s underarms, and Damon smirked as she screamed.  Sam was able to hold her arms up for a few seconds, but within 15 seconds they came down reflexively.  Sam laughed like crazy but Emily wouldn't let up.  Sam tried to turn away, but Emily kept at it, and pulled Sam closer. The punishment became a wrestling match soon as the girls came to the ground, with Emily straddling her hips.  Emily leaned forward and pinned the poor bartender’s wrists over her head and blew on her underarms, which drove sam into a mad fit of giggles.  She begged “HEHEHEHE Stop teasing!” Emily couldn't tell you why she said this, but she shouted “This is club tease!”  Before she could sink her nails back into Sam’s smooth hollows, Emily burst out laughing “HAHAHAHAHA!” And lost her grip. Sam scrambled out from under her, and went to Damon, who was holding Emily’s ankle, with his other hand gently stroking her sole.  She giggled gently with each stroke of his hands.  He patted Sam on the butt and said “That’s enough sweetie.  Call me when you get off work.  For now I have some soft, pretty feet to break in.” This comment made Emily blush, and wiggle her baby blue toes.  As Sam walked out of the room and grabbed her shoes, Emily looked down, anticipating the tickling.  The tickling was slow, methodical.  He was really tickling her brain more than her sole.  Reminding her that he could do what he want, control her body against her will.  He could make her laugh whenever he pleased.  All it took was a foot and a finger.  He had the finger, and the foot may as well have been a plaything of his.  It was in his grasp and she wasn’t getting it out. Emily remained on all fours(or threes, not counting the foot that belonged to Damon at the moment), and giggled when Damon wanted her to, otherwise she just accepted the breaks and caught her breath.  Sometimes she would look back at Damon, nearly melting him with that forced smile.  Other times she looked away and tried to just take it. During a break, Damon rubbed her sole with his palm and commented “I see you took the website’s advice and got a pedicure.  How recently?”  Emily giggled “A couple hours ago hehehe.”  she heard Damon inhale deeply and felt his lips rub along her sole now. His lips tickled ever so slightly. She giggled “hehehehe are you smelling my foot?” She read many of the men here also had foot fetishes, but never expected to find herself here tonight… He replied “You used a vanilla scented lotion.  It’s my favorite.”   “EEP!” She squealed, something had pinched the ball of her foot, and one look back at Damon licking his lips told the whole story.  Could she really drive him so crazy with just her feet? This could add some fun to the tickling...but before she could finish that thought, her mind commanded her to laugh again. Emily fell flat on her belly as she felt a warm, wet sensation streak across her arch.  She turned her head to the side to release peals of laughter, and started pounding the carpet with her fist.  If Damon’s finger was mean, his tongue was just cruel.  Emily was at once suffering and feeling an indescribable ecstasy.  All she could do to cope was laugh, and between breaths beg “Hahahaha! Stahahahahap!” Emily got herself a momentary respite from Damon’s tongue, but only because he needed it to taunt her.  His fingers returned to gently stroking her arches as he taunted “Oh you don’t want this to stop.  If you did you’d pull your foot away.  Look.”  Emily flipped over and saw that his hand was open, only cupping her heel.  He tickled with all his fingers slowly, and she reflexively pulled back a few inches, then paused. Emily hesitated a few seconds, it tickled so bad but there was just nothing like it.  Her foot slowly slid back into his grip, and his hand closed around her ankle.  She gasped, what had she done? Damon taunted “See? I knew you liked it!” And he tickled her sole all over again with his fingers, making her laugh even louder, wondering why she gave her foot to him.  He lifted her foot up to his mouth, but there was resistance from her tight little dress.  Damon lowered her foot and said “Emily, your dress is lovely but if you want to have more fun, it may be best to change.” Emily blushed again and said “I don't have a change of clothes.”  Damon began stroking her instep and commented “Not to worry.  There is a private changing room in here with spare clothes, better for our activities.”  Damon helped her up, and opened a wall panel that led to a cozy changing room. Emily removed her dress and placed it on a hanger, then found a pair of little pink shorts and a white tshirt to put on.  The shirt was awfully short, and only came down to her ribs, leaving her midriff vulnerable.  The shorts were quite short, revealing her long tanned legs. She emerged a little sheepishly, but Damon gushed over her, making her blush for the umpteenth time tonight.  She came up to the couch where he sat and requested “Where do you want me?”  She felt his eyes combing every inch of exposed skin, searching for a spot to make her squeal.  She felt uneasy, but exhilarated. Damon grabbed her by the hand and sat her on the couch next to him.  He draped her legs over his...and once she breathed out he lobster clawed her knees.  Emily shrieked, breaking down in helpless laughter as she tried to sit up and reach his hands. After a few moments of squeezing her legs and knees, Damon began to gently scribble his fingertips all along her thighs and up towards her hips.  Emily’s laughter went up in pitch as Damon reached her hips and pinched, and he licked his lips looking at that bare midriff. Damon gave Emily a break to catch her breath, and breathing heavily she sighed “hehehe that was fun.”  Damon had an evil smirk on his face, she asked him “What is that look for?”  Damon said “I’m going to have that cute tummy of yours next.  But I’m going to give you a choice, my tongue or my hands?”  Emily’s eyes bugged out, and she couldn’t possibly choose between tortures for a moment.  She thought about her feet, and his tongue was much worse there.  She answered “Hands.” Damon smirked, had she chosen wrong? What was he playing at?  She didn’t have time to think any further as ten fingers began wiggling along her midriff, and her tummy exploded with ticklish sensations.  She let out a loud belly laugh, and cursed as her hands wanted nothing more than to seize his and make it stop.  Despite this desperate need, her mind would not allow them, making them twitch up and down her sides in a comical fashion.  The game changed utterly when Damon managed to wiggle a finger into her navel, making Emily scream like a banshee before breaking down in frantic laughter.  She tried to get him off of there, but her hands were swatted away by his free hand.  This was almost as bad as her toes, or that tongue! Maybe she should have let him use his tongue after all… After a minute or so of her navel being explored and prodded, Emily couldn’t take anymore.  Her begs became more desperate, and Damon heard it in her voice.  She cried loudly “Uncle! Hahahahahaha! Please! Mercy! Hahahaha!”  Damon stopped rather quickly, but Emily didn’t manage to stop giggling for another minute.  He rubbed her belly during this time, and at last she recovered.  She propped herself up on her elbows saying “That was wicked...I’ve never felt anything like it before.”  Damon smirked, and said “I bet not.” Before they could say anything else, a blonde woman and a brunette with golden brown hair came into the room dancing with each other, kicking their shoes off as they entered.  They plopped on the couch opposite Damon and Emily.  The blonde said “I told you if we danced Damon would get us a snack!”  Emily covered her face nervously as she blushed like a teenager, and would have curled into a ball had Damon not held her knees.  The brunette asked “Who’s the tickle toy?”  Damon said evenly “Girls, this is Emily.  Emily, that is Shay, and Blair.  Two tickle slaves of mine, who need to remember what happens when they don’t use their manners.” Damon continued “Emily is new, and I think she has had enough for one night.  Blair, why don’t you tie Shay’s arms over her head?”  They got to work, enjoying themselves and clearly under the influence a bit.  Emily asked “So what, just like that we’re done?”  Damon smirked and said “For tonight, after I do one quick thing.  If you want another session I’ll see to it that you can contact me.  Sit tight.”  Damon got up and tested Shay’s bonds, who was standing on her tiptoes in the middle of the room, suspended from a chain.  Damon produced two more cuffs and said “Your turn Blair.”  She giggled as she assumed position for her restraints. Once they were restrained Damon instructed Emily “Give me your sole” holding his hand out.  She placed an ankle in his hand, and he produced a pen.  He slowly and painstakingly wrote something on Emily’s sole, but she couldn’t tell.  All she could do was laugh and scream until he finished.  It felt like an eternity of that ball point pen stroking her arches, but it was bliss for her.  When he finally finished, he pecked each of her soles goodnight and she left for the evening.  She inspected her sole before putting her shoes back on, and it read Damon’s number and address.

[natewrightt]

Hello, could you write a fluff Five x reader where they got married in secret while in the 60s and the siblings realize after seeing the couple being cute together and they think it's adorable how in love Five is ?

Please, love ur blog 😊💖

 Summary: Five Hargreeves enjoyed the sixties a lot more then he originally thought he would.

Ship: Five Hargreeves x criminal!reader

Warnings: none

Note: I added so many details because I love this concept LMAO. also I don’t know how I would be able to make them married because he’s in a 13 year old body??? but yeah I tried djddoidjkijsds 💖

“Hey, stop right there!” the cashier of Manny’s Groceries shouted, grabbing everybody’s attention.

But she didn’t stop.

She turned around and flipped the worker off, then ran faster out of the scene and she completely disappeared by the time the police had arrived. And besides, they didn’t have much to go by. The girl was wearing a large hoodie with leggings and converse. It was pointless.

That girl was none other then Y/N L/N, a 13 year old ‘criminal’ who lived on the main floor of an apartment building without anyone knowing. However, mentally, she was 60. A long time ago, her body was frozen by her parents because the girl suffered from a sickness that didn’t have a cure. Just recently she was unfrozen and given the cure, but her parents had died and now she’s all alone, stealing from stores just to survive. 

Y/N arrived in the apartment building and practically collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Looking through the bag, she was relieved to find her favorite item: waffles. She would eat those delicious things if they were stepped on by the worlds dirtiest pair of boots. The starving girl stuffed about 3 in her mouth, being sure to swallow it down with a water bottle she had found on the ground outside. It wasn’t the best life to live, but it certainly wasn’t the worst.

She gazed at the clock on the wall. Shit! Y/N was going to be late. Getting up and running towards Elliot Gussman’s door, she was surprised to see that it was open. That paranoid man always locked his door.

You could say that Y/N was Elliot’s friend, or you could say that she was really interested in his crazy theories he makes up. Either way, it’s still fun.

“Elliot?” she called, holding the box of waffles like it was a weapon. The ruffling noise in the room had got quiet, and Y/N gulped. “Hey, if it’s not a good time, then-”

Suddenly, a boy that appeared her age was in front of her in a flash of blue. She was so taken aback that she fell over. However, she caught herself and the boy furrowed his eyebrows, seemingly impressed.

“Do you know Elliot?” He asked, weary of her every move. She scoffed, deciding to be sarcastic towards him.

“No, I just happened to walk into the room calling Elliot. Elliot as in my dead cat. Have you seen him, by the way? He’s ab-”

He covered her mouth with his hand, rolling his eyes. Y/N was prepared though, and quickly bit down causing the boy to scream curses, letting go. She ran to Elliot.

“You okay? What happened? Did he hurt you?” She asks frantically, checking for injuries. Y/N would never let the only person who treated her with respect get hurt. 

“No, It’s fine. We’re fine.” He responds in a panicked voice. Too panicked. She looks back at the boy who’s smirking at her.

“Yeah. Let the adults talk, okay princess?”

- 

The 3 of them sat in Elliot’s living room. He was explaining his theories to the boy (named Five, out of all the names to exist) and he was very interested in the theories Elliot was talking about, except he actually believed them. One them being how the man saw people come out of ‘black holes’ in the exact same spot at different time periods. He was SO interested, in fact, that he offered to look for them.

That made Y/N suspicious.

Very suspicious.



After some very serious research (stalking) she had come to a conclusion that Five Hargreeves was from 2019 and he accidentally teleported his family to different parts of 1963 and were now determind to get back to their original home. It intruiged her a lot if she was being completly honest. Luckily, Elliot had eventually made a little room for her to stay in and Five was often there. So, her and Elliot were officially “part of the gang” as some people would put it.

After some time, Five and her got along REALLY well. They were both incredibly smart (and both mentally the same age but that was past the point) and had the same hobbies and interests. It wasn’t long before a relationship had started.

Well, it wasn’t labeled. And they certainly weren’t friends. Friends don’t share secret kisses and hold hands under the table.

And they thought that they could keep it secret.

And for awhile, they did.

-

Luther and Diego entered the house to find a dead Elliot on a chair. They were both very saddened by this, but it quickly turned into concern when the two of them couldn’t find Y/N anywhere.

She was always with him.

So you can only imagine the panicked state Five was in when he came in.

“What do you MEAN you don’t know where she is?!” He seethed, looking around. “How is she not with him? She’s ALWAYS with him!”

“Five, I’m sure we’ll find her-”

“Your reassurance is useless. I’LL find her, not you imbeciles. Now do us all a favor and stay here and...behave please. I’ll be back whenever.” And with that being said he teleported away.

-

In honesty, Five wasn’t that worried. He knew exactly where she was. It was a hiding spot she would go to whenever she felt sad or nervous. He went there immediatley to find her in the fetal position in the corner, crying and covered with Elliot’s blood.



“Y/N?” He asked weakly. She looked at him.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Her voice broke. Five couldn’t bare to do anything but nod sadly, looking away. 

“It’s my fault.” She muttered, barely audible for him to hear. “I...I watched them, Five. I watched 3 guys beat the absolute shit out of him...I did nothing. I just ran! Like an idiot! He would be alive if I had just been there! Bu-”

Then Five did something that she (and he) never thought he would do.

He wrapped his arms around her torso and hugged her.

For the most part, Five wasn’t an affectionate person. The only thing he would allow were small touches on the hand if he was scared (which wasn’t often) and pecks on the lips if he was really feeling it.

It took her by surprise, but she melted into it, letting tears fall into his shoulder. He let her go when he noticed that her breathing was finally back to normal.

“You okay?” He asked softly again, wiping the remaining tears off of her face with the pad of his thumbs. She sniffed and nodded, making him smile.

“Not that this isn’t adorable...which, it is, but Five? We gotta go!” Diego’s voice was heard in front of them. They both gasped, turning to him with red faces.

“What are YOU doing here?!” he seethed, helping Y/N up. He chuckled before holding out a tracking device that showed Five’s location.

“Just in case you decided to turn against us at some point, I had this.” He explained, a smirk planted on his face. 

“Whatever, let’s go.” Five mumbled, walking out of the room, his face still a nice shade of red. However, Diego turned to the girl.

“Sorry about Elliot.” He ruffled her hair before exiting.

-

GUYS I KNOW THIS IS TRASH AND HER BACKSTORY DOESNT MAKE ANY SENSE BUT BARE WITH ME HERE IM RUNNING ON 1 HOUR OF SLEEP AND CAFFEINE HFJKIUJHNDKIUJSK 

[alreadyblondenow]

6:19 pm make up sex with Haechan (M)

“I caught them kissing at the back of the building! Can you believe that? We’ve only been together for two months and now that his long time crush suddenly had interest with his dick he’s going to do this to me?” Two weeks is still not enough to forgive Haechan and forget what he did. Now you rant to your room mate Wendy everyday, about what Haechan did to you.

“This again? You never let him explain. I still think It’s a huge misunderstanding” you scoff and buried yourself to your comfortable bed with only your oversized shirt and panties on. “You sure you’re not coming?” Wendy asks.

“Nope. I have this paper that’s due tomorrow I’ll finish it tonight. Just getting some shut eye before I pull an all nighter” Wendy closed the lights before she left and promised to bring you coffee when she gets back.

After an hour, you feel like staying in bed more and decided to face your paper after getting more sleep. To your surprise, you heard the door beep and didn’t even wonder looking who it is because you can smell the fresh aroma of your favorite coffee. “Back so soon, Wendy?” You asks, voice raspy, eyes still closed.

“It’s me” You turn around and face Haechan holding your favorite coffee and looking handsome as always. “Get out, I need to sleep” but he didn’t take no for an answer this time. It’s time for you to hear him out, he misses you so much already. Forcing himself to you is something risky, he knew that but you leave him no choice.

He removed his shoes and lay in bed with you, getting under your thick covers and hugging you on your side tightly. “She kissed me. I did not kiss her back” he explained.

Thinking again about what you saw, maybe he’s telling the truth. And maybe the girl just wanted to get in between you and Haechan. Anyway, you shrugged it off and continue giving him a hard time “Well you don’t look sorry enough” you rolled your eyes on him and turned your back again pulling the thick cover just above your shoulder.

“I know you thought about me cheating or something because she’s my crush for almost four years, but you have to understand” he came closer to your ear and nibbles your earlobe, “Im so in love with you” He let out a big heavy sigh when you nudge him, “If you leave me because of her, I will never let that pass because theres nothing going on. I will continue to ask for forgiveness” you felt him pat your hair, and hugged you again. This time he pulls you closer to his him on the other side of bed. Your back against his chest feeling his hot breath on your skin.

His lips are touching your neck and you don’t know why you let him. It tickles you and it made you giggle involuntarily, you want to push him away but he feels warm. You stayed like that for a couple of minutes, kissing and whispering ‘i miss you’ and ‘i love you’ over and over again. “Am I forgiven now?” He asks so sweetly, kissing your cheeks. You feel his hand creep around your panties slightly touching the damped area. Teasing your slit by moving his finger up and down gently. “Not even close, Haechan” he pout from your answer.

Of course you didn’t want to go easy on him, you love teasing him for a bit, making him earn his forgiveness. He got up from bed, thinking maybe he’s going to leave already. Fine, you thought. “Lock the door when you leave” but you want him to stay and maybe apologise more.

The moment you felt his warmth under the covers again your heart jumped when you felt his bare legs hover on top of yours. His hands came back playing with your panties and slowly removing it. Without any other words, a finger plays with your folds, teasing and making your pussy wet even more.

This isn’t what you really wanted but theres something with the way he touches you that makes you say ‘yes.’ Lips parted and eyebrows furrow you try not to moan and give him the satisfaction. But to the looks of it you’re loving what Haechan is doing to you.

Now, you’re comfortably laying in bed with Haechan with only one item of clothing. Your shirts. Arms encircled with each other, he somehow made his way in between your legs while kissing you, “How about now? am I forgiven now?” He never stops kissing you, even though you ask for air he never stopped. “not yet” you manage to tell him, he giggle and kisses your exposed collar bones, hands under your shirt gripping your boobs with both hands. “okay” he pinched your nipples making you gasp sharply.

“Were having make up sex?” Haechan nods while rolling your shirt up exposing your boobs. Going back to gripping your boobs, now he’s sucking on your nipples biting them as he pleases until he’s satisfied.

You feel his hard cock poking your pussy, rocking his hips back and forth. Making your head roll back to the fluffy pillows and let out an airy moan, “Ohhh” is all you can manage to say, closing your eyes shut.

He devoured your lips again, feeling his tongue swipe your bottom and upper lip the whole time. You noticed, his lips tastes like your coffee, “you took a sip from my coffee?” You asked in between open mouth kisses. “Mhmm” he lifts up your left leg making your pussy easier to enter, rolling his hips in a steady pace not giving you enough time to get used to the stretch. He never fucked you in this position before.

Haechan fucked you like he missed you, slow and deep but also hard and fast, full of want and lust. This is only your third time having sex with him and he’s not bad for someone inexperienced. Somehow he can make you cry in bed, asking for more if he’s up for it but tonight, you doubt that.

Theres no rush with what’s happening right now, his thrust are fast but you can feel that he’s taking his time with you. You brush away his hair covering his forehead, he looks so handsome when his hair is pushed back. He made you suck his thumb for some time and putting it on your clit making you sensitive and close your legs.

“Baby, open your legs. Don’t you like it?” Haechan’s voice is sexy when he’s out of breath, fucking you and making you go crazy. You try to open your legs but it keeps on closing again whenever he hits a good spot.

“Cant stop closing them, huh? Okay, I got you” there’s his sexy voice again and you wonder what he’s going to do now. To your surprise, he pulls out from you and flipped you on your stomach in one move. “Ass up for me” he whispers behind your ear. You follow what he said, legs spread wide, ass up in the air, face buried on the pillows and back perfectly arched.

He fucking blew cold air on your wet pussy making your legs shake and quiver. “See, you don’t close them anymore” with a devilish grin he’s puts his thumb on your butt whole, “Ah! Fuck, Whats with you today, torturing me” enjoying how he affects you, he swipes his thumb on your cunt, “Haechan what the fuck!” You muffle your whining using the pillows. “I think, you missed having sex with me baby. You’re so sensitive right now” he said before placing both of his hands on your ass.

You feel his cock slowly, going inside you again. Letting you feel how thick his cock is, savouring how tight your walls are. You don’t see it but Haechen’s eyes are closed shut, mouth parted with the shape of ‘o’, head rolled back because you feel so good.

Slowly fucking you from behind, his left hand found your clit again. “Baby, too much” you try to get away from his touch but his thrust are in control. “But your legs are not closing anymore baby, just take it” he mocks you.

In a matter of minutes, you came before Haechan does. Heavy breaths against the pillow with a little bit of spit on it. He pulls out and pumped his cum on your ass letting the cum drip on the sheets. You two finally rest and relaxed on the mattress to catch your breath.

“Am I forgiven now?” He removed all the hair covering your face, “Im trying so hard if you haven’t noticed” he looks hopeless, how can he be like this after making you feel good. Truth be told the two weeks you’ve been apart from each other was really hard, you never want to do it again. You hugged him and showered him with kisses, now its your turn on covering his face with spit. “you’re long forgiven baby” he smiled at you sweetly like always and bear hugs you with both arms. Happy that all is well again between the two of you.

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[hansolmates]

jjk; angel’s trumpet [01]

summary; one second, your life is flashing before your eyes and the next, you’re transported into a world exactly like your own. but the jungkook you meet in this world isn’t a renowned singer or your former almost-lover, in fact he has no clue who you are and why you know him so well. as you work to find your way home lost and confused, you conclude that you’re either dead or in the middle of the most wicked drug trip of your life. pairing; idol!jk x reader (f), alternatively film producer!jk x reader genre/warnings; fluff, angst, supernatural, idol!au, non-idol!au, alternate universes, themes of fate, language, alcohol consumption, mentions of smut in future chapters w.c; 2.7k a/n; after spending an entirety of june on this fic im proud to release it! this story is based on the prompt “I’m losing my mind!” for @btsghostiewritersnet​ BGW Bingo Bash! I hope you all enjoy this mini series and stay tuned for this wild ride

[01] [02] -> masterpost

“Just give it up!” Jungkook snaps, and you flinch at the sudden raise in voice level. Jungkook is a soft spoken person, only really having the audacity to speak up at the strength of his friends or when his body burns with attention after a performance. The fact that he chooses to use this tone around you, gets you seeing white hot. 

“How can I give up something that hasn’t even started?” you shoot back just as stubbornly. He won’t even let you in his room, and it pains you that he wants to fight out in the hallway where anyone could walk in and see. You glare at the heavy arms that bar your way inside, as if he’s creating a barrier for you, both emotionally and physically.

You hate this. For the past three months you’ve hated this version of yourself, manifested between the strained relationship of you and Jungkook. It pains you to see each other like this. Jungkook’s ears are tinged red with fever, simultaneously a little sick and a little annoyed at the fact that you wouldn’t let up. 

It wasn’t always mismatched stares and bouts of mixed signals whenever you two entered a room. There was a time when it being in each other’s presence was like a breath of fresh air, a bakery full of nothing but sweets and mouth-watering confections. That’s not to say that your relationship with Jungkook was, or is easy. After all, Jungkook chose a life that is never meant to be easy, no matter how far deep. 

But at the crux of everything, deep in your gut, you know that the both of you have that spark. 

“We can’t be together.” Jungkook states simply, pressing his coral lips together in a thin line. “My career! The traveling, the media, my crazy schedule, all of this, it doesn’t match.” 

It doesn’t match. Like the way a toddler puts a triangle block in a square space. In your opinion Jungkook is pointing out shallow, baseless reasons. You’ve gotten this far together, not quite addressing any officiality but leading to it. If all of his reasons really mattered, you wouldn’t be here right now. Unfortunately, Jungkook’s deciding to cut the line when the two of you have already sunk so deep. 

You’re both hurting, Jungkook doesn’t want to admit that. 

“But that doesn’t matter to me!” you reason, and you’re crumbling. Jungkook was once a fighter, too. Today, it feels like it’s just you who’s taking a stand, grappling on thin slices of thread that resemble what little confidence Jungkook has in the both of you. “I want to keep you grounded. I want to be the person you come home to.” 

Jungkook’s face reaches the final boss: a frustrating shade of scarlet, stunned at how shameless you are. You didn’t care, you know what you and Jungkook feel for each other is real. 

In a fit of emotion your hands reach for the crook of his elbow, grappling the black fabric between your fingers. It’s enough to ignite heat in your veins, starved of touch from so many nights apart and text messages that weren’t enough to convey how you truly felt. 

Jungkook’s eyes drag from your grip to your face, eyes glimmering. You look so small in the large hallway, empty and echoing between both your heaving breaths. There’s acute control in his expression, as if he’s grappling to reach both an inner and outer peace with himself. 

You bite your lip, sealing away your whimper of protest as he takes his hand in yours, untacking your grip. He’s not rough, but not gentle either as your hand pendulums to your lap. 

He turns his back to you, and for the first time you’re glad he looks away because the tears have already fallen. “Maybe in another world, we’d work out. But not this one.” Jungkook whispers, slamming the door to his studio. 

•━━━━━━»•»💮💮💮«•«━━•••

“Baby, it’s okay! You’ll find a new person to love!” The neverending flow of liquor and poetics is provided by none other than Sehlyung, a fellow employee you befriended after you got hired as a language teacher. 

You barely register Sehlyung’s hopeful smile through your misty eyes. Feeling bloated with liquid and far too tired to reply, you bob your head against the bar table. 

Sehlyung is the epitome of a fun time, and the first person you thought of to help quell your aching heart. A relationship that first started off as snide jokes and offhanded work qualms that eventually turned into a deep understanding and care for each other. After a long day of work she pulled through for you, showing up at the bar like a warrior in emerald green pencil slacks and an untucked blouse. At the edge of the bar she absentmindedly winds a lock of pale curly hair, sipping languidly from her electric blue beverage. 

“Listen, I get it. You think it’s the end of the world because Jungkook seems like the perfect catch—” the pretty blonde pauses when she notices your lip tremble, “but! He’s not that perfect, y’know. He—he sweats, sweats a lot, it’s like he’s freakin’ Niagara! It takes forever to get outfits on him in-between sets, it’s like clothing a wet noodle.” 

You choke back a laugh, shaking your head. “That is one flaw.” 

“A-and he’s very,” she starts waving her hands around, plucking the answer out of thin air, “competitive? Remember that one time Nabi said he couldn’t finish that whole loaf of milk bread? And then he accidentally ended up eating the parchment paper?” 

That has you in a fit of giggles, recalling how scared he was when his urge to make Nabi regret her words bit him right back in the butt. The hospital’s personal phone became number 8 on his speed dial shortly after. 

A fond, tentative smile melts on Sehlyung’s lips. At least you had it in in you to laugh, which Sehlyung knows is a good sign. She runs her fingers over your hair, forehead damp from your previous wallowing and overconsumption. ”You’re gonna find yourself a simple, wholesome partner! One who’s top-tier normie and will have all the time in the world for you!” 

You grimace at the thought, despite how uplifting that sounds. You once thought that was the only life for you, a nuclear family with two point five kids (the half point being a puppy, of course.) While you wouldn’t mind that kind of life, after meeting Jungkook you decided long ago that all you ever needed in a relationship was his company and combined happiness. 

“Time isn’t the issue,” you slur, voice warped from how your lips fall tiredly against your arm. “This issue is that he doesn’t want to try.” 

Sehlyung doesn’t say anything to that, but instead prefers to pour you another glass of liquid despair. Of course, she knew how Jungkook got. Sweet and caring, but headstrong, letting nothing get in the way of his music. 

Evidently, you’re one of those things. 

“Boys are dumb,” she says simply, swinging her head back. 

“I’ll be okay,” you murmur, “it just hurts. There’s no closure, y’know? I feel it, I feel so much love for him. And I know he feels, he feels something.” 

Sehlyung bites her lip, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder. “Hey, I got you a gift.” 

That gets you to perk up, your head tipping a miniscule degree. She pulls out a glass, filled with a clear liquid. It’s small, almost vial-shaped, enough for barely two shots. Inside, there’s a young flower shaped like a bellsprout. 

“It’s angel wine,” she chirps, pulling your shot glass to give you a hearty pour. “The old lady was selling it when I was getting my mom her ginger wine.” 

“Hm, is it like ginseng?” you ask curiously, grabbing the now half-empty bottle where the wet flower sat. The bell shape, despite being bloated with residual wine, still clung vibrantly to the glass. The bumblebee yellow and sunset orange tint looking absolutely mesmerizing. However, you’ve never seen an infused liquor quite like this. 

“Think so,” Sehlyung shrugs, “I’m sure you’ll like it though! I told her about how you got dumped and she said you’d need this to cap off your night!” 

She snatches the bottle from your hands, making sure it’s sealed tight before slipping into your purse. “That wine’s special, baby,” she winks, “save it for yourself when you get home, alright?” 

“Gee, Lyungie,” you deadpan, swirling the fragrant liquid, “I’m so glad my boy drama is spreading to your wine dealer.” 

Your friend holds her own drink in a toast, urging you to drink up. You don’t need to be told twice, the floral liquid going down surprisingly smooth. It’s sweet, and your whole body tingles. It’s like the feeling of being outside, and the sun shines over your exposed skin like a warm kiss. For a brief moment, you feel like you’re seeing pink and orange, blissfully satiated. 

“Mm,” you hum, licking your lips in hopes the feeling will return to you, “that’s some good stuff, got anymore?” 

Sehlyung scoffs, only mildly jealous that you get that particular drink all to yourself. “I wish. An arm and a leg cost me that, my hometown is very far!” 

The rest of the night is a haze, a comfortable one. Sehlyung goes off about Namjoon and his countless wardrobe malfunctions, keeping her from going home on time one way too many nights. You talk about how you’re getting into real progress with Soobin’s English, and how he doesn’t complain his head hurts when he speaks in full sentences. Hopefully he isn’t too mad when you send him a pop quiz next Tuesday. 

Sehlyung’s cab drops you off first, and she bids you a hug and kiss goodbye. She tells you to come a little early before your first class, because she wants to redesign Seokjin’s blazer for a new shoot and she wants you to pick out the best crystals. 

You know she just wants to show off and that your opinion is minimal because most of the decisions are made weeks before, but the gesture is appreciated. From Sehlyung’s knowing gaze, you have a feeling that she’s also doing this because she wants to keep you at arm’s length for as long as possible. 

The cab zips away first, leaving you in front of your apartment complex. You’re teetering on your heels like an infant, and you’re surprised that you managed to fake-sober this far into the night. 

Speaking of. It’s beautiful outside. With a tired sigh, you wrap yourself further into your burgundy knitted scarf, begging for warmth. You feel a fresh bout of tears surfacing as you look onto the pale yellow moon, shrouded by thick ghosty clouds among the starless sky. You wonder if Jungkook is looking at the same moon, thinking the same thing. 

You shake your head and wipe your tears, absolving you of that romantic notion. Jungkook hasn’t had the time to look at the stars in so long. You imagine he’s probably either working or sleeping soundly in his bunk, completely oblivious of the semi-depressing night you’ve had. You don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse that Jungkook doesn’t have the opportunity to dwell on feelings for too long. 

The midnight sky starts to flicker, as if night and day are competing for dominance. Either that, or it’s really late in the night and early in the day. Your vision starts to blur, and you wonder if the secretary at the front desk would be so kind as to help you up to your apartment. It’s embarrassing, but it’s better than you cracking your skull open in the middle of the hallway where anyone can find you. You clutch your head, bemoaning on how much alcohol must be running through your blood if you’re hallucinating this much. 

Wiping your bleary face, you dig into your purse for your keys. Upon pulling out the key your favorite lip balm rolls onto the street. A little part of you feels like leaving it behind so you can get to bed, but it’s your favorite one and you are so close to finishing it. Muttering a curse at the thought of bending down at the possibility of you vomiting in public, you quickly scramble to the ground. Your knees buck at the pavement, tiny stones digging into your skin. Focusing your gaze on the pink and blue plastic, you reach for the glittery tube. 

Unfortunately, you’re not quick enough to notice the moving truck swerve the corner and skid towards your body. 

•━━━━━━»•»💮💮💮«•«━━•••

The first thing you notice is that it’s unbearably bright. Like when you vegetate in a dark classroom watching a movie, and the teacher suddenly flips the lights on without warning and your brain panics from the shock. 

You’re also painfully sober, as if you didn’t have a liquor-based dinner. Your bladder doesn’t feel like a small child is sitting on it, and you’re wide awake. 

Someone’s yelling at you, their voice shrill from emotion yet gravely from the early morning. Suddenly there’s a whip of hot air against your hair and a harsh skid as the smell of tire on gravel fills your nose. You’re on sensory overload, and you don’t have the capacity to care about your surroundings. 

This is probably the third time you have to mentally repeat to yourself that it’s daytime, the sun shining brightly on your fallen form. Your body is splayed out in a half-starfish position, and you quickly close your legs in fear of someone seeing up your skirt. You put up a hand to cover your face, and it’s instantly snatched up by a larger one. 

“Hey, hey! Are you okay? I know I turned the corner pretty fast, but you shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the street like that!” the person calling you sounds frantic, frustrated at your lack of response. 

Your eyes flicker to the small jet black cruiser strewn across the sidewalk, haphazardly parked. Fingers curling around the person’s hand, you look up at their face and scream. 

It’s now their turn to collapse on the floor, eyes wide and terrified. Their soft black hair is fluffy and sweaty from using their helmet, now rolling away from their grip. 

“What?” he screams back, as if there’s something on his face. His hand whips up to clutch his collar, undoing the top button because he’s starting to sweat profusely. “Are you really injured? Do I need to call an ambulance or something—” 

“Jungkook!” you cry, ripping the woolen scarf from your neck to wrap it around the top half of his face. You scramble between his legs, making sure his piercings, tattoos and any other identifiable part of his body is concealed. You don’t even think about your fight from last night, knowing that it’s miniscule in comparison to Jungkook being swarmed by PR. “Kook, what the fuck? It’s broad daylight, you can’t be out like this without a mask! Where on earth did you hide that bike? Why—are you wearing fucking pastel green? Since when have you added color to your wardrobe?” the boy noticeably pauses at the attention to his outfit, tensing under your ministrations. “Dispatch will have your ass and the devil Min Yoongi’ll kill you again for sneaking out—”

It’s then that Jungkook snaps, two strong arms pushing you away like paper. You don’t expect Jungkook to ever lay a hand on you, and with a surprised yelp you’re painfully shoved onto the pavement.  

“Get off of me!” he cries, and throws your scarf on your lap. “Who the hell are you and why do you know my name?” 

He’s scared, holding his helmet like you’ve burned him. His doe eyes are glistening and dewy, as if you’re someone he should be running away from. 

“Jungkook—” and as you hold out your hand to him, you realize. 

I’m losing my mind, you think, clutching your head to double-check no injury has come to your brain. His hair is much, much longer. It waves and falls into his eyes, as if he’s just gotten out of bed. He’s wearing a backpack, and you notice some crumpled post-its sticking out of the zipper. Clipped around his neck is a university ID. Heck, he isn’t even wearing an outfit you recognize. Gone are the cargos and oversized sweats, replaced with professionally tapered dress pants and a plain polo. 

Is...  is Jungkook wearing khakis? 

It’s daylight, you’re sober, and the Jungkook that’s standing in front of you is not your Jungkook. 

[sea-side-scribbles]

Fanfiction: Sympathy For A Downer

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22737214/chapters/78193232

Chapter 64

Left alone, Nick made his way to Sally while the town was dawning. At her door, he forced himself to make a happy face, before he rang the bell. “Delivery!”, Nick announced through her speaker. “A bottle of cod liver oil, fresh and native, directly from the sunny climes of Uskglass!” Sally couldn't have sounded more relieved. “You got it! Come in!” The opener buzzed and shortly after, Nick entered Sally's much more organized lab. She hurried down from the upper floor. “You two are life saviours...”, she began. At the bottom of the stairs she stopped, looking at Nick and afterwards searching the room. “Did Arthur not come?” “Er...he really needed a rest. He was doing almost all the work in Haworth and...it's already late so...I told him he didn't have to...” “Is he...?” “He's okay. Only tired...” “I'm glad...” Sally struggled not to look too disappointed. After all, did she really expect him to come? He still hated her, and of course a journey through Haworth's madness didn't change that.

She was deep in thoughts when she suddenly realized Nick held out the bottle to her, so she curled her fingers around it. “Cod liver oil...”, she whispered, palpating the label. “It might be the only bottle in the entire town...” She even hugged it and a smile flashed over her face. “Really?”, Nick wondered. “Well, it was a quite funny adventure. If you need any other hidden treasure...”. What stood out to Sally was that he didn't sound sarcastic. She looked back at him, as if she noticed him for the first time. “You...would help me out again? Just like that? I mean...”. She wished she bit her tongue. “Of course I'll make it up to you.” She forced her lips to smile. Feeling the precious bottle under her fingers, she knew she had all she could hope for. It wouldn't hurt to do one last favour. Nick held up his hands. “Hey, you don't have to. We're friends, right? You and me go a long way, we were even more than friends once. Of course I'll help you out!” Sally eyed him. “You're not...I mean...You still have good memories..?” “Sure”. Nick laughed. “You know I fucked up my memory pretty badly and you're not quite innocent of that”. He grinned and she chuckled a little, waiting for where that was going. “But my memories are kinda coming back and I can see it all again. It was fun. Don't you think?” “Yeah.” She breathed in and out. “Good times.” “See?,” Nick smiled. “And even though I...uh...I'm not a customer anymore I still admire your stuff...Yeah, that's what you could do for me, actually...Would you mind not holding a grudge against me because of that? We can still be friends.” Sally was staggered “That's all?” “Yeah...” Nick crossed his arms and then felt a sting. “Oh...actually...there's another thing...” Of course there is, Sally thought. “What is it?”, she asked, making a few steps towards him. “Do you have a plaster?” Nick rolled up his sleeve and showed the wound on his upper arm. Sally's eyed widened.

Later, they stood in Sally's kitchen where she disinfected the would and applied and ointment. “Would you believe me if I told you I got that from a furious giant wielding a torch?”, Nick asked her, watching how she eased his pain. She chuckled. “From what I've seen inside the Labs so far I wouldn't be surprised.” She took a bandage out of a drawer. “I think I've seen the giant before. In a white suit?” “Yeah...”, Nick sighed. “That guy.” Sally shook her head. “I wish you didn't have to go through this...” “Aww, it's fine, we made it. And I'm sure nobody in Haworth will ever try to mess with us again.” He laughed and Sally joined. “We're the last reporters they'll ever let in.” “Did you see Verloc himself?” “Yeah, actually. I wish you saw his face when Arthur told him all we wanted was cod liver oil.” They laughed again. “Sadly, he didn't cooperate.” Sally locked gazes with him. “Did you...?” “No, he got away...I should have a popper in my house, too. For whenever the fans break in...” “You're right. That sounds quite practical.” Sally imagined escaping all the intrusive customers and Bobbies. “Do you have fanatic fans too? I bet you have.” “Yeah...” She put the bandages away. Done with her work, she leaned against the counter and took a breath. “Someone broke into my lab a few days ago...” “I'm sorry...” Nick turned serious again. “I hope he didn't take anything?” “No, no...I think he wanted Blackberry Joy and I was out of stock, so he couldn't find any...” Great Sally, you're the best company, she scolded herself, You could just as well start to cry here and now. “But that's over. I guess it won't happen again”, she waved herself off.

“Is that why you need the oil? Because you're out of supplies?” “Well...kind of...” She eyed the floor. “You know, you did me a great favour. It actually means a lot to me...”, she tried to express what she felt since the moment Nick came back from his journey. “Aww, it was nothing”, Nick said with a wave of his hand. “Don't beat yourself up about it. After all, I wanted to do it.” Sally assumed that Nick couldn't estimate the danger in the same way a Downer could and therefore didn't know what he was doing, but his whole attitude made her say: “I had no idea you were such a good friend.” Nick lifted his eyebrows. “Sorry, that came out wrong”, Sally quickly corrected herself. Why was it so hard to have a decent conversation without Joy? “I wanted to say...We didn't see each other for a long time and I stopped coming by without an explanation and, and...” Great. You meet the only man in town who doesn't hold a grudge against you and you remind him of all the reasons why he should. “And what?”, Nick asked with a clueless look. Sally returned the gaze. Nick slipped from the counter he had been sitting on. Coming closer, he took her hands. “Look, when I recall the past few years right, then I wasn't...quite all there myself...I could just as well be the one who stopped to let you in. I don't know. But does it matter? I'm not dwelling on this, not because I'm such a good Wellie, but because I believe we both did our best”, Nick said in a soft voice. “I'm just happy to see you again.” Sally had the urge to wipe her eyes. Instead she blinked and squeezed Nick's hands. “Well, I'm really glad I needed that record.” She giggled helplessly and he laughed with her. “Who knows when I would've had the guts to visit you.” “Or me...” Nick shook his head. “I was afraid...that I did something to you...” “Nothing besides the usual”, she replied and he grinned. Their laugh was very intimate. The whole placability of this moment made Sally let her guard go hug and squeeze the man, certain that he wouldn't draw the wrong conclusions.

If only she didn’t have such a bad luck. Just in this moment when she enjoyed the first comforting embrace in years, Arthur showed up. “Sally?“, she heard him call and her heart jumped. Tired, right. Also Nick was surprised, uncomfortably. They both let go of each other and quickly made a few steps backwards. Sally had the feeling that he gave Nick a more intense look. Did he really blame him for this? Was today her lucky day? “Arthur, Im glad to see you“, she said hopefully not too awkwardly. “Yeah, well…“ Arthur fell silent. An indeed awkward silence broke out while Nick seemed to try telling Arthur something with his glance. “Well, it was nice to see you again, Sally“, Nick said as if he had no idea what tone he should use. Polite, reserved, friendly but not too friendly? What was up with him? “But I er…have to go now…You know…business…maybe you’ll come by another time…er…er well, only if you can…I bet you’re busy too…good luck with whatever you’re gonna do with the oil…“ Sally assisted him with polite phrases until he was out, just like that. She couldn’t help but feel cheated of a tranquil moment.

It looked as if Arthur had chased Nick out without saying anything. And even though deep inside her she was happy that Arthur had changed his mind and came to visit her, her merciless sense made her doubt that she was prepared for this. Couldn’t they just dwell in good memories for once? “Arthur…I…I…“ She sighed. “Thank you. I know Nick couldn’t have done it without you…“ “If you knew that, why did you ask him?“ Arthur sounded bitter. “I didn’t come for for cod liver oil, I asked him for a record. Then he asked me if I needed more and since I can’t go to Haworth, I brought it up. I wondered it he had some in his storage. With Nick, you never know…“ She shrugged. “It wasn’t meant to be a big deal.“ “It never is, right? It was only another Sally whim!“, Arthur let his anger out. “For you, it’s nothing, but for everyone else it means trouble! You always have your good friends that do everything for you! You knew very well that Nick would go, that’s why you asked!“ “How would I know that?“ Sally was hurt. “Because you know Nick! You know he’s easy to charm, just play the damsel in distress and he’ll do everything for you!“ “But I didn’t mean for him to go into Haworth!“ “Then why did you bring it up?“ “I don’t know…because I started to chat? Because I hoped you’d have a better idea? Some things just happen, Arthur! I can’t explain it!“ “But I can! Because you knew I could do it and you knew that Nick would make me go! He was already so delighted to see you!“ “We are only friends!“ “Huh, very good friends, I bet. Just like you and the general! Or you and that crazy shit Verloc!“ “No, it’s not like that! I haven’t seen him for years! I didn’t know if he even let me in!“ “Why not? He’s just too nice of a guy, he wouldn’t mind. You could you know Nick and not know that?“ “Because people change! I don’t just walk into houses and expect people to bring out the red carpet! I’m thankful for every help I get, believe it or not! I don’t think anyone would’ve done what Nick did for me!“ “You should’ve stopped him! It was too dangerous and I think you knew that he wouldn’t see the danger! He’s naive like that! He’d never believe you’d send him to a suicide mission!“

Sally’s expression saddened. “He had you…“, she said quietly. “Right…but I’m not a superhero! I didn’t have this under control.“ “Sorry that I thought you were…“ Her tone changed and she looked up to him. “The way you survive without any help…I guess it made me dream…you even have a letter of transit now…how did you do that?“ Unwillingly, Arthur’s anger melted at an alarming rate. “Er…it was actually easy…but I rather not change the topic now…“ Sally gave him a cheeky smile. “You brought it up…“ “Is it so hard to say sorry?“, Arthur fought back. “Even though it doesn’t change anything.“ Sally’s face fell. “If you think I’m such a bad person, why did you do this for me?“ “Because Nick was about to go alone! You don’t even understand what you did to him! He could’ve died in there! All for some fucking cod liver oil! How could you do this to him?“ She eyed him. “So…this is about Nick…“ “Of course it’s about him! That’s what I’m trying to tell you!“ “I mean…you two…are very close…“ Arthur got the hint. He hesitated before he said: “Don’t ever ask him for a favor again.“ His voice was about to shiver. “Don’t…touch him! Sally’s mouth opened but no sound came out.

Arthur caught his breath. Now that this was finally out, he felt like a massive weight was taken off his chest. He was still angry at Sally, yet he felt a sting in his heart, seeing her crestfallen like that. Her feelings forced themselves on him. He simply sensed what she felt. Or he hoped, that was. Even if that kind of hope wasn’t due to him anymore. The main point was that she wouldn’t use Nick for her complicated whims anymore. “I’m sorry“, Sally finally whispered. “Look, I call others my friends even when they aren’t really. I know they’d let me fall the moment I stopped making Blackberry Joy or stop taking Joy or break the rules in another way…“. She bit her lip. “I guess most of them would’ve killed me already. I don’t have a lot of true friends…I just found out that Nick is one of them…Sometimes you just need a hug, Arthur, without any obligations.“ Arthur felt sorry, even though his mind refused to believe her. The Salamander always found her way around things. She always found people to help her out, friends or not. She got what she wanted. She ran off with nothing and now she was the it-girl of Wellington Wells and also a brilliant chemist, a star just like Nick Lightbearer. Could she be that lonely?

“I’m sorry“, he still said. “I don’t have anyone except Nick and he’s so…trusting…“ Sally made a few steps towards him. “You can trust me“, she said. “I’m not an evil witch or something, even though I kinda make potions…“ “Sure, sure, I didn’t mean to…act like you’re evil or something…I guess you’re just trying to get along, just like me…“ She cracked a smile that shouldn’t send such a shiver down his spine. Her eyes had no right to touch his heart like that. “See, I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you anything in return. Do you really have a letter of transit or do you just want to keep the general away from me?“ Her eyes squinted a little. She was making a joke. “It’s more like I have the letter of transit…“ Sally mused. “I’m trying to get out myself….I know where a boat is…I think I could squeeze in two more people if they behave.“ Arthur’s heart jumped. A boat? He saw the beautiful, endless ocean right before his eyes. Freedom. But then he saw Sally and Nick, together in a boat…finding out how much they had missed each other…Sally being oh so thankful and Nick melting away under her charms.

“You don’t have to do anything for me, Sal. It’s okay.“ “But it’s no trouble at all! If anything, it’d make it easier to escape, with two fighters like you and my wits. We would be the three musketeers for once!“ Arthur gulped. “I…I think I’m fine with two musketeers… No hard feelings, Sally.“ Sally let out a breath. “Okay…if you need something else…“ “Take care, Sally…“, Arthur said quietly. He had no right to feel so sad. “You too, Arthur…“, she replied, and now that it was final, all the things Arthur had wanted to say to her span in his head. “Hey…when you’re out, pay me a visit, okay? I wanna know what kind of amazing story you have to tell.“ “Yeah…“, he said, wondering how he’d find her in the big world outside. “And if you find me first, don’t hesitate to say hi.“ “Sure thing“, she answered. “Say goodbye to Nick for me…“ “Sure…see you around, Salamander…“ “Goodbye, Sparky.“ When he left her home, he was certain he had seen for the last time. He had a feeling that he couldn’t describe, neither with a word nor a gesture. It made him helpless, even though he should be happy now that was over. For once, he would be the one cuddling and not saying a word.

He found Nick in his bedroom, accompanied by his iconic blue guitar. Arthur convinced him to put the instrument aside and hold him instead. He kissed a little trail from Nick’s cheek down to his neck and then remained wrapped around his lover, wordless. “Arthur, are you okay?“, Nick whispered. “I hope you didn’t have a fight with her, because of me…“ Arthur shook his head. Nick twirled a black hair strand around his finger. “I didn’t mean to anger you even more. I know it’s lame to blame the girl but she hugged me, only in a friendly way. I had no reason to push her away.“ “She told me already.“ It came out rougher than planned. Arthur really didn’t want to talk about such a delicate topic. His own feelings for Sally weren’t quite acceptable. „Oh…“, Nick said and fell quiet. He now focused on stroking and rubbing Arthur’s back and shoulders. Then Arthur recalled something. Well, get it over with, then. “Sally is leaving the town. She told me to say goodbye to you…“ “She’s leaving?“ “Yeah…She would’ve told you if I didn’t show up I guess…“ Nick’s hands stopped for a while. “It’s strange to imagine Wellington Wells without her…She was like…the town’s soul…at least to me…I mean…“ “I know“, Arthur quickly said before Nick could let out another trail of apologies. Silence ensued and Arthur closed his eyes.

“You like her“, Nick unfortunately said. “Wha…why?“ “You wear your heart on your sleeve, King. It’s not hard to read you.“ Arthur’s face began to burn. “Nick, I love you. I don’t know what it is with Sally, it’s never easy with her.“ “Well, we don’t have to let her go“, Nick said and Arthur steadied himself on his elbows to look at him. “Nick, believe me, this is over. Sally and I are no longer a thing.“ “But it makes you sad. I don’t want you to be sad.“ “You want me to leave you for her or what?“ “No, I hope you can’t leave me so easily“, he chuckled even. “Then what are you…?“ “Bear with me, okay? I thought, if I had the same problem…of loving two people at once, I’d wish they understood…I’m trying to tell you that I do. And I don’t think Sally would mind. She’s quite open minded and she and I come along just fine…“ Arthur stared at him with an open mouth. “Are you making fun of me?“ “No, I’m serious! I…I think I know how you feel…“ “Because you love Sally?“ “No, no, I don’t love her…I just understand you.“ “Be honest with me, Nick! It makes sense: Why did you insist to got on this mission so badly? Why do you not want her to leave? You love her, right? You saw her again and…“ “No, no, no, Arthur…“ Nick slightly shook him. “Now you’re being ridiculous. I. Love. You. Not Sally. I’m only saying…you don’t need to suffer. I’m okay with it.“

Arthur looked at him in disbelief. “Wouldn't you be jealous? I know I would. I think everyone would.” “Arthur, I trust you.” Arthur shook his head. “I don't know...” “What?” “Aren’t you afraid I’d end up with her and abandon you?” Nick sat up. Wrapping his arms around his legs, he gave his lover a meaningful look. “Why would you do that to me?” Arthur winced again, shortly closing his eyes. “It's not that I'd do it! But...why are you not even afraid? Is it because you're such a wanted star that you never think people could leave you? And what about me? What if you leave me for her?” “I wouldn't do that either!”, Nick said eagerly, shaking his head. Arthur didn't look like his answer cheered him up. He granted him a rather gloomy glance. “Don't you believe me?”, Nick asked quietly, his eyes searching for an answer in his lover's expression.

Arthur sighed. “First this Debbie-person, and now Sally...I wonder, would you easily invite a third person to our relationship?” Nick looked at the blanket under his feet, avoiding the other man's look. He felt that his character was rejected once more. Morrie had done it first. And well, what did he really expect Arthur to do? Morrie had been a sensible person, Arthur was too. He was sorry he had brought it up. “Hey...”, he began, opening the grip around his legs and trying to get comfortable again. “Let's forget about it, okay? I wanted to help, but...I guess it was a bad idea.” He let out a sigh after that. A rather disappointed one.

“Help...” Arthur shook his head again. “I don't know if I should be shocked...or...” “Shocked? Come on, it was only a question. Not that I already invited her or something.” Arthur had to think of the three musketeers for some ominous reason. Did she also...? “Did Sally...give you this idea?” He and Nick locked gazes. “No...she thought you had enough of her.” Arthur averted his gaze again, helplessly looking around the room. “You came back...”, Nick said. Arthur frowned at that. “Why can't you stop talking about her?”, he almost yelled at the other man. “I'm glad she's leaving and don't you dare bring any random girl into our relationship!” Nick curled up again. “I didn't mean to...” His voice was meek. Arthur began to crawl out of the bed. “Where are you going?”, Nick asked, worried. “I need some time for myself”, his lover answered gloomily. Before he left the room he turned around again to add: “I'm at the bar!”, as if it was Nick's fault that he went especially there. But now it was no time to blame his imprudence, Arthur decided. Nick got the message.

The rockstar felt abandoned in his big fabulous bed that suddenly felt oversized. Staring at his wallpaper for a while, he tried to cope with the outcome of what had been a both a try to assist and a confession. So much for telling the truth...even if only a little bit of that... 'What kind of a person are you, Nick?', he asked himself. 'Do you even deserve to be loved?' Now it became too self-loathing for him and he left the room himself. If he wanted to complain about what a horrible person he was, he would at least not talk to himself.

Glad that he didn't meet anyone, he made his way to the first spot his brain came up with. He chose it because he felt that he wasn't done with it. He didn't know if he'd ever be done. Sitting down at the brim of the fountain, he eyed the water again that seemed to happily dance about, accompanied with a little splashing sound that he had always enjoyed when he had been in the park near school. His own reflection didn't look much better today. If Virgil was here, he would've scolded him because of the giant blue rings under his eyes. Thinking about it, he smiled, and a tear ran down his cheek.

'Hello Morrie', he thought. 'It's been three days now. How are you? I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, but...you know me...I needed a little adventure...something to keep me going after all this. You wouldn't have liked it I guess...but perhaps, now that everything came out alright, you could laugh about it now. Imagine me as a fighter...oh, no...' He shook his head and smiled again. 'At least I was helpful...' His finger drew a circle into the water surface. He watched the little waves roll and vanish. 'I wish I did help you.' More tears came. 'I still miss you. Now that I know what Arthur thinks about all this, I guess I don't know what I would've done...I wish I asked you.' Nick took a deep breath. 'This is all confusing and you seemed to see sense in everything. I guess I'll ask James again...You never met him, but he's good to me. Even though he can't magically turn me into a better person, I feel like I have a guide.' He put his hand back on the brim and wiped it dry on his jacket. 'I'll come back. I think I'll bring you flowers, be a gentleman for once...I love you...'

He got up and looked back to the fountain a few times when he went away. Saying goodbye was hard even if it was only in his imagination.

James would understand, Nick was sure.

[yandere-ac]

Maybe some yandere redd but for tom?

Ohohohoho!!! I’ve been waiting for this one!

Heads up! This one is a bit darker than my usual content (or well. The fix is normal but there’s one part that’s pretty dark) so if you’re faint of heart this probably isn’t the fic for you. I’m gonna post a different one in a few days, hopefully it’s not as dark. But with that aside, I hope you enjoy!

Yandere Crazy Redd X Tom Nook

Business partners

Oh Tom, his sweet Tom. Redd observed his past parter as he peacefully slept. His stomach was slowly rising and falling, rising and falling. Standing besides his bed, Redd watched him in amazement. He considered stroking his soft fur but that would undoubtedly wake him up. But god would he do anything just to touch his fur again. It wouldn’t have been the first time. After all, when he said that they were past partners, he didn’t just mean that in the business sense. Oh how he yearned to those days when he and Tom would work together, running that shop, then after the shift was over they’d go down to his place to watch a movie while snuggling. Tom would make dinner that he and Redd would eat while watching said movie. After that they would go up to Redds room and cuddle under the covers. Only to fall asleep in each other’s arms. Back then Tom didn’t have his own house so he usually stayed with Redd. Not that he ever complained.

The day that Tom first walked into Redds store and Redd first laid his eyes on him, he thought he would just be another fool that he could scam. He started to sweet talk Tom into trusting him, like he did with everyone. But then something peculiar happened. Tom had asked for a job. This baffled Redd beyond belief, no one had ever been interested in working in Redds shop considering how sketchy it looked. Then on top of that there was the fact that most people had grudges against foxes and usually would want to get out as soon as they bought their item. To see someone so eager to work with someone like Redd...it felt nice, almost reassuring in a way. And so, Redd accepted Toms offer and he became the second employee at Redds little shop. Needless to say, things got a lot nicer once someone else began working with Redd. The atmosphere was a lot less heavy and scary whenever someone came in to buy something. Tom would always walk up to them, telling them about their sales and deals and prices. That was something that Redd adored about his friend. He had such a calming and comforting aura surrounding him that no one ever felt uncomfortable walking in the store. Redd had never gotten any of his “customers” to feel safe around him. He just had that kind of menacing and untrustworthy look to him huh? But that was another thing about Tom. Back in the day when he was much younger he was still very uncorrupted. He hadn’t been exposed to just how cruel and unjust the business world truly was. Redd made sure to keep it that way. Tom wasn’t naive, not in any way shape or form. Redd knew that, but he still felt like he had to protect his parter from any scum around them. The world was imperfect, it was dirty and foul and didn’t deserve someone like Tom. That was the beginning of Redds downfall.

When Tom asked him out he was shocked. Shocked that someone like Tom would want to be with someone like him. He accepted of course and after a few dates they became an official couple. They displayed full affection when at Redds house but Redd made a rule never to show any sign that they were a thing while in the shop or outside. That wasn’t because he didn’t want to, no, Redd would love to be able to wrap himself around Tom when they were outside. Kissing him and holding him, making sure everyone knew he was his. You see, the part of town we’re Redd and Tom had their shop, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the most clean place with the most accepting people. Redd was scared that something would happen to Tom if they did show public affection. Of course, Tom wasn’t happy about this. Not happy at all. This is ultimately one of the many things that led to him wanting to break up and move out.

“Redd, listen-“

“Oh c’mon nookie, quit fooling around like that. You scared me” Redd said trying to avoid the subject, desperately wanting to keep Tom from leaving him. He had packed all of his clothing and such and was simply wanting to tell his partner that he was going. “Redd, I’m leaving. You know it’s been a long time coming so please, let’s just not make this more difficult then it needs to be” Tom said sternly. Redd hated when he spoke like that, when he had practically no emotion in his voice because he knew he was just stating the obvious truth. He was trying to pretend that he wasn’t feeling something just so this can be easier. Redd knew he was bluffing, under that poker face was a storm brewing up. He just had to make it break out. “So that’s it huh? After all I’ve done for you? After all the sacrifices I made? After all those nights we spent you’re just giving up? I know you’re not that weak Tom” Redd said, trying to convince his soon to be past lover into staying. “There it is! That’s exactly why I’m doing this! All the time it’s just all about you ain’t it Redd! About how you feel. How you think. How you want it. It’s NEVER about ME is it!? You’re so selfish that you can barely look past your own ego to see that I’m unhappy!” Tom was now yelling. Tears threatening to spill out from his big eyes. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve last written to my friends back home!? No? ME NEITHER! YOU FORBADE ME TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU’RE TOO INSECURE TO TRUST THAT IM NOT CHEATING ON YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT FEELS REDD?! TO KNOW THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND DOESN’T TRUST YOU!” And there it was, the storm. Hot tears were now rolling down toms cheeks as his ears were down pointed. Now, he just had to...

”Oh...nookie...i...Im so sorry. I didn’t know you felt that” he reached out his arms and walked towards Tom. “Come here and-“

“Get away from me Redd...” Tom backed up and Redd stopped immediately as he heard this. “Get away from me! I know what you’re doing you bastard! You’re not sorry! Don’t EVER try to feed me that horseshit! You know it! I know it! I thought we could talk this out like adults...but I guess not...” the room became dreadfully quiet. The air felt like concrete. “I-“ “save it! I’m leaving. Goodbye...” and so the tanooki walked away, pushing into Redds shoulder as he stomped out of the house.

That was the last time Redd saw Tom for years. He moved back to his old home, completely giving up on his business dream. Redd stayed back in the shop, trying to move on. But everyone could see that something was different. The store became even more unsettling after that. For about two months, any and all hospitality that Redd gave his customers flew right out the window. He was snappy, rude, pushy and all in all just not having it. He couldn’t muster up any reason to even try to scam gullible people, the only thing he could think of was Tom. How did he do it? How did he manage to have such a welcoming exterior? It could have something to do with his comforting voice, the voice that he missed so dearly. Or it could be his big eyes, those big blue orbs that Redd would get lost in. Or maybe it was just that he basically looked like a giant teddy bear. Either way, Redd has none of those qualities and he wouldn’t even TRY to replicate them. He was to angry, but none of that anger was directed at Tom. Redd loves Tom more than anything and if anything was just mad at himself for letting Tom get away. He should’ve just taken him, locked him up in a cage where only he could see him. Yeah, just Redd and him. Alone together with nothing to disturb them.

And it was like that for maybe a year or two. That was until Redd found out were Tom was. And when he found out, he wasted no time taking a train to the town in which his ex now lived. He didn’t know why but he just had to see him again. He knew Tom wasn’t gonna be happy to see him but he didn’t care. The ride was long and unbearable, he couldn’t wait to see Tom again. He could barely hold in his excitement. Finally after driving for about 7 hours straight he arrived at his stop. Stepping out of the train he could see a big sign welcoming him to the small town. A small town with a peculiar name. “Mudmore? That’s an...interesting name...” As redd walked closer he swore he could hear distant music however he payed no mind to it at first, all he cared about was finding Tom. As he entered the town premises it was loud and clear what was going on. There was some sort of festival accruing. Although, it didn’t exactly change anything. He just had to find-

“Ough!!!”

“Ouch!!!”

Right before Redd could even manage to think of what to do next he had felt a strong impact on his left side. Someone had bumped into him. And in the process fallen down to the ground with him as well. They sat there for a few moments, rubbing their head before turning to look at him. Now he could see them more clearly. It was a girl, a girl with long black hair and brown eyes. She looked at him with worry. “Oh no! Are you alright? I’m sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going” she said as she rose up and reached her hand out for him. At first Redd was hesitant but after a few seconds he grabbed her hand. She pulled him up to his get and he brushed off some dust from his clothing. “Hey don’t worry about it kid...by any chance do you know if a tanooki called Tom nook lives here?” She looked at him and her eyes instantly lit up. “Oh yes! Oh yes I do! He’s my contractor and I work for him! I can bring you to him if you’d like!” This made the fox smirk. “Yes, I would like that very much”

The two of them walked through the town. A bunch of colourful characters running pat them as they were walking. Some stopped to say hi to the girl and some ran right past the two. “So, what’s your name?” A soft voice broke him out of his thoughts. He looked over to the girl. “Redd...it’s Redd...and you?” He said bluntly, he didn’t like to make small talk but it seems like he had no choice. “My name is Mariam! It’s nice to meet you Redd! So, why do you want to find Tom? Are you guys friends?” At this statement, Redd and to physically stop himself from laughing. “Umm...yeah I guess you could say that... we’re uh really close. But I haven’t seen him in a while and I wanted to visit” the human looked at him and smiled as he said this. “Aww, that’s so sweet! Well his store should be just around the corner now!” Store? Oh come on! Really? Tom would rather have some small store in this town than with him? That’s just insulting.

After a while Mariam stopped following him. Giving him directions as to where to go before running off to hang out with other villagers. No matter. It’s not like it would be hard to find the only store in town. Eventually he arrived at the so called store. Hmm. “Nooks cranny...not a bad name nookie...okay Redd...you can do this...” he took a deep breath before walking into the store. “Hello hello! Welcome to nooks cranny!” He heard a familiar voice call out to him. He was nowhere to be seen but he could hear the voice coming from the back room in the shop. “Just a second, I’ll be with you in a minute!” The door stood ajar as it filtered his voice slightly, not enough to block out his voice completely but just enough to silence it. And it was just open enough so that you can hear his voice. Looking around the shop while waiting in anticipation he could CLEARLY see that some inspiration was taken while making it. Shelves upon shelves stacked with items and furniture of all sorts. Soft footsteps could be heard coming towards him. The door opened to reveal a tanooki, walking at a brisk pace as he neared Redd. “Now what did you wa-“ the man in front of him halted as his eyes widened. Looking the fox up and down to make sure that his eyes weren’t deceiving him. “It...it cant be...” his voice was low and breathy, almost like he couldn’t, like he refused to believe what he saw before him. “Redd?” At that Redds lips turned into a small smirk, eyes still remaining gentle. He didn’t want to break the poor man so he had to be careful with his demeanour. “The one and only” he tried to ease the tension which lingered all too long, that of course didn’t work as most his attempts at bringing up someone’s mood. “What are you doing here Redd” he said. A now harsher tone underlining his voice. “Hey can’t a guy want to visit the oh so famous Mudville as it’s undergoing a festival? God Tom, my world doesn’t revolve around you, the small fact that you’re here as well is simply a coincidence” He said nonchalantly as he walked closer to his former boyfriend. He looked at one of the items on display. A glass chimpanzee statue. “How much for the monkey?” Before Tom could get the chance to say anything the sound of a chiming bell broke the tension. The girl from before ran in with a purple cat with a red shirt following behind her. “Hi Tom! Do you know where the fireworks are?” She asked him. Without taking off his gaze from the fox Tom quickly replies. “In the back room” the girl gave him a smile as she rushed past Redd, but as she past him she stopped. “Oh Redd! So you found Tom after all! That’s good. I felt a little guilty about letting you find him on your own but I see now that you’re more than capable!” After that she ran to get the fire works...

Well shit.

All the while the human and cat was in the store, Tom was glaring at Redd. He could almost feel his gaze burning into him as the two waited in uncomfortable silence for the shoppers to leave. Redd was trying to not look at Tom, fumbling with the monkey instead of facing his ex. Once they were gone Toms eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, all the while Redd put down the statue and giving him a sheepish smile. “Coincidence huh? And for your information, it’s Mudmore. Not Mudville” ”same difference!” Tom could feel his temper get shorter and shorter as the fox started getting on his nerves. “I thought I made it clear that I didn’t want to see you ever again Redd. The only reason I’m not kicking you out right now is because there’s a festival going on, and i dont wanna spoil my good mood any more than you’ve already done!” Tom said as he shot the fox a glare. “Now, get out of my store! I need to close it up so I can spend the day with my children” Tom ordered as he went out of the store. “Pff! Fine! Like i- CHILDREN?! YOU HAD KIDS!?” Redd was completely stumped. How did Tom manage to move on with his life so quickly in the span of a couple of years! What was he married as well?! “Yes, I did. Or well, I adopted them” He said as he reached for his keys in the pocket of his apron. “Oh...why though? Kids are such a hindrance of your freedom. I thought you were all about that nooki-“ “don’t!....call me that...and for your information. I found them in a box underneath a park bench. It wasn’t exactly a decision that I could think about long and hard. But they’re the best thing that ever happened to me” Tom said, his voice becoming almost tender as he mentioned the small boys. “Hmm...well I never figured you as the dad type but sure. Whatever makes you move on from me!” Redd figured that he wasn’t gonna be able to get back with Tom so he thought, why not be a little petty while he’s still there. It’s what he does the best. When Redd said this Toms face went into a grimace that was a mixture of disgust and a mocking grin. “Oh that’s rich coming from you. I’m not the one who’s seemingly looking up where my ex is so I can stalk him when he was clear he didn’t want to see me!” Tom was now dragging Redd out of the store so he could get out of this predicament. “Yeah? That’s because you’re boring! You never wanna take risks! You never wanna do anything exciting! You never wanna-“ “scam innocent people?” “And you always do that! You make everything sound so horrible!” Redd rolled his eyes as he heard Toms statement. Anyone who’s gullible enough to be scammed shouldn’t be trusted with money! He’s simply teaching them a lesson. “I don’t make everything sound horrible. I just say things for how they are! And let me tell you how THIS is, I don’t want to see you! I don’t EVER want you to come near me, my sons, or my village ever again!” With that, Tom walked past him. “Goodbye Redd” his voice was cold and unwelcoming. And with that he stormed off. Redd could see two smaller tanookis run up to him and tackle him into a hug. Almost instantly Toms face went from irritation to pure joy. He was laughing. He looked so happy. He missed that. He missed being able to make him laugh. But it’s been about five years and Tom had moved on, gotten his own shop, found a home, gotten new friends, even started his own little family. A family that Redd was never gonna be apart of...

“...fuck, no! Not now!” He felt his eyes sting as they began to well up. “No no no no no!” He quickly rushed to the train station and once he made sure no one was in sight, he let the tears flow down his cheeks. He fucked it up yet again! He fucked it up the first time and now he did it again. Why did he have to be so stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why did he even show up here?! He thought that seeing Tom again would make him feel better! Just make him feel good for once! But no! Seeing him completely happy and having moved on makes him feel even worse than before. He regretted that night so much! The night that he let Tom walk away! Why did he let him go! He couldn’t stand this exile any longer!

Redd started showing up to the outskirts of the village in a little tent. He called it his black market. It was a cute name he thought. But soon crossed out the “black” part of the sign outside. Even if it was a joke he didn’t want to get in trouble, after all, he didn’t have a licence and was basically doing this illegally. But he didn’t do this for the money. No, he did this so he could still be close to Tom. He will admit, even if seeing him so cold towards Redd made him feel like garbage, seeing him happy awoke something I him. It reminded him of when they were together. It wasn’t ideal but it would do. However he stayed out of his way, not wanting another confrontation with him. The worst thing that could happen to him would be if he actually started crying in front of Tom. He didn’t want to show any weakness, that would show that he cared. And he couldn’t have that. The shop wasn’t exactly popular by any long shot. Only a few people came in once in a while but usually left because of his insane prices. Redd would spend his days in the shop and during nighttime he would spy on Tom. And that was pretty much how life was for a while. That is until Redd got some horrible news.

“MOVED!? WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE MOVED?! WHY?! WHERE?!” He was shaking the person in front of him who had given him the devastating news. “Well I’m not sure why he did it but I have a hunch it could be because a certain someone wasn’t leaving him alone.” As the person said this their voice became more prominent, clearly putting the blame on Redd. “As of where, I can’t tell you. Even if I knew where, I wouldn’t say.” After that, they left. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good at all! If he wasn’t with Tom, he feared that he might do something crazy! He felt completely and utterly hopeless, he just found Tom again! He couldn’t loose him! After about two weeks of nonstop searching Redd started getting desperate. He wanted, no, he NEEDED to see Tom again! And so, he started to consider doing some...morally questionable things. He may be a scammer but he never wanted to hurt someone...but...if it was for Tom...

“I’m telling you! Please I don’t know where he moved! I promise!” The owl begged shaking in the chair that Redd had tied him down to. He wasn’t gonna lie, he was a little ashamed he let things get this far. But it’s all for Tom. He had pretty much abducted the museum owner, Blathers. And was pressing him for the information of where Tom had moved. Throughout the time he lived in Mudmore one persistent thing was that Tom and this owl seemed to be friends, close friends. If anyone knew where Tom had moved, it was blathers. “Please! I don’t know where he went. You can take everything I have! My wallet, my clock, my bells, everything! Just- please don’t hurt me!” His pleading was wearing short on Redds patience. He narrowed his eyes even more than they already are. Walking closer to the quivering owl. “Tsk tsk tsk. Blathers, blathers, blathers...I didn’t want it to come to this...but I guess you leave me no choice” Blathers eyes went wide as his breathing hitched. “W-what are yo-ou going to do to me?!” Redd let out a heavy laugh as he walked away from the owl and into the darkness.

“No...no...I’m not gonna hurt YOU” blathers could barely see redd anymore, just his figure. “....say blathers...what would you do if your sister...LOST HER HEAD!!!” Suddenly, Redd threw another owl out from the shadows. It was Celeste! She was shaking as she layed before her older brother. Redd came up behind her and used one hand to lift her head up, Revealing her throat. Placing his other hand over it, his claws very prominently pointed to her. “NO!!!! LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!!! THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER!!!” Blathers was now thrashing violently in the chair. Trying all he could to break through. “PLEASE SHES THE ONLY ONE LEFT!!! THE ONLY ONE I HAVE! YOU CANT TAKE HER!!!” Redd wouldn’t lie. Something about this situation, about seeing someone who were taking up Toms attention being in such pain...it felt good. To the point where he let out a deep chuckar at serien the owls futile attempts at escaping. “Now now Blathers. I’m not gonna hurt her...yet! All you need to do is just tell me where Tom moved. And I’ll let her go unharmed” Celeste looked at her brother, tears spilling out of her eyes. “B-blathers?” Her voice was raspy, damaged from crying to much. “I’ll tell you everything! Please just let go of her!” Blathers begged. Redd got what he wanted. He’s not gonna press the poor owl any longer. And so, he let go of the little bird. She quickly scrambled over to her brother. Placing her head in his lap as she cried. “Now talk!” “O-Okay okay! Tom has been working on this project for the past couple of years. H-he called it the- the island getaway package!”

Blathers told Redd pretty much everything he needed to know. About where Tom was going, what he was doing and how long he’d have to wait until Tom came out about it publicly. “Alright....now, where is he?” Redd asked, judging from Blathers eyes becoming slightly wider he guessed that he didn’t know. “I-uhh....he’s- he’s moved to this city called Bumbleville! Up north!” Blather said, Redd tried his hardest not to roll his eyes at this. “You’re not a very good liar blathy boy” “but I-“ “no! Shush!...lucky for you, I’m in a good mood. You’ve given me plenty of information. And off that I thank you” Redd walked up behind blathers, and in a swift movement he cut up the rope that was holding him to the chair. Immediately, Blathers embraced his sibling, trying his best to comfort her. “Get out of my sight Blathers. And don’t make me regret this” without skipping a beat. Blathers ran out with his sister. Redd would be leaving tonight. He’d just have to roughly wait a couple of months before he could see Tom again. He’d waited years already, so a couple of months wouldn’t be too bad.

And that leads us to where he is now. Watching Tom sleep. It had taken about five months until Nook inc came out with the news of island living. And as soon as Redd found out the general area of the islands that was gonna be used, he went to his boat that he’d saved up for during the five months and went out to sea. After that it only took a lot of trial and error to finally find the island that Tom lived on. He wouldn’t lie and say it was easy, because truth be told. It really wasn’t. He started looking way back in March and the day he finally found him was in the beginning of May. It had been long and tedious, but it was so worth it. He had finally found him again, just being in his presence made his stomach fill up with butterflies. This time he wasn’t gonna let him leave. Not EVER again. Taking out a white cloth and a bottle out of his apron he soaked it with the liquid inside. That liquid being chloroform. Getting ready to put his lover into a deep sleep he hesitated for a moment. What if...what if he just woke him up before? He wanted to see the fear in his eyes as he fell asleep once more. Looking at his soft fur, he decided. Taking out his paw, he carefully started stroking Toms head. He could hear him letting out a soft mumble, it was adorable. Toms eyes opened slightly, but once he saw Redd, they went wide open. “REDD- MMMPHH!!!” Redd pressed the cloth against his nose and mouth. Tom was flailing around like crazy, trying to get Redd off of him. But nothing worked as he felt himself drift off. Tom tried to hold on but he just couldn’t. The last thing he saw before he lost his Conscience was Redd smiling down at him. And just like that. He slipped into unconsciousness.

Part 2

[smallpumpkinboi]

I know I have some asks for fics in my inbox however Ive been having a hard time but I did manage to write this

Also Im so sorry its so long my computer broke and I cant get the read more on my phone

Cuts and bruises

Rating: teens and up

Warings: mentions of blood, injury and death

Characters: Ron Weasley, Arthur Weasley

Summery: Arthur helps Ron deal with his brain scars

----

"Ronald" Arthur knocked lightly on his son's door, opening it slightly. He waited a second, the quiet clanking from the ghoul in the attic the only sound be heard. Giving one more soft knock he heard a small grunt and the ruffling of bed sheets. Taking that as a yes he entered Ron's room, pieces of clothes discarded all over the floor and his school stuff, thrown out of his trunk but never put away. The warm wind came from the open window behind closed curtains, darkening the room. Ron laid on his bed, head buried deep into hom pillow. His arms were splayed out, loose bandages coming off of them. His shirt laid discarded beside him, scrunched up beside his pillow while his blanket was pulled up over his cold back. 

Arthur walked towards him, sitting down next to Ron before patting his head, running his fingers through greasy hair. A deep breath escaped Arthur before he moved his hands to the bandages, gently taking them off. Deep wounds encrusted his son's arms, harsh red cuts swirling down his arms, creeping up over his shoulders and meeting in the middle of his back. They looked raw, flakey skin itchy and irritating, the soft pulse of pain flaring up whenever the bandages slipped off. Occasionally Ron would grunt in pain, a soft when caught in the back of his throat, Arthur would wince in remorse, a quiet sorry on the tip of his tongue. He continued to take them off, the scratchy fabric damp with sweat. Ron tried to stay still, eyes avoiding his father at all cost, he could feel his dad play with his arms, trying not to bend them at weird angles as he removed the bandages. Patiently waiting, Arthur slowly finished, being careful not to make Ron more uncomfortable than he already was before he grabbed a jar of cream by his bed. Opening the jar Arthur scoped out a fingerful of light pink ointment, a citrusy scent filling the air. Carefully he started to rub his hands in circles along Rons back, the cream cooling against his skin and bringing down the swelling. He continued like that for a few minutes, moving his hands in small circles as a light wind chilled them, the dark room soluml. 

"Dad?" Ron croaked out, a quiet voice loud against the silence. Arthur hummed in acknowledgement, tucking a piece of hair behind Rons ear. "I-" Ron carefully considered his words, unsure of what he was about to say. "I'm sorry" his words sounded sad, a depressing tone filling his voice. 

"What do you have to be sorry for?" Arthur was fully aware of why his son was apologizing, him having broken down in the hospital wing over his apparent "failures" feeling as if his injury had let people down. Of course he knew Ron wasn't a failure, feeling very proud of his bravery but also considered over his loyalty. He knew Ron would run into any situation if he was sure it was the right thing to do, not caring if he hurt himself or got himself killed. 

"I-" Ron tried to sit up, lifting his head up and getting up onto his elbows. 

"No,no" Arthur whispered, putting a hand on Ron's back before gently shoving him back down. This time Ron faced him, eyes wet and lips trembling. 

"I-dad, it hurts" Ron spoke so quietly. Arthur almost missed what he said. Gently picking up one of Ron's arms he continued his rubbing,

"This will help" his tone was reassuring. Ron looked up at him before looking back down to his arm, chewing worriedly on his lip. "Stop that'' Arthur touched Ron's face, gently caressing the side while poking at the corner of his mouth. He smiled kindly when Ron stopped the nervous habit, insead he played with the end of his pillow case, twisting loose thread around his sore fingers. 

"Dad?" Ron's voice spoke again. Arthur looked back at him, ready to listen. "Did I- did I do something wrong" tears sprung into his eyes, threatening to spill over. 

Arthur knew what Ron was referring too, the deep cries of Molly when he returned bloody and broken from the department of mysteries. The sympathetic looks his brothers would give him. The whole family walked on eggshells around Ron, fearful he would break. Everyone was just concerned, he was too, Ron had always gone on crazy adventures, getting himself into hidden troubles far before going to hogwarts. He knew Ron got into danger, having fought off trolls and dementors but he was always fine. A few bumps and scratches along the way but it was always something that with a flick of a wand he could fix but this time? Ron could have died. This was the first time he really thought about his children dying. Of course he knew about Ginny and how hurt she was in her first year but when he saw her she was fine, cleaned up and put into new pajamas it was as if nothing ever happened. But Ron, watching him come in covered blood, listening to his painful cries as people rushed to his aid he was faced with the reality that he may outlive his youngest son.

"No Ronnie" tears sprung in his eyes "you did nothing wrong" he rubbed at Ron's hair, giving him a kiss on the forehead "we're just worried that's all" he whispered out, swallowing back his tears. Ron seemed content with his answer, smiling softly and resting back against his bed, body relaxed. Arthur continued his work, finishing up with the ointment before grabbing some bandages, wrapping them securely around Rons wounds. 

As the time went by he finished up his work, grabbing Ron a new shirt before helping him put it on, head nodding off and tired eyes trying to stay open. He gently laughed to himself and Rons willingness to be helped, knowing that if he wasn't almost half asleep he'd insist upon doing everything himself. Happy with what he's done he secured the bandages by Rons hands, hoping they wouldn't fall off during his sleep. Watching Ron get into his bed he tucked him in, pulling the blankets up to his chin and patting him on the head. He went to close the window, the final peaks of sunlight disappearing in the horizon. Locking it he went to leave, hoping his son would sleep restfully. 

"Dad?" The soft voice came again, tired and bringing upon a yawn. 

"Yes?" He turned around, hand slipping off the doorknob

"Thank you"

-----

Thanks for reading! I am starting a mini series on ao3 of missing Ron and family moments

[mybiasisexo]

Vessel

Genre: Angst | Superpower!au | Highschool!au | OT12

Pairing: Kai x OC (?), Kris x OC (?)

Length: 21.6k

Warning: Unfinished | Language | Violence | OC

Summary: Rayna disappeared out of nowhere on her 16th birthday, and just as quickly as she vanished, she reappeared, but is obviously different.

Author’s Note: This really could’ve been my legacy if I could actually write a chaptered story. instead I lost speed and had no idea wtf was going to happen next. Sad thing is, I know exactly how it’s going to end. it’s the middle that killed me :/. Plus, I think it might come off a bit sexist, which wasn’t my intention!!! But rereading it im like hmm. I wrote this shit in 2013!!!! TWENTY THIRTEEEEEEEN!!! So it’s kinda dated. I’m proud of it, nonetheless haha

MASTERLIST

Chapter One: Return

The school bell rings, informing the students of Gryphon High to report to class. However, four young men hover in front of the campus while the other students run to their various destinations.

When the coast is clear, one of the boys clears his throat, “what is it, Kris?”

Kris is leaning on the building, staring intently at his feet when the tall boy asks him the question. He takes a deep breath and meets his gaze, “I saw her.”

The three other boys look at him with confusion. 

“Her?” the shortest member asks, his thick eyebrows crunch together.

Kris nods, “she’s returned…Rayna.”

The boys gasp. 

“Are you sure it was her?” the one who was mostly silent questions.

“Yes, Suho. I’d recognize her if I were blind. It’s her. She’s back.”

“But,” the shorter one counters. “How? Why?”

Kris shakes his head, “I’m not sure, Kyungsoo. But whatever the reason, it cannot be good.”

The taller boy stares at the cracked cement floor, “does Kai know?”

Kris shakes his head again and shrugs, “I’m not sure, Chanyeol, but if he doesn’t yet, he will soon enough.”

Chanyeol shakes his head with pity. “Poor Kai.”

~*~

Kai is leaning back in his chair, his arms resting behind his head. The teacher is late and the class is taking advantage of her absence. Paper airplanes soar across the room, a group of kids are dancing in the back corner, a couple near the door are making out—Kai glanced at them once to see them exchange gum… he hasn’t looked in that direction since. He is relaxing, enjoying the time during school where he didn’t have to pay attention. This is the only class he didn’t have with any other of his friends, and he is grateful. As of lately, his group of friends have been treating him like a time bomb. They never know how to approach him, and whenever they talk to him, they are always very cautious of what comes out of their mouths.

It’s getting annoying.

Kai is fine. It had been, what, six months since her disappearance? More than enough time to get over her, more than enough time to realize and accept the fact that she is never going to come back. Ever. She is gone, and he is done being upset about that fact. He is finally better.

Much to Kai’s dismay, the inevitable happens, and the door to his classroom opens. His teacher, Ms. Taylor, click-clacks into the room, someone trailing in slowly behind her to the front of the room.

Ms. Taylor turns and waits for her class of students to rush back to their seats. Kai spots from the corner of his eyes, the boyfriend of the gum-swapping couple choke on said gum, he can’t help but grin a bit.

“Alright, class,” Ms. Taylor begins. “Now that you are all situated, I’d like to apologize for being late—although it seems you all were doing fine without me—I had to get the new student and show her around.”

Ms. Taylor motions her hands towards the girl and Kai freezes. What the…? It couldn’t be.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Rayna Carter. She’s a transfer student from Highland High.”

“Isn’t that an all-girl school?” a guy near the back asks. Ms. Taylor smiles and nods. She then begins to explain the school’s history and statistics and other boring topics, but Kai doesn’t hear a word of it over the loud ringing in his ears.

Look at me, he internally begs, staring intently at Rayna. Please, look at me! As if she heard him, her head snaps up and her eyes lock solidly with his. He is taken aback, her expression is void of any emotion. Her eyes... they appear dead.

What he does spot in her eyes, for only a millisecond, is recognition. It is a short spark, but he catches it none the less. He feels his chest heave as she returns her gaze back on the teacher. Kai takes this time to study her. Her hair, which once floated down to her hips, now brushes rigidly against her collar bones. Her face, which was once round and open, is thin, sharp, and blank.

She stands in such a way that makes her appear taller than what she is, her caramel colored skin still glows underneath her school uniform, but her soft features have hardened, sharpened. She appears to be a whole other person. If it were not for her name, Kai would have thought he had gotten her mixed up with somebody else.

“Alright, why don’t you take a seat, Rayna?”

Rayna nods once and trudges to her new desk, which just so happens to be diagonally ahead of Kai. He can feel her presence, even while he stares ahead of himself or down at his own desk. Her presence distracting him from everything. He can’t stop all of the questions that whirl around in his head like a wild tornado. Why was she here? Where had she been? Why does she look like that? Why won’t she acknowledge me?

He is getting upset, and the time ticks by torturously. Tormenting him with every slight move of the hand. Finally, the bell rings, and it takes everything in him not to just “pop” out of that room.

He has to find the others.

~*~

Chanyeol unbuttons his navy blue blazer and loosens his red, white, and blue stripped tie as he approaches the cafeteria. Today is an exceptionally humid day, and he curses the school for making them wear long khaki pants and a thick blazer to boot. He decides to take off his blazer in general and slugs it lazily over his shoulder, noticing how the girls around him react to his actions. He smirks and winks at one of them as he opens the doors and enters the wonderfully air conditioned lunch room.

While he is in line, he spots his best friend, Baekhyun, approach him. Chanyeol smiles hugely until he notices his troubled expression.

“What’s up?” Chanyeol asks him, rubbing his shorter friend’s back.

Baekhyun shakes his head slowly, lost in thought. “I saw… someone today. At least, I think it was her…”

Uh-oh, Chanyeol thinks. He averts his gaze and drops his hand.

Baekhyun doesn’t notice, “I’m crazy right? There’s no way she’s back. It just doesn’t make sense… but I’m positive I saw her…”

“You’re not crazy,” Chanyeol’s deep voice rumbles Baek out of his reverie.

He blinks up at him, “I’m not?”

Chanyeol shakes his head sadly, “no. Kris said he saw her earlier also.”

Baek takes a shaky breath, “what does this mean?”

Chanyeol shrugs, “maybe she missed us.”

“I don’t know… She looked different.”  

“Different how?” Chanyeol asks as he grabs a tray and piles heaps of food onto it.

Baek sighs, “I don’t think I can explain… it’s something you just have to see yourself. She’s changed though, that’s for sure.”

They are silent as they join the others at their usual table. Everyone’s expressions are wary. Chanyeol is the only one who is eating.

“What’s up with everyone?” he asks. “Is it about Rayna?”

They all nod. “Have you all seen her?” He asks. They nod again.

He pouts, “That means I’m the only one who hasn’t yet…”        

At that moment , Kai comes running into the lunch room. He runs to the table and sits next to Chanyeol, trying to catch his breath.

Once caught, he looks at all of them, “she’s back! Rayna’s back!”

He catches all their expressions and quiets down. “Oh, you already know, huh?”

They nod somberly in reply.

“She’s in my fourth. She sits right in front of me.”

“Did she say anything to you?” Another at the table, Lay, asks.

Kai is silent for a while, “no.”

Chanyeol bites his lip and looks away. He ends up looking at the doors and they open up. A darker girl walks in and slithers to the line. It is her, it is Rayna. Watching her, he can see why everyone is so upset. The Rayna he knew was always smiling and laughing and joking around. She had a twinkle in her eyes that never disappeared, even when she was upset. She definitely never walked like that, all sluggish and nonchalant. She would be practically skipping, an arm casually wrapped around one of the member’s own.

He quickly snaps his head back to his tray, but it is too late. Kai notices him looking at something and follows his gaze, along with the others. They stare at Rayna as she slowly makes her way through the line, grabbing only a water and an apple. She stops when she pays and scans the cafeteria. Before her eyes even hit their table, she takes a step towards them, but stops herself. For a moment, it is as if she remembers, like muscle memory. but that is a different Rayna. She quickly turns and leaves the room and all eight boys let out a breath.

“That was close,” the eldest of their group, Xiumin, states.

Kai glares at him, but doesn’t say anything.

“Why?” Kyungsoo asks again. “Why is she back?”

Kris answers him with the same answer as last time, “I’m not sure, Soo.”

“We should at least be happy that we know she is here,” Lay speaks. “That she is alive and in no danger. We should at least be grateful.”

“I am grateful for that,” Kai snaps through clenched teeth. “I’ve been worried sick for six months, I’m more than grateful.”

Lay sadly averts his eyes down to his tray, “but does that change anything?”

Kai can’t answer that question. He tries to swallow the ball forming in his throat, “I can’t be here anymore. I can’t breathe.”

He rises to leave. “I’ll go with you,” Baekhyun says, getting up. Kai is about to refuse the offer, until he realizes Baek is hurting just as much as he is.

“Alright,” he looks at the others, “see you guys at the usual spot?”

“Six on the dot,” Kris says with a reassuring nod.

~*~

Kai and Baekhyun walk along the deserted train tracks. Baek down the middle, Kai balancing on a rail.

“Do you think she’ll come home?” Kai asks him, his gaze focuses in front of him.

Baek readjusts the strap of his backpack on his shoulder, “no. I have a feeling that this Rayna doesn’t have a place to call home.”

“How has your family been since…?”

Baek looks at the broken tracks, “my mother is crushed, but her father…” He shakes his head, “he’s almost as dead as he believes her to be.”

Kai nods, “are you going to tell them?”

“I’m not sure yet. I think I’ll give it a week or two until we find out what’s really going on. Then, I’ll tell them whatever needs to be revealed.”

“That’s fair. Should we stop over there? I haven’t seen your parents in months.” Since she disappeared.

Baek nods, “that would be nice. I know they miss you, they miss all you guys.”

“Yeah? Maybe we should just meet there instead.”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

They arrive at the house. Only Baek’s mother is there, with his 6 month old sister, Baekyeon.

“Oh, Baek, you’re home early,” his mother jumps when she sees him. Her eyes widen even more when the handsome Kai trails in behind him. “Oh! Kai! How have you been?”

Kai takes in her smile, it is so big it borders on a grimace. He internally winces, “I have been just fine, Mrs. Carter. Totally swamped with school work.”

“Oh, I bet. Junior year is the hardest of them all.” Sansu begins to whimper and Mrs. Carter dismisses herself to care for her youngest daughter.

“The rest of the gang will be coming over later, if that’s alright,” Baekhyun calls from the stairs.

“That’s fine, dear. I’ll bake some cookies!”        

“Your room hasn’t changed much,” Kai mentions once the two settle in Baek’s room, looking around. He smiles as memories come to him of all the times he spent in this room, the good and the bad.

“I know. I want to change it. I mean, I’m seventeen years old and I still have glow in the dark stars on my ceiling and rocket themed bed sheets. But, every time I’m about to, something tells me not to.”

Kai nods with understanding, “but change is good also.”

“Change is what I need.”

“Hey, I’ll come over this weekend and we can look for new bed sheets and paint and what not.”

“Lord, you sound like my girlfriend.”

“That’s one thing you do not have, Bacon.”      

They laugh.

“What does her room look like?” Kai whispers.

Baekhyun gulps, “I haven’t been in there in months. I know her father goes in there every other weekend and cleans it out. Sometimes he lets Baekyeon play in there, but they are the only ones that go in there. It’s like him and my mother have this silent agreement: since it’s his child, and not hers, only he is allowed in there. I don’t know if that’s what it is really like between them, but that’s what I get out of it.”

“How?”

“Well,” Baekhyun shifts uncomfortably. “Sometimes, late at night or when David is gone, I hear my mom crying outside of her door. She never goes in, she just kneels in front of it, resting a hand and her forehead on it.”

“She must really love her,” Kai murmurs.

Baek nods, “like she gave birth to her. In my mother’s eyes, Rayna is as much of a daughter to her as I am her son. She used to call us The Twins when we were younger. We even had matching clothing.”

“I remember,” Kai smiles briefly.

“This place is so empty now. There was a brief time I thought my parents were going to split up. Sometimes I think the only thing holding them together is Baekyeon.”

“I doubt that. They truly love each other, Rayna’s disappearance couldn’t do anything but put a small dent into that love.”

“I guess…”

Kai decides to change the subject, “your mom’s really making cookies. I can smell them.”

A grin slowly forms on Baek’s face, “she’s very true to her word, Kai-Kai.”

“No, do not call me that,” he shudders.

Baek’s smile widens, “why not, Kai-Kai? Aren’t you a little baby?”

“No. I am a grown man. Now, let’s go see if those cookies are done yet!”

“Now that’s a very manly thing to say,” Baekhyun teases as he follows Kai downstairs.

~*~

“I think I like your place better than the usual spot,” Xiumin states as he grabs his ninth cookie and shoves it in his mouth, chewing loudly.

“I second that,” Chanyeol agrees, holding up his glass of milk in a toast.

“These cookies are amazing, Mrs. Carter,” Kris smiles warmly at the older woman and she blushes.

“Why thank you, Kris. Would you like to know what the secret ingredient is?” He nods eagerly and she leans in, “the blood of bad little boys.”

His eyes widen and she laughs hysterically.

“Isn’t it supposed to be love?” Baekhyun frowns. His mom only winks and walks out of the kitchen.

“She is so cute!” Xiumin gushes as he stands behind Lay who bouncing Baekyeon in his lap, singing to her and she is gurgling like a fountain. “She has your smile, Baeks.”

“The smile that kills,” Baek nods with approval and gives Baekyeon a thumb’s up. “Don’t break as many hearts as I have, Baekyeon, it only causes trouble.”

The rest of the group is silent, staring at him.

“What?” He asks self-consciously.

“I can’t even count on one hand the amounts of hearts you have broken, Baekhyun,” Kyungsoo says.

“You’re one to talk!” Baek retorts as everyone laughs.

“Right? Aren’t you confusing yourself with Kris?” Suho asks, nudging Kris, who just rolls his eyes.

“Let’s just get to the point,” Baek bristles, his face turning a bright red.

“Alright,” Lay places Baekyeon on the ground and they head up to Baek’s room.

When the door is closed firmly, they all huddle around the center of the room.

“Alright, has anyone used their powers at all this week?” Suho asks, pulling out a notebook.

They are all quiet, shaking their heads no. Well, except Chanyeol, he bites his lip and stares intently down at the ground.

“Yeollie?” Kris asks. “Is there anything you’d like to share?”

Chanyeol pouts, “Okay, okay. I used my power, but it was because I got a cold coffee and so I heated it up. That’s it, I swear!”

Kris sighs, but Suho nods understandably and scribbles the date next to Chanyeol’s name on a page of the notebook. “Anyone else?”

“Nope,” they all assure and Suho closes the book he is holding.

“Now that that’s all out of the way, we need to address the whole Rayna thing,” Kris informs.

“What is there to discuss?” Kai asks.

“Well, are we going to approach her? Are we going to inform Baek’s parents? Is she going to be a threat to us? We need answers.”

“When it comes to my parents, I’ve decided to wait a week or two before revealing anything,” Baek reveals.

Kris nods, “That’d understandable.”

“Do you think it would be wise to approach her?” Kyungsoo asks, biting his lip with worry.

Lay speaks up, “if she doesn’t come to us, it is the only way we will be able to talk to her. She owes us an explanation.”

“That’s true,” Xiumin agrees. “You don’t disappear for six whole months and magically come back without at least explaining to your best friends where you went and what happened to you. She has to know how worried we were. What her leaving did to us.”

“So when should we confront her?” Chanyeol asks nervously.

Kai butts in, “you guys act as if we are going to kidnap or beat her up. It can’t be that way. Rayna at this moment is like a scared dog. We have to approach her slowly, we can’t just gang up on her.”

“We could use our powers though,” Kyungsoo points out.

“Only if push comes to shove and we have no other choice,” Suho counters.

“I think we should make both an A and B plan,” Lay offers. “Maybe plan A is one of us comes up to her and tries to talk to her and if she doesn’t comply than plan B would be us using our powers and forcing her to confess.”

“I don’t know,” Kai says hesitantly. “Can that be Plan C and Plan B can be something less… violent?”

“Rayna has changed,” Kris says sternly. “Just by looking at her, I can tell she would fight back. We need to get in and get out. I think I have a plan.”

With a deep breath, he looks at Kai, “I need you to be strong tomorrow.”

Kai gulps, “me?”

Chapter Two: Answers

“She’s gonna punch me in the face,” Kai states nervously to Baekhyun as he fixes his tie. “She’s gonna laugh at me and then she’s gonna punch me in the face.”

“No she’s not,” Baek rolls his eyes. “At least, she won’t if you follow instructions. Don’t show too much emotions, alright? You’ll break.”

“So… I’m just going to be seductive ol’ Kai, correct?”

“Correct. You know what to do if she doesn’t want to listen or comply.”

“I don’t like this,” Kai admits.

Baek smiles sadly, “none of us want for it to turn violent and I honestly don’t think it will. We’re just keeping our guard up. We’re just expecting the worst. Now, take a deep breath.”

Kai does as he is told and straightens out his shoulders.

“Good luck, don’t choke,” Baek encourages as the bell rings. He pats Kai’s shoulder and disappears behind him.

“Don’t choke, don’t choke,” Kai murmurs to himself as he walks into the class he shares with Rayna. He notices she is already in her seat and trips over a desk, quickly catching himself.

“Don’t choke, don’t choke,” his whispers quicken as he practically runs to his seat.

Focusing to the lecture is a lost cause for him. The only thing he is focusing on is the plan Kris thrust onto his shoulders. Why couldn’t it have been someone else? Rayna always listened to Baekhyun, why not him? She always loved to be around Chanyeol, why not him? She always took Lay’s logic to heart, why not him? The only connection she had with Kai was the feel of his lips on hers, and that was only for a month and a half. Sixty days of pure bliss, sixty days of love. Sixty days of feeling her body in ways Kai had only dreamed of be—

No, Kai, focus. Get in and get out. That’s what Kris kept telling him this morning. ‘If she doesn’t listen, bring her to the spot. We’ll be waiting there until the middle of lunch and then we’ll assume you did your job by yourself and return. If not, we will take care of the rest’.

What does Kris even mean by ‘take care of the rest’?” It doesn’t sound pretty, but Kai has to admit, he wants answers. He wants to know what caused his girlfriend of a month and a half to vanish without a goodbye to anybody. She didn’t even leave a note. After three months of looking, everyone just assumed the worst and gave up. There was a funeral for her and everything. But as Kai glances at her, he can tell that the funeral wasn’t for nothing. Rayna is dead, this girl in front of him is a corpse, an empty shell. At least that’s what he keeps telling himself.

Unlike the day before, class goes by fast. The bell rings and his heart falters as he watches Rayna stand up, fix her uniform shirt, collect her bag and trudge out, her movements slow and precise.

When she is out the door, he runs after her. He catches up to her and snatches her wrist, dragging her to a stop.

“Wait, please,” he doesn’t mean to sound so needy. Keep your emotions in check, geeze, Kai, she isn’t even looking at you yet! He gulps and tightens his grip on her wrist as she slowly turns around.

Those eyes that once held love and happiness only holds the reflection of the lights overhead.

“Yes, Kai?” Her voice is just as dull as her expression, but that doesn’t stop his heart from hammering in his chest.

“Uh… We—we need to talk.”

“I need to get to class.”

“But it’s lunch time…”

“Your point, Kai?”

“Can we talk later then?” He asks, hope filling his voice.

She stares at him for a minute, sizing him up, “no.”

“Then it has to be done now,” he says stiffly.

“No, it doesn’t. Let go of me, Kai.”

“Stop,” he growls, leaning closer to her. “Stop saying my name.”

“Why?” she asks, the corner of her mouth slowly curling into a smirk.

Kai takes a breath and glares down at her. Is she mocking him?

“If you don’t comply with me, I’ll take matters into my own hands, Rayna. You know I can.”

“I do not know anything about you taking charge, Kai. I said I’m not going, let go of me before I take matters into my hands.”

They stare at each other for a while, challenging the other to do something. Kai is beyond furious, the fact that she is toying with him, it broke his heart and only left anger to burn.

“You’ve given me no choice,” he whispers. He wraps his arms around her and rests his forehead in the crook of her neck. She is about to punch him in the gut before the two of them are suddenly somewhere else.

She shoves him away. “How dare you teleport me! Who do you think you are?” She charges towards him, about to hit him, when four pairs of hands grab her. They drag her to a chair sitting in the middle of the deserted warehouse they are in.

“Let go of me!” She hollers as they shove her down and tie her hands and legs. “What is wrong with you guys?”

Kris comes up to Kai and pats his shoulder, “good work.”

Kai locks eyes with him and Kris quickly walks away, ashamed to have seen the broken look in Kai’s.

Finally, Rayna calms down. Her chest still violently rising and falling but she wasn’t trying to escape anymore. “I’m not mad anymore. You guys can come out now.”

Slowly, one by one, the eight men appear before her. She eyes them, a small smile on her lips.

“The gangs all here,” she sneers and laughs bitterly.

“Rayna…” Baekhyun starts, taking a step forward. He stops when he spots the way her head snaps to his foot, staring at it as if she was going to eat it.

“Brother,” she murmurs, slowly dragging her eyes up his body to reach his eyes. He gulps and tries to hold back the shudders that run up and down his spine.

“I missed you,” he finally says. “The whole house misses you. I’m glad that you’re back now, Rayna.”

“Save it,” she hisses and looks to the guy next to him. “Channie. You’re not smiling, that’s quite a sight to see.”

“Well, I’ve been worried sick about you. We all have. Why would I be smiling?” He snaps bitterly.

“Because,” and she smiles brightly, causing tears to form in his eyes, “I’m back now.”

Her eyes shift to the guy beside him “Lay. The kind one. Are you still dishing out philosophical advice, oh wise master?”

“I have advice for you, Rayna, if you’re still willing to listen.”

“I’m not so sure I am. Sorry.” She moves to the next one. “Chubby Xiumin. Looks like you’re not so chubby anymore, aye?”

“I guess not,” he mutters, hating the nickname.

“Prince Suho, still making the rest of them bow down to you?”

“Only you, princess,” he counters with a grin. 

“Big eyed Kyungsoo. My awkward D.O, how have you been?”

“Surviving,” he squeaks out and looks down at his feet. No one but Rayna calls him D.O and the fact that she remembered does something to him. It unnerves him.

“Kai, we’ve already got quite acquainted earlier, I believe. You look as handsome as ever.”

Kai clenches his teeth, fighting both a hot comeback and tears.

“And then there’s my lovely Kris. Still breaking hearts?”

“Only yours, baby.”

Her smile falls, “I find that hard to believe.”

She leans back in her chair, “well, now that we’ve all reintroduced ourselves, let’s get down to business. What do you guys want?”

Suho steps up, “what we want is very simple, Rayna. We just want to know something.”

“What is it?” She asks, her voice never raising past indifference.

“Why did you leave?”

She sighs, “You guys were always so sappy. You know, for a group of boys, you sure acted like girls. I swear I was the manliest out of the group.”

“Oh yeah, definitely,” Kris agrees sarcastically. “That explains the frilly bright pink dresses you used to always wear. Let us not forget the flowers you used to wrap in your hair. Very manly.”

“Of course you wouldn’t forget what I used to wear. I bet you fantasized about doing things to those clothes… if you know what I mean.”

“You’re disgusting.”

“And you’re pathetic.”

They are silent, their eyes slits as they stare menacingly at one another.

“Rayna… please?” Baekhyun begs, causing Kris and Rayna’s stare down to come to an end. “We need to know. You owe us that much.”

“I don’t owe anyone shit.”

“Oh, you don’t?” Kai asks. His anger beyond his control. “When you disappeared, we were in a relationship. If you owe anyone an explanation it has to be your boyfriend.”

“And I am your brother, family deserves an explanation as well.”

Everyone is silent as Rayna stares them down. Finally, she lets out a breath and shrugs, “fine. If you pansies really want to know so damn badly, I’ll tell you why I had to leave. Better yet, I’ll show you.”

Their eyes widen with shock and fear, show them? What does Rayna have up her sleeve?

They watch as she slowly lowers her head, it looks as if she is falling asleep. When her chin presses against her chest, there is a soft rumbling sound that resonates through the rusty building. Suddenly, all of the furniture and appliances lying around rise up into the air and hover. The lights start flickering and with the sharp rise of her head, everything falls back down with a loud bang.

The boys’ gaze whip back to Rayna with fear. Her head twitches painfully from side to side for a minute until finally she lowers her head down again from exhaustion.

“You…” Chanyeol whispers. “You have powers?”

“Surprise,” she breathes, trying to regain her breath.

“But…” Kyungsoo starts. “You’re a girl?”

She lifts her head to look at him, “how observant of you.”

“You know what Kyungsoo is trying to say,” Kris snaps. “Only males receive powers. That’s how it always has been.”

“Au contraire, women can also receive powers, as slim as it may be.”

“And here you are,” Suho breathes with awe. “One of the blessed.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Rayna mutters, trying to readjust her uncomfortable position.

“What does that have to do with you leaving?” Baek asks her. “If anything, you could have come to us, you could have told us. You know we would have helped you!”

She shakes her head, “it’s different, a girl with powers. I was scared, and I needed answers.”

“We could have helped you,” Baek repeats, deflated. He can’t believe what has become of his step-sister. A girl with powers? It is unheard of, and yet here she is, making things levitate.

“How?” Rayna asks. Her voice isn’t full of emotion, but merely curious. “What would you eight have done? You guys have always felt superior because of these gifts. You had this exclusive club that I was always on the border of. If you had found out that I had powers too, you would have shunned me. I was never one of the boys, as much as I tried.”

“That—that’s not true, Rayna!” Xiumin objects. “We loved having you around!”

“Yeah,” she agrees. “Before you all turned sixteen and gained these awesome powers. Then you only hung out with me during school.”

“No,” Chanyeol shakes his head. “That’s not right.”

“It’s not?” Rayna asks, lifting an eyebrow. “Because I remember on many occasions when I started following you guys after school and you or Baekhyun would hold me back and tell me ‘not today.’”

The boys are silent.

“I was already gone before I left. You all had pushed me away.”

“No,” Kai snaps. “Not all of us.”

Rayna sighs and looks up at the ceiling.

“You were gone for six months,” Suho begins. “Where did you go?”

Rayna gazes at them, her eyes are a solid black color that creeps them out and her nose and the corner of her mouth are starting to bleed. “I told you I needed answers. I went searching for them.”

“But something happened to you,” Lay points out. “You have changed greatly. You’re like a whole different person.”

“That’s the power,” Rayna smiles and sinks in her chair, seeming to bask in the gift she held. Chanyeol watches in disgust as she opens her mouth in a content sigh, and the blood from her nose drips into it. “It feeds me, it makes me… more powerful, as lame as that sounds.”

“I don’t understand,” Suho presses.

“I don’t think you would. The reason why there are less powerful women is because the power affects us differently than it does men.”

“What does it do?” Chanyeol whispers. Rayna just shrugs, closing her eyes.

“Rayna?” Kris barks. No response. “Rayna!”

“Kris!” Suho snaps. “She’s sleeping.”

“That bitch,” Kris mutters, his hands ball into tight fists.

“Don’t call her that,” Kai chastises halfheartedly.

“Don’t act like that,” Kris counters back. He storms out the building, punching the wall as he leaves.

Suho sighs when he is gone, “he’s using his power. I can feel it.”

“He needs to blow off steam,” Lay says. “That’s the only way he knows how.”

“Plus, did you hear the way she was talking to him?” Kyungsoo points out. “I’d be furious with her also.”

“Yeah, that was weird,” Chanyeol states, staring at Rayna’s bloody face.

“She’s changed so much,” Baekhyun says quietly. “Yet, I feel like we are at fault for it.”

“We weren’t the ones that gave her powers,” Xiumin defends. “That power is doing this to her… We need more answers.”

“Where are we going to get them from?” Lay asks.

Suho purses his lips, “from the very person who helped us understand what these things are. Chanyeol, untie her. We’ll leave the door open for when she wakes up.”

Chanyeol sighs. “I’m sorry, Rayna,” he whispers as he bends down to untie her wrists.

~*~

Kris flies over the city, embracing the icy pain hitting his face from soaring so high. Nothing clears his head more than being up in the air, flying through clouds, hovering over the earth. It feels like a respite, a soft break from reality. He feels as if he could fly away from every problem he ever had.

But Rayna was a problem that was chasing him, trailing right behind him, and he hates it.

He hates her for coming back at such a time. For acting like someone different than the Rayna that used to follow him around like a lost puppy. He doesn’t want to, but one of his fondest memories of her pops into his head, replying and scratching and jumping to different parts, playing at different angles, all ending the same.

One year ago…

The sun was shining, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. The boys and Rayna decided to take advantage of the fresh air and held a picnic at the park. Kris was sitting quietly by a tree, leaning against it, feeling the soft breeze rustle his hair.

“What are you up to?” a soft feminine voice asked him.

He grinned, keeping his eyes closed, “pretending I’m up there instead of leaning against this damned tree.”

He heard her sigh and felt another body sit next to him.

“You’re lucky,” she began wistfully. “Out of all the powers so far, I think yours is the best.”

“You do?” he asked with surprise. He thought she loved Xiumin’s power the most, she was always asking him to freeze her drinks or help her melting ice cream. He peeked through his lashes enough to see her nod enthusiastically.

“I think it’s everyone’s dream to fly like a bird. To see the world from their point of view, to rest on clouds…”

He chuckled, “you can’t sit on a cloud, you silly girl.”

She shrugged, “all the same. Yours is my favorite.”

“If you could have a power, what would you want?” He asked her quietly.

She was silent for a while. For such a long time that Kris opened up his eyes and looked down at her. She was staring at the sky intently, thinking about her answer seriously, a finger resting thoughtfully on her chin. Kris stared at her glowing tan skin, watched the way her wavy brown hair swam back from her face as the wind blew it. She was wearing a white summer dress and the golden locket the boys bought her for her fifteenth birthday. Kris hadn’t seen her without it since.

“I think I’d want to fly also,” she whispered. “That way, we could fly together,” her cheeks turned pink as she stared at a row of ants beside her.

Kris smirked. He knew Rayna had a crush on him since forever, he thought it was cute, but he never saw her that way. She was as much a little sister to him as she was to Baekhyun. “Maybe…I’ll take you flying one day.”

Her head snapped up to meet his serious gaze. Her eyes wide with surprise and hope, “really?”

“Of course. If it’s the power you want, I’ll help you get it, even if it’s for a little while.”

She smiled and bit her lip and Kris had to admit he liked her reaction. She stretched her arms out in front of her and sighed, “That would be amazing. Thank you.”

“When should we go?”

“Um…” she thought again. “Maybe on my sixteenth birthday? That way, it will really feel like my power.”

“But that’s not for a while, Rayna.”

She shrugged and shook her head, “I can wait. You know I can.”

He heard the double meaning in her sentence and was taken aback. It was the most bitter she’s ever sounded, even though her tone was light and she was smiling softly, the twinkle in her eyes never faltering.

“Anyways,” she continued. “I’m craving some watermelon. Would you like some, Kris?”

He shook his head, “I’m fine, thank you.”

She stood up and brushed her backside, “okay. Don’t forget your birthday gift for me!”

“I won’t,” he whispered as he watched her bouncing frame approach the blanket and the rest of the boys.

Kris blinks back the tears forming in his eyes. Everything Rayna said to him today, it was cruel. She stabbed him every time she opened her mouth, and her eyes were unforgiving.

He has to admit though, deep down, that he deserves everything she threw at him.

~*~

“Here we are,” Suho chimes. The seven boys are standing in front of a small cottage on the outskirts of town.

Chanyeol sighs, “I can’t believe we’re back here.”

The others nod.

“Do you think it’s fair to do this without Kris?” Kyungsoo asks.

“He has a lot to worry about already,” Suho dismisses. “We can inform him about it later.” With that, he takes a deep breath and knocks on the thick wooden door. In a matter of seconds, it creaks open and an average looking middle-aged man stands on the opposite side.

His eyes widen with surprise, “Suho? What brings you guys?”

“Mr. Black,” Suho greets. “Something strange has happened and we really need some type of understanding.”

Mr. Black takes in all of their expressions, all are set on different stages of despair. He nods and steps back, “very well, come in.”

His home is cozy and warm. The fireplace is lit, warming the frozen boys’ hands and toes. Mr. Black reappears from the kitchen with cups of warm tea.

Once everyone is thawed out, Mr. Black gazes at them expectantly.

Suho is the one to begin, “Sir, do you remember our female friend? The one that would always tag along with us?”

Mr. Black nods, “the one that disappeared?” They all nod in confirmation. “What of her?”

“Well,” Kyungsoo starts. “She’s returned to us.”

“Really?” Mr. Black lifts an eyebrow.

“Yeah, but you see,” Baekhyun begins. “She’s different… Something’s changed within her.”

“How so?”

“Well… She has… powers.”

“Powers?” Mr. Black is intrigued.

Kyungsoo nods, “She’s a girl with powers. We came here because we need to know how. I thought only guys can get powers.”

Mr. Black nods and takes a long sip of his tea. He places it back down and folds his hands in front of him, “alright. I think it’s time for a story.”

He takes a deep breath, “I had a friend twenty years ago. She was a close friend of mine, we had known each other when we were younger, until I moved when I was twelve. Ten years later, we had bumped into each other and rekindled that relationship.

“She told me once that our meeting was not by accident. She told me that she had felt my presence, like a strong tugging, beckoning her towards me. We became very close. We became roommates and later, lovers. I cherished her. I loved her so much that I even told her about my power, and she accepted me completely. I never knew love like that before…”

Kai holds his breath, knowing the ending of this story isn’t going to be pretty.

“After two years of being together, things were going good. She had a job that required her to travel a lot, so we didn’t see each other often, but whenever we did, it was wonderful. She loved me and opened herself up completely to me, well, that was what I had thought....

“I was going to propose to her. I had bought the ring and was going to do it that night. When I had arrived to our apartment, I knew something wasn’t right. When I walked in, the place was a disaster. Glass was everywhere, the furniture was ripped to shreds, and our television looked like someone punched a hole in it. The further into the house I went, the worse the destruction. Finally, I arrived into our room. Clothes were strung out over the floor, the pictures on the walls and dresser were broken and thrown everywhere, there were holes all over the walsl. And in the center of all this chaos sat my girlfriend. She sat on the floor—because our bed was torn in half and pushed up against the wall—rocking back and forth, her eyes shut. She kept murmuring to herself and it wasn’t until I was knelt in front of her that I understood. She kept saying, ‘don’t hurt him’ over and over. She had scratch marks all over her arms and face and she was bleeding everywhere.

“I told her to look at me, but she wouldn’t reply to me. She just kept whispering, ‘don’t hurt him, don’t hurt him.’ Finally, I dragged her to the bathroom and placed her in the shower, watching it drench her clothes, she didn’t respond. That was until I tried to pry her arms away from her. Suddenly, her eyes opened and she gazed up at me with a blank expression. She had blonde hair that brushed along her jaw and small sharp features. She was a beautiful woman, but at that moment, she had never looked more terrifying. Her eyes were solid black and beady. Nearly her entire eye was black, I could only see a sliver of white. She stared at me intently and didn’t say a word.

“As frightened as I was, I used this time to strip her of her wet clothes. She was like a rag doll, she let me move her however I wanted. When I had her in only her underwear, I examined her body for anymore scratches, and to my relief, found none. When I was reassured, I finally took her out of the shower, put a towel around her and placed her on the destroyed couch. I went back to our bedroom and snatched the first giant shirt I could find and returned to her. After I put her shirt on for her, I sat in front of her and grasped her hands in mine and asked her the dreaded question… ‘What happened?’

“She stared down at my face, at the tears springing into my eyes, and smiled, ‘nothing.’ I shook my head and looked around, ‘obviously that is not true. Did something happen at work? Did someone break into our home? What happened?’ She only grinned at me, her eyes still as black as they were in the shower. ‘I may have lost control…’ When her words hit me, I felt chills run throughout my body. And fear, I was terrified. ‘What did you do’ I whispered and she giggled and leaned into me, ‘I let my power go. I let it take control for once.’

“That’s when I finally understood what had just happened. I remember staring at her with shock. ‘Power?’ I remember asking her and she nodded and placed her index finger on my forehead, ‘just like you. I can do things too.’

“’Like what?’ I had asked her. ‘I can make things go boom with my mind.’ Chills ran down my spine and I backed away from her, hitting the broken television behind me. ‘Are you frightened?’ She asked me and I nodded. She smirked, ‘you should be.’ I blacked out after that.”

It is silent for a moment, Mr. Black allowing the boys to digest the story.

“She left. I hadn’t seen her for years, and when I finally did, she was different. It was as if the life had been sucked right out of her. She was scary skinny and her hair was tangled and greasy. She was filthy, as if she hadn’t bathed in weeks. When I saw her, I ran to her and begged for her to talk to me, to tell me what had happened that night, years ago, and after watching me breakdown in front of her, she relented and confessed everything to me. That when she was sixteen, she received her power, but it frightened her so much that she fought against it, fought to keep her mind. On the day I was going to propose, she was feeling weak and tired and depressed, and the power was beckoning her and she gave in, let it loose. She couldn’t control it though, couldn’t reign it back in like she could when she was younger, and it devoured her completely, leaving her with no choice but to embrace it—to let it become her.

“We parted ways, and that was the last time I ever saw her. I had a friend at the time whose power was being able to join minds with others and see life through their eyes, and I asked him to keep tabs on her. He hated it. She was evil, relentless. She killed without compassion and never felt anything. He always would tell me that she was cold, so cold. Finally, after two months of tracking her, he told me that she had died. Fell off a cliff. She was twenty-seven years old…

“When I found out about her death, I needed to know what the hell she was. I traveled to the mother land of the powers, a small village in South America, and asked them what they knew. This is what I found out over years of research around the world.”

He takes a deep breath, “your friend is known as a Vessel: a woman with powers. Only one in about two million women become Vessels, and the reason why is because it’s a mutation. It’s a mutation of a mutation, an extra gene in the link. As you know, men don’t use their powers often, because it ages us, the more we use the shorter our lifespan, but with women it’s different. They can use their power how many times they want, whenever they want without having to deal with aging consequences. That’s because their consequence is a lot worse than ours. Since they have a double mutation, the power takes on human-like characteristics, it’s like a parasitic drug. The woman gets addicted to the power, because it sends out endorphins with every use, causing her to feel invincible, as well as other effects most drugs have as well. As she uses her power, it also grows stronger, taking over her brain and, ultimately, controlling her, sort of like possession. This is the reason why your friend acts differently, it’s not her talking and moving and reacting—it’s her power. There is still a glimpse of the girl you once knew, but her power is slowly overpowering her mind, and if she hands over the reins willingly, which most woman end up doing, she will lose all of herself and cease to exist. She’ll become an empty shell.

“Another thing about woman’s powers is that they are ten times more powerful than a man’s. A man and a woman can have the same power, but the woman’s would be more dangerous, because of that double mutation, it’s double the power, double the strength. That’s why woman shouldn’t have powers, it’s a cause for destruction, and their powers feed off of that chaos. It ultimately leads to their destruction. Vessels never make it to thirty. Never…”

Kai grips the arms of his chair, Rayna is a monster, to put it simply.

“Is there any way they can stop it?” Baekhyun asks. “Any way that they can fight it off? Resist?”

Mr. Black frowns, “My friend—her name was Valarie—she fought her power for nearly five years, only letting it out in small bursts every other year or so. She hated her power because it was so violent. I mean, she could blow things up with just a thought! She knew how destructive she was, so she tried to restrain it. But like I said earlier, it’s like a drug, and when a vessel doesn’t use it, it’s like an addict stopping cold turkey, it won’t last long.”  

“And this is happening to our friend?” Kyungsoo asks, tears forming. Mr. Black nods. “And there’s no way we can stop her? No way we can help her?”

“There’s only one way you can help her, fellas.” He leans in and they all do as well. “You have to kill her.”

Chapter Three: The Alternative

“We can’t,” Kai whispers later that night. The boys had regrouped with Kris and headed up into the hills, camping out for a bit. They sit around the fire Chanyeol made and stare over the sparkling city. “We can’t kill her. I just… we can’t.”

The boys nod in agreement.

“I honestly don’t believe that’s the only way to help her,” Baekhyun agrees. “I think, if all else fails, we kill her, but only as a last resort.”

“Or no resort at all,” Kai continues. “I’d rather she levitated everything on the Earth into outer space before I see her not live on it anymore.”

“Kai,” Xiumin snaps. “Even if we don’t kill her. Mr. Black said Vessels don’t live to see thirty. She has an expiration date, regardless.”

Kai jumps up, “don’t you dare.”

“What?” Xiumin asks, his anger rising. The temperature drops, causing the boys’ breaths to become visible. “Don’t state a fact? Kai, you need to accept it.”

Kai leaps at him and Baekhyun, who was the closest to him, holds him back.

“What is wrong with you?” Kris snaps, causing them all to freeze.

“Xiumin knows better than to say those things—”

“No,” Kris barks. “You aren’t the only one in pain, Kai. You aren’t the only one who loves her!”

The silence becomes overwhelming. Kai stops fighting against Baek and yanks himself from his grip, spinning to Kris.

“You have a funny way of showing it,” he growls.

Kris takes a deep breath, “you need to stop acting like you have a claim over her. Yes, she was your girlfriend. Was,which means it was in the past. You need to stop letting your obsession of her cloud your logic. You know damn well that if killing Rayna is the only solution, we will execute it. You keep it up, Kai, and I will make you be the one to do it.”

“You’re full of shit,” Kai whimpers, fighting off tears. “You were relieved when she disappeared. You never once helped us search for her, and you didn’t cry at the funeral. You never gave a shit about her, Kris. Never. You just toyed with her and then left her. You are cruel.”

“Don’t ever say I never cared,” Kris says icily, moving closer to the shaking Kai. “I cared more about her than the rest of you. While you guys had given up looking for her, I was risking my life, using my power every fucking night searching for some kind of sign. Don’t you dare say I never cared.”

“That’s enough, you two,” Suho orders. The two remain in their positions. “I said that was enough!”

That snaps the two out of their silent battle, huffing as they return to their seats.

“Obviously, killing Rayna isn’t something any of us want to do,” Suho continues. “She holds a special part in all of our hearts. She was a dear friend, a little sister to us. We all love her. Seeing her, for me, it breaks my heart. I missed her so much, and being so close to her, yet so far away… well, I’m sure you all can imagine perfectly how I felt. Specially, once I heard her talk, saw her dead eyes up close, the blood…” He pauses to swallow back the ball forming in his throat. “As hard as it will be, if worse comes to worse we will do what has to be done, Kris is right about that. Until then, I think it’s wise to think of some ways to avoid that plan. Xiumin is right, she most likely might not live to see thirty, but that still gives her over ten years to wreck all kinds of havoc, and that I cannot allow. Letting her run wild is not an option.”

“Mr. Black told us that Valarie was able to control her power,” Baek mentions. “She was able to hold it back, only letting it out in small bursts from time to time. Doing that made her normal. So normal, that he didn’t even know she had a power until it was too late. If we could somehow get Rayna to see what her power is doing to her, we could get her to refrain from using it, to learn to hold it back.”

“That’s actually a really good idea, Baeks,” Suho praises him, smiling.

“What if it doesn’t work?” Chanyeol questions.

“Then we’ll return here and come up with something else. But, for now, let’s see where this on gets us.”

“How are we going to do this?” Kai asks stiffly, sniffling softly.

Baek shrugs and smiles warmly, “we’re going to treat her like we always have.”

~*~

The following Monday, Baekhyun and Chanyeol wait by the water fountain Rayna always walks past before her second period.

“We’ve been standing her for three minutes,” Chanyeol whines, kicking a locker.

“Patience,” Baek soothes. “We’ve been following Rayna around for the past three days, trying to figure her route. It’s going to take time.”

“Thank God for Kris,” Chanyeol praises. “If he hadn’t seduced the main office’s secretary to get her schedule, we probably would have still been trying to figure out what her classes were.”

“Shh,” Baek snaps, punching Chanyeol’s chest. “She’s coming.”

The two straighten up, Chanyeol rubbing his chest. When he catches her in his view, they both quickly turn towards the fountain, Baek bending down, pretending to get a drink.

Once she passes, the two speed-walk to catch up to her.

“Remember that one area at the park we used to always hang out at?” Chanyeol asks Baek louder than necessary.

Baek pretends to think, “Oh, the one that Rayna stumbled upon when we were thirteen? Yeah, we would go there practically every day after school and just lay down, letting the sun warm us.”

Chanyeol sighs, “That was the best. Rayna always seemed to stumble across the coolest things.”

“Seriously,” Baek agrees. “Even at home, she was always cooking weird food that always tasted amazing and she was always helping me with my homework. We practically never fought. She was the best.”

“Yeah, she was…”

At the same time, they check to see what Rayna is doing. She continues on in front of them as if she is unaware of their presence.

Chanyeol becomes frustrated, “do you remember our place at the park, Rayna?”

Baek’s eyes bulge as his head whips to Chanyeol, who is biting his lip expectantly.

Rayna stops walking suddenly, causing the two to bump into her. She whirls around and stares at them, “what are you doing?”

“Do you remember?” Chanyeol asks, ignoring her question.

“Of course I do. Now, what are you two doing?”

“We’re on our way to class,” Baek says, laughing nervously. The bell rings at that moment.

“Well than, get there.” With that she storms off to class.

“I think we did pretty well,” Chanyeol grins goofily causing Baekhyun to roll his eyes and laugh.

“I hope so.”

~*~

After third period ends, Xiumin and Lay scurry to what they believe to be Rayna’s locker.

“Oh no,” Xiumin says, his eyes widen.

“What is it?” Lay asks him softly.

“I don’t remember what we’re supposed to do!”

Lay rolls his eyes, “we’re just talking to her like we always did. Pretend that it’s the old Rayna and you’ll be fine.”

Xiumin nods and at the moment, Rayna walks by. She stops at the locker and cracks it open.

“Show time,” Xiumin murmurs as they approach her.

“Hey, Rayna!” Xiumin greets happily, throwing an arm around her shoulder. “How have you been?”

Her body stiffens slightly and she sighs, “Better.”

Xiumin and Lay begin to laugh like that is the funniest thing they ever heard.

“You are so funny, Rayna! We missed that,” Lay says, pretending to wipe away a tear.

“I guess…” She sighs irritably. “Now would you please release me, Xiumin?”

“Oh,” he quickly removes his arm and stumbles forward when Rayna begins to walk away.

“So, do you want to eat lunch with us today?” He continues. “It’s been so long, we have so much to catch up on, you know?”

“I don’t think I’m really up for that,” Rayna declines. “I think I’ll be just fine away from you guys.”

“But,” Lay counters. “We would really like it if you did join us. We won’t ask any questions you don’t want to answer.”

“I don’t want you guys to ask me any questions at all. Now, would you please stop harassing me?”

“But—” Lay tries to continue but stops when he is suddenly pushed back. He and Xiumin stare at Rayna’s disappearing form with shock.

“She—she just used her power on me,” Lay stutters, visibly shaking.

“I guess that’s a no,” Xiumin pouts, rubbing Lay’s form comfortingly. “C’mon, we’re going to be late.”

“She—she pushed me back. Did—did you s—see that, Xiumin?”

“I did. She’s a lot more powerful than we have been giving her credit for.”

“That was the scariest moment of my life. I almost peed my pants.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t. Let’s head out, shall we?”

~*~

Just like every other day, fourth period has Kai on edge. The heel of his foot taps violently against the linoleum floor as he chews nervously on a fingernail.

Maybe she isn’t coming, he thinks to himself. Baekhyun’s idea was good in theory, but now that it is his turn to interact with Rayna, he’s beginning to have some doubts.

Right as the bell rings, Rayna storms in. She stops in the front of the class and locks eyes with Kai’s, recognizing the crazy look in them. She rolls her eyes and heads over to her seat.

They have a substitute today who decides that it will be a partner day. Rayna and Kai happen to fall into a group along with two other students. The four pupils push their desks together and Rayna makes a point to sit across from Kai. The group is mostly quiet as they finish the English packet their teacher left for them.

When they are finished, the other two students’ heads move together, leaving Kai and Rayna to be awkward by themselves.

“You going to harass me also?” Rayna asks him, looking straight ahead of herself.

Kai shakes his head vigorously, “who has come up to you?”

“Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Lay. I don’t know what game you guys are playing, but it’s not going to work.”

“Why not?” He asks.

She moves her head to give him a look, “isn’t it obvious?”

Kai shakes his head again. “We can help you,” he whispers, leaning closer to her.

She leans back a little, “I don’t need any help. I’m perfectly fine.”

“Can I ask you a question? Just one?”

She purses her lips as she thinks about his request, a gesture from her old life and Kai sighs softly, nostalgia overwhelming him.

“One question,” she allows.

“Who’s really in control, Rayna? You or the power? Who’s really controlling that body of yours?”  

Rayna snarls, “Me, of course. I control both myself and this power.”

“Are you sure?” Kai asks quietly, very aware of the two heads only inches away from them.

“You think you’re better than me, don’t you?” Rayna asks with a cold laugh. “What? Because I’m a woman, I can’t control my power as well as the rest of you?”

“That’s not what I meant—” Kai starts, but is interrupted.

“I’m ten times stronger than you guys. I don’t even have to think about it anymore, I can just use it.” At that moment, the desks holding their partners fly back two feet to hit the dry-erase board that is behind them. The two girls scream, pushing away from the desks and running to the front of the classroom. The substitute runs over to them, trying to calm them down long enough to find out what just happened. All the while, Rayna’s gaze never leaves Kai’s. Her eyes slowly darkening and expanding from the use of her power.

“Our eyes don’t do that after we use,” Kai mentions. “We don’t have any physical effects from using it either. It’s like a drug, isn’t it? You just want to use it more and more.”

“You’re point?” Rayna growls softly, her power’s effect hitting her. Kai watches as her eyelids flutter rapidly and her head sways back a bit.

“We stay in control, even after we use our powers… You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” she counters, her eyes going back to normal.

“No. I think it does.” The bell rings and Kai leans into her. “And, please, Rayna, don’t use your power during school. Last thing we need right now is to be exposed.”

“Bite me,” she retorts, but it doesn’t have the effect she wants, what with her being high off of her recent burst of power.

Just treat her like we used to, Baek’s words float into Kai’s head and he smirks at her, “with pleasure.” With that, he quickly walks out of the classroom, before he ends up losing it in front of her.

He meets up with the rest of the group at their usual spot in the cafeteria. None of them have food in front of them, besides Chanyeol.

“You know, not eating while being stressed isn’t the healthiest thing in the world,” Chanyeol chastises the rest of the members, rolling a green apple across the table to Xiumin, who just sniffs it and frowns.

“How can any of us eat at a time like this?” Baekhyun asks him, who shrugs and takes a ginormous bite, again trying to prove a point.

“Kai, you have goosebumps,” Lay, who is sitting next to him points out. “Was fourth period a success?”

Kai shakes his head, “you have no idea. But I think we should tell our findings in order.”

Baek recounts his and Chanyeol’s encounter with Rayna, and then Xiumin tells the table about his and Lay’s experience, stressing the part where Rayna uses her power to push Lay away from her.

Finally, it’s Kai’s turn. He tells them in detail about being partnered with Rayna, their little argument, and her pushing the desks back with her mind, and how the power affected her.

“She’s getting careless,” Kris mutters, in deep thought.

“Yeah,” Chanyeol, who is sitting next to him, agrees. “Using her power twice in one day, especially in a place as public as school, that is filled with bystanders… She can expose us.”

“No,” Kai disagrees. “She’ll only expose herself.”

“Can we discuss the present right now?” Suho asks the table, gaining their attention. “Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Lay, Xiumin, and Kai, good job. You have done well today. Now it’s mine, Kyungsoo, and Kris’s turn.”

“How is this going to go?” Kyungsoo asks with determination.

“Kyungsoo,” Suho begins. “You and I are going to approach her together. Then we’ll let Kris be the last to talk to her. Our secret weapon.”

Kris laughs bitterly at his deemed nickname.

“She’s on to us, you know,” Kai mentions. “When we first got into groups, she asked me if I was going to harass her also… I think you and Kyungsoo should do something subtle. Like, I don’t know, compliment her skirt or some bull like that.”

“Yeah,” Xiumin agrees with a nod. “That way Kris can go in for the kill!”

“That wasn’t exactly what I was going for…,” Kai mutters.

Kyungsoo pouts, “But I want to talk to her.”

“Trust me,” Chanyeol says. “There isn’t much ‘talking’ going on with Rayna. It’s more of a growled threat and the roll of her eyes. Oh, and the sight of her back as she runs away.”

The group laughs and Suho nods, “alright. So Kyungsoo and I will find her after fifth period and send her some flowery compliments and then, after school, Kris, you will go and talk to her.”

“And, what exactly am I going to say to her?”

“Just talk to her how you used to,” Baekhyun shrugs.

“And please don’t snap at her,” Lay begs. “The last thing we need is for you to scare her off.”

“There is no way in hell I could scare this Rayna off, as much as I would try.”

“All the same,” Suho says, an unspoken warning in his eyes telling Kris to get his act right. Kris raises his hands in surrender and nods understandably.

“Time for the closing acts,” Suho beams.

As the boys head out, Kai snatches Kris’ wrist and pulls him back.

“What is it?” Kris asks impatiently.

Kai gazes up at him calmly, “when you talk to Rayna, it would be best to try to drop some hints about what her power does to her. If we are to gain some kind of breakthrough, we need her to realize that her power hurts her. It’s the only way she will see how much of a monster she has become.”

Kris nods, taking Kai’s advice to heart, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Also,” Kai begins, dragging Kris’ retreating form back to him. He is silent for a minute, staring intently at Kris. “Don’t fuck up.”

Kris has to swallow his extremely snarky remark, settling on, “yes, sir.”

Kai smirks and pats Kris’ head, “good luck.”

~*~

“Why am I so nervous?” Kyungsoo asks, bouncing from foot to foot.

“Rayna has grown quite intimidating lately, hasn’t she?” Suho smiles warmly at Kyungsoo, who nods quickly with agreement.

“I nearly shit myself when she used her power the other day.”

“I still can’t believe it,” Suho admits with awe. “Who knew that women could get powers, and out of all the women in the world, our Rayna was the one.”

“If only it didn’t effect women like this,” Kyungsoo pouts. “I miss the old Rayna, she was always so full of life. This Rayna is…”

“Demonic?” Suho offers.

“Mean.”

Suho chuckles, “Well, that too. Have you thought about what you’re going to say?”

Kyungsoo dismisses him with the flick of his wrist, “I got this.”

Suho just shrugs.

Three minutes pass and Rayna is still a no-show.

“Did we get the right hall?” Kyungsoo asks nervously.

Suho takes out the schedule Kris had retrieved from the main office, “yep. Her sixth period is that class right there.” He points at the door diagonally across the hall from them.

“Do you think she bailed?”

Suho shrugs, “hard to say. Maybe Kai was right, and she’s not risking it.”

Kyungsoo pouts again, “I want to see her.”

Suho grins, “me too, Soo, me too.”

“So, are we going to just stand here or…?”

“Let’s just wait a little bit more, alright?”

Kyungsoo sighs but remains where he stands. Their patience is rewarded, and Rayna turns the corner, heading into the hall. She glances up and locks eyes with Kyungsoo. She freezes and her eyes widen.

Both Suho and Kyungsoo take a breath and a step towards her and she spins around, quickly heading back the way she came.

“Hey!” Kyungsoo calls after her.

“Nice shoes, Rayna!” Suho yells quickly, biting his bottom lip to hide his grin.

“She—she left,” Kyungsoo pouts again, stomping his foot. His emotions get the best of him, and he unintentionally puts power into the stomp, causing the ground beneath his foot to crack and splinter.

“Kyungsoo!” Suho chastises, and bursts out laughing.

Kyungsoo’s already wide eyes widen even more as he realizes what he just did. He spins to look at Suho, who’s bending over, clutching his tight core, trying to control himself. “I didn’t mean to, Suho, I swear!”

“It’s… alright, Kyung…soo. I know… it… was an…accident,” he finally straightens out and turns to the shocked and frightened Kyungsoo. As soon as he sees his expression, he loses it again, and explodes into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?” Kyungsoo snaps, getting impatient. Suho cannot even talk at this point so he just shakes his head and waves his hands in a way of saying ‘I’m done.’

Kyungsoo sighs and returns his gaze back to where Rayna disappeared, “This sucks, man. This sucks big time.”

~*~

“Well, our mission was a total bust,” Kyungsoo sulks to the others. The last bell rang and the seven boys are now huddled around the two cars they use to come to and from school, waiting for Kris.

“What happened?” Chanyeol asks.

Kyungsoo sighs dramatically and shakes his head, “she arrives thirty seconds before the bell rings, sees us waiting for her and turns right the hell around.”

The boys groan understandably.

“Well,” Suho shrugs good-naturedly. “Hopefully Kris is able to do a better job than we did.”

“And hurries up,” Xiumin mutters. “It’s hot and my legs hurt.”

“We could always head on without him,” Lay offers. “He can fly after all.”

The boys just stare at him.

“What?” He asks.

“Is Rayna’s negativity rubbing off on you?” Xiumin asks.

Lay shakes his head slowly, “I don’t understand.”

“You’re the nice one,” Chanyeol informs him sternly.

“I—I am?” He asks, lost.

Baekhyun sighs, “You’re also the clueless one.”

~*~

Rayna seems to part the Red Sea of students as she makes her way to the parking lot.

Does she drive now? Kris wonders. There is so much about this Rayna he doesn’t know. She is an enigma and he is afraid of the unknown.

He watches in amazement how the other students interact with her. Despite the rumor that Rayna is a transfer student, most of the students at the school know that she went there last year. Some of them were friends with her even. But they are just as aware as Kris and the gang that this Rayna is different, and reuniting with old friends is not a priority to her.

Kids give her lots of space, and stare at her from afar. Some with wonder, some with confusion. Others with lust—for she is a beautiful girl—others with sadness and concern. Yet there they stand, never approaching her, that is, except Kris, one of the most popular boys in the school.

Actually, all eight of the boys are pretty popular. They are all handsome and mysterious. Girls want them, and boys want to hang out with them for the attention. Kris notices as he leans away from the wall he’s resting on girls eyeing him curiously. He doesn’t want to approach Rayna this way. Shoot, he doesn’t want to approach her at all, not after their first encounter. That being said, in front of an audience was probably not the most ideal situation, but maybe a crowded area will keep Rayna at bay.

Maybe.

He trails behind her for a moment, when he’s close enough, he snatches her wrist, pulling her to a stop. She freezes and slowly turns around, having to lean her head way back to meet his gaze.

“Kris,” she greets with a smirk.

“Rayna,” he replies back with a matching grin.

“So, they sent the big bad wolf to finish off Little Red then?” She asks.

Kris shrugs, “oh, I’m not that bad, am I?”

“I never thought you were,” she shrugs nonchalant and it almost makes Kris angry. How can she say something like that and yet convey no emotions whatsoever? Enigma she is.

“Rayna,” he starts, taking a step towards her. If they have to approach her how they used too, than Kris will use her old feelings and see how far he could get. “You understand what’s going on, don’t you?”

He still has ahold of her wrist, and he rubs circles on it with his thumb. She doesn’t even flinch from his touch, “I think I’m able to put together bits and pieces.”

“We’re giving you the puzzle, you just have to finish it. But, we could help you, if you allowed us.”

She smirks, “there you guys go again with all this ‘help’ crap. I’m absolutely confused, I don’t need any help.”

Kris shakes his head slowly, “you’re so blinded by it you’ve become delusional.”

“Blinded by what exactly.”

“You know what,” Kris strains to keep his voice down. He is beginning to grow impatient.

“Oh,” Rayna nods. “The whole ‘power thing’.”

“Yeah, that.”

“Look, I feel great. I feel so much better now.”

“Better then when?”

“Better than before I got this power. Before I was so sad, so lonely. I clung onto the most pathetic things. Like you guys—you in particular. You and Kai. It was almost an obsession, especially those last months when you all had powers. I tried extra hard to make my presence known, but it was wasted effort. I mean, I could have hung out with you all buck naked and you probably wouldn’t had noticed.”

“Maybe if you were buck naked and on fire… I think I would’ve probably glanced at you at least.”

Rayna chuckles without humor, “anyways, I was lost and depressed. When I first got my power, I felt more alive than I had in months.”

“And now you’re relying on that feeling too much. But you don’t have to anymore, Rayna. You leaving… well, we noticed that.”

Rayna gazes deeply into his eyes, reading his emotions. He stares back, trying to decipher what she is thinking, but her eyes are like metal walls, they aren’t giving anything away.

Finally, she shrugs, “sorry. Nothing.”

Kris lets out a frustrated breath, “would you at least allow us to try?”

“I deal with that enough already, thank you.”

“What does that mean?”

“How exactly would you guys be helping me? I don’t get that part.”

Kris takes a deep breath, “We’ll help you restrain your urges to use your power.”

“Okay,” she says slowly. “So I gradually stop using my power… then what?”

“Then,” Kris begins, smiling gently. “You return back to the fun loving Rayna you were before you turned sixteen.”

“Uh-huh,” she nods. “So, I stop using my power and I magically become the Rayna you loved to ignore and we all live happily ever after, correct?”

Kris nods, “that’s the theory.”

“Theory?”

“Yup. That’s what we believe will happen.”

“So, you guys are doing all of this on a theory?”

“Well, we know someone who has dealt with a Vessel before so…”

“Vessel?”

“Yeah, a woman with powers. You. You are a Vessel.”

She thinks about the word for a moment, “I like that.”

“Well, I like the old you.”

“Well, Kris, people change.”

“Yeah, but they shouldn’t be required to by some outside force.”

“But isn’t that what you guys are trying to do?”

He is silent for a second. Is that what they are doing?

“Look, I’m thrilled you guys want me back so badly, seriously, I really am. But I have to go. Nice try though.” She begins to yank her hand from his grip, but he only tightens his hold.

“I never did get to take you flying,” he admits. She freezes and her head whips up to stare at him.

“You remember?” He asks her.

Her eyes narrow and for a second, they come to life. For a second, he’s with the old Rayna. She gulps and nods slowly.

He leans in, “I can take you. Right now, if you want.”

She blinks at him rapidly, and looks around at the dwindling crowd around them. “Now?”

Kris nods and smiles softly, “Ray, it will be just us two.”

She takes a step towards him and he opens his arms for her to embrace him and then suddenly it all crumbles. She hesitates, and then her head twitches. She hisses in pain and Kris watches in horror as her eyes become totally black.

“Oh no.”

She wraps her hand around his neck and squeezes gently. Her head tilts slightly to the right, “actually, I think making things fly is a lot more fun.”

Kris closes his eyes, waiting for her to flail his body wherever she pleased, but nothing happens.

“Rayna!” He hears an unfamiliar voice call her name and a frustrated growl escape her lips.

He opens his eyes and spots an older guy staring intently at Rayna. His big doe-like eyes never leaving her.

“Let me go,” she barks.

“Not until you release him,” he says solemnly. Who the hell is this guy? His lean body is leaning against a red beat-up four-door car, and Kris notices three more heads peeking at the scene through the greasy windows.

“She can’t control it,” Kris sputters to the man, who still holds an unwavering stare over Rayna.

“She can,” he says confidently. His voice is gentle, just like the rest of his features. Fragile, like he will snap at any moment. “Rayna,” he starts with a voice full of warning. “Let. Him. Go.”

Kris looks around him, wondering what bystanders must be thinking of the scene. To his shock, he notices that the people still clustered around them are frozen, not even a blink or the rise of a chest.

“What—what is going on?” He chokes out.

The man runs a hand through his white-blonde locks, “Tao is using his powers.”

“Tao? Powers?”

“I can freeze time,” one of the heads from the car calls out.

“Oh,” Kris blinks. “Well, that’s pretty cool, dude.”

“Thanks,” the head says and then they all focus back on the main problem.

“Rayna, you are strong,” the man continues to coax her. “You can kill him. You can throw him into a pole if you want—”

“What are you doing?” Kris screeches, that doesn’t sound like someone trying to help him.

“It’s alright,” the man says. “She can’t do anything as long as I’m here.”

“Fuck. You.” Rayna growls, struggling to move her lips.

“Wait,” Kris says. “Are you using a power also?”

“Shh,” the man snaps. “You’re distracting me.”

“Sorry.”

“You can kill him,” he starts where he left off. “But what will that do for you? What will you accomplish?”

“I’ll be free. Completely free.”

“No you won’t. You’ll be even more chained down. Please, Rayna, let this boy go.”

“Fuck you and fuck him,” she barks, tightening her grip on Kris’ neck.

“No. Fuck that power of yours.”

Rayna’s head starts to twitch from side to side and slowly, one of her eyes goes back to normal.

“You are strong enough to kill him,” the man says. “You are also strong enough to know that, yet refrain from such actions. That’s what will make you the most powerful, understanding your strength, but not using it every chance you get.”

Her grip on his neck starts to loosen, when her hand is finally off of him, he falls back to the ground and backs quickly away from her. He watches as she tries to fight against some unforeseen force, but instead, she begins to gradually take steps backwards. The steps do not look as if she is willingly moving, it looks as if someone is pulling the strings.

The man. Kris stares at the sight playing before him. Rayna finally walks backwards to the car and one of the boys opens the door, letting her in the backseat. When she’s in, the man let’s his power over her go and slams the door shut. Instantly, she begins hitting the door, and Kris can hear her muffled voice through the closed door, he can imagine what she’s saying.

“Here.” He looks from the car to the hand that’s outstretched towards him. He grabs it, and the man yanks him up easily. Kris towers over the guy, yet he feels so small after what he just witnessed. “Don’t worry, she can’t get out. I have the child lock on.”

Suddenly, he hears the ringing of multiple conversations going on at once, and the occasional honking of cars.

“He unfroze time?” He asks the shorter man. Who nods, having a look around the campus.

“I’m Luhan,” the man introduces himself, holding out his hand again.

“Kris,” Kris introduces himself, shaking the man’s hand. “Thanks for the help.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“How do you know Rayna?”

Luhan smiles softly, “she lives with us.”

“Us?” Kris squeaks.

Luhan nods, “we are the others.”

Chapter Four: The Others

“What do you mean ‘the others,’” Kris asks.

Luhan smiles, “why don’t you and your friends follow me, and I’ll tell you guys everything you need to know.”

Kris agrees reluctantly and runs over to the rest of his gang.

“What just happened?” Xiumin asks, bewildered.

“What do you mean?” Kris asks innocently.

“Well,” Suho begins. “You look like you had a breakthrough.”

“Who are those guys?” Kyungsoo ponders, staring at Luhan’s small car.

“They know Rayna, they have answers. We have to follow them.”

“Alright,” Chanyeol agrees slowly. He’s the first one to move, opening the driver’s door and getting settled. The rest follow suit, Kris jumping into the driver’s seat of the other car. He pulls up behind Luhan and honks, Luhan speeds off, Kris and Chanyeol hot on his tail.

They drive for about fifteen minutes, pulling into a really nice suburban neighborhood. Finally, they pull into a lot. The house is smaller than most on the street—with it being the only one-story home—but still looks relatively comfy. It is brown and has big windows in the front, although the blinds are closed up tight.

“Welcome to our home,” Luhan grins once everyone is out of their cars.

“’Our home’?” Baekhyun asks, eyes flickering to Rayna, who is laying limp in one of the boys’ arms.

“Yup, the five of us live here,” the time freezer, Tao, clarifies. “Come on in.”

They follow the boys into the house. It’s pretty dim inside, but spacey.

“Make yourselves comfy,” Luhan orders. “I’ll make some hot chocolate.”

The eight boys stiffly sit around the living room. Baek watches as the boy who is carrying Rayna drags her away, disappearing into the hallway.

“What happened to Rayna?” he asks nervously.

“She was losing it,” one of the others, the shortest of the group with short reddish brown hair, says as he drags a chair from the dining table. “We had to put her out for a while.”    

“Put her out?” Baek sputters, the other boys react mostly the same.

The boy shrugs, “it was either that or let her use her power and hurt someone.”

“We’ve been dealing with her for months now,” Luhan says, walking into the living room, handing out drinks. “The best way to calm her down usually is to just knock her out.”

“And how do you do that exactly?” Kai questions, sniffing his drink suspiciously.

“We let Sehun take care of it.”

“Hello,” one of the boys—the one that carried Rayna earlier—greets. He is tall, about as tall as Chanyeol and Kris, and has white-blond hair just like Luhan. He smiles warmly and takes a cup from Luhan.

“Do you all have powers?” Kris questions.

“Powers?” Chanyeol nearly chokes on his drink. Lay softly pats his back as he catches his breath.

Luhan nods, leaning against the wall and crossing his legs. “Why don’t we all introduce ourselves? I’m Luhan, I’m the oldest of the four of us, and the leader. I have telekinesis.”

He nods over to Sehun. “Hello, I’m Sehun. I’m the youngest of us and Luhan’s brother. I can control wind.”

Control wind? Baek wonders. How does that knock Rayna out? It suddenly hits him and his eyes widen. “You take away her air supply! You choke her until she passes out!”

Sehun’s eyes widen with shock from Baek’s hostility.

“Well, there’s really no other way,” Luhan says matter-of-factly.

“You can kill her,” Kai says softly.

Luhan shakes his head, “Sehun would never do that. He knows what he’s doing.”

“How long have you had your power?” Kai asks the startled Sehun.

“Um… for about five months now, I think.”

“Five months?” All eight of the boys bark at the same time causing the rest, except Luhan, to jump.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Luhan repeats firmly. “Tao, introduce yourself.”

“I’m Tao,” Tao starts hesitantly. He has a dark aura about him, but he has a soft caring voice. “I can freeze time.”

“And I’m Chen,” the last member introduces. “I can control lightning.”

The other eight introduce themselves and their powers also.

“I’m Suho. I control water.”

“I’m Kris, I can fly.”

“I’m Xiumin, my power is frost.”

“I’m Kai, I can teleport.”

“I’m Kyungsoo, I have super strength.”

“I’m Lay, I can heal.”

“I’m Chanyeol, I can control fire.”

“And I’m Baekhyun. I have the power of light.”

“Light?” Luhan asks, intrigued. Baekhyun nods. “That’s… interesting.”    

“I’m sorry,” Suho begins. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but we’d really like to know why our friend is staying with you. How long has she been with you?”

“Well, let’s see,” Luhan’s gaze flickers to the ceiling as he back tracks. “It’s January now, so we met nearly four months ago, in September.

“I found her when I was walking home from work one day. In the forest on the way. She was filthy and startled, totally hopeless—at least that’s what I had thought. It took some coaxing, but I was able to bring her to the house. Chen wasn’t too fond of the idea of her at first, but I felt protective of her. I remember being confused by that need at the time, but now I know it was because of the power. I finally was able to talk both the boys and her into letting her stay until she felt well enough to continue on her way. They agreed. She got better, but never left, and now here we are.”

“Why didn’t she leave when she could of?” Xiumin asks.

Luhan shrugs, “I’m guessing she grew attached, especially once we all realized both her and I shared the same form of power. The day that we found out she had one, it became a warzone. We were trying to kill her, she was trying to kill us, and everyone was terrified. I somehow was able to talk some sense into her, and I made her a deal: I’d help her control her powers if she stayed with us.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing since?” Kris asks him.

“Yes. What you saw earlier was just some of the teachings we’ve been going through. Her power may be stronger by nature, but I’m stronger by default. She’s getting better, but she still doesn’t have the control or restraint that men do. That’s what I’m teaching her.”

“This question might sound random,” Kai begins. “But why does she go to school now? How did that happen?”

“I didn’t want her to,” Luhan admits. “She was still pretty unstable, but she wanted to. I’ve been studying her, gathering information about how women with powers act. When she uses, she loses a slice of herself, the human in her. But there is still a little girl wandering aimlessly inside her mind. Despite her stone hard image, she still craves for a normal life. I could see it in her eyes when she asked me about it one day—the longing. The months from her birthday to when I found her are full of tragedy, pain, death… She doesn’t tell us much, but sometimes, every once in a while, she’ll give us a puzzle piece, a memory of hers. I’ve been writing them down, keeping a journal of the things I find out about her. Anyway, I think the real reason she wanted to go to school again was because she missed you guys.”

“What?” The eight ask.

“That’s hard to believe,” Chanyeol scoffs. “She’s been giving us the cold shoulder since she’s arrived.”

Luhan just shrugs—a gesture Kris was beginning to think was a part of his nature—and continues talking, “believe it or not, when she came home on that first day, she did something I never thought I’d see her do.”

“And what was that?” Baekhyun eggs him on.

Luhan’s shiny eyes bore intensely into Baek’s as he grins, “She smiled.”

“Enough of the Rayna talk,” Chen says after a small pause. He claps his hands and rubs them together, a mischievous smirk on his lips. “Let’s see these powers of yours.”

Suho raises an eyebrow, “you just want us to play with our powers? To risk our lives to show off our abilities?”

Chen ponders for a second and then nods, “yeah, pretty much. What’s the fun of having these abilities if you can’t use them?”

Suho nods his head slowly and then grins, “alright, let’s go.”

All the boys head to the backyard, which is bordered with a tall wooden fence. Perfect for showing powers.

“So… who first?” Chen asks. He’s standing in the center of the yard, legs spread in a power stance and arms crossed over his chest.

“Uh…. How about you?” Xiumin suggests.

Chen smiles at the ground and when he rises his head, his eyes are all white. The boys take a step back as gray clouds begin to block out the blue sky and thunder rolls violently.

The wind picks up also, and the boys tug their blazers closer around themselves. Chen lifts his hands, palms up, and suddenly, lightning strikes begin to hit his palms, followed by loud cracks of thunder. After a minute of flickering, the streaks of light maintain their positions on his hands, shooting up to the heavens. The electricity sends static around, and the boys began to laugh as their hair and clothes begin to spike up. Sehun quickly pokes Tao, who gets shocked, and they end up having a shock war. The other boys notice what they are doing, and Chanyeol quickly begins to poke Baekhyun, who in turn shocks Kyungsoo, and the chain continues until all the boys are running around shocking one another. The only two who resist the little game are Luhan and Kris, who just smirk and roll their eyes at one another.

Finally, Chen decides to stop and the sky clears. The nine boys who are running around stop and try to catch their breath.

“That…was…sick, man,” Chanyeol huffs, he’s bent over with hands on his knees, but he raises an arm to give Chen a thumbs up. Chen grins and shrugs.

“Alright, whose next?” Chen asks.

Kai rolls his shoulders back and straightens up, “I’ll go.”

“Alright,” Tao says. “Show us what you got.”

Kai smirks, looking the new guys in the eyes and then he suddenly disappears. Tao, Chen, and Sehun spin around, trying to find him.

“Up here, fellas.” All the guys raise their heads to where the voice came from—on top of Luhan’s roof. There sits Kai, playing mindlessly with his tie.

“Ohh…” They stare at him in awe as he pops back down to where he was before on the ground.

“I want to go!” Sehun whines. Once he catches everyone’s attention, he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. I giant gust of wind blows the boys back, causing them to fall and stumble about.

“Sehun!” Luhan calls the young boy’s attention. Sehun’s eyes snap open and the wind stops immediately.

He winces, “I’m sorry. I’m still learning the ropes.”

“Knows what he’s doing, my ass,” Baekhyun mutters, scrambling back to his feet.

“My turn,” Luhan says, his voice flat with determination. He removes himself from against the fence and marches over to the center of the yard. His face suddenly becomes blank as he stares intently at something.

No, someone, and that someone realizes it too late.

Baekhyun slowly begins to rise from the ground. “Whoa, whoa. Hey, put me down!”

Luhan ignores his protests, instead rising the boy higher and higher until he can see over the fence.

“This isn’t funny,” Baekhyun screams, scrambling to hold on to anything, flailing his limbs about.

“Alright,” Suho says, laying a hand on Luhan’s stiff shoulder. “I think that’s enough.”

Luhan tilts his head, and for some of the boys, it reminds them eerily of Rayna, and closes his eyes, breaking the connection with Baekhyun. The boy falls and lands roughly on the ground.

He yelps in pain and clutches his ankle. The rest of his members run over to him to check if he is hurt.

“His ankle is sprained,” Lay murmurs. “I guess it’s time to show my power then…” He lays his hands on Baek’s ankle and concentrates. His hands begin to glow and in a few seconds, Baekhyun catches his breath and stands back up as if nothing happened.

He scowls at Luhan, “what was that for?”

Luhan shrugs, “my brother knows what he’s doing when it comes to Rayna. Although he is young, and not quite aware of his potential, he understands wind better than a sailor, and he understands how much air is needed to be taken away to kill someone.”

“He’s right,” Sehun adds somewhat hesitantly. “I’d never hurt Rayna, despite how she is. I might not be fully confident with my power, but I am confident in it when it comes to her.”    

“What does that have to do with you levitating me?” Baekhyun snaps.

Luhan sighs, “I had heard what you said after Sehun showed his power. That was punishment.”

“Punishment?” Baeks takes a step towards him, but Chanyeol and Kai hold him back.

“Just let it go,” Chanyeol murmurs to him.

“Yeah, you’re even now,” Kai says. Baekhyun sighs, but stops fighting them.

“So… I guess I’ll go now,” Suho says, trying to break the tension.

Everyone watches as he glances around him with a pout.

Then a wide smile graces his face as he raises his hand, pointer finger out. He begins to move his hand as if he is writing in the air and a small trail of water appears from thin air, contorting into the shapes his finger designs.

He writes his name with the water, along with Rayna’s.

“How… how are you doing that?” Xiumin asks, spellbound.

Suho chuckles, “there is water literally everywhere, Xiumin. I’m just controlling the water that is in the air.”

“Water in the air?” Tao asks, gazing around him in awe.

Suho shrugs, “water is everywhere. I can show you something even cooler, though it is a bit more dangerous.”

“Well, by all means, show us,” Luhan says, a wicked grin contorting his features.

“Who trusts me the most?” Suho asks, still making designs in the air.

There is a brief silence before Kyungsoo speaks up, “I trust you, Suho.”

Suho nods and stands still, staring at Kyungsoo seriously, “don’t be afraid.”

Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as his arms begin to rise without his consent.

“There is water in us as well,” Suho says, concentrating heavily on moving Kyungsoo’s arms about.

“You can control blood?” Sehun squeaks.

Suho nods, “any form of liquid is under my control, really. Depending on how much water it contains. But it isn’t his blood that I’m controlling,” he lets Kyungsoo go and spins to face the others. “It’s his body.”

The group is silent with confusion.

Suho sighs, “Our body is made up mostly of water. I can sense the water within all of you, and I can control it, therefore controlling your bodies.”

“That’s… well, that’s just plain creepy,” Chen murmurs.

Suho nods again, “having powers in general is creepy, Chen. Although, I must admit, some are creepier than others. Take Chanyeol’s for example.”

“Hey, my power is not creepy!” Chanyeol whines. His sad features are suddenly reversed, “it’s awesome!”

Suho gestures to the center of the yard, “Then why don’t you demonstrate?”

“Fine,” Chanyeol huffs, marching to the center. “I will.”

Once Chanyeol is ready, he takes a deep breath and flexes. His body is then engulfed by flames.

The others gasp and take a few steps back, but Chanyeol just stands up straighter, placing his fists on his hips victoriously.

“I can control fire,” he beams as he releases the flame.

“That is awesome,” Sehun grins back. 

“But...your clothes...um....” Tao covers his eyes as others laugh. Chanyeol glances down to find that he had obliterated his clothes, leaving him nude.

He quickly covers himself and Luhan shakes his head. “Sehun, will you take Chanyeol up and give him some clothes?”

“Of course!” Sehun, still giggling, nudges the bare boy, leading him back into the house.

“Kyungsoo, why don’t you show us your power?” Suho asks once the two return, Chanyeol’s cheeks redder then a tomato.

Kyungsoo blinks around nervously and slowly makes his way to the center. With a battle cry, he stomps his foot down to the ground, causing it to splinter and crack around his foot.

Everyone claps, Kai runs up to him, ruffling his hair. A small smile appears on Kyungsoo’s face and he apologizes quickly to Luhan for ruining his yard.

“It’s fine,” Luhan smiles back. “Tao, it’s your turn.”

“But… I don’t know how to show them. It’s not really something I can demonstrate to everyone at once.”

“Well then, just show them. Use us three for an example.”

Tao nods and then faces the eight boys. “Pay close attention,” he advises.

Even though he has already witnessed Tao’s gift, Kris can’t help but be entranced by his ability.

Luhan, Chen, and Sehun begin to run around. Chasing one another around Tao. Suddenly, they freeze, all mid-step.

There’s a bird flying above them that abruptly stills, hovering above their heads.

“What just happened?” Baekhyun asks, staring at a frozen Luhan whose mouth is open in laughter.

“I can freeze time,” Tao whispers, his eyes wandering searching his surroundings with a smirk on his lips.

“How come we aren’t frozen either?” Lay asks.

“I can pick people to stay unfrozen as well. It comes in handy when I need to talk to someone privately.”

“Have you ever froze time for Rayna?” Kai asks anxiously.

Tao nods, “There were a few times I’ve had to freeze time for Rayna,” his eyes flicker to Kris who understands and has experienced it. “So that Luhan could talk to her when she was in her… state.”

“This is truly a gift,” Suho says, smiling warmly at Tao as they lock eyes.

Tao grins again, “thank you.”

Luhan and the others begin running again, and the bird continues its journey past their house.

Xiumin steps forward, “my turn.”

Chanyeol and Kai sigh and Xiumin shoots them a look. “You guys ready?”

Before anyone can answer, the temperature begins to drop so that they could all see their breath.

“Suho?” Xiumin calls. Suho shoots his hand forward and water flies towards Xiumin. He blinks and the water freezes over, falling to the ground with a hard thud.

The others applaud.

“Why did you drop the temperature?” Chanyeol pouts when Xiumin rejoins them.

Xiumin shrugs, “That was your punishment for whining.”

Chanyeol sucks his teeth and pouts.

“Alright. There are two left. Baekhyun and Kris. Who’s going to go first?” Suho asks

Kris and Baekhyun share a glance.

“Rock, paper, scissors?” Baek offers and Kris shrugs, jogging over to him. Kris loses and so, he has to go first.

With the roll of his eyes, he trudges over to the middle of the yard.

He shakes his feet out for a bit, rolling his neck and then rises slowly off the ground. He rises until he is about ten feet up, and then begins to fly around the yard. He can’t restrain the blissful grin that appears on his face, as the chilly wind hits him, blowing his hair back.

After a few minutes, he reluctantly returns back to the earth, and is greeted by wild applause.

“That was sick!” Sehun compliments.

“That was pretty awesome,” Chen agrees.

Kris smiles shyly, “Thanks guys.”

“And then there was one,” Luhan says, staring at Baekhyun.

Baekhyun sighs and timidly walks to the center, “my power isn’t anything special. It’s kinda pointless really.”

“All the same,” Luhan says. “I’m quite curious.”

Baekhyun sighs again and then raises his hand, palm forward in front of himself. He stares at it intently, biting his lip as sweat begins to rain down his forehead.

Finally, a small bright light begins to glow from his palm. Stretching and growing like a toddler waking up from a nap.

Baekhyun laughs with relief as the soft golden glow begins to spin around his arm, up to his shoulder and across his chest, blanketing him in early morning light.

“It’s… beautiful,” Luhan breathes. Everyone can’t keep their eyes off the shimmering light, watching as it wraps itself comfortably around Baekhyun, who chuckles from time to time.

“Can… can I touch it?” Sehun asks. Baekhyun looks up at him and nods guiltily.

Sehun takes a few steps over and then lifts a hand forward. It shakes as it gains on the light, which seems to stiffen—preparing itself for his contact.

Finally, Sehun’s fingers brush against the glow, and he gasps as the light begins to wrap around his digits.

He laughs as well, “It’s warm.”

Baekhyun nods, “That’s light for you.”

“Amazing,” he breathes.

The sun sits low in the sky, causing the world’s ceiling to turn shades of red and orange.

“It’s getting late,” Kris says, breaking the tranquil peace that rests on all the boys as Baekhyun’s light travels around both him and Sehun. “We should all head home.”

“Aw,” Kyungsoo pouts.

Baekhyun retracts his light until it’s back in his palm, where it sinks into and disappears, “he’s right.” He looks at Sehun, “it was nice meeting you all.”

Sehun nods vehemently, “likewise. You guys are really cool.”

“So are you,” Suho replies. “I’m thankful that you were the ones to find Rayna. I can tell you all care about her, and I mean, she’s still alive so…”

Luhan chuckles, “we are trying our best.”

“I guess we’ll see you around then,” Kris says, as everyone heads back inside.

As they are walking over to their cars, Kris feels a soft tug on his bicep. He glances behind him to see Luhan.

“Yeah?” He asks him.

“There’s something I need you to see real quick.” Luhan drags Kris down the hall to the last door on the left. On the way, Kris glances at a door that’s ajar and sees inside, a still sleeping Rayna. He feels his heart speed up, but continues none the less.

Once in the room, Luhan’s grip on Kris’ arm dissolves and he heads over to the dresser on the opposite side of the room, opening a drawer and rummaging inside it.

“This your room?” Kris asks to fill the silence. Luhan nods, still searching for whatever it is he’s looking for. “It looks cozy enough.”

“Thanks,” Luhan says standing straight and turning around to face him again. In his hands is a small brown leather-bond book. “I told you I have been writing all of my finding about Rayna in a journal.” He holds the book out. “Well, here it is.”

Kris stares at it like it’s going to bite him, then back up to Luhan, “why are you giving it to me?”

“Out of all the boys, I think her disappearance hurt you the most. She’s talked about you before, you know?”

“She has?”  Kris cannot believe it. Him? Why?

“Yeah, she missed you. That’s another reason I’m giving this to you. There’s not much, but I think there is enough for you to find some sort of closure.” He shrugs. “It’s all I have really to help you.”

“Thank you,” Kris says earnestly, grabbing the book from Luhan and gripping it tightly. “Thank you so much, Luhan. You didn’t have to do this.”

“Do what? Give you the book or take her in?”

They stare at each other for a moment and Kris gulps he’s in love with her, isn’t he? He prays not, the last thing he needs is for someone else to put claim on Rayna, to tumble down the black abyss that is Rayna’s love.

“Both,” he grins softly.

“Oh! And another thing.” Luhan says before Kris leaves his room. Kris turns around and lifts his eyebrows in acknowledgement. “Don’t show the others I’ve given that to you. There’s stuff in there… I think only you could swallow.”

Kris tries to ignore the way his heart thumps loudly when Luhan says that. What has Rayna been going through since her sixteenth birthday?

Well, it seems like he was going to find out.

Chapter Five: Subtle Insight

Kris enters his silent home later that night and trudges straight to his room. He peeks inside his mother’s room when he walks past it to see that she’s asleep.

Once inside his own room, he plops down on his bed and pulls out the journal Luhan gave to him. He had hid it securely away from the other boys by tucking it in his waistband, and they never noticed, thank God.

He skims through it, noticing that out of about fifty pages, nearly twenty were filled. Luhan’s writing was very straight and formal, though in some entries, his script appears wobbly or rushed, written either in a hurry or with some strong emotion. Those entries make Kris nervous.

Or excited. Or both.

With a sigh he returns to the first page and begins the sad life that is Rayna’s sixteenth year:

September 17,

Rayna’s been with us for a week now. She doesn’t say much, she mostly just sits around staring at nothing or out the window. The only time she does really talk is when she needs something like clothes or the green beans. She seems…haunted. I don’t know a thing about her, but I do know that her past has traumatized her. I asked her if she had been kidnapped and she told me no, but I’m still concerned. Should I have given her up to the cops like Chen said I should have? I don’t think I could. There’s something about her… almost like a tug or a pull, I can’t leave her alone.

Also, I always get this weird tingly feeling in my palms whenever she’s near, like an itching. The weirdest part about it is that it’s not like an itching towards her, more like an itching to use my power. I asked Sehun if he feels that way when he’s around her and he just looked at me as if I were crazy and said no very sternly. I think he’s worried about me, shit, I’m worried about me! Since Rayna’s appearance into my life, I’ve found myself always on edge, like if I come home from work one day she’ll be gone. I can’t let her leave, not yet at least, I need more answers, I need to help her.

Kris turns to the next entry and noticed how sharp the writing was in this one.

September 30,           

Well what a turn of events.

I wanted answers and I’ve gotten them. At least, the big answer has been solved. Somehow, Rayna has gifts, she’s a Special just like the rest of us. I can only guess that’s the reason for my attachment towards her.

Today, after coming home from work and picking up the boys from school, we saw Rayna making things levitate in our living room.

We all freaked out and panicked, asking her questions. She was silent the whole while, staring at us as if she were in a trance. Suddenly, she made Chen soar across the room, nearly knocking him unconscious. We didn’t think after that. We all were trying to kill her, she was a threat, and I just knew that if I didn’t kill her first, it would be me who died.

But I felt even more powerful than ever, fighting with her fighting so close to me, and I realized that we had the same power. Images of her when I first found her kept popping in my head, and I could tell that she was just a scared child who needed some sort of guidance.

When I realized that, I jumped in the middle of the fight and told everyone to stop. No one wanted to listen, so I used my power to make them stop myself. I begged Rayna to let me help her, that she wasn’t a monster, and I could give her the tools needed to perfect her power.

She liked what I had to offer, and we all decided—much to Chen’s dismay—to compromise.

That being said, we’re all a bit on edge. Every time Rayna makes even the slightest move, we all jump, afraid she’s going to throw another one of us.

She’s sleeping on the couch across from me as I write this, and she looks so peaceful—beautiful even. I wonder what she was like before she grew these powers, I wonder just what exactly this thing has done to her.

Kris puts the book down after reading that entry. That is enough for the night. He’s frightened to get to the parts Luhan wasn’t there to witness.

Next time, he thinks to himself, turning off his light and heading off to sleep.

~*~

During lunch the next day, the boys are surprised when an extra tray slams against the table top and Rayna’s body slides in next to Lay’s.

She begins eating without a word. The members stare at her, speechless.

Finally, she notices their looks and returns their gazes with a sharp one of her own. “What?”

Almost immediately, the eight boys pick up their utensils and start devouring their food, trying to play off their staring.

Rayna sighs and leans back in her seat, “just so you guys know, Luhan thought it would be for the best if I sat with you all from now on.”

“And you actually listened to him?” Kris asks, somewhat stunned. Kai’s hands roll into fists from jealousy.

She shrugs, “I wasn’t going to but…”

“But?” Suho presses.

“Luhan’s smart. He never suggests things unless he knows the outcome. So, it’s just best to listen to him,” she shrugs.

The boys are silent as they let her words sink in.

Baekhyun is curious, “just what exactly is Luhan to you?”

Rayna’s eyes darken as she meets his gaze, “he saved me. If it weren’t for him, I would have died on countless occasions. He protects me, and in return, I will listen to what he has to say, and do what he commands.”

“You’re indebted to him?” Chanyeol asks.

“Something like that…” Rayna murmurs.

“He’s helping you reign in your powers, right?” Suho asks.

Rayna nods, “It’s part of our deal. I can live with him and in return, he will help me control my power.”

“I thought you already had it under control?” Kai asks, raising an eyebrow.

Rayna smirks, “I could still kill you, Kai, don’t forget that.”

He flinches, and the grin that was on his face melts off.

“Rayna…” Suho shakes his head once, and she just sighs, returning her attention to her tray.

The boys remain watching her cautiously, preparing for when she would decide to snap.

“I’m not going to do anything rash,” she assures, never lifting her head.

“Would you be offended if I told you that was hard to believe?” Suho asks, a soft smile gracing his lips.

Rayna lets out a snort and shakes her head, “I know how women with powers are viewed, you have every right to be afraid.”

“We never said that,” Kyungsoo says quickly.

Slowly, Rayna’s eyes raise to meet his and she sneers. Kyungsoo gulps as her dark orbs bore into his, “I can smell the fear on you.”

“You have super senses too?!” Chanyeol whines, popping the tense bubble that is beginning to form. “That’s not fair!”

“It is anything but,” Rayna agrees. Lay notices her shoulders sag and her face fall and wonders what she means by that.

~*~

“You guys don’t find it a bit strange how Luhan is able to make Rayna do things?” Baekhyun asks his friends later that day. They are back in his room, cramped together in the small space, munching on the snacks his mother had made beforehand.

“Oh, I do find it strange,” Kai agrees. “There is something about those two that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“There’s something about Luhan that doesn’t sit right with me,” Baekhyun admits.

“I like him,” Kris confesses, causing Baekhyun to stare at him incredulously.

“Yeah, he’s cool,” Xiumin agrees. “You’re just mad at him for making you levitate.”

“He twisted my ankle!” Baekhyun yells defensively.

“It was a small sprain,” Lay clarifies with the roll of his eyes. “And I healed you not even a minute later.”

Baekhyun huffs and crosses his arms like a child.

“Also, I think their bond has something to do with their powers,” Suho says.

“What do you mean?” Chanyeol asks.

“Well, you know they share a similar gift: levitation. I think that somehow makes them attuned to one another. It allows them to feel some sort of camaraderie or resemblance.”

“It’s also very helpful,” Kyungsoo adds. “Since they share the same power, Luhan can easily teach her how to control it.”

“Do you think it’s working?” Chanyeol asks, biting his bottom lip with worry.

Kris nods, “it’s working, alright. I…I didn’t tell you guys this, but she was going to kill me.”

“WHAT?!” The seven boys in the room all spin their heads to his direction with surprise.

Kris stares at Baekhyun’s tan carpet self-consciously, “I was trying to get the old Rayna back, I even used her old nickname, and for a moment it worked. It actually worked…”

His eyes glaze over as he remembers the way Rayna’s voice grew innocent, and her features softened, as she began to walk towards him.

“I had her, the old Rayna. I was going to take her flying, and as soon as I was about to grab her hand, she snapped.”

The boys are silent as Kris shares with them what had happened after school. “I could practically see the power overwhelm her mind. Her head was twitching as if she were fighting with it, and she looked as if she were in excruciating pain. Then the hand that was reaching for me was suddenly wrapped around my neck, and she was squeezing the life out of me. She said ‘actually, I think making things fly is a lot more fun’ and I knew then that she was going to kill me.”

“What…what happened?” Xiumin whispers.

A small smile graces Kris’ lips, “Luhan saved me.”

“WHAT?!” The boys all yell again. Why hadn’t Kris told them this earlier?!

“Luhan used his power to stop her from levitating me, and talked her out of doing it.”

“How?” Baekhyun murmurs.

Kris shakes his head, “he just talked to her. He was telling her how she could kill me if she wanted to, but that would mean the power would win, not her. It took a lot of coaxing, but finally, she let go on her own.”

“And how come we never knew this? Why didn’t we see anything? We watched you guys the whole time and never did I see her try to kill you,” Baekhyun says with frustration.

“Tao used his power to freeze time,” Kris informs his friends.

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Chanyeol pouts.

“It’s so weird that there are more of us that live so close,” Kyungsoo says. “With them and Rayna, that makes thirteen people in our area that have powers. That’s a lot.”

Suho nods, “and how did they all meet one another? I’m aware that Luhan and Sehun are brothers, but how did Tao and Chen end up living with them? What happened to all of their parents? What’s their story?”

“More questions to add on to the ever growing list of ‘I-don’t-know’,” Kai mutters with a sigh, tossing a mechanical pencil across the room.

“I don’t care about their story,” Lay admits quietly. “As long as they are taking good care of Rayna, and helping her as much as they can, I don’t care how or why. I’m grateful for them.”

The others nod in agreement.

“Are you going to tell your parents yet?” Chanyeol softly asks Baekhyun, who sighs.

“Not yet. She’s still too… unstable. I think I’m just going to wait until she’s ready to come back to us.”

“That’s the best idea,” Suho agrees. “We don’t need them stressing out over her just yet.”

“No. They aren’t ready for Rayna yet.”

Kai laughs once without humor, “We weren’t ready either.”

He is right, they still aren’t ready for her.

“Wait…” Kai straightens up, his eyes now alight with his epiphany.

“What is it?” The boys ask, worry contorting most of their faces.

“Kris… You said that you were able to bring out the old Rayna, right?” Kai questions the taller boy, who nods with confusion. “And you said you were able to do that by bringing up an old memory, correct?”

“Yes, I brought up the time when I told her I’d take her flying… What is this about?”

“You mentioned a fond memory between the two of you, and the old Rayna came back. Not for long, but she did come back. Maybe… Maybe Baek’s idea is a good one after all, we’re just going about it wrong.”

“You are onto something,” Suho says, narrowing his eyes and wagging a finger at the younger lad. His eyes then brighten, “Do continue.”

“Baekhyun’s idea was to treat Rayna like we used to, but what if we just bring up old memories that we hold dear to us, and see if that somehow will cause her to fight against the power, and ultimately bring the Rayna we all miss back to us.”

“But we have brought up memories with her, and she didn’t budge,” Chanyeol whines, remembering when he mentioned the park to her.

“Instead of memories that we hold dear, we’ll have to use memories that she holds dear.”

“But… how exactly would we do that?” Lay asks, pouting faintly.

“I… I think I have an idea,” Kris sighs, thinking about the journal Luhan gave him. “I might not be able to gather much, but I think I might have something that could give us some insight on her memories.”

He ignores the looks of surprise on most of the boys’ faces, especially the suspicious glare he’s receiving from the ex in the corner.

“I want to ask how, but I don’t think you’ll answer me,” Suho says.

Kris nods slowly, “just trust me. I’ll think of something by the end of the week.”

~*~

Later that night, Kris finds himself back in his bedroom, the worn journal in his hands.

Luhan said that she gave him some insight into her past, mostly about when she was missing, but he did mention the fact that she talked about Kris. Maybe he wrote it down, maybe she talked about the other members also, and he decided that any information was vital information and jotted it down, just in case.

Otherwise, Kris made himself look like a fool.

With a sigh, he opens the book to the third entry and begins where he left off.

October 4,

Eighteen people.

That’s how many people Rayna said she has killed.

I didn’t want to believe it at first, I thought she was just trying to scare me, trying to make me take back wanting to help her, but I saw the sliver of pain and regret in her eyes, and I know she’s telling the truth.

I had to ask her how, her response was chilling.

“How do you think? You have the same power as I do. Have you ever gotten angry with someone, and imagined what you would do to them? Throw them into sharp objects. Lift them up into the sky and then drop them, watching them tumble helplessly to the ground? Pulling their body in opposite directions, watching it tear in half…? Have you ever pictured that, Luhan?”

I haven’t. Whenever I was angry with someone, I always wanted to destroy them with my words, I never viewed my power as a weapon.

But she planted those pictures in my mind, and now I feel dirty. I feel like my power is disgusting, horrible….

But back to Rayna. I asked her why she killed them and she responded with, “just because.” I asked her to further explain, and she just shrugged, “I was testing my abilities.”

But then her eyes darkened and she grinned at me and whispered, “And because I liked to watch them suffer. I liked the feeling I got, taking someone’s life. Is that wrong of me, Luhan? Am I a monster?”

Yes. She is a monster, but I have a feeling that it isn’t necessarily her that craves that power. Who gets off by taking the lives of innocent people. There is something sinister within her, and I hope I can dig it out of her. She can be a good person, I know because I’m sitting here right now, writing this down. If she were so bad, I would have died when I met her in the forest a month ago. That has to be proof of Rayna’s humanity.

It just has to be.

Kris feels like throwing up. Their precious Rayna is now a murderer. Kris can’t even picture her killing someone, smiling victoriously as the blood of the innocent splatters onto her face. It didn’t fit the image that he always recalled of her: in her white summer dress, hair blowing in the wind, smiling warmly and lovingly as she fingered the necklace the boys had given her.

Those were two different Raynas.

But that is the point.

October 6,

I decided today to try to get Rayna to talk about her past. For all I knew, Rayna probably wasn’t her real name. She didn’t want to give me much at first, plus Chen was sitting in my bedroom with us, making snide remarks every time she opened her mouth, which was both pissing her off and causing her to become mute. After I kicked Chen out, she was a lot more open.

She said that she got her power at sixteen, just like everybody else, and has only had it for three months. This is very interesting news, being that she is very powerful, like someone that’s had it for years, not months. Also, I now have an age. I assumed she was younger than me, but I was surprised to find out she was also younger than Sehun, who has only had his power for five months.

She told me that she has a step-brother by the name of Byun Baekhyun and he also possesses powers, although she couldn’t recall what his skill was. Something to do with the sun. She said that he and her befriended seven boys, and they too have powers. That is extraordinary. I never knew that there was more of us, especially so near. It was baffling, and Chen and Tao’s faces when I told them… They nearly fainted.

Anyways, she said that out of the seven boys, she had feelings for two of them.

This is when things get interesting.

First, I never knew Rayna to be a romantic, and the thought of her liking someone—even loving someone—sounded rather queer coming from her expressionless face. But, her demeanor changed once she began talking about them.

She mentioned a boy named Kris. She said that she used to have feelings for him that overwhelmed her. She told me that he meant everything to her, and that she was nearly obsessed. She shook her head and laughed at herself once she said that, and my eyes nearly popped out of my sockets from the gesture. It was so… girly.

She confessed that it was all one-sided, and that he never viewed her in the same light. She said, “He loved me, that I knew, but it wasn’t the love that I wanted—that I craved. He has no idea that he could have done anything to me, and I would crawl back to him like an abused dog. I was head over heels for him, but he felt like he was more of a brother to me than Baekhyun was. I was a little sister to him, and I hated it.”

Then she mentioned another boy named Kai.

Her eyes flickered with some form of light addressing this fellow, and my curiosity grew. Apparently, Kai was her boyfriend. She admitted that she didn’t really want to date him when he first asked her out, but she owed it to him. They had been friends for such a long time, and they were in the same grade and had been close for all those years. Also, she knew her feelings for Kris would never be returned, so she decided to forcibly move on, even if it would end up hurting both her and Kai. She told me that it was the most selfish thing she had ever done.

She said that the two of them dated for a little over a month, until she ran away. She told me that the two of them did a lot of things physically and… how can I put it? She experimented with him.

I asked if her feelings towards him were genuine and she shrugged. “It was still too early in our relationship to tell,” was her response. But I saw the way her eyes lit up when she began talking about him, and I think she felt more than she lets on.

I wanted her to tell me a little more about the other boys, since I was getting so much out of her today. I could slowly see life flow back into her, her cheeks gaining color, a sparkle softly twinkling in her eyes, a small smile hinted on her lips. These boys might be the key to drawing out the evil thing merging with her soul.

She then began blabbering more about Baekhyun. About how her father married his mother when she was five and he was six. Growing up, they weren’t really aware of the fact that they weren’t literally twins, because his mother always dressed them in matching outfits and always told people they were twins. It wasn’t until Rayna was eight, that she figured out about her family and that her father was actually hers while Baekhyun’s mother was his. She told me that she and Baekhyun were inseparable. They almost never fought and could confide in each other without feeling judged. She told me that he was the best brother she could have asked for and that he was her best friend. She didn’t have to say it, but I know what she really wanted to say about him: she loved him, and missed him very much. I asked her if she wanted to go visit him and her family, and she stared at me for a moment. Her eyes had softened drastically, but hardened after my request. The powerful Rayna returned, and she snarled a sharp no before storming out of my room, cutting our conversation short.

I think I would like to meet these eight boys, especially the three she had mentioned, I wonder if they could somehow exorcise whatever darkness is in her, and bring back the Rayna that was here before she was cursed with this power.

After he finishes reading this entry, Kris closes the book and rubs his eyes. At the rate he is going, he wouldn’t finish the journal for another month, but each entry holds too much for him to stomach at once. He can’t stop thinking about what Rayna revealed about her feelings for him. He was always aware of his feelings for her, but to make that the reason for dating Kai… and if Kai found out that she only dated him because of Kris… he’d never talk to the elder one again. Kai felt for Rayna what she felt for Kris, and his love only grew stronger as time went by. His heart would break if he found out that his feelings for her weren’t returned.

Or were they? Seems to Kris that he’d have to visit Luhan again, and see if he can find out more information about Rayna’s thoughts towards her former best friends.

But Kris knows that he’s onto something, and that Kai’s plan can very well work.

His fingers are crossed.

[kitanoko]

In which the doctor meets his match Part 4!!

Note: I haven’t updated this since Sept 2018....y’all thought you seen the last of me HAHA. Finally, things are building up ....... shinsou is also going to meet todoroki EVENTUALLY ~

Read Part 1 here

Read Part 2 here

Read Part 3 here

Warm.

That was the only thing Yaoyorozu could think of when he shook her hands and laid a gaze that lingered on her luscious, mascara-coated lashes a second too long. She unknowingly scratched little circles on the hardcover of her lacquered folder when she looked up and saw the way he’d run his hand through his hair as the two walked out of the meeting room.

It was habit that she had come to notice Todoroki would do whenever he was about to say something but hesistates. A feeling stirred inside her and her arm tensed. It was definitely Aizawa sensei’s fault for making the atmosphere so….strange now, Yaoyorozu thought. She’s going to his office straight away after to demand an explanation!

The receptionist immediately dropped whatever she was doing when the two closed the meeting door, her eyes directing at the white and red haired man. Yaoyorozu knew the receptionist was checking the doctor out and she rolled her eyes.

The elevator slid open after a short while and Todoroki waved a goodbye. He entered, hands naturally smoothing out the bottom of his suit, and pressed the door to ground floor. Yaoyorozu, catching his teeny smile the second before the door fully closed, mirrored his gesture and hugged the newly signed contract to her chest even more as if protecting it.

Yaoyorozu had agreed to conduct a site visit this Saturday (which was sort of silly since she could go to his clinic right now if she wanted to) and cradled the papers in her hand even closer to her heart.

“So he signed?” A voice rose behind her with a teasing tone and she turned to see Aizawa crossing his arms, shifting his body weight on the wall beside him. The smirk that had formed on his face wrinkled his jaw. Yaoyorozu huffed, making sure to be conspicuously annoyed.

“Yes he did sensei…but I cannot believe you! You came in and made it so awkward!”

Aizawa’s smirk did not fade. “I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t like Shinsou.”

At the mention of their rival’s name, Yaoyorozu scrunched her nose. She playfully slapped her mentor’s arm, a tint of pink highlighting her cheeks, and huffed again, earning her a light chuckle from the man.

Just three weeks ago, the aforementioned Shinsou showed up at their doorstep, asking to speak with her. Yaoyorozu was slightly weary –after all, they have never worked together before (and he’d always convince her to quit Erase) but figured if he was coming for an alleged business opportunity, she’d better hold onto the chance. The potential client was a millionaire who wanted to design a chain of malls he had just acquired. Shinsou, being the sole designer in his growing firm, decided to seek help from Erase. Yaoyorozu respected his humbleness and ambition and so had agreed to meet him.

Their discussion was great and from it she learnt a lot about Shinsou’s character. He was overall quite quiet, lips always in a thin line, and hair always disheveled (reminded her a lot of Aizawa to be frank). It was hard reading his expressions. Despite this, deep down, Yaoyorozu knew Shinsou’s passion for design shown through his work. The way he’d use his words to paint a beautiful picture of the planned end product was admirable. Yaoyorozu decided that Shinsou was no doubt a talent that she could learn from. Unfortunately, the deal busted and so they had to terminate the contract. Aizawa began to tease her about Shinsou ever since; he suspected there was something ‘blossoming’ between them but of course Yaoyorozu would scoff every time.

It had bothered her however. Recalling that every time Shinsou had come, Aizawa and the former would always politely greet each other but something about the conversations between them had displayed a familiarity between the two. Yaoyorozu never asked but she had a feeling they had known each other for a long time.

“….I knew you’d bring it up.” Yaoyorozu said, walking beside her mentor.

“Hey, I’m not the one who’s getting phone calls from that guy still.”

“Shinsou and I are STRICTLY business. ONLY.” She emphasized, raising her index finger. Yaoyorozu had met Shinsou for dinner once (on friendly terms) but she wasn’t going to let anyone know that other than her best friends. Aizawa shrugged.

“There’s no conflict of interest by the way, just looking out for my favourite student!”

“Oh please…curl back up in your worm suit and take a nap to rewire your mind.” Yaoyorozu stuck her tongue out childishly at her mentor and took a step towards her desk. She sat down and kicked off her heels and changed to her Tory Burch flats. “Feel free to ask admin to stock up on the white chip macademia cookies in the pantry, I may need some sugar for the weekend.”

Aizawa saw the spark in her eyes. “Sure, you got it,” he said and left.

Yaoyorozu licked her bottom lip and stretched, curling her toes inside her shoes. Cracking her knuckles, she straightened herself in her ergonomic chair.

The designer was starting this project with a bang.

~~

“So?” Kendou asked. She walked over to the table next to the couch to stack the Elle magazines back into a neat pile. “The designer’s going to come in on Saturday, when?”

The sun was setting, casting shadows over Kendou’s perfect bright ponytail and the streets were beginning to fill with crowds of the after-work drinking group. There were quite a few hang out dens  around this area which was something that benefitted Todoroki. He’d often meet up with his longtime friends after his shift.

Todoroki cracked his neck and leaned over the counter with a mug in hand. He was now back in his suit which had cracked Kendou right up because of their contrast. She was wearing an Ivy Park tank with leggings while he looked like he was ready to hit up a gala.

“She’s free any time but I told her to come at 3 since we’d be done by then.”

“Okay, sounds good. Any idea what it’s gonna look like after?”

“It’ll be traditional Japanese-inspired, something I’ve thought about since before our latest renovation.”

“Which may I remind you was only a year ago.”

“Right.”

Kendou cocked a brow, strolling back the other way to grab the purse locked under the front desk. “So what made you suddenly feel like we needed a makeover again? I don’t think we ever got to that.”

The doctor took a sip of his drink, avoiding eye contact.

“There’s never a bad time to make our patients feel at home you know.”

That answer was awfully suspect but Kendou knew there was no point in interrogating the doctor about it. The clinic is his after all and no one but him would know how he wanted to envision the place.

The girl looped her arm through the handles of her canvas bag. “May I also remind you that I doubt anyone’s homes look like a ryokan except for yours?”

Todoroki gave a chuckle, lips resting to a small smile. He looked almost proud. “Yes of course. I guess I wanted to make sure the patients feel like they’re at my home, alright?”

Kendou laughed. “Making jokes now are we? You’re in a chipper mood, doctor. I’m heading out. Tetstutetsu and I are getting yakitori so I’ll see ya tomorrow!”

“See ya.”

With that the orange haired girl hopped out of the clinic with a skip in her steps.

Todoroki’s shoulders slumped a little when he turned his gaze back to the front desk. His eyes landed on a nearby medical poster and he curled his fingers around his mug once more. The office was silent except for the bustle of people’s laughter and chitter seeping through the door and he casually strolled over to switch off all the lights on his right.

The phone beside the mug began to shake and vibrate, then ‘X gon give it to ya’ started booming from it. Todoroki’s brow twitched a little seeing his screen brightening.

It was Bakugou.

“Yea?” Todoroki answered in a monotone voice, lifting his phone to his ear, “What’s up.”

“I hate hearing your voice too, half-n-half,” Bakugou grunted.

Todoroki exhaled a little, chuckling, “Need me for something?”

“No..well yes. But no, not me. Harry Potter says he’s planning a surprise party for his girlfriend uh…you know, what’s her face. Purple hair girl. He wanna check if ya can come with. I don’t wanna go but I will just because I’m feeling generous.”

“What a sacrifice,” Todoroki retorted, pressing the phone between his ear and shoulder, “When is it?”

“This Saturday.”

Todoroki thought for a bit. If Yaoyorozu came around 3:30, he’d be able to make it.

“Sure.” The doctor grabbed his mug and swallowed the last drop of Milo, “Who’s going and when’d you become Kaminari’s secretary.”

Bakugou cursed into the phone. “Fcking bitch is having a panic attack about his cake or whatever that sludge he’s baking. Fcking even gave him the recipe and helped him with most of it and he can’t even squeeze icing properly.”

“You? Baking?” Todoroki said incredulously, “Never thought I’d see the day when you’d bake.”

“For your record, I can fcking C O O K.”

“Yea, I definitely know now.”

Todoroki heard a weensy bit of Kaminari’s whining at the back and Bakugou grunted again.

“Bring some peeps if you want, the dolt over there wanna fill up the apartment, though it shouldn’t be that fcking hard since it’s a two by two square.”

Todoroki gave a half-hearted hum. “I’ll think about it. But tell him I’ll be there.”

“K, bye.” And with that Bakugou hung up. Todoroki stuffed the phone back into his pocket. Walking to the bathroom, Todoroki rinsed his mug in the sink. His reflection caught his attention, seeing his Tom Ford suit reminded him of Erase.

Yaoyorozu.

He eyed the ceiling a bit and back to the mirror in front of him. Fixing his collar with a tug, a thought sprang like ripples on water.

He wondered, would it be crazy to invite her to Jirou’s party?

~~

“JIROU, IM GOING TO PLAY THE MOVIE!!” Ashido’s shrill voice startled Yaoyorozu and the latter quickly turned to her friend.

“We have ears you know.”

Ashido gave a small ‘hehe’ and Jirou snarled at her when she appeared behind the couch. “And some of us have REALLY sensitive hearing.”

“Sorry, just making sure you don’t miss anything. I love this movie!”

The three were chilling together in Yaoyorozu’s house with fuzzy pyjamas and slippers. The fleece blanket that Yaoyorozu so adored fell across Ashido’s lap and Jirou plopped a bowl of popcorn overloaded with butter between them.

“Extra extra greasy?” Ashido said as she stuffed a bunch of popcorn in her mouth and Jirou repeated after her.

“Yes, extra extra greasy. I’m scared for all our arteries.”

“Just do 3 laps tomorrow and you’ll burn it all out.”

This was the designer’s usual entertainment, her friends’ constant bickering.

“….or we could ask Dr. Todoroki for some advice.”

At his name, Yaoyorozu coughed out half-chewed kernels, eyes watering. Jirou quickly handed her water, though her hands were shaking from laughing at Yaoyorozu’s immediate reaction.

“Oh, so now we can’t even MENTION his name?” Ashido guffawed, kicking her legs up and down as the movie’s opening song began to fill the air.

Yaoyorozu squinted her eyes. “I’m going to kick you guys out if you keep at it.”

“Ashido started it!”

“No I didn’t! WAIT SHH the movie!”

Jirou tottered her legs on the couch for a bit as Shrek 2 began and stood up, “Wait can you pause, I have to go washroom.”

The pink-haired girl flicked a popcorn at her and licked her fingers before reaching for the remote. “Ugh why didn’t you go earlier. Fine, we’ll wait.”

When they heard Jirou slide the door to a close, Ashido quickly leaned over to the designer who was leisurely skimming through ASOS.

“Ohh! That top’s really cute Yaomomo! But wait I need to tell you something.”

Yaoyorozu reeled over at her friend who was acting suspicious as if she had a secret and put down her phone.

“What is it?” She asked confounded.

“Kaminari and I are planning Jirou’s surprise Birthday, it’s going to be Saturday.”

“Oh sounds fun! Where?”

“It’ll be at his place, can you bring some snacks?”

Yaoyorozu grinned, “Of course I can. Anything else you guys need help with?”

Ashido twirled at lock of hair playfully. “Nope I think we’re all good. Show up at 7, we’ll all hide and wait for Kami to bring her in.“

“I have a client to see right before but I should be there on time.”

Seeing the way her friends’ eyes glistened, Yaoyorozu could tell she knew who ‘the client’ was.

“Oh…come on, bring the doctor.”

“What! I’ve only talked to him twice. That’s absurd. He would think I’m interested in him.”

“Hey, all relationships starts off with friendship of some degree. Fine, bring Shinsou then.”

Yaoyorozu rolled her eyes, “No and no.”

“Aww…come on…we need some hotties in the room, well other than us of course.” Ashido burst out giggling at her own humour, “I did hear that Kaminari’s bringing a bunch of his friends over so it’ll be sooo much fun, I can’t ---“

“WAIT..she’s back!” Yaoyorozu whispered and the two girls quickly retrograded to their previous positions. Jirou walked in, not suspecting a thing.

“So ready for some Shrek?” Ashido asked, reaching out for the glass of lemonade slicked with condensation. It was a good thing Yaoyorozu and her had fast reflexes.

Jirou jumped back onto the couch, “Yup, ya betcha!”

~~

Watching her work so precisely and meticulously, he found himself feeling as though he was intruding. Yaoyorozu was prisoned in focus – perhaps in her own world where nothing mattered except to make her designs come to life.

The doctor was curious, careful eyes admiring how she’d measure every obscure thing in his office. Every angle should direct the audience to a certain highlight, Yaoyorozu had explained. He just nodded as if he understood.

Todoroki made sure to give her enough space so she can do her work.

“Mm, maybe if I put that over here…” The designer muttered to herself, tapping her chin. Forming dialogues in her head while working was a habit of hers.

Todoroki noticed Kendou mindlessly wiping her computer monitor, but the receptionist’s gaze was towards the designer.

“If you keep that up, your monitor’s going to break.”

Kendou snapped out of it and smiled sheepishly.

“It’s after hours, you can go you know.”

“Oh I know,” Kendou said, now directing her gaze at him. She walked closer and whispered, hand cupping her mouth slightly. “I remember her now. She’s gorgeous, I can’t believe she’s so talented as well. Ugh, look at her dress, I want that sense of fashion.”

Todoroki shifted his attention to the designer. Yaoyorozu was donning a tight crew neck black top with an A-line skirt painted with bright patterns. Her hair was up in her usual pony tail though it looked curlier than usual. Large round hoops hung on her ears, glinting gold, while the watch she had on was one with classic black leather straps.

“Hm.” Was all Todoroki said.

Kendou huffed. “Oh you boys don’t know what fashion is.”

The doctor ignored her snarky comment, hands shoved back into his pockets and began to walk over to the woman who was now packing up her materials.

“So, I assume everything’s done?”

Yaoyorozu swiveled around, finding herself staring into gunmetal and cyan. His minty breath too close.

“Um---“She ended up stuttering, taking a step back, “Yes, almost! I’ve got what I need for the most part, I will be coming back quite often however. What’s your schedule? I’d suggest 2 months of closure so by mid-October at the latest?”

“That sounds good.”

The clock on the wall read exactly 5 p.m. and the designer found herself feeling relieved. Plenty of time for her to go back home and freshen up before the party. Kendou was now waving her goodbyes and heading out, leaving the two lost for words at each other’s company.

Todoroki rested a hand on his neck, scratching the area right around the nape and exhaled.

“Are you busy tonight?”

The woman puckered her lip.

“Tonight? I have plans with my friends.”

“…I see.” His chest sank, though keeping his voice light. Nonetheless the woman could sense the disappointment.

“Is there something you wanted to do? If you want to talk about the project, I’d be happy to discuss.”

Todoroki shook his head, the little pieces of white hair hanging right between his brows. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh.”

Things went quiet between them again. The rustle of Yaoyorozu’s purse that squished between her arm was the only distraction before the designer decided to head off.

“Thanks, I’ll see you—“

“Soon.” He finished for her in haste and meekly smiled at his outward response. Yaoyorozu reciprocated the gesture before the phone in her purse began to vibrate.

“Sorry I have to take this.” The woman said, pushing open the door. She added cheerily, “Bye doctor!” With a wink she left, the last sound of her heels’ clicking echoing away.

Though he was slightly disgruntled at his failed attempt to invite her to Jirou’s party, Todoroki’s heart skipped a beat. Not that it was his first time hearing anyone call him doctor. But what was it that made her saying it so….enticing?

[hockeybabestars]

New Year, Same Us - Auston Matthews - Eight

a/n: im going out of town for a football game/visiting friends this weekend and i’m not bringing my computer so i thought i would post this early for yall!! thank you to every person who has been keeping up with this story and liking or reblogging! you mean so much to me! i hope yall enjoy the longest chapter of new year same us, to make up for the shortest in chapter seven (yikes!) we’re almost through with this story yall! we have a lil flashback in this chapter! (in italics) and finally have the prompt that started it all! (in bold)

September 18, 2018

Austons P.O.V

“Aus?!” She yelled from her room. “Are you almost ready?” 

I had been ready for 20 minutes and was sitting on our couch waiting for her to finish up. “Yeah I’m ready now!” I rolled up my sleeve to get a better look at my watch, “are you almost ready? It would look really bad if my plus one made us late.” I snicker as I heard her heels clack, the light to the hallway going off simultaneously.

 I got up from the sofa as she entered, and boy, was I going to have to keep an eye on her tonight. She looked stunning. The light pink dress cinched her curves in all the right places, and her hair was in waves. She was like something out of a dream. She didn’t bat an eye as she went to the kitchen looking for the keys. I came up behind her and dangled them in her face, and before she could snatch them I pulled them away. She reached for them again but I held them behind my head, and suddenly she was all too close to my face. I glanced down at her lips, wanting to kiss them badly but then I quickly diverted back up to her eyes. “You look stunning (Y/N).”

I could feel her breath hitch against my own lips and the minty flavor of her gum hit my nose before she smiled genuinely, her signature smile where her lips tilted a little crooked at the corners, and it made my heart flutter. “Thanks Aus, you don’t look too bad yourself.” 

She stepped away and we did a once over of our apartment, making sure we didn’t forget anything. I grinned and opened our front door for her, watching her walk as she went. I locked the door and we went down the hall towards the elevator, “just out of curiosity,” she toyed with a strand of her hair, eyes flicking up to me through long lashes, “how much did your suit cost?” She was smirking at me and I couldn’t resist really. “Wanna bet on it?” The elevator dinged for us to get on and she rolled her eyes, “do I even have a choice?”

“No use fighting at this point babydoll.” I flashed her my signature smirk as the floor indicator ticked down.

“Does that really work on girls?” She played.

“Apparently not on you.” I laughed but deep down I kinda hoped it did.

“It’s because I know you better than you know you.” She stated matter of factly. She did though. That was the scary part. We hit the first level and strolled out, before she added thoughtfully, “did you want it to work on me?”

I felt my cheeks flame, and was thankful she was walking slightly ahead of me, “uhh,” I faltered before gaining my confidence back, “depends on if you wanted it too.” 

She stopped for a split second, giving me a chance to catch up before she continued walking, this time leaning into me a little bit, “maybe.”

My heart jumped at that, “Still wanna make that bet?” I opened the car door for her. She thanked me and I hopped in the drivers side.

“Am I betting high or low.” She gave me side eye as she buckled her seat belt and we were off.

“What do you think?” I grinned. There’s no way she gets this. “Do you know your suits? What brand am I even wearing?” I smiled. 

I could feel her eyes on me as mine were on the road, and she reached over and ran her finger down the lapel of it, feeling the fabric. I tried to concentrate on the road but she was leaned over the console examining the details of my suit, looking for anything that would give away the designer or price. I needed to think fast, I could tell this would be a long night already and it hadn’t really even begun. 

I swatted her hand away, “hey stop it! that’s cheating.” I smiled and looked over at her as we hit a light. She placed her palm flat against my chest as she mocked me, pulling her lower lip into a pout. I could feel my heartbeat pick up and surely she could too.

 “Just seeing what I have to work with Aus.” The nickname melted off her tongue like butter and really I only like it when she says it anyway. The light flashed green and I grabbed her hand off my chest, entwining our fingers together and resting them over the middle console. “I’m betting high, what like $7,000? Is that too much for a suit? What is it Gucci? Aren’t you like their poster boy or something?” 

I laughed at her accusations and she squeezed my hand a little too hard. “Ow! Jeez woman that hurt. Those are my money makers!” 

She swatted at me again, “sorry not sorry. Isn’t like half your closet Gucci or something. I feel like I should know this but I’m really drawing a blank here.”

A smile crept up onto my face. She’s cute when she’s thinking too hard. She always over thinks or over-analyzes everything. It’s like it’s written in her DNA or something.

She looked over at me and I attempted to keep a straight face, “it’s Gucci isn’t it.” I nodded. “$7000 close?”

I kept a tight lip. She turned towards me, “it’s fuckin higher isn’t it!!!” Her voice raised towards the end and I burst out laughing. 

“$10,000.” Her jaw dropped, “what do I get since you couldn’t guess it?”

“I can’t believe you spent $10,000 on a suit.” She was in awe, “that’s like a trip to Europe, or a down payment on a car, what are you psycho?”

“Are you really belittling me right now?” I chuckled, “you guessed $7,000 that’s just as high!!!” 

“Yeah but-“

“But what? $7000 okay to drop but $10 is too much?” Her face went blank as she tried to process it and I howled as her eyebrows knit together. She was something else.

“I hate you.” She fought to keep the smile off her face.

“Your mouth says otherwise.” She covered her lips with her hands as we pulled up to the venue, she finally pulled them off as we valeted the car. And as we walked into the rustic barn I elbowed her a bit, grinning wildly, “seriously though, what’s my prize since you didn’t guess right?” 

She linked our arms as we tried to figure out where we were sitting and smirked at me, “Bragging rights.”

“I bet we could make it a little more interesting.”

“Oh of course you bet huh.”

“You owe me a dance.”

She pouted. “Aus-“ 

“Nuh-Uh. We’re dancing later, it’s the least you can do.”

I can tell she wanted to press me further but instead she just nodded, “Okay.”

“Wow, I didn’t think that would be this easy. I need to win bets more often.” I knew how much she hated dancing. It was because she had two left feet and literally tripped over herself on any normal day. She didn’t like to embarrass herself. The truth was, she wasn’t a bad dancer at all. She could dance fine by herself, especially after a drink or two. But she was clumsy enough that partner dancing wasn’t really her thing. I always try to get her to at weddings and events but she doesn’t budge. She's stubborn as hell, but it’s why I love her. She doesn’t change for anyone. Not even me. I always ended up finding some random bridesmaid to dance with at these things, but tonight she was mine. 

We wandered further into the barn stopping for a few pictures together before the ceremony as Paige snapped away on her phone and a film camera as well. Mitch and Steph found their way to us too and soon enough we had group pictures with the six of us, then guys, girls, and finally as we finished up it was about time to find our seats. 

The Tavares wedding was really going to be something. Greenery was everywhere and there was a modern feel to their set up even with the more natural elements. I put a hand on (Y/N)’s lower back and guided her to our seats on the grooms side. We were in the middle back and slid into the refurbished white bench with ease, the rest of our group following suit, filing into the row after us. I wrapped an arm around the back of (Y/N)’s seat as she crossed her ankles, leaning into me while we waited for the ceremony to start. A comfortable silence settled over us and somehow both our free hands found each other on their own accord. Soon enough she was playing with my fingers, clasping and unclasping them, tracing the outline of my hand and holding our palms up to watch our hands align. It was something we had done plenty of times before. Whenever we got bored or were watching Netflix or at family events. It was inevitable that our hands would meet. Her hand was a lot smaller than mine, and we quietly played a game of thumb wars before the loud chattering settled down. I could hear the preacher say to rise, so I gently grabbed her hand in mine and lead her up. She was still leaning into me as we waited for the bride to make her way down the aisle. 

John and Aryne chose to say their own vows although short and sweet. It was nice. Being here, celebrating them. (Y/N) was the perfect wedding date. She was classy and reserved when needed but could definitely open up and make conversation with anyone who approached her. And soooo many people approached her. Which was crazy because she was the plus one. But that’s just (Y/N), stealing everyone’s heart the way she stole mine. 

It had to be obvious at this point. I thought my incessant flirting and annoying her every chance I got would be enough to give her the hint, but apparently not. I thought that living together was another sign that maybe I was kind of into her but she just took it at face value since it was the most logical option. I think I really realized how I've felt this past May. I mean, it was there all along, but I didn’t admit it to myself until then. She started hooking up with some random guy at college, and when I walked into some kid in our apartment it made my stomach lurch. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that sick in my life.

I had talked to her earlier in the day. We were on a long road trip in the west and I was excited to get back and see her. 

It felt like maybe things had been changing between us lately, and I wanted to get back and test the waters a little just to see if she even felt a tiny bit the same. It was easy with her. I missed her like crazy, constantly texting to see what she was up to, and sending snapchat updates of what the boys and I were doing, just because I knew she would send a picture back and I could see that gorgeous face again. 

Our flight was delayed because weather in Toronto was pretty bad.  And we didn’t end up landing till pretty late. I texted her when we landed at 12 that I would be home soon. I never got a response so I figured she was asleep. 

What I didn’t expect, when I came home at 1am on a Saturday, was some random guy going through the cupboards in our kitchen with just his boxers on. 

“Uh who are you?” I had a sour taste in my mouth.

The guy looked up from his position on the floor, going through the bottom cabinets and I swear almost shit himself. “Oh my god you’re Auston Matthews.” I frowned. Oh jeez a hockey fan, how rare in this city! He shook his head in disbelief and stood up, walking over to me and put his hand out for me to shake. I took it, begrudgingly. “I’m Reese, it’s really nice to meet you, although I never thought it would be like this.”

I scoffed, but he didn’t seem to notice. He found (Y/N)’s post it notes on the kitchen island and pulled one off handing it to me, “do you think you could sign this for me?”

“What the hell is going on here? Reese I thought-” (Y/N) ‘s voice sounded a little groggy, like she might’ve been sleeping, but when she came out of her room, only clad in black lace underwear and a t-shirt I presumed to be his, my breath caught in my throat. One because she looked damn good. And two because she was wearing his clothes and practically nothing else. I felt a fire in my chest. I swallowed hard and tried to remain neutral. 

When she finally realized I was home her eyes went wide. “Oh, uh, hey Aus.”

“(Y/N) you didn’t tell me your roommate was the Auston Matthews.” This guy was still here?

She uncomfortably glanced over at me. Yeah me too. “Uh roommate? Try best friend.” I said smugly.

“I didn't see a reason to bring it up.” She said. Ouch that hurt.

“Sorry Reese bro, but I’m gonna have to ask you to leave, I really need to get to bed and I’m sure your friend (Y/N) here can fill you in on all the dirty details later. Have a great night.” I walked past them and into my room, shutting the door. Trying to get ready for bed without my head exploding from everything that just happened. I waited until I could hear him leave before I went and knocked on her door.

“What Matthews?” I opened it slightly and peered in, leaning on the door frame and watching her fix her bedding a bit, now in another old t-shirt. 

“Matthews huh? Can I come in?” She nodded and crawled under the white comforter patting the spot next to her. I sat down on top of it before rethinking this whole situation. “Actually can we go to my room?” I wasn’t really comfortable that they just fucked in here and wasn’t too keen on sitting in the bed that someone else got to touch her in. 

She nodded and as I grabbed her hand, I felt tingles. I didn’t dare to look behind me as I lead her to my room. We crawled under the covers and sat against the headboard.

 We stared up at the ceiling a bit before she turned to me. “You’re so dramatic.” 

I looked over to her and I could tell she was slightly upset. “But I know that’s not exactly the most fun thing to come home to and I’m sorry.”

“S’okay. Were you ever gonna tell me you were kinda seeing someone?” My jealousy got the best of me, and I couldn’t help but let it seep into my voice a little as I ask.

“No not really, you never tell me when you do...So.” She shrugged, and I tilted my head back a little, groaning.

“You don’t tell people we’re friends either?” It sucked knowing that maybe she was ashamed of me for whatever reason. I always told everyone about her. I loved to talk about her and how proud I am of her for working hard in college and her internship which she officially secured, and just being the amazing, kind hearted person that she is.

“It’s different… I- I don’t tell strangers or people I just met or at least until I have a grasp on their personality. I stopped doing that a long time ago. I can never tell if they want to be friends with me, or have a relationship with me, for me or to get to you.” 

“Oh.” It sucks, but it makes sense.

“Oh. Is right. Also I don’t want people to be up either of our asses if they're just clout chasers.” She smiled, shaking her head as I laughed, “Just not how I want to spend my time.”

I sighed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kick him out, that was just weird and I wasn’t expecting you to have company and-“

“Auston. It’s okay. I should’ve warned you in some way, or gone to his place. Maybe this whole thing could’ve been prevented. I’m the one who’s sorry. That situation was pretty awkward.” I don’t want her at some guys place. I want her with me.

I grabbed her hand and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. My stomach churning as I did so, “Stop worrying. Don’t be sorry either. We good?” She nodded and entwined our pinky’s. “Always.” And with that she slipped out of the darkness of my room and back down the hallway to hers. And my heart ached with every step.

Maybe I wasn’t doing enough, maybe I just needed to be upfront. 

I took a swig of the beer I was drinking and set it back on the table as I watched her converse with Steph, Paige, and Aryne, Probably complementing the bride on her gown and the allure of the wedding.

Pretty soon we were eating steak, mashed potatoes and wedding cake, and my stomach was all too full when the bride and groom shared their first dance. I looked to (Y/N) to see her swooning at John and Aryne adoringly. She was facing the back of her chair, hands resting on the back of it, and chin resting on her hands. “Don’t you just love those two together?” Her nose crinkled. It was really cute.

I stood and held my hand out to her as other couples started to join in on the dance floor. She looked up to me, eyes slightly glazed from her glasses of champagne, but I knew she was at a good level. Sober enough to make good decisions, buzzed enough to have a good time. “Are you gonna dance with me?” My heart felt like it was racing as I waited for her answer.

She took my hand so I took it as a yes. I lead her out to the dance floor, Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran coming on as we stopped in the middle. She wrapped her arms around my neck and my hands settled on her waist, pulling her close. My stomach churned with nerves and a little bit of excitement. I looked down at her, her head on a swivel, looking everywhere but me. Other people are looking at us and her brow knit in confusion. Her hand was burning a hole where it was placed flat against my chest. 

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” I touched her forehead lightly, then bringing my hand back down and wrapping it around her waist securely.

She looked back to me, eyes widening, “It’s nothing.”

“You know you can tell me anything right?” I tried, pulling her back into me as she slowly tried to pull herself away. “That’s what friends are for. And hey, quit trying to leave me!” I laugh, grinning. “Were kind of in the middle of that dance you owe me.”

She smiles back softly but glances around the room again, this time almost self consciously. “It’s just that… I don’t know- I don’t really know how to say it without sounding weird.”

“Are you okay? Is something wrong? You know nothing you say will ever sound weird to me? I’m pretty sure we’ve been through it all.” I leaned my forehead against hers and try to ease her mind but she seems so off. I don’t know what happened because everything seemed normal when we first got here.

She took a breath and pulled back a little looking right at me, “Everyone thinks we’re a couple.” I could see the nerves riddling her features and it made me curious as to why. It’s not what I was expecting, but it made me grin, “I know.” 

“You know? It doesn’t bother you?” Her nose scrunched again.

“Should it? Does it bother you? I mean, personally I think I could do worse as far as fake lovers go, but…” She playfully shoved me and we fell right back into place, swaying as the song went on melodically.

“It really doesn’t bother you?” She seemed unsure, but avoided my question nonetheless, looking up at me as if the only answer I could give would be yes. That it does bother me. And that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I shrugged trying to play it cool, “why would it bother me?”

 “I don’t know…” She looked away, back to the surrounding crowd as the song changed. “You’re Auston Matthews.” She huffed. “You can get any girl you want. Wouldn’t people believing that… we’re an item… wouldn’t that get in the way?”

I grabbed her hands in mine, looking down at them. She instinctively clasped them together and my heart warmed as I glanced back up at her. “That’s just the thing.” We had stopped dancing at this point, and I’m pretty sure we were in the way of people trying to dance, but I didn’t mind. “You don’t see me as the Auston Matthews. You never did. You just see me as Auston Matthews, your extremely good looking and talented best friend.” I smirked.

“Way to ruin it.” She laughed.

I gently pulled her closer, “you see me as the dumb kid who broke his arm at your eighth birthday party, and the horrible friend who spilled punch on your prom dress, and the annoying son of bitch who always tries to force you to dance. You never see me as someone who’s untouchable,” I grab her hand and place it over my heart, “you always touch me.” She looked as if she lost her breath, eyes swirling with emotions. She carefully removed the hand that was over my heart and stood still for a second. She looked back up to me meticulously, “let’s get some air yeah?” I let my hand rest on the small of her back and nodded as she lead the way out, one step ahead of me. My heart was pounding in my chest.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the little piece of privacy that we had out here. The air had turned slightly cooler, and I could see her shiver a little, although she would never admit she’s cold. I shrugged my suit jacket off anyway as we walked along the outside of the barn. The sun was starting to go down and the chill in the air picked up. I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders, and used it to pull her in closer to me. 

She muttered a thanks and I sucked in a breath. Now or never Matt’s.

But she turned to me sharply, beating me to the punch, “you can’t just say stuff like that you know?” 

“Why not?” Her eyes met mine and the wary look on her face told me what I needed to know. I know what she’s thinking. And she means more to me than anyone. She must know that. She has too.

“You could never get in the way of anything (Y/N).” I tucked a lone strand of hair behind her ear as her eyes sparkled and flickered up to mine. “It doesn’t bother me because I don’t want just any girl.” I toe around the subject, hoping she can figure it out before I have to say it outright.

“Well, what do you want Aus?” I want you. Don’t make me say it. Don’t make me ruin a good thing (Y/N). I don’t want to lose us.

My eyes flicker down to her lips. I close my eyes and lean in a little, nudging her nose with my own. Slowly but surely closing the gap between us. I could feel the electricity radiating off her, our lips barely touching before I heard a voice coming from the door. We broke apart, wide eyed, hearts racing, both looking to see who joined us outside.

Kappy looked drunk. And Paige looked like she was dying from laughter. They spotted us and made their way over. I looked back at (Y/N), her cheeks flushed and managing to look anywhere but me, although my arm was still wrapped around her. She leaned into my touch as they approached.

“Youuuuu guyssss.” Kap slurred and Paige just seemed to notice the position we were in.

“Uh Kappy needed some air, but I see you guys did too.” She grabbed his hand and tried to lean him into her for leverage. “We’ll just let you guys have some privacy.”

(Y/N) turned her face into my shoulder as Paige tried to shove Kappy back into the reception. I looked down to her and laughed. She did too, bringing her face out of my shoulder. I would’ve tried to recreate the moment but it seemed like it was lost as she grabbed my hand and tugged me back inside. “C’mon Aus, we should get back.” And I had no choice but to follow.

[nobodies-png]

ORG XIII Bullet point lists win. Instant follow. Have you already done a thing about when you [reader] play with their hair. BC BIH I wana get my fingers on Xaldin's sideburns!

hIS SIDEBURNS ? ?  wHAT AN ICON - okay but a lotta dudes in the org have long hair and oH BOY IM JUST HERE LIKE O O F, loVE ME SOME MEN WITH LONG HAIR

also big soz for the inactivity, i’ve been trying to get a lotta drafts done to fill up the queue and empty the askbox wheeze

Xemnas :

You must have balls of steel if you can ask the s u p e r i o r if you can play with his hair without stuttering - but nonetheless, you manage to do it! And you don’t seem to be in any trouble, considering Xemnas’ intrigued grin. “Go on, then” he’d tell you and you’d just stay there unsure like “Uhhh for real ? right n o w?” He probably gets a kick outta this, seeing how far you’ll go before chickening out (like a c o W A R D).

But you’re way too curious to figure out how the fuck his hair works to back out now. While you occupy yourself unraveling the m y s t e r i e s, he’ll merely watch - maybe chat with you . You know how pretty much everyone has a personal scent ? This guy lives up to his title, cause he’s got none. His hair is also super thin so you feel like you’re just trying to grasp n o t h i n g.

Xigbar :

The first thing he does is nudge your side, jokingly asking you shit like “aren’t we a bit too old for that cutesy shit?” while untying his ponytail and making himself comfortable on your lap. W h a t ? It’s not fair that you’re the only one having fun, right ? You can’t help but just roll your eyes at his smug sneer - maybe you should’ve chosen s o m e o n e else for this.

We know how Xigbar is. He’s not gonna shut the fuck up no matter what you do or how many times you ask him - so you just end up having some s a s s y friendly banter, with you pointing out his grey hairs or giving him ridiculous styles while he pretends to be offended. It’s an overall fun time ! Until he refuses to move from his spot on your lap because he’s “too comfortable there”, that is.

Xaldin :

The chances of him willingly letting you get your way are lower than Demyx’s motivation to work. Unless it’s a life or death situation, he’s not going to let you play with his hair - the trick is to ask him when he’s too busy to actually realize what he just agreed to, catching him by surprise. A promise’s a promise, dude, can’t go back on one !

Unlike many others, he won’t let his hair loose just so you can have the pleasure of playing with it. Xaldin will probably give you like 10 minutes cause he has better things to do than to watch you use his hair as a moustache. If you’re brave enough to go for the sideburns, he’d p a n i c and get slightly flustered cause that shit tickles - but he’d try to endure it until you’re done.

Vexen :

I’m torn between Vexen never noticing whenever someone touches his hair cause it’s suuuper long and he just doesn’t give two fucks about it. Or him being hella aware of it cause LONG LOOSE HAIR IN A LAB IS A DANGER HAZARD AND A CATASTROPHE WAITING TO HAPPEN. So I g u e s s I’ll go with the l a t t e r.

Vexen is used to having his hair toyed with because of Zexion (the boy could be a little r a s c a l when he wanted) so he’s not even surprised when you ask him. Well, okay maybe a little. He’d tell you to do as you please, as long as you don’t distract him from work - in the end, he’d enjoy the feeling of your fingers running through his hair ! Maybe he’ll let you do that more often. Y’know, for s c i e n c e.

Lexaeus :

Lexaeus has no problem letting you play with his hair. His only concern is finding a decent position for you to reach his head, without him having to b r e a k his back bending or you having to do some sick parkour. Once that’s settled, you can do whatever you want while he just silently observes or solves one of his puzzle thingies.

Even though neither of you are talking, the atmosphere it’s pretty pleasant and lighthearted. Sometimes you just call out his name from time to time, to make sure he hasn’t fallen asleep lol. Like Luxord, Lexaeus also thinks this situation is kinda comical - like come on he’s the biggest dude in the Organization and here he is, having his hair played with.

Zexion :

At first he’d be startled and cower away in surprise like “e x c u s e me?? WHAT are you doing ?”. Like he’d gladly let you play with his hair, but he’s not used to people touching him so suddenly - just try to give him a heads up the next time. At first it’ll be awkward, cause he just c a n ‘ t stop fidgeting around, extremely aware of the sudden intimacy and closeness of the situation. No he’s definitely not blushing, get some g l a s s e s.

It might take some time for Zexion to get used to it. Mostly cause he feels so n a k e d with the other half of his face exposed - He’ll have his nose buried in his lexicon to avoid eye contact. I can see him totally warming up to the idea and just letting you mess with his hair while he reads a book outloud for the two of you.

Saix :

If you try to ask for permission, Saix will probably say no, so just go for it and pray that he rolls with it. Surprisingly, he does ! Well, more like he hasn’t bitten your hand off - yet. If he’s in a bad mood, prepare for some q u e s t i o n i n g. A half-assed smart sounding explanation will do the trick. If he’s in a good mood, he’ll let you do your thing as long as you don’t distract him too much.

Most likely to purr or just make barely audible b u t hella cute little noises when you play with his hair (i’m getting Saix Puppy flashbacks now, great) You could probably get away with making little cute braids and he won’t notice at all. Try not to be in his field of vision once he does cause he’ll go b e r s e r k on your ass and take away your hair fiddling privileges.

Axel :

Kinda reluctant. He’d poke fun at your eagerness to play with his hair to cover the fact that he’s KINDA embarrassed about this. Probably will let you have your way but only if you two are alone at the Clock Tower - he doesn’t want Xion or Roxas to try and imitate you if they see you. Like come on, there’s a r e p u t a t i o n here to mantain !

Thanks to the latest KH3 trailers we’ve confirmed that his hair is not just a bunch of deadly spikes stuck with hot glue to his head, but instead it’s S O F  T. So yes, playing with Axel’s hair is f u n - even with that permanent scent of fire and burning wood he emits. He likes to see what kind of new style you can come up with. Manbun ? Pigtails ? Braids ? Valid. He’s partial to the low ponytail and will often wear it around the castle.

Demyx

Will strongly refuse at first - mostly cause he puts a L O T of time and gel ever day to perfectionate …whatever the fuck his hair even is. And he doesn’t want you ruining it ! With enough nagging and puppy eyes, Demyx will eventually give in and let you do whatever you want. Okay but his hair has a w e i r d texture with all the products he uses ?

Your hand will probably get stuck there too, so you better wait until like, he takes a shower to wash it all off. THEN you can just play with that fluffy mane. Demyx looks like a completely different person with his hair down, so he’ll be a bit hesitant, afraid you’ll laugh at him - but then he’d discover that he l o v e s when you play with his hair ! He’d pester you to do that whenever you two hang out cause it’s so relaxing.

Luxord :

His first reaction is to just laugh. Well, y’know not a full blown laugh but like a Polite Amused British Chuckle™. W h a t could you possibly want to play with ? He doesn’t have crazy long hair like most of the members in the Organization so he finds this kinda silly - buuut if you’re up for a quick game, he might just indulge you. Only if you win of course.

…Obviously, he lets you win. But you c a n ‘ t really complain about it cause now you get to play with his hair ! Huzzah ! Luxord is a talker, so he’ll just ramble on and on about how endearing and funny this situation is, joking about how lucky you are to have this privilege and b l a h b l a h. You don’t have to worry cause you’ll soon start to hear his light snores.

Marluxia :

Marluxia takes pride in his hair and overall appearance, so he k n o w s how badly you wanna play with that p i n k fluffy mane. If you’re gentle, he’ll gladly grant you the honour of touching it, enjoying your little surprised gasps and hearing you mutter things like “so fluffy and soft !” under your breath. It doesn’t matter if you’re his S/O, he’ll never tell you his secrets !

But he will give you some unsolicited tips and advice on how to take care of yours cause that’s just how he is. His smug and condescending attitude slowly dissipate as he starts to relax, though. Like the others, he m i g h t start to doze off while you do your thing, but Marluxia will try to keep up his cool façade - brushing you off with the excuse of being busy, with the sleepiest expression on his face.

Larxene :

Y e a h - No. Larxene refuses to be seen without her iconic hairstyle, she’ll let you play with those w e i r d antennae she’s got going on but that’s it. Take it or leave it. You don’t know if this is just normal or if she does it on purpose, but sometimes you feel a little s h o c k whenever you reach out for those two strands of hair. But hey, you’re the only one allowed to get that close to Larxene so, kudos to you.

You c a n, however, play with her hair while she sleeps ! Don’t worry about waking her up, she’s a heavy sleeper. Unless you come in banging pots and shit, she’s not waking up any time soon. Larxene will unconsciously lean into your touch, her face visibly softening while you mess with her thin locks. Just never tell her that you do this or she’ll forbid you from entering her room ever again.

Roxas :

Roxas is c o n f u s e d, he’ll move away on instinct and ask if you were trying to pull a prank on him or if you stuck something to his hair. When you tell him that you just like playing with it because the spikes are fun to touch, he’ll pout and get slightly flustered - but will let you continue anyway. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to mess up his hairstyle, it always returns to it’s original s t a t e. It’s like m a g i c.

Since you started doing that, he’s noticed he has been paying more attention to his hair. Roxas never cared about appearances, but the fact that you like something so specific as his hair pretty much inflates his ego a bit. He’d put a little bit more care into it, spending more time in front of the mirror every morning - lowkey hoping you’d notice.

Xion :

Also confused, but instead of stopping you, Xion would imitate your actions - twirling one of your locks around her finger with an amused smile on her face. After a while she’d innocently ask “what exactly are we doing?” and you’ll have to explain the entire concept to her between laughs.

When you tell her that you like playing with her hair, she’d totally blush and feel a bit self-conscious. What if your hands get tangled in a knot or something ? Did she brush it properly ? Wait - She doesn’t even have to with how short it is ! Maybe she should try letting it grow - But yeah, Xion would l o v e this. She’d sit on your lap or between your legs letting you make little braids and whatever while you two chill and talk during breaks.

[aala-13jellychocolate]

Odious Love (Part 6)

This gif is not mine.......

Author: I’m still very new to writing so I hope you all will forgive my mistake and grammar too. I'm so sorry for the late update, I have been a little busy.

Pairing: Junmyeon x Reader  

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Smut, CEO! AU  

Summary:  

Suho and you were sleeping together for the last 3 year. You were in love with him but he was not. He just wanted to depend upon someone emotionally. You were okay with it, you wanted to be with him in whichever way you can. You were not his girlfriend but he never treats you less. One day he got married to other women because of business. You thought everything was over between you two but he came back to you. He spends his wedding night with you leaving his wife all alone.    

Part 6

You were facing toward Suho, he looks angry at the same time worried, his eyes were locked on yours for some moment, then he looked at his mother and said, “How did you call my employee here without my permission?” Mrs. Kim said, “Why do I need your permission for anything? Anyways, as you are here to let us discuss the date.” From beside him, he took the small glass vase and throw in the corner of the room and said with fury, “I’M TELLING FOR THE LAST TIME. IM NOT GOING TO MARRY HER. THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY MARRIAGE.” He looks toward you and said, “Did you take my permission before coming here? How many times I have told you to take my permission whenever my parent calls you. Now let’s get the hell out of here.” You stand motionless. He came to you, hold your wrist tightly and hauls you out of the mansion. You were heartbroken, but you didn’t cry.

You both were back at his penthouse as soon as you entered, he tightly wraps hands around you and said “Princess, it was nothing. Trust me, please. I didn’t tell you because I’m sure there no marriage happening.” You try to get free from his hold, seeing to your struggle he let go. You were not in the state of mind to say or hear anything. You run into a guest room and close the door. Suho keeps banging his fist on the door and calling your name again and again. You put a hand on your mouth, sit in the corner of the room and silently keep crying. When you were done crying, you get up and open the door. Suho was sitting on the ground on the opposite wall, waiting for you. He looks up when he sees you coming out of the door. You go and sit next to him, put your head on his shoulder and said, “Do you remember what did you tell me after I confessed my love for you?” He put his head on your head and said “I won’t be with anyone else. ‘It is not a relationship, but I will never cheat and I will be only your’ I remember it clearly.” You sit up straight and said, “If you were telling me earlier is the truth, please come to me after she is gone.” You stood up and said “Suho, I’ll be waiting for you, but first I want her gone. I won’t be able to bear her sight.” He gets up too, put hands on your shoulder and ask “You don’t trust me enough? When I’m saying she is no one. Princess, there is nothing between me and her. She somehow got information about my mother, but I handle it.” You took both of hand on yours and said, “I do trust, but she makes me uneasy.” He understands you and tells everything. He promises you, to find the way out of it, not to leave and trust him. He also promised not to touch you until she is gone. After knowing everything, you were uncertainty, but you still believe what Suho promise and keeping fate at him.

The day was passing nothing coming out, your bed becoming cold and colder alone. Your neighbors also make fun to see you more offend. Between all of this, your birthday comes, keeping up your fake smile, you spend the day with your parents and friend, but your heart aches because Suho didn’t even wish you. Pain in your heart keeps growing day by days and Suho seems more and more stressed. You wanted to cease his stress by saying ‘let’s just end everything between us today’ or 'I will stay as you keep me’ but your voice was stuck inside you. There were not any conversations after that day, you keep working beside him like before but still feel far away.

Again, you were at the mansion but this time with Suho and Youra was there too. Mrs. Kim and Youra set the date, inform Youra family and happily discussing further. Suho stays quiet all this time. Mrs. Kim asks you to help with the arrangement. You try to say 'No’ but end up saying 'Yes’. Afterward, Suho drove you home, during the road you keep looking at him, he didn’t say a single word. You reach home, go straight to your bed and cry.

From the next day, you were working more making sure you are tired, go home and just sleep. You were hoping by a miracle this marriage is stopped and Suho comes back to you. Unfortunately, engagement day comes. Everything was perfectly set, media to the guest everyone has arrived. Youra was first to enter and go to the stage, she looks the unbelievable beautiful now everyone waiting for Suho. 30-minute passed but Suho doesn’t arrive, part of you got happy thinking he is not coming, he must have found the way out of this marriage. Mrs. Kim also seems tensed, after more 10-minutes, Suho entry with Mr. Kim looking perfect, he smiled toward people around him. It hurt you, more he smiles more you draw yourself in the corner. Suho goes to the stage, his mother’s announcement the engagement and his father's announce the company’s new investment agreements. You cannot be there anymore, you just left. You messaged Mark saying you are not well.  

Just after 20 days after the engagement announcement, the wedding date was set. To move your mind and heart away from it, you started to overwork. You cannot sleep anymore, every night seeing the nightmare about them being happy and you are just watching them, so you clean your already cleaned apartment. If you stay without work for even a minute you start crying. Your health started to decrease, but you did not care about it.  

Your mother comes to visit you, seeing your condition, she made you take the holiday from work and took proper care of you for 3 days. Your mind was not working, you cannot cry at home because of your mother, your pain was bottle inside. Seeing your different behavior, your mother keeps asking 'What is wrong?’ you just tell her because your boss is suddenly getting married there is a lot of work, which was partly the truth.    

Mr. Kim called you in the mansion to give you a few important files. He asks “Y/N, are you taking your medicines properly?” You look up at him and said “I don’t need it anymore, I’m all good now” He laugh shortly and said, “You are not good at lying.” You give him a puzzled look and says, “You are not ‘All good’. Anyone can see it.” He pushes and continues "I’m sorry on behalf of my wife, she has given you the extra burden of handling this marriage. Just more 5 days after that you can take proper rest. I’ll make sure you get the proper holiday.” You nodded and said, “It's going to be difficult to get a holiday, I doubt Mr. Junmyeon will give permission.” He said, "Are you forgetting I’m his father.” You smile, nodded and say “Thank You, Sir” He stares at you with wide eyes and said “Sir? You are calling me 'Sir’. I guess you are really tired.” You look down to hide your awkwardness.  

After the meeting Mr. Kim, Mrs. Kim called you to dress designer’s office, Youra and Suho were there too, to see the wedding dress fitting. Again, she looks too beautiful in white grown and Suho look handsome in the tuxedo next to her, like the perfect couple. You hardly keep your expression in control, pain in your heart was ready to leave from your eyes any time. Youra calls you and said to click the picture of both of them on her phone, Mrs. Kim pushes you forward. You click the picture and look at it, it was perfect, both of them smile of magnificent. You had enough, while they go and change, you excuse yourself. You cannot go home because your mother is there, she cannot see you crying. You keep walking and silent crying. After walking for hours, feeling tired, go home, got fresh and sleep hugging your mother.

Next day your mother goes back home, it gives you relief some extent. Only 4 days were left for the wedding and you need to be alone so you can cry at least in peace. Everything changed in just a few days, Suho who was crazy for you but now he didn’t even speak directly. And you couldn’t even look at him, scared to see happiness or any kind of love for Youra. He didn’t even a message and ask you ‘How are you?’ when you got sick and took holidays, maybe he already started to forget about you. After thinking you decide to leave everything and go back home. It would be good for you, you cannot stop being jealous of her or stop loving him ever and Suho the right to fall in love with her, she is prefect matches for him.

The next day you and Suho were working late. You complete your work in your place while Suho was inside his office. You waited and build up the courage. When the clock shows 10 p.m. somehow you knock at his door, he asks you to come in. You stand in front of his desk; he didn’t look toward you busy in a file in front of his eyes. You said, “Mr. Junmyeon, I have something to say.” He didn’t look up, just keep working. You keep the resignation letter on the desk and said “I want to quit this job” His hand stops moving, still didn’t look up and roar “Y/N” You sigh and said “My parent want me to come back and stay with them. After your wedding, I can leave.” His hands start moving again and he said, “You have to give 6 months notices before leaving you to know the company policy and……” You cut him and said “Junmyeon, please. I have to go. Please, I’m beg……” He cut and said, “Leave when you find the replacement for you.” You nodded and said, “Thank You, Mr. Junmyeon.” It was so easy for him to let you go, so he did fall for Youra. You nodded and left the office. It all ended where it was started three and a half year ago.

Time was really going slow but the wedding day comes, you check preparation and Guestlist before going home. The wedding was at 6p. m you were leaving by 4p. m, not have an inclination for seeing marriage. Your team member coming toward you, Mark said “Wow, you look too good in jeans and an old T-shirt. You should have told me if this was a dress code of the wedding.” Jimin added, “Anyways, we don’t have any enthusiasm to be in this wedding.” You just rolled your eyes on this comment. Jia innocently said, “I wish you were marrying our CEO.” It hurt you hard, making your heart break all over again. Aera lightly hit her shoulder and said “Shhh!! You want to go jobless. Don’t mark useless comments.” You hand over the guest list to Mark and said, “His 8 friends are coming, you just have to attend them and other guests will be handled by the hostess.” Jia said “Y/N have you seen all of them. I have heard they are too handsome” She gives a cute smile. You said “Yup, I have seen all of them. More 3 are there, they couldn’t come and yes, all of them are handsome” Mark ask “Y/N are you really okay? You look …. Disasters” everyone looks toward you. You smile and reply “Nothing, just tired. I didn’t get good sleep whole months” Mark gives you side hug and said “Don’t worry about here. Just take good rest” You nod. Jimin said “Y/N last thing I want to ask. Why we have to work tomorrow?” Every one of you pouts but no one has an answer for it. Suho is not giving a holiday, saying he will also work the next day after his wedding too. You haven’t told about your resignation, tomorrow morning you will inform, you were going to miss all of them, they are good friends and have supported you a lot. You said ‘Bye’ and left.

You reach home and hope for time pass quickly; you were not at the wedding but by heart, you know the details of what time what will happen. As soon as the clock shows 6 you become hysterical. Sit in the corner and keep watching toward clock want to reach 10p. m soon so everything will be over, every passing second you remember memories and regret not saying a proper goodbye. If you have let him touch you for the last time, the last kiss, the last date would have been better. Crying and remembering a thing, you closed your eyes new imagination cross your mind, their first night it made you more miserable than you were. Now you want this night to get over anyhow, without breaking your heart and mind more.

------//-----  

His princess left him alone, he knew it was not her fault, if he had told the truth from the being, she would never leave his side. He knew them both were right in their place. He starts working harder to keep his promise to her, find any weak point of Youra or her family. It was something his father can help with; he every day go to the mansion and ask his dad for help but he refuses. His princess still taking care of him, silently still it comfort him. Her birthday comes, whole day he was aching to wish her and give her a gift but he couldn’t bring himself to due to his date with Youra again, it was making him guilty.

He is failing, the announcement date is fixed and Y/N was there at that time, he can clearly see her pain, he also felt pain in his heart. He drove her back to her apartment, whole while she was looking at him, he didn’t have the courage even to say sorry.

From next day she becomes vex; she was working more than required. When regular work gets over, she finds an old file to read. On the announcement date, he got a clue his father knows something. Youra reaches stage but he didn’t go and wait for his father. After a long argument, he got on his knee in front of his father and said “Please dad. I cannot, I don’t want to marry her.” His dad said “Right now if you cancel, our goodwill will get hurt. We will talk about it later tonight. For now, go to the stage and let the announcement happen.” It gives him relief; he believed his father and he smile. He went inside the venue smiling, he has some good news to tell his princess and have her back to his arms.  

After the engagement announcement without his knowledge his father announced an investment plan in each other company, it made him furious. He was looking for Y/N but nowhere to be found. Mark told him; she went home, he cursed himself for smiling like an idiot and hurting her. His father calls him at the Mansion afterward and told him, he has to marry to Youra, tell him how the whole company and his mother will get hurt if he doesn’t. Again, the long argument and then nothing. He challenges his father, he will find a way out of this mess before the wedding, his father warns him he cannot do anything as he never been manipulating a person. He hires the private investigator to dig dirty of Youra and his family.

He was seeing his princess distraction and he couldn’t do anything about it. She is losing weight and her make-up was getting heavier day by day. She was not doing the work properly; everything was full of the mistake. He wants to scowl, her for it, but looking at her damaged state, he couldn’t bring himself too. He didn’t understand why she took a job to handle this wedding and hurt herself more. It really worried him when she got sick and took 3 days off, hardly she uses to take one day off no matter how sick she is. He Thanks God because her mother comes and saves her a little. He was angry at himself for hurt her like this, he was not showing although he was in more pain than her.

He was being careful not increasing her pain, but unfortunately, his mother called her to the designer’s office. She was kept looking down, again and again, to stay in control. Youra being imbecilic, she asks Y/N to take their picture, it made him angry, but he couldn’t do anything considering his father warning to keep smiling until he finds the way out of this marriage. By the time he changes and comes back, Y/N was gone. He sends his mother and Youra off and goes looking for her. He sees her walking; he also walks with her from distant after hours she went back home then he did too.

He was working late tonight. First, he corrects his princess mistake in all of her work, then he looked at search result which private investigator has given, nothing major comes out of it, it was showing all small mistakes which have no meaning compared to his mother sin. Y/N come into his office, he didn’t look up, she said “Mr. Junmyeon, I have something to say” he didn’t look up, just keep working. She put an envelope on the table and said “I want to quit this job” It made him still. No, it cannot be happening, how I’m supposed to leave without even seeing her. He said her name in disagreement. She made an excuse to leave after my wedding, he is not going to allow her to leave and said, “You have to give 6 months notices before leaving, you know the company policy and…..” She cut him and said in the pleading voice “Junmyeon, please. I have to go. Please, I’m beg……” he cut her and said, “Leave when you get the replacement for you.” For now, he agreed, he cannot argue right now. When she left, he looked at the time, it was the same time and the same place everything had begun years ago, it cannot end like this.  

He was looking out of the window, seeing his princess was working around the wedding venue. Suddenly thought run on his mind, if Y/N was the bride he wouldn’t have any issues to get married, earlier he never likes the idea of marriage. After failing, he can only do one thing, if he ends up in the hospital it will halt the drama but how? In frustration, he grabs his hair, his father entry his room and said “If you thinking about hurting yourself, it is useless and I don’t think I teach you to choose the easy way out” He rolled his eyes and huff. He didn’t a look toward his father still looking at her. When Mark gives her side hug, he got extreme jealousy. He knows nothing is between them. He didn’t have a good look at her and someone else is already being touchy. His father said “Only two hours left. Start getting ready” He saw her leaving from the venue, he turns around and said “What do you know about Youra family? And why are you getting blackmailed? I have never seen you get manipulated by anyone before” His father huff and said, “After everything you still don’t want to get married?”  

He said a rough voice “No. I never wanted or want to. I’m telling you from the start and stop avoiding the question”

“Have you forgotten you are talking with your father. It is best for everyone, this marriage is best for us.”  

“What is good for me?”

“Suho, they know too much about us, we don’t have any choices here”

“But you know how to stop them, then why?”

“My wife is on a stake; her image is at stake. You should be happy, Youra is a nice girl, even after knowing everything she respects and loving your mother”

He laughs and said “Is this a joke? You both cheat on each, don’t show me your fake love and CEO floor know about it, none of them disrespected mom”

“SUHO STOP NOW. You will get married to Youra end of the discussion. I tired of saying the same thing again and again. Now, get ready” His father reaches to the door, he said “If I go ought this marriage, forget you have a son” His father ignores it and go out, shutting the door behind him.  

He got ready and waiting, a tear leaves from his eyes, thinking about his princess, she must alone in heartbreak. Someone knocks on his door, he wipes the tear and said “Yes” His father said “Come down in 5 minutes and don’t try to pull any stunt” He got up and go down.

While the marriage process was going on, his mind was full of thought. All the ritual was over and the ring was getting exchanged. When Youra leans for a kiss, hardly his lips touch her, he pulls away, it’s repulsive him. Now he wanted his princess anyhow, he cannot stay away, he doesn’t want to, even if she hates him, he would never let her go.  

After a really long time he was seeing his 8 friends, they congratulate him and like him like a business person, not as friends. He doesn’t know how to feel, leaving him every one of them stick together and it hurt, only Y/N know how he feels about them. Around 9:30 his need at this wedding got over. He gets away from the guest’s eyes, removing his tie and throw it on the ground, ready to leave. Mr. Kim calls him “Suho, where are you going?” He smirks and said “Junmyeon. From now onward it is Junmyeon, I told you if I do get married to her, you lose your son. And I don’t care about anything, anymore. I will do whatever I want.” This drama was watched by his CEO floor employees and his 8 friends but he doesn’t care and leaves.  

He drove his car and reach her apartment. He was a little afraid to knock at her door. Her neighbor came out of her place and said “You are Y/N boss. I heard you got married today, congratulations” He just nodded. She asks “What are you doing here on your wedding night?” ‘I want my Princess’ he thought, but don’t what to say loudly, Y/N opens the door. He saw in her eyes, he remembers his jealousy, his pain, his need, and unnamed emotion. He couldn’t control himself anymore, her neighbor again said “Excuse me, what are……..” he didn’t care. He cupped his princess' face and kisses her; she immediately kisses him back and her hand lock around his neck. Her neighbor must be stock by seeing the passionate kiss but they didn’t care. He pushes her inside her apartment, not breaking the kiss, one hand tightly wraps around his waist, pull her body on his and other closing doors behind.

[leelee10898]

Born to Love you: Spell bound (1/?)

Leo & Alicia, what really happened....

This is from the CGW(Cordonians gone wild)universe. A collaborative effort by @ao719 @speedyoperarascalparty @cocomaxley @riseandshinelittleblossom and myself.

If you have not yet read the original when Leo met Alicia, you should do so. References will be made from that, and events will coincide with it. You can do so HERE

Santorini

Leo opened his eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. The sound of ringing coming from across the room. He jumped up digging through his pants. “Hello? Liam is that you?”

“Yes its me, where the hell are you?”

“I'm not really sure at the moment?” He held the phone between his face and shoulder,  tugging his jeans on.

“What do you mean you don't know where you are? I thought you were in Santorini.” Liam sighed, Leo could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose, which made him chuckle at the thought.  “I am, I just don't know exactly where or who's house i'm at, right now.”

“Jesus Leo. Look, i'll be there April 9th to come get you. That gives you a month to get your shit on order.” Leo looked at the phone confused. “for what? Ooooh, the wedding,  right. How long you need me for again?”

“yes the wedding. Your the best man Leo. Look if you don't want to do it, I can always ask-”

“NO! I told you, I want to do it Liam. I'll be ready.” Leo heard shuffling outside the door. “Hey, I gotta go Li, I'll talk to you later. And i'll be ready for the wedding, don't worry.” Leo hung up the phone, he slipped his shoes on and pulled his shirt over his head.

“oooo a wedding, I love weddings. I could be your date.” The woman spoke as she walked in the room. “yeah, you're not going.” Leo snorted as he grabbed his leather jacket. “Where are you going?” she asked. “This had been great and all monica, but it's time for me to move on.”

“But my names Beth.”

“Monica, beth, susan… all the same.” He shrugged and walked out of the room, Beth following him out. “But I thought we had something special, that maybe we would end up together.” Leo spun around, one hand on the door knob “Look. Beth. Its Beth right? I don't do relationships. Never have never will.”

“But what if the right girl came along, what if i'm her and you just walked out on true love.” she pouted.

“I have been around, trust me if she's out there, I haven't met her yet.”  He opened the door and left.

Bronx, New York

“Hey Nitah, How's the wedding planning coming along?” Alicia walked down the dimly lit street, she had just closed up the bakery for the night and was headed home with dinner and desert for Mark.

“It’s going! It’s so hectic! I can’t wait for you to get here!”

"I know, I can't wait either. I need a vacation, like stat! Seriously like now would be great."

“I need a vacation too, from all of this planning. Do you have any idea what goes into a royal wedding?” Anitah dropped her voice to a whisper, “some of this shit is so ridiculous.”

"No, but I will find out whenever I get there." She giggled.

“Speaking of when you get here, I’m going to be coming to get you on the 7th.”

"The 7th? The wedding isn't until June, so i'll be staying for 2 months?"

“Please! I need you here,” Anitah whined.

"Um Fuck YES! Absolutely! I will be there. I will need to take care of some stuff for the bakery but, it's not a problem. Oooh I can't wait." Alicia couldnt help but grin.

“I’m so excited!” Anitah squealed. “I already told Liam you were coming. He’s very thankful,” she laughed. “Um...are you bringing the dick head with you?”

"I will have to ask,  you know he doesn't want me to go without him. But, I could use a vacation from him too.”

“Well I purposely sent your invite without a plus 1 option,” Anitah snorted.

"You're such a dick. Hey, I just got to Marks apartment, im gonna get off here. But Anitah, Thank you. Love you. "

“Love you too!”

Alicia ended the call, pulling out her key to marks apartment she walked inside and flicked on the lights. “What the fuck?” she screamed dropping the bags on the floor.

“Alicia, shit. This isn't what it looks like.” mark put a throw pillow over himself.

“Then what the fuck is it Mark? Because it looks alot like you fucking someone else. And fucking Tessa? Seriously dude, you're supposed to upgrade,  not fuck clown school rejects.”

“Hey! You can't talk to me like that.” Tessa yelled.

“Shut the fuck up Tessa before I punch the dicks off your brows.”

“Alicia. I'm sorry I don't know how this happened. I thought you weren't getting off until 10.”

“Yeah well got off early. I brought you dinner.” she opened the container of ziti and tossed it all over tessa.

“What the fuck Alicia. You're crazy.” Mark screamed.

“Oh you haven't seen crazy. Here enjoy desert.” She smashed the whole cake in his face. She cocked her arm back and extended it. Fist connecting with his face.

“Fuck, I think you broke my nose.” Mark held his face.

“oh. And you have a little dick. Enjoy it tessa. Were through.” She slammed the door and took off for home.

Cordonia....

Liam walked in from the veranda as Anitah ended her call. “So Leos in.”

“Alicia too.” Liam sat down giving her a kiss.

“you think they'll get along?” Anitah asked as she leaned into him. “well, Leo's a sexed crazed playboy, who cant stay put in one place for long.  Is Alicia anything like that?” Liam chuckled.

“Definitely not. She's been with her current thing for about 2 years now.” Anitah putting extra emphasis on the word thing. Liam chuckled. “it'll be fine love, don't worry.”

One month later…

“Seriously Alicia, you've been sleeping for days, let's get a move on.” Anitah sighed sitting on the bed. “i'm done in the shower, just let me grab my bra and shit.” Alicia yelled as she ran out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Anita's phone rang, facetime from Liam.

“Hey you. I thought you had meetings today?”

“we wrapped it up early. Im at Leo's hotel room, or dump, which every you want to call it.” Liam scrunched his face. “Haha.” Leo shouted from the background.  

“So what I was calling you for, was to let you know I'm coming home today. Well, that is if Leo ever gets his shit together.”

“Really? Yay! I'm so excited. Don't get me started about not being ready.  Were supposed to go shopping if ALICIA STOPS RUNNING AROUND IN A TOWEL.” she turned behind her yelling. “im working on it, shit.” Alicia called out.

“Who's running around in a towel?” Leo rushed to Liams side.

“Anita's friend is getting ready, they are going shopping. Will you get away.” Liam slapped Leos hands “Just, let me see,  I want to say Hi.”

Leo wrestled with Liam trying to get the phone,  he put him in a headlock, grabbing the phone and running to the other side of the room. “Heeey, there's my favorite soon to be sister.” Leo said out of breath.

“Ah hey Leo, um is everything ok? Where's Liam?”

“Oh yeah everything's great. Liam's um, over there. So your friend-” Liam darted across the room tackling Leo to the ground.  

“Liam!” Anitah shouted

“I'm trying here.” He called out as they scrambled for the phone.

“What the fuck is going on?” Alicia pulled a pair of jeans on looking at Anitah.

“oh, Liam and his brother are fighting over the phone. That's all.”

Liam grabs the phone.  “Sorry, i'm pretty much dealing with a horny teenager.” Liam chuckled as Leo snatches the phone. “So as I was saying before.” Alicia stood next to Anitah. They couldn't see her face, just her front half.

“Ooh they sound like fun,  Hi Liam's brother.”

Leo stood there stunned

“Shirt. Shirt!” Anitah hollered.

“Oh fuck.” Alicia ran off grabbing her shirt, pulling it on.

Finally Liam tackled Leo to the ground, knocking the phone out of his hand and through the open window.

“You broke my phone Leo.” Liam snapped.

“No, you broke your phone when you tackled me. That's on you.” liam rolled his eyes.

“So, you've seen this friend? What's she look like, she had nice tits.” Leo smirked as he continued putting clothes in the suitcase.

Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. “For fucks sakes Leo, NO. You're forbidden.”

Bastien entered the room, sir Anitah is on the phone. Liam gave Leo a pointed look, leo stood there and smirked. “Hello?”

********

A couple hours later Leo kicked his feet up on the coffee table in Liam and Anita's quarters. “So, what's on the agenda for the lead up to the engagement? Since you guys aren't doing a tour that is?”

“well a few dinners, balls, galas, charity events.  A garden party or two.” Liam folded his hands on his lap, an amused grin in his face as he watched his brothers face fall. “ugh Liam, this is the shit I ran away from, can we do something fun?” Leo groaned.

“Well, Anitah is planning a bachelorette party, we may be able to fit a few trips in before the wedding.”

“Alright, now we're talking.” Leo perked up rubbing his hands together. Bastien entered the room “Sir, we got a call. Anitah is at the bar, the guard assigned to ger can't get her to leave.” Leo snorted,  Liam gave him a pointed look.

They walked into the bar immediately finding Anitah. Leo noticing the woman sitting with her.  It was like time slowed, he felt immediately drawn to her. “Who's that sitting with Anitah?”

“Thats Alicia her bestfriend…” thats all Leo heard, he blocked Liam out almost instantly as they walked over to where the women were.

Alicia turned, her eyes locking with the brightest set of blues she had ever seen. She mumbled some stupidity she instantly regretted. God, He was sexy. His lips, his eyes, that cocky grin that sent a tingle through her body. There was something about him, a feeling she couldn't shake. Nothing bad, all good.

Leos breath caught in his throat,  she was beautiful from a distance but up close, she was breathtaking. The way her long brown hair flowed over her shoulder, those deep chocolate eyes that he could see himself getting lost in. Her full lips and that Gorgeous smile that met her eyes. She said he was hot, god he wanted to tell her she was hot to but the sight of her rendered her momentarily speechless,  a feat no woman had ever accomplished.

He took her hand placing a soft kiss on it. Both of them feeling a jolt pass through them as their eyes locked.

“I'm Leo.”

“I'm Alicia. Nice to meet you, Leo.” ........

I was a wild child between lost and found. Then you spoke my name, it was a sweet sound. - Lanco

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