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asleep-in-the-keep-sideblog · 1 year

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Asleep In The Keep: A DP x BNHA fic

Summary: A tired hero goes to a café (and some other stuff happens)

Word count: 5149

Chapter 20: I Need Some Coffee...

20/?

There was a new person working at Shouta’s favorite coffee place. This wouldn’t be unusual in any other establishment, but the old man who ran it was very particular about who he let in the back.

A few years back, the place was under investigation for possible ties to the black market as well as aiding vigilantes. A customer reported that they saw a well-known local vigilante go through the back entrance of the store, and a few days later, the same one was seen with new gear. There was other circumstantial evidence as well. Background checks revealed that all the baristas were past vigilantes that had already been caught and processed. However, the owner, Tanaka Masaru, a “quirkless” 67 year old, had a clean record, too clean, not even an overdue fine. There was no doubt in Shouta’s mind that the identity was fake. In the end, Shouta wasn’t able to find any concrete evidence on the coffee shop, and since all they had was circumstantial evidence and 1 eye witness, the case fell apart and was closed. The police department did not pursue it after that since there hadn’t been any vigilantes pop up in that area. Well… except for one.

Shouta has been coming here since then, it was on the way to school and they (surprisingly) made really good coffee. The owner was eccentric as well. Sometimes, Shouta could see him in a corner making little figurines and dishes, mumbling and laughing to himself, which ruined the peaceful atmosphere of the shop. Shouta wasn’t mad about it though, more of slightly annoyed whenever it happened. There was a tall shelf covering a wall that was home to the figurines. Most of them were past vigilantes, little animals or regular customers and staff (Shouta even had one up there). The ones on the top were the oldest and most intricately made, while they got less and less detailed as the shelves went down. The store also sold cups and mugs that were in a similar fashion. They were really expensive, but the craftsmanship was worth it (Shouta even had one or two at home).

Recently, a kid posted on social media about the place, and since then it has become a trendy spot with the youths, at least that's what Shouta heard. Fortunately, it was 5 AM and so no kids were even alive yet. Shouta could enjoy the quiet atmosphere while he waited for his coffee. He probably shouldn’t be having any more coffee today since he just finished up a long night’s search. Last night (or earlier this morning if you wanted to be technical), was the first lead he got since he started his investigation. Phantom was a tricky one, and his quirk was great at quick getaways, but he was young and one day he’ll make a mistake. But Shouta doubted it was gonna be today. He may as well listen to his husband and actually catch up on sleep. His schedule was still clear since his kids were still at internships. He heard Midoriya had even gotten out of the hospital a few days ago. Problem child…

Shouta’s fingers tapped impatiently on the table. All fantasies of sleep washed away like soap. He needed coffee. Shouta had entertained the notion of quitting before in the past. He has had so much coffee in his life that he suffers withdraws without it. He has been considering buying patches, but he loves the taste and ritual too much to stop. That’s what he said about smoking too. It first started after Oboro died, a way for Shouta to slow time and try to breathe it in. In the end though, it only made things worse. Now he drinks coffee.

He looked over at the new barista as he made his coffee. His order was simple and always the same; a simple black coffee. Impossible to mess up, but amazing when done right. The kid, whose tag said Tommy , looked to be struggling and Shouta could smell burnt coffee beans from past orders. When the kid checked him out, he gave one look at Shouta before saying that he didn’t have to pay anything. Shouta was shocked to say the least, but he didn’t argue. Free coffee tastes better than bought coffee, that's why he wasn’t worried about the smell. He wondered why the kid didn’t charge him, maybe he just recognized him and was a fan or something (it doesn’t happen a lot, but it does still happen). He severely doubted it.

It wasn’t just the anticipation of getting coffee that made him keep looking at the barista. “Tommy,” what a strange name in Japan. Despite his height and young age, he seemed to carry himself with a sense of steadiness that you only get after experience. Whenever he did seem to slip or mess up, it had seemed intentional, like he was trying to direct your suspicion away from him. The fact he was even working here was cause enough to run a background check. If it had been just those things Shouta would (probably), but of course, there was more.

The final nail in the coffin, and the real reason that Shouta was even studying the boy so intently, was sitting on the table in front of him. The manilla folder that Detective Tsukauchi gave him held the description of a suspicious boy that was seen before the Phantom sighting. Tall & lanky, pale skin, and blue-green eyes, which could describe a lot of the population. Again, if that was the only information provided then Shouta would look away, but then the file listed the most prominent feature of the suspect, black hair with a white stripe. Some minor but still important details were how cold and lifeless the boy was. He apparently had given the other heroes quite the scare. It was obviously the same kid. Whether or not he was also Phantom was left to be determined.

They had no understanding of his powers, except for the general ghost theme, and even that wasn’t consistent. What type of ghost is able to use ice like that? In horror stories the most ghosts could do was drop the temperature a little bit, not form glaciers able to stop explosions. Shouta had his own theories. Perhaps Phantom’s original quirk was a ghost mutation quirk, but AFO overloaded it with so many enhancement quirks (along with some new ones) that it created this tonally confused mess. If that were true, why couldn’t he have also given Phantom some minor shapeshifting quirk?

He looked at the boy again. If he was Phantom, he’d be really dumb. The café is a 15 minute walk from the alley. It will only be a matter of time before the Hero Commission checks here. Shouta rubbed his temples… Not unless he told them otherwise. The Hero Commission had no reason to believe that he would mislead them, except for his affiliation with UA. Fortunately, Principal Nezu had the foresight to set Shouta up as more loyal to the Commission than UA in the years prior. Shouta wasn’t proud of the things he’s done, but he couldn't argue with the results.

Suddenly, he heard a loud shout behind him, and the wet sound of someone spitting on the ground.

“What the hell is this shit?!” A large man with really nice hair in a uniform blasted out. He marched over to the counter that divided him and Tommy, and yelled even louder , “You can’t expect me to drink this garbage?! I paid 1,304¥ for this and I demand a refund!” That's way overpriced, Shouta thought . What idiot buys a cup of coffee for that much?

“I’m sorry dude-” The teen held his hands up in a placating manner. He looked nervous.

“Dude?!” The man had become red, and his hair changed colors and hues to match like a fire.

“Sir!” The kid quickly corrected, “but could you tell me what was wrong with it?” The kid looked down at him, confused. He was tall, maybe 6 '1 while slouching, and easily towered over the Uneri hair spray model. It was like Shouta observed before, the kid was purposely making himself seem less like a threat.

“What’s wrong with it? What isn’t wrong with it?!” His hands started moving like crazy, spilling some of his coffee, “It was scolding hot when I first took a sip of it, it even burned my tongue!” He stuck his tongue out to prove this, it looked fine. He started ranting again, “Then when I took the next sip it was freezing cold! Honestly it was a wonder of science that that even happened-I think this should be donated to science and you with it! Imagine the kind of foreign and new technology that could be discovered?!”

“I’ll give you the refund and make you a new coffee if you like?” he tilted his head, “It will be a little wait since I’m backed up right now…” He looked around the shop which only held the three of them. Truly a master of his craft.

Shouta clenched his fists. He knew the kid could handle it on his own. A bratty customer must’ve been a vacation compared to what the kid had been through before. It was probably better to stay out of it. He didn’t want to cause a scene or alert Tommy to what he was doing and what he knew. He really shouldn’t get involved…

“It’s time for you to stop-” no later than when the final word left his mouth, had the man flung his coffee at the boy. It splattered on the boy leaving him soaked and confused, rage and a green glow in his eyes.

Shouta had a similar reaction. In no quicker than a blink, his capture scarf wrapped around the prick. He pulled it tight, and the man fell down at the ankles, hitting his head on the counter. Good.

By this point the kid had backed deeper behind the counter, staring anxiously at the rope. This is exactly what Shouta didn’t want. Too late now. He pulled the asshole along the ground, careful to make sure he bumped into every chair leg or corner. His hair dragged behind him, sweeping up dust and dirt and getting knotted. His hair was gorgeous, every wave of his head reflected the warm light of the café that gave it the illusion it was changing colors. Deep blues, vibrant reds and crisp yellows that reminded Shouta of his husband, it was honestly a sight to behold. Too bad the guy was such a dick. He yanked harder when they reached the door frame, making sure he hit his head on the door stopper. Shouta released him out of his tape as if he was flapping dirt out of a rug. The dick-bag looked back at Shouta with a rage clear on his face. He started marching towards Shouta, but he thought it was time to show off his own hair. Like a cobra raising it’s hood, Shouta’s hair flowed menacingly at the man below him. He sneered and spit at Shouta, but walked away, grumbling to himself.

Shouta let his hair back down and sighed. He was no longer angry, just tired. He turned back into the coffee shop and sat at his original table. Luckily the folder was still there. Shouta had to be more aware next time. Tommy, now recovered from the display, walked over to hand Shouta his coffee. The kid looked awkward and suspicious all at the same time.

“Thank you…for that…” Tommy was looking away and gave Shouta a short bow. Clearly he wasn’t used to it. That could be because he was isolated from a young age and so never had to learn proper manners. Shouta was 92% sure the kid in front of him was Phantom.

“Anytime kid.” Shouta nodded at him, and he went back behind the counter. He must’ve felt Shouta’s eyes still on him since he grabbed a random cup and pretended to start cleaning it, still looking back and forth at him. Shouta turned his gaze down. This is the kid that freaked out Mount Lady and Kamui Woods? Shouta almost laughed.

No. Although he may seem like a kid, he was still an unknown. Of course he wanted him to join UA and get a chance at a life he clearly never had, but Shouta had to be ready for the very real possibility that he could still side with All For One. He couldn’t let himself get attached.

Still-Shouta was glad the kid was alright, customers can be such assholes sometimes. And despite the turn of events, Phantom didn’t seem to distrust him. He could use that. He was already a regular but now he had to be extra aware to come in when he was on shift. He really wanted Phantom to go to UA, not just for the Principle.

He took a sip of his coffee and then immediately almost spit it out. Phantom’s head whipped towards him, but he was able to get it down and smiled (although it probably looked more like a grimace). Only after the boy turned around again did Shouta unclench his jaw. How do you mess up black coffee that bad? It was thick like tar and had an overwhelming burnt taste, Shouta would rather drink liquified coal.

Shouta looked up to the heavens trying to summon however much strength it would take to finish it. That strength came in a little flask he kept on him (for the hard days), and he poured some of its contents inside. He took another swig and was almost able to convince himself the sharpness came from the whiskey. After he was done, he walked up the bin to put the dishes in and laid it down like a body into a grave. The cup didn’t deserve that…He nodded towards Phantom, Phantom nodded back, and left the café.

Maybe he should switch to patches.

Zzz

After he left the café, Shouta went back to UA. He had already messaged Principle Nezu about his encounter with the suspected Phantom. The maniac responded instantly and said that he would be waiting for him at his desk. Shouta always had the theory that Nezu lived there, in his office or some hidden room in the school, maybe both.

Luckily, the school was only a 5 minute walk from the café. Phantom was really considerate of Shouta’s routine, he now didn’t have to waste 5 hours a day scouring the city for him. Maybe Phantom wanted to go to UA and that’s why he was so close, Shouta laughed to himself sleepily. The coffee from before didn’t help at all. Another thought bubbled to the surface. Or maybe he was stalking the school. It was important to see both sides. The reason Shouta chose not to believe it was stupidity. An old but still meaningful quote rang in his ears, "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" And the kid was also working at a coffee shop that was a short walk from his crime scene. If he did join UA, Shouta would have to teach him to be better aware of his surroundings. He smiled at the thought.

He made it through the building without any hassle. Some teachers liked to be there early even without the kids there. If Shouta wasn’t mistaken, they still had 2, no wait it’s a new day, 1 more day of internships left, then tomorrow to recover. Shouta would never admit it out loud, but he had started to miss the little shits, even Kaminari and Midoriya. He was about ready to expel them both for their stupidity. Midoriya because he’s always breaking something and Kaminari because just last week, he had to send him to the nurse’s office for stuffing hot sauce packets up his nose. Again. He hadn’t even used his quirk that day. Shouta was half convinced that the boy just used his quirk as an excuse. He’s been wanting to talk to his parents about making him wear a rubber helmet so he doesn’t fry the last few brain cells he has left. Shouta pinched the bridge of his nose at the prospect…

He passed by Power Loader’s workshop. The door was cracked open a little, letting smoke waft into the hallway. Students liked to blame Mei for all the accidents in that room, but Power Loader still has his mishaps. He says that mistakes lead to innovation, maybe that’s why Mei was so unrestrained in her learning. Power Loader was sitting at his work bench behind a fan drinking coffee. It was one of the rare occasions Shouta got to see more of his face. Even in work meetings he had something covering it, either his hair or a helmet. They nodded to each other, and Shouta went on his way. He had never been close with the man, seeing him more as a co-worker he was friendly with rather than an acquaintance, but the lure of coffee was tempting. He couldn't of course since he had news for Principle Nezu.

None of the other faculty members stopped him. Like with Power Loader, Shouta was pleasant with them but had no more than a working relationship with anyone in the office, except of course his husband and Nemuri, who he couldn’t escape from.

Although Yagi has been trying to get closer to him for some reason, he even brought him lunch one time. Shouta thinks it’s so he can get more information about Midoriya. He would be stupid not to notice the connection between them. Their ‘secret meetings’ weren’t so secret with Yagi shouting everything. Fortunately, he was able to lead any perked ears away from their conversations. He was pretty sure Midoriya was the next user (but he wasn’t supposed to let Yagi know he knew that). Before the pair had started at the school, Principle Nezu had informed Shouta of Yagi’s condition. He didn’t tell Shouta anything about the boy though, so it was either Nezu himself didn’t know or it had yet to happen.

Shouta was pretty sure some of Midoriya’s classmates had also noticed the connection, Bakugo and Todoroki being the main ones. Todoroki fortunately interrupted it as Yagi being Midoriya’s father, which was its own can of worms, but easy to sort out. Bakugo on the other hand seems to suspect the actual connection between the two. He was a smart kid, way smarter than people gave him credit for (Shouta just wished he used those brain cells to read a self-help book). He has recommended therapy or counseling to his parents before, but his mom seemed offended that Shouta brought anything up in the first place. Shouta would just have to help guide him like he has been doing.

He walked past one of the teachers' offices and a familiar face caught his eye. It was Nemuri. She was hunched over a stack of papers, probably old assignments from students that she forgot to grade. Today was one of the last days before the students returned and would be expecting those grades. She wasn’t the best at balancing hero work with being a teacher, but the students loved her. She scowled at the pile through her glasses.

Shouta walked faster, but he was too late. A pair of arms pulled around him from the back and wouldn’t let go.

“Shouta!!!!” She squeezed tighter around him and wiggled. Shouta grabbed her arms in an awkward hug and patted them. She let go after a moment and Shouta turned to face her. “How’ve you been? You haven’t been answering any of my texts, I mean, you usually don’t but you at least text back one word after a few days.” she teased.

Nemuri had always been a lifeline to Shouta. She pulled him out of the darkness more times than he could count. Early in Shouta’s hero career, he failed to save someone for the first time. He locked himself in his room and kept going over what happened, trying to find some way he could have saved them. He also kept thinking of Oboro, which only made things worse. He had stopped eating and not even Hizashi could pull him out of it. One day, Nemuri kicked down the door and dragged him out by his scarf. She, with the help of Hizashi, washed him up and untangled his hair. Shouta just broke down crying in the shower, wet and covered in suds. She just held him as he cried like a child. After he got washed up, she got him his favorite food and they all just sat in comfortable silence. She also convinced him to start therapy and even recommended someone. Shouta could safely say he might not be here without it.

“I’ve been doing patrols, as usual,” he responded simply. Nemuri laughed and elbowed him in the ribs.

“Oh come on! I’ve heard you’ve been training that kid from class 1-C, What was his name?” she put her finger on her chin in a dramatic pose.

“Shinso Hitoshi” Shouta walked into the office to find the coffee pot and she followed after him.

“Ah that’s right! He was the one who had the mind control quirk right? He lost to Midoriya in the 3rd round.”

“Brainwashing actually, and yes. He has a lot of potential and I think he would fit in 1-A, plus we have the same for it,” Shouta still has no idea how that one kid got into UA in the first place. Shouta expelled him the first day when he tried to peek into the girl’s locker room. That behavior was not appropriate for a hero and if he did manage to succeed, he would use his power to control women, and Shouta didn’t want that on his conscience. “I just have to find the right time to introduce him. The sooner the better before the gap is too wide, I can only do so much on our one on one time. I thought after the internships would be a good place, but then the testing got rescheduled and I don’t want to throw him into the deep end on his first day…” Shouta was thinking aloud to himself. This is a topic that has been cycling through his head for several days.

“That and I hear that your classroom is gonna get a major change soon” she winked. Of course she knew. When Shouta didn’t answer her, she continued, “Does it have something to do with your secret project with Principle Nezu?” Shouta signed.

He grabbed one of the cups by the coffee machine and poured some in. It was a green liquid and it smelled sweet. He looked over at Nemuri and she shrugged.

“I drink tea over coffee, you know this.” Shouta groaned and handed her the cup. “How generous, thank you” and she took a sip.

“I have to go talk to Principle Nezu…” He mumbled and stalked out of the office.

“Make sure to keep me updated on your class! ‘Zashi can only tell me so much!” She called after him.

Zzz

Without any more distractions keeping him, Shouta finally made it to Principle Nezu’s office. Nezu sat at his desk with his signature smile and his hands folded on the table. He was stock still, like a stuffed animal, but Shouta had gotten used to how the Principle acts to pay it much mind.

“Ah, good morning, Mr. Aizawa.” He greeted.

“Good morning, Principle Nezu” Shouta didn’t sit down, instead making his way to the coffee machine by the wall. There was a fresh cup waiting for him. He took it and eyed Nezu, who still smiled, then he sat down in front of him. “Sorry it took so long, I got distracted on the way here.”

“No worries at all. I never said a time to meet, just simply that I’ll be in my office.” Empty words. They both know the sooner the better for this kind of thing.

Shouta took a sip and gagged, decaf. It was still better than nothing. He took a seat across from Nezu and placed the coffee on the table and reached into his pocket, grabbing the manilla folder and the small baggie with the dirt he collected from the scene. Nezu took them both gently with his stubby arms.

“Detective Tsukauchi has already delivered me the folder, but this,” He held up the bag, “I had no clue of.” Shouta took a sip of his coffee, too ashamed to have kept the info from him, even if it slipped his mind.

“I collected it from the scene. It was in a dent away from the fight. It looked fresh. According to the report, Phantom was hovering over it before they attacked him.” Shouta’s fist clenched at the reminder. He wished he had found the boy first.

“And the bag itself?” Principle Nezu asked.

“I didn’t have anything else on me.”

“Very well. I shall run it through our lab to see what comes up. I can follow your line of logic in thinking that this could’ve had possible significance to Phantom, but it’s best to remain critical.” Shouta nodded.

“Of course. Now to move on to the other matter…” Principle Nezu’s back straighten even more, if that were possible, “After I completed my patrols for the night, “Nezu didn’t correct him that it was now morning, “I went to my usual coffee place where I saw a teen who looked a lot like the description of the boy from page 45, the one who ran into the heroes before the altercation.”

Nezu Hummed, “So you think this boy is Phantom?” It was rhetorical but Shouta still answered.

“I do. The way he moved and acted was also suspicious. It was clear that his clumsiness was intentional, and during an altercation between a customer-”

“He fought a customer?” Nezu questioned, his eyebrow quirked.

“No, I fought a customer.” Shouta stated. “He was being rude to Tommy, the name of the barista and suspect, and then splashed coffee on his face, at which point I intervened.”

“You seem more tired than usual, Mr. Aizawa”

“I wasn’t able to enjoy any coffee.” He took another drink of the miserable cup in front of him.

“Of course, whatever it takes to get you through the day,” Nezu teased. He had also tried to convince Shouta to stop drinking coffee so much. “Can you tell me anything about the interaction between you and ‘Tommy’”

“Our conversation at the start was quick, just me ordering a coffee,” Shouta thought for a moment, “although it was strange, he didn’t charge me for the cup.”

“Perhaps he recognized you? Or maybe he already feels a connection with you.” Nezu let out a small laugh.

“Doubtful. If he was truly raised by All For One, I would imagine him to be more disdainful or at least distrustful of heroes, especially after what happened last night. Although perhaps he also looks up to the heroes because of his father. He is a vigilante after all.” Shouta hasn’t had the time to think too deeply about what that could mean, but the more he did, the less he liked.

“Who knows,” Nezu definitely knew something and was hiding it. He would tell Shouta if it became important enough.

“I digress, shortly after I sat down the customer started harassing Phantom. At first it was just yelling and general insults, but I stepped in when it got physical. I dragged him outside and kicked him out.” Nezu nodded, “However, after the man spilled his coffee on Tommy, I noticed the boy’s eyes glow green, not unlike what it detailed in the reports with Phantom. That’s when I was convinced they were one in the same. Of course, there is always the possibility that the two are separate, but I do not think this is the case.”

“I would have come to the same conclusion myself.” Nezu agreed.

“After the altercation, Phantom handed me my coffee and thanked me. He seemed awkward about the exchange, though. I left shortly after and came here.”

“Thank you for your report, Mr. Aizawa. I hope I’m not asking you too much if you could write this all out for me with any other details you can remember. Even the most minor thing could be important.”

“Consider it done.” Sensing the meeting was over, Shouta stood up to leave. “I just have one question Principle Nezu.”

“And what's that?” His eyes gleamed.

“How many quirks does Phantom have?” The Nomu’s were no longer human after just 3, and this kid has displayed far more than that. They could be on a timer to save the boy before he was lost forever in himself.

“I do not know.” Nezu stated. Ice spread through Shouta and a weight settled in his gut. Even the principle doesn’t know? Shouta’s hands clenched into fists again. As much as he wanted to save the kid, he had to remember he was an unknown. He couldn’t let his emotions get in the way with that.

“You should probably get some rest, Mr. Aizawa. We both have a long few days ahead of us.” and with that, the meeting was officially over.

Shouta slowly walked out of the room trying to process the whole conversation. The Principle had clear faith that Phantom would indeed join UA, and so Shouta just had to trust him until proven otherwise. He hoped to whatever god that becomes a reality, for both Phantom’s and his sake. Until then, he would do his best to build his trust and extend a hand to the boy. It was his choice whether he would take it or not.

One thing was for certain, he would try to save the boy until he begged him to stop, even then he might push.

When Shouta got home, the house was empty. Hizashi was still at the studio for the morning radio. He was kind of relieved he was gone. He wasn’t ready to talk about the day he had yet. Still so many unorganized thoughts in his head. He collapsed onto the bed, not bothering to change his clothes or taking off his shoes; it was laundry day tomorrow after all, or was it today? Time had lost all meaning to Shouta a long time ago. He closed his eyes and thought about Phantom again. He will save him, even if he loses an arm in the process.

He closed his eyes and thought about Phantom again. He will save him, even if he loses an arm in the process.

“Damn it” he cursed into the still air.

He got attached.

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breakerwhiskey · 1 year

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007 - SEVEN

Please visit breakerwhiskey.com for more information or to send a message to Whiskey's radio. Breaker Whiskey is an Atypical Artists production created by Lauren Shippen. If you'd like to support the show, please visit patreon.com/breakerwhiskey.

Transcript under the cut.

[click]

Goooood morning, West Virginia. A miracle occurred this morning—this little house I’m holed up in? Somehow, it still has a working gas line. And they’ve got a gas stove.

[click]

That’s right, I had a hot breakfast this morning. And, look, it’s not like it’s been so long since I had hot beans, but I don’t know how likely this exact scenario is going to be on my travels, so I’m taking the little joys where I can.

I do have a camper stove with me, but it doesn’t seem like a great use of gas. I’ll probably heat up food if and when I’ve got to boil water, and I guess I could always make a campfire but…I don’t know, you kind of get used to cold food after a few months and even though we eventually got a decent working kitchen at the house, I think the ability to eat something straight out of a room temperature can never really went away.

[click]

I’ve never been particularly fussy about what I eat. It’s all just fuel. I did use to be absolutely dependent on coffee, but I had that habit kicked out of me pretty quick.

[click]

God, I miss coffee. Good coffee, the kind that doesn’t come in a can. The kind that you don’t have to brew yourself. There’s not a lot I miss about the “old world” or whatever you want to call it. I wasn’t exactly the prime example of the American dream or anything, but there’s a few creature comforts that I’d sure like to access with ease again. The joy of sitting down at a coffee shop. And, you know, we never got more seasons of “Star Trek” for god’s sake, it’s just, it’s really—

[click]

How is everyone else keeping themselves entertained? There’s plenty to be said for the joy of a hot breakfast, beauty in the simple things, yada yada, but come on, has anyone else been bored? There’s only so many card games you can play with two people. As much as I like fixing things up, it can’t take all my time.

[click]

Well. Anyway. Guess I should indulge today, while I can. Or for a few days even. I have half a mind to spend the rest of the week here. I don’t think the owners are gonna come back, but you know maybe I can poke around, see what can be found in the little downtown I drove through. See if anyone might be about.

If anyone might be listening.

[click]

Are you listening?

(sigh) Yeah. Alright. Whiskey, signing off.

#breaker whiskey #audio drama #episode #transcript #Spotify

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andr0medafallen · 2 years

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Green Tea Lemonade

A/N: Republishing my old fics

Pairing: Michael Perry x reader

Warnings: Playful existentialism, hipster coffee shops, fluff, judgmental baristas, overenthusiastic pretty boy Michael Perry, Michael Perry's fat ass, light swearing

Description: Hipster Coffee shops are fun, in their own way. Still, you wouldn’t mind if a handsome music teacher came and saved you from the exposed brick and judgemental baristas.

Word Count: 1.4k

You sat in the small, hipster-ish cafe as you waited for your drink. You figured that that was the sort vibe that the exposed brick and edison light bulbs nodded to. You had ordered the barista’s suggestion when you arrived, a green iced tea lemonade because ‘if you’re gonna get an upside down caramel macchiato, at that point just get a latte, dude.’ So when you asked for suggestions because clearly you didn’t know the ins and outs of overly pretentious coffee, you had quickly agreed to the barista's first suggestion.

You were a little hesitant to be going out so soon after moving to Pittsburgh, but you figure that that’s how you make friends, right? So when you saw the flyer for the open mic night at this cafe, you figured, why not? The boxes of your belongings could wait; it was a sunny Friday afternoon and you didn’t even start your new job until Monday.

You had scribbled your name onto the list of acts at the front of the room, and had even made time to find your guitar amongst the piles of your packed belongings before you left for this thing. It felt good to be out of the house, being independent in that spontaneous ‘I do whatever I want’ kind of way, but a part of you still felt like a bit of an outsider in a new city. Which, even rationally, you were.

You sat at the table which you had claimed for yourself. Strangely, the oak table was covered in graffiti. Cartoon flowers and existentialism covered the cluttered surface of the table, but it seemed encouraged by the owners of the establishment; A cup of multicolored sharpies was sitting tantalizingly at the table. You read some of the different messages which surrounded the cool condensation of your drink. ‘I am a cage, in search of a bird. 888-447-5594.’ Kafka. Interesting choice for table graffiti. You wondered how desperate you would have to be to start using a cafe table as your own personal tinder. On a scale of ‘Mary Wollstonecraft is my favorite philosopher’ to ‘that guy in college who put sticky notes on every door in my four story apartment building with his number on them’, you would probably put it at a solid seven.

You choked a bit on your tea (lemonade) when your name was announced on the speaker system at the front of the room. Not a gross amount, just a perfectly reasonable, ‘Mary Wollstonecraft is my favorite philosopher’ amount. Probably. Was in not she who said, ‘Those who are bold enough to perform in front of a very small crowd in a cafe…must learn to brave the possibility of choking on green tea lemonade’? Still, you got your sputtering under control in record time and made your way to the front of the room, guitar in hand.

You sat on the stool at the front of the room, forgoing an introduction in what you hoped was a blasé, couldn’t give two shits type of way. In reality, it was more of a, ‘God, why did I come here again? I should not have watched Pitch Perfect on the plane’ type of way. Not that you ever thought you were better than any one or cooler than anyone or any sort of embodiment of Anna Kendrick’s performance as Beca, but you were really tired. Honestly, you didn’t even feel like you had any moral superiority over Beca from Pitch Perfect. Hell, she would probably love this venue.

You finger-picked out the first few notes of your song before finding your way into a steady strum pattern and beginning to sing the lyrics and melody. You had listened to and learned to play lots of different songs at open mic night and karaoke bars, but this one was your favorite. You’d been told that it was sad and depressing and all of those lovely adjectives in the past, but it made you feel seen. And you figured that if this was the sort of venue where people quoted Kafka in an attempt to get bitches then mildly depressing music was perfectly acceptable.

It wasn’t until you had strummed out your last note that you really gauged your pseudo-audiences reaction. For the most part it was about the same as for anyone else, which was the preferred reaction in your book. Tame applause before returning to conversations. Except for this one curly-haired son-of-a-bitch who, for reasons unknown was freaking the fuck out. We’re talking those loud finger-in-mouth whistles that Dads do at little league baseball games, rapid-fire clapping, all of the above. Which, really, was flattering, sure, but who the fuck did he think you were, Taylor Swift?

You gave the man a hesitant placating smile before packing up your Martin and returning to your seat. It was an effort to avoid unnecessary eye-contact with anyone, but a worthy cause, in your opinion. That is, until Mr. Curl-of-Hair Fat-of-Ass made his way to your table. You looked up at him over your plastic cup of cheap tea, probably fake lemons, and artificial sweetener.

“I liked your song a lot,” He told you, stupid little smirk on his face, which was somehow safely on the genuine side of the line.

You chuckled. “Yeah, clearly,” you teased. You didn’t really know why, but you nodded towards the chair across from you, giving him an opening to take a seat. That’s what this was about though, right? Making friends. Your #1 fan accepted your offer, turning the chair around and sitting on it backwards, arms resting on the backrest.

“Seriously, you’re super good! I was going to play something, but how am I supposed to follow that up?” He exclaimed, running a hand through his curls. You laughed, shaking your head. He reached out his hand to shake yours. “I’m Michael, by the way.”

Taking his hand, you offered your own name.

“I do appreciate it, the compliment,” you admitted to him. “I’m kind of the new kid in town.” You chuckled a bit, blushing at your own childish phrasing. “So I guess even ridiculously boisterous applause and enthusiasm is appreciated.”

“Can I buy you a coffee?” He asked, a bold departure from the original source material. His cheeky grin when his eyes met your still mostly full drink told you everything and nothing about his personality. Somehow he kept managing to do what you would have considered the most cocky shit on any other man without seeming one bit an arrogant asshole.

“Honestly,” you looked into those warm brown eyes, leaning forward so that your gazes were level right above the wooden table and its sharpied Kafka quote, “I don’t want to be here right now.” You whispered it to him like it was a guarded secret. Like some part of it affected the fate of the world.

He matched your gaze, pausing for a moment as if considering or analyzing you. As if making sure that it was the place, and that he wasn’t making you uncomfortable in any way. “I think we can remedy that.”

You gasped, pressing a hand against your chest as if scandalized. “I don’t know what you’re implying but–”

Michael laughed, interrupting you with, “You are crazy, you know that?” You only smiled at him. Of course you were the crazy one. Shaking his head, he suggested, “Here’s a proposal, we leave, I show you the city that you clearly don’t understand the awesomeness levels of, and I finish that tea that you don’t look like you wanted.” He got out of his seat and came around to your side of the table, offering you his hand should you agree to his plan. “It’s a win-win situation.”

You took his hand, rising to his level. “Fine. But the tea is mine.” You doinked the plastic cup against his surprisingly solid arm in a joking cheers and downed the rest of the…What would be the prestigious way to put it? Citrusy blend of organic green tea, highlighted with an ethically sourced lemonade, and made more palatable with a house-made simple syrup.

He laughed at you, leading you out of the building, hands still connected, guitar scars on your hand meeting the guitar scars on his. “Deal.”

You could faintly hear the barista say “Thank God,” as you left, and knew that it was definitely directed at the fact that the two of you were no longer in her lovely establishment.

#Michael Perry x reader #reader insert #oscar isaac fanfic #oscar isaac #oscar isaac fluff

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jasperfei2 · 1 year

Text

Old friends

PhinFei fanfic!!

*warning*

This will be a lot different from the HxH canon world, and this is my first fic so it may not be written super well.

It was a hot august day in York New city, though people were still bustling the streets, and you could hear car horns from miles away.

Up in a tall apartment building lived a short man named Feitan Portor, age 28 and five years out of university, he was looking to become a business owner, his dream was to have his own company.

He worked hard in mathematics and all kinds of science to become an astronaut, since it was year 2450, everything was super futuristic but even with all of the technology no one has ever flown out of this galaxy.

It was Feitan’s goal to do that.

The short man was in his apartment room, sitting calmly at his desk to do work on his computer, not feeling energized at all even though having three cups of coffee and a fourth one on the go.

He typed pretty fast on the computer, not even having to look at keys to do so.

His head perked up a little when he heard his phone buzzing but it was all the way over on his bed.

‘why didn’t I just leave the phone beside me…?’

He sighs and reached over to grab it while his body was half off his work chair, he managed to grab his phone right before falling to his demise on the wooden ground.

He answered and puts the phone up to his ear, using his shoulder to keep it up while typing on his computer still.

“Hello?”

“Uh, hey Feitan, it’s me Phinks.” The other person on the line said.

Feitan stopped typing and then grabbed his phone, feeling a bit surprised.

“Oh, hey there, we have not called in a long time…usually when you do something bad has happened.”

“Well…nothing bad happened, don’t worry, I was calling to say that I’m gonna be visiting the city and I was wondering if you’d like to hangout?”

Feitan knew he’d say that.

They were best friends through elementary school and all the way out of high school, they practically hung out every day, staying over at each other’s house and playing video games or listening to some music.

“Hangout?” Feitan asked, with his quiet, whispery voice.

“Yeah, we haven’t done it in awhile, y’know? I wanna catch up on a few things.”

Feitan leaned back in his seat, staying quiet for an extra moment, thinking.

He guessed he should say yes to the other’s request, it wouldn’t hurt to hang out at all, and the thought of catching up on things with him made him kinda happy.

“Yeah, that sounds good, we can hangout on the weekend if you want…I will not be busy.” Feitan nods, but knowing the other couldn’t see his nods.

Phinks was on his porch while talking to him, standing up and watching the rain.

“Seriously? Great! I’m gonna be flying in on Friday at noon, then I’ll have to fly out Monday morning.”

Phinks, age 27, lived all the way out in Oregon, living in a small town in the forest mountains, he was definitely an outside kind of man, going fishing every other weekend, same with hunting, though he worked a few jobs, he works as a mechanic engineer for cars, working in a calm auto shop, his second job was something else revolving around cars, which was a Body Shop and he worked there for plenty of years now, being the manager as well.

He also owned a few horses, using them to get around in the large land of forests, he usually ride them without any tack on, and the horses just knew the way home or knew all of the trail rides by memory.

“And hey you’re still dating that guy right?” Phinks asked a bit loudly…

Feitan frowns a bit at the other man’s voice.

“No, we broke up like two years ago, Phinks.” He said in a quiet manner.

“Oh is that right? Can’t believe I didn’t know that.”

Feitan slowly closed his computer.

“Yeah, uh, it was…hard, left me here to raise a kid, and not a single ounce of child support.” The short man mumbled.

Him and his ex boyfriend got a kid because they thought they would would eventually get married and have a life together, but Feitan was wrong, a few years into their relationship he learnt that the man wanted nothing to do with him and flat out cheated on him and left.

Feitan wouldn’t want to use the word ‘stuck’ but he was left with his daughter, Lin, she was only four years old, but even though she knew she only had one parent she was a really happy kid, she went to school, having a bunch of friends, she went on field trips, and her all time favourite thing in the world was having a father-daughter date with Feitan, he usually took her shopping, or go out to a restaurant, also to go eat ice cream, but sometimes they wouldn’t even go out and spend money, he would take her out to the city park and just walk around.

Though Feitan got too many comments asking if he was Lin’s older brother, he guessed people said that because he was just short…

Phinks stayed silent on the other line, but he finally began to speak.

“You have a kid?! Damn I know nothing about you now, man.”

Feitan let out a heartfelt chuckle.

“Yeah, sudden News flash is it not?”

“Definitely is, I do not see you as a father, but whatever.” Phinks laughed a bit.

“Well, anywho, I should get going, I’m gonna get flooded with calls of people who didn’t get their car fixed in time, I’ll text you what flight gate I’m in, I’ll also text you when I land.” He said more calmly now.

Feitan looked out his window and nods.

“Sounds good, talk to later Phinks.” He smiled a bit and then hung up, immediately looking up at the ceiling and smiling more.

He contained all his excitement during the call but he couldn’t help to let it out now, he was gonna see an old friend…

Friday, at 11:30 PM, place: airport

Feitan had got up in the morning to get a shower, do his normal skin care routine and get a little dressed up.

He was nervously waiting in the airport, glancing at at everyone who walked out of the gate, he didn’t know why he felt so nervous, he was going to see an old friend who he shared everything with.

He checked the time one last time before he lifted his head up and saw Phinks walk out of the gate, looking around for the short man, though he spotted him and they locked eyes.

Phinks stood there for a moment before hurrying over to him.

“Hey.” He smiled softly, looking down at him.

Feitan looked up at him and only did a half smile, though he was happy.

“Hey.” He said back, but before he could say anything else, Phinks grabbed him and pulled him a hug, a very sincere one.

Feitan was shocked and didn’t expect it but he slowly hugged back, sighing.

He could feel all of his tension in his body just wash away,

“This is new…I thought you didn’t like hugs.”

Phinks chuckled a bit and hugged him a bit tighter.

“Hm, well you have an exception.” He said quietly.

Feitan laughed quietly before letting go.

“Ok— ok, you are suffocating me.” He patted the others arm.

Phinks noticed he was hugging him pretty tight he he let go.

“Oh I’m sorry— I’m used to hugging normal sized people.”

Feitan raised a brow. “You did not just say that.” He crossed his arms.

The taller man let out a boisterous laugh.

“Hell yeah I did! I’ve been wanting to say that for years.” He leaned back a little.

Feitan just rolled his eyes and looked away.

“You are as annoying as a remember…” He mumbles.

“Yeah is that right? At least I wasn’t as annoying as you were back in the day, always picking at me.”

“You deserved it.”

“Whatever…well, how’s life in the city? Busy I bet.” Phinks said and readjusted the back pack on his back.

“It is, really overwhelming sometimes but y’know…how was you flight by the way?” Feitan asked.

“Ugh, it was awful, I was sitting next to a really annoying couple who couldn’t get their hands off each other, and we had to land the plane multiple times because of weather…longest ten hours of my life.”

Feitan let out a little laugh, nodding.

“Yeah I know what you are talking about it, I had a two day delay when I moved here like five years ago then a kid sat behind me and kicked my chair the whole flight.”

“God yeah I hate that, I would just stand up and yell at the parents or some shit.”

“I almost did that but the mom did get the kid to stop.” Feitan let out a soft sigh, looking back at Phinks. “Anywho, uh c’mon, I will drive you to my place.” He said and started to walk to the exit.

Phinks nods and didn’t hesitate to follow him, he still had a small smile on his face.

.5:30 PM, Only a few hours have passed.

Feitan had made Phinks supper but he then said that will be the last time he will do so.

Phinks didn’t mind, he liked making his own suppers anyways.

Feitan had made soup and he was drinking it, though he heard a knock on the door which made him put his spoon down

“Oh that must be Lin.” He stood up and quickly walked to the door, to open it and let his daughter in.

Lin smiled brightly as she walked in. “Hi dad!” She exclaimed happily and slipped her bag off her back.

“We had the funnest school trip! We went to the zoo and—“

She noticed Phinks sitting at the table, she has never seen him before.

“Who’s the man at the table, dad?” She asked, stepping closer to Feitan

Feitan shook his head a bit and puts his hand on his shoulder.

“That’s Phinks, an old friend. Phinks, meet Lin, Lin meet Phinks.”

Phinks leaned back in his chair and just waved, he never really knew what to do around little kids, he wasn’t ‘scared’ of them, he just avoided them.

“Hi little person.” He said.

Lin sheepishly waved back and almost hid behind Feitan.

Feitan chuckled and looked at her.

“Do not worry, he may look really scary but he’s not.”

“Oh, ok.” Lin said and nods.

“Here— come sit at the table with us, we’re having your favourite soup.” Feitan said and he walks to the table with her, helping her up on the chair.

“Oh and tomorrow, I am gonna be busy so I am gonna drop you off at grandma’s house, ok? She said she wanted to bake cookies with you.” He said.

Lin smiled again and nodded enthusiastically.

“Yeah! I love baking with grandma!” She grabbed her soup bowl and started eating some.

“Yeah I know you do.”

Phinks stayed pretty silent, watching them, but mostly Feitan, he kinda forgot how nice the other looked, it made him feel a little more nervous now, and now he couldn’t get his eyes off of him, but once he noticed the other looked at him, he immediately turned his head, looking somewhere else, feeling kinda flustered and awkward.

His mind was racing a bit….did he have feelings for Feitan?

#hunter x hunter #feitan portor #feitan #hxh #fanfic #friends #lovers #phinfei #phinks #phinks magcub #long fic #first fic

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west-tokyo-incidents · 10 months

Text

Huzzah, the second chapter(technically the third, the last one was two that I smashed together)

---

There was a knock at the cafe door.

"We aren't open yet!" Touka groaned and glared towards the door of the coffee shop before continuing to sweep the main room.

"Someone at the door?" The manager stepped out from the back door, chuckling softly.

More insistent knocking followed by a muffled, and yet familiar voice. She couldn't understand what it was saying, though he knew the owner of the voice. Why the hell was- She set the broom aside and went to go unlock the door and let Uta in.

The sunglasses-donned ghoul grinned and waved at her, "Hello~" He stepped in, "Have you heard the news?" He pulled off his glasses and slid into a chair at the counter with a sing-song, "I was right."

"Right?" The manager laughed softly, "About what?" He stepped behind the counter and stood across it from Uta. Touka locked the door back and hopped into a nearby chair as well to listen. Uta didn't visit for just nothing, usually. Especially given that his studio was supposed to open in a few hours or so.

"Feral ghouls are making a move on the city." Uta stated matter-a-factly.

"Feral ghouls?" Touka looked between Uta and the manager, who's face had settled into a frown of concern, "Wait, you mean those stragglers out in the wilderness?" She scoffed, making a face at the manager's seeming concern over them, "A few have come into the city before, they're snapped up by Doves within a day every time."

Uta laughed, "Feral ghouls are like wolves. Alone and starving they're easy to overpower. When they're banded together and starving, now that's a different story." He glanced to the TV that was off right now, "See if it's on the news. I heard about it from someone else this morning. It happened last night, so I'm sure it's everywhere."

The manager huffed through his nose and walked over to it and turned it on. It was the end of a segment.

"...and when we return, we'll cover the shocking news of a prison bus turned buffet for a seemingly new gang of ghouls on the outskirts of the city..."

The picture shown beside the woman in true news-channel fashion was a helicopter-view of what appeared to be someone standing on top of an overturned bus. Then it went to commercials.

Uta made a face and huffed through his nose, "Well, I guess we'll hear the humans' side in a second." He turned back to the other two, "From what I've heard, it started out as an attack from a single ghoul who rammed into the bus and threw it off the side of the road. The police escort cars were crushed with the people still inside, then a hoard of others dove in like vultures and picked the bus clean of everyone inside." He looked back at the tv, still showing a commercial, "And apparently they have a helicopter recording of it."

He'd heard news that one ghoul in particular had been among them. Obviously wasn't the one standing on the bus in the initial image. That someone had bright orange hair and dark skin.

The news came back on a few moments later with a warning.

'The following segment contains images not suited for certain audiences.'

"Looks like they're gonna show the whole thing..." Touka muttered under her breath. The manager just nodded.

There was commentary by the news crew over the video segments, but the three hardly paid attention to that part.

There was no sound from the video itself, but the blurry image was clearly from the camera of an escort helicopter, trained on the bus below. A shape--obviously the red shade of a kagune--slammed into the side of the bus as it was going over a bridge. The bus fell out of view as the helicopter had to swerve to turn back around, the camera wildly trying to focus on where the bus had landed. The police cars that had been following it were attacked as well, roofs caved in as two ghouls had come from above. Uta sat up a little straighter as the camera focused for half a second on one of them. A flash of blue and ram horns.

He narrowed his eyes, but continued to watch as the camera moved to the bus at last. A ghoul was standing on the over turned vehicle, staring into the windows of the bus.

That was the ghoul the image before. As the three watched, he turned and jumped off right as an outright hoard of ghouls poured from alleyways andthe sewers, all seeming to be laughing and whooping and hollering as they descended on the vehicles.

The video ended. Touka's jaw was slack as she continued to stare--unseeing--at the television. The Manager's mouth had pressed into a thin line.

Uta was as straight faced as ever.

"So that's how it happened." The tattooed ghoul hummed lightly and tapped his jaw, "They weren't lying when they said how gruesome it was."

Shock kept Touka silent and the manager seemed deep in thought.

They spent a few minutes like this, until Enji came storming in the door, "Did you all see the-?" He froze as he saw the news on the TV and the expressions on everyone's face.

Uta offered him a smile and a light wave.

The man blinked twice before standing up straighter, "W-Well of course you have! It's unheard of!" He was quickly over at the bar, "Feral ghouls just don't team up like that!"

Finally, the manager spoke.

"That ghoul who knocked the bus over." Everyone stopped and looked at him, "Enji, do you remember him?"

"How could I forget? I knew that little shit wouldn't just go quiet after he fled the city, but I never expected him to come back! Not like that!" Enji pointed fervently at the television.

Touka turned around, "What? Who is he?" She looked back and forth between the two. Uta perked up, not familiar with the ghoul himself.

"One of the only ghouls in the world known to not regenrate. Did you see his missing arm?" Enji exclaimed.

"Oh!" Uta took a turn to speak as he remembered that description, "Of course she didn't, the video was so blurry, you'd have to know it was him to pick it out. I didn't even know." He tilted his head to the side. Then he looked to the girl, "That ghoul was Puck. Known to the CCG as 'The Tiger'. I never met him personally, though." He glanced to the Manager, eyes narrowing slightly.

Silence fell again.

It was long and restless. Touka had so many questions but she couldn't even know where to begin.

No one noticed a sheet-faced Irimi at the door until she spoke, having been there for the majority of the conversation, "They're already in the city."

Heads turned. Stomachs dropped.

"I saw him on the way here. He was moving. I didn't see any others... but I've got a really bad feeling. If he's leading them, then..."

The manager huffed softly, "He's going to get himself killed at last, isn't he?"

"And kill so many others in the process..." Enji added.

Touka didn't know what to think. And neither did Uta.

From the way the other three talked about him, he seemed like someone to be worried about. Almost afraid of.

But also someone they might have been friends with once.

#ress writes #tg: to revel #tokyo ghoul #tokyo ghoul oc #HIM!#okay now i can get back to writing

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needs-to-stop-looking-at-valves · 2 years

Note

I gunna be straight forward I want to see the old ass coffee shop trope on Pepa and Felix thank you goodbye

Oh we LOVE some coffee au? Let's GO!

Félix could complain about a lot in his life. The fact that he lived in a small apartment in a big, busy city, the fact that he didn't make nearly as much money as he wanted, or the fact that he worked in the food industry. It. Sucked. But honestly, you had to look at the good things in life. He had a job, he'd only been called one swear word once this month (he worked in food in the middle of a big city, if anything that number is low), and he liked his coworkers. It was fairly slow in the coffee shop too, given that the sun was starting to set. Soon, his shift would be over, he'd get to go home, do it all over again.

"Félix? How's it going up here?"

Agustín poked his head from the back. Félix owned this coffee shop, 'la mariposa negra', alongside his buddy, Agustín. He was the numbers guy, Félix did...well, literally everything else. It was a system, and he worked. Félix shrugged.

"Good, good. Think we should close up early, no one gets coffee at night."

"Maybe, I'm just about done back here. How many pastries do we have left?"

Félix looked over the glass counter, and shrugged.

"A good number. Why, you want something?"

"No. They're good after a day, right?"

"Maybe, but I'd rather give them away, like usual."

"It'd be easier."

"If everything in life was easy, we wouldn't push ourselves, amigo."

Agustín always worried about money, he couldn't blame him. But Félix had too much pride to serve day old food like other coffee places. Agustín chuckled, knowing better than to argue.

"I know, I know. I just, wish people saw that, Félix. Let's clean up early, get a head start for tomorrow. You need help?"

"I got it, I got it."

Félix was started to pack away all the pastries, when the bell on the door rang, letting him know someone was here.

"Hey, we're shutting kinda early tonight, so you can't hang out in here, just an fyi."

"Oh, that's too bad, it feels nice in here."

He stood up to properly apologize to this woman's face, when he got a good look at her. Now love at first sight was bullshit. But adoration at first sight was VERY much a thing, because this woman was GORGEOUS. She wore a black tank top with a picture of a sun on it, cute little shorts that revealed those beautiful, long legs of hers, and her face. Sharp green eyes, beautiful freckles, and little wisps of red hair clung a bit to her sweaty features. A large tattoo ran from her neck, down her front, past her breasts that he totally wasn't looking at, stopping just short of her shorts. They were so detailed, angry, they reminded him of lighting.

"Uh, excuse me? Yoohoo?"

Oh my god, he had been staring at her this whole time, like some weirdo. He cleared his throat, trying to save himself here.

"Sorry that's just. A REALLY impressive tattoo."

She looked down at herself and grinned, showing off her cute little gap in her teeth.

"Oh thank you! My brother did them! He's an artist. So uh, is it too late to order?"

"Oh no no, please, go on, what can I get you?"

She sighed in relief, whiping some sweat from her forehead.

"Good! I was hoping you guys were still open when my run was over. Let's see...oh, I want one of those chocolate muffins, chocolate cake pop, two of those brownies...and what would you recommend for coffee? I want something sweet."

"Could've fooled me on that one. Honestly, I like the salted carmel fraps. Could put in a couple more pumps than usual, since you're a first."

"Ugh, I heard THAT during my first time. Sure, I'll take it."

He snorted, despite not really wanting to. It made her smile, and he hated it, no way a woman should get to look so pretty and be THIS funny. He got the cup ready, and was about to just make it, when he realized he could totally use this opportunity here.

"Name for the drink?"

"I'm...the only one here?"

"And how do you spell that?"

It was HER turn to snort now, and damn was that a sound he could get used to.

"P-E-P-A. Odd way to spell it, I know."

So her name was Pepa. Pretty Pepa. He wrote the name on the cup, and as he let everything blend, he packaged up her goodies.

"I haven't seen you pass by here, you new?"

"To the area, yes, I'm here for work."

"What do you do for work? Model?"

She chuckled at him, swatting her hand playfully at him.

"Oh, you flatter. No, I'm a meteorologist! I work at the news station like, twenty minutes from here."

"Oh I think I know that place, I delivered coffee there once."

He poured the contents of the blender into a cup, added whipped cream, and added loads of caramel to the top, before putting a lid on it, and adding it to the rest of her order.

"Oh I didn't know you delivered."

"We really don't, we were just especially broke that week, honestly."

She chuckled as she put her counted the cash she needed for her order, before stopping herself.

"Oh shit, I almost forgot-could I get an iced coffee too? Something strong. And an egg sandwich, totally forgot my sister asked for something."

"No problem at all,"

Félix got started on this next coffee, making it as strong as strong could get, as well as throwing an egg sandwich in the griddle.

"Your sister works with you?"

"Oh no, she works at the hospital a bit away, she's an emergency response nurse. We live together though."

"Ay, it's good to stay with family. Mine's back in Colombia."

He met her rather surprised looking eyes, and for a moment, she looked excited.

"You're from Colombia too? My mom is from there!"

"REALLY? Huh. Small world, huh?"

This woman loved talking about herself, and he did NOT mind in the slightest. He got the rest of her order, pushing it to her, and giving her the change back. He hated to see her go, really he did. But it's not like she could stay her. Though, he'd never forgive himself if he didn't at least TRY his shot at this woman.

"You know I uh, haven't met anyone else from Colombia here. Do you miss it?"

She looked surprised by his question as she gathered her stuff, before her face fell, and she nodded.

"I do, yes. Mi papi called it his home before he died, it meant a lot to me. But we moved here because I was given the job offer, as well as my sister. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm just saying, I miss it too. I miss Christmases there, I even miss Palm sundays. And the flower festival, always beautiful. I just thought, if you needed someone to relate to, we could always talk more."

She seemed to not understand it, before a chuckle escaped her precious lips.

"Are you...flirting with me, hombrecito?"

"I'm more keen on the word 'seduce', but si, I am flirting with you. Assuming another man hasn't swept in before me."

Pepa bit in her lip in thought, before setting her stuff down, and grabbing the pen usually left on the counter. She then took his hand (her skin was SO soft), and wrote numbers on it, alongside just the smallest heart.

"My phone number. I'm not giving it to you because we're both Colombian, you know."

"You...aren't?"

"No. I like sweets, and I can't think of anything sweeter than chocolate ~"

She kissed his palm, leaving just a bit of lipstick under the ink. She was a bold woman, not shy at all. She gathered her things, gave him a wave alongside that mischievous look, and he swore he saw rainbows over her as she left. He stood there, not believing this absolute goddess just hit on him. She was so pretty, she worked close, and clearly she was into him. How much luck can one man have?

"Félix, did I hear someone come in? Do you...you okay?"

Félix slowly nodded, and didn't care how badly he was swooning right now.

"I'm...more than okay. I think I just met the woman of my dreams."

"Ay, you said that last week."

"It's DIFFERENT this time! You should've seen her, Agustín! She was pretty, witty, she's. Oh, my poor heart, it won't sit still!"

"You sure it's not the three cups of coffee you've had today?"

"...might be both."

Agustín rolled his eyes as he helped him finish cleaning, before they walked back home. Agustín may not believe him, but Félix knew what he was talking about. He knew he was in love with a woman who didn't even know his name.

#not transformers #encanto #asks #coffee au #listen i was gonna have it be two coffee shop owners #but Pepa cannot be in the kitchen at all #plus i like the idea of Félix getting excited everytime he sees her walk in

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untaemedqueen · 2 years

Text

The Deal

Drug Lord!Yoongi x Coffee Shop Owner!Reader

Genre: Strangers to Lovers!AU, Angst, Fluff, Smut

Chapter 28.

Series Warnings (Will Be Updated): Mentions of Drugs and Drug Deals, Blood, Smut, Emotional Damage, Love, Gunshot Wounds

Warnings For This Chapter: Revelations

The prison yard is bustling with the known bad guys of the area early this afternoon and your boyfriend is smack dab in the middle of all of them.

Yoongi really didn't want to be forced out into the open with other drug dealers and murderers, even going so far as to try and bribe the overnight prison guard on duty.

But unfortunately, it didn't work out in his favor.

Every inmate in his place knows he's the biggest fish here and they either love that or they really, really despise it.

He has no choice but to sit here and listen to the loud cacophony of bad men speak about what they're going to do when they get out of this joint.

But at least it shrouds him in a veil of uniformity where he can do the same.

"Did you do it?" he inquires softly, pulling from his cigarette.

Taehyung hums in agreement, sitting down beside him casually.

Yoongi can tell that the younger man isn't affected by being in this prison, he's been locked up on a few occasions and it's like going back to a summer camp for him.

Your boyfriend on the other hand can't wait to get out of this fucking place.

Taehyung turns toward the boss and pulls the zipper of his jumpsuit down in one smooth motion.

"Oh dude, come on," the scarred man complains.

"Gotta let 'em know who's the big dog around here, Boss," the younger man shrugs, shoving the jumpsuit off the older man's shoulders.

Now, with his tattooed torso on display, people begin to avert his gaze and he cracks his knuckles in turn.

Taehyung nods to one of the passing inmates from another drug family when he gets handed a cigarette.

"No charge," the inmate announces.

Tae nods thankfully, putting the tobacco stick between his lips.

"So…," the younger man begins. "Excited to see the princess when you get out?"

Yoongi leans back on his hands as he extends back on the picnic table he sits atop of. "More than you know. I didn't even know she existed and now… I love her more than this whole entire universe and can't wait to fucking meet her."

Taehyung hums in agreement, leaning back on his hands as well. "I wish I could have brought in a sonogram picture for you. She's so tiny and cute."

The drug lord smirks then thinking of the little baby he's made with you that sits safely within your belly.

"I bet she's gonna look like Y/N," your boyfriend breathes happily.

"We'll see in a few months."

Yoongi stayed up all night last night thinking about you and how lonely you must be. It evaded his mind for the past two months and if he's being honest, he pushed the thought out of his head just so he wouldn't feel that type of sheer pain and misery all day everyday.

When he first got taken here it plagued him. And when every day became so monotonously routine, he tried to never think about what was going on outside of his cell walls.

Pulling from his cigarette, his fingers drift over the gnarled scar by his eye.

Now that his time in this place is coming to an end, he can only look forward to new beginnings with you as parents.

"What do you think about leaving the drug game?"

Taehyung turns his head slowly to his boss with wide eyes. "Uh… I'm not sure. I didn't finish high school… I wouldn't get a job anywhere."

Yoongi nods thoughtfully. "Maybe we can figure out something else for you to do. Make our own jobs."

The younger man turns to him, eyes alight with curiosity. "So what're you saying? We're gonna leave the drug business behind all together? Business is booming."

"It's not safe." Yoongi avows, flicking his finished cigarette onto the yard floor.

Taehyung only shakes his head confused, turning his attention back to the multitude of people in the yard.

When the men begin to form groups and huddle around each other, he taps Yoongi's knee.

"It's starting."

The groups of men begin to brawl with one another, some even going so far as to shiv other inmates with homemade weapons like carved plastic toothbrushes and sharpened bobby pins.

Yoongi makes no move when the loud sirens above the prison yard begin to screech with warnings of dubious intent.

"Okay, Banchae. Don't fuck this up," the drug lord hisses beneath his breath.

He watches the prison guards flock to the yard with unrivaled quickness and when he doesn't see the man that keeps an eye on him at night along with the crowd, a veil of comfort wraps around him.

Staring down at the construction trucks, you watch with folded arms as they begin to fortify the area around the forest homes.

You've spoken to Jeongguk on multiple occasions about moving but you've decided to stay in this place long enough that when Yoongi does get out, he'll have a familiar place to come back to.

With all the dogs laying down at your feet, it's the only comfort that you receive these days.

If you're being honest, you hate this fucking forest now.

You can't stand this godforsaken place.

There was such charm in it not long ago but now you can't find a single thing you like about it.

Everything is miserable, just like you.

"Y/N."

The dogs perk up at the bedroom intruder and you slowly tilt your head to Namjoon.

He enters with a cup of tea in hand and you give him a measly smile of gratitude that doesn't reach your eyes.

"I heard from Taehyung," Joon croaks, sitting down on Yoongi's side of the bed.

You want to snap at him to get up, that the scent of your boyfriend is already faded from the sheets and pillows like leaves in the wind but you hold your tongue and simply sit down beside him.

"And?"

"The plan is underway," he promises, handing you the tea.

"My plan or… Yoongi's plan?"

You hate saying his name sometimes. It's like bringing up a ghost.

Namjoon doesn't reply, taking to looking down at the men who put metal sheets around the compound instead.

The silence is a clear answer.

Yoongi's got a plan on the inside of that place. While that should comfort you, it only makes you more angry.

If he was out here instead of being trapped in there, he could have the whole fucking world in his palm.

Joon simply tilts towards you, almost as if he can feel the anger rolling off of you in waves, and places his hand atop your growing bump.

Yes, Jin is second to your command but Namjoon feels like a whole army solely made for you most of the time.

He lays back on the bed, blonde hair sprawling out around him as his thumb swipes slowly over your distended stomach.

"It's gonna work, Y/N," he avows, looking over at you.

Your lips sputter as you stare down at the hardworking men that fortify your surroundings.

"But what if it doesn't?" you inquire softly, watching curls of steam rise from the top of your tea glass.

"Can't think like that," he rasps softly.

You roll your eyes, letting just the smallest bit of hope swirl through your limbs even if it's for a moment.

"Have faith. We follow you on faith," Joon breathes, pulling out a cough drop.

"You follow me because the person you should follow isn't here," you blink, closing your eyes.

Joon simply sighs, pulling out his phone when it begins to ring loudly.

"Younghan," he answers stiffly.

You set down your tea, eyes alight with curiosity.

Your army of one shoots up in a flash, smiling widely as if what the lawyer is saying is something victorious.

Namjoon just nods and nods, his smile getting wider and wider until he looks like he's gonna pass out with happiness.

"Well, let's bring him home."

You turn fully to him, pulling your legs into your body at his hopeful words.

"Thanks, Younghan."

When he hangs up, he gives you a wry smile. "Yoongi's plan worked."

Your heart flutters triumphantly within the recesses of your chest and you finally feel some sort of gratification coarse through your veins for the first time in months.

"So what did he sa-"

Jin enters the bedroom with a sullen look on his face and you raise an eyebrow at his expression.

"What's wrong?" you inquire, picking up your tea.

"I found out who framed Yoongi," the oldest announces.

Taking a sip of your warm tea, you nod expectantly.

When the name breaches past your right hand man's lips, your tea goes flying out your mouth and coating Joon's bare chest.

"Oh what the fuck!"

Yoongi itches at his neck as he looks around the sterile interrogation room.

Not long after the riot in the yard both him and Taehyung were sent back to their cell and not long after that the drug lord was brought to the other side of the penitentiary.

When he was brought in here he only assumed someone had found out what Baechan had done but now he's not so sure.

It seems like they're trying to string him out.

They want him to lose all perception of time.

And for while it was working.

Until he forced himself to get a grip.

The drug lord is pretty confident that they're trying to whittle him down and break him but he can't allow that. There's too much at stake.

"I'm bored!" Yoongi sings loudly, stretching his arms out and yawning.

He waits patiently for another minute before throwing his ankles up onto the desk before him and digging at some dirt under his nails.

"Holy shit, you guys really know how to hang a guy by his fucking foreskin. Come on," he complains.

And then finally, the door opens.

He's greeted by a woman with her hair tied up in a long bun and her breasts on full display.

The drug lord nods his head to her politely, his eyes faltering to the file in her hand.

"Good afternoon, inmate 39214."

Yoongi closes his eyes to shield his massive eye roll.

By the time he opens his eyes, the woman is already sitting across the table from him.

Your boyfriend takes his feet off the table and the file is opened with a flourish.

"My name is Miyoung Lee and I'm the head of the drug affairs for this area."

Oh shit.

"How can a random inmate help you, Ms. Lee?"

She wrinkles her nose at his attempt to push anything incriminating off of himself.

"Random, yes, of course."

Yoongi simply blinks, letting his expression fall passive to the point of being bored.

"I have some photos I'd like you to take a look at here."

Yoongi sits forward, looking down at the photos that are now sprawled out over the table.

His eyes skim over the photos, seeing the Snake clan taking the brick of cocaine that incriminated him to begin with.

The drug lord also notices that Hyunwoo is nowhere to be found in these pictures.

"What about them?" your boyfriend inquires, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.

"Notice anything interesting about them?"

Yoongi wants to laugh, this woman thinks she's going to bait him?

How unfortunate for her.

"Seems like some bad men."

She tilts her head, clicking her teeth impatiently.

"Ms. Lee, if you're coming to a random inmate to show them photos that means you have absolutely nothing to go on. I certainly can't help you. I have no idea what the fuck you think this is gonna do for you."

Yoongi does know one thing, when he gets out of here the Snake clan is fucking dead.

<---- Last Chapter Next Chapter ---->

The Deal taglist – @jeon-junggoop, @btsarmy9593, @slothykrueger, @jcsmae, @milesjeon11, @cloudyblisss, @borahae-reads, @secretlycrazyhummingbird, @rjsmochii, @sugas-bbygirl, @ggukkieland, @hyungieyoongi, @chxmachxps, @dvalitaes, @vintageroses10, @maerawrrr, @flowerblu00, @veronawrites, @seoqity, @wozwaid, @hisbutton-nose, @sweetempathprunetree, @jinsearthh, @codeinebelle, @serious-addiction, @bt21chim, @rosquilleta, @dunixxd, @rkchmestizangmaldita, @openup-yourmind, @shesaysweirdthings, @marslena, @deathkat657, @yoonlattesworld, @that-funny-alien-28, @clutterfied, @belladaises, @silentkei, @btsnina, @shydestinyyouth, @thefreddieman, @kkklaudiaaa17, @moonchild1, @ronie1974, @jeonghanniehae, @rinkud, @giselleg7784

#the deal #btswritingcafe #thebtswritersclub #yoongi #min yoongi #yoongi x you #yoongi x reader #drug lord!yoongi #drug dealer!yoongi #yoongi smut #bts fic #bts fics

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kim-seung-mo · 3 years

Text

Lonesome Nights (Part Two)

Lee Minho x fem!Reader, slight Hwang Hyunjin x fem!Reader

♩fluff to ANGST to fluff again, eventual smut (not in this part) arranged marriage au, non-idol au, romance, mentions of alcohol consumption and being drunk, minho gets a panic attack (near the end) a lot of miscommunication and mutual pining

♩♩ word count: 15k (save me)

♩♩♩ A/N: i promise the epilogue isn't gonna be 10k (but do i tho) also why does all of their development happen in this chapter? idk don't ask me this was supposed to be a one-shot

read part one here

(ik the last chapter was in past tense but this one is in present lol i was wayyy too far in when i realized)

Around ten o'clock, after brunch at home, you are ready to go out to get acquainted with your surroundings. Earlier during the meal, you received a message on your phone from Minho about the candidates for your bodyguard. You take a cursory look and choose the strongest-looking guy, "Seo Changbin". He has no problem with your choice and doesn't say anything to you other than "I'll let him know".

The weather is surprisingly good for where Minho lives, despite being a big city. It was sunny and comfortable, so you just threw on a jacket and went out. Within ten minutes of leaving the house, you see something interesting. The area is surrounded by all sorts of small shops, laundries, restaurants, and kiosks. But the one you notice in particular is a cafe in the corner with a sign that says "Insomnia".

Driven by curiosity, you push open the door of the cafe. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans hits you immediately. The interior is simple but cozy. The overall tone is brown and there is carefully selected greenery all around. The owner of this shop must love his shop. It must be a blessing to work here. With that in mind, you look towards the cashier. Instead, you see a man sleeping on the till. The name of the shop is "Insomnia" and the contrast of seeing someone sleeping when you open the door makes you even more curious.

He's sitting at the till which means he must be working here. But it's ten o'clock, how is he already falling asleep? You quietly take two steps closer to him and reach out to poke him in the arm.

The man grunts then squints and lifts his head to stretch. Then he opens his drowsy eyes to look at you. "Ah, welcome... I didn't expect to have customers ...... I'm sorry, have you been waiting long?"

You blinked, feeling a little amused as you listened to him talk to himself. "No... I just came in. And... I'm not exactly a guest, I suppose. I'm here to apply for a job... is your boss here?"

He looks down at the little pin on his chest, then sets it up a bit to show you, with a somewhat proud expression on his face. The pin has the words "Owner: Bang Chan" written on it in a cute script. He's the owner... But that would explain why he dares to sleep at work ......

"Although it may be rude to ask... But why would you come here..? To find work? The average guest over here isn't very friendly..." He rubs the back of his neck, a little embarrassed. "Of course, I don't mean that as a rejection, I'm just a bit curious... Although I guess we don't have many customers to begin with......" The latter half of the sentence he says in a bit of a whisper, but you still catch it.

You smile and wave your hand, "I didn't really think much of it, I fell in love with the place the first second I saw it. Also, there are "unfriendly" customers everywhere, and I'm sure there will be friendly ones as well."

He seems quite satisfied with your answer and nods, hugging his chest. "Do you have a résumé? Though I don't really need that sort of thing... Hmmm ...... Forget it, that sounds like a pain in the ass. You seem like a pretty interesting person, so congratulations on being accepted! Er... What's your name?"

'Interesting person', you think in your head as you hold out your hand. "Y/N Y/L/N, just call me Y/N."

He cooperates by holding out his hand and flashing a nice smile. "Hi Y/N. You can just call me Chan too, or Chris, either way. Y/N do you live around here?"

You nod and point in the direction of Minho's house. "I live right over there, I just moved in yesterday. It's only a ten-minute walk up the road to here. And what about you, Chris? Do you live around here?"

Chan nods and points upwards. "I live just upstairs."

You gave a knowing gesture. A lot of people do make the upstairs of their shops their homes. Then to keep from falling into awkwardness, you continued, "So your main business is being a cafe owner? That seems like a pretty pleasant life..."

He shakes his head, then sighs. "I don't know. I make music, but it's not very popular... Not a lot of people listen to it ...... I honestly don't know what my job is."

You cock your head curiously. Making music is already a tiring thing to do, and he actually has to manage a cafe while juggling a music career? That's quite an impressive thing to do. But why would he want to do that?

"So why did you open the cafe?"

He looks down and purses his lips, then laughs out loud. That response was something you didn't expect.

"It has to do with your job."

You blinked, your job? Isn't your job to greet customers and take their orders and such? How does that have anything to do with him opening a coffee shop?

"Your job, apart from the simple cashier's job, is a lot more important. That is! dun dun dun-" he gave himself a drumbeat, making a mystery of it. "Being responsible for stopping me from falling asleep during the day!"

"What?" You don't quite understand.

"Uh..." He looks a little awkward when he sees that you're not responding very well. "The story behind the cafe is basically that... I used to stay awake by drinking coffee because I always needed to stay up late writing songs. And then as I drank it I thought, I'm wasting so much money on coffee every day, I might as well open my own coffee shop. So... Ta-da~" he unfolds his hands as if he's showing you his "work". "But if you don't sleep at night, you'll be very sleepy in the morning... So here's where you, Y/N, come in! As soon as I fall asleep, you wake me up like you just did. How about that, easy job isn't it?"

The reason... It sounds weird, but there's no logical hole to be found. It's almost exactly like Minho asking you to help him sleep. The fact that he's opening a cafe in such a wealthy area proves that he's probably rich himself. How else could he have decided to open a shop on a whim? But that kind of thing is kind of personal, so it's better not to ask.

But having said that... So your day job is to stop Chan from sleeping and your night job is to help Minho sleep? Why does your job all have to do with sleeping? It's pretty weird when you think about it......

"Y/N? Hello? You still there?" "Ah, sorry, I was just thinking about something..."

You realize that you hadn't been responding to and scratch your hair a little awkwardly. "In charge of stopping you from sleeping, right? Leave it to me."

He narrows his eyes and smiles at your answer, ending the conversation.

After that, the two of you began the daily routine of running the cafe. First, he asked you to mop the floor, which didn't take long, then he instructed you to water the flowers, and after those two things, you were basically done. There's music playing in the background, and when you ask, he tells you it's an album he made especially for the café. And as the day went on, you realize that he wasn't lying when he said he had "basically no customers". All-day long, no one but you had set foot in the cafe. Now you're even more convinced that Chan is definitely a rich guy. Either he's a rich man or he's lying when he says his music is "not listened to". After all, the songs he wrote for the cafe were really good. And he definitely wasn't lying when he said he falls asleep a lot, either dozing off while sitting by the window looking at the view or leaning against the coffee machine. It was not the reception or the cleaning that bothered you the most throughout the day, it was trying to stop him from sleeping.

You ask him, "Why do you have to write music at night? If you write music in the morning, you can sleep normally at night." And he answers, "It's only at night that I get inspired". You don't know anything about writing music, so maybe that's true. Hyunjin dances in his spare time, and he did once said to you that "dancing at night feels different" or something along those lines.

Around 5pm, you said goodbye to Chan and left Insomnia to go back to Minho's house. On the way home, you take out your phone and look at it. Apart from the last text you got from Minho in the morning, there was only one other text from a stranger.

Unknown: "Hello, this is Seo Changbin."

You: "Hello."

You reply casually, but the next thing you know, the message is "read".

Seo Changbin: "Do you have a schedule?"

You were silent for a moment. Is he asking for your schedule for the whole day?

You: "I'll be working at Insomnia cafe near my home from 10:30am till around 5pm."

Seo Changbin: "Insomnia, is that the one owned by Bang Chan?"

You: "You know him?"

Seo Changbin: "We went to high school together."

It's a small world.

You: "What a coincidence."

Seo Changbin: "Coincidence indeed."

Seo Changbin: "Oh right."

Seo Changbin: "Boss is a bit busy today, but he asked me to check on your mood and how your job hunt is going."

Seo Changbin: "How would you like me to respond?"

If he wants to know, why not ask you himself when he gets back?

You: "Just tell him the truth. Say it went well and that I've found a job I'm happy with."

Seo Changbin: "And your mood?"

You: "Why does he need to know my mood?"

Seo Changbin: "Because he cares."

You: "......"

You: "Pretty good."

Seo Changbin: "Understood."

Seo Changbin: "I'll be waiting for you at the front door tomorrow morning at 10:30am then."

You: "Thank you."

Looking up to see that you are already at your doorstep, you turn off your phone and enter your fingerprint on the lock screen before walking in.

By the time Minho got back, it was around midnight. He said he would be back around ten, and at eleven you wondered if you should send him a text message to ask him if anything had happened, but then you thought it was nothing to worry about. However, when there was a movement at the front door, you couldn't help but glance over.

Minho pushes the door open and walks in, picks up the shoe puller and uses it to remove his shoes, then bends down to put them in the shoe cupboard. Noticing a glance at him, he looks up and sees you looking over. The corner of his mouth lifts upwards as he spots your gaze.

"Is this you waiting for me to come home?" He pulled his slippers out of the shoe cupboard again and stepped into them before straightening up and walking in your direction. "I'm sorry, I suddenly had to have an emergency meeting and ran a little late. Why did you wait for me? You could have gone to bed first if you were sleepy, couldn't you?"

You shrug. "Sooner or later, I'll have to get used to living in the same house as you, and besides, I wanted to try and get used to trying to put you to bed when I'm awake."

He grinned, seemingly in a good mood. "I heard Changbin say that you've got a job? At Insomnia Cafe?" He says as he walks in the direction of the stairs. Seeing that he was going upstairs, you grabbed the remote and turned the TV off, stepping into your own slippers and getting up with him. "How was it? Tough first day at work?"

You should be the one to ask him that. He's the CEO of the company, you're just working part-time in a café.

"Not at all. The owner is very nice and there are no customers at all. I'm basically on a free salary."

"That's great, I know the owner of Insomnia. His dad is my partner."

As expected, Chan and his family are also very rich.

With that said the two of you had reached the door of your room. Entering the room, Minho took off his suit jacket and threw it in the dirty clothes bin, then turned towards the bathroom room. Probably to wash up. You were all done and changed into your pajamas, so you went straight to the bed and sat down.

"I heard that Chan and Changbin went to high school together?" You asked when Minho had finished washing up and changed into his sleepwear as he came out of the bathroom.

"Not only Chan and Changbin, but Jisung too. The three of them were in a band together back in high school." He walked over to his half of the bed and sat down as well. "Small world isn't it? They thought they'd never see each other again after high school. Turns out two of them happen to both work for me. The other one happens to run a cafe near my house."

He lies down and looks at you with his head on his side. Seeing that he was ready to go to sleep, you lay down too, looking at him a little awkwardly, not knowing what to do next.

"Want to... hold hands?" You asked lightly, causing him to narrow his eyes and smile.

"Yeah, now that you mention it." He offered his hand, looking at you somewhat flirtatiously.

That look again... But this time it was you who said it first. So although a little reluctantly, you put your own hand out as well. Expecting him to just hold it, you were surprised when he interlocked his fingers with yours straight away. You instantly felt your heart beat a little faster. Luckily you weren't too close together for him to hear your heartbeat.

"I... Do I need to do anything else? Should I turn off the lights?"

He shook his head, still staring at you. "Leave them on, I want to see you... Good night Y/N."

He wants to look at you, but you don't want to look at him...... With that thought, you turn your head away a little sheepishly. After doing this, you expected him to ask you to turn around, but he didn't say anything even after goodnight.

Your heart was still beating a little fast and you couldn't fall asleep for a long time even after you closed your eyes. But the guy behind you didn't seem to move at all. Curiously, you turn your head to look at him. You find that he has long since fallen asleep. Breathing steadily and with his brows spread, he seemed as relaxed as could be.

That was easy, so easy that you can't quite believe it. He had actually fallen asleep just like that.

Seeing that he has fallen asleep, you begin to look at his face. Minho, when not frowning or having nightmares, when not having those teasing eyes staring at you, when just sleeping peacefully, is a beautiful man, you must say. After staring at him for a while, you feel a little sleepy and reach for the lamp beside the bed with your free hand, flicking the switch and plunging the room into darkness. Soon after, you too fall into a deep sleep.

The next two weeks were like the second day. In the morning you wake up in bed with Minho. After breakfast, you see him off to work. He asks you for a parting kiss each time and you nudge him out each time. At 10.30, Changbin appears at the door on time to escort you to Insomnia, you expect him to stay quietly behind you, but instead, he is really talkative and chats with you all the way to Insomnia. Once you get to Insomnia, he talks to Chan for a long time before he reluctantly leaves. The number of people who have visited the cafe in the past two weeks is minimal, but Chan doesn't seem to be too concerned about it. After all, he seems to run the cafe more for himself than anything else. At five o'clock in the afternoon, Changbin shows up at the door again to pick you up and take you home. You have dinner on your own at home, clean up a few things, and then lie on the sofa watching TV for a while until Minho comes home. He would always come home around midnight, and as soon as he gets home, he would take your hand and ask to go to bed, saying good night to you and falling asleep immediately. There was never a day when he remained awake for more than three minutes. The next day it's the same thing over and over again.

It sounds a bit boring, but you find it very relaxing. The only thing you're a little concerned about is......Hyunjin. It's been a month since he last saw you. He hasn't contacted you since then. Your mutual friends haven't mentioned anything about him to you either. Is he really going to just never speak to you again? Maybe that is for the best.

You thought you'd never hear from Hyunjin again. But you were wrong.

Today was different from other days. Minho said he had nothing to do in the afternoon so he could come back earlier and even have dinner with you. You've been a bit bored having dinner alone for the past two weeks. So when you got the news, you were excited to cook a big dinner for him to enjoy with you. But just as the two of you were seated, your phone rang at an inopportune time.

Thinking it was some kind of spam call, you were going to ignore it. But when you saw the caller's name, you froze.

"Hwang Hyunjin". After a month plus, he's calling you.

You were sitting across from Minho, chopsticks in your hand as you were about to eat your food when your pupils dilated at the sight of that name. Minho looked at you too, at the phone in your hand. You feel a little nervous as he looks at you, and with a slip of the hand, you press the hang-up button. But just when you thought that was the end of it, he called again. You bit your lower lip, your eyes dropping.

Hearing his voice now wouldn't be the smartest choice. You were trying to forget him, or at least forget your love for him. This was the crucial point in time, you couldn't just throw your work away. With that in mind, you hang up again.

But within seconds, it rings once more.

"Answer it, in case it's urgent." Minho, perhaps unable to watch you struggle any longer, takes the initiative and speaks up.

You're still hesitant, but on second thought, it makes sense: Hyunjin is calling you after such a long time and continues to do so even after you've hung up twice. Maybe there was something he really wanted to talk to you about? With that in mind, you picked up the phone.

"Y/N..." came that voice you knew so well from the other side, making your heart stop.

It was just one word, just calling your name, and you could already hear it. He must have been crying. His voice is muffled and even shows signs of trembling a little. Such a voice, the last time you heard it was on the night you said goodbye to him. You were drawn back to it in an instant. You immediately pursed your lips and frowned.

"......" You sucked in a breath, but couldn't get any of the words out, simply continuing to listen to the snuffling on the other end of the line. Was he crying right now? You could picture him so clearly. Curled up in a ball on his bed, like he does every time he's sad, arms wrapped around his knees, his hair must be a mess too. His hair had grown a little too long a month ago, you wondered what it looked like now.

"Y/N...say something......I want, I want to hear......your voice. I want to hear it. Please... I miss you so much, I want your voice......" Hearing no sound from your side, Hyunjin says with urgency. It was the broken words that made you realize something else. Not only was he crying, he was also drunk.

You look up again in Minho's direction, only to see him looking at you with a somewhat worried expression. He seems to be waiting for a reply from you too. The room is quiet and you're sitting close together, so he probably heard what Hyunjin just said as well.

You swallow, and after a few moments of thought, you speak softly. "Hyunjin...you're drunk."

He sounds relieved at the sound of your voice. Only that breath of his is still shaky. "I am drunk..... But you're not there to take care of me. Drunk ...... But I still miss you so much...... Y/N..." he sounded as if he was about to break as he called your name, your heart tightened and you closed your eyes. "...Are you doing well? Better than I am, I suppose?"

"Where are you now? Is there anyone around? You're not in a bar, are you?" Squashing the feelings in your heart, you first need to know if he's safe. Every time he's out drunk, he tends to wander around and do things he'll regret the next day. It was something you knew a lot about, so you first had to make sure he was at home and not outside.

"I haven't been out of the house in a month... don't worry...... I'm... not in that mood at all."

Granted, you get an answer, but that answer doesn't put your mind at ease much. Although Hyunjin was an emotional, tearful person, he was also a very joyful person at the same time. He always makes you feel better when he smiles, like a sun that can gently warm you up. But... Every time you think of him losing his smile because of you, you feel a pang of sadness. What makes you even sadder than that is that you know there is nothing you can do about it. You've lost your sun.

"I'm sorry... But, Hyunjin...... I have to hang up now. I... I'll send Seungmin a message to take care of you. Don't drink anymore...... I... I don't want you to ruin yourself."

Having said that, you hang up the phone straight away without even waiting for his reply. If you say any more, you might start crying too. You didn't want to cry, at least not here. Not in front of Minho.

Speaking of Minho, he's been looking at you since the beginning. The sadness in his eyes looked like it was going to spill out. But there seemed to be some other feelings besides that. Only he hid it deeper and didn't let you see it.

You hold the phone tightly in your hand and exhale a breath. Your mood was as low as it could get.

Tonight was supposed to be fun, supposed to be special. As a result of this phone call, not only have you lost your appetite, but Minho's mood has probably been ruined too. You stare blankly at the meal that is gradually getting cold in front of you and feel your eyes get red.

"I'm sorry..." You murmured, not sure who you were addressing. Maybe it's an apology for hanging up on Hyunjin, or maybe it's an apology for ruining the dinner. You don't know anymore.

Pushing back your chair and standing up, you struggle to withdraw a fake smile. "Minho... take your time eating. I'll... I'll go upstairs."

He opens his mouth to say something, but after seeing your difficult smile, the words get stifled. In the end, he just pursed his lips, lowered his head, and didn't say anything. He didn't stop you from leaving.

You went upstairs alone to the master bedroom's bathroom. After sprinkling some water on your face, you hold the edge of the sink and sigh. You took out your phone and clicked on Kim Seungmin's chat page, telling him in simple words about Hyunjin's current state and how to take care of him when he was drunk; Seungmin had been a mutual friend of the two of you for several years and you were sure that he would be able to help you take care of Hyunjin.

Hyunjin...Hyunjin who you have hurt and is suffering in silence ...... You slowly slide down to the ground, feeling the tears that were in your eyes about to burst out. The boy who did nothing wrong, but just fell in love with you to suffer such pain ...... You want him to be strong, you want him to forget about you. But you are also human, you are selfish, and you still have feelings for him too. Somewhere deep inside, you too wish it had never happened, wish it was all just a dream. You also wish that you could love him for the rest of your life without any hindrance.

You hate yourself for this. Hate the way that it seems that every choice you make seems to be the wrong one. Why does making a choice mean hurting someone else? Why can't there be a seemingly perfect ending? But who else can you hate but yourself?

Tears slide down your face, and you cover your face, crying silently.

Until...

"Y/N...can I come in?"

Minho's voice came from outside the door. His voice was soft, so soft that you thought at first that it was your own illusion. You, who used to be very sensitive to sound, hadn't even heard the sound of the footsteps. Perhaps it was muffled by the sound of your own sobbing? You sniffled a little and wiped the tears from the corners of your eyes with the back of your hand. But you knew very well that you had definitely been heard by him long before now, having cried so loudly. Even if he hadn't, he would definitely notice after seeing your weepy face.

"I look awful right now..." You replied, trying to steady your breath. "You don't want to see me."

He chuckled at your somewhat pale words. "I don't believe that. Come on, get up, the ground is cold. Let's talk outside, shall we?"

How did he know you were on the floor? Could it be that he saw your shadow? Or judging from the direction of the sound? Anyway, you didn't resist any more and slowly stood up propping your hand on the floor, grabbed the door handle and pushed open the bathroom door.

Minho was standing right in front of you, but you didn't want to look up at him for fear he would see your red eyes and nose. He seems relieved to see that you're okay, reaching out to help you pull your hair back from your forehead behind your ears. "You've been crying for about half an hour. I've cleaned up the kitchen already."

Hearing him do the job you said you were going to do, you looked up at him a little apologetically. Realizing what you've done and trying to hurry down again, you were too late. He holds your face so that you can't do anything but look at him. Your pupils tremble slightly and you subconsciously try to dodge, but his strength is unexpectedly strong, you can't even try to avoid it.

"It's obvious that there's something on your mind that you're not telling me. But I said I wouldn't get into your personal business, so this is just asking. Would you like to tell me what's on your mind? My therapist told me that it's important to share what's on your mind so it doesn't keep building up."

Even though it was a "question", both the words he said afterwards and the movement of his hands told you that you didn't seem to have any other choice. And... Sharing this with him might actually ease your mind. So you closed your eyes and attached your hands to his, taking them off of you before opening your eyes again, bowing your head slightly and taking a step towards your side of the bed.

You sat down, moving back a bit before gesturing for him to sit over as well. Seeing how you seemed ready to show your feelings, he immediately came over to you and sat down next to you.

"I just think it's... It's just unfair." You spoke slowly. "I'm the one who said goodbye without warning, I'm the one who made him upset like that. He didn't do anything wrong, so why is he the one who has to suffer? Why am I the bad guy and he's the one being punished? Why should I be able to live in such comfort after leaving him, while he...he sounds like he's dying? Who am I to live here in such comfort every day? Who am I to deserve it? Even though... Even though I know, even though I keep making excuses to myself that it's best for him to leave him, to never have contact with him again ...... But that phone call just now... He really isn't doing well at all. I'm such a jerk... Hurting him like this ...... I hate myself so much for doing this......"

Minho listened quietly as you broke into your words, looking at the side of your face, his brow furrowed from the moment you opened your mouth. He took a deep breath after you finished that last sentence, holding back something. After a long moment, seeing that you seemed to have finished, he spoke. "Can I hug you?"

He turns to his side and opens his arms slightly. You look at him with some shock, not expecting him to suddenly make such a move. Such a move that deepens your disgust with yourself. You want to refuse, but you couldn't open your mouth. You needed the hug, you just didn't think you deserved it. Instead, he took your silence as acquiescence and took you into his arms.

His embrace is warm, so warm that you feel as if the tears you've just retrieved are being forced out again. You weren't much of a fan of physical contact, and even Hyunjin hadn't hugged you many times. After all, you didn't grow up as a child in a family that liked physical contact. But in Minho's embrace, you seemed to feel safe. It seemed that if you were in this person's arms, you would be able to be a little bit more at peace.

But it's still the same thing. You don't deserve it. Why is it that you have Minho's warm embrace and Hyunjin is left alone in a cold bed, weeping in silence? Why?

"You seem to forget, Y/N. The sacrifices you've made are no less than his. The burden you carry on your back. The fate of thousands and thousands of people. Your parents' company. You gave up your life for this... Giving up the person you love...... Returning alone to a place that doesn't give you happy memories... Marrying a stranger that you don't even love......" For some reason, there was a tone of bitterness in his voice as he said those words. "Don't you... Don't you feel that you too deserve to be happy? Don't you feel that you deserve what you have now? Whether it's happiness or hurt, you got it all with your own hands. So don't feel that you don't deserve anything, because you do."

You can't see his face, but you feel like he's smiling.

"Y/N, I understand exactly how you feel. Feeling like you don't deserve anything because of hurting a loved one. For doing things that lead to undesirable consequences. The feeling of regret, the feeling of questioning yourself, the feeling of pain. I know all of these and have experienced them all, so I can understand how you feel. You are lucky to have someone to tell you these things at an early stage. I was also lucky that no one came to tell me these words, but because of that I found this answer on my own. And, because of that, I am able to save you with these words, aren't I?"

Your grip on the fabric of his back tightens a little. Your lips quivered as you breathed. He felt your light tremor and ran his hand down your back, one after another, with a tenderness you hadn't felt before, from him. How much pain was it, how long did it take for him to learn by himself how not to blame himself? And was he really not blaming himself anymore? His next words give you the answer.

"I say I'm saving you, but I'm not really fully healed myself. After all, that's why you're here, isn't it? I need your rescue too. I need you to help me heal my wounds. Y/N, wounds do heal, though they leave unsightly scars, though they sometimes reopen and remind you how much it hurts when you see that scar, but still they heal. How long it will take I don't know. Maybe five years, ten years, twenty years, maybe a lifetime, but no matter how long it takes, it is slowly healing. So... Promise me you'll try to slowly accept this imperfect version of yourself with me, okay?"

How long did you cry in his arms again? Did you wet his shirt lapels? You don't remember. You just thought that when it was over, when you were lying back in bed again ready to sleep, you saw a different side of him. Not the CEO of the Lee Corporation, but Lee Minho, just Lee Minho.

For the first time, you took the initiative and held his hand tightly, pulling it over and embracing it in your arms. For the first time, instead of turning your back to him, you lay face to face with him on your side on the bed. For the first time, you smiled and said 'goodnight' to him.

It seemed that after that incident, the relationship between the two of you changed quite a bit. It went from being a purely collaborative partnership to being like close friends. At least that's what you've been fooling yourself into thinking. That night when you interlocked your fingers with him and looked at his sleeping figure to say goodnight, you saw something else for a moment. You suddenly realized, felt with certainty, that you would be doing this every night afterwards, sharing a bed with someone like this. And after this realization, you felt as if the way you looked at him had changed.

Whenever you looked at him before, you were watching his expressions, or just looking into his eyes out of politeness when you were talking to him. But after that night, you couldn't help but look at his face and just stare, like you were admiring him. He seemed to notice such a gaze too, smiling every time he caught you staring at him, eyes narrowed like a kitten. Yes, that's right, Lee Minho is like a kitten.

Not only did he look like one, he acted like one too. On weekends when he doesn't need to work, he lies on the couch in his pajamas and asks you to let him cuddle up on your lap and use it like a pillow. He stretches like a kitten every time he wakes up, rubs his eyes with the back of his hand and sometimes falls on his side on top of you. He also keeps annoying you when he wakes up before you do, poking you in the face and shaking your arm, asking you to make him breakfast. Though he has said before that your cooking is not as good as his. But he does cook for you sometimes, and you have to say that his cooking is really good, and you eat a lot of it every time, and then regret it afterwards, saying that you have lost weight for nothing. Whenever you mentioned the diet, he would frown and shake his head, saying things like "I don't understand you women".

You seem to have gotten used to each other's presence in just two months, learning every little habit and detail about each other. For example, when he came out of the bathroom in his bathrobe, you saw a scar on his chest. He said it was from an operation he had when he was a child, and as his body grew, the scar grew longer and longer, which bothered him. You also showed him the marks you had left after your injuries as a child. At the time, you put up with the pain and didn't tell anyone because you didn't want your parents to know. Fortunately, the wounds were not very visible, otherwise your mother, who cared only about your appearance, would have been furious.

Apart from the wounds, you discover a few other things in common between you and Minho. One of the most surprising things is that you went to the same elementary school. He was only two years older than you, and you had supposedly gone to school together for four years. It's just that at the time you were so preoccupied with rules and your parents' words that you didn't care about anything other than your studies. And he said he was the troublemaker in his class when he was a kid, the type who never went a day without getting into some kind of trouble. But because his family was so rich and powerful, no teacher dared to scold him, and even the headmaster had to be careful when he met him. You couldn't help but laugh at this story because of the way he described how the headmaster and teachers treated him was just like that of your father. He also told you that if you were in the same class, he would have bullied you. You didn't comment much on this, which was a way of admitting that he was right. After all, you were a real coward as a child, the kind who didn't even dare to say "no".

Back when your family was at its most wealthy and powerful, your father didn't treat you the way he treats Minho now. He never gave you any fatherly love and all he did was work and find women outside. Your mother was afraid to take it out on your father, so she liked to take it out on you. The person who loved you most in the last ten plus years was probably Hyunjin. That's why he's so special to you.

When you mentioned your parents, Minho's expression was always a bit strange, unexplainably strange. Come to think of it, even though your parents never loved you, at least they were both alive. In contrast, Minho always wears a smile when he mentions his parents, but there is something sad about that smile. You could hear in his stories that his parents loved him and cared for him. And there is always a hint of regret in his tone, a hint of missing, but more ...... seemed to be remorse. You later realized that the topic of parents didn't seem to make either of you happy, so you stopped talking about them after a few times.

After another week or so had passed, it was Friday.

Even on a Friday afternoon, when everyone was off work, Insomnia Café was still empty. It was just music written by Chan playing in the background, while he himself was sitting in a daze at the table closest to the door looking out of the window at the various people passing by. You had finished your work for the day a few hours earlier and were sitting across from Chan with your phone and a cup of coffee, brushing up on the latest news.

"It's going to be rainy season soon...... And that means no more customers...... What am I gonna do Y/N? I'm going out of business......"

You put your coffee mug down on the table and looked up. "Are you under the illusion that there are customers if it's not rainy season? I've been working here part-time for what, two months now? I can count on one hand the number of customers that have come in, including me." That sounds like an exaggeration, but it's really not. By your count, of the few people who come in, more than half come to see Chan, not for coffee. So there were actually probably fewer than ten real customers. "I originally said I wanted to work part-time because I didn't want to have nothing to do during the day, but it turns out I still have nothing to do even when I get a job."

Chan grunted in displeasure at that comment, propping his elbows on the table and his palms on his cheeks. "Isn't being in charge of keeping me from falling asleep a job? It's a great job, don't you dare underestimate it."

As he finishes this sentence, your phone suddenly rings. You look down and see that it's actually a text message from Minho. He said this morning that he had a full day of meetings today and a party to go to in the evening, telling you not to wait for him for dinner. How come he's texting you now?

You tap on the messaging app.

Minho: "The dinner is cancelled, so I'm on my way to pick you up."

It's cancelled? Wasn't it a really important party? But you don't really want to ask either.

You: "Pick me up? Do I need to tell Changbin not to come?"

Minho: "I've already informed him."

So he's sending me this text message purely to notify me.

You: "Okay... Where are you?"

Minho: "Look out the window."

Seeing that, you jerk your head up and look out the window, startling Chan across the table as well.

"My God what's wrong? Is there a customer?" "No..."

Something like 'It's my fiancé picking me up from work' seemed a bit strange to suddenly say to him. So you just didn't say anything.

"No? Then this guy is... Eh? Minho?"

Minho is sitting in the back seat of a black fancy car at the moment, looking in your direction and smiling a little when he sees you staring at him. Jisung in front of him gets up from the driver's seat, opens the door and walks to the back and opens the backseat door. Minho thanks him and gets out of the car to walk towards you.

"What's Minho doing here looking for me? Is there something going on?" Chan asked somewhat curiously as his eyes followed his movements and watched him coming in.

You put your phone away and prepared to get up. "He's here for me."

Chan frowned, seemingly not expecting you to have anything to do with Minho. But it made sense, after all, you hadn't told him anything. There wasn't much need to tell him is all.

"You know each other?"

He says this just as Minho pushes the door in and hears the question as well. He looked at you and then at Chan, who was off to the side. "Us?"

You smiled a little awkwardly and then waved your hand. It was too much trouble to explain this whole thing.

You thought Minho would see your hand wave and understand you, make up some other excuse, or just take you away after a few words. But he doesn't. He looks straight at you, with a look in his eyes you can't quite read, and Chan looks back and forth between the two of you, an awkward chuckle escaping his lips.

"Yeah, yeah... Do you guys know each other? I've never heard either of you mention it...... Speaking of which, doesn't Minho live around here? Are you guys neighbours?"

Minho raised an eyebrow. "You didn't tell him?"

You froze for a moment, shaking your head as you realized he was talking to you. His eyes fell on your hand. Yours followed his to his own hand. You realized then that you weren't wearing the engagement ring he had given you. While looking at his hand, the ring was lying quietly on the middle finger of his left hand, the huge diamond shining brightly.

"Tell me what? Why don't I seem to understand?"

Jisung pushed his way into the cafe at that moment as well. Seeing the somewhat awkward atmosphere between the three of you, it was momentarily difficult to know whether to speak or not. "Uh.... boss, what's the problem? Is there a change of plans? Do you need me to take Miss Y/N home first?"

Chan frowned. "Miss Y/N? You guys know each other too?"

Jisung looks at Minho and then at you suspiciously, his eyes hovering back and forth between the two of you. "Doesn't Changbin come to take her home every day...?"

Chan seems to have just now realized it, with the look that the whole world has cleared up. "Wait, Changbin is a bodyguard for Minho's family's company, and he comes to pick Y/N up from work every day now... That means you guys......" He points his finger between you guys. "Are siblings?"

Jisung facepalms speechlessly, and even you can barely hold back your laughter, leaving Minho's questioning look behind. Speaking of Minho, he's still staring at your hand with a bit of annoyance, as if he didn't even hear what Chan just said.

"Are you stupid? They're a couple! A pair of lovers who've been living together and are already engaged!"

That seemed like the first time anyone had spoken out about your relationship. Or at least the first time you'd heard it.

Chan's whole body froze, but his eyes started to glow. "You guys? You and Lee Minho? You two are getting married? How come I haven't even heard that Minho's found a woman? How long have you been dating?" His sleepiness seemed to disappear and completely erased the way he couldn't keep his eyes open earlier. Propping himself up on the table with both hands, he stands up and moves closer to you, staring intently into your eyes as he waits for a reply. Surely gossip can wake someone up. You've never seen Chan like this before, not even when Changbin came to talk to him. Not even before when he said he'd finished writing a new album was he this excited.

"Uh... It's not really-" "It's only been a few months. I knew it had to be Y/N from the first moment I saw her."

Minho interrupts before you can finish, watching as Chan's face is almost pressed against yours, taking you by the wrist and pulling you towards him. Chan seems to realize he's a bit close to you too, and takes two quick steps back to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Love at first sight, that's cool." After a couple of dry coughs, Chan looks up at you again and says. "Y/N, even though it might not seem like it, Minho is actually a very nice man. I'm sure you won't be treated wrong."

You smiled a little awkwardly and nodded, not really sure how to reply to his words while you cast a look at Minho. But he seems to already have the intention of speaking up, narrowing his eyes at Chan.

"Thank you for the compliment, and I'll be sure to send you an invitation when the time comes for us to get married. But right now we have a bit of business to attend to and we should get going, shouldn't we Y/N?"

You should not resist when he talks with his eyes narrowed. That's a bit of a conclusion you've drawn over the last few months. He squints his eyes up when he's annoyed or angry and pulls this smile around his mouth. What is he angry about though? You look down at your hands. Could it really be because you don't have the ring he gave you? But......

In any case, it's best to cope with him for now. "Yeah, yeah... We've got a bit of work to do, so we've got to hurry home first. See you on Monday Chris, and don't stay up late on the weekend, take some melatonin and go to bed early."

You ended your sentence in a hurry and were dragged out of Insomnia by Minho.

Jisung saw the two of you in a bit of a hurry and didn't have time to talk to Chan, whom he hadn't seen for a while, before he too returned to the front seat. Sitting down and holding the steering wheel, he looked at the two of you in the rear-view mirror in some confusion.

"Home." Minho ordered. Jisung then nodded, stepped on the gas and started to drive home.

Minho didn't say a word the whole way. Maybe it was because Jisung was there, or maybe it was because he was still angry. You fiddled with your fingers a little uneasily, glancing at him every now and then, and tentatively clearing your throat. But he didn't even react, just stared blankly out of the window. You don't know if it was just you, but you felt he was a bit sour.

Minho doesn't move, waiting for Jisung to open the door for him, who gets out of the car, goes around to the back seat, opens the door and invites Minho out. He then offers you his hand to help you out of the car as well. You glance at Minho's briefcase on your left and after a moment's reflection you decide to help him take it down with you. You take Jisung's hand in yours and let him pull you out of the car. He lets go only when you are firmly on your feet.

"So, Boss, miss, any more orders?"

Minho waved his hand with his back to him and walked past like this doorway without saying a word. You look at his back, then turn to face Jisung with a slight bow. "Thank you, Jisung... I don't know what's wrong with Minho... Is it normal for him to be like this? Did something happen at the office or..."

Jisung shook his head in return. "Boss was so happy when he found out the party was cancelled that he immediately contacted me to bring him back. He also seemed more relaxed on the way, and was smiling when he texted you, Miss. I don't know what's going on here either.... I don't know what's suddenly happened... Boss used to be moody, but that was due to lack of sleep. Now that you've solved that problem, this shouldn't be happening......."

Minho had by now opened the door to the house and walked in, turning back to see you and Jisung whispering and slamming the door shut with a somewhat angry frown.

"I have a bit of a clue, but it's not 100% clear......" You rubbed your middle finger of your left hand. "If that's really what happened... He's being a little childish, isn't he?" Childish. You hadn't thought that word had anything remotely to do with Lee Minho. But if he's really just mad at you for not wearing the ridiculously large diamond ring he gave you, then that does seem childish. "Anyway, you go ahead, I'll sort this out."

Jisung nodded hastily. "Then I'm counting on you, Miss."

You sighed and headed in the direction of the house as well.

Minho is sitting in the living room, over on the couch where you always stay, head down, arms crossed, sitting quietly. You'd expect him to give you a scowl or a teasing look like he always does. But he's not in the same mood, just sitting there with a frown on his face. He didn't even hear you enter the room.

You walked over in his direction and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry..." Before you could speak, he opened his mouth first. "I forgot."

While you were puzzled by the "I forgot" answer, you were perhaps more surprised that he had apologised so quickly. You haven't even said anything. You haven't even figured out what he's angry about yet.

"What?"

He turned in your direction, first looking at your hand again, then slowly looking up straight into your eyes. "I forgot that we're fake." He purses his lips after saying this and lifts his leg to leave, but you take his wrist and look up at him.

"What "fake"? Don't leave in the middle of a sentence, it's impolite."

His hand clenches into a fist, but he doesn't break away from you. "I'm in a bit of a mess and I'd like to be left alone... I just wanted to apologize to you first for earlier. I don't know what's wrong with me." He rubs his other hand over his forehead and takes a deep breath. "Maybe I'm just making a fool of myself."

Leaving those words behind, he takes the briefcase you're holding that belongs to him, whispers a thank you and heads upstairs without looking back. His back looks a little lonely, which makes you feel stuffy inside. What did he mean by "making a fool of himself"? And the way he looked at your hand... There seems to be a connection between the two, but you need one last piece of information.

Seeing that he's not going to cook, you resign yourself to the kitchen and begin the usual dinner preparations.

Meanwhile, in the master bathroom, Minho rinces some water on his face and holds the edge of the sink to gaze at himself in the mirror, smiling a little to himself. He looked at the ring on the middle finger of his left hand and, with a grit of his teeth, gamely took it off, ready to throw it away, but then hesitated at the last moment. Then he held the tiny ring in his hand again, clutching it to his chest.

What was wrong with him? He had been so rude to Chan and you in the café, and he had gone into the house without thanking Jisung when he got out of the car... He would never have done something like that... What's wrong with him today? Was it just because you and Chan were getting a little close? Or is he mad at you for not telling Chan about your relationship? But why would he be angry? Other than the title of 'fiancé', he's just friends with you. Besides, the man you love is......

Are you not wearing the ring because of that guy too? Or is it because you see the ring and you remember that you are practically imprisoned by him? Although he said he was giving you freedom, the fact that you had lost the life you were meant to live was his fault. He was selfish and forced you into this marriage.

He wasn't lying when he told you he was "in a bit of a mess". He feels like he's going crazy right now. He's angry, but he doesn't know who he's angry at. Is it himself? Is it you? Was he angry, or was he jealous? If it was jealousy, who was he to be? He didn't even have the right to be jealous.

He knows that he has developed strange feelings for you over this period of time, feelings that he has never felt in any previous relationship, feelings that are stronger than a simple fondness. He would normally call this feeling 'love', but he doesn't dare to think of it that way. He is more inclined to "possessiveness" and "dependence" at the moment. Even though he knows inside that there is more to it than that.

Unbeknownst to you, he has quietly experimented with you while you were asleep. He will pretend to be asleep after you have both gone to bed holding hands and then secretly let go of your hand to see if he can still fall asleep. The answer was "yes". As long as you were with him, he felt at ease. But he doesn't tell you about it. Only he knows the reason for this.But he doesn't want to face up to the reason, doesn't want to admit it.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. Today was supposed to be a day of relaxation, a day he had finally gotten where he didn't have to work late or go to meetings. A day where he could let go of everything outside of this home and just spend time with you to eat a meal, talk, maybe watch a movie and relax. But just because you're not wearing an engagement ring? Just because the way you and Chan looked when you sat together had him looking a little red in the eyes? He was going to ruin a good day because of that?

Speaking of which, since when did you stop wearing the ring? Before today, he hadn't noticed it closely enough. Maybe you never wore it at all. At least you didn't seem to wear it at home. But he thought that, at least when you were outside, you would want to tell people that you belonged to another person. At least he did. At work, at parties, he wore the ring in the most prominent place as if he was showing off that he already had a fiancée. But having said that, it's only natural that you don't want to be as obvious as he is. After all, you still had that person. The man who makes you wear a sad expression every time you think of him.

Do you look different when you think of him too? He knows he does. It's as if he can't help but relax when he thinks of you, leaving all his worries behind for a while.

This feeling was too foreign to him, something he had never experienced before. His heart really ached, his chest was stuffy without any way to vent it.It was a different feeling than when his parents passed away, and when he lost sleep and couldn't sleep. All of these things made him feel helpless, but there was something different. In the first two, he was truly helpless, and the feeling of despair was utter. Especially with the death of his parents, he knew there was no coming back from that 'loss'. The despair of insomnia was irritable, more like hating himself, frantic and cranky. But this feeling is different. It's slow, it doesn't just slam you and explode in an instant. It builds up slowly, like water dripping into a glass, filling up more and more, about to overflow but not quite. You are right in front of his eyes, just a stone's throw away. But you feel so far away that he can't seem to ever reach you. He wants to let it out but has no reason to, so he just lets the feelings torment him slowly. It makes him act perversely and unlike him.

"Lee Minho...you're going insane......"

When Minho comes down the stairs, you notice that the ring on his hand has disappeared. Seeing this you have complete confirmation and that last bit of information has been given. He's just upset because you're not wearing the ring, as he is now. You're a little surprised, after all, if it was before, you would never have thought he was like this. Someone who would be in a bad mood because you weren't wearing a ring. But there is a suspicion in your mind at the moment, a suspicion that you don't dare to think about deep down.

Perhaps because you never received any affirmation from your parents as a child, you are not a very confident person and can be suspicious of many things and not very sensitive to emotional matters. After all, the last time you had a crush on someone, you didn't confess it for four years and never told him your true feelings until you said goodbye to him. So now, even if Minho's feelings are exactly the same as "jealousy" you've seen online, in novels and on TV, you still don't really believe it. You still unconsciously try to find excuses to tell yourself otherwise. After all, he's Lee Minho and you're just Y/N.

Bringing dinner to the table, you take a slow seat across from him, not looking him in the eye the entire time.

If you look up now, you can see the forlorn expression on his face, his eyes still looking straight at you holding the chopsticks. He also felt ridiculous and childish. You don't even notice what he's thinking, it's all just him making a fool of himself.

"Dinner looks delicious." He said it in a very fake tone, even if it wasn't a false statement. His attention was not at all on the food. He didn't even pick up his chopsticks. "I was rude... Thank you for saying thank you to Jisung. I'll text him back later to apologise. And Chan."

You pressed your lips together. He sounded like the time when you had first met. Respectful, but not at all like the 'friend' he'd been two days before. It made you a little upset, but in the end you couldn't say anything other than "okay".

There was a silence between the two of you after that. You glanced up at him every now and then, trying to read something in his expression. But you were surprised to find that he seemed to have put his mask back on. Hiding everything from you. From the "we're not real" and "maybe I'm just being a fool" statements he made by the couch, to the way he's now putting on his mask of pretence makes you feel inexplicably sad. What has happened to make him suddenly behave like this? You don't think it's just because you're not wearing a ring that he's acting like this. He's not that kind of person.

So the only conclusion left really is......

"Minho...there's a reason I'm not wearing a ring." You tried to open your mouth to explain, but his pupils narrowed sharply and the movements in his hands and the chewing in his mouth gave a slight pause, clearly meaning that he didn't want you to continue.

"I know, you don't have to tell me. The ring was supposed to be merely a formality, that's what I said." The tone of his voice doesn't rise or fall a bit, but you still feel the sadness in his voice. "It's none of my business whether you wear it or not......right?"

He looks at you, his pupils devoid of any emotion. It was clearly a question, but it was as if he didn't want you to answer the question.

So you lowered your head and didn't say anything.

And so the dinner ended in silence.

After dinner, Minho helped you clean up the kitchen before heading upstairs alone. It is normal for him to spend a few hours in the office by himself when he comes back early. But today you were extra concerned about him. While watching TV on the couch, you kept unconsciously looking upstairs, unable to focus on what was on TV.

At about ten o'clock, you yawned, feeling a little sleepy, then turned off the TV, put the laundry in the dryer and went upstairs. The door to his office was still closed, he was still inside.

You don't really want to talk to him right now, but you can't let up when it comes to sleeping. So taking a deep breath, you knock on his office door.

"Minho, I'm going to bed, are you coming?"

After about ten seconds, his voice comes out from inside.

"You go ahead, I’m busy."

Your hand rested on his doorknob and after a few moments of silence you eventually chose to leave alone. If he doesn't want to see you, then let him be. If he wants to hold your hand or do anything after you've fallen asleep, that's his business, it's none of your concern. Not knowing what else to do, you turned around and went back into the master bedroom.

You asked him, he was the one who said he didn't need it.

Sleep wasn't much of an issue for you, even when you had something on your mind you were the type to fall asleep relatively easily. But today is not quite the same. After washing up, you changed into your pajamas and lay down on the bed in your bedroom, pulling your phone out. You clicked on the chat screen with Minho and scrolled through the chats earlier today, trying to forget his unusual behaviour. He hadn't asked Jisung or Changbin to deliver messages for him since about a month ago, and no matter how busy he was, he would at least tell you before you left work what he was doing tonight and whether he would be back for dinner. If he wasn't very busy, he would sometimes send you some photos he had taken at lunchtime. Mostly of Jisung standing up while asleep in his office. Sometimes he'll even take a selfie of himself. Although you always reply to him telling him to "get back to work", you can't help but smile every time you get a message from him.

But at the moment, you can't quite smile when you look at these cute chats.

You probably do like him. You are not a teenager, you are not that oblivious to feelings of fondness. You know that your feelings for Minho are not simply a partnership, or even just friends. But what about Hyunjin, if it's Minho you're attracted to?

You exit Minho's chat screen and click on Hyunjin's.

Hyunjinnie: "I'm sorry about last night... I was drunk."

You: "It's okay."

Hyunjinnie: "Did I say anything weird? If I did..."

You: "You didn't say anything."

You don't actually know if he even remembers what he said himself, but you don't want to talk about the subject anymore.

Hyunjinnie: "Oh... That's good."

Hyunjinnie: "Does he treat you well?"

You: "Very well."

Hyunjinnie: "If he treats you badly be sure to tell me and I'll beat him up for you."

You: "Don't worry about it, there's no need for that."

Hyunjinnie: "Oh..."

Hyunjinnie: "Can I come and see you?"

You: "It's better if we don't see each other."

Hyunjinnie: "Do you hate me that much?"

You: "Hyunjin...you know what I mean."

You: "I know this might be hard for you, but let's not see…or text each other anymore…"

You really sound like an emotionless jerk. But the more decisive you are, the better, and you continue to believe that.

Hyunjinnie: "So, you want us to be strangers?"

Hyunjinnie: "We can't even remain friends?"

You: "Until you really think of me as a friend... Yes."

Hyunjin didn't send you any more messages after that. The conversation between the two of you ended on that day. You have no idea how he's been since then, even Seungmin hasn't given you any more information about his situation.

Not communicating with him was working, or at least it was working for you. Maybe it's because the person who lives in your head now has switched? The first person you think of now, whether you are happy or sad, is Minho. you want to share happy things with him, and you know that his shoulder is there for you to lean on when you are feeling down. Whether this has anything to do with you cutting off contact with Hyunjin is not clear to you, but you have wondered why Minho is so different. Why did you, who grew up without any sense of security or belonging, accept him as quickly as you did, even to the point of crying in front of him and letting him see a side of you that no one had ever seen before?

Because he's really just like you. Like you, he is not used to being dependent on others and always carries everything on his own. You know what it's like to feel that way. He understands you that way too. That's why you two never get tired of being together. No one person always has to bear the pain of the other. It's just that, because you're both such self-reliant personalities, you both look like fools when it comes to emotional problems like this. Solving your current problems isn't really difficult at all, you just have to talk about it. Just say a few more words and let him talk again like he did the morning after you first moved here, or like he did the night Hyunjin called you. Pull out your heart and show it to him, say everything you want to say without worrying about him judging you. Tell him not just "why I'm not wearing the ring you gave me", tell him not to put on “the mask" when you're around him, tell him that you're not just in a contractual relationship... And also tell him...... that you love him.

You love him, you must love him. It's a stronger feeling than "like". He made you feel like you belonged, like you were understood for the first time in the world. Someone who is really willing to empathise with you and to help you. For the first time someone stood behind you, opened their arms and told you, "It's okay, you can rest, I'm here".

So this is how it feels to love someone.

But today isn’t the day to tell him that.

You close your eyes and fall asleep imagining the feeling of his warm embrace.

At around 2am, Minho returned from the office to his bedroom, rubbing his eyes. He pulls back the tie tied under his shirt collar and unbuttons a few buttons before going into the bathroom to wash up a little tiredly. When he comes out, he slowly walks over to your half of the bed and kneels down, holding onto the edge. He leaned on his arm and looked at you, watching your face as you slept peacefully, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily rose.

He wanted to do many things, to leave a soft kiss on your forehead, to stroke your hair, but fearing that such a movement would wake you up, he decided on second thoughts not to do so. He stands up and walks to his half of the bed and lies down. He turned his head sideways to look at your back and contemplated for a moment, as if he was torn between whether to take your hand or not.

He couldn't allow his feelings for you to get any deeper, it would only hurt him in the end. He knows this very well. So he shouldn't make any more moves that are out of line. You wouldn't want that for him either. All he should do is provide you with everything you need so that you can live comfortably in this house. The less of those excesses, the idea of trying to make him the only one in your eyes, the better.

With this in mind, Minho closes his eyes and tries to fall into sleep.

Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes. Frowned. Adjusted his posture and then closed his eyes again.

Twenty minutes later, he opened his eyes again.

Thirty minutes, forty minutes, fifty minutes, an hour.

He can't seem to fall asleep.

He reaches out and takes your wrist. Not interlocking fingers, just pulling on your wrist. Feeling your steady pulse, he takes a deep breath. 'It's okay, today is just a bad day.' He thinks this and tries again to fall asleep.

Another ten minutes pass and he still can't sleep. He was getting a little annoyed, but the movements of his hands were still gentle, slowly switching his grip on your wrist to interlocking his fingers with yours, feeling the warmth in his palm.

But it still doesn't work.

At 3.30am, Minho realizes a truth he doesn't want to face.

He seems to have lost sleep again.

Maybe it was because his mind was so messed up right now? Or maybe it's because you're not close enough. He moved in your direction, but there was no change in his mood, and his sleepiness didn't deepen. He was really panicking a bit now. How could he suddenly not be able to sleep now when there hadn't been any problems for months? He sat up slowly and pinched the bridge of his nose with his other hand. It was a feeling he had vowed never to feel again before. This feeling of insomnia, of not being able to sleep even though he was obviously tired, was really not pleasant at all. After having you, he had thought he would never experience such a feeling again.

He turned on his side and swallowed.

He had just convinced himself not to do anything beyond the pale, and already he was changing his mind less than an hour later.

He reached over and gently wrapped his arm around your waist, bringing you towards him, his chin resting on your shoulder from behind, his head lowered and he took a deep breath of your scent. Your body was warm and soft compared to his, and with a hug like this, it was like he had your whole body wrapped around him. A gesture like this was something he had never done to anyone before. But it seemed like he had done it a million times before, as if he knew what to do.

He closes his eyes tightly and concentrates on his breathing. Inhaling, exhaling, letting his heartbeat try to settle down.

A sense of reassurance, a sense of peace of mind. What he needed now was a sense of ease. As long as you were there, he could feel at ease. That's the way it should be, isn't it? Just knowing that he has you by his side, knowing that you are his ......

You are his. You're not his. But you are not his at all. You're not. You're not in love with him.

Minho clenched his teeth, his breath coming in sharp gasps again.

You don't love him. He used you. Used you to get your father's company. Used you to get sleep. He hurt you. Took you away from the people who mattered to you. Made your heart ache day and night. He did this to you. He imprisoned you in this place. Trying to tie you down with a ridiculous ring. Claiming to the world that he has a lover. But you weren't. You are fake. Not real. Your relationship, your engagement, everything about you is a lie. How can you love him? You don't love him.

You don't love him.

"Minho? Oh my god what's happening?"

He was completely unaware that his rapid breathing and ever tightening hands had woken you up already. He was sweating profusely at the moment, rather than being at ease, he looked like he had just been through life and death. The veins on his forehead are popping up, and his eyes are red.

You have your back to him so you can't even see him now, but you know this must be very unusual. You reach out and stroke his hands that are tightened around your waist, trying to calm him down. But he keeps his eyes tightly closed, muttering these words you can't understand, and his whole body is tense. Such symptoms you've seen before, these were the symptoms of a panic attack.

"Minho...listen to me, let go......" "No, no, no... I won't let go, please don't let go...... Don't..."

The word "let go" triggered him somehow, and instead of letting go, he tightened his grip a lot more. You're at a loss as to what to do in this situation. You didn't know he had anxiety issues, he never told you that.

"It's okay, you don't have to let go... Can you at least hear me? Minho, you are having a panic attack now. Take a deep breath... Take a deep breath and focus on my words. Don't think about anything else, whatever it is, take a deep breath."

"Y/N... Y/N ......" He keeps calling your name, pleading for help. He's asking you for help. "I can't sleep...What do I do? I, I......"

"Shhh... Don't be afraid. Just calm down and we can talk slowly when you're calm. Now, for me, take a deep breath first, okay?"

You felt him nod behind you, then you heard him slowly inhale deeply and exhale shakily after a few repetitions of this motion, you felt him seem to relax a little and his heartbeat against your back smoothed out considerably.

"Can I turn around and look at you?" You ask softly. "It's important to share what's on your mind so it doesn't keep building up. That's what you said to me before, isn't it?"

His embrace loosens a little, giving you room to move around. You took the opportunity to turn around and sit up, pulling him up with you. He wasn't crying, but his face was pale, his lips filled with blood as if he'd been bitten through them, and his eyes were just as bloodshot. Heartbroken, you reached out to touch his cheek, rubbing your fingers over his lower lip.

He grabs your wrist and brings his hand down with it on the sheets. His eyes droop without looking at you, even as he still trembles a little unconsciously. In a silent attempt to stop you from being overly caring. But the small movement of his hand tightening tells you that he doesn't want you to leave him alone. Such a torn mood is exactly the same as yours that night.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head. He couldn't say it, couldn't tell you that he was in love with you. He couldn't tell you that he'd had a panic attack after four years because he'd lost sleep for the ridiculous reason that "you weren't wearing the ring he said you didn't have to wear". It was too ridiculous for him to say.

"Can you listen to me if you don't want to speak?"

He looks up slightly, not quite sure what you mean.

You don't let go of his hand, but your other hand reaches back and touches the nightstand next to your bed. Pulling open the first drawer, you pull a ring out of it. It's the engagement ring he gave you. The ridiculously large diamond on it still shines in the night. The light hurts Minho's eyes a little, but not a million percent as much as it hurts his heart.

"The reason you're acting strange today is because I'm not wearing it, isn't it?"

His eyes widened a little. It wasn't just for that reason, of course, but when it came to what made him the way he ended up today, it sure as hell had to be because of the ring. He thought this and nodded slightly. There was a sad look in his eyes. Of course you've noticed, you're Y/N, he can't hide anything from you. Every move he made, every little detail was in your eyes. He has nowhere to run. You might have figured out that he's in love with you. Maybe the reason you're not wearing the ring is because you want to tell him: don't get ahead of yourself, I don't love you at all. But he doesn't want to hear that. He doesn't want to hear your explanation. He doesn't want to hear you talk about that person. He wants to lie to himself for a little while longer. At least try to stop himself from loving you more deeply.

"Do you know you're an idiot?" "What?"

He couldn't believe his ears.

"Minho, I don't know why you think a diamond this big is pretty. Everything else you war is low-key, so why does this ring have to be so outrageously magnificent? I was simply embarrassed to wear it out."

His whole body froze. Then frowned. He did want to go and lie to himself but not with that kind of excuse.

"You don't have to think about my feelings to make up this kind of-" "Lie? It's not a lie. Why do you think it was? Because I'm too embarrassed to admit I'm your fiancée? Or because you think I think wearing a ring is like being chained to a collar?"

Minho pursed his lips, none of these were the reasons that came to his mind. But they were also all very valid reasons. Maybe you actually thought that. That was a reason he could accept. But he knew it wasn't. Your reason is clearly because...

"Hwang Hyunjin," he said the name, in a barely audible voice. Each pronunciation was bitten so tightly that the jealousy simply couldn't be hidden. He didn't try to hide it, either.

Hearing the name, this time it was you who froze. You never expected to hear Hyunjin's name from his lips. You didn't even know he knew Hyunjin's full name. But what does Hyunjin have to do with the ring- Your thoughts are suddenly interrupted by yourself. So that's it. You realize something, and then suddenly feel the urge to laugh.

"You think that I don't wear the ring you gave me... because I'm still in love with Hyunjin?" you never thought that words like this, which you would only hear in soap operas, would come out of your mouth.

Your question felt like a test and a confirmation, and Minho didn't know how to react. "Is it not?"

"Are you kidding me?" You replied immediately. A look of disbelief on your face. "I've told you many times that we don't have that kind of relationship anymore, right?"

He lowered his face again, but you didn't give him that chance and cupped his chin, making him look up at you. His cheeks flushed slightly and his eyes drifted around afraid to look at you.

"Not having that kind of relationship...doesn't mean, that your feelings...... forget it, it's my own problem. Whether you wear a ring or not shouldn't have anything to do with me..." "But I'm not wearing it, and you're upset because of it aren't you? So we should fix that."

You put the ring, cupped in your other hand, on the middle finger of your left hand and waved it in front of him.

"Do you see? It's ridiculously big and it doesn't look good at all. If you want me to wear a ring you give me, please give me a simpler one. I don't want to show off loudly in front of everyone that 'I'm a billionaire'."

Minho felt so ridiculous at the moment. You don't sound like you're joking at all. You could barely hold back your laughter when he mentioned Hyunjin's name. Even when he said that person's name you didn't react the way you used to. Could it be that he was overthinking it? Was he overthinking it all along? You really... Just don't wear the ring because you think it doesn't look good? Is that the reason? But that reason...... Seems kinda reasonable.

"Really? As long as I get a different one, you'll wear it?" You don't know if it's just your, but you can see a look of anticipation in his eyes. It's still a look you haven't seen on his face before, and it feels a little new.

"I'll wear it if it's a better looking one, I promise." You said as you took the ring off again and put it back in the drawer. When you turned back to him, you saw him rubbing the back of his neck a little awkwardly, his mind wondering what was going on. But the good thing is that the paleness of his face is gone. "And ah, Minho-ah," he hears you call to him, looking up and cocking his head. "I don't agree with what you said to me this afternoon. Not a single word of it."

He blinked, as if recalling what he had said earlier.

Right, a few hours ago... No, it would have to be ten hours ago now, wouldn't it? What he said to you in the living room. "We're not real" and "I'm just making a fool of myself". Those were the two lines.

"We're not fake. This engagement is real, and so am I. I'm your fiancée now, and that's not going to change. And don't you try to push me away. This is between the two of us, isn't it? I don't like the cold tone you used this afternoon. Don't ever speak to me in that tone again, do you hear me?"

He smiled and closed his eyes, raising his hands above his head as if he had surrendered. He was completely devoid of his earlier panic attack at this point, as if it hadn't even happened. It was like he was back to his old self who liked to flirt with you and was a bit annoying, but funny and charismatic. After a few moments he opened his eyes again and then spoke slowly.

"I hear you, my fiancée."

You smile at his answer and nod in satisfaction, before extending your hand to him.

"So, I'll ask you once more. Want to sleep?"

You expected him to meekly take your hand, but instead he he slapped your hand away and swooped right in and hugged you. Then flung you sideways onto the bed, his head buried in your chest. You felt shocked for just a moment, but smiled even as you felt the corners of his mouth slowly rise. He really did seem to be doing better.

"You hurt my heart, and even though you didn't mean it, I was upset for a long time. You have to make it up to me. I'm going to sleep with you in my arms tonight." His voice was muffled quite a bit by the fabric on your chest, but you managed to take in every word. You burst out laughing after hearing it and shook your head a little.

Sure enough he was still a childish guy, and that side wasn't something he pretended to be. But there's a world of difference between when he's serious and when he's relaxed. Although his hug was a bit sudden and you haven't asked for a lot of things yet. But by now he should be tired too, right? And, he's right, you did seem to hurt him without even realizing it. Let's just pretend it's your fault and compensate him today. With that thought, you stroke his hair and slowly close your eyes.

"Okay, goodnight, my fiancé." I love you.

But those are three words you're not ready to say yet.

You knew it was probably your new ring when Minho appeared in front of you two afternoons later with a small box in hand. Instead of getting down on one knee, he just sat beside you and opened the box. Inside lay quietly two plain silver rings. The outside was clean, with only a small ring of diamonds on the side. Minho picks one of them up, looks at it, confirms something and places it in your hand. Telling you it was designed by his own hand. Your eyes widen and you look at him with some disbelief.

"There's no reason you can't wear it this time, is there?" He asks, narrowing his eyes and smiling.

You shook your head and picked up the tiny ring and put it on your finger. It was just the right size, much better fitting than the previous one. It seemed that he had indeed designed it with care. The moment you put it on you feel something strange inside, so you take it off and look at the ring's inner ring. Only then do you notice that his initials are engraved within.

"My inside is your name, how's that? That way, you and I are tied to each other, and not just you to me."

There was still something childish about it, but looking at his very self-satisfied expression, you smiled and gave approval.

So the ring fiasco was over, but the question of your relationship was still not perfectly answered. You still haven't been able to tell him how you feel about him and he hasn't been very forthright in telling you that he likes you. You believe you're both just pondering how to say it, rather than the feelings themselves. It's just that you feel like there's still something missing between you. So little short of something that would finally push you a little more.

And soon, that something comes.

tag list:

@helpsplease @fight-me-m8 @qtieskz @yubinism @ateez-babygirl @skzooo @chanstresour @aerastus @my-dark-happy-place @otwo @skylar27 @owls-and-stars @stay-here-dont-stray @analusanchez @cucu-skks @yoshiunova @lixielv @nctdom @endzii23 @lachimolalas-posts

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subpar-ghoulfriend · 3 years

Text

A Family Affair

Slasher AU CannibalFamily!EraserMicxReader

We’re going with the “strange family that lives outside of a small town” trope. After a few deliveries to the Aizawa household you get pulled in to an affair you never wanted to be a part of.

Spooky season is upon us and I’ve already begun watching too many horror movies. This fic will definitely be a two parter

Super Dark Content Warning!!! Literally do not read if you have any reservation and definitely no minors!

TW: cannibal themes, mentions of murder, mentions of corpse mutilation, kidnapping, unhealthy relationships

Part 2 is gonna include more of this and the smut

Growing up you were grateful for living in a small town. You didn't really relate to the coming-of-age stories told in the movies where the small town girl runs off to the big city for a whirlwind romance and a chance at some "big break." To you, small town life was more picturesque than any overcrowded city. You knew your neighbors, and watched a lot of their families grow and change throughout the years. A small town allows you to become a regular at several businesses, including the coffee shop and your favorite diner downtown. Going away to college was tough even though you didn't go far. The nearest city - a little over 40 miles away - had a great college with a program you were really interested in pursuing.

You went home every break and picked up delivery jobs at one of the local restaurants. It was winter break of your last year in college when you first delivered to the Aizawa residence. In all your years at the restaurant they never ordered delivery, one of the two men would always place an order for pick up. The thing about small town stereotypes is that small towns tend to self-impose said stereotypes. The Aizawa's were that family. The one that everyone whispered when they came to town and children would tell horror stories about during Halloween. They were the weird family that lived just past the outskirts of town.

You weren't entirely sure what either of the two men did. Everyone speculated that Mr. Aizawa was some sort of mountain-man-feral type and maybe did some mechanic work for the folks that tend to live in between towns. His husband, Mr. Yamada seemed like the stay at home trophy husband but you heard he did some sort of conspiracy podcast. They had children - reportedly, but no one has really met them - and other family members that live similarly further out into the middle of nowhere. The drive was absurdly long but they were loyal customers and the owners didn't want to turn their request down. Your boss handed you a chunk of bills to fill up your tank before heading out. That's no place you'd want to get stranded, he told you.

The paved road got worse the further you got from town. Forty-five minutes later you were pulling down the dirt road that led to the illuminated Aizawa home. A wall of cold air slammed in to you when you opened your car door and you grumbled about leaving your gloves at home. There was no doorbell, so knocked and did that awkward please-don't-let-me-freeze dance while you waited. Two unfamiliar faces opened the door, an apathetic looking teen and an adorable little girl. Must be their children. The older one called out for his dad before taking one of the bags you held and disappearing into the home. You looked down awkwardly and wave at the girl. She smiled shyly and reached out for the other bag.

"Are you sure?" You asked her, "It's a little heavy."

She nodded.

"Okay, but use two hands," You passed her the bag. "Oh jeez, you're strong. Don't tell your brother, but I think this is the heavier bag."

You smiled when she giggled and ran off.

Mr. Aizawa appeared in the door, "How much do we owe?"

He was just as terrifying up close and for a split second your mind went blank while your basic instincts were begging you go back to the car. He raised an eyebrow at you, looking irritated at your falter.

"Uh - forty-two."

He pulled counted out a chunk of bills and then you were off. You didn't even count the amount until you parked. Forty-two with a forty-dollar tip. They may be odd but apparently they're loaded. You didn't think much of it until the following week when you were heading back to their house with another delivery. You wished that they would order earlier but at least you could hope for another generous tip. You were taken aback when the little girl answered the door by herself, jumping up and down with excitement.

Was she old enough to answer the door by herself?

"Papa," She yelled. "The lady is here!"

She turned her attention back to you with a huge grin, "Shinsou got sore that you told me I'm the stronger one."

Before you could respond to her the other man, Mr. Yamada, bounced around the corner, "Eri, what have we told you about the door? Oh no, you must be freezing come stand inside while I go get your payment. Forty-two right?"

You wanted to protest, feeling uneasy in their entryway but the little girl tugged you by the delivery bags. So you stood there quietly while she ran back in forth so she could unload the delivery for you. Shinsou peered around the corner so you gave a small wave. Then it was just you and Eri once again. In the background you could hear Yamada asking his husband where the wallet went.

"I like your shirt," You smiled, trying to fill the silence.

"I wanted a Pegasus shirt but this was the only one my daddy could find."

"Well I think unicorns are pretty cool too."

You use to babysit for some of the families in town, no part of you could imagine doing that all the way out here.

The blonde rejoined you, giving you another lush payment. You heard the little girl whine about you leaving so quickly until her father appeased her by saying you'd be back.

Something about that rubbed you the wrong way; but you were back like clockwork the next week with their usual delivery. Once again you were brought inside while they went to get your payment. But on your fourth and what should have been your final delivery of the winter break you noticed something was off when you parked. Their truck was missing from its usual spot. Strange but they probably just moved it somewhere else on the property. You had become accustom Eri running to answer the door and telling you wait for her parents in the entrance of the house. You became suspicious after she had run back and forth to take the food to the kitchen.

"Eri, where are your parents? Or Shinsou?"

The little girl's response was nonchalant, "They had to go out, one of our cattle got out. But they gave me the money."

You stuffed the money into your jacket; payment was the issue here. In the back of your mind you though about how you never saw any cattle on your deliveries. A child her age shouldn’t be left alone.

"Oh, well, can I hang out with you while we wait for them to come back?"

The little girl lit up as she pulled you to the living room. There was a kid's movie playing on the TV and she had a coloring book out. Eri divide up her crayons and tore out a page for you to join her. You kept looking to the window, waiting for the truck to pull up.

Suddenly there was banging at the door, which elicited a cry from Eri. You reached into your pocket only finding the crumpled bills. Shit, your stomach dropped. You left your phone in your car. After all, this was just supposed to be a quick delivery. The noise stopped, only for a moment, before resuming.

"Eri, sweetie," You whispered to the stunned little girl. "Do your parents have a phone here?"

She shook her head.

A man’s voice tore through the door, "Let me in dammit, you have to let me in before they come back."

You held your finger to your lip, and Eri nodded, repeating the gesture. The living room light was on and you realized that if he came to the side of the house you'd be seen through the window, but turning out the light would draw attention. Maybe he was bluffing, maybe he didn't know if anyone was inside and turning off the light would signal your presence. You pointed to the kitchen, where the lights were off and the two of you tip toed to the safety of darkness.

"Eri, honey, can you go sit in the pantry for me and be really, really quiet? I'll be right out here and don't come out until I come to get you okay?"

She looked hesitant and tearful but you were surprised at her level of composure for a kid. Finally she complied. Once the pantry door was closed you began rummaging through the drawers, looking for something that could inflict the most damage. A meat tenderizer could work. The banging continued and you swore you hear wood beginning to splinter. Your grip tightened with every bang. Finally the door gave way and a man stumbled through the splintered wood. He stopped when he saw you holding the cleaver.

He was dirty, without shoes or a shirt and his skin was red from the cold.

You hoped your voice wouldn’t crack, "You need to leave-"

"Monsters, monsters," he blabbed. "They're gonna come back and we gotta go."

You decided to bluff, "Get out of here, I already called the cops."

"Good, good, good," He mumbled, “but we still gotta go. NOW."

There was one step forward from him, one step back from you.

"If you come near me, I'll make sure you don't get up," You warned. At the very least you had to keep him away from Eri. Even if that was all you could do.

There was a desperate look in his eyes; they darted from you to the keys hooked to your jeans, then back to the keys. Finally he smiled, "You have a car, man that's perfect. Listen I won't hurt you but we need to get in your damn car, now."

Sounds like something someone who wants to hurt me would say, you thought. Apparently you took too long to respond, the man lunged toward you and you tried to swing the meat tenderizer. The tool connected with his shoulder and he howled out in pain but still managed to wrestle you to the ground. The two of you struggled with each other and the man was yelling that you'd die if you didn't listen to him. You landed a weak hit to his jaw, splitting his lip. You even tried biting at him but he was persistent and struggling to get your keys. You were telling him he could have them that he just needed to let you go but he wasn't listening to you. Managing to grab his ear you had a flashback to the self-defense seminar you had to take in college, it should be easy to rip a human ear. So you pulled. Blood began to flow from the wound down his face and on to you. He got you off him before you got the whole ear by delivering a blow to your stomach. The air rushed from your body, is this what it means to get the wind knocked out of you?

There was a loud noise and fog lights flooded through the broken door. Then saw Shinsou and Aizawa pulling the man off you. You pushed yourself and back, clutching at your stomach. Your cheeks were wet. Were you crying or was that blood on your face? Probably both.

The trio wrangled the man outside where you heard more struggling, fighting, and groaning.

Eri. You managed your way to the kitchen but realized you were covered in blood. Not wanting to traumatize the little girl any further you spoke through the door.

"Eri, can you stay there a little bit longer?"

"Can't I come out? I heard my daddies," She cried, tugging at your heartstrings.

"Not yet, okay? They're here and everything's okay, I'm gonna have them come get you okay?"

Thankfully, the door didn't open. As you shuffled toward the front door Mr. Yamada entered, wiping specks of blood off him.

You were shocked when he pulled you into a hug, "You're okay. Sho and Shinsou got everything under control. Where is Eri?"

You told him about her hiding spot and he sighed in relief and rushed to her.

The other two returned with bloodied knuckles that made your stomach churn.

"Yamada," The mountain man called, with his eyes scanning the home.

"Don't worry, Sho, I got Eri. She's fine. Our delivery girl is okay, she's got some bumps and bruises but she made the other guy look worse."

Aizawa ushered you to the couch, expecting your legs to give out at any moment.

"We need to call the police," You finally spoke.

Aizawa assured you he did. They were 45 minutes out but they'd work on getting here faster. Yamada brewed you a cup of tea, “for while we wait.” They finally calmed Eri down and Shinsou took her upstairs to get ready for bed. It felt weird for them to return to mundane evening routines so quickly after all that chaos, but maybe you were just the odd one out. Close to an hour later you were still waiting for the police to show up. Your tea was finished long ago and your nerves had calmed. You were even having trouble keeping your eyes open.

"You think they're almost here, babe" The blonde wondered, draping a throw blanket around your shoulders. "I'm sure she wants to this day to be over with."

---

It was still dark when you woke up. The blonde was fast asleep on the recliner next to you. The police must have come by now but there was no way you slept through the visit. Anxiety from earlier made it’s way back in to your chest. The clock read 4am; had they even called the police. All of the childhood rumors you heard came flooding back and you exited the house as quietly as you could, not realizing your keys were no longer with you.

When you made it outside you noticed dried blood on the ground, trailing toward what you assumed was their barn or storage shed. You were entranced. Looking back to the house, no one was awake; there was no movement, no light, just quiet. You shouldn’t follow the bloody trail, you shouldn't go near the shed; but your body moved on it's own accord and before you realized it you were at the doors. You gave a tug, expecting it to be locked, but the door swung open and inside you noticed the lock lay on the ground.

You should have turned around, got in your car, and drove away. Instead you stepped inside and found the bloody, broken body of the man who attacked you. There was a slight sway to the corpse that was hanging from a reinforced pillar. Nearly screaming your hand shot to cover your mouth.

You should've left.

Aizawa was watching you from the kitchen, cursing Hizashi for leaving the shed unlocked. His hand hovered over the secured cabinet drawer that stored a pistol. He wouldn't shoot you only scare you a bit. But you weren't running out in a panic. He didn't even hear you scream. Interesting. He went to join you, moving like any predator concealing it presence and leaving the gun safe untouched.

You should've left.

You finally came to your sense and whirled around only to run into your late night admirer. A terrified squeak escaped you as you jumped further into the confined space.

"Mr Aizawa! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have - I'm sorry."

He didn't look angry, although you wished he did. It would be better than the unsettling smile on his face.

"That's alright, I was heading out here anyway," He closed the door behind him and flicked on a dim light that lit up the room with shadows. "Can't leave it hanging for too long."

Your throat tightened, he stood between you and the only exit. If he noticed your terror there was no indication that he cared. He turned his back to you momentarily, rummaging through the clutter on the workbench. Now was the best chance you may get and you made a dash for the door. It was a futile attempt and part of you knew it but your nerves were ablaze with adrenaline and you were running on instinct not reason. There was a foreign tightness around your throat that kept you fighting to inhale. Struggling to breathe you didn’t even register the sharp pinch of a needle piercing your deltoid.

Aizawa pressed his nose to your hair, "Behave. Even if you get out of here, your tire has a flat, pesky nails tend to find their way on to the roads out here. A real shame."

He dragged you over to a chair across from the lifeless body cuffing both your wrists to the armrests. Stupid, stupid, he was grabbing out cuffs and I ran straight into him, you scolded yourself. You went to open your mouth and beg to be let go, but you were silenced.

"Keep it down or I'll have to find a way to keep you quiet."

Your heart was beating so hard it hurt. Once a friend said it was possible to die by fright, if that was true you wouldn't last much longer. Now that you were safely out of the way, Aizawa could make quick work dismembering the carcass. He donned his usual rubber apron and pulled back his hair. With his experience he could finish the job in less than two hours. Now was as good a time as ever for you to learn.

With a sigh he began his explanation and craft:

"Cannibalism has been around as long as we've existed: sacrificially, ceremonially, culturally, especially during times of plague, war, and famine. You can find documented accounts from pretty much every part of the world. And there's no one reason. Our family keeps it simple. We eat meat, animals are meat, and humans are animals. In times of famine and other hardships, this was a reliable food source. Of course now, there's not much of a risk for severe famine to effect people like us but it's tradition. This is how it's been for our family for years. And not just those of us around these parts but our relatives everywhere. It's important to keep old trades alive."

He paused, now splattered with blood, to take note of your dry heaving.

"Please," You gasped. "I just want to go -"

With narrowed eyes he continued:

"It's important for you to listen to our family history. Typically we don't reap a harvest until three weeks after the winter solstice and 3 weeks before the summer solstice. Twice a year is enough to get us by. Zashi and I are impressed that you managed to wrangle him in. Poetic in a way, don’t ’cha think? Consuming the flesh of someone who tried to overpower you. First reap of the harvest. Nice that it's a family affair."

The room was spinning and you were fighting the sedative as hard as you could. There was no way any of this was real, maybe you were dreaming? Maybe you'd been knocked unconscious when that man rushed you. Or better yet, maybe you were asleep at home still. It was possible that this whole delivery fiasco was just a nightmare. Your stomach churned at the speech. There was sun peaking through the cracks in the wall by the time he finished separating the ... different sections. There was no more body, just pieces. You nodded off for a few minutes before being jolted awake by the door opening and letting in the bright morning light .

"Good morning, you two night owls," Hizashi beamed. Walking to his husband handing over a tall mug of coffee. He was completely unfazed by the scene he walked in on. In fact the only frown he made was when Aizawa said he put too much sweetener in the coffee. "Anyways, grumpy pants, I called your sister. She's on her way to pick up Eri and Shinsou for a few days. To give us some time to focus on our little muse. Speaking of, I should go get her some water. Oh, plus we need to fix our door."

---

After you refused to drink anything they tried to give you they left you alone in the shed. The handcuffs were too tight for you to slip through and in your struggle you managed to topple the chair over, hitting the floor with painful slap. It was hard to ignore the buzzing of the flies swarming the space where the body once hung. You closed your eyes, your mind wandering to your family and what they would think when they realized you were missing.

Outside you heard a car pull up and were tempted to scream for someone to help you. Maybe it was the police; maybe someone realized you didn't go home last night and found out where your last delivery was. Your captors came out to greet whoever it was and you were glad you didn't yell, they sounded friendly. They were coming toward the shed but you were too defeated to react.

"Sho," Hizashi gasped, "She fell."

The response was sharp and sarcastic, "I hadn't noticed." He yanked you up with ease and the world was no longer side ways but the jolt paired with the exhaustion and drugs left the world spinning.

The woman must've been the sister they mentioned earlier. She squealed with delight, "Oh isn't she the cutest, lemme get a good look."

She resembled neither of the men and gave off cool-soccer-mom vibes. With a gentle grip on your chin she bore into your eyes.

"Please,” You begged, “I just want go home."

The sister didn't waiver, "Don't worry sweet thing, these two are gonna take such good care of you. Just relax and let them help you."

Help? You don't need help from them. You needed to get out of this hell.

"Okay," She bounced toward the exit, "Bring out my niece and nephew, we're gonna have a fun weekend. And take care of your girl, she looks like a keeper."

Finally you screamed in frustration. Brief, loud, and full of anger but it deflated just as quickly when the two men shot you a menacing look. How could all three of them show no display of empathy? You were again convinced this was an alternate reality when both children peaked their heads in to wave goodbye before they peeled away from the home, leaving you alone with Hizashi and Aizawa.

---

There was a hatch toward the back of the room where the two disappeared until they came back with a third body. They were dragging a woman up like a ragdoll and acidic bile burned your throat. If you had to guess you would say she was late middle age. It felt like they were setting a stage, Hizashi pulled you closer to where they stood while Aizawa managed to tie the woman down to the stained table.

"Why are you doing this," you cried. But they ignored you.

"Did you know there are people who pay for certain oddities and they’re willing to spend big bucks to get what they want? We keep whatever makes sense to eat and sell the rest. Ideally nothing goes to waste.”

The next hour and forty-seven minutes were excruciating. There were several “items” – as they referred to her body parts – that they removed while she was still alive; but finally Aizawa made the perfect incision along her thigh and a pomegranate wave gushed out. There was no way she would suffer much longer with this amount of blood loss.

"Please just let her die," You begged the universe. "Please let it end."

For the first time since starting they stepped back from the body, leaving it on the table to come over to you. Aizawa knelt before you and his bloody hand brushed hair from your face; his thumb rested on your lip and you couldn't even physically respond. Hizashi was behind him, rubbing his partner's shoulders.

"You're going to kill me?”

Both men finally softened, coming down their endorphin high. There was something so satisfying about your question. Arousing, even. They made it clear that your life was up to them, which meant they had you where they needed you.

"Am I having a blonde moment? I don't recall saying we'd kill her."

Aizawa threw an incredulous look his way before addressing you, "We aren't going to kill you. We wouldn't've saved you from that terrible animal if that were the plan. We don't kill just anyone. We wanted to introduce you to our lifestyle and now’s the best chance. Eri’s wanted to keep you since day one, but if you can't behave that'll be an issue. Can you prove to us that you’re going to behave or do we have to get you down into the cellar?”

There was no other choice than to nod. Picking up a piece of the dissected woman Hizashi muttered something about starting dinner before telling his husband that you really need to get more rest. Aizawa agreed, and since it seemed like you were having trouble getting rest he decided to give you another little dose of medicine.

#slasher au #mha x reader #bnha yandere #mha yandere #yandere erasermic #yandere erasermic x reader #yandere x reader

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